episode_0130

Ioanes, dressed in shining armor, is looking at a map of the Duchy of Dupol in the barracks.

Several cities and castles in the Duchy of Dupol could not withstand the siege and began to surrender.

Although it took quite some time, the bridgeheads of Nicaea and the Duchy of Dupol were solidly completed, including Evesa, Saraden, and Midlen.

‘Now only Llorente remains.’

The estate where Duke Leopold stays.

In other words, it can be seen as the capital of the Duchy of Dupole.

‘If we catch Duke Leopold, the Duchy of Dupol will be over.’

“Your Highness Ioannies, Senator Alexander and Count Savinelli have arrived from Roman.”

At those words, Ioanes’ face brightens.

“Oh, welcome back.”

When Ioanes said that, his face brightened as he saw the two men entering the tent.

“It’s been a while for you two. How have you been?”

Alexander and Savinelli greet Ioanes, bow their heads, and speak.

“Thanks to your Majesty, I had a good rest in Roman. And congratulations. I heard that you have taken control of almost the entire Duchy of Dupol.”

At those words, Ioanes laughs heartily.

“Haha! Isn’t this all because of your hard work? It was a really good move to direct William, who was trying to keep us in check, towards Roman.”

The Golden Knights and William.

Aren’t they veterans who participated in numerous wars?

Although his military power is slightly less than that of Valorant, William is an excellent strategist and an excellent knight.

In addition, he is a general who has accumulated as many military achievements as Valorant.

When I came to Nicaea. The sight of William and the Golden Knights cutting off tens of thousands of Babylonian Empire troops and beating them mercilessly was awe-inspiring to Ioanes in his youth.

If they were in Dupol, they wouldn’t have been able to use such a bold strategy.

“Haha. Isn’t all this thanks to Your Majesty?”

“That’s right. No matter how hard I try to think hard, if God doesn’t help me, it will be a meaningless plan. Your Majesty, I think my weak plan paid off thanks to El’s help.”

At those words, Ioanes smiles brightly, as if it is difficult to hide his joy.

“No more flattery. Now… Sabinelli, look at this map.”

Ioanes clearly shows the map.

Savinelli and Alexander look around the map.

“Oh, now if we just capture Llorente, Dupol will be almost level. Soon, we will take control of the road leading to Roman as well.”

Ioanes nods at those words.

“That’s right. Dupol’s allies were also scared when they saw our army and did not participate in the war, so it’s almost an empty land.”

At those words, Alexander opens his mouth with a cautious expression.

“Charge. Congratulations on fulfilling your long-held wish. But Llorente must be well-defended. We must occupy Llorente as soon as possible and attack Eren and Bohemi. The current situation in the empire is not very favorable to you.”

At those words, Ioanes bursts into laughter.

“Phaha. Are you worried that I have become an enemy of the country?”

The life of someone declared an enemy of the state usually ends in two ways.

Either turn the emperor into a puppet and run tyrannically and take off a huge power, or hang miserably on the gallows.

But Ioanes has no doubt that he will be the former.

He would become regent of the empire, and his grandson would become emperor.

“Yes. you’re right. Soon, when a summons is issued from the empire…”

At those words, Ioanes waves his hand and says.

“Stop, look at this first.”

Ioanes shows the spy’s report that was posted this morning.

“This is a report posted this morning. I heard cub Ryan and William met near Roman.”

Ioanes takes out a small note and hands it to Alexander and continues.

“It is a report that a foolish lion cub disarmed and arrested the Golden Knights and all William.”

Savinelli and Alexander’s faces harden at those words.

Alexander, who has had numerous negotiations with Debian in less than a year.

He feels something is strange.

‘There’s no way that sneaky bastard would do such a foolish thing.’

Although Alexander is young, Devian thinks he is not immature.

I think it is difficult for Alexander, who has been negotiating with him for a long time, to understand this situation.

Arresting William and the Golden Knights now would be no different from cutting off one’s own limbs.

When Alexander thought that.

Savinelli says it firmly, as if it can’t happen.

“It can’t be. The Grand Duke is a wise and cunning man. There’s no way he would do such a stupid thing. There must be something wrong. Or it’s either his evil plan or something.”

At those words, Ioanes bursts out in laughter.

“It’s a sinister plan… It might be so. I’m also very interested in this matter, so I’ve given orders to Roman’s spies. You’ll find out soon. What kind of evil plan is this?”

If it is true that William and the Golden Knights were arrested…

As Ioanes, this is something I am very thankful for.

In war, he is responsible for attacking wizards who use the knights’ breakthrough and firepower.

In order to attack the knights running across the battlefield, they are usually blocked by knights, but there is no knighthood in the empire that can stand as a rival to the Golden Knights.

