Chapter 22
Levelium, the area surrounding the royal capital ‘Level.’
It was basically like the Gyeonggi Province surrounding Seoul.
To the west, it reached the sea, and across that sea lay the Empire’s land, so it really did give off that Gyeonggi-do feeling.
Just like how crossing the West Sea from Incheon would bring you to China.
Though the royal capital Level had beco a complete ruin after the teor strike, the Levelium region still ranked among the most populated areas on the Ribella Peninsula.
This was simply a place where money gathered.
Most of the country’s renowned rchant groups were concentrated here.
Levelium itself was a productive region, and with the rchant groups voluntarily gathering, it was inevitable that money flowed endlessly here.
The region was also big in livestock farming, but with such imnse consumption and large-scale trade with other regions, it was more than worth the challenge.
“Haken ans the Lord of Haken’s side, and Levelium must be about the rchant groups, right?”
“Yes, that’s correct, sire.”
“So, things are still the sa in Levelium?”
“Yes. The six territories there are all about the sa, so unless sothing drastic happens, it’ll probably stay that way.”
“At least their powers being equal ans they’ve ford so kind of alliance, hasn’t it?”
“Well, yes.”
The difference between the two regions was that Haken was solely ruled by its lord, ‘Uldea Haken,’ while Levelium consisted of six relatively equal territories that had grouped together under the na ‘Levelium Alliance.’
‘Though in truth, calling it an alliance is just lip service. They’re all just waiting for an opening to seize.’
Since the six territories held roughly equal power, they maintained a forced balance through cooperation and checks against one another.
If all six combined, they could form a force stronger than Haken—but honestly, was that really possible?
‘That’s why the rchant groups dominate here.’
As such, the influence of rchant groups in this region was considerable.
In tis like these, it was unusual since most rchant groups were typically bound to a lord or territory.
But Levelium, with its geographical advantages, was naturally fertile ground for rchant groups, and while the lords kept each other in check, those sa rchants quietly expanded their influence.
That was why, if we were to trade with Levelium, it was more likely to be with a rchant group rather than with any particular territory.
Since the lords entrusted all comrce to the rchants, it was impossible to carry out proper trade without passing through them.
In that case, it would be cleaner to deal directly with the ‘Level rchant Group,’ which represented the whole of Levelium and traded broadly across the southern regions.
“Which do you think is better?”
“Levelium seems the better choice.”
“Levelium, huh. Wouldn’t Haken be a better option? They might be more aggressive.”
“Well, that’s true. But Levelium already has a developed livestock industry, while Haken does not.”
“And yet?”
“Because of distance. Trading with Haken would require too much preparation.”
It took about a week on horseback to reach Haken.
With wagons hauling cargo, it would take even longer.
Sure, cutting through the Forest of Illusions would shorten the journey, but there was no reason to risk such an adventure with loaded cargo.
Even filling the entire caravan with Rabbit Tribe porters wouldn’t make it feasible.
The Rabbit Tribe could survive in the Forest of Illusions thanks to their guerilla tactics, not because they excelled in direct combat.
Right now, I could move freely through the forest, but soon enough, the forest would return to its forr dangerous state.
“But Levelium is much closer. About three days on horseback. And if we trade with the Level rchant Group, we can even leave transport to them.”
The Level rchant Group was the only one in Levelium that sent caravans all the way up to Johnson Territory.
If we could reestablish trade with them, there would be no need for us to transport horned rabbits ourselves.
In a ti when manpower was so precious, I didn’t want to waste soldiers on caravan duty.
For now, I wanted to replenish the territory’s finances through trade with them.
“But hasn’t it gotten a bit awkward with the Level rchant Group too?”
“Yes. That’s why I want to settle this cleanly first. We need to bring in grain from Levelium, but at this rate, the entire deal might collapse.”
“So, you intend to break through the problem head-on?”
“Yes, let’s tidy things up before moving forward.”
The relationship with the Level rchant Group had beco strained due to the forr lord’s wife and her marriage scam.
She had disguised herself as the rchant group’s youngest daughter, ‘Yuria McBane,’ and married Iron Johnson.
After inflicting nothing but losses on the territory, she vanished.
Naturally, Johnson Territory had no choice but to visit the Level rchant Group for confirmation, but they flatly denied the entire affair, leaving the relationship muddled.
In truth, Yuria McBane was rely soone who looked identical to Iron’s ex-wife, not the sa person.
In the end, Johnson Territory was the only fool left behind, having been played for a fool.
– A very suspicious incident. Love affair? Politics? Feels like popcorn-worthy drama.
‘I need to get to the bottom of this. There are too many unclear parts.’
If I could uncover the truth of that dubious scam, that would be best. But even if not, I had to normalize relations with the Level rchant Group and continue trade.
After all, they were the only ones who brought caravans directly to Johnson Territory.
“Then once we’ve secured so trade with Levelium and the territory’s situation improves, we’ll reach out to Haken.”
“So, we approach both sides but prioritize one first. Understood.”
“Well, yes. Haken Territory will surely move aggressively, and it’d be a waste to ignore them entirely.”
In tis like these, large-scale caravans were impossible.
At most, ten wagons of cargo was the proper scale, and even then, only if the profits justified it would the number of caravans increase.
For now, optimism had no place.
