Chapter 246: Fatherly Love

“Hehe, let’s get started, shall we?”

Laughter from the warriors came from all over the city.

Mercy was shown only to cities that surrendered without resistance. Marganu had resisted fiercely and fought until the very end. Their effort gave the alliance army a hard time, and the tribal warriors plundered and burned the city even more brutally, as if doing so was honoring their fallen brothers.

Creak.

A tribal warrior opened the door inside the house, holding an axe. There was a presence inside.

“Youuuuu!”

An old man with a bent back attacked the warrior with a hoe.

“What the! Who’s this old man?”

The attacked warrior easily dodged the hoe. Another warrior next to him stabbed the old man in the chest with a spear.

“Kuuugh!”

The old man spat blood and fell to the floor. He scratched the warrior’s leg with his nails.

‘Oh, Lou, please protect my granddaughter.’

The old man convulsed and eventually died. The warriors trampled on the old man's corpse and searched the house with blood-stained feet.

“Sniff, sniff.”

A warrior who smelled a woman flipped the bed. A girl hiding under the bed screamed.

“Look, a girl, a girl!”

“You go first. I’m going to see if there’s anything worth bringing back.”

The warriors chewed on the vegetables on the table. They broke the furniture and carelessly shoved shiny objects into their looting sacks.

“What are your thoughts on the new Great Chief?”

“I don’t really care. The current Great Chief, Urich, fights better. That’s all that matters to me, really.”

The warriors laughed.

Creak.

The door opened again. The warrior about to violate the girl shouted, “We got here first! Go find a different house!”

But the footsteps still grew closer, despite the warrior’s claim.

“Stop it.”

The voice spoke in a slurred tribal language. The warriors frowned and looked at the man who entered the house.

“Oh, it’s that one-armed guy. Damn.”

The warriors recognized the man and muttered among themselves.

The man who walked into the house was Gottval. Two warriors who served as his guards stood behind him.

“This is our right.”

The warriors grumbled but didn’t proceed to violate the woman in front of Gottval. Clicking their tongues, they just took the valuables they found and left the house.

“Heuughhh.”

The girl, with her clothes half-torn, curled up in a corner.

“You’re alright now.”

Gottval gently placed a hand on the girl’s shoulder to calm her.

‘This is all I can do.’

He couldn't stop the plundering. Not even Urich could do that. Even if the Great Chief issued a ban on plundering with his authority, only his direct subordinates would follow such a demand.

Gottval moved to save as many people as possible. He treated and protected both civilized people and barbarians. The tribal warriors couldn't harm Gottval easily since he was favored by Urich.

“Well, he is definitely a weird one but at least he’s good at healing.”

Gottval’s medical skills were quite excellent. There were even rumors that he could heal even fatal wounds. Injured tribal warriors often sought him out after hearing about his skills.

‘Lou, is this your punishment?’

Gottval walked, dragging his clothes. In the square, he saw a group of barbarians enjoying and drinking through the night. Unlike Urich, they were proper barbarians.

‘Urich longed for the civilized world and tried to assimilate into it. He even learned to read and write in order to understand our world.’

Gottval let out a long sigh. He wasn’t confident he could persuade those people.

‘They are our trial.’

That was how Gottval wanted to see it, but the suffering of innocent people was too great.

“Gottval, the Great Chief calls for you.”

A warrior who had learned Hamelian called out to Gottval. Gottval nodded and crossed through the warriors to enter Marganu’s inner castle.

Urich faced Gottval while seated in the lord’s chair. Warriors stood around him as if they were guarding him.

“It’s truly remarkable. How long do you think it took them to build this castle?”

“Even if they built it over multiple decades, all you need is a few days to tear it down,” Gottval replied, brushing his fingertips over the bloodstains on a stone pillar.

“Don’t be too harsh. I gave the Duke of Marganu a chance. I promised to end it with minimal damage if he surrendered.”

“Whether they surrendered or resisted, the innocent people of this city are suffering.”

“That’s what war is. War is suffering. You didn’t know that? If the people here don’t suffer, then my people will. Someone has to suffer either way. That’s the reality,” though Urich spoke sarcastically, he understood what Gottval was trying to say.

