Chapter 177 ·Trading Blows First (1)

“Calm ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍down. Calm down. Just what on earth happened?”

At ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the chilled banquet atmosphere, Shatien clicked his tongue and asked back.

Only ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍then did the messenger catch his rough breath and speak calmly.

According ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍to the messenger's account, it went like this:

As ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍rebel forces opposing the Holy Roman Emperor rose from all directions, the Holy Roman Emperor threw open the gates allowing the nomadic warriors of the Eastern Steppes into the Empire.

With ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the five thousand steppe tribal warriors already inside acting as guides, nomadic cavalry numbering in the thousands and tens of thousands began pouring into the vast Empire.

If it cannot be protected, burn everything to the ground.

It was a choice truly typical of the tyrannical Holy Roman Emperor. A decision made purely for the dominion of his own house, without considering the consequences.

However, it proved remarkably effective. For nomadic tribes, logistics prioritized local procurement above all else. And they sought plunder, not occupation.

As tens of thousands of light cavalry scattered in every direction to burn and pillage fiefs, the anti-Imperial nobles had no means to withstand them.

No matter how strong one was in head-on combat, what good did it do? The enemy avoided fighting altogether.

When they grew exhausted from endless plundering and broke away to defend their own fiefs, the nomadic warriors crashed down in immense numbers with the rapid mobility unique to light cavalry, laying waste to everything.

For local nobles, it was truly driving them mad.

If they gathered to face them, their settlements were burned; if they marched out to protect their homes, they were crushed head-on.

A complete dilemma.

Amidst this, they lured them into a massive pitched battle to stop the bastards by any means, but ended up defeated in that very battle.

The deceitful Holy Roman Emperor intervened and shattered them with an unexpected surprise attack. Consequently, the fief of Duke Hoicholn, a high noble of the Central Empire, fell, and the path leading into the entire Empire was now wide open.

“Huuu…!”

“Is this not going too far?”

As the messenger's tale roughly finished, the nobles in attendance all turned pale and let out laments.

“If the Duchy of Hoicholn has fallen, the gates leading into the entire Empire have truly opened.”

“An invincible fortress that had never fallen until now, yet how could this happen!”

“Is it not all due to the treacherous Emperor pulling tricks? At this rate, I wonder if there is even any way to stop those damned nomadic warriors.”

“Nurturing nomadic tribes? What if they regain their past glory—what then!”

Even the ancient empire had struggled against the nomadic tribes of the Great Steppes.

Yet opening the path to the continent for them, and even cooperating to tear things down?

This was on a completely different dimension from merely employing a few as mercenaries.

“The Emperor—no, that bastard has sold out our world.”

“Even so, how could he throw the gates wide open to those savage bastards!”

“They are vicious heathens who ignore even God's gospel. They are barbarians who even tear out human hearts to perform sacrificial rites.”

“Is that truly so?”

The atmosphere grew so heated that even the Church's priest spouted wild rumors fit for a marketplace.

Though an unrefined and nonsensical tale, the surrounding crowd paid no heed to such things.

Rather, Count Shatin went a step further, chiming in with the priest's words to curse their savagery, extol the Church, and diligently fuel the flames.

A truly turbulent situation.

Amidst that chaos, Shatien thought quietly:

‘Hmm. If the Duchy of Hoicholn has fallen, Sauerland is right around the corner, just as the messenger said.’

Although he had obtained the County of Mediolanum, Sauerland was a vital foundation.

The Mercenary Bureau was located there, and the entire infrastructure to train mercenaries properly resided there, didn't it?

Furthermore, the symbolism was even more important. The symbolism of defending one's stronghold as a noble and a leader of a faction.

Backing away here out of fear of their momentum would completely shatter his grand dream of rallying mercenaries and seizing the initiative in the current war.

“Heh-heh. It is no easy task. No easy task indeed.”

Mage Agphiel, who had been listening quietly from the side, spoke. Master Joachim nodded as well, seeming of the same mind.

“The Emperor and nomadic cavalry. A combination hard to get used to, but the Emperor used his head remarkably well. For an Imperial Army structured around heavy cavalry, matching the mobility of light cavalry nomadic warriors will be impossible. Moreover, since their purpose is plunder, gathering to defend makes things even more disadvantageous.”

“However, if they scatter to defend each region, won't they be defeated in detail due to falling behind in mobility instead?”

“Isn't that why I said he used his head well?”

They weren't called the headache of the ancient empire for nothing.

The Eastern Elector had restrained them until now with formidable charisma and military might, yet to think their reins would be released like this.

“Still, shouldn't we induce a pitched battle somehow and crush them in one go?”

“Didn't Duke Hoicholn attempt that very thing, only to collapse before the Emperor's reinforcements? While it might be slightly different for you, by now the Emperor's military might may have grown immense.”

In other words, Mage Agphiel meant it would be a situation too overwhelming to handle alone.

Certainly, Shatien agreed with those words as well.

