Time passed quickly. Many people began gathering to fight on the duke’s behalf. Even after a huge loss, they did not hesitate to join another battle. It was as Jackson and Joonbum had predicted. A hundred and fifty thousand men were now marching toward Khalodian land and there were two thousand merchants closely following the main army. No monsters dared to come close to the army. They were filled with vengeance and eagerness to fight. There had no fear in them.
“The canyon is ahead.”
“Scouts?”
“Three hundred scouts are up ahead, about a half-day distance.”
“Any problems?”
“No, milord.”
“No?”
“No, milord.”
The duke wasn’t convinced as he heard the report. It was too weird. His life experiences told him something was not right.
‘There’s something wrong here… but I can’t make out what.’
Duke Christiole Barisman frowned.
“Go check again. Double the scouts and increase the distance to a day. We are dealing with savages who will ambush us in the middle of the night. This is an ideal place for an ambush, so there’s no way they will just let us walk through here. Don’t miss any of those sniveling savages. We will lay waste to those filthy maggots!”
“Yes, milord.”
The knight ran out and the other nobles sighed. The duke was still full of rage after all this time.
‘They will need at least a few thousand to attempt an ambush, but there’s no place to hide such a number.’
‘I guess he is just doing it to be extra cautious.’
The nobles’ thoughts raced but they did not talk out loud. The duke, however, turned toward across the canyon.
‘We’ll reach the Zedra Plains soon. When we get there… I will chew your heart out and rape your mother in front of you.’
The duke’s mind was filled with vengeance. His eyes were bloodshot.
“They’re here! Horun’s main army is here! They are in the Gerard Canyon!”
The message spread quickly through the soldiers, but they scoffed as they were tired of waiting.
“Finally. Those damn dogs.”
“They must’ve been tired traveling all the way here.”
“I heard they don’t have much food too.”
“They will be crawling in the fields once they arrive at the plains.”
The soldiers shouted to each other. No one seemed to be afraid even though the enemy outnumbered them by a large margin. In general, this was a crisis to the kingdom.
-I quit being a KING!-
The news of the Torian king throwing down his crown and shouting at the news of the Horun Empire’s attack was now a popular story, but no one blamed him. The country had too many problems in the recent year. There was the death of an important figure that impacted the economy and the neighboring country that Galia attacked. Then, there were monsters attacking all parts of the country followed by volcano eruptions and ashes. Toria barely made it out. It was then that there was news of Count Khalodian’s land where food was abundant. Rumors of a crop called corn spread and nobles began asking the count for help. Luckily, the count did not want power for himself so it did not pose a threat. His beautiful, newly acquired wife also made news. But, as with all treasures, it posed more problems. The Torian Kingdom could not afford to wage war against the empire. So, when the country heard of the incoming forces, it decided to pretend it wasn’t involved in any of it.
‘What’s up with this place?’
It was only after two days that a man arrived at Khalodian land. He was sent to provide aid to the people.
‘Am I hallucinating?’
Everyone was looking at the soldiers of the land in confusion.
“Why are these people acting like it’s nothing? Do they trust the Ainos and the Magnos too much?”
“Maybe they trust those rumors?”
“Maybe. But aren’t those people runaways who used to live in the mountains?”
“I don’t know. But I guess it’s better this way than to shiver in fear.”
“Hmm. But I don’t see him.”
“Who?”
“The knight guy.”
“Watch your mouth. It’s his land.”
“Who cares?”
Knight Hallis frowned as his fellow knights tried to stop him.
“He’s about our age! He’s just a fool with some cool stuff!”
He ranted as he was filled with jealousy. But he saw his friends’ expressions change into fear as they looked behind him. Hallis turned and found himself facing Joonbum, who was about a head taller than him, looking down at him while smiling.
“I’m sorry for being a fool with some cool stuff. But do you have anything?” Joonbum mocked as Hallis grew red with humiliation. The air turned tense.
