Chapter 174: The Successor to the Quardenze Family
The morning, which was nearing the end of January, was cold and quiet, as if it chilled me to the core.
As I casually looked outside while walking down an unfamiliar corridor to get breakfast, I saw a fine dusting of snow that could have been mistaken for smoke. It seemed that this was the cause of the cold weather that seemed to have switched gears.
The climate of the entire continent of Eluo is not well documented, so it is difficult to say, but at least in the central part of the continent where the territory of Kuordenze is located, the climate varies from year to year. Snows, it piles up as much as Hokkaido, but in years when it doesn't, it doesn't snow at all. This winter, it snowed for the first time today, so I guess we are in the northern Kanto region of Japan .
Feeling my heart beat a little with excitement as the snow fell, I stopped my footsteps to go to the cafeteria and moved to a balcony with a good view.
I stop to look at the view from the balcony, which has changed dramatically overnight, and just gazed at it blankly.
“Wow.”
The sigh that escaped my lips spread like steam and quickly melted into the winter sky. The earth, like a veil of silk, is somewhat mysterious, and I can't help but be captivated by its beauty.
Cynthia once told me that Tia Messerail, the spirit of the snowfield, looks like a maiden with snow-white hair that stretches as far as it can crawl on the ground. Like the legend of the snow maidens of prehistoric Japan, snow may be destined to be associated with beautiful women.
Neaith Riff: ……
In ancient language, neace is an adjective meaning deserted and unpopular, and riff means market.
The word “Neace” Is appropriate when you see the land spread out quietly, as if the large-scale battles that took place just a few weeks ago had never taken place.
But there was something more famous here than the riff…… Market. This area, which in ancient times would have been nothing more than a desolate marketplace, is now called by a different name.
Reishleif.
The name should remind anyone of the castle of Reischlieff, owned by the Spierzeig family.
…… No, this term was not accurate.
If it were accurate, it would be owned by the Spiaseik family.
The Voistra Plain stretching out in the distance, and the Castle Reishleif at my feet.
Even now, I sometimes feel uncomfortable with myself standing in this place.
Operation Serpent's Fangs, the second fang has pierced the Leishlief Castle and placed it under the control of …… Quordenze.
Today's breakfast consisted of a biscuit-like staple made of ground and baked grain and rabbit meat soup. I had had enough of this menu for one day.
I looked outside and saw it was snowing.
When I said that, all the military officers looked at me at once.
The actual “I'm not a fan of the newest technology, but I'm not a fan of the newest technology, either.
I thought to myself, “I'm sure the …… Soldiers are feeling the cold too. It would be good if we could provide them with hot soup when they take a break, but do you have enough in your stockpile ?”
Since I couldn't very well say, “Shall we make snowmen?”
The military officer in charge expressed his findings on the current state of the stockpile, and the military officer with the position returned his opinion, starting a light discussion.As I poked at the biscuit-like staple with my fork and watched the proceedings. , The soup idea was adopted.
Since I didn't feel that he was trying to force me to do what he wanted, I made the decision to provide the soup.
After a pause, Gatoren, a knight who was eating at the same long table with me, spoke up.
The enemy will not go into battle in this snow.The soldiers in our army seem to be getting tired, so I think we should take this opportunity to give them a rest.Of course, we must not neglect our vigilance.
Since this is the first full-scale snowfall of the winter, it is said that everywhere will be so busy dealing with the snowfall that they will not have enough time to move the army.
Before I knew it, the main topic of conversation had shifted from me to the knight Gatoren, and an atmosphere like a morning assembly spread through the dining hall.
The military officers began to report on their respective posts and announced their plans for the day.
When the military officers finished, the civilian officers began to talk about the overall schedule.
General Gulfis is scheduled to visit us today.
Through all this snow?”
The military officers around me answered my question.
'He wishes to see the young master.
I imagine the Shogun must be angry with you because of the bad turn of events.
He has not yet entered the castle once.
It must be frustrating. It must be frustrating to be glued to your base while Voestra's great shield has been shattered.
The majority of the people who have entered Raishleif Castle are Wilk's army from Nambonan.
The main Spiaseik army has long since pulled out, but Grandfather Gulfis still has n't seen his face, as he can't seem to leave his frontline base his.
A military officer from Gulfis's army would come to Raishleif Castle with a letter every once in a while, and it was a little frightening to see his grandfather's brushstrokes becoming rougher and rougher as the correspondence went on. I guess he is holding back his guts from wanting to enter Raishleif.
I guess everyone at …… Is right. For Grandfather, it's his long-cherished wish to see the castle fall, and I can understand why he wants to see it for himself.”
When I said that, the military officers voiced a little excitement.
'I'm sure that's part of it, but the general would like to hear directly from the young master.
'Yes, yes.' I understand the general's feelings of him, though I may be presumptuous.