“I know I’m an idealist, but that’s not always a bad thing.”

“... Anyway, I didn’t call you here to argue with you. I called you because the warriors are complaining about your actions. If you keep interfering and stopping the plundering, you might get killed, so be careful.”

“I’m not worried. You’ll protect me.”

“Don’t trust me too much. If the need ever arises, I can watch you die.”

“If you let me die, then I’m sure it would be for a reason I can accept.”

Urich groaned lowly.

‘I can’t beat him with words.’

No threat or intimidation worked on Gottval. Even death, which would frighten most people, meant nothing to him.

‘Gottval is someone immune to fear.’

If he could have persuaded Gottval with force, he would have done so long ago.

“I see you’re wearing the sun necklace I gave you.”

Gottval pointed at the sun necklace swinging from Urich’s neck with his finger.

“There’s no harm in receiving one more divine blessing, right? Lou saved Samikan’s life; who knows? He might save mine too.”

“If you believe in the gods with such impure thoughts, you’ll be punished.”

Urich shrugged his shoulders without answering.

The alliance army didn’t plan to stay long in Marganu. They were going to leave as soon as they stocked up on food and supplies.

Urich tilted his head and looked at the horizon as he stood on the watch tower.

‘The imperial army is probably coming after us.’

The imperial army was under pressure. They had to remove the plunderers from their territory at any cost.

Georg climbed the watchtower stairs and stood next to Urich.

“Urich, the Phergamon scouts have spotted the imperial vanguard. I think it would be best if we left tomorrow. We’ve stocked up enough supplies.”

“We’re going east,” Urich mumbled out of nowhere.

“Sorry? The east is blocked. That’s where the Porcana Kingdom...” Georg started to speak but then widened his eyes.

“That’s right, we’re going to the Porcana Kingdom. If my friend doesn’t open the way for us, we’ll have to break through by force.”

Urich had made his decision.

‘I’m sorry, Pahell, but I have to take responsibility for the alliance.’

Even if the talks with Pahell didn’t go well, Urich planned to forcefully enter the Porcana Kingdom. The terrain of Porcana was highly advantageous for defense. During the Great Unification War, the imperial army had to expend significant military power to occupy Porcana.

Porcana was a kingdom with a long, narrow territory along the coastline. With many cliffs and mountains, it was difficult for the empire’s heavy cavalry to exert their full strength.

‘The imperial army is going to try to drive us out as soon as possible. Even if it’s disadvantageous, they’ll have no choice but to enter Porcana.’

Porcana was also a familiar terrain to Urich. He planned to face the imperial army in the location that gave him the most advantage.

* * *

Although it was early summer, breath still steamed in the air at night on the northern front.

Alfnan the commander of the Sun Warriors was the one commanding the northern imperial army. He had been bedridden in his tent for days with an untimely cold.

"Cough, cough."

Alfnan spat out yellow phlegm and drank hot water.

‘Me, a northerner, catching a cold in early summer....’

Alfnan bent over, mocking himself.

The northern front was painful. They repeatedly launched futile assaults against an impenetrable defense line, engaging in attrition warfare. It was hard to grasp a strategic advantage due to the Sun Warriors who had joined the rebellion army.

Alfnan couldn't sleep at night due to the pressure of needing to achieve merit as the commander of the Sun Warriors. It was no wonder he fell ill.

‘Everything I've worked my entire life for is on the verge of sinking.’

That thought alone kept him from resting peacefully. Alfnan barely managed to stand up.

“This is no time to be in bed. Sherad!”

Alfnan called for his squire. Sherad took a while to come to the tent, but he eventually entered with a pale face.

"S-Sir Alfnan!"

"Prepare my armor and sword. Summon the adjutants, as well."

"T-that’s not what’s important right now...."

"What could be more important than my orders!" Alfnan shouted harshly.

The squire took a deep breath and almost screamed, "His Majesty has arrived! His Imperial Majesty has come up to the northern front!"

As soon as he heard that, even Alfnan's headache seemed to disappear. He jumped up and put on his coat and cloak.

