Chapter 345
(Kyle Calendar Year 515: Age 22)
The Vanguard of God
Translator : PolterGlast
To the master living in seclusion in a detached palace a
short distance from Griffin, the
Imperial Capital of the Griffonia Empire,
a messenger bearing an urgent report from the southern border rushed in. The
messenger, who had arrived after a long ride almost without sleep or rest,
carried the information his master had been eagerly awaiting, and spurring his
body, which was at the limit of fatigue, proceeded to the reporting place.
「So, how is it? Has he lost?」
These were the words Glorious uttered the very first
thing, even interrupting the messenger's address. The messenger was also taken
aback for a moment and lost his words at this.
「I have come this time to report an
enemy invasion.」
「That will get us nowhere. There are
only two things I want to know. When will he ruin himself? When can I inherit
the throne? Only those two points.」
Harry felt his
heart ache seeing this state. First, he should thank the messenger who had laid
low until now and rushed here from afar. And his questions are neither
reasonable nor to the point. Because there is no way anyone could answer such
things clearly, no matter who he asked. Six months as a captive, and then a
year of reclusive life within the Empire,
might have eroded the First Prince's mind and made him a prisoner of obsession,
unable to see what is right in front of him.
But surely... if only the root of his obsession is
resolved... Harry had no choice but to think so.
「You have worked hard on your duty as
a messenger, and your long journey. I will give you a reward and let you rest
fully later, but let me hear a little more now.」
Finally receiving sensible words, the messenger looked at Harry's
face and floated an expression of relief.
「Yes, I was hiding in the fortress
south of Ende, the headquarters where the fox (Sieghart) lurks.
They were astounded by the invasion of the Eral Knight Kingdom, and
hurriedly sent 8,000 men led by Count Astray to respond.」
「The Eral Knight Kingdom has
moved, you say? Such a story...」
Harry
intentionally ignored Glorious's muttering. He directed further words
toward the messenger.
「And how was the state of the enemy (Sieghart)?」
「It seems they were caught off guard
and are quite agitated. Uncharacteristic behavior like that could be seen
everywhere.」
「Specifically?」
「First, could they defend against the
battle-hardened military force of the Eral Knight Kingdom with the weak
soldiers of someone like Count Astray, who is inferior in numbers, just
because they devoted themselves to defense?」
「Is there a possibility they are
setting a trap there? I think it's a number that can hold out sufficiently if
it becomes a siege battle?」
「Certainly, even without a trap, if
they retreat to Ende, they should be able to hold out to some extent.
However, the moment they adopt that strategy,
they are finished.」
「That is right. Because the Eral
Knight Kingdom army or we will cut off the rear and isolate Ende. If
that happens, all the armies deployed in the south will be nothing but rats in
a bag with their supplies cut off.」
「Secondly, the staff officers are
also tilting their heads at the orders issued to each southern front. There is
a high possibility their path of retreat will be cut off by the military force
of the Eral Knight Kingdom. Under normal circumstances, their
strategy—which relies on the advantages of interior lines—would have already
collapsed by this point.」
「Certainly, if Ende is
besieged, it is equivalent to having their rear cut off. They will not be able
to recover lost ground without our reinforcements. So, what is their response?」
「I do not know the detailed
operational instructions, but even with minor adjustments, they are still
clinging to the original plan—the defeat-in-detail1 tactic.」
「Hahaha, it must be said that the
wellspring of resourcefulness of the one exalted as a wise man has finally run
completely dry! It is a fortuitous disaster granted by heaven. Harry,
now is the time to summon the entire army and march south.」
「Your Highness! Not yet. When they
are defeated and the Empire is in a
crisis of survival, that is precisely when Your Highness should rally soldiers
from all over the Empire, head to
the front lines, and exact your revenge as the hero of national salvation. To
grasp the future, please wait a little longer, a little longer...」
Harry
understood. They haven't lost yet; they're just in a disadvantageous situation.
Nothing will start with just that.
「Your Highness, with this single
stone, the southern front, which was deadlocked, will likely begin moving all
at once. And perhaps the north will also begin moving soon. I dare to state.
This is no fortuitous disaster from heaven. Because I timed it to be so.」
「Harry, could you have!」
「Yes, I am the one who moved the Eral
Knight Kingdom.」
「My word!」
「Because I will ask the next Emperor
to take the field at the most appropriate time.」
「I see...」
Because Glorious meekly accepted it, Harry let
out a sigh of relief. If he were to move on his own here, all would be lost.
Looking at Glorious, who was finally freed from the unpredictable
feeling of stagnation and regained his composure at the words 'next Emperor',
he desperately suppressed the evaluation of 'small fry' that unintentionally
floated in his mind...
