Chapter 108 – A New Policy for the Northern Empire

Having gained more than I had anticipated, we returned to the Clostova Territory.

It had been a journey of roughly two months round trip, but after exchanging greetings with Mayo, Rina, and Elfilia, I went to bed almost immediately that day.

‘Our original objectives… we were able to grasp the terrain around the imperial capital and leading up to it, and we observed the state of the imperial citizens. And then Seazack’s subordinate… Arloston…’

If I had taken some kind of action there—such as capturing Arloston—would the course of this civil war have changed dramatically?

Perhaps it might have… but at that moment, not a single such option occurred to me.

Maybe I was more shaken than I had realized. An unexpected reunion, and emotions thrown into turmoil. …It seems there is still plenty of room for me to train my mental fortitude.

Even if I were placed in the same situation again, at the very least, choosing to kill Arloston would not be an option for me.

On a battlefield, perhaps. But in a situation like that… I simply couldn’t bring myself to consider it.

Even if the result is that the Empire further solidifies its footing…

‘Emotion… huh.’

What I am engaged in is war. For the past ten years, the Empire has been unable to move toward unification; the nation remains split into three, and public order has only continued to deteriorate. Sooner or later, foreign powers will seize the opportunity to interfere.

I will reclaim the Imperial Nation. If the Empire lacks the strength to do so, then I will unify this turbulent Empire myself. That resolve has not changed even now.

Most likely, eliminating Arloston would have been the shortest path toward achieving that ambition.

If I had truly killed him, the Empire would have launched a full-scale manhunt to preserve its national honor and we would not have been able to return to Clostova so smoothly…

On the way back, Karan-san also said as much. In that situation, doing nothing to Arloston had been the correct choice.

‘…What’s done is done. Sooner or later, I will settle things with Arloston. More than that, what concerns me is that woman who wielded concealed weapons.’

She was clearly trained at a high level—not only as an operative, but also as an assassin.

To begin with, she infiltrated the imperial capital itself and succeeded in abducting the Knight Commander’s wife and child. There is no way she was an ordinary individual.

The real issue is that Seazack has such skilled individuals under his command. He is not merely holed up in the west; he is making calculated moves like this.

His choice of target was precise as well. That means he routinely gathers intelligence on the Empire. Most likely, he collects information on the Northern Empire too.

The Empire undoubtedly maintains capable spies, but Seazack does as well. In fact, he is probably gathering far more varied intelligence than we imagine.

‘On the other hand, within the Northern Empire, the ones fulfilling such intelligence roles are the Muga tribe…’

Disguised as merchants, they can gather and disseminate a great deal of information. However, they cannot deeply infiltrate the internal affairs of the nobility. They excel more at broad, surface-level operations rather than pinpoint activities.

But Seazack’s subordinates excel in pinpoint operations. They likely tracked the detailed schedules of Arloston’s wife and daughter, and only carried out the kidnapping after confirming its absolute chance of success.

The very fact that she could interfere with the wife and child of a high-ranking noble—one who could easily be called among the highest in the Empire—proves that she was no ordinary person, but an individual with extraordinary ability.

Naturally, she could not have been acting alone. There must have been others lying in wait as well.

‘Seazack is not merely holed up in the west… he is a dangerous man.’

I need to reassess my understanding of the Mercenary Demon King.

It was brought up in previous councils that we would, in principle, strike at the imperial capital before dealing with the west… but now, what would the worst possible scenario look like?

‘It would be safer to assume that Seazack’s agents have already infiltrated the Northern Empire as well. If, at the very moment we march toward the capital, his operatives begin their activities…’

The most likely targets would be Rina, Mayo, and Elfilia. Especially since Rina and Mayo are expecting children. If a child were taken hostage…

Arloston’s daughter flashes through my mind. Most likely, I too would lose my composure and charge in alone. Just like Arloston did.

“……………………”

I never had a strong image of Seazack as a general commanding an elite army on the battlefield. That is why, even if we set out toward the imperial capital, I failed to imagine being struck from behind.

To begin with, I assumed he would not lead troops across the mountain range that stretches toward Diltrack Territory.

No, that part is likely true. But operatives can cross mountains.

