I Became a Slave to a Mythical Shepherd

Episode 99. plot (1)

A huge burial mound was newly built in the south of Sparta. Beneath the heavy piles of stones lies an ornately decorated golden pot.

Now, it’s something that no living person other than a grave robber or archaeologist would ever see, but for some reason, mortals attached all kinds of sparkling jewels to the jar and embossed the deceased’s deeds and hobbies during his lifetime.

It’s because he couldn’t let go of his lingering feelings for the dead, which is the height of stupidity. Already the souls of the dead have gone underground beyond the River Styx, to his kingdom whose name is not to be called.

Inside, the bone meal of Tyndareus lies dormant.

The funeral was grandly and splendidly held, and all the procedures also satisfied all of the living, the dead, and the gods in the sky, and now everyone went back to their normal routines.

Forgetting the sorrow of a funeral and the joy of athletics.

Now Sparta has a new king and queen on the throne.

“The old king is dead.

. . new king, long live.”

Agamemnon, who was reciting those words bitterly while looking up at the burial mound, suddenly turned around and glanced at the whole view of Sparta.

It is a good city with strong walls and noisy streets.

That historic city came into my brother’s hand from Tyndareus.

To be precise, it came into my hands.

Agamemnon, who felt both bitter taste and satisfaction at the fact, looked back toward the mound and offered a wreath. The bright colors of flowers cover the burial mound, which has risen desolately among the tall grass.

Attendants who were far away walk by the side of Agamemnon, who was wandering alone, brooding over various emotions.

Agamemnon frowned at the servants who interrupted his own time. The attendants bowed their heads and bowed as if they were sorry, but they did not stop approaching Agamemnon.

“My king. A guest has come to the court of Sparta.”

Except for the sound of the wind, the sound of people’s words echoes in a quiet field.

“customer? Then it must have come from my brother. Menelaus will take care of it.”

Although he may be passive and timid, he is not an idiot. At least, if he had inherited the crown from his old benefactor, he would be able to act as a proper king. Or even imitate it.

“no.”

But, no?

“What do you mean it’s not? Menelaus is now the king of Sparta. Do you dare to doubt the abilities of my only brother?”

“Oh, no. I didn’t even have such disloyal intentions. Please forgive me.”

“Then what are you talking about?”

“I wanted to tell you that I am not a guest to Menelaus.

They came to the court of Mycenae, but since the king was not there, they inquired and came to Sparta. Those guests are Agamemnon’s guests.”

“hmm···.”

Was there such a thing as nonsense?

No matter how much the owner is away, isn’t it normal for a patient guest to wait while being treated by the servants until the owner returns?

The attendant, knowing full well that Agamemnon’s question was directed at himself, simply responded in silence. Agamemnon pats his beard, thinks, then brings up a question.

“Did they talk about business?”

“I said it was confidential and I didn’t open my mouth to anyone. I have declared that I will speak only to the king of the Mycenaeans.”

Of course.

On top of that, there must be guests who don’t have enough time to sit there waiting patiently for the owner.

Agamemnon feels a pique of interest and begins to move quietly toward the gates of Sparta. His attendants and escorts also follow his back without saying a word.

Then, as if suddenly remembered, Agamemnon turned around and asked the attendants one thing.

“So, where are the guests from?”

The wind blows Agamemnon’s purple cloak. The patterns symbolizing the kingship are interspersed with gold and silver threads.

Slightly crushed by that dignity, the servants replied.

“Hattushara Hader.”

Agamemnon’s eyebrows twitch at those words.

***

Differently shaped clothing, different engraved patterns on the cape, differently decorated gold earrings.

“#$$#@….”

another language.

In the high and low of the peculiar accent, Agamemnon smelled an unfamiliar spice.

“#$#$^&@···.”

As the noble-looking man bowed his neck and waist with graceful gestures, the relatively modestly dressed interpreter next to him opened his mouth.

“I see Agamemnon, son of Atreus, king of Mycenae, king of Achaia, rightful ruler of the Argives.

Also, we congratulate and mourn the succession of our younger brother, Menelaus, and the passing away of Tyndareus, who ruled the people of Lacedaemon before that.

I am Hantili, the new royal chamberlain of Hattusha.”

