Chapter 71

When a new king ascends the throne, a purge is inevitable.

This purge must be thorough.

If it is done half-heartedly, the effect of instilling fear will diminish, and instead, it will only breed resentment.

Why is a purge necessary? It is to stabilize one's own regime. Furthermore, it is to ensure that one's young successor can govern properly after one falls.

However, a purge is not always necessary.

For example, Julius Caesar showed leniency and did not kill his political enemies.

Well, he was ultimately assassinated by the republicans because of that.

I am not so arrogant as to think I have better governing abilities than Caesar.

Therefore, I have no intention of forgiving the Dibel faction.

The question is, how far should I go in forgiving them.

If I kill everyone who rebelled, it would become a reign of terror.

On the other hand, if I forgive too many, people might think, "This man will eventually forgive us."

First, I must forgive those from the Dibel faction who have shown their allegiance to me.

I have removed the names of those who defected before the execution list was announced.

It is common for nobles to switch allegiances when the situation changes. What is most important to them is not the country, but their status as nobles, their territories, and their families.

I must understand this.

Next are those who defected after the execution list was announced.

Dealing with these people was a dilemma.

These so-called "bats" will leave a root of evil if allowed to live.

However, those who switched sides after my victory over Dorgal are the same.

The question is which are the worse "bats."

What is the difference between these two groups?

To be honest, there is none.

They just misjudged the situation; both are essentially "bats."

In short, it's just bad luck.

So, should I forgive them? If I do, a large number of the Dibel faction will survive.

Having a large number of potential traitors within the country is undesirable.

Furthermore, as a king, it is better for the country if there are fewer nobles.

Therefore, they must die.

Additionally, they will serve as enemies to test the loyalty of the "bats" who switched sides relatively early.

By having the "bats" kill the Dibel faction, we will see whether they are birds or beasts.

Even the "bats" will have a clear conscience after killing their former comrades with their own hands.

Now, should I forgive the women and children?

This is another issue.

I would like to forgive them. It is pitiful and unjust to kill innocent people, especially infants who cannot decide their own fate.

But ultimately, I decided to kill them.

There are two reasons. First, I was persuaded by Barthol and Raymond.

It will leave a root of evil. Even if they are children now, they will grow up.

The hatred for their family's murder will never fade...

I found this convincing.

And the second reason.

There is a close example. Tetra.

King Verm thoroughly killed everyone, but let Tetra escape.

And she was killed by me.

Why would I not end up the same way?

In the end, I came to this conclusion.

I will likely regret this decision later. In fact, I already do.

Was it really the right choice?

But... if I die, and Yuria and Tetra are killed, and my children are killed, wouldn't this be a slightly better outcome?

The new king's decree spread throughout the kingdom of Rosais.

1. Execute the rebels.

2. Execute the collaborators of the rebels.

3. Reward those who behead the rebels, even if they are commoners.

4. In principle, execute the vassals of the rebels, but reduce the punishment for those who assist in the execution of the rebels.

First to act were Barthol and Raymond.

They separately invaded the territories of the Dibel faction nobles and beheaded them one by one.

Leading the charge were the former Dibel faction nobles who defected after the battle with Dorgal.

They were barely forgiven because they showed their allegiance to Almus before the execution list was announced.

The reason for putting them in the lead was simple.

Show your worth if you want to be forgiven.

If they change their minds, they will be crushed by the main forces of Barthol and Raymond waiting behind.

They must kill their former comrades to survive.

Next to act were Ron and his men.

Leading five hundred soldiers, they invaded the Dibel territory first.

The new king, leading four thousand soldiers, marched straight into the Dibel territory, showing himself to the people.

Finally, the vassals of the Dibel faction nobles moved.

Once they knew their lords were being executed, they quickly led their forces to attack their lords' manors.

Indeed, more than two-thirds of the nobles were captured by their own vassals.

"Please! Just this child... he hasn't even turned three yet!"

A woman pleaded with Barthol.

She bowed her head to the ground, begging for mercy.

Barthol, drinking wine, replied,

"I have a young daughter too. I understand your feelings. I would like to help you."

He then threw the wine bottle and drew his sword.

"But I don't mix personal feelings with work. It's the new king's order. Send both mother and child to the afterlife."

