Chapter 230

Only ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍when Lord Gertman, the second, arrived was I finally freed from the crowd.

The ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍moment Lord Gertman, the second, arrived with his soldiers, he dispersed the people with practiced ease. Most of the crowd resented him, but no one dared to resist.

Part ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍of it was his position as the second son of the Regent Duke of Bourgogne, but it was also because the soldiers he had brought were driving them back with cold, hard weapons in hand, dispersing them with an oppressive severity.

“Still… ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍it is astonishing. So many people.”

Lord ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Gertman, the second, stared at the sea of bodies filling the area, plainly amazed. It was not unheard-of for crowds to gather in such numbers. In an age with little entertainment, did not people swarm to festivals, inaugurations, and weddings?

Come ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍to think of it, even the number of troops currently out on the battlefield was several times larger than this crowd.

Yet what was astonishing was not the number itself.

“So all of this is to see the Margrave of Bellua… Now I understand why Father is so wary.”

That was right.

The Margrave of Bellua. They had gathered for no other reason than to chase his reputation—just to clasp his hand once.

It was frightening.

That such a multitude would gather for something so small.

But there was something even more startling.

-Chkh. His pious Grace is embracing us, so why are they being so cruel?

-Shh. Be careful. If you are careless, you will be cut down. Besides, does not His Grace need to hurry to the royal castle?

-Hurry? As far as I know, there is still a long time before the victory ceremony. He is probably trying to keep the miracles all to himself, is he not?

It was the words of the crowd grumbling as they dispersed.

Keeping miracles to himself.

Then… what miracle had he performed this time?

“???”

Lord Gertman, the second, was devout enough that he did not even doubt miracles, and he had seen people who claimed to witness miracles, as well as clergy who performed them, more than once.

But another miracle?

By the Margrave of Bellua?

Why was a miracle called a miracle?

Because it was truly the work of God, something not easily seen. And yet he was performing miracles on the road as casually as eating meals?

“There must be some misunderstanding.”

“Indeed. Do those beggars not mistake things as easily as breathing? Lord Gertman, they exaggerate any strange occurrence as though it were the end of the world.”

“Or perhaps someone deliberately spread the rumor.”

The nobles who had come with Lord Gertman, the second, whispered cautiously, offering opinions.

Most of them were negative.

After all, was it not suspicious? A miracle timed exactly to the moment he arrived. Anyone would find that overt.

But—

-“A miracle? Huhuhu. It was truly astounding. To have been present for that performance itself was an overwhelming honor, Lord Gertman.”

-“A flash of light, and everyone became wise in an instant. We clearly felt the touch of our Lord embracing us.”

“??”

When he discreetly made contact and asked about the miracle, the nobles and scholars who had been there were even more excited than the common crowd.

They forgot their manners, spitting as they launched into passionate speeches.

And the clergy went even further.

-“A miracle! A miracle! I guarantee it. It was a tremendous miracle. Ah… what a pity that even Lord Gertman did not experience it with us.”

-“I intend to go straight to the Holy See today and recommend that the Margrave of Bellua be canonized.”

“??????????”

Lord Gertman, the second, felt as though he might topple over from shock.

---

The halted procession began to move again.

It was still a long road—two or three more days before we reached the royal castle. With the victory ceremony approaching, we truly had to travel diligently if we did not want to be late.

Thanks to that, my procession could move briskly forward under Lord Gertman, the second’s guidance.

If nothing went wrong as we traveled, that would be ideal.

That was what I thought.

For once, the sunlight was pleasant, the scenery fair, and the breeze cool—an uneventful schedule.

Just one thing—

The gaze of Lord Gertman, the second, who kept staring at me unblinkingly.

“Hm… why are you looking at me like that?”

“Ah—n-no, Your Grace. I was only checking whether you might be uncomfortable on the road. Hahaha.”

“Is that so…?”

It did not look like that at all.

But seeing him smile awkwardly, desperate to smooth things over, I could not bring myself to press him.

I would endure a bit of discomfort and let it go.

“Meee. Looord-nim. That human noble is a little strange. Mehr.”

“Now, now. Lord Gertman can hear you. Be careful.”

“Meee. That is why I am whispering like this. Mehr. I have thoughts too, you know, looord-nim! Meheh.”

“…It is astonishing that you claim to think at all. Yes, very admirable, Bishop Marco.”

There was nothing to say.

How could he speak so shamelessly? I shook my head at Bishop Marco’s reaction. He needed to suffer a proper lesson once, or he would never stop acting like that.

Even now, look—

Lord Gertman, the second, had stiffened.

He must have heard and was swallowing his rage from humiliation.

But contrary to my assumption…

“How is he performing miracles like that? Were the rumors truly true? I thought it was the usual exaggeration, dressed up to show off…”

Lord Gertman, the second, was tangled in other thoughts.

