Offer a Tribute and Become an Archmage - Chapter 170



Only Noblemtl

Offering Tribute to the Archmage Chapter 170

The sun in the night sky [1]

Episode 170.

The journey from Auloth to Gradas.

Leading an army doesn’t mean that there’s nothing to worry about. You have to deal with the occasional goblin that appears. Sometimes, wild beasts that are more dangerous than monsters appear, so it’s true that it’s better to stay in a village than to camp, and it’s more comfortable.

Passing through Auloth’s domain, at the end of the eastern village of Gradas, Lonobe stopped at the village of Kerashid, where he replenished his food supply and rested.

Since there were over a hundred of them, if they stayed too long, they could deplete the village’s food supply. Even though autumn, the harvest season, was approaching, they could not stay in the small village for too long.

In Kerashid, the village widow persuaded the soldiers to hurry and pass, and Sir Tommy, who could not have been unaware of her intention, paid back the village with as much silver as possible.

“But why are you here?”

“Oh, that’s right.”

Next to Ronobé as he ate were Liam, Benny, and Jill Loabern.

How did this happen…

“My family doesn’t have any money… so I’ll have to pay with my body.”

Jill was taken prisoner by Ronobe, and was treated as a proper prisoner according to the kingdom’s prisoner laws. However, in order for a prisoner to be released, a noble family must pay a bail bond, but due to various issues with Auloth, the family does not have the money.

This was partly because of Ronobe, but in any case, he had no choice but to beat Jill with his body, so he became a knight employed by Gradas for five years.

Of course, the greatest authority lay with Ronobe, who had taken him captive.

“I have my wife and Liam, I don’t need you.”

“I would rather be by Lord Hopper’s side than the Lord of Gradas, who I don’t even know.”

“I killed your partner?”

“Isn’t that how all wars are? It was just a difference of opinion. Me too, Kyung-do.”

For some reason, Jill seemed to want to be by Ronob’s side.

“You belong to Gradas. Let’s meet the lord of Gradas and discuss the details.”

“yes.”

Ultimately, it was Elysia’s job to handle it.

I couldn’t just arbitrarily take the red-level knights as mine.

“Sir Hopper. Are you there?”

“Commander Tommy, it’s okay.”

Tommy came into the barracks, saw Jill, flinched, and cleared his throat.

It seemed like the memories of what happened before were still bothering him.

“What’s going on?”

“The lord has sent a messenger to Kerashid in advance.”

“What is it about?”

“We will give a grand welcome to the army of Gradas who returns with news of victory.”

“It’s an improvement diet.”

Improvement.

It is a festival that gives the highest honor to the army that won the war.

Since it was an army that participated in another territory war as an ally, it usually did not hold a ceremony, but there was a reason for doing so.

“His Majesty the King will surely hear our names. It is the King’s duty not to interfere in the affairs of the territories, but there was an imperial wizard involved. He congratulated us, saying that he would probably give us a great reward.”

Wizard of the Empire.

It was because of the nightmare light.

In addition to Gradas, there is also Auloth.

When something happens due to the magician of the empire, the king can no longer sit idly by.

The plan was to create a hero by giving a great reward to Ronobe, who had defeated him twice, and to drive the name of the empire out of the kingdom on a large scale.

It was good for the king to be able to win the hearts of the people, and it was good for the people to find some relief with the birth of a hero, so it was a good thing for both sides.

Of course, except for Ronobe.

‘I’m already being targeted all the time…’

I had a feeling there would be even more enemies in the future.

‘I have a lot to do…’

Since the King himself will not come to Gradas, Ronobe must go.

Since there is no way I could go alone, I have to go on another long journey as soon as I get back.

I have more to take care of in Hopper Village, more to think about in tribute, and more to ponder about the magic of the god I saw in my nightmare.

‘I have to go to the North too…’

Even if I had ten bodies, I wouldn’t be able to do it, and yet I have to go all the way to the palace.

