165 episodes
The bookkeeper shook his head hurriedly, thinking that he had touched the old man’s temper.
“I didn’t mean it that way. In any case, it would be overkill to invest extra power beyond the Iron Blooded Knights into the Nord Gold Mine right now. It would be like igniting a counterattack against enemies who are on the trajectory of normalization right now.”
“Who can’t say something like that?! It can’t be like this! Find a way to recover the Iron Blooded Knights and the Nord Gold Mine at the same time!”
Rather, it was a happy word for the bookkeeper.
‘I wasn’t stupid at all. Seeing that gold mines don’t give up.’
It would have been more difficult to convince David if he had just told him to find the Knights Templar.
In the meantime, the brazenness of trying to take the gold mine together was better.
“If that’s the case, you don’t have to worry. The operation has already begun.”
“What? I never gave any permission.”
David frowned.
It was doubtful whether this bookmaker from outside had committed a tragic end in the end.
The bookkeeper replied as if he had read his mind.
“There was no need for permission from the Lord. It is my colleagues who carry out the operation.”
Under Hood’s shadow, the bookkeeper gave a mean laugh.
Eventually, the Dark Followers began to move.
* * *
Graytown Fortress.
Princess Cynthia looked down at the scenery outside the window with Ben, the escort knight.
There, the Imperial Army soldiers and the Kingdom Army soldiers were gathering and training.
After observing the movements of the Imperial soldiers, Cynthia smiled contentedly.
“These days, I’ve invested a lot in training, so I think I’m in pretty good shape.”
“yes. That’s right. Your eyes have also increased a lot. That’s great.”
In the meantime, Ben painted Cynthia’s face with gold.
Cynthia grumbled in embarrassment.
“It’s just avoiding the level of outsiders.”
But Ben’s praise wasn’t unpleasant.
Because Cynthia was actually trying hard.
No matter how much the kingdom army came to support it, it was inferior in number to the rebel army.
Cynthia knew it well too.
Therefore, she was paying special attention to the training of the Imperial Army.
“At first, I couldn’t even follow the Miles-style training well, but I think everyone got used to it.”
“yes. Unfortunately, when it comes to infantry training, Miles is ahead of us.”
In the process of transforming into a new empire after the end of the Anti-Magic War, all data related to the battle was lost.
Moreover, from the standpoint of the new empire, there were many restrictions on expanding its military power.
So, compared to Miles, the kingdom of knights, it was only natural that the Imperial Army was lacking.
Ben spoke.
“If there is a big difference in the capabilities of the soldiers, it will be difficult to carry out the operation. Retraining here seems like an excellent choice.”
“The training schedule must have been tight, but I’m just thankful that everyone did a good job.”
“It seems like everyone is at ease with the supplies they have.”
So, the morale of the soldiers did not decrease, and they could continue to receive intensive training.
Ben was an excellent adviser to Cynthia, who was weak in military knowledge.
Cynthia opened her mouth as she watched the soldiers’ coordinated movements.
“right. The supplies will keep us alive in the fortress. Once we hold on to the stronghold, the rebels will be nervous.”
There was no need for the Kingdom Army and the Imperial Army to launch a preemptive attack in a situation where they were outnumbered.
All I had to do was get tired of being stuck in the fortress.
It was a simple reason.
The rebels could only achieve the significance of their existence only by seizing the throne.
“If we procrastinate, the people’s sentiments will worsen in a chaotic state.”
“yes. There are also many soldiers who were forced to conscript, so their morale will drop.”
Therefore, Cynthia did not move the Imperial Army hastily.
Garrett, the lord of the fortress, had the same idea.
He, too, did not move the kingdom army.
After the imperial army joined, supplies were secured, and the curse of the beast had disappeared, so there was room to spare.
In addition to that, there was one more reason.
smart.
Someone rushed inside.
“My Majesty the Princess, this is an emergency report that has just arrived. It is said that the Nord Mine has been occupied. The occupying force was not confirmed in detail, but apparently… … !”
“They must have been the knights that Priest Ethan led.”
Cynthia continued.
‘They disappeared without a message, and to announce their news through this.’
Ethan’s face came to mind, and Cynthia became bruised.
In any case, he seemed to be a person who prioritized actions rather than making fun of his mouth first.
“yes. you’re right.”
“It would be very painful for the rebels to lose the Nord Mine, Lord Haup.”
Either way, it was good news for Cynthia.
He knew well how much money a Nord mine would cost the rebels.
Cynthia asked Ben.
“How long can Priest Ethan survive in the Nord Mine? Think realistically.”
Ben expressed his displeasure.
“If the rebels move in earnest, they won’t last a day or even half a day.”
* * *
The movements of the Graytown Fortress and the Haup estate were quiet.
Neither of them moved hastily and kept each other in check.
However, it was a fortress that took advantage of this situation unilaterally.