The capture of Raishleif Castle …… Should not fail to arouse his interest in him.
The military officers then began to talk about the time they had attacked Raishleif Castle.
As I listened to their tales, which were becoming almost as passionate as drunkenness, the excitement of that day, when I bared my second fang, came flooding back to me.
Three weeks ago.
The Wilk Force, with me as its commander-in-chief, left Nambonan City and, instead of heading for the frontline base where my grandfather was waiting for them as originally planned, attacked one of the fortress groups that made up the castle of Reishleif .
If there was one miscalculation here, it was that there were almost no military officers on the fortress side.
It is clear now that the Spierzeiks were under considerable duress, and most of their personnel seemed to be devoted to the surprise attack.
The Quardenze family was on the defensive because they were going to attack the frontline base and the city of Nambonan at the same time, after having caused the Galiana family's treason and the invasion of the Evenapis family to cause anxiety. The defensive. Therefore, it seems that they thought that the defense of Reischlieff could be thin,……
It is a no-guard strategy of full offensive power, dry and unguarded.
The first fortress fell in a very short time.
The unexpected appearance of the Quardenze army, and it was the main ancestor's army. The Spierzeig soldiers, who had been in a carefree stay-at-home mode, collapsed very easily.
The Wilk forces that occupied the fortress used it as a base to capture some of the surrounding fortresses and began destroying them from the inside. Advantages to doing so. They decided to harass the fortresses because they would be taken back later anyway.
Once the fortress, which was fully equipped with countermeasures against magical forces, was half destroyed, the Wilk forces moved again.
The main reasons for this decision were that the main army of Spierzeig, which was attacking the frontline base, showed no signs of starting a retreat, and the destruction of one corner of the fortress group made it easier for the army to move. A game analogy, it is similar to having fewer enemy units with the Zone of Control skill to suppress mobility.
The Wilk forces took advantage of the speed that the main ancestral army possessed to launch an attack on the core of Raishleif Castle, the true “Raishleif Castle.
The battle at Raishleif Castle was extremely fierce.
As expected, the defense of the main castle, Raishleif Castle, is not as thin as it could be.
However, it is not only the facilities and the quality of the soldiers that make Raishleif Castle strong.
It is said that the morale of commoner soldiers who see the castle is sure to be demoralized.
Even the commoners are aware of the “Great Shield of Wojtyla,” Which even prevented the invasion of the western champion, Emperor Zinkaen.
There is no way they can take down a castle like this, of course it's impossible, and I don't want to die,……
Confronting the castle of Reischlieff, in other words, was also confronting the history of the Spierzeig family.
The Nambonan citizen soldiers played an active role in that battle.
Rather, they were fired up by the prospect of confronting such a formidable foe, and they launched a valiant assault, faster than any other unit, under the banner of the coat of arms of the city of Nambonan.
The vigor of the Nambonan citizen soldiers was enough to inspire the morale of the other Kuordentse soldiers. Into a state of excitement.
The Quardenze troops succeeded in putting on their best performance in the battle against an opponent who could not help but shrink.
And the actions of the Nambonan civilian soldiers, who fought more vigorously than any other troops, led to a significant lowering of the enemy's morale.
It was only a few months ago that the city of Nambonan was ruled by the Quordentze family, and it was still fresh in their minds.
The commoners in Spierzeig's army must have thought: “What is the point of going against the Kuordentse? “Poor Nambonan residents, they must have been forcibly conscripted and thrown into the front line as pawns for defying the Kuordentze family,” …… Thought the commoners of Spiasek's army.
But that's not true. Even though there was propaganda by me, these citizen soldiers were at the front voluntarily.
The citizen soldiers raised their voices toward the Spierzeik soldiers guarding the castle at the same time as the assault.
One of the most effective points he made was that the Spiaseiks were heavily taxed.
Taxes in the Kuordenze territory are not light, but they are relatively light compared to those in Spiaseik, whose finances are heavily burdened by the cost of war. Some of the citizen soldiers must have come from merchant families, and they loudly insisted on how heavy the taxes were in Spiaseik territory.
As Rupetta had once said, the commoners did not care about the quarrels among the nobles. As long as they protect the land as lords, the fewer conscripts they have and the lighter the taxes, the better lords they are. -Soldiers were apt to hit the spot.
Interestingly, the Nambonan citizen-soldier began his call with perfect good intentions.
From the perspective of the Nambonan citizen-soldiers, the Spiaseik lords may have looked like pathetic victims whose taxes and lives were exploited by the evil nobility.
In some ways, good intentions are the most difficult to deal with.
Despite the efforts of the Spiaseik military officers to somehow boost morale, the morale of the Spiaseik soldiers continued to decline.
