Chapter 82: A new opportunity (1)

 

 

With Istel kingdom’s retreat, Byron kingdom also started to get cornered down .
Thanks to Roan’s plan, of suffering consecutive defeats, they had entered quite a deep region of Rinse kingdom .
And the supply line also got quite large .
On top of this, the central region of Rinse kingdom also joined up .
But a bigger problem than this exploded at the rear .
The orcs that were half annihilated last spring, with the huge scaled subjugations, started to gather up suddenly and attacked the supply lines that were at the region .
And even if they hadn’t done that, it was a big blow for Byron kingdom that were working really hard as the supply line enlarged .
They could only hurry to retreat and meanwhile, suffered a big blow .
Unfortunately, there was no such existence like Peid of Istel kingdom in the rear guard of Byron kingdom .
Actually, the orcs gathering and attacking the supply lines was all a plan of Roan .
Roan sent Chris to the southern region of Byron kingdom and visited the small and big orc tribes .
The orcs, that couldn’t acquire harvests properly because of the subjugation tactic, showed interest at the information of the supply lines Chris brought .
And as they also entered a deep part of Rinse kingdom in this situation, the defenses became quite sloppy .
The orcs that were doubtful at first saw that the situation was turning favorable and decided to attack Byron kingdom’s supply line just like Roan and Chris wanted to .
So for Byron kingdom, they couldn’t keep continuing the war and fled as all these things happened .
The only unfortunate thing was that Rinse kingdom wasn’t aware that the attacks of the orcs was all devised by Roan and Chris .
And it was because Chris was retreating while evading Byron kingdom that he still couldn’t send the notices of it .
For Roan, that committed the sin of violence against a noble was quite an unfortunate situation .
If this merit was known, his punishment would have become a bit lighter .

 

“Roan . ”
“Yes . Sir count . ”

Roan was kneeling while tied with ropes .
A look of a sinner .
Io looked at him with unfortunate eyes .
Io let out a short sigh and said .

“Violence against a noble is a really big sin . It’s a sin which the last resort of punishment can be applied . ”

Roan didn’t show any reaction .
Io continued speaking .

“However, bringing victory in this fierce war is also another truth . We can’t kill the hero of the kingdom . ”

The corps commanders that were assisting all took in a deep breath .
Expressions they couldn’t guess at all how the situation would flow .
Io touched his chin with his fingers .

“I, Io Lancephil, will lay down the punishment instead of the supreme commander of the eastern region . ”

His mouth raised .

“I will demote troop commander Roan of the 2nd rose troop of the 7th corps to that of a normal soldier and exile him . ”
“Ah…… . ”

A low exclamation came out of the mouths of the commanders .
It was a fiercer punishment than what he thought .
As they originally knew that Io appreciated Roan, they had the suspicions that he would just let it pass .
They just thought that the punishment would be a demotion and a cut of his salary .

‘He’s certainly count Lancephil . ’
‘He’s someone that has it clearly differentiated . ’

The commanders sent applauses at Io’s fair decision .
Like this, their shaken discipline would get firm .
In the other side, Roan’s expression was excessively calm .

‘Exile…… . . ’

Actually, the punishment Roan thought of was getting sold as a slave .
Compared to that, an exile was quite a light punishment .

‘Although I was just planning to flee whatever I became . ’

Roan had many choices .
Something possible as he knew the future .

‘The first was taking place here on the eastern region…… . ’

If it was possible, he wanted to stay in Lancephil’s territory .

‘Because I thought that the big thing that would happen here was a big opportunity . ’

There was a suitable opportunity to raise a force .
6 years from now on, a big disaster happens in Lancephil’s territory .
The day that all the territory fell in chaos .

‘THen, an opportunity would certainly come . ’

To grab that opportunity, he learnt Flamdor mana technique and returned once again to the eastern region .
But now, it wasn’t a situation that he could stay here anymore .

‘The second is going to Grain mountains . ’

It was more difficult than the first one and complicated, but it still wasn’t something bad .
On top of that, as Grain mountain ranges was quite steep, it was a region where patrolling was almost impossible if he dedicated to hide himself .

‘It’s the most suitable place for a castaway . ’

Although the situation was certainly difficult, it wasn’t that he didn’t have holes to escape .
Roan calmly organized the thoughts in his head .
Then, Io’s voice was heard .

