hermitscave

Chapter 220 - Overtime Work

 After Corco had finished his dinner with Wachatay, he had spent the rest of the afternoon busied with his various classes. Finally, when the sun was about to set, he had somehow found the time to start on his regular job. As the administrator of Saniya, he would have many things to do throughout the day, but his teaching role was just as important, and not something anyone else could take over. All of the usual responsibilities – from budgets to meetings – had been pushed back all t...

Chapter 219 - Lessons Between Lessons

 On most days, Saniya's royal school would be dominated by a studious, but light-hearted atmosphere. However, an air of deference permeated the school grounds on this day, as if all the students were holding their breaths. After all, for the first time since the start of the war, the head teacher was back on campus grounds. For the first time in several months, Corco was heading classes again.   

As his first lecture of the day, he taught one of a series of special cl...

Chapter 218 - A Route to the Stars

 In the end, negotiations between Arcavia and the southern kingdom had taken several days. While Corco had been able to put pressure on Devaerter early on and thus gained control over the talks, a contract between nations was never a simple matter. The exact details of the agreement had been worked out between Corco's advisors and those of the Arcavian kingdoms in long, drawn-out sessions over the course of several nights.   

In the meantime, Corco and Pahuac had gone...

Chapter 217 - Back To Basics

Compared to the Urquna mountain pass in the north, the Anticasa pass through the Sallqata mountain range east of Cashan seemed almost quaint. This far south, the elevation was low enough that even this close to the peaks, Corco could still see trees.   

The northern pass was a journey through hell, fraught with danger of narrow, iced up roads, rickety bridges and thin, frozen air. However, here the road was wide and straight, at least by mountain pass standards. Even so, i...

Chapter 216 - Modern Transportation

 Once again, Corco had traveled down his new road from Saniya, east along the Narrow Sea. Once again, he had reached the lands of Cashan south of the Narrows and Qarasi Castle, the estate the Villca brothers had fought so hard over for the past year. And once again, Corco had brought a whole convoy of people with him.   

However, this time he hadn't brought his army. Rather than soldiers, the bulk of the convoy consisted of various craftsmen. Chief among them were sev...

Chapter 215 - Trouble in Paradise

 All this time, Corco had held dreams of city simulations. Now that his dream had finally come true, he understood the harshness of reality.

“No, King Corco, so far progress has been slow. Despite our best efforts, there have been some significant problems in the construction of the new sewer system. Even now, barely any progress has been made, especially close to the Mayura River. Thus, the workers are far behind schedule and will not be able to finish as planned.”  ...

Chapter 214 - A New World

 Inside the waters, the beast was in its element. The bizarre creature wiggled its myriad tentacles and thus propelled itself through the waves. Ripples were created all around it and drove away the other creatures, they themselves just as bizarre as the beast they fled from, yet not half as deadly. Within these waters, the beast was the apex predator. Even so, it was unaware of its grand status. Without any thought, it continued to do the only things it knew: Search for food, and devour...

Chapter 213 - Projects and Goals

 When Corco entered the clock maker's workplace on Chukru Island, the cluttered room already housed a guest.   

“What are you doing here?” the king asked the familiar figure who stood together with Egidius in front of one of many work tables. Even from behind and with his awkward stance, Corco had no trouble identifying his giant cousin Atau. In response to Corco's call, the two turned around.

“Ah, yes. Greeting, King Corco,” Egidius said. “Since ...

Chapter 212 - Office Politics

 A wistful stare at the clear blue sky out the window brought Corco back to a simpler time when he had still been at war.

“Master, at your request, this servant has produced the reports of happenings inside Saniya during the most recent period of war.” With a deep bow, Iyo – the skinny official who had done a lot of the city's administrative work over the past year – offered a stack of papers to Corco. “However, there is not too much King needs to bother himself with...

Chapter 211 - A New Era

Fully decked out in expensive, purple silk robes and with the sign of his kingship atop his head, Corco appeared before his people. Down below, they awaited his words with equal parts anticipation, excitement and fear written across their faces. For a moment, Corco just stood there in a silent staring contest with the audience, before he slowly raised his hand and showed a shallow smile in greeting. In what he considered a ludicrous response, the crowd broke out in cheers and claps as if they...

Chapter 210 - Always More Banquets

 Again. How are these people not getting tired of this shit?

