Chapter 154

Chapter 154 - A Millennium Plan (3)

From the moment the Sicilyn nobles suffered a major defeat and the Count was arrested, the city's public opinion had decided on surrender.

Nolt, who had suppressed that with military force, became a wanted criminal chased by the entire citizenry the moment his royal guards were annihilated.

- Still, it's a family that has ruled this land since long ago...

It's not that there weren't those who wanted to keep loyalty to the Count's family, but the previously accumulated dissatisfaction was far too great.

City security worsened as pirates secretly used it as an outpost, and all sorts of criminal organizations seeped in like flies twisting over a corpse.

The city's leadership, possessing the pride of being Sicily's number one city, viewed Eugene's army as an opportunity sent from heaven.

- The trend has already been decided anyway. Holding out here isn't being loyal, it's being foolish.

- That is correct. Because the target of our loyalty is this wonderful city, not a corrupted noble bastard.

- They say the knight sir who will newly rule is that incredibly serious about subjugating bandit bastards. They say the bandits and pirates buried by those hands alone number over an astounding thousand. He will surely chase out all the parasite-like bastards of this city.

The problem was that surrendering also had to be done before the siege warfare commenced to properly take effect.

The moment the city walls fell, Nolt immediately fled, but shortly after, he was caught by enraged citizens.

- How dare these lowly bastards bare their teeth at their master?

- It's not teeth but the soles of our feet! You bastard worse than a dog! The city is on the verge of being blown to smithereens because of you!

- Aaaagh!

The final opportunity to vent the anger built up all this time. The people surrounded Nolt and stepped on him bit by bit.

- Stop! Stop! It will be a huge problem if he dies from this!

If the Weaving Guild Master hadn't stepped up and stopped them, they would have killed Nolt right then and there.

- Why are you stopping us? Just how much damage has this damn bastard caused!

It was a situation where the new Lord could potentially replace the city's higher-ups as an example.

The justifications overflow. If there is evidence, as sympathizers; if not, as bystanders. Because a Lord is practically equivalent to God's proxy within their own territory.

The city's leadership who were merely threatened by spears and swords would feel wronged, but it couldn't be helped in an era where collective responsibility was broadly applied.

- That is exactly why we absolutely must not kill him. Shouldn't we offer this bastard up and seek the new Lord's mercy?

- Would that be effective?

- It's 100 times better than doing nothing at all.

As the Weaving Guild Master gestured, slaves brought over chests loaded on a cart and placed them on the ground.

- This is?

When the Brewing Guild Master opened it, gold and silver coins were piled up inside.

- Know that acting on my own arbitrary decision, I cleanly emptied out the Guild Association's safe.

- ...

The safe, formed by accumulating membership fees from each guild, was simultaneously an emergency fund and the legacy of their ancestors. They were individuals who would have raised a fuss asking what on earth he was doing normally, but they maintained silence.

- Doesn't it make no sense trying to call it even with just that single ugly piece of trash?

- S, still, it took a good 150 years to gather this much...

- Are you trying to haggle right now? For things like this, you have to hit them with a Bam! impact right from the start. Just cleanly emptying it and offering it up is the best.

- U, understood.

When the most senior Weaving Guild Master glared with his wrinkled eyes, the Brewing Guild Master dropped his head.

"Hmm."

"We apologize!"

When the arrived Eugene didn't even glance at the chests and only stared at Nolt, everyone groveled flat on their faces.

"It is fine. Standardizing that it seems there is no threat to his life."

'By the way, did I introduce who I am?'

Eugene found it peculiar that the city's citizens treated him as their master so naturally, but soon realized the reason.

The individuals peeping while burying their faces in the ground were trembling violently viewing Might's hooves, which were the size of their own heads.

Certainly riding this guy allows one to free-pass truly many things. Whether that's physical distance or psychological distance.

"Open the city gates!"

As Dwarf warriors shouted, the city gates made of grid-patterned iron lifted. The city's leadership fidgeted restlessly at the military force of the Blackhand Mercenary Corps visible beyond the wide-open city gates.

Among all Beastkin races coexisting on the continent, the group rumored to be the most ferocious is Dark Elves.

Youths blindly praised their beauty as if dreaming, but that could turn into a nightmare at any moment.

"Do not worry. There will be no pillaging."

"A, are you trul... Ack!"

The Weaving Guild Master stomped on the instep of the Brewing Guild Master who was answering with a flushed face.

'Look at this crazy bastard? It's not like you're arguing with the Lord asking if he's joking...'

