Chapter 431
My Villains Episode 431
65. peak of spring(6)
After receiving the report from salted fish seller Deogen, my work continued even after the sun went down..
Uniting several armies and acting as commander was not an easy task, so three days and nights were not enough to handle all the tasks that came my way..
In times like this, what was needed was ‘a quick hit.’ Putting off unimportant tasks to others.
At first glance, it may seem like you can just hire someone to do the job, but there are a lot of things to pay attention to. We need to find the right person and give them authority, create conditions for the work to be done, and check after the fact that it was done properly..
If you had a subordinate like the veteran Conwyer, you could push them in and beat them up, but since there aren't many trustworthy people here, you had to distribute the work here and there. What I mainly looked for were Milgrester's vassals, such as Lord Benlow and Staff Fogan. As friends who work for a prestigious count family, they are very trustworthy and capable, but they are all busy and not my subordinates, so I couldn't use them comfortably..
So I went looking for Sergeant Gottlob and Salted Fish Marketer Sue Deogen. Although each was a soldier and a gangster, they could be entrusted with less important tasks - such as managing trench diggers, persuading blacksmiths who refused to work, or stomping on petty thieves that infested the market..
When those weren't enough, I had no choice but to reduce my rest time. I usually did that.
But I don't want to do that today. It's been a while since I returned to a proper accommodation, but I don't want to just work..
In addition to these circumstances, other measures had to be taken, so I sent a messenger to the Permanent Court asking them to prepare to receive guests..
When I went out to the courtyard of the security headquarters, the guard had prepared a bicorn..
“trunnion!”
Mungchi must have heard that I was going out, so he came out and was waiting for me. The guy who was feeding the bicorn a piece of meat spotted me and smiled brightly..
Iopiya, who was watching the bicorn from a distance with her mouth half-open, also turned to look at me..
“Ah, Poynix..”
“What are you doing here??”
“Mr. Poynix was going out, and Mr. Lannon said he would follow him. I'm going to see you off.”
Contrary to what he said, the young shaman kept glancing at the bicorn..
Well, it's not something you can't understand..
It has a muscular body, shiny leather, dark purple mane and tail fur, four long legs, sharp teeth, reptilian eyes, and spiral horns that stand up to a meter long..
Although it is an unclean creature, its beauty cannot be denied. And since it possesses power that is more valuable than beauty, its charm could also be said to belong to a demonic beast..
“Look closely.”
“yes?”
“I mean bicorn.”
Iopiya threw up both hands with a horrified look on her face..
“No, it's okay..”
“why? growling?”
“That's the same, but that kid doesn't like it..”
“…… That's an innovative answer. Don't worry, it's not that tricky. That guy is the reason you always snooped around the stables at High Castle..”
“uh… … . Still. Just by looking at it
sufficient,”
When I pulled the wrist that was hanging from the hem of the poncho, the girl was dragged away making a foolish noise..
“No no no, Poynix.!”
Grung
Iopiya, who was continuing to put up very weak resistance, quickly turned pale when the bicorn revealed its sharp fangs..
“ fizzle.”
At my brief signal, the demon beast snorted and lowered its head. Perhaps because I disciplined him with lots of affection on a regular basis, he now listens quite well..
“Ugh, wow.”
Iopiya, standing in front of Bicon, looked completely overwhelmed..
She was also about 160 cm tall, so she was not short by the standards of this world, but the bicorn was about half the size of an ordinary horse. There was a saddle raised a couple of spans above Iopiya's eye level..
“Why are you so surprised? It's not my first time seeing you up close.”
The young soul shaman pursed his lips a few times like a carp before speaking..
“It feels different..”
“how?”
“……Uh, I don't know. It feels like I was thrown out, but at that time, I was hiding in Poynix’s arms..”
The bundle that was showing off the bridge of Bicorn's nose suddenly stopped touching it. Seeing his black pupils narrowing, I quickly added a word..
“You mean when you're transformed into a flying squirrel? On the way to Auduenne.” "yes." The anticipation that had been flowing uncontrollably towards the girl became orderly. Iopiya, whether aware of this or not, was busy looking at the bicorn with a blank face..
“I saw this kid chewing up a big rat. I was scared because I had turned into a flying squirrel for so long. I had to stick my nose inside my pocket to feel safe..”
“how about now?”
“I'm still nervous, but... … . I think it's different from being scared..”
“okay?”
The bundle started stroking the mane again..
With a calm face, I took Iopiya's hand and placed it on Bicorn's body. The girl gasped..
“Poinix, don't do that, Poinix.-”
“It's okay, so relax.”
He folded his hands and brushed down the shiny black fur. After trembling for a moment, Iopiya quietly expressed her admiration..
“It's hot. Hard and solid. It looks like a heated stone wrapped in leather..”
“right? It seemed like his body temperature was higher than that of a horse. I want to touch the mane too?”
