novelraw Chapter 120: Because I Must Be a Great Person
Chapter 120: Because I Must Be a Great Person
Westheid’s knees bent shockingly fast; he knelt almost as soon as the words left his mouth.
One knee resting on the high platform, one hand leaning on [Shadow-Born]—if this were a knight swearing an oath to their monarch, the posture couldn’t have been more perfect.
"Brother?! What are you doing, Brother?!"
Yolanda, standing beside him, looked ready to breathe fire. She rushed over to try and pull Westheid up, but couldn’t budge him.
"How can you kneel before your own people?!"
It wasn’t just Yolanda who was bewildered by Westheid’s actions. The Qinghui People present were also dumbfounded, staring in disbelief at their Lord, now on his knees on the high platform.
"!!!"
Witnessing this, Roy was utterly flabbergasted. He began pushing his way through the crowd to get closer to the front.
Westheid waved Yolanda aside, and the platinum-blonde girl’s fairy-like beauty twisted in anger.
But what was done was done. She could only retreat to the side, fuming, and watch how her brother planned to resolve this situation.
Westheid scanned the crowd and spoke slowly.
"I know many of you resent me. It’s a resentment you dare not voice, perhaps even a bitterness you yourselves are unaware of. I understand all of it."
"Because I once abandoned you, leaving you to fend for yourselves. This is an undeniable fact. To be sure, I could find all sorts of excuses to defend myself—a strategic retreat, preserving the flame; a moment of confusion, being powerless... but none of those can cover up the truth. I truly failed to be with you in your most difficult hour. I must face the mistakes I have made head-on."
"I am your Lord, your Clan Leader. In the Qinghui Territory, my power is absolute. Since I hold the power of life and death over every one of you, I also bear the responsibility for all your lives. The Qinghui People who died in the Chaos Tide, the Qinghui People who have perished in hardship these past two years—their deaths are all a result of my failings."
All guilt is mine to bear!
Westheid’s contrition was undeniable; he was effectively issuing an imperial edict of self-blame.
Even those who truly held a grudge against Duke Qinghui felt this was going too far when they heard his words.
’Even if Lord Westheid is ninety-nine percent to blame, don’t I share at least one percent of the fault?!’
"Duke Qinghui, what do you intend to accomplish by saying all this?"
Amidst the crowd’s silence, Roy pushed his way from the back to the very front. He stood before the platform and looked up at Westheid.
"Are you asking for your people’s forgiveness?"
Westheid looked at the somewhat familiar minor official from the Qinghui Territory and smiled.
"No, I am not asking for anyone’s forgiveness. I am making my position clear. Whether you love me or hate me is your own choice. But someone must be held accountable for the fall of the Qinghui Territory."
"If this responsibility is not assigned, then we cannot even begin to speak of rebuilding the Qinghui Territory. Therefore, I must admit my fault, and I must apologize. I am the leader of the Purity Forest. If the leader is unwilling to take responsibility, then who will?"
"Should the common folk be made to bear the responsibility? Only an animal would do something so utterly shameless!"
The handsome, black-haired, purple-eyed young man stood up. He spoke in a clear, loud voice to Roy and the crowd behind him.
"This sin I have committed, which has broken families and cost lives, must be atoned for by me! That is why I endured hardships in the Imperial Capital, building my strength. And today, two years later, I have returned to my homeland to retake the Qinghui Territory!"
Westheid drew [Shadow-Born]. The deep crimson edge of the tachi seemed to sear itself onto the retinas of all who gazed upon it. With the crimson blade pointed toward the sky, Duke Qinghui’s firm and resolute voice rang out:
"Here, now, in this place, I swear to all Qinghui People, I will retake the Qinghui Territory! Within one year! This time, I will not retreat a single step. I will either reclaim all our ancestral lands and return the Qinghui Territory to its former prosperity, or I will die on the battlefield, allowing the bloodline of the Pure Holy Spirit to be severed, and let the name Qinghui be lost to history forever!"
"This oath is witnessed by the Celestial God and affirmed by the Holy Spirit! In the name of Qinghui, there is no turning back!"
The Lord’s oath echoed through the square, striking a chord in the heart of every person present.
’Seriously? He’s really not leaving himself any escape route. And he even set such a short time limit. It would be one thing to boast about this in private, but to make an oath like this in front of everyone?’
’It’s either literal death or social death. He’s really staked everything on this.’
The stunned Qinghui People began to whisper amongst themselves. Roy, however, took another step forward and pressed on:
"Duke Qinghui, are you asking us to take up arms as well and reclaim the territory?"
Westheid gently sheathed Shadow-Born and looked at Roy.
"Just as I do not ask for your forgiveness, I will not force you to die for me."
"I only hope that you will join the reclamation effort, because the Qinghui Territory is home to us all. But this is not a Lord’s command. Even without any help, I alone will cross the Ying River."
"That is all I wanted to say. From now on, I will be stationed here. If any of you have anything more to say to me, feel free to come find me. It’s not about atonement... just fulfilling the duties a Lord ought to fulfill."
After saying his piece, Westheid gave a few quiet orders to his attendants, bringing the assembly to a close. He then turned and descended from the platform.
The crowd parted on its own, creating a path for Westheid. They watched as the smiling Duke Qinghui departed from the square.
The Qinghui People were filled with complicated emotions. Nevertheless, many of them now found themselves involuntarily kneeling before Westheid, calling out softly:
"My Lord..."
"My Lord."
"My Lord..."
Yolanda noticed this. She caught up to Westheid and whispered,
"Brother, I want an explanation, but... never mind. At least you didn’t completely disgrace the Qinghui Clan. It’s just that, doing this... your authority will..."
’Yolanda, that staunch warrior of feudalism, was still preoccupied with things like a lord’s authority and the hierarchy between high and low.’
’Her perspective is far too narrow.’
Westheid, with his grand ambition of Ascension, scoffed.
"Authority? True authority doesn’t come from brandishing power or posturing, but from keeping one’s word and daring to take responsibility... Yolanda, I told you to read less of those political intrigue novels. Don’t fall for that cynical style of ruling. That kind of posturing will never earn you true faith."
"Yes. What my teacher has done... that is the mark of a true king."
The Wolf-eared Maiden stared, mesmerized, at Westheid’s profile.
"Never... Never has a Knight Lord knelt before their people. Only the Knight King, in his chivalry, would bow to the weak despite being a Powerhouse himself. Teacher, you have already surpassed the Knight King of old."
"Don’t say that. I’m not some virtuous king whose love knows no bounds. For now, my mercy and magnanimity are reserved for my people alone."
Westheid noticed Mivana’s eyes were practically sparkling, and he smiled.
Of course, this action would greatly increase Mivana’s affection for him, but this was not Westheid’s only goal.
Westheid’s true goal was to establish a perfect image.
’For one who seeks to Ascend must be great.’
A timid, petty person who is unwilling to even take responsibility for their own mistakes can absolutely never set foot on the Ascension Ladder.
And one of the three great requirements for Ascension, [Anchored in the Mortal World’s Fanatic Realm], requires the heartfelt worship and adoration of countless mortals.
What Westheid wanted was not superficial authority, but true fanatics who would die for him!
Therefore, kneeling to apologize wasn’t an act of self-humiliation, but a way to become even greater.
Compared to a high-and-mighty lord, a humble, responsible, sincere, and self-reflecting leader would obviously receive more support from the people.
’Westheid’s goal was to be a fucking great man!’