novelraw Chapter 320 : Chapter 320
Chapter 320 : Chapter 320
Chapter 320. What Kind of Battles Have You Been Fighting All This Time? (3)
September 21, 1530.
The Yusef Kingdom suddenly started a war with a large army of 150,000.
The target was the Magellan Kingdom.
They had launched a large-scale invasion of the Magellan Kingdom, which had maintained peace through a neutral foreign policy amidst the continent's turbulent times.
This was too sudden.
The Magellan Kingdom, with its relatively weak military power, could only be helplessly defeated in the face of the sudden invasion without even a declaration of war.
And not only that, the nature of the war was different from before.
The wars the Yusef Kingdom had previously waged were done with the utmost effort to minimize civilian casualties and not to go against the sentiments of the local people.
Thanks to that, the Hegemon King was able to smoothly absorb the land and people of the enemy country even after occupying it.
But in this invasion of Magellan, they were displaying extreme cruelty.
Not only did they not take prisoners, but they forcibly requisitioned supplies from civilians in the path of the army's advance, and if they resisted, they were massacred by wiping out entire villages.
Thorough destruction and plunder took place.
It was certainly a war of a different nature than before.
The terrified Magellan Kingdom hurriedly asked other countries on the continent for help.
They condemned the actions of the Yusef Kingdom, which had suddenly invaded without any justification, and appealed to the other countries of the continent.
But the Holy Theocracy and the Empire, who were asked for help, could not interfere in this situation.
Not only had they not fully recovered the national power they had consumed in the previous war, but the Yusef Kingdom was now no longer an opponent that the Empire and the Holy Theocracy could easily look down on.
They only criticized the Yusef Kingdom for starting a war without a proper justification.
They refused to provide practical help.
The Magellan Kingdom, which had expected the participation of the Empire and the Holy Theocracy, could only be helplessly defeated by the Yusef Kingdom.
And, grasping at straws, they sent an envoy to the Schneider Duchy.
February 3, 1531.
In the grand hall of the Schneider Duchy, the envoy of the Magellan Kingdom was prostrated desperately, begging earnestly.
“Please help us. Please look upon the pitiful people of our country.”
The Magellan Kingdom was a kingdom with a national power that was at least considered middle-tier on the continent.
But the envoy, who was prostrated before the Grand Duke Schneider and earnestly asking for help, showed no sign of face or pride.
What was revealed on his prostrated face was only desperation.
“First…”
The Grand Duke Schneider opened his mouth with difficulty.
“We will also need to have a meeting. We will provide you with a separate palace, Marquis, so please rest comfortably.”
“Your Highness the Grand Duke. If Your Highness turns away, the fate of our Magellan Kingdom is only death and destruction.”
“……”
“Even now, the soldiers of the Yusef Kingdom are slaughtering the innocent people of our country and burning our territory. Please do not turn a blind eye to this.”
“……”
At the marquis' heartfelt plea, the Grand Duke Schneider nodded heavily and sent him away for the time being.
And immediately after, he gathered the key figures of the state and entered a meeting.
“What do you all think?”
At the Grand Duke Schneider’s words, the first to speak was Marquis Alexander Krupa, who had now become the marquis of the Schneider Duchy.
He, who oversaw most of the country’s internal affairs, was practically the prime minister of the Schneider Duchy.
“To speak of the reality coldly…. This is someone else’s problem.”
“……”
“There is no benefit for our country to gain by interfering in the war between the Magellan Kingdom and the Yusef Kingdom. Therefore, it is right to refuse.”
The words of Marquis Krupa, who spoke after coldly calculating the profit and loss, were a sound argument.
But….
“Marquis, then what will happen to the Magellan Kingdom and the people living there?”
Sanson Kainel, the captain of the Double Dragon Knightly Order and a count of the Schneider Duchy, retorted.
To his words, Marquis Krupa replied calmly.
“Is there any reason we should care about that?”
“That is…. Shouldn’t we naturally care?”
“Pardon?”
“They say that people will die if we don’t help, don’t they? So of course, we should care and help.”
“……”
For a moment, Marquis Krupa was flustered.
The emotion revealed on Sanson’s face right now was not anger or opposition, but pure doubt.
It was a face that said, "Why aren't we doing something that I've been taught my whole life is the right thing to do?"
And it wasn't just Sanson; most of the vassals who were native to the Schneider Duchy had similar expressions.
