Chapter 329: ððšð¥ð² ððð§ð (2)
âThe two lords can share their jokes, but I hope you keep in mind that the situation is not that easy.â
Suetlg said to remind them.
It was certainly good news that the enemy commander had surrendered, but Suetlg wasnât naive enough to lose his mind over a single piece of news. In fact, there was more to do than before the surrender.
Before the enemy surrendered, he only had to worry about how to pass the castle walls and break the castle gate, but after the enemy surrendered, he had to occupy the turbulent city and persuade people with different thoughts so that they wouldnât complain.
This alone was difficult, and now a plague was also spreading inside. He could guess the atmosphere of the city even without entering it.
âThere are already many prisoners, and there must be many pagans inside the city as well, so itâs a headache.â
Johan frowned. It felt ironic that he had to worry even though the enemy had surrendered, but the reality didnât change just because he complained.
At any rate, he could only gratefully accept the enemyâs surrender.
âShould I ask the dukeâs opinion?â
Johan replied coolly to Ulrikeâs question.âItâs crazy to take all the troops into the city. Since the plague is spreading, Iâll use that as an excuse and take only the elites inside. If I let the untrained ones in, I donât know what they might do.â
Ulrike smiled faintly at Johanâs words. A lord who could communicate was a truly precious partner. Especially in this distant eastern land.
The other lords who led the soldiers were usually uselessly ferocious and annoyingly greedy. If they were that brave, they should have stood at the forefront when fighting against the enemyâs large army, but at that time, those who were cowering in fear were now shamelessly raising their voices because the situation was favorable to them.
âðð ðð¡ð ðð§ððŠð² ð¬ð®ð«ð«ðð§ððð«ð¬, ð°ð ð°ð¢ð¥ð¥ ð€ð¢ð¥ð¥ ðð¥ð¥ ðð¡ð ð©ðð ðð§ð¬ ð¢ð§ ðð¡ð ððšð¥ð² ððð§ð! ðð¥ðšðšð ððšð« ðð¥ðšðšð! ððšðšð€ ðð ðð¡ð ðŠð¢ð¬ðð«ððð¥ð ð¬ð¢ð ð¡ð ðšð ðð¡ð ðððŠð¢ð¥ð² ðð¡ðð ð©ð«ðšðððððð ðð¡ð ððšð¥ð² ððð§ð!
âðð ð¢ð¬ ð¬ðšðŠððð¡ð¢ð§ð ðð¡ðð ðð¯ðð§ ððšð ð°ðšð®ð¥ð ðð¥ð¥ðšð° ðð§ð ðð ð¬ððð¢ð¬ðð¢ðð ð°ð¢ðð¡, ððš ð©ð¥ð®ð§ððð« ðð¡ð ð©ð¥ððð ðšððð®ð©ð¢ðð ðð² ðð¡ð ðð§ððŠð².
These people often came up with novel arguments that even priests would reject in astonishment.
Either they were intoxicated by excessive faith or intoxicated by overflowing greed.
Either way, there was no difference in that they were uncontrollable.
Johan was annoyed by the lords who were talking nonsense, but when Johan finally spoke sensibly, Ulrike felt a little better.
âThatâs right. There are many people who want to set fire to the city and loot it. Even the feudal lords are no exception.â
The pilgrims who gathered among themselves were not that organized, even if they resorted to violence.
However, the looting led by a greedy lord left much deeper wounds. Johan didnât want the city he had finally acquired to burn down.
âThe problem is how much they will listen to me. . .â
Johan knew from experience that nobles really didnât listen to him as much as he thought. It wasnât because they ignored or looked down on Johan. The nobles who led their own men thought it was their natural right to act as they pleased.
Of course, from Johanâs point of view, there was no such thing as nagging. By that logic, it would also be Johanâs right to swing his sword and cut off the nobleâs neck.
âBut if I say it strongly, at least theyâll pretend to listen?â
â. . .No madman would go against Your Highnessâs words, so I donât think you have to worry about that.â
Ulrike was taken aback. She must have arrived late after chasing the enemy, so she didnât seem to have grasped the atmosphere well, but there was no feudal lord who was so audacious as to ignore Johanâs words now.
They asserted their rights by reading the time and place, and they didnât assert them in front of the duke whose authority reached the heavens.
