novelraw Chapter 120 : Chapter 120
Chapter 120 : Chapter 120
Chapter : 120
“Ughhh.”
“Bear with the pain. You used your body too harshly.”
As soon as that damn monster fell, the temple collapsed as if nothing had happened, and the intense curse mystery lingering in the temple disappeared.
It was regrettable for Magician Agpiel, who wanted to investigate the temple from the Ancient Empire era, but what could be done? There was no way to bring back a temple that had already vanished.
Thanks to that, my army and I had to return quickly to Budenbern.
“It was dangerous. To think those cultist bastards were doing such things with the holy relic and the power of the ancient temple….”
Magician Agpiel reproached himself while treating my wounds. He seemed to think that if he had restrained himself a little more, I wouldn't have fallen into such danger.
“But wasn't it something someone had to do? Rather, I rushed in without preparation, so please do not blame yourself, Agpiel.”
“Oh dear…. You are truly….”
At my words, Magician Agpiel looked at me with a very touched expression.
To think an old man would look at me with such an expression…. A wry smile escaped me at the thought of why such words wouldn't come out in front of women.
‘Well, it wasn't completely without gain.’
Although the temple crumbled like grains of sand, once the intense curse mystery fluctuating from the temple disappeared, the undead swarm plaguing the Prince-Bishopric of Cologne vanished as well.
All the current disturbances were resolved.
Moreover, combat power.
‘My combat power stat, which had been stagnant for a while, jumped up by 2.’
[Character Status]
[Johan de Bellua]
[Diplomacy 3], [Stewardship 2], [Intrigue 5], [Combat Power 9]
[Traits: Meticulous Planner, Sword Genius, Inspiring Warrior, Blessing of the Goddess of Destiny]
Before, I didn't know the meaning of stat increases, but becoming closer to mystery, I could understand now.
As soon as the notification that my combat power stat increased by 2 appeared, the mystery around me fluctuated and was absorbed into my body. Thanks to that, I could instinctively feel more intuitive and predictive judgment regarding combat.
I felt that the ability of this system was somewhat close to the origin of this new [Pangea Universalise] world.
Although I couldn't know for sure yet.
“By the way, it seems to have lost all its power as a holy relic.”
“Hmm, it seems so.”
Magician Agpiel and I said while looking at the holy relic.
Where did the holy mystery shown in the cursed temple go? Now, all that remained was just an ordinary sword.
Ah, of course, it wasn't just ordinary.
“It is very sharp?”
“Looking at it, it seems to be an object from the old Ancient Empire era.”
“The material of the sword, the style, and seeing the embossed patterns, it seems to have been a tremendously precious and valuable famous sword.”
“Hmm, is that so?”
Interest arose for a moment.
A sword from the Ancient Empire era.
Then, realizing that this sword was originally a holy relic, my interest cooled down instantly.
After all, isn't it a sword I have to return?
“Tsk tsk. You really are a knight. To be interested in excellent weaponry.”
“K-khm. After going through this battle, I thought I needed a sturdy sword.”
“Hahaha. Why be embarrassed? Everyone is like that.”
At my excuse-filled words, Magician Agpiel laughed heartily.
“Why don't you ask the Archbishop of Cologne once? Who knows? He might give you the sword in gratitude.”
“Ay, surely not. It is their holy relic.”
“Hmm, considering its consecrated power is all exhausted, and its appearance is different from the original, can we still call it a holy relic? You never know. Hoho.”
“Hmm…. Well, that is true….”
But I chuckled.
Even so, would they give a holy relic dedicated to their diocese?
However, a while later, when I met the Archbishop of Cologne.
“Please take this sword.”
“???”
‘Surely’ really caught me off guard.
“Archbishop of Cologne. Isn't this sword a holy relic kept in the Cologne Diocese?”
I asked, flustered by the Archbishop of Cologne's words.
