IYAMD: Episode 41

Because they had stirred things up unnecessarily, there was a great unease that the beasts might strike first. However, there was no solution presenting itself at the moment.

In the end, Marsilia decided to rest until tomorrow. He needed it more than anything else.

“From today until tomorrow, we’ll rest and prepare for an all-out battle. I’ll start thinking about building a trebuchet. Let’s throw oil-filled barrels and set them on fire—no matter how thick the hide is, it won’t be able to withstand that.”

If this method was used, they wouldn’t be able to salvage the by-products, but that wasn’t what was important right now. Life was more important than money.

The only issue was that to find usable wood, they would have to go a little further into the Deto Mountains. Marsilia examined the map that General Des had prepared for a long while before finally making up his mind.

“Day after tomorrow, we’ll move the camp. Send scouts near the Deto Mountains to find a suitable place for a new one. It has to be large enough for the whole army to relocate and to build a trebuchet. It should be near water and close to a forest, a wide open plain.”

The Minotaurs couldn’t possibly be unaware of their current position. While the reason they had ignored this place until now was unknown, since they had initiated the attack first, it was hard to believe they would continue to ignore them.

Marsilia discussed the plan to relocate their position in detail and made sure everyone else understood the plan.

“Until we move, increase the number of guards and place sentries on the hills. Choose the ones with good night vision.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“While preparing the trebuchet, tell the priests to bless the knights’ swords. Once the battle starts, I’ll apply double blessings, but we need to increase the damage as much as possible.”

The swords blessed by the priests would have enhanced lethality. The blessings could even be stacked depending on the rank, and Marsilia could provide the highest-level blessings.

The priests were few in number relative to the soldiers, and the blessings had a short duration compared to the effort they required, so Marsilia usually handled the task himself in most battles.

But this time, it felt like even that was lacking. If they could tear through the beasts’ tough hides even a little more, it would make the battle much easier.

Marsilia resolved to use every method he could think of—fire, water, wood, rocks, or even the power of the goddess, whatever it took.

To return alive, he would try anything. As he always had.

…

After the meeting, when Marsilia returned to the tent, Jaha was sitting on the ground meditating. Marsilia could sense the energy flowing around him, and he stopped Malek, who was following him in.

The conversation he had with General Des earlier came to mind. It was said that even when cultivating inner energy, one could experience disruptions in their Qi. Marsilia didn’t want to disturb Jaha’s flow by making noise.

Standing quietly at the entrance, Marsilia observed, and after a while, Jaha opened his eyes. He blinked when he saw Marsilia standing at the entrance and then opened his mouth as if to speak.

It was hard to understand, but it was likely asking why Marsilia was there. Marsilia roughly guessed and responded.

“I thought I might disturb your training, so I waited. Are you finished?”

Jaha nodded and stood up from the ground. Marsilia then walked closer to him.

“Did you meditate?”

‘Qi cultivation. I’m practicing gathering my energy in the dantian.’

Jaha responded earnestly, though Marsilia didn’t quite understand what he meant. Jaha seemed to be explaining how his energy flowed through his body with his hands.

Jaha brought the energy flowing up his arms and legs to his dantian. Marsilia suddenly recalled a statue he had seen before.

“I’ve seen this before. It’s a statue from the Eastern Continent, I think it was called Buddha. It looks similar.”

Jaha’s face slightly scrunched up.

“Isn’t it?”

Jaha nodded, and Marsilia smiled softly at his response. It struck him that recently, Jaha had been responding to him more earnestly.

“Your voice still isn’t coming out? You should be able to speak by now, right?”

This time, Jaha nodded slowly. He wrapped his hands around his neck and moved his mouth, and Marsilia understood.

“It feels like your throat is blocked?”

This time, Jaha nodded more vigorously.

Now that Marsilia looked at him, Jaha’s eyes were filled with determination. It wasn’t long ago that he seemed to have nothing in his eyes but a desire for death.

Marsilia gently stroked Jaha’s cheek.

“When your throat clears, I want to hear your voice first.”