ðžðžðžðžðžðž
The duke, who entered through the city gate, had his famous crown on his head. The crown shone brilliantly in the slanted light. Even in the midst of the chaos in the city, people who had gathered to see the new conqueror exclaimed in admiration at his majestic appearance.
Not only the monotheists but also the polytheists were in awe. The duke had such natural dignity.
After the admiration, the polytheists made worried expressions. It was natural to worry about how the new conqueror would act.
âShould I have taken my wealth out in advance?â
âThatâs foolish. I buried it in advance. I plan to sneak out tomorrow night. Thereâs no reason to stay here like this. Iâve already talked to the gatekeeper.â
âThere are also rumors of mercy.â
âMercy, my foot. Think about when the sultanâs knights occupied this city. After seeing all that blood, do you think theyâll just stand still? I guess you havenât heard the rumors about the duke yet!â
. . .Compared to all that fuss, Johan didnât do anything at all. Right after receiving the surrender directly from Suhekhar, he went straight to stabilize the city.
âDivide the area and check where the disease has spread. Block the entrance and exit of the area where the disease has spread! Otherwise, the disease could spread even more.â
Johan went around the Holy Land with Suetlg. It wasnât bad to talk to the enemy nobles or to enter the holy tomb in the Holy Land and pray (of course, it was just a pretense), but there were other urgent matters at the moment.
âSmell the water coming up from the canal. Itâs disgusting. Even a healthy warrior would get sick in an instant if he stayed in a place like this.â
âCan it be purified?â
âIf you want to see this old wizard collapse for a month or so, that wouldnât be bad either.â
âI spoke carelessly.â
âDividing the area seems like a good idea. Certainly, if we do it that way, not only will the disease spread less, but the number of dead people who turn into undead and harm the living will also decrease.â
Suetlg was impressed by Johanâs response.
Usually, such a response came from experience, but there was no way that a young duke like Johan could have learned from experience. It was clear that he had come up with it on the spot.
âThe dead have appeared over there!â
âPrepare to fight with your spears. Weâll get rid of the undead.â
At Johanâs words, the soldiers took their familiar stance. They were patrolling the areas with the duke and getting rid of the undead. It was tense at first, but now they were starting to get bored.
âWhat kind of city has so many dead people?â
âBe quiet. Be thankful that you donât encounter monsters.â
The soldiers nodded at the captainâs words. It was true. Unlike the plains, it was no fun to deal with monsters in a complex place like a city.
ðžðžðžðžðžðž
â. . . . . .â
â. . . . . .â
Suhekhar and Yeheyman looked at each other with complicated expressions. Neither of them had expected to meet again in such a place.
âI wondered why you didnât retreat to the Holy Land, but now I know there was a reason.â
Suhekhar spoke first. It was meant to show that he understood, but it was actually closer to nagging and provoking. It wasnât something to brag about being tricked by a eunuch and fainting.
In fact, Yeheymanâs face turned red.
â. . .I, too, wondered why you surrendered so easily, given the high walls and deep moats, but now I know there was a reason.â
âðð©ðªðŽ ðšð¶ðº. . .â
This time, it was Suhekharâs turn to be displeased.
The reason he surrendered was because of the plague and the appearance of monsters, not because he was scared.
âThatâs right. Thank you for understanding.â
However, Suhekhar didnât express his emotions directly. Yeheyman was impressed by his appearance. It was a great thing to be able to control oneâs emotions even in this situation.
Right now, Yeheyman would try to cut down the eunuchs if he was given just one sword. . .
âSo, is that why you called me today? For this trivial matter?â
Yeheyman cleared his throat and came to his senses. The reason he had called Suhekhar now wasnât to talk about why he had been captured.
âWhat do you think of the eunuchs, Your Excellency?â
â. . .?â
Suhekhar was a little flustered by the sudden question. He didnât know what his intention was.
Although he had been defeated in battle and captured as a prisoner, Suhekhar was still the sultanâs loyal vassal. He had no intention of betraying him.
Yeheyman spoke first, realizing that Suhekhar was hesitating.
âIâm going to kill them!â
â. . .!â
He had heard the story, but he seemed to be much more emotional than he had thought. Suhekhar asked cautiously.
