I Became a Slave to a Mythical Shepherd

Episode 52. depart

The route of this tour is as follows.

Once you cross the Scamandros River and move south, you’ll scan various cities such as Colonna and Tenedos.

Then, turning in the opposite direction, they headed for Dardanos, where Anchises was the ruler. This is where Aeneas will probably be taken.

The final destination is ‘my’ city, Antandros.

Here I am recognized as the ruler of Antandros, and Philip’s son Nikis, who has become mine, steps down from the position of governor of Antandros and returns to Troy.

It’s like this in words, but if we mark the road we’re going to pass on the map…

It’s incredibly inefficient.

I don’t necessarily head from nearby Dardanos, I went all the way to the south, then I went back to Dardanos, and then I went back to Antandros again.

If you plan your schedule well, it would take less than two weeks to travel, but because of the twisted routes from east to west, north to south, the travel time alone seemed to double or triple.

But when I asked that question, Hector replied:

-“Because our purpose is not to head to Antandros as the shortest distance. Travel itself is the purpose of such a tour.”

I nodded my head as if I understood roughly what Hector said.

Yes, King Priam must have something in mind. What am I to know about the complex political intricacies inside Troy?

I will soon return to Antandros, where I will literally live as a king.

However, for Hector, who needs to learn the trick, the main purpose of this journey is to introduce myself to the collateral royals in each region.

His mission will be over if he brings Aeneas to Dardanos and finally makes me the ruler of Antandros.

But for me…

“Aeneas? wake up.”

“Ah, ah… Miss Paris?”

“Let’s prepare slowly. The farewell banquet is over, and dawn is coming soon.”

There are people to embrace.

When Aeneas was about to return to his lodgings tired after the banquet, I led him to the south gate of Troy.

No matter how huge Antandrus became, it was many times smaller than Troy, which had tens of thousands of people.

Inside the walls are full of mansions decorated with bricks and marble.

On the main road, a market opens between the two- and three-story buildings, and mules and carts roam little by little.

It is a landscape where a huge city is waking up.

No matter how much I remember the city of Seoul with a population of 10 million, I couldn’t help but admire it as a person born and raised in this era.

Even though it was less than 1/100 the size of Seoul, it was a ‘real city’ unlike Antandros.

In the east, the sun gradually dyes the sky from purple to orange, and people start their daily lives accordingly.

The two of us walked along such a moderately crowded and moderately quiet street.

“Are you returning to Dardanos as the representative of the ruler?”

“···yes.”

“that’s interesting. I’ve lived as a shepherd my whole life, so the feeling of being treated like this is very unique.”

I threw an iron coin and became the first customer at the greengrocer. Biting into the plum, I continued to talk to Aeneas.

“I can’t believe I’m soon to become Lord of Antandros. even a little scary

wouldn’t you be You’ve been the heir since birth.”

There was no answer. I wonder if it’s hard to answer because I have such a timid personality, so I understand moderately and move on.

The grown-up Aeneas is a hero of the Trojan War, but the current Aeneas is frankly pathetic.

Besides, in fact, it is a problem even if it grows like the original history.

As he is the legitimate successor of the Trojan dynasty from Dardanus, the founder, the political checks and conflicts between Aeneas and Priam are described little by little in the Iliad.

As such, for the sake of internal stability, I must make Aeneas mine during this journey.

It’s made to function as a human being until war or whatever comes along.

Before we knew it, we crossed the gates of Troy. Even beyond the gates, the urban area sparsely continued and soon became completely deserted.

There were carts, attendants, and guards gathered there. In the distance, Hector waved lightly.

“…I’m scared too.”

Then Aeneas opened his mouth.

I frowned for a moment, wondering what Aeneas would say, then realized that was the answer to my question earlier.

“Ha, my grandfather was a great monarch, and my father is also a proud leader… but I don’t know if I can be like that… ”

Honestly, I don’t know what Aeneas’s grandfather was like, but I don’t think it would be difficult to become a better monarch than his father.

I didn’t even get the words out of my mouth.

“I just want to live in the mountains.”

Saying so, Aeneas reluctantly gets on the chariot with Hector, led by the hands of the attendants.

After seeing that, I turn around for a while and examine the panoramic view of Troia from which I just escaped.

A giant wooden horse invades that lively city sometime in the future.

