493

Episode 493 There's Something You Need To Do (2)

There is no one in the world who does not have ambition. Whether it is big or small, it is human nature to want to achieve something.

Zwalter was the same. He too had a dream.

To stabilize the North and make the people of the territory happy. In addition, he himself would live without much difficulty with his loved ones.

I thought that was enough.

'My dream was coming true.'

Thanks to his son, the territory became prosperous, and the north, which had been a headache for generations, was pacified. The remaining barbarians mixed with the people of Perdium, and the villages gradually increased.

Zwalter's dream of living with a sense of responsibility was coming true.

I was just a little lonely because I missed my wife who left first. Other than that, I didn't lack anything.

'I thought it was enough.'

It was true. As soon as this war was over, I planned to hand over my position to my son and enjoy the rest of my life.

He had lived his whole life worrying, so he had every right to be like that.

But suddenly becoming king? Is that something you can just say you will?

Zwalter, trying to calm his complicated mind, asked in a trembling voice.

"I, I am a noble who is loyal to the kingdom."

"Don't you know now that it's meaningless?"

"… … ."

The king has joined hands with the cult that has killed countless people. If we remain silent, we will die.

So it is true that it is meaningless.

"But… … I don't want to be king."

Zwalter really didn't have that much ambition. He was content with just becoming the lord of a wealthy estate.

Being a king was something I had never even thought about in my life. To be honest, I wanted to retire early and rest.

Giselle said, looking at Zwalter, who was still stunned.

"The people and nobles of the kingdom need a focal point."

"It doesn't have to be me. It's something you can do."

In any case, if a new king is to become king, he must overthrow the kingdom by force. The only person who has the power to do so is Giselle, who leads the northern army.

Strictly speaking, it was right for Giselle to ascend to the throne.

But Giselle didn't think so.

"No, 'still' my father is better than me."

"Why?"

"I must continue to fight on the front lines with my men. I must also go to help other countries that have formed an alliance. It may be okay for one territory, but it is difficult to look after the affairs of the entire kingdom."

"Umm… … ."

"And the other nobles will like my father more than me."

In terms of fame alone, Giselle was overwhelmingly superior to Zwalter. However, the nobles were uncomfortable with Giselle.

If he overthrew the kingdom, everyone would follow him out of fear, but there was no way they would like a rough, young warlord.

But Zwalter was different. He was of high rank and quite old. His sense of responsibility for having worked hard to protect the North was widely known.

Because he was poor, he was looked down on by the beggars, and few people criticized Zwalter's character.

For the nobles, it means that he is a person who can be less hurt in their pride and more tolerant.

Zwalter also understood what it meant.

"… … Yeah, I see."

It was a bigger deal than ever, but no one could oppose it like before. They would die if they didn't do it anyway.

In the awkward atmosphere, the general, Homer, asked cautiously.

"If I succeed… … I will become the prime minister… … right?"

Everyone glanced at Homer. Was that important in this dire situation?

Jiselle blinked for a moment, as if she hadn't even thought about that, and then answered.

"Yes… … Well… … For the time being?"

In any case, until the national government was stabilized, it was necessary to place people from Perdium in important positions. Fenris' vassals had to continue the war with him.

At Giselle's answer, Homer looked at Zwalter with an awkward smile.

"Brother… … No, my lord. If we want to survive, we have no choice, right? I guess I have to do it… … ."

"… … ."

This time, Albert, the treasurer, asked quietly.

"Me… … too? The treasurer of the kingdom?"

"Yes… … Well… … For the time being… … ."

Albert also let go of his usual cold expression and spoke to Zwalter, holding back a laugh.

"My lord, there is no other way. The Archduke seems to be right."

"… … ."

Randolph also came out with an expectant look on his face.

"Then I will become the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Army?"

"No, I do that."

Jiselle answered firmly. All troops must move according to his orders.

Randolph looked a little sullen.

"Instead, I will give you the position of Commander of the Royal Knights."

Randolph chuckled again. That position was just as good as the commander-in-chief's.

"Brother! It's certain that the King and the Duke of Delphine won't leave us alone anyway! Let's just overthrow them!"

"… … ."

