Chapter 530
My Villains Episode 530
68. To the capital(3)
The total number of bandits lurking in the forest was thirty-three..
This was quite a large group for an ordinary band of thieves, and if the head of Gedenmuntz had tried to deal with it with only the military power of the town, it would have been a huge disaster..
Of the dogs, there were two that were taken prisoner. After having his subordinates interrogate him, it turned out that half of the bandits were deserters from a far away region called ‘Uben’..
They were conscripts who were mobilized in a civil war between small and medium-sized nobles. They were caught robbing the mansions and houses of noble families, and the whole group ran away. The story of how they were forcibly conscripted and taken to the battlefield is unfortunate, but they committed looting, rape, desertion, and even theft, so there is no reason to sympathize with them..
The rest had similar stories, roughly speaking of outlaws who joined a gang while wandering the mountains and fields. Beings like the remnants left behind by war and disorder..
The fact that they were evil criminals with no room for rehabilitation relieved much of the guilt that I had put off for a moment while trying to quench the thirst I had been enduring..
“really… … They seem like unlucky bastards.”
The one who reported the results of the interrogation was 'Yuksoni' Mittelman, and the guy who was muttering to himself had a strange expression on his face..
“luck? what does that mean?”
“Uh, well, when I look at those guys, I get this useless thought... … it's nothing.”
“Why are you glossing over the story? say it properly
look." When I narrowed my eyes and urged him, Tellman scratched the back of his head and answered..
“Well, these bastards are no different from my life before I met my master..”
“Ah, deserters.?”
“yes.”
Mittelman was a deformed child with an extra thumb on his left hand, and an orphan with no blood relatives in the world. At one time, he was a vagabond wandering around the back alleys, a bully who did all kinds of dirty things, and a despicable deserter who ran away right in front of his enemies..
Am I remembering my past? Tellman let out a low, heavy laugh..
“If the dead Donnell hadn't persuaded me to follow my lord, I would have been in the same situation by now... … . On the other hand, if they had been a little lucky, they would have lived a completely different life. At least it would have been better than being turned into pieces of meat and thrown away in the forest..”
“Indeed. what else can i say.”
Mittelman, who was a scoundrel and a deserter, became a bodyguard wearing a sergeant rank and a stylish badge..
He bought a large and luxurious house on Eisbowald 2nd Street, seduced and married a waitress who worked at an inn at the intersection - famous for her bright eyes and big buttocks - and had a son with all four limbs intact..
Even though I didn't get a knighthood, I think this is enough to be considered a success. Watching that guy get lost in unnecessary sentimentality makes me burst into laughter..
“If you know that you are lucky, think about repaying the favor to me when you are in a difficult situation. Or go to Donnell and sprinkle some brandy on his grave.” Mittelman smiled brightly..
“I stopped by the day before departure, and the monk was making a fuss..”
“why?”
“How long has that old gravedigger been so strict for a day or two? He trembled and tried to stop me, saying that offering alcohol to a dead colleague was something a pagan would do..”
“okay? That's strange. You never say that to me..”
“Is that so??”
The guy who was tilting his head shrugged his shoulders and continued speaking..
“Well, who can stop my lord? It's not that surprising for a red knight to perform a pagan ritual..”
“This bastard.”
When I frowned, Mittelman laughed and walked away..
The party left Gedenmundz the day after clearing out the gang of thieves..
They continue their journey leisurely, even if they are conscious of the eyes of the people and the people who may be among them..
However, the situation was not leisurely enough to waste another day just because a few thieves were defeated. I could just leave the cleanup to the manager, and I hadn't exerted myself enough to need a rest, so there was no reason to stay here any longer..
Immediately after finishing breakfast, I waited for dawn to set out, and there was a group of young people gathered at the entrance of the village..
“Lord, may there be light on the path ahead.!”
“Long live the brave and merciful Count!” "Viva!" A crowd of over three hundred people, regardless of age or gender. My ears are itching to hear them shouting ‘Hurray’ with one voice..
“……Doing useless things.”
I frowned slightly and looked back at Gedenmundz's official, and he made an aggrieved expression and quickly lowered his head..
“You misunderstand, Your Excellency. I didn't do it. You must have heard the news from those who returned..”
Of those who went missing in the forest, the only ones who returned alive were a young charcoal maker and an old hunter. The rest had already been killed, so only the bodies were recovered. It was not a perfect result as we were unable to rescue everyone who was missing..
It seems that the residents of Gedenmundz had a slightly different opinion. They looked genuinely happy..
It was not easy to pinpoint the cause of the numerous joys..
It may be for the sake of those who survived, or it may be for revenge on neighbors who were innocently murdered. This may be because I, as the lord, have confirmed that I am providing appropriate protection, or it may be because I have become an indirect witness to an incident that will be talked about for some time..
I tried to smile.
It is difficult to smile because the bright faces of the residents prick your conscience. The applause and respect you receive in return for satisfying your dirty desires. I wanted to rein in hard and get out of this funny situation..
“Sir, insisting on being too humble is not a lordly attitude..”
Theodora, driving Brightmere, approached next to her and smiled softly and gave advice..
“Show your dignity. To engrave the prince's image in their minds..”
“……Of course. Thanks for the advice.”
“ thanks.”
He nodded with an awkward look at the princess's glance, then straightened his back. I wonder if the bicorn also straightened its posture, and it feels like its eye level has risen by a couple of spans in an instant..
