Vol 2 Chapter 11 (1/2)
Chapter 11
Chapter 2, Episode 11: Anticipation
The Lichtein territory, which lies on the southern part of the central continent, is a barren land covered by the Zigur Desert However, many people have desired that land since ancient times
The biggest reason for that, is the ur Desert
Spirits don’t approach oases in which people gather and live, but another way to look at it, is that they do approach oases as long as people are not there
If one is able to get a hold of these oases, it ather there and for that person to get their hands on spirit stones
However, the neighboring countries have been unable to carelessly lay their hands on that land This is because the Lichtein Dukedoh their slave trade
That was just until last month, but at the moment, you could say the relationshi+p between the two countries has gone cold
The dissatisfaction aroith each day, and just as this was happening, there was a revolt to emancipate the slaves
The Dukedom of Lichtein, 50 sels (150 km) south of the capital Azbakal
A liberation ar for the emancipation of the slaves clashes with the duke’s army of 4,000
This is the Imperial year 1023, July 19
The area is stacked high with an immense nuolden dust-like sand
The hot air isIt is the emaciated slaves who raise a cry of victory
The shabby looking slaves race to beat each other to the losers— to the corpses to steal their armor and swords and such
Although the outco continues The nobles and soldiers who think it a disgrace to surrender to slaves are still fighting
But at this point, it is nothing but trivial resistance This is because their commander had already taken his last breath
A snake without its head can be brought down by any s or poison, it is no different from a piece of rope
The head of the snake being Duke Lichtein, and his head was in the hands of one large man
The large man straddled atop a caht purple, and he has a powerful face on which sweat drips down
「How disappointing When did the central continent become this weak? Were the stories of the 「Black Book」 handed down in Abyssion lies?」
The hs in disappointment
As he looks around the area after shaking his head, the scene of Lichtein’s soldiers being killed off captures his attention
He’s not a fan of ree to surrender even when offered the opportunity to
If they happened to gather forces so could be done about it Considering the future, there was no choice but to kill them
「What a foolish country, to place one who knows not a thing about the art of war at its helm The people of a country unable to defeat a rebel ar but misfortunate」
The Duke’s are of their numbers to disperse their forces and surround their enemy, but each of the divided forces were pretty much crushed
「Even if they knew to split their forces, it looks like they did not kno to focus」
It’s good that they had a strategy, but even when they saas disadvantageous, they were unable to come up with another plan
All they did
was rely on brute strength to try and push through
Their downfall was underesti their enemy simply because they were a rebel army
「Battles can not be ith numbers alone, even if your opponent is a rebel army」
After conveying this to the head in his grip, he called out to a guard
「Have this head sent to the capital, along with a letter」
After handing over the head, the large man pulled the reins of his camel and withdrew to headquarters
Imperial year 1023, July 21, the Fourth Imperial Army departs for the frontline — Two days earlier…
The Dukedoolden palace which could be said to be a sy about in a flurry while whispering their discontent towards the duke
They suffered a harsh loss the month before in which the eldest and third sons were lost Furthermore, there is a man in the south who has united the slaves and irl as the leader to run wild under the pretext of e about him
No one took the initiative to set out to suppress the for the capital, the duke hirown iht infantryo
The golden palace— The hall in which the throne sits was packed with nobles orried faces
This was because the news of the outcome of the clash between the rebel army and the duke’s army was to arrive at any moment
Then, a lonein out of breath
「Reporting! The duke’s army has been annihilated by the rebel army! Duke Lichtein has been killed in battle!」
Groans rose up from the nobles This was because they were certain it would be news of victory
One of the nobles stepped forward and approached the er
His face was pale and he kept shaking his head side to side in disbelief
「A-Absurd… YouThat’s just impossible」
He grabbed the shoulders of the er and drew his desperate face in
It’s only natural that he is in disbelief The rebel ar rampant in the south numbered less than 2,000
In contrast, the duke’s arh it couldn’t be said that their h due to last h with the duke leading them himself