The other vassals looked at Jiselle with expressions of absurdity. She was handing out key positions in the kingdom as she pleased.

Is it possible to do that just like that?

But if they really succeed, they could get a spot too.

We will also have to manage Perdium at the same time, but since we have already hired many administrators, there won't be a big problem.

Of course, isn't running the kingdom more important?

Everyone took it for granted that they would each get a seat.

'I'll do it if the Archduke tells me to.'

'Yeah, if you fail, you die and that's it.'

'No matter how much I try to stop him, he won't listen.'

If they succeed, a new dynasty will be established. If they fail, they will end up as traitors, but since they cannot help it, they all decided to just imagine happy things.

Everyone spoke to Zwalter with one voice.

"My lord, you must make a decision. The king and the duke will attack us anyway."

"The Archduke is right. If we are going to fight, we must prepare thoroughly from now on."

"Can't we just sit still and let this happen?"

"He is a king who has joined hands with society. I cannot follow him."

That atmosphere spread like wildfire to everyone.

If it were before, I would have been trembling and worried about what to do. I would have fought reluctantly because I didn't want to die.

It's true that I'm still fighting because I don't want to die, but the atmosphere is completely different.

'If you are with the Archduke, you will be victorious.'

'The Northern Army is the strongest in the kingdom.'

'When have we ever lost?'

All of this was thanks to Giselle. Giselle gave the people of Perdium confidence.

So they all looked at Zwalter with eyes full of longing.

'Ugh... ... .'

Zwalter laughed heartily at the sight of such vassals.

Those who had always been poor and timid were trusting in Giselle and revealing their ambitions.

I'm going to die if I stay still anyway, so I'm telling you to just throw everything away.

How can you accept such a serious situation so casually?

His son had now become a greater figure than anyone else.

Although Zwalter was truly proud of his son, he was also distressed.

'Do I really have to do this?'

He had pride in being a loyal subject of the kingdom.

Honor, loyalty, responsibility. These were the ingredients that made up Zwalter's life.

If this was a simple power struggle, Zwalter would have rejected Gisele's offer without even thinking about it.

'Why did Your Majesty make such a choice?'

The Salvation Church has created divisions, started wars, and killed countless innocent people. It will continue to do so.

The king's joining hands with them meant that he was condoning their evil deeds.

'No. If the Salvation Church wins, all the people of the kingdom will become sacrifices.'

Zwalter couldn't bear to just watch that happen. Hadn't he been guarding the northern fortress his entire life to protect the people?

'The other kingdoms and the four major sects will not leave this kingdom alone. They will eventually tear it apart and divide it among themselves.'

He was loyal to the well-being of the kingdom, not to its ruin.

Even if Zwalter covers up the king's misjudgment and takes his side, the king and the duke will definitely try to defeat the northern army.

In the end, there was no choice.

'Honey, I guess days like this come along in my life.'

Zwalter did not know that his wife, Annette, was a royal guard.

And Annette probably didn't know that her husband and son would try to overthrow the royal family.

The great flow of time sometimes flows in directions that no one could have predicted.

Zwalter, who had been in agony, nodded.

I have no choice but to postpone my retirement a little.

"Okay, I'll do as you wish."

When Zwalter made his decision, the faces of his vassals brightened. They were nervous, but the excitement of writing a new history was greater.

Belinda, who followed Giselle, also clenched her fists.

'Our master is really the 'Northern Grand Duke'!'

In the past, I just tried to force it. But if this works, I can proudly wear that name.

Of course, it was rare for the position of Archduke to be given to the king's son, but since he had the legitimacy of being a local ruler, it was okay to just wear it.

Because you're going to push yourself like that.

Zwalter continued, looking at Giselle.

"When do you plan on moving?"

"We'll be moving soon. We're currently assessing the situation in the capital."

The spies were more active than ever. The information that Giselle wanted would arrive soon.

Zwalter nodded several times and stood up from his seat.

He looked around at his followers and spoke slowly.

"Check all supplies and gather troops. When the Earl of Fenris has the time, we will march together to the capital."

"Yes, my lord."

All the attendants bowed their heads. A solemn determination appeared on their faces.

The Duke is trying to kill them. Even the King is joining in. If it were before, they would have just trembled in fear.

