Chapter 446
(Kyle Calendar Year 516:
Age 23)
Those Without a Future
While
Takuhir and his companions welcomed the new year in Kusanagi and
celebrated the future, there was someone in Isra of the Istoria
Orthodox Theocracy who cursed his own futureless self. His name was Glorious
fa Griffonia, a man who had once been within reach of the supreme
position in the Empire.
「In the end... what he said was a
mere pipe dream, it's the same as before! At this rate, am I not just a clown
who had everything stolen from him by that man (Grat)! And it's all
because of those brats...」
Saying
so while continuing to down cups of sake alone, the First Prince (Glorious)
recalled the circumstances leading up to this point.
※
When
he was rescued from a desperate predicament as a captive and managed to safely
escape the Imperial Capital Griffin, he had rejoiced and sworn a
comeback. At that time, there were still many within the Empire who
pledged loyalty to him. But... The environment surrounding him changed rapidly,
and the men he called 『brats』
exerted no small influence on that.
It
all started with the decree issued by the Third Prince, who entered the Imperial
Capital having achieved enormous military results. As a result, the nobles
who were the First Prince's pro-faction were singled out one after
another as having participated in the rebellion, and were about to be judged in
what could truly be called a clean sweep. Here at first, those who revered Glorious
were cornered and fell into a predicament, but the tide changed at once.
Because two major incidents broke out in the Imperial Capital: the
incomprehensible sudden death of the Emperor, and the escape of Glorious,
who had been deemed a great sinner, under the cover of that confusion. Hearing
this news and realizing they couldn't escape punishment as things stood, the
nobles of the First Prince's faction suddenly gained momentum. Moreover,
whispers began to spread plausibly that the Third Prince, who was
condemning them, was suspected of the Emperor's assassination.
「Now is the time to strike down the Third
Prince, the assassin, and restore the proper flow to the Empire!」
The
voices and momentum of the First Prince's faction grew louder by the
day, and the momentum for rebellion was rising. In the territory of a certain
noble where he was being sheltered, Glorious greatly rejoiced while
sharpening his fangs of revenge, waiting for the momentum for a
counteroffensive to be ready. Just when it seemed to develop into a civil war
dividing the Empire in two, the situation changed again. In a way he
hadn't anticipated at all... Because the Third Prince, who was at a loss
for how to respond, summoned the brat (Sieghart) from the front lines.
Sieghart himself had begun to exercise his
influence to the maximum even before being summoned to the Imperial Capital.
Even on his way moving to the Imperial Capital, he sometimes threatened
those resisting with military force, sometimes incited merchants to hold back
shipments thereby obstructing distribution, and sometimes released baseless
rumors to isolate the territories of those siding with the First Prince.
Of course, alongside that, he didn't forget to scatter sweet bait.
In
the end, when pardons were granted as a 『special measure』
to several core noble houses that hadn't participated in combat, those who
changed their minds appeared like an avalanche, and the alliance of those
supporting him collapsed fragilely. Therefore, the nobles whose territories
were confirmed to be abolished due to the crime of secretly cooperating with
the rebellion were also pardoned their main territories, merely being dismissed
from public office. Among those with lighter crimes—those who belonged to the First
Prince's faction and were accused of the crime of 『implication』—there were even those who remained in their current
positions without any reprimand. While they would later voice objections to the
『special consideration』 for the Demon Territory Dukedom
when the Third Prince became Emperor... that's another story. Through Sieghart's
handling, the nobles of the First Prince's faction had no choice but to
acknowledge the Third Prince's succession to the throne in exchange for
having their territories and family lineages secured. As a result, the second
act of the rebellion scheduled to break out within the Empire was
prevented before it could happen.
※
Despairing
at the sudden change in the situation, the First Prince had no choice
but to follow the second plan presented by the man who rescued him. Relying on
the story that those he once formed an alliance with through Harry—Lugner
and Azel—were advancing their control, taking advantage of the opening
left by the three countries that lost soldiers in the failed invasion...