From nob le mt l. co m

Like a pathogen entering a person’s body, it sentenced the city to death.

But now, that future doesn’t exist.

Paris, the shepherd slave, is about to return as the lord of the city.

“Paris, get on quickly! We are leaving soon!”

At Hector’s words, I climbed into the carriage.

Aeneas sat next to me and Hector across from me, looking at me.

I have to change history.

The successor of Dardanos and the successor of Troy in this position.

You have to move these two people.

***

After that, the journey went on without much trouble for a while.

In the middle, there were small events such as holding a memorial service when crossing the famous Scamandros River, but basically, most of the time was spent walking or sitting in a wagon and rattling around.

in other words,

“…”

“…”

It was boring.

Riding in a wagon does not make you move faster.

There were no paved roads like the ones around Antandros, and the escorts and attendants had to walk beside them on foot, so they couldn’t run fast anyway.

In terms of speed, it’s as slow as driving down from Seoul to Busan on a holiday day, and the surrounding sights are monotonous hills, mountains, forests, and meadows.

Hector and I tried to talk about various topics, but first of all, one of the three was not good at conversation, so the atmosphere was hardly revived.

Therefore, the inside of the carriage was quiet and boring.

-square. square.

“Paris, what are you doing?”

“The habit of being a shepherd has remained and I am sharpening my cane. Every time I cross a hill, everyone looks tired, so I’m going to give the attendants one by one.”

But after a few days, you get used to this boredom.

Hector sharpened his sword, and I made a small wooden figure out of a dagger or sharpened a staff, as I did in my shepherding days. Just as modern people only touch their smartphones when they run out of things to say.

In the middle, Aeneas didn’t know what to do, so he lowered his head and fell asleep, but it was quite good as the awkwardness went away.

That day, too, I was sharpening my cane.

The wands he had made so far had all been given to the attendants as gifts, so it was time to make one for the carriage’s passengers.

I first carved a staff for Hector.

Since it was intended for the heir to the royal family, I was thinking of making a handle in the shape of a horse’s head and trimming it into a horse’s mane shape so it wouldn’t slip out of my hand.

Anyway, I’m working on the design and shaping it with a dagger.

– rattle

f*ck.

When the carriage suddenly came to a halt, the movement of the knife’s point was also jerky, cutting my finger.

It was the time when he was sucking the blood that flowed out and was about to order a servant to bring honey for disinfection.

Suddenly there is a commotion around the wagon.

“Paris.”

“yes?”

“Can’t you smell something in the air right now?”

I sniffed in silence at Hector’s sudden question.

···what?

It feels like the air has become sticky.

The salty smell of seawater and the slippery mist that feels like touching seaweed rises lightly.

It’s not to the extent that the view is obstructed, but it’s somehow unpleasant.

“Something smells fishy. It’s so humid that it feels muddy.”

“okay? It’s not just me either. Aeneas, how about you?”

“So do i.”

After hearing our words, Hector nods cautiously and puts a finger to his mouth.

Following those words, I held my breath for a moment. In the silence, the surrounding noise gradually becomes clearer.

As Aeneas and I continued to look puzzled, Hector glanced out the window and said:

“I thought the carriage would stop for a moment, but it seems not.”

“Is there mud ahead? Then shouldn’t we stay down until we can push past it now?”

“no. Now is not the time to go out. It will only get in the way.”

After answering my question with a single knife, Hector continues with a serious expression.

“Let’s go back to what we were talking about. Now is a good time to explain the reason for this trip. Since you are a prince too, you should know this much now.”

What is the purpose of your trip?

Wasn’t it to consolidate my position and strengthen my leadership over the surrounding cities?

After answering that, Hector shook his head and said.

“It’s missing the ‘why?’

“Why? that···”

“Paris, why do we invest so much resources in the surrounding cities?”

“yes?”

“You spoke too briefly. Paris, then I will ask you again.

Why do we invest resources in the surrounding cities to maintain hegemony in the region? Also, why do the surrounding cities tolerate such hegemony?”

Through the small window, Hector glances at the front of the carriage again.

We also tried to see the scenery Hector was trying to see, but it was not easy because we were sitting on the other side.

Gradually, the noise outside grows louder.

A metallic sound is heard.

The sticky fog thickens.

“Each city can’t properly keep the roads safe.

