Capítulo 101: Kingdom Foundations (6)
It was a busy time but Givens' report could not be ignored.
A mana formation existed in the place where the iron vein is?
Come to think of it, it was a mysterious area that appeared at the end of the game, unless you already knew where it was.
"Givens, are you sure you're alright? You can go rest in Aquitania if you want." <Julius>
"Not so fast. We need someone to take us to where the mountain people are." <Yuri>
"Well, that's true. You'll have to be patient." <Julius?
"I don't mind riding this much." <Givens>
I immediately left with Givens.
Only Yuri was with us, as Zeff had other duties to attend to.
"That's the lord's castle!" <Givens>
As soon as we arrived in Berthaquin, we moved to the lord's castle.
I was hoping that Yusen might be there, but there was no sign of him.
"He said he'd look into it, but he's still in the mountains." <Givens>
Givens said, scratching the back of his head with a worried look on his face.
Then there is nothing else to do at the lord's castle.
"We're going in the mountains." <Julius>
"Yes!" <Givens>
With Givens guidance, we moved to the area where the mountain people were said to be.
"I think it was this way..." <Givens>
However, Givens began to lose his way halfway there.
"That's what...is for. I was in a very tense situation at the time!" <Givens>
A forest here.
A forest there.
It's no wonder it's hard to tell them apart since the whole area is green.
"Let's just keep moving forward. Sooner or later, those weird guys with their faces painted green will show up!" <Julius>
At that very moment, something fell from the top of the tree, to my surprise, it was a person.
"There it is! That's exactly how it happened!" <Givens>
Seeing this, Givens backed away and fell over, and Yuri quickly drew her sword.
However, his face was quite familiar.
"Yusen!" <Julius>
"Sir, you're here!" <Yusen>
Then, Givens, who had fallen over in astonishment, stood up angrily.
"Captain! What the hell? Why in the world are you dressed like them? Did you become a mountain person while I was gone?" <Givens>
"Shut up. You're the one who didn't notice me and got surprised as if you've seen a ghost." <Yusen>
Yusen said as he kicked Givens butt.
"Sir! This way, you will assimilate with the surrounding scenery and not stand out. That's probably why the mountain people paint their faces green." <Yusen>
Learning from the enemy, his knowledge of ambush tactics will greatly increase.
"Well, it's true that the captain's face is indistinguishable from theirs...." <Givens>
Givens added another commentary and rolled on the floor as Yusen punished him.
Anyway, they are good friends.
"So, what have you got?" <Julius>
"I've been through their area. Here's a map!" <Yusen>
Yusen handed me a hand-drawn map, written on a scrawl of parchment.
"In the meantime, is there any way we can get to where you say the mana formation is without being detected?" <Julius>
"They won't go outside the area. It seems to be an absolute taboo. So it's easy to get there if you detour this way...." <Yusen>
"What's there?" <Julius>
"It's like a holy place for them, so if you go in there, they'll definitely notice you. That's the problem." <Yusen>
That's probably true but we have to face it because that mana formation is the reason why I came here.
"I can't decide what to do about the mountain people without seeing that mana formation. Take me there." <Julius>
"Yes, sir." <Yusen>
Following Yusen's lead, we took a large detour down the road.
Unlike Givens, Yusen knew the way very well.
"There it is, sir!" <Yusen>
A huge cliff and a mana formation drawn beneath it, it was a very familiar sight.
"I knew it. Doesn't it look like that place from back then?" <Julius>
"I thought so, too. Look at this!" <Yuri>
Yurasia held out her hand, there was a blue glow emanating from her ring.
This was exactly the same as that time.
In other words, this mana formation was created by the Ancient Empire.
If there is iron in this area, could it be the iron ore used by the Ancient Empire?
Was it something that disappeared after the fall of the Ancient Empire?
"Ukaka-kaka-kaka!" <Natives>
As I was thinking about this, those beings finally revealed themselves.
I knew at a glance that they were mountain people.
They were dressed similarly to Yusen.
Hundreds of them appeared from above and behind the cliffs and surrounded us.
