Radiant Dragon’s Otherworldly Reincarnation

Chapter 43. I'll Go This Far for You (2)

“If that is what you wish, Father….”

“……”

“I will follow.”

“Will you be alright with that?”

“Of course.”

Patrick answered with a smirk.

And Baron Schneider was grateful to Patrick for that.

In truth, unlike himself, who had lost his youthful vigor with age, wasn't Patrick at an age where his blood was still boiling?

Moreover, unlike himself, he had amassed unbelievable martial power with his immense talent.

He had even pulled up not just himself but the surrounding soldiers as well, powerfully leading the entire Baron Schneider's fiefdom.

For such a Patrick, this event was a golden opportunity to make his skills and name known to the world.

But at a single command from his passive and incompetent father, he agreed to kill that vigor and follow.

Baron Schneider was grateful for such a son.

“I am sorry. Your father is incompetent….”

“Well, that is true.”

“…Normally, wouldn’t you say that’s not true in this situation?”

“Hey, what’s going to change if I say that?”

“……”

“Speaking of which, why are you really not good at anything, Father? You can’t use a sword, you can’t make money. Are you even handsome? It’s because Mother is the incarnation of the Bodhisattva of Compassion that she lives with you; if it were me….”

All feelings of gratitude vanished.

In any case, even if they didn't wish to actively seek merit, they couldn't refuse to send troops to Count Parmas.

Count Parmas was a great noble representing the eastern part of the Kingdom of Atronia, and he even held the title of Margrave, which allowed him to forcibly conscript troops from surrounding fiefdoms if necessary.

Requesting military conscription by letter instead of ordering it was not much different from saying, ‘cooperate while I’m asking nicely.’

What if they didn't cooperate?

Things would inevitably become very tiresome from then on.

So, the Schneider fiefdom had to send soldiers.

“Let’s just send exactly half.”

“Will half be enough?”

“Well, to be honest, I think thirty would be enough. But….”

Patrick said with a smirk.

“To maintain a minimal appearance without showing our true strength, we’ll need at least 100.”

“Alright. I understand. Then I’ll leave the preparation of the soldiers to you.”

“Understood. April.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

“Please call Butler Lawrence. We need to discuss the armament and supplies for the soldiers needed for the expedition.”

“Yes. Understood.”

Patrick proceeded with the necessary preparations for the expedition.

He selected the soldiers and appointed April as the person in charge of managing the soldiers in his absence.

April refused, saying she must stay by Patrick’s side, but Patrick was firm.

“It’s an order.”

“…Yes.”

April reluctantly agreed with a sullen expression.

In fact, for Patrick, it was an unavoidable choice.

The goal of this expedition was to go, stay as inconspicuous as possible, just make an appearance, hold our position, and return.

But April’s very existence was conspicuous.

‘Taking you would attract more attention than taking the Orcs.’

That would just attract some attention for being strange, and that would be the end of it.

At least there wouldn't be guys hitting on them out of lust.

After all the preparations were finished, Baron Schneider set out leading 100 soldiers.

“Well then, I’ll be back, dear.”

“Please be careful.”

“Don’t worry about me. I’m more worried about you. Please, while I’m gone….”

“Can we just leave already? Please? Is an unmarried man supposed to live with all this sorrow?”

The Baron and his wife, who were dripping with honey, finally separated after Patrick said that.

“Ahem, all troops, depart.”

“Yes, sir!”

Baron Schneider’s army of 100.

It was the moment they revealed themselves to the world for the first time.

* * *

The eastern part of the Kingdom of Atronia was a barren land.

There was little land suitable for farming, and it was bound to be barren as they struggled to survive while fending off the monsters pouring out of the Great Forest to the east.

But for that very reason, the development of commerce was important.

Since half of the fiefdoms could not produce their own food through direct farming, most solved the problem by buying food from outside.

In other words, it was a place that would inevitably wither on its own if merchants did not constantly connect the fiefdoms and distribute goods.

