Chapter 153

Chapter 153

***

The shocking news that King Leonar had died spread to the world faster than the wind.

The steel sword of vengeance forged in flames points at the Kings. Bards sang songs like that.

And it was also said that the peerlessly brave Rickart was punishing the villains of the world, but it was unknown why that was so. Was it because he treated people well?

Everyone expected that after King Leonar, it would be King Louis of the Cafe Kingdom's turn. Truly so, because the Steel Knights were marching north.

An army that even Kings trembled in fear of. That was close to a single natural phenomenon. Something like irresistible death, that was.

People considered that the arrogance of the Kings, the foolishness of chasing only immediate profits brought about disaster.

By the way, human hearts were truly wicked, everyone secretly hoped the King would die. There was no particular big reason, they just wanted to see a person in a high place fall, to see their downfall.

The phrase 'beloved King' was truly contradictory. Because it's destiny that playing the role of King inevitably incurs animosity from people.

Moreover, since it was a family-centric society rather than the country itself, there were many families harboring grudges or resentment against the royal family. To such people, the Steel Knights was a single opportunity and event.

However, no one knew what Rickart, what the Steel Knights truly desired.

The knighthood did not desire vengeance. Escaping from oaths, duties, and compulsions, they were heading to Adelorn towards salvation.

What Rickart promised the knighthood was merely a modest daily life. Forming a family, having children, working honestly, growing old, and dying. That was all.

The knights and soldiers didn't know if that was right. They merely believed. That salvation was there.

The flag of the knighthood was religious yet somewhat bizarre. A skull on a black cross. Wait, ddid it rather suit them?

Tilting his head and frowning his face somewhat, a young noble looking up at the fluttering flag of the Steel Knights thought like that. He was a person with black curly hair and a large nose.

On another flag nearby, a flaming sword was drawn. It seemed the flags were different for each unit. Under the blue sky where white clouds drifted, various flags fluttered.

While he was spectating the flags, someone tapped his shoulder from behind. Half-dazed, he snapped back to his senses.

Looking back, a soldier was staring blankly at him. 'How dare you touch the body of a noble', he couldn't bring himself to say.

Because acting haughty also had to be done picking the time and place. If one lacked such discernment, one's life could be in danger sometimes.

The young noble wasn't stupid to that extent. They were people who even killed a King, wouldn't they kill a mere fourth son of a Baron family even while smiling?

"Ahaha, what is the matter?"

However, the awkwardly smiling face looked somewhat stupid.

"You may go now."

"Ah, thank you."

As the soldier nodded his head towards somewhere and spoke, the young noble moved his steps.

It was none other than that he was waiting for his turn. Because all sorts of people came visiting the place where the Steel Knights passed by and stayed briefly.

There were truly many people in the world coveting powerful strength. People saying they would give money, honor, land, beauties, etc., whatever they wanted, so please grant my request.

Most of those requests were asking to kill someone. Especially neighboring lords, sworn enemy families for generations, etc etc.

Among them was also a person who said they would actively help in killing King Louis of the Cafe Kingdom.

It seemed like the country was a mess, but in a way it was a natural phenomenon. Because things that were under the surface merely floated up. Due to the variable called the Steel Knights.

When the young noble reached a place where knights were on guard in all directions particularly heavily, he saw Rickart sitting on a rock wearing comfortable clothes with a sword strapped to his waist.

He was a handsome young man with blond hair. He was younger than he thought, and it was fascinating because he didn't look ferocious. The calm hazel eyes were intellectual as if containing deep thoughts.

A knight briefly scanned the young noble up and down once, then gestured with his chin as if telling him to go. Only then could he approach close to Rickart.

Rickart merely stared blankly at the next person in line. Then the young noble gulped dry saliva once and spoke.

"Keuhm, heum. Hello, Commander of the Knights. It is an honor to meet you. The Commander's great name traverses the entire Empire, and your peerlessly brave steps are truly even moving. I am called Simon of the Fontaine family, the 'Taster' of His Majesty the 'Faithful' Louis, King of the glorious Cafe Kingdom. Our King was greatly impressed by the punishment of that wicked Basque King, and sent me as he earnestly has words to convey to the Commander."

The Cafe Kingdom and Basque Kingdom were longtime nemeses. So perhaps that's why they rather welcomed it even when a King was supposedly murdered.

