Chapter 255

I am the Monarch – Bab 255: Jalan Raja (3)

Sinar matahari jatuh menyilaukan.

Musim berpacu menjelang akhir musim gugur.

Keringat dan angin sejuk melambai lembut dan bertiup dari utara.

Ppababababam. Ppabam.

Lagu grand marching Band Milta Militer bergema dengan lantang.

Pertunjukan yang mengangkat rambut hanya dari pendengaran.

Dua puluh ribu Resimen Lancephil Fief yang kuat mulai berbaris bersama dengan pertunjukan.

Jalan yang ditempuh menuju ibu kota, Miller.

“Waaaaah!”

“Lancephil! Lancephil! ”

“Dauk! Dauk!”

Ke mana pun mereka pergi, sorak-sorai dan teriakan warga kerajaan mengalir deras.

Roan dengan sengaja tidak terburu-buru.

Dia, bagi warga kerajaan yang telah menjadi miskin karena perang yang lama, cukup membagikan makanan dan bahan.

Terlebih lagi, dalam kasus ketika mengunjungi kota kelahiran para prajurit, ia menyambut mereka dengan rasa hormat yang tertinggi.

Karena itu, tidak hanya tentara Resimen Lancephil Fief tetapi warga kerajaan juga dengan tulus merasa berterima kasih kepada Count Lancephil House dan datang untuk mengikuti mereka dengan hati mereka.

[Wow! Saya bisa melihat ibu kota, Miller, jauh sekali! Dauk. Anda juga melihatnya, bukan?]

Kinis yang terbang di atas kepalanya menunjuk ke arah selatan dan berteriak.

Perlahan Roan mengangguk.

Berkat Air Mata Kalian, ibu kota, Miller, yang masih jauh terlihat jelas seolah-olah berada di depan hidungnya.

‘Jadi gerbang kastil sudah ditutup ……’

Senyuman pahit menggantung di mulutnya.

en𝓊𝐦a.i𝓭

Dia perlahan-lahan menoleh dan melihat dua puluh ribu Resimen Lancephil Fief yang kuat mengikuti punggungnya.

‘Semua orang telah memutuskan untuk berjalan bersama denganku ……’

Roan, segera setelah merebut Kastil Sedes, memanggil seluruh Resimen Fief Lancephil.

Itu untuk mengungkapkan niatnya yang hanya diketahui oleh pengikut Count Lancephil House termasuk Austin.

Sebenarnya, Roan sangat khawatir.

Dia tidak tahu apakah para bangsawan dan tentara yang telah mendukungnya akan gemetar marah atas pengkhianatannya.

Tapi.

‘Ketika aku mengungkapkan bahwa aku akan menjadi raja ……’

Reaksinya sangat gembira.

Semua orang berteriak dan bersorak.

Baik bangsawan maupun rakyat jelata keduanya, status mereka tidak berbeda.

Semua orang berpikiran sama.

<Raja kita hanya Sir Roan Lancephil!>

Teriak Ablaze memanaskan hati Roan.

Tentu saja, ada juga yang tidak setuju dengan niat Roan.

Kepada mereka, Roan memberikan balasan yang lumayan besar beserta kebebasan untuk pergi kemanapun mereka mau.

Dalam proses itu, beberapa bangsawan dan tentara bahkan berubah hati dan mendukung Roan.

Pada akhirnya, jumlah mereka yang meninggalkan sisinya tidak mencapai lima ratus.

en𝓊𝐦a.i𝓭

“Paling tidak untuk mereka, juga setidaknya untuk mereka yang telah mati untukku, dan juga untuk mereka yang tidak mendukungku, aku harus menjadi raja yang baik.”

Roan menarik napas dalam-dalam.

Seorang raja bukan hanya untuk segelintir orang kelas tetapi juga seorang raja bagi semua orang.

Itu adalah tujuan dan impian Roan.

Meskipun memiliki pemikiran ini dan itu, pawai terus berlanjut.

Ibu kota, Miller, sudah berada di depan hidung mereka.

Vvuuuuuu!

Bersama dengan suara klakson, Resimen Fief Lancephil menghentikan langkah kaki mereka.

“Meluruskan!”

Pada teriakan seribu orang dan komandan berpangkat lebih tinggi, para prajurit masuk dan berbaris rapi.

Penampilan seperti membuat formasi persegi panjang di depan ibu kota, gerbang utara Miller.

Roan menatap ke arah gerbang kastil yang tertutup rapat dan melambaikan tangan kanannya.

Austin, yang ada di dekatnya, berteriak dengan suara keras seolah dia telah menunggu.

Angkat benderanya!

