◈ 250. [Side Story] It’s not easy.
Kureha briefly talked about what happened after that.
The two brothers traveled all over the continent.
The Danpulrang tribe has completely collapsed. That he joined the children of the survivors of the tribe in the course of his travels.
I couldn’t bear to tell the truth about all of those things, so I told Quilan and the children that the cause of everything was the imperial army.
‘Well, that’s not entirely wrong, but… … .’
If the imperial army hadn’t invaded that village, it wouldn’t have happened in the first place. I crossed my arms and groaned.
Anyway, after a few years of wandering, taking care of refugee villages all over the continent.
It is said that Kureha’s left leg, which was struggling to escape the crisis at this time, was mummified.
Afterwards, Quylan came to regard the empire as an enemy and became a bandit and steadily robbed the empire for 10 years… … .
“… I know a little about your brother’s past.”
The place of our conversation had been moved to the manor house from the middle of the story.
The story was long, and it was because Kureha was worried that Quylan might hear it.
“It’s not just the name that you’re a beastman, it’s that you really have wolf blood.”
“The wolf king Lunared, whom you said you encountered in the dungeon, is really our ancestor.”
Kureha nodded and looked at me with a bitter smile.
“I have heard the slogans of the monster front here. ‘Kill the monster and save the people.’ It was. I think it’s a really right and wonderful value.”
“… .”
“But, Your Highness. what’s the monster? what is a person What is the difference between a monster and a human?”
Hearing those words, I suddenly remembered the question the emperor had asked me in the Imperial City.
– You’re going to protect people? Then what is the definition of a person? Are you human? Are you of a different race? Or is he a monster that spit out human words? How far are you human?
– The traitor? the traitor? What about thieves, robbers and crooks? All these stinking garbage heaps are people! Are you declaring that you will keep all of them together?
standard.
It’s the standard that separates monsters from humans… … .
Kureha kept asking me, who was lost in thought.
“We have wolf blood running through our bodies… Are you a monster? Are you a person?”
“… .”
“Are we really allowed to be on the front line here?”
I kept my mouth shut.
Kureha grabbed the teacup with her right hand and almost lost it, then grabbed the teacup with her left hand and threw it into her mouth.
Cold tea flowed into his parched mouth.
“I have been honest and confided in every part of my brother. Now, whether Your Highness dismisses us or continues to employ us, that is for Your Highness to judge.”
Holy shit. I clicked my tongue inwardly.
Entering this season, there are situations where you have to make value judgments like this, and it is really difficult.
I turned around.
“By the way, I heard that Kuilan is saving money to live in his hometown, what happened to that?”
Kureha burst out laughing and answered.
“Originally, the reason why the Imperial army came there was because of the nearby mines and other resources. It’s been quite a while, and in the meantime, resource mining has ended. The felling of the timber is over.”
“Huh.”
“After the Imperial Army withdrew from the area, there were rumors that there were no people living there and there were werewolves… … The lot came out cheaply.”
Kureha nodded.
“That was the purpose of Quylan. Even though it is already in ruins, buying a hometown with money and rebuilding it with your own strength.”
“aha… .”
“… I forgot all the terrible past, so I guess I had such a dream.”
“Are you against the dream?”
At my question, Kureha narrowed her eyes and slowly lowered her head.
“Well, I’m not sure… but. I’m honestly afraid to go back.”
Kureha’s pale lips were tightly shut.
“Anyway, in the end, it’s the hometown I destroyed.”
***
Put Kureha back on the wagon. Because I am a friend who has difficulty moving.
I looked at the carriage going away and looked to the side and asked.
“What do you think, Lucas?”
asked Lucas.
“What do you mean?”
“These two brothers. And the penal unit.”
I crossed my arms and groaned.
“The blood of a monster like the Wolf King is flowing. Perhaps the ancestors of all the Beasts are in contact with those of the monsters.”
“… .”
“Is it okay to keep them serving here on the front? what do you think about it?”
Lucas is originally the main character of this game and the guy who takes on the role of frontline commander. You have insight, so your advice is helpful.
“My lord must have the compound eye to run the front here, so I apologize for being hasty… .”
Lucas lowered his blue eyes slightly and looked at me.
“Don’t take it out, tell me, man.”
When I playfully tapped his side with my elbow,
“… To be honest, they are of different races anyway.”
Lucas sighed nonchalantly.
“Whether there were monsters or evil spirits among our ancestors, they were enemies of humans until 100 years ago. I don’t know, but the number of humans killed by the allied forces of different races at that time is probably greater than the number of humans killed by monsters throughout the history of the empire.”
“Mmm.”
I definitely felt that the gap between the different races and humans was deeper than I thought. It seems that there are people who hate aliens more than monsters.
“However, Your Highness has already hired the Shadow Army, an elven unit. And they have proven themselves.”
“… .”
“The punishment unit, which is a unit of the beast tribe, also had a rather bad attitude at first, but these days they are active as decent troops.”
It felt strange when Lucas, who had taken the lead in opposing both the recruitment of the shadow unit and the punishment unit, supported them instead.
Come to think of it, Lucas personally trained the punishment unit.
I ran my hand over my chin.