Therefore, the Margrave of the east, Count Parmas, needed to manage this eastern distribution network well.

Were there any nobles getting greedy and levying excessive tolls?

Or was some merchant guild hoarding important goods and manipulating prices?

He had to manage the distribution network well.

But recently, a problem had arisen.

Bandits had settled on Pilseu Mountain in the east and began to attack merchants.

In fact, it was a common occurrence and not a major problem if dealt with quickly.

Count Parmas ordered the lords near Pilseu Mountain to subjugate them and resolve the problem quickly.

Thus, the nearby lords formed a punitive force of 500 and moved to subjugate the bandits.

But an unexpected result came out.

Annihilation.

Not just a defeat, but the 500-strong punitive force was annihilated.

And of the three lords who went on the subjugation, two were killed in action, and only one barely escaped with his life.

A band of bandits with the power to annihilate 500 regular soldiers had established themselves in his territory.

Enraged by this fact, Count Jaden Parmas decided to step forward and subjugate the bandits himself.

And to be fully prepared, he requested reinforcements from the lords of the nearby fiefdoms.

As a result, nobles from the east were gathering one by one, leading their troops to the Fiefdom of Count Parmas.

“My Lord. Viscount Antonia has joined with 500 soldiers.”

“Hmm, good. What is the total size of the punitive force now?”

“It has exceeded 5,000.”

“That should be enough.”

At the Count’s words, the butler said with a bitter smile.

“In truth, it is excessive for mere bandits.”

“Hahaha. That may be so. But isn’t it better to have too much than too little?”

“That is true.”

“If we rashly leave the bandits alone and their forces grow, an even larger army might be needed. If we want to nip it in the bud, it’s fine to be somewhat excessive.”

“I understand.”

“Welcome the lords who have come to support us as guests and treat them without lack.”

“Yes. Understood.”

Entertaining the visiting lords and feeding and housing the soldiers they brought with them.

All of it was a considerable expense.

But Count Parmas did not spare any expense on this matter.

‘If I think of it as the price for uniting the entire east while subjugating the bandits, it’s a cheap price to pay.’

This was another of Count Parmas' aims.

Count Parmas was a great noble with the title of Margrave and the ruler of the east, but his influence had been slowly weakening in recent years.

It had naturally become so as there had been no reason to summon the nearby lords in the name of the Margrave.

A blade that is not drawn from its sheath will rust.

‘Sometimes, you have to draw the sword and swing it for it to do its job.’

He planned to use this opportunity to remind the lords of the east who the ruler of this land was.

“Ooh. It’s packed.”

“It is. This could be called a spectacle.”

“Eh, not quite a spectacle….”

Bringing all the troops gathered in the Fiefdom of Count Parmas into the inner castle would cause problems.

So Count Parmas had the soldiers stay in barracks set up outside the castle and decided to provide them with alcohol and meat instead.

As they gathered one by one and set up barracks to rest, a considerable number of troops gathered in the fiefdom and formed a camp.

The attendant who had guided Baron Schneider this far said.

“Baron Schneider. Please have your soldiers rest here, and you, my lord, must go to the inner castle to see the Count.”

“I understand. Patrick, will you come with me?”

“Me? Forget it. What’s so great about some high-ranking person….”

“Watch your words…. You brat. Please….”

A Count was indeed high-ranking.

And Count Parmas was not just high-ranking; he held the title of Margrave and was practically the king of the east.

Seeing his father begging while glancing at the attendant next to them, Patrick shrugged and said.

“Alright. Anyway, you go on ahead. I’ll rest here with the soldiers.”

“Understood. But the Count might hold a banquet, so be sure to attend then.”

“A banquet, huh. Yes. Alright. I’ll go to that.”

Patrick, in whose mind the formula Banquet = Alcohol was embedded, readily nodded his head.

‘Why do I feel so anxious?’

