episode_0039

The Marquis gathered soldiers by rallying their souls.

Even with his right arm severed, Philah displayed the prowess to summon two hundred and fifty soldiers, combining them with the troops sent from the Papal See to amass an army of over four hundred.

It may seem meager, but everything was scraped together to the bone for the sake of the soul’s showdown.

Considering that these were not just farmers pulled from the fields but professionally trained forces for war, this was the largest army I had seen in recent times.

The knights gathered by stripping even the viscounts, totaling twenty including myself.

These knights were not just peasants wielding clubs and riding horses. They were legitimate knights officially appointed and armed.

In other words, twenty individuals who had honed their combat skills for decades, possessors of the ability to turn trash into corpses.

This was a formidable force. We stood in clear superiority with money, weapons, legitimacy, and the number of magicians on our side.

There was only one thing lacking—time.

Inside the tent, there were priests ready for battle, skilled squires accompanying the knights, and officers commanding the soldiers, all huddled together, waiting for the Marquis to speak.

Nobles, often overlooked, are intellectuals who have received education beyond that of priests. If well-learned, they can use magic and have relatively free access to information about war, making them formidable strategists.

And with great anticipation, the Marquis, after a deep sigh, spoke.

“I am grateful for you all gathering here. First of all, I believe everyone is aware that those who occupied Philah yesterday have sent a messenger to the Emperor… His Majesty.”

“Yes!”

“After discussing with my staff all night, the conclusion we reached was this—we will abandon the siege.”

He declared abandonment abruptly.

It was a gathering of high-ranking individuals, so there was no uproar or whispering to the person next to them without dignity. However, it was evident that some were slightly shaken by the decision, as they quietly took a shallow breath.

It was a foreseen event, as attempts to create siege weapons had failed three times in a row. They just didn’t expect the Marquis to make a decision so quickly.

The Viscount, who had witnessed the process of making siege weapons and their failures, spoke up.

“It’s difficult to mobilize siege weapons. So, a small group will have to infiltrate and open the gates. I must warn you, there are no secret passages.”

“What about digging tunnels to get in?”

“The ground is not soft enough to dig rapidly. And those inside will also consider such a possibility. They will not lack experience in battle and siege, so the risk of being discovered is high.”

The Marquis turned to the knights. The knights standing beside me stiffened.

“Your roles are crucial.”

“What should we do?”

“We will attempt negotiations tomorrow for the last time. If we fail, two days later, we will launch a concentrated attack on the front gate of the castle. At that moment, some of the knights will climb ladders, enter the back of the castle, and open the gates. Then, the nearby soldiers waiting will rush in.”

In reality, it would have been better to go in as a small elite force in the dead of night to avoid detection.

However, unless the thieves had noodles for brains, the area near the device that could lower a bridge even lower than the castle walls would be the most heavily guarded. It would be perfect to be surrounded and crushed by the numerical violence.

The castle walls are there to stop enemies, and the castle gates exist to move in and out of the castle. It’s common sense.

Therefore, we must make it impossible for them to retreat by not slackening the guard, even if they know this is a trap, they will have no choice but to disperse their forces.

“They want to deploy five knights for this operation. Of course, the soldiers and squires will follow. Any volunteers?”

It’s better than going in with a small elite force at night, but it’s still a dangerous mission.

Whether it was prearranged with the viscount to carry the banner, an unusually elderly knight stepped forward.

The emblem on his shield was similar to the crest of the viscount’s family. It was easy to guess that he was a knight directly under the viscount.

A knight with a long scar on his face, making his rugged face even more impressive, also raised his hand.

From the few conversations I had with him before, he was the third son of a noble family trying to elevate their reputation.

Even the two knights who grumbled about being short on money volunteered.

Whether it was for fame or money, it was natural for the less fortunate to step forward. But their number remained at four.

I paused for a moment.

The reason I stood on this battlefield was to save people.

It was also because I realized that even in this cruel world, morality and kindness still existed.

Fame and money are things I don’t have, and if I did, of course, it would be nice.

But above all, what moved my heart was the fact that even with such a motivation for participation, I could not delay and waste time knocking on the gates or walls to ask for entry.

When I finished counting by raising my hand, the viscount exclaimed with a satisfied expression on his face.

“Praise to your courage and honor! Even if this battle is forgotten by all on the surface, the gods will remember your deeds.”

*****

The viscount laid out a few detailed plans afterward, but we didn’t need to remember the details as we sneaked back into the castle.

We just needed to learn about the internal structure and operation of the devices from the soldier who had served as a guard in Filah.

The part of the operation plan that prohibited looting had to be ingrained in everyone’s minds, including mine.

Occupying the enemy’s castle and looting the villages were as natural as the sun setting and the moon rising.

Many knights and mercenaries prayed to God to help them earn money. But money didn’t just come into their pockets on its own.

So the logic was established that prayers were for asking forgiveness from God after looting.

The order of earning money and praying had changed, but it was still a prayer to earn money, and it didn’t matter how it happened.

This proposition was ingrained at an instinctual level.

“After occupying, focus on clearing out the remnants. Absolutely, absolutely do not engage in any strange looting! Filah is not enemy territory to be overlooked.”

“But why shouldn’t we loot… Ah, I see!”

“Can we trust these humans…?”

But even if Filah had been looted before, it was still the viscount’s land. It was not a place where looting could be done as usual.

He emphasized the need for a peaceful occupation several times and urged them to understand it in their heads, even if their instincts kicked in.

After emphasizing this fact to the soldiers, the viscount concluded the meeting.

There was no clock, but judging by the sun’s position, it felt like two hours had passed since I entered the tent.

I moved my steps to find Lysia, who I expected to be waiting on the hill longer than I thought.

Strangely, there was another set of fast, narrow footsteps following me. It turned out to be a priest, judging by the long robe that reached his ankles.

When I turned my head to look at the person following me, it was the bishop, whom I had only exchanged a few words with before.

“It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

But what’s this? Why is he suddenly acting so friendly?

“He has high expectations for Kyung. Didn’t we first meet at Philah’s oath ceremony? Since then, I’ve come to know Kyung’s sincerity and honor.”

Of course, neither I nor the bishop have ever met eye to eye during the oath ceremony.

Though I did glance at his face while standing in the center, the bishop probably didn’t even know I was there.

The weight of the sins committed was truly heavy, as the bishop, who had just been sweating in front of the marquis, visibly regained his composure as soon as he stepped outside to breathe the fresh air.

Without even bothering to wipe his lips or show any discomfort at the progression of our relationship from strangers to acquaintances to something more, the bishop seemed unfazed.

Indeed, is this the strength of a cunning clergyman who has risen to the position of bishop in a church filled with deceitful priests?

The eloquence that emanated from his words and the steely determination in his face were enough to make even someone like me, who had made a name for themselves through self-introductions, take a step back.

The bishop took another step forward, presenting me with various reasons and beginning to sow seeds of injustice.

Unable to simply ignore someone of his stature, I responded appropriately, letting his words flow in one ear and out the other.

“Anyway, if Gilberto hadn’t meddled, this wouldn’t have happened. I believe he’s behind this whole situation. Why does Your Highness still keep him around, turning a blind eye to his actions?”

“…What?”

Gilberto, a rare name in these parts.

It sounds familiar from somewhere.