Chapter 273 – Chapter 273 ― Like a Shotgun (2)
Episode 273 ― Like a shotgun (2)
Kama, the leader of Hazark’s Knights, instinctively cringed at Roan’s immense power, but at the same time admired it in many ways.
It had been said that the Emperor was a formidable being. If you go to the imperial castle, you can feel the emperor’s authority just by looking at it from a distance. According to the nobles who attended the palace meeting, the emperor was not only very strong, but also an innovative person.
It was only when Kama met the emperor in person that she realized that those words were only expressions. The presence felt from him was indescribable, and his organized words and quick judgment were admirable.
Even the women of the three races around him – demons, humans, and even forest fairies – all spoke to the emperor without fear, but the emperor quickly gathered what he needed from their words and did not ignore the questions.
But anyway, Kama was puzzled when he pointed to a human concubine as a way to break into the midst of the enemy army. The human woman, who had been pouring out amazing knowledge like magic, looked at the emperor with her blind eyes for a while, and the emperor, who was far more merciful than Kama thought, did not point out the rudeness.
So Kama mustered up the courage.
“You want to use the bait, Your Majesty?”
He also knew that the emperor’s concubine was a princess in the human world. As a demon, Kama could not understand why a person of the level of a princess was treated like a tribute to the enemy country, and was powerless.
If she was a princess of the demon tribe, she is the child of the strongest. It was because it was natural common sense for demons like Kama to have the ability to command the world like the current emperor.
In any case, weak humans fulfill their role as tools of the emperor, even if they are properly used. The emperor looked at his question. As he seemed to be waiting for an explanation, Kama mustered more courage to offer her alternative.
“It’s a method humans sometimes use, but they often shout, ‘Come any closer and I’ll kill you!’ Does that work for humans? If so, please use that method.”
Ah.
That owl bear knight who says it’s bait,
It seemed that he was reminded of the hostage play that humans use in battles with humans.
Grunent’s eyes met the owl’s eyes, which were shining yellow but looked round and cute.
Grünent immediately smiled.
“You are sharp, Lord Kama. That’s good observation. I don’t know why they act like that, but did you think it would work because humans act like that?”
The knight blinked a few times.
“That’s right.”
“To explain, human judgment often falters when the life of a comrade is threatened. It is to use that advantage.”
After hearing the emperor’s interpretation, the knight still looked puzzled. Roan added.
“It is different from our demons. We don’t care if a weak entity different from us is captured by someone. That is, unless it is a child or a master who must sacrifice his life to serve.”
“It is.”
“Human beings have a strong sense of solidarity with each other instinctively. In such a situation, they seem less likely to assume that the captives, like us, are to blame.”
“If that’s the case, Your Majesty, with all due respect, what is the meaning of the last attack that destroyed only human habitation and seemed to be aimed at the same human beings?”
The tent became quiet.
Aina snorted,
Urutellia giggled in silence.
Helen and Grünent looked at each other with puzzled expressions as if they had been hit.
“This proves that humans do not live by instinct alone.”
At Roan’s words, the giant owl bear opened her beak slightly and nodded to him as if she had been enlightened.
“It is out of necessity.”
“In that respect, she is optimal.”
Roan looked at Grunent.
A tragic woman who was unwillingly dragged away by the demons.
A beautiful princess who has just taken off her girlish clothes.
Those who rescue her may have her immense fame and political power. A good prey that can appeal to both human instinct and reason.
“Grünent, if you accept it.”
“Yes.”
And Grünent didn’t hesitate for a second.
“If I can be of any help to Your Majesty, I will be happy.”
The lords will have different political views. There are those who want to use her by protecting and rescuing her Grünent, and there will be those who want to get rid of her and win the eyes of her king. That’s why her existence that stimulates human instinct is even more advantageous.
Roan’s expression contorted as he smiled and tried to thank Grunent.
Suddenly, Roan turned her head toward the outside of the tent. Unable to understand what was going on, Hazark’s Knight Commander blinked and stood up.
“Your Majesty, how are you?”
However, Owl Bear had to look more surprised when he saw a human, a forest fairy, and her demons, just like Roan, showing her wariness to the outside.
Aside from the demons, that blue-haired woman was the one who always stood by His Majesty as an escort, and the forest fairy was the one who escorted His Majesty’s concubine…
It’s unclear why, but they’re feeling something. Something you don’t know
“Are you feeling it too?”
“… This, that’s it… !”
Aina muttered as if grinding her teeth. Helen and Urtellia also nodded.
“Yes, I can feel it, Master. It’s a sign of it.”
Just then, an attendant’s voice was heard outside.
“Your majesty. The Grand Duke of Darkness, the Southern Dark Lord, has arrived.”
As soon as Roan gave permission, the Grand Duke entered the tent. Kama greeted with silence, but the Dark Duke raised his eyebrows once at the strange silence inside the tent.
“It’s been a while, Grand Duke.”
“Long live His Majesty the Iron-blooded Emperor. To come across the Forest Fairy’s forest, you have done something unimaginable to anyone, Your Majesty.”
The Grand Duke bowed his head in obeisance and then looked at the emperor’s human concubine.
It was an indifferent and cold look, but I already received a lot of such glances in the human palace. Grünent smiled at him as well.
