Unbending Tasks And Inviolable Principles (9)

The rumors spread.

“So you’re saying we can’t get Ingrad-branded medicine anymore?”

“That’s what they say. Now only the high-ranking nobles will be able to survive.”

“Damn it, why the hell are they doing such a thing?”

“Well, what else could it be? It’s all because of power. It seems even that great person can’t do anything about power in the end.”

This was a conversation between low-ranking soldiers.

“Sigh, rumors are swirling that the supplies being distributed this time might be the last. What should we do about this?”

“Is there anything we can do? Ultimately, if we get injured, only those who lined up well will last a bit longer. How bitter.”

“Shouldn’t we serve the nobles at a time like this?”

“It’s a matter that makes one sad and angry that healing agents can no longer come… but ultimately, the situation at the top won’t be that good either. Rather, the path to living longer will be to not serve those who run around the battlefield like crazy people just to gain merit.”

This was a conversation between senior and junior knights.

“It’s frustrating. Why on earth is the Imperial Court pushing Viscount Ingrad so hard?”

“Haven’t they been taking too much for themselves all this time?”

“Who is taking too much? Surely you aren’t trying to say Viscount Ingrad took too much?”

“Isn’t he? Sweeping up all the money on the continent…”

“Nonsense!! Think about the reason you were able to stay alive until now, and how many times that medicine saved you from death!!”

“….My apologies.”

“The Imperial Court has made a mistake.”

This was a conversation between middle-ranking commanders.

“To tell him to solve the supplies for 300,000 at a time like this… does that make sense? In a domain with a population of not even 70,000.”

“That’s not all. They say there was even an order to conscript 10,000 troops. If that happens, they have to pick only humans, excluding the uncooperative beastkin, and those humans are said to be at a level of only a little over 10,000.”

“That must be true. Even if he follows the Imperial order, the domain is finished anyway, and even if he doesn’t, it’s finished, so in the end, he declared that he would give up everything and not manufacture anything.”

“It’s a self-destructive move… but it’s just unfortunate that it was his choice to appeal. Besides, wasn’t he giving out medicine at an absurdly cheap price compared to what the Pharmacists’ Guild was taking for themselves?”

“Only medicine made with ingredients from the Forest of the Demon Dragon can produce this much efficiency… he probably wasn’t even leaving much profit. It seems they checked him simply because they thought he earned well based on the volume sold at the top level. What to do about this…”

This was a conversation between high-ranking commanders, and everywhere in the battlefield was filled with content related to this, to the point where most conversations began and ended with stories about the Ingrad Domain and the Viscount.

Meanwhile, there were those listening to these rumors.

“Is that rumor true?”

At Kim Sangjin’s words, U Hyeonwoo nodded and spoke.

“We received word that they would try to ensure the supplies to us wouldn’t be cut off, right? It seems it’s real.”

“He was a great person… you’re saying there’s not much profit left?”

“Since it’s medicine with this much effect, it’s natural.. But isn’t it burdensome?”

After hearing what U Hyeonwoo said, the expressions of the other friends all hardened. They were of the same mind.

“They even said the items delivered this time were the highest grade. They said the effect would be better than what we drank before?”

“I heard that was an incredibly expensive medicine… To think it’s a medicine even better than that, ugh…”

It could be called a dilemma. It felt wasteful to use. Yet, it was a situation where they couldn’t not use it. But then again, its value was too high to use recklessly. So it felt wasteful.

It was a cycle. No matter how much they were those fighting at the front line of humanity, they were not unaware of how the world was turning.

That was why the Heroes felt how deep the hardships of the person called Viscount Ingrad must be.

“Let’s focus on surviving… It’s not the time to worry about other people, is it?”

At Han Jiyeong’s words that were heard then, everyone only nodded. They were upset that something unfortunate was happening to a person who did good things, but because they were Heroes whose deaths were imminent, they couldn’t just keep worrying.

After receiving news that someone from the Imperial Court had come, I slowly organized my thoughts while heading to the Lord’s Manor and asked Linda.

“Who came as the representative?”

“Duke Yusillian has come. He brought two knight orders, so I think you should be prepared.”

“Knight orders. Is it an exercise of force?”

“If it’s a knight order led by a Duke, it will include skilled individuals, so wouldn’t it be better to be with some of the people in the domain, including Mr. Wijel?”

After a moment of contemplation, I eventually decided to be accompanied only by Wijel, Debik, and Demina while heading toward the inner keep of the manor, and right when I was about to enter the inner keep, there were those who blocked my path.

“Viscount Ingrad, we would like you to send the beastkin back.”

It was absurd to see the knights standing guard as if it were their own castle. Furthermore, to tell me to send the beastkin back was a joke.

“I intend to do as I please in my own domain, are you planning to stop me?”

“….Duke Yusillian has said the beastkin…”

“If someone has come to my domain, they must follow what the Lord governs, and that is the same for any noble; furthermore, this is my castle. You have no right to tell me what to do.”

“However, it is an order.”

“Are you saying I must listen to the Duke’s order?”

“Duke Yusillian is a person of actual power in the Empire, beyond any doubt. Wouldn’t it be good for the Viscount to consider such things and mind his conduct?”

