Reset Life – Chapter 134

Chapter 134: Don’t You Think So? (2)

Time flows like water.

The constantly flowing time piled thick snow on the ground, then melted it away and sprouted new buds, showing its dramatic fickleness.

Seen from the perspective of the vast flow of time, this change of seasons is probably more severe than a woman’s fickleness.

April 2nd, 376th year of the Imperial Calendar.

Spring comes a little late to Orknesia. Further south, fresh sprouts should already be covering the ground, but here, snow still remains in places, shaded from the sun.

Levidian said with a nostalgic look,

“It’s been four months.”

I smiled and nodded. It was truly enjoyable to think that the four-month-long training had finally come to an end.

“Woohoo! Finally, I can eat some delicious, authentic food!”

“Do you have complaints about my cooking?”

Al, who had to be on meal duty the most due to his unexpectedly bad luck with the dice, glared at Lucy. Her camp cooking was top-notch, but the lack of finesse was a bit disappointing.

Joey and Namia didn’t say anything, but their faces showed signs of relief.

For an entire winter season, I concentrated on training with my friends, choosing an empty manor in Orknesia.

Because the time had come to face Artshever and his companions head-on, we needed to become stronger. Coincidentally, I had a reason to be away from home, and I used that time for training.

Winter was a time for rest or training for all martial artists. Levidian, Al, Kun, and Joey readily nodded, and Namia and Lucy, who needed to meditate in a quiet and clean place, joined us as well.

We honed our skills throughout the winter in a secluded manor bordering the mountains, and there were quite a few incidents that made us laugh.

Well, anyway, after all the twists and turns, we returned after receiving a message from Aila.

Joey, riding the familiar horse-drawn carriage Robin, said,

“Hyung-nim, the security has gotten tighter, hasn’t it?”

“They have to thoroughly investigate in case the Emperor’s faction sends spies. And discipline tends to slacken in the spring, right?”

Since it’s a season that makes everyone feel sluggish, we need to tighten up discipline. The entrance to Baekslan was under tight security.

My companions and I passed by the people waiting in line for passage.

In other places, traveler’s attire wouldn’t matter, but we’ve returned to where my father is. I dressed properly to avoid getting strange looks.

Since I, who clearly looked like a young nobleman, was in front, no one said anything, but many held their breath as they looked behind me.

“Look at that horse……”

“That size…… Is that a person?”

“Oh my……”

At times like this, a sudden thought comes to mind: Even if future generations don’t remember my name, they will remember Joey, the Paladin of Lynin. He has such a strong personality.

“Please stop for a moment. Please identify yourselves.”

“We are these people.”

Perhaps because of our attire, the soldiers’ attitude was quite polite. I smiled lightly and showed the Cheonbyeongjang’s badge my father gave me with a light gesture.

“Ah! You’ve returned. We’ve been waiting.”

“Huh? Waiting?”

“Yes. Duke-nim ordered us to bring you to him as soon as you returned.”

“Oh, really? Alright. Let’s do that.”

“Welcome back. Everyone, salute! The return of Arisein Herduke Sudo-nim!”

The soldiers stopped what they were doing and saluted with a sharp, disciplined posture. I also saluted lightly and rode my horse, walking between the soldiers and entering the Baekslan district.

Hmm. By the way, the welcome feels a bit excessive? I haven’t done anything yet, and I’ve only been training and training in the manor all winter.

The most likely reason came to mind, and Levidian voiced it.

“Are they being respectful because you’re the Duke’s son?”

“I think so too, but they’re being a little too polite for that.”

“But it looked quite familiar.”

“Because he’s the Duke’s son.”

Maintaining a composed attitude anytime, anywhere is a noble’s etiquette, so it’s a learned response.

While puzzled, I rode my horse. Since my father is waiting, I should go and see him. It’s been four months, so I wonder what the atmosphere in the castle is like?

First of all, if my father or brother has properly taken the lead, there shouldn’t be anything to worry about. And if they have taken the lead, I can use that to my advantage.

At the very least, if I tell them what I want to do, they won’t be able to refuse.

A very desirable situation has been created.

Influence over Orknesia to my father, influence over the Herduke family to me.

My voice within the family has become significant enough to be impossible to ignore.

My father and brother will know that they were able to take the lead because I yielded, and they will want to compensate for the poor treatment I’ve received so far.

It’s a successful example of sacrificing the small for the greater good.

“The atmosphere of the city has changed a bit too. Even though they know a war is coming, there’s no sign of anxiety.”

“But everyone must have made up their minds. They won’t give up their daily lives though. You could say they’ve gotten used to this atmosphere.”

“I see. It’s a much better situation for your subordinates to infiltrate.”

“How are your subordinates planning to enter?”

