'The savages of the Abandoned Land are generally less vital than the Imperial citizens. They say that everything in that land is cursed. Is there any connection between that and this?'
Gabriel folded his arms and tilted his head, lost in thought as he looked at the huge magic circle that had grown.
The 'Abandoned Land', as vast as the Empire.
A place where few who go exploring return sane, and therefore little is known.
A place that is said to be so lacking in resources that they invade and plunder a beggar's den like Pervaz.
'But isn't it because nothing is known? In that case, can't we even trust the common sense we know?'
It was said that no one had ever explored that deep. If so, how can we believe that there is a lack of resources?
Can the tribes that invade Pervaz be representative of the entire Abandoned Land?
Moreover, the words of the puppet who returned after meeting the Igram tribe were significant.
[I felt a strong magic power from their bodies, but I saw no one using any special powers. But something was strange…]
Gabriel raised one hand and clenched and unclenched his fist.
He felt a much stronger magical power than before.
[…They all seemed to be possessed by something, their eyes unfocused. But when the chief gave an order, they all clung to that order in a terrifying way.]
Black smoke-like things bloomed from Gabriel's palm.
His puppet, unaware that he was being controlled by this black magic, still believed himself to be a pure servant of God. Even though his master was no longer God, but Gabriel.
'Maybe those savages too…?'
The speculation wrapped around Gabriel's shoulders like a sweet fantasy.
Of course, nothing could be certain, but Gabriel was intrigued by the Abandoned Land.
"To some it may be a 'forsaken' land, but to others it may be a 'frontier'. The possibilities are endless… ."
Gabriel smiled sweetly.
* * *
The Pervaz coalition, which had wiped out the Igram tribe, burned all the catapults beyond the border and threw the bodies of the enemy that covered the Kicker Plain on carts and dumped them in the Abandoned Land before returning to the castle after restoring the collapsed defenses.
It took nearly a month to do so, but it was a good choice in the end, as it allowed Pervaz to recover from the war quickly.
"You've worked hard!"
"You too, Sir Donovan. Thanks to the timely supply of materials and the deployment of replacement troops, we were able to wipe out the Igram tribe without getting tired."
"I, I just did as I was ordered."
"It seems that everyone in Pervaz is uncomfortable with compliments."
Carlyle patted Decker on the shoulder and entered with Asha.
The two people who kissed involuntarily in the middle of the Kicker Plain never mentioned it again afterwards. It was as if it never happened.
This time too, Carlyle spoke in a very businesslike manner.
"Should we prepare a victory banquet?"
"Victory banquet?"
Asha asked back as if she had never thought of it. But it was Carlyle who was surprised by her reaction.
"We won the war, so we should obviously have a victory banquet. If we have it too late, the soldiers will be dissatisfied."
"Uh…, we've never had one of those."
"What?"
Carlyle doubted his own ears.
"Didn't you have a victory banquet when you won the war against the Lure tribe?"
"How could we have a banquet when we had nothing to eat or drink?"
Once again experiencing a collapse of common sense, Carlyle made a blank expression for a moment and shook his head.
"That may have been the case in the past, but it's not the case now. We shouldn't treat those who risked their lives in battle like that."
"I didn't mean to treat them like that…!"
"I know. I misspoke. I apologize."
Carlyle wrapped his arm around Asha's shoulder and shouted at Decker.
"I'll spend my own money for everyone who worked hard. Prepare a victory banquet!"
Asha, who owed Carlyle another debt, couldn't be completely happy.
Carlyle noticed Asha's feelings and said jokingly.
"It's right for me to pay for it. It was a war that happened because of me, Isn't it?"
"Well, that's true… but."
"At least you're not saying it's not true."
Carlyle laughed cheerfully.
***
The victory banquet, prepared by the combined kitchen staff of Carlyle and Pervaz Castle, was surprisingly grand for something hastily arranged. Even the ordinary servants were mobilized to help.
They roasted smoked pork, baked white bread in the communal oven, and boiled stew in a large cauldron.
They opened all the wine they had carefully stocked up during the harvest festival and brought in minstrels and jesters who were staying in a nearby territory to play the harp and lute.
"I really thought I was going to die then. I tried to push him with all my might, but the ground was so slippery that I kept slipping."
