Reader’S Regeneration Life [EN]: Chapter 392

392

This Opportunity

“…So, that’s what you’re saying?”

Having heard Helen’s story, Zion nodded, maintaining his usual composure.

Inwardly, however, red flames were raging, making him want to break out into a sword dance.

“I don’t think Nudia is doing it intentionally.”

“Probably not.

If they really intended this, it would be better to crush Nudia first and let Hispania swallow everything up.

A king who lost his capital and barely escaped with his life.

A count who had already been declining for some time.

Even scraping together all available soldiers to head to the defense line.

If the border isn’t a mess, that would mean Nudia is truly a nation of saints.”

After Queen Vanessa’s decision to accept refugees was made.

Nudian refugees began to cross the border into Hispania in stages.

Initially, everyone in Nudia, high and low, praised Hispania’s decision, extolling Queen Vanessa’s decision as that of a truly great person.

But the influx of refugees needed to be moderate.

Even if the number couldn’t be reduced, at least maintaining the current level would allow the receiving side to manage somehow, but the fact that the number of refugees was rapidly increasing day by day became a major problem.

No matter how much Hispania accepted refugees, it wasn’t simply accepting them as they crossed the border.

There was a need for at least minimal screening to ensure that these people weren’t believers in the Doctrine of Light with ulterior motives, trying to gather information within Hispania, or attempting to cause unrest.

Furthermore, it wasn’t a matter of letting them go their own way once they entered.

Soldiers were also needed to escort the refugees to the territories that would take them in.

This was to monitor those who might suddenly turn into bandits and to protect them from unscrupulous individuals who might target them.

The problem was that the number of soldiers to manage the refugees was far too small.

Most of the soldiers in eastern Hispania were being sent to the Nudia front, and those who remained were only enough for minimal defense.

It was impossible for that small number to handle the thousands of refugees who arrived every day.

‘They want to go to a safe place and rest, but they are dissatisfied with Hispania’s demand to wait without a suitable place.

Well, whatever.

I understand.

They’ve lost their homes and lands and barely escaped with their lives, so they’re bound to be on edge.

But still.’

However, this is only Hispania’s goodwill.

It’s goodwill shown to Nudia, with whom they decided to survive together, not an obligation.

Of course, it’s a necessary act to gain justification, but trying to gain that justification could lead to a greater loss of justification in the form of backlash from their own people.

So, even though it was an option that could be pushed to the back burner at any time, Queen Vanessa made the decision to accept refugees, adding goodwill to it.

If that’s the case, they should wait and endure even if things are sluggish.

But recently, strange rumors have been circulating among the Nudian refugees.

“Hispania is intentionally being selective about accepting refugees.

They only take in able-bodied men and young women.

Something like that?”

“That’s almost better.

Some rumors say that Hispanian soldiers are going around in groups, robbing and injuring Nudian refugees, raping women, and killing and abandoning those who resist.”

“…”

“Or, the truth is that Hispania has no intention of accepting refugees and intends to use them as human shields to buy more time when the Holy Prusian army arrives.”

Hoo…

Zion had to close his eyes and let out a deep sigh.

He had expected something like this to happen, and he thought that there would definitely be guys like him who would play with words and manipulate people, but being directly targeted like this made him feel quite dirty.

“The source of the rumors is, of course, unknown.”

“Stories flowing from people’s mouths are mostly like that.

Everyone knows, but no one knows who started the rumor.”

“I just want to find the source and wring their neck.”

That was Zion’s honest feeling.

Damned if they do, damned if they don’t, this was the worst situation.

Vanessa was probably aware of the current situation, but there was no real cure for the words that people bandied about.

Either let time pass and forget, or cover it up with other big events.

“Um, Lady Helen, the head of the merchant guild?”

“You can just call me Helen, Lord Rishikida.”

“Ah, yes. Helen.

So, is that the fun news?

You clearly told the master that it was fun news, that it was okay.”

At Rishikida’s words, Helen smiled and nodded, saying, ‘That’s right!

That’s right.’

Then, looking at Zion, who couldn’t hide his very uncomfortable expression, she opened her mouth with a subtle smile.