âWhat do you plan to do about the aftermath? The sultanâs wrath will not be easy to handle.â
âIâm going to be punished for my defeat in battle anyway. Iâd rather go my own way than be dragged around like a fool and ridiculed by the sultan. My family can afford to pay the ransom to the duke, so I can leave as soon as the ransom is paid. But not the eunuchs.â
Suhekhar was a little moved by Yeheymanâs determination to kill the eunuchs. He also thought of the eunuchs as annoying toadstools.
Of course, the sultan wouldnât like it if he touched the eunuchs. How ridiculous would it be for those who had lost their large army to also get rid of the eunuchs?
However, Suhekhar couldnât help but admit that Yeheyman had a point. This defeat, and even the fall of the Holy Land. He might have returned to the sultanâs camp and been executed without being able to say a word of excuse.
In that case, it would be better to pay the ransom and go home to his family. If he holed up in his fiefdom, even the sultan wouldnât be able to touch him easily.
â. . .So what do you want to talk about?â
âThose eunuchs are currently under the protection of the duke. Removing this protection is the top priority. Once the dukeâs protection is gone, theyâre nothing but useless trash.â
âAre you saying that we should deal with them then?â
Suhekhar asked seriously, curious.
âThatâs right.â
âEven if we say thatâs good. . .how are we going to remove the dukeâs protection? I donât think the duke himself will move on his own orders.â
Unlike other places, this was in the middle of the enemy camp. There werenât many chances to swing a sword at the eunuchs, and the eunuchâs flattery was so great that he couldnât be seen properly.
âThatâs why you have to do it.â
âWhat did you say. . .?â
Suhekhar was taken aback. Wasnât he slyly passing over the most difficult part?
âYouâre the only one who has talked to the duke. Iâm counting on you.â
â. . . . . .â
Suhekhar was taken aback, but he didnât want to raise his voice. Besides, the more people who knew that he was going to kill the eunuchs, the better. There could be listening ears in the tents of these prisoners as well.
âðð© ð®ðº. . .â
Suhekhar smiled bitterly at the situation that had suddenly changed. Just a few days ago, he was in a position where he had to risk his life to stop the dukeâs invasion, but now he had to curry favor with the duke in order to kill the eunuchs.
And this wasnât simple revenge. Yeheymanâs proposal contained a hidden meaning.
Will you continue to be loyal to the sultan, or will you find your own way to live?
âðð¯ ð®ð¢ð¯ðº ðžð¢ðºðŽ. . .ðµð©ðŠðºâð³ðŠ ð€ð°ð¯ðµð³ð¢ðŽðµðªð¯ðš ð°ð±ð±ð°ð¯ðŠð¯ðµðŽ.â
Suhekhar was a man of strong loyalty, but there was no helping it when the sultan and the duke were compared.
Just look at this surrender. Instead of humiliating him, the duke quickly accepted the surrender and tried hard to quell the commotion in the city. This was an unusual humility.
âð ðžð°ð¯ð¥ðŠð³ ðªð§ ðµð©ðªð¯ðšðŽ ð¢ð³ðŠ ðšð°ðªð¯ðš ðžðŠðð ðžðªðµð© ðšðŠðµðµðªð¯ðš ð³ðªð¥ ð°ð§ ðµð©ðŠ ð±ðð¢ðšð¶ðŠ.â
Suhekhar thought about leading his men to volunteer, but gave up. The other party wouldnât allow it. How could he give back his weapons after surrendering?
Instead, Suhekhar prayed that the young duke would end this commotion quickly. It wasnât for the sake of the friendly tribes in the city. It was for Suhekhar to make his own judgment.
He already had a rough idea, but he would be able to be sure with the attitude he showed this time.
ðžðžðžðžðžðž
âYou saw a mermaid?â
âYes. . .Your Highness.â
At the old beggarâs words, the people in their seats looked at each other as if they were absurd.
A mermaid.
Mermaids were monsters that could only be seen in the distant sea, not in a city with rivers and canals at best. What was a mermaid doing all the way here?
â. . .It wouldnât hurt to hear it once.â
âYour Highness. Thatâs just nonsense.â
Jyanina looked at the beggar as if she couldnât believe it. No matter how she looked at it, it seemed like he was making up a story to get a few silver coins.,
âThe two lords can share their jokes, but I hope you keep in mind that the situation is not that easy.â
Suetlg said to remind them.
