Became The Son Of The Final Boss [EN]: Chapter 164

164.

After giving Lilian some time to think, I headed back to the headquarters barracks.

Soldiers recognized me and greeted me. Every soldier looked incredibly cheerful.

The news of Sword Master Gordon’s death and Lilian’s capture had spread, boosting the soldiers’ morale higher than ever.

“To die from an arrow in the last battle of a war that’s already over! Nothing could be more unfair! Our wives and children back home are eagerly waiting for their husbands and fathers to return safely!”

“Yeah, that’s true, but I don’t have the money to buy a helmet and breastplate!”

“Don’t you know what credit is? Who carries money around during wartime?”

“I need to borrow within my means. How can I afford the helmets and breastplates that knights wear on credit?”

“It’s 5 gold. 5 gold. You can’t buy it unless it’s now. We’re not talking about buying everything for your head, shoulders, arms, torso, legs, and feet. You need a helmet and a breastplate to protect your torso. You can live without arms and legs, but if your head and organs are pierced, you’ll die instantly without even getting treatment.”

“Still, 5 gold is three months’ worth of living expenses…”

“By the special order of His Highness the Crown Prince, our merchant guild is offering supplies to soldiers at a low price, so it’s a great opportunity. Besides, is this war going to be the only one? If you buy it now, you can use it in the next war too. I can’t guarantee we’ll sell this cheaply in the next war.”

The merchant drove the point home to the hesitant soldier.

“It’s like saving your life with three months’ worth of living expenses. As you can see, this isn’t something made carelessly. It’s a helmet and breastplate used by knights, just like you said. When do you think you can get something like this for about three months’ worth of living expenses?”

The soldier eventually bought the helmet and torso protector on credit.

‘The Vikan Merchant Guild is definitely working hard for the soldiers’ survival.’

Helmets and armor that knights would wear aren’t standard supplies. The armor given to soldiers is of poor quality. Helmets aren’t even provided.

Providing good armor to all soldiers requires a lot of budget, and the Empire didn’t yet have the budget to provide good armor to all of its nearly 100,000 soldiers.

Even if there was a budget, it would be hard to find nobles who would provide good armor to commoner soldiers.

The Vikan Merchant Guild wasn’t concerned with profits at all in this war.

‘Vikan has bet the fate of their guild on my future. They think that if they keep their promise with me, they’ll gain so much that it’ll make up for the losses they’re seeing in this war several times over.’

I smiled and quickened my pace.

I saw soldiers wearing helmets and armor everywhere. The merchant’s words weren’t all lies. Just having a helmet and armor increases the chances of survival.

In war, soldiers die most often from stray arrows.

I decided to definitely support the Vikan Merchant Guild, which kept its promise after the war, and arrived at the headquarters barracks.

As I entered, the commanders stood up.

I sat in my seat and gestured for the commanders to sit down as well.

“Before we talk about Lilian, let’s talk about the war merchants. I saw the war merchants encouraging soldiers to buy helmets and breastplates.”

A knight raised his voice as if it were a good thing.

“They’re selling them for the ridiculous price of 5 gold.”

I asked back.

“5 gold? Why is that ridiculous?”

“I took a look at the helmets and breastplates, and the quality is quite excellent. To sell such armor for only 5 gold… So many soldiers have bought armor that these war merchants are going to go bankrupt.”

I sighed softly at the knight’s dissatisfied voice.

“It’s their business if the war merchants go bankrupt. Why are you getting so worked up?”

Some knights sensed that I was uncomfortable, but the knight who raised the issue was relentless.

“If soldiers go home with such good armor, it will lead to an increase in the power of the commoners. If some soldiers return to their territories and start a rebellion, the lord will have to face rebels with very good armor.”

I laughed in disbelief at his words, as if he didn’t even know the simplest logic.

“So, you mean that if the power of the commoners increases, it will be a threat to the nobles?”

“Yes.”

There was a way to persuade the knight by speaking at length, but I just said it simply.

“Then the lords should practice good governance so that the commoners don’t rebel. Originally, it is the duty and virtue of nobles to practice good governance and stabilize their territories.”

The knights all fell silent.

They seemed to think it was better not to say anything.

I changed the subject.

“Everyone knows that Lilian has been captured. Commander Hamilton, you have done a great service.”

I praised Hamilton in front of everyone.

Now the commanders couldn’t ignore Hamilton because he was a slave. Each of them said a word.

