311. The War of Puppets (8)
The army led by the Sultan himself amounted to about one-third of the total forces he could mobilize. In other words, even just by headcount, one-third of the military power across Kirzat was in his hands.
This was an abnormally powerful military force. No war sovereign had ever had royal forces amounting to one-third of the nation’s total mobilization capacity.
And now, that mighty, perhaps the mightiest in history, war sovereign’s legion was setting up camp in the forest near the fortress.
“Is that so? Defeated, you say?”
“Yes, as planned.”
“Planned or not, it’s too early. The army isn’t fully organized yet.”
“We’ve bought enough time.”
Fernandez bowed his head as he spoke to the Sultan, who was lounging leisurely in a lavish tent. Beyond the curtain, the Sultan was now speaking directly to him without hesitation.
According to old traditions, this was a breach of etiquette. The Sultan should never speak directly to his subjects, as his authority is considered semi-divine.
But the Sultan, Al’Hashir, was not a rigid monarch who fretted over such formalities. He was a beast who would tear out the throat of his enemy to get what he wanted.
“What was the method?”
“My subordinate took the commander’s head. They won’t be able to move on the plains for a while.”
“His head? Impressive.”
The Sultan fears no one. Yet, at the same time, he underestimates no one. Like a lion giving its all even when hunting a rabbit.
Given that, he fully recognized the strength of Karadskar’s forces on the plains. Killing the enemy commander directly would have been difficult even in a normal battle situation, let alone in an army where nearly half were cavalry.
“By the way, you have quite a lot of talent.”
“You flatter me.”
“No, I mean it. Any chance you’d sell them to me?”
A rider who could cut off the enemy general’s head and retreat amidst the continent’s strongest cavalry.
A strategist who could grasp troop movements and routes from a seated position within a limited scope.
A swordsman who fights more sharply and precisely than the Sultan’s best swordsman.
And a man who holds diplomatic ties with almost every kingdom in the eastern continent.
This small group led by this man could twist the war situation and tip the scales of diplomatic relations just by existing. Al’Hashir genuinely thought so. He coveted that ability.
“No, my apologies. Your limbs are your lovers. Then let me ask again. Sernard, will you pledge yourself to me?”
Kirzat respects both polygamy and polyandry. Simply put, as long as one has the ability and wealth, the number of spouses is not an issue. This was a completely different mindset from the Eastern Kingdom nobles who valued formality and face.
Thus, the Sultan literally accepted Fernandez’s group. As if a remarkable young man was accompanied by remarkable wives.
“If you seek loyalty, that is not a commodity I can provide, Sultan.”
“Loyalty, huh! Do I seem lacking in loyalty to you?”
“If you need capable talents, you seem to have no shortage of that either, Sultan.”
“Unlike loyalty, talents are always better in abundance.”
Beyond the curtain, a glint flickered. If Fernandez had no memories of his past life, he would have undoubtedly thought of the Sultan as a demon or its minion. The Sultan’s presence was beyond human.
Beings with such eyes and presence are rare on this continent. Vicente II in his prime, Daryan Schryke, Erik the Black, and Karadskar. Each was the eye of a hero who overturned the continent’s war situation.
“Whatever your lord has provided you, it cannot be more than what I can offer.”
“Do you know what that is?”
“The Emperor of the Empire is elected, and my authority is divine. Your lord may have given you gifts between law and justification, but my word is the law of this land, my will is its justification, and my name is Kirzat.”
“In exchange for my loyalty, the Emperor offered marriage.”
“To… a noble house? You don’t seem to lack spouses, but if you wish, I have an abundance of beauties and noble ladies.”
“To the Emperor himself.”
“……”
The Sultan was momentarily speechless. He slowly scanned Fernandez’s face from behind the curtain. A sufficiently strong and noble-looking handsome man, but there was no hint of agreement. Of course not. He was not a sodomite.
And it seemed unlikely that the young man preferred sodomy either. Given that his entire entourage was women, if he were lustful, he would be a womanizer.