“The place you will be exiled to is…… . . ”

He dimmed his last words .
Aaron and the other commanders looked at Io’s mouth .
Io took in a breath and said .

“It’s the region of Tale . ”

At that moment, the faces of several commanders contorted .
In the other side, there was surprise in Aaron’s face .
On top of that, his mouth was slightly raised .
Io looked at Aaron and lightly smiled .
Just like .

‘I told you not to worry . ’

A feeling he was saying that .
Roan, that was maintaining a calm expression also put a surprised expression now .

‘Tale?’

Laughs kept coming out .
The countless plans in his head all crumbled .

‘If it’s Tale……’

Roan took in a deep breath .

‘I won’t have to go to Grain mountains . ’

The need to become a castaway and suffer the dangers had disappeared .
Region of Tale .
It certainly was a region where monsters appeared frequently and was left behind .
But the reason a smile appeared in Roan’s and Aaron’s mouth .
That was because the region of Tale was located inside Lancephil’s territory .

*****

Region of Tale .
A dangerous region located at the southeast of Lancephil’s territory .
It was close to Poskein lake and was surrounded by big and small mountains .
Different from the other regions, the soil wasn’t that good and as monsters frequented a lot there weren’t as many people habitating .
It was one of the several exiling places that even the Lancephil family didn’t want to get involved with .
Most of the commander agreed that they should send him to an exiling ground of the west or south instead of the region of Tale .
However Io wasn’t planning to back down anymore .
He was sending Roan to a place where he could reveal his talent and accumulate merits .
Several opinions came for 4 days .
In the end, both sides took a step back .
They decided that the soldiers of the 2nd troop should also get exiled along with Roan .

‘I have to send Roan with the army he was together with . So they won’t be able to think of nothing much when they come back . ’

The commanders were excessively aware against Roan .
Most of them got the position of corps commander by inheriting it .
They were low humans that were worried for their seat to be taken away .
Roan and Aaron opposed to their opinions but they couldn’t go against the majority .
In the end, everything got decided like this .
Roan got exiled to the region of Tale and the soldiers of 2nd rose troop would be following him .
Meanwhile, Benjamin’s powerlessness got revealed and he got taken to custody in Miller .
He tried to get some commanders by his side while expressing his unfairness .
But the commanders weren’t by his side anymore .
No, they pushed back Benjamin more fiercely for in case, they would also suffer because of him .
In that situation, it was revealed that Benjamin laid an unreasonable order to several corps of the region, including the 7th corps .
Io sent his opinion paper to the royal palace that they should take away the title of nobility from Benjamin and that they should exile him .

‘If my opinion gets received, Roan using violence against a noble doesn’t become that big of a problem . ’

Aaron just hoped for the royal palace to make the right judgements .
And the situation got organized like that quite quickly .
The commanders all returned to their headquarters to organize the region .
They started to leave one by one and the only ones that remained were Io and Aaron .

“Commander Tate . Don’t worry too much . ”
“Yes . I will just believe in you . ”

Aaron bowed .
He saw Roan, tied in tight ropes behind Io .

‘It’s a region located inside of the count’s territory . If he takes care of him……’

Rather, it can become an opportunity to reverse things .
Io patted Aaron’s shoulder and got up his horse .

Hiiiing .

Lancephil’s army started to move with the cry of the horse .
Their territory was Pavor, that had the lord’s castle .
Aaron just looked at the march while standing at the entrance .

“Roan . ”

Roan passed in front of his eyes .
Roan smiled faintly and nodded .

“Don’t worry too much . ”

A farewell like it was nothing .
Aaron felt something in his chest and ground his teeth .

“I’m sorry . ”

Words he hardly brought out .
Roan just smiled faintly at that .
The rope that was tied in the horse kept pulling him .
Roan walked and meanwhile saluted Aaron .
A composed and calm look .
Aaron got moved for nothing and turned his head .
He didn’t have the courage to be looking at Roan anymore .
Then, his eyes turned round .

“You…… . . ”

He saw a familiar group behind the march of the count .
Austin and the soldiers of the 2nd rose troop .
They had packed their things and were following the march .
The soldiers bowed towards Aaron before leaving the camp .

“We decided to follow troop commander Roan . ”

Austin’s words .
The other soldiers all nodded with resoluted expressions .

“Are you saying that you will follow him to that dangerous place?”
“Yes . We got chased out of the army anyways . We don’t have anywhere to go anymore . ”

Austin turned his head and looked at Roan’s back getting farther away .

