69. The war begins again (2)
Cardinal Le Sulet looked Cadenza in the eyes and smiled.
I didn’t feel very good about being caught up in the young guy’s thoughts.
But the thing that was disappointing was myself.
“As you already know, the Ministry of Education has a duty to manage warriors.”
“Because you are in charge of the Hero Management Office.”
“Whether we like it or not, we are operating something like an army. As a result, we also carry out routine reconnaissance activities… Currently, the Knights of the Ministry of Education are working near the border of the Demon World.”
Cadenza received his words.
“I guess it’s because of the same business as me. New intelligence has arrived. “I feel like the demons have gained new farmland.”
“That’s right.”
“They say the current Demon King opened a magic door and discovered a huge tract of farmland. It is said that the land is so fertile that the entire Demon World can be fed just from the food grown there .
More so than any other plain on the Joseon continent. Moreover, there is a huge number of bison there, so there seems to be no shortage of meat.”
“That’s the story. Seonghwangcheong cannot ignore the rumor. We must find out where that farmland is and destroy it. From the rumors I’ve heard so far, it seems to be a land to the east of the Demon World…
Cadenza smiled.
Le Sulet stopped talking at his meaningful smile.
“Or do you have any other thoughts?”
“I wouldn’t go so far as to say this as an opinion, but Ascaron’s analysis is a little different.”
“Tell me.”
“Your Majesty the Cardinal, every piece of information has a message behind it. Why did they need fertile farmland outside the Demon World?”
“Demons are supposed to live in the shade, but I heard that they are facing disaster because they are greedy for the land they have grown in vain. “The plague is rampant, the crops are dry and distorted, and many demons
are dying of starvation and disease.”
“They are now turning their eyes outside the demon world. As time goes by, they will adapt to the old land. But not yet. Even if you get land, how long will it take to sow seeds and get crops?”
Cardinal Le Sulet frowned.
“What you’re saying is…
“Now is the time.”
“You mean war?”
“It’s a temple.”
“But less than a year
has passed since the war ended.”
“The damage was not significant. Plus, we have one more powerful card. “The Cardinal may be pleased, but Zeke is a truly powerful Holy Knight.”
Le Sulet hid his true feelings.
“It’s undesirable. Michael himself became his guarantor. On the contrary, I feel blessed that he exists.”
“I’m just grateful that you think that way. “I was wondering if there might be
some problem because the Seonghwangcheong Office was not in a hurry to hold his investiture ceremony .”
“When we return, we encourage people to hurry up and process their documents.”
“thank you. This is for the benefit of humanity. Only when he is there will victory come closer. This became clear when Michael sent his attendant, Scottiel, to rescue Zeke. “The reason we didn’t win the last war was because we kicked Zeke out.”
“Wasn’t there Lord Regin in his stead?”
“Two are better than one.” “It’s a stupid question and a wise answer.”
“We must attack. We need to take our army and leave for the south right now. The Demon World is currently suffering from a food shortage. “Missing this opportunity is close to an act of betrayal.”
“But the ink on the non-aggression pact isn’t even dry yet, is it?”
“Do you mean to acknowledge the contract with the devil?”
Le Sulet smiled bitterly.
“I guess I said something stupid again. “When you say things like this
, doesn’t it mean that His Holiness has already decided on war?”
“That’s right.”
“I agree. Attacking new farmlands in the demon world is also war. As expected, Ascaron has come up with a bold strategy.”
“This war is an all-out war. Every male over the age of 12 living on the continent of Horce must hold a spear. Either we disappear or they disappear. “The war will end in one of two ways.”
It’s time for war.
War began to be talked about more often in people’s mouths.
The shock suffered when Jose Continent fell to the ground has now almost been resolved.
The castle and walls collapsed and tens of thousands of people were crushed to death by stones, but that was no big deal.
The crops grew well and the horses gained weight.
Meanwhile, this story circulated among soldiers and drivers who visited the southern border.
-The demons are starving. There is absolutely no reason to be afraid.
The war was already being discussed openly even in aristocratic society.
There was a large intersection in front of Acoma Castle, the capital of Verde. A small park was created on one side of the large intersection.
The name of the park is Shingeomwi Rock.
It was a park created to commemorate the rock where Balmung was stuck.
In front of the park, a man was swinging his fist and making a loud noise.
“That is the land that was originally supposed to belong to mankind
! The devils are the ones who God ripped off the continent of Joseon into the air and sat on the remaining land as they please. We must take our land back from them!”
Quite a number of people gathered to listen to his story.
An advocate for war, he was a knight with the rank of baronet.
He had a nice sword at his waist and was wearing the formal uniform of the Verdean army.
Still, since it was a cry from a nobleman of considerable status, people
listened with serious expressions.
“Think about it. How have we humans been treated by them over the past 666 centuries? We were attacked once every 100 years for no reason. What sin have we committed against them? Did you go underground and cut off the demon’s head? Did you set fire to their land and poison it? no. We didn’t do anything. “Nothing but living peacefully on the Jose Continent!”
