Chapter 242

Chapter 242 - Entering the War (2)

"There is something I wish to ask the Castle Lord."

"Please ask comfortably."

Eugene treated her kindly like always, but Alesa knows she must equip more manners the more he does so. Because the man in front of her is not the knight of a small manor who came finding them leading a few dozen mercenaries in the past.

"Do you plan to fight the Emperor?"

"If I were to join either the Imperial Faction or the Noble Faction, it would be the latter. Since the nobles I've formed ties with, starting from my first fief bestowal, are all on that side."

"Ties are more important than anything else."

It is a part Alesa also sympathizes with. Because thanks to those ties, her own clan is also avoiding a wicked prophecy and enjoying unprecedented prosperity.

"This place is also a territory surrounded by the Noble Faction. Above all, wouldn't I be the one the Emperor wants to kill the most in the world? Having suddenly popped out and snatched up the Moving Castle he coveted so much."

With circumstances big and small intertwined, Eugene effectively belongs to the Noble Faction already even before making a decision.

"However, whether to wage an all-out war army against army is a different story."

Unlike other nobles whose wealth is completely bound to Roman, for Eugene, a single village is everything.

Northfork's value is definitely high. The symbolism of being his first acquired territory, high economic value, and crucially the part that it's a bridgehead to recruit various Dark Elf tribes.

However, it is ultimately just one village. He plans to not even hesitate at war in order not to lose it, but if the situation doesn't permit, he could also give it up. That is also one of the futures Alesa had already thought of.

"The Noble Faction has high expectations for the Castle Lord. If you do nothing at all, your reputation among the great lords will be cut down, would that be alright?"

Even while expecting what kind of answer Eugene would give, Alesa deliberately yielded the last move pretending not to know.

"There's a lot I can do. Such as disrupting the Imperial Faction's rear with a solo operation or supplying goods to the Noble Faction using Moving Castle."

"It's a wise judgment."

Alesa nodded her head at the extremely pragmatic policy.

"But your face still looks worried, Chief?"

"...Because the Emperor's military force is strong to that extent. Of course, I believe in the Castle Lord who has won every battle on the battlefield. But if you fight properly, the damage will be larger than any battle up to now."

Alesa wanted to avoid her beloved tribe members dying and getting hurt countless times. Although it was hard to bring up the words for fear of hurting Eugene's pride.

"As the Castle Lord also knows, the strongest individually in each country is the royal family."

"To say it in reverse, it means they're about the level of a great lord slightly stronger than other great lords."

'A king without a stomach ulcer is not a king.' To the point where there is such a saying, the throne is a position that must read the room on all sorts of things.

Even if it seems at a glance like wielding absolute power, from holiday gifts to mediating nobles all over the country. Worries big and small do not cease for even a moment. Because the moment you ignore that, the seeds of rebellion are created.

"Roman is special. There is an army that has established its base in the capital region and reveres only the King."

"You mean the Shadow Legion. I have heard its reputation well."

It's a famous army, enough that Eugene, who had been active far away from the center of Roman, had heard of it several times.

During the 2nd Era, the Ancient Kingdom commanded dozens of legions capable of independent operations to unify and rule the world.

However, brilliant glory gets buried in the flow of time. The legions overflowing with individuality that created countless epics also disappeared into the back alleys of history.

However, just one.

There is a legion that was established when the Ancient Kingdom was a small city-state and has survived until now.

Since it was the first legion, it used Alpha (Α) meaning the beginning as its symbolic flag, and after being absorbed into Roman, it added Omega (Ω) meaning the final legacy.

The Alpha and Omega of human war history (ΑΩ).

The guardian of the Roman royal family.

The army that subjugated the most Champions.

The shadow left by the Ancient Kingdom.

That is the Shadow Legion.

"Until now, since it was a phase surrounded on all sides, the Emperor also had to place an army to defend the capital."

"Then with achieving a great victory this time, he became able to pull out the capital defense force."

Alesa nodded her head to Eugene who was listening carefully.

"The Southern Noble Allied Forces were greatly defeated, but they haven't been annihilated. However, gathering the scattered army and collecting military provisions will take time."

The Emperor became able to escape from a two-front war and mobilize the Shadow Legion that defended the capital. This is also an act bearing considerable political burden, but coming to this point, what deeds couldn't he do?

* * *

Alesa's eyes widened roundly as she surveyed the inside of Moving Castle following Eugene.

"When I saw it last time, it was almost empty except for about the salt warehouse, but my goodness! With this much, there will be more than enough to supply the entire Western army."

"If the Emperor's army is that strong, there is no need to necessarily wage an all-out war. Because just supplying from behind the Noble Faction Allied Forces and grabbing a share becomes a sufficient benefit."

Alesa felt relieved while on the other hand, curiosity also arose. Since she confirmed that Eugene had a firm pragmatic intention, she could ask comfortably.

"Doesn't your blood boil as a knight?"

"Not particularly?"

"The glory obtained by striking down Roman's tyrant will be incomparable to anything else."

