Chapter 193: The Giant that Moved
The army returned to Rafen and the usual proceedings for celebrating a military victory took place.
Alcohol and bread were distributed to the citizens and soldiers as they drank and sang songs happily.
Even so......
There are still women who sink to the floor in depressed spirits and young children who stare blankly.
The families of the deceased obviously don't feel like rejoicing.
「Over 1000 men were sacrificed, a little too much for my liking.」
Leopolt took a sip of his drink like he wasn't affected by anything.
The main garrison is located close to the city so many families are here right now.
For the time being, money and food can be supplied to the bereaved families if they're just women and children, but that won't exactly cure them of their sadness.
「As long as soldiers exist, it is an inevitable result. Aegir-sama shouldn't worry about it too much.」
Celia is worried about different things too.
「I guess so.」
I understand what she's saying, but seeing women cry just doesn't feel good.
Moreover, there originally was no need for me to send my own army to fight in this particular incident.
It would have been better to use Goldonia's Royal Army.
「We ended up with results though. Currently, you are the only feudal lord with connections to the city states.」
That is certainly the case with Aless and Atoroa, furthermore we now have a relationship with the other Poleis that gives us chances to converse and negotiate with them.
I'm sure cultural exchange and trade with them will commence soon.
Getting channels to those outside my territory who I'm not yet involved with is valuable.
They might be small city states, but they're still relatively wealthy and many of them import goods like iron or grain, so getting more trading partners is not a bad thing.
「So it's all...... for money.」
「Almost all wars occur for some financial benefit. Whether it is in gold or land doesn't make much difference.」
There's no use fussing about it now.
We can only pray for the deceased and move forward.
「That reminds me, Mack and Christoph also got injured.」
It seems like forever since those names were brought up.
It's only natural after a fierce battle like that, I just hope it's nothing serious.
「Mack is currently recovering from a large shoulder wound after his fight with the Aless soldier resulted in a draw.」
Umu, he's tough after all.
「Christoph got knocked away and fell down a cliff right when he clashed with the Aless soldier.」
I see...... so he died, what a shame.
「No, fortunately for him, he was weak and got sent flying into the water. The others who fell off the cliff were not as lucky and died after hitting the rocks......however he didn't get hurt, and got caught by a branch after flowing downstream. He was sent back anyways despite being pretty much unharmed.」
「This guy has quite the devil's luck.」
Now that I think about it, he's participated in numerous battles and he has no scar to show for it.
Even though I always come out covered in wounds.
「He still does not have an accomplishment to this date. It's actually impressive how he gets sent to the frontlines every time, yet has failed to cut anyone down.」
「Yeah, he's a good friend from way back when, so I'll give him some preferential treatment. Let Mack eat something nice too...... and get a nice girl from the brothel to see him, I'm sure many will like big men like him. I'll send an assortment of grapes to Christoph.」
Well, post-war activities are done for the most part, I'll just throw Maximilian into a prison until further notice.
「Aegir-sama! More importantly, pay more attention to us!」
As I gaze at the city of Rafen following the victory celebrations, something huge bumped against the back of my head.
They're Nonna's knockers of course.
The other girls are walking through the door too.
Let's stop with such depressing thoughts for now.
「Anastasia and Bartolome are growing up nicely too. Here Papa, hold them.」
The twins are already resting on my neck, touching my face curiously.
They're still really small and it feels like they'll break if I touch them.
I rub their cheek gently, unsure of what to do, and they respond by sucking on my finger.
They're doing what Celia did yesterday, although she sucked on my dick right after.
「They're beautiful kids just like you. Are you breastfeeding them properly?」
So apparently, Nonna is feeding the two kids directly from her breasts.
I thought for sure she would use a wet nurse like nobles do, but she told me she didn't feel like leaving it to another person after seeing the other women feed their kids with their own breast milk.
「Well...... not just properly......」
Nonna blushes and looks down, while Mel and Miti giggle.
I wonder what happened.
Then Carla smiled like a prankster and spoke.
「This girl's appearance isn't for show and she's quite the milk tank. She filled the stomachs of her two kids with one breast...... and then got me and Ekaterina to drink from the other one since it was swollen......」
"Waaah" - Nonna interrupts and tries to stop Carla from continuing.
How enviable, but it belongs to me starting from today.
「Uuuu...... that's because my breasts get too big when they're swollen...... if they aren't drained, they won't fit in my clothes.」
Nonna hides her chest shyly.
