CH 71

Chapter 71 – Seven Days War VIII

Author: 桜木桜 (Sakuragi Sakura)

Translator: Isekai Shousetsu

Disclaimer: This is a fan translation only. All rights belong to the author. Since the translator is around JLPT N2-N3 only, he cannot guarantee the translation is free from error. If you enjoy the story please support the author by buying the light novel or by visiting the manga serialization even if you can’t read Japanese. Don’t hesitate to write a review of the novel at Novel Updates. Thanks!

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: Double Release

[]  [Table of Contents]  []

When a new king ascends to the throne, a purge is sure to follow.

This purge must be done thoroughly.

If It were done half-heartedly, rather than striking fear, it would instead cause resentment.

A purge is necessary so that the stability of one’s administration can be ensured. Furthermore, it would also ensure that your successor can rule without worry after your own demise.

However, it’s not like a purge is an absolute necessity.

For example, Julius Caesar, showing great forbearance, gave pardon to his political opponents.

However, you might also say that’s also the reason why he was killed by the knives of republicanism.

I’m not conceited as to consider myself possessing greater genius in governance and politics than Caesar. That’s why I don’t intend to pardon the DeBell faction.

Now then, the problem is where do I draw the line in forgiving and condemning.

If I kill all the opposition, then I’ll be imposing politics of fear.

Conversely, if I forgive too much, then they’d begin to think “this guy’ll forgive me in the end.”

First, I would have to forgive those from the DeBell faction who have showed allegiance to me.

I had the names of the DeBell faction members who had changed sides to me before the announcement removed from the execution list.

It’s common occurrence for clansmen to switch allegiance to a different power depending on changing circumstances. For them, what’s more important is, rather than country, their status as clansmen, their territory, and their own families. It’s something one must understand.

Second, I would have to deal with those who changed sides after the execution announcement. They’re the one’s I’m troubled with.

Letting these opportunistic wretches, so to speak, live is to turn a blind eye to future trouble.

That said, the same could be said for those who changed sides immediately after my victory against the De Morgal Kingdom. All of them are just opportunists.

The problem is how do I separate the good from the bad opportunist. What’s the difference between these two groups of turncoats?

Let’s just be blunt. There’s no difference between the two. Both groups are essentially opportunists regardless of difference in circumstance.

In a word, one group was just unlucky.

Then how about I forgive them? If I went with that, then I’ll essentially be letting a lot of De Bell faction members live.

To have large numbers of potential rebels within the country borders is simply bungling.

You can even go further and reason that you could carry the political situation more smoothly as king if you had few great clansmen as possible.

That’s why I’ll have them dead.

While we’re at it, we’ll have the loyalty of the early turncoats tested. We’ll have them kill the condemned turncoats so we can clearly discern the birds from the beasts.[TLN1]

Certainly, even an opportunist will quickly show their true intentions if you have them kill their former colleagues by their very own hands.

Now then, should we forgive the women and children?

This is another point of contention.

I personally want to spare them. It’s unreasonable, not to mention, pitiful to have people who have done no wrong killed after all.

Furthermore, it’s not like the children had a choice in what lives they were born in.

However, in the end, I’ll have them killed.

There are two reasons.

First, it was because I was persuaded by Bartolo and Raymond.

It’s related to turning a blind eye to future troubles. Children today would grow into adults someday in the future. They will surely bear grudges of having their families killed, etc. etc.

I couldn’t help but see the point.

Then, the next reason. It’s because I have an example of this so close to home. Yes, it’s about Tetra.

Although King Ferrum had thoroughly killed Tetra’s family, he had let her go.

And so, it bit him back in the future and got killed by me.

How can I definitely say that it can’t helped but for me to do such things?

In the end, I reached this conclusion.

I’ll probably regret this conclusion in the future. No, I’m actually regretting it already.

I keep wondering if this was the right thing to do.

However…….compared to me dying as well as Julia and Tetra, and my children getting killed, this conclusion and any regret it carries are to some extent less objectionable. That’s what I thought.

The new king’s royal orders were quickly disseminated throughout the country.

First, the rebels are to be executed.