It was as if they could hear the voices in their hearts saying, “If life is easier than it is now, it would be better for the Quardenzes to become lords, and even if they surrender, they may be forgiven like the city of Nambonan ……
Of course, there is no such thing as a just army, and since we are not fighting a war for charity, we may not be able to fulfill their wishes, but that was after the war.
The onslaught of the Wilk's army made the castle of Leithleif look increasingly vulnerable, and on the second day of the attack, it finally fell.
The great shield of Vojstra was broken. If the enemy had had even one master-ancestor on their side, they would never have been able to bring it down.
It seemed to take more than a day for the news of the castle's fall to reach them, but the main army of Spierzeig, which had been attacking the frontline base, began to retreat in a panic.
Naturally, on the withdrawal route was the castle of Reischlieff, which was being occupied by Wilk's army. Confronted with two options with a time limit: to destroy the castle from the inside like other fortresses and then retreat, or to remain holed up in the The battle-depleted castle and maintain their base, the Wilk forces were conflicted.
It was best if they could keep the castle, which they had miraculously managed to obtain. However, it was the main army of Spierzeig that was returning from the frontline base, and the speed of that army led by the main ancestor was so fast that it was no exaggeration to say that there was zero time to prepare to intercept them in a castle that they did not know how to use.
It was my grandfather who made the move.
As soon as he learned of the fall of Raishleif Castle, he attacked from behind Spierzeig's main army, which had begun to retreat with the exhausted Gulfis forces in the siege. The enemy soldiers into a state of panic.
How much fear must the soldiers of Spierzeig have felt at the failure of the operation, the news of the fall of Raishleif Castle, and the reality that the red devil …… Was coming at them as if from nowhere?
The main Spierzeig forces were unable to make a quick retreat, and as a result, the Wilk forces were able to make only minimal preparations to intercept the attackers at Raishleif Castle.
When the main Spierzeig forces arrived at the castle of Laishleif, the sky was cloudy.
It is not difficult to imagine that the flag of the Quardenze crest fluttering on the last line of defense, which must not fall, was a scene of despair for them, a reality that they wanted to turn away from.
The head of the Spierzeig family, the general of the Spierzeig main army, must have been very worried about whether he should launch a siege to recapture the castle or retreat to his territory once through a thinly defended area.
The Quordenze forces defending the castle of Reishlieff and the Spierzeig forces confronting them.
The standoff lasted less than an hour, and then it came to an end.
It began to rain.
The cold winter rain, freezing to the core, finally broke the main army of Spierzeig. The army of the noble families that had followed the Spiaseiks since the days of the Kingdom of Vojstra broke away from the chain of command and began to flee. The Leishlief area was the old Voistra's home ground, they knew of many avenues of escape.
The Spierzeig family's main army also seemed to have decided that they could no longer recover from the situation, seeing their men fleeing one after another, and they bypassed the Leishlieff castle and returned to the Voistra Plain.
As expected, there was no energy left to pursue them, so the Wilk forces sent them off with a victory cry.
Then, three weeks passed.
The impact of having the core of Leithleif Castle under our control was significant, and we were able to take down the remaining group of fortresses with relative ease. Even though I had never gone into battle, 70 percent of them had already fallen.
From time to time, the Spierzeig family has come to attack with an army to recapture the castle, but I have so far succeeded in repelling all of them.
The only trouble is that I don't have a single pretty girl I can take to bed with me since I am on the front line against the Spierzeiks.
I have sent soldiers to the villages near the castle to look for pretty girls, but with no success. I'm afraid that if I don't do something, I'll have so much semen in my body that my internal organs will rupture .
If your grandfather is coming here, does that mean that the west side has calmed down?
I had heard in a letter that the reason my grandfather had not been able to enter Raishleif until today was because there was unrest in the western part of the country.
The conquest of Raishleif Castle did not dramatically resolve the situation surrounding the Quardenze family.
Because of the low level of civilization on the continent of Eluo, there were inevitably delays in the transmission of information.
The surprise attack by the Spierzeiks had already failed, but before we could get the information, we were told, “The Spierzeiks have done it! We have to ride this big wave! Don't miss the bus!” That some aristocratic family will join the war by saying something like “Don't miss the bus! It is also conceivable that this could lead to a chain of declarations of war.
For the nobles who jumped on the bandwagon, they would be able to seize the Quordenze territory in the confusion of the moment and also sell a huge debt of gratitude to the Dukes of Spierzeig, the allies of the Zinkaen Empire's major factions. -Risk, high-reward.
But if the news of the fall of Raishleif Castle is conveyed, it is not a matter of relief. In fact, the letter from his grandfather said that the situation would become even more dangerous.
What will the nobles think when they hear that the Quardenze army has defeated Raishleif Castle? There is only one answer: “Both the Quordenzes and the Spierzeiges are wounded to the hilt.
