Chapter 370
(Kyle Calendar Year 515: Age 22)
Northern Front ⑧ –A Man's
Long-Cherished Desire
Translator : PolterGlast
The moment they arrived upon the battlefield, the formidable
military force led by Viscount Kamin, materializing from the west side
of the highway, launched a fierce and unwavering charge straight into the ranks
of the Ville Kingdom army
without hesitation. This massive unit was an
entity that absolutely no one, friend or foe, had anticipated; even their
allied Imperial Army under Viscount Durul's command was
profoundly stunned by their sudden participation. Furthermore, the army he led
numbered approximately 5,000 troops—a figure that vastly, exponentially
exceeded the entire standing military capacity of Viscount Kamin's
domain alone.
「 First, repel the invaders who have
driven our allies into a predicament! At this point, you are perfectly welcome
to leave the fleeing enemy soldiers alone! 」
Bellowing his commands across the field, Viscount Kamin
spearheaded the charge, slamming into the cavalry unit led by General Golpa
that was currently fighting Viscount Durul's army. This maneuver was a
flawless, mirrored inversion of the exact tactical strike the general had
executed just moments prior, beautifully trading the roles of offense and
defense.
「 Hmph, to think 5,000 fresh troops
would arrive at this exact juncture…… even I completely failed to
anticipate this. Could it be that the Demon King possesses magic to make
military forces well up from nowhere……? 」
Even as the jaws of the trap snapped shut around his
division, the veteran general remained completely calm in the predicament.
Without a single flicker of panic, he immediately ordered his adjutant to have
the tactical horns blown in various places to make the army pull back.
「 I have successfully saved His
Majesty, and we have firmly prevented the collapse of the entire army. Well,
this is probably as far as we go for now…… From here on, each unit shall break
away in small groups and reassemble, gathering allies in a rolling circular
formation while executing an organized retreat! 」
The general's army smoothly shifted into a remarkably
mysterious circular formation. At a casual glance, it looked like a rotating
wheel formation, but the localized small groups breaking away from the melee
would draw a circle, shaving off the enemy army while making one revolution,
and furthermore, brand-new groups would seamlessly merge on its outside and
circle the outer circumference. Rotating relentlessly with a vortex-like flow,
the circular formation expanded dynamically with every turn, rallying allies
one after another. Finally, having completely absorbed all subordinate soldiers
into a giant vortex of steel, the circular formation gradually drifted toward
the eastern horizon, and the absolute second they successfully broke away from
the chaotic melee, they retreated in a crisp column formation as if the ring
unwound all at once.
Furthermore, at the exact point General Golpa charged
in, the crushing physical pressure that had gridlocked the narrow southern
retreat path evaporated and settled down. With the bottleneck cleared, the
remnants of the Ville Kingdom
army systematically and cleanly evacuated the battlefield in an orderly manner
from both the south and east.
「 Tch, brilliant…… we let them pull
back skillfully before we could lock them down. From here on, our first
priority is to save the lives of as many allies left on this battlefield as
possible! 」
Viscount Kamin intentionally did not pursue, instantly
dedicating his forces to rescuing the allies left on the battlefield. He could
see with absolute clarity that Viscount Durul's army, having fought
bravely to the end with an indomitable resolve, had suffered profoundly
devastating damage. Naturally, the invading Ville Kingdom army had also lost nearly 2,000 soldiers across this
overlapping sequence of battles—but it was universally acknowledged that
without the participation of General Golpa to steer the withdrawal, that
casualty figure would have probably doubled.
After the Ville Kingdom
army left, the heavily battered remnants of Viscount Durul's army were
successfully rescued by Viscount Kamin's forces, merging fully into
their secure lines.
「 Even so, without Your Excellency's
participation at that exact second, our army would have been absolutely
annihilated. On behalf of my lord, I express
my deepest gratitude anew. 」
「 No, as fellow Imperial nobles, it
is a matter of course to strike down foreign invaders who dare trample our
soil. There is zero need for thanks. 」
There were several critical factors why Viscount Kamin—a
man who originally belonged to the political faction supporting the First
Prince—had marched onto a deadly battlefield leading a massive army of up
to 5,000 troops.
※
A little before this engagement, driven strictly by his
unyielding "pride as an Imperial noble," Viscount Kamin had
effectively defected from the First Prince's camp, successfully rallying
the entire army of his own domain under his direct command. Yet, at that
specific juncture, it was still a meager military force of less than 2,000
troops.
Next, leveraging that unified military force as backing, he
immediately began to personally persuade the neighboring nobles of the same
camp who possessed domains near the main highways. Throughout these intense
negotiations, he implicitly criticized the First Prince, who ordered
troop dispatches to the south without taking any countermeasures against the
foreign nations invading the northern frontier region.
