Reader’S Regeneration Life [EN]: Chapter 29

News spread that a ceasefire negotiation would soon begin between the Klausen Margraviate of the Hispa Kingdom and the Basura County of the Nudia Kingdom.

The negotiation tent was set up right on the border. In case of an emergency, the armies of each territory would accompany them, but those soldiers would wait at a distance from the tent.

Although the two territories had repeated wars and truces as if they were regular meals, it was the first time in decades that ceasefire negotiations had begun in such a short period.

Basura County of Nudia proposed a ceasefire first, stating that there was nothing to gain ‘mutually,’ and Klausen Margraviate accepted the offer without much hesitation.

However, the soldiers of Nudia and the soldiers of Klausen Margraviate knew the truth.

They knew who had lost the war and called for a ceasefire, who was in the weaker position (‘eul’ in Korean, often used to describe someone in a subordinate or disadvantaged position), and who held the power (‘gap’ in Korean, signifying the dominant party).

“Hoo.”

Sion glanced around.

He looked wary, wondering if they were plotting some wicked scheme.

Margrave Lichten had confidently said that wouldn’t happen, but Sion couldn’t completely trust it.

Unlike the previous Count that Margrave Lichten remembered, the current Count Dishe was utterly reprehensible, deserving far worse than mere incineration.

“Young Master.”

Rishikida, who had come to this place representing Count Dishe, looked restless.

Just when he had steeled his heart, gained a new master, and was about to regain his trust and affection, his pathetic former master was trying to cling to his ankles.

“I’ve made it clear.

Even if it’s a king, if they touch my people, it’s immediate treason.

Don’t worry, Rishikida. I don’t care what some count from an enemy country is babbling about.”

“…I trust only you, Master.”

Rishikida’s honorifics fluctuated between Young Master and Master.

It seemed he had a tendency to seek affectionate gazes while pledging allegiance, a detail Sion was only now realizing because it wasn’t explicitly mentioned in the novel.

‘I can’t say this is entirely bad, but there’s definitely something subtly strange about it.’

Lilith, of course, and even Lucia reacted strongly to Rishikida’s use of ‘Master’.

Even the knights and maids of the family used ‘Young Master,’ not the strange title of ‘Master’.

Sion was deeply worried that a Great Demon-level prospective father-in-law might arrive with a clenched fist.

‘If Raido really comes… I wonder if I can escape.’

Just yesterday, a letter had been sent to Raido.

It was a handwritten letter from Margrave Lichten stating that the being from the temple was none other than Succubus Queen Lilith, and that the incubus was currently contracted with him.

It was no longer possible to hide it, and it shouldn’t be hidden. Margrave Lichten wrote it in the most roundabout way possible, but Raido’s personality was so terrible that he couldn’t help but worry.

“Master.

No, Young Master.

Over there.”

At Rishikida’s words, Sion turned his gaze.

Someone was riding a horse from the Nudia territory towards the tent.

“…What the hell did that bastard do to the horse?”

“I, it’s a kind of decoration.”

“Decoration, my ass. It looks like something from a mortuary.

Did he put a jewel-encrusted dress on the horse, you son of a bitch?”

If it were clattering horse armor, then I could understand.

Even though it was a negotiation, it was still officially wartime.

But that bastard had put a jewel dress on the horse instead of horse armor.

The jewels hanging from the horse were so shiny that it felt like looking at the psychedelic lights of a club.

‘What a load of crap.

I want to shove a bamboo spear up his ass.’

Suppressing his anger, Sion entered the tent without waiting for the other party.

The tent was only for negotiations, and in case of an emergency, there shouldn’t be anything that could be used as a weapon, so the tent was empty except for a long table and chairs.

Step, step—.

“Young Master.”

Rishikida called Sion again, feeling anxious as he heard the sound of the other party entering from outside the tent.

Sion looked at his knight and smiled.

The handsome young man’s smile, combined with his confidence, made Rishikida silent for a moment before closing his mouth.