It is common knowledge among the surrounding noble families that a great deal of bloodshed is required to break the great shield of Vojstra. In other words, the Quardenzes must have spilled the blood. Naturally, the Spierzeig family, which fought to the last line of defense, must have been even weaker than that.
What this mistaken assumption means is that the balance of power in the central part of the continent has collapsed.
In the central part of the continent, the Quardenzes and the Spiaseiks, the two great noble families, were still fighting for supremacy.
If both parties were weakening, it was quite possible that some of the noble families of the empire, which had maintained neutrality and nonintervention, would have ambition. The old Voestra faction, may attack to establish themselves as a third power.
Specifically speaking, a pattern in which the northern nobles of the empire unite to invade the castle of Laishleif is conceivable. Territory,” Defeat the Quardenze army, which would be heavily depleted from the castle siege, and occupy Raishleif Castle as it is. If they could maintain it, they would not return the castle to the Spierzeik family after recapturing it, but would continue their effective control of it.
If they are deprived of Vojstra's great shield, the Spiaseik family is like having their balls in their hands. Their influence within the empire would undoubtedly fall.
While the Quordenze territory is protected in the north by a natural barrier, in the south by its allies the House of Silopea and the House of Evenapis, and in the east by an alliance named the Kingdom of Levioth, the west is very unstable.
The Quordenze territory, which extends far to the west, is here and there adjacent to the Imperial Noble Domain. Through my father's diplomacy, they have shown neutrality or non-interference, but even this is like a thin sheet of ice.
The frontline base was set up not only as a foothold for the invasion of the Spierzeiks, but also to drive a wedge against these opportunistic imperial aristocrats.
The letter said that the reason my grandfather had returned to the outpost without speaking to me was because he had decided that he needed to check the western front.
I have not heard of any confrontation between my grandfather and the imperial aristocracy, but he has remained at the frontline base all this time.
The fact that he is coming here today must mean that the tantrums in the western part of the country have eased up a bit.
He said he sensed military activity a few times, but things have calmed down recently.
'If it's ……, That's good. It makes me feel a little better to know that your grandfather will be here.'
The original raison d'être of Leithleif Castle was to serve as a shield against enemy attacks that would be approaching from the north. It is not so strongly built against attacks from the south, i.E., From the Vojstra Plain. From the Spierzeig family's point of view, it is a castle that is easy to recover.
Even though I have fortified a makeshift defense, if the Spiaseiks were to attack again with the old Vojstra allied army, I am sure that I alone would not be able to withstand the attack.
If my grandfather is able to move at the time of an emergency and I am unable to move, our peace of mind will be completely different.
Young master, are you tired?
It's not unreasonable, since I was suddenly put in charge of such a key position.
Why don't you take it easy today?”
The military officers are concerned about my listless voice.
I was suddenly left in charge of the important task of looking after Raishleif Castle, but since I had no other choice, I had no choice but to do so.
The person who could respond appropriately to the movements of the Imperial nobility, which demanded good judgment, was my grandfather, who had a wealth of experience in the battlefield, was well known as a warrior, and could be easily manipulated. Able to take the lead at the front line base.
On the other hand, since the enemy attacking the castle of Reischlieff was sure to be the Spierzeig family or the noble families under them, it was not so difficult to do, except for the fact that the main anancestral army might come. Comes, all we have to do is to repel them without thinking about it, without any political decisions.
A civil official who was watching the situation spun words as if he was concerned about us.
The general will be here today to deal with the envoys from the other houses. It will help stabilize the west.”
'Ah, today, I see.'
I recall that such a letter had arrived from my father in New Nellie City.
I heard that the story of my dropping Raishleif Castle has spread to a certain extent in the past three weeks or so.
This series of battles, which began with the surprise attack by the Spierzeig family and ended with the fall of Raishleif Castle, is said to be known as the “Splitting of the Serpent's Shield” And so on.
The nobles were astonished to learn that it was not their grandfather Gulfis, but his 12-year-old heir who had not yet been nominated as the next head of the family, who had accomplished this feat.
Nobles everywhere are interested in the sudden appearance of “Quardenze Wilk. But I have hardly appeared on the stage of aristocratic society yet. At best, I have met only the nobles of the Levios Kingdom's Quardenze faction. I would not be able to gather much information.
The messenger must have gone to a lot of trouble in the snow.
We don't know how many days it will continue to snow, and if it is as bad as it was this morning, it would be better for you to come.
Naturally, the lack of information would not be the end of the story.
At the very least, they needed to know the truth and reality of the rumors about the fall of Raishleif Castle.
That is why New Nellie Castle has received a large number of congratulatory letters.
