T/n (CSV): The first of three regular chapter of the week (Late chapter for Tuesday May 23rd). The 2nd chapter for the week (Thursday Chapter) will follow as soon as the editing is done.
"Me? I just did as I was told."
"Rebellion? I did know of it. But I didn't like it. So I just pretended to fight."
Elton Coat Barony troop's soldiers all spewed out the same words like one.
The reason they fell so helplessly despite starting the rebellion so pompously was because the soldiers, who should have been putting their lives on the line fighting, all tried to save their own lives.
Of course, they only mindlessly followed the orders from above and most had surrendered or ran once the situation turned disadvantageous.
'I only need to take down the core members.'
Truthfully, he would have beheaded all the accomplices regardless of their ranks if the they were royalty or nobles.
They had the clear possibility of becoming the seeds of trouble.
Even if they were kept alive, the chance of them becoming a danger was significantly minute.
And.
'If I take these soldiers into my faction……'
It wouldn't simply stop at increasing the number of soldiers.
Because of these various reasons, Roan gave those besides the core members, who started the rebellion, a chance to start over anew.
And like that, the Coat Barony troops were absorbed below the Tale Troop.
'This is the last chance! There's no other way but to surrender and go along with them if I want to live!'
The Coat Barony troops' soldiers also understood that the only way to keep their lives was to follow Roan.
Thanks to that, the Tale Troop, which numbered ten thousand at the march ceremony and was reduced to eight thousand due to the repeated battles, became reformed into a nearly twenty thousand strong legion.
"Amazing."
"Not only strength, even his tricks aren't normal either."
Mills and Chester watched Roan and the Tale Troop and shook their heads.
It was a sincere admiration.
'It's certainly a brilliant talent.'
'He's different than those greenhorns called the 12 Hatchling or something.'
Of course, it wasn't as if there was such a big difference that they could only marvel at him.
'If I thoroughly prepare and then face him, I can easily take him down.'
'I definitely won't lose the next time.'
Mills and Chester vowed for the future and departed first towards the capital, MIller, while leading their troops.
The Coat Barony, including the Tradi Castle, was already Roan's territory.
Of course, he left Austin and five thousand soldiers and had them be on their guard in case of an unexpected situation.
Everywhere Roan went, the fief's citizens poured out to shout and clap.
They were thankful to the Tale Troop who, despite technically being no different than an occupying force, had relieved the citizens' difficulties instead of acting without restraint.
"Thank you for your time until now!"
"Please do come back!"
Some residents even showed tears from their gratitude and feelings of sadness at their departure.
'This is the sight that I want.'
Not one of citizens was crying from frustration and fear, but from happiness and joy.
Although he had achieved a complete victory thanks to Clay's strategy and perfect abilities, the greater victory was winning the hearts of the fief's citizens.
Word for word, it was a perfect and triumphant return.
The capital, Miller, shook greatly for once.
"So he's finally coming back?"
"He's truly an amazing person. He stepped ahead of those talented sirs and cut down the head of the rebellion!"
The castle's citizens were all busy talking about Roan's story.
This was all because Roan, who had just became a noble, won in a competition with Mills and Chester, who were called the kingdom's future.
And it was also an overwhelming victory.
"I heard he went up the river on a great fleet of boats?"
"That's not all. With an ambush, he annihilated the Byron Kingdom's troops that marched to help the rebels."
The heated praises of Roan's meticulous preparations and tricks continued on.
Because he hadn't simply suppressed the rebellion but completely suppressed them with overwhelming and fantastic tactic, he received even greater attention.
"Anyway, it looks like his majesty the king is also really happy."
"Yeah. Just look at that triumphal arc."
They turned towards the grand triumphal arc built on top of the wide square.
On the gigantic triumphal arc that hundreds of architects had swarmed through for days and nights, a brilliant and beautiful design was carved.
"From what I heard, they say Prince Simon and Sir Duke Bradley Webster had actively proposed it."
"Kuu! It must look seriously awesome if I were to walk through that victory gate and enter the palace just like that!"
From here and there, exclamations of awe popped out.
At that moment.
Deng! Deng! Deng!
The sound of a bell noisily echoed from the north gate.
"He's here!"
"He finally arrived!"
The castle's residents instinctively turned towards the north.
