Chapter 171: Preparations to Sortie, Complete!

Sch-sch-sch-schwip! Ba-ba-bam! Kuaaaaaaak!

“Block them! Block!”

Sch-sch-sch-schwip! Baaaaam! Boooooom!

At the castle of Marquis Pepeon, one of the important defensive points at the Bajran Empire’s western border, the remaining imperial forces that fled from the Krantz Kingdom and the Skyknights and soldiers of the Western Corps, which had been thinned by the surprise attack of the Kuviran Kingdom, put up a desperate, bloody defense.

However, they had reached their limits. Not long after they were denied reinforcements from the Imperial Family, the local lords stopped sending reinforcements, and a few days ago, there were even nobles that deserted the battlefield.

The Bajran army found itself helpless before the indiscriminate barrage of attacks by the kingdoms. The Krantz Kingdom had managed to keep a full force of Skyknights, and with the wyverns of the Kuviran Kingdom, they had around 600 total. All of them were in the air, blackening the sky and hurling Blessed Spears at the Bajran Skyknights, who numbered less than 100.

That wasn’t all. Catapults were destroying the sturdy walls of the Marquis’ castle. Boulders with their range greatly enhanced by mages were hurtling mercilessly towards the walls.

Craaaaaash!

Under the concentrated fire of the catapults and the spears thrown by the Skyknights, the castle walls eventually reached the limits of their mana shields and were destroyed.

“The wall has collapsed!”

“Chaaarge!”

“Seize the castle walls in one go!”

“YEAAAAHHHHHHH!”

The 100,000 soldiers of the two kingdom armies charged towards the castle with high-flying morale, paying no heed to the battle ensuing in the air above. The ground rumbled with their steps.

“……”

The Bajran soldiers, who should be defending the walls, stood and watched the approaching enemies, unable to even think about shooting down arrows. The fierce siege had continued for over half a month. The exhausted soldiers wanted it to end now. They were already unable to muster anymore courage, beaten down by the cravenness of the nobles and the incompetence of the emperor they and the rest of the Empire had judged as a tyrant.

“L-Let us retreat.”

“If we stay here any longer, we will die miserable deaths.”

The owner of the castle, Marquis Pepeon, had already fled two days ago under the pretext of seeking help from the Emperor. The people guarding the castle now were the commanding officers of the Imperial Western Corps and the nobles of the surrounding territories. But these men, who had resisted bravely for many days, quietly proposed fleeing when they saw the walls crumble and their wyvern numbers falling sharply.

“What do you mean, leave. It’s already too late.”

The proud Commander of the 2nd Imperial Army, Count Eroit, looked at the sky with a calm voice. They had disappeared without a trace. Not a single one of the empire wyverns resisting with the last of their blazing will up until moments ago could be seen. And with Bajran’s Skyknights gone, the wyverns of the two kingdoms fell into an orderly formation as they flew threateningly over the castle.

“Argh… how could… our empire…”

“Haah… If this place falls, the capital will be endangered.”

The nobles that had stayed behind to fight still had a tiny bit of loyalty to the Empire. They sighed as they bitterly remarked on the Empire’s perilous future.

“We’ve done all we could.”

What could the commanding officers do when the soldiers had already lost their will to fight? There were still around 50,000 soldiers on the walls, but without the help of Skyknights, they were merely walking targets.

“Brave soldiers, you have all done well!” Count Eroit used mana to shout from the fortified commander watchtower. “It’s over now. Put down your weapons. You can… stop now.”

The meaning behind his words was clear. Wet tears welled in Count Eroit’s eyes as he shouted. The Empire could disappear, but there was no need to make the innocent soldiers die. Thanks to one terrible emperor, an empire that had enjoyed hundreds of years of prosperity was on the verge of collapsing like a house of cards. Those soldiers didn’t have the obligation to spill their blood for such an empire.

“I recommend you prepare yourselves as well,” Count Eroit said, turning to the others in the watchtower.

“…..”

Grief filled the faces of the remaining nobles and knights. Up until very recently, the kingdoms flinched and scrambled at a single sneeze of the Empire. But now, the Empire’s lands were being violated by the same kingdoms. They, the leaders, had nothing to say for themselves. The nobles knew that no matter how incompetent the emperor might be, the blame for the current disgrace was not his fault alone.