After that, even after a while, greetings full of embellishments continued in places. Such stories pray for the peace and well-being of both cities of Hattusa and Mycenae, and for the health of Agamemnon and his children.

Agamemnon, who confirmed that there was no political implication in it, relaxed for a moment and let the greetings flow in one ear. When the words were finally finished, Agamemnon answered.

“Guests, I cannot tell you that I am not the owner of this household, so eat and drink to your heart’s content, but my brother will not be rude, so stay at ease.”

“Thank you for your generosity. Both of the god-like sons of Atreus are wonderful people.

The story to be shared from now on can only be told to such great people. It is because I am afraid that some dishonest people will spread the story from now on to other places.”

“… that’s good.”

When Agamemnon winks, the Spartans and Mycenaeans who assist him withdraw. Finally, only Agamemnon, the chief chamberlain, and his interpreter were left in the room.

Then the expression on Agamemnon’s face changes.

“What do you ask for?”

“It is too sudden to be called a demand. It is better to say that I have come to propose a deal between the two countries.”

“No. It is not.”

Agamemnon put down the drinking horn he was holding and stroked one cheek.

“When one side unexpectedly visits from a faraway place, and when it is in too much of a hurry to come to a place that is not even the owner’s house, it is clear who is sorry.”

Agamemnon’s mouth opens wide like a scar, drawing a smile.

“So, tell us your requirements.”

“…”

At that, Hattushain glared at Agamemnon for a moment and then said.

“Our ‘suggestion’ is this.

Do to our homeland what your people are normally able to do.”

“May I ask what our people are good at?”

“It’s simple. The Achaeans, who live in a mountainous land, are renowned merchants, pirates, and plunderers.

Please plunder Troy. We are full of gold to give you in return.”

And for a moment.

Air particles around Agamemnon stop drifting.

As if standing on a tight string, the three people in the room carefully change their posture and become nervous.

Agamemnon’s eyes sharply pierce the interpreter and the chamberlain.

“Let’s hear it, but it’s a question that can’t be answered right away.”

“Is that so? We don’t think so, but…”

“Please wait. You are my guest, and you are stepping on my brother’s territory, so please rest at my will. Please wait for my answer as you relax.”

Unlike his formal speech, Agamemnon’s eyes have a strong energy to overwhelm his opponent.

The envoys were slightly discouraged by those eyes, and above all, as guests, they could not obey the owner’s orders, so they were guided by the attendants and led to a room at the corner of the palace.

Agamemnon, making sure they were all gone, wandered about in the parlors of the Spartan court.

This was the first thought that popped into his mind.

‘…Is the great king of Hattusha crazy?’

My next thought was this.

‘Or is it an insanely desperate situation?’

It seemed that the latter was right.

Hattusha’s request was so blatant that the essence of the content could not be hidden no matter how beautifully it was packaged.

It’s difficult to control the country, so please hit the country instead of us.

It’s no different from asking for your arm to be cut off because it moves arbitrarily.

They confessed to Agamemnon that their control of the province had been severely diminished, and that they had no power and nothing to stop the changes taking place in Troy.

In return, he demanded piracy towards Troy.

Foolish people would get angry at the provocation of the god of death. He said he was not a pirate, but a descendant of noble heroes and a great king.

That’s how you enter negotiations shaken from the start, losing your composure.

However, Agamemnon was not foolish enough to be caught by such an obvious ploy. Besides, Agamemnon knew how to see reality.

Agamemnon’s father was a pirate.

Agamemnon is also the leader of pirates and beggars.

Many of the Achaeans were engaged in commerce, and when the opponent was defenseless, the merchant took out a sword instead of gold coins.

It’s okay, it’s like asking an expert.

And as the king of professional pirates, Agamemnon thinks.

Really, if Hattusa is too busy trying to control rebellion everywhere, she can’t even dare to touch the rise of Troia.

So, if the situation was so precarious that he had to use the deadly drug of indirect strike through Acaia.

If the Hittites lost control of the Aegean coast.

then.

“…How far can I keep Troia?”

I’ll be able to try a bigger piracy.

The original pirate boss is not a big deal.

who fights in the forefront,

The one who tells the sailors a grandiose plan, even if it is absurd, and promises a reward in the end,

Thus, those who are weary of a dangerous life can squeeze the fighting spirit and ambition to the limit,

Such a person takes the position of the boss.

