My Lord Who Is Being Prudent! [EN]: Chapter 72

§ 72 – Ruben of the Storm (2)

Alex sat down, utterly defeated, upon returning to Gern Territory from Kepler Village, located in the heart of the Empire.

As he slowly turned his gaze, the desolate scenery of Gern Territory came into view.

It wasn’t always like this.

It was once a place where commerce thrived more than any other territory.

But the monster outbreak brought immediate crisis.

Gern was the first to step forward for the people.

And thus, it was the first to be sacrificed and disappear.

It was truly a bitter irony.

The lord of Gern had fulfilled his duties as a noble more than anyone else.

Yet, he was the first to fall because of it.

And that was how the world often worked.

The cunning prosper and thrive, while the honest suffer and fall.

In that sense, the western nobles might be considered wise, in a cynical way.

Therefore, Cyan, acting as a lord, might be seen as truly foolish.

Alex briefly recalled his conversation with Cyan.

Alex had asked Cyan for help.

There was no room to care about the pride of the Royal Knights or anything else.

Clinging to such things would only lead to the sacrifice of the powerless commoners.

Alex bowed his head and asked Cyan for help.

To protect Kepler Village.

The West was currently in chaos due to the swarming monsters.

The Royal Knights were doing their best to hold them back.

But they were facing an absolute shortage of manpower.

That’s why they couldn’t do anything about the villages in the outer regions like Kepler.

So, if Cyan could protect even just the villages in the outer regions, it would be a great relief.

It would reduce the sacrifice of the people.

That’s why Alex bowed his head to Cyan, swallowing his pride.

Abandoning his pride as the captain of the Royal Knights.

However.

‘I refuse.’

Cyan replied curtly.

Alex clenched his fist without realizing it.

In the end.

Cyan was also just a noble after all.

Of the esteemed Elanur family.

To him, the commoners were just tools.

He had thought Cyan was a little different, but in the end, Cyan was just a noble who only cared about his own safety.

And just then.

‘I will not defend the area, but push forward.’

Cyan’s words sounded a bit strange.

To be precise, Alex couldn’t understand Cyan’s words.

Push forward?

Did that mean he would recapture the areas occupied by the monsters?

That was impossible.

The endlessly pouring monsters were literally endless.

That’s why the best they could do now was to prevent further retreat, let alone recapture, with 1/4 of the western region occupied by monsters.

So, Alex tried to stop Cyan, but.

‘However, it will be difficult to defend the recaptured areas. If we delay, more will pour out, so we need to pick up the pace. So, I’ll leave the rear to the Royal Knights.’

Cyan left just like that.

Alex could only silently watch Cyan’s departing figure.

Now, back in Gern Territory from Kepler Village, Alex felt a sense of foreboding.

Ironically enough.

The results of Cyan’s actions were quickly heard.

‘Captain! Captain! The troll groups that occupied Gron Village have been annihilated!’

‘What, what did you say?!’

Alex stood up without realizing it.

Gron Village was a large village quite far from Kepler Village.

To be exact, it was a village that had been overrun by trolls.

But those trolls were annihilated?

It was impossible not to know who did it, unless you were a fool.

Cyan and Ruben’s soldiers.

But how long had it been since they left?

‘What is this…’

It didn’t end there.

‘The Lycanthropes who occupied Redori Village have also been annihilated!’

‘Maceji Village too…’

‘The monsters that occupied Sudeun Territory have all been annihilated!!!’

The knights shouted as they entered the barracks in a row.

‘N, no way…’

Alex couldn’t believe it at all.

This was… this was an impossible speed.

Were those soldiers really knights?

Even if that were the case, this situation didn’t make sense.

If this was possible, the Royal Knights would have done it long ago.

The Royal Knights were a knight order made up entirely of Experts [highly skilled warriors].

Of course, there was a difference in absolute manpower.

The 7th Knight Order didn’t even exceed 100 members.

‘But how…!’

But even considering that, this speed didn’t make sense.

‘The front line is changing! Ruben’s soldiers are pushing forward!’

It was truly unstoppable.

Alex clenched his fist.

He didn’t know what was going on, but he couldn’t miss this opportunity.

‘Summon the members right now! Move the barracks too! Secure the front line based on the recaptured villages!’

The shouts of counterattack echoed throughout the western region.

#

Shushushushushushushuk!!

A shower of arrows covering the sky.

Soon, the arrows poured down on the monsters gathered together.

Kwakwakwakwakwang!!!!

Kwaaaaang!!!

The earth trembled greatly with a tremendous explosion.

A thick cloud of dust rose, obscuring the view.

The cloud of dust that bloomed in that way did not dissipate for quite some time.

The scenery that was visible after a long time.

‘Lord! We have annihilated the Owl Bear groups that occupied Sogrin Village.’

‘Good. Let’s move right away.’

Cyan nodded in satisfaction at the continued report.

So far, they had recaptured about 15 villages.

They were able to recapture about 3 territories.

It was truly an amazing speed.

The reason it was possible was, of course, the Singijeon (神機箭) [a type of Korean rocket arrow used as a siege weapon].

A siege weapon that devastated the monsters living in the Dark Forest.

Even Nur Bia, the Demon of Sloth, was damaged by the firepower of the Singijeon.

There was no way that mere monsters could withstand the firepower of the Singijeon.

It didn’t take long.

When the arrows of the Singijeon covered the sky, it was over.

However, it was a bit difficult to drag the Singijeon around.

There was a concern that the speed would not be enough because of that.

But Cyan had no big problem.