“You have done a great service.”

“To capture an 8th circle mage!”

I calmed the commanders and said.

“Today, we will occupy Kaila Hall.”

I shared my father’s plan with the commanders. When I told them the detailed information, the commanders were amazed.

The decision to destroy the main families of the three Sword Masters was a very surprising and, on the one hand, frightening thing for the commanders to think about.

“All the dukes and the elites of the guardian families are mobilized, and His Majesty is leading the army himself, so the main families of Gordon, Jane, and Eric will be destroyed. Jane will abandon Kaila Hall without hesitation to prevent the destruction of her main family. She will surely think that she cannot defend the castle alone because Gordon is dead and Lilian is gone.”

Ken agreed with my words.

“So today is the right time to occupy Kaila Hall. The enemy’s will has been completely broken.”

The commanders all lit up their eyes.

The first goal of the Eastern Expedition, the occupation of Kaila Hall, was just around the corner.

* * *

“The east gate has been breached!”

“Advance!”

“Take care of the archers first!”

The commanders’ voices echoed loudly across the battlefield.

As always, I encouraged the soldiers at the forefront.

“Tonight, we will have dinner inside the castle! Cross the walls!”

“Waaaaaah!”

The morale of our troops was higher than ever, and the size of the shouts proved the high morale.

The soldiers crossed the walls without fear.

Riding on Silpenn’s back, I also climbed onto the wall. I blocked the rain of arrows with a wall of water.

Thud-!

Once on the wall, the enemy and ally forces were clearly distinguished.

The color and patterns of the armor weren’t the only differences that distinguished the enemy and ally forces.

Most of our soldiers were wearing helmets and breastplates, while the enemy soldiers were wearing armor that wasn’t armor at all, made of thick cloth. Of course, there were no helmets.

Ignis roamed the enemy’s sky, spreading a fiery wind with Silpenn.

Kwaaaang-! Bang-!

“Spare those who throw away their weapons!”

I mainly targeted the enemy knights with intermediate spirits. I used Sylphere’s wind chains on the enemy knights who were shouting at the fleeing or surrendering soldiers.

Swish-! Swish-!

Some of the knights began to surrender.

Kyle’s unit was the first to break through the east gate, and Olivia and I destroyed the main gate of Kaila Hall.

Then, Riorden opened the west gate, ending the battle.

“Separate the prisoners.”

At my words, Ken bowed his head and replied.

“Yes, Commander.”

“Where is Jane?”

“She hasn’t shown herself.”

As Ken expected, Jane seemed to have abandoned Kaila Hall and fled.

As we headed to the inner castle of Kaila Hall, the number of prisoners increased even more. Although many of the Pyreon Kingdom soldiers had fled, many had also thrown away their weapons and surrendered.

Soon, the inner castle came into view.

Hamilton led the way.

“Commander, that’s Kaila Hall’s lord’s castle over there.”

The inner castle consisted of three castles, with the tallest and largest castle in the center being the lord’s castle.

“The inner castle walls don’t seem very strong.”

Hamilton replied to my words.

“Only the outer walls in the south, which are the path the enemy attacks, are strong. The inner walls are more like fences than walls.”

“How strong are the outer walls in the north, which face the capital, compared to the outer walls in the south?”

“They’re not as strong as the inner walls, which are like fences, but they’re still not as high as the outer walls in the south, which are meant to block the enemy, and there are no moats.”

“I see.”

There were also surrendered soldiers inside the inner castle.

Our soldiers captured the surrendered enemy soldiers and classified them separately.

The lord’s castle was quite well maintained.

I turned my gaze to Hamilton and said.

“Disarm the prisoners and gather them all in one place to manage them. It’s unlikely that the Pyreon capital defense forces will come down to Kaila Hall, but just in case, deploy guards on the northern walls.”

“Yes, Commander.”

“Allow a small amount of drinking today. Select soldiers to stand guard separately and give them alcohol tomorrow.”

Rewards should be distributed fairly to everyone.

I decided to prepare a separate place for the soldiers who couldn’t drink alcohol due to guard duty and continued.

“It’s not enough to give all the soldiers plenty of meat with just the supplies, so get cooperation from the Vikan Merchant Guild merchants to give everyone plenty of meat. The war isn’t over yet, but we need to let the soldiers enjoy the feeling of victory today.”

“Yes, Commander.”