'Did he win his Guild Master position playing dice gambling?'

At the bloodcurdling glares sent unanimously together, the Brewing Guild Master clamped his mouth shut.

"Why would I do something that stirs up my own city? I possess a strong attachment to my property."

"We thank the Lord's mercy. We never had any intention to resist."

"I am aware. It is entirely that Nolt who is the bad guy."

Laughing lightly, Eugene pointed out several locations in the city. Large places like the Grand Assembly Hall, the Lord's Manor, and performance facilities.

"My troops will use several locations in the city as temporary residences and station there. Reason well with the citizens that there is no need to be terrified."

"Leave it to us. We will not disappoint you."

A time when days have shortened as winter approached. It was already night having fought a battle.

The skin of the army proudly traversing modifying the main street glimmered beautifully as if containing moonlight.

"There is nothing more wonderful than the march of Dark Elves greeting a full moon."

It felt as if the essence of the moon flowed through their blood vessels. Even every single swaying strand of hair seemed like viewing threads spun by silkworms that ate moonlight.

Even the experienced Guild Masters stared blankly at that radiant march.

"Hmph."

"It's only annoying."

Cassandra and Rex beside Eugene wrapped scarves and hoods around their faces respectively, as if human gazes were unpleasant.

Elves and Dark Elves. Calling both collectively as fairies is not merely a metaphorical expression. Because despite possessing human flesh and blood, they are a race close to spirits.

Their innate arrogance and exclusivity toward humans wasn't for nothing.

Dark Elves are individuals who received the blessings of the forest and the moon, so when a full moon arrives, their bodies become a step closer to spirits.

Faint moonlight dwelling on their skin is only the beginning. Their senses become sharper, and their physical abilities also rose marginally.

There was a reason Eugene set today, when a full moon rises, as the day for siege warfare. Although Rex's reaction was seemingly like he waited for nothing.

"The siege warfare was far easier than expected. Had I known it would be like this, we should have struck a bit earlier without waiting."

"Not at all. Today of all days is the opportune time."

Windows opened here and there in the city, and passing people halted as well. It wasn't the common reaction of viewing a new conqueror's army filled with fear and curiosity.

"Look at their expressions. Whether this is a reaction viewing an infamous mercenary corps, or a reaction viewing a fairy festival in a fairy tale."

The gazes of the city's people contained dreaminess beyond wariness or awe toward a mighty army.

Rex is unenthusiastic. Having constantly lived among beautiful kin, he was rather dull to such aspects. Plus there's also lacking interest in praises outside of strength and hunting.

"The army being strong is what's important, what does looking pretty matter?"

"It's important. Tremendously so, at that. Because the public isn't solely drawn by strength and fear."

Merely strong and cool armies are not rare. Even the royal guards of each nation draw admiration from onlookers.

However, there were none who could add alluring beauty to that.

"Your march greeting a full moon is in itself a single magic. A military parade of an army, and like the Milky Way descending beside people, shall I say? A monarch strolling upon that will receive respect beyond what they originally should possess."

Eugene stroked Might's neck.

"So we are something like baby's breath flowers to make you shine, Sir Knight?"

"So to speak. That intense memory will be engraved onto the public as a symbol and become my authority."

"I still don't understand."

"Trust me. Rather than putting on an agonizing act about nobles' blue blood, rituals of hunts, or bloodlines tracking back to mythology, it's better to show a sight like this once."

Rex still seemed to find it difficult to understand, but Cassandra bore an impressed face.

'As expected, does a fellow human understand human hearts best?'

To Cassandra who desires to become a monarch, Eugene's unique way of thinking was always interesting.

The next morning. The number one task Eugene carried out first after reigning as Lord was a summary trial and an execution ceremony.

"I, Eugene Meyer, Master of the Moving Castle, Guardian of Catania, and the Knight who has struck down the Champions of the Evil Gods."

Numerous gazes of the public gathered on Nolt bound atop the platform, and Eugene who drew Last Autumn in front of him.

"Under that righteous name, I sentence you to death. Now, let your soul proceed to the court of the gods. The crime of colluding with pirates, the crime of leading the city to corruption, and the crime of sacrificing soldiers shall be truly judged in that place."

As a silver flash flashed, Nolt's head fell down. However, there was no one rushing in holding bread.

Unlike the continent, since the Apostle State's influence is strong here, barbaric cultures such as dipping bread in a death row inmate's blood to eat had been enlightened.

"Will you personally judge death row inmates every time?"

