My Villains Episode 359
61. The Art of War ⑴
The power to transform the desolate land of the plateau into fertile farmland was a miracle in itself, but the sight of Theodora stepping on the ground bathed in light was even more mysterious than that.
Unlike Nawan, who was seduced by the beautiful scene itself, the other knights of Prince Ulkar looked even more surprised at the fact that they had blessed the vast fields surrounding Keibor in just one day.
“It’s amazing speed. It should be faster than most high priests.”
“I heard that I was anointed by the bishops of Hongui, so I wonder if there was a reason for that…
As they admired, Princess Theodora’s ‘Ceremony of Consecration’ proceeded much faster than expected and was finished around the morning of the next day.
Before setting out, the Prince decided to leave some troops behind to keep the peace, as he had done in Longdale.
Kaybor is a small settlement compared to Longdale, but the public sentiment was very uneasy. Thanks to this, the remaining team was over twenty, including the knights.
“…but you’re going to stay too?”
“Yes Nari.”
It was none other than the veteran conductor who volunteered to remain as a latecomer.
“Why? It’s not like anyone asked for help, so why are you trying to get involved in troublesome things? What are you going to do?” “I’m thinking of recruiting recruits.”
“boot?”
I was dumbfounded and burst out laughing.
“Are you insane? It was just yesterday that our prince caught and hanged a villager. But you said you would recruit recruits here?”
“Residents won’t gather very much. I am targeting refugees.”
“Refugees?”
“The refugees who fled from the east to avoid the Bloodmane mercenaries.” “
It seems that
the people over there are slowly preparing to go back ?”
“Not all. It’s because there are guys everywhere who are not farming. If you jingle your money bag in front of them, you should be able to collect quite a few.”
“Even if it were, everyone would be talking nonsense.”
“A big battle is right around the corner, sir. We have to increase the number of pages somehow.”
Confidre added with a fairly determined expression.
“And what is gathered in High Castle right now is not a single army.”
“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
He took out the story that he had heard from his own soldiers, including Andros.
“The troops that can be said to be under the direct control of the three princes are less than 2,000 when combined. Including the soldiers of the Marquis of Landry, who are the prince’s ardent supporters.”
“…Two thousand? I’ve heard that if Antrum’s army joins, there will be well over 4,000 people?”
“If you count all the forces, it is. Minor lords from Odenlock, Abiden, etc., and troops If you add up the forces of the knights who have been granted the banner）.”
According to Conwhir’s explanation, Ulkar’s forces totaled around 4,500 men.
Among them, Ulkar’s direct subordinates were about a thousand, and Margrave Landry’s troops, who were almost directly subordinate to him, were about eight hundred. Among the troops sent by the Marquis of Avon, there were about 1,200 people who arrived safely, and about 1,500 miscellaneous troops led by lords, landlords, and envoys from various places.
“…It’s a complete mess. How many
commanders are there, then?”
“Of course, the main commander is the Third Prince. However, we cannot ignore the opinions of Count Orth and Viscount Cyril Lord Dailecid.”
Earl Orth is the deputy of the Marquis of Eavon and the commander of Antrum’s army – nominally so – and is the most powerful person other than Ulkar. However, since he is only a sixteen-year-old kid and has signed some kind of pact with Ulkar, it’s less likely to be a problem.
Viscount Cirillo is the hostess of Count Ines, Lord of Abiden, and Sir De Ilesid is a famous knight in Odenlock. They represent the armies from Abiden and Odenlock, respectively.
“…what’s so complicated.”
“This is not the end. It’s a small lord that doesn’t belong anywhere, and there are more than ten knights. Besides, even the major lords do not have complete control over their subordinates.”
Come to think of it, Marquis Eabon’s reinforcements were also complicated in composition. Of the 1,200 troops, only 500 of Ariaga’s privates could be said to be directly subordinate to Count Os, and the rest were brought by vassals such as Luyan Tosses Bran.
Right now, even Ruyan and Toset had the title of baron and were dog-like, hard to control.
“Viscount Cirillo and Lord Dailecid are in a similar situation to Count Osse.”
“Why are you there?”
“Viscount Cirillo is bragging that he went to the battlefield in place of a young sugar girl. However, he has never been officially appointed as an agent by Count Ines, and he says he cannot properly control his subordinates due to his lack of respect for his original body.”
