69. Aylans Kingdom (4)
S-slaves? What do you an slaves? What use do Demons have for slaves?
Halsem had a lot of questions, but as ti passed, his face grew pale.
I-is it so you could eat them? Halsem trembled as he began to visualize the image of human slaves being eaten alive. Dont joke around! Even if theyre slaves, theyre living humans! Even if theyre treated like cattle, theyre not food raised for your kind!
We do not eat human flesh.
Dont lie! You just said youd chew on !
When Tom looked at Ellin with a frown, Ellin spoke in a panic.
B-but he was trying to rat us out! He might have if I hadnt scared him a bit!
I was planning on putting him to sleep with my magic in that case.
Halsem began to fidget as he misunderstood Toms usage of the word sleep to an death.
Tom turned to him to speak.
The slaves we are planning to buy are Dwarves.
D-dwarves?
Yes.
Dwarves? Why do Demons need Dwarves? A look of horrified realization crossed his face once more. To eat?
Why are you still on that? Nobody is eating anyone.
Toms words fell on deaf ears, as Halsem would not leave the thought alone. He sighed. It was apparent that he was going to need to spend so more ti convincing him that they didnt eat people.
***
One, two, then three hours passed. Only then did Halsem begin to finally calm down and show signs that he was beginning to understand.
S-so in reality, Dwarves are citizens of the Demon Kingdom, and youve co to save them?
Yes, that summarizes everything that Ive been saying this whole ti.
It was the most persuasive argunt he could think of. And it helped that it was at least passably close to the reality of the situation.
I was planning on making use of the Dwarves under their classification as slaves, but since this guy refuses to believe anything
Ellin suddenly appeared beside Tom and whispered in his ear.
Um is it really okay to lie like that?
Well, nobody would believe him if he tried passing the explanation on to soone else that actually knows a thing or two about the Dwarves. But theres no real reason to explain how, actually, were planning on using the Dwarves for city and wall reconstruction, castle remodeling, and preparing supplies to this guy. There is no real reason to reveal these details to the humans.
Tom turned to Halsem again.
So what do you think?
No.
It was a refusal without hesitation. Toms eyes twitched.
I have no idea what youre trying to do. But I guarantee that its dangerous and must be stopped.
Its not anything dangerous at all. You just have to buy us so Dwarves.
Im a rchant of crafts, not slaves! Look for soone else! Im not going to help you!
It was rare to find anyone who experienced the events in either the Golden Fief or in Lania to speak so boldly. Perhaps it was due to the fact that he was a gambler.
Halsem sighed as he continued.
A-and I know that youre not such a bad person. My continued existence might be proof enough of that. I survived even when I was closest to you, and the only ones that were killed by the Undead were the soldiers.
Halsem faintly smiled, recalling the events in the Golden Fief.
Now that I think about it, there was quite a bit of trouble with these monsters. All the most talented gamblers were so dispirited It makes laugh thinking back to that ti!
He knew that the one standing before him was a fearso monster, but thinking about that ti naturally brought a smile to his face.
More than anything, there is no benefit to .
Thats where youre wrong. There is a benefit.
?
Tom placed a leather pouch on the table and smiled.
Ill make you the greatest rchant known to man.
***
Halsem stared blankly ahead of him. All he ownedthe entire collection of his possessionsconsisted of a few pretty trinkets and so small pieces of quaint furniture loaded onto a pitiful wagon pulled by a donkey. This could be considered his entire estate, but now, before him were two massive stallions with thick muscles and flowing manes pulling a supply wagon with large, sturdy wheels.
Halsem had had a goal back when he had started his work as a rchantto beco a household na. To be known all throughout the land as a great rchant. He had believed that it would be amazing to beco a leader of a grand rchanting company as soone that had started with nothing. There was a romantic appeal to that idea which had enticed him.
However, dreams and reality were very different. He had only started working as a rchant a few months ago, but all he could buy was a donkey and a worn cart on the streets. He even had to fix it by hand as he went along. The stallion and supply wagon that he had seen in his dreams was simply that, a dream. These things were now sitting before him.
How many years would it have taken to buy this wagon and these horses? Halsem swallowed drily. Five years? No, theyre stallions! Theyre not simple horses! I-I dont know much about horses, but they even look expensive! It might have taken ten years of saving or more!
What do you think?
Looking at Tom speaking so flippantly, Halsem felt his stomach ache. Tom had granted him all of these things that he had dread of so easily. He still wasnt a rchant lord that was renowned everywhere, but these things in front of him now were all things that the average rchant would be drooling with envy over.