Of course, others were already excited, saying there was no greater honor than this.

“Are you looking forward to it?”

“Of course! There is a black knight, Obel, in the palace! There is no greater honor than meeting His Majesty the King with one of the only two black knights in the kingdom!”

Ronobe wasn’t particularly impressed, having only seen one of the two Black Knights.

I was a little nervous about meeting the King. I was scared because I thought he could lose his head with just one word.

‘I hope I didn’t get caught?’

If the King finds out that he killed the Earl of Aolor, Ronobe will be helpless.

To be captured and executed without permission is frankly absurd, and I have no choice but to abandon everything and become a wanderer.

My body trembled as I thought about it.

“While you’re at it, how about taking the Hopper Kingdom Magic Test?”

“Is it a test?”

“With your skills, White is a sure bet. You have the skills to single-handedly defeat the wizards of the empire… so it won’t be difficult.”

It was Benald.

Benald, who had appeared without anyone noticing, painted Lonobe’s face with gold.

“Is it good to have that?”

“Just by holding the medal, you receive various support and benefits from the kingdom every month. Since I’m blue, it’s not that much, but… If I were white, it would be completely different.”

Ronobe saw the quality.

“I receive one gold coin and iron every year. It is called the maintenance fee. At first, I also received a small fief. I sold it because I was not interested in managing the fief.”

That’s what they say.

Red one gold coin every year?

‘Is it worth doing?’

If it was white, I think they would give me about five gold coins every year. It would be difficult, but it was none other than Ronobe. I was confident in myself.

“The test basically consists of a written test, a practical test, and then a duel.”

Ronobe has lost himself.

“Handwriting…?”

“Yes. It’s about moral common sense and understanding of magic. The test changes every year, so many wizards have a hard time.”

To receive the award is to become a wizard who eats the kingdom’s green.

Of course, it was natural that he should not use it for personal purposes and cause harm to the people, and he had to fulfill his duty when called by the country.

If you receive a benefit, you must fulfill your duty.

It was no different from becoming a nobleman.

In reality, those who received awards above a certain level were treated as quasi-nobles.

“I heard that those with a white or higher reputation are given the title of Baron. If you develop many settlements and acquire lands through merit, they are given the title of Count.”

“count…!!”

Of course, it wasn’t an easy task.

“The land of the kingdom is not that large.”

To the west is a desert. To the east is the sea. To the north are orcs and to the south are swamps.

Since the land above the yolk has long since been eaten up by the existing powerful clans, it is common for lords to fight among themselves to expand their land.

Ronobe didn’t even hope for that.

First of all, there is Gradas’ territory, and Ronobe is a hopper.

Although he had a desire to expand his territory centered around Hopper, he did not have the ambition to do so while going to war.

‘I want to be a baron or a count.’

First of all, it was cool to have a high rank.

And if you take into account the marriage with Elicia, you should have risen to the rank of Baron at the very least.

However, as your rank increases, so do your responsibilities.

There really wasn’t anything easy.

“Sir Hopper will surely do it.”

It was Benald.

“I think so too.”

It was Tommy.

Benny and Liam also seemed to think so, looking at Ronobe with trusting eyes. Ronobe felt embarrassed for no reason, so he smiled awkwardly and shook his head. It seemed like they had built up a sense of camaraderie while spending time together, even if it was only for a short while.

Ronobe didn’t hate that at all.

“If Lord Hopper becomes an earl, leave one spot empty for me. An earl rules over many baronies, so I must get in and take a spot there.”

“Haha, if Sir Tommy goes, I should go too. My magic is more useful for protecting something than attacking it.”

Now that I think about it, I had another chance to see Benald’s magic on my way here.

In the village I passed through, I had to subdue a bear called Malttuk. It was a bear that had eaten many people, so its fur was red and it was over 3 meters long.