‘Which means I must persuade these greedy folks and move together, but…’

Difficulty in defense was an issue for the territories from the Central Empire northward, where plains were abundant. The Southern Empire was a fairly defensible place thanks to various mountain ranges and rolling hills descending from the branches of the Arhen Mountains. As such, it was less favored by nomadic warriors.

Furthermore, didn't the northern Apennine Peninsula possess the natural fortress of the Arhen Mountains? If they simply blocked that small pass in Count Shatin's county, assaults by nomadic warriors might be held off without much trouble.

In short, while threatening, unlike other regions, holding out was fairly feasible as long as they remained on the defensive.

The situation had changed from when the Emperor directly targeted the southern region and the Church. While cursing with their mouths, they would surely weigh gains and losses to stand by as idle onlookers.

It seemed so certain, yet…

“Lord Count! What do you think? This makes no sense at all.”

‘Hm?’

The atmosphere felt slightly peculiar.

“Lord Count Shatien! If you need a valiant blade, just say the word! Isn't that right, everyone?”

“Hear, hear! That's right!”

“There is no reason to avoid a fight!”

One noble spoke abruptly, and the remaining nobles chimed in shouting in unison.

Even Count Shatin:

“Back when Count Shatien helped me previously without any compensation, I recognized it. Count Shatien's noble character and grand cause. Right now, this feels like nothing less than divine revelation to me. Count Shatien!”

“?”

“Lead us. We must crush that wicked Emperor and save the people of the Empire suffering from the nomadic warriors of the Great Steppes. How could we watch our brothers in faith being oppressed? Isn't that so, Father?”

“Ohh, indeed. The Church will never sit idly by. This is a holy crusade to protect our faith.”

Suddenly, stepping forward, they began elevating Shatien and forming an allied coalition.

“In the name of my house, I shall devote myself to the Empire to restore order and faith!”

“Oh, I shall do the same. Not turning away from a neighbor's misfortune is precisely the duty of an honorable noble!”

One by one, the nobles stood up, drew their swords, and began swearing oaths to punish the Emperor.

“……”

An allied army formed completely out of nowhere. Truly baffling, Shatien thought.

* * *

“You don't understand why things suddenly turned out like this?”

Contrary to concerns, Shatien wasn't one to refuse the supreme command of an allied army formed at lightning speed. Receiving military support from the Southern Empire's nobles and full backing from the free cities of the northern Apennine Peninsula and the Church, Shatien brought provisions and available troops to head for Sauerland.

“Isn't it only natural, young noble? Rather, I find it fascinating that you ask in reverse.”

“Tsk, tsk. It is because my disciple is still lacking, Great Sage.”

Wondering since when the two had grown so remarkably close, Shatien felt a headache coming on thanks to the two elders teasing him.

Be that as it may, Mage Agphiel continued speaking atop his swaying horse:

“They are intoxicated by the heat of the battlefield experienced thanks to you. Did they not achieve a dramatic victory in a precarious battle?”

“The trend of the times is like a wildfire. Once ablaze, putting it out is no easy matter. Rather, given the right spark, it flares up all too easily. It is a sort of call of the times.”

Master Joachim added his words, nodding his head.

The call of the times.

A vast, transcendent current that individual will could not resist.

Why were heroes born in troubled times?

There was a fitting environment and reason for it all. To Mage Agphiel and Master Joachim, the task granted to disciple Shatien seemed part of that current.

“So you mean… under the Emperor's suppressed tyranny, what was bound to burst finally erupted?”

Of course, to Shatien, the words of his master and Mage Agphiel felt lukewarm.

‘Do I have the qualifications for that?’

Because such a thought came to mind first. While he intended to earn prestige in the scheduled imperial civil war against the Emperor and restore his house, he hadn't thought of shouldering the flow of the era.

Wouldn't someone like the King of the Kingdom of Ellang or Count Bellua be suited for such a thing? In reality, Count Bellua was previously a grand hero who practically held the continent's affairs in the palm of his hand.

‘I don't know.’

Yet what could he do now that things reached this point?

The Southern Empire and the Apennine Peninsula were already pushing him forward.

Mounted atop an enraged ogre's back. Stepping down clumsily meant getting trampled by the ogre.

‘Right. No need to think complicatedly.’

The path he had to walk was defeating the Emperor and striving to end this damned civil war anyway.

Nothing had changed from the original plan.

It remained exactly the same.

Just… simply…

“Lord Count! In the next vanguard, I will definitely join you. Haha.”

“Sir! As expected of you, Sir. You trust us this time as well, right? Those stale-smelling human warriors… Ah! Humans—no! Horse-lovers, we'll deal with them!”

More people had simply come to trust and follow Shatien himself.

“We have arrived!”

“Fortunately, the enemy's forces do not seem to have advanced as far as Sauerland, Lord Count!”

Looking at the scenery of Sauerland, which had arrived before he realized, Shatien thought to himself:

Let's do what I've always done.

Trusting in myself.

Then results will follow.

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