Count Zebo

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Count Zebo (哲波伯爵)
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Zebo faction; ruler of Mecalon City; later allied with Count Tervalin
Occupation/Role	Count; major northern lord and claimant to control of the Northern Territory
Status	Deceased — publicly hanged on Reiner's order 258 259
First Appearance	56

Background / History

Count Zebo was the Northern Territory's greatest lord, controlling Mecalon City, a major commercial center that mediated much of the region's trade. His territory profited from northern goods, while iron was acquired directly from its sources by nobles and the Imperial Family. He intended to use control of iron ore to equip an armored army, attract allies, and accumulate wealth. 70 95

As Emperor Winks Morland's health deteriorated, Zebo moved to consolidate the Northern Territory. He recruited nobles, pressed Reiner to pledge allegiance, and sought to isolate the region from the Royal Family by blocking trade routes and the iron supply. His following grew from at least twenty nobles to forty, giving him the potential to field 1,200 regular soldiers even before full mobilization. 102 111 122 126

Zebo initially tried to draw Reiner into his faction through Mekasha, offering his daughter in marriage if Reiner swore allegiance. Reiner rejected the proposal, regarding Zebo's northern unification plans as irreconcilable with his own position and royal bloodline. 98 143

Appearance

Count Zebo presented himself as an imposing aristocrat and battlefield commander, favoring expensive arms and ceremonial clothing.

• Hawk-like gaze; his anger was visibly marked by twitching cheeks. 70
• Wore a full-coverage enclosed helmet in battle. 143
• Favored a bearskin cloak, fine chainmail, padding, and an exquisite longsword. 257 258
• Following his first major defeat, he was described with an untrimmed beard, bloodshot eyes, and later hair streaked with grey. 201 257

Personality

Zebo was ambitious, proud, and intensely concerned with his dignity. Reiner's destruction of barons aligned with him provoked him into seeking immediate war, though he accepted his advisor's less direct plan to incite other barons against Reiner instead. 70

He could be politically calculating: he recruited lords rapidly, used iron and trade as instruments of influence, and sought alliances through Mekasha's marriage. Yet he repeatedly underestimated Reiner, placed excessive faith in numerical strength, and allowed provisioning problems and battlefield pressure to force a premature decisive battle. 111 141 161 217

Zebo could also be ruthless. During the Pasnon Plains battle, he used an execution squad and cash rewards to halt his soldiers' rout. Later, he was willing to sacrifice Mekasha's future to secure political support from Count Tervalin. 155 201 217

Despite this, he respected loyalty and martial honor. After taking Falaine Castle, he ordered Baron Falaine and his knights buried with dignified epitaphs, acknowledging that they had died for loyalty and honor. 250

Abilities & Skills

Political Consolidation

Zebo built a broad northern coalition by exploiting the Imperial Family's weakening authority and the ambitions of lesser lords.

• Recruited at least forty nobles under his banner. 111
• Offered Morland Castle as a reward to motivate barons to attack Reiner. 70
• Cut communications, trade routes, and iron supplies between the Northern Territory and the Empire's interior. 122 126
• Used marriage negotiations and territorial concessions to secure Count Tervalin's backing. 201 205

Military Command

Zebo commanded one of the largest armies in the Northern Territory, though his coalition's divided loyalties limited its coordination.

• Could mobilize more than 1,200 regular soldiers and 150 knights before his full levy. 122
• Raised roughly 5,500–6,000 troops for the campaign against Reiner's royalist alliance. 138 139 189
• Maintained disciplined direct troops, but allied lords and pledged vassals often resisted taking costly actions. 143 149
• Used knights to restore infantry morale after ranged losses and deployed an execution squad to prevent a rout. 150 155
• His army's supplies were a critical weakness; maintaining the coalition force threatened to consume a year's grain in fifteen days. 141

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Bearskin cloak, worn habitually and requested for his execution. 250 258
• Fine chainmail and padded armor. 257
• Splendid longsword. 257 258
• Full-coverage enclosed helmet. 143

Relationships

• Reiner Morland — Principal rival. Zebo attempted to recruit him, then fought two wars against him; Reiner ultimately captured and executed him. 98 143 257 258
• Mekasha — Daughter. Zebo initially tried to use her marriage to bind Reiner, later arranged political marriages to preserve his position despite her objections. 98 201 217
• Sir Fata — Son and loyal defender of the Zebo territory following Zebo's defeat and death. 258 259 260
• Count Tervalin — Political ally secured through marriage and territorial concessions; Tervalin later abandoned Zebo's collapsing army and joined Reiner. 205 217 255
• Baron Falaine — Enemy whose loyalty and final stand Zebo openly honored after capturing Falaine Castle. 250
• The Morland Imperial Family — Zebo's consolidation of the north, blockade of iron, and war against loyal lords directly threatened royal authority. 126 129 136

Story Role / Major Arcs

Northern Consolidation

Zebo emerged as the central threat to Reiner's rise in the Northern Territory. He recruited regional lords, targeted iron-producing lands, and sought to make Reiner either a subordinate or an eliminated obstacle. 70 102 111

War against the Royalist Alliance

After declaring war on loyalist lords, Zebo led an army of approximately 5,500–6,000 men toward Babsburg. His forces and Reiner's alliance faced each other for three days before supply strain compelled Zebo to demand a decisive battle. 136 138 141

His army suffered heavily from Reiner's crossbow fire and defensive formations. Though Zebo maintained control during parts of the battle, his coalition ultimately collapsed after Reiner's cavalry pressure broke its center; Zebo retreated in defeat. 150 151 156 161

Alliance with Count Tervalin

Following his defeat, Zebo retained support by allying with Count Tervalin. He used Mekasha's engagement and territorial concessions as part of the arrangement, but the alliance remained fundamentally transactional. 201 205 217

Falaine and Petri Campaign

Zebo and Tervalin launched a new offensive against Reiner's vassals. Zebo captured Falaine Castle after repeated assaults and a surprise attack, though the victory cost him 450 men and twenty-five knights. He then moved against Petri Castle while avoiding a direct confrontation with Reiner. 247 250 251

Defeat and Execution

During the final campaign, Zebo's army was routed by Reiner's forces. Tervalin defected at the decisive moment, leaving Zebo encircled and captured. 254 255 257

Reiner sentenced Zebo to public hanging. Zebo requested to retain his sword and bearskin cloak for dignity, accepted the victor's judgment, and walked calmly to the gallows despite his visible fear of death. 258 259

Notable Quotes

“I accept your judgment of me. Disposing of the defeated is one of the victors' rights! But remember, no one can win forever!” 258

“May I wear my sword and this fur coat during the execution? I wish to maintain a final bit of dignity.” 258

Trivia

• Zebo's direct territory was estimated to contain seventy to eighty thousand people. 102
• His ambition to rule the Northern Territory made him Reiner's greatest obstacle for nearly two years. 257
• Reiner later sat in Zebo's former study after taking Mecalon City. 270