At
that time, the First Prince brought along the dependents of nobles who
couldn't escape punishment as relatives because their main houses had
participated in the rebellion. He skillfully blended into the flow of merchant
caravans making large-scale movements within the Empire, and secretly
moved northeast through Empire territory. Actually, the movements
of these merchants were a special demand issued by Raymond to prepare
logistics for the expeditionary force, but ironically, the First Prince
rode that flow and was able to reach the northeast frontier from Imperial
Griffin. After such hardships, he finally reached the territory of Count Jark,
who revered him, but... here too the situation had changed suddenly.
「W-What did you say! The brat's (Takuhir's)
army invaded the three countries?」
「Yes, I myself also visited their
camp to protest, but perhaps growing arrogant, they lent no ear. Moreover, they
were a military force exceeding forty thousand, so we couldn't do anything...
We have confirmed up to the point that they subsequently invaded the Lute
Kingdom. It is a frustrating story, but the probability is high that the
fanatics of Istoria will likely become rats in a bag...」
In
reality, the army Takuhir was leading was less than thirty thousand, but
the words of Count Jark, terrified by the fear of a large army, were
greatly exaggerated.
「Tch, the ones who got carried away
cowardly intend to snatch the three countries that have become empty houses...」
When
he answered so, an abominable memory revived for the First Prince. Even
with just ten thousand, the brat's (Takuhir's) army was terrifyingly
tough. It is no exaggeration to say that through his sole participation, an
allied army of one hundred and twenty thousand was toyed with, and ultimately
made to collapse miserably. It is a story hard to believe immediately, but if
forty thousand of such elites gathered, the hastily made Istoria Orthodox
Theocracy army would be no match.
「Fofofofo, if so, shouldn't Denka
obtain the other remaining empty house? Due to repeatedly forcing military
deployments, the homeland of the Istoria Orthodox Theocracy must be the
same as an empty house. You just need to lead troops and snatch it saying you 『came to assist.』」
The
eerie man casually offered advice, but Glorious couldn't trust this man.
It is true he owes him a debt of gratitude for saving him. However, although
his age and appearance were vastly different, his tone and attitude were very
similar to the eerie old man who had once offered various strategies. Moreover,
he completely distrusted 『them』
due to 『another』
reason. Hiding the thoughts he kept secret in his heart, the current situation
was that he unavoidably traveled together with them for now.
「Even if we snatch it, the soldiers
gathered from the Empire number one thousand, and those following as
dependents who cannot fight number three hundred... I think this is not enough
soldiers even to snatch it?」
「Let us move together with Denka!
At this rate, we too will have our territories abolished by that arrogant man (Grat).
Rather than choosing the path of disgrace by bowing down, we wish to advance on
the path of glory with Denka together with our subordinate three
thousand soldiers!」
Through
the advice of Count Jark and those of the Glorious pro-faction, Glorious's
policy was decided. From the Imperial Capital Griffin to within Empire territory, from within Empire territory to the northeast frontier
of the Empire, and now, they began moving towards Tria.
※
Originally,
Count Jark's territory bordered four countries and was considered a
strategic point even within the Empire. Therefore, although not quite
Margrave class, he normally stationed a military force of five thousand... but
the number following the Count at this point had greatly decreased to three
thousand. The rest of the soldiers were those who, in the stages leading up to
this point, either gave up on the Count who let the invaders pass right
through, or refused to leave the Empire and transfer to a new land.
Therefore, the First Prince led a total of four thousand five hundred
people (of which five hundred were non-combatants) combined with his own army,
and guided by Count Jark who was familiar with the surrounding
geography, advanced aiming for the national border with the Cain Kingdom.
「Count, I think it's unnecessary to
point out, but why are we advancing east? I think Tria, which we are
aiming for, is due north from here?」
「Yes, on the highway leading directly
to Tria, there is an enemy supply base and an enemy army of three
thousand is stationed. Therefore, we will temporarily cross the national border
on the Cain Kingdom side which has become an uninhabited land, advance
east avoiding the enemy patrol network, and then head south. We will pass
straight through Vile Kingdom territory, detour around the Royal Capital
of the Lute Kingdom, and enter Tria.」
In
truth, at this time, the expeditionary force led by Takuhir was in the
midst of recapturing the Royal Capital of the Cain Kingdom, and King Crajyu
of the Lute Kingdom was in the midst of rallying domestic military
strength and attacking the rear of the enemy army that had invaded from the
central part. Therefore, they advanced as if conquering an uninhabited field
without being hindered or discovered, and immediately after Castro and
his forces fled, they were able to enter Tria, which was in the midst of
great confusion.