“Troop commander became like that while protecting us . ”

He took in a deep breath .

“As Troop commander protected us, now we should be the ones protecting him . ”

At those words, Aaron slowly nodded .

“You are better than me . ”

Hot sights were exchanged .
Austin and the others bowed once again and then started to move .
Aaron looked at them and clenched his fist .

“Everyone a little, wait really a lit bit . ”

Flames appeared in a deep part of his eyes .

“I will certainly make you return to where you belong . ”

*****

The march stopped earlier than what was thought .
As Io couldn’t see the camp of the region, he stopped the march and went to Roan .

“Loosen his rope . ”

At the short order, some soldiers gathered and cut off the ropes .
Behind Io, Kali shook his head with a displeased expression .
Io made a hand sign towards the soldiers of the 2nd rose troop that were looking at themselves at the back of the march .
Austin and the others hesitated for a moment and then stood in a line behind Roan .

“What’s the reason you followed us?”

At those words Austin replied in a little nervous expression .

“We decided to be together with troop commander Roan . ”
“Are you saying you are also following him to the exile place?”
“Yes . That’s right . ”

Austin replied without hesitation .
Io smirked and shook his head .

“You can’t enter an exile place if you aren’t a sinner . ”

At those words Austin and the soldiers hit their chests and said .

“Then make us one . Disobeying orders in a battlefield is also a sin . ”
“Send us to the exile place too . ”

A voice that was as hot and earnest as his eyes .
Roan looked at the expressions of the soldiers with a stifled expression .
An expression mixed with thankfulness and sorry .
He couldn’t say anything .
Then, Io’s voice was heard .

“There’s no need to do so . I don’t think of Roan as a sinner . ”

He smiled faintly and said .

“Because the other commanders were watching and because of the army’s discipline, I did say that he should get exiled but I don’t think of Roan as a sinner . Rather, I think of him as an excellent commander . ”

Io looked at the faces of Roan and the soldiers alternately .

“I’m planning to send Roan to a territory of a Lancephil’s family territory . I’m going to give him a small troop and make him subjugate the monsters of the region of Tale . ”

It wasn’t a simple exile .
He was planning to entrust Roan with that region .
Roan and the soldiers put surprised expressions .
Io didn’t mind and continued saying .

“Roan . Will you be able to do it?”

The region of Tale was a place that even the family of Lancephil couldn’t lay a hand on it as they wished . Making him subjugate that place was more dangerous and difficult than one could think .
However Roan didn’t hesitate .
He bowed .

“Yes . I’m confident . ”

As soon as he said that, Austin and the soldiers laid down on the ground .

“Sir count . Take us in your territory . We will subjugate the monsters of the region of Tale along with troop commander Roan . ”
“Take us into account . ”

At those words Io smiled faintly and looked at Roan .

“What do you want me to do?”

At the question, Roan copied the soldiers and laid down .

“I want to be together with them . ”

An earnest voice .
Silence laid for a moment .
Io slowly nodded .

“Good . I will take in all these soldiers . ”
“Ah… . . ”

A low exclamation came out of the mouths of Roan and the soldiers .
A bright smile appeared in their faces .
Contrary to that, there was displeasure in the face of Kali .

‘How can he take such care of him?’

He couldn’t understand Io’s treatment .
But it seemed like Io didn’t mind at all .

“I will make a completely new troop for you . ”

It was the moment that the 2nd rose troop, no, the rose troop got newly born .
Io looked at Roan’s eyes fixedly .

“Troop commander Roan . Will you use Rose as the name of the troop?”

At those words, Roan fell in his thoughts for a moment .
His thoughts of wanting to remain with the dead Gale, the adjutants and the soldiers was just like a chimney .
However, the name of rose troop was still that of a troop belonging to the 7th corps .
Roan slowly shook his head .

“I want to use another name . ”
“Did you think of something?”

At the question, Roan nodded .
He turned his head and looked at Austin and the soldiers .

“Amaranth, we will be the Amaranth troop . ”

A low voice but with strength .

An exclamation came out of Io’s mouth .

“A flower that doesn’t whither…… . It’s a really good name . ”

It meant that although he couldn’t use the name of rose troop,  he would never forget his dead allies .

‘And I will never again lose my troop members . ’

Now, the flower won’t be dying at all .
Because the newly born rose troop won’t eternally whither .

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