“I’m sorry, but I overheard the conversation you had just before. Why do you want to use cunning tricks that only humans can use? Your majesty.”
The gaze was short. The Grand Duke asked a question. He seemed to have overheard all the conversations outside.
“Do you have any other opinions?”
“The Southern Dark Spirit soldiers are brave, Your Majesty. We have been preparing for battle since we received your Majesty’s message, and we won again this time. We don’t need to avoid battle.”
The words of the Grand Duke of Darkness are the right theory. No demon tribe would feel the need to refute that statement. Of course, demons can crush humans by force. If you have the chance, don’t avoid it.
But what if the king of the demons, the strongest among them, gives an order?
“Jim does not want war. And I do not want to lose my people to unnecessary things.”
Roan’s voice was low and calm.
What the Grand Duke wants is clear.
Death through war.
If it’s a cause, it’s enough for Roan.
And Roan wasn’t about to give it away.
“I will not dwell on winning the war. There is no need to risk everyone’s life. I plan to finish this battle overwhelmingly and subdue the human king right away.”
The Grand Duke bowed his head deeply at Roan’s determined voice. As if to hide his surprise.
The Archduke’s embarrassment was vaguely conveyed through the skill, but Roan didn’t point it out.
“If you want a battle, a fight, don’t hold the people hostage. Whether it’s fighting for territory or a duel with someone, I won’t say anything about a battle with you alone. But don’t dare to move my people to your liking. My soldiers are my people and mine.”
The Grand Duke did not dare to raise his head at Roan’s words, which sounded like a growl threatened by a beast. Even Kama, who was sitting next to him, shook his head at the Emperor’s resolute spirit.
“Grandee.”
“Yes. Your majesty.”
“I will establish a detailed plan in a moment. Gather the lords and knights except those who organize the battlefield.”
“All right. Your majesty.”
**
It took a whole day to clean up the battlefield.
It wasn’t enough to give up the front line, but the Merde army, which had suffered a significant blow, seemed to be waiting for the next decision, retreating and arranging the disorganized forces.
Meanwhile, in Evirgio, the lord and knights gathered and began to devise a strategy.
A long straight line with Grünent in the foreground is the default, and while inducing the movement of the fast-footed cavalry, a detached force including Roan attacks the enemy commander.
And the element essential to that plan appeared the next day, along with a being Roan hadn’t thought of.
“Why did you come?”
Surprise and light anger washed the emotion off Roan’s face. However, in spite of Roan’s cold voice, Erenia responded calmly.
“I’m so happy to see you after a long time♡ I missed you so much. Of course, that was also the reason, but I saw the fruit of a long study. It will definitely help Roan♡”
Eleanor got off the back of the Witchbeast, leaving behind the Central Knights who had just begun to organize their ranks.
The move was expected to take two weeks by wagon and one week if the cavalry marched at full speed, but the knights arrived ahead of schedule.
I don’t know how Elenier is together there.
“I would have told you to protect the imperial castle.”
“Don’t you want to end the war?”
Even after hearing Roan’s questioning, which seemed to be lowly threatening, Erenia calmly asked a question.
She held out a small magic stone with her bright face. It was a magic stone densely engraved with detailed magic formations.
However, Roan did not readily extend his hand.
Erenia looked at Roan with her eyes narrowed. She still had a smile on her eyes.
“Your Majesty, I apologize for not being able to attend you in person. I am relieved to see that you arrived safely.”
In the meantime, the one who approached Roan was the vice-captain, Turko, who appeared with 1,000 Central Knights.
A total of 2,000 Central Knights were to be divided, half of which were Southern Dark Spirits, and 500 of the remaining members were to follow Minoreus, the leader of the Knights, to support West Blood Spirit Zeno. The remaining 500 remain in Basel’s Imperial Castle to protect Basel.
“How is the empress with you?”
Even if it wasn’t so, she expected that the moment she met Her Highness the empress, a discord would fall. But it was a milder question than I thought. Because the changed emperor didn’t take out his anger on the people under him over the wrong things.
Relying on that, Turko tried to answer calmly.
“You just joined when you crossed the border between the West Blood and the Southern Dark Territory.”
“The battlefield is a dangerous place. Didn’t you think of sending the empress back?”
In response to Roan’s ‘overwhelm’ after a long time, the durahan knight unknowingly fixed his head on his side. It was an expression of nervousness.
In fact, there are not many options for the lower person stuck in the middle. However, it is also true that what Roan said is unmistakable.
The body of an empress, who may produce her royal descendants at any time, is precious, and it is even more precious because she is the one who will command the imperial castle if something goes wrong with her emperor.
Turko knows that well. So even though he had ten mouths, he had nothing to say, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be silent on his own.
“Sorry…”
Turko, who was about to apologize first, lost his words.
However, Roan also opened his eyes wide and did not blame his rudeness.
Suddenly, the ‘overwhelm’ disappeared.
At the same time, all senses were blocked as if they were underwater.
‘Detection’, which informed the surrounding atmosphere, and ‘Politics’ and ‘Listening’, which provided information on Turko and Eleanor’s actions.
All of that is gone
As Roan looked at her in surprise, her eyes met Erenia, tilting her head slightly to the side and smiling again.
From the magic stone in her hand, strong and strange magic that wizards had never felt before was swirling ominously.
“Now you’re looking at me properly♡”