I mean you built roads around Antandros, but what about it? Were you able to properly guard the road without the cooperation of the surrounding cities?”

“It was kind of hard. We even created a few new villages.”

“Yes, we need the power to bind cities that are scattered like grains of sand.

To ensure the safety of travel.”

Hector suddenly draws a sword from his waist.

Even when Aeneas and I looked surprised, Hector kicked open the carriage door as if he didn’t care.

Then, with the tip of the knife, he points to the place he was glancing at earlier.

“From those things. Now that the soldiers are ready, you can disembark.”

We turned our heads and looked out of the wagon,

Without a word, he followed Hector and jumped off the carriage.

Soldiers with spears and swords were preparing a shield wall around us.

To protect themselves from the hordes coming from beyond the stream.

exactly…

[Ilios…]

[···death.]

[The owner of the sea… sees…]

[Us···.]

to block the oncoming army.

Their physique was massive.

It had one head larger than a typical adult male.

Their level of armament was shabby.

The one who looks like a commander is wearing hardened wooden armor at best.

and,

They had no legs below the waist.

Instead, it has something like a tail fin of a fish.

I reflexively drew the arrow.

The tribes mutter as if singing a melancholy song.

It’s a monster.

***

There were also monsters near Antandros. There were fairies and there were gods, but there was no way there were only monsters.

But if you ask if it’s common, it wasn’t.

[The Blasphemers of Ilios…]

[Death…death…death…?]

And if you ask me if there are many such large-scale appearances, I could say that there was no such thing.

Besides, not just a few strange-looking beasts, but a legion of intelligent monsters armed and approaching in battle formation?

“Everyone, don’t miss your shield!”

“If you run away, I will cut your throat!! Stay in line!!”

My God, I’ve never even encountered one in my life.

[He who shakes the earth sees…]

A mermaid with a particularly large body, looking like a boss, recited.

It was a voice like a funeral song in concert with a disgusting fishy smell.

With the exception of the head mermaid, all of them looked confused for some reason due to their poor armament.

It seemed that the head of the mermaids had managed to unite them into one group.

[Remember the last command…]

Two eyes protruding like those of a fish on a human-like face.

said the chief.

[For Him.]

[Kuaaa!!!!]

Then, the gloomy silence just before was broken by the sound of shouting as if tearing the vocal chords.

Hector skillfully got out of the chariot and commanded the troops. The elite guards built a wall of leather-padded shields and prepared for the javelins of the enemy.

The rest, including me, kept the mermaids in check by shooting arrows from behind.

Just because she’s a mermaid doesn’t mean she’s pretty like something you’d see in a movie. It has fins on its arms and gills on its face, making it more like a fishman.

Mermaids wriggle their tails like snakes and approach quickly.

[die.]

[The blasphemers…?]

When they came within range, Hector stepped forward and threw the spear himself.

As the spear blade cuts through the wind, it makes a sound like a small bird screaming.

[aaa!!!]

The one who was running in the lead was pierced through the chest and died.

“For Troia!!”

“For Priams!!!!”

The soldiers, cheered by Hector’s first slaughter, cheered. Aeneas throws a javelin a second time from the side, and this time it is struck by the foot of an enemy soldier.

But if our own javelin hits the enemy, the enemy’s javelin also hits us.

Similarly, the approach speed of the mermaids, who have become obsessed with the death of their comrades, increases, and they also start throwing spears.

“Raise your shield!!”

“Quaaagh! my shoulder!”

Hector and Aeneas also quickly join the ranks of the shield wall and take refuge.

Fortunately, there was no loss other than one soldier who brushed his shoulder. That alone made the mermaid soldiers scream as if their morale had been restored.

The sound of tearing fabric.

People who normally do not talk in the air made high-pitched, unpleasant noises as they chatted among themselves.

One of them waved a flag, encouraging the enemies. He was probably the leader of the group. Seeing him, I braced my bow and waited.

When the leader finally pulled his neck as if to give the command to charge, I shot.

It pierced the neck.

“Wowaaa!!!”

[Kill them!!]

Before long, enraged mermaids rushed in to destroy the shield wall.

The sound of swords clashing could be heard from all directions.

I threw down my bow and drew my sword and jumped into the fierce battle.

“For Troy!”

With a clicking sound, my blade breaks the scales embedded in the mermaid’s skin.

The smell of blood excited his arm muscles.