The brain of the king of pirates, Agamemnon, begins to spin rapidly.

The worries that started during the day continued until the night, and eventually, by the time the sun rose the next day, he had completed a grand prospect to explain to the pirates under his command.

At first, after briefly explaining this prospect to his brother Menelaus, he collected his thoughts.

He summoned the messenger of Hattusha again.

***

“No.”

The faces of the chief chamberlain and the interpreter from Hattusha are distorted.

After waiting for a whole day, the answer you came up with was such a knife-like refusal?

The chamberlain spat out a lengthy protest. The content was limited to the rudeness of Agamemnon’s etiquette, but in reality, it contained an earnest message to turn back the unexpected and heartless refusal.

A fishy smile appears on Agamemnon’s face as he grasps him.

Agamemnon throws out one more word.

“Are you afraid of the Trojan steel? To the point where I want to make the country a mess once and for all?”

“Hattusha is a land protected by Teshub, who rules over wind and rain. The steel of Hattusha is forged in the chilling winds, stronger than anything on earth.”

“So that means my guess is correct.”

When the interpreter and the chief chamberlain shut their mouths, Agamemnon fills the silence instead.

“I don’t know why I have to crash into a powerhouse emerging nearby and crush it with my whole body. For a country like an old man whose life is slowly withering away from afar.”

“Hattusha is strong! To the extent that the mighty pharaoh of Aegyptus far away begged for peace!”

“It must be too far. Or because Assyria is more threatening.”

“…that’s insulting.”

“If you feel insulted simply for diagnosing the facts, aren’t you worthy of being insulted?”

Agamemnon says as if tossing it.

“So is your country.”

“We didn’t come here over dozens of days to have petty altercations and insults at each other. I don’t know why it doesn’t.”

“That’s because there is no practical benefit to me and my country.”

“Why is there no benefit? It is said that Troia created steel, but it was only a few years ago. If enough Mycenae lifted its claws and scraped them off, it could inflict deep wounds.”

“No, you are far from Troy, so you don’t know. The national strength of Troy… More precisely, the national strength of Antandros is beyond your imagination.

Even if we launch a few boats and send a few strong men, we cannot easily suppress them by force. You can’t scratch, and if you do, it might be the same as a child beating an adult.”

“Then I will refuse…”

“therefore.”

Agamemnon rises from the chair he was sitting on. His body, covered with countless scars from rolling across the battlefield since his youth, covered the chamberlain with a shadow.

“It means that you can’t even get a scratch at the level of ‘plundering’.”

“…”

The air is slightly different. The chief chamberlain also senses the changes felt under the skin of Agamemnon, like a person who has been rolling around in the political arena of Hattusha, the center of a huge empire.

Agamemnon clasped his hands lightly and released them with a clatter.

“… It’s not plundering, but maybe it’s a huge conquest.”

“Conquest?”

“exactly. conquest. That will increase the number of golden jars and steel braziers we need to prepare for us in Hattusha.”

This time, the chief of staff speaks first.

“If the national power of Troy has become so strong, how are you going to conquer it? Are you saying that Mycenae is that powerful? We also visited Mycenae. It was certainly a city worthy of occupying the main axis of Achaia, but according to your words, wouldn’t it be difficult to conquer?”

“From there, it is something I will think about. It’s not something Hatusha thinks about.”

Agamemnon shook his head lightly and continued.

“This is what Hattusa should think about.

‘How great a reward should we prepare for the Achaeans?’ and ‘How should we support the Achaeans?’”

Troy is strong.

will become stronger in the future.

It will only grow stronger day by day by gripping the neck of the strait that connects the Aegean and Black Seas.

It doesn’t matter if Agamemnon becomes the king of kings of Achaia or if he turns the whole of Achaia into a sea of fire.

However, not yet.

Troia is not yet the center of the world, but is only the western edge of countless counties ruled by Hattusha.

If now…

I don’t know how.

“Carefully convey my words to the great king of Hattusha. And tell them that the king of the Argives, who could hold and shake Sparta, said this.”

Agamemnon whispered his demands.

It was only then that the chamberlain bowed to Agamemnon with a complicated face and secretly left Sparta.

To return from Achaia to the court of the great king, there was a long way to go.

I had to go to deliver news that might be good news or bad news.