Otherworld Nation Founding Chronicles - Chapter 71

Chapter 71

Chapter 71 – Seven Days War VIII

Author: 桜木桜 (Sakuragi Sakura)

Translator: Isekai Shousetsu

Disclaimer: This is a fan translation only . All rights belong to the author . Since the translator is around JLPT N2-N3 only, he cannot guarantee the translation is free from error . If you enjoy the story please support the author by buying the light novel or by visiting the manga serialization even if you can’t read Japanese . Don’t hesitate to write a review of the novel at Novel Updates . Thanks!

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: Double Release

[]  [Table of Contents]  []

When a new king ascends to the throne, a purge is sure to follow .

This purge must be done thoroughly .

If It were done half-heartedly, rather than striking fear, it would instead cause resentment .

A purge is necessary so that the stability of one’s administration can be ensured . Furthermore, it would also ensure that your successor can rule without worry after your own demise .

However, it’s not like a purge is an absolute necessity .

For example, Julius Caesar, showing great forbearance, gave pardon to his political opponents .

However, you might also say that’s also the reason why he was killed by the knives of republicanism .

I’m not conceited as to consider myself possessing greater genius in governance and politics than Caesar . That’s why I don’t intend to pardon the DeBell faction .

Now then, the problem is where do I draw the line in forgiving and condemning .

If I kill all the opposition, then I’ll be imposing politics of fear .

Conversely, if I forgive too much, then they’d begin to think “this guy’ll forgive me in the end . ”

First, I would have to forgive those from the DeBell faction who have showed allegiance to me .

I had the names of the DeBell faction members who had changed sides to me before the announcement removed from the execution list .

It’s common occurrence for clansmen to switch allegiance to a different power depending on changing circumstances . For them, what’s more important is, rather than country, their status as clansmen, their territory, and their own families . It’s something one must understand .

Second, I would have to deal with those who changed sides after the execution announcement . They’re the one’s I’m troubled with .

Letting these opportunistic wretches, so to speak, live is to turn a blind eye to future trouble .

That said, the same could be said for those who changed sides immediately after my victory against the De Morgal Kingdom . All of them are just opportunists .

The problem is how do I separate the good from the bad opportunist . What’s the difference between these two groups of turncoats?

Let’s just be blunt . There’s no difference between the two . Both groups are essentially opportunists regardless of difference in circumstance .

In a word, one group was just unlucky .

Then how about I forgive them? If I went with that, then I’ll essentially be letting a lot of De Bell faction members live .

To have large numbers of potential rebels within the country borders is simply bungling .

You can even go further and reason that you could carry the political situation more smoothly as king if you had few great clansmen as possible .

That’s why I’ll have them dead .

While we’re at it, we’ll have the loyalty of the early turncoats tested . We’ll have them kill the condemned turncoats so we can clearly discern the birds from the beasts . [TLN1]

Certainly, even an opportunist will quickly show their true intentions if you have them kill their former colleagues by their very own hands .

Now then, should we forgive the women and children?

This is another point of contention .

I personally want to spare them . It’s unreasonable, not to mention, pitiful to have people who have done no wrong killed after all .

Furthermore, it’s not like the children had a choice in what lives they were born in .

However, in the end, I’ll have them killed .

There are two reasons .

First, it was because I was persuaded by Bartolo and Raymond .

It’s related to turning a blind eye to future troubles . Children today would grow into adults someday in the future . They will surely bear grudges of having their families killed, etc . etc .

I couldn’t help but see the point .

Then, the next reason . It’s because I have an example of this so close to home . Yes, it’s about Tetra .

Although King Ferrum had thoroughly killed Tetra’s family, he had let her go .

And so, it bit him back in the future and got killed by me .

How can I definitely say that it can’t helped but for me to do such things?

In the end, I reached this conclusion .

I’ll probably regret this conclusion in the future . No, I’m actually regretting it already .

I keep wondering if this was the right thing to do .

However…… . compared to me dying as well as Julia and Tetra, and my children getting killed, this conclusion and any regret it carries are to some extent less objectionable . That’s what I thought .

The new king’s royal orders were quickly disseminated throughout the country .

First, the rebels are to be executed .

