We quickly regained control of the land until the only thing left was the estate before us.
It was a three-story building made up of stone, unlike the other buildings around it.
Based on its architectural style, it had probably been built as a residence for the lord's family when the David's were still ruling.
"Ridiculous," I said without realizing.
"So you think so too, Grey-sama?" asked Kurama as he icily scanned his surroundings.
"Yeah. A ruler who ignores his people is even worse than a parasite."
And there's so many politicians just like that in the empire, of course, but also within the Amrzs Kingdom which had unjustly attacked this land. This world is just filled with pieces of shit rulers that unabashedly throw away their dignity.
"You're just like her."
"Your previous master?" I asked.
She was Aria's mother as well as the boss of the Revise Family, and I had heard many a great deeds about her.
"She often lamented the spreading injustices of the world you see."
"Before you go any further---"
"Yes, I know. Your similarities were only in your ideal worlds. She surely wouldn't have wished this kind of violence on anyone."
"Unsatisfied? I won't force you, okay?"
"Surely you jest. You don't take orders from anyone and have enough power to see your ideals to the end. I am just grateful to be able to wield this power for someone like you," said Kurama. He then bent his left arm behind him, placed his right arm over his chest, and lightly bowed.
"You know it, Kurama-chan! Master is amazing!" Hachi chimed in.
"Yes. Well done on realizing our master's magnificence," added Kama.
While they continued their cryptic excitement, Kurama grasped the doorhandle once again.
"No matter how much you deny it, you are fit to be a king. Do as you wish, as I will always follow behind you," he said and opened the door.
◇◆◇◆◇◆
Entering the estate, we found ourselves face to face with a row of archers by the stairs aiming at us.
"Idiots! They're like moths to a flame!" boasted a giant ape-like man who easily topped two meters in height as he tapped his greatsword on his shoulder.
At the same time, I pulled back my right elbow, formed a tight fist, and drilled into his chest.
I felt the bones crunching beneath my fist as the ape-like man shot into the stairs where he stopped moving altogether.
"This is my last act of mercy. I'll send you to the next world, painlessly."
I casted【Cetus】onto the frozen soldiers.
And truly, in the blink of an eye, all that remained in the estate were ice sculptures of the soldiers.
"Now."
The youth let out a shriek and cowered on the floor.
"I just happened to let you live. Understand?" I said.
I could at least tell he wasn't a bad person by the fact that he had given the Radols food.
But this was war. Not only was he a soldier, but I had no reason to hesitate to kill a good person. This case, especially, as they had invaded the empire without declaring war and violated our citizens. It would serve as a bad example if we didn't stand our grand and punish them accordingly. In short, I considered his live even more valuable than all of that.
"......"
I gave the youth a sigh as he nodded his head over and over while shedding tears.
"You have two paths ahead of you. Will you stay in this land to become a Radol and devote the rest of your life on restoring this city, or will you die here. Choose."
"I'll stay!" he quickly decided between tears.
"Are you sure? You won't be able to return to your homeland, nor will you be able to meet with your family."
"I......am an orphan so I don't have any family. My homeland was sent up into flames when I was a child because of an epidemic. I only became a soldier because I had to......"
His words lodged in his throat.
"So it was because you needed to put some food on the table......"
An epidemic, huh. Judging from the rumors I had heard, it was probably smallpox. It's a horrible disease with a fatality rate of anywhere from 20% to 50%. Once infected by the virus, the affected person would stay infectious for a long time, and the virus would quickly spiral out of control as it could spread even through droplets. It wasn't surprising that they'd choose to incinerate the entire village if it ever broke out as vaccines didn't exist.
"Yesh."
"Alright. I'll take you under my wing for now. Just know that I won't forgive any lies or attempts at betrayal. Understood?"
He furiously nodded.
Then, I ordered him to wait in this room and teleported back to Straheim.