He wondered what had happened to Jaha, what made him want to die, what he had lost, and how he had lived. Since learning about Jaha’s hometown, Gerald had put in an inquiry to the guild, but it would take at least two months to get a response.

Marsilia could also ask Jaha through Gerald, but he worried about reopening old wounds. What if Jaha fell into his past again?

So, if possible, he wanted to wait until Jaha himself was ready to speak about it.

As Marsilia quietly watched, Jaha turned away and walked off.

During the meeting, whether he had washed or not, the soft nape of his neck was exposed beneath his tied-up hair. Marsilia instinctively reached out toward the pale skin.

However, before his hand could touch it, Jaha quickly covered his nape and turned around. Marsilia, irritated by the sudden action, asked again.

“Don’t do it? What? Why?”

Jaha made a troubled face at the repeated questions. He seemed about to say something but then stubbornly shut his mouth without saying anything.

Marsilia smiled slyly and called out to Malek, who was waiting outside. He then passed by Jaha and headed to a corner with a partition, whispering.

“You can be a bit too reserved sometimes.”

As Jaha scowled when Marsilia began to undress behind the partition, Marsilia found that he didn’t seem to realize that such a face only made him appear more reserved.

While washing with a damp towel, Marsilia informed Malek of the decisions made during the meeting.

“Rest well until tomorrow, and it’s better to organize your things by evening. If anyone needs assistance, I’ll assign knights to help.”

“It’s just clothes, so it should be fine, Your Majesty.”

“But won’t it be too much to handle alone?”

“My luggage is light, so there’s no need to worry, Your Majesty. Actually, your personal items are fewer than those of Marquis Pablo,” Malek grumbled, mentioning the lavish items brought by the marquis.

“Had Your Majesty not stopped me, I would’ve done the same. I would’ve brought two more attendants. What kind of emperor builds a tent on the bare ground? There’s no chair, no proper attire. We should have at least brought more tea…”

Malek vented about not being able to bring a teacup.

Listening to the conversation between the master and servant, Jaha watched Marsilia, who was smiling mischievously.

He thought Marsilia was a strange person. His first impression hadn’t been great, but as he got to know him more, he realized he was a kind person.

It wasn’t just with him. Even the way he treated the surrounding attendants made it clear. A servant openly grumbling like that to an emperor with absolute power—it was impossible unless the emperor allowed it.

Yet, despite the grumbling, the emperor only smiled, as though finding it amusing. When their eyes met, the smile grew even brighter, which was somewhat irritating.

Jaha, watching this, couldn’t help but smile to himself.

Marsilia’s eyes widened as he laughed brightly. His deep white eyes and lightly dimpled cheeks gave him a mischievous, youthful appearance, as if he were a teenager.

The smile, which seemed at odds with his sharp features, was unexpectedly radiant. Jaha couldn’t avoid it and found himself watching the approaching man.

The large hand reached out, cupping Jaha’s face as the man leaned down. It wasn’t until the sound reached his ears that Jaha realized the man had kissed his forehead.

Immediately, Jaha tried to pull back, but the man followed him, still holding his face. As the man’s face came closer, there was a sudden clearing of the throat behind them.

“Ahem. Hm, hm, ahem.”

Marsilia frowned deeply and turned around, where Malek could be seen, covering his mouth with his fist and awkwardly clearing his throat.

“Malek, stop making noise and leave.”

Marsilia commanded in a low, cold voice, but Malek, following court etiquette, placed his hand over his chest and bowed.

“I apologize, Your Majesty, but Lord Ashton instructed me that if there was a possibility that Your Majesty might not maintain proper boundaries, I should stop you by any means necessary.”

“What?”

Malek, with a sympathetic expression, straightened up, his gaze lowered.

“Of course, I must follow Your Majesty’s orders, but as I’m also under the direct command of my superior, I cannot ignore his orders… Please understand, Your Majesty.”

While Jaha focused on Malek, he quickly stepped back. Marsilia’s face behind him twitched with anger.

“They’re truly disrespecting the Emperor…”

Jaha grabbed his sleeve. Marsilia paused and turned back with an expression of displeasure.