The people crouching and crying in fear all had sunken cheeks, skin without luster, and bones protruding sharply.

  Seeing their appearance up close, Denarius* and the others involuntarily widened their eyes and gasped. (*Byuros Denarius is the pseudonym of Fan Biel Denaro. Hereafter Denarius)

  They had crossed the mountains using the last of their strength.

  Betting their lives on a single thread of hope.

  They must have been driven right to the edge where that hope was about to be cut off, and fallen into despair.

  Denarius felt pity, and his heart ached.

  It was all an act.

  The messenger had simply conveyed the intelligence department’s instructions to the unit commander.

  Denarius had stepped in to stop it.

  A classic scam technique.

  To them, it must have looked like salvation.

  But in this way, it could take deep root in their hearts.

  That these people were on their side.

  “Are you all right? How long has it been since you last had salt?”

  Denarius crouched on one knee and asked them.

  “It’s been so long… we haven’t had any… It ran out around the time we left Tragia…”

  Their breath was faint; even speaking seemed painful.

  The woman lying down was having muscle spasms.

  Denarius opened the lid of the barrel loaded on the wagon, poured water into a wooden bowl, mixed in some salt, and brought it to his own lips.

  It felt a little thinner than the taste of blood.

  He had heard from the Elysian army’s medical soldiers that a concentration close to blood was easier to absorb.

  He handed bowls to those who could still move, and for those lying down he held them in his arms and let them sip little by little.

  Because they could not move their bodies well, even swallowing was difficult; if poured carelessly, it could go into the lungs and cause drowning.

  He soaked cloth in the liquid and let them hold it in their mouths.

  They probably could not be moved from here for a while.

  This woman was already on the verge of losing consciousness.

  If it worsened any further, her heartbeat would become irregular and abnormalities would appear throughout her body.

  They needed to restore her condition and clear her mind to gather information; otherwise they would not know the situation on the other side of the mountains.

  Elma* was lighting a fire. (*Ena’s pseudonym)

  Marius* was unloading the necessary amount of wheat and water from the wagon and preparing pots and utensils. (*Marik’s pseudonym)

  Those who could still move had to be restored first so they could help with nursing.

  They boiled the wheat soft to make porridge and added the right amount of salt.

  They handed bowls and spoons to those who could eat and helped them.

  “Eat slowly, chew well. Your stomachs are weak, so you might throw up.”

  Watching them bring the spoons to their mouths while crying, tears spilled from Elma’s eyes.

  They should still be young, yet they looked like old people.

  It was a wonder they had made it this far.

  Their salt reserves must have run out, but their emaciation was abnormal.

  Denarius felt that if the people of Tragia were already in this state, the refugees probably could not reach here.

  He could not help thinking that Tragia’s methods were beyond reason.

  It was hard to believe this was how they treated their own people.

  It took a week for the Tragia refugees to recover their health.

  During that time, they gathered various pieces of information.

  One large man named Ferdi seemed to have led this group.

  He still had some strength left, and after receiving salt and meals he devotedly cared for his companions.

  According to him, they had come from a region called Reinshtadt in the Tragia lands on the other side of the mountains.

  After last year’s defeat and into the new year, the supply of salt stopped due to shortage, he said.

  The lord—Emperor’s eldest brother Fidelius—had struggled to secure salt.

  They collected salt from every household and gathered all the military and castle reserves.

  They had no choice but to implement rationing.

  To prevent the governing system from collapsing, they gave the minimum salt to military personnel and subordinates, and prioritized distribution to children and their families among the common people.

  They reduced rations for the elderly and those past child-rearing age.

  It was an unavoidable measure.

  For a while they managed to hold on, but day by day the rations decreased.

  Ugly fights over shares occurred, but even those gradually disappeared.

  Because they no longer had the strength.

  First the elderly began to fall.

  There was also physical decline, but their bodies swelled, spasms started, they became unable to move, and when it worsened further they lost consciousness.

  From there it was quick.

  By the end of March, those over fifty were dying one after another.

  They wanted to bury them, but they didn’t even have the strength to dig holes.

  Beautiful flowers bloomed wildly in the town.

  They picked those flowers and offered them to the dead.

  Then the soldiers gathered the bodies and burned them with fire.

  Both soldiers and commoners simply stared blankly at the scene.

  “It was sad…”

  Ferdi said that.

  “It wasn’t that we mourned the dead… That too, but we thought… we ourselves wouldn’t last much longer…”

  There was something heart-wrenching about it.

  They had seen hell.

