Kill the Emperor Chapter 26 : Chapter 26

Chapter 26 : Land of Wolves (2)

Wham!

A heavy sound resonated, one that seed more appropriate for bursting a leather sack than slapping a cheek.

“Ugh!”

A heavy groan burst out, matching the sound of the impact.

However, the harmony of the impact sound and the groan did not end just once.

I did not stop swinging my left arm, and the beating that started with once crossed five, six tis, and soon went well over ten tis.

“Captain! What are you doing! Use your strength!”

“Captain, snap out of it. Kill that arrogant brat!”

Regretful shouts burst out from the mouths of the mbers watching their leader getting thrashed.

It was unbelievable.

That their captain had beco a punching bag for such a greenhorn.

‘Th-This is strange. Aura isn’t gathering in my body…….’

Experiencing the inexplicable was the sa for Pierce.

The reason Pierce could beco the leader among the Haken mbers was that he was practically the only Blade Aura user.

Pierce, who knew how to handle aura faintly even before drinking the reagent, had been steadily training his aura for the past 100 years.

Of course, since the environnt was so poor and he relied solely on self-study without receiving any systematic education, the speed was incredibly slow.

However, thanks to the given ti of 100 years, Pierce’s achievent had reached a level looking towards the 3rd Star beyond the 2nd Star.

But for so reason, even when he tried to concentrate his aura to escape from my grasp, the aura would not gather at all.

Woom.

Of course, the reason was because of the Unique Spell ‘Mana Drain’ I was operating on my left hand.

Because of that, Pierce had no choice but to hang helplessly like wet cotton.

Wham!

“Ugh!”

However, Pierce, who had no way of knowing this fact, and the mbers of Haken could not understand it at all.

The fact that Pierce, who possessed a Blade Aura equivalent to the 3rd Star and even a body strengthened by reagents,

Was suffering such a one-sided beating from a greenhorn whose face was still soft.

Crunch.

Eventually, unable to withstand the beating, one of Pierce’s molars sprang out into the air.

Gulp.

Seeing that sight, the Thousand-Man Commanders swallowed dry saliva without realizing it.

They knew well how hard Pierce’s body, strengthened by reagents, was.

But if Pierce’s molar was pulled out, they could guess how harsh my beating was.

Wham!

“Ugh.”

The beating continued for over ten more tis.

By this point, the mbers could say nothing and only watched this disastrous spectacle.

For a while, only heavy impact sounds resonated in the hall where a heavy silence had settled.

Wham!

“…….”

Finally, I stopped my hand only after Pierce fainted and reached a state where he couldn’t even let out a groan.

Thud.

When I threw Pierce down, he rolled on the floor with one cheek burst open and covered in bruises.

“Clean him up.”

I ordered in a cold voice.

The Thousand-Man Commanders made expressions of not knowing what to do, then carried Pierce on their backs and headed to the infirmary.

‘Let’s see.’

Dusting off my hands, I looked around.

“…….”

I could know without having to look closely.

The stinging gazes felt from beyond the hundreds of doors.

Half of those gazes would contain hostility, and the other half curiosity.

‘No, maybe the hostility side has a slightly higher proportion for now.’

I shook my head and spoke.

“I had a lot I wanted to say, and a lot I wanted to hear, but unfortunately, it seems now is not the ti.”

It was truly a strange thing.

My voice was not very loud, but it spread throughout the fortress so that there was no one among the Haken Knight Order who did not hear that voice.

“For now, let’s stop here for today, and I will co again next ti.”

I walked away from the knighthood, leaving behind words that no one knew who they were directed at.

Only a heavy silence settled in the fortress where the groans left by Pierce lay thick.

***

“Captain, may I speak a word out of turn?”

“As much as you like.”

Morphee, who returned to the office and sat facing , opened his mouth with an expression as if he had made a firm resolution.

“Please excuse my rudeness, but your actions just now were not good.”

“Not good…….”

“That is correct. Captain. Of course, I also know well that Pierce was rude. But you should not have acted like that, Captain.”

Is it because he has lived in a rough fortress on the frontier? Unlike his frail impression, Morphee pointed out my behavior with a quite firm tone.

“Anyway, they are people who took great risks for the territory in the past. Yet, regardless of their will, they have been trapped in this fortress and living for a hundred years. Of course, I also know well that the decision of the higher-ups to isolate them here was inevitable. But…….”

“But?”

“From their perspective, I think they could feel sufficiently aggrieved and frustrated. As you know, Captain, not everything in this world can be explained by saying it was inevitable.”

In Morphee’s voice, the affection and emotions built up while rubbing shoulders with them over the past ten or so years were deeply embedded.

“They think they have been abandoned, and the sense of betrayal and anger they feel has continued for a whopping one hundred years. Of course, that anger cannot be an indulgence, but I think it becos a reason to show them tolerance.”

Morphee bowed his head and offered his final plea.

“You may think of it as the last request of a foolish old soldier who is leaving the fortress soon. Captain, please show them generous magnanimity. For they are people who deserve that.”