Second, the rebels’ collaborators are to be executed

Third, those who manage to apprehend or kill a rebel, regardless of social status, shall be rewarded.

Fourth, while the general rule is to also execute the retainers of the rebels, those who cooperate with the execution of the rebels shall have their own punishments commuted.

The first to move were Bartolo and Raymond.

The two went separately, invading the DeBell clansmen’s territories one by one, and executing them.

Those in the vanguard are the former DeBell clansmen who had changed sides immediately after the war. Because they have shown their allegiance to Almis before the announcement of the execution list, they got pardoned in the nick of time.

There’s a reason why they were made to lead the vanguard.

‘If you want to be forgiven, show some effort.’

If it would seem like they’d change their minds, they’d be crushed by the main forces following them from behind led by Bartolo, Raymond, and the others.

They would have to kill their former comrades if they want to live.

Second to mobilize were Ron and the others who just received the royal orders.

Leading 500 soldiers, they invaded the DeBell territory ahead of me.

The new king is leading 4000 men and advance directly towards the DeBell territory while displaying such scene to the citizens.

Last to mobilize were the retainers of the DeBell faction.

Having learned that the DeBell clansmen have really been condemned to death, they immediately mobilized their own troops and personally led them into attacks against their very own lords.

Indeed, a good two-thirds of the clansmen were arrested by their very own retainers’ hands.

“Please! Spare even just the child…..he hasn’t even reached three years of age!”

A woman pleads Bartolo. She prostrates herself, begging for mercy.

Bartolo answers while drinking his liquor.

“I very much understand how you feel. I, too, have a little daughter at home after all. I really want to do you a favor.”

Then, Bartolo throws away the bottle and unsheathes his sword.

“However, it’s my principle to not mix personal feels with my job. Just following the new king’s orders –  send both mother and child together to the other world.”

He slashes at the woman.

The woman glares at Bartolo as she bleeds to death.

“What….in the world was our sin?…….”

“Hmm, let’s see. You had the sin of marrying a rebel. As for the child, he has sinned just by being born into this world.”

Bartolo then pierces the child held by the woman.

Just like that, a young soul loses its life.

“Go to hell…..”

One last curse of defiance and the woman dies.

Bartolo takes another bottle of liquor to drink anew.

“Stupid, there’s no way a loyal retainer like me would go anywhere except heaven.”

Bartolo continues his advance.

Then, a subordinate rush over to report.

“General! The lord of the territory just ahead has refused our army’s entry!”

“N? Just ahead is…..if I recall correctly, a neutral faction territory, huh. If I’m not mistaken, they have marriage ties with the next rebel. Then, it can’t be helped.”

Bartolo drinks the liquor dry.

“Continue the advance. Also, tell the lord that he should cooperate if he doesn’t want to die.”

“Would that be fine?”

“Aren’t collaborators also condemned to death?”

The lord has again refused entry.

Thus, Bartolo annihilates them and eradicates the lord’s bloodline.

“It’s quite anticlimactic, huh.”

Raymond mutters.

In front of him is a tied-up rebel, deceived and killed by his own retainers.

This is already the third time this happened. Because of that, he still hasn’t fought even once.

Well, it’s kind of a blessing in disguise as war is not one of Raymond’s specialties.

He walks closer to the tied-up clansman and cuts off the head.

“Lord Raymond, Would it be possible for me to humbly ask one thing?”

“What?”

The retainer that betrayed the rebel foppishly asked.

“About the rebel’s wife and daughter…….would it be fine if I do as I please with them?”

“No. Kill them immediately!”

The retainer promptly runs away in confusion at Raymond’s yell.

Raymond spits at the sight.

“Tsch. Low-life.”

There are around 200 soldiers who have barricaded themselves within the DeBell residence. Those in command were completely relative DeBell clansmen. The non-relatives have all turned on them.

From the very beginning, Regal, who had refused to provide troops for the war with the reason of protecting the borders, had already 500 soldiers in position in his territory.

He had thought that Almis will fail.

Regal’s plan was to gather his clansmen after Almis’ failure, ambush the pursuing De Morgal army, and to look like cleaning after Almis’ mess.

