Chapter 201

[ A soldier, huh? So, what you want is to serve the Empire as a knight, right? Since you couldn’t become one before? ]

“No. That’s not it… I just wanted to live in a peaceful world. I hated this kind of world where countless people die meaninglessly. If the reason they die is because they’re weak, then if I fight the enemies in their place and protect them… maybe something will change.”

Hersela remained silent for a while.

As if she had heard something unexpected, she quietly pondered something.

Then, as if to deny my words, she scoffed.

[ …Ridiculous. Do you think the world will become peaceful if you eliminate all enemies? From then on, the ones you protected will start fighting among themselves. Desire and conflict are the essence of the living. …Seeing you dream such futile dreams, you’re not fit to be a soldier—you’d be better off as a priest. The gods of the west seemed quite interested in you, after all. ]

Hersela’s mockery was somewhat reasonable.

Even if all enemies were eliminated, peace wouldn’t come.

Rather, her prediction was that those I saved would end up fighting each other.

It wasn’t an impossible scenario.

But—

“If that happens, then it just means I didn’t eliminate all the enemies. If they start infighting over mere desires, then they too should be considered enemies threatening people.”

Yes. If that happens, I’ll just eliminate them all too.

If they realize that starting conflicts out of greed will lead to their annihilation, they’ll finally stop fighting.

[ Hmm… The mindset of the Empire’s people is truly bizarre. ]

Hersela, uncharacteristically, trailed off.

Well, it must be different from Ka`har’s ideology.

My argument was something I learned from my original world… but the Empire’s ideology I’ve seen so far wasn’t much different.

Securing overwhelming force to end conflicts and maintain the world’s order.

The power to make anyone too afraid to even think of causing trouble. That was the only way to achieve peace.

“And it’s impossible for me to become a priest. I can’t serve the gods like they do. It’s just not in my nature.”

[ Relying endlessly on divine blessings, yet unable to follow the gods—typical of a thief, shameless as ever. ]

“…”

I had no real response.

—

The conversation with Hersela was dragging on longer than expected.

It wasn’t exactly a friendly chat, though.

Considering the time when I ignored her, and how she once cursed to tear me to pieces, this was surprisingly remarkable.

She was unexpectedly talkative… maybe she secretly missed human interaction.

Well, after half a year of talking to myself, anyone would end up like that.

[ —Even so, to desire ‘the Empire’s peace.’ How amusing. Whether that can truly be called peace aside, the one who destroyed the peace that had been maintained was none other than you. ]

“Well, if I had been a bit more proactive, maybe the civil war wouldn’t have happened…”

[ No. That’s not what I mean. That’s your master’s problem—the slow-as-a-turtle prince. What I’m talking about is the issue before that. Why do you think I despise you? ]

The reason she despises me…?

Isn’t it obvious?

“Because you forcibly took over my body and hurt me?”

[ Wrong. That’s just the reason I hate you, not why I despise you. I despise you because you fled to the Empire without a second thought. And in the worst possible way. ]

The worst way?

Does she mean how I used a false peace treaty to secretly defect?

It’s causing me a headache now, but at the time, I thought it was a good idea.

[ You still don’t get it. You abandoned all those who followed you for the sake of returning to your homeland, and you released Or-han into the Great Plains. Without even understanding what that meant. ]

Her tone was mocking, but strangely, there was a mix of anger and impatience in her voice.

Considering how she used to cut off her subordinates’ heads with every word, she didn’t seem like someone who cared much for her underlings.

So, if Hersela was feeling impatient, was it because of Or-han?

Well, he was someone Valenstein couldn’t kill, so he must be strong…

[ The Empire knows nothing about the Great Plains. You were no different. How vast the plains are. How many warriors exist there. When Or-han, who conquered and absorbed all of them, returns with an army several times larger, do you think the Empire will be safe? Don’t be absurd. ]

I could understand her concern.

After all, that’s exactly what Hersela did as a boss character.

A unified Ka`har definitely had the potential to crush the Empire.

…If they could unify, that is.

From what I remember, it took Hersela about five years. Or-han was aiming for three.

Either way, it’s impossible now.

That’s why both Ludwig and I planned to strike before Or-han could unify the Great Plains, once we dealt with the Empire’s chaos.

Though the civil war Isabella caused made things more chaotic than expected… but maybe because of that, something went wrong with Ka`har too.

“For someone who’s supposed to be conquering the Great Plains, he came back surprisingly fast. He hasn’t even taken half of it yet.”

[ Fool. Do you plan to use the enemy’s stupidity as an excuse for your own mistakes? ]

Hersela shot back with a sharp rebuke.

As she began to tell me what I wanted to hear.

