泡芙影院

Chapter 53

As one get closer to the emperor’s domain, the landscape begins to change. The roads connecting city to city were so continuous that one didn’t need a map to find their way.

“Road made of stone?”

Urich bent over to touch the road. It was unlike the dirt road that he had been on. This road was a road that was paved by people.

“This is the Imperial Road. It means that we’re close to the emperor’s domain. The domain is as big as an average kingdom. Instead of using vassals, the emperor sends out his own bureaucrats to keep his domain on the same scale as a kingdom. The imperial roads make that possible. It allows the emperor to regulate the entire domain by quickly sending out his men when needed and transport supplies and messages,” Pahell said proudly as if the roads were his own work.

“Traveling would be so easy with roads like this. It won’t get wet from the rain, and there’s no concern of getting lost. This is amazing... I can’t believe that a person made this.”

Urich said as he walked along the road. He had seen countless buildings in the civilized world that had been built with stone, but he had never seen such a large-scale construction. No matter how much he walked, the roads seemed endless.

‘A person made this?’

He couldn’t imagine it. How many people... and how much time was invested into this road?

“It’s all thanks to the road that the domain can be the size that it is. The nobles in the regions near the emperor’s domain are always worried about the expansion of the imperial roads, and the emperor is taking away the titles of those nobles in order to expand his own domain.”

The emperor, also known as the Lord of the World, held an authority and powers that no other king could ever compare to. All power comes from the land, so the powerful monarchs always coveted more land.

“This is why they say that the emperor’s domain is the true empire. The power of the world is focused here, the culture, civilization, and all other capabilities of humans.”

Pahell stared at the end of the road. He longed for the empire, just like every other boy in the imperial territory who had learned to read. The capital of Hamel was the center of power and authority, but it was also the center of academia.

Countless aristocratic boys traveled to the capital to study and returned with advanced knowledge.

‘If only my father hadn’t fallen... I, too, would have studied in the empire.’

Pahell grinned bitterly. It had been a year since the fall of his father, and the sole true heir, himself, was forced into exile by Duke Harmatti.

“I still can’t believe it. This is really the work of humans?”

Urich looked up. He could see other people coming and going on the road other than his mercenary squad.

The road cut through the hills and even the forests. Wagons and horses easily made their way around, for there was not a single rough patch on the ground.

“It’s the road patrols,” Donovan said as he looked ahead.

There were groups of five soldiers coming and going along the road. They were the road patrol who carried the purple eagle flag of the empire. They were always checking the condition and security of the roads, so no bandits or robbers dared to come near these roads.

The security and administration of the emperor’s domain were excellent. Even though the mercenary squad hadn’t made their way into the actual domain yet, Urich could already get a glimpse of the power of the emperor.

“Ah, you’re mercenaries. Don’t mess around, the purple eagles are always watching,” the road patrol commented casually and passed the mercenaries. Their confidence nearing arrogance. They had the pride of being the most powerful army in the world.

“They’re so cocky. Hey, Donovan, you used to be an imperial soldier—say something to them!” One of the mercenaries said to Donovan, who only glanced at the passing patrols.

“That’s in the past. Now, I’m just a mercenary working his ass off under a barbarian. Life—we never know what’s going to happen to us, so live cautiously, all of you.”

Donovan stared at the back of the patrol until they disappeared into the distance. They were one of the possible ways that Donovan could have ended up, had he not committed his military crime.

‘I could have been one of them.’

It was all in the past. Now, Donovan was merely a mercenary who was dishonorably discharged from the imperial army for murdering his superior.

The mercenary squad continued along the imperial road. After another whole day of walking, they were finally able to see the gateway to the emperor’s domain. There were already several groups camped out who had been waiting for days, as the inspection at the gate was quite strict.

“We’re finally here,” Pahell said with a tired face. His face, unlike at the onset of their long journey, was stained with grime and dirt, and his good clothes were worn, tattered, and filthy. His eyes, however, still shone blue.

* * *

Auber, the captain of the twelfth checkpoint, was not a diligent bureaucrat. He enjoyed his luxury and entertainment while leaving most of his work to his subordinates.

‘No matter how hard I work, I can’t even join the Order of Imperial Steel.’

Auber sipped on his drink with dull, unfocused eyes. Although he was busy with his day drinking, he was still the highest in charge of the gate. No one could reprimand him.

Auber, too, was once a brave knight. He had fought in the Subjugation of the Remaining Barbarians that happened a decade ago. Because he was the third son of a noble family, he couldn’t inherit the noble territory. Naturally, serving in the army was the only way for him to make a name for himself.

“Burp. That’s all in the past. If it weren’t for that incident...”

Auber burped loudly as he drummed his belly. His belly was quite the size, despite his knight status. He resiliently climbed the ranks to eventually earn his captaincy of the twelfth gateway, with over a hundred men at his disposal.

‘My dream was to join the Order and live out my days with the noble ladies, dammit.’

The Order of Imperial Steel. Every Imperial knight dreamed of joining the Order which was directly assigned to the emperor. Gateway captain was not a bad position at all, but Auber was a man who dreamed of a life in the capital. A position like this wasn’t enough to fulfill his ambition.

‘You can’t make a name for yourself with a sword anymore. The empire no longer has any enemy.’

Auber was aware that the age of swords was over. The northern and southern territories were conquered, and the remaining barbarians barely lived on in lands that were hardly inhabitable for humans. There was no more land to conquer. The seven vassal kingdoms were tied down and unable to defy the empire.

‘The days of knights taking their places by merit are over, and my life will end as a boring gate captain.’

Auber looked at the full plate armor that was displayed in the corner of his office. The knights of the Order were supplied all their steel armory from the nation. However, the average knights, like Auber, had to either inherit their armory or spend their own money to purchase them.