"But you say this body appeared and saved you!"
"I can't deny it. Ugh."
"Hahaha!"
Everyone ate and drank and talked endlessly about the day of the battle.
Whether it was because they had fought together, pushing themselves to the limit, or because they had spent a month together, getting to know each other while cleaning up the war, the soldiers on both sides, including the knights and warriors, seemed much more relaxed than before.
"That's a relief."
Asha, who had been listening to the noisy chatter around her, put down her glass of wine and said softly.
Whatever the reason, it was thanks to the combined forces of the two armies that the Igram tribe was able to be wiped out. The friendly casualties were also small.
"That's what men do when they fight."
Carlyle also smiled and replied.
He was satisfied with this outcome in many ways.
'It would have been a warning to the Empress, and the barbarians who were a threat to Pervaz have been dealt with, and my knights and the Perbazz army have also been integrated….'
Then his gaze turned to Asha.
Asha's lips were red, perhaps from the wine.
'And my relationship with Countess Pervaz seems to have improved….'
There was no need to be close, but it was better for them to be on good terms in order to deter the Empress, who would be furious about the 'annulment of the marriage'.
And the word 'good terms' reminded him of Asha's lips.
'Why on earth did I do that?'
It was a question he had pondered many times since the battle.
At the time, he couldn't think of anything.
He just followed his instincts, as if it was the most natural thing in the world, and kissed Asha's lips.
The fact that it didn't end as a one-sided assault was because Asha also embraced him and actively responded to his kiss.
It was different from the way she had drunkenly kissed him before.
Her lips, dry and hot yet elastic, met hus and naturally parted and interlocked.
As he recalled that moment, dry saliva went down his throat.
'Could it be… that she's come to like me now…?'
His heart was pounding, perhaps because of the alcohol he had hurriedly consumed.
Just then, Asha leaned subtly towards him.
'What's wrong? Are you drunk?'
As Carlyle reached out to wrap his arm around Asha's shoulder, his body froze as if he had been hit on the back of the head by her whispered words.
"What do you want in return?"
"What…?"
"I know that it is called a war caused by Your Highness, but there was also a condition for the money and supplies that Your Highness gave to Pervaz."
Asha's voice was calm, as if she was not drunk at all.
"Why are you so obsessed with compensation? I'm not asking you to give it to me."
"Because there is no free banquet in the world."
"I'll give you this much for free. I'm feeling generous."
"Thank you, but I will decline."
Asha stubbornly insisted on paying the price.
"Your Highness is a person who will leave someday, and I don't want to get used to being indebted to you in this way. We will pay the maximum price we can."
The sweet alcohol suddenly tasted bitter to Carlyle.
The phrase "a person who will leave someday" made him feel strangely bitter, realizing that Asha must have lived with that thought all along.
'It's a natural thought for a Count of Pervaz to have… but still, it's not something you have to say in a time like this, is it?'
He was a little, no, more than a little annoyed.
Do you have to throw cold water on me when the mood is good?
Especially when you're the woman who kissed me so passionately.
He licked his lips, which were stained with alcohol, and spoke in a way that would embarrass Asha.
"The price I can get in Pervaz… ."
"If it is possible, I will give you anything."
"Hmm… ."
Carlyle chose his words carefully as he slowly sipped the wine.
"Taking money or jewels… would just be robbing what was given."
"Now that we've started farming, we'll be able to collect taxes and have cash from next year."
"When will that be?"
He mocked with a sarcastic tone.
"It is also ridiculous to ask for political support from 'this' Countess of Pervaz."
"That's… "
"Money, honor, power… it seems there's nothing to gain."
Asha's expression soured visibly.
But Carlyle had no intention of being sympathetic.
"So… is there nothing left but women?"
At his words, Asha's eyes widened in surprise as she sharply raised her head.
Even though he knew she would likely disdain him, Carlyle casually swirled his glass and murmured.
"They say women are the only thing to soothe the excitement of battle."
"Surely you're not suggesting using the women of Pervaz territory as your nighttime companions?"
Asha clenched her teeth.
Carlyle finished the remaining wine in his glass before turning his head slowly towards Asha.
"No need to go that far. My wife is already right here."