Chapter 590
"Since We’ve Eaten Everything." (2)
Ghislain spoke with a sour expression.
“Well, I guess that’s true… Alright, give it a try…”
Julien dismounted, and Alfoi approached the white horse.
Alfoi coveted that magnificent horse. A great mage like himself deserved to ride such a steed.
Prrr!
As Alfoi approached, the white horse once again shot him a fierce glare. It was as if the beast was seething with fury and even bloodlust, as though demanding how someone like him dared to come near.
The onlookers exchanged knowing looks. Of course. There was no way someone like Alfoi could tame such a noble steed.
Alfoi swallowed hard, then stood before the white horse and declared,
“I! Am the man who defeated a god!”
Prrr?
“So naturally, I can be considered the greatest man in the world!”
Prrr?
“You’re the finest horse, aren’t you? Then, of course, you should carry the greatest man - me!”
Prrr?
“I am the only one who has ever defeated a god!”
The white horse merely blinked at him, while Alfoi continued to boast about his greatness.
The spectators burst into laughter, their derision clear.
“Puhaha!”
“There he goes again with his ridiculous bragging!”
“Come on, does a horse even understand that?!”
Just how long was he planning to milk this for his own self-aggrandizement?
If nothing else, his arrogance and absolute lack of self-awareness were something to be acknowledged.
Yet, undeterred by the mockery, Alfoi eagerly continued trying to appeal to the white horse.
After all, he truly was the greatest man, the one who had defeated a god!
Prrr…
But then, the horse’s reaction changed.
The blazing hostility had vanished. Its eyes even seemed to glisten slightly.
The white horse could tell.
The man before it was utterly insignificant. Having roamed the battlefield with Aiden, an unrivaled warrior, it could perceive this truth all the more clearly.
But that overwhelming arrogance… that unwavering gaze…
They were just like those of its former master.
A man who genuinely believed himself to be the greatest.
Prrr…
Slowly, the white horse stepped forward and nuzzled its head against Alfoi’s chest. From this stranger, it could sense the lingering presence of its former master.
It was not submission. It was a gesture filled with nostalgia and familiarity.
Then, without hesitation, the white horse bent its knees and allowed Alfoi to mount.
The laughter stopped.
The spectators gaped in disbelief.
“W-why… why him of all people…?”
“Is that horse crazy too?”
“This doesn’t make any sense!”
Even knights and superhumans had failed to tame that horse. Only Julien had succeeded yet Alfoi, of all people, had done it?
And it wasn’t even submission, like with Julien.
The horse had willingly nuzzled him, practically rubbing its head against him.
And its eyes…
They dripped with fondness, almost… longing.
Alfoi lifted his head arrogantly while seated atop the white horse. The horse, in turn, lifted its head in the exact same manner.
Both man and horse were insufferably full of themselves.
Alfoi declared with a pompous voice,
“See that? This horse recognizes just how amazing I, the man who defeated a god, truly am! From now on, this horse is mine!”
Hiiiiiing!
The white horse neighed loudly, as if responding to Alfoi’s words.
As he stroked the horse’s neck, Alfoi continued,
“Aww, look at you. So lovely. Of course, the greatest horse should be with the greatest man. From now on, your name is Kkoko.”
The original Kkoko he had raised had escaped from the farm once again and gone missing. It had likely been caught and eaten by someone.
Kane and Galbarik were the prime suspects.
And so, Alfoi bestowed the name, filled with fond memories, upon the white horse.
Hiiiiiing!
Whether the horse liked the name or not was unclear, but it responded to Alfoi regardless.
Silence followed.
Everyone turned to look at Ghislain.
“……”
Ghislain simply crossed his arms and blinked.
Of all things, Alfoi had actually managed to tame that noble steed.
And not just any horse it was Aiden’s, one of the strongest warriors on the continent.
‘Now that I think about it… that bastard’s personality is the most similar to Aiden’s.’
The way they strutted around, convinced of their own greatness, was nearly identical.
If nothing else, their overwhelming self-love and absurd obsession with honor were a perfect match.
Perhaps that was why this arrogant horse had taken such a liking to Alfoi.
In any case, a promise was a promise. Since Alfoi had successfully mounted the horse, he had earned the right.
“Uh… Well… That makes two of you. What now? Should you two have a duel or something?”
Alfoi’s face turned pale.
If it came down to a duel, Julien wouldn’t even need to lift a finger just a slight flick, and his head would be off.
So, he hastily spoke up,
“Why duel?! We should let Kkoko choose!”
Alfoi was confident.
For some reason, Kkoko seemed to like him a lot right now.
Everyone turned to Julien.
Julien shook his head and said,
“No need. I’m not particularly interested in horses.”
Any horse he rode would become a top-class steed anyway. Since someone else wanted it so badly, he had no reason to take it.
Thanks to Julien’s concession, the white horse officially became Alfoi’s.
Still blinking in disbelief, Ghislain turned to address everyone.
“Uh… With Julien yielding, Kkoko is now… officially Alfoi’s.”
“Yeeeeahhh!”
Hiiiiiing!
