Being a Viking Isn’t Fun – Chapter 23

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Shio
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866 AD, the middle of the second month of summer, Tyr’s Day (Tuesday), Northumbria, Eoforwic.

I didn’t know how large the world’s population was at this time, or how many people lived on the British Isles.

But, from what I had seen coming up along the east coast from Kent at the southern tip of the British Isles, Eoforwic in Northumbria definitely had the most people.

There were various reasons for this, but in my opinion, the most important factor was that Northumbria and Wessex were currently the most powerful kingdoms.

As this wasn’t an era of border fences, people wandered about to avoid frequent wars, becoming bandits or being captured and sold as slaves… If lucky, they might reach a big city and be absorbed into the local society.

Flocks of sheep sought strong fences regardless of the era.

From this perspective, the alliance of Aella and Osberht was certainly threatening.

“I thought he was just a coward, a lucky gentleman. But Aella has more to him than I expected.”

At the northern gate of Eoforwic, where wall repair work was in full swing, Bjorn spoke with the noise of stone, hammers, wood, and ropes in the background. Among the brothers scattered about doing their respective tasks, he had singled me out to accompany him.

After deciding to observe Aella and Osberht’s response at our first meeting held after entering this beautiful city, we had been extremely busy for the past two weeks, focusing on solidifying our control over Eoforwic.

However, unfortunately, we weren’t the only ones who had been busy.

“15,000…”

Northern Northumbria, that is, Bernicia.

The force raised from the two major cities of Edinburgh and Bamburgh and their surroundings was a somewhat burdensome number even for our brave brothers.

“It’s an astonishing number, Helgi. The problem is that this number is likely to grow larger with each passing day.”

“Because all the villages and cities except Eoforwic, which we’ve taken, will side with Aella and Osberht.”

In other words, as time passed and those two kings of Northumbria began their southward march in earnest, more people would join their army.

This wasn’t simply a racial issue like “I’ve always disliked Norsemen” or a religious one like “God wills it…!”, but a highly political matter.

In short, it was a matter of choosing sides.

When you think about it, it was a simple calculation. 8,500 Norsemen? Or 15,000 Northumbrians? Moreover, while the kings of Northumbria were said to be tyrants and scoundrels who didn’t hesitate to pull each other down, that was something all previous kings had done, an extremely familiar practice. And weren’t the Norsemen foreigners anyway?

In that sense, the defection of Eoforwic must have been a great shock to them.

Unlike the common romance and romanticism associated with the name of a king, this was what was frightening about powerful big cities. Just like its name, wasn’t it like a wild boar that might even charge at a king if things went wrong?

Anyway, after comprehensively considering all these factors, in the worst-case scenario, we and this city might have to face an army of 20,000 or 25,000.

“Are you afraid, Helgi?”

Having somehow read my complex thoughts, Bjorn suddenly asked.

“Afraid? Not at all! I was just looking for a way to win, Bjorn.”

“Yes, that’s like you, Helgi. A skilled hunter and warrior doesn’t tremble with fear when facing their opponent. Such trivial emotions are sorted out before entering the real battle. So that when actually facing the enemy, one can focus solely on that situation…”

Walking a bit forward and running his large hand over the massive city gate, Bjorn spoke in a somewhat tired tone.

“To be honest, I was afraid, Helgi. I wasn’t afraid of throwing myself into battle with the enemy, but the fate of others that would change according to my choices, that was terribly frightening and heavy.”

I remained silent, as I had never seen this side of my eldest brother before.

“I had spent quite a long time on expeditions and made numerous decisions, but this weight never got lighter. The reason Ivarr kept wandering outside was probably because somewhere in his heart, an empty hole had formed.”

For some reason, a deep sense of pain could be felt in Bjorn’s words, which he recited with a very calm expression.

“You must be perplexed now, Helgi. Why I was telling you these things at this point.”

Shaking his head and instantly pulling himself out of his emotions, Bjorn once again wore the steel-like expression I had always known.

“There was something that Father wished for, that the elders of Uppsala agreed to, and that our brothers had consented to. Helgi, are you willing to become a Konungr?”

However, as I was not a man of steel like Bjorn, my expression crumbled upon hearing those words.

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‘You must make a choice, Helgi Ragnarsson. Though in truth, fate doesn’t seem to care much about your choice.’

The last words Bjorn left me kept ringing in my ears.

I had thought it strange that he singled me out when we were so busy.

I had thought it odd that Sigurd and Ubba, who liked to brag and poke their noses everywhere, let me move around alone with Bjorn.

Thinking about it, everything was suspicious.

All the actions of my brothers until now. Even though I was the Jarl of Aros, when an emergency Thing was convened in Uppsala, no one suggested that I should at least show my face.

I had simply thought that I was in such a bad mood at the time that it was difficult for them to approach me.

Fine, it was fine. There had to be some unknown reason. I didn’t even want to know. What was the point of knowing what these seemingly simple but inwardly devious Norsemen were thinking? If I didn’t want to do it, I just wouldn’t!

But what I was curious about was why now, of all times.

‘Why now? Such words right before a battle?’

It didn’t seem like the serious Bjorn said this out of boredom, he probably thought about death.

For a mere warrior, if you fought a strong enemy and died unluckily because your abilities fell short, you just went to Valhalla and that was it, but it was different for a king, wasn’t it?

Someone had to lead the people.

But what were my brothers and father thinking?

‘Who’s letting anyone die? Who’s thinking of going to Valhalla? I’ll send them all to Hel’s side. Without fail…’

It would be better to put aside thoughts of dying honorably, you sons of Ragnar.

