These were people who had already experienced one civil war. Fortunately, the Crovence Civil War was a fight between its own people, so there was not much exploitation by the military. In fact, there was nothing left to plunder due to the great famine.
But those who are attacking now are the army of another country. There would be no mercy for the people of Crovence. Men will be killed on sight, women will be raped, and all children will become orphans and wander this desolate world.
The people were terrified and blamed the king, Yubel II. He raised his voice of resentment as to why he was forcing the kingdom into disaster by establishing a strange policy such as preferential treatment for different races.
But this atmosphere soon changed.
A large number of powerful and fearless Auror users from the Principality of Antares came to help Crovence. Dwarves and Orc Auror users who proved powerful in the civil war, as well as Sir Cyrus, who increased his reputation by killing the famous Sir Spirit, led his army to the western border of Crovence.
More than anything, what calmed the public’s excitement was the name of one of the Auror users.
“Emperor Gerard has come in person!”
“Then there is no reason to be afraid of Sword Saint Vanatel!”
Well, anyone who has watched the battle between the Sword Saint and the Emperor of Fist will know well that the battle between the two is actually the part to be feared the most. But the general public doesn’t think that way.
If there is Geomseong over there, there is Gwonwang over here!
This fact alone calmed the people’s fears considerably. As long as the western border was impervious, they had nothing to fear.
Moreover, Yubel II drove a wedge here and definitely helped stabilize public sentiment.
☆ ☆ ☆
Farugan, a huge fortress on the western border of Crovence.
It was a strategic point in the western border area encompassing the three major fortresses built along the border: Jeston, Tahan, and Rakhas.
In one room of the huge barracks built in the center of the fortress, a blonde-haired young man was donning his armor with the help of a small girl.
The girl asked as she went behind the young man’s back and tied the knot on his mithril armor.
“Do you really need to participate in the war in person, Yubel?”
The young man was Yubel II, the current king of the Kingdom of Crovence. Yubel answered, looking back at the girl, in fact Finia, a mature dwarf woman several decades older.
“The crown prince himself stepped forward on that side, but if the king does not step forward on this side as well, morale will probably be affected.”
Well, this wasn’t the only reason. This isn’t any kind of card game, so there’s no reason to counter with a king card just because the other side pulls out a prince card.
However, Yubel had his own reasons for participating in this war. He had a purpose to appease public sentiment and to raise military morale, but more than that… … .
“After all, if I do this much, won’t I be able to carry out my duties as king smoothly in the future? “He has already become a king who started a war.”
Yubel, fully dressed in armor, stood up and joked.
In order to become the leader of a group, you must set an example. This is especially true for the king of a country. The king must be brave, wise, kind, and strict.
Throughout his reign, Yubel showed considerable wisdom, kindness, and strictness. With the help of Finia and his natural intelligence, he was leading an excellent reign that was quite high in the history of Crovence.
However, even if one wants to show bravery, it is not something that can be easily shown. There must be a stage called a battlefield. So didn’t ancient kings often engage in rituals to show their bravery to their subjects by fighting wild beasts alone?
Well, as many kings died after being bitten by wild beasts and the country was shaken every time, that ritual disappeared, but that does not mean that the importance of showing off one’s bravery is diminished.
For that reason, Yubel had to stand on the battlefield as a king and prove his bravery. Considering the subsequent reign, this was a necessary action.
“Well, there is no need for me to continue to fight in all wars in the future. But this is my first time, so it means something. Perhaps Prince Gilius also went to his parents’ home for the same reason? “If you want to become the successor to a huge country called the Empire, this is an opportunity you cannot miss.”
Yubel smiled and smoothed Finia’s hair.
“Don’t worry too much, Finia. “I have a trustworthy person protecting me.”
Just then, there was a noise outside, and a sturdy middle-aged man in his mid-50s came inside.
Yubel looked at the man and smiled.
“Please take care of me. Lord Hartbergen.”