After a while, a man entered with one escort knight.

“Ah, I’m sorry.

I tried to be on time, but I didn’t expect Young Master Sion Klausen to be so diligent.

Haha!”

“…”

Sion felt very unpleasant, as if he was being told, ‘I deliberately came late, but you were so scared that you came early!’

Anyone would think that he was the one who had begged for negotiations first.

In fact, it was Nudia who proposed the negotiations.

“Let’s skip the formalities.”

Tuck!

Sion leaned deeply into the back of the chair and put his legs on the negotiation table.

This could be interpreted as ‘Negotiations are bullshit, let’s just have a war,’ regardless of etiquette, but unfortunately, Nudia was in the position of ‘eul,’ not ‘gap.’

“Let’s hear the conditions first, the conditions.”

The other party was a count, albeit a nobleman from an enemy country.

And Sion was only the successor to the margrave.

There were manners to be observed, but Rishikida became nervous without realizing it at the sight of such reckless behavior.

“…You’re as rough as the rumors say.”

Perhaps Sion Klausen’s foolishness was known even in neighboring territories, so they just regarded it as the antics of a young man who couldn’t handle his position properly.

“But I heard in the report that you risked your life to save a single soldier.

When I thought that all the appearances you had shown so far were false, I realized that it was indeed the Klausen County way.

To think that you would use strange rumors about the successor to mislead your enemies into being careless.”

‘What is he talking about, that crazy bastard?

He’s writing a novel.’

“So, I came here myself to negotiate a ceasefire with someone who cherishes his soldiers.

This is Dishe Basura, personally.”

“Yeah.”

It was a reaction of ‘So what?’

For a moment, Count Dishe’s eyes narrowed, but soon returned to their original position.

As I said before, Nudia was ‘eul,’ not ‘gap.’

“Here are Nudia’s ceasefire conditions.

The border will remain as it is, but since we started the war first, we will pay 400,000 Dir [currency of Nudia] as war reparations.

In addition, we plan to send His Majesty the King’s letter of apology directly to the Hispa royal family.”

400,000 Dir is a reasonable amount of compensation.

It’s enough money to replenish lost supplies, give consolation money to the dead and injured, and still have quite a bit left over.

Certainly, Nudia wanted a ceasefire.

“I was surprised that you proposed a ceasefire so quickly.”

“Meaningless wars are not good for either of us.”

“Well, we were fine fighting more like this.

Isn’t that right, Rishikida?”

Sion was subtly drawing Rishikida into the negotiation.

Then, Count Dishe opened his mouth as if he had been waiting for this moment.

“Instead, we hope that the Klausen Margraviate will also show appropriate actions for the ceasefire.”

“Appropriate actions?”

“The repatriation of prisoners.

Of course, I’m not asking you to release them unconditionally.

We will pay the ransom, so you don’t have to worry.”

“We don’t have many Nudia prisoners?

At best, seven knights and a few wounded soldiers.”

“And there is one high-ranking knight.”

‘Yes, that was the main purpose, you son of a bitch.’

Sion’s eyes turned cold, but Count Dishe seemed to be looking at Rishikida and didn’t notice the change in the other party.

“Sir Rishikida Amshel was a knight who was the pride of our Basura County.

I don’t know how heartbroken I was to hear the news that she had unfortunately become a prisoner, but I’m so glad to meet her like this.

I’m relieved that she doesn’t seem to be hurt anywhere.”

“…”

‘Should I overturn it?’

Sion was seriously considering it.

“We will prepare a generous ransom for Sir Rishikida.

In addition, there is also a personal gift for the Young Master, so I hope you will be generous and return Sir Rishikida to her longing homeland, her beloved hometown territory.”

‘Longing homeland?

Beloved hometown territory?’

‘Is that bastard nearsighted?

Or are Rishikida and I talking in another dimension?

Is he the only one filming a dimensional travel movie?

Or is it a split personality?’

Sion looked to the side, wondering if Rishikida had changed his mind.

