The Meaning Of Ing And Rad (1)

Not all of the knights who came with Duke Yusillian died. Some knights who were guarding the entrance of the Lord’s castle were able to survive, and they were suppressed by Hare’s magic, rendered unable to resist as their bodies were frozen; thanks to that, I was spared the trouble and danger of going there myself, and I was able to have them transport the magic stones and Duke Yusillian’s corpse using the teleportation magic preserved at the Lord’s Residence.

It was certain that the Imperial Court would be turned upside down due to the sudden teleportation.

Furthermore, Duke Yusillian was the leader of the Imperial nobility. I had to keep a close eye on how the Imperial Court would react when they learned that such a man had died in an absurd manner.

In addition, as I retreated from the Lord’s Residence as if sealing it again for any potential emergencies, I thought to myself that I was exhausted, when Hare approached me and asked.

“Are you alright?”

“I’m not alright. My stomach is churning, my head hurts, and the situation is complicated; I’m practically dying.”

“Seeing you speak like that, it seems you can still endure it. You did well to hold on.”

It was truly difficult, but as Hare said, I seemed to still be in a state where I could live. I immediately went to dispose of the corpses of the dead knights and looked around the banquet hall that had become a mess, and it was to the point where I thought this was too much.

Spilled alcohol was one thing, but the fact that hundreds of people died here made me feel very uncomfortable. I had no choice but to call the maids, who must have been as shocked as I was, and spoke to them.

“I am sorry for making you go through such a dangerous situation. However, it is certain that things will become even more dangerous in the future. If there are any of you who wish to return to your hometowns, please raise your hands. I do not want to force you to stay and suffer through hardships.”

I spoke to them as they looked confused after hearing my words.

“I will give you enough money to live comfortably for the rest of your lives in your hometowns as compensation. This is compensation for your hard work thus far and for what happened this time, so please, do not feel burdened and speak up.”

However, the peculiar thing was that they were only confused and no one was raising their hand. So I tried speaking once more, and at that moment, Beni raised her hand and said something else.

“My Lord, would it be possible to bring my family from my hometown here?”

“Why is that?”

“Because I thought our fief would be much better to live in and safer than other territories.”

“Why do you think that? We might be swept up in a war soon.”

However, the answer that came back was, as expected, unexpected content.

“I heard that the situation of the war with the Demon Tribe is worsening. However, I thought that if it were our fief, a place that is gradually developing like this, we would be able to withstand the war with the Demon Tribe.”

Could our fief really become that strong?

Suddenly, all sorts of thoughts came to mind, but Beni’s assertion was firm.

“I plan to serve you for the rest of my life in a safe place with my family. So, please help me bring my family here. Compensation for this incident? I don’t need such a thing!”

Would it be better to persuade her?

Or would it be better to listen to Beni’s words? I contemplated, but in the end, I chose the latter.

“I understand. Since Beni’s will is important. I shall grant it.”

“And… please speak comfortably to me like you used to. I hate it because it feels like there’s a distance between us!”

I didn’t expect her to point out that subtle part, and I said.

“Alright, Beni. I’ll do that.”

Beni showed a beaming smile, and her actions caused a great reaction, leading all the maids to make the same claim as Beni. Those receiving maid training were generally women from free citizen families.

Although there were occasionally cases where that wasn’t the case, those were only when they were children of quite wealthy commoners, and mostly, children of those who had freedom of residence worked as maids.

That was because only then could they serve nobles according to their grades after their education was finished. They were not slaves, and they were not categorized as lower-class people.

They were talents who had received considerable education, and the thoughts and talents of the maids were excellent in many ways. It was meaningful that such women all thought our fief would be the safest.

After that, I asked for the intentions of knights such as Vincent and Aenia as well, and I was moved to the point of being touched because everyone chose our fief without a single dropout.

‘I haven’t been doing so badly during this time…’

I felt my mind becoming a bit calmer. Afterward, in the case of beastkin who were capable of combat or those who had no children to nurse, I ordered a general mobilization and gathered them in one place, and I couldn’t help but be quite surprised because their number reached 30,000.

However, the reason I gathered them was for nothing else.

“Your future is about to be shaken right now. You might once again be swept into the flames of war, and the lives of your beloved families might be threatened. I plan to order a temporary evacuation to the Forest of the Demon Dragon for beastkin who have children or families to support. However, since you do not have such families, I wish to ask you. Can you become my strength?”

A few beastkin at the front lowered their heads and assumed a posture as if showing respect to a goddess. However, this spread to all the beastkin like a wave, and while contemplating whether to view this as a sign of affirmation or acceptance, I glanced behind me.

It was because I wondered if the goddess had played some trick again like last time. However, since there was nothing this time, I immediately looked forward and said.

“Many things will happen. However, among those things, I do not want to create a situation where the people of the fief have to die miserably. I am confident that we have stockpiled enough food to withstand a siege for several years, and we have completed a fortress that is fine even if we fight for several years. And powerful weapons that will continue to keep us safe are also being manufactured, and some beastkin who are not here are training to protect your stability with those weapons.”

It was a strange feeling that it was a place where only silence descended despite having this many beastkin. I never thought I would feel like I was talking to myself, but I kept drawing out the words I had to say.