He could just put it in Charlotte’s Legacy, the Inventory [a magical storage space].

However, there was a lack of space, and Cyan had to bear the enormous weight alone…

[Space 5 칸 Expansion Upgrade] – 5,000 G

[Storage Weight 1% Reduction Upgrade] – 5,000 G

Tting!

《If it’s hard to carry around, try spending money!》

.

.

This was not a big problem either.

As long as he could spend money.

So, Cyan spent a total of 400,000 gold on 10 Singijeon (神機箭) and inventory upgrades.

As a result, he currently had 770,000 gold left.

It was not a small amount of money, but it was not a lot of money for a mobile lord.

‘I think I’ll have to charge twice as much for the goods.’

‘Yes? Twice?’

Amelia shouted in surprise at Cyan’s muttering.

And said.

‘Given the situation, I think we can charge four times as much?’

Amelia started to go even further.

Somehow, Amelia’s eyes lit up the moment he said he would rip off the nobles.

Anyway.

‘Let’s move on to the next area right away.’

Cyan and Ruben’s soldiers pushed the front line up like a storm.

#

The western region was in an uproar.

Monsters were rampaging endlessly for no reason.

And the western region was occupied by those monsters.

They were somehow holding on now, but people knew.

That this wouldn’t last long.

The nobles were busy taking care of their own safety.

People were sacrificed one by one to the selfish behavior of those nobles.

The West, once called the center of commerce, was now a thing of the past.

People could only live in fear every day of the monsters that would come at any time.

It was truly a state of panic.

That’s why.

‘Hey, you! Have you heard the news? They say they are recapturing the areas occupied by monsters one by one!’

People couldn’t easily believe the rumors they were hearing now.

‘Recapturing the occupied areas? Not being taken away?’

‘Does that make sense?’

‘Yes! I heard that some territories have already started operating normally again!’

The territory began to operate.

This was not just a matter of recapture.

They had to annihilate all the incoming monsters.

And they had to push the front line up.

But just a while ago, the village was swallowed up.

Everyone shook their heads.

‘Don’t say nonsense. Why are you spreading such nonsense?’

‘Who can do such a thing?’

‘Even the Royal Knights can’t do that.’

It was literally impossible.

Even the Royal Knights, called the Empire’s 1st Knight Order, couldn’t do it.

If that were possible, they would have pushed the front line up long ago.

But even the Royal Knights were busy blocking the current front line.

That’s why the rumor could be dismissed as nonsense.

‘No, it’s true! Cyan and Ruben’s soldiers are driving out the monsters!’

Somehow, it didn’t seem like just nonsense.

‘Cyan…?’

‘If it’s Cyan…? Are you talking about Cyan Elanur of the Elanur family?’

Cyan Elanur.

The youngest of the Elanur family and a talented person who was chosen by the Zodiac Sword at the last National Foundation Day event.

However, Cyan’s image known to the world was still not good.

A scoundrel of the Marquis family.

A incompetent bum.

Even a parricide who held a sword to the Marchioness.

Although he made a name for himself by being chosen by the Zodiac Sword.

The accumulated image did not change at once.

That’s why when people heard the name ‘Cyan’.

And when they heard the name ‘Ruben’, which they had never heard of before.

‘It was just nonsense after all.’

‘You have to say something that makes sense…’

People shook their heads once again.

However.

‘It’s not nonsense. I saw it myself.’

‘Me too. I was there too.’

The people involved in the rumor began to prove it.

‘You saw it yourself?’

‘They defeated the troll groups that occupied our village.’

‘A shower of arrows rained down from something like a carriage… and the troll groups were wiped out all at once!’

Testimonies began to pour in from all over the place.

‘What is this…’

‘Besides, Ruben’s soldiers were amazing too. They beat the monsters like rats. I’m not kidding, but any knight order would be put to shame!’

‘Hey, you! No matter how much, does it make sense to compare ordinary soldiers to a knight order!’

‘Hey! This guy doesn’t believe what I say! I told you carefully, but to be honest, they were better than the knight order!’

‘I, is that really true?’

‘Yes, that’s right! And that’s not all? They give out goods to people for free… Here! Look at this! This is called soap.’

Something small and white in his hand.

‘Soap? What is this?’

‘Well, look closely. If there is something stained like this, just rub it like this, see? It’s cleanly erased, right?’

‘S, amazing!’

‘And what is this scent…?’

‘This soap costs 10 silver, but they are giving it to those in need!’

‘No way…’

Of course, they would later rip off the nobles.

People who didn’t know that fact could only make unbelievable expressions.

In that way, the rumors about Cyan and Ruben spread in an instant.

It literally turned the West upside down.

And maybe because of that.

Tting!

《Your name and Ruben’s name are echoing in the western region!》

《Can you hear it! This shout towards you!》

《Fame value has exceeded the standard value!》

Tting!

『[Territory Linked Quest] – ‘Huh…? Maybe we’re a little strong…?’ (Cleared!)』

Suddenly, a smartphone notification sound rang.

A notification window popped up saying that the linked quest had been cleared.

‘Huh? What’s going on all of a sudden?’

Cyan wondered what it was.

He really wondered what it was.

That’s because he hadn’t solved the western region’s incident yet.

Of course, he had almost recaptured the lost area.

Nevertheless, he had not driven out all the monsters.

It was just the beginning.

But even so, the linked quest was cleared?

‘What is it?’

Cyan tilted his head.

And again.

Tting!

《Fame points and fame point shop will be opened!》

A new notification window popped up on the smartphone screen.