After a moment of silence, a thought struck the Sultan like lightning. He slapped his knee and exclaimed in a shocked voice.
“If I capture you, the Emperor of the Empire would become my subject’s concubine!”
“……”
Seeing the Sultan laugh heartily, Fernandez was now the one at a loss for words. He had thought the man extraordinary, but even that estimation might have been too narrow.
-What a madman.
Faijashi groaned softly. This time, there was no reason to oppose his words.
* * *
At the same time the Sultan and Fernandez were discussing plans, Kirhas was behind the tent, having a drink with her riders whom she hadn’t seen in a long time.
Everyone was in high spirits. The battle had been exhilarating, allied casualties were surprisingly nonexistent, and their lord, the undefeated Kirhas, had faced the battlefield with her usual martial prowess and insight.
The battlefield with her was nothing but a hunting ground. She had an eye for victory, and that was the pride and envy of all beastmen. The proxy of the God of Hunting, the greatest warrior, a proven legend. All beastmen were her fervent devotees.
“Here, have a drink, Chieftain!”
“Ah, sorry. I’ll pass on the alcohol. I’ll have this instead.”
“Huh…?”
Kirhas lifted a clinking glass and smiled. It was a somewhat mature smile. It was a completely different smile from the high-pressure, strong demeanor she had shown so far. To the riders who already knew that this was a mask she had crafted, her appearance was quite unfamiliar.
“Are you feeling unwell somewhere…?”
“Um, no! I’m healthy. Thanks for your concern!”
“Then is there a reason you suddenly can’t get drunk…?”
“Alcohol is poison!”
“Huh…? Since when…?”
“For babies!”
“Ugh?”
“Cough!”
The riders spat out the wine they had been holding and started coughing. Seeing this, Kirhas frowned and said, “Disgusting!”
“Is that the problem now, Chieftain? Oh my, who is it?”
“Who do you think it is, Captain? Obviously, it’s Lord Pernin!”
“I’ll go challenge him myself!”
“If the Captain dies, make me the next Captain, Chieftain!”
A Beastman Warrior, his face flushed red, puffed up his chest and tried to grab his sword hilt but hesitated. He could imagine fighting Lord Pernin one-on-one like a man, but the problem was that he could also imagine his own head being chopped off in the next scene.
The warrior quietly sat back down.
“Thank you all for following this unworthy Chieftain’s orders so well. The wilderness situation must have been tough.”
“Ah, what are you talking about? Everyone here is living well thanks to the Chieftain.”
The Beastmen chuckled. It was true. Their situation was much better now than when they were wandering the wasteland. With almost officially occupying a Duke’s territory, the tribes in the wilderness no longer fought over scarce food.
It was all thanks to the Chieftain’s high authority. By strictly forbidding internal strife and personally slaughtering rebels, Kirhas had brought unprecedented peace to the wilderness tribes.
Moreover, the Empire tolerated the Beastmen under the pretext of strengthening control near the Great Wilderness, even though the Duke’s land had been invaded. Kirhas thought that Rene Philippa must have played a significant role in this.
If things continued peacefully for just one more generation, the Beastmen would naturally submit to the Empire. It was a kind of cultural invasion using peace and food as bait. Of course, it was a deal with no downsides for the Beastmen, and Kirhas was aware of it and let it happen.
The Beastmen needed a safe haven. So that no more tribesmen would be captured as slaves or hunted as prey. The Empire would gain the Great Wilderness, and the Beastmen would secure their safety. A win-win deal for both sides.
“How are the kids these days? Are they behaving?”
“Blackfang has a firm grip on power, Chieftain. High Priestess Piel has joined hands with Blackfang, and War Captain Golden Tooth isn’t causing much trouble either.”
“Is Partak not up to any mischief?”
“Well, Blackfang is a dirty guy by nature… Some elders have gone missing, but those elders were shady characters themselves. There’s no discontent among the tribesmen.”
“That’s a relief!”
Kirhas had only directly led the regime for a very short time. To the Beastmen, she was more of a symbol than a direct leader. A symbol that brought forth the mythical era and united all Beastmen.