Their faces showed hostility.
"a faist dei enmorndin dei ittor gvindae." <Julius>
upon my say so both my party and the natives stared at me in shock.
"You... Who are you?
"Are you the leader? I am Julius, the new lord of Berthaquin! Last surviving heir of the Roman Empire. Julius Ceasar!" <Julius>
The one opened his mouth.
He was the broad-shouldered man in the group.
But upon hearing what I had to say, his eyes wandered until they landed on the faintly glowing ring on Yuri's finger before he dropped to his knee performing a full bow.
In an instant all his men behind him followed suit.
"Greetings Lord Emperor, we the Praet's have long awaited your return." <Native Leader>
He didn't seem to care about the position of lord at all.
Focusing solely on my claim to the imperial throne.
The tribe's attire reminded me of the natives of Africa.
The only unusual thing about them was their small stature and broad shoulders.
They have a good physique.
But this is honestly what one would expect from the remnants of the Praetorian Guards, otherwise known as the Emperors Personal Guards, aka his elite fighting force.
He'd yet to identify but he's most probably the leader.
And he was pretty strong.
I couldnt't beat him without the use of my perks/skills.
~
[Leman Bertha]
[Age: 28]
[Power Level: 80]
[Intelligence: 50]
[Command: 78]
~
As soon as I heard Yusen's story, I checked his ability values.
They were indeed tempting ability values.
Leaving the leader and his men prostrating upon the ground i ushed for Yuri to approach the Mana formation with her ring, as the one i acquired from Bridget didn't seem to react here.
"Yuri, if you don't mind, i'd like to see what my ancestors have left for us behind this get?" <Julius>
"Yeah." <Yuri>
Yurasia nodded and ran to the mana formation.
We then positioned ourselves behind Yurasia.
The tribe meanwhile had circled round to watch us while remaining in a kneeling state.
The ground began to shake as the mana formation glowed the same blue color as the light emitted from Yuri's ring.
It was like an earthquake.
"Ukaka-kaka?" <Native>
The mountain tribe was startled by the shaking.
At the same time, the wall on which the mana formation was painted was cut in two, the door opened and the shaking stopped.
Even now, Yuri's ring and the mana formation were resonating and emitting a powerful blue light.
Then she walked inside and I followed after her.
The mountain tribe's actions were completely stalled.
As everyone's eyes were bulging out, staring at their long awaited wish coming true.
"Look at this. How could this be here?" <Yuri>
In front of the door she pointed to there was an earth-colored sword.
~
[Unnamed sword]
[Power Level +2]
~
The effects of the items were exactly the same.
Don't tell me that all the treasures in the Ancient Empire are the same?
No, even if there is some secret hidden, there can't be twelve earth-coloured swords, right?
"Sir! Look at them, look at them!" <Givens>
At Givens' cry, I turned and looked at the mountain tribe.
"Ukaka-kaka-kaka!" <Native>
Before we knew it, all the mountain tribes people had gotten up from their kneeling state and in jubilation were hugging and crying.
The man who seemed to be the leader of the tribe opened his mouth while prostrating himself to us.
"Oh, Emperor!" <Leman>
It was as if they were worshipping a god.
"It has been a long time coming, but the resurrection is at hand!" <Julius>
Capítulo 102: Kingdom Foundations (7)
"It is the word of my ancestors. The one who opens the doors of the Holy Land with blue light is the very Lord who will liberate and lead us. We have been guarding this place, waiting for the Lord to lead us with blue light! for generations, we've waited believing the line to have completely been broken." <Leman>
Hearing this, Yuri looked at me with a troubled face.
With her poker face broken, she looked more like a goddess, and the mountain tribesmen who lay prostrate before her looked like devotees.
I think the imperial guard brings out the beauty of Yuri.
"What are they doing now?" <Yuri>
Having come back from her own dazed state at realizing I was telling the truth before or at least partially was, she questioned
Having seen her state I decided to poke fun at her.
