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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