105 104 stories Not only those who rejoice (1/2)

-Joshua Raytheft heard about it after he had finished suppressing the alien invaders in the eastern part of his domain.

Just before the war in Nadar ended.

An alien race that threatened the eastern part of the kingdom, the Flood Tribe, invaded the territory of the eastern nobility, looting and assaulting nearby villages.

The aristocrats immediately sent a strike force consisting of private soldiers and collectors, but they were unable to achieve the desired results due to the unpredictable fighting style of the flood tribesmen. On the contrary, they suffered losses.

The nobles, who were unable to defeat them, asked for reinforcements from the Clemellia family, the first of the eastern military families. Joshua received Perth's orders and led 500 troops to attack the flood tribe and repel them.

After a few days, he was on his way back to the capital.

Like Joshua, Raevan Meier, one of the three viscountesses assigned to assist Perth, came to ask for help.

”Well, well, well, Mr. Joshua, congratulations.

There was a slight tinge of admiration in his voice. Viscount Meyer approached, his hands rubbing in the manner of a merchant.

Joshua frowned as he congratulated him with a strange smile on his face.

Joshua frowned. I'm not sure what you mean by ”congratulations” .......　I have no idea what you're talking about.

So, Joshua has defeated the floods many times before.

Joshua is so feared and hated by the flood tribes that they call him ”Silver Fire”.

He does not deserve to be congratulated for winning a small battle.

However, Viscount Meyer does not lose his smile of obedience.

”You must be joking. Your family's success on the battlefield is a true honor for a military family. There's no need to be modest.

”My people?　”My people?　Sir Revan, I really have no idea. What the hell are you talking about?

”Is this really ...... true?

I'm really not sure what you're talking about, Mister Levan.” ”Is this true?” ”Yes,” Joshua nodded at the puzzled Viscount Meyer, who now looked surprised.

I heard that your son received a medal directly from His Majesty the King in King's Landing.

”A medal from His Majesty?　What does that ...... mean?

I don't know much about it, but I've heard that he participated in the defeat of Poluk Nadar and was awarded the top rank.

...... No, there must be some mistake.　It's impossible for that incompetent to be awarded a head rank, much less a medal.

Of course, Joshua refused to believe it. In fact, he even suspects that he is being carried by Viscount Meyer.

To Joshua's dubious expression, Viscount Meyer gave him more credible information.

I'm sure His Excellency Perce knows about this. I've heard that you were there during the ceremony.

”............

Naturally, Joshua was stunned to hear those words.

If Perth vouched for him, his suspicions would be shaken.

What has Viscount Meyer misunderstood? What did Viscount Meyer think?

No, Sir Joshua, I was completely fooled when you called your son incompetent and disinherited. At the tender age of twelve, he rose to the top of his class and was decorated. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're going to do and how you're going to do it.

”Oh, yeah. ............

I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that.

--It's a mistake for that incompetent to be awarded a decoration.

--He must be mistaken for someone else.

--He's wrong. He must be.

These words kept popping in and out of Joshua's head.

It's as if he's saying them to himself.

Needless to say, Joshua was preoccupied until the end of Viscount Meyer's persistent pursuit.

Joshua Raytheft

It was about two weeks after Joshua Raytheft had heard from Viscount Meyer about the Order of the Arcs.

On this day, Joshua was visiting the mansion of Perce Clemmeria in the royal capital.

The reason for his visit was, of course, to report to Perth about the suppression of the flood tribe.

On the way to Perth's office, guided by one of the butlers, a man walks up from the end of the corridor.

It is a young man with light brown hair.

He is slender, shorter than Joshua, and of a build that would make you nod in agreement if he were a civilian.

However, thanks to his body's martial prowess, he looks larger than his small stature.

His gestures are refined, and he walks with an air of dignity, as if he has a well-developed torso.

The dignity he wears is that of a military nobleman.

The fact that he is so skilled for his age may be due to the fact that he is the heir to a family of fine swordsmanship.

