Chapter 357
(Kyle Calendar Year 515: Age 22)
The Pride of the Imperial Nobility
Translator : PolterGlast
The Griffonia Empire,
which had won battles time and time again throughout its history and constantly
expanded its territory, was now being invaded from the north and south
simultaneously, and conversely having its territory encroached upon. At this
unprecedented crisis, the entire Empire
was in an uproar. The battlefield reports flooding in from various regions at a
relentless pace spread not only through the Imperial Capital Griffin but across the entirety of the Empire, throwing the local nobility
everywhere into utter chaos. While they
scrambled frantically to secure more accurate information, they were
simultaneously plagued by bewilderment as they weighed how to position
themselves amidst the rapidly shifting tide of events.
Amidst all
this, in the territory of Botakley—which sat squarely on the main highway connecting the
northern frontier of the Empire to
the Imperial Capital Griffin and had
been rapidly developing as a major trading hub of late—the crisscrossing webs
of information had become completely entangled, driving the ruling lord of the
land into deep confusion.
「Send messengers to the north and
south! Fully mobilize the Bottakuri-na
Trading Company to the north and strive to gather information from various
places! Ascertain not only the war situation but also what is needed as support
supplies! Proceed with the mobilization of the soldiers as urgently as
possible. So that we can rush as reinforcements at any time.」
Viscount Kamin, who issued such instructions, was
growing impatient. Because he had, no, only he had been informed of a certain
piece of suspicious information.
「Now that Empire territory is being
invaded, why are the people in the Imperial Capital not moving? Why are the
northern nobles abandoning them!」
He could only let out his anger, his feelings of
helplessness growing. The very northernmost frontier of the Empire territory is
the Third Prince's mandate territory, but south of that, including himself, are
all domains belonging to nobles of the First Prince's faction. However, the
nobles other than him acted detached, as if the events in the north were
someone else's problem.
Meanwhile, a messenger conveying the instructions issued by
the First Prince had finally come to him.
『To deal with the enemy nation
invading the southern new territory, lead your forces and assemble in Griffin. From here on, the Empire will return to the correct path.
Let us share the glory together.』
The messenger who conveyed the First Prince's manifesto
uttered words that made him doubt his ears after this.
「Now is the time to show your loyalty
to His Highness. Responding to this manifesto, armies for the southern
expedition are now gathering from all over the Empire. Do not fall behind and incur His Highness's displeasure.」
「Well... first I would like to ask the envoy one thing.」
「What is it?」
Receiving those words, the messenger answered with a clearly
displeased expression. In this situation, he felt it was entirely absurd for
anything other than words of compliance to come out of the other party's mouth.
「You said southern expedition, but
what will be done about the north? Rather, isn't the situation more serious in
the north, where the Empire's
inherent territory is being encroached upon?」
When he heard those words, the messenger floated a cold,
scornful smile.
「His Highness Glorious has
said this: 『The
matter in the north is strictly a trivial matter. Do not obsess over small
matters and lose sight of the great cause.』 I too agree with His Highness's words.」
「Wh-what!?
You call it a trivial matter!? The ones
receiving the invasion and gasping under the evil blades of the barbarians are
the people of the Empire, those who
will, so to speak, become His Highness's people in the future!」
「Viscount, you seem to be
misunderstanding something. The ones currently receiving the invasion are not
His Highness's people, but the people who support that man. They are
practically the same as enemy soldiers.」
「Enemy soldiers, you say... isn't
that a terrible way to put it? Even conceding a hundred steps, even if the ones
receiving major damage are His Highness Grat's territory, the Count
domain directly facing the border and being intruded upon by the invading army
is His Highness Glorious's subordinate. In the end, you cannot say it is
entirely enemy territory.」
「Sigh... Do not make me spell out
every single detail. His Highness Glorious
is thinking of a century-long grand strategy for the Empire—and when necessary, he will make use of even barbarians.
Any further questioning is utterly useless!」
Throwing out those words, the messenger said he was in a
hurry and left. Watching the back of the departing messenger, Viscount Kamin
was aware that the doubt he harbored in his heart was turning into conviction.
「How utterly foolish. Does he want to
fulfill his ambition even if it means selling off his motherland's territory
and people piece by piece? So what the Archduke said was true...」
Viscount Kamin let out a large sigh, and gazed at the
bustle of the city visible from the window, and the rich mountains and fields
surrounding the city.
「I have a duty to carve out the
future of the Botakley domain. I
have the pride of an Imperial noble. Even though this land has finally begun to
advance toward the future now... What on earth is the Empire? Who is the enemy? This country absolutely does not exist
solely for the royal family to engage in power struggles.」
Even if the camps they belong to are different, the
territory of a fellow Imperial noble is being invaded; if he leaves this be,
where is he supposed to show his pride as an Imperial noble?
「Unfortunately, we have received
absolutely no benefits from His Highness Glorious. Well, the same goes
for His Highness Grat, though...」
Saying so, he choked on his words. In the end, the ones who
granted benefits to him and his territory were only their hateful enemies, the Westlights
Demon Territory Dukedom and the Archduke. It was not only convenience for
the Bottakuri-na Trading Company. The method to bring vitality to the
territory by utilizing the highway, and the very existence of the Demon
Territory Dukedom made traffic on the highway flourish and brought profit.
The biggest thing of all was being able to reclaim the ancestral mountains and
fields. By receiving a loan from an institution called the 『New Territory Development Public
Corporation』, which
was said to have been devised by the Archduke himself, they were able to
completely liquidate all of their debts to the high-interest merchants. The
monthly repayments to the Public Corporation were also set at a conscientious
interest rate, and the revenue obtained from the returned forests was enough to
cover them sufficiently.
So to speak, to him, the Demon Territory Dukedom was
a god of fortune, while the First Prince was a god of poverty; to put it
harshly, a grim reaper inviting them to war (a place of death).
「What... have I been doing all this
time?」
It was a word muttered with a feeling of repentance, but
contrary to that, a new thought floated in his chest, and he could no longer
suppress it.
「I will... follow my pride as an
Imperial noble! From here on, I will act according to righteousness and walk a
way of life that transcends love and hate!」
Viscount Kamin spat out words as if to encourage
himself, and immediately began to act. There was not a shred of hesitation in
his expression; rather, it is said to have been a refreshing one.
A short while later, in front of the soldiers who responded
to the emergency summons, he declared.
「From here on, I will move my army
for the compatriots of the Empire's
northern frontier who are suffering from an unjust invasion, and for our
benefactors. According to information, the enemy army, which is superior in
numbers, is dominant, and our allies have fallen into a predicament.」
The soldiers fell completely silent and listened intently to
their lord's words.
「It will certainly not be an easy
battle. I myself am facing it with the resolve that I can never return to this Botakley again. My men... you have
served a weak, disappointing lord like me remarkably well until now. Having
come this far, I have no way to properly reward you, but at the very least, I
want the decision of whether or not to march to be entirely up to your own free
will. Consider this... the absolute bare minimum of gratitude I can offer you.」
Saying so, the Viscount faced the soldiers and bowed his
head deeply. For a noble, a glorious Imperial noble, to bow his head to
soldiers composed mainly of commoners, is something that is practically
impossible, and yet...
「Half a day from now, we will set our
army in motion, marching northward up the highway. Only
those who are willing to follow someone like me, assemble at the Roadside
Station newly established in the northern part of our territory! Now,
we march!」
「「「「Ooh!」」」」
Bowing silently to the soldiers responding with loud cheers, Viscount Kamin immediately straddled his horse and began moving to the northern Roadside Station. Taking along the many soldiers following him...
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