She never had many clothes which fit her humongous tits, so adding to her already large boobs makes the chest area which should have been made looser feel like it's about to burst open.
「Incredible...... I can play with them today, right?」
「You're going to suck on them?」
I'll suck on them, fondle them, jiggle them around, and squeeze in between them.
「M-making love is still not too good for my body.......so play with my breasts as much as you want.」
「I plan to do so, it's been a while since you crushed me with them.」
Of course I'll do it with Carla, Mel and the others as well.
I have to heal my battle-scarred heart with an orgy of all my beloved women after all.
「Um...... um......」
I also hug Alice who couldn't bring herself to come to the front...... then reach into her crotch and pull out the dildo shoved up her ass.
Your ass is already loose enough, don't play with it anymore.
Stuff will start leaking out of it.
Before I knew it, Leopolt and Nina are gone.
He always disappears whenever I start talking with the girls.
Don't tell me he's a virgin.
Those two are recently together a lot more than before though.
Forget about that guy's gloomy behavior.
Right now, my head is filled with thoughts of wanting to play around with the girls in the bath and drinking milk from those big tits.
The war is over, so I thought a peaceful daily life would continue for a while.
The Next Day
「This is another...... big news.」
The impetus came with the break of dawn as a civilian messenger came running in...... I say civilian but the sender is from the Olga Federation...... it's from Clara, Claudia's attendant.
The information from this girl is the only means I have to learn about the valuable inside news of the Empire.
Normally, we would exchange a letter once every month, but this one isn't part of that schedule.
「Did that pig woman screw something up again?」
Celia, she's still my woman, act a little nicer.
「I thought so too at first...... apparently it's something different. Take a look.」
I didn't only show Celia, but I let Adolph, Leopolt, Myla and everyone who held important positions see as well.
The letter left White City at the time of the madam's birth, so it probably started already since the information is late.
「The Garland Empire...... will be performing a large-scale invasion into the Olga Federation from the Western Plains......!?」
「This is-......」
「On the other side of the continent...... but its effects will spill over.」
Clara is ultimately just an attendant, so her information mostly comes from rumors or from the overheard conversations of those surrounding Marquess Malordol, not anything too accurate.
「But an order for an emergency summons to the Marquess's lands was given. This is going to be quite the huge war.」
Leopolt and Adolph nod meekly.
We just finished fighting and now we have another big problem.
I hope the sparks from their conflict don't fly towards us.
「And someone go slap Tristan awake. If we leave him alone, he'll sleep until midday!」
-Third Person POV-
Some Time Ago, Garland Empire: Imperial Capital
「His Holiness is absolute! Behold the supreme ruler of the continent which dominates the world, the Great Emperor of Garland! Prostrate before him!」
The chief vassal shouts as loud as he could.
In the heart of the capital stands a castle which stretches to the heavens and is surrounded by a moat. On the terrace of that castle, a man of large build wrapped in a luxurious and gorgeous mantle shows himself.
Only a single person in all of the Empire is allowed to wear the clothes - of a red pattern which matches the color of the national flag - on that man's body.
In an instant, a resounding chorus of metallic shuffling can be heard.
It was the sound of armor hitting the ground as all the soldiers throughout the city genuflected.
「Right now, I am filled with a great joy.」
Those words weren't spoken with a violent tone, but the loud and low-pitched voice was able to reach all corners of the quiet city.
「Gathered here are my army, my sword, whom I trust to accomplish my desires this time.」
The Emperor spreads his hands out and closes his eyes.
「You soldiers occupying the city are also a part of my sword. Be proud people of Garland, your Emperor is truly the greatest ruler of this continent.」
His words are not lies.
The Garland Empire is an enormous city with a population of one million citizens, exceeding the size of the White Capital in the Olga Federation.
That city is now packed with armed soldiers.
There is no doubt at least several hundreds of thousands of soldiers accumulated in the city.
Still, that number makes up a portion of the total, and the only ones who can hear the Emperor's words are those who call themselves the National Army - those in the Imperial army who have been made vassals of the Emperor from many years past.
The other members who make up the rest of the Imperial army include the recently dominated provincial army and the rebels who were forced into becoming slave soldiers.
「Now is the time to show those northern cowards our strength. Trample through the land, bury the rivers with soldiers, and become the cornerstone for our victory! Advance forward, my loyal subjects! Bring back victory to this hand of mine!」
"Ooh" - An emphatic shout from all the soldiers reverberated throughout the city as the Emperor raised his arm and returned back inside the castle.