In the first two days of the war, Almis was being pressured in the fort severely outnumbered. However, all of a sudden, Almis made a huge breakthrough. By the time Regal decided to join the war and hurry into the field, Almis had won magnificently and peace had already been established.

That however worked in his favor because he still has his 500 soldiers with him by the time he learned of the royal order to subjugate the rebels.

He’ll have to somehow stop the incoming punitive force and exploit that moment to emigrate to another country. Just as he was planning that, 300 of his men turned against him.

Thus, without being able to even attempt to escape, he got cornered. His residence immediately got surrounded by 800 soldiers, 300 turncoats plus 500 from the Ars territory that marched in advance.

Even now, he’s unsure whether the remaining 200 would turn on him. He’s stuck between a rock and a hard place.

However, again in his favor, the royal order demanded all rebels and all their relatives are condemned to death. Because of that, the unity of the DeBell clan only strengthened.

They’d rather not go extinct.

“Things are somehow happening a little too fast for me to keep up so…..please enlighten me. Lord Chiliarch. Is it fine that we don’t proceed with the assault?”

“Well, for now it’s enough that we just keep up the encirclement. We’d be risking unnecessary damage after all. We’ll begin the full-blown assault after leader….((rather)), the new king arrives.”

Ron gazes at the DeBell clan estate.

Inside the residence are important documents such as the register of the names of all the village chiefs in the territory.

Burning those very important documents would be bad. Furthermore, they would have to save the last enemy for Almis.

That’s what Ron thinks.

“Well, it won’t change the fact that we’ll win. Wouldn’t it just be fine to take it easy?”

“I want to get an achievement though……”

“It’s not like getting or not getting an achievement would make a difference though? From what I see, it’ll take just a few years more until you’ll get promoted to chiliarch.”

Joseph’s eyes sparkle at Ron’s words.

“Really!?”

“Yeah, really. When I become a general, I’ll make you my second-in-command. That’s if I don’t find someone even more excellent than you.”

“Alright!” (Also hooray, wohoo, yahoo, yehey, woot, I did it, etc.)

Joseph is overjoyed.

His promotion, however, would depend on Ron becoming a general……

Night of the Sixth Day.

Gilberto has been thinking.

What does he have to do to save himself.

Although it’s quite late, humans are creatures that want to be saved no matter what. Even if just his life.

Then Gilberto had an ephiphany.

He thought there’s no way that Almis would be capable of such senseless brutality. Almis even apologized deeply for the previous scuffle between their two clans.

Almis would probably forgive him if he apologized earnestly.

As such, it’s decided.

Gilberto hurriedly gathers the troops under his charge.

(Almis’ POV)

Seventh Day, Around Sunset.

I finally arrive at the DeBell territory.

I conscientiously appealed to the citizens along the way.

All of these to convey not only to the great clansmen but to all people from the citizens even up to the slaves my succession as king.

I was especially consientious with the DeBell territory’s citizens.

Several of them joined me on my march towards Regal.

I didn’t drive them away. They too probably have several grudges they want to finish. I very much understand what they feel.

“Ron!”

“Leade…..no uh, my King! We have cornered Regal DeBell!”

I rush over to Ron.

It seems he had held up the siege for me until the end.

“It’s not like you doing the final act would be a problem. Well, it’s fine already.”

I then face the DeBell estate.

Beside me is Ron, also Gram and Roswald acting as flagsmen.

Coming along behind us are the sorcerers Soyon, Lulu, Tetra, and also Julia.

Bartolo and Raymond still hasn’t arrived.

However, it’s probably fine to start now.

“Gentlemen-soldiers working for the DeBell Clan. All of you have no crime whatsoever. If you immediately hand over the people of the DeBell Clan, I suppose I shall pardon all of you!!”

A ruckus immediate occurs inside the DeBell estate. It seems a mutiny has quickly occurred.

After a while, the gate opens slowly.

All the DeBell clansmen are being brought out while bound by rope.

And thus, the last one to come out…..Gilberto was somehow not bound up.

