Hostage-taking in front of the military can’t last long in the first place. As time goes by, the hostage taker’s concentration decreases, and the military blocks all blind spots and escape routes.
Luke was well aware of this fact. So, as soon as he confirmed that the count’s army had moved far enough away, he immediately threw his sword away.
-surrender!
-… … !?
-Demands to be treated as prisoners!
While the elves were bewildered, they captured Luke and imprisoned him. Inside the makeshift wooden prison, Luke sang while lying on the floor.
“Cloud, where are you going? Where are you going so busy when you have nowhere to go? … .”
One of the elven guards on all sides looked at Luke with a bewildered face. You could tell just by looking in his eyes what he was thinking.
‘Am I crazy?’
Luke paid no heed to the gazes of the others. What are you going to do if you stare? After killing time for a while, I heard a growl in my stomach.
“I’m hungry. Give me some food.”
“… … .”
The elf guard looked at Luke for a moment and shook his head. It seemed that he had decided to ignore it altogether.
“If you don’t give it to me, I’ll tell Eldira.”
“Don’t call the princess by name carelessly.”
Among the guards, the high-ranking guy’s eyes went up. Luke said with a shrug.
“I didn’t say anything even when I called.”
“… … .”
“By the way, the rice is different. Do elves not even feed their prisoners?」
The guard, who had been frowning, looked at the soldier next to him. After a while, the stew in a wooden bowl arrived.
Seeing the steam coming up, it looked like it had just been made. Luke said while accepting the stew he handed over in silence.
“What about the seasoning?”
“… … .”
“I’m kidding.”
Seeing the veins on his forehead, he quietly picked up his spoon. If I teased him any more, he would come crashing into the prison.
The taste of the stew was quite good. Luke quickly emptied the stew. At the same time as the bowl was being removed, a voice was heard.
“Come out, human.”
clap.
The wooden prison opened with the elf’s words. Looking closely, it was one of the aides next to the former grand duke.
Luke got up lightly and followed the elf. I was briefly impressed by his calm appearance, but I didn’t say anything.
The place he headed with his aides was the barracks of the Archduke.
“Go in.”
“Yes, good job guiding.”
The elf’s face crumpled. So who wants to do it in a commanding tone? After light revenge, Luke went into the tent.
Inside the tent were the Archduke and Eldira. Unlike before, Eldira, dressed in a fancy outfit befitting a princess, spoke to Luke.
「Ingan, come on.」
… … ?
Something sounded odd, so Luke looked at Eldira. Seeing that her cheeks were swollen, it looked like she had been pinched mercilessly by someone.
“Where are you going!”
“Your cheeks.”
“… I’m not even going to do it!」
The already red cheeks turned even more red. Luke smiled and looked at the Archduke.
Unlike before, which was distorted with anger, his face was completely calm.
“You are quite rude to your children.”
“Does it look like that?”
“If it were me, I would have broken the leg.”
“I was going to do that too. You should be more fit when you go home.”
At the words of the Grand Duke, Eldira flinched. Either that or not, the Archduke continued talking without taking his eyes off Luke.
“An elixir, indeed, is a precious thing. Even those of us who inherited the ancient heritage have lost the recipe for the elixir.”
“Treasure should be used where it should be used.”
“I’m really glad you’re wise. If it wasn’t for that, misfortune would have happened to many people.”
The tone was light, but it was a word with heavy bones. The Grand Duke paused for a while and looked at Eldira.
“You should go out now.”
“yes? but… … .”
“From now on, it’s my business.”
Gongnyeo without official position means that they are not qualified to participate in national affairs. At those words, Eldira raised her eyebrows.
“But I am my father’s heir!”
“I want you to let me take a tour, is that it?”
“yes! At least let me learn.”
The Archduke smiled bitterly and spoke to Luke.
“Speak in the imperial language.”
“I’m comfortable.”
“father!?”
