Night of the Soulless Heathens – 381



#381. Winter’s Entrance 1

Count Sandokar Ivechek was concerned about the influx of refugees from the Kingdom of Banling by land.

Even though the light of the royal flower enveloped the Kingdom of Banreung and the vampires were annihilated and freed the number of refugees pouring in from the Kingdom of Banreung continued to increase not decrease.

The collapse of the national system as royalty nobles bureaucrats and technicians turn into vampires or are corrupted by the power of the Nether.

Moreover since it was originally a country with advanced industrial technology it imported food from overseas so food supply and distribution were not smooth.

Even if the light of the king protects the kingdom it is a structure in which refugees are bound to arise.

Someone needs to quickly take over the role of king and sort out this mess but the rigid policies of the king’s church make it difficult to decide on the next king.

‘Count Azadin must become king. But to do so he must accept these refugees. But is it right to accept these refugees now that Fimbulbert has arrived?’

Count Ivechek was hesitating on that point.

Providing free food to refugees will damage the motivation of honest citizens and soldiers. On the other hand if you starve those who do not work you will cause all kinds of crimes such as theft robbery and pickpocketing to become rampant.

But what kind of work can be given to so many people?

However when Count Evechek heard news that Azadin had taken Prince Arangi hostage in Coxhal he gathered all the refugees and moved towards Coxhal under the pretext of a supply force.

It was good for clearing out the refugees and giving them work and also because there was an expectation that Azadin would do something now.

The march was harsh now that winter was approaching but they followed Earl Ivecheck without complaint on his march to Coxhall.

So Count Evecheck arrived at Coxhall….

“Well welcome Count Evcheck. I just needed some people at a time like this.”

Azadin welcomed Count Ivechek.

“I’m glad it helped. I actually sent you a message but the situation was so urgent that I made a hasty decision without waiting for a reply and I was worried that it might be a problem.”

“No. When the battle situation is in disarray it is not the way of a wise commander to insist on taking action only after receiving orders from his superiors. It was great to make rational decisions on the spot in the field.”

Azadin praised Count Ivechek for bringing in refugees without orders.

‘I’m surprised. It’s not just empty words. They’re praising me for bringing refugees. But there were this many people here?’

Count Evecheck was already suspicious of the considerable number of people rebuilding Coxhall and clearing the roads.

“What are these? They seem like a fairly well-trained force patrolling.”

“Ah they are the Arangi Kingdom army.”

“Yes. I see. Hmm. Yes?”

Evecheck couldn’t believe his ears.

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Didn’t you say that you took the prince of the Arangi Kingdom hostage? Then why are you treating them like subordinates rather than allies?

“Oh that’s right.”

Azadin explained what had happened.

*********

With Prince Sram hostage Azadin began clearing away the ruined buildings and rebuilding the city to make Coxhal a supply base.

The number of soldiers brought by Azadin is considerable but the problem is that the Arangi Kingdom soldiers are positioned outside Coxhal.

It is extremely inefficient to carry out engineering work while keeping an eye out for them.

And it was the same for the Arangi Kingdom Army.

Their original mission was to rebuild and occupy Coxhall.

However they were unable to enter Coxhall due to Prince Sram being taken hostage.

I sent a letter to Prince Sram’s maternal house House Iltaas to pay the ransom for Prince Sram but even if I sent a dove enchanted with vitality it would take several weeks for a response.

Should I just waste my time eating up military rations?

It was while they were worrying about such things that Azadin approached them.

“Your mission was to rebuild Coxhall anyway. Why don’t you help us with the reconstruction?”

“Huh? What kind of idiots do you think we are? Why are we helping you rebuild Coxhall which has fallen into your hands?”

“It’s so unfair that I lost my player to the Count and now you’re giving me a gift on top of that. You’re going too far with your jokes.”

Prince Sram’s men seemed to have taken Azadin’s words as some kind of provocation rather than sincerity. Azadin smiled at their polite attitude.

“That statement is dangerous. It could be interpreted as me acknowledging that I will continue to own Coxhall.”

“No that’s….”

This is an overly harsh interpretation.

But that cannot be said. The strict laws of the King’s Church could easily be interpreted as an impure intention and punished for even ordinary speech depending on the will of the interpreter.

The misunderstanding that Azadin was talking about now after committing the shameful act of stealing Prince Sram was not a joke but could really become grounds for punishing them in the Kingdom of Arangi.

‘What? So you’re telling us to come under your command?’

‘Even so would it be so easy to fall under the guy who was just an enemy?’

‘You’re making fun of us.’

Prince Sram’s men were confident that they would not fall for Azadin’s offers or persuasions. But then Azadin made an offer.

“What if we paid you to do the Coxsack rebuilding work?”