Usually, a diocese's holy relic is not easily given away. Moreover, even more so if the recipient is a foreign noble.
But the Archbishop of Cologne laughed and shook his head instead.
“I understand that this holy relic was originally forged during the Ancient Empire era. I heard it was a sword given by the Emperor to a general going to the battlefield when the Empire was still ruled by pagans. Anyway, it was not an object worth protecting as a holy relic of our diocese.”
“Ah, is that so?”
No wonder its appearance was unusual; there was indeed a reason.
A sword bestowed directly by the Emperor to a general….
“Furthermore, since all the consecrated power has disappeared, it can no longer be called a holy relic. In my opinion, it seems the sword has finally found its master.”
“But still….”
“No, Your Excellency. I understand that the holy relic manifested its power directly and appeared before Your Excellency during the crisis. The appearance of a holy sword to protect the faithful Excellency. How can we call this anything other than God's arrangement?”
Saying so, the Archbishop of Cologne made the sign of the cross and began to praise God as if deeply moved.
Truly a very awkward situation.
It could be misunderstood that I did this to steal the holy relic.
At that moment, Magician Agpiel poked my side and said.
“Just accept it. What problem could there be? People might misunderstand, but such misunderstandings will soon be cleared up. Besides, since all the consecrated power is gone, it is practically not a holy relic anymore.”
“Hmm….”
Thinking about it a little, it made sense.
Eventually, I nodded.
“Very well. Since the Archbishop of Cologne speaks so, I will gladly accept this sword. I will make sure to use it only for the right causes.”
“Hahaha. It seems the sword has finally found its master. I feel truly good.”
* * *
Although there were twists and turns, the meeting with the Archbishop of Cologne was excellent.
The Archbishop of Cologne expressed his desire to join the various interest businesses I was promoting.
The Prince-Bishopric of Cologne was a historic region dating back to the Ancient Empire era.
To the west was the Elang Kingdom with its vast plains; to the north were the three Low Countries, blessed lands rich in products and fertile soil; and to the east was the Holy Empire, the land of struggle and honor.
Being the crossroads of these three major powers and a center of trade, it was only natural for the city of Cologne to prosper.
It was a huge commercial city, ranking within the top five even within the Holy Empire, and a very wealthy and prosperous city, ranking within the top ten in the entire continent.
And such a Prince-Bishopric of Cologne is joining me?
-Ding!
[You have acquired a part of the continent's northern trade network.]
[Notification: Progress of Relay Market increases.]
[Relay Market Progress: 95/100]
‘Good!’
Finally, all preparations were coming to a close step by step.
The only thing left was to go to the Duchy of Bourgogne and complete it finally.
Now, I had almost finished preparing for the chaos that would come after the Great Famine.
Moreover, the seeds I had sown while going around the surrounding territories were slowly germinating.
A week into heading north towards the Duchy of Bourgogne after resolving the incident in the Prince-Bishopric of Cologne.
“Margrave! I have come here hearing of your beautiful honor. Please do not turn me away.”
“Blessings to Your Excellency! I dedicate my sword to you.”
“For the faithful Excellency! The Order of Sword Brothers wishes to follow Your Excellency. Please accept our swords.”
Wandering knights roaming the kingdom and people from knight orders heard the rumors and began to flock in gradually.
* * *
The Duke of Bourgogne.
Jean III the Bold.
Jean III, who received the Duchy of Bourgogne from the current King Bordeing, was a lord who owned the three Low Countries and ruled over vast independent territories in the Holy Empire and many territories in the Elang Kingdom.
This was the result of utilizing the war between the Anjou Kingdom and the Elang Kingdom that broke out at an opportune time.
Thanks to that, as a great lord counted within the Elang Kingdom, no, within the continent, the territory he possessed was larger than that of kings of most nations.
But even he had a lifelong wish.
That was.
‘Independence.’
Inside the luxurious office.
The Duke of Bourgogne sat alone looking at the widely spread map.