“That’s right!”
“you’re right! “We
didn’t do anything, but the demons invaded the Jose continent with the demon king at their head!”
The Baron’s voice grew louder, perhaps energized by the people’s response.
“The Continent of Jose came to earth and our army faced the demon army at the southern border. Even then, the demons tried to attack us. Fortunately, thanks to His Highness Regin, the King of the Great Divine Sword, we were able to stop the advance of the demons, but even after that, the demons continued to seek the lives of our soldiers.”
an old man shouted.
“You must not trust those wicked people! “My father died miserably after being stabbed by a demon’s sword.”
The last invasion was only 90 years ago.
For the old man who was unemployed, the war with Demiurge 665 was a reality he could not yet forget.
The Baron spoke loudly again.
“Coexistence with demons is impossible! That has been proven over the past 666 centuries. Now, we humans are much stronger than the demons. “If we do not attack and annihilate them at this time
, in a few years they will attack our human country with the devil at their head.”
“That’s right!”
“We must attack first!”
Meanwhile, in the middle of the noisy crowd, one person spoke.
“Wouldn’t it be better to at least reduce the amount of blood that will be shed from now on?”
The crowd and the orators alike glared at him.
The man scratched his cheek at the blatant gaze.
In one arm he was holding a sackcloth envelope
. Green onion stems and other vegetables were visible outside.
Although he was wearing ordinary clothes, it seemed a little unusual that he was wearing something long around his waist.
Even so, it was wrapped in cloth so I couldn’t tell if it was a sword or a broom.
Next to him was a woman with light green bangs covering her eyes.
Feeling burdened by people’s gaze, she hid behind the man’s shoulder.
The baron who was giving a speech gave him
a sharp look.
“What blood will be shed! “What does that mean?”
“It means that if there is a war, many people will die.”
“The history of the Joseon Continent is already a bloody history! “You don’t know that?”
“It was like that until now… but will there be a need for it in the future?”
“under! Even if we stay quiet, the demons will attack!”
“Couldn’t it be resolved through diplomacy? In fact, just as His Highness Leani did.”
“I’m not ignoring his contribution, but it’s just a temporary stopgap measure. Humans and demons have been at war for 666 centuries. “Even if eons pass, that won’t change.”
“Is that really true?”
One of the onlookers pointed and shouted.
“coward! “War must be scary!”
“Hou-dae is fine.”
The man was not in good health. He was close to 190 cm tall and even had weak shoulders, so it could be said that he was at a considerable level for a warrior.
However, since the thing he was holding in his hand was a grocery bag, he only looked like a chef or someone similar.
said the baron.
“Hey young man! “Are you afraid of demons?”
“War is scary. “So many people die.”
“There’s nothing to be afraid of! As a knight of the kingdom, I have participated in countless expeditions, but am I still alive like this? Get over that fear just once. With the victory that follows, humanity will prosper!”
“Once a battle breaks out, 90% of combat slaves die. The situation is not much different for peasant soldiers wearing wooden spears and belted armor. War is a scary thing. “It’s better not to do it if you can avoid it.”
“her! Hey young man. Come to your senses! Why are they so afraid of war when they are so big? You’re already scared without even trying it! “Aren’t you embarrassed to see your parents?”
“You’re scared because you’ve tried it.”
“You tried it? He must have joined a monster hunting expedition near a city somewhere. Do you dare
to boast so completely in front of Baron Charana?”
“I don’t mean to brag, but I am saying that it is better to avoid unnecessary deaths. I’m saying don’t instigate it. “The ones who die are slaves and farmers.”
“Are you going to insult me, a nobleman?”
“Of course, many knights die, but they have the freedom to choose. Aren’t the permanent residents and slaves dragged into a war they never chose, and most of them die? As for being miserable…
“This guy! “Do you dare to insult nobles and
hope to live?”
The Baron’s face became red and he took off one of his gloves.
Throwing a glove at an opponent was a call for a duel.
I was holding it and weighing whether I should throw it or not.
I don’t know what the other person’s identity was, but judging by his clothes and the way he carried vegetables, he seemed like a commoner.
In a contest between commoners and nobles, the nobles win. There is no way anyone would dare take out a sword against a nobleman.
Nevertheless, the Baron
hesitated to throw the glove.
The opponent was so large that, no matter how you looked at him, he looked like he had a sword strapped to his waist.
If that was a real sword, a third possibility remained.
The other person may be a being who transcends social status, that is, a warrior.
There were warriors both nobles and commoners. If a warrior obtains a title, he becomes a noble, but if he does not obtain a title, he remains a commoner.
But regardless of that, the warrior was given the right to use weapons.
Also, even if the warriors were F-rank, they were qualified to duel with nobles.
That was the privilege of those who fought.
No, rights aside, skill was the issue.
Although he had learned swordsmanship here and there, he was not at a level that could be compared to the warrior.
Even the C-class hero was not confident of winning. While I was thinking about what to do, another person appeared among the people.
