kscans

CHAPTER 5 WARS OF NATIONS – Episode 8 Wajd Entrante

t/n: whew, 2 weeks since the last post. so busy at work. self study and pending assignment at home. hopefully i can have some room to breathe in december after the semester final exam.

1

Bard witnessed a rare sight of Senior Priest Barry Toad in a fit of rage. It was the day Bard returned home after being interrogated by the senior officials. Senior Priest Toad, who returned home a little later, heard the details from Bard and exploded in anger.

It turned out that Barry Toad had been summoned to the royal palace and confined to a room to be questioned about various matters. Due to a scheduling mishap, the other party did not show up the next day, and when they finally arrived, they only spoke nonsense. Barry Toad returned home, thinking about the audacity of wasting the time of the Privy Councilor for two whole days on a matter of national importance. It was then that Bard asked what had happened to him. As a result, he realized that he had been detained while Bard was being set up. It was likely that the frontier Marquis had suffered a similar fate. Barry Toad fumed, vowing to crush the presumptuous officials who had dared to disrespect the elders of the state.

However, when Jurchaga revealed the true nature of the senior officials’ actions, Senior Priest Toad burst into laughter. The senior priest, who had calmed down, said, “No, no. Jurchaga has outsmarted them. Oh, I apologize for the informality, Jurchaga. What? Is it okay to address you as before? Hahaha. Well then, let’s do that. I see, I see. There’s no use in pushing too hard. It’s best to accompany them with a smile while holding their weaknesses in check. This will make it easier for His Majesty the King.”

Indeed, the actions of the senior officials this time were infuriating. However, it was a fact that, apart from them, there was no one else to govern the kingdom’s politics. The king could not handle everything alone. While it would be easy to purge them in anger, the result would only lead to discord between the king and the senior officials. It could even turn those who were favorable to the king into enemies. Moreover, Julelan, who was already struggling with a shortage of talent, would be at a loss.

The intelligent individuals present could not have failed to notice the irony in Jurchaga’s eloquent speech, which was laden with sarcasm directed at them. At the same time, they should have understood that he did not criticize them at all in his words, but rather praised their achievements. This would ultimately work in Julelan’s favor. Because to make amends for the major blunder they had committed, they had no choice but to prove that Jurchaga’s praise of them was indeed true.

Bard had intended to greatly commend Jurchaga this night, but he had left, saying he had somewhere to go. He was a busy man. Bard then heard from Barry Toad about the recent situation. The General of Greed, who had defeated the royal army, was staying in the city of Casse, and it was uncertain when he would begin his march towards the capital. Requests for reinforcements from the vassals were being sent out daily. This situation could not be left unattended. Currently, the territory of Count Ryde was safe, and the transport of the green flame stones had not been interrupted. However, if the Shinkai army continued to advance towards the capital, even that situation would be precarious. Currently, efforts were underway to gather the vassals from the eastern and southern regions. However, the vassals were not in agreement, and many did not understand the current crisis, so a counterattack plan had not yet been established.

2

For the next two days, Barry Toad was busy at the royal palace. Jurchaga also did not return often. Bard visited the engineering scholar Auro and the swordsmith Zendatta, and wandered around the stalls. By this time, rumors about the Shinkai army advancing towards the capital had become quite widespread, and Bard was asked about it in various places, but he could not give a clear answer. Then, on the third day, Barry Toad returned home early and said that he had an important news.

“Lord Bard Rowen is to assume the position of Wajd Entrante (Marshal of the Alliance).”

Bard was left speechless. Wajd Entrante? What was that?

Barry Toad said, “Let me explain it to you step by step.”

3

The news of the major defeat of the royal army was kept secret from the public, but of course, it caused a commotion in certain circles. One of these was the harem. Up until then, the concubines had kept their distance from the queen consort, Shernelia, but due to the anxiety caused by this event, they began to talk to her more often. The first concubine said to Shernelia, “The queen consort’s country is very large, and there are many knights. If the queen consort’s safety were to be endangered, would they not send reinforcements?”

Shernelia, a little older than the first concubine, innocently smiled and replied, “Doesn’t Parzam Kingdom have the hero Lord Bard Rowen?”

The concubines had been rigorously trained to know the names of influential knights and which factions they belonged to, as they had been sent to increase their own influence. Bard Rowen was a name they had not been taught. When they asked who he was, Shernelia called for Doriatessa. Blushing, Doriatessa recounted the heroic tales of Bard Rowen.

The story captivated the concubines. The tale itself was both interesting and thrilling. Up until this time, the concubines had felt intimidated by Shernelia, the queen consort. Their intentions to gently guide the princess, who had married from the barbaric northern lands, had crumbled upon meeting her. She was extravagantly dressed, with refined manners and a wealth of knowledge. Her expertise in tea and hospitality was astounding, and they couldn’t help but wonder how she knew so much about southern tea while being in the northern lands. After tasting the tea brewed by Shernelia’s lady-in-waiting, they found it unbearable to invite Shernelia to their tea parties.

Shernelia and her close aide, Doriatessa, praised the knights of Parzam. The knight in question was a seasoned veteran who had accumulated years of achievements in the frontier, and he was none other than the mentor and guide of the current King Julelan. Moreover, he had recently assumed the position of the Middle Army’s General and led the TriNation Allied Forces to repel a large horde of demonic beasts. Although he currently held no title, if this person were to take command, Shinkai would be nothing to fear.

