WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Ceaseless

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◈ The Medieval Heretic King is Too Good at Developing ◈

Chapter 12: Reconstruction

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The Hussites' fierce assault ended in Sternberg's victory.

The people who had taken refuge inside the castle returned to their homes one by one, breathing sighs of relief.

But all that awaited them was cold ash.

"Oh, no... The home my family lived in all our lives..."

"It's all burned down! Where are we supposed to eat and sleep now?!"

The homes they had spent their lives building had collapsed, leaving only blackened frames behind. The wheat fields meant to sustain them through the next year had burned black.

The Hussites had left nothing but the marks of looting and arson in their wake. Wails rose from every corner of the village, now reduced to ash.

In this age, war and plunder were practically the same thing. It was a blessing that they had survived, but that offered no comfort to people with no means of surviving from one day to the next.

That was when I stepped forward before my people.

"People of Sternberg."

I faced them and spoke.

"I know the sorrow of losing your homes. But do not worry. You are my people, the people of Sternberg. It is my duty to protect and care for you."

Maybe it was because I had done this a few times already, but those words came surprisingly easily.

Was it because I had inherited Ulrich's memories? Or had Park Kang-jun possessed a talent he had never known about?

"Men who can fight will be accepted as soldiers. I will feed you, clothe you, train you, and make you proper soldiers who will defend Sternberg. But you need not become soldiers. Women, children, and the elderly will all be given work. We will reinforce the walls, clear away the ashes, and build a new village here."

My voice grew louder.

"I swear it! No one in the lands I rule will be left to starve! Every person who works with sweat on their brow will be given bread and shelter! I swear it in the name of Ulrich von Sternberg!"

A heavy silence fell over the ruins, which moments ago had echoed with weeping. Their faces were full of disbelief.

To peasants of this age, a lord was simply someone who collected taxes. A lord who cared for his people to this extent was unheard of.

Allowing them into the castle had already been enough to earn praise as a merciful ruler. Now I was saying that I would take responsibility for their very lives.

For a long while, none of them could speak. Faced with a promise so unreal, they seemed to have forgotten even their grief and could only stand there in a daze.

Then an old man spoke in a trembling voice.

"Truly... Will you truly give us work? Will you give us bread and a place to sleep?"

Instead of answering, I nodded.

That short but weighty affirmation ignited the emotions of those who had been in despair.

"Ah... Ahhh...!"

"Thank you...! Thank you, my lord!"

They embraced one another and fell to their knees in the ashes, showering praise upon their young lord.

"Long live the lord!"

"Long live Lord Ulrich!"

"Glory to Sternberg!"

At that moment, János Hunyadi urgently seized my arm and pulled me aside. He drew me back so the people would not hear, then whispered in a low voice.

"My lord, have you lost your mind?!"

This bastard dared grab his lord by the arm? Was that normal etiquette in Hungary?

The thought crossed my mind, but one look at János Hunyadi's pale face told me it probably was not.

"What's the problem with taking responsibility for my people?"

"Where is the money supposed to come from? The silver coins His Majesty Sigismund granted us are already running out!"

Even in the face of János Hunyadi's agitated question, I remained calm. If anything, my reply was quieter.

"János Hunyadi, think about it. These people have lost everything overnight. They have no homes to survive the winter in and no food to fill their stomachs. Do you think they will quietly clear away ashes?"

"Well..."

"No. To avoid starving to death, they will become bandits. In the end, those blades will turn against me and my domain. Who will bear that loss?"

János Hunyadi was left speechless by the painfully realistic point.

"Rather than let that happen, it is better to take them in and put them to work. We have mountains of work ahead of us anyway. Instead of saving a few coins only to turn valuable laborers into bandits, it is far more profitable to spend a little and have them do the work I need."

"Easy for you to say! A little spending? Do you not know there is not a single silver coin left in the treasury?"

János Hunyadi protested as though the idea were absurd, but I only grinned.

"If we don't have any, we'll make some."

"Pardon?"

"The previous lord stripped away every bit of wealth he could, but he could not take the castle itself. The furniture in the manor, the artwork, the decorations, even the silver tableware you use. Gather everything in this castle that can be sold and sell it."

"W-what? All of it?"

János Hunyadi's face turned white with shock.

Ignoring him, I continued.

"By now, the merchants in Kuttenberg will be in complete chaos without Sigismund. Desperate to leave the city, they will be eager to sell what they have, even at low prices."

A sharp smile spread across my lips.

"So we can't let this chance pass. Sell our luxuries for the highest prices possible, then buy the merchants' food and supplies at the lowest prices we can force them down to."