But now, he was no longer the weak and poor Ferdium of old. He was no longer the Ferdium who had endured unjust and unfair treatment.

Now it was different. If they were to kill themselves, their opponents would have to be prepared to die too.

Although it was Giselle who first suggested it, this was something they had been secretly hoping for.

Looking at them, Zwalter continued speaking in a commanding voice.

"We will save this country."

* * *

The atmosphere in the capital was extremely dark.

It was after the king regained power.

Even though they were from the same royalist faction, the nobles who had been oppressed by the Marquis of Branford immediately sided with the king.

"Hahaha, there are still so many loyal subjects left in this kingdom."

The king was delighted and divided up the powers that the other nobles had previously held and gave them to them.

As a king, it was better to divide the power like this rather than concentrate it in one person, so that someone like the Marquis of Branford could not appear again.

The nobles were also happy to receive a little bit of the power that had been concentrated in the hands of a few.

It was natural that power would be reorganized anew. It would have been better if it had ended like this.

If only Berhem hadn't done something so strange.

"There aren't enough prisoners?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. There weren't many death row inmates in the capital."

The Marquis of Domont, who had now been promoted to a title and became a public servant, spoke with a troubled expression.

The capital was very safe, thanks to the Marquis of Branford. There were very few prisoners.

But in order to continue treating Berhem, a lot of 'death row inmates' were needed.

"Didn't they send out an official document to each province? With thieves running rampant, there must be a lot of prisoners."

"The prisoners are being transported to the capital, but it may take some time."

"Oh my! Jim doesn't have time right now! When will you wait for that!"

"… … ."

Marquis Domont was speechless at Berhem's urgent words. How could he create prisoners who did not exist right away?

Then Flaccus spoke to Berhem indirectly.

"Strengthen the law and arrest those who commit even minor crimes."

"Um, is that okay?"

"On the contrary, the people will be happier, because there will be no one to sin."

"That's right, isn't a kingdom without sin the ideal?"

"Yes. Our church also dreams of such a world. And it is more important to heal Your Majesty's body. Your Majesty is the kingdom itself. Doesn't everything in the kingdom belong to Your Majesty?"

"That is correct. Starting today, I will strengthen the law. Your Majesty."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"From today onwards, I will not forgive any sins. Sins are not of a heavier or heavier nature. Therefore, the punishment will be the same."

Berhem smiled cruelly.

"All sinners will be put to death in the future."

The Marquis of Domont gulped as he looked into his maddened eyes.

In fact, he knew best that the king was not in his right mind, because he had been looking after him for a long time.

But as soon as I sat down, the twisted emotions that had been suppressed for so long began to come out.

'Did I do a good job?'

Because of his success, his family was now the most powerful family in the capital. They received a lot of gold and silver treasures and their titles were also raised in an instant.

But my heart felt like it was walking on thin ice, because the king was half mad.

'There's nothing I can do.'

The Marquis of Domont made up his mind. He had only one chance to get into this position, so he must not let it slip away.

"Yes, Your Majesty. I will do so immediately."

In the capital, the one who held absolute power was Berhem. Everything went according to his will.

The very idea of a world without sin was good. Perhaps some might welcome Berhem's policies.

The problem arose elsewhere.

"Please, spare me! I am innocent!"

"Just follow me. I'll investigate and if you're not guilty, I'll let you go."

Even innocent people were arrested if they were even slightly suspicious. And they were never allowed to return home.

In order to build up their record, the soldiers dragged away prisoners indiscriminately, even taking issue with their past conduct. All the prisoners captured in this way were used as 'sacrificial offerings' for Berhem.

"Oh… … I feel stronger, stronger."

A huge stone chamber hidden deep within the castle.

Berhem was sitting on a bloody magic circle carved in the center of the stone chamber.

There were corpses everywhere. The prisoners who had been brought in had been used as sacrifices to maintain this magic circle.

The magic circle filled with blood flowing from the corpses glowed red.

Berhem shouted, bursting into flames.

"Quick! Quick, bring in more prisoners! Aren't there enough? If there are no criminals, bring them in even if you have to make them!"

Berhem was suffering from a maddening thirst. He needed people to solve it.

More and more blood sacrifices.