That was the bell sound of welcome that celebrated Roan and the Tale Troop's triumphant return.
"I, is this really a welcome ceremony for us?"
"A, amazing."
The Tale Troop's soldiers, with dazed expressions, gazed around themselves.
Thundering cheers that filled their ears.
They couldn't believe that all of these were for them.
The shock of the previously Coat Barony Troop's soldiers who were recruited this time as Tale Troop's soldiers was especially great.
'A, are we really allowed to receive this welcome?'
'Even though we were rebels just a few days ago.'
At that moment, the soldiers near them happily shouted.
"It looks like everyone in the capital has come out!"
"I can really feel my heart jumping!"
Their entire bodies sharply trembled from the pouring cheers.
"There's no need to make so much fuss."
One of the soldiers spoke in a quiet voice while waving at the crowd.
The soldiers, who were engrossed in watching the crowd with elated faces, creased their brows.
"What do you mean?"
"Doesn't this situation make you excited?"
The sound of complaints against him came pouring down.
Then the soldier who spoke up first turned towards them and replied.
"You'll have a lot more experiences like this if you continue to serve Sir Baron Tale from now on, so there's no need to be so excited."
"Ah……"
Immediately, all of them quietly exclaimed.
Then they soon nodded their heads.
'Right. If it's Sir Baron Tale, he is someone who will raise even greater achievement than this.'
'There's no way this will be the last one.'
The soldiers who had been fussing about coughed and stood up straight.
With awkward faces and poses, they waved at the crowd.
"Waaaaa!"
"Tale Troop! Tale Troop!"
The cheers became even louder when the soldiers responded.
Roan, who was riding his horse at the head of the troops, didn't lose his calm even in the cheers that came pouring down.
But he too was extremely astonished on the inside.
'I didn't expect it to be this much.'
Although he thought that there would be a welcoming event or a crowd, the sight in front of his eyes had completely jumped beyond his expectations.
Especially the enormous triumphal arc built in the plaza at the end of the street was something he couldn't even have imagined.
"A triumphal arc……'
In the last life, there was a time when he passed through the triumphal arc as a mere common spearman.
But now.
'I'm proudly returning in triumph as a troop commander.'
Furthermore, as a noble with the standing as a baron.
All the while, Roan busily rode his horse and stood in front of the triumphal arc.
Clop. Clop.
The horse, which had been walking on top of the street, finally passed through the triumphal arc.
Hwaaah!
A gust of wind suddenly blew.
An indescribable delight wrapped around his entire body.
'It's quite hair-raising.'
It felt as if the hairs on his entire body stood up.
Coming back in time, the Battle of Ale Gorge, the Battle of Pedian Plain, the War with the Istel Kingdom, Poskein Exodus, and even the rebellion suppression.
In that time, an insignificant newbie spearman became a baron and a troop commander.
But.
'I can't be satisfied and settle with just this.'
Roan dreamt of an even bigger dream.
'I just need to do as I have done until now.'
He tightly clenched the horse's reins.
'I will definitely be a monarch.'
When he had newly hardened his determination, he could see familiar faces at the end of the street beyond the triumphal arc.
'Hmm.'
For a moment, Roan's face slightly blushed.
Prince Simon, Prince Tommy, and Prince Kallum as well as the four dukes and the distinguished nobles all came out and were watching Roan's triumphant return.
A few princesses were gathered around there, and amongst them was Princess Aily Rinse.
'Princess Aily……'
Strangely, his heart beat rapidly.
The tips of his eyes trembled and the ends of his lips went up bit by bit.
Even the noisy welcoming crowd's cheers slowly felt quieter.
'Really, why am I like this?'
Roan had known everything and had shown outstanding performances in everything, but in truth he didn't even properly understand his own feelings.
He simply stared with brightly blushed face straight into Aily's far away eyes.
"Hm?"
Meanwhile, Aily, who was watching Roan's triumphant return from the top of the palace wall, unconsciously let out a short exclamation.
"What is it, princess?"
The guardian knight Greg Katis, who had been near her, slightly lowered his head then cautiously asked.
At those words, Aily glanced at the princesses nearby then replied in a quiet voice.
"I think I met Sir Baron Tale's eyes just now."
"Yes?"
With a slightly surprised face, Greg looked towards Roan.
