419

Episode 419: Dialogue, Empathy, Persuasion (2)

The one-armed man, Tennant, asked in a subdued voice.

"Why did you save me? No, how on earth did you save me before that? I was definitely dead… … ."

"There is a way to do everything."

Jiselle laughed. To be honest, it was half luck.

Jiselle cut Tennant's neck and injected Dark Aura into him.

At that time, Tennant had already completely exhausted all of his mana and his Aura Blade had disappeared. Even if he had been left alone, he would have collapsed from exhaustion anyway.

Meanwhile, the dark energy that entered his body stopped the bleeding from his wound and blocked his airway, causing Tennant to pass out.

Tennant, who had lost all his strength, felt no discomfort and accepted it as a process of death.

At that time, Jiselle just thought it was easy.

'There's nothing you can do if you die.'

Tennant was stubbornly hoping for death. At the time, persuasion was impossible, so even Giselle had no choice but to resort to such methods.

In the end, Tennant barely managed to survive. Giselle immediately used a potion to administer first aid to him, and brought him to the estate and entrusted him to Fiote.

Jiselle asked, still smiling.

"How is prison life? Is it worth it?"

"… … Even this is too much for someone like me."

"People have changed a lot."

He, who used to display arrogant confidence as the strongest man in the West, has now become a bundle of inferiority who endlessly blames himself.

It was understandable that he lost the war and even killed his lord. He was a man who was as honorable as he was arrogant.

So even after he was locked up in prison, Tennant didn't cause any trouble. He didn't try to escape or commit suicide.

I just spent each day with eyes filled with regret.

Jiselle stopped laughing and spoke with a serious expression.

"Tenant, let me get straight to the point. Although you are only a beginner, you have now reached the level of a master. I need your strength."

"… … So that's why you saved me?"

"Yeah, the cracks are opening and monsters are coming out. We need at least one more person's strength."

Tennant answered with his head bowed.

"I don't deserve this. Kill me."

"You were the one who challenged me to a duel. And the loser's treatment is up to the winner. Isn't that right? You can't die without my permission."

"… … ."

Tennant had nothing to say. The loser of a duel must obey the words of the winner. That is why duels are tolerated, and sometimes even a territory battle is decided by duels alone.

He, who had already suffered all the shame, could not bear to change the result of the duel.

If Marquis Rodrik had died at the hands of Fenris's forces, I would have used that as an excuse to fight to the end, but I couldn't even make that excuse.

"If I… … join in, many people will feel uncomfortable."

"We always live uncomfortably. You don't have to worry about that."

"… … ."

The knights nodded silently at Jiselle's words. There weren't many sane people in the territory, so everyone was just uncomfortable.

To be honest, I felt uncomfortable dealing with Gillian and Kaor, even though I was with them. Claude and Alfoy were the same, and the elves and dwarves, needless to say.

Everyone was uncomfortable with each other, but thanks to Jiselle's strong power and authority, everyone was living like that, and that was Fenris.

What I'm saying is that it wouldn't make much of a difference if one or two former enemies were added.

"The Drake mercenary band decided not to bother with it anymore since Marquis Rodrik is dead. His successors also died in the war. I don't have a grudge against you, so you don't have to worry about it."

Tennant sighed at Giselle's words.

"Even so, how can you use me, who killed my lord and lost my honor?"

"Tenant, pay the price."

"The price of sin… … you say?"

"Your loyalty will be acknowledged by everyone. But can your life really be called honorable?"

"… … ."

"Marquis Rodrique may have been your lord and benefactor, but he was the worst tyrant to his people. Do you really think it's not your fault that you pretended not to know that as his vassal?"

"that...."

"Yes, the people of the lord are the property of the lord. But do you really think that is right? If you are a knight who truly knows honor, ask your own conscience."

Tennant bowed his head again in silence. He had nothing to say about it.

It was also wrong of a knight to not protect the weak and not offer advice.

But Tennant, like the other knights, pretended not to know it, using the crude shield of loyalty to his lord.

"Gisselle said to Tennant, who was bowing his head.

"The people who suffered from the exploitation of Marquis Rodrik are now suffering because of the monsters of the cracks. If you are truly a man of honor… … ."

Phew!