“So, on my way here, I played a little trick.”

“…Trick?”

“Resentment is always in the heart.

Usually, there’s just a little smoke, but when something that can ignite it is added, it finally catches fire.

And depending on which direction the wind blows, the flames may spread somewhere else.”

“That’s right. People are always ready to blame someone.”

“As Young Master Zion said.

They were blaming the wrong people, being 넘어간 [deceived] by strange words, even though they were driven here by the Holy Prusian Empire and the 천족 [heavenly race].

I can’t help it.

It’s right to resent what’s right in front of you.

So, I changed the direction of the fire.”

“You turned the wind?”

At Zion’s question, Helen smiled and continued.

“The scary thing about merchants is that they know how to spend money and how to use people.

I distributed the food that I had bought and brought with my own money to them.

And I said this: ‘I’ll give you more to eat, so just wait a little longer.'”

Of course, they waited.

Because they could get things for free, without any cost.

But the next day, the relief supplies that went to them decreased instead.

Then I said this: ‘The wagons were all looted by subversive forces disguised as Nudian refugees on the way, so the supplies were reduced.'”

“…”

The moment he heard Helen’s words, Zion let out an absurd laugh, but at the same time, he couldn’t hide the chilling feeling.

It was only natural that the fairy woman, who had been cutely whimpering in his arms, shrinking back shyly, and smiling so brightly, had suddenly turned around and was manipulating people’s minds at will.

‘As expected, there are no incompetent soldiers under a brave general, and no normal people under a crazy person.’

A woman who was scary enough, even if not as much as himself—that was Helen Hynes.

A fairy who had endured all sorts of hardships as a slave and as a merchant.

Naturally, her heart would have been worn away without her knowing, and that part would surely feel like a cool and sharp blade to others.

“After that, I gave them food again, then reduced it again, then didn’t give it at all.

After repeating that for about four days, they began to understand what they had to do.

In order to fill their bellies for free like this, the people who were taking their things had to be reduced.

We have to take action ourselves.

We have to filter out the impure elements disguised as refugees.”

“You gave those who were resenting Hispania a common enemy, a delicious snack, and told them to watch and be wary of each other if they wanted to eat it.”

If you want to control people, starve them.

And make filling their bellies the goal.

The rest they will take care of.

No matter what you tell them to do, they will rationalize it in some way and bring you the conclusion you want.

Zion acknowledged that Helen’s method was correct, recalling a way to handle people that was more realistic than any famous saying he had heard in the past.

It didn’t really matter whether Hispania was selectively accepting Nudian refugees or committing cruel acts.

The Nudian refugees were living a hard life, and they needed someone to blame for their situation, and they needed a visible being that they could blame, curse, and get angry at right in front of them.

That was Hispania, and pouring all their negative emotions into it and seeking a way to survive became their way of life.

‘I guarantee that fanatics are hiding in the refugee group and abusing it.’

Helen, like a head of the merchant guild, quickly recognized the minds of those refugees.

And she made them turn their sharp nerves on themselves.

She said that there were suspicious people inside them, vicious people who were targeting both Nudia, their homeland, and Hispania, where they might live in the future.

In the eyes of those who were suppressing their resentment and anger from the war, a target for expressing their emotions was created.

Thanks to that, they immediately suspected and were wary of those who had been in the same refugee situation until just before, and they no longer matched their words or joined forces.

It was only natural that hostility towards them would rise, as they thought that they were not receiving what they had been getting for free because of those impure groups.

Helen aimed for that point and made the refugees themselves the soldiers who controlled themselves and the personnel who conducted their own inspections.

Without buying any resistance, and rather, with a heartwarming story that a Hispanian merchant was providing them with food for their sake.

“If you think of me as a bad woman, I’ll gladly accept it.

But that was the best way.

There’s a limit to what Hispania’s soldiers can do.

If you try to control them, you’ll only face a backlash.

But I thought it would be much easier if they showed that they would be controlled themselves.”

“A bad woman? What are you talking about?

I’m just amazed at how you can show your skills even in this situation, Helen.