“Ya pak!”

Dengan jawaban yang gemilang, para prajurit yang memegang bendera melangkah maju di depan resimen wilayah.

en𝓊𝐦a.i𝓭

Bang!

Dengan suara tumpul, bendera menusuk ke tanah yang keras.

<Count Lancephil House.>

<Lancephil Fief Regiment.>

<Lancpehil Legion.>

<Tale Legion.>

<Amaranth Troop.>

<Piedes Troop.>

<Impasse Troop.>

,,,,,,.

Bendera yang tak terhitung jumlahnya berdiri menjulang tinggi dan memamerkan kemegahannya.

Roan berdiri di bawah bendera dan menatap menara gerbang utara.

“Duke Francis Wilson.”

Matanya berkedip dan bersinar.

Di dalam menara, para bangsawan terhormat termasuk Duke Francis Wilson berdiri di tempatnya.

“It is merely about twenty thousand strong army but its pressure is more than a hundred thousand strong.”

“It is the powerful force that has defeated Prince Simon and the hexers, defeated the South Rinse Kingdom and the Diez Kingdom Army, and has defeated the North Rinse Kingdom, Estia Empire, and the Byron Kingdom, sir.”

“Probably, it currently should be the strongest army in the continent’s east with the Grain Mountains as the line.”

The nobles clicked their tongues and shook their heads.

At that moment, Baron Valent Neike searched the nearby eyes and cautiously spoke up.

“Even so, just the number of nobles gathered here is tens of people, sir. Could we not overwhelm the Lancephil Fief Regiment if we claw together each’s fief regiments and forcibly conscript the fief’s citizens?”

Baron Victor Beuriting yang dekat menganggukkan kepalanya dengan ekspresi mengatakan itu ada benarnya.

Mendengar kata-kata itu, wajah banyak bangsawan terpecah menjadi dua sisi.

Satu sisi adalah ekspresi yang sedikit gembira, dan sisi lainnya adalah ekspresi yang benar-benar menakutkan seolah-olah telah bertemu naga.

Tentu saja, ekspresi ketakutan adalah mayoritas.

Baron Banel Tendler, yang merupakan salah satu dari mayoritas itu, dengan tajam mengguncang tubuhnya dan berbicara seolah berbisik.

“D, jangan katakan sesuatu yang mengerikan, tuan. Kita tidak bisa mengalahkan Count Roan Lancephil bahkan jika kita mati dan bangun lagi. Bahkan……”

Dia menoleh dan melihat benteng kastil di luar menara.

“Ibukotanya, Miller, di sini juga sudah berada di tangan Count Lancephil.”

Mendengar kata-kata itu, Valent dan Victor mengikuti pandangan Banel dan melihat ke luar menara.

en𝓊𝐦a.i𝓭

Penjaga Ibu Kota yang mengenakan baju besi kokoh terlihat.

Mereka semua mengenakan baju besi merah.

Mereka adalah bagian dari pasukan penjaga yang Roan tinggalkan ketika dia berbaris untuk menghadapi Kerajaan Bilas Selatan dan Kerajaan Bilas Utara.

Valent dan Victor menelan ludah dengan ekspresi sedikit tegang.

“Saya, jika mereka sudah menguasai kastil, mengapa mereka tidak membuka gerbang kastil, Pak?”

“Itu adalah……”

Saat Banel mencoba menjawab, suara rendah terdengar dari punggungnya.

“Dia mungkin ingin kita membuka gerbangnya sendiri ……”

Pemilik suara itu adalah Duke Francis Wilson.

Meneguk.

Semua bangsawan menelan ludah.

Nafas mereka macet.

Meskipun penjaga ibu kota tidak mengancam sama sekali, tubuh dan hati mereka secara naluriah menyusut.

“Apakah itu berarti kita harus membuka gerbang kastil dan menundukkan kepala kita di Count Roan Lancephil pada akhirnya?”

“Kuuk. Itu semua akan terpecahkan jika Putri Katy menggantikan takhta, tetapi …… “

” Memikirkan kita harus menyerahkan kerajaan kepada spearman peringkat bawah yang namanya kita bahkan tidak tahu hanya beberapa tahun yang lalu …… “

Keluhan mengalir dari sana-sini.

Francis menghela nafas panjang.

en𝓊𝐦a.i𝓭

“Huu. Bukannya sama sekali tidak ada jalan. ”

Dia berencana untuk mencoba perjuangan terakhir hingga akhir.