Actually, this participation of the Eral Knight Kingdom
in the war was a last-resort measure granted by the Master who leads the Clan
of Darkness. Normally publicly professing neutrality, and geographically
closer to the Third Prince with a track record of dispatching mercenaries, the Eral
Knight Kingdom was an opponent even Harry couldn't touch. That is
precisely why Sieghart and the Third Prince also judged them to be one
of the countries with the lowest possibility of turning into enemies, and
lowered their priority for response. But he was told that, depending on the
gold coins piled up, wherever they made the connection, they would become
allies. After that, Harry somehow scraped together an advance payment
and won them over by promising a massive amount of performance-based reward.
And the surprise move assembled by the man called Master was
set into motion. By daring to use those who could not yet be fully trusted as
the vanguard, he forced the start of the battle...
「Now then, I must light a fire in the
north next time...」
Calming the impatient First Prince and returning to his
room, he muttered so and then began to move energetically.
※
Ten days after Harry met with the messenger, an
express messenger from the Empire
visited the city of Tria.
「Urgent report! An urgent report for
Pope Castro. Hurry, please connect me to Lord Lugner or Lord Azel!」
The messenger, who caused a commotion at the city gate of Tria,
was immediately invited in and guided to Castro through Azel's
mediation.
「You have truly worked hard on your
duty as a messenger from afar. I heard you are a messenger from Lord Harry;
may I rejoice that it is good news?」
「Yes, it is exactly as you say. He
says, 『The
southern part of the Empire has now
entered the execution stage of establishing a new system. I urge your country
to also move to action to achieve your long-cherished desire.』」
「So the south has begun moving?」
The messenger nodded greatly to the question of Azel,
who couldn't bear it and interjected, and then turned to face Pope Castro
again.
「It seems the Sura Principality
and the Turncoat Kingdom, which were acting as opportunists, have both
hastily begun invasions, thinking it unbearable for the Eral Knight Kingdom
to gain the lion's share.」
「In that case, the Duke will probably
make his appearance in the south soon. Lord Azel, how are preparations
on this side?」
To Castro's question, Azel nodded silently. Lugner
was already on standby at the border with the Empire with a military force of 10,000, waiting for followers while
silently applying pressure on the three countries.
「The Vanguard of God (conscripts)
currently being organized in Tria already exceeds 10,000 in number.
Furthermore, from the three central counties and four western counties that
have embraced the correct teachings, volunteers along with regular soldiers are
gathering one after another.」
「If so, even if we leave defending
military force against the Imperial King domestically, is it possible to add at
least another 10,000 soldiers to the expeditionary army?」
「I believe this too is God's
guidance.」
「Then the time is ripe! In the
northern frontier region of the Empire,
a suspicious evil religion like eight million gods is spreading. Now is the
time to preach the teachings of our God, the one true God, and rescue our many
brethren imprisoned by the Demon King!」
「「「Yes!」」」
The people gathered in the cathedral knelt in unison upon
receiving the Pope's order.
「To Lord Lugner, I shall dispatch 10,000 troops and the former border guard captain as general.
To Lord Azel, another 10,000 currently being organized, with the former Tria guard captain as general. Given
that we are at war, they shall also be granted the special status of Cardinals.
When it comes to actual combat operations, you would do well to rely on their
strength. You may send a messenger to Lord Lugner
to inform him of this intent.」
「I gratefully accept this
appointment. I shall begin preparations for departure at once.」
Azel, who
answered respectfully, took his leave from before the Pope and moved to begin
preparations.
※
Five days later, departing Tria, Azel's figure
was at the head of the endlessly continuing military procession.
「Now then, is it exactly as he
speculated up to here... I wonder who exactly the true wise man refers to? Him
(Lugner), that old geezer (Harry), or...」
He muttered so alone on horseback and laughed at himself. 『The one who should be the successor
to lead the Clan of Darkness』, he had once been called so. But now...
「I am merely a figurehead after
all... for now, that is. Even so, it does not change the fact that we have each
obtained a military force of 10,000. I would have wanted to show our appearance
to His Excellency as well.」
Muttering so, Azel opened his eyes wide, raised his
baton, and gave the signal!
「Listen! From here on, we enter the Empire as a liberation army, into the
land of carnage rampant with demons. Now is the time to destroy the people
deluded by the evil religion and those who worship the Demon King and chain our
brethren, and show God's majesty. The entire army, strive as the Vanguard of
God!」
「「「「Ooh!」」」」
From here on, the northern frontier part of the Empire will also be burned by the
hellfire of great upheaval.
1 a military
tactic of breaking a larger, superior enemy force into smaller, separated
components and destroying them one by one.
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