novelraw Chapter 135 : Chapter 135
Chapter 135 : Chapter 135
Chapter : 135
I unconsciously recalled a line from actor Kwak Cheol-yong.
-If you keep doing that, I become a gangster!
I felt like I somewhat understood why he said it that way.
This rotten system!
Isn't this truly an unjust thing? To think infamy would rise when I had absolutely no intention. It was something that naturally brought tears to my eyes.
'Groan.... I'm going to suffer like a dog again.'
If I lower the infamy value by doing good deeds, it rises again as an incident occurs, and if I lower it again, another incident occurs and it rises again.
It's not like I'm floundering in some infinite loop.
At that moment, Magician Agpiel, who had been listening quietly, opened his mouth as if worried.
"However, justification is a bit lacking with just your half-brother alone. While it might be a justification to occupy the territory later, isn't it woefully insufficient to make the feudal vassals under Count Bozen turn their backs?"
"Hmm hmm...."
Although they didn't say it, everyone seemed to agree with Magician Agpiel. The vassals kept their mouths shut and nodded carefully.
Unless we could turn the hearts of the feudal vassals under Count Bozen, the current slow advance was a foolish decision.
It would merely give the opponent time to catch his breath after winning a battle with much effort.
And if that happened, there was a high possibility that the war would turn into a mud fight again. We might even end up doing tedious sieges one after another.
"Actually, I have thought about that part. Magician Agpiel."
Should I say it was somewhat within my expected range?
I shrugged my shoulders.
"Of course, I do not intend to move with just João. Where are the feudal vassals who would welcome a puppet successor appearing out of the blue?"
"That is true. Rather, they would resist fiercely."
"That is correct. Then, if the war drags on, neighboring lords might intervene."
While agreeing appropriately, I continued.
"Therefore, I intend to make an offer that the feudal vassals under Count Bozen cannot refuse."
"Can we give such an offer? How much do you intend to concede? I wonder if that would rather be a loss...."
"What concession. It is a threat."
"......?"
At my words, the vassals, including Magician Agpiel, made puzzled expressions.
To threaten them when even concessions would be insufficient?
Didn't it seem inconsistent?
"Do we not have a reliable friend? I intend to try following the example of the last southern heretic subjugation."
"......?! Surely?"
Only then did Magician Agpiel's two eyes widen significantly.
He seemed to have realized what I intended to do. As expected, he wasn't called a Great Sage for nothing.
"I heard there are stories that Count Bozen usually communicated secretly with heretics. That his support for this rebellion was also to eliminate me, who became the sword of the religious order."
"And the proof for that will be provided by your stepmother, Juana?"
"Yes. It is truly a regrettable thing. A tragedy of family members accusing each other."
"You are truly.... You have the cunning of a fox. Ha ha ha."
I shrugged my shoulders nonchalantly again at Magician Agpiel, who was laughing heartily.
"Ahem, Magician Agpiel. Please call it a just and righteous execution. And I am strictly a victim."
"Oh my. As if."
* * *
The last southern heretic subjugation left a very terrifying precedent.
The high-ranking nobles who died in the southern heretic subjugation were examples, and so was the confiscation of titles in that region committed by the King.
In short, if one was branded a heretic, noble rights and everything else would disappear.
Therefore, the threat I wanted to convey to the feudal vassals under Count Bozen was very simple.
-If you do not want to become a heretic and have all your rights confiscated, stay still.
There was no need for them to step forward for me.
Just staying quietly stuck in their territories like dead mice.
That was exactly what I wanted. It wouldn't be bad for them either since they could escape from a fight lacking justification.
Moreover, what if I maintain their vassal contracts as they are?
'What needs to be said.'
Although nobles of the [Pangea Universalise] era seemed to care extremely about honor and prestige, in fact, the reason they cried out for honor and prestige so fervently was precisely because they could not keep them.
They were barbaric people who would turn their backs whenever the profit was greater than the honor and prestige binding them.
Since there was also justification, this was an opportunity to betray legally.
Of course, to make such a threat, I had to persuade stepmother Juana first.
"It has been a while. Stepmother."
"Hmph...."
Stepmother Juana, whom I met after a long time, was the same as ever.
A fierce gaze and an expression full of malicious obsession.
I could feel the malice of wanting to catch and kill me somehow.
But I knew well.
That all of that was a defense mechanism to protect stepmother's child, my half-brother João.
"Right. We weren't exactly on terms to ask after each other comfortably."
I nodded.
"I will speak directly. Stepmother needs to help me a bit."
"What...? Help?"
"Yes. I heard stepmother's older brother colluded with heretics. As a stepmother who contacted your older brother frequently, wouldn't you be able to testify sufficiently about that?"
"Ha-! You are crazy."
At my words, stepmother Juana looked at me as if dumbfounded.
"You seem to be mistaken about something.... Do you think I would betray my family? Don't make me laugh. I would rather die!"
"Oh.... Is that so."
"Hmph!"
