Chapter 181

I, Secundus Debius, was tired.

Though I was clad in splendid armor, mounted on a colossal horse and exuding all the dignity I could muster, inwardly I just wanted to drop dead asleep.

I was so tired that I had no craving for my favorite meat and wine; I just wanted to lie down anywhere and snore.

Horm, the great nation in the southeastern part of the Empire, was cut in half.

It was my achievement, as the commander-in-chief of the expeditionary force.

However, conquering a country that boasted a history as long as the Empire’s could not be easy.

Even I, Secundus Debius, who prided myself on my robust physique, had no choice but to whip myself to the very limit of my limits.

“Hmph.”

I let out a low voice with a stern face.

Whatever my inner state, my appearance was quite plausible.

I was a commander.

As many people relied on me, I had a duty to live up to their expectations.

“Kateka.”

“…Yes, brother.”

“How long will it take to organize Wadurman?”

“…We are thinking three more days…….”

“That’s remarkably fast for a large city.”

“…Because the dignitaries have been actively cooperating. It seems the rumor has spread that we confiscated the property of those who were uncooperative in the last city…….”

Kateka Keshulei said.

The Third Prince, once called the Reclusive Prince, had become my adjutant after the Succession War and stayed by my side.

In a way, among the eight siblings, none were as close as we were.

I trusted Kateka and left all the desk work to him, and Kateka, though always grumbling, lived up to that trust.

“Hmm, it’s going smoothly.”

I looked at the dusty street.

Wadurman was the old capital of Horm and its second-largest metropolis.

The main thoroughfare, which would normally have been teeming with hundreds of people, was deserted.

It was only natural, as armed Imperial soldiers were stationed there.

Many people of Horm had lost their lives, and the survivors were holed up in their homes, holding their breath.

“We should be able to return in ten days.”

“…Finally…….”

“Though there will be much to tire us even when we go back.”

“…Still, the capital is better.”

“I suppose so.”

The half-brothers looked at each other and smiled.

No matter how troublesome the political strife in the capital was, it was better than a real battlefield rampant with blood and iron.

Perhaps our minds would change once we were actually back, but at least now, exhausted as we were, that’s how it felt.

“…Hmm?”

I tilted my head.

There was a commotion.

Moreover, it was gradually approaching.

It seemed that trouble always brewed whenever things felt like they were going smoothly.

I pressed my brow hard and called a soldier.

“What is it?”

“…It is nothing of consequence, Your Highness. A young man from Horm is causing a disturbance…….”

“The reason?”

“…He says he wants to see you, Your Highness.”

It was a common occurrence.

When things didn’t go their way, the people of the cities I occupied would come looking for me.

As if they weren’t afraid of the man who had killed countless of their people, they easily begged for mercy.

I had no obligation to grant that plea.

Just as I was about to order the young Horm man to be driven away, Kateka tilted his head.

“…Oh. That man is…?”

“Do you know him, Kateka?”

“…He was among the Wadurman dignitaries. They said he was a scholar recognized by the imperial family despite his young age…….”

“Hmm.”

My interest was piqued.

Horm was a nation built on deserts and wastelands.

The barren land had made them conservative.

In most cases, one was not even given a chance to display one’s abilities if they were not old enough.

To be recognized at a young age in a place like Horm was no easy feat.

“Bring him here.”

As soon as the words left my mouth, the soldiers moved.

Instead of stopping the young Horm man, they seized both his arms firmly.

One soldier pressed a spear to his neck while another searched his body.

The wrinkle on my brow deepened.

“Skip the petty body search. Do you think this body of Secundus could be scratched by a scholar’s dagger?”

It was a reasonable statement.

My body, which had continued to grow stronger even after the Succession War, could block the magic of the three stars or even a mana cannon without a scratch.

For an assassination attempt to even wound me, the assailant would need to have at least the skill of an Imperial legion commander.

The soldiers backed away, and the young Horm man slowly walked forward.

His hands were tightly bound with a thick rope.

I looked down at him without dismounting my horse.

A man two heads taller than most, riding a colossal horse, had the majestic presence of a chariot.

“I am Secundus Debius.”

I let out a grunt and continued.

“I hold several titles, but right now I am the commander-in-chief of the Cordis Eastern Expeditionary Force. Your name?”

“Cheshih.”

The Horm man was heavily bearded.

