411

Episode 411: There's not much time left. (2)

Ferdium has been so peaceful lately.

The mission to guard the North was still there, but the barbarians were no longer running wild.

Rather, it was now becoming something more like an intermediary point for trade between barbarians and the kingdom.

Heeeeeeling!

Hundreds of horses entered the northern fortress.

These were the words that Waroka offered as tribute.

"Ahem, Wolf of the North, it's been a while."

"It's been a while, Waroka."

The two shook hands as soon as they met.

After giving and receiving what we needed from each other a few times, we no longer pull out our weapons and fight as soon as we see each other like we used to.

Of course, the knife still pierced my heart.

'Should I have done that when I went on a military expedition before?'

'These guys are untrustworthy. You never know when they'll strike you in the back of the head.'

Still, both of them kept smiling on the outside. After all, it was to their advantage to keep the agreement for now.

Zwalter showed the food he had prepared for Waroka.

"Here, here's the food you promised. Will this be enough for this year?"

Waroka gulped as he looked at the piled up food.

I always feel this way, but these guys have so much food. It's amazing how they get so much.

'If only we could produce food like this... ... .'

Then there is no need to live on a leash like this. You can truly build a northern kingdom.

"Can you please teach us… …how to produce food?"

In this barren North, they have suddenly succeeded in mass production. There must be a way. If they know it, they can also seek prosperity.

But Zwalter shook his head.

"I don't know."

"… … ?"

"I really don't know. My son found out how, but no one on our side knows."

'Damn it! If you don't want to teach me, then just say you don't want to teach me!'

Waroka looked annoyed, but Zwalter's words were true. The magic clearing had been created by the key figures of Fenris.

And after the opening of the Forest of Magic, Ferdium stopped relying on the Magic Clearing, because he could now produce food there.

The production per unit area was less than that of the magical clearings of Fenris, but the area they had cleared was so large and rich in land resources that it was not a problem.

Zwalter, who was thinking about what to tell about the Forest of Demons, suddenly remembered something and said.

"You don't even know how to farm anyway?"

"… … ."

The forest of the Demons also extends to the territory of the barbarians, but they have no intention of farming.

To them, farming was a humiliating activity for the weak. Warriors only hunted and plundered.

So, it was obvious that most people would not do farming.

In fact, when Woroka invaded a kingdom, he tried to use the kingdom's people as slaves to produce food.

He coughed a few times and then asked again in a sly manner.

"Then why don't you give us a little more food? Our number of people is increasing. It's getting tight."

A forced peace was brought about when the Warokas subjugated the various tribes with food.

The other tribes were dissatisfied but did not rebel, because the Woroka were the only ones who could obtain food through trade with Ferdium.

Among the barbarians, Waroka was one of the more intelligent ones. He was also very suspicious, so he never left food trade to his subordinates, but always took charge himself.

Zwalter shook his head firmly.

"Wasn't that part of our negotiation terms? If you want more, bring something else."

Zwalter, who was a weak-willed fool, has also changed a lot. This is because he has suffered a lot.

"Ugh… … . It's too tight."

Waroka let out a loud noise.

In any case, it was thanks to food that the tribesmen were forcibly unified and peace was achieved.

Even if you wanted to fight, you couldn't do anything since the other side had food.

'If we continue to pillage like we used to, food will run out... and the tribe will scatter.'

I don't like that. I want to unite the tribes and have all the power like I do now.

'I need another force… … .'

I've already been seriously beaten by Giselle once. I don't think I could win even if we fought.

Waroka was beginning to realize that if things continued this way, he would never be able to overcome Ferdium.

It was a life that he, with his great ambitions, could never accept.

'He's the problem. I think we just need to deal with him... ... .'

Waroka hid his dark intentions and asked Zwalter slyly.

"Blood Demon… … No, how is Baron Fenris doing?"

"Now you are a count."

