Episode 12
#12. The Golden Chariot of the Demon Lord (1)
“I didn't think he was a wizard?”
Arina muttered, remembering Arad cooking at Jack's Inn..
“Yeah, it was definitely not a wizard..”
“you're right. Although there was magical power in the body, it was not enough to be called a wizard..”
“Even if I had learned magic, I could barely create a fireball the size of a finger..”
“With that magical power, it would be much better to combine it with dexterity and have them learn how to use a sword..”
Accordingly, the knights around unanimously commented on Arad's qualities..
“Grandpa, can I see the list of items he purchased??”
Arina asked for the list out of sheer curiosity..
“Here it is.”
Balzac immediately handed over the paper..
Arina's field of vision captured a paper full of items that Arad had purchased from merchants and adventurers' guilds in Haven..
“…….”
Arina narrowed her eyes as she scanned the paper..
‘There are a few that have been designated as smuggling. According to the laws of Maseok, individuals cannot purchase this amount..’
There were parts that got on her nerves, as she values principles..
It seems that Haven's guards and officials paid a lot of attention..
‘This is how you see the effects of free stew. Could this be something you were aiming for??’
Arina stared at the paper for a few more seconds and then put down the paper in front of her..
‘Let's take a look.’
She decided to show little flexibility and turn a blind eye to this..
It wasn't a big problem, and more than anything, the fact that he made Arad salt earned him a lot of loyalty from the man who said he wanted to serve him..
“What on earth are you thinking??”
“I don't know what it is, but I hope they make something great after Arad Salt..”
“So, are you going to leave him like this??”
“For now. Nowadays, the necromancer who appeared in the Demonic World is more important..”
A crisis that Arad never dreamed of came and went..
The meeting at the inn has slowly reached its conclusion..
“Just in case, call up a reserve force at High Castle and Haven. He also ordered the weapons to be plated with silver..”
The main decisions are virtually decided.
Now other minor decisions were only reconfirmed by the Archduke..
“All right.”
“good. We will check Haven's defense posture and leave Haven when reinforcements are ready..”
The army to be organized in High Castle and Haven had a strong reserve force character just in case..
“After all, something like this happened when Sun's legions went on a subjugation campaign..”
A driver who was listening to Arina's instructions muttered regretfully..
This is because Lancelet's main force was currently engaged in subjugating the orcs and barbarians in the far north..
“Even with C'Thun and the Frostguard, there would have been no change in strategy, Lord Rosie..”
Arina shook her head at Knight Rosie's mutterings..
“Because numbers don't mean much to a necromancer..”
The only people who could really deal with the necromancer were the archduke and the knights here..
A necromancer is a black mage who controls corpses..
Therefore, you must attack them as if by surprise with a small number of elites. If you rush into a large army for no reason, it's no different than giving troops to a guy as a gift..
“Would you rather stay with reinforcements in Haven??”
Then, suddenly, the old knight Balzac cautiously asked Arina..
“This is different from ordinary horse hunting. very dangerous.”
Of course, Arina rejected Balzac's cautious offer..
“If you start avoiding it for one reason or another, there is no end to it. Becoming a coward is an instant, and the fighting spirit and unity of the North will be scattered..”
“but… … . If anything happens to your Majesty, Lancelet will be destroyed. The North will be eaten by the Empire..”
There is already no successor. Even the former Grand Duke Baikal was killed during the battle..
No matter how much it is a northern tradition for a monarch to take the lead and fight, he felt the need to exercise caution this time..
“It's dangerous, so we have to go further. Before I am an archduke, I am a knight, and especially a sword master. The success rate increases only when I am there..”
However, this advice had no effect on the Grand Duchess of the North, a knight from birth whose spirit of chivalry was ingrained in her bones..
“Umm…….”
“This is true what you said.”
“With two sword masters, virtually no mission is impossible..”
Even what Arina, the unofficial youngest sword master, had a point in, so the knights, including Balzac, could not object more strongly..
In fact, Arina's skills have already surpassed those of her father, who was killed in action..
“I was already feeling frustrated and disappointed that I couldn't join this expedition to the Far North, but I'm glad I was able to do it in this way..”
In addition, the responsibility that had made Arina uncomfortable before also played a part..
“…….”
“…….”
In the end, Balzac and the knights, who failed to persuade the Archduke, shrugged their shoulders in silence..
“I… … . then…….”
“Tell me, Lord Eote..”
When Balzac's opinion was not accepted, another high-ranking knight named Eote expressed his opinion..
“How about bringing along the witches of the High Castle? Their spirit magic will be helpful in the Demonic World. Also, if your opponent is a warlock who is well versed in necromantic arts, you will also need a curse removal spell..”
“I don't think it would be a good idea to ask for help from witches because it's almost spring, Lord Eote..”
Then Doyle, who had been quiet, immediately expressed concern..
“that's right. The witches' council is busy right now. Above all, witches are not familiar with combat magic. Besides, ordinary witches wouldn't be able to survive in the demon world..”
Arina helped with Doyle's concerns..
