WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Asakusa
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ Veteran of the Northern Front ◈
Chapter 47: After the War
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The subjugation force pursuing the enemy reached the canyon around ten minutes after Kantulan’s death.
The commanders of the subjugation force were stunned when they heard of our achievements.
“Young Marquis Hallios beheaded the barbarian chieftain?!”
“Not me, the one over there...”
“Truly remarkable!”
“With the young marquis having earned such great merit, the corrupt courtiers in the capital will lose much of their momentum.”
Though disappointed at having missed out on the greatest achievement, they continued showering Jeg with flattery.
‘They’re probably hoping to pick up a few crumbs at the coming victory banquet and awards ceremony.’
It was a truly pathetic sight.
But this was the reality of the Empire.
‘No, perhaps they’re still better than most?’
The noble faction bastards were worse.
‘If all of them had belonged to the noble faction and Jeg hadn’t been here...’
They would have killed us and claimed our achievements for themselves.
Max frowned at the nobles who had arrived late and were now fawning over Jeg.
“I don’t know what they think they’re doing. They completely ignore you, Captain, and the rest of us, who fought the hardest.”
“It’d be more bothersome if they came over pretending to be friendly, so leave them alone. Ugh! More importantly, can’t you carry me more carefully?”
“The road is rough, so it can’t be helped.”
I was currently being carried on an improvised stretcher made from cloth and wood.
The recent battle had left my entire body battered.
As I groaned in pain whenever the stretcher shook, Anton, who was also being carried by soldiers like me, cautiously spoke up.
“Still, once our achievements are reported to the capital, we’ll receive great rewards, so... I don’t think you need to worry too much.”
The other three, including Anton, were also being carried, just like me.
“We faced life and death together, yet we haven’t properly introduced ourselves. I’m Anton Howard, eldest son of the Howard Count family. That taciturn fellow behind me is my younger brother, Seton.”
“I’m Ubel Graum.”
“I heard from the soldiers that you’re older than me. Please speak casually.”
“If you insist...”
There was no reason to refuse.
After speaking with him briefly, I found that, unlike his stern appearance, Anton was sociable and polite.
His eyes especially lit up whenever we spoke of strategy.
“I heard that you wiped out the enemy with a flood attack. It must have been difficult to prepare a dam after the torrential rain. How did you deal with that?”
Like a student brimming with curiosity, he asked me about all manner of things, from points to consider when planning strategy to how to encourage soldiers and organize military formations.
‘Now I understand a little why he’ll be called a virtuous commander in the future.’
With that personality, it made sense that he would seize military authority under Jeg.
Anton was, in a way, cut from the same cloth as Marcus.
‘On the other hand, Seton is closer to a fierce commander than a virtuous one.’
He did not enjoy fighting like Peiron, nor was he hot-tempered, but his martial prowess exceeded his command ability. On the battlefield, he would become a dagger that struck at the enemy’s weak points.
As I went along with Anton’s conversation while assessing the two brothers, the subjugation force’s medics came over.
After checking the condition of me and the other four, they sighed.
“Internal injuries, torn muscles, even fractures... Haa, it’s remarkable that all of you are alive.”
Was it really that bad?
“You’re all only this well because your bodies are strong. If you had been ordinary people, at least three of the five of you would have died.”
In other words, it was a miracle that none of us had died.
“...How long do you think recovery will take?”
“You will need to remain in bed and recuperate for at least a month.”
I nodded at the medic’s assessment.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Still, it’s fortunate. The war is over, so you can finally rest without worries.”
Rest without worries.
‘Come to think of it, this is my first break in months.’
There was still time before the awards ceremony.
And I had been running myself ragged all this time.
I decided to use this chance to rest properly.
＊＊＊＊＊
Meanwhile, as Ubel and the soldiers were returning,
Schultz, having defeated Kantulan with the subjugation force’s help, was meeting old friends.
“I’m glad you’re safe.”
“...It’s all thanks to you two.”
Schultz looked utterly haggard.
While isolated, he had fought on the front lines every day to hold back Kantulan’s attacks.
“If you hadn’t arrived when you did, even more soldiers would have lost their lives. You have my deepest gratitude.”
“No need for thanks.”
Schultz, Rokselon, and Mirus.
All three were of the same generation, commanders most respected among the Imperial Army, and figures known as pillars of the Empire.
“Lasting a whole month against that monstrous bastard was your achievement.”
At Marquis Rokselon’s words, Count Mirus nodded in agreement.
“That bastard was Kantulan, wasn't that right? It still gives me chills to think about it. Kantulan benefited from the torrential rain, but I never imagined he would break through that encirclement and escape.”
When Count Mirus added that such a feat would have been impossible for other Masters, Marquis Rokselon shook his head.
