âKugh. Le, let this go. Kugh.â
Benjamin smiled fishily and rolled his eyes.
âHowever angry you may be, you wonât be able to do anything to me.â
He was a noble and a supreme commander at that.
On top of that, even count Lancephil showed himself.
At the slip, this problem could become bigger.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
âKugh. Canât you let this go!â
The tension turned up.
But Roan just looked at that Benjamin fixedly.
âDo you think I wonât be able to hit you?â
He put more strength in his grip.
âKugh.â
His breath got cut off.
âActually, it is something unreasonable.â
Roan put on a bitter smile.
This was an exhibition.
Resorting to violence to a superior, and a noble at that was something unimaginable.
It was a sin that could get you executed at the spot.
But regardless of that, Roan wasnât planning on leaving Benjamin like that.
âItâs been revealed that I am learning mana.â
There was no way that they would execute a soldier that knew how to use mana.
Someone at the level of a knight was quite important even at the center of the kingdom.
He may receive some punishment, but he would be safe from execution.
On top of that, if Roan only evaded the execution, he had plenty of ways to deal with the following problems.
âAnd also, itâs already spilled water.â
Grabbing the throat of a superior was already a big thing.
And it wouldnât change if he hit him some times right now.
âNow that I started, I have to clearly end it.â
He did his best on what he already started.
That was Roanâs temperament.
Because of that, he could remain as an ordinary spearman from an army for 20 years.
Udk.
Strength was put behind the fist.
Benjamin opened his eyes roundly.
âThi, this bastard. Really?â
When he thought up to that point.
Roanâs fist split the air.
Pagak!
âKuk!â
Benjaminâs nose sat down with a dull sound.
âThi, this crazy bastard!â
The surrounding corps commanders and staff officers approached with surprised expressions.
Roan didnât even look at them and swung Travias spear.
Puk!
The spear got stuck ahead of them.
âI told you. That if you get any closer, I will snap Benjaminâs neck.â
âKugh.â
The commanders and officers couldnât approach anymore.
They didnât know what to do and just looked at Benjaminâs face.
A face covered with blood.
âUhhhh.â
Benjamin gritted his teeth and trembled.
He didnât know that Roan would actually hit him.
âSo, son of a b*tch. Do you think you will be safe aftâ¦â¦â
But he couldnât continue speaking.
Because Roan swung his fist once again.
Puk! Pubuk! Puk!
Roan punched Benjaminâs face with a casual expression.
His teeth broke and his nose completely broke.
His eyelids and forehead teared up.
âUoooooo.â
Benjamin was not himself.
He tried to dodge Roanâs fists but it was useless.
But because Roan increased Flamdor mana technique to the peak, he couldnât move his body as he wished.
But even so, it wasnât that Benjamin didnât use mana.
âHo, how is he this strong!â
Despair appeared in his face.
âKuhok.â
Benjamin breathed in deeply.
It was difficult to breath because of his broken nose.
âPlease, someone stop this bastard.â
An earnest look.
But there was no one that stopped him.
In the end, a regrettable sound came out of Benjaminâs mouth.
âKugh. Ple, please sto, stopâ¦â¦â
But Roan didnât stop hitting him.
âThis isnât simply revenge for what just happened.â
His eyes became fierce.
âMy past life. Revenge for having ruined it.â
Pubuk!
Consecutive punches landed on his face.
âKugh! Kugh!â
Benjamin now even shed tears.
âPl, please. Please stopâ¦â¦â
He had thrown away his dignity and pride.
Fear of not knowing if he may lose if life if he kept getting hit paralyzed his rationality.
âSob. Sob. Sob.â
The sorrowful crying sound rang in the plain.
But Roan just ignored it.
When he raised his fist once again.
âWhat is happening right now!â
A yell hit his ear.
Roan turned his head while still grabbing on Benjaminâs throat.
âCount Lancephil.â
The one that had yelled was Io.
However, Ioâs sight moved behind Io.
âPens.â
Pens, that had separated with him after the thing with the fake storage, was standing over there.
âMaybe, already?â
Roan had a surprised expression.
Pens looked at that Roan and slightly winked.
A look that was smiling faintly and even nodding.
Roan let out a short sigh.
âIt seems like it was done faster than what I thought.â
A smile appeared in his face.
Only then did Roan loosen the hand that was choking Benjamin.
Tuk.
Benjamin fell as if he collapsed and buried his face on the ground.
âHuok. Huok. Huok.â
He breathed in coarsely and poured out tears.
Roan just looked at that Benjamin and wiped off the blood in his face.
Meanwhile, Io walked and stood in front of Roan.
âWhat happened?â
A blunt voice and expression.
Roan just bowed instead of replying.
âSi, sir count. What just happenedâ¦â¦â¦â
When Roan stepped in and tried to explain the situation.
âSob. Count Lancephil.â
Benjamin stood up.
âMm.â
Io looked at Benjaminâs face and let out a low exclamation.
