Volume 8 Chapter 4 Tale Of Nokin Triumph – Later
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
It seemed that the Garden of Goddess never expected that the Garuda Principality would send a military expedition.
About 5 hundred soldiers, who had rushed to intercept us on the way to the village, found their commander struck down by my blade and quickly lost their will to fight, begging for their lives and surrendering in droves.
The nearly 3 hundred soldiers who surrendered immediately disarmed themselves and were bound together in a chain, with the first row leading the way.
It was an Arrow Evasion, but I also hoped for another effect.
That being the avoidance of unnecessary conflict with the Garden of Goddess.
In fact, upon seeing the number of captured soldiers, the leader, Grace Ostenfort, quickly offered to surrender.
Surrendering, Grace Ostenfort grovelled on the ground, waiting for my arrival with a submissive demeanor.
”If I had known that Sir Nokin was coming, I would have come to greet you myself. I apologize for my subordinate’s mistake.”
Though Grace is a noble of the Majin Clan, which is rare in the east, she seemed to be overly concerned with her appearance, heavily applying makeup.
”I apologize as well. I forgot to send a messenger to Grace and ended up on your territory. That was an unfortunate accident. I feel sorry for the deceased commander.”
”Those who mistake Sir Nokin’s soldiers for enemies deserve to die. What was the purpose of your visit this time?”
Grace probed into the purpose of my visit, but since I had no intention of engaging in tedious negotiations, I decided to state my intentions clearly.
”I received word from the Kingdom to annex the Ostenfort territory into the Garuda Principality. I’m sorry, Grace, but for the time being, I intend for you to serve as the pretext for the subjugation of the Ostenfort territory. After the subjugation, you’ll be of no use, so you will face an appropriate punishment as a criminal. Bind the key figures.”
Repulus issued instructions to the soldiers.
The executives of the Garden of Goddess, who had come to welcome me, were all arrested at once.
”Sir Nokin! Why must I suffer the shame of rope and noose? I am the rightful heir of the Ostenfort Lord! What authority do you have to arrest me!”
Grace was screaming as if wailing, thrashing about in a desperate attempt to break free from her binds.
”I have been delegated the authority of eastern pacification by His Majesty the Demon Lord. I cannot leave the Ostenfort domain to you. There have been numerous complaints from the villages about daughters being snatched away by you, do you have any explanation for these?”
Grace was struck motionless as if by lightning.
And then she averted her gaze from me.
”So, you would condemn me based on the baseless accusations of these lowly peasants… There’s no way their daughters could be more beautiful than I.”
Due to her screaming, the thick layer of makeup she had applied had begun to crack and fade, revealing a dreadful visage.
”For now, I intend to use you as a figurehead of the former Lord until I have fully occupied the Ostenfort domain.”
”Foolishness! The Ostenfort domain belongs to me! It’s not something to be freely given to the likes of you!”
I waved my hand to chase Grace away.
My soldiers raised their voices, forcing a bit into her mouth to lead her away to the mansion for her house arrest.
Among the former retainers of the Garden of Goddess, many had suspicions about Grace’s character, and it was reported that only a few of her entourage were involved in her misdeeds.
In fact, during the public trial in front of the villagers, most of those around Grace, excluding her entourage, maintained a degree of decorum when dealing with the villagers.
Nonetheless, about 2 hundred of those captured had participated in the misdeeds, so using my authority as king, I assigned them the Criminal job and sent them to work on the street paving project.
Out of the remaining 7 hundred soldiers of the Garden of Goddess, only about 2 hundred seemed to have the quality to be soldiers.
Only these two hundred were added to our forces, while the rest were tasked with guarding and patrolling the areas controlled by the Garden of Goddess.
The need to reorganize the army arose once more, necessitating a stay of a couple of days in the village. During this time, envoys were dispatched to the remaining ‘Swords and Skulls’ and ‘God’s Soldiers’, urging them to disarm and surrender promptly.