Alfoi thrust his arms into the air and let out a triumphant cheer.
Kkoko neighed loudly, as if sharing in his joy.
The others could only stare in a daze.
They didn’t want to acknowledge it, but there was no denying it.
With the battle for the white horse (?) settled, Alfoi immediately dashed over to Belinda and said,
“Get me a new robe!”
Alfoi’s red robe was completely worn out and tattered.
Belinda, the Head Steward, had replaced it multiple times, but since he was always preoccupied with construction work, it kept getting ruined quickly.
“Alright, I’ll issue you a new one once we return to the territory.”
“Make it white! Something luxurious!”
“White? It’ll get dirty in no time while you work. Besides, the Crimson Flame Tower robes aren’t white.”
“That’s fine! I’ll only wear it for special occasions when I need to look stylish! I just want to match colors with Kkoko!”
“…I… see…”
Belinda nodded reluctantly.
Regardless of anything else, Alfoi was a distinguished contributor to Fenris Territory. A high-quality white robe was a small request she could fulfill.
Having secured a promise for his new robe, Alfoi mounted Kkoko and shouted,
“I am now the White Alfoi, the man who defeated a god!”
Hiiiiiing!
Both Alfoi and Kkoko cried out together. The others simply ignored him and began the march back.
Those who had failed to obtain the white horse couldn’t help but glare at Alfoi with envy.
Between this and the Dragon Heart incident, that lucky mage seemed to always snatch up the best things.
* * *
Back in the Kingdom of Sardina, Ghislain convened a meeting to handle post-war matters.
The first issue was dealing with the remaining rebels and Salvation Church remnants still lingering in a few minor nations.
Most of the high-ranking priests and the main forces had already been wiped out in the war. The remnants who hadn’t been summoned to battle would be easily taken care of.
A more pressing issue was the pursuit of Gartros, who had vanished.
“We’ll organize the army and send reinforcements to each region.”
The Allied Forces were reorganized into several new units, specifically formed to eliminate the remaining enemies. To wrap things up quickly, they were structured around powerful warriors.
Since it wasn’t expected to be a difficult campaign, no one objected. Everyone was eager to finish this up and return to their respective kingdoms.
As Ghislain skimmed through the reports, he murmured,
“Julien, Gillian, Tennant, Marquis Gideon, Marquis Alperen…”
Only those with proven leadership skills, strong warriors and noble commanders were chosen to lead the various forces.
They would now spread out and exterminate the Salvation Church’s remnants.
Ghislain pursed his lips.
“Seriously, why is everyone stopping me from going too?”
Claude groaned in frustration.
“Oh, come on! If you leave now, everything here falls apart! Besides, only weaklings are left. What's the point of you going?”
Ghislain shrugged.
“Just to get some exercise? I haven’t fought in a few days, and I’m getting restless.”
Claude threw up his hands.
“You’ve got to be kidding me. If you need pain that badly, just stay here and do some push-ups!”
As Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces, Ghislain couldn’t just leave. The post-war clean-up was still urgent.
If he disappeared now, everyone else would be left twiddling their thumbs, waiting for his orders.
So when Ghislain announced that he would personally set out, everyone clung to his trouser leg and tried to stop him. Even the great Ghislain found it difficult to move when the entire Allied Army was against it.
This time, it wasn’t something he needed to do, it was simply because he wanted to wage war.
Claude, who knew that all too well, was in an uproar.
“We have mountains of work piled up! It’s not just one or two kingdoms that have fallen! We need to send aid supplies everywhere! There are still places with remaining rifts! We need to set up barrier magic to stop them from expanding! We have reconstruction projects to handle! There’s just too much to do!”
“Can’t you do it?”
Ghislain asked with a look that said, Why are you even asking me this? Since when had he ever handled such things? Claude had always taken care of it.
Wasn’t it enough for him to just set the direction?
Claude clutched his head and shouted.
“I can’t! Do it! Alone!”
If it were just within the Ritania Kingdom, he could have done it all by himself. He would simply push ahead with force.
But this was a matter concerning the entire Allied Army. The interests of countless kingdoms and nobles were at stake.
All the key figures from each kingdom had gathered. Even with Ghislain’s authority behind him, it wasn’t easy for Claude.
“Listen. Sure, I could do it. Everyone would listen to me if only because they’re terrified of you. But do you think they won’t hold grudges?”
“They will, of course. People are endlessly greedy. Like you.”
“Exactly! That’s the problem! Just like me!”
They couldn’t go up against the Ritania Army, so the discontented kingdoms would likely start fighting amongst themselves.
That would lead to conflicts breaking out all across the continent. And with Gartros still alive, they couldn’t afford to let that happen.
That’s why Ghislain had to stay to mediate disputes and push things forward, ensuring that even if people had complaints, they wouldn’t dare act on them.
Clicking his tongue, Ghislain made a disappointed face. He knew full well that this wasn’t the time for him to be rushing off to fight.
“Ugh, this would’ve been so much easier if Amelia were here.”
Countless kingdoms had perished. Lands and riches without owners had sprung up everywhere. In a way, it was a massive hoard of war spoils.
