Barbarian in a Failed Game

Chapter 080: Rebellion (12)

“The carriage carrying the court minister was seen leaving Al-Ranzas and passing through Al-Rasdel by countless onlookers. The beast, now held captive by the mayor of Al-Ranzas, Count Perran, has declared that he announced his intention to defect before the court minister went missing, expressing his wish to follow the grand duke’s will. But the problem is…”

“Stop.”

The grand duke’s voice, low and imposing, carried the same intimidation as that of a tiger.

“Are you saying you’ve come here just to report that the court minister is missing?”

The adviser, who had been serving as a vassal since before Lebron became court minister, when the grand duke was still a count, was trembling with fear, his anger fierce.

“What about the measures to deal with this? Surely you came to make such a shameless report after thinking this far?”

“…I came to discuss that precisely.”

“Discussion. Discussion, huh?”

Maybe it’s when one’s anger reaches its peak that calmness returns. The grand duke leaned back in his throne and continued speaking slowly.

“If you’re here to ask me what to do about the identity of the person who ambushed the court minister being the former deputy commander of the Al-Ranzas convent’s knights, and how to deal with her. Then I should consider replacing my entire advisory staff. Isn’t that right, Chief Advisor…?”

“No, absolutely not…! Of course, I intend to discuss a solution with the grand duke!”

“Then speak. What do you think I should do?”

Gulp.

The advisor, no, the chief advisor of the ducal family, swallowed nervously. In truth, he was unprepared.

‘It’s clear that the grand duke is proceeding with something without sharing it with us. We must come up with the best course of action amid so many variables.’

Indeed, there was a severe lack of information. A lack of information caused by the grand duke’s secrets had turned the current advisory staff into a group of incompetents.

‘The disappearance of the Royal Guard, who were chasing the ‘devil’s minions,’ was a blow that twisted the roots of the nation.’

Yet, inexplicably, knights filled their places as if it were nothing. The grand duke had made no mention of it.

‘Those knights were also wiped out by the former deputy commander of the knights in Al-Ranzas. Yet, the grand duke showed no significant reaction. It means he did not consider it a major loss of force.’

As if they had another route to supply… or create forces. The Chief Advisor shuddered at the thought he had.

“First… taking full control of Al-Ranzas and dismantling the military factions before incorporating them seems like the best course.”

It was a spur-of-the-moment thought, but the Chief Advisor was convinced there was no better option.

Since the grand duke’s primary concern had been the concentration of troops on the public roads.

‘Al-Ranzas has no value as a stronghold. Due to the existence of Berta, it’s rather a poison. But for the grand duke’s goals, even a chalice filled with poison must be swallowed.’

“Next, we should silence the rumors. After eliminating all elements that shake the internal unity, pacify the hearts of the people and the nobles with conciliatory measures.”

“So the lord of the grand dukedom, I, should kneel before them?”

“…That’s not what I mean. It’s about throwing them food and taming them before controlling them with a whip, just as you placed the ignoble court minister in a position of use. Bring them into the castle and give them titles. Positions with honor but little real power.”

“To divert their attention first?”

“Yes. My guess is that the grand duke thinks we should have as many troops as possible tied to the public roads…”

Silence ensued.

The Chief Advisor, anxiously awaiting a response, wondered if his opinion had suited the grand duke’s taste.

Then,

“Fine. Proceed like that. Send your subordinates to me for the detailed arrangements.”

Relieved, the Chief Advisor bowed and left the audience chamber with a composed stride. Left alone, the grand duke issued commands into the empty air.

“We’ll need to reorganize the advisory office first. Speaking of which, wasn’t it said that a body in good nutritional condition is more efficient? Ashes.”

“Yes. Once appropriate selections are made, they will be replaced.”

“And… consider awakening the alpha entity a bit earlier, in preparation for the worst. The entry ban I ordered will be lifted, so prepare for that.”

Now truly alone, the grand duke fell into quiet contemplation.

The appearance of the former deputy commander of the knights as a variable wasn’t enough to seriously unsettle him. After all, those involved in the grand scheme were destined to be removed.

Certainly, there would be some noise in the meantime, but it would soon quiet down. Rumors, after all, fade without those to spread them.

‘Yes. Everything is for Ro-Elpellan.’

And he was prepared to sacrifice everything else for it.

*

Thud-thud-

“Ugh…”

Slowly awakening from his slumber due to the carriage’s shaking, Lebron, the court minister, issued a groggy voice. He intended to ask the coachman how far they were from the highway.

“Uhh?”

Then, he realized.

Something was stuck in his mouth, making it difficult for him to speak. Fortuitously, his limbs weren’t bound, so he was free to move them, but that was of little consolation.

Given his frail constitution, jumping out of the moving carriage was out of the question.

‘What is this situation…?’

He slowly recalled what had happened.

After escaping from ‘The Pulverizer of Carpentar’ and heading toward the highway through the shortest route… He had eaten a meal prepared by a soldier during a break.

‘Poison!’

There must have been a sleeping drug in the meal. But why would the Duke’s soldier do such a thing to him? No reason.

Lebron remembered attempting to verify the soldier’s identity before departing, but was prevented from doing so by Berta’s intervention.

It was a switch.

Someone had killed the Duke’s soldier, donned his armor and helmet, and kidnapped him. Considering Berta’s attack was timed so precisely, they must have been in league from the start.

Thud. Thud. Creak.

By the time he had pieced together these circumstances, the carriage came to a stop.

“You’re awake inside, aren’t you? Come out on your own. We don’t plan on hurting you.”

“Fine.”