The Nord Mine was currently occupied by an unknown force.
In other words, it meant that the money line of the rebels was cut off.
However, he could not withdraw his troops to the Nord Mine in haste.
The reason was simple.
The Nord Mine was occupied by a force capable of capturing the Iron Blood Knights.
Everyone knew that sending ordinary soldiers blindly would be defeated.
Then there was the risk of the morale of the soldiers going down in the war.
Haup’s estate was now in a situation where it could neither do this nor that.
So it was natural to stay silent.
‘Still, it’s strangely motionless.’
Ethan thought as he looked towards the Haup estate.
There was no response as if there was another target.
“Are you kidding me?”
Christopher inquired at Ethan’s words.
“Are you kidding me?”
“Even though the Nord Mine has been occupied, the Haup side is too quiet.”
Christopher brought up the theory.
“Ugh. Maybe it’s because we’re confronting the fortress, so we can’t move in haste?”
“Even with that in mind, the Nord Mine is a very important source of money for the rebels as well as the Haup estate. I can’t stand still like this. But so far there is no movement? Something is strange.”
“I think the priest was overreacting. If you think the troops will come this way, can’t you just blow up the gold mine and get out of the way as it is? Don’t worry too much.”
That was correct.
Although they captured the Nord Mine, Ethan and the knights knew that realistically they could not continue to occupy this place.
So it was decided that it would be best to abandon the mine.
However, Ethan’s nerves were being touched by the reaction of Haup’s estate, which was so quiet.
Ethan thought for a moment and then smiled.
It was also clear that he had other plans.
“Everyone tell me to get ready, I’m going into the Nord Mine.”
Then he uttered something meaningful.
* * *
The Nord Mine, which fell into the hands of the Iron Knights, was currently closed.
Miners flocked to the closed mines to protest.
“Why are you suddenly shutting down mining?”
“Even if the owner changes, we only have to give him gold every time, so why not let it shine?”
It was natural to express dissatisfaction as it was a matter of livelihood.
However, the knights controlling the entrance did not budge.
When the profanity didn’t work, the miners wrote a conciliatory measure.
“What do you think rebels are and what do worms like us know? I don’t care if you guys own this place, so just let me work.”
“Yeah, yes! The gold that comes out here is our share, and you can take your share!”
Then the knights opened their mouths.
“We are just banning mines for your safety.”
The miners’ eyes widened at the absurd answer.
“What? What do you mean, now?”
“No, look at these people? We’ve been working here for decades! Nothing has happened yet, what kind of bullshit is that?”
“Do you know mine better than us?”
“I asked some strange things a while ago! Are you trying to stop us from working?”
The miners pointed and mocked the knights.
Near the chaotic scene were Ethan and his knights.
The knights were a small elite, including Konrad.
Conrad asked with a serious face without his usual playfulness.
“How did you know there was something inside the mine?”
Conrad looked surprised.
It was natural.
Conrad and his knights only found out after asking the miners.
However, Ethan had never entered the mines, so he assumed there was something inside and ordered the miners to ask questions.
There were only a few questions the knights asked the miners at Ethan’s command.
-Have you ever found red ore in the Nord Mine?
At first, the miners were reluctant to say this.
– When it comes to red ore, we don’t know.
– Just because it’s a gold mine doesn’t mean it’s not just gold, it’s all sorts of odd things.
Eventually, the article moved on to the next question.
-Then, if it’s a bloody ore, have you ever found it?
The miners responded that they knew only then.
-Ahh! If so, you should have said that from the beginning. If so, I’ve seen it.
– I saw it too. A few years ago, I noticed a bloody, reluctant red ore.
As soon as the answer came, Ethan blocked the miners from entering.
And prepared to go into the mine.
So did the Knights.
He silently followed Edan’s words, but the knights were curious in their hearts.
It was certain that something unusual was happening.
Conrad finally couldn’t overcome his curiosity and asked a question.
“Priest, but what the hell is inside?”
“Originally, there must be a present that the Haup estate was going to give us.”
“A gift?”
Conrad tilted his head.
But soon after realizing the meaning, he smiled.
What the rebels were sending to the fortress was no real gift.
It must be something horrendous to hinder the knights, like the curse of the beast.
“I’m really looking forward to it.”
Soon Ethan and Konrad headed for the mine.
* * *
Whoops!
Ethan entered the mine with the knights holding a torch.
A gloomy energy lingered inside the mine.
‘Well, you worked in a place like this.’
Ethan muttered to himself.
From the entrance of the mine to the inside, a weak flow of magical power was detected.
If the concentration of magic was even a little thicker, I would have noticed it, but it was too weak for ordinary people to detect.
‘If you can feel this level of magic even though you have just entered, there must be more magic lurking in the depths.’
Ethan raised his hand.
“for a moment.”
Then the knights stopped walking.
“what happened?”