Barthol cut down the woman, who spat blood and glared at him.

"What... what crime have we committed..."

"True. Your crime is marrying a rebel. As for the child... the crime is being born."

Barthol stabbed the child the woman was holding, ending the young life.

"Fall into hell..."

The woman cursed, then stopped moving.

Barthol took a new bottle of wine and, while drinking, said,

"Idiot, a loyal servant like me will only go to heaven."

Barthol continued his march.

One of his subordinates ran up to him.

"General! The lord ahead is refusing to let our army enter his territory!"

"Hmm? The one ahead... I think he's neutral. He's related to the next rebel, right? Well, there's no choice."

Barthol finished his drink.

"Continue the march. And you, go tell the lord. If he doesn't want to die, he should cooperate."

"Is that okay?"

"The collaborators of rebels are also to be executed, right?"

The lord refused the army's entry again.

Barthol destroyed him, and his lineage was extinguished.

"This is anticlimactic."

Raymond muttered.

Before him were the bound rebels, betrayed by their own vassals and killed.

This was the third time, and no battle had been fought.

Well, Raymond is not very good at war, so it's a relief for him.

Raymond approached the bound noble and beheaded him.

"Lord Raymond, may I ask a question?"

"What is it?"

The vassal who betrayed the rebel asked with a grin.

"Can I do as I please with the rebel's wife and daughter?"

"No. Execute them immediately!"

Raymond shouted, and the vassal hurried away.

Raymond watched the vassal's retreating back and spat.

"Scum."

Two hundred soldiers were holed up in the Dibel family's manor.

The commanders were all relatives of the Dibel family. All the non-relatives had betrayed them.

Originally, Rigar, citing the need to guard the border, had refused to send troops and retreated to his territory with five hundred soldiers.

He thought Almus As would be defeated.

Rigar's plan was to gather the Dibel faction nobles after Almus As failed, to clean up the mess and confront the Dorgal army.

For the first two days, Almus As was pushed into the fortress and was at a disadvantage.

But somehow, Almus As achieved a great victory. By the time Rigar Dibel rushed to join the battle, a truce had already been established.

But this turned out to be fortunate. When the order to execute the rebels arrived, he had five hundred soldiers.

He planned to hold off the execution army and escape to another country.

Just as he was about to do so, three hundred of his soldiers defected.

Thus, Rigar was cornered in the manor without time to escape.

The five hundred soldiers from the As territory soon marched in, joined the three hundred defectors, and surrounded the manor with eight hundred soldiers.

The two hundred remaining soldiers might defect at any moment.

Rigar felt like he was sleeping on a bed of nails.

But the one fortunate thing was that Almus had ordered the execution of all the rebels' relatives.

This greatly solidified the Dibel family's unity.

They did not want to be executed.

"Things are moving too fast for me to keep up... Captain of the thousand, do we need to storm the manor?"

"For now, just surrounding it is enough. It will cause unnecessary casualties. We'll wait for the leader... the new king to arrive. We'll storm it then."

Ron looked at the Dibel family's manor.

Inside the manor were lists with the names of the village chiefs and other important documents.

It would be bad if these important documents were burned. Besides, the final enemy should be reserved for Almus.

That's what Ron thought.

"Well, our victory is certain. Let's take our time."

"I want to earn credit..."

"Even if you don't, I think you'll be promoted to captain of the thousand in a few years."

Ron said, and Josef's eyes lit up.

"Really?"

"Really, really. When I become a general, you'll be my deputy. Unless someone more competent than you appears."

"Yay!!"

Josef was overjoyed.

The premise is that Ron must become a general...

On the sixth night,

Gilbert was thinking.

How could he save his life?

It was too late, but humans always want to survive. Their own lives, at least.

Gilbert thought.

Could that man Almus really be cruel? He had easily apologized during the previous conflict.

Maybe it's not too late...

Once he thought that, the decision was easy.

Gilbert quickly called the soldier in charge of him.

On the seventh day, as the sun was setting,

I finally arrived in the Dibel territory.

I made a thorough effort to appeal to the common people along the way.

To spread the news of my succession to the throne not only to the nobles but also to the common people and slaves.

Especially to the people of the Dibel territory.

Some of the Dibel territory's people followed me.

I didn't drive them away. They probably wanted to settle some scores. I understand their feelings.

