NOVEL NEXT Chapter 229:
The war was just beginning from this point.
The Lota Kingdom forces had to battle not against the Cherokee Kingdom's army, but against the ravaged environment.
The state of the Cherokee Kingdom, after being swept away by the great flood, was truly beyond words.
It was at a point where one couldn't even tell where to begin.
But it wasn’t something that could be left unattended.
“We will now begin the restoration operation. This is also a battle. Consider it a civilian aid effort and do your utmost.”
“Yes! Your Majesty!”
The Lota Kingdom forces began the restoration efforts according to Otto's orders.
First, they gathered the bodies scattered in their horrific state and held a joint funeral.
Additionally, they rebuilt collapsed buildings and repaired roads.The reconstruction effort wasn't limited to just the Lota Kingdom's army.
Prisoners of war who had been held captive were also put to work.
Otto promised them that once the reconstruction work was complete, they could either enlist as soldiers and serve the Kingdom of Lota, or they could leave and live a civilian life.
Captivated by the good treatment and welfare they had received from the Lota Kingdom army over the past three months, most of the prisoners applied to enlist.
Since the Cherokee Kingdom's territory, which had been their home, was devastated, leaving them with no means to sustain themselves, everyone took the opportunity to apply for enlistment.
Thanks to this, the Lota Kingdom was able to easily increase its military by over 20,000 soldiers without the need for separate recruitment or conscription.
It wasn't just the prisoners of war who were mobilized for the recovery effort.
According to Otto's orders, the nobles of the Cherokee Kingdom were also mobilized for the reconstruction work and had to sweat it out as they labored.
Rank?
or Status?
Otto didn't care.
Anyone who was with Kalmar had to participate in the restoration work.
Even if that person was of Ducal status.
But that didn’t mean that all the nobles diligently participated in the restoration work.
Some nobles sent servants or knights to handle the restoration work for them.
Other nobles performed the restoration work half-heartedly, showing laziness and pretending to be ill, among other signs of insincerity."
The habit of never lifting a finger throughout their lives as nobles had become ingrained in them, making them detest hard physical labor like restoration work more than anything.
It wasn’t just that.
Noblemen who came to the repair work crying and eating mustard often caused problems as well.¹
“That son of a bitch!!!”
Duke Chester threw down his shovel and expressed his anger while working on the restoration.
“Why should I be doing this kind of dirty work! Why!”
He was genuinely enraged.
As a Duke, it was utterly unacceptable to him to work in the filthy restoration site, covered in mud.
"Even if it’s persecution, this is too much! For noblemen like us to be made to do such lowly physical labor! Is this all that His Highness Otto de Scuderia thinks of us nobles?"
Duke Chester openly expressed his dissatisfaction with Otto.
No matter how much of a conqueror Otto was, Duke Chester was deeply dissatisfied with being forced into physical labor despite his noble status, and his frustration exploded as he labored.
“I can no longer endure such unreasonable treatment! What are you all doing? Are you going to continue with this kind of labor?”
Duke Chester shouted at the nobles from the Kingdom of Cherokee who were working at the same site.
“Aren’t we, as the social elite, nobles of knowledge and dignity? We cannot accept this treatment! His Highness will need our abilities in the process of rebuilding this country! We should not be treated like this!"
Some nobles agreed with Duke Chester's words and echoed his sentiments.
“That's right!”
“How can he insult us like this?”
“Damn him!”
The nobles, one after another, threw down their shovels and picks and began to condemn Otto.
Then.
“How long do they think they’ll remain nobles?”
A middle-aged man muttered, rolling his eyes in distaste.
“What?”
Duke Chester's eyebrows twitched.
“What did you just say?”
“I asked how long you'll remain a noble.”
The middle-aged man, who had lost his wife in the recent disaster, was filled with resentment towards the inept royal family and nobles.
“You dare to talk to me like that?”
“I'm speaking up because I have a mouth! The whole damn kingdom is ruined! How long are you going to act like you're a noble! Fuck you!”
Others working at the restoration site surrounded Duke Chester and the nobles, each throwing in their own comments.
“Incompetent bastards!”
“If you guys had only prepared for the flood, our lives wouldn't be so miserable!”
“You damn bastards! Do you think you’re so great?”
The increasingly turbulent public sentiment.
"Please exercise self-control.”
A knight from the Kingdom of Lota stepped forward and tried to admonish Duke Chester and the nobles.
“Public sentiment is growing turbulent. It would be problematic if this disturbance continues.”
“What?”
Duke Chester growled at the knight from the Kingdom of Lota."
“Are you, a mere knight, trying to insult me, a Duke?”
“That’s not what I meant.”
The knight shook his head.
“This is a restoration order from His Majesty. If you are negligent in your duties, it will be considered disobedience…”
*Slap!*
Duke Chester slapped the knight's cheek.
“No matter how much of an occupying force you are, how dare a mere lowly knight try to teach me a lesson?”
“…….”
“Then, His Majesty the King, who is so esteemed, doesn’t even bother to show up for the restoration work and remains comfortably….”
Just then.
“His Majesty the King!”
Just then, Otto appeared, leading his entourage of knights, including Camille.
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Otto's appearance was far from dignified.
His work clothes were long since caked in mud, and the mud had hardened into a solid mass.
Even his handsome face was covered in mud, and his boots were just as filthy.
Moreover, he carried a shovel and pickaxe over his shoulder, indicating that he had been diligently working on the restoration effort somewhere just moments ago.
“Huu….”
Otto quickly grasped the situation and let out a deep sigh.
“Y…. Your Majesty.”
Duke Chester was taken aback by Otto’s appearance and stepped back in surprise.