The voice was rough, with an unrefined way of speaking. Reminded somehow of the mercenary guild that had begun opposing the Duke, the court minister surmised that his kidnapper must belong to them.

‘Such a foolish face.’

After alighting from the carriage and seeing his face, his assumption virtually solidified into certainty. He found it hard to imagine that such a foolish-looking person could be a noble or a knight.

“Go that way. See the building?”

The foolish-faced mercenary flicked his finger. Grimacing at the bizarre gesture, the court minister swallowed a sigh and obediently walked in the direction pointed.

Removing his helmet to conceal his identity meant they didn’t care about it. To survive and return, he had to act in a way that suited them best.

‘This building looks hastily made. Nothing around… Could it be the guild’s hideout?’

He realized he had been asleep for quite a long time since a severe hunger panged him – they must have traveled a significant distance.

Where in the world was he? As Lebron habitually absorbed his surroundings for information, he entered the log-built cabin.

“!”

And then, locking eyes with someone inside, he involuntarily gasped.

“You, you are…!”

“Do you know me?”

“Could it be… The barbarian the Duke is after is really you…!”

“Why is this one talking to himself?”

Even while seated, the massive figure, whose eye level felt almost equal, wore primitive clothing made of animal fur, showcasing a body filled with formidable muscles…

And eyes as dark gray as his ashen skin.

“Executioner! Why are you opposing the Duke…!”

*

*

*

Khan, brought by Ron and the guild’s mercenaries as part of the Duke’s leadership, expressed his puzzlement upon being recognized by the ‘Court Minister Lebron’. He had no recollection of any connection with the noble named Lebron.”Do you intend to say you’ve forgotten all the havoc you wreaked in the Al-Rosene region…! Do you have any idea how much money that cost?”

“Al-Rosene? What did I do there…? Well, if I don’t remember, it must not have been anything significant.”

“Nothing significant…?!”

“Let’s set aside these trivial reminiscences of the past. It’s time to get to the heart of the matter, Duke’s court minister.”

With a start and what seemed like a delayed realization of his situation, the startled countenance of the court minister prompted a smirk from Khan.

“Well, it’s not entirely bad news. After all, you’re not playing the role of the rebel leader out of sheer enjoyment, are you?”

“…What do you want from me?”

“Ah. I like the quick progression to business. Had some realizations, have you?”

“….”

“I suppose you’ve been harboring suspicions, but let me clarify. Some of the rumors surrounding the Duke are true. He’s spreading ‘living corpses’ around, conducting experiments related to them in a workshop sealed by a black iron door, and he’s involved with a puppeteer as well.”

“And you expect me to believe such ludicrous claims? There are limits to absurdity….”

“Really? And it makes sense for a highborn of the north to abruptly claim the title of Duke? Moreover, you’ve experienced it firsthand in Al-Ranzas.”

The Duke had even turned the sanctuaries into his enemies. This revelation hit him like a final nail, burrowing into his core.

“And in your right mind, can’t you see? The Duke’s rebellion is a dead-end strategy. Whether it’s the royal family or the Black Wing Duke, the moment they take action, the entire north will be in an uproar. A power built on sand will collapse in an instant.”

“There will be no interference from the royal family.”

“What? You knew that far? Then you should have said so earlier, avoiding unnecessary chatter.”

The face of the Court Minister Lebron was painted with incredulity.

In the midst of discussing matters that could potentially impact the entire kingdom’s political landscape, to behave with such disreputable flippancy…

‘I thought him a barbarian with some semblance of intellect, despite his ferocity. Perhaps a barbarian remains a barbarian after all….’

“It seems you’ve allied with the Mercenary Guild, but that alone won’t be enough to stop the Duke.”

“Huh?”

“Like how suddenly appointed knights filled the gaps left by the missing Royal Guards who chased you. Those who were slaughtered in Al-Ranzas by the ‘Destroyer of Capenta.’ And they… they fought her using not aura, but something else. Yet, despite this, they were still entirely wiped out.”

“Quite a generous explanation. And?”

“If, just if… other knights were to fill in for those who died there? With the royal family absent, even the threat of the Black Wing Duke might not stop the Duke.”

Khan showed neither fear nor surprise at these words, simply wearing a cryptic smile.

“Hmm. So what you’re saying is, even with the Black Wing Duke’s champion and their forces stepping in, it’s a hopeless fight?”

“Didn’t I say? If they possess the ability to mass-produce knights, it’s a strategic impossibility to lose. Even if the Black Wing Duke’s champion intervenes, could they really stop an endless onslaught of knights?”

“Hey, this guy’s saying the Black Wing Duke’s champion is nothing to fret over?”

“You. Who suddenly…?”

“I. Win. Pretend duke. I’ll tear you apart.”

“Who…!”

Startled by the sudden voice that echoed in the room, the Court Minister Lebron staggered back.

Then, from behind Khan, a massive figure slowly emerged.

Had it not spoken the kingdom’s language, even if awkwardly, one might have mistaken it for a green-skinned warrior’s appearance.

“And I am not the champion. There’s only one champion.”

The giant’s skin was a pale ash hue, and its unkept hair exuded a wild aura.

Instead of a sword, two small axes hung at its waist, blood-caked yet the edge impressively menacing.

Above all, what captured the Court Minister Lebron’s attention was the pair of black wings tattooed over the ashen skin.

“Could it be!”

The Court Minister Lebron immediately discerned the identity of this sudden appearance. It would have been more surprising if he hadn’t.

“I am not the champion but the daughter of Artn, Pashantu.”

A relative of the current king and the only duke in the kingdom.

The champion most cherished by the Black Wing Duke was standing right in front of him.