Reader’S Regeneration Life [EN]: Chapter 71

71―――――

Ah, so this is what they call ‘sacrifice.’

“Vice Commander,

what on earth is going on?”

“You tell me.

I’ve never seen anything like this before either.”

Schumacher, the vice commander of the Royal Knights, sighed and replied to his subordinate’s question.

Even with the royal palace already in turmoil due to the Kashgar County incident, news arrived at the palace.

‘…Hmm.’

The vice commander still couldn’t forget the expression of King Edgar IV when he received the news.

He was smiling, but the murderous aura gleaming in his eyes and the letter crumpled beyond recognition in his hand were a clear indication of his rage.

Immediately after, Edgar IV ordered a total of three squads from the Royal Knights, who rarely mobilized, to depart for the Konean Territory.

In addition to that, the Royal Capital Defense Forces would naturally move with them, bringing the total force to 500 soldiers. This was standard procedure when the Royal Knights were deployed.

‘Your Majesty,

if you dispatch so many Royal Knights and Royal Capital Defense Forces, it could potentially weaken the defenses of the royal palace.’

Prince Erader tried to dissuade Edgar IV, but Princess Vanessa intervened, stopping her brother.

‘Brother,

there’s a report that a slave market has been discovered in the Konean Territory.

Moreover, Duke Zion Claussen was even attacked by unidentified individuals beforehand.’

‘Then we should strengthen the defense of the royal palace even more!’

‘No.

It is precisely at times like these that we must project the kingdom’s strength to the outside world.’

The Royal Capital Defense Forces and the Royal Knights were prime examples of a nation’s power.

Therefore, they usually tried to minimize unnecessary exposure, but when the time was right, they would reveal their forces to the outside world, showcasing their might.

Erader was worried that enemies might target the royal palace while the elite troops were away.

Vanessa, on the other hand, wanted to ‘show off’ that no matter what anyone did, the royal family could send a large number of troops out without batting an eye.

‘And there’s one more reason, Father.

And Brother.’

‘One more reason?’

‘The Claussen family has been guarding the border for generations, acting as a shield for this country.

If the royal family gives the impression that they are neglecting the son of such a family, who was attacked by unidentified individuals, it could discourage the nobles who have been loyal to the kingdom.’

‘Hmm.’

Edgar IV fell into deep thought.

The Kashgar County opened its gates obediently without even showing any resistance.

He still didn’t know anything about the unidentified forces because of Count Sepher, who claimed he didn’t know anything, but at least their attacks had stopped.

‘But they targeted Claussen’s son.’

It was like they were trying to cripple him if they couldn’t behead him.

Edgar IV bit his lip.

For a king, the ultimate goal was to protect the entire country from external threats and internal turmoil.

At the same time, his duty as the supreme ruler was clear.

He had to strongly support his allies and keep them close, while constantly attacking and eliminating his enemies, or forcing them to submit.

‘Vice Commander Schumacher.’

‘Yes, Your Majesty!’

‘Go yourself.

Go and thoroughly investigate the slave market that was discovered in the Konean Territory and find out the truth!

And make sure to show the steadfastness of Hispania [the kingdom’s name] and the kingdom’s swords and spears flashing against those who try to harm the kingdom’s loyal subjects!’

‘I shall obey your command!’

That was what had happened recently.

Schumacher turned his head and looked back.

The sight of the Royal Capital Defense Forces and the Royal Knights marching out of the royal palace, which only happened in the event of a total war between nations, a major incident of equal scale that could lead to armed conflict, or to demonstrate the kingdom’s strength, was a spectacle in itself.

Moreover, they covered a distance that would normally take nearly a week in just three days.

There was a good reason why they were called the kingdom’s elite troops.

“Vice Commander, we’re almost at the Konean Territory.”

“What’s the news from those who left ahead of the main force?”

“Duke Zion Claussen has suppressed the Konean Territory, who resisted when the truth was revealed, and is waiting for us with his men.”

“···Duke Claussen didn’t have that many guards, did he?”

As Schumacher thought that, he exclaimed, “Ah!”

The high-ranking knight who defected from Nudia, Rishikia Amschel.