“Bukannya semua bangsawan kerajaan mendukung Roan Lancephil. Berarti bahkan lebih bangsawan selain puluhan bangsawan yang berkumpul di sini keberatan dengan dia naik ke tahta. Bahkan untuk posisi Count Lancephil, ini bukan situasi yang bisa ditertawakan. Karena Kerajaan Bilas bisa dibagi dua jika tidak hati-hati. Artinya perang yang mengerikan dan mengerikan bisa dimulai lagi jika tidak hati-hati. “

Bahkan untuk Roan yang sekarang baru saja melakukan pembersihan pasca perang, ini bukanlah perkembangan yang sangat disambut baik.

“T, lalu bagaimana ……?”

Valent menggagap kata-katanya dan bertanya.

Francis tersenyum tipis.

“Di atas Lancephil County yang asli, saya berencana untuk memberikan bahkan Kadipaten Webster barat laut dan menunjuk Roan Lancephil menjadi adipati agung.”

Begitu kata-katanya selesai.

“G, adipati agung!”

“Hhm! Duke grande …… ”

Semua bangsawan menatap lebar mata mereka dan membuat ekspresi terkejut.

Sejak berdirinya Kerajaan Bilas, tidak ada yang naik ke pangkat seorang duke.

Francis menatap Roan yang berdiri di bawah bendera.

“Jika Count Lancephil adalah pria yang memiliki pemikiran, maka tidak mungkin dia mengabaikan hal seperti itu ……”

Saat kata-katanya mencapai tentang itu.

Vvuuuuuu!

Tiba-tiba suara klakson bergema.

‘Mungkin serangan ?!’

Francis dan banyak bangsawan memandang ke Resimen Lancephil Fief dengan ekspresi terkejut.

Namun, Resimen Lancephil Fief termasuk Roan bahkan tidak gemetar karena mereka berbaris rapi.

Bahkan lebih, suara klakson juga tidak terdengar dari sana.

Menuju tempat suara klakson terdengar, tatapan semua orang bergerak.

“Ah……”

A quiet exclamation flowed out from Francis’s mouth.

From a wide plain’s end, an army with a legion flag before it appeared.

One of the nobles shouted in a loud voice.

“I, it’s the Eastern Regional Corps! It’s Baron Aaron Tate!”

Everyone’s faces stiffly hardened.

By Aaron Tate, he was the emblematical pro-Roan faction.

“Uugh.”

Uncomfortable groans flowed out from everywhere.

However, the situation sadly did not end with just that.

Dum! Dum! Dum!

A sound of drums signaling march echoed from beyond the plain.

With its flags before it, another army showed up.

“This time it’s Viscount Russel Carpenter, sirs!”

Russel Carpenter was the supreme commander who headed the Northern Regional Corps.

A typical neutral faction, even during the throne succession war, he only focused on his own duty and did not support anyone among the three princes.

en𝓊𝐦a.i𝓭

According to what was known until now, he also had no particular relationship with Roan.

Francis and the numerous nobles stared at the Northern Regional Corps with gazes mixed with optimism.

‘If the Northern Regional Corps were to join our side……’

The moment their thoughts reached about that point, the Northern Regional Corps that had boldly marched took place on the Lancephil Fief Regiment’s right.

“Ah……”

“No……”

Numerous nobles let out sighs.

On the wide plain spread before the north gate, the Lancephil Fief Regiment, Eastern Regional Corps, and the Northern Regional Corps took formation.

That presence was truly incredible.

However, the appearance of the Eastern Regional Corps and the Northern Regional Corps was not the end but a beginning.

Vvuuuuuu! Vvuuuuuu!

The sound of horn was continuously heard.

“It is Baron Collins!”

“It’s Baron Streiner!”

“Even the Southern Regional Corps has joined!”

“It’s the West’ champion Viscount Gleason Wulf!”

en𝓊𝐦a.i𝓭

“M, Marquis Kukker too has joined the Lancephil camp, sirs!”

It was an incredible scene.

Before the sun that rose from the east lean towards the west, countless nobles led their armies and joined the Lancephil Fief Regiment.

The Miller Castle had now become a situation where not only the north gate but the east gate and the west gate, and even the south gate and every direction was enclosed by an incredible army.

Ppabababam! Ppabam! Ppabababam!

Together with the Milta Military Band’s performance, the Amaranth Troop’s horsemen wearing crimson armor raced sideways in front of the castle wall.

They did not throw weapons nor shoot arrows.

They merely changed horses and ran and ran in front of the castle wall as if taking a stroll.

“Ah……”

Francis felt strength leaving his legs.

‘Just when has the situation, like this……’

He couldn’t believe it.

Francis thought too lightly of the world.

While he hid within the castle and guarded the royal family’s crest and the national seal, Roan guarded the kingdom outside the world.