The response from both factions was to send back the heads of the envoys dispatched.
”Sir Nokin, won’t this give them time to fully fortify their defenses? Why didn’t we strike swiftly?”
Repulus, after subduing the Garden of Goddess, had proposed a lightning invasion of the ‘Swords and Skulls’ territory, which boasted the largest force.He seemed dissatisfied with my decision to halt the army’s activities under the pretext of reorganization.
”Well, it’s because I don’t enjoy a war that’s too easy. A surprise attack is over too quickly; it doesn’t strengthen the soldiers. Repulus, don’t slack off either. This army is destined to become the main force of the Garuda Principality, and we need to积累 plenty of combat experience. If we struggle against the ‘Swords and Skulls’, we’ll never stand a chance against other nations’ armies.”
”…I understand what you’re saying, but it feels like your desire to fight is the stronger reason, isn’t it just my imagination?”
”That’s the primary reason. If there’s anyone who can withstand even a single blow from my attack, I’d like to have them in the army.”
I prefer those who excel in bravery to stay close to me.
If there’s anyone who can withstand my full-force attack with even a single sword stroke, I’d gladly have them under my command. So far, only Repulus has managed to hold his own against my full strength.
”It’s rare to find someone who can withstand Sir Nokin’s full power. Even I could lose my head if I let my guard down.”
Repulus was exasperated by my demands.
”You just need more training. You have potential.”
Since joining forces, Repulus had dedicated any free time to training with me.
”I’ll take that as a compliment. Well, shall we set out and crush the enemy now? I’ll tell the troops to fight seriously. This time, it’s a fair fight with almost equal numbers, so be prepared for significant losses.”
”I’ll be there to prevent that, and so will you, right?”
”Indeed, it is quite a challenge to bring down an opponent who is fully prepared… However, if their command ability is lacking, we might manage somehow.”
Repulus appeared troubled, yet he did not declare it impossible.
After completing the troops’ formation, we departed from the village that served as our base and began our march towards the town of Ostenfort.
* * *
Two days later, at the gentle hillside close to Ostenfort, wooden fences came into view, indicating that fortifications were being established.
On the other side, armed soldiers filled the area.
”Oh no! The enemy has even mobilized farmers. There must be about 5 thousand of them. And they have built a solid fence as well.”
”Farmers without their heads will just be a rabble. But, it seems like there will be some challenge after all.”
I mounted my horse and galloped towards the fully fortified position of ‘Swords and Skulls.’
As I arrived in front of the encampment, arrows flew sporadically, but I swatted them away with my greatsword.
Then, I raised my voice loudly towards the soldiers holed up in their fortifications.
”I am Nokine Wolffang, High Chief of the Garuda Principality! I proclaim to the men of ‘Swords and Skulls’! If any of you can land even a single blow on me, I shall yield my title of High Chief to you! To become a High Chief means wealth and women at your disposal! Those who dare challenge me, step forth from your ranks!”
Hearing my words, a cat-like man on horseback burst out from the ‘Swords and Skulls’ encampment.
He wielded a spear in his hand.
”I’ll take that head! My name is Consalbo!”
The man known as Consalbo, darting towards me, thrust the spear sharply as we passed each other.
I cleaved the spearhead with my greatsword and, in a swift motion, severed the man from his horse.
”Is this the level of the soldiers of ‘Swords and Skulls’?”
Witnessing Consalbo’s fate, a scream echoed from the enemy camp.
Seeing the enemy’s turmoil, it seemed that the man I had felled was recognized as a notable warrior.
I galloped before the enemy lines, further provoking them.
”The so-called Kingdom’s army is but a flock of weaklings! Now, you’ll serve me as my slave until death. Lick my boots and surrender, quickly!”
A new man burst forth from the enemy ranks, but I couldn’t get him to name himself.
For my sword had pierced through his mouth.
”The second one! This guy’s no better. Now he can’t even say his name.”