She alone would be able to handle the knights of the territory.

Of course, the truth was that a man who had completely lost it drew his sword but, dissatisfied with just that, personally delivered some tough love with his fists.

“And more than half of those working in the slave market under the territory’s orders have been crippled, and some have even died.”

“Hmm.

That could be a bit of a problem.”

“But I heard that it wasn’t Duke Zion Claussen’s subordinate knight who did it, but another man.

I’ve seen him a few times in the royal palace…”

“Vice Commander,

we’ve arrived.”

“Two squads will immediately move to the Konean Territory’s castle.

The remaining squads will patrol the territory with the Royal Capital Defense Forces to check for any suspicious individuals.”

Although a slave market, which was strictly prohibited in the kingdom, had been discovered, the territory was relatively quiet.

That was because the slave market was located right under the territory’s castle, not near the living spaces of the kingdom’s people, so it was a distant concern for them.

“It seems the guests from the royal palace have finally arrived.”

Normally, the Konean Territory should have been the one to greet them, but it was Zion Claussen, not the territory lord, who came out of the castle.

“Duke Zion Claussen.

I am Schumacher Tenber.”

“Ah, Sir Schumacher, aren’t you the vice commander of the Royal Knights?

It’s too humble for a high-ranking knight to be so polite to a mere noble’s son.”

“A mere noble?

The Claussen family is like a shield protecting Hispania.

Moreover, you are the hero who led the war with Nudia to victory, so this treatment is only natural.”

“Haha!”

By being polite and humble, the other party also lowered himself.

If he had been tactless and said something like, ‘Oh, should I drop the formalities then?’ he would have been immediately rebuffed, but as expected of the vice commander of the Royal Knights, he was quite skilled in diplomacy as well as swordsmanship.

‘If you’re too rigid and inflexible, you’re bound to break.

Indeed!’

Zion exchanged simple greetings with the vice commander and immediately began explaining the situation.

While returning to Claussen, they were suddenly ambushed, causing the carriage to be destroyed, some soldiers to be injured, and the horses to be severely wounded.

So, they moved to the nearby Konean Territory to rest for a while and request the necessary supplies, but the Konean Territory lord suddenly invited him to the castle.

“But it turned out he was trying to make connections.

After hearing some of the rumors about me, he thought I would be weak to women and offered me a non-human slave.”

“···A non-human slave market in the Konean Territory, which is not on the border of the kingdom or in a remote area, and not far from the royal palace.

I’m at a loss for words and filled with anger.”

“I felt the same way.

So, when I said I would report this to the royal palace, he threatened me, saying he could falsely confess that Claussen was also involved in the slave market, wouldn’t you know it?”

“Insolent!

Are you saying he threatened the kingdom’s war hero?”

Schumacher seemed ready to rush out and kill the Konean Territory lord right away.

Zion couldn’t help but applaud at the sight.

‘Knights are more straightforward than nobles after all.’

If nobles had heard his story, they might not have been so angry and instead thought about the possibilities, imagining a secret deal between Claussen and the Konean Territory lord.

But for knights like Schumacher, what was more important than power struggles or secret deals were grand concepts like battle, victory, honor, and hero.

“Calm down, Vice Commander Schumacher.”

“Hoo.

I apologize.

For such rudeness in front of you.”

“No.

I also feel anger boiling up just thinking about it.”

“Where is the Konean Territory lord?

I must see him immediately.”

Zion told him that the Konean Territory lord was currently imprisoned in the castle.

Schumacher said he had to go right away and strode off.

‘Threatening a war hero and even having non-human slaves, which the royal family has forbidden.

This damn noble is trying to ruin the country! Alright, I’ll just kill him!’

Vice Commander Schumacher moved his feet roughly, thinking that… but Schumacher soon had to retract his decision.

The Konean Territory lord, who was said to be imprisoned in his room for committing a crime, was not actually imprisoned, but simply unable to move.

“Is this really the Konean Territory lord?”

“As you can see, his condition is a bit of a mess.”

The man who had been flaunting his noble status until recently no longer existed.