The girl who was stroking the back of the bicorn's neck with her tiptoes opened her mouth like an idiot again..
“Soft… … . It's like silk.”
“Is that it? It's worth it to brush with care..”
In the past, it was only the servant Hicks and Chojang, but these days, the soldiers under their command manage it from time to time. I'm proud.
“This can't be done just by brushing. You have to be born with it. Just like no matter how much I comb my hair, it never becomes like Heyla..”
“……Heyla?”
“yes. There's a lot of hair, but it doesn't get tangled at all, and when you touch it, it splits like water. It's clearly something that my mother put a lot of effort into..”
At the sudden compliment, I narrowed my eyes slightly..
“Heyla, you say it like you've touched her hair.?”
“yes? of course. We brushed each other's hair every lunch..”
“……when? When in High Castle?”
“yes.”
“No, weren't you very busy at the time? They say they always go to the treatment center and tour the cathedral.……
Iopiya smiled brightly as if she remembered that time..
“At first, I was dragged away by force. If my brother-in-law hadn't introduced me as a good person, I might have run away..”
“Heyla called you.?”
“yes. After serving me a delicious meal and sweet tea, he brushed my hair and forced me to take a nap..”
“……I see.”
This is a story I never knew.
Well, while I was protecting High Castle, I barely had time to do anything else because of my evil boss..
Even with a poncho draped over her shoulders and her bicorn's mane twitching, Iopiya did not stop talking about Hayla..
“He's an eccentric but very kind person. “You are the most beautiful person I have ever seen.” “Of course.”
“I'm not even a guy, but I'm jealous of Poynix. How did you get such a fiancee??”
“You can't tell just by looking at it?”
“Which one??”
“I mean me. I have charm just by looking at it, I.”
“••••••yes?”
The young shaman opened his eyes wide and immediately burst into laughter..
I also smiled at the sound of laughter, but for some reason, Mungchi opened his mouth with a chubby expression on his face..
“trunnion. I'm not going?”
“uh? Ah, I have to go..”
Come to think of it, it was less than 20 minutes ago that a messenger was sent to the Permanent Court. I'm out of luck, but everyone is waiting.
When I got on the bicorn, Mungchi quickly took the seat in front of me..
“Do you want to go together??”
“me too‘?”
“huh. There's nothing to do anyway.”
“……uh.”
After a brief conflict, Iopiya refused very firmly..
“No way.”
The bundle was leaning into my arms, so I adjusted the reins and asked the girl..
“What's wrong??”
“Because the kid hates it..”
“Didn't you just see it? I heard he’s not that picky and it’s hurtful?”
Iopiya stepped back and shook her head..
“no. Even though I didn't like it, I endured it for the sake of Poynix, right?.”
“uh… … . Is that so??”
“Yes, that's right. I will endure it too. “It’s a pity that I’m just putting up with that kid.” You say you like animals, but are you even considerate of demonic beasts? He's really weird too.
Since Iopiya's will seemed so firm, I nodded calmly and took the reins..
The gaze of a girl from the plains followed Lee Gak-su's brisk gait..
Eisbowalt was a 'pseudo' free city with developed commerce and industry, and at the same time a city of swords..
Of the only eleven sword masters in the empire, three of them resided in Ice Bobalt. They had over a hundred direct disciples, and about twenty of them were skilled enough to be called swordsmen..
Each dojo was full of soldiers, mercenaries, and adventurers who wanted to learn from the swordsmen. At times, it is said that there were more than a thousand similar disciples from the three schools combined..
If Duke Avilambus hadn't issued a harsh summons and dragged them all away, the raid on Eisbowald would have been several times more difficult..
Regardless of whether they were soldiers or mercenaries, this city was still a city of swords as long as the three sodmasters and their direct disciples guarded the dojo..
It was like that until Eisbowald was taken over..
Of the three sword masters, two were killed and one was captured. Half of his immediate disciples are either dead or have run away, and the other half are locked in a dungeon..
All the blades bigger than my palm were recovered, so I couldn't find anyone walking around with a sword on their waist in the city..
Eisbowald is no longer a city of swords..
How long would it take to play around with a bundle and drive a bicorn? Arrived at the Permanent Court.
Just like last time, vigilantes, that is, Deogen's men, were guarding the entrance..
The gangsters were responsible for cleaning up the burnt-out mayor's residence, helping the occupying army, walking around with torches at night, and guarding the now-defunct government office. Guys who have always been gangsters, guys who were gangsters in the past for a while, and guys who became gangsters by riding the changing trend roamed all over the city..
Maybe Eisbowald might one day be called the city of thugs..
“I asked to see you for some reason.?”
What woke me up from my thoughts was the hostile voice of a middle-aged man. He was ‘Reinhoit’, a judge in Eisvowald..
I narrowed my eyes slightly as I sat down at the head table in the main hall of the Permanent Court. This is because the only plants gathered in this fairly empty room were Reinhoit and Frost Cernut..