It was certainly good news that the enemy commander had surrendered, but Suetlg wasnât naive enough to lose his mind over a single piece of news. In fact, there was more to do than before the surrender.
Before the enemy surrendered, he only had to worry about how to pass the castle walls and break the castle gate, but after the enemy surrendered, he had to occupy the turbulent city and persuade people with different thoughts so that they wouldnât complain.
This alone was difficult, and now a plague was also spreading inside. He could guess the atmosphere of the city even without entering it.
âThere are already many prisoners, and there must be many pagans inside the city as well, so itâs a headache.â
Johan frowned. It felt ironic that he had to worry even though the enemy had surrendered, but the reality didnât change just because he complained.
At any rate, he could only gratefully accept the enemyâs surrender.
âShould I ask the dukeâs opinion?â
Johan replied coolly to Ulrikeâs question.
âItâs crazy to take all the troops into the city. Since the plague is spreading, Iâll use that as an excuse and take only the elites inside. If I let the untrained ones in, I donât know what they might do.â
Ulrike smiled faintly at Johanâs words. A lord who could communicate was a truly precious partner. Especially in this distant eastern land.
The other lords who led the soldiers were usually uselessly ferocious and annoyingly greedy. If they were that brave, they should have stood at the forefront when fighting against the enemyâs large army, but at that time, those who were cowering in fear were now shamelessly raising their voices because the situation was favorable to them.
âðð ðð¡ð ðð§ððŠð² ð¬ð®ð«ð«ðð§ððð«ð¬, ð°ð ð°ð¢ð¥ð¥ ð€ð¢ð¥ð¥ ðð¥ð¥ ðð¡ð ð©ðð ðð§ð¬ ð¢ð§ ðð¡ð ððšð¥ð² ððð§ð! ðð¥ðšðšð ððšð« ðð¥ðšðšð! ððšðšð€ ðð ðð¡ð ðŠð¢ð¬ðð«ððð¥ð ð¬ð¢ð ð¡ð ðšð ðð¡ð ðððŠð¢ð¥ð² ðð¡ðð ð©ð«ðšðððððð ðð¡ð ððšð¥ð² ððð§ð!
âðð ð¢ð¬ ð¬ðšðŠððð¡ð¢ð§ð ðð¡ðð ðð¯ðð§ ððšð ð°ðšð®ð¥ð ðð¥ð¥ðšð° ðð§ð ðð ð¬ððð¢ð¬ðð¢ðð ð°ð¢ðð¡, ððš ð©ð¥ð®ð§ððð« ðð¡ð ð©ð¥ððð ðšððð®ð©ð¢ðð ðð² ðð¡ð ðð§ððŠð².
These people often came up with novel arguments that even priests would reject in astonishment.
Either they were intoxicated by excessive faith or intoxicated by overflowing greed.
Either way, there was no difference in that they were uncontrollable.
Johan was annoyed by the lords who were talking nonsense, but when Johan finally spoke sensibly, Ulrike felt a little better.
âThatâs right. There are many people who want to set fire to the city and loot it. Even the feudal lords are no exception.â
The pilgrims who gathered among themselves were not that organized, even if they resorted to violence.
However, the looting led by a greedy lord left much deeper wounds. Johan didnât want the city he had finally acquired to burn down.
âThe problem is how much they will listen to me. . .â
Johan knew from experience that nobles really didnât listen to him as much as he thought. It wasnât because they ignored or looked down on Johan. The nobles who led their own men thought it was their natural right to act as they pleased.
Of course, from Johanâs point of view, there was no such thing as nagging. By that logic, it would also be Johanâs right to swing his sword and cut off the nobleâs neck.
âBut if I say it strongly, at least theyâll pretend to listen?â
â. . .No madman would go against Your Highnessâs words, so I donât think you have to worry about that.â
Ulrike was taken aback. She must have arrived late after chasing the enemy, so she didnât seem to have grasped the atmosphere well, but there was no feudal lord who was so audacious as to ignore Johanâs words now.
They asserted their rights by reading the time and place, and they didnât assert them in front of the duke whose authority reached the heavens.