To summarize the contents of the letters, “Congratulations on the capture of Raishleif Castle! As fellow nobles of the Kingdom of Levioth, we are delighted! I have prepared a small gift to congratulate you, and I would like to present it to you! Since it was our idea, we'll bring it to Raishleif Castle! I wish I could give it to Lord Wilk in person! Most of the gifts were said to be “I'd like to give it to Lord Wilk in person!
They are probably trying to scout out Reishleif Castle, check the wear and tear on the Quardenze army, and evaluate the quality of the rumored heir apparent.
The civilian officer turned his gaze away from me and looked at the military officers.
He said, “…… Visiting us today will be a messenger from the Marquise of Aterahan. Please be careful what you say and do.”
One of the five major noble families in the Kingdom of Levios, the northern noble family, the Aterahans.
Although they are a noble family with the same marquis status as the Quardenze family in the kingdom, they do not have much interaction with each other.
The Aterahan family also approached the Kuordentse family to congratulate them, but what was clever here was that they focused their celebration on their grandfather alone. The Quardenze family found it difficult to refuse the invitation.
However, my grandfather, who is also the previous head of the family, is a public figure, and a blanket refusal could make him look bad.
However, the offer was a godsend to the Quardenze family.
Accepting an envoy from the Aterahans meant that “The Quardenze forces are strong enough that it does not matter if they are seen by the Aterahans, who are not their own faction. The fall of Raishleif Castle is also a fact.
The possibility of aristocratic families in the northern part of the empire taking rash actions would be reduced at once.
The Aterahan family is another big one……”
I wonder from which knightly family he got his name-change his?”
“If it is the Quardenze family from the Aterahan family, a suitable knight should have been chosen.
Then again, the Ritabrias?
That would be the most likely choice.
First of all, it would be impossible to go lower than that.
When it was mentioned that an envoy from the Aterahan family would be coming, the warriors began to talk about it.
The name of the family is easily mentioned by the military officers.
In noble diplomacy, the status of the messenger is important. This is especially true after a major incident, when the outside world pays attention.
For example, when the Kuordenze family sends an envoy to another family, the most respectful way is to send a retired knight from the House of Gatoren as the envoy. Of the Kuordenze family.
Of course, if the first knight of the House of Gatoren sends a messenger every time, it will give the impression of being too humble and pathetic, so the House of Gatoren sends a messenger only when it is truly necessary. A knight or a competent military and civilian official, the job of diplomat is waiting for them.
In this case, it is immediately after the major event of the fall of Raishleif Castle, and it is a communication between the Quardenze Aterahans, who do not usually interact with each other. A retired knight should be chosen from a suitable knight family.
The knights and warriors are anxious to make sure that the Quordenzes are not being taken advantage of.
The knights and warriors were curious to know if Quardenze was being bullied.
Yes.
And this is another strange custom, but it is often not known in advance where the messenger will come from. It is always a messenger from the “Aterahan family.
If it is possible to communicate quickly by phone, but it takes time to coordinate by letter, it may be that they do not give prior notice in case they need to change the emissary.
It would be useful in the case that the first knight family was going to send a messenger, but when it came time to actually send the messenger, the situation had changed and the knight family of a lower rank wanted to send a messenger to exert pressure from the top.
In any case, there seemed to be no prior information this time either.
At the very least, I would have thought that they should have sent us a warning when they entered the territory of Quordenze, but because of the customary practice, no one cared and simply welcomed the “Messenger from the Atelahan family. I wonder if they can confirm the identity of the messenger.
Well, I guess they will come from the Ritabrias in that order, won't they?
In order to calm down the military officers who were getting excited about the messenger, I told them my prediction as if to break off the conversation.
All of the knight families mentioned by the military officers are the oldest knight families that are said to have existed since the beginning of the Aterahan family.
But it is none of my business who comes.
I'm sure you understand, young sir.
I interrupted him, trying to nail him, but he was too eager.
'I know, my father has told me so. As soon as the messenger arrives, call me. I'm going to take it easy indoors today, it's snowing.'
The messenger coming from the Aterahan family will not meet with me, as he is coming under the name of “Let General Gulfis congratulate me on the fall of Raishleif Castle.
This is an action that my father has clearly instructed me to take by letter, so I cannot make a visit on my own initiative.
It seems that the strategy is to tell him the reality of Raishleif Castle, but not the rumored heir apparent.
Knowing that the Quardenze forces have not suffered much damage and that Raishleif's main castle, as well as its branches, are almost completely overrun, they must be even more interested in the man who has accomplished this.
My father is already moving, thinking about how he will stand his ground in the spring in King's Landing.I have no intention of going against him.
I'm going back to my room after dinner. I'll leave the scene to you.”
The spoonful of soup was a little cold.
The room he used as his room had a window with a large view to the north.It was probably installed so that he could see in case of an enemy attack.
He decided to have an after-dinner cup of tea while watching the snow fall, so he removed the wooden board attached to the window frame.
