A Tale of Strategies For the Throne - 272. Chapter 272

The disaster of Kanal.

After the incident, everyone referred to the incident as such.

After Aaron Landis conquered the city of Kanal, the Gasdards saw that they were on the verge of defeat, and fiercely chose to burn the jade with the Aaron Landis and Kanar.

They dug up the mountain in the middle of the mountain, causing the originally stable rock fragments to collapse, artificially creating a terrifying natural disaster.

When this happened, the whole world was shocked.

The entire continent was shaken by it, and it made the world feel disgusted and disgusted with the unscrupulous and frenzied behavior of the Gastards.

Other countries instinctively increased their vigilance and defensiveness towards the Gasdad.

Even the two countries of Iss and Geshu, who had been allied with the Gasdad, became jealous of them. Although they are regarded as barbaric and militant peoples, they will never be cruel enough to make themselves tens of thousands. The extent to which the soldiers went to die.

In their opinion, the Gastards can be cruel to their own people to such a degree, how can they be better for themselves who are just allies?

Therefore, many years later, when the Gasdad tried to form an alliance with them again, they were rejected.

The tragic consequences of this man-made natural disaster were that the commander-in-chief of Gasdad himself and countless Gasdad soldiers were buried under the ruins of the palace. Thousands of Aaron Landis soldiers who were too late to flee and who were The commander-in-chief of the army, Huimos, was sacrificed in this turmoil, plus thousands of Aaron Landis prisoners who failed to leave in time, totaling nearly 10,000.

The Kanal White Palace, which has been passed down for countless years and regarded as a treasure and a symbol of civilization by the Kanal people, was destroyed, and many people in the world regretted and embarrassed it.

At the same time, one-third of the city of Kanal was buried under the rocks and became a land of ruins. Because it was in the early hours of the morning, most people stayed in their homes, so nearly hundreds of thousands of Kanal people were buried alive under the rocks.

Countless relatives and friends were separated from life and death overnight.

That day, the whole city was shrouded in sorrowful cries.

It takes an extremely long time to build a prosperous and beautiful city, and it only takes a moment to destroy it.

War has always been so cruel.

…………

……………………

One month after the occurrence of the disaster of Canal.

Spring has arrived, and the earth is full of birds, flowers, and lush vegetation. At a glance, there are green trees and flowers everywhere, and clear gurgling streams can be seen flowing across the earth from time to time.

Along the way, the scenery that Sid had seen as ordinary in the past few decades has become a beautiful scenery for him at this moment.

But there are also some places that he feels unfamiliar, such as the neat and spacious road under his feet.

I heard that this is an avenue built by King Garlan himself. This avenue will start from the royal city and gradually expand to the whole country.

If it can be done, the whole country will have this kind of flat and spacious road in the future, then it will be much easier for the army to go out in the future, and the marching speed will be much faster.

Steer thought so almost reflexively.

However, even if there is a little strangeness, this is still the land of Aaron Landis.

Familiar wind, water, air, all of which made him feel warm from the bottom of his heart.

He never dreamed that he could return to this land again.

Yes, it’s like a dream.

However, seeing that he was getting closer to the royal city day by day, he suddenly became a little nervous for some reason.

An uneasiness, like worrying about being suddenly awakened from a dream, spread from the bottom of my heart.

The closer you are to the royal city, the more serious this anxiety becomes.

It’s not just him who feels this way, other companions have become silent in the two days before they arrive in the royal city.

…………

A few days later, the army of Aaron Landis on the expedition finally returned to the city after half a year.

They brought back more than 20,000 soldiers from Aaron Landis who had been captured by the Gasdad from Canal.

It was noon, and the magnificent King City was near.

When everyone looked up, they could see the golden palace in the royal city standing on the high cliff on the coast, bathed in bright sunlight, as if surrounded by white clouds.

Sid was in a daze for a moment.

Among them was the young king who declared that he would never give up my people and sent a large army to rescue them from the Gastads.

However, this battle was time-consuming and laborious, costing countless properties, and in the final Kanal disaster, thousands of soldiers were sacrificed overnight.

Even… the black knight Heimos, who was the strongest general of Aaron Landis, died in this battle.

He alone was the worst loss for Aaron Landis.