But his face was smooth without a single wrinkle, and his eyes, in particular, glinted sharply like an eagle’s.

“First Scribe of Horm.”

“Hmm, a close aide to the king, I see. You are quite young for a First Scribe, twenty-seven? Twenty-eight?”

“I am twenty-nine.”

“We’re the same age, then.”

“…Same age…?”

Cheshih’s eyes widened in surprise.

A closely shaved head, a hard impression as if carved from rock, he looked at least thirty-five from any angle…. I, the 29-year-old Secundus Debius, did not hide my displeasure.

“Why do you look at me with such eyes? You look just as old for your age as I do.”

“…My apologies.”

Cheshih gave a slight nod.

But he did not bow his waist.

The Imperial soldiers felt great displeasure at his attitude.

How dare a resident of a conquered city show such insolence to Secundus, the commander-in-chief and a son of the great emperor.

They wanted to flog him immediately.

A few even firmly resolved to flog the insolent Horm man as soon as I left.

“So. Why did you want to see this Secundus?”

“Literally. I just wanted to see you once.”

Cheshih spat out nonchalantly.

“If I am to curse you every day, I should at least remember your face, shouldn’t I?”

“……Huh?”

A moment of silence fell.

Thick veins popped on the soldiers’ foreheads.

Some even placed their hands on the hilts of their swords.

‘That crazy bastard…!’

‘How dare he run his mouth to His Highness!’ Fury rose swiftly.

The soldiers were so incensed they wanted to charge at him at once.

They would have, if I had not burst into hearty laughter.

“Ha, really! Ha! Ha-hahahaha-!!!”

“My words seem to have amused you.”

“Of course they’re amusing. A madman like you is a rare sight!”

I, Secundus Debius, forgot my fatigue and laughed my head off.

The entire street echoed each time I laughed. My spirit was immense.

Even the elite soldiers couldn’t bear it and stepped back, but Cheshih didn’t budge an inch.

It seemed he was enduring through sheer will rather than some hidden power.

I began to like the man before my eyes.

“You want to curse me. That’s not something to say so brazenly, is it?”

“There are those who trample on another’s country and act as if they are the masters, so what’s this little thing?”

“Ha? Ha-hahaha!!”

My laughter grew even louder.

Kateka chuckled as well.

The Imperial soldiers were indignant and the people of Horm who were hiding and watching trembled with anxiety, but only Kateka and I kept bursting into laughter.

“…Brother, this fellow is a masterpiece…….”

“Ah, yes. A masterpiece. I’ve become curious to hear what else he’ll spout.”

“…Shall I dismiss the soldiers?”

“Do so.”

Kateka stepped aside.

He led the soldiers away and disappeared.

Soon, only Cheshih and I remained on the street.

“Cheshih, have you not heard the rumors about this Secundus?”

“What rumors might those be?”

“I’m more reckless than you think. I could smash your head right now.”

“But you haven’t smashed it yet.”

“Such a smooth tongue.”

An image of a face suddenly came to my mind.

A face I hadn’t seen since our last meeting seven years ago.

Blond hair and blue eyes, a slick smile and brazen lies.

Zionis, my half-brother whom I would never see again.

A touch of bitterness colored my laughter.

“My schedule is busy, so let’s stop beating around the bush.”

My Secundus Debius’s eyes sank deep.

“You must have confirmed that this Secundus is a more reasonable person than you thought. Now, state your real purpose.”

“…I heard a rumor that you are not as simple a man as you look. It wasn’t a false rumor, I see.”

“Does one normally say such things to a person’s face?”

I, Secundus Debius, the owner of an appearance that seemed to be the personification of simple-minded brute force, complained.

I do not enjoy using my head.

But I was not foolish either.

It was just that with my powerful strength, there were many times I didn’t need to use my head.

“I have seen the agreement between the Imperial army and the dignitaries of Wadurman.”

“Yes, did you like it?”

“Enough to harbor a liking for you.”

“I am not that good of a person.”

“For someone who says that, you are too kind an invader.”

“Hmph, I only preserve the minimum for survival.”

“You know how kind that is.”

The Empire had conquered and Horm had been defeated.

There was nothing they could say even if we trampled the entire city and treated the people like livestock.

But I consistently tried to treat people as people.

Even the people of a defeated nation were people.

I tried not to lose sight of this obvious fact.

