#8 Monastic Practice (1)
That day was the day Elric wandered in a terrible nightmare.
Otherwise, it was the day Tyria’s fever completely subsided and she returned to her office.
In other words, it was the day when new news came from the western battlefield, and it was the day when the end of the year was quickly approaching.
“Three more kingdoms have perished.”
Tyria, who was reading the western monthly magazine, said.
True to her words, three more kingdoms have already walked the path of destruction in that short day.
It was a kingdom that did not have a single strong seven, and now the battlefield has become a structure in which only five kingdoms and one empire remain to wrestle.
“Wouldn’t the composition gradually become fixed?”
To Tyria’s question, Elric answered sharply.
“It will get more intense.”
“yes?”
“ah… .”
Belatedly, Elric awakened.
The problem is that the dream seat was wild, but the mood is quite sensitive.
I thought it had died down lately, but I’m going through my mind again like this and giving me a life.
Elric smiled shyly and elaborated further.
“I’m sorry. Now that the easy war is over, the future war will be more violently biting each other.”
“easy… You mean?”
“exactly. Aren’t the kingdoms that have been destroyed so far not the kingdoms that have no strong people? Now that they’re over, what’s left is a fight between the strong, so the battlefield will be more intense.”
“Does an individual have such a big impact on a war?”
“I can’t tell just by looking at Ygret’s article. In the end, the battlefield is led by a few strong people as they wish.”
Funny, but true.
As gunpowder and steam were invented and researched, scholars said that individual force would no longer be able to move the battlefield.
But how was the War in the West when it happened?
Dominating the battlefield is still one incantation on a staff and one sword wielded by a superman.
That is why so far has been an ‘easy war’.
It was more convenient to say that a battle against a country that did not have a strong player was rather a one-sided massacre.
At Elric’s words, Tyria showed an unreliable attitude.
The words that came out also contained such a sign.
“Even if that’s true, wouldn’t it be better to be more cautious when it comes to battles between the strong? A picture that is more urgent than now is not well imagined.”
It was a plausible question.
Of course, it was far from the right answer.
“It’s because of the strong people’s compatibility.”
Elric understood this better than anyone else.
Anyway, didn’t I occupy one of the seven rivers?
“Yeomhwa cannot pierce heavenly wings. Heaven’s wings can’t pierce the demon lord. The demon king cannot pierce the saint, and the saint cannot pierce the golden ball.”
The moment he spoke of gold, Elric ran his hand over his knee.
It was accompanied by a bitter smile.
“After all, it’s like dominoes. In the current situation, if one person breaks the balance, the battlefield will reach an irreversible point in an instant.”
For example, if two of the strong men form a temporary alliance and cut off one’s head, the war ends at that moment.
This means that the remaining wars will not last more than one season and will give one side the chance to win.
There could be no truce.
The battlefield will never stop until there is only one nation left in the western lands.
The goal between the countries that had been lost for 20 years was beyond the point where it could be stopped at the line of agreement.
After finishing his explanation, Elric cleared his throat.
‘Well, did I pretend to know too much?’
Thinking of that belatedly, Elric looked into Tyria’s eyes.
She was lost in thought, and then asked the question.
“Then, how about the sword demon Kasha?”
Startled, Elric’s fingertips trembled.
“You mean the sword demon?”
“Yes, according to the head of the household, isn’t the Sword Demon compatible?”
“haha… .”
No matter how you say it, it becomes a situation where you paint your face.
Elric said, feeling a sense of embarrassment rising to the top of his head.
“… None.”
“yes?”
“The Sword Demon has no compatibility. Take the situation rather than the relationship. Do you understand if victory or defeat is determined by the difference in strength between the two armies, the weather and terrain at the time, and many other factors?”
In the end, the knee injury was an extension of that.
Thirteen outnumbered troops.
It was a situation where they had to stop an army of a thousand units alone, and the weapons they wore were those born from the hands of goldsmiths.
They were enemies charging from the top of the hill, and the wind that day also sided with them, so how could they have come out of there unscathed?
In fact, being alive is a miracle.
Even if he went back to that time, Elric had no confidence to defend himself more perfectly than that day.
“Anyway, it’s not necessary. The Sword Demon no longer appears on the battlefield.”
The moment Elric was about to change the subject, he realized Tyria’s gaze was shooting intensely as if it had pierced him.
Elric’s heart sank.
Have you given me any reason to doubt?
No, if you immediately suspected that he had told you about Kasha’s disappearance, it was right to assume that the speculating party was delusional.
And in Elric’s eyes, Tyria was far from such a megalomaniac.