「 The successor to the imperial
throne who governs the Empire must be a person with the unyielding will to
protect the territory of the Empire and the territory residents who live there;
that is an absolute, indispensable requirement. To prioritize 'politics' when
receiving an active invasion from another country is an absolute, unpardonable
absurdity. 」
His sharp words resonated with immense, profound weight
within the chests of each noble, all of whom harbored deep-seated distrust
after receiving a string of high-handed orders from the messengers dispatched
by the First Prince. Much less, despite these very houses pouring out
monumental wealth that would tilt their families to the brink of ruin
specifically to secure the First Prince's return as a prisoner of war,
the peace of their own territories had been decisively and callously dismissed
as a "trivial matter" by the person himself. Confronted by such
unvarnished betrayal, there was absolutely no one whose noble pride would not
burn with unbridled fury at this.
『 We
stood up today not for political gain, but to repay our monumental debt of
gratitude to the territory of our compatriots suffering from invasion, and to
our supreme ally who catalyzed our post-war economic development—the Westlights
Demon Territory Dukedom.
Facing a catastrophic disaster that might inevitably hammer our own gates
someday, much less now that the very honor and dignity of the Empire are
actively being violated, how can any true man remain unconcerned and treat this
as someone else's war? 』
That specific declaration was the absolute, decisive blow
that shattered their hesitation. Excluding those who possessed sprawling
domains in the former Roland Kingdom—such as Sieghart, the former
Frontier Count Goth, Marquis Bradley,
and Count Mainz—all the nobles who occupied domains in the northern
frontier of the Empire were minor Viscount and Baron houses with zero
institutional influence in the center. Within the grand matrix of 'Imperial
politics', they were, so to speak, disposable pawns with a high possibility of
being systematically discarded the moment a crisis arose, and that is precisely
why they originally sought a mantle of protection and became a pro-faction of
the First Prince.
Yet, over the past few years, what they had been given from
the capital was not patronage, but only a relentless cascade of burdens. And
all the while, they had seen it with their own eyes: the staggering development
and meteoric prosperity of each house of the Third Prince's faction that had
formed friendly commercial relations with the Westlights Demon Territory
Dukedom. They had also witnessed the rapid, miraculous economic development
of Viscount Kamin's own domain, which had been suffering from poverty
despite being in the same First Prince's faction. As a direct result of
this reality, Viscount Kamin ultimately succeeded in consolidating the
total military strength of each neighboring house, bringing a formidable,
unified army of 5,000 troops under his absolute banner.
※
「 Even so, Your Excellency Kamin,
your arrival rushing to our predicament at the absolute apex of the crisis was
nothing short of a miracle. 」
「 No, we also happen to have merchant
caravans participating in the Demon Territory Dukedom's bidding, you
see…… It's just that the exact instant I saw the crimson lanterns soaring in
the sky, I simply spurred my men and rushed over. 」
The Viscount intentionally obfuscated his words, unable to
boldly confess that he, personally, had disguised himself and led those
merchant caravans many times over the years. But precisely because he had
immersed himself in that process, he possessed a flawless understanding of one
of the emergency rescue measures Takuhir had directed for the traveling
merchants.
「 Putting that aside…… where is Lord Durul?
I cannot seem to find his presence upon the battlefield…… 」
「 Yes…… His Excellency continuously
fought with terrifying heroism on the absolute front lines…… he is already…… 」
The general of Viscount Durul's army who answered so
lowered his head, his face twisting into an expression of profound, agonizing
sorrow. His lord, who had fought bravely without even minding having a heavy
arrow pierced dead-center into his chest, had finally breached his physical
limits and run out of strength in the fierce, non-stop battle.
「 I see…… what a profoundly tragic,
pitiful thing…… 」 Viscount Kamin
clouded his expression, closing his eyes in a solemn, silent prayer.
※
At that exact, critical juncture, Viscount Durul in
question was lying flat upon the blood-stained earth with a thoroughly
satisfied, serene expression, quietly preparing to meet his ultimate end. In
addition to the heavy arrow that had violently pierced through to his lung, he
had received multiple secondary arrow wounds and suffered deep lacerations from
swords all over his body, taking catastrophic, fatal wounds that anyone could
see would leave zero human possibility for survival.
『 Hmm……
to burn out the very final drops of my life protecting the lady I love above
all else…… truly, this is exactly what is called the absolute pinnacle of a
man's long-cherished desire.
That a hopeless, hollow man like my former self could live such a
magnificent way of life is all thanks to Rosa-sama's grace…… Unlike
that pathetic disaster during the Teigoon capture battle…… it seems this
time, I will be able to meet a thoroughly satisfied, beautiful end…… 』 Amidst the rapidly fading twilight
of his clouded consciousness, Durul let his peaceful thoughts drift.
『 Wait……
right now, am I…… being held by someone……?
』
Unlike until a moment ago when he was lying on the rigid,
hard earth, he became vividly aware for the first time that his upper body was
completely enveloped in a remarkably soft, profoundly gentle warmth. And as he
slowly cracked open his heavy eyelids, the sight that reflected within his
fading gaze left him utterly paralyzed with astonishment.
「 Y-You…… safely…… es-escaped……? 」
There was the figure of Rosa, cradling his
blood-drenched body tightly with her tear-swollen expression!