However, Rishikida was just standing still, clenching his fists and trembling.

He looked like he felt pathetic that he had to listen to such bullshit.

“If it’s difficult to release everyone, please just release Sir Rishikida.

She is a very precious knight and a friend to me.”

‘Ah, yes.

Is that so?’

‘I guess you want to call a guy who tells you to go die a friend.’

‘Why?

Why don’t you ask about his parents’ well-being too?’

“This is a negotiation condition that will more than establish the prestige of the Klausen Margraviate.”

“…What do you think?

About my proposal.

If you have any more conditions you want, please tell me.”

‘Tell me.’

At those words, Sion lowered his legs from the table.

Then, he slowly opened his lips.

“Woof.”

“…?”

“Woof woof woof.

Woof woof.

Bow wow wow.

Bow wow.

Woof woof, woof woof woof.”

For a moment, Count Dishe wondered if he was seeing and hearing things.

Could he do such a thing not in another place, but in a place where they were discussing a ceasefire?

He was so dumbfounded that he suppressed the scream that was about to burst out.

“Yo, Young Master Sion Klausen.

What are you doing now?”

“Oh, what.

So you can speak human language, you bastard!

Then why have you been talking nonsense all this time!

I thought you were a dog, so I, being kind-hearted, was specially speaking in the language of dogs.”

“Wh, what kind of rudeness is that…”

“Does anyone know where the bathroom is?

Damn it, I’ve been listening to so much bullshit that I feel like my whole body is full of shit.

I need to go and take a big dump.”

Count Dishe, as well as the knight standing next to him, turned red with anger.

It was fortunate that they didn’t have swords at their waists, but if they were armed, they would have rushed at him immediately.

“Yo, Young Master.”

Even Rishikida was surprised and embarrassed by Sion’s words and actions, and didn’t know what to do.

However, the person who caused all of this was leisurely.

“Are you not going to negotiate?”

“Hmph!

How can you say that after seeing your actions!

Although you and I are enemies, we are nobles and I am above you as a count!

Show some respect, respect!”

“So, are you not going to negotiate?”

“I thought you would be reasonable, but I’m really disappointed!

Such abusive language at the negotiation table!

The Klausen Margraviate is…”

“Hey.”

In an instant, the air inside the tent became heavy.

Sion Klausen’s voice, which had sunk heavily, felt like the low growl of a beast in front of its prey.

“I’ll ask one last time.

Nego.

ti.

Are you not going to do it.

You son of a bitch.”

Only then was Count Dishe able to realize that he was by no means in a favorable position at this negotiation table.

The soldiers of his territory had already suffered damage to the point of annihilation, and the soldiers sent from the center had already lost their spirit and were at a level where they could not carry out a proper battle.

In addition, the high-ranking knight Rishikida Amshel was captured.

From any point of view, he was in a situation where he had no advantage at all.

“Negotiations… of course, we must do it.

For all of us…”

“Cut the crap and sit down nicely.

We are the ones who are negotiating, and you just have to be negotiated with.”

‘Was Sion Klausen such a man?’

‘According to rumors, he was a rogue, and according to later reports, he was a pretty decent young man.’

‘Even comparing before and after the war, there was not a single word about such a cold appearance.’

“First.

The compensation is raised from 400,000 to 4 million.”

“…Huh?

No, what did you just say?”

“4 million.

A number that is 10 times higher than 400,000.

Do you not even have a concept of numbers?”

“Th, that’s impossible!

400,000 Dir is enough!”

Words came out of Count Dishe’s mouth haphazardly as he was flustered.

However, Sion said firmly as if he didn’t care about such things at all.

“4 million.”

“Impossible, absolutely impossible!

This cannot happen!”

“4 million.”

“Are you kidding me right now, Young Master Sion Klausen?

4 million Dir is equivalent to the annual tax of our Basura territory!”

“Then overturn it.”

“Yes?”

Sion tilted his head and continued in an indifferent voice.

“Overturn the table and have a war.

Let’s have a real one until someone dies.”