「Tch, is Tria no longer safe
either? The brat's (Takuhir's) army is shrewd too. Isn't he the true
invader who took advantage of the confusion!」
Obtaining
the information, Glorious became infuriated again, but he wouldn't sit
and be trapped in an encircling net. Chasing after Castro who had
advanced ahead, they aimed for Isra while the 『Apostles
of Darkness』 advanced as heralds. And what they
saw when they arrived at Isra was... The fallen figure of the Istoria
Orthodox Theocracy, which had once placed two-thirds of the Istoria
Imperial Kingdom and vast territories including the Lute-Vile-Cain
Kingdom under its control. Because what Castro was leading was the
disastrous condition of a mere two thousand regular soldiers and two thousand
hastily convened militia.
「What can you do with only eight
thousand combined! Isn't the Istoria Orthodox Theocracy just a mud boat
bound to sink at this rate!」
Glorious unintentionally shouted at the
disappointing situation, but truthfully, he knew he himself was the biggest mud
boat. Unavoidably forming a cooperative relationship with Castro, who
had fallen into a predicament, for the time being they prepared for the Lute
Kingdom army encroaching from the south while launching offensives to
gradually encroach on the north side. And for several months, the four southern
counties were requisitioned by the Lute Kingdom, but because they laid
down a solid defensive line and there was no further invasion, Glorious
reorganized the army that didn't even have decent commanders, managed the small
military force, and captured a part of the three northern counties—one county
southeast of Isra—but their movement completely stopped there. Because
the Istoria Imperial Kingdom army had concentrated its entire force in
the northernmost county adjacent to the Uros Kingdom out of the three
northern counties and was fiercely resisting with an army of five thousand, and
in the one western county, Margrave Hamish of the Kyle Kingdom,
who had been ceded a part as new territory, deployed five thousand soldiers and
watched the situation preparing for invaders.
「There is no need to rush. Now the Istoria
Imperial Kingdom is a bird fallen to the ground, holding more soldiers than
can be supported by just the northernmost county without even decent cultivated
land; they will eventually run out of food before the next harvest season and
destroy themselves. After suppressing that, it will be fine to encroach on the
one western county to the extent of not invading Kingdom territory. For now,
you just have to sit and wait for the enemy to starve.」
The
eerie man declared so as if seeing the future. However, Glorious himself
felt that was the correct judgment. Therefore, he too had no choice but to wait
for the time.
※
But...
he was becoming unable to endure simply sitting and waiting for the time. It
was fine when he was moving busily with something, but when stagnating, he was
made to realize his fallen self all over again. Around this time, voices of
soldiers driven by nostalgia for their homeland had also begun to rise.
「To think that I, who once led thirty
thousand imperial guards and took supreme command of an army of one hundred and
twenty thousand, would become unable to move facing a mere five thousand enemy
soldiers. If only Harry had survived at least... if only those brats
weren't there...」
His
heart was trapped by various emotions—remorse, self-reproach, hatred—and he
couldn't help but feel his own heart rotting day by day. Even so, keeping 『a certain thought』 he swore in his heart hidden,
outwardly he began to lead a self-indulgent life tired of fighting as before.
The
man and woman who saw Glorious's state were laughing in low voices in a
dim underground room.
「It's about time. The man who didn't
fall because his pride was too high, despairing at his own powerlessness,
anger, disgrace, and humiliation, his heart is becoming dyed and filled with
darkness.」
「Yes... in the near future, my unworthy
son...」
「Will become a good vessel, and the
soil from which the 『Prince of Darkness』 who will guide us is born.」
「With this, the five-hundred-year
cherished wish of ours too...」
「That's right. It was quite a detour,
though. The old karma ends, and a new system where our Clan of Darkness and the
entire nation unite as one will be prepared.」
And... the situation rapidly progressed to a new form. Who this is unfortunate for, and who it brings the desired future to, no one knows at this point in time.
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