Second, the rebels’ collaborators are to be executed

Third, those who manage to apprehend or kill a rebel, regardless of social status, shall be rewarded .

Fourth, while the general rule is to also execute the retainers of the rebels, those who cooperate with the execution of the rebels shall have their own punishments commuted .

The first to move were Bartolo and Raymond .

The two went separately, invading the DeBell clansmen’s territories one by one, and executing them .

Those in the vanguard are the former DeBell clansmen who had changed sides immediately after the war . Because they have shown their allegiance to Almis before the announcement of the execution list, they got pardoned in the nick of time .

There’s a reason why they were made to lead the vanguard .

‘If you want to be forgiven, show some effort . ’

If it would seem like they’d change their minds, they’d be crushed by the main forces following them from behind led by Bartolo, Raymond, and the others .

They would have to kill their former comrades if they want to live .

Second to mobilize were Ron and the others who just received the royal orders .

Leading 500 soldiers, they invaded the DeBell territory ahead of me .

The new king is leading 4000 men and advance directly towards the DeBell territory while displaying such scene to the citizens .

Last to mobilize were the retainers of the DeBell faction .

Having learned that the DeBell clansmen have really been condemned to death, they immediately mobilized their own troops and personally led them into attacks against their very own lords .

Indeed, a good two-thirds of the clansmen were arrested by their very own retainers’ hands .

“Please! Spare even just the child… . . he hasn’t even reached three years of age!”

A woman pleads Bartolo . She prostrates herself, begging for mercy .

Bartolo answers while drinking his liquor .

“I very much understand how you feel . I, too, have a little daughter at home after all . I really want to do you a favor . ”

Then, Bartolo throws away the bottle and unsheathes his sword .

“However, it’s my principle to not mix personal feels with my job . Just following the new king’s orders –  send both mother and child together to the other world . ”

He slashes at the woman .

The woman glares at Bartolo as she bleeds to death .

“What… . in the world was our sin?…… . ”

“Hmm, let’s see . You had the sin of marrying a rebel . As for the child, he has sinned just by being born into this world . ”

Bartolo then pierces the child held by the woman .

Just like that, a young soul loses its life .

“Go to hell… . . ”

One last curse of defiance and the woman dies .

Bartolo takes another bottle of liquor to drink anew .

“Stupid, there’s no way a loyal retainer like me would go anywhere except heaven . ”

Bartolo continues his advance .

Then, a subordinate rush over to report .

“General! The lord of the territory just ahead has refused our army’s entry!”

“N? Just ahead is… . . if I recall correctly, a neutral faction territory, huh . If I’m not mistaken, they have marriage ties with the next rebel . Then, it can’t be helped . ”

Bartolo drinks the liquor dry .

“Continue the advance . Also, tell the lord that he should cooperate if he doesn’t want to die . ”

“Would that be fine?”

“Aren’t collaborators also condemned to death?”

The lord has again refused entry .

Thus, Bartolo annihilates them and eradicates the lord’s bloodline .

“It’s quite anticlimactic, huh . ”

Raymond mutters .

In front of him is a tied-up rebel, deceived and killed by his own retainers .

This is already the third time this happened . Because of that, he still hasn’t fought even once .

Well, it’s kind of a blessing in disguise as war is not one of Raymond’s specialties .

He walks closer to the tied-up clansman and cuts off the head .

“Lord Raymond, Would it be possible for me to humbly ask one thing?”

“What?”

The retainer that betrayed the rebel foppishly asked .

“About the rebel’s wife and daughter…… . would it be fine if I do as I please with them?”

“No . Kill them immediately!”

The retainer promptly runs away in confusion at Raymond’s yell .

Raymond spits at the sight .

“Tsch . Low-life . ”

There are around 200 soldiers who have barricaded themselves within the DeBell residence . Those in command were completely relative DeBell clansmen . The non-relatives have all turned on them .

From the very beginning, Regal, who had refused to provide troops for the war with the reason of protecting the borders, had already 500 soldiers in position in his territory .

He had thought that Almis will fail .

Regal’s plan was to gather his clansmen after Almis’ failure, ambush the pursuing De Morgal army, and to look like cleaning after Almis’ mess .