His name is Ian Kremeria. He is the eldest son of Perce Clemmeria and brother of Charlotte. He was to be the next head of the Clemmeria family.

Joshua gave Ian a perfunctory bow, and he approached him with a calm expression.

The gentle tenor of his voice echoed from his thin mouth.

”This is Viscount Raytheft.

”Dear Ian. It's been a while. How are you, sir, in the heat of the moment?

I'm doing fine. I am able to sleep peacefully thanks to the work of the Viscount. I am grateful to you.

After the exchange of such seasonal greetings, Ian gave him a word of thanks.

”Viscount. Thank you for your service in defeating the alien race.

Haha. Thank you, sir.

Joshua bowed his head, maintaining his stiff demeanor.

Ian is the one who will eventually inherit the Clemellia family. Because he is the one who will be above the eastern nobles, including Joshua, he has been acting in this reverent manner since Ian was a child.

On the other hand, Ian's attitude toward him is no different from that of a superior, although he uses polite words.

I'm sure it wasn't enough for the Viscount.

”No. I'm not sure what to say. They are nothing to be afraid of in the face of a well-organized army. If the five ...... generals show up, we won't be able to say that.

”Hmm. Mountain monster, four tiers, glance, Hidaru, Zato.

Ian uttered a strange name.

These are commonly called the five generals of the flood tribe. These are the five generals of the flood tribe, a group of barbaric and evil people who, once they are at the head of the tribe, turn into a group that rivals the best armies.

Recently, they have become eerily quiet.

”I've heard that they're quiet when they're working on some nefarious scheme.

”Well. Master Ian, be careful when you're assigned to defeat them.

Yes. I'll keep that in mind.

Ian nodded, said his goodbyes, and left the place.

After standing and talking, Joshua was again led by the butler to Perth's office.

When he entered the room, he found Perth behind his desk.

He was looking over some documents and seemed to be working on his generalship.

Joshua walks up to Perth and bows his head.

”Sir. I'm here to report on the recent suppression of the flood tribe.

I'll take it.

I accept. I have followed your order and led a mage unit to repel the scattered flood troops.

Hmm. Well done. Isn't that a ...... battle?

Yes. We didn't have much of a response.

So, you think that the work of the flood clan was a preparation for some kind of strategy?

No, they weren't very strong and there was no suspicious activity. No, they were not very strong and there was no suspicious activity. It was probably just the usual way of settling grievances within the tribe.

”That's annoying. It's annoying. Why can't they just do it in their own domain?

Exactly. We'll have to destroy those barbarians sooner or later.

Joshua's statement is quite radical, but it is also the consensus of the eastern nobility, including Perth.

That's how creepy the flood tribes are to the people of the kingdom.

Not only do they kill, rob, and rape, but they also ritualistically play with human lives.

The devastation is terrible. After they have attacked the villages, we are treated to a gruesome spectacle that could almost be described as the work of demons.

Since House Clemellia became the leader of the eastern region, they have been trying to destroy the tribe, but they have yet to succeed.

What about the situation in the Barony?

Three villages in the barony have been severely damaged.

...... I see. I'll tell the Baron to take good care of them. Thank you.

”I'm willing to sacrifice myself if it's your command.

Joshua said, bowing lightly.

The report of the suppression is now complete, but Joshua will not leave the office.

But Joshua does not leave the office, because what follows is important to him.

I'd like to ask you a question, sir.

”What is it?

What is it?” Perth asks back, and Joshua looks as if he's chewing on a bitter bug.

Before returning from ...... the east, I heard from Lord Revan that Arx received a medal from His Majesty the King. Since His Highness knows about it, that's why I'm here. Is it true that he was awarded the medal?

”Hmm, you didn't know?　Well, you didn't know that he was decorated for his role in Nadar's rebellion.

Perth knew what was going on, but he was a fool.

Joshua gave a small nod of acknowledgement to Parth, who didn't show any fear, then took another step closer and asked.

”Sir. There must be some mistake to think that that incompetent man got a medal.