After Tetswald’s death, it was Sir Hartbergen, an Auror user who was the strongest knight in Krovens and served as the head of the Royal Knights. During the civil war, he remained neutral because he could not give his heart to one side, but when a well-informed king appeared, he immediately swore allegiance, and is now a confidant of Yubel II, whom he can trust more than anyone else.
“Crovence’s strongest Auror user protects me. There is also Sir Jeklik, the Iron Wall of the West. “It’s a pity that Sir Grandiard was unable to attend, but you don’t have to worry about me, Finia.”
Sir Grandiard, one of the three major Auror users in Crovence, did not participate in the war this time due to illness, as he did during the Crovence Civil War.
Lord Hartbergen spoke to Yubel.
“During the civil war, I thought Lord Grandiard was just like me and was making excuses for his illness because he couldn’t get his mind together. But seeing that you can’t move this time, something must be really wrong.”
“Well, Auror users are also humans, so they can get sick, right?”
“It rarely happens, but in fact, once it does, it is more troublesome to deal with than for the average person. “I cannot rely on the power of divine power.”
Once an Auror user falls ill and cannot borrow the power of a priest, he or she must get up from the sickbed using only his or her own power. So neither Yubel nor Hartbergen found it particularly strange.
Unlike during the Crovence Civil War, this time Sir Grandiard will have no benefit at all if Crovence is defeated by the empire. There is no doubt.
“But it is also shameful that the Grandiard family did not attend.”
Yubel grumbled for a moment.
Not only the Auror user Lord Grandiard, but his family also expressed their intention to apologize to the royal family, saying that they were incapable of carrying out the war this time.
It wasn’t just the Grandiard family. Some of Crovence’s most traditional nobles also followed suit. It was quite a blow to the Kingdom of Crovence, which was lacking in military strength.
“But what can we say when the family is shaken by a major famine? “Actually, it’s not wrong.”
I don’t know what those great nobles had in mind for daring to not participate in a battle where the nation’s survival was at stake. But at least the justification they gave was understandable.
The great famine that swept across Crovence a few years ago was still leaving its mark throughout the kingdom. Being a noble family with a deep tradition means having a large amount of farmland, so of course the damage is bound to be the greatest.
Lord Hartbergen smiled as he comforted the young king.
“The priority is to avoid the immediate crisis. If His Majesty returns proudly with the flag of victory raised, their position will inevitably be narrowed. It is enough to dispose of them after that.”
“You are right, Lord Hartbergen.”
Yubel, feeling relieved, smiled. Phinea, who still had a worried look on her face towards Lord Hartbergen, cautiously lowered her head.
“Then, please do so, Your Majesty.”
The man looked at Finnea and opened his mouth, using an ambiguous semi-honorary tone.
“Don’t worry, Miss Finia. “Your Majesty, I will sacrifice my life to protect you.”
Since human rights for dwarves were guaranteed, Finia has now officially received the status of the king’s favorite concubine. However, even so, most of the royal family was still uncertain as to how to treat Phinea, as her old habits were not going to disappear easily.
In any case, his loyalty can be trusted. Finia’s expression brightened. But it didn’t get brighter right away.
“But the battlefield… … .”
I know how strong Lord Hartbergen is. Even if Yubel joins the war, he won’t be at the forefront of the attack. In terms of probability, it is unlikely that anything will happen to Yubel.
But even so, Finia could not hide her worried expression.
As a dwarf warrior, she has been training Yubel since childhood. She was confident that she had grown up to be a strong knight who would not be defeated no matter where she was presented.
But even so, the battlefield is a chaotic area where you never know what will happen. The battlefield is a place where no matter how strong a knight, or even an auror or archmage, can be stabbed to death by a blind infantryman’s spear.
“No one can escape the blind sword of the battlefield… … There is also a saying, Yubel.”
Yubel and Hartbergen suddenly looked into each other’s eyes. Both of them had sophisticated faces. Yubel asked a question as he glanced out the window.
“You know there’s a refrain to that saying, right, Finia?”
——————
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——————
There is certainly a second half to that saying.
No one can escape the blind sword of the battlefield.
