Chapter 68

* * *

A few days ago, at Anel Castle.

“Lord. Chel Brance has just arrived at the Royal Palace of Anel Castle.”

Chel, the greatest swordsman guarding the southern front and elder brother of Lin, knelt before Lin who sat upon the throne.

“Good to see you, Big Brother. Is this the first time we’ve seen each other since the attack on Jeilrant Castle?”

“…”

Chel didn’t bother responding to her comment.

Even stationed in the south, he still had ears and eyes. The man at the heart of the Jeilrant operation, the unbelievable events that happened on the northern front, and the rebellion that followed…he’d heard it all through the grapevine. And it all traced back to the battle for Jeilrant Castle where he and Iren Julieat had led the charge.

Yeah…

Iren Julieat’s betrayal.

For Chel Brance, it was a shock like no other.

Back when they were young…

Their father, Lord Olrand Brance, always used to tell his eldest son Chel stories.

“Chel. You’ll grow up to be the one to lead the Brance Clan. And just as I have my loyal knight Kafka, you will have Iren by your side.”

Of course, none of that came true. As Chel grew older, instead of studying politics or diplomacy, he spent his days yearning for battle. Somewhere along the line, Father must’ve removed him from the line of succession.

To Chel, it wasn’t much of an issue. He preferred swinging a sword from horseback over giving orders from a throne anyway. A ruler showing too much presence on the front lines could lead to disaster if they fell in combat. Plus, he figured his weasel-like younger sister would make a better leader in such matters.

The problem was Iren.

Father Olrand held her in extremely high regard. Chel felt the same way. Back in the day, during sparring sessions, she was the only woman who could match his skill with a blade.

Even Chel, who rarely acknowledged others, couldn’t deny Iren’s prowess.

But it wasn’t just her strength Father admired.

It was her unwavering loyalty to the Brance family.

A faithful servant trained and raised by Kafka Julieat herself, living solely for the Brance clan.

That was Iren Julieat.

Chel always believed she was someone who would never betray them, no matter what.

Who would’ve thought?

Iren Julieat of all people?

Why?

Living far from central politics while guarding the front lines, it was difficult for him to even guess what had gone so wrong. His younger brother Kalintz is under house arrest for some major blunder, and now his sister and lord Lin has been betrayed by the devoted Iren…

With no clear understanding of the situation, a three-month ceasefire agreement was suddenly made with two neighboring countries near the southern border, and here he was summoned.

“You’ve probably heard the gist of what’s been going on, Big Brother?”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Good! Excellent!”

Lin smiled brightly.

“Our goal is simple. Erase the Aishias Army from the map forever. And capture Iren Julieat alive.”

“Alive, my lord?”

“Yeah! I want her brought back to me in one piece, still breathing, without being killed on the battlefield.”

“Why, my lord?”

At this point, there was no way Lin would use her again. Shouldn’t she just be executed? She betrayed our army, taking with her over 30,000 troops. It only makes sense to kill her if given the chance.

“I know what you’re thinking. But wouldn’t it be a waste to let her off with just her measly life? Don’t you think we’d be losing out big time?”

“Huh?”

“Despair.”

Lin uttered the word “despair” before letting out a dark chuckle that filled the royal palace.

“What greater despair could there be for that accursed traitor than to experience the ultimate hopelessness…before I finally kill her? And not just any death either. What kind of screams would she let out as I cut off her fingers one by one? Knowing no one can save her, yet still begging for mercy…eventually pleading at my feet for her life…”

“…”

“And then, right in front of her eyes…I’ll take away the man she stole from me, Swoen…♥”

Eek!

For some reason, Chel found himself unable to respond, completely intimidated by the spirit of his own younger sister.

Swoen, huh? That silver-haired guy they recruited during the Jeilrant operation?

The one who used some sort of magic at the northern fortress?

Did he seduce Iren?

As much as he wanted to ask for clarification, he couldn’t bring himself to do so. There was something unsettling and sticky emanating from Lin’s blue eyes.

“Hmm…how will she feel watching me take back the man she tried to steal? What expression will cross her face? Aren’t you curious too, Big Brother? Hehehehehe…♥”

After laughing creepily and wriggling around for a bit, she suddenly reverted back to her cheerful self.

“So Big Brother, I’m giving you 53,000 troops. Please deal with the Aishias Army as soon as possible. Got it?”

“53,000?”

That’s every single soldier from the southern front plus the capital defense forces. Essentially, all available troops excluding those currently engaged in the west and north with the Serpina Army.

If things go well, great. But should this mission fail…

The current balance of power could be severely disrupted.