O……”
I saw what looked like a person in the far distance of the half-removed window.
The distance appears hazy white due to the falling snow, but I managed to catch the figure by strengthening my eyesight with magic.
Walking through the mountains was a group of about 100 people.
In the front were several military officers from Kuordenze, dozens of commoners who looked like construction workers, and in the center of the group was the familiar figure of my grandfather.
And in the rear, a well-dressed man is walking slightly behind, mounted on an unfamiliar animal. Next to him appears to be a civilian officer from Quordenze, who appears to be talking from time to time.
…… Perhaps that is the messenger from the Aterahan family.
I called for the guards who were waiting outside the room and pointed out the window.
'It looks like your grandfather is heading this way, but do you see anyone riding a strange animal in the mix?'
The escorts looked closely to see it, and answered at about the same time.
They are messengers of the Aterahan family, aren't they?
I was curious as to how they could be so sure, since they did not seem to be carrying any banner indicating their affiliation.
How can you be so sure?
The strange animal you mentioned, young master, is a horse found in the Aterahan region, so we can assume that the rider is a messenger from the Aterahan family.
That was indeed a logical conclusion.
After listening to the escort's explanation, I took another look at the creature. It was one size larger than a normal horse, and the base of its neck seemed sturdy. Its ivory-colored horns, which looked as if they were the palms of giant hands, and its almost vermilion-red hair, which stood out vividly against the snowy landscape, were distinctive features.
The animal looks more like an elk than a horse.
A gakuba?”
Did you know that? It is a horse famous for the Gakitai.
Gakuba.
According to the book, it is an animal that lives in the steep mountains and has large horns. In the scriptures of the Zesu Order of the Sacred High Priesthood, it was also described as a brave, fierce, and proud animal.
Because of their temperament, they are more difficult to handle than mere horses, but they are said to be strong in rugged terrain with poor footholds and are suitable for traveling in mountainous areas.
The Aterahan region is a source of Utakuma, and because it is surrounded by mountains, Utakuma are used as much as regular horses.
The most famous of them is the elite unit of the Aterahan army called the “Utaki cavalry”.
The high skill level and mobility of the Utaki horse mounted troops make them a major force in controlling the mountainous Aterahan region.
As I gazed at the realistic appearance of the mountain horses, which I had only read about in books or heard rumors about, one of the guards whispered to me, “The red-haired mountain horses are called 'Utama.
I have heard that only the Ritabrias are allowed to ride the red-haired mountain horses.
One of the guards said so.
Apparently, he had talked to someone from the Aterahan family before and had heard about it.
The messenger is definitely from the Ritabrias, isn't he?
From here it is hard to tell from a distance, but he looks quite old.
'No way, Ritabria Nabasin?
If that's the case, then it's safe to say that the Aterahans are taking this matter very seriously.
“Could it be that Lord Clown is behind this……?”
Although today the Aterahan family is one of the largest noble families on the continent, the Aterahan family is a newly emerging noble family with a history of only about 100 years, and its origins are often vague.
In effect, it is a noble family founded by only two main ancestors, the elder brother Osimnia and the younger sister Croune.
Ritabria Nabasin was a loyal knight who fought alongside his siblings on the battlefield and helped unify the Aterahan region.It is said that he was the knight most valued by the young Clowne.
In recent decades, he seems to have retired from diplomacy, perhaps due to his advanced age, and I have not heard that he has left for other territories. If it is indeed Nabashin over there, I am inclined to think that Claune may have made a move, as the military officers say.
'That's another big mountain moved.
The Utaki Kishitai was a unit devised and put into practical use by Aterahan Croune.
At the turning point of the times, she stood up with her own spear and rode across the land with her own unit of mounted cavalry. In the end, she came into conflict with her brother Osimnia, whom she trusted the most, and overcoming his Corpse, she finally united the Aterahan region and changed the name of her family to Aterahan.
The Aterahan family may be said to be an aristocratic family that originated from the Aterahan Krone.Although he is said to be still alive today, he is over 100 years old, so it would not be surprising if he were to die at any time.
If Lord Croune is paying attention, we cannot bypass him. We have to be on our toes.
It is no exaggeration to say that Clowne is the symbol of the Aterahan family's military prowess, and although he has long since retired as head of the family, his influence is not limited to the Aterahan family but extends throughout the Kingdom of Levioth, and even the entire continent.
Although the truth is not known, there is a rumor that Claune was second in command of the reinforcement force that stopped the invasion of Levios by Princess Orsian.
Is the Aterahan family so short of human resources that they have to rub out an old woman who is over 100 years old? The Quardenze family can't say much about other families, either, as they have an over-80 year old man on the battlefield…….
The Quardenze family can't say much about other families either.
Before I knew it, there was a civil official standing outside the room.