Despite Eldira’s protests, the two did not pay attention. After the two exchanged a few words, Eldira left with her shoulders drooping.
Eldira, who couldn’t understand the imperial language, couldn’t understand what she was saying. After looking at her daughter’s back for a while, the grand duke brought up the main topic with a serious face.
“First of all, thank you for saving my daughter.”
“You are welcome.”
“But that and whether or not you accept the offer are two different things.”
I guess so. You can’t be called a leader if you’re being swayed by emotions. It was the answer I was expecting.
“I heard from Eldira. That there is a means to decapitate the human lord and safely liberate his captive compatriots.”
“It’s possible with a little help from the Grand Duke.”
“I wonder if I need to help you.”
The Archduke stretched out his hand toward the outside of the barracks.
“You must have seen my army. The elite, the pride of the elves. Even a human force ten times larger is like a scarecrow in front of this army.”
Luke didn’t say anything. Because it wasn’t wrong. Actually, the elven army was great.
From the quality of the equipment to the movement in perfect order. It was clear that they had at least 20 years of training together and going through actual battles.
“The same goes for emptiness. Why should I borrow your hand when I can easily bring him to his knees with mine?”
“okay. I was also surprised to see the army the Grand Duke brought.”
Luke muttered, feigning admiration.
“All the hostages will be freed just by the pressure of the Archduke, and Count Valdemar will tremble in fear. You can even slit the count’s neck if you want.”
“I know you well.”
“Isn’t it such a great army? You will not get the land of men, but you will do everything else.”
The body of the Grand Duke, who had been sober until now, stood still. Luke didn’t miss that slight change.
‘I knew it.’
It was as expected. Archduke Arathion of the Elves. In the original history, he led an army half mad only to avenge his daughter.
However, now that his daughter is not dead, his purpose has no choice but to be different from before. Luke figured out the purpose.
The Grand Duke wanted a human land.
* * *
Silence fell for a while. The suffocating air where one second feels like ten seconds. Inside, Luke calmly waited for the Grand Duke’s reaction.
The Archduke stared at Luke with a sharp gaze.
“You are saying something strange. The land, did I have any reason to want the land of men?”
“Wouldn’t it be? It has never come to the human realm before.”
“Yes, even if you want, you can take it anytime.”
“no.”
Luke quickly denied the words of the Grand Duke, who was full of confidence.
“It is not the land. No matter how much you want, the Archduke cannot get the human land. Not even a span.”
Huung.
In an instant, a gust of wind blew through the room. Exactly, I felt that way. It was the momentum that came from the Grand Duke.
Luke involuntarily swallowed dry saliva.
‘It’s not like the title of the Grand Duke of the Sword was attached.’
Elves live longer than humans. Of course, the period of learning the sword is incomparable to that of humans.
The Grand Duke would be the same. The momentum of those who had learned the sword for decades or even hundreds of years was enough to make their skin numb.
“Your mouth is working fine.”
“My tongue works better than most people. Even more so when you tell the truth.”
“Be careful what you say. Even if you are your daughter’s benefactor, there is a limit.”
Luke shrugged. It was a gesture that he would not answer if he did not bother to ask. The first to raise the white flag was the Grand Duke.
“Explain. Why can’t I get no man’s land?”
“It’s simple. It is because it moves in the imperial family.”
“under.”
The Grand Duke snorted as if he was full of energy.
“Do you know me as an idiot? He saw right through the human social system. Even if the lord dies here, the emperor won’t move. Rather don’t you like it? You won’t have the strength to rebel.”
“you’re right. Whether the count dies or not is none of the business of the emperor.”
The Grand Duke frowned. You said that the imperial family is moving, but now it doesn’t move even if the count dies?
“Are you cheating on me now?”
“It’s not because of the count that I’m moving in the imperial family.”
“What?”
“Because the elf came directly to the attack range.”
The Grand Duke’s eyes shook violently. I was able to understand the meaning behind the words. Luke continued talking.