“Hmm.”
“To be precise, the Warlords of Abiden regard him as their representative, not as their superior.”
“…Sir Daleceed? Isn’t that nobleman famous for fighting well?”
“you’re right. There will be no one who doesn’t know his skills, and he also carries the ‘Budain’, the sword of Count Coburn. However, the title is low and sometimes problems arise. Of course, things are better than Count Ost or Viscount Cirillo.”
…Ha, I’m going to break my head.
“Is this how we can go to war? Can’t we just gather them all together and have Prince Ulkar command them all?”
“Of course not. If you try to take away the command, the lords will immediately leave.”
“It’s rotten…
It’s like a dog, but it wasn’t something I couldn’t understand.
Right now, I alone have over 50 underlings. If Ulkar asked me to surrender them all, would I be obedient to my men?
Of course not. How much money did I put into it? No, it was natural to feel repulsive to leave such a thing and lose the subordinates whom he had attached to so far.
I, who treats my subordinates as mercenaries, thinks the same way, so it will be more difficult for lords to take away command from those who treat their subordinates as their subjects.
“…But what does the army in High Castle do? It has nothing to do with recruiting new recruits here?”
“I’m trying to prepare, sir.”
“prepare?”
“If you have a small army, you will be ignored by the lord and knights. You may even get a real penalty.” “no way.” I scratched my cheek and smiled bitterly.
“It’s a bit embarrassing to say with my own mouth, but I’m quite famous. Besides, I’m directly under Prince Ulkar. Who ignores and who penalizes?” “That’s something I don’t know. What is certain now is that there will be no loss because there are many troops.”
“….♦.Hmm.”
“There may be a lack of training, but if you play hard before the battlefield, everyone will quickly become strong soldiers.”
I thought for a moment and then nodded.
“Okay, let’s do that. How much are you going to collect?”
“I plan to recruit as much as funds allow.”
“Still, you have to catch the maximum.”
He took out handfuls of gold and silver coins from the money box he had put in the saddle of the bicorn and put them in his pocket.
“Don’t exceed 50 people. If possible, arrange arms and supplies here and bring them.”
“Then I think we need more people.”
Confair asked for Fritz with a ponytail and Dylan, a heavy-duty dervish watchman, and I immediately shook my head.
“Dervish and Dylan are okay. No fritz. Either I, the foul-tempered bird, or I should stick next to Utequai.”
When he offered to hire the poacher Cavas and the spearman McKayg instead of Fritz, Confair seemed convinced.
Leaving behind the five subordinates, including Confidre, I followed Ulkar on the road.
By the time they left the garrison between the hills, the cavalry, which had numbered over one hundred and forty, had dwindled to less than one hundred. Considering that there were about 30 people left in Longdale and Kaybor, it means that about 10 people lost their lives.
Since the remnants of the Bloodmane mercenaries were wiped out, the damage wasn’t that great, but since each of the dead was one of the elite among the elite, it must have been a painful sacrifice for Ulkar.
“let’s go!”
However, the prince with long silver hair still had a booming voice. The sound of horses hooves running along the dry dirt road was lighthearted.
Since the real war hasn’t even started yet, they must put aside the sorrow of sacrifice for a while and return to the fortress full of the joy of victory.
I was about to follow him on the reins, but I suddenly looked back at Keibor.
Due to Ulkar’s strict order, the villagers didn’t even show their noses. Everyone is stuck in their own homes, waiting for us to leave and be deceived.
It’s bitter. Considering the mercy we gave to Keibor, even if we were treated with a grand farewell banquet, it wouldn’t have been enough, but in reality, it looks like looters leaving the conquered land… Thinking that, I looked back at
Theodora this time. She was driving her white horse, Brightmere, with an expressionless face. I pulled the reins and put her and the horse’s head side by side.
Kheung.
As I was forcibly calming down the Vicorn, who was raging in displeasure, Theodora, who woke up from her thoughts, looked back at me.
“Ah, Sir Phoenix.”
“What are you thinking so deeply about?”
She replied with a slight smile.
“Nothing. I was just blank.”
“You must be tired.”
“…any. It’s been a long time since I’ve used divine power in such a hurry.”
Well, it’s just that I’m tired.