In the first two days of the war, Almis was being pressured in the fort severely outnumbered . However, all of a sudden, Almis made a huge breakthrough . By the time Regal decided to join the war and hurry into the field, Almis had won magnificently and peace had already been established .

That however worked in his favor because he still has his 500 soldiers with him by the time he learned of the royal order to subjugate the rebels .

He’ll have to somehow stop the incoming punitive force and exploit that moment to emigrate to another country . Just as he was planning that, 300 of his men turned against him .

Thus, without being able to even attempt to escape, he got cornered . His residence immediately got surrounded by 800 soldiers, 300 turncoats plus 500 from the Ars territory that marched in advance .

Even now, he’s unsure whether the remaining 200 would turn on him . He’s stuck between a rock and a hard place .

However, again in his favor, the royal order demanded all rebels and all their relatives are condemned to death . Because of that, the unity of the DeBell clan only strengthened .

They’d rather not go extinct .

“Things are somehow happening a little too fast for me to keep up so… . . please enlighten me . Lord Chiliarch . Is it fine that we don’t proceed with the assault?”

“Well, for now it’s enough that we just keep up the encirclement . We’d be risking unnecessary damage after all . We’ll begin the full-blown assault after leader… . ((rather)), the new king arrives . ”

Ron gazes at the DeBell clan estate .

Inside the residence are important documents such as the register of the names of all the village chiefs in the territory .

Burning those very important documents would be bad . Furthermore, they would have to save the last enemy for Almis .

That’s what Ron thinks .

“Well, it won’t change the fact that we’ll win . Wouldn’t it just be fine to take it easy?”

“I want to get an achievement though……”

“It’s not like getting or not getting an achievement would make a difference though? From what I see, it’ll take just a few years more until you’ll get promoted to chiliarch . ”

Joseph’s eyes sparkle at Ron’s words .

“Really!?”

“Yeah, really . When I become a general, I’ll make you my second-in-command . That’s if I don’t find someone even more excellent than you . ”

“Alright!” (Also hooray, wohoo, yahoo, yehey, woot, I did it, etc . )

Joseph is overjoyed .

His promotion, however, would depend on Ron becoming a general……

Night of the Sixth Day .

Gilberto has been thinking .

What does he have to do to save himself .

Although it’s quite late, humans are creatures that want to be saved no matter what . Even if just his life .

Then Gilberto had an ephiphany .

He thought there’s no way that Almis would be capable of such senseless brutality . Almis even apologized deeply for the previous scuffle between their two clans .

Almis would probably forgive him if he apologized earnestly .

As such, it’s decided .

Gilberto hurriedly gathers the troops under his charge .

(Almis’ POV)

Seventh Day, Around Sunset .

I finally arrive at the DeBell territory .

I conscientiously appealed to the citizens along the way .

All of these to convey not only to the great clansmen but to all people from the citizens even up to the slaves my succession as king .

I was especially consientious with the DeBell territory’s citizens .

Several of them joined me on my march towards Regal .

I didn’t drive them away . They too probably have several grudges they want to finish . I very much understand what they feel .

“Ron!”

“Leade… . . no uh, my King! We have cornered Regal DeBell!”

I rush over to Ron .

It seems he had held up the siege for me until the end .

“It’s not like you doing the final act would be a problem . Well, it’s fine already . ”

I then face the DeBell estate .

Beside me is Ron, also Gram and Roswald acting as flagsmen .

Coming along behind us are the sorcerers Soyon, Lulu, Tetra, and also Julia .

Bartolo and Raymond still hasn’t arrived .

However, it’s probably fine to start now .

“Gentlemen-soldiers working for the DeBell Clan . All of you have no crime whatsoever . If you immediately hand over the people of the DeBell Clan, I suppose I shall pardon all of you!!”

A ruckus immediate occurs inside the DeBell estate . It seems a mutiny has quickly occurred .

After a while, the gate opens slowly .

All the DeBell clansmen are being brought out while bound by rope .

And thus, the last one to come out… . . Gilberto was somehow not bound up .