“No, there is one person who could have done it. And that person is here in the north.”
The air around them grew heavy.
Marquis Rokselon looked seriously at Schultz, while Count Mirus watched the two.
“Schultz, since we are on the subject, let me ask you one thing. Answer honestly.”
“Go ahead.”
“Your elder brother.”
“...”
“Why did Duke Konrad, known as the King of Knights and lord of the north, not act?”
Duke Konrad.
One of the Empire’s four great dukes and a great lord who ruled a third of the north.
With strength beyond comparison, he was called the Master of Masters. He was also the only person in the Empire permitted to bear the title of King.
“If he had stepped forward... No, if the Duchy of Konrad had sent troops from the beginning, this war would have ended long ago.”
However, the Konrad Ducal House had not acted during this Great Invasion.
Once the subjugation force arrived, it only dispatched five thousand soldiers and fifty knights.
“Tell us what you know. Why did His Grace stand by and watch? Could something have happened to the ducal house...”
At the word problem, Schultz flinched inwardly.
But he did not show it and calmly made an excuse.
“Nothing happened. My brother merely trusted the Northern Army and prepared for the possibility that the barbarians might head toward the capital. If there is a problem, it is only that he has an incompetent younger brother.”
As Schultz waved his hand as though he would say no more, Marquis Rokselon had no choice but to give up.
“Haa, very well. In any case...”
Rokselon looked toward the battered walls of Northern Command.
“To think the barbarians invaded the Empire. Such a thing would have been unimaginable in the past.”
“It only means that time has passed. What can we do, however regrettable it may be?”
“Even so...”
“Burying past glory in our hearts and empowering the new generation, that is what aging commanders like us must do.”
At Schultz’s sage-like tone, Marquis Rokselon shot him a look.
“You speak as though you have already done so.”
“Heh heh heh.”
“What? Is that true?”
At Count Mirus’s question, Schultz gave a faint smile.
“There is a fellow named Ubel Graum. You two must have heard of him.”
“The one said to have earned great merit in this war...”
“Was he someone you raised?!”
“He is the sort who grows well on his own, so it would be more accurate to say I found him rather than raised him. In any case, I intend to place my trust in him.”
Marquis Rokselon and Count Mirus exchanged awkward looks.
“Well... nothing has been decided yet, but once the awards are decided, there is a high chance you will be dismissed.”
“That is likely. So before I am dismissed, I intend to submit one final request to the capital.”
“A request?”
“Yes. And regarding that, I would like to ask you two for a favor as friends.”
For a brief moment, bitterness passed through Schultz’s eyes.
But it was so fleeting that it would have gone unnoticed without close attention. Perhaps because they were preoccupied with the mention of a request, the two beside him failed to notice it.
＊＊＊＊＊
After executing Kantulan,
we headed to the fortress where the Left Army was stationed.
Ordinarily, we would have had to stop by headquarters, submit a report, formally report our casualties and achievements, and go through other bothersome procedures.
“Commander Konrad said those pointless procedures can wait. He instructed that arrangements be made so you and the injured soldiers can rest.”
Thanks to Schultz’s stern orders, we were able to ignore all of it.
“He also said that the subjugation force is currently staying at headquarters, so it would be difficult for you to rest comfortably there. He told us to rest at the fortress where the Left Army had been stationed.”
I smiled with satisfaction at Jeg’s message.
“That’s a relief.”
“Seeing how considerate the commander is being, he must value you greatly, Ubel.”
Well, that was true enough.
‘No, but this guy...’
Why did he suddenly start speaking casually?
When I asked him about it,
“I heard Anton decided to call you his elder brother. If you are Anton’s elder brother, does that not make you my friend?”
I received a rather absurd answer.
“Friend...?”
“Yes. We are comrades who fought together to save the Empire, so calling each other friends is only fitting. Why? Do you not wish to be my friend?”
“Huh.”
He had supposedly been easygoing and fond of making friends in his younger days. It seemed that was true.
‘He wants to be friends with me?’
The heir to a marquisate wanted to be my friend. There was no way I would refuse.
“Can I call you Jeg from now on?”
“Haha, you adapt better than you look.”
I had heard that often in my previous life too.
‘Now that I’ve made a friend...’
I decided to ask him a few things I had been curious about.
“Should we wait with the Left Army for now?”
“The soldiers will, but you will most likely need to go to the capital.”
“...Because of the awards ceremony.”
“Exactly.”
It felt awkward to say it myself, but my subordinates and I had earned enough achievements to be considered the leading figures of this war.
‘A first-class war merit is practically guaranteed.’
In a way, going to the capital was only natural.
Traveling such a long distance was somewhat bothersome, but considering the rewards, it was not such a bad thing.
‘If things go well, I might even receive territory this time.’