From yesterday afternoon to this morning, the land blessed by Theodora reached a radius of 3 kilometers. He roamed the farmland that could feed 100,000 people and sprinkled his divine power.
Comparing the size, it was roughly the size of Gwanak-gu, so just walking around it would have been tiring. Moreover, she prayed nonstop and even gave blessings, so it was a great thing to be able to ride the horse like this.
“It would have been fine if you hadn’t been in such a hurry.”
“no. Actually, I wanted to leave K. Bor as soon as possible.”
“…Because of the eyes of the residents?”
“It’s a little different.”
She brushed her light blonde hair and shook her head.
“The whole village was trembling with anxiety.”
Ulkar is a warlord with a reputation beyond the kingdom and on the continent. It was only natural that the serfs were frightened when he saw him raging—albeit half-fictitious.
“And the problem was with me after all. How could I not be in a hurry?”
The height of the bicorn was about 20 cm taller than Brightmere, and it was not a very good environment for a conversation because it was running at a long canter.
However, because of this situation, I began to pay more attention to the voice and movements of the other person. Not only I, but also Theodora was far more awake than the criminal, so it wasn’t too difficult.
So, if we were concentrating on each other with our horse heads side by side, we would be able to continue our conversation as if we were alone with the wind as a sound barrier.
“I don’t understand.”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t know what the difference is between the priests of the Church of El Ganor and the Princess, no, the Church of Calandari. Aren’t they both worshiping the same god anyway?”
“…you might think so. Calandari and El Ganore parted ways in the end over useless doctrinal disputes.”
‘Discussion on the Correlation between the Lord’s Will and the Power of the Priest’ I am familiar with the doctrinal dispute commonly referred to as the ‘power-will dispute’. It wasn’t something Kim Seung-soo learned, but it was something Phoenix knew.
There are complicated logics, but let’s omit them all and explain them easily… The
Church of El Ganore believes that the power of the clergy does not contain the will of God, and the Church of Calandari believes that the will of God is contained. .
Suppose, for example, that a person has contracted a venereal disease as a result of a promiscuous life. What if he washed away the venereal disease through the power of the priest after paying an offering rather than a proper price?
In response, the Cult of Calandari believes that God has forgiven venereal patients.
They believe that God will forgive them if they come to church and repent because the Lord of Light they worship is infinitely merciful.
The Cult of El Ganore is different. To them, the recovery of a sexually transmitted disease patient is a phenomenon that has nothing to do with God’s forgiveness.
The Lord of Light they worship respects human free will and does not rule the world directly, but only uses those with unchanging sincerity and excellent judgment as surrogates. It is the Lord’s will that selects the vicar, that is, the priest, but the authority they wield is regarded only by the priest’s own will.
At first glance, it seemed like they were fighting over an insignificant topic, but when you think about it, it was an understandable argument that the church was really divided.
By the way…
“…useless doctrinal disputes?”
“exactly.”
Theodora nodded and continued. Her pale green eyes, resembling the leaves of early spring, were filled with rare branches.
“Of course it is important to know where the will of the Lord is. But do you really think it’s worth it, after hundreds of years of self-restraint and antagonism over it?”
“Absolutely not.”
“The priests who are to spread the light to Calandari and El Ganore and all the land. To think that such people are leading the way and instigating confusion. I need to know my duty.”
The princess, who had frowned her eyebrows and shouted lowly, sighed.
“…It’s not a problem that can be solved by complaining. Still, I won’t point fingers at the Gwangmyeong Church like Eun as heresy.”
“Um, that’s right.”
When I silently nodded, Princess Theodora, who had been shaking her reins, glanced sideways at me and asked a question insinuatingly.
“…You made a lot of noise without asking what Mr. Yin thought. Maybe it’s because I’m unusually tired.”
Facing the princess who spoke as if making excuses, I burst out laughing.
“You have nothing to ask. Because I think the same way.”
“exactly?”
“As I said, I don’t really know what the difference is between Calandari and El Ganore. Actually, I’m not interested.”
Saying that, he shrugged and Theodora smiled.
How long have you been running side by side with Theodora?
We arrived at a walled city standing tall among desolate plateaus, lush forests and vast marshes.
A giant castle located on the border between the Milanol Kingdom, the Mittergeland Empire, and Asag, the land of death.
It was a high castle.