While Roan put his life on line and fought, the people of the world wondered and admired his abilities and character.

Persuasion wasn’t especially needed.

As time flowed, the people very naturally gathered below Roan.

In the first place, the size of two people’s plate itself was different. ¹

‘If the prominent nobles and generals all support Count Lancephil, then it is impossible to end this with merely a grand dukedom……’

Francis quickly ran his thoughts inside his mind

‘Since Princess Katy had refused to climb to the throne either way, then asking the throne to Princess Aily……’

When he was still absorbed in vain thought.

“S, Sir Duke!”

“L, look at that, sir!”

The tower’s nobles widely goggled their eyes and pointed at the castle’s inside.

Kkakakakang! Kkakang! Kkakakakakang!

Loud and noisy sound pierced into the ears.

“J, just what is this……?”

Francis creased his forehead and looked at the street longly stretching towards the inside of the castle.

“Ah……”

From the big and small alleys stretching from the main street’s sides, the castle’s residents poured out.

Men and women, old and young, rich and poor, leaders and ordinary commoners, slaves and more……

A crowd that transcended age and status approached through the main street towards the north gate.

Kkakakakang! Kkakang! Kkakakakakang!

They strongly clang the pans and plates held in their hands.

Phabababam! Phabam! Phababababam!

It oddly matched the Milta Military Band’s performance echoing outside the castle.

“T, these insane bastards……”

“They dare!”

Few among the nobles flushed their faces and shouted aloud.

“What are the knight order doing! Get them away right now!”

“Troop commanders go block them so those things can’t approach towards the castle gate!”

en𝓊𝐦a.i𝓭

As an unexpected event unfolded at a situation that was already tense, few nobles gave mad orders.

“Yes sir. Understood.”

The knights and soldiers who entered Miller following the nobles tried to climb down the tower.

At that moment.

Chang!

An unexpected metallic sound echoed the ears.

The knights and soldiers who hurriedly moved as well as the tower’s nobles all turned their heads towards the place the metallic sound was heard from.

“Hhm.”

“Ah……”

Numerous nobles let out exclamations together with groans.

The metallic sound was none other than the sound of pulling out a sword.

The Capital City Guard who were on standby on the ramparts had pulled out their swords and blockaded the tower.

“I apologies sirs but if you move a single step from that place……”

Leslie, originally a part of the Lancephil Fief Regiment and a taemusa who was the Capital City Guard Captain, pointed at the knights with his weapon.

“We will cut off all your heads.”

At those words, a knight who was at the front creased his face.

“W, what! A mere soldier dare point a sword at the nobles and knights! Are you mad!”

“Well, I don’t know. From what I see, sir, it seems that side isn’t of a sane mind, though.”

Leslie lightly replied and then gave a hand signal with his left hand.

Pbat!

Instantly, the Capital City Guard’s taemusas who were lined up along the ramparts raced towards the tower and took formations.

“Damn.”

The knight spat out a curse and clenched his teeth.

The Capital City Guard’s number was too many that they couldn’t carelessly move.

At that moment, Francis who was watching the scene stepped forwards.

“What is the reason you’ve needlessly dragged on time if you were going to come out like this in the end? Would it have been far easier to trap and cut off our heads beforehand and then open up the castle gate?”

Words said as if to rebuke.

At those words, Leslie formed a smile.

“Sir Duke Wilson. It seems you are misunderstanding something. We have absolutely no thought of causing warm to the sirs gathered here.”

A composed voice.

“I am merely faithful to the order my lord has given, sirs.”

“And what is that order?”

Francis asked in a completely sunken voice.

Leslie looked at the Miller Castle’s residents clanging pots and plates and approaching towards the north gate.

“The Capital City Guard will protect the Miller Castle’s residents from any harm, whatever the case may be..”

A powerful voice.

The smile hanging on Leslie’s mouth turned even thicker.

“That is us Capital City Guard’s mission.”

He slightly shook the sword he held.

“So don’t think of causing harm to the castle’s residents, sirs. If you just comply to that, then there will be no case of us pointing our swords at sirs gathered here.”

“Hhm.”

Francis once more leaked out a groan.

Finally, he could understand the events that had happened in Miller Castle’s insides within the last few days.

‘So the City Guard had stepped up only when the nobles violently treated the castle’s residents.’

His heart ached.

Now there truly was nothing they could do.

Meanwhile, the castle’s residents who had swarmed all the way before the north gate even loudly clanged their pots and plates.

Kkakakakang! Kkakang! Kkakakakakang! Kkakang! Kkakakakakang!

Everyone turned their heads and looked up towards the tower.

