episode_0028

Three days after that.

The knights led by Lucius arrived at their first destination, the village of Barmet.

A small village centered around accommodations and amenities for travelers, located near the road leading to Kish City.

While being bewildered by the sudden appearance of a large military force.

The village chief quickly ran out and asked what the purpose of his visit was, and after hearing the secretary’s explanation, he guided Lucius and kindly explained the damage to the village.

After listening to the village chief’s story without showing any particular interest.

Lucius gave instructions to distribute the food and medicine he had prepared to the soldiers.

And he asked the village chief a question.

“Look here, village chief.”

“Oh, yes. Your Excellency the Governor. Please speak.”

“How many orphans are there in this village?”

“Oh, orphans…. Are you talking about that? That’s… I think there are about 50 of them.”

“I see. Gather everyone in the square right now.”

“Huh? Oh… all the orphans… you mean?”

“Yeah.”

The Ghoul Plague has one cruel characteristic.

Due to the nature of the plague, which drains the life force of humans, leading to death and transformation into necromantic creatures, the disease is more prevalent in older people.

As a result.

In areas where the Ghoul Plague has swept through, it is inevitable that there will be numerous orphans.

— Groan, grumble…. rumbling….

“Brother…. What is this? Why are you doing this?”

“I don’t know, shit. I heard the new governor or something called for a gathering…. Is he going to give us something to eat?”

“Sister…. I’m scared…..”

“It’s okay, Tony. Nothing’s going to happen….. Just stick close to your sister.”

After about two hours had passed.

Dozens of children gathered in the town square.

“Is that all?”

“No. That’s… It looks like there are a few kids out playing. The youth group is looking for them, so they’ll be back soon.”

“Is that so…..”

Lucius looks at the children with a giggling expression.

Those greedy eyes and the smile on his lips were burning with enthusiasm that was completely different from his seemingly insincere attitude when inspecting the village.

“Not bad…. Full-force, guard them well so no one escapes. Foul, is the list ready?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Okay, let’s start checking from the east side of the village. I’ll go around the west side.”

He looked over the documents with more meticulousness than ever before.

Lucius began his inspection process by visiting each house one by one.

“Hmm? It says there are two children in your house. What about the little one there?”

“Yes. That’s…. That’s right. This child is the son of my older brother who I owe a debt to. We decided to adopt him into our family. I’ve already told the village chief, but it seems like the paperwork is a bit late.”

“Is that so…..”

After nodding with a cold expression.

Lucius drew his sword and aimed it at the man’s throat.

“So you’re saying you were trying to steal this orphan and make him your own?”

“Huh? Oh, no…. What are you talking about…..”

— Crunch…

“Ugh….!!”

“Gyaaah…! Honey, honeyoooo!!”

“The orphans of this village have become the property of our Governor-General as of today. If you try to steal them and make them your own, you can see this as a clear act of treason.”

“Geuk, gasp…. Ugh, ugh…. Huh…..”

“Kill both of them. And… the remaining two kids are now orphans. Bring all three of them.”

“Yes, I understand.”

The townspeople were frozen, unable to even react to the sudden tragedy.

The Governor’s private soldiers who move strictly according to his instructions.

It was only for a moment that I was frozen in a crazy situation.

Krimhilt rushed forward to stop them.

“Stop it!! What the hell is this nonsense…..”

but.

— chin.

Hyunwoo caught her like that.

“Don’t do that, Cream.”

“Hey… Brave Brother?”

“I understand your feelings, but… That guy is the prince of this country and the governor of this region? If he makes a fuss here and gets disliked, things will get a lot more difficult later on.”

“But, but…. Ugh…. This, this…”

“Our warrior party is receiving support from the royal family, right? If we cause friction over this issue, things will get even worse later. For my sake, please be patient this time. Okay?”

“Ugh…..”

Hyunwoo soothes Krimhilt in a tone as if he were soothing a child.

Eventually, unable to withstand his pressure, Krimhilt nodded.

one side.

“Gyaaaah…!! Sisterieee…!!”

“Hey, let go of this…! You crazy kids…! Argh!!”

— Thud, thud…!!

“Charlo, Charlooo…!! Don’t do this, please…! Aaaah….!!”

In the square, the governor’s men began to load the children they had gathered into carriages for transport.

A few quick-witted children tried to escape, but the wizards under the governor had already set up a barrier long ago.

The governor’s soldiers subdued the children who ran wild with violence without hesitation, and did not hesitate to cut off the limbs of children who resisted strongly, or to trample and tie them up as if they were animals.

— Thud, thud, thud….

After going around the village and checking the work.

Lucius looked at her with a satisfied smile.

Julia walked quickly towards him and let out a loud voice.

“Brother, what on earth are you doing?”

“What are you doing?… Don’t you know what I’m doing? I’m gathering orphans and transporting them to Gish City.”

“That’s not what I’m asking!! What are you trying to do by forcibly taking the children like this?”

“Haa…. You really don’t have a good head on your shoulders. Isn’t it something you can figure out if you just pretend?”

“…..I can’t figure it out with my limited brain. Could you please teach me a little?”

Julia asks, gritting her teeth and looking like she might explode at any moment.

Lucius snickered at her.

“I will raise you as a soldier.”

“Yes…..?”

“Anyway, this is a harsh and barren northern land. If we leave those parentsless kids alone, they will only end up as beggars or bandits. Rather than leaving them like that, wouldn’t it be better for us to take them and raise them as soldiers?”

“……….”

