Chapter 401 (1/2)

<hr>

Translator: Nat

<hr>

–Aegir POV–

After leaving the responsibility of pursuing the routed enemy eastern army to Leopolt, I returned to Rafen.

He said he would pursue them to the maximum degree, so they must have chased quite far.

If things go well, most of the territory should be recaptured.

With that said, we have not done enough preparations to allow us to proceed further south into enemy nation.

We need food, water and the formation of squads from the recruits I ordered to be conscripted.

I have to stay in Rafen for a few days for that.

Besides that, there is another thing I must do.

I look away from the window where the recruits are continuing to be organized and lower myself into the chair in the office.

It's been so long since I could sit here and relax.

「……can you stop crying already?」

「Hic…… hic…… ueeeh……」

I tried to say it as nice as possible, but the maid in front of me won't stop crying.

「You traitor. Do you think you'll be let off easily if you cry? You're definitely going to punished accordingly.」

When Celia yells at the maid, she cries even louder.

「You sure act boldly even after betraying the chief. You're a disgrace to the whole clan.」

「What does a little girl like you know? We're the ones truly thinking about the future of the clan.」

Meanwhile, this middle-aged man――who is the head of the prominent Gukuto family according to Luna――maintains his brazen att.i.tude.

He snorts at the hounding Luna and Gido, and even puffs out his chest at me.

Perhaps knowing what his fate will be, he apparently hasn't eaten anything since being captured.

「Now then.」

I flip through the doc.u.ments given to me by Peticheri and sit in front of the two of them.

That gesture was like the one the king used on Rebecca.

I thought it was cool so I do it again.

「Ahem.」

By the third time, Myla clears her throat as if telling me to get serious.

「You two are being suspected of providing insider information to South Yuguria. Do you acknowledge that?」

I dislike going through the trial proceedings so I speak decisively.

「Absolutely. It was done with the future of our family and our clan in mind. I have no regrets.」

The shameless one fixes his eyes on me and answers.

I hold out my hand to restrain Luna and Gido as they boil with anger.

「N-no…… I never meant for this…… but I didn't know what else…… waaaaahn!」

In contrast, the maid sobs and denies the charges against her.

Celia also becomes enraged and puts a hand on her sword, so I rub her head to calm her down.

「Lord Hardlett, it goes without saying that the punishment for giving inside information to the enemy is death to one's whole family regardless of their standing.」

Myla reminds me with a serious face, which prompts the maid to start wailing more.

Of course, I am aware of the punishments.

「Even if that's the case, it wouldn't hurt to hear their circ.u.mstances. We have time.」

It would leave a bad taste in my mouth if I simply say ”execute them” right away.

I especially want to save the maid somehow since she's got pretty big b.o.o.bs.

I could care less about executing the man, but I'm curious about the reason for his betrayal.

My eyes look down at the doc.u.ments from Peticheri.

Detailed in the resources are the specifics of their acts as well as proof and testimonies, all clearly laid out in writing.

In regards to the testimonies, a.n.a.lysis has been done on the background and past behavior of the witnesses to ensure their trustworthiness, plus various spots had ”multiple testimonies available”, ”contrary to reality”, or ”has personal feelings to the target” appended to note any caveats.

Frankly, I'm sure both of them are guilty after looking at the materials.

In particular, the maid also committed other crimes as well, which I can probably ask her about later.

Let's go with the impudent man first.

The maid is still crying and is unlikely to feel like talking so I let her be taken to another room.

There is a desk separating me, sitting on a chair in the office, and the man, who is seated on the ground.

「So, you are ……Ize Gukuto of the Gukuto family?」

「Indeed. Ize, the successor of Luga Gukuto, who was the previous head.」

He's crossing beyond impudent and getting quite arrogant now.

「You guys――」

I glance at Cheri's doc.u.ments again.

「Your entire family helped South Yuguria. You told them about a path they could advance on, gathered supplies in advance and built a supply base……You also guided them. On top of finding the base, the family members admitted to it. You can't make any excuses.」

What an easily-understandable betrayal.

It's a perfect inclusion to a history textbook.

「I never intended to make excuses in the first place. I simply did what I thought was best.」

「b.a.s.t.a.r.d, how far――!」

Luna's open palm slaps Ize.

Myla stops the second strike, so Luna resorts to baring her canines and glaring.

「Tell me the reason. I'll listen to what you deem as necessary.」

That's all the purpose of me being here.

Ize stares into my eyes.

「Be quick. Staring at me won't change a thing.」

I adjust myself on the chair and urge him to speak with my hand.

If you're not willing to talk, I'm going straight to the judgement.

I'm not in a good enough mood to wait for the story of some old man.

「……after submitting to you, the clan has continued to descend into depravity.」

He finally starts talking.

Keep it up until the maid calms down.

