234─Overn Kingdom
“Ugh! Ah…… ! “Ahh!”
“Damn you b*tch!”
The smell of life and the smell of alcohol mixed with it, which made me feel like I was going to lose my mind, clearly showed how decadent this place was.
And the nobles of the Kingdom of Oberne freely vented their anxiety and nervousness by violating the royal princesses who were under them.
Under the current situation, the Kingdom of Oberne cannot avoid war with the Ernes Empire.
All of the nobles of the Kingdom of Oberne had a close relationship with the Elmark Empire, so from the perspective of the Ernes Empire, which started a war under the pretext of assassinating the royal family, they were the ones who must be beheaded──there is no room for doubt about this. There will be no.
Furthermore, at the time of the attack on the Academy, located in the capital of the Ernes Empire, the development area for drugs that put people into a state of suspended animation was also located in their kingdom.
It was impossible to receive help from the Elmark Empire because the king, who had committed suicide, confessed everything.
The Elmark Empire is admitting the whole matter, but isn’t helping them pretending that it is true?
Besides, the kingdom was nothing more than a toy that could be regained.
However, the Ernes Empire is marching this way because they must be severely punished.
So, from the perspective of the Elmark Empire, there is no need to deal with the Ernes Empire, which devotes its troops to unnecessary areas.
In fact, they would say that they would be happy if they, who were struggling because they did not want to die, could eat away at their troops.
…… I feel like I want to surrender neatly and aim my arrows at the Elmark Empire together.
The nobles of the Kingdom of Oberne could never choose that option.
There was not a single noble with clean hands who could avoid the sword of the Ernest Empire.
For this reason, there was no way for them to survive until the news of the Elmark Empire’s victory was heard.
The only way to survive here was to block the Ernes Empire’s army.
“For a royal subject that only has superficial features! “What kind of hero mentality did you have to commit such a pitiful act?”
“No!”
A nobleman lifts a blunt club near her and hits the crushed princess on the head, shaking her shabby belly and tearing at her inner skin.
She was trembling and foaming at the mouth due to her mild concussion, but given the situation, the nobles urgently needed to relieve the growing anxiety and nervousness, and the safety of her royal grandchildren was a consideration. It wasn’t something I should do.
In fact, from the perspective of the kingdom of Oberne, which was rotting and rotting, it would not be strange if another nobleman who was not even a collateral line of the royal family — with whom he was not related by blood at all — was elected as king.
Nevertheless, the reason they were able to maintain their reputation as royalty was simply because of the convenience of the Elmark Empire.
And how can one not be angry when the royal family, who are nothing more than puppets, put their own lives on the brink of the guillotine?
The dirty time that lasted for such a long time did not end until the Ernes Empire’s army reached the border.
* * * * *
The border of the Kingdom of Oberne, and the walls of Labieta that block it, are called the Fortress of the Sea.
This was also the reason why the Elmark Empire chose the Kingdom of Obern.
High, steep cliffs on both sides, and a castle wall built to fill the narrow space between them.
If you knock on the castle wall, the steep cliffs on both sides will interfere with your magic power and cause cracks.
The debris that will hit like a landslide will kill countless soldiers.
In particular, there is a considerable water vein flowing underground here, so retreating at that point would be quite difficult.
Remnants of the cliff are falling from above.
Underground water gushing like a waterfall from below impedes the soldiers’ movements, so breaking through with a direct method means taking a lot of damage.
Ttogak.
However, there was not a trace of embarrassment on the face of Corleone, the old bastard of the Alfred family who was watching the scene from afar.
“How was it?”
“Yes. “The residents of the Kingdom of Oberne still remain in the village not far from the border, marked on this map.”
“It looks like they conscripted soldiers in a hurry.”
Even though it is called the fortress of the sea, it was not difficult to break through it with force.
Because the status of the empire could not have been so poor.
However, it would definitely be a mistake to break through there at the cost of an honest loss.
“Search the soldiers.”
“Yes!”
