Chapter 414
(Kyle Calendar Year 515: Age 22)
Unending War
Translator : PolterGlast
The man Alexis invited into the conference room was
someone I also knew well. Handler, who leads a trading company that
conducts trade with the Istoria Orthodox Theocracy; he responded to an
auction on the umpteenth try with 『beneficial information』 as added value, and since then, alongside his trade, he was
tasked with gathering intelligence on the enemy. The moment he was invited into
the conference room, Handler froze in sheer surprise at the prominent
figures lined up...
「Handler, it's been a while. Social formalities and greetings are
unnecessary. Regarding the movements of the Istoria Orthodox Theocracy,
I want you to speak without reserve about the matters you should report.」
The fact that Alexis invited him into this place
rather than speaking privately meant he judged it a matter that everyone needed
to share urgently. Therefore, I went along with it and prompted him.
「In accordance with Archduke-heika's words, I will omit greetings.
The twenty thousand Istoria Orthodox Theocracy Army troops that returned
their forces in the previous battle did not return to Tria, but
proceeded to launch a surprise attack on the Royal Capital of the Vile
Kingdom.」
「What!」 「An allied nation... de aruka.」 「Those bastards, perhaps that was their original objective.」
Marquis Solis and Marquis Gorman looked
surprised, while the Commander, though surprised, calmly tried to grasp
the situation. Alexis listened silently.
「So, what is the subsequent war
situation?」
「To begin with, the Vile Kingdom
had dispatched what could be called almost their entire army. Moreover, as you
said, the Istoria Orthodox Theocracy was an ally in this dispatch;
therefore, they advanced without being questioned until they were near the
Royal Capital, and suddenly launched a surprise attack, it seems. The Vile
Kingdom side could not even put up a proper fight, and the Royal Capital
fell in less than a day. I am told all the royalty remaining in the Royal
Capital were captured and executed immediately...」
「Is that all? If it was an action
planned in advance, there should be more to it?」
「Exactly as Archduke-heika says. It appears they turned their
army as it was, launched a surprise attack on the Royal Capital of the Lute
Kingdom, and caused it to fall as well. After all, the three countries were
originally one country and maintained allied relations, so there were no
defensive facilities whatsoever on the borders.」
「I suppose so. If the Vile Kingdom
fell in a single day, the Lute Kingdom wouldn't have had time to prepare
either.」
「Yes, in addition, the Lute
Kingdom, which had committed its main force to the battle, had deployed
soldiers along the border with the Istoria Orthodox Theocracy, leaving
the border with the Vile Kingdom and the Royal Capital completely
defenseless, so they had no means to resist...」
They really did it. Making the main forces of each country
fight us to whittle them down, and then attacking the emptied home countries,
huh... It's so vile it makes me sick.
「Currently, reinforcements have
advanced from Tria to suppress the two countries, while simultaneously
imposing oppressive rule on the populace and forcing religious conversion. At
the time I returned here, the invading army of twenty thousand had advanced
their troops toward the last remaining country, the Cain Kingdom.」
「As expected, the Cain Kingdom
must have learned of the situations in the other two countries, hurriedly
rallied soldiers, and deployed defensive battles. However, they were the
country most complacent in their stable situation among the three to begin
with, and inferior in military force. I doubt they will last long...」
At this point, Alexis opened his mouth for the first
time. And he continued his words further.
「The matter is a problem in another
country. Originally, this would become a highly political issue, and a matter
we cannot intervene in on our own discretion...」
Just as he said, this is originally nothing more than a case
of reaping what they sowed. As a result of invading another country and being
defeated, they are in no position to complain even if their national territory
is plundered by another country. Even if it takes a morally unforgivable form.
「That is right. Whether we act or not
aside, we have not received requests for relief from any of those countries,
and they are countries we have no diplomatic relations with to begin with. Even
more so when it's a story about belligerents we were fighting against until
just the other day, it will likely be a difficult matter.」
These words of the Commander are reasonable.
Emotionally, it's an unpleasant story, but originally it is not a matter we
should act on. While I was thinking so, Handler's report continued.
「Regarding this matter, I have been
entrusted with a letter addressed to Archduke-heika from Reim-dono. Please, I would like you to read this.」
Hearing the name Reim, Raphael stood up and
received the letter from Handler. Then, he seemed to be carefully checking
the envelope in which a document was wrapped.
「There is no mistake. I believe the
contents of this are unmistakably Reim's letter. Please read it.」
Reim is a
member of the intelligence unit led by Raphael, so he must have left
some sort of mark on the envelope. Thinking so, I checked the contents.
「!!!」
I couldn't endure it as I read on.
