266 – Turning one’s back (4)
When Dalton heard me, he couldn’t say anything and just opened his mouth.
We were not surprised by the enemy, but we were told that we would all die like this. It must have been both surprising and absurd.
I wanted to wait until he calmed down a little, but I didn’t have the intention or the time to wait until Dalton came to his senses.
“Let me say it again. Captain Dalton, if this continues, we will all lose our lives. “For political reasons.”
When I said this, Dalton grabbed me by the collar.
“You crazy bastard, we have now been assigned to a reserve unit where all we have to do is relax and wait in the rear. So, as long as you don’t get caught, you can make a mess of it, right? But why bother talking about politics in this situation? “Have you finally come to your senses after living a wandering life in the Barony of Cologne?”
If Dalton doesn’t get angry here, he’s out of his mind.
He said he would risk his life to listen to my story, but he brought up politics, which is not urgent.
But in the current situation, politics is like fire falling on our feet.
If I don’t pour water on it now, my whole body will burn and be roasted.
I shook off Dalton’s hand that was grabbing my collar.
“I didn’t lose my mind. Would I have risked my life to run all the way here? “I’m not doing this because I f*cking want to.”
As I poured out the resentment in my heart towards the angry Dalton, he finally seemed to calm down a bit and sighed.
“Ha, yes. Then get started quickly. “Why are you talking about politics?”
In times like this, you have to logically explain everything from beginning to end, but no one will listen.
I’m very nervous because everyone wants me to go back even a second before they get caught, but if I explain in a leisurely manner and then fall asleep, I’ll just explode.
“It feels like there’s a knife at my throat, boss.”
Dalton stiffened at those words, and the other guys argued with me.
“What do you mean? f*ck, Martin, you look like you have a knife in your throat?”
“In our faction, your contribution is the greatest, surpassing the other counts. What do you mean?”
“Does it make sense that we are already seeing the purge angle? “It’s not like His Highness Otto lost his mind…”
When I became a baron, everyone used honorifics, but I guess they were so embarrassed that they even forgot about it.
And Heinz asked on behalf of other Dalton vassals.
“Does what Martin says make sense?”
Dalton took a gulp of the beer that was sitting on his seat and said.
“I hope it’s a ridiculous story. “f*ck, I think it could happen.”
The situation is very urgent, but in order to move Dalton and his forces, my former colleagues here need to know what kind of situation I am in.
I decided to wait for a while and listened to Dalton.
“Even if Martin and I are the same baron, I am just a baron under Count Frost, and Martin is a baron who is a direct vassal. So, of course Martin has the right and obligation to run politics together with His Royal Highness Prince Otto.”
Everyone expressed their nervousness as to why the story was taking so long.
“But, whenever His Highness Otto was discussing politics with his direct vassals, he kept making plans to deliberately attract women and have fun with them. At the same time, the structure was designed to naturally prevent Martin from participating. “It’s a kind of bullying.”
If you are bullied at school, you will not be expelled or suffer any direct disadvantage.
However, being ostracized in politics is a serious problem that could cost you your head.
“Well, I did give him a secret mission. “The idea was to play the role of a traitor who unexpectedly joined Princess Maria’s side.”
Among those who have worked as a mercenary for more than a few years, there is not a fool who does not know how dangerous ‘acting a traitor’ is.
When Dalton heard my story, he could not hide his bewildered expression.
“What the f*ck? Are you crazy? Martin, the number one contributor to this faction, I’m throwing you on such a dangerous mission. “If you take the slightest step wrong, it will fall right away, right?”
“I’d like to tell you the story of how I survived, but that’s not important right now. Anyway, isn’t this what’s important? “They put me, who had accomplished the greatest feat, in danger.”
This is not Joseon, where it is considered a virtue to die on the spot when a king orders you to die, and it is a world where exchanges between subjects and the monarch are certain.
The master bastard ignored all of those things and pushed his way into the limbs without even asking for consent.
It is only now that I have succeeded in gaining Maria’s favor and can get along well in the First Princess faction.
“That’s right. f*ck, no matter how much I think about it, this isn’t something a person would do. “I’d rather stick it in a corner.”
To be honest, I would have followed suit if it had just meant pushing me away from politics for a while.
For me, it would have been extremely unfair since I was suddenly hit by lightning, but I wasn’t at the point where I could endure such feelings, treatment, and betrayal.
“You can’t do this unless you feel a certain amount of resentment towards me, who has done the most work in our faction. So, if His Highness Otto wins against the First Princess this time, he will definitely receive a reward. “In the future, I will definitely be purged for political reasons.”
Dalton nodded at what I said.
“I understand that your life is at stake. But no matter how much we used to have affection, you and I both have wives and children and vassals. So just because your life is in danger, you can’t risk ours as well.”
If I were asked to choose between Dalton and Karin, I would choose Karin without hesitating for 0.1 Second.
Like Dalton, if he were to weigh my life and the life of his wife, Millia, he would naturally choose Millia.
“I won’t talk too much. “I’ll just say one thing.”
Dalton answered as if it was no big deal.
“Yes.”
“After I am cut down, the next person will be the leader.”
There is not a single noble in this faction who does not know that Dalton and I are very close friends.
What I just thought was comparing Dalton with the woman I have to protect. If Dalton is in danger and there comes a situation where I have to risk my life.
I will risk my life and do everything I can right now.
Even if you die in the process.
‘Dalton would be similar.’
