59 – Side Effects (1)
The ordinary soldiers in the Larutania territory generally displayed different tendencies, but what they all had in common was their respect for the Lord of Larutania.
If the soldiers working in Larutania initially didn’t have respect for the lord, it would have been impossible.
After all, the soldiers currently working as soldiers in Larutania were the ones who had actually seen Kim Hyun-woo subdue the disaster with their own eyes.
Furthermore, the Lord of Larutania had never delayed the soldiers’ wages even once, and recently, due to increased labor intensity, he had been paying additional wages to the soldiers.
Of course, from Kim Hyun-woo’s perspective, it was only considered as an act to improve the city’s public safety by increasing efficiency, but naturally, the soldiers were moved.
From the soldiers’ perspective, Kim Hyun-woo’s actions felt like those of a great lord who had handled a disaster that caused thousands of casualties with strategies, and who always showed interest in them, almost like an admirable lord who could not help but have respect for them.
Therefore, the soldiers always felt grateful to Kim Hyun-woo, sending their respect and loyalty, and at least their feelings were becoming firmly entrenched and would never change.
However, in such a situation, the fact that Kim Hyun-woo had reclassified the soldiers as ‘probationary soldiers’ was a serious shock to all the soldiers.
The soldiers who gathered to work in the Larutania territory had never dreamed that they could be reclassified as probationary soldiers.
Of course, from Kim Hyun-woo’s perspective, it was simply a matter of evolving them as probationary soldiers within affordable limits, but from the soldiers’ point of view, it meant something completely different.
Indeed, the moment they became ‘probationary soldiers,’ the soldiers knew that they could break ‘the predetermined limits’ at least a little, even if not as much as heroes.
Therefore, in reality, unless they were elite personnel selected by all lords, no lords would have made them probationary soldiers.
For one, the cost of their growth as probationary soldiers would be tremendous, and each lord had different limits, so there were limits to the number of probationary soldiers they could create.
Therefore, the soldiers found it easy to anticipate a future as ‘guards,’ but becoming ‘probationary soldiers’ that could be considered a reversal in life was something they had never even dreamed of.
They were just ordinary people gathered in the territory, not carefully selected talents, and there were even those in their thirties among the ordinary soldiers, which could be considered too old to learn martial arts.
So, when Kim Hyun-woo reclassified them as probationary soldiers, the soldiers had blank expressions when the notification window appeared, and soon enough, they couldn’t help but shed warm tears.
In essence, becoming a probationary soldier was no different from the lord saying, “I will pick you, who have nothing, as elite personnel and take you all the way.”
And so.
“Sob-! I will really, really work hard for you, Your Excellency!!!”
Kim Hyun-woo could see Maron, who he knew was over thirty-five this year, shedding tears and prostrating himself in front of the Excellency’s room.
“I will definitely! Definitely repay the favor! Definitely-!”
Thud! Thud!
“No, there’s no need to go to such lengths-“
“Thank you! Thank you!!”
Thud! Thud!
“Even if you don’t do that, at least get up first and talk-“
Kim Hyun-woo, who had calmed down and consoled Maron, the leader of the trainee soldiers who shouted as if moved, let out a sigh as if exhausted, then opened his mouth after grasping the situation from the words he had heard from Maron and Loria.
“Um… so, even though they’re ‘trainee soldiers,’ they can make ordinary people become heroes to some extent… something like that?”
[That’s correct, Your Excellency.]
“And in addition, do notification windows appear for the soldiers too?”
[Notification windows appear for trainee soldiers and other advanced soldier types. If a regular soldier changes to an advanced class, only the stats change, and no notification window appears.]
“…I didn’t know it was set up like that.”
While muttering like that, Kim Hyun-woo nodded as if understanding it to some extent.
‘Considering that Swordmasters coming out from advanced soldier types are extremely strong, there was also a system to transition to the hero class… thinking about such settings, it doesn’t feel particularly strange. Besides, there were indeed restrictions on selecting advanced soldier types.’
What Kim Hyun-woo had forgotten was that, in the first place, it was meaningless to limit the number of advanced soldier types in the Lartania territory ten years ago, as there could be so many of them.
“Loria, by the way, how many advanced soldier types can I currently create?”
In response to Kim Hyun-woo’s question, Loria answered.
[The levels and progress have decreased compared to ten years ago, but we can nurture about 300 more trainees.]
“Now that we’ve promoted some trainees, we definitely need heroes to train them. It’s time to start selling items. There are still no related heroes appearing at the tavern.”
Kim Hyun-woo shrugged his shoulders and, watching Maron heading towards the barracks, had such thoughts.
“Oh, come to think of it, we’ve almost used up all the resources… Maybe I should buy some additional resources.”
Realizing that the resources he bought last time were quickly depleted due to building the city walls, Kim Hyun-woo turned on the trading post and began requesting resources from the Tesnoka Territory.
####
Rania Tesnoka, the lord of the Tesnoka Territory and the duke of the Norba Kingdom, was in the middle of receiving a report from Roman about external information.
“That concludes the report on the Lartania Territory.”
As Roman finished speaking, Rania murmured with a genuinely regretful expression.
“Ah, as expected. That was indeed the lowest price.”
Rania made a deeply melancholic expression.
“…Certainly, it was something we couldn’t buy at the lowest price.”
“Indeed, we couldn’t buy it because the mana didn’t work, but… still, the situation is too regrettable.”
Rania, who had been grumbling, sighed as if there was no other way and continued.
“Anyway, regardless, to summarize the report, it seems that mana stones are constantly coming out in the Lartania Territory, right?”
“Yes.”
“And the soldiers there are all carrying magic scrolls, possibly related to the magic tower?”
“And it’s likely that something related to the lord of Lartania has caused mana stones to come out of the labyrinth… something like that?”
