Barbarian Quest

Without a just cause, even the emperor could not confiscate a noble's land. However, what constituted a just cause could vary depending on the power dynamics of the parties involved.

Yanchinus entered the castle with the violet eagle cloak swaying with his steps.

Step, step.

He walked down the long corridor and sat on the lord’s chair. In front of him, Count Haifa and his lieges bowed their heads.

Clank.

The sound of metal quietly spread as armed soldiers roamed the castle.

Margrave Javoka struck Haifa Castle with only fifty soldiers, but the unexpected raid left Count Haifa with no way to respond. Soon after, the castle was completely taken over by Javoka’s men.

“It is an honor to be able to serve you like this, Your Majesty.”

The large figure of Margrave Javoka in fur-adorned steel armor spoke. He was the lord of the northwestern borders and was not originally a pro-imperial faction, but Yanchinus made him an offer he could not refuse.

Yanchinus looked at Count Haifa, who had his head bowed, and his second son, Kamil, who knelt next to his father.

“Count Haifa… Your son plotted a rebellion and insulted the imperial family in front of many witnesses. I’m afraid this cannot be overlooked.”

“Your Majesty, he is a foolish child who spoke without knowing better! Please forgive him!”

Count Haifa bowed deeply. News of what Kamil had done had already reached him.

‘He blabbered about a rebellion at a tavern and on top of that, laid hands on the emperor. Fool!’

Count Haifa wanted to drag his son to the storage room and beat him to death right away.

“Kamil, do you enjoy embracing women?” Yanchinus asked abruptly. Kamil replied hesitantly, “Y-yes, I do.”

“If you are old enough to embrace women, you are old enough to take responsibility for your actions.”

Yanchinus chuckled and crossed his legs.

Count Haifa had to make a decision.

“I will behead my son myself, Your Majesty,” Count Haifa said solemnly as he bowed his head.

‘I have two more sons who could carry my name.’

Although the eldest of the three sons was weak with illness, there was the youngest. Before the emperor could find more faults, it was better to kill the root cause: his second son Kamil.

“Do not make me a heartless person, Count Haifa. How could I make a father kill his own child!” Yanchinus refused as he waved his hand dismissively.

Count Haifa, well aware of the emperor’s cruel history, knew that the words that sounded like kindness on the surface did not reflect his true nature. His expression grew even darker.

Realizing the dire situation, Kamil grabbed Count Haifa’s trouser leg.

“F-father! I can change! I will never disobey you again and will be careful in my actions…”

Kamil spewed out all the words he could think of with tears streaming down his face. Seeing this, Count Haifa dropped his sword and shook his head.

“You stupid, stupid child. Your life is not what’s important right now. We are finished,” Count Haifa muttered and looked at Yanchinus.

“Count Haifa, I will leave you with three farms in your possession. Be smart with those lands, and you should be able to get by as a landlord. Once the land transfer is complete, Sir Javoka will take over and govern Haifa County.”

Margrave Javoka nodded and stepped forward, unable to contain the slight smile playing on his lips. Lords never refused when offered land.

‘So this was the deal they made. He took my land by bringing in Javoka.’

Many lords of the empire had fallen into the hands of the emperor, and Count Haifa was now in the same position. By the end of this incident, he would be removed from the Haifa Castle and no longer be able to use the title of Count.

Margrave Javoka assisted the emperor in exchange for the Haifa lands. Expanding one’s domain in chaotic times like these was crucial, and having legitimate territory meant survival, regardless of the empire’s future.

‘The more land you have in these turbulent times, the better.’

Margrave Javoka looked at Emperor Yanchinus sitting on the lord's chair.

‘That’s that, but… to think the emperor would be in a position to flee from battle… Is the mighty empire and its emperor truly falling?’

Margrave Javoka smiled bitterly. The empire that was once thought to be immortal was tipping. Though the empire hadn't fallen yet, the Seven Kingdoms claiming independence was inevitable after the war. Even if the empire emerged victorious, it would not be able to retain its former glory.

‘If I can absorb a few more territories, I might even aim for the throne. Haifa County is a stepping stone for expansion.’

Ambition surged within Margrave Javoka, knowing that he had to rely on his strength now that the empire's protection was in jeopardy.

Count Haifa, realizing how quickly he had lost everything, couldn’t do anything but laugh.

“Just like that…” He muttered.

Only this morning, he had welcomed Margrave Javoka's visit. He had found it odd that Javoka had brought so many guards but hadn’t thought much of it as he just assumed the visit was about marriage, given that Margrave Javoka had a daughter. But as soon as Javoka entered the castle, he overpowered Count Haifa by force.

“This is ridiculous! Do you really think this makes sense? Margrave Javoka used force as soon as he entered the castle! I know you two planned this! You came here with the intent to seize my land from the start! It's all nonsense, utter nonsense!”

Count Haifa raged. But the fact remained that his son Kamil had spoken of rebellion and laid hands on the emperor, and there were too many witnesses to deny it.

As long as there was the tiniest justification, the rest could be resolved by force. Emperor Yanchinus and Margrave Javoka swiftly seized Haifa County.

“Emperor? Piss off with that! You so-called emperor is running for your life from the barbarians! By what right do you get to decide who owns the land my ancestors cultivated? This is our family’s land!”

Count Haifa, his eyes bloodshot, pointed angrily at Yanchinus, who leaned forward with just as much anger.

