Chapter 29 : Chapter 29
Chapter 29
Blood dripped from the fist Markberg clenched at Ian's harsh words, but he did not waver.
War?
I could not lose the domain, which was as good as mine, just because some sand was mixed in the bread the domain's people ate.
No matter what that bastard said, he had to calm down the young lord who looked like he would go out and start a war at any moment.
“War?
The Moner family does not have the capacity to wage a war.
If we move the troops from the front line, countless monsters will spread throughout the entire domain.”
The Regent continued, sending a glance toward Vergil and Mogul as if seeking their help.
“Even if we could wage a war and win, the kingdom will side with the three domains.
Even if we receive some compensation at the end of the war, how can it be considered a victory if we cannot secure food?”
“Then it will be an all-out war.”
“We cannot wage an all-out war with the kingdom without the frontline troops!
Even if we did, victory is not guaranteed!”
At the Regent’s seemingly logical words, Ian looked at him for a moment.
This must have been why they had to neglect the domain until it reached this state.
“That won't happen.”
Ian said with a grin, as if to reassure the Regent.
“I told you, this is my war.”
“Young Lord, wait……!”
Count Mogul stared blankly as Ian left the meeting hall.
He was simultaneously struck by the thought that he should grab Ian right away and put a stop to this talk of war, and a curiosity about what Ian was plotting.
‘His war?’
What on earth could he do by himself?
The council of lords, held for the first time in seven years, ended with the young lord's one-sided declaration.
The young lord demanded no soldiers, no money, and no food.
He merely declared that he would start his own war.
“My lord Count, the young lord… seems he’s still not in his right mind.”
Vergil said, staring at the door Ian had exited through with a somewhat dazed look.
The argument that they should draw their swords before the domain fell further ill was no different from what he told his father every day.
Each time, his father would only repeat the frustrating words that they had to wait for the lord.
“To wage a war by himself… war isn't some kind of a game.
What on earth is he trying to do?”
“Well, Regent, do you know anything?”
As Mogul and Vergil looked at the Regent at the same time, the Regent, unable to find a suitable answer, frowned and spoke.
“I don't know either.
The young lord recently… has been unpredictable.”
From Roberto to his secret knights.
As if he had become a different person, the recent ruffian was like an untamed colt, impossible to predict where he would bolt next.
“Count Mogul.
We must, we absolutely must not let a war break out with the three domains.”
The Regent spoke to Mogul with an unprecedentedly serious expression, as if pleading.
“I am well aware that you do not favor me, Count Mogul, but this isn't just our problem, is it?
If a war breaks out, meaningless blood will be shed.”
“Ahem…….”
Mogul, who was thinking the same thing, let out a grunt with a displeased expression.
Although the Regent had kept him and Count Sven, who held military authority, in check for the past seven years, they had no choice but to be of the same mind when it came to war.
“I'll assign a few people to the young lord.
If there are any signs he is about to cross the line, I will stop him myself.”
Deep regret was etched in the eyes of Mogul as he looked down at the floor in resignation.
* * *
“Young Master, did things go as you wished?”
As soon as he left the meeting hall, Reina, who had been waiting in advance, followed him and asked.
“No.
I didn't want anything from them in the first place.”
If I could have received the help of my vassals and family, bringing the three domains to their knees would have been much easier.
However, they did not trust me.
As long as this damn title sticks to me like a leech, no one will believe the ‘Ruffian of the Moner Family’.
Whatever I ask of them, I would be lucky if they did not get in the way.
“Where is Lina?”
“She should be waiting for the merchant guild from the Lyt domain, just as you ordered.”
“Is Rick with her?”
“Yes.
He left with a smile, saying he was glad you weren't there today.”
Watching her cover her mouth and laugh as if something was so funny, Ian returned to his room, grabbed his leather armor and a dagger, and left the Lord's Castle.
“Alright, let's go do what we have to do.”
* * *
“You baaaastaaaardsss!”
Rick's shout echoed throughout Failsafe.
“Put down your luggage and get lost now!”
Rick, who had already witnessed the power of the Black Noble Troop once, shouted at the top of his lungs, veins popping on his neck, full of confidence.
“What’s that again?”
“Seems like a madman.”
“Tsk, are they the ones left behind by the merchant guild that went ahead?”
The merchant guild from the Lyt domain, which saw the spectacle, stopped for a moment, but thinking he was an abandoned slave, the guild decided to ignore the group in black robes.
No matter how much they liked free labor, they thought that taking a madman on a journey that would take several days would be bad for the guild's speed and morale.
“I'll go report, you guys head out first.”
The manager of the Lyt domain's merchant guild, ‘Gold Crow’, ignored the screaming Rick and headed toward the guild master without much thought.
Meanwhile.
Rick was having the time of his life.
“Hey!
If there's a group dressed in black in the middle of the road, shouldn't you know to crawl on your own?!”
He had decided to release all the stress he had accumulated from his boss, who only nagged him despite his working like a dog every day, and from the young lord, who would undoubtedly take first place if one were to pick the scariest person in the domain, by shouting with all his might.
“I'm, I'm saying this because I feel sorry for you!
When someone speaks nicely, you should listen!”
A large smile hung on the lips of Rick, who was thumping his chest as if he was genuinely frustrated.
And.
“A madman.”
Watching the scene, Snail, the head of the Gold Crow merchant guild and the cherished youngest daughter of the Lyt family, licked her lips as she watched the rampaging Rick.