ðžðžðžðžðžðž
The duke, who entered through the city gate, had his famous crown on his head. The crown shone brilliantly in the slanted light. Even in the midst of the chaos in the city, people who had gathered to see the new conqueror exclaimed in admiration at his majestic appearance.
Not only the monotheists but also the polytheists were in awe. The duke had such natural dignity.
After the admiration, the polytheists made worried expressions. It was natural to worry about how the new conqueror would act.
âShould I have taken my wealth out in advance?â
âThatâs foolish. I buried it in advance. I plan to sneak out tomorrow night. Thereâs no reason to stay here like this. Iâve already talked to the gatekeeper.â
âThere are also rumors of mercy.â
âMercy, my foot. Think about when the sultanâs knights occupied this city. After seeing all that blood, do you think theyâll just stand still? I guess you havenât heard the rumors about the duke yet!â
. . .Compared to all that fuss, Johan didnât do anything at all. Right after receiving the surrender directly from Suhekhar, he went straight to stabilize the city.
âDivide the area and check where the disease has spread. Block the entrance and exit of the area where the disease has spread! Otherwise, the disease could spread even more.â
Johan went around the Holy Land with Suetlg. It wasnât bad to talk to the enemy nobles or to enter the holy tomb in the Holy Land and pray (of course, it was just a pretense), but there were other urgent matters at the moment.
âSmell the water coming up from the canal. Itâs disgusting. Even a healthy warrior would get sick in an instant if he stayed in a place like this.â
âCan it be purified?â
âIf you want to see this old wizard collapse for a month or so, that wouldnât be bad either.â
âI spoke carelessly.â
âDividing the area seems like a good idea. Certainly, if we do it that way, not only will the disease spread less, but the number of dead people who turn into undead and harm the living will also decrease.â
Suetlg was impressed by Johanâs response.
Usually, such a response came from experience, but there was no way that a young duke like Johan could have learned from experience. It was clear that he had come up with it on the spot.
âThe dead have appeared over there!â
âPrepare to fight with your spears. Weâll get rid of the undead.â
At Johanâs words, the soldiers took their familiar stance. They were patrolling the areas with the duke and getting rid of the undead. It was tense at first, but now they were starting to get bored.
âWhat kind of city has so many dead people?â
âBe quiet. Be thankful that you donât encounter monsters.â
The soldiers nodded at the captainâs words. It was true. Unlike the plains, it was no fun to deal with monsters in a complex place like a city.
ðžðžðžðžðžðž
â. . . . . .â
â. . . . . .â
Suhekhar and Yeheyman looked at each other with complicated expressions. Neither of them had expected to meet again in such a place.
âI wondered why you didnât retreat to the Holy Land, but now I know there was a reason.â
Suhekhar spoke first. It was meant to show that he understood, but it was actually closer to nagging and provoking. It wasnât something to brag about being tricked by a eunuch and fainting.
In fact, Yeheymanâs face turned red.
â. . .I, too, wondered why you surrendered so easily, given the high walls and deep moats, but now I know there was a reason.â
âðð©ðªðŽ ðšð¶ðº. . .â
This time, it was Suhekharâs turn to be displeased.
The reason he surrendered was because of the plague and the appearance of monsters, not because he was scared.
âThatâs right. Thank you for understanding.â
However, Suhekhar didnât express his emotions directly. Yeheyman was impressed by his appearance. It was a great thing to be able to control oneâs emotions even in this situation.
Right now, Yeheyman would try to cut down the eunuchs if he was given just one sword. . .
âSo, is that why you called me today? For this trivial matter?â
Yeheyman cleared his throat and came to his senses. The reason he had called Suhekhar now wasnât to talk about why he had been captured.
âWhat do you think of the eunuchs, Your Excellency?â
â. . .?â
Suhekhar was a little flustered by the sudden question. He didnât know what his intention was.
Although he had been defeated in battle and captured as a prisoner, Suhekhar was still the sultanâs loyal vassal. He had no intention of betraying him.
Yeheyman spoke first, realizing that Suhekhar was hesitating.
âIâm going to kill them!â
â. . .!â
He had heard the story, but he seemed to be much more emotional than he had thought. Suhekhar asked cautiously.