  The lords told them that salt would arrive soon, so please endure a little longer, but there was no sign of the supply resuming.

  “If we stay here like this, we’ll eventually die… So we talked with everyone and left Reinshtadt carrying what little salt and potatoes we had…”

  Ferdi recounted.

  “Were there border guards?”

  Ferdi shook his head.

  “No way… are we going back there…?”

  Ferdi clung to Denarius with an extremely terrified face.

  “Don’t… I don’t want to go back there… Please… please…”

  He grabbed Denarius’s clothes, buried his face in his chest, and pleaded desperately.

  Sobs leaked out.

  Denarius watched his figure with cold eyes.

  “Ferdi, calm down. Calm yourself.”

  Saying that, Denarius embraced the back of the man trembling like a child.

  “Listen to me.”

  Denarius gripped Ferdi’s shoulders and slowly pulled him away, then looked him straight in the eyes and began to speak.

  “You saw the soldiers the other day. Unfortunately, you can’t stay here.”

  He was shaking his head.

  “No… that’s hell… If we go back, we’ll only die…”

  His face glistened with tears and snot.

  It was only natural after witnessing so many deaths.

  He must have had people he cared about.

  “It may sound harsh, but there is no future here either.”

  He froze.

  “But if you return, if you guide us, we can save your family and comrades. This wagon has water, salt, and wheat. We’ll deliver this to your town. You can save everyone.”

  “Me? Can I do that?”

  “You can. You all walked this far together, didn’t you? I’ll help too. Go back to the town and save your family. I’ll bring more salt.”

  He was looking down.

  “…Why are you… going this far…?”

  He raised his head and asked.

  “Listen. If a lot of hungry people like you from Tragia come pouring into Elysia, our country and our business will be ruined. I want to stop that.”

  Ferdi looked at him with eyes blurred by tears.

  His brows were furrowed, his face contorted, but his eyes were fixed on Denarius.

  Denarius was speaking his true feelings.

  “I’m a merchant. So I’m going to sell salt to your lord. With that, you can save your fellow countrymen!”

  This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

  The word “fellow countrymen” must have touched his heart, for Ferdi raised his face and opened his eyes wide.

  “I understand… yes, we have to… save our comrades…”

  Ferdi wiped his tears with his sleeve.

  Denarius handed him a handkerchief and urged him to wipe his face.

  “You made it this far. You have salt. All that’s left is to bring it back and save them. Right?”

  Denarius said with a smile.

  Ferdi nodded repeatedly.

  He must have felt guilty for running away as if abandoning his fellow countrymen.

  Their bodies were recovering.

  Next was their hearts.

  To make them stand up from the fear of death, they needed hope.

  Salt, food, water.

  They had those, and they could send more.

  And after that, they had to instill fighting spirit.

  He had prepared the words to fan the flames.

  “Just say ‘The west is completely peaceful.’”

  The facts were that the west had continuous coastal towns, and the Tragia army was in a standoff with the Kingdom of Ashir.

  They had just captured Libra.

  But it was still too early.

  After the people of Tragia had at least connected their lives and regained some calm.

  Denarius thought so and, embracing Ferdi’s shoulder, went to persuade the companions.

  Step by step, steadily, many stages were necessary to accomplish the mission.

  Denarius was building the milestones.

  He had only just taken the first step.

  Together with Ferdi, they persuaded everyone, and the group advanced along the river at the foot of the mountain.

  The guards rode horses, sandwiching the two wagons from front and back to protect them.

  The Tragians rode in the wagons.

  It must have been uncomfortable sitting on the cargo, but they spread blankets for them.

  The mountain path was too harsh to make them walk.

  There were only two horses for riding.

  The rest guarded the rear.

  Once the road to the town was confirmed, a liaison would ride back to guide the following group.

  If shortages were identified, they would immediately load more and move.

  Philos* and Davidos* remained as the rear group. (*Philo and Davto’s pseudonyms)

  Because the road was not maintained, it shook badly.

  They wanted to get through the mountain path as quickly as possible.

  They didn’t know what might happen.

  After exiting the mountain path and entering the forest, they stopped the wagons to rest.

  “If we go straight along this path, we’ll reach the town of Reinshtadt.”

  Ferdi was sitting next to the driver.

  He had become quite energetic, but he was still bony.

  At this level of emaciation, they might need even more grain.

  They warmed water, mixed in salt, and had them drink.

  “Is the west in trouble too? No salt or anything?”

  Denarius was at a loss for an answer.

  “Yeah, for now you should just focus on recovering your bodies. There are many people who need care. Let’s talk about that another time.”