“Stupidity? So, the army attacking the Empire now isn’t acting on Or-han’s orders?”

[ Of course not. I heard it’s only five thousand. What’s the point of attacking the barrier with such numbers? It’s probably something Amin did without thinking, gathering all the remaining defensive forces from Ordos. ]

“Amin?”

The name sounded familiar…

If he can move the army to this extent, he must hold a fairly high position in Ka`har.

[He is Or-han’s third son. The third bastard sired by a tiger. That guy and I have deep-seated resentment, so if someone provoked him, he might do something foolish like this just to make things difficult for me.]

“If it’s a solo act driven by resentment… then if we defeat those fifty thousand, will Ka`har’s invasion end? If that’s the case, it shouldn’t take too long.”

[That can’t be. The false agreement has been broken, and we were the ones who launched the preemptive attack. If we suffer a humiliating defeat and lose fifty thousand, there’s no way to stop. To restore the fallen authority, Or-han will have no choice but to bring the army back. That’s when the real invasion will begin.]

Alright.

Well, not exactly a good thing.

Anyway, thanks to Hersela answering more readily than expected, one of the purposes of talking to her has been smoothly achieved.

The purpose of the barrier invasion. The truth behind the number fifty thousand.

I’ve essentially gotten a local to confirm what will happen next.

Since it’s Hersela herself who said it, it’s trustworthy.

—

“Hmm… So, I’ll have to stay stuck in the east for a while? Without Landerburg’s support, I’m honestly a bit worried if Prince Leopold can suppress the civil war.”

[It’s obvious he’ll lose. It’s better to stay in the east and plan for a comeback.]

Hersela casually mentioned Leopold’s defeat.

As if stating the obvious, like saying night follows day.

“Obvious defeat? It’s not that bad, is it? Sure, without the eastern army’s support, capturing the Benes territory will be tough, but that doesn’t necessarily mean defeat. The strategy itself is decent.”

[You call a plan that could easily lead to being surrounded and annihilated ‘decent’? If the northern army is even slightly held back, it’ll fall apart… Wait a minute. Did you come to talk to me with this in mind from the start?]

Ah, caught.

But the goal’s been achieved.

I’ve got a clue about what Isabella might be up to, something I hadn’t even thought of.

[Hah! You’re really cunning. Are you sure you’re a soldier and not a sorcerer or a conman?]

“Everything I’ve said is true. I swear by Elpinel.”

I didn’t lie.

I just didn’t mention things that didn’t need to be said, and subtly steered the conversation where I wanted it to go.

[…How dare you try to use me like your strategist? Your arrogance knows no bounds. Know that there’s a limit to my patience with your insolence.]

“Using you? That’s harsh. I’m actually trying to save you.”

This was also the truth.

How she takes it is up to her, though.

[What did you just say?]

Hersela’s voice was filled with rage.

Compared to what I’m about to say, this is nothing.

“No, calm down and think about it. If Leopold loses and I’m captured… what do you think will happen to me? I think I know.”

I deliberately tapped my chest. The uninjured side, of course.

She’ll understand what I mean.

[You insolent wench…!]

“If I’m lucky and get beheaded, even if you return to this body, you’ll just twitch and collapse. If I don’t die… I’ll be grateful just to be treated as a plaything for the nobles. But I don’t think it’ll stop there.”

Yeah, it won’t end there.

Ignoring Hersela’s anger, I laid out the bad ending she’d face.

“If I were Isabella, I’d cut off your limbs, strip you naked, tie you to a rack, and display you in the middle of the square. So everyone passing by could use you. Maybe a dog, horse, or pig would be your first guest.”

It actually happened.

One of Hersela’s possible endings was the so-called ‘Superhuman White Horse’ ending.

“By then, your disgrace might spread beyond the Great Plains. Not rumors of a princess on a white horse, but of a stallion on a princess. It might even be recorded in history books and passed down to future generations. That’s the kind of shameful ending you’d want, right?”

[How dare you threaten me like this?]

A roar like a beast’s. But there was definitely humiliation and a hint of unease mixed in.

Yeah, she can endure death, but not disgrace. That’s a warrior, that’s a woman.

[Listen here, your arrogance knows no bounds. The one who’ll suffer that disgrace is you, not me. Who do you think you’re bluffing in front of…!]

“It’s my mind that’ll suffer, but it’s your body that’ll take the hits. It’s your name that’ll be recorded as a legendary prostitute. And hey… if I can’t endure it and pass out, you might wake up like last time, right? Then such distinctions won’t matter.”

[Grr…!]

“So, how about it? Can you accept it now? If you don’t want to live as a female, you’ll have to cooperate with me.”

Hersela gritted her teeth and fell silent.

She had essentially conceded.