‘…The Grand Young Master had a reason to go mad.’
Marquis Krupa felt like he understood why Patrick had the word ‘sucker’ on his lips all the time.
He calmly continued speaking.
“Let me make one thing clear.”
Marquis Krupa scanned his surroundings and continued firmly.
“We are not a hegemonic nation that must protect the justice of the continent and maintain balance.”
“That may be so, but…”
“In the first place, that was the domain of the Empire and the Holy Theocracy. If they claim to be the sole empire of the continent and pride themselves on being the religious headquarters, they should not have stood by and watched the situation in the Magellan Kingdom.”
At Marquis Krupa’s words, many people nodded their heads.
In fact, they too had questioned the lukewarm attitude of the Holy Theocracy and the Empire.
Why was that powerful nation not intervening in this unjust war?
Why were they just watching as the Magellan Kingdom was unilaterally invaded?
Marquis Krupa clearly resolved that question.
“The reason the Empire and the Holy Theocracy are not intervening in this situation is that the aftermath of the war still remains, but more than that, it is because the Yusef Kingdom is a formidable enemy.”
“Hmm….”
Some people grunted and nodded their heads.
Certainly, the current Yusef Kingdom was not the weak nation it was in the past, known as one of the four weak eastern nations.
In terms of territory alone, it was a superpower that surpassed the Empire.
“Protecting justice and helping others requires having the means to do so. This is the same for both nations and people.”
“……”
“But right now, the Empire and the Holy Theocracy do not have the capacity to help the Magellan Kingdom while clashing with a strong enemy like the Yusef Kingdom.”
To be more precise, the biggest reason would be that if they exhausted that capacity, they would not be able to maintain their status as the hegemonic nation of the continent.
But there was no way that explaining such a political analysis to these good-natured suckers would work.
Marquis Krupa continued calmly.
“The current Yusef Kingdom is a strong enemy that even the Empire and the Holy Theocracy are hesitant to confront. And you are saying that we should go to war with such a great power to help the Magellan Kingdom?”
“……”
“Especially, our country’s national power is not in a perfect state right now. Everyone knows the reason for that, don’t you?”
“Hmmmm….”
“That’s true.”
Everyone agreed with Marquis Krupa’s words.
The current Schneider Duchy had a population that had increased, and the scale of the nation had grown, allowing it to expand its elite military force to a maximum of 30,000.
And it had a powerful knightly order and strong non-human allied forces, the orc and elf tribes.
Also, the Tower of Truth, one of the three major powers, was also an ally of the Schneider Duchy.
But even with this military power, the current military strength of the Schneider Duchy could not be said to be in a perfect state.
Because….
‘The Grand Young Master is not here…’
‘He needs to return as soon as possible.’
The absence of Patrick Sky Schneider.
The military power of the Schneider Duchy had to be seen as a world of difference depending on whether that one person was there or not.
If Patrick had been there, Marquis Krupa would not have completely opposed this war.
Even if it was a war with little to gain, if a certain victory was guaranteed, the Schneider Duchy could become a kingdom of the continent, beyond the framework of a duchy.
Perhaps even a hegemonic nation that leads a new order.
But not now.
A war where victory cannot be guaranteed.
A war where there is no practical benefit to be gained even if they win.
Stepping into such a war is an extremely foolish act.
Marquis Krupa calmly stated his conclusion.
“It is right to stay out of this war.”
It was a logical argument from Marquis Krupa, who had accurately and coolly judged the national interest and the current situation.
Most of the people gathered in the conference hall seemed to nod their heads in agreement.
But.
“Marquis Krupa.”
He did not know yet.
“Please speak, Your Highness the Grand Duke.”
That the true King of the Suckers still remained.
The Grand Duke Schneider, whom Marquis Krupa had called, spoke in a calm voice.
“According to the marquis' words, are you saying that we should observe and watch this situation?”
“That is correct.”
“Then what will happen to the people of the Magellan Kingdom who are dying in the invasion of the Yusef Kingdom?”
“They are…”
For a moment, Marquis Krupa hesitated.
If he were to speak his mind directly, he would say, ‘It has nothing to do with us.’
But he couldn't say that openly in an official setting, could he?
Marquis Krupa thought for a moment and then carefully chose his words.
“Their situation is regrettable, but I believe we should not substitute their blood with the blood of our country.”