“The look in his eyes… he's no ordinary madman.
I'll take him.”
“Absolutely not.
If I pick up something like that, I will be scolded by the Count.”
“No!
I'm going to have him.”
The guard protecting her side tried to dissuade Snail with a stern face, but her eyes were already filled with curiosity and fondness for Rick, who was shouting confidently from a distance.
“For now, please return to the carriage.
I will call for you when it is safe.”
“Aww~ I want to watch too.
Unni, you're so strict.
But you can't let that boy get hurt, because he's mine.
Got it?”
As her guard, Ilyeong , pulled on Snail's horse's reins and spoke, Snail smacked her lips in disappointment and said.
“…I will try my best.”
Her interest in peculiar people was nothing new, so Ilyeong turned her head and looked at the group dressed in black.
‘Is there really something to them?’
It was unimaginable that anything could happen here in Failsafe.
In other words, if one were to exploit that vulnerability, one could inflict unexpected damage on anyone passing through.
“All units, halt!”
Just in case, Ilyeong stopped the merchant guild and rode her horse to the front.
Since it was something Snail, who was like a younger sister to her, wanted anyway, she thought it wouldn't be a bad idea to check things out.
* * *
“Huh?
Huh!
They really stopped!”
A flustered Rick turned his head so fast it looked like his neck would break and looked at Lina.
“Wow!
Did you see that!
I'm getting better at this after a few tries!”
Rick, who had already half-retreated, pointed at the approaching horse and chattered nonstop.
“A sword!
A sword!
That woman over there is even wearing a sword, her skills don't look ordinary!
Let's just run!
I'll explain it well to the young lord!”
Of course, he planned to cling to his boss and flee to a safe place as soon as he returned to the domain, but for now, he had to survive, didn't he?
While Rick was spouting nonsense he did not mean in order to live, Lina, wearing a black hood, opened her mouth.
“Black Noble Troop, all members prepare.”
Clang!
The sound of twenty members drawing their swords simultaneously, as if a single entity was moving, echoed across the main road.
“Subdue them with poison first.
This opponent seems to have guards, so prioritize safety.”
Her face was never without a smile when she chatted with the members, but on a mission, her face was frozen like ice.
‘The young lord said to retreat if there were guards, but I have to help him.’
She did not know exactly what plan Ian had devised.
Knowing they would not believe him, Ian had not bothered to explain, and since Lina had resolved to simply follow him, she did not ask either.
The only thing she knew was that it was best to rob the merchant guilds directly affiliated with the three domains.
Clutching the dagger she took out from her bosom, she gave Rick a look.
“Ah, crap… I knew dreaming about the young lord was a bad omen.”
Receiving Lina's gaze and realizing that retreat was not an option, Rick let out a deep sigh, then turned his head and shouted at the approaching horse.
“Throw down your weapons and surrender immediately!
We will not attack those who surrender!”
* * *
Before Rick’s shout could even spread, Lina and the Black Noble Troop descended upon Gold Crow.
“How dare you!”
As Ilyeong, a level 4 swordsman capable of imbuing her sword with mana, drew her blade, four members of the Black Noble Troop swarmed around her as planned.
“We’ll block her here!”
Fwshhh!
As the four members of the Black Noble Troop threw black orbs on the ground, a yellow smoke screen spread, and the remaining members ignored Ilyeong and scattered in all directions.
‘Damn it, I have to protect the young lady first.’
While each individual could not be considered strong, they were a well-organized and trained enemy.
If they were skilled enough to use poison the moment they saw sword energy, they must also be prepared for trained elite soldiers.
This side, where the only one with military might was her, the young lady's guard, was at too much of a disadvantage.
“Get lost!”
Growing impatient, Ilyeong brandished her sword, which was thick with sword energy, but the Black Noble Troop only blocked her path without even meeting her blade.
“You rat-like things!”
At her cry of indignation, Lina, who had dodged Ilyeong’s sword from a distance, smiled and said.
“Thanks, that’s our motto.”
Then Puck, who was helping Lina from the side by throwing poison orbs and daggers, said defensively.
“That's not it… Sis, the Captain said we're not black ghosts but precious darkness .”
“Do you believe that?
He just said it because we were upset.”
“But it's true… He said each and every one of us is precious.”
Lina and Puck continued their conversation while leisurely dodging Ilyeong's sword.
In the first place, the Black Noble Troop came prepared for battle, equipped with all sorts of poisons, weapons, and hidden blades.
Even with a level 4 swordsman who had reached the expert level, it was not difficult to just tie her down, not defeat her.
“Y-You!
How dare you ignore me!
Get lost!”
Ilyeong, who had been swinging her sword for a while, threw herself forward with a glint in her eyes.
As soon as she realized that the four members of the Black Noble Troop attacking from all sides were not to be underestimated, she literally began to advance toward Snail's carriage, disregarding her own defense, to save Snail.
“Gah!”
“My, my thigh!”
Workers, pierced through the thigh from all sides, collapsed, and screams echoed.
“I will tear you all to shreds!”
Even though it was hard to even open her eyes from the blood flowing from the wounds inflicted by daggers and hidden weapons, Ilyeong did not stop and moved toward the carriage.
Finally, when she reached the carriage and was about to save Snail, that same grating voice was heard from atop the carriage.
“Hey, lady, you’re way too late.
I ran straight here.”
Rick, holding a black poison orb, greeted Ilyeong with a wide grin.