He was worried that the fame surrounding the Margrave of Bellua—fame he had always filtered with skepticism—might actually be real.

Even if only half of the Margrave’s reputation were true, he would be terrifying. But what if every one of those countless epithets was true?

“Is Father’s judgment truly correct?”

His father, the Duke of Bourgogne, already seemed to have chosen a course—one that leaned toward hostility with the Margrave of Bellua.

But if that reputation was all true, was hostility even necessary?

A monstrous existence like that—no, more than that, one loved by God—was not something one needed to oppose. Rather, it was something to make an ally of, and squeeze for every advantage possible.

“And… could that monstrous strength be true as well?”

A different curiosity surfaced.

The outrageous rumors that swirled around the Margrave of Bellua.

That he had wrestled an ogre and won.

That he had strangled an ogre to death.

That even if you blocked with a shield, he would tear through shield and armor together…

It was maddening that he could not test the truth of it for himself. If even that were real, then Lord Gertman, the second, would have a perfectly clear basis for judgment.

And so, without realizing it, he stared again at the Margrave of Bellua walking ahead.

“Meee. Looord-nim, that fellow is… like that. Mehr. Is there a rumor that he likes men? Looord-nim, you should watch your back. Meee.”

“Now, what nonsense is that? Mind your tongue. What will you do if he hears and takes offense? I cannot help you then.”

“Meee. That is so unfair.”

“…….”

Lord Gertman, the second, felt as though he had been subjected to a thoroughly bizarre misunderstanding.

---

“Whoa, whoa!”

“Your Grace! A village.”

“It is growing late. Would it not be best to rest in the village?”

As we traveled, a scout who had gone ahead rode back to report.

The sun was setting, and there was a village nearby.

“Is it large enough for all of us to stay? We are not a small number. If it is only a tiny hamlet, it will be difficult. Would it not be better to pass by and camp outside?”

“Ah! Your Grace. If it is the nearby village, it will be Town of Bonbure, within our fief. It is fairly large. We may not fit everyone, but we can split up and lodge in parts.”

“Oh, is that so, Lord Gertman?”

“Yes. Let us go there, Your Grace. I will speak to the village head and see that you are well received.”

I was already weary from the long march.

If even I—who had spent so long rolling through battlefields—was tired enough to feel it, how much more exhausted must the Duchess of Aquitaine be, who had accompanied us without complaint?

It would be good if she could shake off her fatigue in a proper bed.

“Very well. Then send word at once. Tonight, I will finally sleep in a warm, soft bed. Now then, divide the troops. Set up a camp nearby, and split them in two so they can rest inside the village in shifts.”

“Understood. We will do so.”

At my words, the encampment became busy. Lord Gertman, the second, hurriedly sent a messenger into the village, and Sir Biden drove the soldiers to build the campsite.

In the midst of it all, I carved out a moment of personal time.

“Oh my… what is all this?”

“Please stay still. You must be tired from traveling so long. If you strain yourself and something goes wrong, it will become a bigger problem, Your Grace, Duchess of Aquitaine.”

As we watched the subordinates bustling about, I climbed into the carriage and massaged the Duchess of Aquitaine’s feet, while she waved her hands in embarrassed protest.

From somewhere beside us, it sounded as though Magician Agpiel was muttering that I was being shameless, shameless indeed—but what did it matter?

Was the Duchess of Aquitaine not my wife now?

“Tsk… to do such things with an old man right here in front of you.”

“Meee. Is this not youth, human sage? Mehehehe. Our looord-nim is a man after all. A man. Mehr.”

“…….”

Hearing it said so openly made it far more embarrassing than it should have been, of course.

“Ahem, cough. Azuela, do you still have that healing salve? If you do, apply some to Her Grace, Duchess of Aquitaine’s feet.”

With an awkward cough, I withdrew my hands and asked Magician Azuela.

Azuela’s eyes flew wide, as if an arrow had been shot straight into her.

“What?”

It was the look of someone saying, Me?

“Then who will do it?”

“H-hiing…”

Why should she apply medicine to someone else’s feet when she was not a maid?

Azuela pouted, looking desperately to the Duchess of Aquitaine for rescue, but truly, they were birds of a feather.

Shamelessly, the Duchess simply turned her head aside and silently agreed with me.

“Damn it. They say spouses start to resemble each other…”

In the end, Azuela applied the healing salve to the Duchess’s feet with her lips stuck out in a sulk.

Watching her, I felt the corner of my mouth twitch.

“It is fun to tease her, after all.”

She was an airheaded magician who caused trouble, and whose thoughts showed plainly on her face… but somehow, I was rather fond of her in my own way.

Like…

Like our adorable goat beastman Bishop Marco.

“Hm? Is it too cruel to put the two of them in the same category?”

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