episode_0008

I crossed the barrier.

Since the Berengerian Wall was completed, I am probably the first Ka’har to cross it.

I passed through the walls while being looked at by soldiers with a mixture of fear, wariness, and hostility.

Don’t look at me like that.

Hashall’s instincts keep telling him to draw his sword.

As I entered beyond the wall, a yellow plain greeted me.

The unique air of a military base, a mixture of dry earth, fishy metal, and a slight smell of sweat, tickled my nose.

Old memories came to mind like faded memories and I furrowed my brows.

To the left of the large vacant lot that appeared to be a training ground, there were rows of old brick buildings that appeared to be soldiers’ living quarters, and across from it was a large stronghold with whitewash peeling off in places.

Seeing that it was built with much more effort than the soldiers’ barracks, it looks like it must be a place for knights to stay.

In the stables next to the castle, sturdy war horses were gathered side by side chewing hay.

Following Shane’s lead, I crossed the barracks.

When the alert was lifted, the soldiers, who were gathered in groups of threes and fives doing their own thing, spotted me and murmured in surprise.

Some of them tried to aim their weapons in a hurry, but the knights stopped them without saying a word.

When they reached the end of the barracks, Shane dispersed the men who were following him.

“You guys should just return to your unit. I will personally lead this person to the Marquis.”

“Do you mind, Sir Shane?”

“No problem. Go back and calm the soldiers down.”

Shane, who had sent the knights away, came towards me.

I didn’t know it because his face was covered by a helmet, but when I looked up close, he was a middle-aged knight who looked 20 years older than me.

Well, there’s no need to use polite language.

Hashal has already killed the Confucian spirit within me.

“You will arrive in Lantenburg in about an hour. Please make as little noise as possible there.”

“That’s up to you.”

I swear on Orhan’s name that I have never once in my life caused conflict with anyone of my own accord.

The other person always attacked me first. Really.

Shane turned his head and moved forward without saying a word.

Well, I guess my answer wasn’t particularly satisfying.

No matter what country it is, there is no way to fearlessly cause an accident in the territory of a great nobleman who rules the entire eastern border.

Because you never know what will happen to people.

Two course horses ran down the street, kicking up dust.

Toward Landenburg, the border city ruled by Marquis Ludwig.

—-

Unlike other marquis territories, Landenburg was a cold and stiff city without any glamor or vitality.

The gray landscape, in which color was obsessively suppressed, was accompanied by a depressing silence and oppressed visitors.

The ruler’s tendency to pursue efficiency to the point of persistence was evident in the grid structure, which was thoroughly separated by district.

Should we really say that it is a border city?

The only residents wandering around are either soldiers or people involved in supporting the army, such as blacksmiths.

Most of the ordinary-looking people I rarely encountered were also soldiers’ families.

In fact, it seemed as if all the components that made up the city had been cut away, leaving only the functions necessary for the military.

I had a rough idea of what kind of person the Margrave was.

—-

“Hashar Aishangior. Did you say she was the princess of Kahar? Not welcome.”

“I didn’t even want it.”

Marquis Ludwig, whom I met in the reception room of the castle, was a middle-aged man whose thoughts were not much different from mine.

Instead of the elaborate formal attire typical of nobles, a simple dark blue uniform similar to a commander’s military uniform was wrapped around his well-trained body.

His gray hair, neatly shaved at the back of his head, gave off a soldier-like appearance, and his firm mouth and neatly grown short beard gave off a sense of strength and stubbornness.

Only the golden decorations on the coat draped over his shoulders revealed that he was a great nobleman with a high status as a marquis.

Imperial Wall.

Ludwig Wilhelm von Landenburg.

He was one of the empire’s leading generals with numerous military achievements.

I sat on the sofa in the living room and looked at him calmly, enjoying the feel of the soft cushions covering my back.

-It would be rather suspicious if the manager of the wall, which was originally built to guard against our Ka’har forces, welcomed the royal family.

“The owner of the wall that our troops built out of fear. If you welcomed me, it would be rather suspicious.”

“The duration of the interpretation spell may not be long, so it is okay to speak in Kahar’s language. I already know what you guys are saying.”

Surprisingly, Marquis Ludwig spoke fluent Eastern languages.

Now that I think about it, the strange energy that had permeated my mind has almost faded away.

I also answered in Eastern.