“It’s a trade secret.”

Levidian smiled sweetly and avoided answering. I can’t help but feel like she learned that from Aila.

During the winter training period, the assassins of the Black New Moon targeted me constantly.

Levidian, a harsher teacher than Mother Nature, designated me as an assassination target, and during the four months I spent at the manor, I was subjected to countless assassination attempts.

Of course, even if my sharp senses, ability to cope with dangerous situations, and the martial arts I’ve learned so far crumbled helplessly before their attacks, I shouldn’t blame her.

I died over fifty times in four months.

Thinking about those days makes my eyes water. Sob.

Thanks to that, my senses have become as sharp as a sword sharpened by a master craftsman, I can maintain a calm mind even in sudden situations, and I can even use the situation to create the flow I want.

The side effects are that I’ve developed a neurotic timidity that makes me suspicious of everything and a nervous disposition that makes me jump at the slightest sound.

It’s been a long time since I’ve had these thoughts.

I’m surprisingly still alive.

While I was reminiscing about those bitter, rewarding, yet colder and harder days than a midwinter night, Lucy tapped my shoulder.

“Risel, isn’t that Aila over there?”

“Where? Oh, it is. Aila!”

The moment the ash-gray haired woman, who was running towards the castle gate with a pile of documents in her arms, turned her head, I wondered if I had mistaken her for someone else.

Her hair, which used to be shiny enough to look silver-gray, was the color of a wet gray rat, and her skin looked rough enough to claim kinship with sandpaper, as if she hadn’t taken proper care of it.

Above all, the dark circles under her eyes were so appalling that I wondered if she had scooped up the darkness of the abyss to decorate them.

Aila, carrying the fatigue that seemed like the great-grandfather of all tiredness, managed to put on a semblance of a smile.

“Waaah, Risel…… Everyone…… You’ve come……”

What came out of her mouth seemed more like symbols than words. I quickly got off my horse and approached her.

“Aila, are you alright? No, you’re not alright at all. What happened?”

“Hmm? Ah, this…… Well, you see, the other day……”

Her explanation, which would be three times longer than the actual content if written down on paper, is as follows.

With the arrival of spring, the newly enthroned Emperor, in celebration of finishing the crackdown on the Imperial family, announced his first foreign policy, and its content was truly spectacular.

The Emperor expelled Orknesia from the Empire.

While there are many cases of people being exiled, the case of a region being exiled is unprecedented in the history of the continent. Perhaps the new Emperor has a secret desire to have his name recorded in the history books with a groundbreaking decision.

If you just extract the various malicious phrases used in the declaration, it would be a textbook for those who want to severely curse someone.

At the end, there was a phrase that was so cliché, but as cliché as it was, its meaning was clear: ‘I will never forgive you.’

In other words, it meant ‘Let’s go to war.’

Aila, who had promised to help my father with various things at my request, had to re-analyze the situation within the Empire and its surrounding countries because of this incident.

She had been pulling all-nighters for almost a month and hadn’t been getting proper sleep. Just the other day, she even used the Fairy’s Path to meet the branch manager in the Imperial Capital directly.

“I’m so tired I could die……”

“Ugh. You’ve worked hard. Get on the carriage for now. Levidian, I’ll leave Aila to you.”

“Yes. Aila, are you alright? Let’s go inside and rest. Okay?”

“Not yet…… I have to report to Duke-nim…… I have to finish my work…… before I can sleep……”

A chillingly firm sense of duty. Is this what the head of an organization should be like?

“Alright. I understand. You did well, even though it was hard. Let’s just report and rest right away. You’ve worked hard. You should have taken care of yourself too.”

Levidian seemed to fully understand Aila’s feelings and repeatedly offered words of encouragement while having her sit in front of her.

Although my father called for me first, I have to go and see him and argue with him even if he tells me not to come now.

Making a daughter-like child, and a friend of his son at that, work so hard? He’s not someone who doesn’t understand reason, so this is a bit too much.

With firm resolve, I entered Baekslan Castle.

And upon seeing my father, who had become a living corpse, I shattered my resolve without a moment’s hesitation and threw it away.

If there’s anyone who thinks being in power is comfortable, come out right now. I’ll send assassins to kill you a hundred times in three months and ten days.

The state of Aila and my father was a prime example of the current state of the people in Baekslan Castle. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call this place a Necropolis for the time being.

If you think war is something that can be easily started just because a leader decides to do so, you’re mostly right.

However, let me tell you that the countless processes that must be undertaken before a war breaks out are by no means easy.

“Everyone’s under the impression that there will be at least one battle within this year. With troop movements, supply plans, budget establishment, civilian evacuation, impact prediction, subsidy reserves, and conscription plans, there’s an endless amount of work. We’re short on manpower. Everyone’s juggling multiple tasks.”

