Now, Alex and I went to the southern tip of the golden mountain of Aaren, or more precisely, the border of Mountain Aaren.
That location was the area where the Ventura soldiers were recovering from the effects of the poison, administered by the healers sent by Leysha.
There were two large tents there that could shelter all the recovering soldiers, who were, of course, supervised by my soldiers.
The last ti I observed the recovery area, many Ventura soldiers were still lying limp, fighting the effects of the Great Wyvern’s poison.
However, I didn’t expect that weeks after my last observation, I would see them still affected by the poison.
The difference was, they were now able to stand and fight.
As soon as I arrived there, I heard the cries of the Ventura soldiers.
"Where is Baron Atreus...?! Summon him here...!"
"This damned poison has tortured ...! I will avenge his actions...! I will curse him to the burning hell...!"
Well, that kind of ranting greeted imdiately upon my arrival.
"Alex, secure the healers. Let the soldiers work to restrain them," I quickly ordered.
"Yes, Baron Atreus."
Alex imdiately agreed and quickly instructed the soldiers to withdraw the healers who were trying to calm the angry venturers.
My troops, now wearing venturer armor, imdiately lined up in tight formation and pushed back the crowd of protesting venturers.
On closer inspection, these venturers appeared to be healthy, but their pale faces and bloodshot eyes indicated otherwise.
It seed they hadn’t fully recovered from the poison, but the poison had a different effect, making their bodies active again and experiencing pain at the sa ti.
"If you’re looking for Baron Atreus, well, here I am..." I said calmly, which was imdiately t with boos from the venturers.
I could hear the curses coming from the hundreds of venture soldiers, as if they wanted to die a horrible death.
If Alex’s troops hadn’t been holding back those hundreds of venture soldiers, they would probably have run up and beaten right there.
"This damn poison hasn’t worn off, Baron Atreus...! Are you deliberately trying to torture us...?!"
"Just kill us...! This pain will make us suffer for days...!"
Desperate cries rang out again, loud and disorganized from the venture soldiers.
Amidst the cries, Alex approached .
"Baron Atreus... I received word from the chief healer that the effects of the poison currently affecting the venture soldiers are indeed causing new complications. The latest dicine they’ve developed still isn’t supporting their immune systems. The healers have tried everything, using different concoctions...but the effects of the poison are only getting worse," Alex whispered.
In short, the healers failed to cure the poison.
Actually, the reason I healed those venture soldiers was so I could recruit so of them who wanted to serve under the Vermillion banner.
My force formation was still outnumbered by Duke Archer’s, so I needed so of them willing to serve to fight Duke Archer later.
But my efforts seed to have had the opposite effect.
They all beca angry and protested, wanting to beat to death.
If it was like this, perhaps the only way to end their suffering was to kill them all.
"Baron Atreus... if I may suggest, simply banish them from Vermillion territory," Alex whispered amidst the increasingly loud commotion of the venture soldiers.
"After they’re driven out, what then? Let them scatter and die? I’m worried they’ll bring poison that could infect the small villages in our territory. Besides, so of them might travel to enemy territory and reveal the fact that the golden mountain of Aaren is already-indirectly-under Vermillion’s control. If the enemy finds out, it’s only a matter of ti before Duke Archer and King Victor Dragomir’s forces attack us," I replied calmly.
"A-ah...you’re right, Baron Atreus..."
"...another solution is to kill them all, just as they wish."
The Black Star in my right palm lit up.
Black flas blazed in my right hand, then burned rapidly, radiating a blaze hot enough to incinerate anyone, be it Ventura’s soldiers or my own.
The sight of the ferocious black flas suddenly made the Ventura soldiers freeze in shock.
Those who had initially cheered for death now trembled in fear at the sight of the ferocious black flas.
But gradually, the fear in their eyes gave way to courage again, or rather, despair and depression.
"Release the black flas, wizard...! Kill us!"
"Yes...! We’d rather die by burning than suffer this poison for days...!"
Damn.
It only took a few minutes for those soldiers to change their minds, from being afraid to daring to die another way.
I saw these venture soldiers looking desperately for a way to die, not desperate for a way to survive.
Tch...looks like this is a failure I must accept.
"Alex, push those venture soldiers a little further away from our troops. Keep enough distance so our troops won’t be hit by my black flas."
"Understood, Baron Atreus!"
Alex imdiately instructed his soldiers to push the venture soldier away.
I saw the soldiers even force each of them, pushing the venture soldier away harder.
Initially, the venture soldiers resisted, annoyed by this oppressive movent, but gradually, they began to surrender, losing their strength and motivation to fight.
They all gathered about 20 ters away from , sitting limply, but their faces were a mix of despair, anger, and disappointnt.
Ah, damn it.
I hate killing people who have lost their will to live.
It feels like destroying an inanimate object that can’t fight back.
But I have to do this to atone for my mistake in strategy.
If they don’t want to suffer any longer and I have the strength to do so, then I will.
Ultimately, they really want to die.
I raised my right hand high, simultaneously causing my black flas to flare even more.
WOOOSHH...!
Alex and his troops had already kept their distance to stay out of the black fire’s attack range.
Even though they were wearing Venture armor, they were still afraid of facing my black flas.
On the other hand, the Venture soldiers who had gathered about 20 ters in front of were imdiately stunned and terrified at the sa ti, watching my black flas grow larger.
With just one push, these black flas would shoot out and incinerate them all.
I had to act quickly before they went back on their promise of a quick death and—
"Baron Atreus."
I froze when I heard a woman’s soft, close voice.
I knew she was still walking toward , but her voice was so close, it was as if she were whispering to .
I had just turned around when I was stunned to see a woman with long, soft brown hair wearing a white robe lined with black details embroidered with gold and blue gemstones.
Beneath the white hood adorned with gold ornants, I saw sothing that lted my heart.
The smile of the woman I had longed for was finally visible to .
The longing that had been building up in my heart seed to overflow at the sight of her warm smile, her scent, her long, captivating brown hair, and her always-seductive beauty.
A smile that was only shown to , her beloved husband
"Leysha...?"
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