âHeâs completely broken.â
He didnât have even a fine place.
Benjamin yelled out.
âCount Lancephil! A mere commoner troop commander bastard has insulted me! On top of that, even the soldiers of the 7th corps have disobeyed my orders and rebelled!â
He wasnât himself.
Io frowned and looked at Roan.
Then, Aaron walked to the front and bowed.
âSir count. Actuallyâ¦â¦â
The explanation happened for a while.
He explained everything that happened slowly.
As Io was here anyways, he didnât need to be wary of Benjamin.
âMm.â
Benjamin, that heard everything, glared at Benjamin.
âBenjamin. You stupid bastard spilled the plate because of greed of merits.â
He could know why there were this many allied corpses even when they had won the war.
âOn top of that, to badmouth the fallen comradesâ¦â¦â¦Trash like bastard.â
Io clicked his tongue with a displeased expression.
As he was originally a soldier that roamed the battlefield, he thought of comrades and allies quite importantly.
Because of that, Benjaminâs doings made him really angry.
Benjamin, that didnât know how Io was feeling, said nonsense.
âChasing a retreating enemy army is a basic thing in strategy. The 7th corps commander didnât have the abilities and is just putting up excuses. On top of that, itâs not that the corpses are going to disappear, so we can do it after we chase themâ¦â¦â¦â
When he talked up to there.
âShut up!â
Io couldnât endure it anymore and yelled.
âYe, yes?â
Benjamin staggered with a surprised expression.
Io looked at Benjaminâs eyes fixedly.
âBecause of your useless pride and your greed on merits, more than 10.000 soldiers lost their lives. Itâs not enough with apologizing while bowing but you even badmouth them? Trash like bastard.â
A cold voice.
âCo, count Lancephil. I, itâs not that Iâ¦â¦â
Only then did Benjamin get a hold of himself.
He had realized what kind of person Io was late.
But even if it was late, it was just too late.
âBenjamin Doyle.â
Io glared at Benjamin scarily.
As he made a handsign to his back, the leader of the knights Kali Owells approached.
He took out a scroll from his chest.
Swush.
Io spread the scroll towards Benjamin.
âThis is a dismissal order for you.â
At that moment, Benjamin, Aaron, Roan and the soldiers of the eastern army put surprised expression.
âJu, just what isâ¦â¦â
Benjamin received the paper with trembling hands.
It was clearly a dismissal order from his seat of the eastern region commander.
âJust whyâ¦â¦?â
Benjamin looked at Io.
Ioâs expression was fierce.
âSetting up a formation at the rear Nerf region, instead of Bink region when Istel kingdom first started attacking. Battling against the enemy army more than 20 times and not being able to win. Cutting off assistance to the commanders that were patrolling while searching the eastern region to annihilate the enemy.â
The more he talked, the more Benjaminâs face turned white.
He kind of knew that Io was reporting the merits situation of the eastern region and the 7th corps to the royal palace.
However, he didnât know that he would have grasped all these things this accurately.
âCount Lancephil wouldnât have had any mid because he was defending the eastern region. Howâ¦â¦?â
It felt like someone had organized the information and gave it to him.
âAh!â
At that moment, Benjamin turned his head and looked at Roan.
âMaybe, this bastard?â
The information squad Roan set up.
If it was them, they would be able to urgently take care of the information of the eastern region.
Roanâs and Benjaminâs sights interlocked.
Roan smiled just as if he read Benjaminâs thoughts.
âAhâ¦â¦â
Benjamin let out a low exclamation.
âIt was that bastard.â
The puzzle fitted.
It wasnât enough with annihilated the enemy army entering the eastern region and attacking the supply storage, but he even utilized the information troop and was perfectly grasping the situation of the eastern army.
âScary bastard.â
Roan was more amazing and scary than what he had thought.
Just like Benjamin thought, the one that reported the situation of the eastern army ro Io was Roan.
With Ioâs temperament, it was obvious that if he got to know Benjaminâs failures he wouldnât sit still.
Roan judged as Io would certainly report it to the royal palace.
âIt would have been difficult if this bastard still remained as the supreme commander even after this war ended.â
Roan glared at Benjamin with calm eyes.
âAlthough the order came faster than what I thoughtâ¦â¦â
The reason why he was glad to see Pens appearing with Io was precisely because of this.
Benjamin wasnât his superior anymore.
Things were untying better than thought.
Then, Ioâs voice was heard.
âAlthough the orders of the royal palace was to chase you off the army and dismiss you from your seatâ¦â¦â
He ground his teeth.
âIâm not planning to end it with just that. It wasnât enough to lay an unreasonable order to the chasing troop and suffer an amazing blow, but you even badmouth the deceased allies.â
Io made a hand sign to his back.
Two knights approached and grabbed Benjaminâs shoulders.
I will carefully investigate and grasp your actions and behaviours and ask you your sin. Imprison him at the rear of the camp.â
âYes. Understood.â
The knights replied in one voice and then moved away.