I had accumulated no small number of achievements, so I was quietly looking forward to this awards ceremony.
＊＊＊＊＊
Half a month passed after the war ended.
The war had left many repercussions for the Empire. The nobles in the capital held meetings day after day, hoping to deal with the aftermath and prepare for what lay ahead.
First was the front line.
The barbarian invasion had left a large gap in the Northern Front.
Normally, they would recruit soldiers to fill that gap. But because the barbarians had rampaged through various places throughout the war, the north currently lacked the capacity to restore the front.
The capital decided to maintain the front with its current forces for the time being.
“Most of the barbarians in the north died in this war anyway, so there should be no immediate problem.”
“You mean...”
“What if we leave the front as it is for now and restore it once we have the means to do so?”
If the capital committed its resources, it could restore the front.
But the noble faction’s nobles found that idea unappealing.
Restoring the front would require them to spend the taxes they had been siphoning away for themselves.
Weakening the border defenses was a grave matter for the nation.
“Leave it alone for now. That seems to be the best option under the circumstances.”
“An excellent decision.”
It was a distant matter in the far north, far removed from them.
They considered the wealth they could secure more important than the Empire’s safety.
“Come to think of it, I hear merchants and Imperial citizens have been complaining lately. What is that about?”
“Ah, it is nothing serious. They say the price of wheat has risen because of the war and torrential rain, and that they have nothing to eat.”
“Hah, what foolish nonsense is this about having nothing to eat?”
An elderly noble clicked their tongue.
“Tsk, tsk. If there is no wheat, can they not catch wild animals or fish? There are so many mountains and valleys within the Empire. This is why the ignorant commoners...”
“They are merely complaints from uncouth and uneducated people, so there is no need to concern ourselves with them. Do we not have more important matters to discuss?”
The important matter they referred to was the awards ceremony.
“Whatever else happens, I think we must properly reward those who earned merit in this war. Otherwise, those Emperor Faction bastards will come rushing at us, frothing at the mouth.”
“Tsk. Rewards? It is only natural for subjects of the Empire to devote themselves to the Empire.”
It was not something they had any right to say, having done nothing but pursue their own interests from behind the scenes, but no one raised an objection.
“I agree that it is regrettable, but regardless, it is already certain that we must grant them rewards.”
Then,
the elderly person seated at the head of the conference table spoke.
“An awards ceremony...”
[Rodgo Borgia]
This was the head of the Borgia Ducal House, one of the four great ducal houses, and the person responsible for creating the current noble faction.
At Duke Borgia’s murmur, the surrounding nobles swallowed nervously.
“May I see the list of those who earned merit?”
“Y-Yes! I have the list.”
Duke Borgia unfolded the list handed over by a young noble.
[List of Distinguished Contributors]
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························
-Jeg Hallios.
-Anton Howard.
-Seton Howard.
-Garsion Ludwig.
-Bercion Ludwig.
-Ivan Charlotte.
························
··················
············
······
···
‧
“I see many names belonging to those Emperor Faction youngsters who oppose us. If the awards ceremony proceeds like this, there will be plenty of room for problems.”
They were the new generation representing the Emperor Faction.
To the noble faction, they were practically sworn enemies.
“If we throw these bastards the bait known as awards, they will happily try to bite our arms off.”
“Then should we proceed without them...”
“That would only give the Emperor Faction justification.”
Duke Borgia tapped the table with a finger.
“It is burdensome to elevate them, yet if we exclude them, the Emperor Faction becomes a problem.”
It was as though Duke Borgia had been forced into a corner.
Duke Borgia did not like the situation.
“Tsk. Seeing how the war ended sooner than expected, it appears that Ludwig’s young whelp set the board. Had I known this would happen, I would not have handed command over to the Emperor Faction bastards.”
“Your Grace, what should we do?”
“What else? Naturally, we must overturn the board so they cannot seize the initiative.”
It was quite a troublesome situation.
Yet Duke Borgia was not anxious in the least.
Instead, Duke Borgia smiled calmly.
‘Garsion Ludwig, you may have put some thought into this for a brat, but you are still inexperienced.’
For someone who had seized control of the imperial capital through political power alone, this scheme was no more than a cute little trick.
“As it happens, we also have the request sent by the Northern Commander a few days ago. Let us try this.”
“Yes? What...”
As Duke Borgia slowly laid out the plan, they pointed to the name of one man on the list.
The surrounding nobles soon cried out in admiration.
“What an idea...!”
“As expected, Your Grace is remarkable.”
“With this method, even the Emperor Faction bastards will be unable to do anything.”
“Heh heh. I am glad you think so. Then let us proceed as planned.”
At the nobles’ response, Duke Borgia chuckled while looking at the list.
In Duke Borgia’s eyes was reflected the name [Ubel Graum].
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