Once more, Corco found himself as part of an overblown banquet. Every damn time the great lords of Medala came together, someone had the fresh and novel idea to celebrate the occasion with another decadent feast.   

Sitting on his elevated chair, his hand firmly on his cheek and his face as indifferent as he could muster, the king watched the artists in the center of the hall create color...

Yakuallpa Political Map at the End of Book 4

Hey there, Hermit here.

Took me longer to post this than it should have (cause I forgot yesterday), but now that Book 4's epilogue is posted, I can probably post this without spoilers for at least the highest tier.

Legend: Dark blue is the southern kingdom, red is the central kingdom, yellow is the northern kingdom. 

Light blue are Corco's own estates/lands he controls directly (part of southern kingdom)

Pink/Magenta/whateverthatis is the city of Arguna...

Chapter 209 - Armistice

 As Corco and Fadelio strode up the hill at the edge of Lord Makipura's lands, he looked at the table that had been set up on the new border between the Kingdom of the South and Kingdom of the Center. By now, weeks had passed since his last battle against Pacha, and the snow in the north had melted.   

After all the long-winded negotiations, atop this lone hill would be where he and Pacha were to sign the final peace treaty that would end the war that had lasted for t...

Chapter 206 - Forceful Negotiations (End of Book 4)

 Once again, Atau had been forced to play the role of a diplomat. However, this time he felt much more comfortable with his responsibilities. This time, he didn't have to negotiate some fragile alliance between lords; and he didn't have to pick between any number of Villca heirs either. This time, the negotiations were about war, and he was here to intimidate people.

“Official Atau, what great fortune to meet once again.” Across from Atau sat Lord Vareo, who looked smug as ...

Chapter 208 - Trade Trouble (Part 2)

 “Please excuse this servant's inability to comply with the request. Honored guest will have to wait for a while longer until all discrepancies have been cleared up.” Although the barbarian servant looked earnest and apologetic as he bowed his head, Felian wasn't convinced.

“Nonsense! You have told us the same story for days already! We have paid your taxes thrice over and you still won't let our ships leave the harbor! How much more do you want!?” Felian's fist landed...

Chapter 207 - Trade Trouble (Beginning of Book 5)

 The shadows of the forest were a heavy black, but Felian Northdale had seen plenty of dark forests in Borna. Rather than fear, all he felt was boredom, that and soreness from the uncomfortable wagon. He really couldn't believe his bad luck. Back when they had been sent to this rich, exotic country to establish a trade route to the far-off lands of Chutwa, the knight had thought he would have an easier time of things.

After all, they hadn't brought an army, but just barely enou...

Chapter 205 - Reunion (End of Book 4?)

 Once the banners of his own house had appeared in the distance, jubilation had broken out among Corco's troops. As soon as the camp with the giant army beneath the banners was revealed, their own shouts of victory were mirrored by those of their allies. For the first time since Corco's landing in the north, the entire southern army was together again.

A few hours earlier, Tama's spies had informed them that Pacha's army wasn't in pursuit. For whatever reason, his uncle had de...

Enlightened Empire - Strategic Map of the First Kingdom War (Corco vs Pacha - Book 4)

Here's some maps on the army movements during Book 4. I tried to do it all on one map, but that turned into a mess of arrows, so I went with this. Thicker arrows means the army is bigger. The crossed swords denote major engagements (the blockade, Corco v Rupilo, Dedrick v encampment and Corco v Pacha).

After the first image, the dotted red line denotes the blockade.

Btw, the river close to Qarasi Castle gets crossed multiple times without me mentioning it... but it's a pretty smal...

Chapter 204 - Failed Ambition

 For hours, Pacha's hand had grasped his axe and his eyes had been focused towards his enemies, towards the east. However, there was no more strength in either. Even though the southerners had already disappeared across the hills and begun their march back home, the hero king still couldn't pull his eyes away from the leftovers of the little wall that had held them off for so long.

“King Pachacutec.” All this time, his attendant had quietly stayed by his side, but now he h...

Enlightened Empire - Tactical Maps for the Battle Between Corco and Rupilo (Chapters 188 - 191)

Heya, here's some maps I put together. The dark spots are the two hills the abttle took place on. The blue is Corco's army, the red is Rupilo's. Apart from that, I think the maps speak for themselves, I don't think I need to explain too much (though if I do, please tell me and I'll add a detailed explanation later).