Even so, there was a saying that a King ddid not kill a King, wasn't it too much?

But thinking differently, if considered as dying in battle during combat, it wasn't that shocking an incident either. Because it was during war anyway.

Anyway, as envoys sent by nobles typically did, Simon's useless words were truly long.

The 'Taster' meant none other than the person who tasted the food first to see if there was poison in it before the King ate, and since it also meant the King specially trusted them, it was one of the honorable positions.

"Nice to meet you. I am Rickart. Yes, what are the words the King wishes to convey?"

"Ahaha, it is not a serious matter. He merely sent me to resolve any misunderstandings there might be between our King and the Commander. I also know. Perhaps, doesn't everyone in the world know? That the Flame Knights, no, the Steel Knights are innocent. To speak honestly, it does not make sense. How honorable the knighthood is, how could they suddenly worship demons one day? This is definitely undoubtedly an unscrupulous framing. However, our King's piety was too deep, so he had to follow the judgment of the Holy Empire. If he had known that the 5th Prince was behind it, he would have inversely actively protected the knighthood. It is a regrettable matter."

So what he was saying was that King Louis of the Cafe Kingdom killing the people of the knighthood branch and confiscating their assets all stemmed from a misunderstanding.

It was words even a passing dog wouldn't believe. However, as diplomacy always was, it was merely rhetorical expression.

Rickart knew, and was seeing clearly through even the King's ulterior motives. That it was an intent to buy time somehow, that was.

If the talk gwent well and the 'misunderstanding' was resolved it's good, and even if not, he probably intended to gather troops while stalling for time.

Due to the nature of the feudal system, the troops of the directly controlled territories might be assembled somewhat quickly, but 6,000 men, and to fight against the most specialized army in the world at that, at least twice that was needed.

However, same with the Basque Kingdom, they were all barking up the wrong tree. Because they didn't know what Rickart and the knighthood wanted.

"Words are merely empty, shouldn't there be something visible to the eye to resolve a misunderstanding?"

Rickart spoke as if he was deliberately falling for it. So it was a question asking what he would give.

Simon of Fontaine quickly smiled broadly.

"Indeed you are brilliant. How could all misunderstandings be resolved with just words? There must be affection going back and forth for upset feelings to be resolved too. Our King is not that petty. Perhaps you will be greatly startled if you hear my words?"

Was this guy trying to joke with me right now? As he kept beating around the bush, Rickart looked at the King's envoy as if he would beat him up once.

Then, quick-witted as he was, he instantly read the meaning contained in that expression and immediately brought out the main point. Sizzling down after a very brief silence, he adjusted his posture and spoke with a serious expression.

"Duke. The title of Duke of Renouart. How about it?"

"Where is that? I hear it for the first time?"

"Except for Blood, which is the King's directly controlled territory, it is the most lucrative land in the kingdom. The wheat yield alone is 10,000 seok a year, and the grape farms and hunting grounds are the best in the Empire. The deer are gigantic so there is a lot to get as meat, and even the taste is good. Is that all? Truffles are specially famous, which are spices more expensive than gold of the same weight. It has a large population and the people's disposition is brave yet highly obedient, making it a good land to raise soldiers. If the Commander becomes a Duke, our King will have no worries from external invasions and can concentrate only on ruling, so it is the most dearly wished for matter."

It was a tremendous proposal, but this too was merely words. Giving this and that reason saying to please wait a little, they could delay it day after day endlessly.

They might truly give the title, but Rickart had no interest from the beginning.

Rickart turned his head as if lost in thought and looked at the agricultural lands spread out widely nearby. Farmers were threshing the wheat they had just harvested.

Seeing that sight, Simon thought Rickart would definitely be tempted whether he believed it or not. It was a whopping Duke. Unless it was a family connected to the royal family, becoming a Duke was practically impossible.

Even if it wasn't a positive answer it was fine. Even if there was just a very slight wavering of the heart, it was a success. If this matter alone wrapped up well, he could advance in the world surpassing his main family, the Baron family.

He could flatten the nose of that show-off oldest brother of his, and his father who ignored him, as if showing them.

However, Rickart's answer was neither positive nor negative, but completely unexpected.