「 Viscount Durul, thanks to
you, the children are all safe without lacking a single person! And the lives
of many guards were also saved. You are always…… pushing yourself so far…… 」
During her escape, after
raising the lanterns to broadcast the crisis of her defenders and successfully
delivering the children to the absolute safe zone of Kusanagi, Rosa
had immediately turned right back around, sprinting straight back to
systematically save the wounded with her Holy Magic. And upon receiving
the news that their allied reinforcements had secured an absolute victory, she
had driven her mount at top speed, hurrying ahead to return to the blood-soaked
battlefield. She had returned to fully fulfill the sacred mission originally
given to her: to preserve and save even one more life.
『 Heh…… you truly are always like
that. A beautiful Goddess overflowing with a gentle smile and infinite mercy,
trying desperately hard and pushing yourself to the absolute brink just to save
many lives. It was precisely because
you possess such a radiant soul that I wished to dedicate my entire existence
to protecting you, staking my very life to the absolute end…… 』
Thinking so, Durul steeled his soul to spell out the
words while repeatedly taking short, agonizingly shallow breaths, trying to
deliver the definitive 'final parting words' that were previously obstructed by
her natural cluelessness during their parting at Teigoon. The sacred
romantic words he had kept secretly buried deep within his chest and could not
say all along.
「 To…… protect…… the you…… I love
above all else…… I have lived my entire life…… From the bottom of my heart…… I
love you…… I have…… accomplished my long-cherished desire…… and am profoundly
satisfied…… 」
「 Please let me hear those beautiful
words once more! You absolutely must promise me! 」
Seeing Rosa offering him a radiant smile through her
tears, Durul could only smile wryly in his heart. 『 No……
listen to me, Rosa…… because they are my literal dying final parting
words, there is physically no next time.
You truly have been exactly like that since the very first day our paths
crossed. Always completely ignoring my solemn words, a magnificent
natural airhead in your responses…… Well, I suppose…… that exact innocence is
precisely part of your thorough adorableness, though…… 』
When he was thinking so, a sudden transformation rippled
through his body, and he was instantaneously enveloped in a magnificent, soft
shroud of radiant light. A profound sensation resembling a comfortable,
tranquil peace circulated through his whole body, completely washing away the
agony of his wounds. It felt like a miracle…… far surpassing the baseline Holy
Magic treatment he had received from her previously.
「 It is alright, this time it is
officially my turn to save you! You will definitely be saved—no, I will show
you that I can save you! 」
Saying so with unyielding conviction, Rosa smiled
brilliantly. Over the past two years, her Holy Magic had evolved
remarkably compared to before, and its healing effect had been staggeringly
strengthened into something truly godlike. There were several absolute reasons
for that monumental development.
Having thoroughly immersed herself in studying medicine in
the Royal Capital, she acquired profoundly high knowledge regarding the
structural mechanics of the human body and organic healing. Due to her
remarkably elevated status, she received the absolute institutional patronage
of the Central Church and obtained unrestricted access to the tightly
classified secret codices passed down from ancient times strictly within the Clan
of Holy. Through her intense, unyielding daily training and surviving
several brutal wars, she obtained an incomparable volume of practical
opportunities to exercise Holy Magic, rapidly advancing her absolute
proficiency. So to speak, she, who had perfectly combined theoretical arming,
non-stop practical opportunities, and ancestral secret teachings, had now
become the absolute foremost existence in the Kyle Kingdom, not only in
status but also in raw Holy Magic potency.
「 Ah…… no, wait…… what about me? I-I
am alive……? 」
「 Fufu, you are strictly commanded to
rest for a while, but…… I am immensely looking forward to hearing the
continuation later. I will go heal the others now, but please do not dare
forget the promise from earlier! 」
Leaving behind those teasing parting words to the Viscount,
who was left completely dumbfounded staring blankly because he had thought he
absolutely could not be saved, Rosa began moving gracefully toward her
next battlefield to save even one more life.
Meeting his end while being peacefully cradled within the
arms of the person he loves—the supreme peak of a 'man's long-cherished desire'
that the Viscount had dreamed of for his final hour—was half-heartedly
fulfilled…… and awkwardly interrupted mid-sentence. Left entirely stranded in
the mortal realm by her godlike healing, the Viscount felt a violent crimson
flush instantly consume his entire face, ending up blushing anew with
excruciating embarrassment at the intensely romantic words he himself had
loudly blurted out thinking it was his absolute end.
※
Regarding the circumstances of this battle, Alexis,
who received the tactical report via the fast-riding Messengers of Arrows,
found himself reading the report over and over again inside his command tent.
「 A happy miscalculation combined
with an unhappy, dangerous miscalculation…… The sudden participation of
Viscount Kamin is an extremely happy blessing, but it means the enemy
coalition also possesses a real, legitimate general who thoroughly knows war……
With a commander of that caliber leading a massive military force of as many as
10,000 troops, there is a possibility this northern campaign might not progress
exactly as desired…… 」
And the temporary tactical departure of Viscount Durul from the active front lines due to his severe physical exhaustion was also a monumental blow. Confronted by the simultaneous dropping out of an excellent frontline commander on the allied side and the sudden appearance of a highly competent, excellent commander on the enemy side, he let out a quiet sigh alone, meticulously predicting the immense, grueling difficulties that lay ahead along the Northern Front.
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