Chapter 18 – The Knight Commander Aeroston, Deep Within the Cavern

“Ugh…unh…”

It seems I was asleep again. But the pain throughout my entire body has worsened. I must have injured myself when falling from above.

Regardless of the damage, my stamina has recovered thanks to getting some solid rest. My head also feels clear now.

“Ngh…it’s pitch black…”

Of course, with no light sources, I can’t make out my surroundings. After thinking for a bit, I decided to activate my engraved crest power.

“Never thought I’d be grateful for this crest power in a situation like this…”

My hands became covered in black gauntlets and my left eye lit up, allowing me to see the area around me.

How brightly the activated crest glows varies from person to person. But it never shines blindingly bright… Mine only gives off a dim glow.

However, in this pitch black world devoid of light, even this faint illumination allowed me to make out my surroundings.

“This is…”

I survey my surroundings again. Above is complete darkness – climbing up from here seems difficult. A smell of brine and mould wafts through. And the cavern appears to extend even deeper inwards.

“Hmm…?”

The cavern itself is quite spacious. I ponder again about where exactly this place is.

Since I emerged at the sea, this is undoubtedly located east of the imperial capital.

The eastern part of the capital does have some coastline, and travelling a bit further, the coastal areas become sheer cliffs dropping into the sea. It’s that kind of terrain, which is why the bridge over the river on the way to the plains had to be built at a considerably high elevation.

‘At that point, I had already traveled north of the capital…so is this place located northeast from the capital’s perspective…?’

Beyond that bridge lay mountains to cross over. This cavern may actually be directly underneath those mountains. And if so, maybe…

‘If I proceed from here…I can get outside…?’

I’m not sure. But returning to my original location from here would be extremely difficult and consume a tremendous amount of stamina. With my food supplies being uncertain now, I can’t afford to expend too much energy.

“…I’ll have to go on.”

The time I have left is limited. Most likely, if I walk just a bit further, my throat will be parched dry. Before that happens, I have to find a way out of this predicament.

■

Thirty days after the imperial capital of the Amatsuki Empire fell and came under the rule of the Zeltreich Empire, yet another victory celebration was being held in the imperial capital Zeltstaddt.

“That small border nation has finally been silenced!”

“I’ve heard that country had been stockpiling all sorts of things. With this, our great empire will only grow stronger!”

The nobles were giddy, praising the emperor and the Imperial Knights Order. Keeping his distance from such people was a lone man drinking.

His name was Arloston Londonic. A few years prior, he had assumed the position of Commander of the Imperial Knights Order at a young age and initiated major reforms within the order.

“There you were.”

“…Ah, Adrldon .”

Adrldon, the Captain of the Ironclad Knights Order who led the invasion of the empire, had also returned from the former capital. He was dressed like a noble rather than in armour.

Occupation policies and governing the former imperial territories were not his job. He had switched out with the troops and governors dispatched from the capital, returning to lead the Knights Order back to the imperial capital.

“Is it okay for the star of this victory party to be in a place like this?”

“I’m not the star. As long as everyone has a reason to celebrate like this, it doesn’t matter, does it?”

“Heh…I suppose not.”

Although Adrldon was older than Arloston, he never looked down on him. Without Arloston, the current Imperial Knights Order could never have been rebuilt, much less transformed into a formidable military force.

He was undoubtedly a man born to usher in a new era for the empire. Soon, the empire would be able to take full-scale action towards unifying its territories.

“How was the former empire?”

“The experience of mobilising a large army for war. We were fortunate they have lacked that until now. Their lack of territorial ambitions stemmed from their nature…but had they the mindset, that empire may have expanded its domain across this continent by now.”

“To that extent, huh…”

Arloston had also reviewed Adrldon’s reports.

While they investigated the empire’s geography and military strength before the war began, they paid no mind to the empire’s unique culture or people’s temperaments. As a result, though victorious, there were many unexpected developments.

“I saw the report on the emperor’s final moments…Quite remarkable.”

“Yes. The imperial guards at his side were also extremely formidable and we lost many of our own elites.”

“The resolve of a nation’s king and his servants…I wonder how many in our current empire possess such conviction.”

At least the emperor himself could not muster such unwavering resolution – though unspoken, both men thought this.

For Arloston, this expedition was also field training for the reborn Knights Order. After researching the empire, he judged them suitable opponents for the training.

That’s why he obtained the emperor’s permission and mobilised the order. It’s also true he wished to seize the empire’s wealth and resources.

However, the unexpected casualties…Many perished, even from the elite Ironclad Knight Order.

Though minor losses for the entire Imperial Knights Order, those fallen were highly specialised experts. In some cases, their value exceeded that of 50 common soldiers. At the very least, they took priority over the troops under territorial lords.