"It looks like you're being worshipped." <Julius>
"What?" <Yuri>
Yuri quietly hid behind me then she grabbed the hem of my clothes.
Whenever there's a battle, she always fights in front of me; it was unusual for her to hide behind me.
I left her fresh appearance behind and asked the Praet leader some questions.
"You mean you've been waiting for someone to open the door sealed in the mana formation?" <Julius>
"It was the final order we received from the emperor, not to guard the capital or his family but to disperse and protect strategic locations around the empire until the Heir apparent appeared to rule once again." <Leman>
Yuri, who was behind me, shouted angrily at Praet Leader Leman's answer.
"You mean Julius really is the lost Heir to the Empire!" <Yuri>
"What...? Well, then you are his mate, or rather Empress aren't you?" <Leman>
Leman made a crazy guess.
"No, that's not right...Hmm?" <Yuri>
Yuri immediately tried to deny it, but I covered her mouth with my hand.
"If she's my wife, will you listen to her too?" <Julius>
"We Praet serve the imperial family so of course the Lord Empress would have that right Milord. So, if you are the Lord's Empress, I will listen to you. As will all my men Milady." <Leman>"
I see.
So that's how it is.
I gently took Yuri by the shoulders and pulled her towards me, in an almost lovers like embrace.
"She is indeed my Empress!" <Julius>
I made such an unapologetic claim, but of course there was a backlash from Yuri.
"Who's your wife!?" <Yuri>
Her face was fully flushed, and mouth flapping open and close like a fish out of water struggling to breathe.
"That's what I want them to think for now. We have to get the imperial guard to follow your orders. Plus it wouldn't hurt to have a group I can trust to protect you." <Julius>
Yuri's lips twitched slightly as she clasped her hands together and said.
"You're not even my type." <Yuri>
She blurted out in a whisper and raised her voice as she looked over at the still kneeling Guards.
"Yes, he is my husband." <Yuri>
"What?" <Julius>
I was surprised to hear her admit it so nonchalantly, so I asked her back.
"Isn't that what this is about?" <Yuri>
"No, well, yes, but..." <Julius>
"I don't care if it helps you. And..." <Yuri>
"And?" <Julius>
Stuck for words, Yuri narrowed her eyes and shook her head from side to side.
"Maybe I can learn to accept you, even if you are a pervert..." <Yuri>
With that, she turned her back on me and walked inside.
No, wait a minute; do you still think I'm a pervert?
Just because I employed a couple of kids as maids?
"Oh, come on, Yuri! I told you that was a misunderstanding!" <Julius>
Yuri pretended not to hear me and disappeared to look around inside.
The rest of them were staring at her back, but then I turned my gaze back to the Praet Guards.
I was going to go after her, but now I had to deal with them first.
"So... Anyways since we've staked claim to this vaults contents will your Praet return to service, or would you rather I provide lands wherein you can live comfortably in recognition of your endless devotion and service?" <Julius>
Leman, who had been watching us, opened his mouth with a look of satisfaction on his face.
"In a quarrel between husband and wife, the one who loses wins. Lord!" <Leman>
What the hell convinced you?
Why are you looking at me like I'm pathetic?
"Just answer the question, will you?"
"I will answer. Yes, we have been waiting for many years. And upon the Lords return we pledge to serve an undying oath of allegiance as the reborn guard to this new emperor." <Leman>
"What's the reason for your choice?" <Julius>
"The guard was nearly destroyed by the Bridget's almost 200 years ago. With our number dwindling we've tried to recoup or numbers through procreation and have continued to protect the mana formation in this land. But the locals do not like our chosen way of life so the prospective wives are limits resulting in our numbers stagnating or barely climbing in number rather than a return to our former glory." <Leman>
The mans people looked to be will to take either offer but the glory to be had serving as the unbroken line of Praetorian Guards taking up the protection of the new emperor was a dream they could not pass on.
"We are not like Bridget's people. Once a oath is done, it is never forgotten, no matter how many thousands of years passed!" <Leman>
Heh.
That's a cool thing to say.
My desire to make him my subordinate grew stronger and stronger.