‘The king himself is personally working on the restoration???'
For Duke Chester, it was unimaginable.
To think that the highest-ranking person, the King, would personally engage in the grueling physical labor of shoveling and wielding a pickaxe…
“Duke Chester?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Why don’t you use your own mouth to explain what’s going on right now
"…..!"
“I said, explain it yourself.”
Otto's words carried considerable weight as he questioned Duke Chester.
As it turned out, Otto was participating in the restoration work just like everyone else.
He did not shy away from the tough tasks, such as recovering bodies, repairing roads, and assisting with the restoration of collapsed buildings.
It was by no means a pretense.
From the day the restoration work began until now, Otto had been working all day, sweating profusely.
His meals were as simple as those of everyone else on-site, consisting of bread, milk, and salted meat.
The reason was simple.
‘I need to sort this out as quickly as possible. We need all hands on deck.'
Otto was anxious and urgent.
‘The Cherokee Kingdom is the limit. Any further expansion would be pointless.'
By conquering the Kingdom of Cherokee, the Kingdom of Lota had laid the groundwork to become a great power.
From now on, it was time to focus on internal affairs, build up military strength, and prepare for the upcoming world war.
That’s why Otto, in his urgent state of mind, rolled up his sleeves and took on the restoration work himself.
Seeing the nobles from the Kingdom of Cherokee displaying a sense of entitlement and causing unrest at the work site, Otto couldn't help but feel a surge of anger.
“Y… Your Majesty.”
Duke Chester spoke cautiously.
“To be honest, this seems a bit excessive.”
“What’s excessive?”
“T-That is…"
“What exactly is excessive?”
“Are we not nobles?”
“So?”
“Our role is different. We are of noble blood, and we possess the knowledge, culture, and dignity required of the elite. Our purpose is distinct. How can we be subjected to such lowly physical labor…”
“So in your eyes…”
Otto interrupted Duke Chester's words.
“So you think it looks like I’m doing lowly physical labor as well?”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“I’ll tell you just one thing.”
Otto approached Duke Chester."
“What your role is.”
“……?”
“It’s getting beaten up.”
In the next moment.
*Smack!*
Otto's kick struck Duke Chester’s chest with force.
“Kurk!”
Duke Chester fell to the ground.
“Calling yourself a noble and talking such nonsense in front of me?”
“Yo… Your Majesty?”
“I, as the king, am working hard myself. What right do you have to complain?”
“Kaaaah!”
“Do you, a mere duke, have the right to spout nonsense in front of a king?”
"N.. No… Aaack!"
Otto slapped the Duke of Chester across the face in full view of everyone.
*Slap*
*Smack!*
Furthermore, he even struck Duke Chester’s back with the shovel he had been carrying over his shoulder.
"Aack… Kkuueek!"
Duke Chester, now flattened like a squid, sprawled in the mud.
But Otto didn’t stop at punishing Duke Chester.
"Who is being negligent in their duties?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The knight overseeing the field whispered in Otto's ear.
The knight was diligent in his duties and remembered everyone who worked hard and those who did not.
“If you had any sense, you’d come out on your own. Before I have to drag you out myself.”
Before Otto's words even finished, the negligent nobles, startled, stepped forward.
“C'mon.”
Otto gestured with his hand.
"….."
"….."
"….."
The nobles, unsure of what to do and looking around nervously, finally caught Camille's signal and dropped to their knees.
“These bastards, getting out of it.”
Otto, wielding a club, began to strike the line of nobles lying prostrate.
*Thunk!* *Smack!* *Smack!* *Thunk!* *Smack!*
“Ack!”
“Aaaak!”
“I…. I was wrong… Ugh!"
The nobles had to endure a thorough beating, with tears, snot, and saliva streaming down their faces for a while.
Enraged, Otto was relentless and utterly merciless.
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Otto was genuinely outraged.
Otto’s reason for ordering the nobles to participate in the restoration work was largely due to public sentiment.
This was because the ruling class, the aristocracy, had to take the lead in order to appease the people, who had been devastated by the Great Flood.
But not knowing the deep meaning of Otto's intentions, and causing a disturbance at the work site by showing a sense of privilege?
This was intolerable behavior, so Otto decided to draw his sword.
Sparing the nobles here would make it nearly impossible to quell the people's anger.
After the beating ended.
“As of this moment.”
Otto declared.
“Those who have been negligent in their work shall be demoted to the status of commoners, and all their titles and possessions shall be confiscated."
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
The battered nobles grabbed Otto’s trousers and begged
“Y…. Your Majesty!”
“Please, have mercy on us!”
“We have committed a grave sin! Please, forgive us!”
But Otto did not budge.
“Also.”
Otto continued.
“Arrest those who defied orders by not participating in the restoration work or by sending proxies, and execute them in a public place to set an example.
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
Ordering participation in the restoration work was Otto's final opportunity and act of mercy towards the nobles from the Kingdom of Cherokee.
Having fled to the safety of the Royal Palace while abandoning the people, and then failing to participate in the restoration work, was something Otto could not possibly forgive.
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TL/N:
1. The phrase “울며 겨자 먹기로” (ulmyeo gyeojja meokgiro) – Situation where someone is forced to do something they don’t want to do but pretends to enjoy it anyway. It’s similar to the English expression “grin and bear it.” The mustard seed reference emphasizes that the task might be difficult or unpleasant, just like eating spicy mustard seed.
** ** **
Extra TL/N: Bonus Chapter(?) Felt like like a minus for me after providing Discord ID…. Also thanks for the person who gave a Notif on the Typo I had on Ch 212… Chapter 231 – 232 will be Free once I fully translate it will upload it.