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Chapter 549

My Villains Episode 549

68. To the capital(22)

People often divide the Kingdom of Milan into five major groups: East, West, South, North, and Center..

The center appears to have been added to the territory under the direct control of the king, including the royal capital, plus the territory of the king's loyal bannermen and relatives..

In terms of area alone, it is less than 10% of the entire kingdom, but it is a land literally overflowing with people and products due to the influence of fertile farmland, well-built roads, and strong political power..

Antrum, the territory of the Marquis of Arya, and the various regions west of it are collectively called the West..

Antrum is famous for its rich forests and mild climate, but the highlands represented by the plateau and Unpast are barren and barren, and because it borders the Mittergeland, it is far from being said to be peaceful or prosperous..

The ‘Great Mountain Range’ runs across the entire kingdom from north to south, and the land extending to the east is called Dongbu..

As can be inferred from the names Northern Shore, Middle Shore, and Southern Shore, they are all coastal regions, and the Crescent Islands, ruled by the Marquis Alphard family, also belong to the eastern part of this region..

The eastern part of the country served as a trading port for the entire continent, taking full advantage of its location across the ocean facing eastern countries such as Hui, Wen, and Hua..

‘The ‘Murray Mountains’ are a mountain range located in the north of the two tributaries that protrude laterally from the great mountain range that extends north to south. The areas below this mountain range are central and western, and the areas above are northern..

The northern part encompasses a huge land mass equivalent to more than 30% of the kingdom's territory. While it was a treasure trove filled with all kinds of resources, including high-quality wood, fur, iron ore, and tin, it was also a rough land with endless frozen soil, snow, and dry grasslands..

In the North, it wasn't just the seasons and geography that were harsh. It was a devil's den where numerous monsters lurked in secret all over the vast land, and it was a battlefield where greenskins invaded once every ten years and caused measles..

Thanks to this, the people of the North were all warriors and free people. Only warriors who took up arms without hesitation to protect what they had could settle there, and such people would never become slaves to others..

Because of this social ethos, the northern nobles could not become well-fed rulers. Only warriors among warriors worthy of being at the forefront, or commanders who would lead the group to victory, were treated as nobles..

It was natural that the northern nobles became the embodiment of the spirit of martial arts, and it was also natural that nobles from other regions both ignored and feared them..

Of the two tributaries extending from the Great Mountain Range, the mountain range rising to the north was the Head Mountain Range, while the mountain range to the south was the 'Tail Mountain Range'. It is this tail mountain range that separates the central and southern parts of the kingdom..

The southern region extending below the Tail Mountains is as fertile as the central region of the kingdom. It is thanks to the 'Ria River', the most magnificent river in Milan, that flows through five provinces and serves as the lifeline of the southern part of the country..

The Lia River, which originates in the mountain range and gently curves to the southeast, floods every season, soaking the nearby land. It was entirely thanks to the friendly and regular flooding of the River Lia that the produce of the southern region rivaled that of the fertile soil near the royal capital..

Traditionally, it was a region with a large population, so by beating a drum and raising a flag, you could dig up serfs with names like Ron, Paul, Jack, and John like you were pulling out turnips..

The seven earls occupy this fertile southern region, but when looking for the southern king, those with knowledge would look to the huge islands beyond the sea. Considering the influence that the Duke of Eyland had on the coast of the kingdom with his fleet symbolizing fangs, scales, and forked tongues, it was not in vain that he was called the leader of the South..

However, since Eyland is geographically and politically distant from the rest of the kingdom, it was the Count Mullin family of the Marva region who believed that the southern residents actually held hegemony in the area..

This is a fact that can be guessed just by looking at the land mass. Marva is bigger than three or four neighboring counties combined..

Although there were many deep forests and rugged mountains untouched by civilization, it was a place that boasted overflowing vitality due to the proper harmony between settlers who had long been rooted in the area and newly introduced pioneers with an enterprising attitude..

Although it is unfortunate that there is no port as it is an inland territory, the locational disadvantage is more than offset as it controls a major passage leading to the center..

After leaving the long, dark path in the mountains of Alvivten, our group finally set foot in the Marva region..

Marva was not an unfamiliar place to me..

3A year ago summer, after leaving South Harbor, I arrived in this region with Utequai and Ellen. After experiencing numerous incidents in Longville and other places, I passed the pass of Mt. Graduil..

At that time, I was a misfit who had just fallen into this world, a clumsy mercenary, and a brat unfit for knighthood..

I was so busy focusing on what was ahead of me that I didn't have time to look around, and I was just a dayfly continuing my daunting journey without knowing what would happen tomorrow..

The situation now is so great that it cannot even be compared to then..