I won't leave my room. Let me know when you return.”
I watched the door to the room close, wishing I could have heard Aterahan Crone's tale of heroism.
It was about three o'clock snack time in the Japan of the previous generation when my grandfather came to the warrior's workroom.
He had probably finished dealing with the messenger and had time to come in and see me.
Is Wilk home?
I had come to the workroom to seek warmth. I had come to the workroom as a result of my needy spirit that it would be a waste to let the guards use magic just for me.
The messenger never comes to the workroom, so it makes no difference whether he is in his room or here.
Here I am.”
I stopped writing the letter and called out to my grandfather.
Then his head he moved with a jerk and he came at me with such force that he kicked the desks of the military and civilian officials.
Wilk!”
Yes.”
My grandfather, with his arms spread wide, looks as if he is blocking my escape route.
As a 12-year-old, I am shorter than he is.
“Are you safe? Is my body okay?
My grandfather says in a loud voice that pierces my eardrums.
Grandfather? As I mentioned in my letter: …….”
Perhaps he is asking if I was injured in the single combat with Spierzeig Verret and the attack on the castle of Raishleif.
But my grandfather, with a grim expression on his face, grabbed me by both shoulders as if to squeeze me.
You can write as many falsehoods as you like in a letter! Don't be so stubborn, be honest with me, if you have any pain at all, you must go back to New Nellie and recuperate. Wilk! I am not a liar!
He presses his palms against my body over my clothes to see if I'm hurt or not.
The reality of the fact that I've been in the market for a long time, I'm not sure if it's a good idea to get a new job.
'Hey …… Grandfather, it's okay. There was no main ancestor in the attack on Raishleif Castle, and Spierzeig Verret was a blow. I was surprised at the intimidation of the nobles, but that's all.”
My grandfather's eyes are narrow, as if he is trying to discern if I am lying from the way I speak.
…… Did you feel any numbness in your body after the battle?”
I refrain from giving an immediate answer because his voice is particularly serious.
I slowly closed my eyes and looked back again in the darkness, but I still couldn't remember anything in particular.
I knew it was not there.
I opened my eyes and was caught in my grandfather's gaze.
I was afraid that my lie would be easily detected by this strong gaze. Don't worry, I'm not lying this time.
I'm not lying this time. Then good, but ……”
My hair shook in the air as my grandfather let out a sigh of relief.
But the story didn't end there. I guess the relief gave him room to give me a sermon, or maybe he was just here to tell me what I had done this time.
Ninety percent of the sermon was about the duel with Verret. According to my grandfather, a duel between two ancestors is not something that should be done casually.
I thought he was a cautious boy like Louxe, but he's a lot like Kasia in the way he gets bold …… When he doesn't know what he's doing.
My grandfather puts his hand on my cheek and touches his fingers around my eyes.
But I'm not bold in any way. I have prepared many escape routes and considered the risks and rewards before entering into a duel, and I would like to say that I am more like my father.
I can't say …… That you shouldn't fight a duel between nobles. But if you do, do it when your family is nearby. Do not leave …… Only the aftereffects behind. Underestimate the malevolent magic power,……”
Then do not be reckless, grandfather.
I'm too old to worry about residual magic or aftereffects.
I care. Grandfather has been fighting since he was a young man.
I have not fought many head-to-head duels with noblemen. I can count single combat on the fingers of my hands.
The nobles do not often fight single combat.
Isn't that a lot?
“More than me, no, that's all right. I have Cassia on my side……. I could handle the magic residue.
I didn't think it would lead to a joke.
I'm not sure how much I'm going to be able to do with it, but I'm sure I'll be able to do it. It, but I'm sure I'm going to be able to do it.
Do not underestimate the magic residue. I underestimated it when I was young. It is too late to regret it.
I thought about what I should say to my grandfather as I watched his voice his gradually become quieter and quieter.
But in the next moment, he smiled broadly and patted me on the head, as if to brush away his negativity.
'More importantly! I heard all about the battle from the military commander.
Yes, sir.
My heart beats a little faster. My heartbeat quickens a little.
I felt as if I were getting my test results back from my teacher.
'Rest assured, the sermon is over. …… Well done, Wilk. I can't believe …… You got the castle of Reishleif!
'It's your grandfather's grandson, sir.
“Ha-ha-ha. He's my grandson!
He pats me on the shoulder, rubs my cheeks, and plays “Good boy, good boy” As if he wants to mess up my hair set.
Grandfather's expressions of affection are somewhat violent, but they do not make you feel bad.Perhaps it is because he can feel that the other person is happy from the bottom of his heart.
The decision to leave New Nelly by focusing on knights, military officers, and retinue soldiers was truly brilliant. Surprise is weak against surprise. This is probably the most important factor in our success this time, because it took the Spierzeig forces by surprise.