I think it would be difficult for even the powerful Giants to fight the Golden Knights head-on.

The giant troops are basically heavily armed infantry.

Of course, they are close to superhumans, but infantrymen are just infantrymen.

The strategic value of the Golden Knights is clearly superior.

Thinking about Debian, which took care of the Golden Knights that caused such trouble, Ioanes feels that his time has come.

***

Llorente a few days later.

Duke Leopold is sick of seeing the Nicaean army pouring in endlessly beyond the walls.

“Stop it! Stop enemies from crossing the castle walls!”

-Quaang!

The wizard’s fireball goes over the castle wall, falls into a private house, and explodes.

-Aaaah!

-Sa… help me.

Leopold had a hunch as he watched the enemies attack all day and night for three days and nights.

-mom…

-Wake! Come to your senses!

Leopold grits his teeth as he looks at the bleeding, dying soldier and the soldier beating his cheek.

‘Damn it… it can’t collapse like this.’

Llorente has ample war supplies, but its troops number less than 10,000 at most.

In comparison, the enemies number in the tens of thousands, and they use their numerical superiority to relentlessly attack and harass them relentlessly.

The enemy pushes in in shifts day and night.

On the other hand, the Duke of Dupole’s army has been brave enough to have blocked less than 10,000 soldiers in three shifts so far.

-Oil! Bring more oil!

-Fireball scrolls too!

-Damn you Nicaean bastards! Let’s get some sleep!

Although the soldiers shout out with such enthusiasm, they look noticeably more exhausted than on the first day.

If he weren’t wearing armor, with his thick dark circles and splattered face, he would look like a beggar.

Duke Leopold begins to realize the reality as he sees the soldiers dying from exhaustion.

‘I can’t let any more young people die because of my stubbornness.’

I feel devastated as I see soldiers dying from arrows and crossbows through their helmets.

-Ouch! Wave… arm!

[Pow!]

-Ugh!

The fireball hit between the shield walls, causing several soldiers to fly and scatter, slowly becoming imprinted in Leopold’s eyes.

Watching the young soldier slowly rising into the air, vomiting blood and dying.

Leopold is immersed in agony.

‘I… became the Duke of Dupol for what? Did you just pass it on to your father? Are you the Duke of Dupaul by your ancestors? no.’

Leopold falls into despair after seeing soldiers much younger than him explode.

‘For what… did I become a duke?’

Late 20s.

Leopold became the Duke of Dupol.

The day before the previous Duke’s father passed away and he took over as the new Duke.

He prayed earnestly to God.

‘I will cherish my people as myself. I sincerely hope and pray that you will give me the wisdom to rule them properly.’

‘Make me a monarch who can protect my people and give them happiness.’

[Pow!]

Fortunately, when the fireball hits the magic-resistant shield, it only causes a small explosion and causes no major damage, and Leopold is relieved to see that he is lost in thought.

‘What is this territory? Are my people dying like this?’

I don’t know what will happen to me and my family…

‘Are these many people worth shedding blood to protect?’

remorse.

-Protect the duke! Protect the duke!

At that time, the knight saw an arrow and fireball flying towards the duke, so he quickly wrapped Leopold up and he fell to the ground.

-Quaang!

“Duke! Come to your senses! Duke?!”

“It looks like the Duke is hurt! surgeon! Call the military doctor!”

Leopold sees the body of a young soldier next to him.

He speaks while holding the hand of the knight who is tapping his cheek with unfocused eyes.

“White flag… Raise the white flag.”

The knight speaks in a trembling voice, filled with despair.

“Duke?”

Leopold continues, with a voice full of regret, remorse, and sadness, and shedding hot tears.

“I will surrender. I don’t want to see any more of my people die.”

At those words, the knight can’t help but cry.

“Duke, no, you…”

Leopold patted the shoulder of the speechless knight and looked at the surrounding soldiers.

“Raise the white flag! I will surrender. Quickly wave the white flag high!”

The soldiers freeze at those words.

“lower!, no. Um… How did we achieve independence from them, and then fall back under Nicea?!”

“Please take away my name!”

The soldiers kneel one by one and try to distract the Duke, but…

The duke looks at them with a dejected look on his face.

‘Ah… so many good and simple people… because of my stubbornness… so many of these loyal people have died.’

The Duke swallows his anger and says, looking at the sad soldiers shedding tears like that.

“I don’t want to see any more of my people die. Hurry and raise the white flag… hurry!”

At the duke’s urging…

The soldier takes off his armor and the white shirt he wears underneath.

And his face is full of tears as he ties himself to his spear.

“Huh…”

With a face full of sadness and anger, they tie it to the window and lift it high and start shaking it.

So the Duke of Dupol surrendered to Ioannes.