Chapter 76

Helmut's army, no matter how excellent their combat skills, could not stand against the entire kingdom.

So Helmut decided to ally with the Kerait tribe, one of the most powerful forces on the steppe.

In exchange for helping the Kerait tribe defeat the Konyirat tribe, he would obtain the support troops needed for the rebellion.

"Was Duke Helmut such an ambitious person?"

Camille asked in surprise when Otto mentioned Helmut's rebellion.

After all, the Waldemar family was a well-known and prestigious lineage.

As a family that had protected the border against fierce nomads for generations, they were a model of chivalry and loyalty to the state, even featured in textbooks.

"To the point of risking the family's honor accumulated over generations for a rebellion, he must have had a strong desire for power…."

"No, that's not it."

Otto said firmly.

"Helmut is not an ambitious person."

"Really…?"

"It's too early for him to have ambitions. A few years from now, things might be different."

"What do you mean by that?"

"How should I explain this?"

Otto pondered for a moment before continuing.

"Anyway… Helmut's rebellion is a livelihood rebellion."

"What the hell is that?"

"Hey, listen."

Otto glared at Camille.

"I said, a livelihood rebellion."

"I've heard of livelihood corruption, but this is the first time I've heard of a livelihood rebellion."

"Half of all rebellions are livelihood rebellions. When the people rebel, is it because of a desire for power? No, it's because they can't make ends meet. Since they're going to die either way, they might as well go all out."

"Are you saying our people want to hang the prince's head on the city walls?"

"Exactly. That's exactly it. Our people always want to hang my head on the city walls… What?"

Otto, who had been responding without much thought, suddenly realized something was wrong and scowled.

"Hey! Why would our people want to hang my head on the city walls!"

"In the old days, it was quite common."

When Otto shouted, Camille calmly replied as if wondering why he was getting angry over such a thing.

"I even heard people openly talking about beheading the prince as I passed by."

"R-Really?"

"There was even a popular children's song about beheading the prince and skewering him with an iron spike."

"That's not me…."

Otto muttered gloomily.

"I feel wronged…. Back then, I was… a kind of… diminished capacity? Something like that…."

"Is that what you call it?"

"Anyway, no!"

"Just because you've reformed doesn't mean your past misdeeds disappear."

"No! No way!"

After a brief discussion about the past, the conversation continued.

"Helmut rebelled because he was tired of being exploited. More precisely, the Waldemar family had been exploited by the Margrave Kingdom for generations. And their family members were taken as hostages. What kind of vassal relationship is that? It's slavery."

"Ah."

Camille nodded, finally understanding what Otto was saying.

"He couldn't take it anymore. He probably wouldn't have allied with the nomads if it weren't for the extreme pressure."

"Such a thing…."

Camille seemed disheartened to learn that there was such a dark side to the Waldemar family's loyalty, which was famous enough to be in the knight academy textbooks.

"Let's split up here. You five, come with me."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Otto turned his horse with five swordsmen.

"Ambukan."

"Yes, Your Highness."

"You stay here and command the Konyirat tribe. Ask him for help."

Otto pointed at Kairos.

"Camille, stay here and help Ambukan with the swordsmen. Take good care of the elders."

"Where are you going?"

"Helmut's daughter is studying in the capital of the Margrave Kingdom. It's called studying, but she's actually a hostage. Helmut will try to rescue her by any means. If he starts a rebellion while his daughter is held hostage, her head will be on the line. So we need to act first. That way, we can control Helmut."

"You're going to use his daughter as a hostage?"

"There's no other way."

"But that's too cowardly…."

"Is there anything cowardly in war and politics? This is a matter of life and death. Not just for us, but for our people. Do you know what will happen to our economy if we lose the trade routes? Angry people will hang my head on the city walls."

"That's a pretty tempting story…."

"What?"

"Never mind."

"Let's go. Yee-ha!"

Otto glared at Camille and kicked his horse hard.

"Neigh!!!"

The startled horse neighed loudly and reared up.

"Whoa? What's wrong with this guy? Hey! Ahh!"

Thud!

Otto fell off the horse.

He was still not used to riding, and he couldn't react in time to the horse's sudden movement, losing his grip on the reins.

* * *

When Ambukan returned, the morale of the Konyirat tribe soared.

"The chief is back!"

"Chief! Why did you come so late?"

"Finally, we can take revenge on the Kerait tribe!"

To the Konyirat tribe, Ambukan's presence was almost absolute.

Although he had been defeated by Otto, Ambukan was a very capable chief.

Especially in military prowess, he was so outstanding that even the Kerait tribe's warriors would often flee in fear when he led the cavalry across the steppe.