âCou, count Lancephil! I, I feel it to be unfair! I just did my best for Rinse kingdom!â
Benjamin got dragged and yelled.
However Io didnât even look at him.
And that was the same for the other corps commanders and staff officers.
They didnât need to be wary of Benjamin or flatter him.
Because Benjamin wasnât his superior anymore.
No, from now on, it would be better to take some distance.
If they made a mistake, they could get the same punishment as Benjamin.
âRoan.â
At Ioâs call, Roan bowed once again.
âYes. Count Lancephil.â
Roan was composed even after making Benjaminâs face to become a bloody one.
Io let out a long sigh with stifled eyes.
âWhat to doâ¦â¦â
He personally wanted to applaud him at his actions.
But military laws were laws.
If he let one thing pass, the discipline could crumble.
âI know what you were thinking when you did that. Howeverâ¦â¦â
Io let out a short sigh and continued speaking.
âResorting to violence against a noble is a sin. I will ask you your sin after this.â
What was fortunate was that the dismissal order came ahead of this, so the sin of resorting to violence against a superior wasnât implied.
âYes. I understand.â
Roan replied with a composed expression.
Aaron wanted to step up and tried to defend him, but Io closed his eyes and shook his head.
It meant not to step in.
âThereâs nothing good by arguing in an open place.â
Aaron understood Ioâs meaning and shut his mouth.
Two knights approached and grabbed Roanâs shoulders.
Then, Roan that was silent carefully opened his mouth.
âCount Lancephil.â
Io just looked at him as if implying what happened.
Roan hesitated for a moment and then bowed.
âI want to retrieve the corpses of my comrades.â
âMm.â
Io gulped in the silence.
âEven if heâs different to Benjamin, heâs just too much.â
Even the size of the plate was different.
The one that suited the position of supreme commander was Roan, and not Benjamin.
Io pondered for a moment and then nodded.
âFine. Only, I will imprison you at the rear of the camp after the retrieving ends.â
âYes. I understand.â
Roan bowed and then moved.
He carefully retrieved the corpses of the burnt soldiers.
Io looked at that and let out a long sigh.
âWhat to doâ¦â¦â¦â
He felt stifled.
The deeper he thought, the pondering also deepened.
*****
The retrieval of the corpses was done quickly.
And Roan got imprisoned just like the order.
âCount Lancephil. Although Roan did something wrong, thatâs all because of Benjamin Doyle. Take that into account please.â
Aaron earnestly defended Roan.
Io touched his chin and fell in his thougts.
âThe reason we could win this war was because of Roan. Thatâs an irrefutable truth.â
Roan made a merit bigger than anymore.
If only this didnât happen, he could even get promoted to corps commander.
âOn top of that, Roanâs ability is too precious to kill him like this.â
Io let out a long sigh once again.
Aaron looked at that and couldnât open his mouth as he wished.
Because he also knew how deeply Io was thinking.
Then, Kali that was looking at the situation, said with a blunt voice.
âViolence against a noble is a sin. If you let this go, they will start talking at our backs even more.â
Those were right words.
Aaron said with an urgent voice.
âBut shouldnât we have to take into account Roanâs merits?â
Those also were right words.
âThese arenât merits to just be ignorant of and cover them.â
He fell in his thoughts once again.
Kali shook his head.
âThen, how about exile him to a dangerous territory and exempt him from the capital punishment?â
âExile?â
Io showed a reaction.
Kali shrugged his shoulders and said.
âAs everyone says that his talent is too valuable, canât we send him to a fortress as a guard or as a slave?â
Aaron got surprised and shook his hands.
âWe canât make Roanâs talent rot in a place like that.â
At those words, Kali replied with a blunt voice.
âLaws are more important than talent. Law. On top of thatâ¦â¦â
Kali looked at Aaronâs eyes fixedly.
âIf we exempt him from his sins and he remains here, will the other commanders see in a good way? They may probably try to harm him.â
âThatâ¦â¦â¦â
Aaron couldnât speak anymore and shut his mouth.
He didnât have the words to refute back.
And even if he didnât get harmed, it was obvious that he may get really handicapped in the merits awards.
Then, Io that was in his thoughts, showed a faint smile.
âI think that exile him will be good, just like commander Kali says.â
âAhâ¦â¦â
Aaron let out a low exclamation.
He wanted to fight back that he couldnât do so, but he didnât have a solution or a reason to do so.
Aaron bowed with a half absent minded expression.
Then Io stood up and lightly patted Aaronâs shoulders.
A faint smile appeared in his mouth.
âCorps commander Tate.â
A gentle voice.
Aaron raised his head and looked at Io.
The smile in Ioâs face became even denser.
âDonât worry too much.â
He put more strength in his hands grabbing his shoulders.
âI thought of something good.â
End
Translator: Subak
Proofreader: st8_lupe.