“Yes, most likely.”
She closed her mouth at Roman’s words and pondered for a moment before speaking with a strange expression.
“Indeed, it’s not just any ordinary territory.”
“I also think so.”
“…Certainly, it seemed like an insignificant small land when I first saw it, but as soon as I left, I started doing business through the labyrinth and revealed my connection with the Mausoleum, making it impossible for neighboring countries to move recklessly… Yes.”
“I think you’re quite clever.”
“That’s right. Even if I didn’t have a connection with the Mausoleum, just by showing it in that way, I would make those who have a careful relationship with the Mausoleum cautious… Well, maybe not for the empire.”
“It won’t last long, but for a simple action, it neatly sorted out unnecessary diplomatic relations.”
“That’s right.”
Kim Hyun-woo didn’t have the intention to know the Mausoleum’s status, but Rania and Roman were admiring.
“Yes, so what do you plan to do?”
“Hmm? What?”
“It’s about the Lartania territory. In fact, if it comes to this, it’s not much different from the Lord’s plan being disrupted, isn’t it?”
Roman’s question.
But Rania smiled instead.
“Even so, there’s no need to stop the friendship. No, we should rather deepen the friendship even more. Although the product has been revealed in earnest… I have a feeling it won’t be sold anywhere. Besides-“
*Smirk.*
“-There’s even a little bit of interest.”
At Rania’s words, Roman nodded, and after discussing Lartania for a while, he said, “Let’s stop here for the discussion about Lartania and I will give an additional report.”
“An additional report? Wasn’t Lartania the end?”
“This is a story about Duke Randalon.”
“…Tsk.”
Lania frowned visibly as soon as she heard the name Randalon.
Randalon.
He was one of the Three Dukes of Norba Kingdom and practically held the most powerful authority in Norba Kingdom.
It was no wonder, as under Duke Randalon’s command, there were not just one, but three heroes who could be considered as the next Great Hero.
Not only that, but in terms of sheer numbers in his army, there was no one in Norba Kingdom who could single-handedly oppose Duke Randalon in military might.
Even two years ago, after an unbelievable growth compared to other territories.
In other words, at the current point in time, it was safe to say that there was no territory in Norba Kingdom stronger in military strength than Duke Randalon’s territory.
However, Lania, who knew the importance of diplomacy even when dealing with such a powerful territory within the same country, disliked Duke Randalon because of his personality and behavior.
Although she may not know the personality of the previous Duke Randalon, just like her, the personality of the second generation Duke Randalon who succeeded him was absolutely outrageous.
No, his personality was so destructive that it could be said that there was no one more arrogant than him.
To the point where he would spit out disrespectful words to her, who also held the same noble title, when they met in a vacant position.
Not to mention, since the territory rapidly grew after two years, she frowned as his arrogant personality transformed into something even more destructive than just arrogance.
“….Why him?”
Lania asked with a furrowed brow.
Continuing the conversation, she added,
“It seems that Duke Randalon has taken an interest in the Lartania territory. It seems he sent an envoy.”
Lania’s frown deepened.
It was because Lania knew very well the significance of Duke Randalon’s interest in her territory.
And at that moment…
“Are you the lord of Lartania?”
“??”
Kim Hyun-woo could welcome the envoy of Duke Landon, who was looking at him with an extremely arrogant expression.
####
Not long ago, the diplomat and light researcher, O’Nell, who had visited the Lartania territory as the envoy of the Martab, was currently facing the Azure Martab Lord.
The reason was due to a request made by the Azure Martab Lord when O’Nell was leaving Lartania.
“Here it is, my Lord.”
So, the light researcher handed over the item the Azure Martab Lord had requested.
“Wow, thank you so much.”
The Azure Martab Lord beamed a bright smile as O’Nell’s handed-over item, the stored artifact, activated as it was.
And then.
With a gentle blue magic, which could also be called the symbol of the Azure Martab Lord, being absorbed, the activated artifact began to reveal the face of a man.
It was none other than the picture of the Lord of Lartania that O’Nell had taken after receiving the request from the Azure Martab Lord.
And.
“Indeed-“
As he checked the photo, he was filled with a strange delight, looking at the Azure Martab Lord, who was smiling broadly, his face full of questions.
Although the Azure Martab Lord always smiled brightly, such a radiant smile was a first for O’Nell, who was also new to interacting with Martabs in their diplomatic role.
From Noble mtl dot com
So.
“My Lord, although I did take the photo as per your request, may I ask what relationship you have with the Lord of Lartania?”
O’Nell asked the smiling Azure Martab Lord.
The azure devilish gaze nodded as if it were obvious to Onel’s question.
“What should I say…”
Observing the contemplative figure of the azure devilish gaze lost in thought, Onel looked at her with curious eyes.
She considered making swift judgments about everything in the world as an aesthetic.
If she was contemplating and talking about someone of the same age in such a way, the form of their relationship would undoubtedly be quite ‘interesting.’
“Topju-nim must be of that age too.”
Onel looked at her with a satisfied smile inside.
“Similar to Dad, indeed.”
“Well, wait a moment.”
What did she say?
“Yes?”
“Dad, Dad.”
With a light laugh and looking at the slightly widened eyes of Matapju, Onel barely suppressed the dizziness that seemed to destroy her acupoint.
Who in the world looks at their dad with such a ‘I want you’ look?
“This time, I can really see it.”
Onel, who was on the opposite side, either looked at her with a strange gaze or didn’t say anything at all, while Matapju mumbled quietly.
“Just wait a little ♡”
With a sentence full of allure, Matapju lightly kissed the photo.
As long as they don’t hurt Elena, which is much weaker as she has 10 years less experience, the more yanderes come the better it will be.