Waiting for him there are individuals who are bowing down similar to the soldiers outside.
「It is past due for my army to subjugate the entire continent.」
Only two individuals amongst those kneeling down raise their heads.
The Emperor first places his hand on the shoulder of the well-built middle-aged man.
「Chief Commander Zaphnes, you will push through the western plains, and advance until the North Teries River!」
「I will, converting this very life of mine without fail!」
The man called Zaphnes smiles fearlessly and nods greatly.
WIth a large body and flowing beard, the man exudes the air of a brave general.
He is in fact the Supreme Commander of the Land Invasion Forces, the Chief Commander who leads an unprecedented 2.5 million troops.
Next, the Emperor places his hand on the shoulder of the woman on the other side.
「Chief Commander Sekrit, you will lead my grand fleet up north on the Great Sea and into the North Teries River. You will rout the Federation's pathetic navy and ferry the troops over to White City!」
「As Your Majesty commands.」
The woman is in her thirties, with a slender build, tanned skin, and an expression unique to her.
That unmoved look and her monotonous voice makes it seem like her soul died, and although she is pretty, she doesn't give off any feminine charm.
She is the Admiral of the Empire's grand fleet who is in charge of a thousand military transport vessels, several hundreds of large battleships, and tens of thousands of crew members.
「If you can realize my ambition, I will grant you any reward you desire - Mountains of gold enough to bury your homes, a neverending expanse of land stretching further than a horse could ever take you, peerless beauties both male and female to wait on your every need - all of it.」
The King's expression tenses as soon as he finishes saying those words.
「However, I won't tolerate failure. I don't have to explain to you what happened to the last Chief Commander.」
The previous invasion resulted in a stalemate, but since no territory changed hands, it can be considered the defense's - the Federation's - victory.
As a result, the Empire's Supreme Commander at the time, as well as his family and friends, all screamed continuously for three days and three nights as they got eaten alive by poisonous insects.
「「It is engraved into our souls.」」
「Then go! I will deliver the supplies, military slaves and anything else you may need. You will bring me back the world!」
Not just the two he spoke to, but all those waiting behind the Emperor also shouted battle cries.
The individuals kneeling like any rank-and-file soldier are also generals who each lead armies of tens of thousands.
The King turned around and went back to his quarters, while the other generals returned to their own squads.
「We are a collective body whose fate has already been decided, a painful death awaits us if we fail.」
Sekrit doesn't respond to what Zaphnes said.
「I can't cross to White City if your fleet doesn't arrive. Be careful not to screw up.」
「Your concerns are not necessary. Focus only on doing what you have to do.」
Sekrit doesn't even turn her face to Zaphnes, only shifting her violet eyes in his general direction while giving a quick reply before leaving shortly after.
「She's unbelievably beautiful, but no one can be attracted to that tone of hers.」
Zaphnes sighs once before leaving after her.
Protagonist: Aegir Hardlett. 23 years old. Summer.
Status: Goldonia Kingdom Margrave. Great Feudal Lord of Eastern Area. King of the Mountains. Friend of the Dwarves. Friend of the King of Aless.
Citizens: 159,000. Major Cities - Rafen: 23,000. Lintbloom: 4000.
Assets: 0 gold (Medals of Honor, Payment to Bereaved Families -40,000) (Party -300)
Family: Nonna (wife), Carla (concubine), Mel (concubine), Kuu (lover), Ruu (lover), Melissa (lover), Mireille (lover), Leah (lover), Miti (betrothed), Maria (betrothed), Catherine (betrothed), Casie (ghost), Rita (head maid), Yoguri (playwright), Pipi (lover), Alice (ass), Alma (crying)
Sebastian (butler), Dorothea (lover, in the capital)
Children: Sue, Miu, Ekaterina, Amata, Anastasia (daughters); Antonio, Claude, Gilbard, Reiner, Bartolome (sons); Rose (foster daughter)
Subordinates: Celia (adjutant), Gido (escort unit), Kroll (smiling), Irijina (commander), Luna (commander), Ruby, Myla (security officer), Polte (student director), Gretel (dog)
Leopolt (staff officer), Adolph (domestic affairs official), Tristan (strategist?)
Claire & Laurie (official merchant), Schwartz (horse), Lilian (actress)
Mother - Marceline; Daughters - Stephanie, Bridget, Felicie (taken into custody)
Other Country:
Celestina (Queen of Malt), Monica (lady-in-waiting), Claudia (madam), Clara
Sexual Partners: 206, children who have been born: 46