“Okay, it doesn’t matter where you come from… But the problem is that the punishment unit has the possibility of transforming into werewolves.”
“The same goes for humans to betray anyway.”
Lucas seemed to be cool, but a stark answer came flying.
“Now, think about the attack on Sir Reina at the military camp. Everyone has the potential to go crazy and lash out at their allies.”
“… .”
The face of Camus, who had attacked Rayna and was imprisoned, passed before his eyes. Damn I heard that.
‘Come to think of it, the trial of Camus is just around the corner… … .’
I think, Lucas added.
“And that Kureha… I think you need to pay attention to what you just said.”
Addressing him as ‘Mr.’, Lucas hesitated. It’s not a delicate relationship with us. If Kuilan is a student we teach, it feels like a parent who would like Kure.
“Listen? what words?”
“The word ‘standard’.”
Lucas looked at me through the clear wall.
“How far is the monster and how far is the human?”
“… .”
“What is the standard for the person Your Highness wants to keep? We need to make sure of this.”
It is the standard of the person I want to keep.
Suddenly, I also remembered Kelly Bay’s advice I had heard a few days ago.
– Establish principles. And don’t break the rules. Give abundantly when rewarding, and boldly cut off punishment when punishing. Punish the person who caused the accident, and reward the person who prevented the accident.
– If the principle you established is strong, even if your castle is shaken, it will never collapse.
Principles and standards.
As a fledgling commander, that would be a clear compass for me.
I moaned and rubbed my chin, scratched the back of my neck, and rubbed my forehead. It’s not easy to decide this… … .
While thinking about it, hey! After putting it aside for a while, I told Lucas what I had been thinking about for a while.
“By the way, Lucas.”
“yes.”
“Don’t wear real beast shoes anymore. I’m afraid you’ll become a werewolf too.”
Hearing the story of the brothers of the beast tribe, I was terrified all the time. I’m worried about the condition of this guy who is swaying somewhere between a dog and a wolf.
“Don’t worry, lord.”
Then Lucas smiled.
“I am a well-tamed dog. It never bares its teeth against its lord.”
What is it? Are you admitting yourself now? I call myself a Golden Retriever.
But large dogs always have to be careful.
Apart from the owner’s insistence that my dog doesn’t bite, it’s etiquette to wear a muzzle when out for a walk.
“If you can’t use it, don’t use it! got it!”
When Lucas was repeatedly banned from using beast shoes, Lucas smiled sadly, saying he understood.
“… .”
Characteristics of large dogs. terribly wicked.
I don’t know if this main character will listen to me. I let out a deep sigh and shrugged my shoulders. Still, in my field of vision, you will listen well.
***
Two days later. military court.
It’s a courtroom with grandiose words, but it’s a place where the table arrangement in the barracks room has been slightly changed.
There is no way there could be a proper judge in such a remote area. In the first place, this is also a fortress city for military purposes.
The judge who makes the decision is Na Ashe, the lord and commander.
And today’s defendant… … This is Camus, an SR-rank mercenary from Camilla Kingdom who previously attempted to kill Lord Raina and the magic corps soldiers.
Camus, dragged out of prison and sitting on the bench, was in a miserable state.
His whole body was covered in bruises, as if he had been beaten so badly, and his bloody face was so swollen that it was difficult to recognize his original impression.
‘… I heard that the wizards of the magic corps conducted ‘interrogation’.’
As expected, it seems to have been terribly beaten.
It seemed that he had gone through many hardships, but Camus’ expression was calm. Just looking at your eyes makes you feel innocent.
However, Camus’ attempts to kill his allies are undeniably true.
I also acknowledged it myself. At that time, Reina, who was stabbed in the stomach, is still in critical condition in the temple intensive care unit.
In addition, he injured 4 of the guards with a knife.
No matter how much an eye for an eye is for an eye for an eye, it is a fantasy world where private sanctions and revenge are tolerated to some extent.
It has gone far beyond what is acceptable.
“Prisoner Camus.”
After reciting the crimes Camus had committed, I gave a concise sentence.
“I sentence you to death.”
“… .”
Camus silently bowed his head. I spoke.
“The execution of the sentence will be after the next defense battle. more.”
He picked up the wooden mallet provided on the desk and lightly tapped the board below. earth. earth. earth.
Guards came in, grabbed Camus from both sides, and dragged him outside.
Camus walked out of the courtroom on his own two feet, staggering, without saying a word to the end.
‘It sucks.’
I looked down at the wooden mallet in my hand. I don’t want to get used to this.
There were no restrictions on access to the courtroom, so a few people were watching the verdict. The wizards of the magic corps and.
“… .”
Junior.
The gazes of Camus and Junior, who were returning to prison, met once. Camus immediately averted his eyes, and Junior followed his back with his eyes until the end.
“… .”
Until the magic corps and guards all leave, and I clear my seat and leave the courtroom.
Junior was standing there, staring at the vacant seat Camus had left.
“Junior.”
I spoke briefly to Junior, who looked back in amazement when he called me indirectly.
“A meeting is always possible.”
“… .”
“Tell me if you have any thoughts. got it?”
“Your Highness. … thank you.”
Junior showed off his characteristic foxy smile. I also smiled face to face.
It’s not easy.
It’s a tough world.