“You think you have the right to speak of land rights when you were sitting comfortably by your fireplace, drinking, while I was fighting the barbarians?”

Yanchinus’ voice was filled with rage. No one felt the sting of defeat by the Porcana-Alliance army more than Yanchinus.

“You’re damn right I do; do you not collect taxes from us in exchange for protection? Even a fool knows that let alone the emperor! So you’re the idiot who wasted the national treasury collected from the nobles on the Eastern Continent and western expansion! If that money had been used to grow the army, we wouldn't have lost to the barbarians! Shame on you, Yanchinus!” Count Haifa shouted without backing down.

Yanchinus propped his chin and remained silent for a moment before quietly reaching out to the soldier next to him.

“…Crossbow.”

Yanchinus took the crossbow and aimed it at Count Haifa.

“Oh, you’ve got nothing to say so you’re going to take my life? Kamil, my son, you have done nothing wrong! You were merely used by a tyrant!”

Count Haifa stepped forward with his arms wide open as if he were daring Yanchinus to kill him.

Yanchinus squinted and aimed the crossbow.

“If I hadn't crossed the mountains, we would have continued living thinking that place was the end of the world, fearing non-existent taboos and unable to see beyond. Immortal glory belongs to those who walk through unseen darkness without a torch. Someone like you, who fear paths not marked on the map, would never understand.”

“Ha, haha! Then who is to blame for the barbarians swarming the empire's territory?”

Yanchinus pulled the trigger.

Thwip!

The arrow flew and embedded itself in flesh. Count Haifa closed his eyes tightly but felt no pain.

“K-kugh, keugh.”

The one hit by the arrow was the fat Kamil who was writhing in pain, spitting blood from the arrow lodged in his chest.

“…There is no point in killing someone who is ready to die. Did you say you had three sons? Well, they will all die today because their father couldn't control his anger for even just a moment.”

Yanchinus gestured to Margrave Javoka, who ordered his soldiers to drag out Count Haifa's remaining sons.

“F-Father, I-I want to live… k-kugh,” Kamil spoke as he spat blood. Count Haifa bit his lips hard, seething with anger.

Slice!

The soldiers beheaded Count Haifa's other sons.

Count Haifa looked at his sons’ heads rolling on the ground in despair.

“You are not human, Yanchinus! Lou will curse you, you damned son of a bitch! You will pay for this!”

Count Haifa screamed as soldiers grabbed his arms and dragged him away. His voice filled with resentment faded into the distance.

“Prepare the horses and the escort unit, Sir Javoka. I've kept my promise; now it's your turn.”

“Of course, Your Majesty. I will assign only the very best soldiers and knights to escort you.”

While Javoka prepared, Yanchinus left the castle to look around the territory, eventually riding to the farmhouse where he had hidden.

Neigh!

At the sound of Yanchinus' horse, Frey came out of the house, trembling and bowing deeply.

“Y-Your Imperial Majesty! Please forgive my insolence!”

“Raise your head, Frey. There's nothing to forgive. You showed kindness when I was in need, so I am the one who should be grateful. I will not forget that kindness.”

Clion, who had been cleaning the barn, ran out and bowed as well.

“Your Imperial Majesty… ahem, ahem.”

Clion cleared his throat, also recalling his actions toward Yanchinus.

“I have put in a word for you to Sir Javoka, who will be the new lord of the Haifa domain. If you wish to rise as a soldier instead of a farmer, go to him. With luck, you might even become a garrison commander. A time of war is coming, which means a man could dream of success with a sword in his hand.”

“…If a time of war is indeed coming, that’s all the more reason I can't become a soldier.”

Clion’s answer shocked Frey, and Yanchinus narrowed his eyes as well.

“What do you mean?”

“I cannot leave my family in such times. My father is too old to protect us, so that makes them my responsibility. Thank you for protecting my sister, Your Majesty. It was something I could not have done myself.”

Yanchinus nodded subtly, smiling. He turned his horse to leave, not intending to stay long as time was pressing.

“Y-Your Majesty!”

Frey summoned her courage to call out. Yanchinus looked back.

Her face was red. Though she was not a supreme beauty by any means, she had a simple charm. She was sincere and straightforward.

“I-I wish to serve you, Your Majesty,” Frey whispered, her wet eyes glistening.

Yanchinus chuckled, dismounted, and patted Frey’s head.

“You don’t know me, Frey. Many women hate me, but none love me. I want you to only keep good memories of me, and that’s why I can't keep you by my side—you would surely come to hate me.”

“T-that’s fine with me. There has never been a man as kind as you, Your Majesty.”

Yanchinus couldn't suppress a growing smile.

He knew his own womanizing habits better than anyone. His sadism and peculiar tastes were beyond his control, and he did not understand normal love. He couldn't feel affection and emotions for women like others could.

“Clion! Come get your sister.”

Yanchinus mounted his horse and shouted. Frey tried to say something, sobbing, but Clion stopped her.

He nodded at Yanchinus as the emperor grabbed the reins firmly.

“Sis, you’ve got to try to be more realistic. He’s the emperor! Why would he, with beautiful women all around, choose a plain common girl like you? It’s obvious he’s just trying to be nice.”

Clion patted Frey’s shoulder and handed her some backhanded words of comfort. They watched Yanchinus become smaller in the distance before returning to their place.

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