* * *
Albrecht drops Diego off at the wharf. I haven't seen him in about two years in Oberburn, and we've been back in the Crusades together for three months.
With a decisive big victory in Eijas, the war unexpectedly ended quickly and sparingly, but it was a distinction between the fears and the horrors that everyone had felt before the victory, leaning against each other.
When will I see you again if I break up with you this time? This era may, in fact, never be seen by the two of us again.
Diego's heart was soft, but hard, and honest, but not stupid. And he was a good keeper of the line, and a friend he could always leave behind.
There were rare beings who could leave their abilities behind with peace of mind. I think I can go anywhere in the world if Diego's got your back.
Diego gazes at Albrecht until it disappears from the horizon on the far side of the boat. Albrecht also looked at him. Have a nice life.
Suddenly, I remembered the son of Diego named Rodrigo. When you grow up, you'll be proud of your father.
Albrecht straps the stray fabric to his shoulder in a silk tunic, puts a sword around his waist, carries an axe in one hand, and walks away from Jairex with Randolph, the change bags, and the knights.
The fabric made by nomads was famous for being soft and beautiful. Although the texture was not silky, beautiful symbols made Albrecht feel exotic.
The fabric worn by Albrecht came from the people of the east, and was embroidered in the great black eagle pattern and embroidered in gold and silver with geometric and owner's blessing symbols on the edges.
I cleared the way for the soldiers ahead of time, so people don't stick together like they did the last time.
People stood on the side of the road, watching the heroes of the world run on horseback at the forefront.
Albrecht has left the city to Herman and Carpen, and will go out with the change bags for a while to check the perimeter of the territories specifically.
Although there was a map, it was almost kindergarten picture level. In order to prevent any conflict, I had to see the boundaries with the change bags directly.
I also needed to see where to build the knights' fortress. Staying in cities in the middle of their territory, they are likely to vacate the gyrex for a long time.
As the guardian of the sanctuary, it was an important task to check the boundaries of the territory with the changing bags, but it was practically a journey with dozens of fallen men.
I have never traveled that much in my memory of the Earth, but I was travelling on the Eastern Continent with men and not in this world at the time.
In the endless expanse of plains, there were many areas of nocturnal hills, and I saw strange rocks in the desert terrain that I did not know how they were created, and I saw wild horses swarming far and wide in the plains.
People flocked to watch Albrecht in each city, but stayed in the palace with the help of the garrisoned soldiers and knights.
One day I had to take Randolph, the change bags, and the knights inland, looking at the characteristic rocks, rivers, and so on, to check the boundaries of the territory, to see the terrain that could build a fortress, and to go camping in the evening.
I wanted to spend the night in the city if I could, but I often went camping.
The planners gather branches or firewood from the nearby dry shrubs and start a campfire.
I didn't pack my spare travel gear for a quick tour, so I just had to sleep without a tent in the rocks.
Albrecht was not fully armed, so he had no cloak. He was just wearing a silk robe woven by nomads. The night on the Eastern Continent was cold.
Now Franz, one of the purse's purses, glances at the slippery Albrecht, and uncovers his cloak.
Albrecht looks at the campfire and falls into a state of mind. Then someone covers his cloak and smiles at him.
“Thank you.”
The change bags, which were originally senior knights, used to make silly jokes that would impress ordinary people when they were alone. But now that Albrecht is here, everyone is just silent.
Albrecht stares at the bonfire as the group face the night of the Eastern Continent without a word.
“From now on, I'm giving up knighthood. I'm Randolph, the second commander. ”
The change bags and knights around you just glanced at Albrecht. Randolph looks embarrassed.
“No, Master. ”
Albrecht glances at Randolph, then looks back at the campfire.
“I tried to get the Master to choose within the Knights, but since you've been discharged, I'll name two generations." ”
None of the knights in place complained. Some treat Randolph as a child, but no one doubts his abilities.
He was strong, honest, and trusted by the master of the invitation and made an assistant. We fought together, fought together in the blood on the plains of Eijas.
But when they told me Albrecht had quit his job, I felt a sense of emptiness for some reason.
Albrecht continues to look at the campfire.
“The troops will also receive the subordinates and reduce them little by little. Of course, they'll take care of all the allowances. Those wishing to settle here will also introduce you to the job. And if any of them want to follow you, you can take them with you. ”
As Albrecht's words continue, the warriors of the inversion felt an unknown sense of camouflage. Franz, who quietly looked at Albrecht, said:
“Do you have any plans? Maybe you're shrinking the army too quickly......”
Albrecht smiles and says.
“The Crusade has cost you nothing. If I want to pay the right allowance, no matter how much money I make, I can't afford it. The army must be reduced at any time. It's a little early, but it'll be okay. ”
Despite Albrecht's answer, the unknown camouflage of the knights has still not dissipated.
What is it? What was the Master thinking? It's like he's acting like he's about to disappear.
The knights feel an unknown anxiety in their hearts, and remain silent. What should we do if the boss really leaves?
“Think about your duties. Build a family. Give your bloodline. Fulfill the duty of his children and his children for generations to come. Keep the change."