I didn’t forget about the treatment of the prisoners either.

“Feed the prisoners well too. They will become citizens of the Empire in the future. Of course, don’t give them alcohol or meat.”

While taking care of the prisoners, I made sure to show a clear difference in their treatment compared to our soldiers.

That way, our soldiers will feel proud as soldiers of the Empire, and the prisoners will feel envious of our soldiers.

‘They will also feel resentment towards their own country. Because the commanders died, were captured, and fled.’

I organized my thoughts and concluded.

“Prepare a dinner banquet. Since it’s the lord’s castle, the dining hall will be large enough for all our commanders to enter.”

* * *

Ron heard the news of Arun near the kingdom’s allied border.

“Kaila Hall has fallen.”

Beregon, Austin, Yan, and James were riding their horses right behind Ron.

James was the first to react to Ron’s words.

“His Highness the Crown Prince has successfully led the Eastern Expedition.”

Ron replied.

“It seems so. Gordon is dead and Lilian has been captured.”

Austin shuddered.

“Lilian, that evil mage, was captured by His Highness the Crown Prince?”

Ron nodded.

“It seems she is being held as a prisoner. Hamilton! Yes, I remember. He is the friend who assassinated Sword Master Kaion. Wasn’t he the friend who caused a stir in the center at one time?”

Beregon and Austin’s faces hardened. Yan’s expression wasn’t good either.

Beregon and Austin vehemently opposed granting a title to a slave, no matter how great his merit was.

Yan was also among those who strongly opposed it at the time, but James did not express any position on Hamilton’s title.

“That’s amazing. Not only did he assassinate a Sword Master, but he even captured an 8th circle mage! It must have been more difficult than assassination, but his ability seems great.”

Ron chuckled at James’ words.

“Hamilton’s title should be raised.”

“Your Majesty.”

Ron waved his hand at Beregon’s voice.

“Let’s finish that story at the Imperial Palace. Now, is this the border? Half a day to Eric’s main family. If we hurry a little, we can have a late dinner at Eric’s main family.”

Ron turned his gaze to Beregon.

“I heard that Eric is already here. Would you like to take care of Eric?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Ron’s smile deepened.

“I believe you can easily cut down Eric. I hope you will take this opportunity to reaffirm the reputation of the Atran family, a prestigious family of swordsmanship, to the Empire.”

Ron added.

“It’s quite unfortunate to see the Duke’s swordsmanship stagnating recently.”

“I am trying. Your Majesty.”

Ron looked at James and concluded.

“Duke James, don’t you think Duke Beregon needs an opportunity? To see beyond Sword Master, I mean.”

Beregon’s gaze turned to James.

‘Does the Emperor think James is stronger than me now?’

Beregon had never once thought that he was below James. Not being able to match the Emperor’s swordsmanship made Beregon’s lifelong pride hurt.

But even James is above him?

“Why? Are you dissatisfied that I entrusted James with evaluating your swordsmanship?”

Beregon did not answer.

“James is the strongest, and then Jane and Eric are similar. Duke Beregon is about next after those two. Yan is also similar to Duke Beregon. The dead Gordon was clearly inferior to the previous five.”

“Are you saying that the order is James, Jane, Eric, Duke Beregon, me, and then Gordon?”

Ron nodded at Yan’s words.

“It’s just my opinion, but I’ve never been wrong in this kind of thing. The ranking will be different if you look at the entire continent, but one thing remains the same.”

Ron continued.

“Duke James is next to me.”

The gazes of the three dukes, excluding James, rested on James.

It was the White family and James who had been absent so far. James, who had only known to become a duke by offering the kingdom, was actually next to the Emperor!

“Your Majesty.”

Ron spoke first at Beregon’s call.

“It would take me at least half a day to defeat James using only swordsmanship.”

Beregon momentarily lost his words. James is that strong? Enough for the Emperor to take half a day?

The Emperor was not like a human in many ways, but the strongest of them was his swordsmanship.

Ron made eye contact with Beregon.

“Today, the Duke must cut off Eric’s head. If you stagnate as you are now, you will not be able to protect the reputation of Atran.”

“I will try to change Your Majesty’s evaluation. Duke James is still a duke of the same empire, but Jane and Eric are enemies. It is disloyal as a duke to receive a lower evaluation from Your Majesty than the enemy.”

Beregon gripped his sword more strongly than ever.