Volume 4 Chapter 23 (1/2)
Chapter 4 Episode 23
Editors : Starbuck11, Kev
From high above a cliff, Joshua put a cigar in his mouth while overlooking the transportation corps with a phoenix flag moving by on the highway, indicating that itbelonged to the Ortomea Empire.
That place was the mountain range on the border of the Zalda Kingdom. Innumerable men and horses covered the highway.
That group was the army corp that had been tasked by the Imperial princess Sardina to carry the supplies from Ortomea Empire.
Just how much goods did they had brought, no one could really guess.
The Ortomea Empire was one of the three strongest countries in the western continent.
Such sight was as if to show the enormous national strength they possessed.
(I guess the information was right huh? Which means that that woman had become impatient...)
It was impossible for Ortomea Empire to gather that amount of supplies and just spent them on one front line no matter how much national strength they possessed.
(This is really troubling...)
With a bitter smile on his expression, the figure of the first imperial princess of the Ortomea Empire which he had confronted this past one year appeared inside Joshua's mind.
However, Sardina's figure inside Joshua's mind had no face.
Joshua only knew from the rumors and reports that Sardina was a beautiful woman, but in this world where photograph and tv basically were non-existent it was impossible for him to know the face of the princess from an enemy's country.
(Looking at this, that means they are planning on crus.h.i.+ng us in one go by using their national strength huh? Just what I've expected, they have chosen that option... Well, looking from the various point of view, this is indeed a sound tactic.)
Somehow his expression looked casual despite all of the events.
Beard that had never been maintained.
The smells of liquor and cigar drifted from his whole body, his hair was also being unkempt.
Although he did not have the usual smell of cheap perfume which a prost.i.tute would had used, the figure standing there was indeed the third son who had spent all his time in the slums inside the royal capital.
Joshua then summoned fire on his fingertip using fire magic arts, and brought the fire closer to the cigar in his mouth.
Then he quietly inhaled and enjoyed the tobacco for a moment.
(Sensing the movement of ErnestGora, she wants to deal with the obstacle before her eyes immediately. I guess she is pressed for time huh? Although, I guess we're also the same...)
Joshua's brain already knew that the Zalda Kingdom had little time left.
And it seemed that the Ortomea Empire also had the same problem.
In the past one year, the Zalda army had used irregular warfare by using the topography and successfully reduced the speed of the Ortomea Empire's progress, but they had not yet solved the fundamental problem.
It was like putting a life support treatment on a terminally ill patient and betting everything on the arrival of an unknown new medicine.
And the flock of people that were moving under the cliff was equal to that of a G.o.d of death who ruthlessly announced the death of the said sick patient.
(Well whatever... Either way, I've already decided to gamble my life and the destiny of this country by following that man's plan, I just need to do my job here...)
The face of the man who had exchanged words with him for the first time appeared inside Joshua's mind.
It was a young man, younger than Joshua.
Furthermore, he was a man from an unknown origin which had become a n.o.ble.
However, the plan presented by the young man had sufficient value to even make Joshua bet everything on it.
The plan itself was not original in particular.
With just a little bit of wisdom, anyone could come up with such plan.
However, while it might be true that the plan was easy to come by, the possibility of the realization was near impossible.
(I can't help but think that he is an interesting man...)
The figure of Mikos.h.i.+ba Ryouma with a fearless smile on his face appeared inside Joshua's mind causing him to lift his lips into a smirk.
Joshua knew that he himself was a hopeless gambler.
High risk, and high return.
It was a gamble several times more thrilling than the one he had on the outskirts of the town.
And from it, Joshua felt an indescribable feeling of excitement.
”Now then... It's almost time...”
From here on out, it was the biggest gambling he had ever made before.
It was a gambling betting the fate of the three eastern countries.
Joshua then threw away the cigar to his feet and step the fire with his boots.
At that moment, a ferocious expression emerged on Joshua's face.
”Geez, you're going to push all of the work on me huh? Such a good social position you have there...”
The one who spoke to Joshua with teasing words from behind was a mercenary woman with burning red hair.
”Are all the preparations finish already?”
”Yes, we can begin anytime...”
When he turned back looking at the person, Lione nodded with confidence.
”I see... Good work. Lione.”
”You’re welcome. Troublesome brat-san.”
Looking at the smiling Lione who said those words, Joshua leaked a sigh from his mouth.
Joshua knew that Lione was not as easy going as she sounded.
”My guys' skills are indeed good, but they are kind of the quirky type. Unless they admit it themselves that someone is above them, they won't easily bow their head.”
In fact, they won't even listen to the command of the knights dispatched from the royal capital Periveria.
They were soldiers specially organized by the late general Belharres. And now, since the general had died, the soldiers belonged to Joshua.
They were special because, after all, they were previously criminals such as small time bandits and thieves that vandalized the Zalda domestic territories.
General Belharres was a great knight and also a great strategist, he was aware that he could not win against the Ortomea Empire national strength if he fought straightforwardly, just like a knight would.
The size of the country, the national strength, human resources, basically the differences were too much.
No matter how much militaristic the Zalda Kingdom was, no matter how good a single knight was, they would not be able to compete because of the inferior numerical numbers. <tln: you=”” can=”” take=”” example=”” of=”” german=”” n.a.z.i=”” vs=”” the=”” soviet=”” union=””>
Besides, the Zalda Kingdom was not entirely made of rocks either.
Originally, the land was obtained by opening up forest and hills.
Although the Zalda Kingdom's king was a sovereign and the leader of the aristocrats, he was not an absolute ruler. <tln: basically=”” the=”” court=”” which=”” usually=”” is=”” filled=”” with=”” n.o.bles=”” hold=”” significant=”” power=””>
It was difficult to make a decision in the Zalda Kingdom without causing the n.o.bles to ask questions, quite different compared to the Ortomea Empire where they were unified under the will of the Emperor.
Even a baby knew which one was better. <tln: for=”” us=”” living=”” in=”” the=”” world=”” of=”” modern=”” democracy,=”” the=”” zalda=”” kingdom=”” model=”” might=”” sound=”” better,=”” but=”” in=”” the=”” medieval=”” world,=”” an=”” absolute=”” aristocratic=”” model=”” was=”” much=”” more=”” efficient.=””> d: i=”” agree=””>
Therefore, General Belharres who knew about that, took various measures to compensate the national power difference between the Ortomea empire and the Zalda kingdom.
Naturally, the measures where he waged a war that deviated from the way of the knights was also included.
One of such measures was making the security within the Ortomea Empire to decline.