As expected, you’re the head of the merchant guild, so you have good sense and a great mind.”

It’s not just empty words; it’s a sincere compliment.

While Zion was away, Helen had solved a matter that could have turned into a big problem by pushing in the food she had bought with her own money.

Since those who were impossible to control were controlling themselves and coming to them, it was twice as easy for Hispania, and of course, those who were trying to enter Hispania could be caught immediately because the Nudian refugees were secretly watching and reporting them to Hispania during the inspections.

‘As expected, there’s no better place to hide people than inside people, and there’s nothing better than people to monitor people.’

Zion thought so and quickly kissed Helen on the cheek while Rishikida turned his gaze elsewhere for a moment.

If it was the Helen that he knew, she was a woman who felt more happiness from this kind of surprise affection than from passionate sex on the bed.

“…Aaaah…”

And as he expected, Helen froze and her face turned bright red, as if she was about to explode.

When Rishikida looked at Helen and asked in surprise what was wrong, Zion answered very nonchalantly on her behalf.

“It seems like she’s like this just because I gave her a compliment.

How can there be such a pure and kind fairy?”

“Master is right.

Helen is kind!

Unlike other strange fairies!”

That’s only limited to those who have affection for her, Rishi.

If she thinks of you as an enemy, she’ll probably freeze her face right away and shoot an arrow or swing a dagger.

Muttering so inwardly, Zion gently patted Helen’s shoulder, who was still letting out a happy groan, ‘Eugh!’

“Thank you so much for working so hard in a place where I can’t see.

I was a little worried because the damage was accumulating as the battle continued.”

“Ah… I heard about that news too.

I heard that Marquis Volko Redenen was killed in action…”

“We haven’t even received his body back yet.

To be honest, I don’t even know if there’s a body left.”

As Zion smiled bitterly and muttered so, Helen looked very restless, as if she didn’t know what to do.

She was worried that she had mentioned something unnecessary and had unnecessarily put firewood back into a situation that had calmed down to some extent.

“Stop it.

Do I look like such a nice guy that I’m still worried about that?”

“What are you talking about?

Young Master Zion is definitely a good person.

It’s just that you’re not immersed in it, and you know exactly the path you have to take.

If you say you’re not good, then I’m probably evil?”

“It seems like your flattery skills have improved while I haven’t seen you?”

As Zion tapped her hand lightly with a playful smile, Helen straightened her body as if she understood his intention.

“Of course, Young Master Zion knows that my plan is only a temporary measure.

Above all, if the conflict between them continues to be fostered, there will be fights, and such things at the border could turn into bigger problems.”

“Originally, Nudia should take measures to prevent this from happening, but many nobles were wiped out in the last battle.

There are also many who betrayed us.

Those who are next to the king will have a headache just focusing on the war right now.”

If you take King Saradin away right now, Aibe, who can be said to be the core of Nudia, is also here at this defense line, taking care of all kinds of work.

That’s how much they have no choice but to focus on the war, and that’s how few people there are who can be trusted to do the work.

“But you know, Helen.

Now everything has changed.”

As Zion said, now everything has changed.

Although the damage on the allied side is great, the reserves arrived quickly, and the warriors of the fairies and beastmen are also rushing here quickly.

Above all, the strongest person in the world, the 먼치킨 [munchkin; overpowered] protagonist ‘Kim Yoo-hyun’ has arrived here and is holding on.

From now on, all that’s left is to break the enemies, break them again, and move forward.

That was all.

“Looking at Young Master Zion’s expression, it seems like you’re preparing things that I can’t even imagine.”

“The guys who really succeed don’t see a crisis as a crisis, but as an opportunity.”

Zion had already conveyed his opinion to Nudia’s king, Saradin, through Aibe.

Originally, it was news that could only be dismissed as nonsense.

But with the great victory on this side and the appearance of Kim Yoo-hyun, who has the power to kill even the highest-ranking 천족 [heavenly race], King Saradin would now have hope.

And he was sure that he would seriously consider Zion’s opinion in a very positive way.

‘Whatever you say, land is the best.’

―――――――Afterword―――――――

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