Giselle thrust her sword into Tennant's face. He continued speaking firmly.

"Now take up your sword for the people."

Tennant stared at the sword stuck in the floor for a long time, then asked.

"But… …what if I refuse?"

"I'll tie you up and throw you in front of the monsters. If that's how you want to die, then just die miserably there."

Tennant chuckled at those words. He shrugged his shoulders a few times and grabbed his sword.

At the same time, the knights behind Giselle also became nervous and placed their hands on their swords.

Tennant said, slowly drawing his sword and standing up.

"I will not be loyal to you."

"It doesn't matter. Just fight where I tell you to fight."

"I will save the people and go into hiding once the war is over."

"A man who only knows how to fight in times of peace is completely useless. There is no reason to refuse if he offers to reduce the cost of food."

The two men looked at each other and laughed. Tennant laughed and joked.

"If you were going to use it anyway, you should have left the arm intact."

"I think it's the price I paid for learning humility."

Tennant, who was smiling again, made one last request.

"Please bring me a mask. I think it would be too embarrassing to go out with my bare face."

"Don't do that. Even if you hide it, everyone will know."

Many soldiers saw Tennant lose the duel and have his arm cut off by Giselle. Even if his face was covered, everyone would know who he was.

Tennant knew him too, but he didn't take back the request. At least he could hide his embarrassed face.

In this way, a new superhuman joined the Fenris domain.

* * *

"Huh, the situation in the kingdom is a mess."

"That's right. How did socializing become so prevalent that it created such things… … ."

"Isn't it fortunate that they didn't show up in the North? In fact, it's a good thing for us."

Someone's words made others laugh out loud.

The people gathered in groups of three or five and talking on the large platform outside were the lords of the north.

Jisel used his authority as commander of the northern army to summon the northern lords. The lords had no reason to refuse, so they gathered together with their territorial troops.

Everyone had a rough idea why Fenris had summoned them.

"I think he's going to gather an army and go fight that rift… … ."

"Is that all? It's obvious that they'll use our military in their fight against the Duke."

"I can't just give it up. Don't you all think the same?"

"Yes, in a situation like this, we should conserve our strength. Let's make excuses as much as possible and provide only a little support."

Now, the other lords of the kingdom were all in chaos. They had to deal with the rift and fight the duke's family, so they were bound to suffer huge losses.

But the lords of the relatively safe northern regions did not want to take risks. Perhaps they could use this opportunity to make a lot of money.

Naturally, they intended to hide and conserve their power as much as possible.

One lord asked with a hint of concern.

"But will Earl Fenris go overboard? We all know he's a total idiot. He'll probably demand half the maximum allowed by royal law."

"We also took a lot of troops when we purchased food last time. It was very difficult to recover them."

"Isn't it obvious that he's going to threaten me with that again this time?"

The lords grumbled. Fenris was tied to a leash of food and iron ore, so there was nothing they could do at the time.

Things were a little better now than they were then, but there was still a great risk that if they fell out of favor with the Earl of Fenris, who had become a high lord, their food purchases would be restricted.

"The Count of Zimbar, the lord of Zimbar, who lives right next to Ferdium, said:

"He was called a rascal when he was young, but he wasn't this promising… … Tsk tsk. But this time it'll be a little different."

"How do you say that?"

"Right now, that kid has to fight against the Duke and the Crack, right? There's no good in fighting all of us."

"then...."

"If we just gather the soldiers we brought now, there are thousands of them. Even if he is a total loser, do you think he would want to fight here? If we join forces and come out strong, he won't be able to do anything."

"Of course you would. But wouldn't you retaliate later by buying food or something?"

"We should resolve it then. Are you saying that we should sacrifice half of our army because we are afraid of that? Is that possible? It is obvious that he will demand the maximum."

"Umm… … ."

The lords all nodded.

The regional commander can force up to half of the troops of all lords in wartime, meaning that they are to defend their territory with only the remaining half.

However, if half of the army is offered, the lords will suffer a huge loss, because they will also have to take responsibility for the operating costs and supplies of the army.

The future is what it is, but who would want to be in turmoil right now?

Count Zimbar said slyly.

"How about we take this opportunity to solidify our alliance?"

"An alliance?"