「Damn it! Just how many people do
those bastards have to kill to be satisfied!」
「Takuhir-sama?」
I, who had unconsciously spat out words in a fit of rage,
managed to control myself at Yuka's words.
「Ah... I'm sorry. Handler,
thank you for the valuable report. If there are no other reports, I want to
give you a reward, so could you wait in a separate room?」
I somehow suppressed my anger and had him leave the room first.
Because from here on, it will be an important discussion related to the
policies of the Demon Territory Dukedom. After he left his seat, I
looked around at everyone once more and continued my words.
「I want to share this anew with
everyone. The ones leading the Istoria Orthodox Theocracy Army this time
were two Cardinals, Lugner and Azel.」
「「「What did you say!」」」
Just those names are enough for us. Lugner is the
eldest son of former Viscount Hiyorimi, the man who assaulted Teigoon
and incited the rebel army in the Principality of Fearalt. Azel
is a man who was a close aide to Cardinal Castro at the time in the Istoria Imperial
Kingdom, and in the previous conflict, a
man who became part of the staff of the Margrave of the West and maneuvered in
secret. Both names were mentioned in the letter of accusation left behind by
Viscount Kirias, and when the Clan of Darkness was destroyed,
they evaded the pursuit and fled to who knows where. Such men are currently the
most important state criminals wanted by the Kyle Kingdom and the Westlights
Demon Territory Dukedom.
「It seems various things have
connected. Reim's report states that the 『Apostles of Darkness』 were involved with the populace they incited. The rapid
rise of the Istoria Orthodox Theocracy, and the participation in the war
by the three countries that should originally have been unrelated—if the 『Apostles of Darkness』 were entangled in all of these,
everything can be explained.」
「If so, we cannot simply feign no
involvement either.」
From the Commander who said so quietly, a brimming,
overflowing thirst for blood could also be felt.
「The Commander is right. Even
though we finally won the battle and the time for peace has arrived, I am sorry
to everyone. I have no territorial ambitions, nor do I have any intention to
exact revenge on the three countries that invaded, even if I feel anger towards
them. But...」
Here I looked at the faces of everyone. Reaching this point,
the pain of having to make a choice that might steal the lives of my comrades
once again tightened my heart.
「Please, exactly as Takuhir-sama
desires! This is also our wish.」
「「「「「We also, by all means!」」」」」
At the Commander's words, everyone followed suit. I
stood up and bowed deeply to everyone.
「Everyone, thank you. At the very
least, I want to save the people living in the three countries from unjust
invaders. I don't care if I am criticized as a hypocrite for it.」
「Takuhir-sama's will is our will. However, the problem lies in the
political aspect spanning multiple countries...」
「Raymond's point is correct. One thing I can say is, we have two
banners. As one of them, when leaving Big Bridge, I was entrusted with a
『Writ of
Subjugation Authorization』 from the Third Prince.」
『Against foreign enemies who have
invaded Imperial Territory, I entrust you with pursuit in order to hold
them accountable in place of the Imperial Army. This includes opening battles anywhere within the Empire, and if necessary,
crossing national borders on the responsibility of the Empire to
subjugate enemy nations at your own discretion.』
Such matters were written in the entrusted document. These
were entrusted assuming a case where the northern front had not yet concluded,
but this current matter should somehow fall within the acceptable scope of the
authorized contents.
「I intend to obtain the other banner
from here on, but for the time being, I want to confirm something with everyone
before that. The prisoners everyone acquired after so much effort through
victory—depending on the situation, I think we will end up releasing them.
Would you agree to that?」
「Release them all, you say?」
「Marquis Solis, that is
incorrect. We will temporarily release those who wish to on the condition that
they serve in the military, and depending on their military exploits, release
them for good—we will adopt a form like that. Of course, I think this will be a
story based on several conditions beforehand. What are the opinions of the
generals who undertook the defense?」
「I see, if that is the case, I have
no objections either.」
「From the start I have no objections.
The path the Archduke proceeds on is the path I proceed on de aru.」
「The Apostles of Darkness are
the enemies of the late Margrave; there is no way we would have any objections.」
「As the Royal Capital Knights,
while we cannot offer assistance, we have no objections to your country's
policy.」
「Then after this, we will enter the
audience with the surrendered generals and prisoners, confirm the preceding
conditions, and if possible, I would like to obtain the other banner. We will
temporarily disband leaving a portion of people, but please do not neglect
preparations for troop dispatch!」
「「「「「Yes!」」」」」
After this, having confirmed the information on the enemy generals from Alexis, we moved our seats to the audience venue. As I heard the stories, my interest grew towards the two individuals I was about to meet.
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