WeTried Translations

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◈ The Genius Knight of a Fallen Race ◈

Chapter 63: Moving Things Where They Are Needed Is Called Redistribution, Free Up to Here

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In truth, Pales Territory had never held much of a stockpile of Magic stones due to its geographic conditions.

Unlike other places, large monsters did not frequently wander through the area, so there were few opportunities to hunt them. And even when they happened to acquire Magic stones, there was rarely anywhere to use them.

Serin had asked Count Paless to begin gathering some Magic stones for her plans a few years ago, but even that was not enough to meet the recent explosive demand.

“Honestly, I didn't account for this. I never thought the yield would fall this much when I left it to other mages.”

Serin looked over the documents with a troubled expression, sighed, and dropped them onto the table.

The work of splitting Magic stones and producing magic devices was currently handled by hired mages rather than Serin herself.

Her days were already full just directing the territory's overall affairs, monitoring it through spiders, inventing new magic devices, and designing production processes.

The hired mages lacked ability to begin with, and because they had been assigned work without understanding the concepts behind it in order to preserve secrecy, efficiency had fallen even further than expected.

It was hardly an exaggeration to say that nearly half the Magic stones put into production were currently being wasted.

“Did you use the Magic stone from the ogre we killed before?”

“Strictly speaking, it doesn't belong to me. And I can't use something that precious to make trivial things. I'm carefully adjusting it right now, so hurry and find some good armor.”

Serin glared at him, saying she could not allow something meant for the strongest knight to be damaged that way.

Shan did not know much about it, but it seemed to be an artisan's stubbornness.

“...Then should we hunt in the Demon Realm?”

“There's no guarantee we'll find many Magic stones just because we tear through the place. Besides, it would take too long.”

Even if Shan tore apart and killed every monster he encountered, they would only gain something if a large monster with a Magic stone appeared.

Back when they had wandered the Demon Realm, they had only obtained one cockatrice Magic stone over two expeditions.

In other words, no matter how strong they were, there were clear limits to what one person or group could hunt while roaming around.

Deploying a large force into the Demon Realm would also weaken Pales's defenses.

“It would be better to take them from somewhere that already has a stockpile.”

Something about Serin's voice sounded cold.

Shan and Roden instinctively understood what she meant.

Humans were the only creatures in this world that stockpiled Magic stones in large quantities.

“I don't think you're talking about trade.”

“We've done quite a lot lately, so neither supplies nor funds are particularly abundant. Sedil Territory traded with us last time, so it probably doesn't have many Magic stones left either.”

That left only one method.

They would have to secure Magic stones through forced requisition, or bluntly put, plunder.

Naturally, the target had to be part of the enemy camp.

“It was about time we put Conrad in his place anyway. From what I've heard, Elvin is being completely crushed. A broken balance isn't particularly welcome for us.”

Four or five days west of Pales, across the river, lay territory that supported Conrad.

Old Faith believers who rejected magic were the majority there, but practical concerns meant that most places still set at least one Magic stone into their gates.

Serin said with a vicious smile that stripping those out to secure Magic stones, along with other strategic supplies, would greatly weaken Conrad's forces.

“War...”

Roden muttered, his face tightening slightly.

It saddened him that people had to kill one another simply because they served different lords, rather than fighting monsters.

Of course, he did not dare lecture Serin and tell her they should not do such a thing.

If they did not attack first, Conrad's side would eventually attack them.

After completing all its preparations and bringing overwhelming numbers.

“To preserve peace, we must wage war. It sounds ridiculous even as I say it, but that's reality.”

Serin spoke after her smile faded.

* * *

Preparations for war moved with astonishing speed.

It was thanks to the administrative system Serin had worked so hard to assemble with the precision of a well-made machine.

From conscription and organization to marching, battle, and sieges, every necessary supply was distributed in an instant. The sight was truly remarkable.

The army gathered that way was formidable.