At that time, Benald faced the bear and thought it would be half dead, but surprisingly, he defeated the red bear without much difficulty. Benald was a wizard who used mud, but he was also one who strengthened it by making it into a mud golem.

‘Of course it took a long time.’

Thanks to that, five soldiers died, but even so, the mud golem was strong.

It was a moment when I felt once again that Elicia had not recruited him for nothing.

‘A golem… I wonder if I can make one too.’

Gargoyles and golems.

It was a similar yet different magic.

Perhaps because of its mud nature, Benald’s golem was more like a sloppy slime than a golem, but it was still alive and moving, so it was a golem.

I also wanted to make a Ronobedo Golem.

Of course, this is not a normal golem.

‘toad.’

Toad Golem.

A small doll rather than a golem? That would suffice.

It seemed pretty convenient if we could put a Yonterion in there.

In this nightmare, it was nice that Yonterion gave advice at the right time. Even if it wasn’t advice, I wanted to feel the passage of time by seeing the same thing as the gods. Maybe it was because I saw their nightmares.

‘It might not be impossible.’

God also descends to this world through himself.

Karankar and Yonterion did that.

Of course, it is not something I do often because it puts a lot of strain on my body, but if it were possible, it might be possible to do it with a doll instead of my body.

It was a moment in Ronobe’s life when a new, long-term project was born.

So it was almost inevitable that he would come into conflict with Benald, the creator of the golem, and his magical views.

“Are you talking about a golem? Hmm.”

To a wizard, knowledge is more valuable than money.

The view of magic held by a wizard is worth more than gold or silver. In order to know this, it was common sense to present something more than gold or exchange something equivalent.

“Let’s make a deal.”

In order to share views with other wizards, there had to be something to exchange, and Ronobe imparted a variety of knowledge.

It was mainly about freezing.

Let’s start by telling him about the enlightenment or related knowledge about magic and tell him things that might be helpful to him. Benald also listened devoutly and asked questions.

“You use blood. If so, then it is indeed a wonderful magic. Blood is everywhere if you are alive. Perhaps, as Sir Hopper’s level increases, the power contained in the blood will increase. Then, your freezing will sublimate into an even higher-dimensional ice.”

Although Benald looked like a bandit, he had surprisingly solid magical knowledge.

“Creating a golem requires a high level of concentration. It requires precious materials as it involves breathing life into it. You need the dust of a monster stone, the essence of a monster, and the powder made from the ash of dried ash tree shoots. However, the most important thing is the blood of the caster.”

When I told him the secret of the golem, it was simpler than he thought, and Ronobe was surprised.

“Can you say it so easily?”

“Even if you say it, each wizard has different magic knots and requires different powers.”

It meant that even if I told you, you wouldn’t be able to do it.

“I got this method from my master. I lost all my wealth to get it. So, please promise me one thing.”

“What are you talking about?”

“If you achieve success in this way, then when I am in danger, never abandon me.”

It seemed easy, but it was difficult.

It was a request for help in times of trouble, but if it had anything to do with the kingdom or treason, I couldn’t help.

“If there is no shame in heaven.”

“Don’t worry about that. I’m not that shameless either.”

Benald chuckled and asked in a lighter tone.

“But you’re trying to make a golem out of ice? You don’t need to do that. It’s pointless.”

The power of the ice that is getting stronger and stronger is definitely enough to freeze most things without having to create a golem. Even the red knight is now powerless against Ronobe’s ice.

I don’t know about white, but for those with lower ranks, the current Ronovei is one that can be dealt with without difficulty.

“There are times when physical force is necessary.”

“Hmm, that’s true. A wizard is someone who can do what a knight can’t, but isn’t it true that a wizard is someone who doesn’t need a knight to become one?”

“Are you dreaming of becoming a hardened wizard?”

Benald looked dumbfounded as if asking such an obvious question.

“Isn’t that natural for a wizard? Everyone has a wizard in their heart.”

Benald looked up at the sky.