"...Me?"

I shrugged as though it were obvious.

"Who else in this castle can I trust but you? Konrad needs to remain and guard the castle, and Sir Kuno has no talent for trade. You're the right man for it."

János Hunyadi went blank. Staring into empty space, he muttered softly.

"...Should I consider this an honor, or grieve because a life of hardship has begun?"

Then Konrad, who had listened silently beside us, stepped forward in a respectful but firm voice.

"My lord. Forgive me, but I oppose this."

"Konrad?"

"I fully support helping the people of the domain. But you intend to sell the valuables within the castle?"

None of Konrad's usual composure remained in his voice. It was filled only with fierce emotion.

"Those are the history that has run through the House of Sternberg like blood, the possessions left behind by our former lords. How can you casually sell such noble things to lowly merchants?"

It was the desperate cry of an old loyal retainer who had dedicated his life to the family. There was no doubting his loyalty.

But that was all it was.

"Did you just say dignity, Konrad?"

I pointed toward the village reduced to ashes and the people left standing amid the ruins.

"Can you still speak of dignity after seeing them? My people are dying from cold and hunger. Yet as their lord, should I do nothing but cling to old family relics?"

"But, my lord..."

Konrad's weak protest slipped from his lips.

"...They are not simply old relics. The family's wealth is a lord's honor and prestige. I only fear that if word spreads that this castle has been emptied like a ruin, other nobles will not even treat you as a noble and will look down on you."

I shook my head lightly.

"Konrad. Do you think the king's recognition, the opinions of other nobles, and this castle are what make me a lord?"

"Of course..."

I shook my head again.

"No. It is because of them. I can only be a lord because there are people below who call me their lord."

"...!"

I clearly saw Konrad's eyes widen. It was the face of someone whose lifelong convictions had been shaken to their roots.

In this age, the lord was the castle and land itself, while the people were merely possessions attached to it. That was common sense. But I had denied it outright.

I spoke to the old chamberlain, still reeling from the shock.

"I understand what concerns you. I can see the loyalty you have given this family. But to me, those things are not worth even a sword or a piece of bread."

"..."

"So take them all and sell them. This is my command as lord."

Konrad could not argue any further in the face of that firm order. His voice choked as he barely managed to answer.

"...I will obey your command, my lord."

Shock and an indescribable shame crossed the chamberlain's face as he lowered his head deeply.

János Hunyadi, who had watched everything, followed behind me and cautiously asked, "My lord, why go so far?"

"What do you mean?"

"I understand that you cannot allow the people to become bandits. But do you really need to pour everything into this, even selling the family's last pride?"

János Hunyadi shrugged and raised a practical point.

"Right now, they would be grateful simply to be fed and given a place to sleep. They would follow you for that alone."

It was a practical, cynical observation. I stopped and turned around.

"János Hunyadi. What was it that broke the Hussites at the end of the last battle? Was it the Gunpowder bombs I made? Or Sir Kuno's sword?"

The faces that had crowded the ramparts passed through my mind. Remembering them, I answered firmly.

"No. It was them. The women pouring boiling water, the children throwing stones, the farmers cutting at the ankles of men clinging to the walls with rusty sickles. They were the true army that won us that victory."

Looking János Hunyadi straight in the eye, I spoke with complete sincerity.

"I want my army to fight in the best possible condition. When they go into battle, I want them to focus only on the enemy before them, without worrying about the families left behind. For that, I would sell not only the gold in this castle, but even the stones in these walls. That is what I must do as their lord."

No answer came.

János Hunyadi simply looked at me.

"My lord..."

Countless thoughts passed behind his cynical expression.

Having finished speaking, I turned my gaze back toward the battlefield. After dealing with the aftermath, it was time to collect the spoils.

The Wagenburg that had burned in the fiery hell was left with only its skeletal frame, while most of the enemy's weapons and armor had melted. Almost nothing remained intact.

But I saw a completely different sight.

'Treasure is scattered all over the ground.'

I gave János Hunyadi another order.

"János Hunyadi, gather people. Collect every weapon, every piece of armor, anything made of iron, and pile it all in one place."

"Understood. Shall I order the blacksmith to repair them?"

"No. We will melt all of it down."

"Pardon? Melt it down?"

Seeing the shock appear on János Hunyadi's face was quite enjoyable.

But his expression soon changed. Suspicion became curiosity, and curiosity became expectation.

"You're about to start something again."

János Hunyadi asked with vague anticipation rather than doubt. In response, I gave him a mischievous smile.

"That's right. Gather every craftsman in the castle at my workshop. I'm about to make something very interesting."

Footnotes:

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