“Marquis Alfred, plundering and massacring the residents of that village would not have helped us win this battlefield…… “
“Does the Prince of Soguk think this old man will do something forbidden by imperial order?”
Inas, the prince of Lobelium Kingdom, looked even more puzzled at Corleone’s answer.
“Isn’t the morale of the soldiers at rock bottom because they have nothing to gain from the public sentiment of the people or their cause? The moment the frightened people run away and enter the castle wall, the embers that have been extinguished are revived…… “
“The important thing is that you definitely accept it.”
“…… “
“I confirmed through Ganja that there wasn’t much food beyond that wall. So, we will gather the people around us and send them into the gates to commit suicide. As the prince of a small country said, in a situation where the morale of the soldiers is at an all-time low, the people who are scared of us are poison that they have no choice but to drink at a time when it is difficult to foresee a long-term war because it is good oil for them.”
His plan wasn’t bad at first glance.
But even if we were to let the people living in just a few small villages into the country, would we be able to reap the results?
Doubts welled up in his throat, but Prince Inas did not give Corleone any more thought.
If you say you are going to drill through that place using the regular method.
The people who should be at the forefront are their own people.
* * * * *
After raiding nearby villages and forcing the people of Obern Kingdom beyond the walls of Labieta, ten days have already passed.
In the process, Corleone’s army, which received an additional supply, only took turns knocking on the enemy’s walls as if making light knocks.
With the weather getting cold enough to snow, it was not difficult for Prince Inas to understand the enemy’s intention to accumulate fatigue in this way……
Because it was impossible to deliver the final blow, it was difficult to figure out what Corleone was ultimately aiming for.
Once, when they gathered for a meeting in the barracks, he hinted at him and wanted to try his luck.
He was just a prince of a dependent country, and it was not a good idea for him to repeatedly question the instructions of the commander-in-chief, so he kept his mouth shut.
A dark night filled with questions.
After Inas finished preparing, he led his soldiers and advanced in front of the walls of Labieta, alternating with the troops in front of him.
Even if you have slept in advance, the change between day and night itself causes considerable fatigue in the human body, so the dull feeling is not pleasant.
But Inas was not dissatisfied with that, and gave instructions to his soldiers to carry out his given mission.
Then, the moment the soldiers who received the instructions raised their ranks and were about to knock on the castle wall……
Chuck!
Under the softly shining moonlight, an enemy soldier on top of the castle wall falls down, staining a small field of snow with blood.
For a moment, I thought he might have been hit by a blind attack, but since Inas himself had never given an attack order, he raised his head with a puzzled expression.
However, even though it was a particularly bright moonlight day, it was not possible to see the top of the castle wall properly, where there was a large shadow.
‘It doesn’t make sense that the limit has already been reached.’
The main nobles of the Kingdom of Oberne must have conscripted their soldiers and citizens and gathered there.
Is there such a small number of soldiers that they cannot respond to this strategy by dividing their units equally?
That will definitely not be the case.
Then, Inas was racking his brain wondering what could have caused the soldier on top of the castle wall to plummet downward and become so tired that he almost died, but he realized that he was not in a position to worry about this right now and told the soldiers who had lined up. An attack order was given.
Quang!
Boom──!
「 ……… 」
But every time, the enemies who responded to this attack remained silent.
There was no need to turn back time, and they were responding until noon today.
‘Could it be that he abandoned this place and ran away?’
No.
There is no possibility of that.
What benefit is there in abandoning the most established location due to its geographical advantage?
Then, is this a deliberate bait to make them launch an all-out attack?
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But it was too insincere to be considered bait.
If you shake the fishing rod and make the bait on the tip of the hook look alive, even suspicious fish will open their mouths.
“For now, stop the attack and then go and report.”
“I understand.”
The soldier who saw this scene nearby and received instructions also began to run to the camp with a puzzled look on his face.
When the soldier returned after completing his report, the order he received was to retreat and rest.
His soldiers were happy to hear that, but Inas could not shake off an uneasy question.
‘If that is smoke…… ‘
Isn’t it like giving the enemy a half-day rest?
