Barbarian Quest

Carnius quietly stated the terms.

"What do you think, King Varca?"

The emperor’s peace terms were extraordinary. They included the independence of the kingdom, which the empire had never allowed until now. Moreover, even though no battle actually took place, the empire was willing to pay gold coins for war reparations equivalent to Porcana's ten years of national budget.

It was clear how desperately the emperor wanted this peace. He knew that Carnius was a military man and not skilled in negotiations, so he chose to offer a substantial reward right from the beginning rather than engage in clumsy haggling.

"This is incredible."

The nobles participating in the negotiations whispered among themselves, covering their mouths. The empire's terms were perfect for Porcana. The emperor promised the status of an independent kingdom in the future and included massive war reparations. No matter how arrogant the empire was, they couldn’t break a negotiation that involved Lou's name and the faith of the nation.

‘With the empire’s promise, Porcana will gain the status of an independent kingdom for at least the next few decades.’

Even Duke Lungell’s eyes widened.

"This is an immense fortune for us, Your Highness. It’s an opportunity for Porcana to rise to a powerful nation in a single stroke. If we gain the status of an independent kingdom, other kingdoms will rise along and push for their own negotiations with the empire. This is our chance to take the lead in all of that."

The minds of those at the negotiation table were spinning nonstop. Varca also closed his eyes and opened them again as he looked over the terms of the negotiation.

‘If the other kingdoms find out that we have made such an agreement, they won't stay idle. They’ll jump at the opportunity knowing the empire has been weakened, but there is no way the empire doesn’t know this. The fact that they proposed such terms to us first means that something is making them that desperate,’ Varca thought deeply.

The Caselmaroni Kingdom had already risen in rebellion. If Porcana heard about this, it would be difficult to achieve peace even with the current terms. It made sense that the emperor was in a hurry.

Moreover, with Caselmaroni, Porcana, the northern independent army, and the western alliance army, there were four forces opposing the empire. The kingdoms with a fast channel of news were probably already gathering their armies. If just two more kingdoms rose in the current state, the empire would have to engage in an all-out war.

‘His Imperial Majesty wants to prevent the worst-case scenario.’

Carnius smiled bitterly and looked at the head of the barbarians.

"His Majesty has decided to give you westerners the territory of Yailrud and its entrance. He wishes to establish a non-aggression pact and open exchanges."

Urich crossed his arms and tapped his forearm with his fingers, frowning.

"So you want to make a deal with me, yet you don’t even ask for my name. Are you saying that a barbarian’s name isn’t even worth knowing?"

Carnius flinched. He had habitually centered the negotiation around Varca, forgetting that the other man was also the leader of ten thousand warriors. He was a military man through and through, not a diplomat. On top of that, his vision was also narrowed because of the humiliation of making a treaty with barbarians.

"I apologize for my rudeness."

Carnius bowed his head slightly. Only then did Urich smile satisfactorily.

"My name is Urich."

"…Urich."

Carnius murmured the name. His fingers trembled.

Things were going exactly as the emperor feared. Urich, who was close to the King of Porcana, had formed an alliance with him.

"What’s wrong?"

"The Battle of Valdima… you delivered quite a blow to us."

The flames of that day still flickered before Carnius' eyes. The soldiers swept up in flames tangled with the barbarians. Even the imperial army was daunted by the barbarians' fearless fighting.

By all accounts, the commander of the Battle of Valdima was Urich.

Carnius forced himself to stop thinking about the battle. He was in the middle of a negotiation.

"Urich, I have something to say to you."

Harvald intervened in the negotiation. He was the representative of the north.

"I know, Harvald. We won't let the north become isolated."

Urich quickly responded, reading Harvald's thoughts. Harvald nodded with serious eyes.

"Us, Porcana, and the northerners. Georg, what was the thing called?"

When Urich mumbled, Georg whispered ‘triangular alliance.’

"Right, we’re basically that triangular alliance or whatever. Even if Porcana is left out, the west will stand with the north until the end. If the north fights, the west will fight. But Porcana probably won't back out of the triangular alliance too easily, am I wrong?"

Carnius frowned.

‘When did the west and north form an alliance?’

He hadn't expected there to be a treaty between the west and the north. But the Harvald standing behind Urich was clearly dressed in the attire of a Sun Warrior.

‘The diplomatic relations are more complex than His Majesty thought. Even the north is involved.’

Carnius tried to focus his thoughts.

"The empire can’t offer terms only to Porcana and the west. You have to also promise something to the north. The empire should recognize the kingdom of the north through a treaty and guarantee peace," Urich said.

The empire’s representatives murmured as they slowly plunged into disarray.

‘If we make a treaty with the north, Caselmaroni will also want a place at the table. This is beyond my authority.’

The emperor's intention was to put one front in a lull with a peace treaty and then stabilize the empire and the civilized world. The emperor judged that suppressing the rebellion by also placing Carnius’ army on the northern front was the priority.

‘Can I promise peace even on the northern front here? By the time I send a letter to His Majesty and wait for the reply, the news of Caselmaroni's rebellion will have reached here. Then the negotiation will become even more unfavorable for the empire. Then shouldn’t I finalize the negotiation here? I know it exceeds my authority, but considering the emperor's will, it's the right thing to do. We can't afford to shed more blood here.’

Carnius was sweating profusely. He drank some water and spoke.

"I would like to request a short recess."