“Quiet. I will enter as I am. If you block me… I will simply exercise my prowess according to the will of this domain’s owner.”

I then looked back at Wijel, who took a step in front of me and looked down at the two knights blocking the way. Then, as he emitted a threatening aura, I watched the knights who immediately placed their hands on their sword hilts and confronted him with tension.

I thought they probably weren’t ordinary knights. I judged that they must have some level of command or skill to bring up various words to me, and I became certain as I saw them maintain tension while facing Wijel without being consumed by fear.

“The moment they draw their swords, pull their heads off.”

At my words, Wijel laughed with a ‘kshishishi’ sound. Then he looked down at the knights; did they smell the scent of death directly from Wijel this time?

The knights were dripping with sweat.

“It seems I was considered trivial; did you think of me as a fool who refused the Imperial order with nothing?”

Ignoring the knights who were cautiously glancing around at my words, I immediately moved toward the inside of the inner keep, and Debik and Demina, who followed me, stood on my left and right as they spoke to me.

“Is it really okay to do as ordered?”

I chuckled at Debik’s words and spoke.

“If they really point a sword at us, feel free to do as you wish. And… wait. Wijel! Come back.”

Hearing my voice, Wijel patted the shoulders of the two knights lightly as he passed them, and in that moment, the knights collapsed into their seats.

Wijel, who immediately followed behind me, asked.

“Is it okay to use force?”

“As I told Debik, if they try to harm me, you may take action. Under Imperial law, the owner of a domain is the ‘king’ in his own territory.”

“Kshishishi… Those are pleasing words. Understood.”

Wijel’s eyes sank coldly. Yes, Wijel, the chieftain of the Sain Tribe and the king of the beastkin. I felt like I had treated him too comfortably, forgetting such circumstances.

But comfortable was comfortable. It was right when I entered the inner keep and arrived at the banquet hall where the knights were heavily guarding.

I could see maids standing in a row. But the problem was why they were taking off their clothes.

“….Oh, Viscount Ingrad, did you ignore my order and bring the beastkin inside?”

Thinking it was an unpleasant voice, I looked in the direction the words came from and saw a figure unbuckling his belt as if he were about to harass a maid.

“What are you doing?”

“It seems the maids of the Ingrad Domain have even forgotten how to entertain high-ranking nobles; furthermore, I never imagined you would have such wonderful alcohol piled up in heaps.”

“I asked what you were doing.”

Silence descended upon the banquet hall. It was then. Duke Yusillian began to laugh, and in time with that laughter, a knight waiting on one side brought a scroll and, after unfurling it quickly, began to read it aloud.

“I command Seong-jin Ingrad, the Lord of the Ingrad Domain. The Imperial Court finds this matter very regrettable, and although this action could be considered treason, we have decided to graciously forgive you. However, citing your past merits, we shall grant you a larger domain; therefore, you are commanded to return the current Ingrad Domain to Duke Yusillian and move with your vassals after packing your belongings. Luminas de Terakan.”

I thought they had done something that perfectly suited the phrase ‘blood boiling in reverse.’

“Did the Empress order this personally?”

“Can’t you tell by looking at the seal? It is the Imperial seal. And congratulations, Count Ingrad. I hope you will manage the new Ingrad Domain well and make it a wonderful place. Ah, the domain you must go to is a place that appears after traveling for fifteen days from here; I don’t know if you’ve heard of it. It’s called ‘Soltiria’.”

I knew of it from hearing. It was a mountainous domain located in the central part of the massive mountain range called the Dragon Mountains; literally, it was a domain that existed in name only with nothing there.

Just as the former Ingrad Domain had maintained only its name as an Imperial-run territory, it was also a domain that could not function as one because of the enormous number of monsters.

They were saying they intended to send me to such a place.

“What happens if I refuse?”

“You become a traitor. She said there is no second forgiveness.”

“So you’ve swarmed here while accompanied by a knight order? To drag me down even by force?”

“You are a person with a very precious talent. How could such a person be killed recklessly? We shall simply… make you a slave and have you devote yourself to the Empire for a lifetime. Now. Choose. Will you leave? Or will you become a slave…”

At that moment, the knights simultaneously drew their swords. The maids fled to a corner in terror, and Duke Yusillian found this situation amusing. He was giggling and laughing as if he would die from joy.

I wondered exactly what, how, and how much I had done wrong for this to happen. However, the die was already cast, and I had faith that the current Ingrad Domain could sufficiently hold out.

“Debik, can you protect me?”

“I shall ensure that not even a single hair of yours is touched by such things.”

At that moment, Debik’s body began to grow. He had used beastkin-transformation. Curiosity appeared on the laughing face of Duke Yusillian. He looked entertained.

“Demina, Wijel… it might be an unreasonable request. But please kill everyone except for that man. Is it possible?”

For the first time, I brought up the words to kill someone. However, upon hearing my words, both Wijel and Demina spoke, ‘We shall follow your command,’ without any hesitation.

“You’ve made such a choice after all; I hope it becomes a pleasant decision. Kukukuk…”

I hadn’t thought he would be that kind of person. However, looking at Duke Yusillian, I was able to bring up the words I had held back all this time.

“I am very grateful for the help you gave so that I could follow the brain-dead tech tree, you bastards…”

And it began. The bloody banquet….