Still…

“That should be more than enough.”

Reports say there are a bit over 40,000 soldiers at the Aishias fortress, including former Brance troops. About the same number is stationed at Falaharte Castle. Conveniently, those forces seem to be currently engaged in battle against the Alepel Army.

Most importantly, our first target isn’t a castle but a fortress.

With this many troops and sufficient siege weapons, victory seems likely. Especially with Chel himself leading the charge.

The only real concern is Swoen, the traitor. If we can counter his strange abilities, victory is assured.

“As soon as the western front clears up, I’ll send additional reinforcements so you can take Falaharte Castle too. Understand?”

With the western forces, that would bring the total to over 90,000 troops.

That should be plenty to defeat the Aishias Army.

“Understood! I shall carry out your orders!”

With that, Chel resolved himself. Why worry about the details of the situation?

If war is called for, he’ll march. If his sword must be stained with blood, so be it.

That’s how Knight Hutton Chel survives in these chaotic times.

* * *

Arriving quickly at the royal palace, Yuri greeted us with a serious expression from the throne.

“Iren Julieat reporting as ordered.”

“Ah, Iren. You’re here. And Swoen too.”

She gave a brief nod to us kneeling before her before getting straight to business.

“You’ve heard the news, right? Looks like the Brance forces are on the move.”

“…Forgive me.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Yuri shook her head. “No blame or responsibility falls on you. My decision to accept you was my own choice. Let’s focus on dealing with the situation at hand.”

“Do you intend to resist?”

Standing nearby, Jinoru asked seriously.

“It seems Epinal intends to hold out.”

“But…if we choose resistance and lose troops unnecessarily, it could cause great harm. We should abandon the fortress and gather our forces at Falaharte Castle for a proper siege-”

“Jinoru, please forgive me, but I’d appreciate it if you could head to Epinal’s location first. If you wish to persuade her, it would be better to try directly rather than through me.”

“…”

Jinoru couldn’t respond to Yuri’s request.

‘Ah, I see.’

Now the problem with the Aishias Army becomes clear.

Epinal, Emma, and Erhandorf – the “Three Divas of Aishias” among other founding heroes.

In this nation, the influence of these founding heroes is overwhelming.

While Lin and Serpina rule as absolute monarchs above their subjects, Yuri and Lunarien are more like leaders of a horizontal collective.

Regardless of which style is better, that’s the distinction.

While Lunarien may be weak-natured but knows how to assert herself, Yuri feels more like someone being swayed by the founding heroes. This assessment feels quite fitting.

Thinking about it now, it makes sense why the previous meeting turned out the way it did. Emma was one of the founding heroes, so newcomer Jinoru naturally couldn’t compete.

I’ve experienced this kind of group dynamic before, long before being reincarnated into this world.

The military.

A mysterious organization where everything revolves around seniority.

In the Aishias Army, the most valued thing isn’t individual ability, but how long one has served and contributed – essentially, seniority.

A leader who cares for their comrades and treats everyone like family…

Ironically, behind that admirable leadership lies a fundamental weakness in being unable to fully dominate their followers. After all, one can’t very well step on those they care about to rise to power, right?

Though this is an excellent quality for a bandit leader, she’s the ruler of a nation. While ruling like a tyrant isn’t good, constantly being swayed like Yuri is also far from ideal.

From the start, Jinoru shouldn’t need to persuade Epinal. As the sovereign, Yuri simply ordering her to return should be enough. Yet she doesn’t do that, instead asking a subordinate to “persuade” another subordinate.

The ruler herself!

‘Is this why Yuri can’t achieve unification?’

Just as I was thinking this…

Yuri stood up as if making a decision.

“Iren, I’ll give you an additional 3,000 troops. Please take the vanguard position and join Epinal at the fortress. I’d give more, but the forces have already departed. Once you arrive, please consider Epinal’s orders as coming directly from me.”

“Understood!”

“Jinoru, please join Iren’s forces and head to the fortress. Understood?”

“…Understood.”

“And Swoen…”

Finally, Yuri addressed me.

“Swoen, I have great expectations for you. If you can contribute, I’d appreciate your assistance. You’ll get the full story from Epinal. Understand?”

Great expectations, huh?

Seems they’re hoping for another miracle like what happened at the northern fortress…

Unfortunately, I don’t possess any such miraculous abilities. Still, if things play out as predicted like last time…there must be a way.

“Understood.”

And so, with myself, Jinoru, a few unnamed commanders of the Aishias Army…

Iren set off with her 3,000 troops toward the fortress west of Falaharte Castle, once part of the Brance Army.