First came 188 well-equipped Alto mercenaries. Their numbers had increased because more refugees had arrived in the meantime. Count Paless also provided two hundred soldiers.

Together with roughly one hundred soldiers sent by four barons, the force numbered around five hundred.

Adding Shan and the dozen or so knights sent by the count and the subordinate barons, it had enough strength to easily crush several ordinary rural territories.

The fact that they could field this many regular troops even after leaving enough soldiers behind to defend Pales Territory demonstrated the land's immense prosperity.

Other territories, chronically short of people because they constantly suffered attacks from monsters, could never hope to match that level of mobilization.

Of course, if this force faced Conrad head-on, backed by dozens of lords, it would be crushed.

Fortunately, most of Conrad's army had gone south to fight Elvin.

All they needed to do was threaten or attack the largely hollow territories in northwestern Pendia, then plunder every kind of strategic material, including Magic stones.

“Don't push yourself too hard. You never know when the tide of war will change. Keep scouts active at all times, and retreat immediately if anything seems strange...”

Serin nagged him repeatedly, like a mother sending her child out alone for the first time.

Since she only did it because she cared, Shan smiled instead of growing tired of it and nodded.

Several magic devices Serin had invented were also deployed for this expedition.

The most notable were lamps that lit the night and refrigerators that kept their interiors cool to preserve food longer.

“With these, we can carry fresh meat and bread for at least several more days... Terrifying.”

Roden clicked his tongue as he looked at the crates loaded onto the wagons.

He knew from experience that armies struggled to eat fresh food without actively plundering.

There were still only a few of them, so for now they prepared special meals only for knights and high-ranking soldiers. Once they were commercially produced in earnest, though, the army's capacity to sustain combat would increase greatly.

Before long, the army assembled on the plains before the count's castle held its departure ceremony before Serin and Count Paless.

The commander was Serin's own knight, Sir Shan Barendil.

“May you be an army that brings no shame to the Goddess and the royal family.”

“I will keep that in mind, my lord.”

“I pray for your victory, my strongest knight.”

Before everyone, Shan knelt on one knee and accepted the axe Serin bestowed upon him.

Naturally, he would use Guardian of the East in actual combat. The axe was more of a symbol.

“Be careful.”

It was such a faint whisper that one would have to watch her moving lips closely to understand it.

Shan looked at Serin's worried expression, then answered with a broad grin.

The army left Pales City and headed straight south to the port, where ships had been prepared in advance.

There were so many people that even after mobilizing every ship, they had to make several crossings to transport all the personnel and supplies.

Shan took the first ship across and emerged beyond the fortress. When Awin snorted and stamped her feet in excitement, he patted her neck.

“Yeah, yeah. You must be happy to get out after so long.”

During the past month and a half, as his body grew, Shan had focused on personal training and had not been able to let Awin run freely outdoors. She must have found it stifling.

As he soothed Awin, Roden, who had disembarked from a later ship, approached and asked, “How's the armor, Sir Shan?”

“It isn't that bad. It's a little loose, though.”

A month and a half had passed since Shan's growth spurt began.

He had shot up nearly ten centimeters in height, put on considerable muscle, and his entire build had changed.

Naturally, the plate armor he once wore no longer fit.

Making a new suit was not a great option either. The blacksmiths in Pales were somewhat lacking in skill.

It could not be helped when their standard of comparison was Hasra's armor craftsmen, said to be the finest in Pendia.

In the end, Shan had to wear Kamad's armor, which had been stored away because it had no use.

As befitted the finest armor granted to a royal knight, it was somewhat uncomfortable but wearable after he adjusted the straps.

Still, if he wanted to bring out his full strength, having a new set made to fit him perfectly would be best.

“I wish I'd just finish growing already. Then we could melt it down, hammer it into shape, and make it fit. We could even modify the armor with the ogre's Magic stone.”

Since he was still growing, there was no point in adjusting the armor's size to fit his current body.