“Let us endure humiliation for a little longer. His Excellency Duke Garvit… will definitely have wreak vengeance on them.”

The battle was fierce, but the nobles knew of the movements of Duke Garvit and the northern nobles, who were trying to dethrone the tyrant and raise up the 2nd Prince.

“We can only hope so. Bajran is far too beautiful a place to fall like this.”

What kind of place had the Bajran Empire been until Emperor Poltviran took the throne? It was a place that managed the surrounding kingdoms not with strength, but with heart, and handled the people and nobles with stern national laws and imperial mandates. It was not a place that could be toppled by a momentary crisis.

The shoots of their glorious Empire were swiftly budding not far from here.

* * *

“In the end, Pepeon Castle fell as well.”

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“…Now, there will be no forces that can block the kingdoms.”

“It boggles the mind that even in such a crisis, the crown is focusing its remaining forces in the capital. Just what is the idiotic Emperor, no, the nobles, thinking?”

After defeating Count Kaldain, I went into the duchy’s conference hall with a spring in my step. However, the mood in the hall plummeted to that of a funeral upon receiving the sudden news that Pepeon Castle had fallen.

‘Pepeon Castle’s less than a day away from here, isn’t it?’

The place was neither far nor close, falling ambiguously in the middle. It also wasn’t very far removed from the capital, which was located at the branching of the Perkon River.

“According to our intel, the Emperor has not stepped forward despite the urgency of the situation. He passed over all authority to that schemer Silveron and is staying in the Inner Court with his concubines all day.”

“Goodness… Even so, to do that in such a crisis is…” murmured one of the Bajran northern nobles gathered in Duke Garvit’s castle.

“Now, only Halberk must fall for ⅔ of the Imperial Army to be wiped out. To think that such precious forces will disappear in such a manner…”

Mournful sighs came from all over the hall. Igis and Razcion, who were sitting at the head of the conference hall’s table, had long since become as rigid as stone. Poltviran might be an incompetent emperor, but he was still their older brother. I was sure that the rebuking voices of the nobles would leave an unforgettable scar on the Princess and Prince. However, I couldn’t help them. Because of the failure of their Imperial Family, the Empire was embittered in war. They had to pay the price for bearing the Bajran name.

“Enough. No matter how incompetent the current emperor is, what kind of disloyal things are you saying in front of His and Her Highness the Prince and Princess!”

Duke Garvit opened the eyes he’d been closing and shook the hall with his shout. The nobles carelessly flapping their gums instantly fell into silence.

“It is alright. All faults have ties to the Imperial Family. We will take that blame.”

‘Kya, she really is an incredible woman.’

If it were me, my fists would have gone flying as I berated the nobles for insolence, but Princess Igis faced them with tenacious patience.

“No, Your Highness. How could all of this be the fault of the Imperial Family? Our sin in appointing the wrong emperor is not insignificant, either.”

Wearing a complicated look, the old duke lamented the nobles’ sin.

“May you please forgive the sin of your unfaithful servants.”

“May you forgive us!”

As expected of people who gathered to build a new empire, the nobles realized their own faults immediately, bowing as they asked for forgiveness.

‘That’s enough for the beautiful scenes,’ I thought wryly. The reason for this meeting was to have a progressive and future-oriented discussion regarding the Empire’s continuation. In the current situation, this level of remorse on past sins and apologizing to each other was more than sufficient.

“Your Excellency, what must we do now?” I asked, dashing away the somber mood with my productive questions. “Do we rush over to oust Emperor Poltviran, who has locked himself up in the capital? Or should we deal a blistering blow to the kingdoms infringing on the Empire’s territory?”

“That is the question we must answer. If Pepeon Castle hadn’t fallen, we could have advanced directly on the capital to dethrone the current emperor and raise His Highness Prince Razcion to the throne, but if the kingdom armies greedily turn their advance on us…” Duke Garvit trailed off.

He didn’t need to spell it out. It could become a situation of going to rob someone’s house and getting robbed instead. It was an impossible situation where the Duke could do neither this nor that.

“What do you think, Princess Igis?”

“…It seems like a difficult problem to resolve.” Even the wise Igis had no answers to give.

“We must punish the armies of the opposing kingdoms first!”

‘Eh?’

Razcion had broken the tense silence with his determined voice. Due to his short height, only his head could be seen above the table.