Though the Ritania Army had been the main force, many kingdoms had contributed and sacrificed. Now, dividing these spoils was the most crucial task.
If Amelia were here, she would have calculated everything coldly and distributed the rewards accordingly.
Or maybe… she would’ve just secretly killed off any troublemakers and taken the biggest share for herself?
Ghislain chuckled to himself at the thought, then asked about Amelia’s whereabouts.
Claude, flipping through a stack of reports, replied—
“She reached out not too long ago. She’s asking us to send the aid supplies as promised. She also said the resettlement process will begin soon.”
“So she succeeded.”
“Yes. She eliminated both the rebels of the Kingdom of Norbagen and the Salvation Church, taking over the territory. She’s planning to hold a formal coronation soon.”
“What about casualties?”
“Almost none, apparently. Even the superhuman priests were lured into a trap and beaten to death. While taking over the kingdom, she also wiped out the remaining forces of the surrounding nations. Honestly, it’s impressive. She actually went and seized an entire kingdom.”
“Well, she’s more than capable of that. Send the aid supplies as promised and help relocate the territory’s residents. Thanks to Amelia, a good number of remnants have been taken care of.”
As per her agreement with Ghislain, Amelia had left Ritania and taken over a fallen kingdom.
Now, she was planning to relinquish all her remaining holdings in Ritania, relocate the subjects who wished to follow her, and transport her wealth.
Once Ghislain provided the necessary supplies to help stabilize her new kingdom, their agreement would finally be fulfilled.
Meanwhile, the issue of sending aid to struggling kingdoms was quickly dealt with. The only remaining problem was how to divide the spoils.
Ghislain discussed the matter with Claude and drafted an initial proposal.
“The Kingdom of Seiron will go to Ritania. No objections, I assume?”
Claude had seized the kingdom under the pretext of crushing a rebellion. No one raised any complaints about that.
But that was just the beginning.
Even lands that still belonged to intact kingdoms if they bordered Ritania, a portion was simply taken.
“I’ve worked hard and provided a lot of support, so I think it’s only fair I take this much.”
The kingdoms bordering Ritania were in an uproar.
They had fought together, only to have their land taken?
This was complete madness!
“You crazy b— I mean, isn’t this going too far?”
“How can you take land from your allies? This is tyranny disguised as strategy!”
“We cannot accept this!”
Ritania was powerful. If they fought, they would lose. But they couldn’t just sit by and let their lands be taken without protest.
The nobles of the affected kingdoms fiercely opposed the decision. Some even looked ready to die fighting over it.
As if he had expected their resistance, Ghislain nodded a few times before speaking.
“In exchange, I’ll give you larger territories.”
“…What do you mean by that?”
“There are fallen kingdoms near the ones I just claimed, aren’t there? Why don’t we divide those lands among you, in proportion to what I’ve taken?”
“Uh… oh… hmm…”
The nobles studying the map swallowed hard. The map, marked with bold strokes by Ghislain, outlined a territory far larger than the land that had been lost.
Naturally, this was a much better deal. It was also neatly divided in a way that seemed quite reasonable.
One of the nobles cleared his throat before speaking.
“Hmm, hmm. It’s not a bad proposal... However, doesn't this division only allocate land from the fallen neighboring kingdoms while the distant kingdoms, further from the Ritania Kingdom, receive nothing? That seems somewhat unfair...”
Ghislain responded as if this wasn't an issue at all.
“Then let the surrounding kingdoms take more. And those that ceded land can be compensated elsewhere. If we distribute it that way, it should be fair. After all, no one wants to take lands that are too far away, do they?”
Everyone nodded in agreement.
A distant territory could be acquired, but after a few generations, it would become as good as foreign.
Since the reach of royal authority and administrative power would weaken over time, such lands would practically become independent kingdoms. They would only remain under nominal control, and once taken by others, reclaiming them would be difficult.
Ghislain proposed restructuring the territories of each kingdom in this manner. Since everyone stood to gain more land, there was little opposition.
Although new borders were being drawn and administrative matters would become more complicated, handling territorial absorption was inevitable regardless of which lands were taken.
“Well then, let’s proceed like this. What we’ve established now is just a rough outline, so we’ll adjust the details accordingly.”
The large-scale restructuring had been decided, but finer details were still to be negotiated. Kingdoms with bordering territories held further discussions, each vying for a bit more land.
“No, but we fought more, didn’t we?”
“We provided more supplies, you know?”
“We should take at least this one estate! It’s closer to us!”
Ghislain simply watched with a broad smile, occasionally stepping in to mediate when disputes became too heated.
‘I’ve already taken my share.’
He had meticulously marked out his own boundaries beforehand and declared them final.
With the surrounding territories absorbed, Ritania had gained an enormous amount of land. In the end, it had claimed the largest share among the allied forces.
Ritania had already been a powerful kingdom, but now it had nearly doubled in size.
Still, since everyone had benefited in some way and Ritania was the strongest, there were no serious complaints.
And so, as the postwar settlements neared completion—
Ghislain dreamed once more.