The Tale of the Nation That Banished the Saint - Chapter 14

Episode 14: Family Quarrel

“To think His Highness would come to our rescue personally—”

Count Alderan greeted my arrival with extravagant gestures.

We, who had slain the enemy general, were visiting Count Alderan’s mansion.

The enemy’s advance party, deprived of their leader, dispersed like spiders’ offspring in an instant.

Currently, we are gathering knights and mercenaries from within Alderan’s territory to hunt down the remnants. At the same time, we are urging neighboring nobles to join us, mentioning Prince Ares’s participation and Alderan’s support.

Let’s not forget to spread the tale of my gallantry, leading a small force to scatter Zopondort’s army.

Let’s make the most of our initial victory.

—

Then, a month passed.

Pressuring the eastern lords to either oppose or support the king, and for those who chose to support, urging them to join us with troops, while preparing to suppress nobles who sided with the enemy.

During this time, the official authorization to subjugate Zopondort and pacify the territories arrived from the king. It seems the political maneuvering at the palace went well.

Chief of the Royal Guard, Orvos, arrived with two thousand troops to reinforce us and joined under my command.

Upon arrival, Orvos immediately began a quarrel with his daughter Lisetine, asking loudly whether Prince Ares had fathered any children with her, sparking a parent-child quarrel right off the bat.

Despite his lack of delicacy, his swordsmanship and command of troops are reliable, so having him here is reassuring.

What concerns me is the recent movements of Zopondort—

Apparently, they’re dealing with a peasant rebellion within their own territory, keeping them occupied running around their own land.

Though it’s their own fault, it’s a pitiable situation.

But thanks to that, we bought ourselves some time.

While the enemy deals with the peasant rebellion, we’ll crush the nobles who sided with them.

The nobles who sided with Zopondort are three who were originally close to them and one who misread the situation.

Well, if the king were to be defeated by Zopondort, that might have been the correct choice…

Let’s do our best to ensure that doesn’t happen.

—

The forces I command in the eastern region of the kingdom have swelled to six thousand two hundred.

Additionally, arrangements have been made with the mercenary guild to mobilize up to five hundred troops, primarily for rear support and miscellaneous tasks.

The mobilization capabilities of the four nobles who opposed us are five hundred, two hundred, three hundred, and five hundred respectively.

They are likely eagerly awaiting the arrival of Zopondort’s main force.

Desperately, as if their lives depended on it…

…Or so I thought, but it seems I misjudged.

—

Two factions of Zopondort-supporting nobles joined forces and led six hundred troops to attack the mansion where I am based.

Their combined force numbers around six hundred.

“…Have they lost their minds?”

“Likely… perhaps they were inspired by the tale of His Highness defeating a larger force with a smaller one?”

“Or they simply underestimated the prince as a child.”

Answering my murmurs are Lisetine, captain of the guard, and Sheen from the mercenary guild.

I called Sheen to listen to her expertise in scouting and gather information about the enemy’s terrain, but— I never expected the enemy to make a move like this…

“Just to confirm, there’s no report of Zopondort resolving their internal strife and marching out, correct?”

“No such report. They’re still struggling with the peasant rebellion. We might be able to assassinate them now… What do you think?”

Replies Lena from the assassination guild, making a suggestion.

“No, if it were a dire situation, that would be an option, but if we have a chance to win— no assassination. We need a proper stage for them to take responsibility for this unrest.”

With my answer, Lena simply says ‘Understood’ and steps back.

Well, for now, they’re just minor nobles closer than Zopondort’s main force.

I thought it would be troublesome if they were to hold up in a siege, but if they come out to us, it’s convenient.

—

Leading the six thousand two hundred troops I can muster, we crushed the six hundred-strong enemy force.

Zopondort is still busy with the peasant rebellion in their own land, unable to come out to face us. With the momentum from scattering the enemy in the field, we decided to sweep and eliminate the remaining enemies who showed a defensive stance.

First, we surrounded the mansions of the Zopondort-supporting nobles and shot flaming arrows.

Unlike Alderan’s mansion, which is also used as a fortress, these are rural noble mansions with minimal defenses. With this number of troops, we can easily crush them.

The captured nobles were brought before me.

One of them, blaming the hardships caused by the king’s expulsion of the saint, demanded an immediate apology and compensation.

It’s pointless to say such things now.

Besides, that’s no reason to rebel.

I listened to the enemy’s grievances for now.

That’s enough.

I ordered the execution of the captured noble families without incident.

As I did so, a lone horse bearing a white flag rode straight towards us.