NOVEL NEXT Chapter 538
Chapter 538: Nobles
【Zilbagias Quick Q&A】
Q. What would happen if the Anitos tribe became Demon Lords?
A. They would become a Demon Lord capable of taking down any opponent in one shot.
However, they’re so foolish that the Demon Lord Kingdom would collapse.
It would tilt at an incredible speed.
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In the southwestern plains of the Dwarf Kingdom of Feretoria, humans have lived for generations, cultivating fields, rearing livestock, and providing food for the Dwarfs, who are absorbed in their smithing.
Life had been prosperous, but that serene era was drawing to a close.
— The invasion of the Demon Lord Army.
Currently, a defensive army composed of various races from the alliance is gathered at the key border point, awaiting the Demon Lord Army.
If we look back at previous battle records with the Dwarf Union, the Demon Lord Army tends to attack the territories of humans and beastmen before they reach the sturdy Dwarf mountain fortresses.
Therefore, the allied forces were fully convinced that the Demon Lord Army would invade the plains again.
However, unexpectedly, the Sauroe and Korvto tribe armies have charged directly into the Dwarf army’s frontline at Holack Fortress.
Fortunately, an elite unit led by Prince Sassen was stationed at the fortress, so there would be no hindrance in intercepting the attack. The Dwarfs claimed that “Holack Fortress has some special secret weapons,” and it was expected to hold out for at least a few days.
Even if Holack Fortress were to fall, several other fortresses like Zikain and Jeebak were waiting in the rear. They hadn’t received new reports since the Demon Lord Army commenced their attack, leaving the current situation unclear, but it was safe to say the allied forces had gained a few days of respite.
The Forest Elves had sent scouts, so detailed information should come to light soon…
Thus, the Pan-Humanity Alliance forces gathered at the border were unceasingly prepared to respond to the Demon Lord Army’s attack, trapped in a tension that felt like being strangled by silk.
However, the hardest part of fighting against the Demon Lord Army for humanity was that the Demon Race primarily relied on nighttime battles, forcing the defending side’s lifestyle into a nocturnal one.
Most of the troops take naps throughout the day in preparation for nighttime attacks after sunset. Their lunch, eaten before going to bed, often ends up being the last meal of the day… In some cases, it even turns into that last “supper.”
— In a certain room of a castle close to the frontline.
A feast was being held by the noble humans.
“If we continue like this, we won’t win any battles!”
The sound of a fist striking the table echoed. The clattering of dishes resonated with an offensive sound as the goblet of wine spilled over.
“What does the Holy Church think of us!”
“The reinforcements sent under the pretense of support are just old men and youngsters… it’s pitiful.”
“While an abundance of talented youths might be desirable in peacetime, it’s too unsettling to entrust them with troops…”
The plump noble, expressing his anger and dissatisfaction towards the Holy Church, was met with nodding agreement from fellow nobles around him.
“…Lord Tarnlack, perhaps you should calm down a bit?”
“How can I remain calm? This is a crisis for Opsgardia’s survival! The Holy Church, after begging for donations every day, has ended up providing us with this… it’s unforgivable!”
There were some nobles trying to soothe the plump noble, but it only poured more oil onto the flames. He began to spill out even more frustrations while becoming increasingly furious.
“…………”
Pretending to listen intently with a serious face, Valentius von Ferminidia Feretoria Ignotia Aro Pitara Margalia Cell Opsgardia was inwardly feeling exasperated as he continued to eat.
(I made an appearance, but look at this mess…)
It was a struggle to suppress a sigh.
The host of this gathering was the agitated plump noble, Lord Tarnlack. Under the guise of “promoting unity among capable commanders,” he had invited nobles from the younger to middle generations.
By the way, Valentius, as evident from his long name, was of the main lineage of the Opsgardia territory, but he had many siblings, making his position in the line of succession relatively low. Thus, he was just a knight with a somewhat decent birthright in this context.
That’s why he thought it wouldn’t hurt to attend Lord Tarnlack’s gathering that he didn’t personally like, thinking it was a chance for commanders to deepen their bonds — but once the lid was lifted, it turned into a gathering to voice grievances against the Holy Church, rather than a chance to bolster unity.
(…I understand everyone’s feelings, but)
Watching the disgruntled nobles, Valentius elegantly sipped from his goblet of wine, a shadow of worry clouding his eyes.
— The Holy Church stays distanced from secular society, only overseeing treatment and ceremonies during peacetime. They don’t interfere in politics but also don’t allow others to interfere in their operations.
However, during battles against humanity’s enemies, the rules change.
The Holy Church holds extraordinary authority only in “combat against humanity’s foes,” where if there’s a chance of dark beings lurking, they’d plunge without hesitation into private properties, even royal estates, and in wartime, they might interfere with military command.
……That’s the way it’s supposed to be.
Military personnel on-site don’t willingly surrender command. Unlike the national army of a strong centralized state (with a clear command structure), the lord’s army is a collection of small units led by nobles from various territories, creating many complications.
From the nobles’ perspective, they found it unacceptable to have some unknown hero or priest stepping on them while their hard-earned troops were used as if they belonged to someone else.