“Oh my, if you wanted to say things like this, you should have said them a little earlier.”

I, who had been listening to Morphee silently, poured tea into a teacup and spoke in a nonchalant voice.

“If they knew you said these words, the friends over there would have been very moved. Isn’t it too wasteful for to hear alone?”

Did he think my words were mockery towards him?

“If my words were presumptuous, I apologize. Captain. Please forgive my rudeness.”

Morphee expressed his apology with a stiff expression.

However…….

“Forgiveness? What forgiveness are you asking for when you haven’t done anything wrong?”

I rejected Morphee’s apology with a refreshing expression.

“From beginning to end, all your words are correct. The choices the Haken mbers made in the past were actions worthy of respect, and it is also true that the territory and the family could not compensate them enough. I think it is natural for them to feel abandoned. Because I would have thought so too.”

I agreed with Morphee’s opinion very coolly.

Not only that.

“You said my actions at the very beginning were not good, right? I think so too. Whatever the reason, it is not a very good thing for a new captain to beat a mber like a dog.”

I also admitted without lingering regret that my actions just now were excessive.

“But you see, Morphee. The fact that they do not try to listen to my words is a little worse than that.”

I revealed the reason why I had to act that way towards Pierce in a calm tone.

“My words that I wanted to listen to their stories were sincere. But unfortunately, it seed they had nothing to say to . Moreover, while not even trying to listen to what I say. This is really not good. Do you know why?”

“……I do not know well.”

“It’s simple. If those friends co out like that, there is nothing I can do for them.”

“……!”

Morphee opened his mouth without realizing it.

That I would do sothing for them?

During his service period, no one Morphee t had ever said such words.

“I am going to do as much as I can for them. And in return, I will demand a lot from those friends. To do that, the first thing needed is listening to each other’s stories.”

I drained the half-remaining tea in one gulp and continued speaking.

“I also admit that my thod was sowhat rough. But anyway, now they will at least try to listen to what I say. I have to start from here for now.”

“Ha. Haha.”

At the unconventional speech shown by the new captain, Morphee burst into a hollow laugh without realizing it.

It was as I said.

If the new captain appeared before them once again, the wolves would at least listen to what I say.

While glaring with fire in their eyes and grinding their teeth, that is.

“As the Captain said, it seems those friends will listen to your words for now. However, what I am worried about is whether they will put it into action after hearing the Captain’s words. Haha.”

“I have to make it beco like that.”

Morphee trailed off with an expression mixed with half expectation and half worry, but I spoke with a voice still full of confidence.

“Because that is my job.”

***

-One week later

Haken Fortress was very busy this morning.

It was because today was the day Haken’s mbers were leaving to hunt monsters outside.

“Hey, give so oil to feed my armor.”

“Which guy took my sword? If you get caught, you’re dead!”

Since the number of monsters inhabiting the Anon Mountain Range where Haken Fortress is located is large and the types are also diverse, if left alone, the number would quickly increase rapidly.

So the Haken mbers and the guards used to go out for monster hunting periodically to prevent the proliferation of monsters.

Of course,

‘It must also be to relieve the stress of the mbers at the sa ti. Anyway, they are knights who live by the sword.’

I nodded while watching the mbers prepare for the hunt.

“John, if you go this ti, catch a really big one like a wild boar, let’s nourish our bodies after a long ti!”

“Just leave it to . Brother. I will catch a really sturdy one.”

“Oh my, Brother, you still believe what that guy says? John, that guy is completely hopeless at hunting.”

The number of people going out to hunt was exactly one hundred.

Smiles like children going on a picnic hung on the faces of those going hunting, and those who couldn’t go expressed their regret by throwing jokes while watching their colleagues beyond the iron bars.

“How is the control over the personnel going hunting being handled?”

“One thousand five hundred regular soldiers are scheduled to leave together.”

“One thousand five hundred, you say? If there is anyone among them who makes up their mind to escape, wouldn’t that be an insufficient number to handle it?”

“Such a thing will probably not happen. Captain. Because those friends know well.”

At my question, Morphee shook his head with a bitter smile.

“That if they run away from here, their colleagues remaining in the fortress will be put in a very difficult position.”

If a person who deserts without leave occurs during hunting or an outing, the situation of the mbers remaining in the fortress will beco even more destitute.

If a problem arises in the external activities given occasionally, even that small opportunity will be deprived in the future.

“Though they look rough on the outside, their hearts thinking of each other are trendous. Anyway, they have spent the last 100 years together.”

“Right, looking at their expressions, it seems your words are true.”

I nodded and then sat down, watching the vibrant appearance the mbers showed after a long ti for a while.

Not long after, two Thousand-Man Commanders who finished all hunting preparations ca up to report the departure to .

However,

“You guys stay here today.”

“Pardon?”

I ordered the two Thousand-Man Commanders to stand by at the fortress.

And picking up my Family Sword, I said.

“Today, I will take charge of their hunting command.”