Chapter 75:
Chapter 75:
Chapter 75
No matter how powerful Helmuts army was, it couldnt take on an entire Kingdom.
So Helmut decided to join forces with the Kerrates, one of the most powerful tribes in the Prairie.
In exchange for their help in defeating the Kongurat, he would gain reinforcements for his rebellion.
Was Marquis Helmut really that ambitious?
Camille asked, surprised that Otto had mentioned Helmuts rebellion.
He had to admit, the Valdemar family was a well-known and venerable one.
Theyd been defending the borders against ferocious nomads for generations, and theyd been written about in textbooks as a paragon of chivalry loyal to the state.
Did you think hed be so power-hungry that hed rebel against his familys honor after generations of service.?
No, I didnt.
Otto cut in.
Helmut is not an ambitious man.
What?
Its too early to be ambitious. Maybe in a few years.
What do you mean by that?
How do I explain this?
Otto thought for a moment, then spoke.
I mean Helmut is a subsistence rebel.
What the hell is that?
Hey.
Otto glared at Camille.
I told you, subsistence rebellion.
Ive heard of subsistence irregularities, but Ive never heard of a subsistence rebellion.
Well, half of rebellions are subsistence rebellions. When people rebel, its because they cant make ends meet, not because they think its fair game.
You mean like Lota people want to hang your head on the ramparts?
Exactly. My people always want my head on the ramparts what?
Otto responded to Camilles words without thinking, then realized something was wrong and his face fell.
Hey, huh, why do my people want to put my head on the ramparts!
They used to do that a lot!
Otto yelped, and Camille replied calmly, as if he didnt know what to be upset about.
I even talked openly about revolting and ripping off His Highnesss head back then.
You did?
There was even a popular nursery rhyme among the children, with lyrics about ripping out your throat and stabbing it with a metal skewer.
Thats not me.
Otto grunted, looking depressed.
I resent it. I was I had some kind of mental illness or something back then.
You call that a sickness?
Whatever!
Well, just because youve been reformed doesnt mean that the evil things youve done in the past dont exist.
No, it doesnt!
And so, after a few moments of past history.
Helmut rose up because he was tired of being exploited, or more accurately, the Valdemar family had been exploited by the Magritte Kingdom for generations. His family was taken away as personal pawns. What kind of relationship is that, slavery?
Ah.
After listening to Ottos explanation, Camille nodded as if he finally understood.
Hes had enough. Normally Helmut wouldnt have joined forces with those nomads, but he guesses theyve been pecking away at him.
Thats not what.
Camille seemed bitter that there was such a dark side to House Valdemars loyalty, so famous that it was in the textbooks of the Knight Academy.
Lets just tear this place apart. Five there. Come with me.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Otto took the five magical swordsmen and turned his horse around.
Amukhan.
Yes, Your Majesty.
You stay here and take command of the Kongurat tribe. Ask him to help you.
Otto pointed to Kairos.
Camille, you stay here and help Amukhan with the magical swordsmen. Take care of the old dragon.
Where do you think youre going?
Helmuts daughter is studying in the capital of the Magritte Kingdom, but shes being held captive as a prisoner. Helmut will try to get her out any way he can, and if he rebels while shes a hostage, her head will be cut off, so we need to beat him to it. Then we can control Helmut.
Youre going to use her as a hostage?
Its the only way.
But thats too cowardly.
Theres nothing cowardly about war and politics. This is a matter of life and death. Not just for us, but for our people. You know what would happen to our economy if we lost the trade routes, and then the angry people would put my head on the ramparts?
Thats a pretty compelling story.
What?
Nothing.
Here we go. Come on!
Otto opened his snake eyes and glared at Camille, then kicked the horse hard in the side with his heel.
Heeeeeeeeeeeee!!!
The surprised horse whinnied loudly and went on a rampage.
Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!
Thud!
Otto fell off his horse.
He wasnt used to riding yet, so he didnt react quickly enough to the horses sudden struggle and lost his grip on the reins.
* * *
Amukhans return boosted the morale of the Kongurat tribe immensely.
The chieftain has returned!
Chieftain, why did you wait until now to come!
We can finally take revenge on the Kerrates!
For the Kongurat, Amukhans presence was absolute.
Though he may have been defeated by Otto, Amukhan was a very capable chieftain.
His military prowess was so great that when he rode across the plains at the head of his cavalry, even the warriors of the Kerrates tribe would turn tail and run.
It was not for nothing that Togril had joined forces with Helmut.