  Denarius said with a smile to Ferdi.

  “I see…”

  He fell silent.

  If he realized they had been abandoned, his heart might break.

  The anger would come a little later.

  Denarius thought so.

  And they set the wagons moving again.

  The path through the forest was somehow cool and pleasant.

  “Elma! Put blankets on them. The forest road is still cold.”

  He called to Elma in the rear.

  “Got it!”

  “Ferdi, sorry, but put blankets on them. It’s chilly here.”

  Ferdi climbed onto the cargo bed and covered everyone with blankets, staying with them.

  It was a beautiful forest.

  A deciduous broadleaf forest; in autumn it must offer a stunning view.

  This path had probably been made by clearing the forest.

  Sunlight filtered gently through the leaves.

  On the roadside, various flowers bloomed under the spring sunshine.

  It looked like a rich forest.

  If only they had salt, even with poor harvests they could have hunted and survived.

  It was a cruel act.

  But his own purpose was even crueler.

  Because he was making them kill each other among their own kind.

  Denarius mocked himself.

  And covered his eyes.

  They took several breaks and put a little food in their stomachs.

  Eating too much and vomiting would be troublesome.

  The sun was also beginning to tilt.

  After a while, ahead the forest ended, and bright sunlight poured down.

  It might be the town of Reinshtadt.

  “Ferdi, look ahead. Is that Reinshtadt?”

  Ferdi lifted the wagon’s canopy and peered forward.

  “It’s Reinshtadt. The town should come into view a little farther ahead.”

  “Thank you.”

  From here was the problem.

  He had thought of many possibilities for what might appear and how to respond.

  Exiting the forest, they emerged under sunlight that had begun to turn red.

  In the distance was a large city wall, and wooden houses clustered around it.

  No smoke rose.

  There was no sign of life, and only the sound of a gentle wind blowing occasionally reached their ears.

  Denarius headed straight toward the town.

  There were no people in the town, only the sound of horse hooves and wheels kicking up dirt.

  After a while they reached a stone-paved square, and in the center was a well.

  They stopped the wagon and got down from the driver’s seat.

  When he dropped a small stone into the well, it hit water at a not-very-deep point.

  Water was not a problem.

  Elma and Marius also arrived.

  Ferdi was trying to get down from the cargo bed on his own.

  At that moment, the sound of horses galloping was heard.

  It came from the direction of the city wall.

  The soldiers were still alive.

  A dozen or so horsemen surrounded Denarius’s wagon and stopped.

  The man on the horse in front looked down at them.

  “Who are you people?”

  It was the voice of a still-young man, but it lacked strength.

  “I am Byuros Denarius, a merchant from Elysia. I’ve come to sell salt to the lord here. I also brought along those who came from here to Elysia.”

  With that he pointed to Ferdi.

  The group of horsemen stirred.

  One dismounted and ran to Ferdi.

  “You were safe… Good… Good…”

  The man said and embraced Ferdi.

  Probably his father.

  Seeing that, the man on horseback dismounted.

  “I’m sorry. Thank you for taking care of our countrymen. I am grateful.”

  The man appeared to be in his mid-thirties, thin but still seeming to have some reserves.

  He wore a sword but no armor.

  He probably couldn’t wear it.

  “I am Bernhard Fidelius, lord of Reinshtadt. Will you sell us salt?”

  His face showed surprise.

  It was only natural.

  They had fought just last year.

  “Yeah, that’s why I treated them and brought them this far. I have salt and wheat too.”

  Marius removed the canopy and was carrying people down from the cargo bed.

  Some still couldn’t stand on their own, and Ferdi supported them.

  “What do you want to do?”

  “We have money. We’ll pay any amount. Please sell it to us.”

  Denarius smiled.

  “Of course.”

  With that, Denarius gave instructions to everyone.

  “Price negotiations later. Give warm salt water to those who can move. Distribute it to everyone. The water in the wagon is boiled and cooled. It’s ready to use immediately. Carry the barrel from the front wagon.”

  Then, looking at Fidelius, he said.

  “May I leave it to your subordinates?”

  “Of course.”

  Fidelius gave orders to his subordinates.

  Hearing the commotion in the square, people gradually gathered from around.

  Ferdi and the others went around distributing warm salt water to everyone.

  Elma put a pot on the fire and boiled water from the well.

  Marius carried wheat.

  They were doing a soup kitchen.

  Seeing the scene, Fidelius collapsed at the waist.

  He covered his eyes and wept.

