Chapter 61 - Chapter 61: To the Kingdom of Pasture
Steve headed straight for the Royal Capital of the Kingdom of Pasture using the map as a guide. Along the way, all territories were taken by taking the lords as hostages, and the Count Macintosh's army occupied the lords' castles and mansions.
Bella was always by Steve's side. Even now, the two of them stood before the captured viscount in the castle of the conquered viscount.
With body strengthening magic plus sensation enhancement magic, Bella's combat power exceeded that of the Royal Guard Knights Order commander. However, once the magic effect wore off, her strength was about average within the knights order. Still, being average was shocking strength.
She experienced optimal movement by having her abilities boosted by magic, and by trying to move that way even without magic, she could raise her strength in a short period.
"Steve said he was troubled by handling a large number of prisoners."
"Who?"
"Important person."
Bella didn't know the people of Macintosh territory, so she couldn't name or title anyone. But she saw other soldiers bowing, so she thought it was an important person.
"Feeding them is tough, like with Forest Kingdom."
"This time Margrave Adams and Count Macintosh are sharing, so better than Margrave Sowell's time."
"Maybe. But capturing alive is easier mentally than killing."
"I don't get that feeling. Killing one or ten thousand is the same. They are enemies."
Bella's thinking was the general thinking of this world, and Steve, who has experience in peaceful times, couldn't get used to it.
"I think killing more people makes normal feelings disappear."
"If you worry about that, you can't be a noble. You have to fight enemies and execute criminals."
"Execution is just orders, easier than killing on battlefield."
"Then just order me to kill enemies, I'll kill all of them."
Bella said that from the bottom of her heart. She didn't want to see the man she liked worrying, so fighting on battlefield didn't matter. Steve thinks she should do it herself. Steve had no option to push the work to Bella to escape killing people.
"No, I'll make up my mind. Hope for a peaceful world without war."
"Then Steve should unify the continent. If everyone becomes Steve's retainer, no war."
"Big scale talk. Don't say that in public. If King hears, suspicion of rebellion, family and subjects might not know what happens."
"Understood. But King or Emperor, Steve can win."
"Don't know. If attacked family at same time, can't protect. Need to think of King and Emperor as organization power, not individual ability."
Steve couldn't seize enemy territory because he lacks organization power. Just defeating opponent doesn't unify continent. Just sitting on pile of corpses, nation disappears.
"I don't understand hard things. So Steve thinking and ordering is enough."
Bella bad at hard talk, gave up continuing conversation. Steve also ended conversation.
They were looking for hidden enemies while talking, but didn't find insects or rats as hidden enemies.
"Now we know completely suppressed, let's bring Earl's army."
"Yes."
Two of them teleport to Count Macintosh territory. Viscount bound by magic suddenly appeared Steve, bound by magic, castle suppressed without understanding, confused when opponent disappeared, gave up thinking.
Soon Steve returned with army before viscount.
"Your Excellency, work is too fast. Today is third time."
The captain of vanguard who went to Adams Land said. He is now in charge of occupation. As he says, today Steve took three territories, captain saw other units teleported away. Saw second unit teleport, thought no turn for them today, but it came.
"Want to end this soon."
"Normal war takes days on battlefield, can't eat sometimes, can't bathe, but here daily fixed time work, return home sleep leaving watchman, so less desire to end quickly."
As captain says, war puts soldiers in harsh environment, not mentioned here, ambushes or traps during march, no time to rest. If war like this where no battle and sleep at home, no desire to end quickly.
"Though, arrive Royal Capital day after tomorrow, end in two days."
"Fast. Fighting only Your Excellency, I just kill time with gambling with members until turn comes. Can't think this is war."
"Don't relax, don't know when enemy comes to take back viscount."
Steve said that, actually left animals working in occupied castle, can detect enemy recovery plans quickly. For now, lords hostage, soldiers disarmed, ends in unnecessary worry.
Viscount listening to conversation understood opponent is terrible monster, gave up hope of rescue. Only begging for life.
"Going to next place, please handle occupation aftermath."
"Pick me up on return."
"Of course. Just select stay-behind group."
"Yes."