Considering the explosive value of horned rabbits, even that number wasn’t particularly large.
So other trade routes had to be considered as well.
Just as Peter said, Haken Territory would probably be more proactive than Levelium, so I would decide after watching the situation.
The caravan would consist of , Rudick, and four squads of knights—twenty knights in total.
On top of that, soldiers were assigned as porters, making for quite a large group.
“Isn’t this too much?”
“Maybe. But this ti, we’re planning to bring back grain ourselves. Better to be safe.”
“Well, if that’s the case.”
I still rembered the vision the Diary had shown .
The grain wagons bound for our territory had been ambushed and stolen.
The situation had changed since then, so there was no guarantee that the sa incident would happen again, but I couldn’t take chances.
Surely, no bandits would dare to interfere with a caravan guarded by twenty knights and soldiers besides.
The regions near Levelium, where trade was active, were notorious for bandits, but even bandits weren’t fools—they chose their targets carefully.
– Even I wouldn’t take such a reckless risk against a force like this.
‘That’s my thought as well. That’s why I’m taking so many knights along.’
The knights for this caravan were all ones who had tad three-horned goats.
Though they weren’t yet skilled enough to fight while riding them, they stubbornly insisted on bringing the goats.
If battle broke out, they said, they would simply dismount to fight.
Which only made wonder—why bring the goats at all, then? But their passion was too strong, so I gave in.
In any case, this caravan wasn’t ant for battle, and at worst we’d only encounter bandits—hardly sothing to worry about.
‘So I allowed it reluctantly, but honestly, the look of it is impressive. Just like Black Rabbit said, no bandit would want to go near them.’
As if making up for years of frustration without proper mounts, those damned knights poured their souls into outfitting their goats’ armor.
While they themselves still wore shabby armor made from worn monster hides, their goats were dressed in fine black monster leather, all in matching colors.
Three-horned goats already had a different gait from horses, but seeing them clad in such black armor made them look like the army of a demon king.
‘Not bad at all. No one will dare look down on our territory after seeing this.’
It had been a long ti since Johnson Territory made a show of presence outside, so leaving a strong impression wasn’t a bad thing.
‘And the Level rchant Group won’t be able to dismiss us either.’
It wasn’t about picking a fight, but at the very least, I didn’t want to be treated lightly. A bit of intimidation had its uses.
“Then I’ll leave things in your care, Butler, and Sir Captain of the Second Squad.”
“Yes, my lord. Leave it to .”
“Travel safely, my lord.”
While I was away, Butler Harold, my internal administrator, and the veteran knight Sir Dominic would manage the territory.
Of course, Butler Harold would normally handle affairs, but this ti I specifically asked Sir Dominic to assist him.
‘Sir Dominic is more solid than he first appeared.’
I had already known about Squad Two, composed entirely of veteran knights, since our first training here.
At the ti, I hadn’t thought much of them—there was no real reason to rember.
But after experiencing major incidents, I ca to realize the true value of these veteran knights.
They were the ones who cald the frightened citizens during ergencies, and they were the ones who knew precisely what needed to be done even in the most critical monts.
So, I now valued them more than before, and intended to use them well.
Especially in tis like this, when I was away, Sir Dominic’s leadership as a veteran knight would shine.
Butler Harold could manage daily governance, but if sudden incidents arose, Sir Dominic would need to steady the people.
“Alright, let’s depart.”
With those two entrusted with the rear, I set off southwest toward Levelium, leading the knights and soldiers astride goats.
“Tonight, we camp here.”
“Alright, everyone, set up!”
The route from Johnson Territory into Levelium passed through no other lordships.
It was proof of just how remote our Johnson Territory really was.
Of course, if one went straight east from Johnson, they would reach ‘Rohollen Territory,’ though that land bordered the sea.
If the sea route could be opened, it would an trade with the southern coastal territories.
‘Though that won’t be easy. Rohollen Territory must have its own difficulties.’
Our land was so remote that even after a full day’s march, we had no choice but to camp outdoors.
In these tis, camping ant sothing like a monster defense scenario.
It was no wonder that the Ruben rchant Group always groaned whenever they sent caravans to our territory.
Naturally, they hoped that we would keep sending caravans to them instead—who wouldn’t?
“Oh, this is good.”
“I loaded it with horned rabbit jerky. It’d be strange if it didn’t taste good.”
“Well, that’s true. Hot damn, this is nice.”
Tonight’s dinner was dried beans and flour, boiled together with herbs, salt, and a heap of horned rabbit jerky.
Normally, our territory’s field rations consisted of dried beans and flour hardened together, kneaded with herbs and salt—sothing so awful even knights groaned about.
But just by adding horned rabbit jerky, the flavor had transford entirely.
So this was why people always clamored for at.
No matter how I thought about it, horned rabbits were an item that could never fail to sell.
– By the way, tell the story, master.
‘Story? What story?’
– That marriage scam or whatever it was. It reeked of popcorn material.
‘Ah. That one?’
As I was about to rest, the rabbit nagged beside .
It wanted to know exactly what had happened to —to Iron Johnson.
Well, at the ti, the territory’s condition was awful, and the monster invasion was such a huge event that I’d brushed it aside.
But it had indeed been one hell of a scandal.
Prodded by Black Rabbit, I began to trace Iron’s mories.
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