“Come to think of it, elves are very desirable opponents. They possess technology superior to humans and even magic that has now disappeared. If you could take it, you would want to take it right now.”
“That is so strange. We have never been attacked before.”
“Because you can’t win. Who else would lead an army into elven territory without going mad?”
The realm of the elves is beyond the monster-infested forest, and no one really knows the geography of it.
It is doubtful whether they will be able to reach their destination properly, and even if they arrive at the risk of human losses, it is perfect for annihilating them with a counterattack.
“But if the elves came to the human realm on their own, it would be a different story. The imperial family will rejoice and bring an army.”
“And my troops will slaughter them like pigs.”
From noble mtl dot com
“You already know, don’t you? Humans do not value the lives of their compatriots the way elves do.”
Not to mention the present emperor or crown prince. In the case of the emperor, he wouldn’t come even if it was annoying, but the prince would come running, trembling with excitement.
In the meantime, even if the army is wiped out, I will somehow pour money and people to prepare a new army and advance again.
“The first time it’s annihilated, it will rush to make up for the damage, the second time it’s annihilated, it’s going to make up for the huge damage, and the third time it’s annihilated, it’s going to make up for the astronomical damage.”
“You fool. Isn’t that a sane idea?”
“You just have to pay it back. If the gains are too great, everyone thinks so.”
In fact, the elves had that much loot. If the possibility of occupying the territory of the elves was completely visible, the damage would not be noticeable.
The Grand Duke nodded at Luke’s words.
“indeed. You have a point.”
“I’m glad you understand.”
“According to your advice, I will not set foot in the human realm from now on. I’ll have to go back with Eldira as soon as this is over.”
Luke laughed inwardly. Do you want to bluff? You should hit someone who can do that too.
“Indeed, the Grand Duke is very understanding. Then will you please send me back soon? I’m worried about the vassals I left behind in the count’s castle.”
“… … .”
When Luke stepped back without any regrets, the archduke quietly lowered his eyes. And after a while, the grand duke’s mouth opened with a sigh.
“How did you find out?”
“What do you mean?”
“That I want a man’s land.”
Luke smiled at the Grand Duke’s declaration of surrender.
* * *
The reason why Luke recognized the grand duke’s intentions was simple.
“It was strange for the Count to take hostages with elves.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ve heard that it’s normal for elves to be so far away that you don’t have a chance to meet them. But we met so easily.”
Eldira and her friends roamed the front yard of humans. It is said that there is an accommodation that can come and go within a day’s distance nearby.
The same goes for the Count’s deal. At least it means that we can send and receive news about hostages from a safe distance from each other.
“Since the human domain has not expanded, there is only one answer. Elves are continuing to expand their territory.”
“Yeah, I have no choice but to widen it, to be precise.”
The Grand Duke replied with a bitter face. Luke put his guess into his mouth.
“Are you a resource?”
“Did you notice that far?”
“No matter how advanced a civilization is, it will need resources.”
Elves settled in the West even before the Empire was established. Enough time to drain all the veins in an area ruled by a human lord.
Unless you live like a caveman, resource problems will inevitably arise. The Grand Duke made eye contact with Luke and said.
“Ask me one thing. Is there a way to solve the resource problem without us taking over the human domain?”
“Of course there is.”
Luke grinned and declared.
“All you have to do is help me get this land.”
* * *
The next day, Count Herning’s family was upset. It was because of two letters from the elven prince.
One was written in Imperial, the other in Elven. After reading the two documents, the count muttered with a blank expression.
“You want to renegotiate?”
I couldn’t figure out the elven grand duke’s intentions. With that army, you could win just by attempting a siege, so why bother negotiating?
suspicious so suspicious There must have been some ulterior motive.
‘I want to reject it right away, but… … .’
The Count slightly rolled his eyes to the side. There, Ray and Bruno, who opened their ax eyes, were staring at the Count.