"I am immensely looking forward to the money I'll earn acting as a sutler. Because I'll be able to sell things more expensively than usual prices. It's no different from a golden fishing ground opened on land."

"Fufufut."

Alesa swallowed a laugh mixed with relief and dumbfoundedness. Due to the achievements and bravery he's accomplished, people around him often misunderstand, but Eugene is not particularly a knight-like personality.

"To me, Roman's civil war has a different level of importance than Britannia's. If necessary, I can become a sutler or a scavenger as much as I want."

In a fight between large armies, things as important as solid logistics are rare. Since the armies of the Western nobles are sound and the Northern nobles also recovered their strength, there was no need for Eugene to even step to the front.

"It truly reassures me since the Castle Lord speaks so. The weak tribes preparing to join will also be glad."

"You said there are many wandering Dark Elf tribes who fled due to the civil war, right?"

There are several Dark Elves preparing to join Moving Castle in the fortress village near Northfork.

"I suppose they're worrying that I'll put them at the forefront of the war."

"Because they are weak groups where the entire clan would shake even if just 10 able-bodied men die."

Unlike the Blackhand tribe which is a super-powerful military faction, there are also many small blood kin of merely a few dozen people.

"I have no thoughts of acting viciously to people who will become one family, though."

"The Castle Lord's mercy is exceptional. It can't be helped for wandering people with weak power. Since everything is eating meals while walking on eggshells."

"Anyway, it's highly welcomed from my perspective."

There aren't many Dark Elf tribes that are immediate combat power in war or technology like the Blackhand family.

The tribes hoping to join this time are the weak driven away by the wind and waves of the civil war. Even if nomadic skills and an appropriate level of hunting and combat are possible, they couldn't become the combat power Eugene expects.

'But that alone is enough. Since what I want is them themselves.'

Dark Elves are the race with the smallest numbers even among Beastkin. Eugene wanted to secure genetic diversity as much as possible.

Currently, the Blackhand tribe has welcomed a baby boom thanks to the high-quality living environment. The more outside tribes to mix blood with them, the better.

Dark Elves running away escaping the pillaging and slaughter of the civil war while living a wandering life in Roman. Protecting and absorbing them is Eugene's top priority issue. It is the biggest reason he decided to join the civil war despite his main territory being overseas.

"Castle Lord! The Cocoon tribe has just arrived."

Just in time, a messenger informed them of a Dark Elf tribe that newly entered Northfork.

"Sir Rex, who escorted them, urgently requested support of medicine women."

The tribal knights including Rex are leading a small number of elite cavalry, patrolling the outskirts and going out to meet the tribes coming to join. However, the situation seems to be no good at all.

* * *

"Food is overflowing! We have an amount for everyone to eat their fill, so chew thoroughly!"

The Blackhand tribe warriors shouted to the Dark Elf refugees.

However, these people, starved from the harsh march, were busy cramming bread and potatoes full into their mouths. Having received their kin's hospitality at the end of a painful road of hardships, they couldn't maintain their usual stuck-up appearance.

"Hey, you guys! We said we aren't taking it away!"

"If you get indigestion doing that, you'll suffer more!"

The refugees were skin and bones, scabs formed on their bone-dry lips, and they had lost even all their livestock.

The warriors were good at pillaging or suppressing, but they had no talent in smoothly controlling refugees. It was only after Cassandra arrived leading female warriors and medicine women that it was properly settled.

"There and there! And classify the personnel over there separately. They are too skinny so you shouldn't suddenly feed them solid food. Loosen a little finely torn bread in soup and feed them. As soon as the bathwater boils, move the children and mothers first."

Cassandra, who had trained the qualities of a monarch, wields dignity and softness together. The touches of the women she brought calmed down and comforted the frightened refugees. This kind of thing is a realm men cannot catch up to.

"Have you come? Castle Lord."

Eugene, who arrived late, heard the explanation of the situation from Cassandra.

"Did they meet a bandit group or something on the way? Why is everyone's condition like this?"

"It is said they were pillaged by a requisition force that received the Emperor's orders. They said it's a stroke of extreme luck that they came preserving even just their lives."

As the war gets prolonged, becoming economically destitute is the same for the Imperial Faction too. They took a breather with the great victory achieved recently, but that alone was not enough.

Paying delayed salaries to mercenaries, preparing gifts to offer to heterogeneous races being recruited as support forces, stockpiling military provisions and supplies for battles that will resume after winter ends.

For these things, massive money was additionally needed. The Emperor is in a situation where he pillages monasteries in the subdued Noble Faction territories while even making a habit of grave robbing.

"It is said they even made a new official position called the Director General of Excavation and are doing grave robbing as a state business."

"They gave it a plausible name."

Eugene looked at a Dark Elf woman holding a baby. It is a pitiful appearance of being on the verge of tears unable to let the baby bite her breast because her milk dried up from starvation. When a Blackhand tribe medicine woman handed her a baby bottle filled with powdered milk, she continuously bowed her head.

"A wandering people without backing must've been a very good prey."