What the heck is……

I see. He sold out. He sold out after I arrived because…….he concluded that he wouldn’t be able to save himself without directly negotiating with me because of the royal orders demanding their deaths.

This is one stubborn fellow, huh. Probably trying to make up to me, since he heard about the clansmen that got executed, I guess.

Gilberto runs up to me.

“My new king! I have unwillingly served Regal. He was a relative, so I thought it couldn’t be helped. However, once I heard he had rebelled, I thought I had to draw the line. That’s why here I am presenting to you, our new king, the men of the DeBell clan, all tied up. That’s why, please spare my life, gg guah?”

Gilberto looks with a perplexed expression at the sword that sprung up his own chest.

“Sorry, my hand slipped.”

Roswald mutters.

“You always slip your hand, huh. Just like that time with the refugees.

Well, this is such an unfortunate incident. I guess it couldn’t be helped. Sorry bout that, Gilberto.”

Gilberto collapses in a thud.

Now then, next would be….

I walk towards Regal DeBell.

Regal depressingly hangs his head.

Well, I can sympathize. He got betrayed by the people and relatives he had trusted with all confidence.

If he had advice from Bermet, he probably would have a much less objectionable end.

Well, it was me, however, who got rid of Bermet.

“Sorry. It’s not like I harbor that much hate against you. Although because of you, my retainers lost their limbs; it’s not like they had died. Though there’s anger, it’s not to the extent to warrant your deawth. However, I desired Julia. You, too, desired Julia. The two of us wont yield. Therefore, this is the natural consequence. You are a hindrance to me so I’ll kill you.”

I raise my sword.

However, Regal suddenly moved.

He had prostrated himself before me, bowing his head to the ground with great force.

I smell the stench of excrement from him.

“Ple, please!…….Spare even just my life…..”

Regal is reduced to sobbing and begging for his life.

What you should be doing is pleading for the lives of your companions, yes? Good grief……

“Haa, what a letdown…..”

I lay down my sword.

There’s no need for me to go out of my way and execute him here.

Besides, come to think of it, it would be a waste if I were to kill him here.

I think it would be better to hold an official execution in the distant future.

“For the meantime, lock him up in the dungeons.”

I turn my back on Regal.

Regal raises his head, and as if misunderstanding something, shouts:

“Tha, thank you very much!!”

You’ll still be executed you know?

“Now then, Julia. Shall we go home?”

I smile at Julia. Julia reciprocates and holds my hand.

“Just the two of you is not allowed.”

Tetra quips.

“Ah, sorry, sorry.”

I embrace the two by the shoulder and leave the place with them.

At that moment.

——-hihihihihihihihihi———- [TLN2]

I hear laughter.

That of children. This is……not my first time hearing this.

Yes. That time, I heard this in my previous life just before I got ran over.

Am I the only one who’s hearing this?

I look around restlessly, surveying my surroundings with a perplexed face.

No, it’s not only me.

Julia is also looking around.

In other words, the only people able to hear them are me and Julia.

——Boring—–

——What a let-down——

I can clearly hear the voices. This is the same as my thinking language……Japanese!!

“Almis, do you hear? It just said ‘Boring’……”

“So you hear it in Adernian, huh.”

‘Divine Protection of Language’ and ‘Diving Protection of the Divine Word’ have the same effect.

—-However, we succeded with the rival. Let’s settle this now. We’ve succeeded our objectives—-

—-It’s a success, yes?—-

High-pitched children’s voice. You can’t tell apart whether it’s a boy’s or a girl’s.

—Then shall we confiscate?—–

A chill runs down my spine.

I turn my head behind me in confusion.

Blood rushes to my face.

Regal, on the otherhand,……..is emitting blood.

He’s emitting blood from the pores of his skin. What in the world is happening……

“This inversion ……..I, I’ve don’t know about this. I I’ve never seen this before…..What is, eh, what is this?”

Julia shows a frightened expression.

I embrace the shaking Julia while glaring at Regal’s dead corpse.

—Regal DeBell dies from a disease where the body emits blood from the pores on the whole body. Herewith, the Seven Days War ends—

An excerpt from the ‘Romano Empire Founding Chronicles’ Author: Yang Qingming