His eyes were so swollen that they looked like chestnuts, his whole body was covered in blue bruises, his nose was twisted, and his front teeth were nowhere to be seen.

The man with the rather decent title of territory lord did not look like a territory lord at all.

Above all, there were many wounds on his body from being cut by a sword, and Schumacher knew very well that he was not the kind of man who could fight even with such injuries.

“What happened?

Although he is a criminal, if someone made a noble of the kingdom look like this…”

It was the moment when Vice Commander Schumacher looked at Zion and opened his mouth.

“I did it.”

The man standing behind Zion stepped forward.

The man’s identity was, of course, Kim Yoo-hyun.

“···Who are you?”

“Vice Commander Schumacher.

This person is Master Raido’s disciple and Miss Lucia’s bodyguard…”

“I’ve seen him in the royal palace.

Although he is Master Raido’s disciple, he is neither a noble nor a member of the royal family.

I would like to ask how such a person could make a noble of the kingdom look so miserable.”

Schumacher was not angry about the fact that he had harmed the Konean Territory lord.

Only the royal family could punish him, but the fact that a man who was not even a great noble, but someone who appeared out of nowhere, dared to defy that authority was quite annoying to him.

“I just gave him back as much as he was spouting nonsense.”

The one who was in charge of monitoring the Konean Territory lord until the investigation team from the royal palace came down was Kim Yoo-hyun.

Of course, the Konean Territory lord, who had regained his senses, spewed nonsense at Kim Yoo-hyun again, and Kim Yoo-hyun, who was very angry, made the territory lord’s whole body ‘uncomfortable’.

“···Duke Zion.

It is certain that the Konean Territory lord has committed a crime, but even so, the only ones who can punish him to the point of harming his body like this are at least the three dukes [highest ranking nobles].

Are you aware of that?”

“I am aware.”

“Is that man also the one who harmed the knights and soldiers who were involved in this?”

When Zion nodded, Schumacher continued, saying that a foreigner who harmed his own people in this place, which was officially inside the kingdom’s territory, could not help but be a problem.

“Then you must also know that we have to take that man to the royal palace for now.”

He was speaking indirectly, but in any case, he was saying that he would not stand idly by since Kim Yoo-hyun had also committed a crime.

At those words, Lucia, who had followed them, tried to say something, but Zion stopped her.

“If someone has committed a crime, it is right to be punished.”

“That’s right, Duke Zion.”

“In that case, not only Kim Yoo-hyun but also I must be taken to the royal palace.”

“···Yes?”

Vice Commander Schumacher was flustered as if wondering what this was all of a sudden. Not only that.

Lucia, Rishikia, and even Kim Yoo-hyun looked slightly embarrassed.

Regardless, Zion continued in a very calm voice.

“Miss Lucia and her bodyguard, Kim Yoo-hyun, are ‘officially’ part of our group.

Therefore, whatever they say or do, the responsibility lies with me, the person in charge.

Isn’t that right?”

“W-Well, that’s true, but.”

“Also, I am at fault for not being able to assess the situation and leaving Kim Yoo-hyun next to the Konean Territory lord.

So, if I have to be punished, it should be me or both of us.”

“Duke Zion!”

“Master!”

Lucia and Rishikia quickly stopped Zion as if there was no need to do that, but he shook his head.

“If we apply strict standards even to those who have done the right thing, then I should naturally be included in that category as well.

That would be the right thing to do.

Isn’t that right, Vice Commander Schumacher?”

“···.”

Vice Commander Schumacher let out a groan.

Zion was speaking in a polite and courteous manner, but in the end, the conclusion he came to was one.

Either shut up and move on about what he did to the Konean Territory lord, or arrest that great man who discovered the slave market after the war hero and drag him to the royal palace as a criminal.

‘You’re making it difficult for me.’

Schumacher had no choice but to hesitate at the question that was difficult to answer.

‘I need to make sure they are aware of it.’

Zion was thinking and saying those words.

He was emphasizing to the knights of the royal palace, including Schumacher, that the Konean Territory lord was a criminal.

To Kim Yoo-hyun, he was trying to assert, ‘He’s an ally.

Don’t shoot!’