"The ones joining starting now will generally not be in a good condition. Because there will be many who crossed over from being active in the central region. It would be good to stock up multiple medical supplies and sickbeds."

"There's no reason to oppose. I will entrust you with this matter. Take and use necessary supplies without limit."

"What should we do with the other refugees?"

Cassandra offered a military salute and asked.

Besides Dark Elves, refugees of the war were hidden everywhere. It is the reason souls were scattered all over like squatters when Eugene transferred the castle.

"Build an additional camp and release search parties to gather the refugees in one place."

"Is it alright to do it somewhat coercively? They're refugees who have seen harsh sights during the civil war. They'll get scared and try to run away for fear of being dragged off to mines or as conscripts."

"It can't be helped. Because it will be troublesome if Moving Castle's parking is restricted because of them. Furthermore, I heard they started forest fires in the nearby territory's forest?"

"They must not have another way since they have to hide in the forest during winter. Even if they light a fire, people freezing to death will appear."

"It'll be troublesome if that happens in my territory too. They'll ease their minds if we feed them well and look after them once we take them in."

Even though Eugene exerts paternalistic rule more than any noble on the continent, coercion is also necessary in a war. Of course, even the coercion he thinks of would be no different from mercy compared to things happening in other places, though.

The one most excited by this matter is Northfork's butler. Having skipped lunch, he peeled and held boiled corn and commanded the workers at the forefront.

"The stew is too bland. Bring more dried fish from the warehouse. Tear down those stakes over there and secure a wider camp site."

Supported by Eugene's assistance, he received the refugees enthusiastically. The appearance of the village prospering day by day growing to a level aiming to be a small city. For the butler who had served Northfork for generations, that itself was the greatest reward.

* * *

Pitched battles where large-scale armies smash into each other do not happen frequently.

The army of this era is an allied body where multiple nobles and mercenary groups exercise autonomous command rights. The war rolled around mainly with small-scale skirmishes in units of tens to hundreds.

Someone sets out on pillaging to make up for delayed salaries, someone breaks into a manor they had an eye on swelling with dreams of becoming a lord, and someone goes to cut off supply routes trying to appeal with a suitable achievement.

The tedious land grab of advancing and retreating happens everywhere like a tug-of-war between bacteria and the immune system.

Because of this, all sorts of official and tacit agreements were made in between. Meaning temporary ceasefires to clear corpses or subjugate swarms of monsters drawn by the battlefield's slaughter.

"The Noble Faction's army is currently assembling at Reach."

Hind, in the role of chief of staff, pointed at the southwestern part of Roman's map.

"It's said they are recruiting mercenaries and granting knighthoods to free knights there, bolstering their military strength."

Reach isn't a place advantageous for defense, but just like its name, massive amounts of food and livestock were produced there and transportation was also convenient. It is a strategic point capable of handling the supply of a large army.

And there is one more great advantage.

"It's also said envoys are busily coming and going trying to draw in the ambitious nobles of Gord and Samur."

Reach was also easy to link with Gord and Samur location-wise.

"Aren't they drawing in too many foreign forces for a family quarrel? How will they manage the aftermath?"

"There's no other way. It is said an army of heterogeneous races already crossed the border in the northeast. They are people the Roman Emperor called in as mercenaries."

The vast border of Roman couldn't possibly not have friction with heterogeneous races. But they aren't all enemies. Some are forces drawn by the food, supplies, and high-quality life in the capital provided by Roman.

The Roman royal family considers it important to win over these heterogeneous races with an assimilation policy. The current Emperor who gets cursed at as a tyrant also didn't ignore that much.

"I'm sure none of them will have intentions of going back empty-handed."

"It must mean to seize it yourself with your own strength. Whether it be the Noble Faction or the Emperor, they would've hung up the opposing side's lands as rewards."

Even if they can't necessarily occupy lands, the profits given by pillaging or prisoners occurring during war also cannot be ignored.

At any rate, winning in the civil war takes priority. Settling things after winning will be thought of later. This is both sides' common stance.

Eugene, who was making preparations to join like that, heard news that uninvited guests had paid a visit.

"The Bladefoot tribe is said to be being chased by Imperial Faction mercenaries!"

It was a rescue request from other fleeing Dark Elf refugees.

"The Imperial Faction came all the way in here?"

"It seems they still don't know the Castle Lord has returned."

Thanks to Moving Castle, they moved so elusively that it was fully a possible matter.

An all-out war with Eugene is a crazy act that any mercenary captain would decline. However, coming in somewhat deep to establish merits while he is absent. Trying to catch the Emperor's eye and receive a position like that is sufficiently a possible matter.

"We're going to rescue them! Let's let the whole world know the most dangerous guys in this civil war have arrived!"

At Eugene's shout, the knights and warriors, who had been itching for action without any battle-like battles, held their respective weapons and cheered.

"Finally!"

"Let's let the whole world know the majesty of the Dwarf stone cavalry!"

Among them, the cavalry flails held by the Hammer Brotherhood are also included. It was a historic moment where a unique and mighty army unprecedented in war history officially participated in the war.