“Y-Your Highness… this is not a matter that cannot be easily decided,” said one of the nobles.

“My idiotic older brother won’t last long if he’s left to his own devices, but who’s to take responsibility for this empire, which our ancestors built up brick by brick and the kingdom armies are destroying? And what should be done about the loyal soldiers and people who have always obeyed the Emperor’s command?” Razcion’s sharp voice cut through the hall. “I will take responsibility. Duke Garvit and the nobles here, please gather the soldiers right now, immediately.”

‘Ohh, impressive, kiddo!’

I thought he was still too young, but Razcion gave the most clear-headed response to this impossible situation. He boldly declared that he, the emperor-to-be, would take responsibility and gave the nobles a command.

“By thy Imperial Mandate!”

The moment Razcion finished talking, Duke Garvit, who had been trembling with worry, bowed low as he received the imperial mandate.

“By thy Imperial Mandate!”

Having received their answer from Razcion’s ambitious words, all of the nobles bowed.

‘Okay. This will make it easy for me.’

I could not take the lead here. I came to offer my help, but the decision had to be made by the people who would live here in the future. All I had to do was faithfully offer my help at the request of Bajran’s future master, Razcion.

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‘Then the target is the kingdoms, correct?’

I even sent them a letter to quit while they were ahead, but the kingdoms wanted to see this war to the end. I was also a human, but this was why I really hated humans. They didn’t know something as basic as the fact that excessive greed would invite trouble. There was no choice but for them to learn that with a practical lesson.

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“Well then, let us move straight into a strategy meeting. As His Highness the Prince ordered, we shall give the kingdom bastards infringing on the Empire a taste of hell.”

I had to sort things out here quickly and return to Nerman, so I hurried the meeting along. There were still nooks and crannies I hadn’t inspected in my mansion in Nerman, which I found myself already missing.

“Haha, it’s a total victory.”

“I feel all refreshed inside, Your Highness.”

The leaders of the Kuviran Kingdom and Krantz Kingdom were beaming, delighted that the Bajran Empire’s important castle, Pepeon, had been conquered faster than expected. What kind of nation was the Bajran Empire? Up until recently, it was a behemoth, the ruler of the northern Continent no kingdom could even dream of doing anything about. But that very Bajran Empire was now crumbling, and so severely that the existence of the Empire itself was being threatened all because of one rotten emperor.

“Duke Setnion, we’re moving onto the next phase immediately.”

Crown Prince Veyons would never forget how his father was forced to shamefully kill himself because of Emperor Poltviran’s threats and attack. No, he was now King Veyons of the Krantz Kingdom. He hadn’t been ceremonially crowned because of the hectic torrents of war, but he didn’t regret that at all.

Ever since he was a child, he had dreamed the forbidden dream of invading the Empire. Now that it was finally happening, and Krantz was seizing more and more of the expansive land, his greed was growing by leaps and bounds.

“I believe we will need to briefly garrison the soldiers here.” Duke Setnion, who had been sent by the Kuviran Kingdom to coordinate their allied forces, proposed putting on the brakes to their advance.

“Garrison? What do you mean by that? Our current forces alone are more than enough to topple the Empire’s capital city, is it not? Since we have already started this war, we may as well dig out the Empire’s roots.”

Veyons would have liked to fight with the forces of the Krantz Kingdom alone, but those were merely idle wishes. Their side lost around 70 wyverns in the battle for Pepeon Castle. The Empire had lost several times their number in wyverns, so it wasn’t a losing bargain, but it made a big difference. It was said that the Imperial Capital still had hundreds of wyverns and Skyknights. That was nothing compared to the past, but it was still a force that could not be underestimated.

“Your Highness, to be honest, today’s victory was not won because the Coalition Army is overwhelmingly powerful.”

Unlike Veyons, who had grown slightly impatient with excitement, Duke Setnion was a seasoned veteran. Year after year, the Temir and an enormous number of monsters crossed the Litore Mountains and attacked the Kuviran Kingdom. To those enemies of the kingdom, he was known as the Grim Reaper. As one of the only two Blade Masters in the Kuviran Kingdom, he possessed the rank of duke. Even King Adpairon could not be careless with him.