Elang Kingdom to the left, Holy Empire to the right. The territory occupied between them was his own, the Duchy of Bourgogne.
Certainly, his territory was larger than the Bordeing royal family of the Elang Kingdom and the Osterreich family of the Holy Empire.
But the Duchy of Bourgogne was part of the Elang Kingdom.
He was still a vassal of the Bordeing royal family and had to receive permission while being checked by the royal family for every single thing he did.
‘It is a wretched affair.’
As a man. As a monarch, it was something that deeply hurt his pride.
So Jean III had dreamed of an independent Duchy of Bourgogne, free from interference.
The throne of the Elang Kingdom?
He wasn't interested in such a thing in the first place. Even if he became the King of the Elang Kingdom, he would just be the Bourgogne royal family of the Elang Kingdom.
‘But if the Duchy of Bourgogne becomes independent, it is a different story.’
It becomes a complete and great Duchy of Bourgogne ruled solely by the ducal house of Bourgogne.
If a man is born, shouldn't he make a name for himself and leave his own nation in history?
‘It is not an easy task. Not an easy task.’
The ambition is big, but the mountain to cross is high. Although he had a territory larger than the Bordeing royal family, as long as he was checked by the Holy Roman Emperor, the troops he could mobilize were fewer than the King.
‘That is why this friend is important….’
The Duke of Bourgogne took out a letter sealed with wax from the drawer.
A letter stamped with a seal depicting a red eagle. It was sent by the Margrave of Bellua, Johan.
‘It is truly strange. To think the Margrave, who was staggering as if he would collapse right away, would rise like this.’
According to intelligence, the Margrave of Bellua was undoubtedly a dissolute playboy among dissolute playboys. Because he gave up the power struggle with his stepmother internally, the already weakened Bellua Margraviate became even weaker. So, for a while, expectations for the southeast had been abandoned.
‘But he suddenly changed.’
Correct. He changed.
Thanks to that, all of his plans were tangled.
He ousted his stepmother, reclaimed the land, and raised an army.
On top of that, joining hands with the Holy See, he made distinguished contributions in the southern heretic subjugation and became an existence that could not be ignored.
Thanks to that, the King and he were currently contemplating how to use this fellow.
‘Well, even so, it won't affect the general trend much.’
He heard that he could mobilize quite a number of soldiers.
Did they say he mobilized about 5,000 during the last territorial dispute? However, seeing that all those troops were infantry, it wasn't a very strong force.
An army with only infantry.
Even with 10,000 men, they are not as good as 1,000 well-trained cavalry and 4,000 elite infantry.
‘Still, it should work if I use him well. If that friend ties up the King’s army appropriately in the south….’
A grand strategy emerges in his head.
Although the cavalry power is terrible, since the infantry is overwhelmingly numerous, it would surely be threatening to the King. If coaxed well, he could be used as a pretty decent sword.
‘Could it go from 3:7 to 5:5, or maybe even 6:4 if things go well?’
‘Tsk, if only this guy had more knight power, it would have been very good. What a pity….’
And when he reached that conclusion.
-Thump thump thump!
Along with the sound of loud knocking on the door.
“D-Duke!”
“We have a big problem!!”
An urgent voice was heard.
‘Tsk.’
His concentration broken, the Duke of Bourgogne put down the letter and glared beyond the door.
“What is it?”
Then the door opened, and a man entered.
General Valiant, responsible for the ducal house's military. He opened his mouth with a pale face.
“D-Duke, Your Excellency. The Margrave has arrived leading about 1,000 knights. What should we do?”
“What?”
What kind of nonsense is this?
1,000 knights.
“What are you talking about suddenly? And the Margrave? Are you talking about the Margrave of Bellua?”
Flabbergasted, the Duke of Bourgogne demanded an explanation. But Valiant only pointed beyond the window with his finger.
And there.
Truly, about 1,000 cavalrymen filled the horizon, standing there.