Episode 121 Lioncourt Grill - The Saga of Lioncourt

The army advanced southward and arrived at a certain village. ...Hmm, this place... A wave of nostalgia washed over me, and I felt my expression soften. "Varian-sama, this place—" Rolo, too, must have been struck by similar feelings. He squinted his eyes, gazing into the distance at the village. This village was one we once passed through while on a campaign against Belge many years ago. It must have been around 15 years, but the rows of houses didn't seem to have changed much. "Alright, let's spend the night in that village today." "But, sir... in such a remote village, resupplying will be difficult," Maurice replied hesitantly, as usual. Indeed, it was a small village without space for a force of 6,000 troops to camp. "Forgive me, but that village holds many memories. I once stayed there with Albert," I explained. At the mention of Albert's name, Maurice's face grew complex. Albert was his grandfather, and hearing that nostalgic name surely brought many thoughts to mind. "Send Pierre and Roger to negotiate. Our terms will be a place to sleep, food, and women, and in return, no pillaging or killing. That's all." Maurice acknowledged with a curt "Yes," and left. Ideally, I would have Andre and Maurice, who had proven themselves in Jumel City, handle negotiations, but Pierre and Roger also needed the experience and opportunities to gain achievements. ...Being a king sure is troublesome... I scratched my head idly. It's surprisingly difficult to distribute opportunities evenly among subordinates. Even if it's impossible in reality, there needs to be some appearance of equality. In this war, I've not utilized the Bachelard faction at all, and it would be problematic to continue this way. Although small, the knight class is a military force, and allowing discontent like "I'm being unfairly treated" to brew is not wise. ...Fifteen years ago, I didn't imagine things would turn out like this... When we visited this village before, my father was there, my brother was there, and my mentor was there (though I've heard my father is still healthy). ...Never thought that I would come to lead... Life doesn’t always go as planned. It’s a fact often forgotten, despite its obviousness. “Be strong, Varian! Show the people of Lioncourt the ends of the earth!” I recalled Albert's words and closed my eyes. The memory of his voice was fading, but those words remain indelible. ...Albert, we're halfway there. Haven't reached the ends of the earth yet, but we’ve come this far... It’s strange—when alive, the old knight's face seemed intimidating, but with time, it becomes a nostalgic memory. “Hey, what do you think Albert would say if he saw us now?” As I muttered softly, Andre approached with a grin, “He’d say not bad.” Although the voice didn’t match, it was precisely the kind of thing Albert would say, causing Rolo to burst into laughter. Rolo has a tendency to laugh easily. “I’m sure he’d praise us.” “Do you think so?” We continued towards the village, chatting merrily. The villagers hid from view, portraying an atmosphere of desolation, but we could feel eyes watching us. Pierre and Roger completed negotiations swiftly, and the villagers soon welcomed us. Soldiers surrounded the village to ensure safety. It had become routine to secure villages by now, and the soldiers displayed their familiarity with the task. Despite this, I took a cursory look around the village with my bodyguards. Previously, I delegated the pillaging to subordinate knights, hence this was my first time setting foot in this village personally. ...Oh, could this be a charcoal kiln? At the edge of the small village, I noticed an unusual large structure and approached. It was an "A-shaped" gabled roof, but without walls; beneath it, a kiln made of stone and clay was prominently situated... Its shape was arched, like a mound built from earth. Stacked firewood piled high on its sides. It seemed excessive for firing simple roof tiles made from open firing methods. "Is something intriguing you?" Noticing my interest, Rolo inquired, and Andre, too, curiously examined the kiln, "Are they making tiles?" "No, it seems too large for that. Let's find someone knowledgeable to ask about it," I said. At my suggestion, Rolo instructed one of the bodyguards to fetch the village chief, and two of them departed. "You always have an eye for unusual things," Andre remarked in a slightly exasperated tone, but I was intent on not letting the curious unfamiliarity of another land go unnoticed. Any new revelation might contribute to the advancement of Lioncourt. Moreover, there was a personal side to this: I simply liked making roof tiles. I dismounted to inspect the area around the kiln. Here and there, I came across shards resembling bisque pottery. ...Could it be a kiln for firing pottery...? In Amoros, pottery is valuable. While glazes akin to Japanese pottery are rare, high-end goods are often colorfully decorated, sometimes with painted scenes. The pottery fragments here varied in hue, seeming to be coated with differently colored clay rather than glaze. "Your Majesty, I have brought the village chief." Suddenly, a bodyguard addressed me, pulling me from my reverie over pottery shards, beckoning me to face an elderly man—the village chief. The old man appeared flustered and frightened, trembling. The bodyguards, slightly overzealous, seemed to have mistaken my intentions and handled him a bit roughly. "You fool, I only wish to speak with him. The village chief is no criminal," I lightly reprimanded the guard, apologizing to the chief for the roughness. Yet, the village head bowed in apology, groveling with his forehead pressed to the ground out of sheer trepidation... Making conversation impossible. "Please, raise your head. I only wish to inquire about the kiln," I urged gently. With reassurance, I eventually managed to coax information from the frightened elder. As expected, the kiln was for pottery, and it seemed that the master potter had been conscripted by Baron Cocteau. However, the