Thank you very much.
The Spearsheek men who came to the outpost did not expect the mainland army to move so quickly from New Nellie. That was one of the reasons why they could not read the war situation and made the wrong decision on when to retreat.
Grandfather's critique continues, but all of it is complimentary to me. He was a little dissatisfied with my decision to fight the duel, but he appreciated the fact that I had continued to play it safe during the siege of Raishleif Castle instead of taking a hard -line approach. I was not able to be serious about the castle siege because my goal was to rescue my grandfather.
Lukuse also said that with this, he could entrust the next generation of Quardenze with peace of mind.
As he spoke these startling words, my grandfather gave instructions to the military officer standing at the entrance with his hand.
The military officer placed the flat box on the desk near me and my grandfather and stepped back.
Wilk open it.”
The flow of the conversation makes me wonder if he will.
I put my hand on the lid of the crate, careful not to let my hand shake.
This is……”
There was a flag.
It was a banner of snakes entwined in crossed spears and splashed down on them,…… The Quardenze crest.
The only difference was the finish. The flag had a beautiful green base and was embroidered with a neatly drawn coat of arms, not a simplified version.
It was the flag I had always wanted, the flag that only the Quardenze family members who had received the mission of the next head of the family were allowed to use.
The other day, Luke sent it to me.
From Father?”
As I stretched out my arm to get a better look at the pattern, a few military officers approached me and unfurled the flag for me to see.
The aftermath of this incident has forced Louxe's hand in diplomacy, so I can't give it to him in person,” He said. He said he would make the official appointment after Wilk returned to Newnery Castle, but he asked me to give him just the flag first. The flag to be displayed at …… Raishleif Castle will not look good with the current simple coat of arms.”
There was also a letter in the crate, which was addressed to me from my father.
My grandfather urged me to read it, and when I opened it, I found a simple statement of his nomination as his successor his.It was a letter from my father to me, which my grandfather urged me to read.
My father is going to be extremely busy coordinating with other families, so he does n't have time to celebrate my nomination as the next head of the family in a big way.
Well, I guess it is like an unofficial announcement of the next head of the family. Well, I'm glad it wasn't a prayer letter. I can't stand to be reincarnated to the nightmare of job hunting.
Congratulations, Young Master.
Congratulations.
Congratulations.
The blessings of the military officers in the room made my heart beat faster.
He had been studying, practicing his martial arts, and working on various projects in order to become the next head of the family, and now he was finally rewarded for it.
I guess the decisive factor was that we lost Raishleif Castle,” He said. I'm glad we worked so hard.
My grandfather laughed out loud when I muttered that.
'No way!
What?”
If the castle of Raishleif had to be dropped in order to become the successor, then no one would be able to take over the reigns of the family! Gah-ha-ha! Gah-ha-ha!
My grandfather seemed to have hit the nail on the head, and he laughed and laughed.
Perhaps caught up in his laughter, the military and civilian officials seemed to be smiling as well.
The knight Gatoren, who was at the back of the workroom, had a troubled expression on his face, the kind of expression he would have when I spoke to him with a strange sense of value.
Young master.
Knight Gatoren, help me.”
I asked for his helphis.
The other day you mentioned it. “You said the other day that Miss Minute at New Nellie Castle was confirmed pregnant by the doctor.
I did say that, but……
The letters from the city of New Nelly also arrived at the castle, and among them was one from Minit.
A servant at the castle had taken the liberty of including it. The letter stated that Minit's pregnancy had been approved by the cousin doctor in the service of the Quardenze family.
The aristocratic interpretation of the letter was that the fetus in Minit's heart was determined to have a magical reaction, in other words, that she was pregnant with a follower.
In order for the slave ancestor Minit to conceive a follower, she must receive the seed from the main ancestor. This means that I am the father of the child in my belly. Behind her back.
Okay, I kind of get it.
So I won't be named as his successor until his ability to produce an heir is confirmed.”
When I said this, the knight Gatoren silently indicated his affirmation of him and quietly backed away.
The nobles are expected to continue the lineage of their ancestors, and a seedless person cannot be the head of the family.
This is the reason why noble sons are often nominated for the next head of the family when they are in their mid-teens. They probably could not tell him that procreation was a requirement, considering the feelings of the sexually sensitive sons of noblemen.
It was something that could be easily understood if one thought about it for a moment.
He said, “Well, ……, That's all right. Now I am the next head of the family. I'll have to work harder from now on.”
If he became the heir to the Quardenze family, his position in aristocratic society would change drastically in the future.
First of all, I have to maintain Raishleif Castle, and then I have to think about how to get around in the royal city in the spring.
As the next generation of the Quardenze family, I have a lot of things I want to do and a lot of things I have to do.
In order to realize a more sexually fulfilling life than ever before, I cannot stand still.