"As if. I'm not really a person possessing such noble convictions, and I decline bothersome things."

Eugene wiped his sword with the cloth Hind handed over.

"Individuals who were merely following orders died in this siege warfare. Mercenaries aside, there are quite a few who died belonging to the vigilante corps too. Especially since this bastard named Nolt had bought so much resentment anyway, wouldn't it be good if he takes it all and dies for it?"

"I don't think there's a need to go out of your way to do that. Who would harbor resentment against you, my Lord, for deaths that occurred fighting under a different flag? Those people aren't nobles, they're just city citizens."

Hind's thought wasn't wrong either.

It's merely Eugene treating them unceremoniously; fundamentally an enormous difference exists between nobles and those who are not.

Even if they died to Eugene's army, it would be considered suffering a natural disaster within the special environment called war.

Even without an appropriate scapegoat called Nolt necessarily, the bereaved families of dead soldiers wouldn't even think of harboring resentment.

That isn't in the realm of 'how dare they'. It was simply that their resentment or cognitive ability doesn't reach that far. That is the barrier existing between commoners and nobles. Built sturdily across thousands of years.

However, Eugene wasn't the type to be satisfied with that.

"Because I have a lot of greed. If there's even one more thing to gain, there's no need to necessarily stay hands-off. Since I can receive gratitude and respect just by moving my body a bit and putting out some money."

Eugene doesn't have thoughts of becoming a conqueror ruling the entire Sicily island. Because he won't be residing on this island continuously anyway.

Messina, Palermo, Catania. He merely wanted to govern the 3 cities he gained excellently. Perfectly if possible.

"Hold funerals specifically for the vigilante corps among those who died in this battle, and pay consolation money to the bereaved families."

"Understood."

Even if they were powerless individuals who could be ignored, he wanted everyone affiliated with the city to harbor good feelings, or at the very least neutral feelings, toward himself.

* * *

"Please accept my oath by all means."

"Head of the Penwood family. I gladly accept your loyalty."

Eugene accepted minor lords adjacent to the 3 cities joining as new vassals.

- From today, the toll tax for this highway will be raised by 30%.

- What are you saying? All highways in Sicily have been maintained at prices set by the Noble Council for hundreds of years.

- So you're saying you can't pay? Then you can't pass!

- Th! Th! This peninsula invader bastard!

It was a stark contrast to the peninsula's mercenary captains and nobles who stood on the right wing.

After securing a position each post-victory, they were conflicting with the Sicilyn nobles over every single matter.

As much as they participated overstretching themselves for the opportunity to become a Lord, they had many debts to pay off, so it couldn't be helped.

Conversely, Eugene had already broken the ice with many through ransom negotiations and banquets, and it was a situation where they built respect in their hearts witnessing each other's valor on the battlefield.

"Baron Arlington. I am seeing you again since fighting on the battlefield."

"It is merely a relief we didn't cross swords directly. Had we done so, my wife would have become a widow and my incompetent son would have come to this seat instead."

"You are humble. Did you come to make an oath of loyalty as well?"

"It's due to the sword you mercifully returned, Sir."

Baron Arlington dropped his sword, the family's sacred article, during the retreat process.

A warrior of the Hammer Brotherhood captured it and presented it to Eugene, and Eugene returned the sword to the Arlington family envoy praising the Baron's valor.

"I believe I have kept my loyalty as much as I could to the Count who cavorted with pirates. If you take me in, I will fulfill my loyalty as a vassal."

"I genuinely welcome you."

Most of the major families around the cities Eugene was keeping an eye on acknowledged him as their new master.

The fact that his renowned reputation built as a knight was so incredible compared to the existing Count, and the point that he didn't demand chaste faith or unreasonable money compared to other conquerors.

Speaking honestly, he was absolutely not a bad target to switch flags to.

"To think Barons are dedicating their loyalty calling you 'Sir'."

Valda giggled.

Eugene is still just a knight without an official title. In noble society, a bizarre scene was orchestrated where Barons, nominally above him in rank, knelt and kissed the back of his hand making oaths.

"It's not like a title feeds me, so there's no rush, is there?"

"At this point, it seems you are slowly enjoying it too?"

"Enjoying it, you say?"

Valda cutely cleared her throat with an "Ahem! Ahem!" and spread her arms arrogantly, lowering her voice.

"Come before me and kneel. You noble Lord bastards! For I do not have a title nor anything, but I am superior to you."

"...It is truly accurate."