E-even still
Ive heard that mountain bandits were starting to get more common. Safety is of the most importance.
Tom pushed a bag full of gold coins into Halsems hand.
?!
Hiring more quality rcenaries and guards might be best. Also, this will be helpful in buying the goods themselves.
Halsem began to feel anxious.
F-fine! Ill buy in slaves like this guy wants! Its just Dwarves, right? Just so Dwarves! But what if these guys change their minds? I can trust them, but theyre still demons, right?
Halsem struggled with the decision before finally coming to a conclusionsafety always ca first.
S-still I still want to want to climb to the top through effort! Do you think Ill just agree with these cheap thods?!
Halsem spoke with a trembling voice, and Ellinwho was observing the wagon and horse beside Tomspat out a single sentence in reply.
So youre a coward.
?!
Halsem felt insulted.
A coward? Youre talking to ? You fiend!
Hm? Youre not? Arent you refusing, in reality, because its dangerous? Why? Are you just that scared? Or do you not trust us, then? Because were Demons? How does a man have such frail nerves?
When Ellin began to taunt him, Halsems eyes began to twitch.
I am a gambler! I always put my life on the line! Even my work as a rchant has involved risking myself! I never knew when Id be bankrupted by so bandit or mugger! I have no guts? This is nonsense!
Then accept our deal!
Fi!
Halsem almost spat out fine! at Ellins taunting. However, he had managed to stop himself at the last mont. He pinched his forehead and shook his head.
Im not going to fall for such simple tricks Miss Demon! So dont look down on !
Ah, youre not falling for it?
Ellin looked surprised as she turned to Tom. Tom sighed and spoke to Halsem.
Mister Halsem, youre a rchant, so Im only offering you a deal.
?
Halsem turned to look at Tom. He was stunned.
rchants always move toward the greatest benefit to themselves, and they dont let go of any chance that might net them a great advantage. My deal isnt even extrely risky or dangerous, either, so what downside is there?
Isnt it more disadvantageous to the person that misses out on this opportunity?
T-that is true.
Then, why is it thatnow that the opportunity is at your feetyou refuse it? Youve failed as a rchant, if this is really your choice.
?!
We have many people that can fit the criteria. There are more than just one or two rchants in this city. How long do you think itll take us to convince another?
Halsem froze at Toms words. Thinking about it, there was no real reason that they needed him. Canibar was overflowing with rchants passing through. More importantly, there were many more rchants that were more respected and well-known than him. There was no real reason for him to not accept this offer. Rather he was being full of himself in trying to avoid the deal. Other rchants would be dancing with joy if they were in his place. Considering the large compensation, he would be struggling in his sleep for the rest of his life, regretting this decision. As he began to think of such things, his mind turned blank.
What will you do now, Mr. Pushover?
Ellin laughed lightly as she taunted him once again. Halsem grit his teeth, watching her.
Aah, isnt this too much? To make a top-class gambler like so hesitant?! But, an opportunity like this isnt too common.
Life has to be lived on the edge! he decided.
This opportunity I wont let it go!
Isnt that too obvious of a bait? But, as you said, this is a once-in-a-lifeti opportunity. You must put my safety first in return!
Of course.
Upon hearing Toms answer, Halsem turned to the stallion and supply wagon.
Ha, hahaha! Yes! Lets try this out then! Ill shoot to be the greatest rchant with this opportunity!
Halsem burst into laughter as Tom and Ellin looked at each other and smiled in satisfaction.
A single resident in the streets, watching the scene from a distance, frowned as he continued on his way. This resident was a servant of Shabel Canibel. He had received the order to investigate these people on the Counts orders.
***
Are they suspicious as expected?
Yes.
Shabel listened to his retainers report as he looked over the map of the Kingdom of Aylans and the Holy Kingdom laid upon the office table. The retainer reported that the actions of the rchant who had just entered the territory, Halsem, were strange. The rchant had entered the city with nothing more than a shabby cart pulled by a donkey had bought a pair of great stallions and a supply wagon. A rchant buying such things on its own wasnt all that strange, but for one who only had a shabby cart pulled by a donkey a day earlier, it was a different story. Buying such things overnight was too suspicious.
Shabel, who had received the report, felt it was suspicious as well.
How about their identities? Do they look like they have been manipulated?
The servant held out an identification card.
No. Halsem was registered in the rchants Guild as a rchant several months ago. It appears that he has been actively working as a proper craft rchant.
What about the two other people?
The servant looked strained.