So, after purging me, that suspicious Otto will classify Dalton as a rebel reserve, saying he might betray him at any moment due to his dissatisfaction with the purge of Baron Cologne.
If you are a patient with the suspected disease, that is enough.
I once again tapped the shoulders of Dalton and those present here who had been with me for over 5 years during our mercenary days.
“Either we all live together, or we all die together. “It’s one of two things.”
From Noble mtl dot com
Everyone was so nervous that they couldn’t quickly reply to what I said while smiling.
“There are approximately 40 minutes left until the reserve forces move in earnest. “In the meantime, I will be in this camp, so make a choice without regrets.”
Then I pulled out my sword with its sheath and handed it to Dalton.
“Hey, you crazy bastard…”
“If the captain tries to kill me anyway, how can I survive since I’m not even a sword master? And members of the same family do not fight with each other pointing swords.”
I am already caught in the middle of a camp that could be a potential enemy or a future ally.
So no matter how much you resist, you will eventually die without being able to handle the page count.
In that case, I need to stimulate Dalton’s emotions and make him lean towards me.
And I decided to tell just one lie.
“The First Princess is in love with me. She is not favored as a vassal; she truly loves him. When I met her a few months ago, she even offered to treat me to a meal she cooked herself in my presence alone. So Maria will never abandon me.”
I know that Maria has a crush on me, but I don’t think she’s in love with me.
I am a married man with three wives.
**
After Martin left, Dalton’s mind became very complicated.
“Heinz, what the f*ck are we supposed to do?”
“Why do you ask me that, Baron? “The owner of the Baron Maurer family is Dalton von Maurer.”
“You are the chief knight of our family. And you are also the pillars of our family.”
Everyone nodded at those words, but no specific number came to mind.
However, there was no heated disagreement.
This is because everyone, although they implicitly agreed to different degrees, was inclined to the opinion of Martin, who became Baron Cologne.
‘He’s a bastard who even wants to throw away Martin, who contributed the most. A simple baron family like us…’
Silence continued between them for over 5 or 10 minutes.
Rationally, they knew that they had to listen to Martin’s opinion in order to survive in the future, but they were reluctant to gamble with what they had achieved so far.
“…… It would be nice if I followed Martin’s footsteps and succeeded, but if I failed…”
While he was thinking like that, Dalton’s eyes caught the sword that Martin had entrusted to him for a while.
An invaluable sword made of mithril bestowed by the Emperor of Montmartre.
The knife symbolizes that Martin entrusted his life to Dalton.
“Martin, you crazy bastard. “What if we decide differently?”
Dalton, grumbling, recalled the path he had walked with Martin so far.
A time when he started out as a low-ranking mercenary and quickly rose to the rank of ten leader, platoon leader, centurion leader, and mercenary leader, all of whom shared life and death with him.
And everything up to this moment.
‘All the money, fame, and wealth that me, Millia, my wives, and these bastards here enjoy, we got by listening to that guy Martin.’
Dalton knew his stuff well.
Although he was lucky, he was a human being who would reach the level of a senior knight at best.
The fact that I met Martin and was able to give countless comrades a peaceful life and wealth until now.
Then, when everyone was silent, he opened his mouth as if he had finally made a decision.
“Let’s be honest. No, I’m talking about putting down everything, including title and status. “Is there any bastard here who would be able to act like a knight and all that if Martin wasn’t there?”
Hearing those words, only a few people, including Heinz, raised their hands.
“Then ask me again. “The bastard who seems to have been able to rise to the position you enjoy now is a behemoth.”
Everyone put their hands down.
“I honestly don’t want to admit it either. Martin If it weren’t for that bastard, I would have been lucky enough to become a high-ranking knight. If the opportunity for a commission didn’t come soon, since I was getting older, I would have bought a mansion in a small city somewhere, had a child with Millia, and lived well. “Wouldn’t you guys be similar?”
Everyone nodded at those words.
“To be honest, I have never suffered a loss by listening to Martin. And honestly, if he makes up his mind and makes a surprise attack, he will have no problem even attacking His Highness Otto.”
If the battle situation becomes very tense, they will push back with all their might, leaving only the bare minimum of guards, including the sword master, Baron Ainz.
In Dalton’s eyes, there seemed to be a chance of victory if Martin took the lead and charged…
It was a bit ironic that Martin himself believed that he had a chance of winning if he fought alongside Dalton.
“Nevertheless, he is thinking of us and has entrusted his sword to us and is waiting for us. This guy treats us like family, so he asks us to join him in living the life he envisions. Stupid and stupid bastard. “He was a bastard who gave all his money to the woman he fell in love with and still laughed.”
“……”
“Of course, I’m not asking you to risk the lives of your wife and children because of your emotions. But what you need to know is that after Martin is purged, it will be our turn.”
Everyone chewed their lips at those words.
“You guys, you have to gamble with your life anyway, whether you go this way or that way. If that’s the case, shouldn’t we bet on Martin, who made our dream a reality? “At the very least, I must die while maintaining my loyalty.”
When Dalton’s will was expressed, everyone jumped up from their seats.
“That’s right, damn it!”
“If you’re going to fall while sitting down, you should at least pull out a knife.”
“Martin, I can’t leave that bastard behind.”
As everyone’s reactions gathered, Dalton pulled out the sword from his scabbard and stuck it on his desk.
“Good. Then, the Baron Maurer family switches sides to repay the favor they owed Martin. “Bring Martin over.”
The power of frien….. FAMILY!!!!