Serin had said he would likely grow taller than 180 centimeters but not quite reach 190.

He was already growing absurdly fast, but he wished he could finish quickly and settle into his final build.

Roden chuckled at Shan's grumbling, then turned his head.

Two boys around Shan's age sat on horses nearby, their faces tense.

One was an Alto, and the other was a Westerner.

“Biko, Tavera. Check whether anyone was left behind during the crossing.”

“Yes!”

“Understood, Sir Roden!”

The two boys were Shan's newly chosen squires.

Roden already had to serve as both deputy commander and strategist, so Shan needed people to assist in battle and handle miscellaneous work.

Biko was an Alto with scales as hard as armor growing across his body. Shan had selected him personally because he had the greatest talent among the Alto boys old enough to become squires.

By coincidence, he had joined Shan in hunting trolls in the past. He was also the nephew of Long Arms Kob, a senior soldier in the mercenary corps.

Tavera was a distant relative of Count Paless and Sir Aran's younger second cousin.

He had been selected through connections rather than talent, but he at least had the grit to endure knightly training.

Since he came from a knightly family and had trained since childhood, his current skills were also slightly better than Biko's.

“Are they useful?”

After the two boys rode off to relay orders throughout the army, Roden asked quietly. His tone was a little more casual than before.

Shan tilted his head.

“What do you mean?”

“Those two.”

“If you're asking about their skill, they have a long way to go. I've only taught them for a month or two.”

Unless they were an exception like Shan, ordinary people needed to spend at least years, sometimes decades, drilling combat techniques into their bodies.

Both boys had some foundation, one as an apprentice mercenary and the other as the descendant of a knightly family, but they had only recently begun their lives as squires. They still had much to learn.

“Not that. Their conduct and character.”

“Wouldn't you be better at judging that than me? Well, they don't seem bad.”

Both boys were Shan's age or one or two years older, but neither dared to act even slightly arrogant before him.

Their lord was a genius knight who had already accomplished legendary feats when they were still sniffling children training with feather swords. It was only natural.

Even if Shan sometimes seemed a little absent-minded in everyday life, they could not treat him carelessly.

That was especially true after seeing the incredible intensity of his training while practicing with him lately.

“Well, that's enough then. If they get too full of themselves, tell me. I'll straighten them out.”

“You really think I'm a kid.”

In fact, Roden was the person those two feared even more than Shan.

He was Shan's most trusted deputy and the one who handled every large and small matter in the unit. It could not be helped.

While they talked, Roden watched the two boys moving through the camp and smiled sadly.

“Those two will become knights someday. I'm jealous.”

For Roden, a half-finished warrior who could not fight people, it was a staircase he could never climb.

The young man who had abandoned the path of knighthood because of his fear of bladed weapons let out that bitter complaint, and it scattered over the plain.

Shan watched him for a moment, then stretched out his leg and kicked Roden in the shin.

“Ah! That hurts, you bastard.”

“People can hear you.”

“Urk.”

Roden had raised his voice without realizing it and quickly looked around.

Fortunately, no one nearby had heard what he said.

A few people did look surprised at the sight of Shan kicking his own squire, though.

“You're still training. Why are you acting like it's impossible for the rest of your life?”

“...You saw?”

“Yeah.”

One dark night, Shan had happened to see Roden training alone.

He tied a dagger to a string, threw it to one side, and dodged as it swung back toward him.

Roden was drenched in cold sweat doing something ordinary people, even children, could do with ease.

Even a bladed weapon flying at him without anyone holding it terrified him that much.

Still, Roden did not give up, no matter how horribly difficult it was.

“You'll overcome it someday and become a knight. I'm sure of it.”

Shan truly believed that.

He had met many people, but no one among them was as capable as Roden of doing anything he set his mind to.

Even if he faced a problem that seemed impossible to solve, Shan believed Roden would find a way and overcome it.