I know there's a second big battle in this novel, but the final confrontation between Corco and Pacha is pretty straight forward tactics-wise, so I didn't think I needed one...

Chapter 203 - Confrontation

 Corco's axe rushed through the cold air and got lodged in an enemy shield. In a hurry, the king used his own shield to defend his side from a counter while he yanked at his weapon. Although the axe didn't come loose, he took the shield and the entire attached warrior with him. All he needed to do was make a step to the side and the enemy warrior landed on the ground. He didn't even see the man's face before two of Corco's guards rushed in and made short work of the last straggler this s...

Chapter 202 - Counter Offensive

 “Would this motherfucker aim somewhere else for once!?”

More angry than scared, Corco stared at the arrowhead stuck out of the back of the shield. Its enormous force had driven the projectile all the way through the wood, only halting right in front of his nose. The annoyed king's hand roughly shoved the warrior holding the shield to the side to create some space for observation. With all these shields everywhere, he couldn't see anything. Once again, he raised his telesco...

Chapter 201 - Real War

 Ever since their initial probe of the southern front line and flanks, the northerners hadn't sent any more troops their way. That didn't mean there had been no movement beyond the wall. Divided by the empty field of white, King Pacha's men carried a wooden platform with a fancy throne on top to the front of their formation. With an impassive expression, Tama watched as the bastard king stood up in front of his elevated throne and stepped onto the platform.   

Though ...

Chapter 200 - No More Probes

Long before any information reached their position, the sound of cheers in the distance told Tracao of their first victory. However, none of the positive atmosphere transferred over. Unlike the simple-minded commoners at the wall, the men under his command were all proper warriors who understood the significance of real battle and treated it with the required decorum. Even though they had spent several days together on the march and the commoners had proven somewhat dependable in their first ...

Chapter 199 - Opening Gambit

 From a distance, the fortifications of the southern army were almost invisible. White on white, the wall all but blended in with the incline it crested. Had it not been for the spikes of solid oak in front of the wall and the heads and banners peaking out from behind it, Pacha might have missed it entirely.

“King Pachacutec, all groups have reached the gathering point and all men are accounted for. Should we begin to set up the camp now?” The king had heard the steps in t...

Chapter 198 - Final Preparations

 Corco had never noticed just how loud snow could be. The snow beneath his feet crunched and joined the noise of all other steps around him, as well as those of the construction work. Atop this little hill, his warriors busily moved snow from one place to another, compressed it and gave it shape. From Sumaci's fleet in the hidden village, they had picked up various durable saws, hammers and shovels built for use in the field.

Although the training regimen devised for Corco's ne...

Chapter 197 - Revenge

 After his conversation with Sumaci, Corco returned back into the blinding winter sunlight. Although the weather had been getting warmer these days, it still wasn't enough to melt the snow cover, so he had to push through an ankle-deep mass of the stuff to reach his goal. At least the guards he had left outside of Sumaci's shack joined him again and forged a path for their master, so he soon reached an area within the village surrounded by warriors. Since their arrival, all their prisone...

Chapter 196 - Making the Rounds

 Even from a distance, Corco could hear the groans of pain, which were soon complemented by the image inside the medical tent. While he had been busy organizing the main camp during their rest period, the doctors and their assigned assistants had already set up a series of tents to better care for the injured.

As he entered, the sounds of agony grew louder, and the smell of alcohol, blood and bitter bile hung in the air. Inside, there were several bunks, improvised from straw ...

Chapter 195 - Guerilla Tactics

As  soon as Fadelio's convoy entered the woods, everyone inside could feel  the enemy's presence. The eerie silence of winter had formed the  impression and the messy shadow of the twigs above their heads only  intensified it. They had only taken a few steps inside and already their  scouts managed to find several snares and even some nasty spike traps  hidden under the winter snow. Despite all of their care, the enemy  trappers only had to succ...

Chapter 194 - Change of Heart

 “Fools and cowards, one and all! What has Rupilo done to my army!?”

Pacha's day couldn't possibly have gone worse. About half a day after the battle between Corco and Rupilo had ended, they had arrived at the scene. By that point, both armies were long gone. At first, the king had wanted to pursue Corco and his tired-out men to force an engagement right away, but that turned out to not be an option. Not only was Pacha now aware that his army was slower in the snow than th...