Through the concubines, this story reached the princesses of the noble families in the capital. What happened next was that the princesses flocked to the harem to hear Doriatessa’s story. Since the welcoming ball, Doriatessa had become an object of admiration for the princesses in the capital. Despite inviting her to evening gatherings, Doriatessa had not accepted. However, if they went to Shernelia’s chambers, they could meet Doriatessa and hear her tales. The princesses pleaded with the concubines to ask the queen consort to invite them. Doriatessa, clad in a silver light armor, passionately recounted the heroic tales, captivating the princesses.

They asked their fathers, husbands, and grandfathers why the royal palace did not employ Lord Bard Rowen. It was unthinkable for women to meddle in politics and military matters, and there was no need to give a serious answer to such questions. However, the power of women was not to be underestimated. Moreover, three of the concubines were the daughters or granddaughters of the most powerful dukes in the country. Even though they were daughters or granddaughters, they were the ones who had to bow to the queen consort. Ignoring their words completely was not a good idea.

At that time, the senior officials held an inquiry to determine the rewards and punishments for Bard, the former Great General, in the battle against the demonic beasts. Immediately after that, a letter from Emperor Goriora arrived at the court of King Parzam. It stated that, at a time when the entire Central Plains is threatened by invasion, why not request the participation of the hero Lord Bard Rowen? This behavior was akin to meddling in the military affairs of another country. However, what followed in the letter was something that caught the attention of the senior officials and the nobles of Parzam.

Currently, the Shinkai invasion army had captured Goriora’s stronghold and was holding it, and the knights of the imperial kingdom were struggling in the offensive. In Parzam, they had lost the western stronghold and were soon to march towards the capital. If Parzam were to submit to Shinkai, and considering the current situation where Thula and Seion were already under the influence of that country, Goriora would be thrown into the midst of war. At this critical moment, Goriora expressed his readiness to join the military alliance proposed by Parzam. It was written that Lord Bard Rowen, who is highly respected by the knights of Goriora, would be entrusted with the pure military command as long as he assumes the position of supreme commander under the leadership of Lord Chamberlain Gimjinau Skole, who brought this letter.

Furthermore, Lord Chamberlain stated that upon the formation of the alliance, it would be possible to dispatch a total of 150 knights and squires. In reality, there were few who actively sought reinforcements from the Goriora Empire. This was because seeking help would require paying a corresponding price. However, in the context of the future relationship with this northern superpower, which has suddenly become close due to the king’s marriage, this is an unparalleled opportunity. The formation of a military alliance itself holds great significance, and if the conditions are met, the command would be given to them. In other words, Parzam would be in the position of the alliance leader. Currently, it is an alliance between only two countries, but if there are other countries that join this alliance in the future, they can be incorporated into the system. This was a significant opportunity that the great nobles and senior officials could not afford to overlook.

The next issue was the treatment of Lord Bard. It was possible to return him to the position of Middle Army General, but that would be a position within the military structure of Parzam, and his status within the alliance forces would become ambiguous. Therefore, a new title for the highest military alliance commander was established. The Supreme Commander. In other words, the “Wajd Entrante” (Alliance Marshal).

4

This was truly a bolt from the blue.* As Julelan is currently in trouble, Bard had no intention of abandoning Parzam in its current plight and immediately return to a wandering journey. He had been considering whether he could use the abilities of Karz and Jurchaga to provide even a little assistance. However, he never expected to be given such a position. While he had been temporarily appointed as a hired general, he was not a subject of this country. Without any consultation with him, the decision to appoint him to such a position did stir some anger within him. One might question whether there was no better choice than relying on such an old man, who couldn’t even provide sound strategic command.

He couldn’t help but feel the precariousness of his own position if he were to accept. Bard had no connections to any of the major noble families in this country. In other words, from the perspective of the nobles, he was an easily disposable commander. If the tide of war turned against Parzam, there would be no shortage of great nobles who would withdraw to their own territories and observe the situation. They would then join the victor once the outcome was certain. Bard would be treading on thin ice. (t/n: the idiom used is hekireki(thunderbolt) from blue sky, meaning a complete surprise)

On the other hand, he couldn’t help but feel that this might be his destiny. To confront and defeat the General of Greed and restore peace to the Central Plains. Perhaps this was the role given to him by the heavens.

Moreover, it was intriguing that the senior officials were enthusiastic about this matter. The senior officials were not only representatives of the interests of the major noble families, but also those who held sway over the heart of the country, and they possessed their own pride and sense of duty. The fact that they considered it acceptable to entrust the military authority of the country to Bard was noteworthy. Of course, this trust could easily be discarded if the situation changed. However, it was still trust. It also indicated a growing momentum to allow Julelan to proceed with his own intentions in this difficult situation. Furthermore, for the time being, Bard could rely on the strong support of the senior officials in terms of provisions and other preparations. This was significant.

Bard looked at Karz. Despite hearing the name of the General of Greed and his formidable rampage, the man’s expression remained unchanged. It was unlikely that the General of Greed was a personal enemy of Karz and his homeland. However, defeating the successor of the General of Greed and thwarting Shinkai’s ambitions held a significance beyond mere revenge. It was about preventing the birth of another “one who have been deprived*.” Bard thought that this was an unavoidable path in fulfilling this man’s vow. Karz’s eyes remained calm, but there seemed to be a sense of determination within them. (t/n: read v2c4 when venn urill change swear his name to Karz Rowen)

Then he looked at Jurchaga, who was still grinning. Bard had finally come to understand something. Jurchaga surprisingly had very little personal desire for himself. However, when he used his power for someone else, this man displayed an astonishing versatility. Perhaps the fact that these two had come to him was also a sign from the heavens.

“Wait for me, Grigol Entra (General of Greed). I will show you something you have never seen before.” Bard silently called out to the unseen formidable enemy in his heart.