The pairs identities are iron-clad. It appears that they have been correctly distributed by the rcenary Guild. Itll take more ti to look into it further.
The servant looked at the Goblin-made rcenary card in his hand.
What about the rcenary Guild?
There is no information from the rcenary Guild regarding them, but if they had registered in the rcenary Guild within the Holy Kingdom a few days ago, it cant be helped that the information is delayed.
Mmm Concerning.
This ant that there was so possibility that they were agents of the Holy Kingdom. However, he couldnt simply capture the saviors of a great many refugees for interrogation based on a slim suspicion.
Is there no other way than to simply observe them for a few more days?
Keep your guard up. Observe them properly and report any change in their behavior. I dont mind even if its sothing minor.
The servant nodded and excused himself.
Suspicious.
Halsems actions were suspicious, but there was sothing else even more so. That was the activities of the Holy Kingdom. Three months had passed since the declaration of war. They would have to wait for another three for the war to actually start, but
They are gathering an army.
There was an army gathering on the border regions of the Holy Kingdom. Of course, it might be a defensive force against the Kingdom of Aylans, but separate from the fact, an army was being gathered and equipped. According to reports, there were 100 Holy Knights, 250 priests, 500 knights, 50,000 infantry, 5000 archers, and 50 siege units. They were preparing as if they might invade at any mont. That was the report a week ago.
Are they planning on invading earlier than the agreed-upon six month period?
They had already prepared an invasion force with three months remaining. He did not understand why they would station their entire army for anything other than defense, considering the issue of supply, unless
They are surely not thinking of invading already, ignoring the Continental Law are they?
Count Shabel clenched his mouth shut. He was overthinking it. Even if the Pope was mad, there was no way that he would ignore the Continental Law, upheld for thousands of years. If he broke any of those ancient rules, he would lose the grace of the other kingdoms and receive their ire. No matter how powerful the Holy Kingdom was, they would still have to avoid becoming enemies with all the other kingdoms. Unless they had the confidence to win against dozens of kingdoms and empires, that is.
Ill have to keep watching the situation for a bit longer to know for sure.
Currently, the manpower within Shabels territory was slightly over ten thousand n. Utilizing all manner of defensive magical tools, they would have the strength of about twenty thousand n. However, that was still pitifully lacking and they wouldnt be able to hold their ground.
I should raise our numbers just in case.
It was possible to request support in a months ti even if they did invade. If they did nothing in the anti that is
It was at that mont where everything changed. The door burst open and a soldier hurriedly entered. He was looking exhausted and pale, forgetting to even greet the Count as he held out a letter orb.
L-lord Count!
Count Shabel read the letter orb and froze.
***
The letter orb was a ans of mobile communication made possible through the use of magical technology. Using an orb of glass about the size of a human hand, they were able to quickly deliver ssages with only slight restrictions and were quickly adapted to deliver reports and transmit orders during warti.
However, there was a limit on the distance, which made the role of the scouts critical. They had to be within the set distance to make their report. But if they needed to survey the area outside that distance, then they had to get back within range as quickly as possible if they found sothing worth reporting.
The scout hiding within the foliage within a forest in Canibar territory shut his mouth. His eyes trembled as he doubted what he was seeing. It was a procession hundreds of ters long. An army made up of 100 Holy Knights, 200 priests, 500 knights, 50,000 infantry, 5000 archers, and 50 siege units. An army of 55,800 n. It was the entire force that had been deployed along the borders of the Holy Empire a week ago. It was an army separated from the defensive unit, but no one suspected that the gathered force would be used for an invasion.
Well, so had thought about this possibility, but it was not taken seriously because violating Continental Law was too audacious to consider.
They are mad! The Holy Kingdom is mad! No, is it just the Pope thats crazy?!
With what confidence did they choose to break the Continental Law? Those rules had been maintained for thousands of years! Dont they fear the other Kingdoms?!
The scout quickly raised his letter orb to send his report. The army of the Holy Kingdom, nad the Paddle of God this ti, was commanded by Janus, from the Heretic Interrogation division.
A man in his early 50s with graying nose hairs and a bald head was wearing full plate armor and a black surcoat. He had been noticed during his ti as a Holy Knight for his skills and his deviant tendencies, allowing him to be promoted to interrogations. Ultimately, this had also led him to command this army. In addition, he was one of the Evilesse experints being researched in secret by the Holy Kingdom. A devilish biological soldier made with the blood and lives of countless children. A monster possessing both youth and imnse power. He was one of the Evilesse Holy Knights.
Reviews
All reviews (0)