「I won't say not to involve with the people of the plains. Exchanging items, occasionally pillaging, killing, getting killed, that was supposed to be our relations.h.i.+p with you guys!」

「Fumu fumu.」

b.u.t.ting in won't help, so I'll listen further.

I only wanted to hear the reason he betrayed me and don't have much interest in what he's talking about now.

「Ah.」

That's why I'll get Celia, who is standing next to me to protect me just in case, to let me rub her a.s.s while I listen.

Mmm, it feels like her a.s.s has gotten bigger.

Ize babbles on and he seems to become more pa.s.sionate.

「The young ones of the clan all look forward to going to Rafen, as they call it…… and they all forget about showing grat.i.tude to the mountains――」

Fumu fumu, the flesh is tight as usual, but the surface is getting softer and more womanly.

「Even as sons and daughters of the head, they excitedly wear the clothes and ornaments brought from the plains――」

I can't say her slender thighs have fully developed as a woman.

「Instead of traditional tools, bows and armor built with the technology from the plains are used during hunts.」

Her underwear doesn't wedge into her a.s.s enough.

Rita's a.s.s is big so walking normally would naturally cause the fabric to slip between her a.s.s cheeks.

「Luna and Gido, especially. Your family's depravity is intolerable. Calling yourself escorts or bow cavalry or whatever――」

「Like a traitor can say anything!」

「How dare you disobey and talk back to the chief!」

I slam my fist onto the desk when they yell at each other.

「Hiuu!」

Ize's mouth stops moving, and Luna and Gido also control themselves.

「I understand your dissatisfaction from our cultural exchange.」

My fist that slammed into the desk opens up and then I use the nail on my index finger to tap the desk lightly as I continue to speak.

To be real, I mistakenly used too much strength. The desk in the office is excessively st.u.r.dy and my hand hurts a lot.

「I understand, but how is that connected to giving information to the enemy?」

I notice Celia trembling beside me.

After apologizing for hitting the desk, I insert my finger into her a.s.s.

I did it over her underwear and stuffed it up to the second joint of my finger.

「If your nation loses, our ties to the plains will be cut. We will once again return to the mountains and like ancient times――」

「Are you stupid?」

I pull out my finger from Celia's a.s.s, who has been letting out hot sighs for a while.

When she couldn't help collapsing weakly to the floor, Myla retrieves her.

「It's a different story if you want to fall into ruin on your own, but if you borrow the hand of South Yuguria, they will come after you instead of me.」

「Those South Yuuguriah people promised. They said ”If we destroy Goldonia, we won't interfere with you again. You can go back to living the same way you did in the past”, and even swore it to the mountains!」

「That's obviously a lie, you idiot.」

I totally forgot.

The mountain nation are skilled at riding horses and hunting, but they're not knowledgeable in diplomacy or schemes.

「Pathetic.」

「There's no saving him.」

Gido and Luna go from angry to stunned.

Well you two were like that at first too.

「I can't tell if they're pure or plain foolish……」

Myla also sighs.

「They lied!? Those South Yuguria guys are so cruel!」

Irijina, stay the way you are.

If you have to make a promise, make sure you tell me beforehand.

「I don't feel angry anymore.」

「Why!? Why are you all vilifying me!?」

Now that Myla has come to my side, I rub her a.s.s in Celia's stead.

「It is an oversight on my part. I knew it as soon as I found out about the existence of South Yuguria.」

In the eyes of South Yuguria, who made use of different ploys to expand their territory, the mountain nation are like newborn babies.

It's simpler to trick them than it is for me to lure an innocent little girl into bed with candy.

「I can't let that comment pa.s.s.」

「It's just an example.」

Unlike a certain pervert, I much prefer rubbing the a.s.s of a full-grown woman like Myla than the a.s.s of a very young girl.

I can't get enough of the plump mature a.s.s cheeks after all.

I turn back to Ize after getting my fill of Myla's a.s.s.

「The reason was so bad that I can't get angry…… however, the same cannot be said of what resulted from it.」

Ize slightly drew his upper body back when he felt the murderous intent from my gaze.

「Because you guided the way for them, we were outsmarted. Rafen was damaged, citizens and soldiers were killed.」

Luna continues further.

「The bow cavalry who came to our aid as reinforcements…… some of your people were hurt as well. They're young people who didn't have to die if you didn't do such unnecessary things. It was all due to the foolishness of you and the members of the Gukuto family.」

Things would be different if he acted alone, except it is a fact that the entire family that was involved.

In other words, they all have to take the blame and normally speaking, they would all have to be executed.

Ize looks like he wants to say something, but I don't think he can say it's South Yuguria's fault for lying at this point.

He bites his lip and looks downward.

「Nothing can change what has already happened. The fate of me and my family will…… guwah!」

I spring up from my chair and kick Ize, stopping him from saying anything more.

He tumbles twice and crashes into the door of the office.