Hoisting the man pierced by my greatsword high, I flung him towards the ranks with a mighty throw.
With a sickening *Thud*, a scream rose from the enemy’s position.
The battlefield began to stir in a flurry, and roars of fury started to echo across.
Next to emerge was a man of the Minotaur breed.
He charged towards me on foot, not on horseback.
His attire was different from the last 2, dressed only in tattered clothes and a leather breastplate.
”It’s Geronimo! Nokin, defeating you will make me the High Chief!”
The Minotaur man swung a massive iron hammer down towards me.
The speed was terrifyingly swift, but I managed to dodge it by a hair’s breadth.
Oh!
Indeed, there are strong ones among them.
”Sir Nokin!”
”Repulus! I’m alright! I like this one. We’ll capture him, so prepare some sturdy ropes!”
”Don’t let your attention wander when you’re fighting me.”
Geronimo raised his hammer once more and brought it down towards me.
I successfully evaded the attack with a backstep and then I lunged forward with a slash.
”You mentioned Geronimo. I’ll test your bravery.”
Geronimo barely managed to deflect my serious strike with his hammer.
”Guh, for my arm to go numb from your strike… Nokin, you’re strong. But I can’t afford to lose. If I don’t work, the villagers won’t have food to eat.”
Despite his numbed arm, Geronimo launched a third attack.
”Oh, to still attack after receiving my strike! A truly interesting man. Geronimo, I’ve remembered your name well.”
Dodging Geronimo’s attack, I swung the greatsword sideways, successfully knocking him unconscious with the flat of the blade to his head.
Sending a signal to Repulus, we decided to tighten our grip on Geronimo and retreat to our camp with him in tow.
* * *
Inside the tent set up for camping, Geronimo awoke from his stupor.
He looked around and, spotting me, tried to launch an attack.
However, Geronimo’s body, tightly bound, remained immobile.
”Damn it! What will you do with me captured? If I don’t return, the village will starve!”
”Oh, the village will starve, will it? Why were you participating in ‘Swords and Skulls’?”
”I send the gold I earn fighting in ‘Swords and Skulls’ back to the village. ‘Swords and Skulls’ pays for the commander of opposing groups killed. That gold feeds my village. So, if I die, the village starves. Our land is not suited for farming; no matter how much we till, it remains barren.”
It seemed Geronimo had been a mercenary for ‘Swords and Skulls’.
”Well, where is your village? Is it within the Ostenfort territory?”
”Yes, my village is in the mountainous region on the border of Schuwelt territory.”
Repulus, who had been listening to Geronimo’s story, questioned him.
”If it’s a village on the border of Schuwelt, we’ve taken over all of them. What’s the name of your village?”
”Yuenar Village.”
”Then, it’s already under our control.”
Repulus had already absorbed Geronimo’s village into the Garuda Principality’s domain.
Hearing this, I came up with a plan to take Geronimo under my command.
”Hey, Geronimo. If you’re fighting as a mercenary for gold, become my subordinate. That way, your village won’t be taxed, and I’ll provide food for free. How about it? If you join me, I’ll make sure to fulfill my promises. After all, I am a king.”
”Really! If you break your promise, I’ll kill you! You must promise to exempt the village from taxes and supply food!”
”Yes, I swear on the honor of the Clan Leader.”
”Then, I will follow Nokin. Use my strength to your fullest.”
Geronimo, bound by ropes, prostrated himself before the earth, vowing fealty.
On this day, I had succeeded in gaining a mighty warrior for a lifelong guard.
* * *
The next day, Geronimo was clad in thick full-body armor, handed a large shield and a hammer, and once again set out towards the ‘Swords and Skulls’ formation as he had the previous day.
”Nokin, leave the fence to me. With this armor, paltry arrows won’t pierce me, and I’ll clear the path with this hammer.”
”Alright, I’m counting on you, Geronimo. Once I break through, Repulus will move the army. You come with me to fight Surveyga.”
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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