He stopped doing funny things that made his stiff facial muscles wriggle. Zahakar's characteristic cold face will be revealed, but it will be much better than an awkward and unnatural smile..
I raised my hand brightly..
The cheers of the citizens grew twice as loud..
It must have been about two hours since we headed west from Gedenmundz. As the wide flagstone road entered a shallow valley, I discovered a small, fat-shaped stone block. An item that can sometimes be seen on the Dayval Road. It is a monument that must have been erected more than 6700 years ago..
The content engraved on the surface had been weathered beyond recognition due to long periods of time, countless rainstorms, and rare touches. However, through the strings that appear to have been written relatively recently on the flat top, it was possible to recognize that this monument currently serves as a marker dividing Angst and Obdorf..
After passing several valleys and ravines along the winding road, a familiar-looking castle appeared. It was ‘Girna’, a fortress protecting the northern face of Angst..
The vicinity, including Girna, and the fortress 'Untrier' and its surrounding area, located somewhat to the south, belonged to the Angst region, but were fiefdoms that were not loyal to the Prince of Angst..
According to a series of contracts concluded at the end of the War of the Blades, the lord of the barons ruling Girna and Untrier became Rujan the Young Dragon, the owner of the imperial territory encompassing Angst and Obdorf..
However, Rujan was now unable to exert any control over the two barons. What can I do with God Sera, who is just a great lord?.
It was three mean adults who turned our young, ambitious, and beautiful Marquis into a boss. The 'arrogant' Sir Lyam, who used Bulfurt's castle as his command center, Harold, the 'prince's commander' who pretends to be the military commander of the Empire, and I, the direct vassal of the Marquis and the lifelong enemy of the Empire's successor..
Through the agreement between the three of us, the barons of Girna and Untrier were given autonomy at the level of independent fiefdoms. He did not interfere with my affairs, collected taxes, or imposed any unnecessary obligations. It was a favor to the comrades who served the prince together, and at the same time, it was a measure to quickly grow the power of the alliance..
Perhaps this was effective in its own way, or perhaps it was because the newly appointed baron was generous with the spoils he had obtained from the war, but Jirna had changed considerably over the past two years..
Two layers of wooden fences were added around the well-maintained castle, and the once-walled castle town developed to the level of a small town. From the rumors, it seemed that the nine towns under Jirna's control were also enjoying some peace and prosperity..
“I apologize, Your Excellency. The Lord of Seong is absent..”
“this.”
I entered Jirna with my group.
I was hoping to see a familiar face after a long time, but unfortunately, our paths seemed to have diverged. Well, since I didn't visit without sending a message in advance, it was a bit of bad luck..
“why? What happened?”
It was not the 'painter' Walter Seymour who greeted me in Girna, but his retainers, including the butler, steward, and training leader. The butler who represented the vassals bowed his head politely and explained the situation..
“About 1 month ago, a village in the southeast was attacked by a group of thugs. The number of people killed is over 30, and the Lord of Seong is personally searching the area with his cavalry..”
“Did something like that happen?.”
Perhaps the 'rogue group' that disturbed Lord Hülterer's territory are the same ones I dealt with yesterday..
When I told him about what had happened in Gedenmuntz and this speculation, Zirna's training leader seemed pleased, but also slightly clicked his tongue..
“Your Excellency's guess may be correct, but given the Lord's nature, he will not return empty-handed. Catching another group of bandits or killing a few kobolds in the forest will probably be enough. Or you can take out your anger by stirring the Bülsruhe for a spin..”
“Well, I don't know anything else, but I'm having trouble with Bühlsru. It's been a while since they sorted out the confusion, so a quick stab at it won't work..”
Despite my concerns, the training leader leisurely built the maze..
“As your Excellency is well aware, the Lord of the Castle Hülter is a man without whom there are no shortcomings. You've prepared a preliminary maneuver plan, so you might want to use this as an opportunity to verify it..”
“Is that so?……
I scratched my eyebrows and soon decided to put aside my unnecessary worries..
“Well, Lord Hülterter will take care of it. He's a much more expert than me on things around here..”
The two fortresses, Girna and Untrier, face the fiefdoms of the Duke of Strom and the Viceroyalty of Altenburg, respectively. In other words, the blade alone serves to directly check the two electors who were our enemies during the war..
As such, it was an area where military activities were active and local wars often broke out..
“Damn it, vassals of the same Mittergerand Empire fight with each other all the time. What is the emperor doing if he doesn't discipline his subordinates??”
As I grumbled jokingly, my men and Lord Hülteraire's vassals laughed wildly. Laughter mixed with hostility. It may be about an emperor who is so obsessed with the southern continent that he neglects chaos within the empire, or about electors who once crossed swords..
In any case, Sir Hülter, the owner of Jirna Castle, had outstanding skills and was also skilled in training and commanding cavalry, so he served as the vanguard during these military and private conflicts..
“First, I will send a message to the Lord of the castle. You will probably be able to come back in a day or two at the most..”
I quietly shook my head at what the old steward suggested..
“That won't happen. I just stopped by on my way through..”
“Oh my, are you leaving right away??”
“yes. I'm thinking of staying in Untrier..
I'll leave a letter so you can give it to me later..”
Since we were only planning to leave Girna after seeing Sir Hülterre's face, we had lunch, rested for about an hour, and then set off again..
The next target was Castle Untrier, the domain of Sir Ariad, the ‘Radiant Viper’..
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