Steve teleported to next territory. Captain and Vice Captain watching Steve disappear. Suddenly Vice Captain spoke to Captain.
"Captain, Dragon Wing Medal story was suspicious, thought made up for national pride, but seeing real thing realized big mistake."
"Anyone would. Can't believe adult did it, let alone child. Even now no one believes. If someone told me, I'd tell them sober up before coming."
"Right. How many magic can use? Magic user double is common sense blown away."
"Not just that, various inventions, social system proposal in western region. Heard western region booming, didn't believe cause was Your Excellency. But now believe."
"Will my son become like that?"
"Don't talk nonsense. If kids all that excellent, how we live?"
Vice Captain couldn't answer Captain's question. Just thought a little bit if he can be fed by son.
Next day Steve steadily conquered Kingdom of Pasture. Moved faster than horse, Kingdom of Pasture interior didn't notice Kingdom of Cascade attacking.
After 3 PM, just before Royal Capital of Kingdom of Pasture, barely visible city wall with naked eye, Steve, Bella, and vanguard team including Captain Wyatt were there.
Calling vanguard captain "Captain" always confuses with other captains, finally heard name here.
"Royal Capital everywhere same."
Steve said that.
"Can you see?"
Wyatt squinted at distant wall, couldn't see well.
"Scouting inside Royal Capital using birds and insects now."
"Reconnaissance, infiltration, battle, war completed alone."
"Not really. Know range of occupation limited alone."
"Your Excellency can manipulate puppets with magic, make clones."
"Ah, good idea."
Wyatt said half joking, Steve seriously considered. Find magic users who can use such magic, create work standard book, see various things become easier.
"Going now?"
"Thought tomorrow, but castle guard loose, finish before sunset."
"Taking down Royal Capital of country in two hours, we soldiers need to find next job."
"Not really. What I can do limited. Let's go."
"Mental preparation."
"Constant Battlefield. Don't say preparation."
Steve teleported entire unit to throne room.
Kingdom of Pasture Royal Castle, war situation report happening now. King on throne, Chancellor standing next, military officials kneeling before King reporting war situation. King inherited throne from previous King five years ago, age 32, full of youth and ambition.
"Report arrived enemy border lord territory Adams Land invaded. Next report will be occupied."
"Um. Use as bridgehead, expand control to surrounding area, eventually aim for Kingdom of Cascade Royal Capital."
"Possible in three years."
During exchange, hundred soldiers suddenly appeared. Everyone present surprised.
"Who are you!"
Guard knight shouts, but at that time Steve's magic bound everyone with iron chains. Not handcuffs shackles, but collars.
Seeing situation, King's exclusive teleportation magic user tried to teleport near King to escape.
"Ah, I thought I should advise not to move."
Steve covered eyes with hand. Iron chains made by magic cancel teleportation magic effect. Magic user head only teleported near King, rolled on floor. Body below neck remaining original place fell forward making sound.
Steve surely expected teleportation magic user, so bound with collar. If handcuffs shackles, possibility of escape.
"Your Excellency, asked who are you."
Wyatt and Bella said. Steve removed hand from face, decided answer opponent's question.
"Came from Adams Land. Exactly slightly south."
"From Kingdom of Cascade? There just received report Adams Land falling soon. Also, Knight of..."
King stopped saying Knight of Sword. Steve's group didn't know, Empire moving behind scenes secret agreement. Empire no intention to fight Kingdom of Cascade openly, stimulated Kingdom of Pasture King's ambition, made him invade.
"Should have sent elite."
King said that again.
"Almost all prisoners. Strong knight somewhere escaped."
King understood strong knight refers to Rowan. Understood identity not revealed, relieved. Actually revealed.
Even with conversation so far, King still doubted Steve's group came from Kingdom of Cascade. Hundred soldiers moving, shouldn't notice inside country.
"But really came from Kingdom of Cascade? If so, report of discovery inside country should exist. Can't teleport all the way here."
Common sense of teleportation magic, mana used proportional to weight and distance. King knew that, thought if teleport hundred, must come from inside Royal Capital. Kingdom of Pasture teleportation magic users couldn't teleport hundred soldiers even that distance.