You’re all going to Hel’s side, no matter what. You’ll endure, groaning and suffering from all sorts of ailments as the price for overworking your bodies in your youth, and finally die of old age.

I would make sure of it.

‘But before that, I need to catch and kill Aella first.’

15,000, 25,000. It didn’t matter.

Aella must have had his circumstances. The Thing of the city that wouldn’t listen, the church, the detestable Osberht.

The real threat was approaching from the south, and the increasingly unstable royal power loomed over us.

But no matter what reasons were attached, cleanly abandoning this city had been a mistake whose price couldn’t be calculated.

Having to conduct a siege on one’s own land, against 8,500 elite troops, and against the citizens of the city beyond was an unfathomable task.

Even before that Frankish emperor, Charles, the barrier of the Danes had not crumbled.

Anyway, the die had been cast.

Now, only facing each other’s choices and their consequences awaited us.

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The third month of summer.

Judging by the memories of my past life, this was the month when full-fledged summer began.

In truth, we had gained confidence after defeating Edmund of East Anglia. There was a feeling of disregard for Northumbria, Aella, and Osberht, but their mobilization was faster than we had expected.

No sooner had we heard that they were gathering an army than they moved south, seemingly drawing people from every fortress, city, and village on the way to Eoforwic. They looked as if farming was the last thing on their minds.

What could the farmers of Northumbria do? If they resisted the king’s words, their heads would be cut off. Even if this war ended in Aella and Osberht’s victory, one in a thousand or ten thousand, the people of this land would have to endure a harsh winter.

But there was no need to worry too much.

‘Because we will win.’

We would crush Aella and Osberht as quickly as possible, find out where Father was, and then give them a terrible end.

“They’ve gathered quite a lot.”

We had meticulously filled the gaps in the walls, dug the moat deeper and covered it with straw, and marked places for archers to stand with plenty of arrows prepared.

We had sharpened the blades of spears, swords, and axes. We had placed stones of suitable size for throwing on top of the walls.

Unfortunately, the northern wall of Eoforwic was much longer and wider than the southern wall we had approached, so it took a lot of effort to defend, but we were able to finish preparations to a satisfactory level.

Of course, seeing the enemy’s large army approaching before our eyes, the thought that it would have been good to have a bit more time didn’t leave my head.

“Helgi. Can your eyes see the number of those bastards? How many do you think there are?”

“… Sigurd. I have good eyesight, but I can’t see through everything like Odin.”

“It looks to be about 20,000. I’m not sure if more people will join from behind, though.”

Beside Sigurd, who was treating me like some kind of robot, Ubba spoke with impressively calm eyes.

“Oh, Ubba. I didn’t know you had such an ability! How did you figure it out?”

“It’s easy if you count them in bundles of ten, and bundles of hundred. I used to practice this when going to see the sheep flocks in Uppsala.”

‘That works on people too…?’

Indeed, he had a natural sense for numbers. My future slave number one.

“Is that so? Hmm—”

Sigurd furrowed his brow so much that it almost hid the writhing snake in his eyes, as if trying to do the same as Ubba had said.

“I’m not sure. It’s not working for me. But I can see those two bastards riding horses out there clearly.”

As Sigurd had seen, from the center of the massive Northumbrian camp, two men rode out on horses, their high-quality colorful cloaks fluttering. They were surrounded by numerous guards.

‘Aella…’

According to the description of our faithful collaborator, Ecgberht, both kings of Northumbria were well-built and sturdy. But Aella was said to be more warrior-like.

“Let’s go, Helgi. Ubba.”

The sons of Ragnar gathered at the center of the wall to set eyes on the enemy who had finally appeared before them.

[Snort- Snort-]

At a distance where others could barely see their faces, but I could see them clearly. A distance where the rough breathing of their horses could be heard, where arrows might just barely reach. Finally, the enemy leaders opened their mouths.

“Immoral Norsemen! Heathens! My name is Aella, Cyning of Northumbria! What is the name of the one who leads you?”

“Aella…”

“That’s him.”

We finally met. Aella.

Amidst the rising ominous aura of the brothers, Bjorn, like an iron wall, answered Aella’s question in a heavy voice.

“Aella! My name is Bjorn Ragnarsson! You must have known well that I and my brothers were looking for you!”

“Ah! Who would have thought, the sons of that infamous heathen, Ragnar! Look at me! I had forgotten about this! The memory of killing your father was so trivial! I had expected more! After all, it was that Ragnar!”

At first, he seemed to be feigning ignorance, but soon Aella’s face turned red with anger as he shouted, almost to the point of frenzy.

“That pig-like father plundered my land! And now his piglets are plundering my castle! I will surely, just as I threw your father into a pit of vipers, kill each and every one of you cruelly!”

Beside Aella, who was raging and saying only what he wanted to say before turning back, Osberht followed with a somewhat disgruntled expression.

Surely, it must be displeasure from Aella calling himself the king of Northumbria. But did he know? That the problem now was not his petty power struggle with Aella.

‘Aella. Such words are spoken after you’ve won.’

I could hear teeth grinding all around me. The faces of my brothers and the warriors who admired Father’s fame all turned bright red.

Of course, I was also filled with rage.

‘I will never, ever give you an easy death.’

“Everyone prepare for battle!”

Bjorn’s voice, still maintaining the most composure among us, was filled with undisguisable heat.

As the wall bustled with activity at Bjorn’s order, and tension filled the air.

Finally, the enemy moved.

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I can’t lie, I’m sooo tired. But seriously, did Aella get off to speedrunning his death? Like does he not see the GRIZZLY BEAR on two legs radiating killing intent?

Anyways, same old same old y’all, if you find any errors ping Oihs in the Arcane Translations discord.