I don’t know how many countries—especially the Gaisu Kingdom, which has been suppressed by Heimos for many years and palpitated when he heard the name of the black knight, secretly gloating for misfortune.

The world said that the black knight Heimos’ deterrence to other countries can cost almost 100,000 troops per person.

Although these words are exaggerated by the world for admiring the name of the black knight.

But for the king of any country, it is absolutely not worthwhile to replace such a loyal and unparalleled general with twenty to thirty thousand prisoners of war who do not know whether there is any fighting capacity in the future.

The king of Aaron Landis did a big stupid thing.

The kings of many countries thought so happily.

Moreover, as Aaron Landis people, I also know that Huimos and King Garlan grew up together since childhood, and they have saved each other several times. The relationship between them is close and even better than the real one. Brother.

But this time, and because of this battle, he lost this existence like a family member.

King Garlan…Will it also be annoying.

Perhaps, he already regretted sending someone to rescue them…

Looking at the familiar city ahead of him that was about to be two years away, Sid thought nervously.

He looked around at his companions, everyone’s face was full of excitement, but hesitated.

In the past, there were very few people who returned home as prisoners of war. They were the first group.

No one knows how they will be treated.

They were defeated, captives, and once slaves to the Gasdad.

Because of them, Lord Huimos, who was regarded as a hero by the Aaron Landis, died in Canal.

…

They committed so many sins.

It is very likely that they will be despised and scorned for this, and perhaps they will be looked at with pity and sympathy from others.

They will be labeled as losers for life and nailed to the pillar of shame until death comes.

Steer walked in silence.

The closer he approached the king’s city, the more confused he became, that was the confusion of his own future.

At this moment, he was even a little afraid to walk into this city where he had been dreaming.

Just as Step waited for the crowd to be thinking about it uncomfortably, they were already in front of the moat.

Steer subconsciously looked up and saw the wide moat bridge in front of him.

The moat bridge is a part of the gate of the king’s city. When it is erected, it becomes the city gate, and when it is put down, it becomes a bridge over the moat.

Passing the long moat bridge, there is a huge and majestic city gate in front of it.

This huge gate is divided into two levels. One layer is big, one layer is small, and one layer is covered with one layer.

Usually only the small door is raised for pedestrians and carriages to enter and exit.

And now, the entire city gate is slowly rising upwards.

Steer understood that this was to welcome the triumphant soldiers.

After the army enters, there will be countless people cheering beside the city avenue.

He was one of them in the past.

… And now, he doesn’t know what will be waiting for them who were once prisoners.

Steer was thinking with a heavy heart. The companions around him looked very silent like him, and the expressions of excitement had disappeared from their faces not long ago.

At this moment, the army that should have passed the moat bridge suddenly stopped advancing.

Seeing that the army was not moving, Sid looked up strangely.

In the next second, his pupils shrank sharply.

The simple and heavy stone and iron city gate rose slowly, and a large group of people slowly walked out of the city gate.

The leader is a young teenager riding a white horse.

Under the bright sunlight, the beautiful appearance of the young king almost made one dare not look up.

He rode his horse forward slowly, and his light-colored cloak flew away in the wind behind him.

Long hair like flowing gold slipped from behind his shoulders.

The lapis lazuli gold crown was worn on the bright blonde hair.

When he appeared, the crowd was silent.

The forefront coach Kehuos took the lead, and the soldiers on horseback rolled over and dismounted.

Gallan Lema stopped in the middle of the moat bridge, and the royal knights in red armor stood solemnly behind him, like a red flame spreading behind him.

Needless to say, when the young king raised his eyes and scanned it, the army standing in front of the moat bridge leaned over and knelt down.

One after another, one piece after another.

In no time, the army of Aaron Landis, who couldn’t see their heads, leaned down and knelt on the ground.

They bowed their heads deeply.

Toward the direction of their king.

“I am here to greet my triumphant soldiers.”

King Garlan’s unique clear voice sounded in the quiet air.

“and also……”

Garlan’s gaze swept across his soldiers, and then landed on the front left side of the army.

There, there are a group of Aaron Landis people who do not wear Aaron Landis soldier’s armor and appear out of place in the army.

His golden pupils fixedly stared at that place.

