Volume 1 Chapter 6 Genderbend Female Knight, Wrapping Up The Duel
"Ugh... Cough, cough..."
"Have you woken up?"
After Suno warrior Erik was stripped and knocked out, Eleonora, who declared the duel, took all Suno people as prisoners.
She first instructed them to build tents on the coast away from Domaro Village.
Then she carried Erik, made a bed, and laid him down. Five hours later, Erik finally regained consciousness.
Eleonora watched him closely.
She washed the vomit from his head with seawater, which left salty, rough patches, but he endured it.
With nearly 300 more people, many tasks piled up, but there was no choice but to do them.
Suno warriors, already equipped with gear they brought, couldn't be dismissed easily.
If they could join the military, the villagers would not need to be conscripted.
The Huskarls, almost always soldiers, are also used as imperial guards by the Tzvinza Empire, who believe in the Eastern Holy Church.
Until a self-sufficient system forms, we must pay for everything ourselves.
The Suno soldier corps' reputation is so high that holding such fighters would make surrounding nobles wary.
"I don't want to be humiliated by losing. Kill me."
"Refuse. You are already my property."
Erik himself is an experienced Huskarls. His leadership experience is important.
It's better for other warriors if they are led by their clan chief, even if defeated.
They need to learn hierarchy now, in case they act without orders when he is away.
"For Suno people, duels are sacred acts judged by gods. You want my land, I want the Suno people. So, if I win, it means the gods favor my opinion. Are you betraying the gods?"
"Hmm..."
"What's with the hmm?"
Eleonora and the deep-faced Erik sat down facing each other, leaning close.
Their sharp features and blue eyes overlapped.
"...Certainly, your words implied that we were included, which is obvious."
"First of all, why do you seek Kamitafira's territory?"
"It's because the Makden clan attacked us. My father, Danruhav, died here. They heard and raided our village, took women, and burned our ships. We barely escaped and wanted to rebuild in a warm place."
"...From my perspective, it seems like a chain reaction since you attacked us. Indeed, we had no choice but to flee in that situation."
Eleonora shook her head and looked directly into Erik's eyes as she continued speaking, her face twisted in bitterness.
"First, don't worry about food. We'll provide our surplus. If the original villagers retaliate, we'll buy them by shedding blood when necessary. It's a tax reform. Kamitafira's village will focus on agriculture and fishing, and you will serve in the military during war."
"One more thing, grant us trade privileges."
"I won't object if you don't deal in dangerous goods... Do you have a proposal?"
"We have connections with the Ktupi people in the north of Tebrin Island. We can get good wood at a low price."
"Then it's settled. I'll give you exclusive rights to our wine and olive oil."
The Suno people, originally merchants, decided it was better to entrust trade relations. Although they couldn't collect taxes due to the privilege, it was an acceptable expense if it provided a source of excellent warriors.
"First, where you live. Living in tents forever is not feasible. I'll tell Machiki Village to bring wood stocks. Use that to build houses. You have ships, so you can fish a bit. We'll provide wheat, but it's the same rye as everyone else's."
"Eating is better than nothing. Once you've stabilized your lives, I'll form a Huskarls army. Including me, there will be 20 of us."
"It might seem expensive, but it's the number required for knights. It's fine."
Eleonora left the tent to inform Machiki Village about delivering wood and food. She needed to prepare carts and several laboring oxen.
After arranging everything and the Suno people had begun building half of their houses, the traveling merchant Biaggio returned with a letter in response.
The letter, signed jointly by the headmaster and the Minister of Education, stated that an official would be dispatched by the end of the year.
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