「You fool. You and the men can go die on your own if you want.」

I approach Ize and stare down at him directly from above.

「Do you have any children in your family?」

「……yes, of course.」

「And pregnant women?」

「……yes, probably 30 of them.」

I crouch down to ask the last question.

「And most importantly, what about beautiful women?」

「……three exceptional ones. Two are my lovers.」

I sigh and return to my chair.

「Because of your foolish decision, everyone will die. Not a single one will be left alive. Do you understand?」

「If the chief gives the order, we can root out all of the members of the Gukuto family. We won't let anyone escape.」

Gido suggests promptly.

There was a brief moment of silence, then the color drains from Ize's face and his eyes start to dart from place to place.

He must have begun to realize the severity of what he has done.

「Because of me…… everyone will die…… even Tete who cried tears of joy when she became pregnant…… even my grandchild, Cocora, who was born not too long ago…… and my niece who will be getting married next month……」

Ize, who starts to shake, is simply an outdated guy who doesn't have any evil intentions.

「So he was just misled by South Yuguria, huh?」

「Lord Hardlett.」

Myla reminds me with a cold tone.

I know.

It's a fact that he and his family provided inside information to the enemy.

If I acquit him, the families of the citizens and soldiers who died in Rafen won't be happy.

In the worst case, their relations.h.i.+p with the mountain nation, which has recently gotten better, might be ruined.

Severe punishment is definitely needed.

I have one method in mind.

「The cost for being dumb is to be smeared with mud.」

I scribble something on a piece of paper.

「That word there is wrong.」

C'mon Myla, can you not point it out when I'm trying to look cool here?

「Ize, the head of the Gukuto family, was bribed with an exorbitant amount of gold and was promised a future feudal lord status in exchange for turning to the enemy's side. His family members were not told the truth and all of them were deceived and used to cooperate with the enemy. That should do it.」

Ize will be branded and executed as a cowardly traitor.

Meanwhile, his other family members were merely tricked and, although they will not come out as innocent, they can at least avoid the death penalty.

「I thank you …… for your kindness.」

Ize clutches the doc.u.ment and bows his head deeply.

「Mm, it's better to settle things quickly. The execution will be done tomorrow in the plaza. Will his family come?」

「I will arrest his daughter and wife and take them.」

Luna replies.

Then we can proceed tomorrow as scheduled.

「Regarding the punishment for the rest of the Gukuto family……」

Ize tenses up.

「……」

I can't think of a suitable punishment. The mountain nation have a peculiar value system after all.

「Gido, what kind of punishment is normal for you?」

「Err……」

Gido folds his arms and thinks.

「First is ma.s.s execution……」

That is out of the question. I made sure that won't happen with Ize's death.

「More lenient than that would be to turn everyone into slaves……」

Ize looks at me with miserable eyes.

It's a punishment worse than death in certain ways. I'll reject that.

「Next is…… taking away land…… I guess.」

Ize nods helplessly.

Then, let's go with that.

「They'll be exchanging lands with other families and stationed in the back regions. I'm sure the land will be poorer.」

If they get placed in the hinterlands, their chances of meeting anybody in Rafen will pretty much disappear.

「Don't tell me that's all. You can't be serious. That's way too light of a sentence.」

Myla says, followed by nods of agreement by Luna and Gido.

Their timing matches so well that I should almost be concerned.

「If you're too lenient, it does them no good either. Some individuals might decide to give out their own punishments.」

Myla has a point. It would be troublesome if the mountain nation act out against each other.

I'll have to consider something harsher.

Gido, keep going.

「What about…… taking away their children?」

Ize makes a pitiful face.

I'm not a human trafficker so I don't want other people's children. Rejected.

「Then…… take away the women…… ah!」

「That's it!!」

I rise up from my seat, kicking away the chair in the process.

「You didn't have to! That was unnecessary!」

「You idiot! You should get punished too!」

「I don't know what's going on, but we're kicking?」

Myla and the revived Celia kick Gido's s.h.i.+ns.

Gido somehow withstands their attacks with his trained body, though sinks to the floor after one blow from the clueless Irijina.

「Y-you mean…… all the women?」

Ize's voice trembles.

「That's right. You have to offer everyone, from young girls to mature ladies.」

I add one more thing.

「However, the period will be for one year. After one year has pa.s.sed, I'll send them back to you.」

I whisper the next part in Ize's ear.

「You won't be able to support the weaker ones in a poor environment. That's why I'll look after them, so you can focus on building the foundation of your livelihood.」

Of course during that time, all the women will belong to me.

I absolutely won't treat them horribly, although getting them pregnant is a given.

「Inform your successor of this: If you don't have anything to eat, I'll at least give you food, so come crying to me.」

After Ize finishes listening, he stands up briefly and takes a knee one more time.

「I have no way to thank you for everything you've done. You are someone I can respect ……chief.」

Luna and Gido react.