What the heck is……

I see . He sold out . He sold out after I arrived because…… . he concluded that he wouldn’t be able to save himself without directly negotiating with me because of the royal orders demanding their deaths .

This is one stubborn fellow, huh . Probably trying to make up to me, since he heard about the clansmen that got executed, I guess .

Gilberto runs up to me .

“My new king! I have unwillingly served Regal . He was a relative, so I thought it couldn’t be helped . However, once I heard he had rebelled, I thought I had to draw the line . That’s why here I am presenting to you, our new king, the men of the DeBell clan, all tied up . That’s why, please spare my life, gg guah?”

Gilberto looks with a perplexed expression at the sword that sprung up his own chest .

“Sorry, my hand slipped . ”

Roswald mutters .

“You always slip your hand, huh . Just like that time with the refugees .

Well, this is such an unfortunate incident . I guess it couldn’t be helped . Sorry bout that, Gilberto . ”

Gilberto collapses in a thud .

Now then, next would be… .

I walk towards Regal DeBell .

Regal depressingly hangs his head .

Well, I can sympathize . He got betrayed by the people and relatives he had trusted with all confidence .

If he had advice from Bermet, he probably would have a much less objectionable end .

Well, it was me, however, who got rid of Bermet .

“Sorry . It’s not like I harbor that much hate against you . Although because of you, my retainers lost their limbs; it’s not like they had died . Though there’s anger, it’s not to the extent to warrant your deawth . However, I desired Julia . You, too, desired Julia . The two of us wont yield . Therefore, this is the natural consequence . You are a hindrance to me so I’ll kill you . ”

I raise my sword .

However, Regal suddenly moved .

He had prostrated himself before me, bowing his head to the ground with great force .

I smell the stench of excrement from him .

“Ple, please!…… . Spare even just my life… . . ”

Regal is reduced to sobbing and begging for his life .

What you should be doing is pleading for the lives of your companions, yes? Good grief……

“Haa, what a letdown… . . ”

I lay down my sword .

There’s no need for me to go out of my way and execute him here .

Besides, come to think of it, it would be a waste if I were to kill him here .

I think it would be better to hold an official execution in the distant future .

“For the meantime, lock him up in the dungeons . ”

I turn my back on Regal .

Regal raises his head, and as if misunderstanding something, shouts:

“Tha, thank you very much!!”

You’ll still be executed you know?

“Now then, Julia . Shall we go home?”

I smile at Julia . Julia reciprocates and holds my hand .

“Just the two of you is not allowed . ”

Tetra quips .

“Ah, sorry, sorry . ”

I embrace the two by the shoulder and leave the place with them .

At that moment .

——-hihihihihihihihihi———- [TLN2]

I hear laughter .

That of children . This is……not my first time hearing this .

Yes . That time, I heard this in my previous life just before I got ran over .

Am I the only one who’s hearing this?

I look around restlessly, surveying my surroundings with a perplexed face .

No, it’s not only me .

Julia is also looking around .

In other words, the only people able to hear them are me and Julia .

——Boring—–

——What a let-down——

I can clearly hear the voices . This is the same as my thinking language……Japanese!!

“Almis, do you hear? It just said ‘Boring’……”

“So you hear it in Adernian, huh . ”

‘Divine Protection of Language’ and ‘Diving Protection of the Divine Word’ have the same effect .

—-However, we succeded with the rival . Let’s settle this now . We’ve succeeded our objectives—-

—-It’s a success, yes?—-

High-pitched children’s voice . You can’t tell apart whether it’s a boy’s or a girl’s .

—Then shall we confiscate?—–

A chill runs down my spine .

I turn my head behind me in confusion .

Blood rushes to my face .

Regal, on the otherhand,…… . . is emitting blood .

He’s emitting blood from the pores of his skin . What in the world is happening……

“This inversion …… . . I, I’ve don’t know about this . I I’ve never seen this before… . . What is, eh, what is this?”

Julia shows a frightened expression .

I embrace the shaking Julia while glaring at Regal’s dead corpse .

—Regal DeBell dies from a disease where the body emits blood from the pores on the whole body . Herewith, the Seven Days War ends—

An excerpt from the ‘Romano Empire Founding Chronicles’ Author: Yang Qingming

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