Although he expressed it in a roundabout way, yes, if he said this much, they would understand.
An ordinary person would.
“In the end, are you not saying that the reality that the weak and powerless die in war does not change?”
“……”
That’s right. It is, but….
“How can we preach justice while turning a blind eye to this reality where innocent people are dying? Is that not so?”
“……”
No. This is not it.
What he was saying was so righteous that it was a bit difficult to refute it openly in an official setting, but still, this was not it.
“Your Highness the Grand Duke. But if we are to face the Yusef Kingdom now, the soldiers of our country will have to make sacrifices.”
“I know.”
He knows.
Yes. It’s a relief that he knows….
“But isn’t that what justice is originally like? Isn’t it our duty to step forward for the weak, knowing the danger and risking sacrifice?”
He knows nothing….
At the Grand Duke Schneider’s words, Marquis Krupa let out a sigh.
Yes. It’s right.
What he said was right in itself.
To stand up and fight for the weak, without fear of evil, righteously and bravely, is a right and good thing.
‘But there is such a thing as reality, isn’t there?’
Although the Grand Duke’s words are right, one cannot always live righteously and correctly in the world.
The fortunate thing was that Marquis Krupa had already explained sufficiently why they should not interfere in this war, and the other key figures also seemed to agree with his opinion.
The probability of a war breaking out just because the Grand Duke alone went against that argument was almost nil.
It would be a difficult thing for even an autocratic monarch to do, and moreover, wasn't the Grand Duke Schneider a very… weak? Sucker?
Ahem, anyway, wasn't he a person who respected and considered the opinions of his subjects?
He wouldn't lead the country into war by going against the general opinion on his own….
“The words of His Highness the Grand Duke are correct.”
Why is he like that again?
The one who spoke was Oliver A, who had recently received the title of baron.
He said with his eyes burning with useless passion.
“I became a knight to help those who are suffering. But there are no cowards in our Schneider Duchy who would run away because they are scared.”
At that, Sanson next to him spoke as if in agreement.
“If His Highness the Grand Duke just gives the order, I and the entire Double Dragon Knightly Order will gladly fight for justice.”
At that, the other subjects around them also began to agree.
It was….
“Just because the Empire and the Holy Theocracy have turned a blind eye, we should not forget justice either.”
“I too will join His Highness the Grand Duke in his will.”
There was no distinction between civil and military officials.
Starting with those who had served the Schneider family for a long time, one by one, they began to agree with the Grand Duke’s words.
“Please… please calm down for a moment.”
Marquis Krupa hurriedly put on the brakes.
“Does everyone understand the situation correctly? We are about to step into a war where there is no benefit and we cannot be sure of victory. For the people of another country, not our own. Is this truly what you all want?”
At that, the Grand Duke Schneider nodded his head readily and said.
“I understand all of the marquis' words.”
“In that case….”
“But isn’t that what a person who claims justice and does good should do?”
“……”
“I will gladly face the danger. I will not discuss the benefits. But I cannot turn a blind eye to the suffering people. Isn’t that right, everyone?”
“That is correct, Your Highness the Grand Duke.”
“Our knightly order will unconditionally follow the decision of His Highness the Grand Duke.”
As most of the subjects agreed, the Grand Duke Schneider nodded his head and said.
“As the Grand Duke of the duchy, I will decide. I can find no justice or cause in the invasion of the Yusef Kingdom. Therefore, we will stand on the side of the Magellan Kingdom and protect the powerless.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Yes, sir!”
The decision to participate in the war was made in an instant.
Throughout that entire process, Marquis Krupa stood with his mouth agape and a dumbfounded expression.
‘What… what on earth is this…’
He had been in the political world for decades, but he swore this was the first time he had seen a situation like this.
They decide like this?
Justice?
Without logic or profit, just for the sake of justice, they run in shouting ‘Waaah’?
And in another country’s war?
Then, a scene suddenly flashed through his mind.
[Oh my. Sucker father. I… I…. Krrrghk….]
Honestly, until now, he had just chuckled and let it slide.
He thought that the great demon from hell with a ruined personality was just saying that because he saw the virtuous and highly moral Grand Duke.
But after experiencing this incident in Patrick’s absence….
“What kind of battles have you been fighting all this time?”
It seems that one only realizes the value of a person’s existence after they are gone.