“I am sure Your Highness is also aware, but Bajran is not a nation that will fall so easily. Even when a noble meets disaster, he will leave behind enough wealth for three generations to live comfortably. The same saying applies, but instead of being a regular noble, Bajran is an empire. This result has come about because their central leadership has not been able to function properly because of Poltviran the Tyrant, but an empire is not an empire in vain.”

Ever since he was a kid, Setnion had experienced the true strength of the Bajran Empire down to the marrow of his bones. If the Emperor were to come to his senses and take proper control of the nobles, the Kingdom Coalition would have difficult days ahead. If an enormous number of Bajran Skyknights had not perished in the early days of the war, the victory at Pepeon Castle would have never been possible.

“But according to our intel, there are not many knights who are willing to raise their swords for the Emperor, no? The situation where the soldiers surrendered at Pepeon Castle will repeat itself in the capital.”

He held the rank of a nation’s king, but Veyons couldn’t take Duke Setnion’s words lightly. He was a Blade Master, a skilled talent that the Krantz Kingdom lacked, and the Duke was well-acquainted with the ways of war. His thoughts were on a different level from Veyons.

“What would Your Highness do if we met an unforeseen ambush while leading the soldiers deep into enemy territory?”

“An unforeseen ambush?”

“Yes. What are we to do if we were to meet an ambush even the Coalition Army cannot withstand?” Setnion continued asking questions, as if educating a young child.

“But there are no forces in the Empire that can do anything about the Coalition Army, no? There are only the troops in the capital and the ones facing the Andain and Kerpe Coalition Army at Fort Halberk.”

Even as Veyons explained what he knew, he wanted to jump onto his wyvern and set off at once. His young heart was blazing with the desire to be the first to sink a blade into the heart of the Bajran Empire.

“The movements of the Empire’s northern nobles have been suspicious. It is reported that they have already gathered at least 500 Skyknights and 100,000 elite troops, all at the castle of Duke Garvit, the most dangerous man in the Bajran Empire.”

“Ah! D-Duke Garvit…”

Veyons had momentarily forgotten that man. He was one of the Four Pillars of the Bajran Empire, and the one to be most cautious of. Veyons’ father, King Vekadrian, once said that as long as Duke Garvit drew breath, the Empire would be able to survive any disaster.

“For now, we should garrison the soldiers here while seeing how the battle for Fort Halberk goes. If the fort falls, the Andain and Kerpe Coalition Army will advance on the capital. Even if we make a move then, it won’t be too late.”

His many years of experience were ringing alarm bells in his head, warning that the dragon writhing in the North, Garvit, would soon act.

* * *

“A total of 525 Skyknights have been convened in the name of His Highness. In addition to that, we have gathered 45 nobles of the North and around 120,000 soldiers.”

A diamond on a dunghill was still a diamond. War between Bajran and the kingdoms was raging all over the Empire, but the forces under Duke Garvit still exceeded Nerman’s numbers. Those men did not assemble out of trust for Razcion. To me, it looked like they gathered because they trusted Garvit, the skinny but powerful man in front of me.

“What is the scale of the kingdom army amassed at Pepeon Castle?”

We transitioned directly into discussing the subjugation of the kingdoms, and I implicitly became the central driving force of the meeting. I began to ask the Duke about the things I wanted to know.

“Krantz and Kuviran had over 700 wyverns at first, but because of the battle, their numbers were reduced to around 600. They also have approximately 100,000 cavalry and infantry with them.”

I was the one who asked, but because Igis and the kiddo were sitting at the head of the conference hall’s table, Duke Garvit spoke respectfully. As I thought, he was well-informed about the kingdom army.

“They won’t have any reinforcements, correct?”

“Of course. The Krantz Kingdom was occupied until recently by the Empire, so we can say that the entirety of their forces are at Pepeon. Also, the Kuviran Kingdom is constantly under threat by monsters and the Temir, so they only have emergency troops left in the kingdom. Their current army is already the greatest force the two kingdoms can muster.”

‘They really went all in.’

They were like wolves that came rushing in to kill an all-powerful lion that had grown sick and lost its claws. I could tell they were going all out.

“600 wyverns… If we are not able to achieve a decisive victory, it’s possible that we might not be able to maintain enough forces to reclaim the capital afterwards.”