“There are a few concerning factors. With the imperial family dead, the former empire’s people deeply resent us. Resistance will likely continue.”

“I see…what else?”

“Yes. One member of the imperial family remains unaccounted for. Most likely…”

“Ah, there’s a possibility they fled north.”

While the missing princess was a source of concern, she also presented potential value to the empire.

If the princess was alive and took up arms somewhere, the former imperial citizens would likely rise up as well. After all, they were a people who prioritised pride in their imperial identity over their own lives.

And if the Territorial Lords Alliance protected her, they would undoubtedly have her marry into one of their ranks. This would give them just cause to rebel in the name of reclaiming the empire.

Even if they couldn’t actually recapture the empire, word of the princess rebelling would surely incite uprisings in the newly subjugated imperial territories.

On the other hand, if the empire could shelter the princess, the situation would change somewhat. By treating her with respect and having her wed the emperor, they could work towards reconciliation with the former empire’s surviving citizens and warriors.

It would take time but gradually the former empire would fully integrate into the empire.

“We should immediately repair the bridges and organise search parties.”

“I agree. I also recommended that to His Majesty…but he brushed it off, saying it could wait for now.”

“Hah…?”

Arloston had intended to prioritise Adrldon’s opinion, having witnessed the situation firsthand.

However, the Knights Order had returned to the capital, while civil officials, governing administrators and supporting imperial troops now occupied the former imperial territories. That fell under the emperor’s jurisdiction.

“He said one little princess, even if alive, couldn’t do anything. For now, prioritising governance over the occupied territories is more important. Repairing the bridges can wait until we have some leeway.”

“……………”

Now that the Imperial Nation has become part of the Empire’s territory, it is not the Knights’ decision to use its finances to renovate bridges.

And once the supreme decision-maker, the Emperor, had made such a judgement, it was hard to imagine that the governing officials on the ground would immediately repair the bridge.

“But I can guess where the group that crossed that bridge was headed.”

“…Where?”

“The Larbas Plains.”

“The Larbas Plains…the easternmost frontier of the Empire.”

On the map, it is part of the Empire’s territory, but in reality, only nomads live there.

It is too far from the capital and the roads are not developed at all. Even if they spent a great deal of time and cost building a town there and developing roads, the benefits would be small, and in the first place, no one wants to live there.

There are eight tribes on the plains and the Muga tribe serves as the liaison with the Empire. As proof of their submission, they offer a certain number of horses every year and the Empire accepts them. That was the extent of their relationship.

It would not be easy to rule the nomads by force, as the plains are vast and it is unknown where and how many of them are. Moreover, the Empire does not have the financial strength or resources to send a large army to such a distant land.

Therefore, they are still under indirect rule. Fortunately, they are also quite relaxed and have no intention of rebelling against the Empire, so they have been left alone for a long time.

“It has only recently become known but there has been some trade between the people of the plains and the Imperial Nation, albeit very little. Perhaps it is possible to travel back and forth by crossing the mountains.”

However, it is not as simple as just saying it. Just looking at the map, they would have to cross over mountains, and there are other difficult areas like the Sea of Trees.

“I see…if they fled north, then there is a possibility they were aiming for the plains.”

“Yes. But without a guide, I don’t think they could make it there.”

It’s more likely impossible. If there had been active enough travel to make roads, the interaction between the plains people and Imperial citizens would have been much deeper.

“…Shall we send troops to the plains to search for the princess?”

In response to Adrldon’s words, Arloston had an ambiguous smile he couldn’t put into words.

“That’s not possible.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Of course I understand the importance of the princess. But I don’t think the princess could make it to the plains in the first place. And even if we sent troops to the plains, how would we find her? Only the eight tribes can travel that land without getting lost. How many days’ worth of provisions and how many soldiers would we need to send just to search for the princess, whose whereabouts are unknown, in such a place?”

“……….”

At least if there was a fortress at the entrance to the plains, the situation would be different. But since there are no foreign enemies, there is no cost to permanently station troops or build a fortress.

Moreover, the Imperial Nation originally had no friendly relations with any other country. It is hard to imagine the princess suddenly joining forces with the allied lords, who are also citizens of the Empire and rebelling.

Even if she somehow did make it to the plains, she would likely never come out from there again.

In that case, she would not be a nuisance to the Empire. The Imperial lands could construct a governing system treating the princess as someone who cannot be utilised.

“However, your unease after directly seeing the Imperial citizens is also understandable. We cannot prepare immediately, but…let’s send out a suitable number of mercenaries.”

“Thank you.”

“We are also dealing with issues in the west right now. It may be about a year from now but please be patient.”