Volume 2 Chapter 14 (1/2)

Editors: Tan & Grey.

Chapter 2 Episode 14

(Wavering People 3)

Day 119 after being summoned to another world.

”What the h.e.l.l happened?!”

Duke Gerhardt is unable to hide his frustration.

Day after day, unpleasant reports have come to him who supposedly is in an advantageous position.

”T-That is...”

”That's what!? Say it clearly!”

The man who is Duke Gerhardt’s aide is also lost for words.

The only thing they know is that in the last few days, the neutral faction who had promised their a.s.sistance to them had switched over to the princess' faction side.

And they were the n.o.bles who own some level of territory that went over.

Those n.o.bles are the people who had joined the n.o.ble faction due to the favorable rewards that they had been promised.

Moreover, the condition they asked for in return is only not to move their soldiers and give support to Princess Ladine.

The n.o.bles who accepted the deal will gain huge benefits in exchange for some low risk jobs.

The n.o.bles who were part of the neutral faction is in fact part of the n.o.bles’ faction.

Of course, Duke Gerhardt never had any intention on keeping his promise to those n.o.bles.

After all, thinking mathematically, it would take half of the kingdom’s territory just to increase their land as a reward.

But of course, something like that cannot happen.

”There are only two things that I can understand. Those n.o.bles had sworn their loyalty to the princess' faction one after another. And...”

The aide stopped his words there.

If he continues, his Lord would become outraged.

But if he kept on being silent as well, it would also end up with the same result; he was able to understand that thanks to his experience.

The aide prepares himself to be blasted by his Lord’s furious wrath.

”There are also n.o.bles who had a firm stance in supporting their faction among them...”

”What does that mean? A firm stance?... Do you mean they strengthened their territory guard?”

Duke Gerhardt asked as if he had become stupid.

”That is... They seem to have gathered the territory soldiers and entered the royal capital.”

”What did you say!?”

Duke Gerhardt did not hide his surprised expression.

That is something that he cannot overlook.

Even if the n.o.bles changed sides to the princess’, Duke Gerhardt won't have much problem.

However, if the territory troops join them at the royal capital then, this changes everything.

To change sides.

One might think they will become a large force, but in reality, it is not.

Because those who changes side around this time are those who hates losing their money.

Someone who does not contribute much to a faction would usually change side with some incentive.

For example, even if the princess’ faction were to raise their flag, if they don't offer any funds, mostly those people will reply with uncooperative-like att.i.tude.

At least, that's how it’s supposed to be.

Because he understood that, at the time he invited them, Duke Gerhardt did not ask for excessive cooperation from them.

Because he knows that they wouldn’t help him even if he asked for it anyway.

That's why Duke Gerhardt feels a sense of danger.

He thought that they only supported the princess by staying within their own territory.

”What does this mean... are they really joining the princess’- No, in the first place, who are they?”

”First it was Earl Bergston, then Earl Zerev, and then there were also small n.o.bles who held territory around them had entered the royal capital.”

”Khuu... That Earl Bergston b.a.s.t.a.r.d! Always trying to obstruct me... No, wait, the princess’? It was not the knight faction, but the princess’?”

Since he was so angry, Duke Gerhardt did not notice such detail.

”Yes, I'm also curious about that, but no matter how much I investigated... it is definitely not the knight faction, they belong to the princess' faction...”

It might sound the same, but the truth is quite different.

Although the knight faction is, without a doubt, the princess’ base support.

The reason for them to support her is not because she's the princess nor because she's the leader of the imperial guard chivalric order.

But it was because of General Hodram who is currently supporting Princess Lupis.

The ones who swore loyalty to Princess Lupis is Meltina, the vice-leader of the chivalric order, and others, which are just some low-cla.s.s knights.

Most of the middle ranked knights who hold units are part of General Hodram’s clique.

Princess Lupis is merely a figurehead of the Knight faction.

However, several n.o.bles appear to support such princess.

An aristocrat has military power in accordance to the scale of their territory.

Middle ranked n.o.ble such as Earl Bergston, possesses military power around 1,000.

If one were to include Earl Zerev and the small n.o.bles around them, the princess would easily get around 4,000 of war potential.

Of course, Duke Gerhardt, the current leader of the n.o.ble faction has around 40,000 troops.

Furthermore, if he does not care about his own territory and conscript the farmers and hired the mercenaries, that can easily exceed 60,000.

Currently General Hodram’s forces are around 15,000 troops.

Even if they both combined their force, it is still less than 20,000.

Although it was worrisome that some n.o.bles had switched over to the princess’ side, Duke Gerhardt still holds the advantage.