In particular, Corleone’s judgment, which completely excluded the possibility that the enemy was targeting it, seemed to have some kind of “Confidence.”
‘As expected…… ‘
That day, that time.
The Marquis Alfred must have done something to the people of the Kingdom of Obern, whom he let in beyond the walls.
Because it was possible for a human with magical power to be detected by a human with the same magical power, the probability of a brute force sabotage from within was low.
But even if additional ganja was mixed in among the people, what on earth can ordinary people do?
The highest possibility that comes to mind is that they succeeded in burning the food warehouse……
‘I don’t know.’
What he is trying to gauge is the power of the empire.
If he tried to guess with his narrow-minded head, he would only end up standing still.
A relaxing break for the first time in a long time.
Inas thought about trying to re-adjust her biological clock that had changed between day and night, and forced herself to take a nap.
* * * * *
In the quietly deepening dawn, Corleone stood up, looking at the walls of Labieta Castle covered in shadows created by the moonlight.
Then, along with him, the dawn heralding the morning slowly rises over the horizon.
“Are you ready?”
“Yes.”
“Then…” … “Let’s go.”
After ordering his soldiers to rest, Corleone, walking with his limbs, slowly advanced towards the walls of Labieta.
If everything reported last night was an act and a trick by the enemy, Corleone’s action of sticking his head out in front of the enemies at this moment when the vision hidden in the darkness was gradually revealed could be said to be a mistake unbecoming of a commander-in-chief.
But there was no hesitation in his slow gait, and what came out was only a gentle composure and a hint of subtle madness.
“The progress was faster than expected.”
I expected it would take longer than ten days.
“No matter how hard we try, the ant chick is nothing more than an ant chick.”
Seeing with her own eyes a dead body that had fallen in front of the castle wall from afar, Corleone gave the order to burn it cleanly and then brought the Auror Knights belonging to her family forward.
Then, they stretched out both hands and placed both hands on the heavy castle gate, and began to open the huge iron wall using only their strength.
Finally!
Boom!
Peeing──!
Although several Auror Knights were attached, the speed at which the castle gate was opened was very slow.
But, unable to overcome its might, the pulley fixed to the back of the gate was broken, and it was opened as easily as opening a window……
Great!
Cow!
The gates of Labieta, the fortress of the sea, have been opened.
“Pfft…” … !”
Then, what greeted Corleone and the other fish by his side was a terrible stench that could only be smelled from a dead fish whose internal organs had rotted in the summer.
Yes, what you see beyond the open castle gate is……
It was truly a swamp of dead bodies hanging out, like fish that had been killed.
* * * * *
Finch!
Prince Inas, who had been taking an uncomfortable nap, awoke from a sleepy state to the faint smell of smoke seeping into the tip of his nose, and hurriedly ran out of the barracks.
I wondered if the enemy had diverted their troops to the outside and attacked, but……
“What…” … “
The main cause of the faint smell of coal mixed with the blowing air was the flames rising beyond the huge walls of Labieta Castle.
Even if your eyes are not wrong, the gates are definitely open.
What on earth happened during that short time when I was taking a nap?
I looked around and saw that the other nobles didn’t have much different expressions from me either.
After that, Inas finished preparing and hurriedly walked after the nobles heading toward the open walls of Labieta.
“…… “
At the end, the moment he crossed the fortress-like gates of Labieta, what he could see was a fire burning so fiercely that it could drive away even the cold of midwinter——an overwhelming fire burning the entire territory of Labieta as firewood. Baptism of.
Crack.
At the same time, behind him, calmly and feebly, an old man is watching this scene while being hit by swirling embers……
“Did everyone have a good rest?”
Welcome them.
* * * * *
“What the hell…” … What happened…… ”
“It was a truly pitiful thing.”
Corleone, who was briefly hitting the floor with her cane, extends the tip to the side.
Inas, who naturally turned her head to follow the cane, was able to see the burning corpses that looked relatively intact.
“I don’t know how they managed to enter the castle without blood, but if they commit a massacre like this, the aftermath…… !”