It wasn't for nothing that Toghril had allied with Helmut.

Already suffering from a string of defeats in battle, and with the loss of Kaisei, the tribe's second-in-command, morale had hit rock bottom.

With Ambukan's return, it was natural for hope to bloom on the faces of the Konyirat tribe's warriors.

"My son. What happened? Why did you come so late?"

An elderly woman approached Ambukan.

Her name was Merkit.

She had raised Ambukan alone after losing her husband and was a distinguished warrior and chief herself.

It was thanks to her that Ambukan had grown up to become a chief.

"Mother…."

Ambukan knelt before his mother, Merkit.

"I, an unworthy son, beg for your forgiveness. I…."

At that moment,

"Mother of the tribe."

Kairos stepped forward and knelt on one knee before Merkit.

"I have heard much about you. My name is Kairos. I met Ambukan on the continent and formed a bond of brotherhood with him."

[Anda] is a term used in the Habur steppe to describe a bond of brotherhood.

"…!"

Ambukan was greatly surprised when Kairos told a story completely different from the truth.

'Be quiet.'

At that moment, Kairos' voice echoed in Ambukan's mind.

'When have I ever cared about your face? It's wartime, and your tribe needs hope. So shut up.'

Ambukan was deeply moved by Kairos' words but didn't show it in front of his mother.

Why?

As Kairos said, the morale of the Konyirat tribe's warriors had just recovered from rock bottom.

If it became known that Ambukan had been defeated by a continental person and become his subordinate, the morale that had just risen would plummet again.

"Did you form a bond of brotherhood with my son?"

"Yes."

"You are my son's first Anda. Even in difficult times, it is proper to welcome his first Anda. Everyone, listen. Ambukan's Anda has arrived. Even if we die in battle tomorrow, we will feast tonight."

When Merkit declared a welcome ceremony, the Konyirat tribe's warriors cheered loudly and rejoiced.

For a while, there had been nothing to celebrate, but now that Ambukan had returned, they thought today was a chance to relax.

That night,

Kairos, Camille, and the swordsmen feasted with the Konyirat tribe's warriors on roasted mutton and kumis, a fermented mare's milk.

"Hehehehe! You steppe warriors are really fiery! Hehehehe!"

Kairos, with his natural charisma and manliness, quickly won over the rough and warlike Konyirat tribe's warriors.

"Ooh!"

"A manly man from the continent!"

"How many bottles has he had already?"

Manliness can be defined in many ways, but in the Habur steppe, being a good drinker was very important.

No matter how strong a warrior was, if he couldn't drink well, he wouldn't be recognized as a true man.

Thus, Kairos, with his muscular build, hearty personality, and excellent drinking ability, naturally won the favor of the Konyirat tribe's warriors.

'Could this be why Lord Kairos was assigned here?'

Camille thought that perhaps Otto had made a very good decision in assigning the personnel.

If it was intentional….

'Even in the art of mercenaries?'

It would mean that Otto knew how to use people effectively.

He might be even more capable than he had shown so far.

* * *

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

Meanwhile, Otto, with three swordsmen, galloped across the steppe, crossing the border to head for the capital of the Margrave Kingdom.

"Faster! Faster! Faster!"

Otto pushed his horse harshly.

Why?

Because time was running out.

Once Helmut sparked the rebellion, he would try to secure his daughter as soon as possible, and by now, the groundwork would likely be complete.

'Perhaps it's already too late…'

If Helmut had already rescued his daughter, things would get complicated.

He would have to face Helmut's army and the Kerait tribe's allied forces.

This would be a very daunting task for Otto, leading to a very disadvantageous battle.

It might even lead to the worst-case scenario for the Iota Kingdom, where they would have to abandon the trade routes and cede dominance of the Habur steppe.

In other words, securing Helmut's daughter was the key to resolving the situation smoothly.

With this urgent mindset, Otto and his party arrived at the capital of the Margrave Kingdom and immediately headed for the royal academy.

"Phew. Thank goodness. We're not too late."

Otto could finally calm his anxious heart when they reached the front gate of the royal academy.

If Helmut's daughter had already been rescued, there would be chaos not just around the academy but throughout the capital.

The silence indicated that the rescue operation had not yet begun.

'Good.'

Otto smiled with satisfaction.

As long as the rescue operation hadn't started, securing Helmut's daughter was as good as done.

'No matter how he starts the rebellion, the rescue operation always follows the same pattern.'

Otto knew the details of the plan to rescue Helmut's daughter.

This meant that intercepting her and taking her away from Helmut's subordinates was entirely possible.