At this moment, Sed, who was kneeling on the ground, felt that his heart was tightened by an invisible big hand.

He lowered his head anxiously, and clasped his fingers on the ground unconsciously.

Seeing the people of Aaron Landis who were obviously worried, Gallan smiled.

He said, “Welcome home.”

The voice of the young king spread across the silent earth.

There is no redundant, complicated language.

It was just a simple sentence, four words, but the depressive atmosphere that enveloped the group of people was instantly wiped out.

All the anxiety, the anxiety of being close to the hometown, the complicated and chaotic thoughts, disappeared before this sentence.

【Welcome home. 】

Sid lowered his head deeply, clenched his fingers, and resisted the sorrow of his nose.

Yes.

Going through hardships.

They finally… go home.

…………

……………………

Under the cheers and welcome of the people on both sides, the army on the expedition walked the Wangcheng Avenue among the fallen petals and returned to the military camp on the other side of the Wangcheng.

Kaihus followed Garlan back to the palace.

Soon, he was already standing in the palace room.

Garlan and him are the only two in the room now, and the magistrate is guarding the courtyard outside.

Kaihus came here alone, not to report the battle to Galan. After all, he would send a report back every few days, so Galan was clear about the course of the war.

Standing in front of the silent Garlan, for the first time, the blond knight had the urge to escape from the boy.

For the first time, he felt that it was so difficult to talk to the child he was watching growing up.

“…I’m sorry, my lord.”

After brewing for a long time, Kaijos finally spoke up with difficulty.

His voice was very dry.

“I cannot bring the body of Lord Huimos back to Aaron Landis.”

Clenched his right hand on his chest, maintaining a bowed posture.

For some reason, he dared not look at the face of the boy in front of him, and said with his eyes down.

“Almost half of the mountain has collapsed, and the part of the palace has been sunken in its entirety. It is completely buried by the sliding mountain and cannot be excavated.”

“If I dig forcibly, I am worried that there may be a danger of continuing to collapse there.”

Huimos is very important to His Majesty.

Kaijos knows.

One month has passed, and the death of Hiemos is already doomed. If his body can be brought back, it may be a bit of comfort to his Majesty.

But he knew better.

Even if Garlan was in King Kanal at that time, he would never make the decision to let the soldiers risk their lives to dig up the remains.

The blond knight lowered his head, looking like a kid who had done something wrong.

“I’m really sorry, Prince.”

In the confusion, he subconsciously called out the familiar name.

His hands on his chest clenched firmly.

“I shouldn’t have allowed Lord Huimos to sneak into the city of Kanal. It was all my fault…”

“Kyjos.”

One hand stretched over and took his hand that was clenched until the knuckles were slightly white.

Gallan looked up at him.

“If you want to investigate the cause, it’s me.”

He said,

“It was I who asked Huimos to rescue the captured Aaron Landis, so he would take the risk, otherwise, you know, he wouldn’t do that at all—so, In the final analysis, I was the one who harmed him, and I was the one who was wrong.”

“It’s not your fault, Prince!”

Kaihus raised his eyes abruptly, he shook Garlan’s hand back, and retorted without hesitation.

“No one thought that something like that would happen. On the battlefield, everything changes rapidly, and no one knows what will happen next.”

“Prince, I know you are uncomfortable, but you can’t blame yourself for the mistake, do you understand?”

Gallan did not answer immediately.

He glanced at his hand held tightly by Kayjos, and then smiled.

He said, “This is just like you, Kayhus, with the cowering look just now, and you don’t see the demeanor of being a blazing sun knight at all.”

“…”

Kaihus couldn’t react for a while, staring at Garlan blankly.

Gallan shook his head.

“As you said, things on the battlefield are changing rapidly and no one can predict it. Therefore, it is not my fault, let alone yours. I can only say…”

He paused before continuing.

“Fate should be so.”

“His Majesty……”

Gallan raised his left hand and covered it on the hand where Kehos was holding his hand.

He held his knight’s hand in both hands, raised his head, and his golden pupils were slightly bent in a soft arc, and he smiled at his knight.

“Kyjos, I’m glad you can return to me safely.”

He smiled and said,

“You don’t have to worry about me, I’m fine.”

…………

After talking with Garlan for a while, Kaihus left the room.