Hot and fierce gazes poured out towards the nobles.

“Hhm.”

“Huhm. Khm.”

The nobles couldn’t endure those gazes and subtly stepped back.

In contrast, Francis leaned on the tower’s ledge and looked straight at the appearances of the castle’s residents.

A sight of everyone only clanging their pots and plates with their mouths closed.

But at that very moment.

<Sir Count Roan Lancephil! Sir Count Roan Lancephil!>

<That sir is the true monarch!>

<Sir Count Lancephil is our monarch!>

<We want to live happily!>

<Only Sir Count Lancephil can achieve that!>

His ears numbly echoed.

The resonant shouts, wishes, desires, and hopes pierced into his ears.

His head and heart trembled.

Of course, it wasn’t that they were physically heard.

‘I, is this the sound of the castle’s residents Princess Katy spoke of……’

Francis, only after having the giant mass before his eyes, could finally hear the sound held in the heated hearts of the castle’s citizens.

The citizens’ shouts turned even fiercer.

<Open the north gate!>

<Open the north gate!>

<Open the north gate!>

<Open the north gate!>

A shout giant enough for the heart to drop and crash.

Francis’s hands holding the ledge sharply shook.

‘Princess Katy’s words were true.’

He bit his lower lip.

‘There is no man who could endure to the end even after hearing such sound……’

His legs weakly trembled.

Francis turned his head and looked at the Capital City Guard.

“Guard Captain.”

A quietly calling voice.

However, his voice dangerously shook.

“Yes. Sir Duke.”

Leslie slightly lowered his head.

Francis exhaled a short sigh, then ordered in his most composed voice.

“Open the north gate.”

Finally, the last rooted wrong surrendered.

That was not an attainment achieved through violence.

It was an achievement the peaceful shouts, actions, and desires of the castle’s citizens had attained.

A revolution without a drop of blood.

Ggiiiiick!

The tightly closed castle gate opened.

“Waaaaaaah!”

The castle’s citizens put down their pots and plates and cheered.

Kkukung!

The drawbridge lowered down above the moat.

Roan climbed down from his horse and slowly moved his steps.

When he arrived at the end of the drawbridge, Francis showed up at the opposite end.

Countless gazes from the inside and outside of the castle poured down.

“Huu.”

Francis exhaled a short sigh and slowly moved his steps towards Roan.

He carefully kneeled down and raised up the royal family’s crest and the national seal.

“I present the Rinse Royal Family’s crest and the national seal.”

Francis’s voice rode the wind and flowed.

Roan quietly stared at that sight.

Gulp.

Everyone dryly swallowed with nervous expressions.

At that moment, Roan extended his hands towards Francis.

“Please stand up, sir.”

Roan membangkitkan Francis dan kemudian membentuk senyum tipis.

“Aku tidak membutuhkan lambang keluarga kerajaan atau cap nasional.”

Suara tenang menyebar jauh, sangat jauh.

Setiap orang di dalam dan di luar kastil bisa mendengar suara itu.

Roan menunjuk lambang keluarga kerajaan dan segel nasional dengan jarinya.

“Raja bukanlah sesuatu yang berasal dari darah.”

Jarinya kembali menunjuk ke langit.

“Raja juga bukan sesuatu yang dipilih surga.”

Jarinya menunjuk ke Resimen Lancephil Fief yang berbaris di luar kastil.

“Dan raja juga bukan sesuatu yang dimenangkan melalui kekuatan.”

Senyuman di mulut Roan semakin dalam.

“Raja……”

Tempat yang akhirnya ditunjuk oleh jarinya adalah warga yang berdiri di dalam gerbang kastil yang terbuka lebar.

“Berasal dari orang-orang.”

Itu adalah kata-kata dan niat yang telah diukir dan diukirnya selalu lagi sejak dia memutuskan untuk menjadi raja sejati.

Roan memandang Francis dan berbicara dengan suara pelan seolah berbisik.

“Aku akan menjadi raja untuk semua.”

Deklarasi.

Itu adalah Deklarasi Agung.

“Waaaaaah!”

“Dauk! Dauk! Dauk! Dauk!”

Warga meneriakkan sorak-sorai.

Mengikuti di belakang, tentara di luar kastil termasuk Resimen Fief Lancephil menjadi satu dan bersorak.

Itu adalah keceriaan yang cukup luar biasa untuk daerah sekitarnya dengan Kastil Miller di tengahnya bergetar.

Dunia akhirnya datang untuk bertemu raja untuk pertama kalinya yang dilahirkan oleh rakyat.

Namanya Roan.

Roan Lancephil.

<Path of the King (3)> End.