The smart Igis expressed her worries about what would happen after subjugating the kingdoms. The kingdoms were problematic, but the truly urgent matter was dragging the crazy Poltviran off the throne. We were following the judgement of the next emperor, Razcion, but I was sure the people here were itching to see Poltviran gone.

“According to the information being sent by our agents, the kingdom invaders that took Pepeon Castle are garrisoning there for maintenance. I believe they are being mindful of us and keeping an eye on the situation at Fort Halberk.”

Duke Garvit gave an explanation of the enemy situation that everyone could agree on, even though it wasn’t confirmed. He wasn’t a duke of an empire for show.

“It won’t be an easy battle.”

Getting to Pepeon Castle from here would take one day on wyverns. The distance would definitely play a role in our victory or defeat.

“Duke Setnion of the Kuviran Kingdom isn’t someone to be underestimated. He is more skilled in stratagem than me.”

Garvit knew how to acknowledge an enemy’s strengths. He was very wary of the duke from Kuviran, someone I’d never met.

“Let us attack right away.”

A strategy meeting where we only exercised our mouths was unnecessary. Nothing would come out of sitting for days while talking about the enemy and their forces. In the end, we would have to face them on the battlefield and win with our strength.

“You have quite the confidence.” Unlike the nobles that looked at me with displeasure when I suggested attacking immediately, Duke Garvit gave me an inscrutable look.

Instead of responding, I flashed him a grin. Action speaks louder than words. What use was there in droning on for days?

“Count Kyre, does this situation look like a joke to you? One hasty action could seal the Empire’s fate!”

“You are someone with no interest in your own empire’s fate, are you?!”

At my smile, the nobles snarled their complaints, as if they could no longer hold back. It seemed they had forgotten the skills they had seen from me in the spar with Count Kaldain.

“Do I look as if I am joking right now?”

If this were Nerman, no one would have bickered at me like this but unfortunately, I was met with nobles picking a fight immediately after leaving my domain.

“Then what are the words you just said, if not a joke? This is no child’s game, yet you say we attack immediately even though the strategy meeting hasn’t even ended. Is that not ridiculous to you?!”

“Then you tell me. Try coming up with a plan that can repel the enemies right in front of our noses while sitting on your asses. If you can really come up with a strategy that impresses me, I will become your servant.”

The noble in his mid-thirties whose name I didn’t even know went purple with rage at my barbed words. I was curious as to what kind of great talent he had that he could end a war with his mouth alone.

“T-That’s…” he stammered, coming up with no response.

“Does anyone else have any complaints to voice?”

I turned my smiling face towards the nobles, looking at each person in turn. However, they took great pains to avoid my gaze.

‘Cute little brats.’

We were all nobles, but how could nobles from an empire falling into ruin be on the same level as me, someone who had as much authority as a king in Nerman? Moreover, I went out of my way to help the Empire despite being busy. I didn’t expect them to follow me around chirping “master, master,” but people who shot down my proposals weren’t necessary. No matter how you looked at it, this situation was hopeless without me, so they just had to trust and follow me.

“Princess Igis, Your Highness Prince Razcion, Your Excellency Duke Garvit, and the other nobles here. I will take the vanguard. Please trust me and provide me with around 300 Skyknights who do not fear death. I will, without fail, return after defeating the kingdom armies.” With a voice full of confidence, I asked for the position of Commander.

“I permit it.” Nodding, the young Prince sent me a look of admiration and trust.

Igis also uttered words of consent. “Please do as Kyre-nim says.”

“I permit it as well. I ask that you exert yourself once to achieve a glorious victory for this empire,” said Duke Garvit, nodding with a broad smile.

“……”

Completely cowed by me, the nobles just stayed silent while sneaking glances at me.

‘For men, your guts sure are tiny.’

No one was brave enough to blatantly raise an opposition because they disliked me.

“Then like I just said, we will sortie immediately. Please make preparations at once.”

To me, time was directly linked to Nerman’s safety, so I ordered an immediate attack.

‘Wait for me, Poltviran. You’re next.’

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No matter how sound a company or country was, if you picked the wrong leader, it only took one bad turn for the finances or treasury to be depleted. Poltviran brought the Bajran Empire to ruin in less than a year. I had to get rid of him for Igis and Razcion’s sake.

I didn’t doubt for a moment that Poltviran, that complete waste of food, was still lost in denial, doing his best(?) in the Inner Court with his concubines.

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