After all, half a year after the expedition, after a fierce battle, he led the army back to the royal city in a hurry, even if he was a little tired.

Kaihus had seen it with his own eyes. After witnessing Camos’s death in battle two years ago, the young boy curled himself up in the dark, hugged himself and buried his head in his knees for two days without saying a word. Without eating or drinking, it looks like a woodcarving without a soul.

He also knows.

In the past two years, Huimos has gradually occupied an extremely important position in Garland’s heart.

Therefore, before seeing Garlan with his own eyes, he was always very worried.

After seeing Garlan’s current state, he was finally able to relax a little.

The young king’s demeanor before the army is the same as before, more powerful.

When the two were alone just now, Gallan stood in front of him. Although he looked a little thinner, he looked calm when talking about the death of that person.

Even the smile seemed to be the same as before, not much changed.

Kehos thought.

Yes, after experiencing so many things, that little child has grown up little by little after all.

Become stronger than before, and mature a lot.

With such emotion in the bottom of my heart, Kaihus, who had just left the door, suddenly remembered that he seemed to have dropped his cloak on the table in the room.

Fortunately, he hadn’t gone far yet, so he quickly turned around and walked back to the room.

He did not close the door tightly when he left, and now he concealed himself when he returned. His Majesty seemed to have not left in the room.

Kayjos walked to the door, put his hand on the open door, and was about to push it away.

Before he started, when he raised his eyes to look past, through the crack of the door, he saw the profile of Gallan who was standing there.

Garlan stood in front of the open floor-to-ceiling windows, her face calm, as if looking at the garden where birds and flowers were scented outside.

The warm spring wind blew in from outside, raising strands of long golden hair that fell on his shoulders.

The room was flooded with sunlight, bright and warm.

At this moment, there was only Garlan alone.

He stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, raised his hand, and leaned on the edge of the floor-to-ceiling window.

The young man looked at the courtyard, seemingly fascinated.

The thick golden forehead fell down, and the shadow shrouded his eyes.

Kaihus’ hand was already on the door, and he was about to push the door in.

Suddenly, a breeze blew from the courtyard and lifted the boy’s blond forehead.

Kaihus saw Garlan’s eyes.

His brain buzzed.

He saw the look in the boy’s eyes.

That is a look that is hard to describe in words.

But there is no need to say, let alone to describe.

As long as anyone sees it, he can feel the painful marks in it.

Kaijos’s mind was blank.

Standing on the spot blankly, he saw Garlan slowly retract his hand by the window.

As if a little bit cold by the wind, Gallan’s arms hugged him tightly.

The young man standing in front of the French window slowly squatted on the ground.

He hugged himself tightly.

He lowered his head, and the long blond hair fell from his shoulders, as if wrapping him in it.

The boy hugged himself like this, buried his head deeply, squatted, and curled up, shrinking himself into a small ball like a child.

It looks very helpless.

The boy’s fingers clasped his arm tightly, sinking deep to the point where he was bruised.

The whitish fingertips may be due to the extreme force, and you can almost see the traces of trembling slightly…

…………

Can’t stand it anymore, Kaihus stretched out his hand to push the door and burst in.

But a hand suddenly stretched out from the side and stopped him.

Kaihus, who was in a state of extreme chaos, was about to start his hands. When he looked up, he saw the face of a familiar female officer.

He stayed for a while, then was forcibly dragged away by Tapti and taken outside the room.

“Why don’t you let me in?”

Kaihus showed an unprecedented anxious look, and even snarled at Tapiti in a gloomy manner.

As long as he thinks of what he saw just now, his heart aches.

“Your Majesty does not want you to go in.”

Tapti looked at him with a frosty face.

“why?”

Kayhus clenched his hand, his fingers rattling with frustration.

“Kyjos, he is no longer a prince, he is a king.”

The magistrate said, her expression was solemn.

But there was a deep sadness in her eyes.

“He is the king who guards the entire Aaron Landis.”

Therefore, he will not rely on you.

I will not rely on anyone.

Therefore, he can smile calmly and stand in front of everyone casually.

That is his dignity as a king.

…………

And the only person in the world that he can rely on as a king is no longer there.

※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※

I was shocked, and the power went out in the middle of the code word.

Fortunately, the call came soon.