As if waiting, Eugene knelt down in front of Valda.

"U, uhhuh?"

"Beautiful Elf lady. Sage of the Emerald Forest and my most trusted advisor. I possess a mighty army, a castle, cities, and treasures of gold and silver, but what does it matter? When all of that fades in light before your superiority."

"I was just describing you... wait a minute why is that, kyaaa!"

The two were playing extremely excitedly.

Considering their usual dignified appearances, subordinates would never imagine their monarch and mage playing like this.

* * *

Catania was being used as a money-making swill tub for the Count and Nolt. Stolen goods pillaged by pirates and slaves kidnapped from the peninsula were processed and traded through all sorts of means.

Gangs receiving those subcontracts collecting protection money from merchants, harassing ladies, and running amok in the shopping district was an added bonus.

While receiving the loyalty of vassals, Eugene also proceeded with a major cleanup of Catania city.

"Walk straight you bastards!"

Smack!

A sorrowful scream rang out as the skin of a gang action captain tore from the barbed whip swung by a tribal warrior.

"Serves you right!"

"Beautiful warrior! Please swing harder!"

The public booed and threw stones. Every time the cracked and bruised gangs squirmed all over, the signboards hung around their necks shook back and forth.

'I am a thug. I will receive the judgment of the good city citizens.'

Gang members who acted formidably under Nolt's backing were all dragged out and subjected to public humiliation.

Eugene donated the wealth confiscated from them to the city's orphanages, poorhouses, and religious orders.

"Is there a need to go this far?"

"I think the Lord could just keep spoils of this level."

His subordinates practically wore sick and tired faces at how diligently he tried to win over the city's heart.

However, to Eugene who got his hands on 3 port cities, the money shaken out from gangs was merely pocket change.

"I'll be wandering the world with the castle going forward as well, so I must plant a good image to the fullest when I have the chance. So that meaningless disturbances don't occur when I've vacated my seat."

"As expected, you cannot be satisfied with just a Viscount title?"

Cassandra spoke smiling radiantly. A man's ambition was something she liked deeply as much as well-developed muscles.

"I do want a higher title too. But that's just a means."

"Then?"

"Everything has an end. The day will come when the prophecy of destruction aiming for the Blackhand Tribe will also be blocked by the Moving Castle and scatter away."

"It is precisely as you say. Because a prophecy is also a type of meteorological disaster. Just like how a typhoon visiting from the sea dissipates after traversing land to some extent."

"Let's say we dodged the tidal wave of destruction crouching inside my castle. Then what after that?"

"..."

Perhaps not having thought that far, both Cassandra and Rex closed their mouths.

Eugene chuckled and grabbed Rex and Cassandra's hands one by one.

"The times together with you two are truly enjoyable. Always winning, sharing delicious foods, each and every one form unforgettable memories."

Rex gripped back firmly, and Cassandra rotated her hand half a turn intertwining her fingers.

"And when you are together with such precious individuals, you naturally come to think about the future."

"What kind of future do you mean?"

This unique knight's thoughts are always an interesting aspect. The two Dark Elf man and woman sent warm gazes and pricked their ears.

"A veeeery distant future. A future where I, you guys, and even your descendants all die and even our bones rot away."

"???"

At the unexpected answer, both Rex and Cassandra opened their eyes wide and perked up their ears.

"A distant place. In a very distant place, there was a certain great nomadic empire. They were individuals who once half-unified the world from East to West trampling countless powerful nations. To the point they stood out most radiantly even among various ethnicities decorating a page in the history of war. What do you think happened to them afterward?"

It was a story stimulating the Dark Elves' pride as fellow nomadic people.

Rex spoke of the founding myth of a great Dark Elf Hero King who existed in the past, and Cassandra spoke of her envisioned ideal kingdom.

Neither was the answer.

"After a long time passed, they were reduced to leading a miserable life shriveled up with only empty husks remaining. Sandwiched between powerful nations with everything controlled."

At first, Eugene only cared if the three gathered, him, Homi, and even Valda, ate well and lived well.

Then after becoming friends with the Blackhand Tribe, protecting their well-being was added.

As time passed and the group Eugene led grew larger, he came to look at further and further places.

As four digits of Dark Elves entered his castle, the unit of the future he looked at extended to hundreds of years, and even beyond that.

Then at a certain moment, he realized. The destiny of destruction aiming for the Blackhand Tribe. That it wasn't a single entity.

The first one could be avoided hiding in the magical castle, but the second one was not the kind that could be avoided by hiding.