Albrecht says that one last time, and then covers his cloak and leans into the cracks of the rock to sleep. The knights were speechless. Randolph simply bows his head and looks at the ground.
Albrecht returned to Zairexl in almost a month with his Randolph and change bags.
People were celebrating as the sun changed, but Albrecht was not interested in that.
I've narrowed my army down by taking all the officials I originally planned. Those who took care of the global allowance and wanted to settle down helped settle down, and those who wanted to leave paid the boat wages.
The architects, bricklayers, and labourers I hired were put together to lead the change bags. And among the soldiers and knights who were discharged, he led those who wanted to follow them.
Albrecht would pay until he built a star. I couldn't afford it if I kept the army.
Randolph has been depressed for the whole year since he was named head of the second team. Albrecht regards him as his brother, but he thinks he should stand up when he gets up on his own. So I tried to ignore him.
Then I dispatched Randolph to the place where the Knights' fortress was built to oversee the construction.
Randolph hesitates as if he had something to say. He barely opens his mouth.
“I, Master. Are you leaving? Like in Oberburn?"
Albrecht smiles faintly at him.
“Why? Will you follow me again? ”
Randolph opens his eyes and nods earnestly.
“Of course! Of course I'm coming! But...... the Knights......”
Once upon a time, Albrecht would have done just that, but now he has others to answer for. Perhaps his heart seemed complicated.
“Haha, you're the director. You can do whatever you want. What are you so worried about? And I'm not leaving here until I've done my job. Don't act like you're breaking up right now. Hahaha.”
Randolph still doesn't show his face. Then I told Albrecht again.
“Perhaps, if I break up with the Master, I'll see him back in his hometown of Caltene, right? ”
The expression on Albrecht's face lingers in Randolph's words.
“Someday, yes. He'll be in Caltern.Unless I die somewhere. ”
First of all, Randolph looks a little expressionless, as if that were enough for now. Then he looks down at Albrecht and leads the knights out of the city with the workers.
Albrecht was not so busy as long as he had left the work to Carpen because his goal of repairing the shrine was not so great from the beginning.
As with Feudal lands, it was a day when people's daily life began to return, and there was nothing special about it.
The holy city of Zairexl, though it is said to be the best city in the world, only lived through the trade that people in the center of the tribe were doing.
Albrecht wasn't making any special policy, he was letting them live the way they used to.
Hermann kept the city safe, and Carpen was in charge of exclusive trade.
Every city set up a trade station, and every day money came in, and that's how I got out of there.
I received a gift from the merchants who came to me and wrote me a trade permit. The more trade, the more money the city made, the more abundant the city became. It was just those days.
With nothing to do in the city, Albrecht frequently goes out and looks around to see if the change commander is settling well.
It started raining less and less, and by March Albrecht was 19 years old.
Time flows further and the hot and dry winds begin to blow. The coastal cities were better off with the sea beside them, but the inland was on fire.
Albrecht heard that many merchants from the North continent come in late spring to summer. At the beginning of the fall, it was like going back to the North.
So they stayed quite a long time in the eastern continent, and as the weather got hotter and hotter, more merchants came from the North continent.
Among them, there were many familiar merchant associations such as Contarini.
They gave more gifts than they could ever have imagined, and got a trade permit.
And they brought news from the North that Albrecht had not heard.
The news of the Eijas Plains battle and the release of hundreds of thousands of prisoners has spread across the North and shocked everyone.
And when word finally came that Albrecht had reclaimed the sanctuary, everyone on the North continent thought Albrecht was some kind of guardian knight sent by God. Some say Albrecht is an angel of God, and many worship him.
Albrecht hears that and stops laughing. Somehow, the farther away I felt, the more exaggerated my reputation seemed.
Problem is, Albrecht was repairing the sanctuary sooner than he expected, and the heat of the Crusaders suddenly began to cool down.
Among the 30,000 crusaders that were originally supposed to be augmented this year, many lords were sitting on Ramus, and the confusion between them was increasing.
Eventually, the Pope again lost control of them and fled to Olvietta.
Hestein also tried to take over the north coastal city of the Salamis Peninsula, but the League of Merchants cut off its support and supported the coastal cities.
There are no signs of collapse over time, surrounding the city, and they start to fight amongst themselves while starving. Perhaps Hestein failed to command the lords.
He boarded his ship and returned to his original eastern territory. Even the cities he had occupied with Philipp have lost power.
Albrecht, who was listening quietly, thought it was the Commercial Union that ultimately benefited the most.
‘I have succeeded in getting rid of Amas and defending the cities from the Feudal Lords. ’
Of course, Albrecht's coastline was occupied, but Albrecht didn't stop trading, so it was a success for them.
Taking a high salary from pilgrims, he made a lot of money like a travel agent, and reopened the North-Eastern Trade Route. The members of the League of Merchants gathered to celebrate.
In the end, the Crusaders put on the cover of religion and each of their statue dreams was at war. Among those many lords, only Albrecht survived.
< 81 > End