There are clear goals and plans, the military power that has been constantly built up and confidence based on it, and trustworthy colleagues and subordinates..

The burden of being responsible for hundreds or thousands of subordinates is not small at all, but the feeling of security that fills my heart seems to energize my whole body..

Is it because of these changes?.

Heading east on a ferry at a port on the Lia River, I had quite a leisurely day as if I were on a cruise ship..

I chatted with Ellen on the deck where the warm breeze of late winter or early spring blew, taught Iopiya, who had detransformed, how to play with air in a small and cozy cabin, and played hide-and-seek with a bundle among the cargo in the narrow dock. I feel like I feel more at ease now that I am in the middle of the kingdom than before I set foot in it..

Unfortunately, the peaceful voyage along the Lia River ended after only two and a half days. The ship arrived at Multingham..

Multingham was the biggest city I've ever experienced. In terms of scale alone, it seems to be one step bigger than 'Lian Well', the home of the Marquis of Eavon..

The city was built on a long, gentle slope from the eastern hills to the western riverbank. As is often the case with cities with a long history, Multingham was a case of a settlement that had its origins in a hill castle and slowly expanded downhill, swallowing up the plains..

The history of such expansion was clearly revealed in the castle walls, stone walls, embankments, and moats that ran throughout the city. The structures that were once Multingham's outermost fences naturally blended into the complex cityscape like the growth rings of a giant tree..

Perhaps due to accelerated expansion in recent years, the city's boundaries are now protected by high wooden fences made of stacked logs. It was a very shabby first impression of the southernmost metropolis, but the view from the estuary was so impressive that I didn't dare look down on it. Multingham was the city that made me feel confident and hopeful that this shabby wooden fence would eventually turn into a magnificent castle..

However, there was one thing I overlooked. The truth was that a medieval city with hundreds of years of history and a population of over 100,000 could never be a friendly travel destination..

Big cities that have expanded over the centuries have become so complex that they resemble jungles..

Using the main road, you could easily find your way along the main road that runs through the center of the city, but this required a permit issued in the name of the lord. Of course, there was no way something like that would be allowed for us disguised as a small group of mercenaries..

In the end, the only option given to our group was a narrow, sloping road. The winding alleys stretched out in all directions, connecting small squares, just like an anthill. Would you say that if you are a first-time traveler, you have no choice but to get lost?.

The road was already very narrow, but there were three- and four-story buildings on either side, casting deep shadows at every corner. There were so many people coming and going that a group of twenty people had to move in single file, and pulling mules and carts was not easy. Fritz, Goleman, and others would have to carry the heavy cart like a palanquin. Mira, Egon, and others almost lost their minds because they were distracted by street vendors soliciting customers from left and right..

Even the guide who had been with us since Auduenne almost lost his way several times. The guide chosen by Fogan, a vassal of the Earl of Aeneas and the head of the Milgrester Trading Company, was a very quiet man who rarely showed his expression, but within an hour of entering Multingham, he showed signs of embarrassment. In front of a crossroads that I don't know how many times we've already encountered him, he kept glancing in my direction, tracing the back of his neck, which was covered in cold sweat..

Although the situation was irritating, I showed a little patience and smiled. For some reason, the guide's face turned gray and he began desperately looking around..

After a little hardship, our group was able to reach our destination without a single person being left behind. It was a tavern called ‘Blue Nest’, a meeting place that the Marquis of Eavon had advised..

But the trouble did not end even after arriving at the Blue Nest..

Perhaps the old lady was grumpy, but the tavern was too small and shabby for the whole group to stay. I wouldn't know if there were no passengers, but that's not the case now, and the only rooms available were two double rooms..

Excluding Iopiya, who was usually hiding in the form of a flying squirrel, and the guide who was scheduled to return to Auduenne after completing his mission, our group totaled seventeen people..

I just wanted to leave my two subordinates here and find separate lodgings. However, it was difficult for me to leave the place in a situation where I did not know how the 'arrangement' left by the Marquis of Eavon might turn out. Sharing company in this crowded city wouldn't normally be a hassle..

As if I was worried, the problem was quickly resolved. Fritz and Seitz came forward..

The violent knight who was a former mercenary and the wizard who was once a thief got along well. The two succeeded in emptying the tavern with fifteen silver coins, a few words, and a few gestures..

There was a little commotion in the process, but it wasn't anything to worry about. Aren’t petty fist fights a common occurrence in the city? I gave him a few coins as payment, so I guess this is a neat ending..

Anyway, our group unpacked at the Blue Nest tavern without any problems. And only after staying in this shabby lodging for three full days was I able to meet the messenger left by the Marquis of Eavon..