But Jim Unbreakable’s body cannot be pierced by a blind sword… … .
Lord Hartbergen looked at a spire outside the window and let out an awe-filled voice.
“Since he is here, what do you have to worry about?”
On top of the steeple stood an old man with white hair flowing, a huge man with an indomitable body that put the word ‘old’ to shame.
Jim Unbreakable, the unwritten text that changed even the continent’s proverbs.
He is the successor of his time and the strongest warrior on the continent.
Emperor Gerard was looking out over the horizon from the top of the spire.
☆ ☆ ☆
Gerard was looking around the fortress, standing comfortably on the narrow spire, which looked dizzying even to birds, let alone people, as if it were flat ground.
Gerard smiled happily as he smoothed his chin.
“Hehe, I did have a good disciple.”
Currently, Gerard holds the status of guardian general of the kingdom through a contract with the Principality of Antares. So normally you would have to stay in Aranan Grad.
However, when it became known that Sword Saint Vanatel was going out, Reppenhardt requested Gerard to deal with him.
-Master, it is a bit different from the contract terms, but I would like you to go to Crovence… … ah? Are you already packing your bags?
-Of course. Then, did you think I would be here holding my back when that guy, Vanatel, is coming?
Since the master and the disciple have the same intention, how can things not be done quickly?
Gerard came running right here to Farugan Fortress in excitement. Of course, in the meantime, he negotiated with Chancellor Karl and extracted more money.
-Prime Minister, travel expenses.
-… … Did you receive travel expenses?
-Isn’t it obvious?
One of the beautiful traditions of Jim Unbreakable is that there is no parity even between priests.
In fact, Gerrard stayed true to his contract with the Principality of Antares. He never gave a discount because it was a country where the disciple was king. Jim Unbreakable’s long-standing motto has been that a man who can’t take care of his share is not a true man.
“I make a little money and that Banatel guy kills two birds with one stone. “Hehehe.”
Putting aside the resentment of the Antares treasury, which was shedding tears of blood, Gerard smiled.
As I thought about the upcoming showdown with my rival, I already felt my muscles bulging and my whole body filled with heat.
“Now, come! Banatel! Let’s finally see the outcome this time!”
It was at a time when Gerard was having a hard time alone.
A young voice came from behind me.
“… … “Master?”
A young knight in his early 30s was climbing the roof and climbing onto the spire.
Cyrus was a man who was refused the title of master, but was allowed to be called teacher. It’s a funny distinction, but as he called him that often, he got used to it, and now Russ naturally refers to Gerard as his teacher.
“You’re up too, Russ.”
“yes.”
Gerard inadvertently looked at Russ’s feet.
Due to the nature of the spire, its roof is extremely steep. Since Gerrard occupies the highest place, it should be difficult to even stand properly.
But Russ was standing calmly on the steep roof as if he was walking on flat ground. He used Aura to attach his feet and roof.
‘How do you do that? ‘You’re talented too.’
Even Emperor Gerard of the world could not have done something like that.
He was now maintaining his balance through a high degree of physical control. Although it is a great physical ability, it is something that any experienced Auror user can do. In the first place, Jim Unbreakable itself is an unknown word that is far from advanced auror operation.
On the other hand, the talent shown by Russ was not easy even for a fairly veteran Auror user. It is an advanced feat that can be achieved only by changing the properties of the aura to give it adhesion and at the same time limiting the power of the aura to prevent damage to the roof and by changing part of the flow of gravity.
Gerard asked curiously.
“How did you do that?”
“yes? “I just glued the soles of my feet with Aura to prevent slipping?”
It wasn’t that difficult for Russ, who was a natural genius. At this level, you can do it if you want without anyone teaching you. In reality, I just did it without thinking, and it would be impossible to teach it to others.
Anyway, Russ wondered as he walked like that.
“And what are you doing here?”
After arriving at the fortress and unpacking, he suddenly disappeared and came up here out of nowhere. How could it not be strange? Originally, the top of the spire was a place for flags to fly, not a place for people to climb.
“Tsk tsk… … .”