"That's right. You've been promoted, right? I heard that you, Wolf of the North, have become a Marquis. Anyway, how is Earl Fenris doing?"

It was inevitable that news would arrive a little late from the barbarians. Zwalter gave a detailed account without much doubt.

"Oh, don't you know? My son has been fighting with Marquis Rodrik since he was promoted to Earl… … ."

Zwalter began to brag about his children. As the story continued, Waroka's face grew pale.

'Marquis Rodrique is a very famous lord, isn't he? He destroyed 100,000 people? And without much damage? Does that make sense?'

Even though he was sweating profusely, Zwalter's bragging was endless.

"Ah, so that's when I showed up! Huh? To pursue the remaining forces of Marquis Rodrik!"

Zwalter was excited to tell the story of his recent support for Ferdium.

At first, I was very worried. Fighting Marquis Rodrik was like fighting the entire West.

But he is a son who will have to fight the Duke anyway. If he defeats Marquis Rodrik before that, the risk will be greatly reduced.

So, Zwalter set out as soon as the request for support came in, wanting to provide his son with even a little help.

'That weird guy Claude suddenly changed his plan, though… … .'

Originally, they were planning to wait in the promised area and then launch a surprise attack on the enemy forces at the signal of Jiselle.

But suddenly, the commander of Fenris changed the plan and sent Ferdium reinforcements to the strange castle.

'The war ended without us being able to do anything.'

The enemy fled as soon as they appeared. We pursued them for a while, but stopped when the distance became too great.

That was the end of it. After waiting a while, I heard that Marquis Rodrik was dead and the war was over. I returned after receiving only a few awkward thanks.

I still felt haunted.

'Ah, anyway, our son and his men are really great. They're even going to destroy Marquis Rodrik. Is Fenris the strongest in the kingdom?'

"Oh, that's right. Our son, Master, Master."

"Master… … ?"

"Don't you know, Master?"

"Sir, really? An immortal warrior?"

"Is that what you call me? Anyway, I'm a master."

The term 'immortal warrior' was a term that appeared in the legends of the northern tribes. It meant a level slightly higher than the 'superman' commonly used on the continent, but there was no other suitable word to replace it.

The more Zwalter bragged about his children, the more Worocka's expression got worse.

'Damn, it was already a monster, but now it's even worse!'

The scariest one is said to be stronger than before.

Even if we allow for a bit of exaggeration, that alone should be enough to eliminate several tribes.

There, the territory was equipped with enough power to fight and win against an army of 100,000 men.

The northern part of Rutania, once easily plundered, has now become a gigantic wall that cannot be endured.

'We should have taken Ferdium a long time ago… … .'

Even if Fenris can't help it, Ferdium is also a problem. Every time I come here, I feel like there are more and more knights.

"Over there… … It seems like there are more knights than before?"

"Oh, don't you know? It's all thanks to my son. He created a popular mana training method and distributed it. That's why I'm continuing to increase the number of knights."

"Mana training method? Isn't it wrong to hand that out carelessly?"

"We are different now. We spare nothing to become stronger."

The knight class is one of the means to maintain vested interests, especially the power of the nobility. That is why the Mana Ancestral Law became one of the visions.

As the number of people with power increases, the number of people challenging the vested interests also increases.

But Ferdium didn't do that. Giselle modified the family's training method so that anyone could learn it easily.

Although the destructive power is somewhat low, it is possible to use mana with just a little talent and effort.

Of course, it still has its own unique explosive power. Thanks to this, the newly entered knights had to train like crazy if they didn't want to die.

"Well, that doesn't mean we just pick anyone. We pick based on at least a minimal amount of humanity."

When Waroka heard those words, he bit his lip.

'Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!'

The opponent's knights were increasing and food was in abundance. As time went by, the gap was widening.

The cavalry, which was the northern tribes' strong point, has now faded. As they have brought horses, their opponents have also come to possess many cavalry.