At the confident encouragement of his lord and friend, Roden stared blankly for a moment before turning his head away.

Shan smiled and teased him.

“You're crying.”

“I'm not crying, you bastard.”

“Liar.”

Roden turned away and loudly blew his nose.

* * *

Before advancing in earnest, Shan's army first visited several territories bordering the river.

The lords of these places had originally been friendly with Pales Territory, but since Serin took power, they had maintained somewhat ambiguous relations.

The domain Serin claimed as Duke of Lynel included their territories.

They feared that swearing loyalty to Serin would threaten their vested interests. At the same time, they feared being attacked if they openly resisted, so they could not make their position clear.

In truth, that reaction was exactly what Serin intended.

A feudal relationship was not one-sided.

If a vassal swore loyalty to a lord, that lord had to protect the vassal in return.

Serin could defend territory on her own side of the river, but she did not yet have the strength to protect the territories across the river from Conrad.

So she had deliberately acted as though she would infringe on their interests, creating an ambiguous relationship where she had no obligation to protect them in an emergency.

As a result, the two sides had remained distant even when patrolling beyond the river on field exercises or traveling back and forth for trade.

That continued until Shan broke that unspoken rule and personally visited each lord's manor.

To rural lords who ruled only a few small villages and towns, home to a few hundred or a few thousand people at most, more than five hundred properly armed and trained soldiers were an overwhelming threat.

After sending out messengers in panic, they were relieved to learn that Pales Territory did not intend to invade. They also had no choice but to appear for negotiations.

An elderly baron who came before their castle to meet Shan groaned painfully.

“A promissory note...”

“Her Grace promises that she will repay you in three years with goods worth at least as much as the Magic stones.”

“By Her Grace, you mean the princess?”

“Yes, of course. Or do you deny that she is the Duke of Lynel?”

The elderly baron paled at Shan's question and shook their head.

It was as though the boy before them would tear them apart if they answered otherwise.

Shan had slightly drooping eyes and a gentle impression, yet a sharp pressure seemed to radiate from his still gaze.

Perhaps it came from the accomplishments he had built up so far, or perhaps it was the particular aura carried by the strong.

“No, not at all!”

“That's a relief. If you did, I would have to defend my lord's honor.”

Following Roden's prior instructions, Shan put pressure on the other side with surprising skill and handed the elderly baron the prepared document.

Its contents were simple.

Hand over every Magic stone currently in their possession, and it would be repaid in three years.

It was both a promissory note and a non-aggression pact.

After all, attacking someone to whom you had promised repayment without cause would look dishonorable to anyone. It would seem as though you were trying to avoid paying your debt.

“...Give me time to think.”

The elderly baron immediately began discussing the matter with the retainers who had accompanied them.

The knights naturally objected fiercely.

“Absolutely not. If we give up all the Magic stones in the territory, how will we defend the castle from now on?”

It was widely known that the cockatrice Magic stone had been a major factor in allowing Sedil City to withstand the ogre pack lord's attack during the recent great monster offensive.

The more Magic stones a castle possessed, and the stronger they were, the greater the advantage in defending its gates and walls.

A troll could potentially smash an ordinary wooden gate to pieces with one blow.

Yet an official on the other side shook their head and countered.

“We should give them up. Keeping them will only bring us trouble.”

“Coward!”

“Even cowards have to live. Do you think holding on to Magic stones will give us the ability to fight that army?”

“If we hold out in the castle...”

“It will soon be time to harvest the wheat. If they set fire to the fields, we'll all starve to death. Even if they don't, what will remain if the villages are destroyed? Large monsters dangerous enough to require Magic stones for defense only appear once every few years, if even that. What use is dying now to guard against a threat that may never come?”

Unlike the lord's castle, which was protected by stone walls, the villages and fields had little more than wooden palisades and fences.

Naturally, such defenses would mean little before an army of that size.

After considering the retainers' debate for a long while, the baron finally made their decision.