The praet is proud of their mobility in the mountains developing guerrilla warfare for hundreds of years.
If they became my subordinates and were even loyal to me, I would be very lucky.
There were hints about the treasures of the Ancient Empire in his recount. They were not the only cohort of Praetorian's assigned a post to guard even after the fall of the empire, most likely many of these still exist with die hard guardians such as we found here still protecting them.
They had taken the treasures of the Ancient Empire that Bridget had kept and stored them here for the Praet to protect.
If that's the case, could there could be many more vaults than just the 12 of the Ancient Empire?
I have a hypothesis that the one who setup these mana formations left here and went to Roserun and gave the ring to the duke of that time as Roserun historically was very loyal to the Empire and fought even after it's fall.
I don't know why this court magician did that, though.
Still, there is a difference between having a hint and not having a hint.
"Hmmm...." <Julius>
Well, if I keep chasing secrets like this, something will appear.
"Sir! You're married to Her Royal Highness?" <Givens>
I was in deep thought when suddenly Givens came up to me and asked in surprise.
"What?" <Julius>
Giving Givens the look of someone who had heard the most outlandish statement in the world, Yusen sighed and shook his head, pulling him along with him.
Givens hadn't been able to say a word to Yuri all the way here.
Maybe he was overwhelmed by her beauty, or her status, or maybe both.
"So you're saying you were looking for a forgotten Emperor? The prophecy seems to be accurate. I'm the one who destroyed that Kingdom of Bridget who sought your destruction. I assure you that with me and Yuri, the Imperial Guards glory will be restored in time!" <Julius>
"Is it true that Bridget Kingdom has been destroyed? Lord, is it true?" <Leman>
Leman asked back with a stunned expression.
It was natural that he had no information since he could not leave the mountain.
"The reason for the change of lords here at Berthaquin is because of the fall of Bridget. Though I only own a small part of the Kingdom itself as Lunan presently has conservatorship over the majority of the land... for now." <Julius>
Leman turned around and started to talk to the still kneeling guard in their language.
Which was actually a secret language known only to the Imperial Guard and the Imperials themselves allowing for secret communications to take place even in formal setting when around other nobles.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" <Praets>
Immediately, they once again got to their feet and let out a loud cheer.
Then they bowed their heads to me again and again.
"You're still doing that?" <Yuri>
When she came back, Yuri asked.
It was no longer a surprise now that she always appeared out of nowhere.
"How far have you been?" <Julius>
"It's very deep, apparently there's iron ore here, but I also found that thing at the entrance."
"Thing?" <Julius>
"The mana formation that increased our mana before." <Yuri>
"Oh." <Julius>
After all, the mana formation associated with the ancient empire has that function.
That was pretty good news.
We could raise our mana again.
"Yuri, do you by any chance know anything about the origin of that ring? Who gave it to you? or rather how it made it's way to the Kingdom of Roserun?" <Julius>
"No. My father never talked about it. In fact, he didn't even seem to care about it as anything other than a means to open the treasury." <Yuri>
What is the significance of these Vaults and treasures of the Ancient Empire?
"The mana formation you are to protect has been unsealed. From now on, you must follow me. That will be the future of the Praet hereby once more renamed as you once were as the Praetorian Guards." <Julius>
"That is what we praet or rather Praetorian's wish. If it is true that the Lord has destroyed Bridget, then we will obey you! In ruling these lands and reclaiming your birthright Milord." <Leman>
It would help if you did.
But anyway, what is important now is that there are many mountains on the continent.
With the power of the these experience veterans, who have tremendous mobility in those mountains, they would be of great help, and they can provide further training to my army to create the most experience Legionaries possible.
I also secured the iron.
With this iron, I planned to train an elite iron cavalry first.
They would be indispensable in the age of chaos that would come with the fall of Lunan.
And in my mind, there was only one captain to lead the Iron Cavalry.
Ninety-six (96) power level, seventy (70) intelligence, and ninety-two (92) command, a warrior with outstanding abilities, Hero Elheat.
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