“I plan to put such weapons in the hands of all of you here as well. However, they are not weapons for coveting enemies. We… I plan to give you strength in the hope that you will use them only to protect ourselves. So…. let us fight a battle of protection.”

The venue was still quiet, but this time, I could tell that everyone was looking at me. I could feel it from those gazes full of heat and longing. ‘Let’s do it’….

“There might be some who find me unsatisfactory. However, we don’t necessarily need to engage in a war of greed, do we? Because our land… this land where the meaning of ‘Ing’ and the meaning of ‘Rad’ are combined is enough. Isn’t that right?”

Only then did the beastkin show smiling faces. So, I bowed my head to the beastkin and shouted.

“I am a person lacking in many ways. However, I will protect you. Everyone!”

The beastkin assumed a respectful posture once more with a relatively light feeling. It was a sign of affirmation.

Leaving a corpse delivered to the Imperial Palace and a magic stone containing images, the Imperial leadership had to hold a serious meeting.

“How should we judge this situation?”

Silence descended upon the assembly at the Empress’s words. No one could easily open their mouth. The actions of the deceased individual were actions for which he deserved to die, but the one to decide that was the ‘Empress’s’ authority.

The title of Duke was a high-ranking title corresponding to ‘Royalty’.

Furthermore, since he was an individual who also possessed the Iron Fist of Immunity, this was a case where one could speculate that he would have tried to escape through it.

Falsifying the Imperial decree and trying to covet a fief was certainly a problem, but it was not a problem large enough to warrant death.

But the problem was that this Duke Yusillian’s death was not a homicide. He simply died from the shock while backing away alone.

Although a coroner had been attached to find the cause of death, the conclusion was merely ‘heart failure’.

“I am of the opinion that there is a problem with the process rather than Duke Yusillian’s death itself.”

At Chancellor ‘Hilman’s’ words, the Empress nodded for him to speak more, and once he confirmed that permission was granted, he opened his mouth.

“Although there was a problem with the Duke’s actions, that was merely to the extent that it could be resolved later. However, the conduct of Viscount Ingrad, who seems to possess the power to stop the situation, is not proper. Furthermore, the movements he has shown recently have had a significantly hostile aspect toward the Imperial Court, so if we view this excessively, could it not be seen as an act of ‘rebellion’?”

“Rebellion…”

The Empress tapped the armrest of her chair ‘tap, tap, tap’ with her finger, and as that sound echoed, silence descended upon the venue. It was a habit the Empress had when she was thinking, so they tried not to disturb it.

And when the finger stopped, the Empress’s mouth opened.

“Do you all think that he can be punished?”

“That is so, Your Majesty!”

The nobles were speaking with one voice. However, the Empress’s thoughts were a bit different.

“Considering the current circumstances of our Empire, I believe it would be beneficial not to create enemies, but it seems you all are unable to think that way.”

“We wish to know the reason why you say so.”

At Chancellor Hilman’s question, the Empress looked back at the map and said.

“The Ingrad Domain is a remote place that one can barely reach by going around the Dragon Mountains. Although they say there is a new port, I heard that its form is so high that it cannot be climbed unless the slope rising up the cliff is removed; first, if we use the sea route to march to the Ingrad Domain, our forces will be tied up in the sea in front of the Ingrad Domain, unable to do this or that.”

“Are there a few more?”

“Yes. The second occurs in the process of going around the Dragon Mountains as well. Already, there is intelligence that the forces of the Demon Tribe are occasionally being spotted here.”

The location the Empress pointed to was the end of the Dragon Mountain range that corresponds to the path leading to Ishtain County and Hameureun Barony. However, the nobles were puzzled as it was their first time hearing that there was already such a deep influence from the Demon Tribe.

“It is said to be a movement looking for something; they are avoiding battle if possible, but if the process of moving a large army enters their intelligence, how do you think the Demon Tribe will act?”

“I see. While the Demon King is moving… do you wish for the gaze to remain on Dradnos?”

“That is correct. There is a saying about ‘poking a hornet’s nest’. I am concerned about that. If it could be resolved by sea, I would have sent soldiers even right now… but as I said before, that port is merely a strategic vantage point favorable to them.”

The nobles were thinking they couldn’t grasp whether the Empress was siding with Viscount Ingrad or trying to cut him off, but at that moment, the Empress spoke.

“I once received a report that a large army of 300,000 would be needed to strike the Ingrad Domain.”

The venue stirred as if surprised, but the Empress’s words were not over.

“Even that is a story from several months ago. I do not know how much sturdier and more great it has become now; furthermore, he was an individual with whom there was never anything good about making an enemy. If he has already recognized us as an ‘enemy’, then we must prepare more thoroughly to subjugate him. It means that with your clumsy actions right now, you cannot overcome him.”

Just how far was the Empress looking?

The nobles thought they were very curious about that, but soon, because several nobles started saying they would show victory if put in the vanguard, the Empress fell into thought.

‘Will it become a case of poking a hornet’s nest, or will I have to accept him again with tolerance and inclusion; that is the question…’

It was the Empress in agony.