"Ron!"

"Leader... I mean, Your Majesty! We have cornered Rigar Dibel!"

I ran to Ron.

It seems he had kept him for me until the end.

"You could have killed him yourself, but that's fine."

I turned to face the Dibel family's manor.

Beside me were Ron, Gram with the flag, and Rozward.

Behind me were Soyon with the sorcerers, Lulu, Tetra, and Yuria.

Barthol and Raymond had not yet arrived.

But it was time to start.

"Soldiers serving the Dibel family! You have no sin. If you hand over the Dibel family members immediately, I will forgive you!"

As I shouted, there was a commotion in the Dibel family's manor.

A civil war had apparently started.

After a while, the gate slowly opened.

Many Dibel family members, bound with ropes, were carried out.

And the last man to come out... Gilbert was not bound.

What is this...

I see. He betrayed them. After I arrived, he must have realized that he couldn't survive unless he talked to me directly, given the order to execute all Dibel family members.

What a stubborn man. He must have heard about the noble who tried to curry favor with me and died.

Gilbert ran to me.

"Your Majesty! I served Rigar reluctantly. It was because we were relatives. But when I heard he rebelled, I knew I couldn't follow him anymore. So I bound the Dibel family members and brought them to you. Please, spare my life, gurk?"

Gilbert looked at the sword in his chest in surprise.

Rozward said,

"Sorry, my hand slipped."

"You always slip. Even with the refugees before. Well, it's an unfortunate accident. Can't be helped. Sorry, Gilbert."

Gilbert fell to the ground with a thud.

Well, that's it...

I walked to Rigar Dibel.

Rigar Dibel was hanging his head, looking dejected.

I sympathize with him being betrayed by his family at the end.

If he had listened to Vermont, he might have had a better end.

But I was the one who removed Vermont, after all.

"I don't really hate you. Your vassal lost a limb because of you, but he didn't die. I'm angry, but not enough to kill you. But I want Yuria. You wanted Yuria too. Neither of us would back down. That's why I'm killing you."

I raised my sword.

Rigar then took action.

He bowed his head to the ground, pressing his forehead into the dirt.

I could smell the stench of feces and urine.

"Please, just my life..."

Rigar, crying, begged for his life.

You should be begging for your family's lives. Really...

"Ah, I've lost my appetite..."

I lowered my sword.

There's no need for me to do it myself.

Besides, on second thought, it would be a waste to kill him here.

A public execution would be better for the future.

"For now, put him in the dungeon."

I said, turning my back on Rigar.

Rigar looked up and shouted, as if misunderstanding something.

"Thank you!!"

You're still going to be executed, you know?

"Yuria, let's go back."

I smiled at Yuria, and she returned the grip on my hand.

Tetra stepped between us.

"No alone time."

"Ah, sorry."

I put my arms around both of their shoulders and started to leave.

That's when it happened.

*Giggle, giggle, giggle*

A laugh echoed.

It was a childlike voice. This... isn't the first time.

Right. It's the voice I heard in my previous life before being run over.

Can only I hear it?

The people around me looked at me curiously as I looked around.

No, it's not just me.

Yuria is also looking around.

So, only Yuria and I can hear this voice?

*Boring*

*Disappointing*

The voice was clear. It was in the same language I think in... Japanese!

"Almus, can you hear it? It just said 'boring'..."

"You hear it in Adelnean, right..."

It's the same effect as the 'Blessing of Language' or 'Blessing of Divine Words'.

*But you did become a worthy opponent. Let's call it good. The purpose is achieved*

*You pass*

A high-pitched voice, indistinguishable as male or female.

*Shall we confiscate it?*

A chill ran down my spine.

I quickly turned around.

At the same time, blood splattered my face.

The blood came from... Rigar.

Blood was spurting from Rigar's pores. What is this...

"I, I don't know. I, I couldn't see it before... What, what is it?"

Yuria looked frightened.

I hugged the trembling Yuria and glared at Rigar Dibel's corpse.

---

*Rigar Dibel died from a disease that caused blood to spurt from all his pores. This marked the end of the Seven-Day War* — Excerpt from *The Founding of the Romano Empire* (by Yang Seong-myeong)

The fairy is cheerful, playful, and mischievous.