apprentices and the master's family remained, and I decided to relocate them to the settlement at Basin. I’d heard that Basin has good quality clay (refer to chapter 64). Encouraging pottery production might birth a new industry in Lioncourt. Ceramics, after all, are distinct in their charm depending on the soil and water, even if crafted with identical techniques. This is evident from the myriad regional pottery styles in Japan. Lioncourt could create something unique. "Um, Your Majesty... about my husband..." The potter's wife hesitantly inquired, and I allayed her worries with gentle words. "Don’t worry. I’ll do everything possible to save him... After all, I wouldn't want to lose a skilled artisan." Hearing this, the wife visibly relaxed. The expression of relief on her face stirred something in me—making me acutely aware of her femininity. Fortunately for the wife, since I had been engrossed in pottery inquiries, she was spared from entertaining the soldiers. ...And she's quite a beauty, isn't she... The potter's wife looked like she was just over twenty. It seemed the master potter was unexpectedly young. Her braided brown hair didn't appear very clean, yet it exuded a certain natural allure that stirred my masculine instincts. Her frame was slight, but even through her clothes, the firmness of her hips was evident. ...Not bad at all, shall I take the time with her...? As I gazed at her intently, she noticed my look and shrank back, trying to hide herself. "There's no need to worry, I'll be gentle... Village chief, sorry, but I need to borrow a house right now. Show me the way." As I lifted the wife into my arms, she let out a small, startled cry. It was the classic princess carry. "Trust me... I won't do anything bad," I whispered softly, meeting her gaze. She seemed nervous but not entirely averse, relinquishing herself to me with a dreamy look. ...Oh dear, she's too cute... Should I bring her back...? "Here we go again." "He's up to his usual antics," came the distant, sarcastic remarks, which I paid no mind. That afternoon, the potter's wife and I found each other several times, reveling in each other's company. She was remarkable, and I'd resolved to bring her along and support her, but by the next morning, seeing her face afresh, I realized she wasn't as attractive as I remembered. I felt a bit embarrassed, realizing just how pent-up I'd been, but that's the way men are. Post-event, we become sages. In any case, the potters in this village would relocate to Basin to craft what I planned to call "Lioncourt Ware." Though I didn't know how the venture would turn out, I looked forward to seeing its progress. Afterwards, the Lioncourt army quickly reached Canberr Castle. Canberr Castle perched itself on a steep, rugged hill, with fortresses along the road leading up to it, like checkpoints. While neither the castle nor the forts were particularly formidable structures, they adeptly utilized the terrain, with the only apparent approach being the frontal assault. ...Indeed, a stronghold... Given that Baron Cocteau relied on this fortress, it was a formidable setup. Even a small force could mount a significant defense here. Siege warfare in this era didn't commence immediately. The Lioncourt army was now hastily preparing siege ladders and battering rams. I rode alongside Baron Ge, the source of this turmoil, viewing the castle from a distance. "Indeed, a castle like this could be defended by a small number of troops. Just being pelted with stones from that slope would be troublesome." "Yes, but if there is only one entry point, a siege by starvation would be feasible," Baron Ge commented. I dismissed this with a snort. A siege by starvation would prove arduous for us, bearing the larger army. "Baron Ge, tell me about Baron Cocteau's character," I asked, and after acknowledging, there was a pause as he gathered his thoughts. Though youthful and somewhat impulsive, this man was no fool. "In a word, he's an old-fashioned knight. He's one year younger than my father, around 37, and despises change, cherishing pride above all. He's the stone-headed opposite of your enlightened and innovative majesty." "Hmph, I see… He's likely a strong warrior then, disfavoring cunning tactics." I brushed off Ge's blatant flattery with more inquiries. While I didn't dislike flattery, such naked compliments were dispiriting. "Yes... Your observations are correct. While not weak, you defeated Baron Cocteau soundly in last year's battles. There's no need to fear." Though Ge underestimates Baron Cocteau, barricading oneself in a fortress is bothersome, especially for someone competent and fond of conventional warfare. "In that case, would you challenge Baron Cocteau to a duel? If he values honor, he won't decline." I teased, and though Ge's expression tensed momentarily, he agreed, saying, "As you command." Ge, too, was a warrior, unlikely to shy from a battle of honor. "Your spirit is commendable. However, we have a large army, so there’s no need for tricks of the trade. I've merely gauged your readiness. Forgive me." Baron Cocteau seemed to be a stubborn warrior type. Negotiating might be slower than simply crushing them with our forces. We'll swiftly capture the forts and apply pressure on Canberr Castle. I announced, "Gather the commanders," and moved into a military council. Although the enemy was holed up in the fortress, their numbers were mere hundreds. We decided to split our forces to attack sequentially due to the narrow entrance — the wheel formation strategy. This maneuver was particularly distressing when used against me while defending a castle. By dividing our forces, we maintained a constant influx of fresh troops, overwhelming the exhausted enemy. It’s a simple tactic but a nightmarish scenario when confronted. Once the ladders were complete, the battle would begin. With 6,000 against 500, logically, there would be no loss, but flukes could sometimes lead to a mass defeat. ...We must remain vigilant... I took extra precautions against night raids, ensuring thorough fortifications.