“Thank you for your consideration. Clearly, this interpretation magic was extremely ambiguous. Honestly, it was uncomfortable.”

“It’s a magic that still has a lot of room for improvement. However, if the noble girl learns even a little bit of the vocabulary of the imperial language, the magic effect will also be more accurate.”

So you’re saying that the interpretation was like that because I don’t know anything about the imperial language?

Even though I am sad, I end up learning the imperial language.

Marquis Ludwig took something out of the table drawer, put it to his mouth, then lit a match.

A cloud of cloudy mint-scented white smoke rose.

It’s a cigarette.

Even though it was in the form of a cigar, my eyes were drawn to the sight of a cigarette that I had not seen in a long time.

“Are you excited about magic candles? Now that I think about it, I heard that magic grass leaves don’t grow in the eastern part of the country.”

Oh yes, it was a magic candle.

A pseudo-cigarette that sharpens the senses and clears the mind.

The setting was that although it did not contain any harmful substances that could harm the body, it was a highly addictive product like nicotine.

After all, a cigarette is a cigarette.

“It’s definitely amazing. I want to try it too, right?”

“That’s about it. Now, take it.”

Marquis Ludwig took out another magic candle and handed it along with the match.

I lit the magic candle and inhaled deeply.

How long has it been since you smoked this cigarette?

Certainly, the effect was clearly felt as per the settings.

“Phew – this is very good. It feels fun.”

“If you like it, I’ll give you a pack as a gift.”

“There is no reason to refuse.”

I smiled slightly and took the small wooden box the Marquis had taken out.

With the two of them exhaling smoke, the atmosphere felt somewhat softer.

“So, what brought the princess of Kahar here?”

It was a mistake.

The Marquis, who got straight to the point, glared at me sharply.

okay. This was enemy territory.

I regained my composure.

“Didn’t you hear from the knights? I came to deliver Ser Khan’s letter.”

“I heard it was a messenger from Ser Khan, but who is Orhan who is busy holding the reins of Kahar?”

“Father decided to sign a peace treaty with the empire. If the Empire agrees, Ishangior will no longer attack you.”

Although it will only be for 3 years.

“It’s a peace agreement…what on earth does that mean? As long as Berengeria is alive and well, the cavalry you boast about will not be able to inflict a single wound on the empire.”

Clearly, Ka’har’s strength was based on the capabilities of his cavalry.

It is impossible to attack that wall unless the horses have wings and can fly up the 30m wall.

But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a way.

“That’s correct. It’s a barrier you can’t overcome. But isn’t it obvious? Way to crush the empire.Right below you.”

“……The Dane Kingdom.”

Berengeria is a wall that only cuts off the eastern border of the empire.

The Dane Kingdom, located in the southeast, was still facing Ka`har bare-handed.

Therefore, it was possible to quickly penetrate the territory of the Dane Kingdom and bypass the barrier by heading north.

There was just no reason to go that far to the mainland of the empire.

“…Okay. You have always attacked and massacred that country. I heard that the noble woman is also notorious for that.”

Perhaps it was an unpleasant story, but Marquis Ludwig tried to blur the point.

“The empire will rebuke that? You too would not welcome the Dane Kingdom being plundered.”

“This is an absurd conspiracy. The Empire is a country originally created to protect humanity. Would anyone welcome Dane’s damage?”

“That’s because Dane is the scapegoat you made. You wanted to divert Ka’har’s attention to one side, right?”

“That’s…!”

Yes. The Dane Kingdom was originally one of the territories belonging to the empire.

However, the Danes were rough and strong in nature, and unlike other regions, they often resisted the empire and caused trouble.

The emperor who ruled the empire at the time tried to comfort the rebellious Danes, but eventually gave up because he was tired of the constant rebellion.

He knew a much better way than appeasement, and he made his decision without hesitation.

Soon after, the Empire formally gave up control of the Dane region and withdrew from it.

All the Danes took to the streets and cheered.

Finally, the Danes proudly achieved independence from the Empire!

And Berengeria was founded.

The Danes, who were happy about their independence, faced the forces of Ka’har, who decided to attack the Danes instead of crossing the wall.

If there had not been a Dane option, Ka’har would have tried to break through Berengeria somehow, even if it meant pouring in a large army.

However, there was no reason to go through the trouble of crashing into the castle wall when there was healthy prey right next to it.

A loophole that the empire deliberately created to lure Ka`har. That was the current Dane Kingdom.