Rickart looked at the agricultural land just beginning to be harvested, then turned his gaze back to look at Simon and said.

"Why not Blood?"

"Pardon?"

"You said it right. That it is the best land except for Blood. Then doesn't that mean Blood is the best? Why not there?"

"That place, I told you it is the King's directly controlled territory......"

"Is that so? Hmm...... Then can't you give a position higher than Duke?"

What was this person talking about? Simon was so dumbfounded that his own heart ended up wavering.

"There is no position higher than Duke. There is Margrave in the Empire, but strictly speaking it is a lower position than Duke. Therefore, could it be? Do you want Grand Duke?"

"No, no...... I heard another person said they would make me King?"

"Pardon?"

Rickart looked back at Raimund and said.

"Who was that person earlier? The person with a belly wearing armor."

"I do not remember the name either but I know who it is. I will call him over."

"Yeah, yeah. Wait a moment."

Simon blinked his eyes absurdly and dumbfounded.

Presently, as Rickart said, the person with a belly wearing armor was called out. Simon saw him and his expression abruptly stiffened.

Rickart looked at the person with a belly and said.

"Didn't you say your master is the Duke of Estier? Didn't that person convey to me saying let's join forces and kill the King together? And after that they would give Blood to me. The throne too."

"......"

In a way it was like a secret pact, but Rickart openly said it all in front of the King's envoy. So the situation was bizarre.

After a very awkward and bizarre silence flowed for a moment, Simon glared sideways at the person with a belly and said.

"......I knew it. You traitor."

The person with a belly originally had a blunt impression itself, so there was no change in expression.

"It's probably not that we are traitors, but that your side are tyrants right."

"Tyrant you say? What exactly did the King do?"

"Didn't he arbitrarily break off the engagement with our family? Even petty Barons do not do such insults."

"What? Baron what? Fine, but that was something the King from the generation before last did right."

"Then does it disappear? Did the royal family officially apologize? I don't recall that. And, at the drop of a hat, you called our master to royal banquets and made him a laughingstock. Then what did you expect? Did you think we would continue to remain a laughingstock?"

"Look here, Sir Evreux. What are you making excuses for so much? This is treason!"

"Yeah well, if it's treason it's treason. But, do you think it's just us? If more than half of the great nobles have already made up their minds, isn't it not our problem but your side's problem?"

The envoy sent by the King and the envoy sent by the Duke of Estier fought with each other as if they forgot they were in front of Rickart. And the argument became increasingly fierce and vulgar.

"Hey, you fucking bastard. Listen well to my words. You're not even a knight right? Watch your back on your way home."

"Do it! Do it! Do it if you can! Why don't you do it right here right now!?"

"Alright, you think I can't if told to do it?"

The person with a belly named Evreux tried to draw the sword at his waist. As Rickart gestured with his eyes, nearby knights quickly stepped forward, pushed the half-drawn sword with their hands to sheathe it again. And grabbed the two to pull them apart.

"Just like an ignoramus! Hey! Do you even know how to read!?"

"I know! You fucking bastard!"

"I will not forget today's insult! It is an insult to our King and my family!"

"That's what I should say! You rotting dried up bastard!"

The two people distancing gradually shouted more fiercely with more vulgar words the further they got. It was exactly like some drunks fighting each other.

Rickart felt like he didn't want to stop them and wanted to actually try making them fight, but since it would probably end one-sidedly he figured it wouldn't be very fun.

What was important was not that, but internal division. However, this wasn't something Rickart fostered, but merely making them take out and show what was inside their hearts.

Rickart stayed until the shouting sounds of the two people couldn't be heard, then got up from his seat.

"Let's slowly move."

Raimund nodded his head. And then after chasing out all the visitors, they bought the wheat that was just beginning to be harvested with money.

Because they bought it at local wholesale prices, it was very cheap. Still, to reduce weight during movement, they paid generously. There was no pillaging.

Like that Rickart passed through the fertile southeastern part of the Cafe Kingdom. After packing grain abundantly, they advanced northeast riding the paved roads built during the ancient Empire era.

Because the entire northern region had many plains, so if a battle broke out they could fully utilize the knight forces and it was comfortable for marching.

Like that, Rickart left the western part of the Empire. Leaving a storm behind. That was an after-storm.