“Have you forgotten the prince of a small country? “A small person does not do anything forbidden by imperial decree.”
“…… “
“Don’t get too close, but look at those bodies carefully.”
Corleone’s answer Einas narrowed his eyes.
Because the fire was so harsh, the surrounding scenery distorted like a haze caused dizziness.
Still, as I concentrated, I could clearly see a difference from before.
‘This is…’ … ‘
Several scars that look like the flesh has been hollowed out.
Other bodies in the fire also had the same symptoms, so what immediately came to mind was “Plague.”
Of course, from the perspective of defending a castle, a large number of people are concentrated in one territory, so it is relatively easy for epidemics to spread……
No matter how rotten the nobles of the Kingdom of Oberne are, wouldn’t they be able to maintain basic hygiene?
“It is a pitiful thing for the people, but in a way, it can be seen as a heavenly punishment.”
“…… “
Inas and other nobles did not open their mouths to Corleone’s words.
No, I couldn’t do it.
Because I couldn’t bring myself to say out loud the words that were rising to the top of my throat, “I wonder if you spread it intentionally.”
In the first place, although there was a mental illness, there was no physical evidence.
Who would dare say those words in front of the old and evil Alfred family?
…… In fact, if we were to be serious, the nobles gathered here might have hoped that the result in front of them was a coincidence.
Even if medical technology has developed beyond the times.
Knowledge and technology were not deep enough to research and develop a vaccine suitable for the disease.
If a threatening plague breaks out, the best means is to classify the region through epidemiological investigation and then burn the entire area.
So, you can keep a sample of the plague and use it as a weapon whenever you want.
It can be said to be the strongest weapon of this era, excluding magical powers such as warlocks, elemental wizards, and auror knights.
…… But this is clearly a double-edged sword.
From the moment this weapon is revealed rather than hidden, the possibility of being caught up in unnecessary suspicion increases.
If the imperial grandson dies due to illness, the Alfred family will be suspected.
Even if there is a plague, the Alfred family will still be suspected.
The moment his family becomes weak, he will become prime prey for other nobles to use as justification.
Even if that is not the case, if the power of the imperial family, which has found stability after the end of the war, becomes even stronger than it is now, this will become a strong leash strangling their necks.
Wouldn’t it also be possible for the imperial family to intentionally cause a plague, then blame it on the Alfred family and then destroy it?
‘No way…… Did that old monster do this on purpose?’
The relationship between Brutein and the imperial family is particularly unique.
Blind loyalty could not exist in the relationship between the king and the nobles.
If the king’s position becomes stronger, the power of the nobles weakens.
If the king’s position weakens, the power of the nobles becomes stronger.
So, in a very realistic sense, this could be said to be the most ideal loyalty that a noble can give to his monarch.
If you can establish strong power and a firm position, you will be given a leash that can stab your heart during that period.
“…… “
Brutein shines brightest in the sun.
Alfred, the ugliest person in the dark.
Even if each person’s method is different.
This form of loyalty to their monarch……
Inas was just jealous.
In order to escape from the well and realize the fleeting dreams they harbor, it would ultimately mean that they would have to bear the weight of the giant empire that these people support.
And even if it’s just one step.
The spectacle of this massacre before your eyes will also unfold in your own kingdom.
Ephemeral dreams are always blocked and crumbled in front of the cruel wall of reality, but Inas did not give up on those fleeting dreams.
Even if he ended his life as a fleeting prince with a fleeting dream, he did not want to ignore the future his kingdom should pursue.
Jeobbuk.
When I held on to my wavering resolve and raised my head again, I saw the royal family who had been persecuted by the nobles of the Kingdom of Oberne being rescued and walking towards me.
And when I saw them sitting in the corner laughing at the scene of this massacre……
‘I saw something I shouldn’t have seen…’ … ‘
Inasu turned his head without realizing it.
The Kingdom of Oberne probably did not attract the Ernes Empire to uproot the corrupt nobles and the Elmark Empire.
I didn’t even know that they did it to destroy their entire kingdom and turn it into ashes.