Building A Human Empire By Creating A Clan [EN]: Chapter 79

Returnees

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“An empire…”

On the outskirts of the city, Duke Thredret’s army encampment bustled with merchants from the city.

However, a heavy silence hung over one particular corner.

“Is that even possible?”

“I wonder…”

The people gathered in this silent spot were those who had attended the previous day’s banquet or had heard about Edar’s declaration from attendees.

“Has anyone ever spoken so openly like that before?”

“No, never. Who would dare?”

The emotion in their expressions was pure bewilderment.

Edar, the eldest son of Duke Thredret…

What exactly were his words at the banquet?

– I will seize the throne of Germania.

– I will become the sole emperor of mankind, surpassing the king of Germania.

The words were different, but the meaning was the same.

The people gathered here were nobles.

They couldn’t possibly misunderstand the implications of those words.

“Surpassing the king?”

That meant breaking the limits imposed on humans by the other races.

Because the other races did not permit humans to hold the position of emperor.

“Impossible.”

Someone tossed out the word, laden with unspoken meaning.

Becoming a king wasn’t simply about military power.

Just as Thredret’s power was comparable to a king’s, but he wasn’t one.

Becoming a king required more than just brute force.

But, an empire?

“He was drunk and talking nonsense.”

“Why not?”

Someone else retorted.

“What’s so impossible about it? If it were truly possible, as that guy said, why haven’t they established an emperor or an empire already?”

“Is an empire such a big deal? It’s just like a king of kings.”

“That doesn’t make sense.”

“What doesn’t make sense?”

“Seriously, how many times have we had the opportunity to conquer Wallachia, but we couldn’t? Didn’t you forget that it was because the Great Ones [referring to powerful, influential figures or races] didn’t want it?”

“But isn’t Edar practically the king of Wallachia now? If we add the throne of Germania to that, how many are left besides the Theocracy and the Republic?”

“That’s just his claim. He’s not actually a king.”

With each word exchanged, another person joined the fray.

The argument that started with one person’s comment soon escalated into a scene where all the retainers present offered their opinions and bickered.

“The Horbid [likely a powerful entity or group] decides the throne! But not even the throne, but an emperor? That’s blasphemy!”

“Even if it’s not an emperor, isn’t merging countries okay?”

“Dare to discuss what the great races do not allow?”

The increasingly loud voices were fueled by anger.

Arguments bred anger, and anger bred conflict.

Those who followed the other races, those who were proud of their country, those who hated reality, those who were led by ideals… Because there were many retainers, there were many thoughts and many words.

“——.”

“—. ——.”

And there was also a group watching from a distance, separated from the crowd.

Thump!

A roar echoed across the encampment.

The arguing people stopped fighting, startled by the sudden noise.

The sound came from the encampment where Edar’s soldiers were stationed.

Dust rose thickly in the open space in the middle of the encampment.

Boom!

The ground surged as if exploding, and dirt scattered.

Thredret’s retainers, soldiers, and merchants blankly watched Calliope’s display.

She was wielding her sword in the training ground set up within the encampment.

Every time the sword cut through the air, the ground would be overturned a moment later, and a strong wind would blow.

Who would think that she was just warming up by looking at that figure?

The knights who had fought her shuddered.

“It’s terrifying no matter how many times I see it.”

“She’s not human…”

On the other side of the training ground, conscripts continued training with their familiars [magically bonded creatures or companions].

“Your reaction is slow! Stab the moment your feet step forward!”

“Yes!”

“The gap is too wide! If the gap widens, enemies will penetrate! Don’t just think about sticking the spear forward, fill the gap!”

“Yes!”

300 familiars and 6,000 conscripts.

They trained while covered in dust.

Because Thredret’s army had set up an encampment as if surrounding them, everyone could see Edar’s army training in the middle.

Therefore, everyone except those who were engrossed in gambling watched their training.

“They’re really monster-like guys.”

“Did you see their expressions?”

“Their cheeks were torn, but their expressions didn’t change at all.”

“Where are they from? Where did those guys come from?”

The reaction of the onlookers was disgust.

There were no exclamations or sneers that were usually made while watching training.

They were horrified by Calliope’s martial arts and the conscripts’ emotionless appearance.

But more than anything, the moment that truly shocked them was different.

“Slaves?”

The slave mark engraved on the face of the conscript who took off his helmet.

“We lost to slaves?”

The moment that was revealed, there was no one who wasn’t shocked.

The knight order that had been pushed back by the conscripts was devastated.

They were so frightened that they couldn’t even swing their swords properly, so they still didn’t know that the conscripts were weaker than them.

“How can a slave beat a knight…”

Their common sense began to crack little by little.

The more they saw, the more they knew, the more their will to fight died.

“Damn it… I hope it disbands soon.”

That was the common feeling of Duke Thredret’s soldiers.

And there was another being moving in this situation.

“Excuse me, brother.”

The knight who had defended Edar in the argument turned around.

A woman in a nun’s habit smiled softly.

“What you said earlier was interesting.”

“What I said earlier?”

“You said that there is nothing that humans cannot do.”

“Ah. Why is that?”

Sister Rachel handed him the booklet she was holding and whispered.

“Aren’t you curious about how Father [likely referring to Edar] said those words, how he got here?”

“······.”

He narrowed his eyes.

His gaze turned to the booklet she held out.