Cheshih wanted to rely on that.

“Because you were too kind, I ended up harboring a vain hope. That if I asked for one more thing, you might grant it.”

“Well, now. Is there any reason for this Secundus to become kinder?”

“This is a request.”

Cheshih continued.

“To bestow mercy is the right and virtue of the victor, so I only hope that you will fully enjoy your victory.”

“You speak very well. I feel like granting your request.”

I smiled.

“Speak, Cheshih. What do you wish to ask of the one who has conquered your city?”

“Only one thing.”

Cheshih said resolutely.

“Do not destroy the temple.”

“I refuse.”

I said even more resolutely.

The light of favor in my eyes vanished in an instant.

My lips were once again sealed shut like a rock.

“You’ve gone too far, Cheshih. I’ve become very displeased.”

“…….”

“Cordis is an empire of humans! No kind of faith or worship can be permitted. It has been so for a thousand years.”

Cheshih’s lips trembled.

“…If I were to say that you people are barbaric, you would become more displeased.”

“No. It is you who are irrational, so there is nothing to be displeased about.”

I crossed my arms.

My brawny forearms looked arrogant.

“There are no gods, Cheshih.”

“It is only that you do not know, Secundus.”

The two men glared at each other.

One had conquered, and the other was conquered.

Also, one had the power to crush the other’s head at any moment, and the other had no way to resist.

Yet, neither showed any sign of backing down.

I acted as displeased as I could, but I was increasingly taking a liking to the man before me.

“Then do you know the gods?”

“How could I not know He is right here?”

“Then why did he not protect you all?”

“Indeed, that is what I’d like to know. I must wrestle with this resentful heart, so please do not destroy the temple.”

Wrestle with God?

It was such an unexpected idea that I let out a chuckle.

I could no longer hide my interest.

“A contradiction. If this god exists outside the temple, then the temple is not needed, is it?”

“But many believe that He resides only within the temple walls. That is why the temple is necessary.”

“Are you asking me to leave a means to control the ignorant masses? If you had said so from the beginning, I might have considered it.”

“No, I am asking you to be considerate so that they may continue their innocent lives.”

Cheshih glared at me with all his might.

Then he knelt. He bowed his head before me as if in worship.

“God is God even without a temple. He is one who cannot be otherwise. But Horm, if it loses the temple, can no longer be Horm. For even if God does not forget humans, humans forget God all too quickly.”

“Cordis destroys temples for that very reason, so that you may quickly forget a non-existent god.”

I scoffed.

“Our conversation was enjoyable. But I refuse the request. The Wadurman temple will be demolished as planned.”

“…….”

“However.”

The muscular prince raised the corners of his mouth.

“I don’t know Horm well. So I have no choice but to revise the schedule slightly according to the opinion of a local expert.”

“…In that case…!”

Cheshih hurriedly lifted his face.

The bearded young face shone with expectation.

To speak so sharply just a moment ago, and now to have his eyes sparkle like a child’s.

I felt a desire to abduct that man and make him my own.

“I leave for the capital, Lutilium, in ten days. Before then, relay this to that fellow you call god: that I’ve prepared a new house, so let’s move.”

“…Your Highness Secundus. I express my gratitude to you.”

The Wadurman temple would be destroyed as planned.

However, I said that I would turn a blind eye to the construction of a replacement temple.

They probably wouldn’t even be able to use the name ‘temple’, but it could become an object of will for the people of Horm to hold onto.

Cheshih continued, with the utmost respect.

“Thanks to the mercy you have shown, Horm will remain Horm.”

“As a man of the Empire, I am not pleased.”

“As a person to a person, you must be pleased.”

“Hmm. Is that so?”

I feigned ignorance and tilted my head.

He looked foolish at a glance, but Cheshih knew he was not, so he couldn’t help but smile.

“I bless you and bless you again, Your Highness.”

“Yes. Mushat to you too.”

“…Didn’t you say you don’t know Horm well?”

“I do not know it well.”

Contrary to his words, his Horm accent was too fluent.

Cheshih tried to express more thanks, but I stopped him.

I truly wanted to rest now.

“Discuss the details with Kateka, as I wish to wash my hands of this matter.”

“Yes, I will do so.”

The young Horm man bowed his head.

“Mushat, Your Highness Secundus.”

“Hmm. Mushat, Cheshih.”

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