Now, they can't fight and win against this place with their own strength. They will have to live their whole lives offering horses.

'You can't live like that!'

Fenris is far away. We must somehow destroy Ferdium and occupy the territory within the kingdom.

It seems that food production in Ferdium has also increased significantly, so if they just take over this place, the Northern Kingdom will be able to gain real power.

"Zwalter, the Wolf of the North. I'm going back now. Make sure you eat well."

"Are you leaving already? Why don't you have a cup of tea like before?"

"Okay, I have a lot of work to do."

When they first started trading for food, Woroka was also in a good mood, because they were subjugating tribes without fighting.

But as time went by, they were becoming weaker, just as Jiselle had intended.

The warriors were becoming lazy and unable to make a sound in Ferdium. The discord between the tribes was not easily resolved and everyone was full of dissatisfaction.

But there was no way. If we fight, we'll all die. That's all I was worrying about.

'Until they came, that is.'

A mysterious group that came to visit us a while ago. They introduced themselves as the Salvation Church.

If it were normal, they would have just kicked them out. They had their own religion.

But they made a very tempting offer.

'They said they would give us three territories in the north, including Ferdium… … The Duke of Delphine said he would help… … .'

If the price wasn't so bad, I would have accepted it right away. But what they were asking for in return was so bad that even the so-called barbarian Waroka would have been disgusted.

So they put it on hold for the time being. They stayed close to the tribe of Waroka, saying they would wait until a conclusion was reached.

As he walked back, Waroka continued to ponder.

'There's no way anyway.'

'I cannot defeat the bloody demon with my own strength.'

'Even Ferdium is now difficult to deal with. It's not the Ferdium of old.'

To achieve his ambition of founding a northern kingdom, he must become self-sufficient in food.

"after...."

Waroka's eyes began to glow with life. He asked the great warrior Monga next to him.

"Monga, how long did they say they would wait?"

Monga spread out both of his palms and said.

"I said it was about that much."

"… … ."

After a moment of silence, Waroka spoke.

"I will meet them right away."

"Do you really accept this offer?"

"Yes. If we continue like this, we will be unable to do anything and will become slaves to Ferdium."

Monga looked a little afraid. The Salvation Church's proposal was cruel even to him, who was called the Great Warrior.

But Waroka had already made up his mind.

Before returning to his tribe, he took his men and headed to where his guests were.

There were only a few small tents pitched there. As soon as Waroka announced his visit, a pale-looking young man wearing a black robe came out of one of the tents.

He looked at Waroka and smiled broadly and said.

"Have you thought about it, Mr. Waroka?"

"Did you say your name was Dentaria?"

"Yes. I am Dentaria, who is in charge of the position of judge of the Salvation Church, although I am not very good."

"… … Is it really possible to succeed?"

Dentaria smiled softly at Waroka's question.

"If Lord Waroka helps, nothing is impossible. Behind us is the Delphine Dukes, the strongest in the Kingdom of Rutania."

"Three northern territories are not enough for the castle. I need to make up the number. Bring me five."

Dentaria, who had been thinking for a moment, nodded.

"I can handle that much under my authority. I will give you five territories. Also, after taking over the kingdom, I will give you the title of Duke."

"So I just have to stir up northern Rutania?"

"Yes. Of course, we know that it is difficult with only the tribes' strength. That is why we will provide support."

"Phew… … ."

Waroka took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment.

It's a big decision. Once you make it, there's no going back.

But I've already made up my mind. I'm just afraid to say it.

After catching his breath and hesitating several times, Woroka finally opened his mouth.

"Okay, I accept the offer."

"What do you mean…?"

"You are saying that we will create a 'door' and attack northern Rutania."

"You know the price, right?"

"Yes, I will offer five tribes as sacrifices to you. It will be difficult for me to attack five tribes at the same time, so help me with that first."

"Okay, I can handle it easily."

Dentaria lowered her head and smiled cruelly.