They approached Shan, squeezed their eyes shut, signed the document, and put it away.

“I will prepare the Magic stones.”

“Thank you for your cooperation.”

After repeating the same act at several more places, they obtained a few Magic stones that were decent enough.

They were all from middling monsters, and even then, poor-quality Magic stones. Still, considering their intended use, they could not afford to turn their noses up at them.

As they departed, Shan looked back and spoke softly.

“Why does everyone look so devastated?”

“Well, they call it a transaction, but they were really forced to surrender them because of our strength.”

“I really do intend to return them with interest.”

Frankly, if they made even a few magic devices from these Magic stones and gave them back, the lords would make a fortune.

Most Alto relics were worth far more than low-grade Magic stones like these.

They might feel some resentment now, but in a few years, once Serin had the strength to expand beyond her borders, she could give them such items in return and bring them under her command.

Having obtained several Magic stones, Shan led the army steadily southwest.

They crossed broad plains, passed through dark forests and valleys, and forded several streams. They camped outdoors for three days and stopped in two villages for food on the other two.

The villagers feared the army that had suddenly descended upon them, but Shan's army did not slaughter people or plunder goods without restraint.

They only paid a reasonable amount of money and “requisitioned” the supplies they needed.

“Remember this. The people here are also our fellow Pendians. Anyone who harms civilians will be punished severely.”

Shan gave that warning every time they entered a village.

It was Serin's request.

Like the territories they had visited earlier, Pendia was land she would someday rule as queen.

She needed to avoid building a reputation as a cruel ruler, and she needed to keep the towns and villages as intact as possible to collect more taxes.

Of course, people did not always listen just because they were told to.

Once, a reckless soldier went too far in harassing a woman, argued with her husband, and beat him badly.

Shan punished the soldier by tying them in the village square and lashing their back only once.

“Ghh...”

“Untie them.”

At Shan's command, soldiers with frightened faces untied the soldier from the tree.

It had only been one lash, but the villagers did not dare complain that Shan's punishment was too light.

The soldier's back was not simply bruised. Flesh had been ripped away as if cut by a blade, exposing bone beneath the deep wound.

It was clearly an injury that would soon kill them if they did not receive a priest's treatment.

Holding the bloodied whip, Shan looked over the soldiers gathered there and issued a quiet warning.

“Remember. Unless we are attacked first, inflicting unnecessary harm on civilians is strictly forbidden.”

To the soldiers, that one soft warning felt colder than an officer's shout.

They could feel that Shan was someone who would truly kill them if they broke that rule.

* * *

A day after he had firmly enforced discipline among the soldiers, their target city finally appeared in the distance.

It was Zerkan City, ruled by a noble who supported Conrad.

“We're finally here...”

Zerkan City stood against a tall cliff at its rear.

He had heard that a sizeable iron vein lay below, providing abundant metal resources.

Perhaps having noticed Shan's army arrive, bells rang loudly. Workers in facilities outside the city ran inside the gates.

As the gates slammed shut, Shan first sent a messenger.

They had prepared for a siege to some degree, but it would be better to get what they needed without resistance if possible.

“Promise them that if they surrender, we will not touch anything except strategic supplies and Magic stones.”

“Understood.”

Baron Yurk stepped forward as the messenger.

The way he bowed obediently to Shan's command, despite having once acted arrogantly, clearly showed the hierarchy between them.

Yurk approached the city gate with a white flag and several guards, then shouted for their surrender.

Not long afterward, someone appeared atop the wall.

‘That...’

The person who seemed to command the guards above the gate was a woman with a build similar to Roden's.

She looked to be in her thirties or forties.

She wore sturdy chain armor, and the axe slung over her shoulder was large enough to sever a horse's neck in one swing.

Her most striking feature, though, was the two rabbit ears rising from her head.

When one Alto mercenary saw that one ear had been cut off halfway, they cried out in shock.

“...Could that be the Butcher Rabbit?”

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