âWhat do you plan to do about the aftermath? The sultanâs wrath will not be easy to handle.â
âIâm going to be punished for my defeat in battle anyway. Iâd rather go my own way than be dragged around like a fool and ridiculed by the sultan. My family can afford to pay the ransom to the duke, so I can leave as soon as the ransom is paid. But not the eunuchs.â
Suhekhar was a little moved by Yeheymanâs determination to kill the eunuchs. He also thought of the eunuchs as annoying toadstools.
Of course, the sultan wouldnât like it if he touched the eunuchs. How ridiculous would it be for those who had lost their large army to also get rid of the eunuchs?
However, Suhekhar couldnât help but admit that Yeheyman had a point. This defeat, and even the fall of the Holy Land. He might have returned to the sultanâs camp and been executed without being able to say a word of excuse.
In that case, it would be better to pay the ransom and go home to his family. If he holed up in his fiefdom, even the sultan wouldnât be able to touch him easily.
â. . .So what do you want to talk about?â
âThose eunuchs are currently under the protection of the duke. Removing this protection is the top priority. Once the dukeâs protection is gone, theyâre nothing but useless trash.â
âAre you saying that we should deal with them then?â
Suhekhar asked seriously, curious.
âThatâs right.â
âEven if we say thatâs good. . .how are we going to remove the dukeâs protection? I donât think the duke himself will move on his own orders.â
Unlike other places, this was in the middle of the enemy camp. There werenât many chances to swing a sword at the eunuchs, and the eunuchâs flattery was so great that he couldnât be seen properly.
âThatâs why you have to do it.â
âWhat did you say. . .?â
Suhekhar was taken aback. Wasnât he slyly passing over the most difficult part?
âYouâre the only one who has talked to the duke. Iâm counting on you.â
â. . . . . .â
Suhekhar was taken aback, but he didnât want to raise his voice. Besides, the more people who knew that he was going to kill the eunuchs, the better. There could be listening ears in the tents of these prisoners as well.
âðð© ð®ðº. . .â
Suhekhar smiled bitterly at the situation that had suddenly changed. Just a few days ago, he was in a position where he had to risk his life to stop the dukeâs invasion, but now he had to curry favor with the duke in order to kill the eunuchs.
And this wasnât simple revenge. Yeheymanâs proposal contained a hidden meaning.
Will you continue to be loyal to the sultan, or will you find your own way to live?
âðð¯ ð®ð¢ð¯ðº ðžð¢ðºðŽ. . .ðµð©ðŠðºâð³ðŠ ð€ð°ð¯ðµð³ð¢ðŽðµðªð¯ðš ð°ð±ð±ð°ð¯ðŠð¯ðµðŽ.â
Suhekhar was a man of strong loyalty, but there was no helping it when the sultan and the duke were compared.
Just look at this surrender. Instead of humiliating him, the duke quickly accepted the surrender and tried hard to quell the commotion in the city. This was an unusual humility.
âð ðžð°ð¯ð¥ðŠð³ ðªð§ ðµð©ðªð¯ðšðŽ ð¢ð³ðŠ ðšð°ðªð¯ðš ðžðŠðð ðžðªðµð© ðšðŠðµðµðªð¯ðš ð³ðªð¥ ð°ð§ ðµð©ðŠ ð±ðð¢ðšð¶ðŠ.â
Suhekhar thought about leading his men to volunteer, but gave up. The other party wouldnât allow it. How could he give back his weapons after surrendering?
Instead, Suhekhar prayed that the young duke would end this commotion quickly. It wasnât for the sake of the friendly tribes in the city. It was for Suhekhar to make his own judgment.
He already had a rough idea, but he would be able to be sure with the attitude he showed this time.
ðžðžðžðžðžðž
âYou saw a mermaid?â
âYes. . .Your Highness.â
At the old beggarâs words, the people in their seats looked at each other as if they were absurd.
A mermaid.
Mermaids were monsters that could only be seen in the distant sea, not in a city with rivers and canals at best. What was a mermaid doing all the way here?
â. . .It wouldnât hurt to hear it once.â
âYour Highness. Thatâs just nonsense.â
Jyanina looked at the beggar as if she couldnât believe it. No matter how she looked at it, it seemed like he was making up a story to get a few silver coins.
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