Chapter 74 (2/2)

Even though it was both a huge project that required a large amount of physical labor and excessive technological insights, both existed in the current Ogress army.

Moreover, they would reward those working for it with extra pay.

While they were at it, they started to announce when they would be launching stones.

They would inform which city block of Cordova they would be attacking with a day’s notice by throwing bundles of paper.

Naturally, when they launched the stones in that area the following day, other than the personal suffering, mental stress built up quickly.

The rampart still existed, but the citizens that were supported by the soldiers that came to defend them were defeated.

*

And so, it was a cruel strategy, but she would separate Manyu and the soldiers from Cordova’s governing body.

A messenger was sent to hand over doc.u.ments strongly insisting on Cordova’s submission and promising Manyu, who had fought bravely, the position of viscount.

Manyu probably should have cut down the messenger and discarded him; however, he courteously saw him off, pa.s.sing the doc.u.ment to the royal palace.

For now, the king praised Manyu’s correspondence for the matter, but a touch of suspicion was given birth.

The contents of the papers were severe for the royal family, yet awfully sweet for Manyu.

Several days later, Manyu was charged for having secretly met with enemy messengers.

The morale of the slave soldiers defending the rampart quickly plummeted.

If it were the Ogress army in that situation, Ria and Carla could stand up before them and encourage the soldiers.

However, Cordova’s king had no charisma.

As he was only called the existence standing at the topmost position of Cordova’s governmental structure, even if he needed to be capable, he didn’t need to show himself.

On a certain night, without any context, one of Cordova’s gates opened.

Countless beastkin appeared from it, fleeing to the Ogress encampment.

Since this wasn’t something that they had colluded together with them, unfortunately, they weren’t able to take advantage of it and invade the city.

However, this was probably the one last push they needed.

Papers with this fact written on them were launched into Cordovan streets by the catapults.

The citizens’ support regarding the royalty collapsed completely.

This was no longer the Cordova famous for its merciless officials. Its laws no longer functioned.

Even its military discipline collapsed. By removing Manyu from the front lines, it could be said that Cordova sealed its own fate.

A mere ten days into the siege.

Cordova offered its capitulation to the Ogress army.

*

Concerning this, Ria allowed the Cordovan royal family to leave the capital with their minimum posessions.

She left the royal palace to the soldiers’ volitions.

Immediately before that, something was taken from the royal palace by Casalian soldiers moving under Fio’s directions.

The doc.u.ments concerning Cordova’s domestic taxation, as well as its law books and the like.

Fio placed importance of these bundles of completely valueless bundles of paper above anything else.

“Ahh, I didn’t notice. Great work~”

Reflexively patting Fio’s feat, Ria smiled.

Fio returned with a glad smile of her own.

The soldiers’ plunder was thorough.

Everything of any worth in the Cordovan castle was lost.

Of course, this included food.

In truth, the Ogress army had diminished its military provisions. It was a relief now that the war was over.

Baron Manyu, having been placed under house arrest, was of a small build and a refined man.

Although it was thought that he could command the slaves well, it might rather be that his very appearance gave them a sense of security.

“With Cordova renamed to Cornada, Baron Manyu will be given the peerage of earl. I’ll leave Cornada’s governing to you. Work hard.”

Ria gave a bombastic announcement.

With an expression that looked as though he wanted to weep, Cornada Earl Manyu accepted it humbly.

The treasury had become barren. There were no more slaves. His reign would be tough.

Still, Ria felt this tough reign was best left to him.

He had full support from the liberated slaves.

Above all, Ria didn’t want to do any more.

As for the Cordovan earls, they had lost nearly all of his territory, but their lives were spared and they were forced to be succeeded by their sons.

They would live long lives, past the period of upheaval, greet the Millennium, and see the era following that.

However, their names would never again appear in history.

*

“So tired~, so tired~”

Lying directly on top of the carpet and tumbling about, Ria embarra.s.sed those around her.

“Have some tea.”

The tea that Carla prepared was her usual milk tea.

Ria finally drank some, stopping her baby-like whining.

“Ah~, it’s going to be hard from here on~”

She collapsed forward onto the table in exhaustion.

“That’s so. It’s something that has to be done, so you’ll do it somehow, thanks in advance.”

Fio’s face was also thickly fatigued. The only person who could really move around easily was Carla.

Every day, she healed those who were injured and became sick due to the war.

It wasn’t a situation where she needed to keep extra magical power in reserve anymore, so by her hand, even those who normally wouldn’t recover were able to turn back into able-bodied people.

With her like that, many no longer called her the dragonslayer, but the holy woman.

“This one does not want to work! This one absolutely doesn’t want to work!” [1]

Even though she said that with her mouth, Ria worked one way or another.

To quickly return to Manesh and temporarily go back to Casalia, making Fio her official wife…

Seeing that sumptuous feast in her dreams, Ria did her best today as well.

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