Their morale was at an all-time low after losing back-to-back battles and the death of the tribes ruler, Kaisei.
Now that Amukhan had returned, it was no wonder that hope blossomed on the faces of the Kongurat warriors.
My son, what has happened to you, and why have you come now?
A woman, well past middle age and into old age, approached Amukhan.
Her name was Merkit.
She had lost her husband and raised Amukhan alone, and was a great warrior and chieftain herself.
It was thanks to her that Amukhan grew up to become a chieftain.
Mother.
Amukhan knelt before his mother, Merkith.
Your ugly son apologizes. I was.
Then.
Mother of the Tribe.
Kairos stepped forward and knelt on one knee before Merkith.
I have heard your words. My name is Kairos. I am the one who met Amukhan on the continent and was bonded to Anda.
[Anda was the word for the bond of brotherhood they had made in the meadows of Haver.]
!
Amukhan was stunned as Kairos told him something completely untrue.
Be quiet.
Then Kairos voice echoed in Amukhans mind.
When will I ever do anything to save your dignity? This is wartime, and your people need hope. So keep your mouth shut.
Amukhan was deeply moved by Kaiross words, but he did not show it in front of his mother.
Why?
Because Kairos was right, the morale of the Kongurat warriors had hit rock bottom.
If word got out that Amukhan had been defeated by the Continentals and made a subordinate, morale would plummet again.
You mean to tell me that you have forged a bond between my son with Anda?
Yes.
You are my sons first Anda. I know its unfortunate, but my son has earned his first Anda, and he deserves a treat. Listen, everyone, here is the Anda of Amukhan. Tomorrow he may die on the battlefield, but tonight he will eat and drink to his hearts content.
The warriors of the Kongurat broke into a loud shout of joy as Merkit declared the welcome.
They hadnt had much to celebrate for a while, but now that Amukhan was back, they figured they could relax for one night.
And that night.
Kairos, Camille, and the Magic Swordsmen joined the warriors of the Kongurat tribe to eat and drink mayu, a fermented liquor made from boiled lamb and horses milk.
Heh heh heh heh, for warriors of the Prairie, theyre so hot, heh heh heh heh!
Kairos, with his characteristically angry and manly disposition, quickly overpowered the rough and belligerent warriors of the Kongurat tribe.
Oooh!
I never knew there was such a manly man on the continent!
How many bottles has he had already?
There were many virtues of manliness, but here in the Haver Prairie, being a good drinker was very important.
No matter how fierce you were in battle, if you couldnt drink well, you werent considered a man among men.
Therefore, Kairos, a large, muscular man who was also a good drinker and exude manliness, could not help but be favored by the warriors of the Kongurat tribe.
Is this why they entrusted Kairos with this place?
Camille thought that perhaps Otto had done a very good job of organizing his personnel.
If that was the intention.
Even mercenary skills?
It would mean that Otto knew how to utilize certain people.
He may be even more brilliant than hes shown so far.
* * *
Doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo!
Meanwhile, Otto ran through the meadow with the three magical swordsmen, crossing the border to the capital of the Magritte Kingdom.
Faster! Faster! Faster!
Otto urged his horses on.
Why?
Because time was running out.
If Helmut had stoked the flames of rebellion, he would want his daughter as soon as possible, and the groundwork would be done by now.
Maybe its too late.
If Helmut had already rescued her, things would go awry.
Hell have to deal with Helmuts army and the allied forces of the Kerrates tribe.
Thats a lot to take on, even for an Otto, and hell be fighting a very unfavorable battle.
The worst possible outcome for the Kingdom of Lota would have been to abandon the trade routes altogether and surrender control of the Haver Prairie.
In other words, securing Helmuts daughter could make or break this case.
With such a sense of urgency, Otto and the others arrived in the capital of the Magritte Kingdom and immediately headed to the Royal Academy.
Phew. Thank goodness. Were not late.
It wasnt until they arrived at the Royal Academys gates that Otto was able to calm his nerves somewhat.
If Helmuts daughter had already been rescued, the entire capital would be in an uproar, not just around the academy.
Judging by the silence, it was clear that the rescue operation had not begun.
Never mind.
Otto smiled a smile of renewed conviction.
If the rescue hadnt begun yet, Helmuts daughter was already his.
No matter how they rebelled, the plan to rescue her always followed the same pattern.
Otto was familiar with the plan to rescue Helmuts daughter.
It would be easy enough to outrun Helmuts men and intercept her.
** ** **
TL/N:
Mongolia distills fermented horse milk to produce an alcoholic drink
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