"That will. Very good. Of course, I do not know if you can say that until the end even when a knife really touches your body."
Flinch.
At my cold words, stepmother Juana trembled for a moment.
Because she recalled what she had done. For a traitor, noble rights were often significantly restricted. No one would criticize even if direct violence and torture for confession were carried out.
Of course, I had no intention of doing so.
"It is a joke. Stepmother. Even so, I am not that rude of a bastard. Unlike someone."
At stepmother Juana's reaction, I smirked and continued.
"I will say it once again. Help me. Stepmother. Then...."
"Why? Are you going to say you will spare my life at least? Stop talking nonsense!"
"Oh my, listen until the end. I was trying to talk about lovely half-brother João, not stepmother."
"What?!"
Then stepmother Juana opened her two eyes wide and trembled.
"Ee, eek...! João, not João!"
Stepmother Juana shouted while rushing at me, wondering how she gathered such strength from that slender body.
Of course, I wasn't one to be beaten.
"I told you earlier, right? Listen until the end. You have quite a hasty personality."
I restrained stepmother Juana's arms and continued slowly.
"If you help me, I will help half-brother João succeed to the Count Bozen territory."
"?!"
"Wasn't João important to stepmother? If my blood relative rules the neighboring territory, where is there anything better than that?"
Perhaps my words were unexpected, stepmother Juana's eyes shook rapidly. Seeing that, I continued quickly.
"I will drive out Count Bozen, who is immoral and received help from heretics, and designate João for that position. How about it?"
At times like this, I shouldn't give time to think deeply.
Sure enough.
"...You will take the regency?"
"Then what? do you think João, who is not even an adult yet, can rule that huge territory?"
"He couldn't."
Stepmother Juana was wavering at my repeated proposal.
"You.... How can I trust you? What if you keep your mouth shut and kill João later?"
"If I were going to do that, would there be a need for me to go this complexly? I am the winner. Count Bozen's main force has already collapsed, and the rebellion has been completely suppressed. If I decide to crush with force, who would interfere?"
It was a rough, violent, and stupid act without thinking about the aftermath.
But this was the thought of ordinary nobles in the Middle Ages, that is, the [Pangea Universalise] era.
In fact, trying to go safely by preparing thoroughly and eliminating all variables like me was a unique case.
"......."
With silence, stepmother Juana's eyebrows trembled.
Whether to keep loyalty to the family and die like this, or betray the family and give her son a chance.
But the hesitation wasn't long.
"...Fine."
Stepmother Juana nodded as if she had made up her mind.
-Ding!
[Insidious Stratagem!]
[You have made an offer that cannot be refused.]
At the same time, a familiar system notification window covered my eyes.
[Stepmother Juana will actively follow your proposal. But be aware. This insidious stratagem might grab you by the neck someday.]
Blood is thicker than water.
But there is no blood thicker than the child born through the pain of labor.
* * *
Once stepmother Juana cooperated, everything happened in an instant.
-Count Bozen colluded with heretics and tried to kill the Margrave of Bellua, the sacred Guardian of Bellua!
-As proof, Count Bozen's sister Juana submitted a letter-!
-Count Bozen is a heretic!
It was a story that would make Count Bozen roll his eyes if he heard it, but fortunately, Count Bozen was stuck in his castle without any thought of coming out.
Meanwhile, rumors began to spread throughout the region very quickly.
Thanks to that, all the feudal vassals under Count Bozen began to waver.
-What should we do.
-Shouldn't we fight back?
-But if we join Count Bozen, it is clear we will be treated as heretics too-!
Didn't they experience it in the last southern heretic subjugation? If one becomes a heretic, they lose everything.
In a battle where both justification and chance of victory were tilting, Count Bozen's subordinate feudal vassals did not want to take risks.
And this argument didn't last long and ended soon.
"Send envoys to the feudal vassals under Count Bozen. Tell them if they acknowledge João as the lord, their positions will be maintained."
A large army of over 5,000 marched into Count Bozen's territory along with the envoy carrying my order.
It was truly a ruthless speed.
As if not even considering the attack of Count Bozen's subordinate vassals in the rear.
Moving like this without even hearing a definite answer yet-!
It was a matter of hurt pride for some feudal vassals. So they showed signs of trying to resist me by organizing an army in their own way.
But just one day.
That was the time it took for that resistance to collapse. 5,000 elite soldiers pushed in as is, captured the feudal vassal's castle, and burned it down.
-?!
Only then did the feudal vassals under Count Bozen realize.
That I didn't make the offer to them because I lacked power.
Just.... merely because I found it bothersome if the war dragged on.
And as this difference in power was felt directly.
"W-We greet Your Excellency."
"Long live the new Count Bozen, Lord João! Your Excellency the Margrave. Here is a small gift to commemorate our meeting, although meager. Please accept it."
The feudal vassals under Count Bozen sent envoys and offered gifts, everyone without exception.
It was a kind of bribe asking to take good care of them in the future.
It was truly a beautiful....
Vassal relationship of [Pangea Universalise].