The night sky of Kerashid was dazzlingly bright with stars.

“There are more people who want to become stars than those who want to become the sun or the moon. I am one of those people.”

“…Is that so?”

Stars rather than the sun and moon.

It was a heart-wrenching statement.

“What will you become?”

“I am…”

“Don’t talk about becoming a star like me. You are already a star.”

I thought he was joking, but it didn’t seem to be the case. The strange look in his eyes amidst the laughter made him look serious.

Stars, and more.

It may sound like a joke, but Benald was clearly testing Ronobe. No, it seemed like he was just trying to hear his ambitions.

To Benald, Ronobe was the one who made his stiff head like rice, starting out as a mercenary and becoming a noble who was recognized as a magician. If we were to have a relationship, I wanted to make it deep, and if I had to follow him, I wanted to follow him firmly.

Living as a mercenary, what he values ​​more than magic is strings.

He knew that sometimes, more than gold and silver treasures or miracles, it is the skill of walking a tightrope that makes life beneficial.

It was impossible to know whether that light was just a twinkling star, a soft moonlight that illuminated the darkness, or an eternally burning sun that attracted the stars and the moon.

So I wanted to hear it.

The path he wants to take.

What you want to become.

Ronobe raised his head for a moment and looked up at the sky.

The twinkling stars and the rising moon.

and.

“The sun in the night sky.”

There was a sun that had disappeared.

Laughing awkwardly, Ronobe quickly left, but Benald couldn’t leave for a while, pondering the meaning.

*

A few days later.

The triumphant general of the army that entered the gates of Gradas was Tommy. After all, he was the commander of this army and he was the one who commanded it.

Tommy felt sorry about that, but Ronnobe didn’t care.

Of course, Ronobe and the senior members took their places next to him and greeted the cheers of the citizens.

“Look over there! The knights and soldiers of Gradas!”

As the citizens’ cheers died down, the soldiers of Gradas, the knights, the vassals, and Elysia stood up in front.

Ronobe shouted.

“I came! I saw! I conquered!!”

“Waaa …

People I had never met before lined up to throw flowers and wave handkerchiefs. There were also many who applauded and congratulated without even knowing what was going on.

But what does that matter?

The important thing was that we won and came back.

“Welcome back safely.”

Elysia patted the shoulders of the war heroes who bravely stood up.

Of course, I didn’t forget the compensation.

It was a box filled with silver coins.

It looked to be around thirty coins, and it was a bit disappointing that it wasn’t gold, but considering Gradas’ financial situation, it was a show of good faith.

Not only did he give Ronobe, he was also the main character of the war.

I gave it to the four of you as a representative.

Considering that there were many lords who would not only not improve their houses but also easily pay compensation, it was quite nerve-wracking.

Of course, the ones who benefited the most from this war were Ronove and Elysia. It was Auloth who paid a considerable amount of compensation to Gradas.

“It is a day of honor. Let the heroes of the war recover from their fatigue and enjoy the festivities.”

“yes!”

A dance began to unfold inside the castle, with Elicia providing drinks and food.

Unlike those who started eating meat and drinking alcohol and those who kept calling out the lord’s name, the main characters entered the castle separately and faced the magnificently prepared banquet hall.

Ronobe followed behind Elicia and talked to her.

“Did you hear the messenger’s message?”

“Yes. Your Majesty the King…”

“That’s right. They say they’ll reward you. It’s an honorable thing. It’ll be a tough journey, but you should prepare quickly and go to the kingdom.”

They say everything is ready.

It’s unfortunate, but since it was the King who summoned her, there’s nothing Elysia can do.

“We can set departure in three days. It may only be three days, but I hope you enjoy the banquet and rest well before leaving.”

Elicia looked down at Ronobe with deep eyes. Sometimes, emotions can be conveyed without words.

“Understood, my lord.”

Even though early autumn was approaching, the night was unusually hot.