"Yes, otherwise we will be at the mercy of the Earl of Fenris."

"Okay. We have to protect our rights!"

The lords all agreed. They are small, poor fiefdoms in the north, but when they all come together, they become a force to be reckoned with.

And so, suddenly, the 'Northern Federation' was born.

The first confederate governor was Count Zimbar, who was the first to offer his opinion after being swollen.

"I have known his father, Marquis Ferdium, for a long time, so he will not be able to do anything to me. Hasn't our territory supported Ferdium for a long time?"

"Of course, of course. Now let's show that kid that we're no pushovers."

All other territories except the North were in turmoil. The Northern lords were somewhat removed from the threat, so they had the luxury of plotting such a thing.

"But why hasn't this little brat come yet after calling the adults!"

A lord spat out annoyedly. As soon as those words left his mouth, the Fenris Army appeared in the distance.

The knights who were in charge of the lords' escort shouted here and there.

"The Earl of Fenris has arrived!"

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Led by Giselle, who was riding on the Black King, he was followed by his entourage and about 2,000 cavalrymen.

The soldiers of the other Territory armies looked tense as they watched the approaching Fenris army.

Not only was their overwhelming momentum impressive just by looking at them, but their reputation as the strongest in the North naturally made other armies feel intimidated.

The lords gathered on the stage swallowed their saliva.

'Was that kid like that?'

'Something… … The atmosphere has changed… … .'

'Why do you look so strong?'

As Jiselle approached, the lords' tension also increased. Although they had formed an alliance with other lords, they were worried about dealing with Jiselle because she was such a loser.

Jiselle looked around at the lords from her horse.

"It's been a while, everyone."

There were lords whose faces I knew, and there were lords who joined the duke's faction and then left. There were also lords whose vassals fell to the duke's faction without their knowledge.

But it doesn't matter now. Anyone who reconnects with the Duke will be the first to be attacked.

'Amelia didn't come.'

Of course, there was no way that woman would listen to him. Moreover, that clever woman ended negotiations with the royalist faction, saying that she would act independently before Jiselle could exercise her authority as commander of the northern army.

'Well, it doesn't matter.'

Amelia will probably have quite a headache right now anyway. She'll have to change all her plans because of the Salvation Church.

That means there is no need to fight with each other now.

As soon as Giselle got off the horse and sat down in the empty seat, she spoke to everyone.

"You will know why I, the commander of the Northern Army, have called you here."

The answer came from Count Zimbar, a Northern Alliance lord.

"Ahem, ahem. Are you trying to persuade us to join the war by your authority as commander?"

"That's right. It's a civil war, but we also need to prevent the cracks from widening. Since the North is not affected by the cracks, you can raise an army without any burden."

"Cause, the kingdom is in danger, so we can't just ignore it. That's why we already discussed providing support before the commander arrived."

"Support? This is not support, but a deportation under the laws of the kingdom."

"Ahem, well, that's it, isn't it? After all, we're participating too."

Jiselle nodded.

"Is that so? I hope the conversation goes quickly. So you've made up your mind, then?"

"Yes, we will provide one-third of the troops and expenses from each territory. Wouldn't that be sufficient?"

Surely, just that amount would have created a considerable army and cost a similar amount of money. The lords thought that they had made a huge concession.

But Giselle frowned and said.

"Are you kidding me? The kingdom is in danger right now, and you're saying you'll give 'just' that much to secure its safety?"

"Oh my! That's all! We really did our best! Did the Commander really intend to take it all?"

"Yes, I will take them all."

"That's not something that would be possible unless the kingdom was in danger of being invaded by another country! It's not that bad yet! Withdrawing half of the troops is just preparing for the worst… … ."

At that moment, Giselle interrupted Count Zimbar.

"Half? Who says half?"

"Isn't the maximum set by law half of the territory? Isn't that what you were talking about just now?"

Jiselle leaned back in her chair, chuckling in disbelief.

"I think there is some misunderstanding."

"What a misunderstanding… … ."

"Bring them all."

"What, what?"

Jiselle looked around at the lords with cold eyes and said.

"I'm telling you to bring all the troops except the ones necessary to maintain a minimum level of security. Do you understand?"

The lords were momentarily dizzy and could not answer.