"What are you saying! There is no way His Majesty would come to the northern front without a single heads-up letter!"

"B-but he really is here, Sir!"

There was commotion outside the tent. It was the sound of people collectively falling silent and kneeling.

"Long live the emperor!"

"Long live Emperor Yanchinus!"

The squire had not lied. Cries praising the emperor spread from everywhere.

"Goddammit! Cough."

Alfnan, his face flushed red, rushed outside.

‘What has His Majesty come here for? No, there’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, it's only natural.’

Alfnan saw the violet eagle flags fluttering everywhere as soon as he exited the tent.

‘The empire has always had its emperors leading the wars. It was always natural for them to take the lead on the battlefield.’

The first and second emperors had also personally gone to war. So, there was no reason Yanchinus couldn't do the same.

Clip-clop, clip-clop.

Yanchinus, on horseback, crossed the camp. Knights and soldiers knelt, waiting for the emperor’s words.

"I, Emperor Yanchinus Hamelon, do not simply point fingers from behind walls. If blood must be shed, I will shed it with you! Raise your heads, guardians of the empire! Right now, I am but one soldier among you, striving to protect the empire just like every man present here!"

At Yanchinus' words, the knights began to rise one by one. They raised their weapons high, shouting the emperor’s name.

"Your Majesty, we did not receive any notice of your arrival."

"Of course you didn’t. I never sent a letter."

Alfnan greeted Yanchinus.

The camp was visibly excited. The wine and smoked meats Yanchinus had brought were luxuries not found in the north. The soldiers forgot their fatigue as they relished the rare treats.

Yanchinus entered Alfnan’s tent. He was accompanied by two steel knights as guards.

‘Is he here to hold me accountable?’

Alfnan swallowed hard, waiting for Yanchinus to speak.

“Here, have a drink.”

Yanchinus called for a servant to pour wine. Alfnan, staring at the red wine, barely moved his lips.

‘He could kill me right here.’

The wine could have been poisoned. But even if it was, what could he do? The opponent was the emperor of the empire. If he had decided to kill Alfnan, there was no way around it.

Gulp.

Alfnan drank the wine in one go. Even if it was poisoned, he had no choice.

"Isn’t it nice? It's the best wine of the year."

Yanchinus laughed and snapped his fingers. The servant refilled the glass.

"It is an honor to drink such wine, Your Majesty. And about my failure...."

Alfnan tried to bring up his failure before Yanchinus could, but the emperor waved his finger, stopping Alfnan.

"Shh, shh. What's the use of dwelling on the past? Who could have predicted traitors would emerge within the Sun Warriors? What's important now is to suppress the northern rebels. If punishing you was going to weaken the rebels, I would have had your head cut off a long time ago. But if I killed a capable commander like you, it would only bring joy to the rebels. Right now, I need as many commanders like you as I can get."

Alfnan's eyes widened. He banged his head on the ground, shouting with all his might.

"Your Majesty! This unworthy Alfnan! I will fight for you with my life!"

Alfnan's eyes were teary. He had prepared himself for punishment, but the emperor did not fault him.

Yanchinus lifted Alfnan up and crossed his legs. He propped his chin on his hand and pondered the situation.

‘Varca of Porcana has fled. He might rebel against me.’

Yanchinus had shackled various kingdoms. There were those that he succeeded with, but there were also those who did not get shackled—like Porcana.

‘If I can handle just one of the northern front or the western plunderers, the kingdoms won't dare to rebel.’

Yanchinus had come to the northern front to put an end to it. The situation was dire enough for him to personally lead the army. He could no longer afford to sit back and watch.

“Right, that’s great. I will gladly accept your loyalty and life, Alfnan. Can I count on you to lead the next battle?”

Yanchinus patted Alfnan’s shoulder.

Alfnan had been prepared for death, but the emperor’s words were of immense trust. His loyalty towards his lord, who believed in his abilities, surged endlessly. Even his flu seemed to vanish.

"Leave it to me, Your Majesty."

Alfnan’s eyes became sharp. What drove him now was not the ambition to succeed, but loyalty.