“Why, why do you… ?”
I asked cautiously, and Tyria answered.
From noble mtl dot com
“Because I never mentioned anything about the situation. He is also the 7th.”
“Ah, aha!”
Elric said with relief.
“I have no choice but to know the compatibility of the situation! Hasn’t he been silent since starting the war twenty years ago? There is no precedent for fighting other top 7, so I can’t make a hasty decision!”
The emperor of the previous empire, the one who caused the war.
He withdrew from the front less than three months after the outbreak of the war and has not been involved in external activities until now.
So Elric cannot know.
It wasn’t until 10 years ago that he started active on the battlefield, and less than 5 years ago he became famous as a strongman.
“Ah, anyway!”
Elric spoke less.
“The talk of the strong men has nothing to do with us. Isn’t that on the other side of the continent?”
“… haha yes The trading railroad is over.”
Tyria immediately nodded her head with a hint of agreement.
Elric was finally able to put his mind at ease.
‘Ugh, I’ll have to be careful with this guy’s mouth.’
If you pretend to know something just because you know something, isn’t it something that can plant seeds of doubt if you do something wrong?
Need to be careful and careful, Elric insisted himself.
*
It was such a peaceful time.
Yubin was so peaceful that, apart from arguing over news from the battlefield, the biggest news was that someone’s cow gave birth to five calves.
The relationship between Elric and Tyria was the same.
When dealing with other matters, we can see each other, but when there is silence from time to time, it is difficult to talk due to an epileptic expression.
It was a strange silence that was uncomfortable but not bad, and that kind of silence filled the office where the two were still today.
“A letter came from the royal castle.”
What broke the silence was a letter from Ardio.
The white envelope had the seal of the royal family stamped on it, and Aldio’s attitude in handing it out was extremely hospitable.
Elric tilted his head.
“In the royal castle?”
“Ah, it must be a letter related to the New Year’s banquet.”
At Tyria’s answer, Elric’s gaze turned to her.
“banquet?”
“Isn’t the new year bright soon? Since it is a banquet that marks the beginning of the year, all nobles are encouraged to attend.”
Elric then nodded, showing some understanding.
But there were doubts.
“Is it necessary to go?”
I didn’t like it.
As Ferdin is a small kingdom away from the western battlefield, he is not worried about anyone recognizing him right away.
However, if all the nobility gathered here, they could get caught up in a personal dispute, and if they couldn’t stand their temper there, they might draw attention.
It means that someone can even reach Kasha’s name while investigating his activities.
I want to fall in if I can.
I was like that, but
“It is impossible. It was said to be a recommendation, but in fact it is more like an order.”
Tyria was stubborn.
“Although they wear the mask of a banquet, it is more of a very basic attendance event that tests their loyalty to the royal family. If you fall for it, it’s easy to fall outside the eyes of the royal family.”
“Um… .”
“If you don’t like it, I have no choice but to go alone.”
Elric’s shoulders twitched.
Then I saw it.
“… How were you last year?”
“I went alone. It drew attention as it was the first banquet since the previous head of household passed away.”
Why do you feel the pressure?
No, Elric knew the answer.
More than that, when I heard that she was going to the capital alone, I felt rejected for some reason.
Even if I think about it apart from feeling sorry, I just didn’t like the attention that was drawn to her.
Even Elric himself did not know why.
“… don’t let it go.”
I replied with a feeling of rage.
Tyria immediately nodded and said.
“This is a wise choice. Then we must prepare the wagon. You’ll have to pack your things too.”
“hmm? Without taking the train?”
“yes?”
The two men’s questioning eyes crossed.
As Elric tilted his head, Tyria said.
“… Wouldn’t that be dangerous?”
Elric let out a sigh at the apparent concern.
I remember hearing from Elbus Graham the other day about being of the same race as hers.
-Have you ever seen a person suffering from civilization phobia? A person who is insecure about all the elements of technological advancement. Haven’t I ever seen someone like that before? What did they say, the trains were so fast that they couldn’t jump out in an emergency?
‘Ah, there really was.’
Elric looked at her with strange eyes as the person who regarded analog as the only safe truth was closer than he thought.
“We do it by carriage. If you get on a train and get injured, wouldn’t you be able to cope with it? Also, trains cannot have many escorts. It is not easy to protect yourself.”
Do I really have to say that I am a country person?
He was talking softly, but for some reason, it seemed that he was very scared.
Wherever you look, the part that was not revealed much because you live in the old-fashioned Wibin is finally overlaid on Elric.
It was a whole new face.