(Though it may indeed excel in terms of unified command…)
It’s another matter whether they can emotionally accept it.
Especially if the problem lies with the Holy Church side where the command is given.
“The hero that came to us is no more than a young man just in his twenties. He’s a great fellow, full of spirit, and I personally like him, but he lacks experience to lead troops… Everything seems to go by the book, and I can’t imagine him being useful.”
A middle-aged noble with a gruff mustache shook his head with a bitter expression.
“Still, as a military force, he seems reliable enough. The one who came to us was an elderly lady on the brink of collapsing. She was a senior priest of the Tergalius Diocese, and I was quite friendly with her, but as a military force… She leaked that she intended for this to be her ‘last service.’ We can’t have that! Don’t just make this place a deathbed for someone else without consent!”
Another young noble groaned, tapping his fingers angrily on the table.
“Just being somewhat suitable for a regular battle, I envy you two.”
A thin noble sitting next to Valentius smirked sarcastically.
“The one sent to our house was a Vampire Hunter.”
At those words, Valentius reacted with a start.
“To leave the long-looming issues of vampires unattended, and at this late hour, show up to settle into a commander’s role—now that’s truly brazen. I might have slipped a bit of sarcasm, but whether or not they realize it, they didn’t retort at all.”
With a bored expression, the thin noble chugged his goblet of wine in one go.
“Why doesn’t the Holy Church send experienced personnel?”
“No matter how few there are, having low quality isn’t acceptable. Do they intend to abandon Feretoria?”
“Even if they were brutally attacked by Demon Lord Prince Zilbagias, there has to be a limit!”
The nobles began to voice their complaints loudly.
Though they weren’t productive, they simply couldn’t help it. After all, it was their shoulders that bore the weight of their territory and the lives of its inhabitants. Saying the Demon Lord Army is strong, we can’t fight, and we can’t win just wouldn’t be acceptable.
“Forgive me, Steven. Who exactly is this Vampire Hunter?”
Valentius leaned in and asked the thin noble beside him—Steven in a hushed tone.
“His name is… Tiisan. And his companion was Leiter, if I remember correctly.”
“……I see. It seems I’m not acquainted.”
Valentius felt a mix of relief and unease at the thought that it wasn’t Alexander.
“Oh, Valentius possesses connections to Vampire Hunters?”
“Yes, they came to my aid during this recent outbreak…”
“We too have been troubled by vampires lately. With the Demon Lord Army attacking, having to worry about the rear is painful—too painful. Frankly, I wish these Vampire Hunters would focus on hunting vampires instead of unfamiliar military commands…”
Steven said with a grim expression, arms crossed.
— Vampire Hunters specialize in hunting vampires.
No, they’re optimized for it. They have equipment designed to injure vampires efficiently and lightweight armor that allows them to evade dangerous blood magic easily—thus, it’s well-known that they’re less suited for regular warfare where arrows and curses fly in group vs. group combat.
Basically, while heroes and priests are trained to command troops on-site, Vampire Hunters devote that time to vampire countermeasures. They are specialists in vampire hunting and aren’t expected to function effectively on a battlefield at all.
And yet, even those Vampire Hunters are being drafted into such a battlefield.
It does raise the question of whether the Holy Church is truly that short on personnel—thinking about it puts a dreary mood over Valentius. That the reinforcements sent were mostly the elderly and the young…
Of course, those noblemen complaining in this room understood that too.
That’s why they direct their grievances towards the “Holy Church.” The personnel sent weren’t the problem; they were trying to do their best in battle (even if their skills and suitability might be lacking). The issue lies with the higher-ups in the Holy Church who made such assignments.
(But… what if the higher-ups were also blameless?)
What if the current state of affairs was indeed the Holy Church’s “best effort?”
(Maybe… there’s no future left for us…)
Valentius, who was served extravagant dishes that felt out of place in a battleground, suddenly lost all sense of taste.
— Just.
Locally, there might still be some hope.
“Regarding the rear, perhaps we don’t need to worry too much.”
“Oh?”
At Valentius’s words, Steven leaned forward with interest.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Recently, I made an acquaintance with a certain Vampire Hunter, and they proved to be extremely competent.”
Valentius closed his eyes, trying to envision their faces.
A divine-looking Forest Elf, an elderly man with ears like the Great Tree, and amidst the short-lived species, the Vampire Hunter youth, whose rugged yet steady face led them…
“The Vampire Hunter, Lord Alexander. And the Forest Elf, Lady Lily, along with Lord Orderju. Not only did they save my life when I was on the verge of death from a vampire’s bite, but they also swiftly eliminated lurking vampires in a remarkably short time.”
As the sunlight streamed in through the window, Valentius squinted and smiled.
“With them at the rear— we can fight without worry.”
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Helena: “…What about me?!”
*The cover art for volume 5 has been revealed… But!
Actually, the cover illustration contains a gimmick…!!
Here’s the reveal!*
https://kakuyomu.jp/users/AmagiTomoaki/news/16818093084378956415
*The gimmick hidden in the cover illustration
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