Chapter 112 – The Resolve to Depart for War

Before dinner, I visited Mayo and Rina in their respective rooms. Both of their bellies had already begun to grow noticeably.

Although there was still time before the child would be born, servants and guards had been stationed in their rooms at all times, and preparations were in place so that a doctor could rush over immediately if needed.

When the two of them heard that I would be leaving on an expedition, they were disappointed that they could not come along. But since they would be giving birth to healthy children, they told me not to worry about them and simply make sure to come back alive.

Yes… this expedition will most likely take quite a long time. By the time I return to Clostova, the child will probably have already been born.

“I’m sorry that I won’t be able to be there for the birth.”

I said that out of guilt, but both of them simply gave me gentle smiles.

For the sake of the child who will be born… I will definitely liberate the western region and return…!

And then there was my other wife, Elfilia.

“I’m going with you.”

With a strong light of determination dwelling in her eyes, she stared straight into mine and said that.

“Now that I’ve become your wife, simply waiting quietly and only receiving the result of my homeland being liberated… that’s not the kind of person I am.”

“Elfilia…”

“Are you dissatisfied?”

Dissatisfied… no, not really. And it’s true that she’s not the kind of person who would accept that. In fact, that very nature of hers is part of what I find so attractive.

“Even if you worry, there’s no need. I can ride a horse, and I’m confident I can cross the mountains as well. I can fight on the front lines too.”

“Well, I already know you’re stronger than an average soldier.”

In fact, Elfilia’s ability ranks among the upper tier. Her engraved mark’s power is strong to begin with, and more than that, she has personally cut down numerous bandits up until now.

One of the most important elements in battle… she has no hesitation when it comes to swinging her sword.

More than anything, I couldn’t brush aside the feelings she held for her homeland. Elfilia and I share very similar circumstances after all.

“Alright, we’ll go together. We’ll definitely liberate the Mardkrald territory and defeat Seazack.”

“Okay…!”

For the Northern Empire to invade the western region, there are several risks.

The army would have to cross the mountains, and with that comes the difficulty of securing food supplies. It’s also an environment where the people of the plains cannot be utilized. And above all, there is the risk that I, the supreme commander, would be away from the Northern Empire for a long period of time.

On the other hand, there are several factors that cannot be ignored. The invasion of the Kingdom of Brenark’s knight order, the Imperial Army joining forces and leaving Seazack unchecked.

These cannot simply be left as they are. If we were to realize too late that the Kingdom of Brenark and the Imperial Knight Order had already liberated the western region, then the Northern Empire would lose all standing.

Even so, there are advantages as well. First of all, neither Seazack, nor Arloston, nor even Brenark thinks that the Northern Empire would cross the mountains. If we succeed in this, great turmoil will surely spread among every faction.

Furthermore, Brenark will enter Seazack’s controlled territory from the west, while Arloston will enter from the southwest. Since I will invade from the east, Seazack will likely be forced to deal with threats from multiple directions.

‘The best possible outcome would be the Northern Empire’s army defeating Seazack. At the same time, we would sweep away the Brenark and Imperial Knight alliance in the western region, but…’

I looked at Elfilia’s face as I thought. This military operation is absolutely necessary for the Northern Empire. However, unlike before, there are considerable disadvantages this time. The difference in military strength.

Both Brenark and Arloston have flatland routes leading into the western region, making it easy for them to move troops and supplies. In other words, it is easy for them to station forces in the land they occupy and maintain their supply lines.

On the other hand, we must first cross the mountains before establishing supply bases. Our supplies and manpower are limited. Even maintaining the land we liberate carries a higher hurdle for us than for them.

But even so, choosing『not to act』is not an option. Rather, it is something that cannot be permitted.

Besides, just as I entrusted the command of the army to Ondyle, it is not as though we are proceeding without any plan at all.

“Elfilia. I will definitely present the Mardkrald territory to you.”

“Yes, my prince… I love you.”

I exchange a kiss with Elfilia. Seazack… in this expedition, I will definitely bring you down…!

***

…Later historians would recount this. Although Vilgard displayed extraordinary military genius, the reason he continued winning his battles until the founding of the Northern Empire was because he always maintained the initiative on the battlefield.

However, the invasion of the western region carried out at this timing by the Brenark–Imperial Knight alliance was a situation in which the two nations completely held the initiative.

Furthermore, there was another genius of this era, the 【Witch with Deep Green Eyes】. Her rise was something neither Vilgard nor even the Empire itself had anticipated.

History has no if. Yet ironically, it was precisely this action of Vilgard’s that would bring the witch to the Empire.

If, at that time, he had chosen to refrain from invading the western region… what would have happened? That speculation continues to fascinate many historians even now.

■

“Kuriya is… dead, you say…?”

“Yes, there is no mistake. It seems he was defeated by Arloston’s escort knight…”

“Haa? Oi, Goya, are you seriously saying that?”

Now then… in this era that produced many heroes, there was one man whose individual martial strength was said to be overwhelming. That man was the Mercenary Demon King, Seazack.

Even in later generations, his origins were never clearly revealed. However, judging from the color of his skin and the characteristics of those who followed him, it was said that he may have come from the desert nation, <Sheramoon>.

At that moment, he was at his base, receiving a report from Goya, the leader of the Shiden Yatsuha (Violet Lightning Eight Blades), regarding the results of the scheme they had been carrying out in the imperial capital.

“So you succeeded in taking the Knight Commander’s wife and child out of the imperial capital. And then the Knight Commander himself chased after you, along with his escort knight, and Kuriya got taken out by them? There’s no way that’s true.”

“Well, indeed. If it were Kuriya, she would have been able to kill Arloston himself there, along with the escort knight.”

This scheme had not been carried out by Kuriya alone. Naturally, many other agents had been sent in as well.

Thanks to that, Seazack was informed of the mission’s failure, but both he and Goya, after hearing the report, held great doubts about the process behind the outcome, regardless of the result itself.

“Huuun…? So the failure is a fact, but… why do you think she got taken out?”

“It seems that the only one who actually witnessed it was Arloston himself. Well, if we think about it normally, there must have been someone stronger than Kuriya there…”

Kuriya’s corpse had been recovered by the knight order that came chasing after Arloston.

Since it had not been disposed of on the spot, information about the condition of the body had made its way back.

“The cause of death was suicide… and apparently the bones in her leg had been broken as well. Looking at the state of the corpse, she probably chose death after facing an opponent she couldn’t defeat, but still… there aren’t many people stronger than you lot, are there?”

“That is true. The Empire’s generals are certainly skilled fighters, but even so, if it were Kuriya, she should have been able to deal with them through a surprise attack.”

“Well, if that surprise attack didn’t work, then yeah, she’d obviously be at a disadvantage.”

Among the assassins under Seazack’s command, the Shiden Yatsuha possessed the highest level of ability.

Seazack himself had also known them for a long time. The death of one of their number had brought him no small amount of surprise.

At the same time, however, he understood their weaknesses well. They specialized in covert operations and assassination above all else. When it came to fighting a genuine powerhouse head-on, compatibility inevitably became a factor that could not be ignored.

For example, if it were Seazack, he would certainly win if he fought them head-on. However, if they resorted to fighting methods that used poison or drugs, then the outcome of the battle would likely become uncertain.

“In any case, the plan to abduct Arloston’s wife and child has failed. From now on they will be far more cautious and it will be difficult to succeed again.”