  “Don’t cry. Nothing is over yet. If you’re the lord, you must stand firm…”

  Saying that, Denarius patted Fidelius on the shoulder.

  Fidelius nodded repeatedly.

  “Thank you… really thank you… We were saved… I am grateful…”

  Fidelius’s shoulders were trembling.

  Deciding the salt distribution to the people meant selecting who would die.

  It must have torn his heart apart.

  “It’s not just this town, right? Have those who can move carry it.”

  Fidelius raised his face and looked at Denarius.

  “Is that all right…?”

  Denarius nodded.

  “I’ll explain the reason later. Carry it without being seen by the westerners. Understood?”

  Fidelius wiped his tears and nodded.

  “It would also look bad if they knew we received aid from another country. Tell your subordinates to deliver it without being seen by the westerners. The rear wagon can be taken as is. It’s fully loaded with water, wheat, and salt. Understood?”

  After Fidelius gave instructions to his subordinates as told, five horsemen guarded the wagon and headed north.

  To the north lay the Baumgarten territory ruled by the second son Gilbert.

  He prayed for their safety.

  Those who couldn’t get up were nursed by those who could still move.

  Ferdi and the others, whipping their recovering bodies, devoted themselves to everyone.

  Ferdi and the others were thanked by everyone.

  They were told they had brought the salt.

  “As you said, it was good to come back. I actually just wanted to run away. We were saved by you. Thank you so much.”

  Ferdi said to Denarius with red eyes.

  Denarius smiled and patted his shoulder.

  He felt the tightness in his chest ease a little.

  Denarius asked Fidelius about the shortages in supplies.

  “We don’t have enough grain… We should be able to harvest at the end of May. This year’s cold wasn’t as bad as last year’s…”

  Fidelius said with a bitter expression.

  Understood, Denarius replied, then told Marius and the liaison to load more wheat and unload water, and they returned to Elysia with escorts.

  The empty wagon would be loaded again with wheat and salt and brought back here.

  There were still people who could move here.

  If supplies were provided, they would regain vitality.

  Denarius searched for the next milestone.

  How to ignite the fire.

  That night, they lit a fire beside the well, rolled logs to sit on.

  They had loaded one barrel of Van (wine).

  They opened it and drank.

  The night sky was the same as at sea.

  The constellations were already those of spring.

  Around the pole star in the north, eight stars twinkled.

  This was on land, but it was a dangerous sea area where a wrong turn at the helm would mean immediate shipwreck.

  Denarius prayed to the pole star.

  Elma came and sat beside him.

  “Want some?”

  He offered a wooden cup, and she took it and brought it to her lips.

  Then Fidelius arrived.

  “May I sit next to you?”

  Denarius urged him to do so.

  “I can’t thank you enough. Really, thank you. About the price of the salt and grain…”

  “Market price is fine.”

  Denarius said.

  “Is that okay? You’re a merchant, right? Coming all this way at great risk and saying market price…”

  “I don’t have the principle of taking exorbitant prices by taking advantage of misfortune. Besides… I told you, I’ll explain the reason later.”

  “I’d like to hear it.”

  Denarius moistened his mouth with Van and began to speak.

  “I don’t know how far west it is from here, but it seems the army is deployed. As if to pressure this side… Have you heard anything?”

  Fidelius frowned while speaking.

  “Probably watching us. Because I opposed my brother’s succession.”

  He said with a grim face.

  “I see… Through my shipping business I obtain various information, and I’ve heard that the Tragia Empire has stopped supplying salt to the eastern region.”

  “Stopped? Isn’t it that salt is insufficient so they can’t come here?”

  That’s probably what they thought.

  “It was stopped. The western part of the empire borders the sea, so they can produce as much salt as they want. The west has no problems at all. On the contrary, Tragia just captured Libra the other day. They are actively deploying troops. They must have plenty of salt.”

  He spoke coldly and matter-of-factly.

  Fidelius seemed unable to grasp the situation.

  “I thought that people from this area seeking salt and food would flow into Elysia.”

  Fidelius looked down at the ground and listened to Denarius’s words.

  “If a large number of people like Ferdi flow into Elysia, it would be utter chaos. It would greatly affect our business too.”

  “…That can’t be… No matter how much my brother, stopping the salt supply…”

  Fidelius was confused.

  “Unfortunately, it’s true. Among us merchants, it was whispered that just taking salt there would bring profit, but not a single person went. Do you know why?”

  Denarius looked into Fidelius’s eyes.

  Fidelius could not answer.

  “Because they feared retaliation for selling salt against the emperor’s wishes.”