“This is the front line. Since we don’t know when we’ll have to fight the Demon King’s army, it’s best to prepare at least one more soldier.”

“That’s right… those little kids….!!”

“If you look at the book written by General Schult of the Principality of Choil, there is a research result that says that when children under the age of 7 are separated from their parents and thoroughly educated and trained, they become the strongest soldiers. Since those kids don’t have parents, it can be said that they meet the perfect conditions to become the strongest soldiers.”

“Tsk…..”

“Well, just wait and see. In less than ten years, you will understand that my foresight saved the kingdom.”

“………..”

What I want to say would take dozens or hundreds of words.

I guess he intuitively felt that no matter what he said to that crazy guy, it wouldn’t work.

Julia turned around, her teeth grinding together.

After giving her a light laugh, Lucius resumed his work of transporting the orphans.

“Oh, those two girls are pretty darn close. Take them aside in that carriage.”

“Oh, yes. Okay. ”

So, after all the orphans from Barmet Village were sent to Geese City.

Lucius and his knights moved on to the next town and resumed the same activities.

The number of children transported to four villages over a period of about two weeks has now exceeded 300.

Even though I was staring at that horrific situation right before my eyes.

The party members of the warrior party could only tremble in their helplessness, unable to do anything in response.

Yes, 15 days later.

After arriving at the small city of Dalek in the central north, we finished the task of gathering the orphans and transporting them to Geese City as usual.

Lucius gathered his entourage and the town’s leading figures into the town hall and held a grand drinking party.

Of course, the warrior party members can also attend without refusal.

He poured several glasses of alcohol while flirting with the young ladies of the village next to him.

Lucius, who was very drunk, began to tell his story in an arrogant tone.

“I always say this!! Huh? You northern bastards are so~ overpowered. This is the front line where we are directly confronting the Demon King’s army!! Ugh….. Gathering all our strength by any means necessary and being prepared to fight them at any time is the shortcut to permanent peace!”

“Indeed…. The prince’s insight. It’s a vision that makes me bow my head.”

“Gathering orphans and raising them as soldiers is just the beginning. I’m telling you, right? I’m not the kind of person who would stop here!! When I looked into it, the kids in this area only pay 5% of their crops in taxes? What? A special privilege for northern residents? You’re being ridiculous. F*ck!! Even if I scrape together as much as I can and expand my military, it won’t be enough…..”

“I see. This really can’t be the nonsense of a full-bellied kid.”

“Starting this year, taxes will be raised by 50%, and all young people will be required to serve in the military for 15 years. As citizens of the kingdom, you should have a patriotic spirit that matches your life on the front lines!! Where the hell are you talking about living comfortably, what the hell are you talking about?”

“That’s absolutely right.”

“Just wait and see. Because in the next 10 years, I’ll make the North a huge military base and block the Demon King’s army with an iron wall defense. No, that’s not the end!! Whenever I see an opening, I’ll just go up and take the Demon King’s son’s throat!! And then I’ll rise as a national hero, receive the support of all the people, and inherit the throne. Ugh… F*ck. This perfect future. No matter how much I think about it, isn’t it just too perfect? ”

“It’s a perfect picture that even a guy like me can’t even imagine. Holy King Lucius…. Just thinking about that name makes me think of a wonderful future unfolding in my head.”

Lucius smiles with satisfaction as he pours another glass of wine at the nonsense of those around him who are constantly flattering him.

— Suddenly…!!

Is my patience at its limit?

Julia, who had been sitting at the end of the line, stood up and disappeared out of the hall.

I quietly followed her out of the drinking party.

— Pfft….!!

After entering the forest near the hall.

Julia began pounding her fists on a nearby tree.

— Thud, thud, thud….!! Thud…!!

“Huh…! Haa, haa….. Huh…..!!”

A violent punch that leaves one’s fist covered in blood.

Julia, who had been swinging her fists while crying and panting, collapsed to the floor.

◦ Hah, mandible …..

After admiring her back for a while.

I approached him from behind, making noise at what I thought was an appropriate time.

“Is it disgusting?”

“——–!!”

Could it be that he never thought that someone could approach him without even noticing his presence?

Julia’s eyes, trembling with a start and turning towards me, were filled with a mixture of bewilderment and shock.

“Hi… sir.”

“It seems like you’ve built up quite a bit of anger. Of course, it’s only natural to feel like you’re going crazy when you’re watching that kind of idiot’s nonsense live on TV.”

“Ugh……!!”

“You can rest assured. The throne? Even a dog’s whining like that can be considered art. There’s no way the North can run properly with such trash methods.”

“Of course… right!!”

However, Julia tries not to show her emotions in front of others if possible.

Perhaps it was inevitable that the accumulated alcohol and resentment would cause her to agree with what I said.

“I’m not worried about that idiot! If we continue to run things the way that idiot thinks, this North will completely collapse in less than 3 years, and will fall to the invasion of the Demon King’s army! Why… of all things, should I lose 20% of the kingdom’s territory just because of one fucking punk like that!!”

The passionate swearing only lasted for a moment.

Julia covered her lips with a look of embarrassment.

“Sorry, sorry….. Please forget what I just said.”

“Kuhehehe…. Well, it’s okay, isn’t it? Even the always neat and noble princess can sometimes swear a little. I felt a gap, so it felt okay.”

“Tsk…..”

Julia avoids eye contact with a blush on her face.

After admiring her for a moment, he slowly flicks his tongue.

“Do you need help?”

“……Yes?”

“If you want, Princess, I can help you. I can make sure that fool doesn’t ascend to the position of Governor.”