‘It would be dangerous to ignore Seazack and march straight on the capital. Even realizing that alone makes this journey to the imperial capital worthwhile.’

Seazack… a man who wields the same engraved technique as I do. Just who in the world is he…?

■

“Hah… Vilgard-sama, that is…”

“I will say it once more. Before the imperial capital, we will first liberate the western territories of the Empire ruled by Seazack.”

The following day. We convened a council to examine and report on the information we had brought back from the imperial capital. Theodolf, Ondyle, Altark, and the others were present as well.

After securing the Northern Empire’s foundations, which should we target first—the west, or the imperial capital?

The previous council had failed to reach a conclusion, though the prevailing opinion favored an assault on the capital. Even I had thought we ought to begin with the capital.

However, here and now, I made our course unmistakably clear. We would conquer the west first.

“Vilgard-sama! I too support that opinion!”

The one who raised his voice was Altark. Even in the prior council, he had firmly argued that we should strike the west first.

No doubt he wished to do something about the devastation in the west that Shamia had reported—but above all, he feared the possibility of the Empire joining hands with the Kingdom of Brenark.

“However… To advance from the Northern Empire into the Empire’s western territories, we must cross the mountain range in western Diltrack Territory. There is no guarantee that an army can march through it. Moreover, if the priority is to unify the Empire, would it not be wiser to seize the capital first and then move on to the west?”

The one who voiced that opinion was Ondyle. He had originally argued that the capital should be prioritized, and in the previous council I had shown agreement with that stance.

Naturally, he would wonder why I was changing course now.

“What Ondyle says is reasonable. But there is something I must state first. I underestimated Seazack.”

“Seazack…?”

“That’s right. I thought, rather carelessly, that as long as Diltrack’s defenses stood, he would not launch a military invasion of the Northern Empire. Indeed, he likely will not invade militarily. But while I am absent, there is the possibility that he may resort to less honorable measures.”

Here, I turned my gaze toward Karan-san. He began recounting to the others what had occurred in the imperial capital, including the matter of Seazack’s subordinate abducting Arloston’s wife and child.

No one present in this council would fail to grasp the implication of being able to kidnap the wife and child of the Knight Commander.

“In other words… you fear that the moment Clostova is left vacant, operatives will begin their activities.”

“Yes. I have come to understand that it is not only armies that can strike from behind.”

In Mayo’s case, one option would be to have her accompany the campaign even if it placed strain upon her… but there is also the possibility that the families of our other retainers could be targeted.

For instance, what would happen if the wives and children of key generals were taken hostage? The generals themselves would not remain calm, and I have no confidence that I could properly command troops in such a state. That kind of vulnerability would prove fatal on the battlefield.

“We cannot move to capture the capital while leaving such concerns behind us. It may prolong the unification… but even so, I have judged that Seazack cannot be ignored.”

“Vilgard-sama…”

“From this point forward, we will coordinate with Lantis of Diltrack Territory and begin surveying routes where an army can cross the mountains. I wish to entrust that command to Altark.”

“M-me!?”

“Yes. I have already instructed Lantis to proceed with investigating possible mountain crossings. I want you to work together effectively.”

The people of Diltrack are originally descended from mountain tribes. In the past, when the Empire pursued expansionist policies, it fully utilized their usefulness in mountainous regions.

It may take time, but the survey itself should proceed smoothly.

“In due course, we will lead the army across the mountains. I want all of you to prepare with that in mind—continue drilling the troops, renew equipment, and stockpile medicine and provisions.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Understood!”

Once our direction is decided, everyone immediately aligns and moves as one. That is one of the strengths of the Northern Empire.

Even if we discover a viable crossing point, it will still take time before we can act. We must prepare thoroughly.

‘Seazack… I have already decided that your head will be offered to my wife, Elfilia. For now, you may play the king of your lawless domain as much as you like.’

In any case, there likely would not be war for a while. The Empire is surely still busy reorganizing its knight orders, and Arloston, like me, should be heightening his vigilance toward the west.

I believed we would have some time to breathe… but the very next month, an unexpected report arrived.

“Vilgard-sama…! Th-the Kingdom of Brenark has made its move…!”

“What did you say…!?”