“……I think I heard there are four judges in total. What about the other three??”
“Two have not come out since the city was taken, and one has refused to go see you..”
“I guess the frosts are roughly similar.?”
“exactly.”
“aha.”
I scratched my eyebrows and then shrugged my shoulders..
“Well, I'm glad there's at least one person left..”
“You must be mistaken. I'm not staying to hear your story.”
“sure?”
“All that remains is to inform you that you will not be able to get any cooperation from us..”
“ O 99
I leaned against the backrest and glanced back..
Several vigilantes were lined up against the wall, including a large man with a large knife mark on his face..
“……uh. what did you say your name was?”
“This is Matheson, Sir..”
“Ah, Matheson. I sent a messenger, but you didn't hear the story.?”
“What are you talking about??”
“I told you to prepare to welcome guests. I'm not ready?”
“……I have committed a mortal sin, sir..”
Matheson was similar to Deogen's right-hand man, and contrary to his dull appearance, he got things done quite quickly. Thanks to this, it took less than thirty minutes for the four judges of Eisbowald to gather in front of me..
In the process, a small friction occurred and several people got slightly injured. That's why the judges' faces looked a little pale..
“I have a favor to ask of you..”
Unlike his colleagues who were completely sleepy, Reinhoyt clearly looked angry. It was natural that he answered what I said..
“under! ask? I would like to ask a favor from the subject who turned my subordinates into living corpses.?”
“sorry. The vigilantes are a group of thugs, so they work a bit like shit..”
“this......
“So you guys need to do some work..”
Whether the middle-aged judge gritted his teeth or not, I calmly continued speaking..
“I'm going to be out of town for a few days, so please take care of me while I'm at it..”
“••••••“What?” “Please take charge of the city.” The four judges, including Reinhoyt, opened their mouths as if they were dumbfounded..
“……Now they've asked us to take charge of the city.?”
“yes.”
“I'm thinking of giving up on Eisbovald. It's because of the rumor that His Majesty the Emperor has raised an army.?”
Haven't you heard the news that the emperor has gone to his father's house?.
The judges shook their heads resolutely before continuing the illusion..
“That's not it. I have no intention of giving up on this city..”
“Then what on earth are you talking about??”
“I told you, I'm going to be out of town for a few days..”
I continued explaining step by step..
“I have about 2,000 troops right now. Only around here.”
Of course it's lame.
By accepting resistance, hiring mercenaries, and excluding some of the troops guarding the supply route, the amount raised was twelve hundred..
“Among them, about 1200 people are temporarily going to the north. The duke's son keeps checking his liver. you know that?”
Atalanta and Lord Langbold are keeping the 2,000-strong Strom army that came out from the direction of Toval in check. There will be a little over 700 people, including 4500 Nudein warriors, 150 casual soldiers of the Earl Shore family, and 50 mercenaries..
“But I have something to do nearby, so I plan to take about 300 people with me. Then there will be about 500 left in the city.?”
Two hundred people remain.
Among the soldiers of the Milgrester family, Baek, a mercenary hired by Count Aeneas, decided to remain..
“But with 500 people, wouldn't it be a bit difficult to protect and maintain security in this large city? I guess it would be possible since there are gangsters from the salted fish seller, but I'm worried that trouble might arise..”
“……So what should we do??”
“If you all step up, I think we can reduce the problem a lot..”
Of the two hundred soldiers remaining in the city, half must serve as guards..
All of those imprisoned here, under the Permanent Court, are extremely dangerous, so we need 100 people, including those on shift..
Of course, this place is full of vigilantes, but you can't expect thugs to do their part as soldiers..
“I give you power to control the vigilantes. From now on, vigilantes will have to ask your permission to trap, beat or kill someone..”
“……I'm going to entrust you with security authority.?”
“yes. It's not like you want command.?”
Excluding the guards, there are only a hundred troops left. Let alone controlling the city, there are too many troops to even fill each gate and watchtower..
In a situation like this, if people even try to rise up, the city will be blown up without a move..
“Please appease the citizens so that they do not cause any unnecessary fuss. There are only 500 elite soldiers left, so the city shouldn't be overthrown, but since the number is small, the soldiers may become a bit rough..”
“This is ridiculous. We are here on appointment by His Majesty the Duke of Avilambus. I think we'll do our best for you.?”
Reinhoyt spoke in a strong tone..
“Well, you didn't really become judges because you were favored by the duke, right? This is a position I achieved by studying hard in college..”
“Don't talk nonsense.!”
“And, I'm not asking you to work for me. Work for your citizens.”
“What?”
I smiled broadly..
“When I come back from work, what if the city isn't what I thought it would be?.”
The judges all swallowed their dry saliva..
“This city will become a playground for the Nudein.”
their eyes were shaking.
What are you imagining? I want to open my head.
“Please do your best.”
After patting Reinhoyt on the shoulder and encouraging him, he stood up..
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