Had she ever directly held power and exerted influence over the tribe? The Beastman Warriors thought not.
But no one dared to defy her authority. The moment she appeared, the divided and warring Beastmen became one, and the powerful enemies in the wilderness were crushed under her command.
The Undefeated. The Proxy of the God of Hunting. The Unifier of the People. And finally, the symbol that brought forth an era where grass sprouted on the dusty wasteland, and children no longer starved or shivered in the face of death and cold.
“So, Chieftain. When will you return?”
“Probably soon? I should go within ten months at least. I need to show my child their homeland.”
“Was Lord Pernin’s homeland the Great Wilderness?”
“No? But I don’t plan to raise my child in the Eastern Kingdom. This child will become the Chieftain.”
Kirhas smiled as she stroked her still smooth belly. Seeing her mature demeanor, the Beastmen realized why she no longer wore a mask.
She had grown. Until now, their Chieftain had been a hero overflowing with ability and talent, but still had a childlike aspect that made her seem precarious.
But now, she had become an adult. A fully bloomed seed of a hero, shining brilliantly. She had become a mother, embodying both softness and strength.
“Chieftain!!”
At that moment, a rider came galloping from afar, kicking up dust. Seeing this, the Beastmen grabbed their sword hilts and growled, but Kirhas waved them down. The rider was a Beastman.
“Who is it?!”
“Captain Blacktail, sorry! I came directly with urgent news!”
The Beastman warrior, covered in dust, jumped off his horse and prostrated himself at Kirhas’s feet. He panted, unable to raise his head.
“I am Balain of the Cherasen tribe. It’s an honor to meet the great Undefeated One!”
“Alright, it’s fine. Someone give this warrior some wine! Now, Balain of Cherasen. Take your time and speak slowly.”
“Thank you, Chieftain!”
The warrior took a sip of wine and hastily wiped his lips. He took a deep breath and spoke urgently.
“The tribes are burning, Chieftain. The enemy has invaded!”
“Enemies…? Explain!”
“A few days ago, Lavirata requested reinforcements, and several chieftains led warriors to join the battle! Only half returned alive, and now battles are raging across the Great Wilderness!”
“Lies! There was no issue in the Great Wilderness when we left!”
“Captain Blacktail, no! It happened almost immediately after you departed!”
“Even so, it’s strange. Lavirata is in the Great Wilderness, but it’s too far south, isn’t it? Most of our Beastmen are…”
Most of the Beastmen were stationed near the Empire’s Duke’s territory, near Bülrang. Only a few conservatives and traditionalists remained in the Great Wilderness. So, to deal a significant blow to the Beastmen, the enemy would have to march all the way to Bülrang, and Lavirata and Bülrang are quite far apart.
If the enemy attacked Lavirata a few days ago, Bülrang couldn’t have been immediately threatened. There were other regions in the Empire below that…
‘When the White Country Demons’ advance reached the capital, they had already conquered five cities.’
A voice she had heard from Shaksisi when she had just left Sharzha Harbor came to her mind. The White Country Demons’ army had an unimaginable marching speed. If Lavirata fell without much resistance, then before the news even reached the Empire…
“You there! Call Lord Pernin! Now!”
“Yes!!”
Her expression changed. From soft and strong, it now held the edge of a warrior’s blade. She shook her head and stood up, shouting.
“No! Everyone, prepare for departure! I’ll go myself!”
“Yes, Chieftain!”
The White Country Demons’ army conquering the Great Wilderness is only a matter of time. There’s no significant resistance force in the Great Wilderness.
Most of the Beastmen are stationed near Bülrang City, and the southern part of the Great Wilderness was managed by Lavirata. If that region has been taken, they would have crossed the Great Wilderness, laughing at the vacuum.
And the Empire has a larger territory closer to Lavirata than Bülrang City.
“Has Ribue fallen…?”
Rene Philippa de Carvellier. The Duke of Ribue and the Emperor of the Empire. She wouldn’t have just stood by and watched this happen…
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