At Carnius' suggestion, Varca and Urich looked at each other. Varca nodded, accepting the break.

The two sides distanced themselves and discussed the negotiation among themselves. They shared ideas to draw out an even better result for the respective sides.

"Carnius is not an experienced diplomat. The fact that the empire’s cornered right now is written all over his face," Varca said.

Even to Urich, the situation seemed favorable for the Porcana-Alliance forces.

"He was especially flustered when we brought up the north. That man really can’t hide his thoughts," Urich added.

Urich cracked a walnut with his bare hands and ate the kernel.

“That north might be what stops the negotiations from going through. The negotiation about the north is probably beyond his authority.”

Varca spoke with concern. The best outcome was for the conflict to end without war. Nothing good would come from shedding blood in Porcana’s territory.

“Leaving the north out of the negotiations cannot happen,” Harvald, the Sun Warrior, said coldly.

If only Porcana and the alliance made peace with the empire, the north would be isolated.

“We were able to receive these negotiation terms thanks to the northern rebellion. If we make peace, the north should also get what they want.”

Urich chewed on the walnut kernel. He had promised an alliance with the north and had no intention of breaking it.

“They’ve requested a break, which means they’re organizing their negotiation terms. The north will be included,” Varca said, making sure Harvald could hear.

“It’s hard to believe the emperor made a decision like this, but he must have decided it would be better to stop now and cut the losses than to risk all of the kingdoms rebelling and losing the empire’s power.”

Urich tossed a walnut kernel into the air and caught it with his mouth. Varca watched him, then snatched a walnut mid-air and put it in his own mouth.

“The emperor may be cruel and ambitious, but he’s pragmatic. If he thinks there’s more to lose, he’ll back out without hesitation.”

By now, Varca had interacted with the emperor for years. Although the emperor was the one who helped him reclaim his throne, his assessment of Yanchinus was harsh. Few people could have a personal relationship with Emperor Yanchinus like Varca.

‘It would be good if the war ended like this.’

Urich stood up and looked back and forth between the two camps.

‘We’ve already spilled too much blood. I can't spill any more of our brothers’ blood.’

Urich had several concerns that others did not know of. He was also concerned about the situation in the west. The ten thousand warriors on the expedition recognized Urich’s authority as Great Chief, but the remaining forces in the west did not know about Samikan’s death. Urich could very well face new challenges when he returned to the west.

‘Belrua bore Samikan’s child. I hope it was a daughter rather than a son.’

In the west, it was difficult for women to be recognized. Belrua was just an exception. If Samikan’s child were a daughter, no forces would gather under her.

‘Other tribes still exist in the west. The farther from the Sky Mountains, the harder they are to control. When the exiled tribes find out about Samikan’s death, they might rise again.’

The western tribes feared Samikan, and Urich did not command the same fear. The formation of the alliance and the expedition had always centered around Samikan, who was also a figure everyone feared.

The war and expedition had gone on for a while, and the west, just like the empire, needed internal reorganization.

‘Exchange.’

Urich carefully placed his hand on his chest. He could feel his heart pounding.

The west and the civilized world were already connected. If peace came, there would be a mutual exchange between the two worlds. The west could adopt the civilized world’s culture. Even if others didn’t, Urich would actively pursue exchange.

Gottval walked beside Urich. His steps were lighter than ever.

“Urich, you can stop this war with your power. You can bring peace to this land.”

“I see that you’re smiling, Gottval. Even though the empire is making this deal in defeat.”

“What I follow is Lou’s teachings, not the empire. I am no different from the Sun priests in the north.”

Solarism was able to gain much support because it valued peace and love. Its peace and love also proved their value in the harsh northern land.

“Gottval, in the end, this peace was achieved through blood and steel, not Lou’s teachings. The spread of Solarism in the north wasn’t through love and mercy, either. The imperial soldiers forced civilization and culture on the northerners by putting their swords against their necks.” Urich spoke coldly.

He knew from experience that cold steel was more effective than love and mercy. Words couldn’t persuade, but blades could.

“Lou’s intentions should not be interpreted from a human perspective. He sees what we cannot.”

“You are an excellent priest and also a good teacher. But you can’t do anything with just mercy and love. If I had prioritized mercy and love over power, I wouldn’t be alive today.”

Urich rejected Lou’s teachings. Once, he too had admired the civilized people and had tried to accept their religion.

“Gottval, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t follow Lou’s teachings. If I don’t kill, I will be killed. That’s just the way it is. Only merciless violence can protect my life and the lives of my brothers and my family.”

“Urich! You are misunderstanding. Even those actions are born out of your desire to protect someone. That is love.”

“If Lou’s teachings are so difficult, I won’t learn them. Reality is simpler than Lou’s teachings. What has guided me up to this point wasn’t Lou but the spirit of the warrior with the winged helmet.”

Gottval’s eyes widened. He knew well who the warrior in the winged helmet was.

‘Urich’s soul is going to leave Lou’s side.’

Gottval wanted to keep Urich close to Lou. He believed that no matter how much Urich wavered, he would eventually return to Lou’s side.

‘Urich is now trying to completely leave Lou’s side.’

Gottval considered it his mission to guide Urich back to Lou. Urich was the barbarian he had personally baptized.

“Urich…”

But Urich interrupted Gottval.

“The negotiations will resume soon. We’ll talk later.”

Carnius was walking from the opposite side. He sat back at the negotiation table.

Gottval watched Urich’s back with a bitter expression.

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