My brother, who was saying this, was also busy reading documents and stamping them with approvals or disapprovals.

He looked better than the others, as if he had just woken up, but the ingrained fatigue wouldn’t disappear, like wrinkles on an old man’s face.

“You’re overworked.”

“I’m worried I’ll collapse before I even fight. If that happens, the Imperial family will experience the true realm of a martial artist. Winning without fighting.”

“Huh.”

I couldn’t say anything. My brother was definitely joking, but somehow it didn’t sound like a joke.

“What should I do?”

“Ugh. I want to assign you something, but it’s difficult to delegate because one person is doing so many things in a complicated way. For now, work with Miss Hind. There will be a welcome banquet in the evening, so attend that.”

“A banquet? Can tired bodies even stomach food?”

“The chef has become an expert at making food that’s filling without being a burden on the body. Attend since you’re the guest of honor.”

“Alright. Good work.”

My brother, who hadn’t turned his head once during our conversation, finally looked at me when I got up from my seat.

“Risel.”

“Yeah?”

My brother, pushing up his drooping glasses, smiled and said,

“Welcome back.”

“Thanks.”

We’re still an awkward pair of brothers, but I think that greeting was pretty good.

Seeing Aila fast asleep on the makeshift bed in the corner of the office, I felt a surge of sympathy. It’s hard to even scold her with worry for overworking herself.

“But we can still question her sanity.”

“I agree, even if I have to concede a hundred steps.”

Aila was in charge of a whopping twelve tasks. Including her secret duties.

I’ve always acknowledged that she’s not an ordinary person, but the amount of work she took on was beyond imagination, to the point where I could only think she was crazy.

Her secretary and executive of Sky Ears said with a worried expression,

“She increased her workload knowing you were arriving, but you were a little earlier than expected. I don’t think she’s been sleeping more than two hours a day.”

“She must have endured it because she’s Aila. For now, we’ll finish everything that needs to be done before the banquet today. I know you’re tired, but please cooperate.”

“Understood.”

The middle-aged woman, who had a rather business-like demeanor, divided the tasks between Lucy and me, and we immediately got to work.

The part I was in charge of was the secret work she was handling, organizing and analyzing the trends and information from the Imperial Capital and its surroundings.

As I organized the materials and built them into information, various situations came into view.

First, within the Imperial Capital, the nobles were pledging their loyalty to the Imperial family and accelerating war preparations more smoothly than expected, and the main force behind this was, naturally, Duke Narvilt.

Duke Ecoshian had returned to Restart under the pretense of inspecting the Southern Army. I had asked him to maintain relations with Azot, but since all foreign affairs had been suspended, there were no signs of deterioration.

Naturally, Duke Restart had no intention of marching on Orknesia. If you ask how I know that, it’s because I received a letter directly from the Duke.

He said that if I stirred up the Ruery Three Kingdoms a little, he could use that as an excuse to stop the advance, so he asked me to take care of the rest.

Hmm. I guess I did find a good collaborator.

Azot was carrying out spring troop redeployment following winter training.

In particular, the movements of the Azot Kingdom Army were strangely concentrated and noisy on the eastern border, so the deployment of troops on the western border had increased considerably.

Duke Narvilt sent a frantic protest, expressing his intention to immediately stop the military threat, but the Crown Prince of Azot, who held the military power, replied that they were ‘simply responding to the conflict of their powerful neighbor.’

It is not known what Duke Narvilt said in response to the polite sarcasm about how poorly he managed his own house that his neighbor felt threatened.

As expected of Lime-hyung. He’s different from the countless unreliable people who always tell me not to worry.

In addition, nobles scattered throughout the land were gathering and sending their troops, but it’s difficult to standardize private soldiers to match the organization of the Imperial Army.

Here, the smooth preparation I mentioned earlier is limited only to the cooperation of the nobles and their own enthusiasm.

Orknesia, which has long had a unified system, is actually closer to completing its war preparations.

However, this is not entirely true, as the Imperial Capital houses the Imperial Army Headquarters, which is staffed by veterans in all aspects of military administration.

The Eastern Army of Orknesia, also part of the Imperial Army, has been receiving administrative advisory support, but with that gone, the workload here is showing its formidable power to turn people into living corpses.

Overall, it seems that the Imperial family and Orknesia will complete their war preparations around the same time.

In addition, while cutting and summarizing the opinions of various countries surrounding the Empire and the reactions of their citizens, I realized that doing this for several days would be perfect for collapsing from exhaustion.

As I threaded twine through the files, summarizing the key points of the data, I thought it would have been nice to practice organizing documents quickly during my training period.

It seems that busy days will continue for a while.

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