But because the distance was too far, it was impossible to even see his expression.
"Princess. Even for me, who has learned a mana technique, simply seeing Baron Tale's outline is all I could do."
"But I definitely……"
Aily tried to reply once again but soon closed her mouth.
Even to her eyes, Roan was simply too far apart.
'But it definitely felt like I met his eyes.'
She swallowed the words that went up to her throat.
If it wasn't that their eyes had met.
'Our hearts must have met'
Her heart rapidly jumped.
Making an awfully shy and happy smile, she gazed at Roan.
It was a distance that would someday be closed, and it was a bond that would someday be
Probably.
"Hahaha! Barong Tale! You did really well!"
Simon fully opened his two arms and welcomed Roan.
Roan gave a short salute then lowered his head.
"I'm glad I could complete the mission."
"Hahaha! There's no need to be so humble. I know that this rebellion suppression is your complete victory!"
Simon grabbed both of Roan's shoulders.
With the rebellion suppression this time, Simon's stock had once again risen greatly.
Some of the nobles who supported the neutral faction even declared their support.
"Baron Tale. Good work."
Viscount Tio Ruin, who had been next to them, gave a faint smile.
The mood was full of happiness.
Of course, that was only on Simon's side.
"Cht!"
"Hmph! Unsightly bastard!"
Tommy and Kallum glanced at Roan and burst out in anger.
They had already received glares unlike glares and rebukes in the past few days. 1
However the things were, Mills and Chester were sons of dukes and their talents were also that of outstanding geniuses amongst geniuses.
With the staff he held, he knocked on the marble floor three times.
"The sun of the kingdom, and the deputy of the god Krea, His Majesty Deni III is coming. The loyal retainers of the kingdom, show your manners."
Immediately, the nobles who had been chatting all closed their mouths and deeply bowed.
The very moment he sat down on the throne, he called out Roan's name.
"Baron Raon Tale! Hahaha! I heave heard of your performance. It truly was excellent!"
Deni III laughed out aloud as he nodded his head.
Roan went up to the throne and kneeled down on one knee.
"I simply did what must be done. Your majesty."
Roan's voice was composed and his manners courteous.
Deni III brightly smiled and leaned his back on the throne.
"Since you have splendidly suppressed the rebels, I should judge your merits and grant rewards. First……"
As he first promised, he granted Coat Barony's total authority and wealth to Roan.
Several nobles sulked and complained but were forced to close their mouths under Simon and Duke Bradley Webster's powerful support.
Deni III called Simon, who had nominated Roan, and praised his eyes as well as tell him that he had become one step closer in becoming the Grand Duke of Grain, thus making the other two princes nervous.
'So I cannot rise to be Grand Duke of Grain with only this.'
Simon was slightly angered since the nomination of the Grand Duke was once again postponed, but soon calmed his feelings.
When Simon went back to his original place, Deni III once again spoke with an excited voice.
"Since you have consecutively raised big merits, I cannot end the rewards with just this. Is there perhaps something you want? Should I make you another privilege rights?" 2
Roan faintly smiled and shook his head at those words.
"I am fine with the privilege right. But there is something I do want."
"Oh! What is it?"
Deni III quietly exclaimed.
Roan slightly lowered his head and exhaled a short sigh.
'Now is the time to go back to Tale Barony. It is time to strengthen the basis. For that, several things are needed.'
Most of them were something Roan could take care of on his own.
Roan raised his head and looked towards Deni III.
The smile hanging on his mouth became slightly deeper.
"There is someone I would like to recommend to the Eastern Regional Corps Supreme Commander position that is currently empty." 3
A wind blasted through the grand hall.
Of course, the one who raised that wind was Roan.
< Triumphant Return (1) > End. 4
Translator : CSV
Proofreader: st8_lupe.
"glares unlike glares" is a rather tricky phrase to translate. In short, it's a case of nobles and the two princes venomously glaring at Mills and Chester, but not in a way that is obvious. Thus, they are glaring at Mills and Chester, but not really in a technical sense since that would create internal problems in the factions. ↩ ch. 106 for those who wants to look back. ↩ previously held by Benjamin Doyle. ↩ yes, we had "triumphant return" arc back in ch. 104~108. The arc this time is also called "triumphant return." ↩