  “That can’t be allowed!”

  Fidelius stood up and said.

  “Go west tomorrow and see. The army should be deployed glaring at the east. Look at their appearance carefully. I don’t lie.”

  Fidelius left the spot silently.

  The next morning, a dozen or so horsemen could be seen running west from the castle wall.

  Several days later, in the early afternoon, the horsemen returned.

  Their number had increased, and they rode with a wagon in the center.

  By this time additional supplies had also been transported, and the wagon that had gone north had returned.

  Denarius attached guards to that wagon and asked Marius to resupply materials.

  Philos and Davidos had also gone for resupply.

  Then Fidelius arrived.

  His brows were furrowed, his mouth twisted greatly.

  “I have something to talk to you about. Let’s talk in my residence.”

  Denarius looked at his face.

  There was anger in his eyes.

  He must have learned the truth.

  “Understood.”

  Denarius followed behind Fidelius.

  They were heading for the castle gate.

  The castle gate was built of piled stones and stood on a small hill.

  The town was on the south side, and in front of the castle gate was the road leading west.

  Heading east, the road curved around and stretched north.

  Passing through the castle gate, the residence came into view; it was a wooden building.

  Entering the residence, he was led to a large hall.

  There sat an older man and a young man around twenty years old.

  The older one was large and solidly built, with a beard mixed with white hair.

  The young man was surprisingly slender, but his calm eyes left an impression.

  “Let me introduce you. This is Lord Meissner Lorenz of Giesen to the west.”

  He pointed to the older man, who bowed his head.

  “And this is… my younger brother Darius…”

  Denarius widened his eyes in surprise.

  “It seems you know the name.”

  Fidelius said, seeing Denarius’s reaction.

  “I only learned it yesterday as well, but how did you hear it?”

  He hesitated over how to answer.

  But Farid’s information was confidential.

  It probably was not widely known.

  “With all due respect… I heard he was killed in an attack…”

  “I heard the same. But he was imprisoned and escaped at the end of last year with his guards, then was hidden in Giesen. Because of the salt issue after that, it only came to light yesterday.”

  Fidelius spoke bitterly, hands on the table.

  “To get straight to the point, what you said was correct. The western troops were deployed from Giesen northward to Meizen. Their movements showed no sign whatsoever of salt shortage. This matches Lord Lorenz’s testimony.”

  Denarius nodded.

  “Edmund deliberately cut off the salt supply to the four eastern provinces.”

  Fidelius slammed his fist on the table.

  Denarius frowned and watched him.

  “…What do you intend to do?”

  Lorenz was also staring at Fidelius.

  But Darius quietly watched Denarius.

  “It is not yet time to speak… I would like to ask for your cooperation.”

  Denarius let out a slow breath.

  “What is it?”

  “Is it possible to procure weapons?”

  Denarius ran a hand through his hair and scratched his head.

  Tragia’s fire had probably been lit.

  The plan had begun to move on its rails.

  “Elysia prohibits weapon exports. It will be difficult from Elysia.”

  “Where could we procure them?”

  A difficult question.

  Denarius placed a hand on his forehead and thought.

  Lidonia also produced weapons, but they could not be transported by land.

  By sea they would be stopped at Elvinas customs.

  There was only one answer.

  They would make them here.

  “The only way is to bring craftsmen and produce them here.”

  Denarius looked Fidelius in the eyes and said.

  “Could you try? We will pay you separately from the price of the weapons. First, let me pay for the salt and wheat.”

  With that Fidelius placed a box about two sun wide and one sun deep on the table and opened the lid.

  It was filled with silver coins.

  “I said market price is fine.”

  Denarius answered.

  “We need reserves. I want you to purchase from Elysia.”

  Food supplies.

  “If that is the case, I will accept. I will buy as much as I can and bring it. I will also try to arrange craftsmen.”

  “Thank you. You rest. We still have things to discuss.”

  Denarius stood, bowed to them, took the gold, and left the residence.

  The box was surprisingly heavy.

  He carried it with both arms and loaded it onto the empty wagon.

  “What is that box?”

  Elma asked.

  “Money. I was asked to purchase a large amount of grain.”

  Elma’s eyes widened and she spoke involuntarily.

  “No way…”

  Denarius shook his head, stopping any further mention.

  “Tomorrow I return to Elysia for procurement. There is another request as well, so it will get busy. Come with me.”

  “Understood.”

  Early the next morning, Denarius left Reinshtadt with escorts.

  Fidelius watched the wagon from atop the city wall.