“yes?”

The Arangi Kingdom army doubted their own ears.

“I’ll pay you separately. Your mission from the beginning was to rebuild Coxhal. You won’t be criticized by your superiors for doing the Coxhal rebuilding work right?”

“No that’s….”

Is that even a possibility?

Now that Prince Sram has been captured a message has been sent and depending on the reply an order may be given to engage in battle and take Coxhal whether Prince Sram dies or not.

But Azadin is offering to pay such enemies to help rebuild Coxhal?

“Your Majesty are you serious?”

“Of course. I want to get Coxhal ready to accept refugees as soon as possible. Of course I’m scared.”

“yes?”

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“But think about it. If you join us in rebuilding Coxhalle it will be a great opportunity to learn about our defense posture current situation of our formation and food situation. You could call it reconnaissance.”

“….”

The soldiers of the Arangi Kingdom army were bewildered by Azadin’s proposal.

Considering the number and quality of the troops led by Count Azadin the current Arangi Kingdom army is an opponent that cannot be pushed back by force even if there are Arangian guards mixed in. However if they continue to suck their thumbs while standing still they will only be wasting time.

‘You’re giving me a salary? Are you out of your mind?’

‘If it’s money it’s useless even if I take it right?’

‘I won’t give you money will I?’

‘If you say so I’ll give you money. Now I can’t even eat.’

‘But if you ask if I’m paying you in money that’s also strange. If you ask what I’m paying you in when I’m not even going to do it…’

In Huebris even those who were not of the highest nobility had to earn while they could.

When Azadin said he would pay them their salaries no one could resist asking.

“What do you pay your salary in? In currency?”

“You want to get paid? Then this is fine too.”

“Do you give me anything other than money?”

“I will provide you with meals and give you barley as compensation.”

“…yes?”

Everyone was shocked when they heard that they would be paid in grain.

Currently grain prices are skyrocketing at an incredible rate. Azadin’s salary proposal is no different from the gold coins he promised soldiers in the past when the economy was sound.

“Oh I will do that.”

“You little punk. Are you the commander? I have to decide.”

“Then you won’t do it sir?”

“You shouldn’t do that.”

The officer refused Azadin’s offer even though he felt as if he was tearing out his own intestines.

It is not an area he can take responsibility for.

But then Azadin said

“Of course I will propose a separate person to be in charge of the entire work. You don’t have to take responsibility.”

“No it’s not like we don’t take responsibility for what you decide.”

“Let me introduce you. The person who will supervise the Arangians in the reconstruction of Coxhal is Prince Sram.”

“yes?”

Prince Sram who was supposed to be a hostage was released with a trembling expression and stood before the Arangians.

“uh.”

“Really?”

“Yeah that’s right. It just so happened.”

Prince Sram exchanged awkward greetings with his men.

*********

After being taken prisoner by Azadin Prince Sram was invited to Azadin’s table.

Even the meals were simple consisting of bread and meat porridge. Rather than the meals of the nobility they were closer to the nutritious food eaten by the working class to maintain their fighting ability and stamina.

After finishing the meal Azadin made tea.

“Prince Sram. Would you like to be the supervisor of the reconstruction of Coxhal with the Arangians?”

“Do you think I’m crazy? If I do something like that Arangian will think of me as a traitor. If you let me go I’ll run away. And this time I’ll fight to the death rather than be humiliated as a prisoner. Every single Arangian will fight to the death on the battlefield!”

“hmm.”

Azadin chuckled at Prince Sram’s words.

“You really don’t care about your own life. You’re a coward.”

“What?! Are you trying to insult me?”

“If that thing on your neck isn’t a helmet rack think about it for a moment. Which would be a greater burden to me your attack or your complete surrender?”

“That is indeed an insult!”

Sram was indignant at Azadin’s attitude of completely ridiculing his attacks. However Azadin glared at Sram with a cold gaze.

“If you’re that stupid you don’t deserve to be insulted. Prince Sram. Why is my reputation not bad right now? It’s because I’m accepting refugees that even other kings have given up on. But thanks to that our food situation is not good. I anticipated Fimbulbert and gathered as much food as I could but if we accept refugees like this no matter how much we stockpile we won’t be able to survive. Despite that I have a greater penalty than other kings in terms of status so I can’t even abandon the support of those refugees.”

“….”

“Those who are lucky enough to have good parents will be supported even if they threaten to kill the people but I who was persecuted by the Jeonryung Clan will only be viewed with suspicion even if I forcefully drag them away to feed them all. In this situation if you attack and my soldiers and refugees die it is not my responsibility. Since I can shut my mouth by shifting the blame to the Arangi Kingdom which is hostile to me I welcome this as well.”

“What is that…..”

Prince Sram was shocked.