What’sthe army were senior nobles with battle experience, so there shouldn’t have been any problems with the chain of command
「What exactly happened?」
「The slave foot soldiers turned sides to the rebel arle one of the senior nobles were slain The duke fought hard, but he was unable to prevail!」
The noble dreay froer isted in mortification, dropped to his knees, placed his forehead on the ground, and began to weep
Some of the nobles around hi that the country was done for, while others were devising plans to flee
Everyone surmised that the Lichtein Dukedom would soon fall to ruin, but there was one personwho checked the despair spreading throughout the hall
「Silence We do not have time to be sad We must discuss ill do from here on out We can not allow the rebel army to do as they please, now can we?」
Soaze of all the nobles focus on him
Thefro the red carpet
His body is feeble and you can hardly say he looks sturdy His pale face makes it seem like he may collapse at any moment
This young man is the second son of Duke Lichtein’s house No one wished for him to be an heir due to his weak constitution
His name is Karl Olk Lichtein He is a count
Having walked into the heart of the group of nobles, Karl lift his arht, and pointed it towards the entrance
「Besides, he has finally come」
The one who haughtily entered the hall was Marquis Ranquil, the one who protects the northwestern border
He laughs scornfully at the nobles who are in fear, and his attitude is a bit ill mannered
This man will be 34 this year He is a hero of the Lichtein Dukedo country of Schteizen and their aro
However, although he is talented, because of his probleovernment to protect the northwestern border
Marquis Ranquil knelt without bowing, and looked up at Karl as his smile broadened
「Though it is truly a shame that Duke Lichtein has passed, we do not have time to be sad You must immediately take the title of duke, Count Karl」
The nobles around hie at Marquis Ranquil, who brazenly started saying whatever he pleased as soon as he walked in
「Who are you to decide that on your own, bastard?! Count Karl’s body is weak, and he is in no condition to—」
「What are you saying? Though I do not wish to speak ill of the departed— the duke was a ains without consideration for the country, and he doled out rewards and punishment in accordance to the wishes of the senior nobles Furthermore, the eldest son was a foolish man with a wild temperament and easily fell to the wiles of his ene special about the third son He was merely a parasite」
Marquis Ranquil added that he forgot the names of such foolish men
The nobles’ faces turned red in anger as they shouted
「You bastard! There’s a limit to how rude one can be!」
「Haha, all I did was state the truth Besides, aren’t you all happy on the inside?」
「Wh-What did you say…?」
「Do I have to spell it all out for you? You should knohat I mean」
Many of the senior nobles, who could be said to be the cause of the country’s decline, had accompanied the duke and his army which left for the suppression
The fact that they were now gone,nobles could supplant them
(Though I won’t let you have your way)
The time has finally come to normalize the country
Even if the duke had not died, this country was fated to fall to ruin from a civil war
The signs were there for a while now The duke simply held it back by sheer force
You could even say the birth of this rebel army was inevitable
(But… it’s aed two, three times in this short period of time)
The eldest and third sons who fell to cajolery fell in battle, and the duke was also slain by the rebel army
Though no one says it out loud, they al the country
「However, perhaps it is a silver lining, but there is an outstanding member in the house of the duke He loves the people, respects his soldiers, and is considerate of his subordinates He is Lord Karl Olk Lichtein」
After scratching his head as if eainst his chest
「But as you can see,this body of mine will last Can one such as myself unite the Lichtein Dukedom?」
Marquis Ranquil smiles and nods emphatically
「Because I am not a doctor, I do not know e, you never knohen you will die In fact, it is as if those who are in good health are the ones who see first」
Both the eldest son with his high prospects and the robust duke died before the weak son
Though it was ironic that his father and brothers died before hier, only a bitter face
「Then maybe it’s not a bad idea for ives out But will the people accept me?」
「There is no need for such worries If you are able to suppress the rebels who defeated the duke, the people will have no choice but to accept you」
「Then I will become the duke after we suppress the rebels」
Afterthis, Marquis Ranquil nodded placidly and looked around at the nobles
「Now, it seems Lord Karl has made his decision What will you all do?」