"Well, caught lords along the way, no one to contact."
Then Steve disappeared from before King. Immediately teleported back.
"Know this person."
Brought middle-aged man. Man bound by iron chains, can't move, face only towards King.
"Your Majesty."
"Copeland!"
Brought man is Viscount Copeland. Had territory on way to Royal Capital, one of nobles caught by Steve.
"Now believe? Still fight in this situation? Or surrender?"
Steve smiled at King stunned looking at Viscount Copeland and asked.
"Guarantee of survival if surrender?"
"Well, not my authority so can't promise, but Forest Kingdom King still alive, might not take life. No, that place became direct confrontation with Empire so kept. Can't say. Ask my King. Let's go now."
Steve said, teleported King and Chancellor to Count Macintosh territory. Steve's plan leave troublesome things to Count Macintosh. Then brought Count Macintosh, teleported to Kingdom of Cascade Royal Capital.
King was in other political affairs, emergency situation, urgently negotiate peace with Kingdom of Pasture King.
When told that, Steve hurriedly returned to Kingdom of Pasture Royal Castle.
Came to pick up Bella and Wyatt and others. Also transfer other prisoners to Kingdom of Cascade.
Wyatt seeing Steve's face smiling talked.
"No, Your Excellency. Really finished before sunset."
"Want to sleep comfortably. Let's all return."
"Don't need to select people staying here tonight?"
Wyatt asked Steve looking at subordinates, Steve said got permission from Count Macintosh to return all.
"Count Macintosh says don't need occupy this castle. Opponent King hostage, no strategic value in this castle."
"Then taking something also no good?"
"Yes. I won't allow that. War ended, depends on negotiation."
"Well so, but soldiers morale doesn't rise without reward risking life."
Those participating in war have right to get money and equipment enemies held. Surviving victory builds property. This time also taking various things from lord's castle and mansion. Steve knew and didn't stop.
But now peace negotiation, looting during that Steve's ethics didn't allow.
"I'll tell you to consider Count Macintosh. Understand need reward to return empty handed after coming here."
"If Your Excellency says so, will do. If Your Excellency says, everyone will accept."
"Actually want to give from me, but all Count Macintosh's soldiers, I just came to help this time."
When Steve said help, Bella lightly poked Steve's arm with elbow.
"Think human helping most in front getting merit is bad."
"So, but that way fewest people die as result."
"Yes. Without Your Excellency, half of us might not survive. Died at Adams Land. Overwhelming support magic and Your Excellency's enemy binding only reason."
Wyatt nodded remembering Adams Land battle. Battle with body strengthening and healing magic, miraculous victory no deaths, not so. Felt if Steve supported from rear back then, might have died. Unit listening conversation same feeling.
"Also if don't kill, get money when releasing as hostage, can use those who can't get ransom as slaves."
"Got reward for that part last time."
"Bella, that time was Margrave Sowell request. This time no such contract, helping in-laws, not expecting reward. As for me, want return territory early, manage factory."
"Nick might be crying now."
"Did show face and talk daily."
Listening to Steve, Wyatt was dumbfounded.
"Managed territory during war?"
"Sometimes can't judge without me. Return daily so not hard."
"Normally can't go see territory daily during war, no spare time for non-war matters. How much work at that age to satisfy?"
"Not want work until satisfied. My territory always deficit, agriculture production not enough for population, need make industrial products sell earn money to survive."
Steve revealed Archibalt Territory situation. Wyatt couldn't understand. If Steve's strength, could be top of army. Then territory change to better place, no need stick to current territory. But felt shouldn't say, stayed silent.
Steve sensed Wyatt's feeling.
"Seems want to say. That territory when father received, knew hard, people who came with me, can't abandon and go elsewhere. Wyatt will become noble get territory soon, understand feeling."
"I'm noble?"
"Nothing surprising. Western region ceded vast land from Kingdom of Forest, many knight titles born from soldiers participating war."
Steve thought same this time. Vanguard captain Wyatt thought would be given territory.
"Steve's thinking makes everyone follow."
Bella proudly boasted about Steve. Steve patted Bella's shoulder.
"Let's return."
Teleported to Count Macintosh territory with hostages.