‘The full plate armor that I inherited from my father instead of the territory.’

Auber Locastre was his name. He had two older brothers who were each given half of their family’s territory and using the unification of the Locastre family as an excuse, the brothers drew each other’s blood. The firstborn was defeated and murdered by the younger brother, who became the lord of Locastre.

Auber was able to escape the brotherly dispute because he wasn’t given any of the territory.

“This armor is all I have left.”

Auber grabbed his liquor bottle and walked up to the armor. The full plate armor was the symbol of the imperial knights, but there were many who couldn’t afford the whole set and wore only a breastplate or helmet. Chainmail was a common alternative, as well.

The technique of forging the plate armor was a secret of the imperial smithy. It was a unique process that required imperial steel, and if one tried to mimic the process with cheap metal and poor technique, it resulted in unusable pieces of garbage.

Auber was looking at his armor and reminiscing about the days when he wore it proudly in battle.

“Captain! Captain Auber!”

One of his adjutants burst into the room with his voice booming.

“Burp, what’s wrong? Are the auditors here? Today must be the day I finally get kicked out.

Auber said drunkenly. If an auditor came and saw that he was day drinking on the job, he would undoubtedly be stripped of his title on the spot.

“T-that’s not it, there is a royalty at the gate!”

“Royalty? Just stamp the seal and let them pass. They come by all the time, what’s all the fuss? Or are they making a scene at the gate?”

“No, captain, it’s a request for asylum!”

The adjutant said, and Auber put down his bottle.

“...which kingdom is he from?”

“It’s Prince Varca Aneu Porcana. He requested an asylum along with an escort to the capital.”

The adjutant’s words were sobering. Auber wasn’t aware of the prince’s situation, but an asylum request was not a light matter.

“Bring me some cold water, right now!”

Auber washed his face with cold water. Although his mind was sobered up, his breath still reeked of alcohol.

‘If this goes well...’

Auber said as he wiped the water off his face. He called for his squire and donned his plate armor. The torso part didn’t quite fit, so he loosened the straps.

“You look amazing, Captain!”

The squire sucked up to Auber, who was feeling quite confident after putting on his armor for the first time in a while. He waddled over to the parlor.

Creak.

Auber entered the parlor, where he found a scruffy young man with a group of much more rugged men.

‘That young man must be the prince.’

There was only one face in the room that had an elegant aura.

“I am Auber Locastre, the captain of the gateway,” Auber said politely as he removed his helmet.

“I am Varca Aneu Porcana, Sir Locastre,” Pahell replied as he got up from his seat.

“Please call me Auber. All the way from Porcana, you’ve come a long way.”

“I’ve had the mercy of Lou. This is knight and Sir Phillion, and behind me are the mercenaries who have been escorting me.”

A few more introductions made their way around the room. Auber stared at Pahell.

“I’ve sent my man to the capital. Someone should be here to confirm your identity shortly. Until then, I must ask you to stay here. I’ve prepared the guest room for you,” Auber said rather kindly.

“Thank you, Gateway Captain Auber.”

Pahell accepted the captain’s kindness. Although Porcana was a small kingdom, the status of royalty did its job. Auber was trying everything to gain the favor of Pahell.

“And for the mercenaries, please camp outside of the gate.”

Auber’s tone toward the mercenaries, however, was cold.

“Huh? Huh? That man is...”

Auber looked at the mercenaries, then raised his voice. Only Urich and the other heads of the mercenaries had followed Pahell to meet Auber.

“Dammit,” Donovan muttered. Auber had recognized him and was frowning hard.

“Donovan, the commander killer!”

Auber’s words carried obvious hostility. Urich looked back and forth between Donovan and Auber.

“Donovan, are you famous?”

“Just an acquaintance,” Donovan said as he avoided Auber’s gaze, who was clicking his tongue.

“I thought you died on the streets, but here you are, working as a mercenary. It suits you, Donovan!”

“Adjutant Auber, look at you, you’ve made it! The captain of the gateway, huh? How cool is that?” Donovan said as he clapped mockingly.

“Our squad had to be pushed straight back to the rear because you killed our commander! If it weren’t for that, I would be...”

“You would be dead. Long dead. Probably would’ve had your skull cracked open by a barbarian. Had we charged like the commander wanted us to that day, we would have all died.”

“Bullshit! Your mouth is alive as ever.”

The room was suddenly filled with tension and hostility. The hatred that Auber and Donovan had for each other was palpable.

“I should have killed him that day, too. Hah, they’re all the same. It’s my fault for letting him live just because he begged for his life,” Donovan muttered, and Auber was listening.

“Y-you bastard!”

Auber seemed like he was ready to draw his sword at any moment. Pahell jumped up from his seat and signaled Urich.

“Shut up, Donovan.”

Urich grabbed Donovan’s arm and calmed him down. Donovan flinched and looked around the room. He calmed himself down and left the room before anyone else.

“Calm down, Sir Auber. Have you forgotten who was in the room with you?” Pahell said as he looked at the captain. Because Auber was trying to gain his favor, Pahell’s words were quite effective.

“Ehem, my apologies, Prince Varca. That man committed the most unforgivable crime in my unit back in the day. He murdered our commander. He should have been executed by military law, but he was able to keep his head because General Ferzen showed his mercy. That man is not to be trusted, not even as a mercenary. And I say this on my own name.”

“Don’t worry about that. The man I trust is this mercenary leader, Urich. Urich has total control over his squad.”

Auber stroked his chin.

“Hmm, a mercenary squad with a barbarian leader... Anyway, as an apology, I would like to invite you to dinner tonight, along with the mercenary leader,” Auber said as he looked back and forth between Urich and Pahell.

Urich and Pahell nodded.