Baron Schneider felt extremely uneasy about leaving Patrick behind and moving separately, but he had no choice.

“Let us go.”

“Yes. This way, please.”

After the Baron left, Patrick said.

“Sanson.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

“Set up the barracks around here and let everyone rest comfortably.”

“Understood. You all heard him. Set up the barracks first.”

“Yes, Captain.”

The soldiers diligently set up the barracks and prepared for camp. And Patrick….

“Kuh, being born a noble is great at times like this. Hurray for the class system.”

Patrick, who had lived a poor life in his past life, keenly realized how convenient it was to have a high status at times like this.

While the soldiers were working hard, not a single person said anything even when he was lying down askew and sipping from a bottle of alcohol.

He thought, ‘This must be why people want to succeed in life.’

“Thinking back, the old days were really sad. I couldn't do anything as I pleased and had to be mindful of those around me….”

Who was mindful?

Who? Mindful? Sad?

Couldn't even do as he pleased?

It was utter nonsense that would make all the enemies and allies associated with the Radiant Dragon Great Master Jin Cheon in his past life vomit blood and collapse.

Baron Schneider calmed his trembling heart and bowed respectfully.

“Baron Jaycall Schneider greets Count Parmas. It has been a long time.”

“Hmm, it is good to see you, Baron Schneider.”

The two exchanged greetings, but their attitudes were clearly different.

Compared to Baron Schneider, who seemed overly nervous, Count Parmas was perfectly at ease.

In fact, the difference in their temperatures could be seen in their greetings.

Baron Schneider said it had been a long time since he had seen Count Parmas. It was because he remembered visiting in his youth to pay his respects to the Margrave, Count Parmas, not long after he inherited the fiefdom a very long time ago.

But Count Parmas had completely forgotten about it.

In fact, it was an event from almost 20 years ago, so it would be stranger to remember it.

To Count Parmas, the lord of Schneider was just one of the many lords of the east.

“How many troops have you brought?”

“I am ashamed that I could not bring many due to my family’s difficult circumstances.”

“……”

That seems to be true.

That was what Count Parmas wanted to say.

According to the attendant’s report, the troops Baron Schneider had brought consisted of only 100 soldiers.

Not a single knight, just 100 soldiers.

This was the weakest force among all the lords gathered this time. However….

‘It can’t be helped. For a poor family, they must have done their best.’

Although the troops were few, there were signs that they had done their best, rather than just bringing them to make a token appearance.

The soldiers’ armaments were said to be not bad, and most importantly, he had brought his only son.

In Count Parmas' eyes, this….

Although our forces are lacking, we are doing our best to carry out the Margrave’s command. Please recognize our efforts.

It even looked like a desperate plea.

So, Count Parmas smiled faintly and said.

“Stay and rest comfortably. The subjugation of the bandits will be in two days.”

“I understand.”

“This evening, we will hold a simple banquet to welcome the lords. So, have the Baron and your son attend.”

“It is an honor, my Lord Count.”

“Return and rest comfortably.”

Just as the greeting was about to conclude warmly….

An attendant rushed in and said.

“My Lord Count. Excuse me.”

“What is it?”

“A fight has broken out in the barracks where the soldiers are gathered. It seems the deployment of knights is necessary.”

“Keeuk…”

The one who groaned at the attendant’s words was not the Count.

“What is it, Baron?”

“Ah, well…. My son and soldiers are also there right now. It’s just that, well….”

“Hmm, do not worry. It must be just a small trouble. Even if high-spirited soldiers cause trouble, would they dare to pick a fight with a Baron’s son?”

“……”

High-spirited soldiers, yes, that might be true. But….

‘Will my son really hold back?’

No, it wasn't a matter of holding back or not.

He could instinctively realize it.

The moment he heard that a commotion had broken out among the soldiers summoned by the Margrave’s order.

In the Baron’s mind, the culprit of this incident was already confirmed.