“Being the Great Witch of Spring will help you in battle..”
In response, Knight Eote did not give up and expressed his opinion once more..
“If I call grandma here now... … . There is a major disruption in the operation of the greenhouse farm. Even if you don't do it, 10,000 people in High Castle will starve..”
But Arina just shook her head firmly..
“…….”
“Don't worry everyone. I don't die. You won't die either.”
Lancelet’s noblesse oblige is foolishly inflexible..
“The reason we were able to protect the North from barbarians, monsters, and orcs was because everyone, from the lowest soldiers to the monarchs, came together with one mind and swung their swords on the battlefield..”
Ironically, it was this example that enabled the North to endure the fight against great barbarism..
“Even if I die, the North will not give in. Because my people are Rensley.”
Thanks to the tradition of the monarch personally taking the lead in fighting, public sentiment in the North remained strong despite hardships..
Even as countless husbands, fathers, and sons died every day, the people's loyalty to Lancelet never wavered..
Of course, if Arad, who knew the original history, had seen it, he would have shook his head..
* * *
I remodeled the carriage and made all kinds of magic tools to put in it, while listening to the news from outside..
‘Have you left Haven yet??’
The first priority is, of course, the Archduke and his knights who are staying at the Polly Inn..
Despite acting like he was leaving right away, he still remained in Haven..
In Haven, they were busy inspecting the city's fort and security posture..
‘I think something happened in the magic world... … . It's quiet.?’
The second place of my interest was the Demonic Lord..
But Ma Kyung was quiet. The same was true for the information obtained through Haven's Adventurer's Guild, and no significant signs were heard from adventurers who recently returned from the Demon World..
‘It's frustrating because there's a lot of northern history that was wiped out by the empire. In particular, there are almost no records of Grand Duchess Arina of Lancelet other than those passed down by word of mouth..’
100There was little benefit to knowing the setting years in the future..
Because I didn't know what was happening in the demon world at this time..
So, I collect news from outside from time to time.,
One day, I was making magic tools and remodeling a carriage that I could make using my skills and surrounding conditions..
That day, for the first time in a while, I was at Jack's Inn instead of the warehouse..
“There just happened to be.”
The Grand Duke and his knights, disguised in robes and hoods, came to the inn..
“It’s been a while, everyone. I thought you left Haven because you never came..”
I lied and welcomed the drivers, pretending to know nothing..
They were ready to leave at any moment..
“Before I left, I was thinking about your food..”
On behalf of the knights and the Archduke, Balzac spoke of his purpose for coming here..
“If you go this time, you won’t come back to Haven??”
“I guess I'll stop by once I finish my mission. But you won't be in Haven by then..”
Perhaps unsurprisingly, they seemed to know what I was up to recently..
“Still, come to the high castle in spring. Should I get a title? Even though it's only a single position, it's better than nothing.”
“I'll keep that in mind.”
I bowed my head, conscious of Arina standing quietly behind Balzac..
“Then I would like to ask you to eat something..”
“I'll prepare it right away.”
I hurriedly put on an apron and stood in the kitchen..
Then, in silence, we served a dinner that might be our last omakase in Haven..
However, unlike before, he did not show any intention of joining their journey..
‘It's already too late. There are so many things I've done.’
At the carriage house a project on which I had invested much of my fortune was nearing completion..
‘Moreover, the current composition of the party places extreme importance on mobility and combat power. And I don't even have a special horse that can run the horse race..’
Even if I joined, it seemed like it would only be a hindrance rather than help right now..
After the meal.
Balzac bid me farewell on behalf of the knights..
“It was really good! I'll remember you forever.”
“It's an honor.”
On the last day, I tried to do K-Omakase for free, but Balzac said he couldn't do that and paid me in silver..
“This is my little gift.”
I handed Balzac a leather pouch..
“What is this?”
The leather pouch I made myself was luxurious and attracted attention at first glance..
“Contains Arad salt.”
“Oooh... … . Thank you!”
There is no one in the world who doesn't like gifts. Balzac and the knights accepted the pouches I gave them with bright expressions..
“By the way, where did you get this leather pouch??”
However, the knights' attention was focused on the bag containing the salt rather than on the salt inside the bag..
“I made it myself.”
“You, you're not very dexterous, not least when it comes to cooking..”
In this way, I achieved a type of beauty that was close to perfection at Jack's Inn..
“I've been in a lot of trouble during this time..”
“?!”
It was then.
Arina, wearing a deep robe, suddenly stretched out her hand towards me. With a thank you for being very indebted to me.
“……!”
At first I was shocked and looked at her hands and covered face..
Even the knights around looked a little surprised..
“My name is Iria, a knight of the High Castle..”
Ignoring these reactions, Arina went on to introduce her pseudonym..
“It's called Arad Jin..”
I gently held her calloused hand and lowered my head..
The Grand Duchess of the North's hands were rough and hard, but warm..
That afternoon, Arina and the knights left Haven..
I looked at the entrance to the city in the direction they disappeared for a while and then headed towards the warehouse..
3after work.
I also left Haven with a carriage..
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