Chapter 280

Half-raising my slumped body, I took the letter Leonor was holding.

Yep, it was definitely a damage bill.

On the pristine white paper, written in an elegant, old-fashioned script, was the hefty compensation amount I was supposed to pay.

The cost of rebuilding the collapsed waterway. The labor fees for the priests mobilized for the purification work. Even the damages suffered by the capital’s citizens due to the three-day water outage.

…How many zeros are there, seriously?

It was close to two hundred times the amount I’d ever earned in my life.

“…Why are they billing me for this?”

Shouldn’t the Empire handle this kind of thing?

What lunatic sent me this bill? I kinda want to see their face.

“Well, since you’re the one who planned the operation and sent Isabella down the waterway, Ha-shalleur?”

“…Tell Leopold to handle it.”

He’ll figure it out.

Let’s see if the brave soul who sent me this bill dares to send one to the future emperor too.

Leonor chuckled as if she’d expected that response.

“Anyway, they probably don’t expect to get money from you. If they were serious, they wouldn’t have just sent a single piece of paper. They’ll likely seize Isabella’s personal assets to cover it. Thanks to me throwing away the royal family’s rights and the Castle of Benes, all that wealth is floating around without an heir.”

…Is that how it works?

Well, thinking about it, Isabella did leave behind a lot of money.

Just look at the golden statues scattered around her palace. She lived quite lavishly.

“Then why even send this bill?”

“On paper, it’ll look like you paid the compensation. In reality, you won’t pay a single gold coin, but to the citizens, you’ll be the generous hero who paid a massive compensation.”

Leonor shrugged and explained the real deal behind the bill.

So, it’s not a threat to pay up, but rather a gift to gild my reputation with someone else’s money…?

A roundabout favor. Very noble-like, I guess… But they could’ve given me a heads-up. I almost misunderstood.

Did they think Leonor would explain it to me?

[I don’t get it. Since you defeated that witch, shouldn’t everything she owned rightfully be yours?]

Hersela, who’d been listening, voiced her confusion.

…That’s bandit logic. Well, coming from a princess of a pillaging civilization, I guess it’s not much different…?

The principles of a civilized nation with laws and order are a bit different.

Sure, there’ll be a hefty reward for defeating the witch… but the witch’s assets, now without an heir, will first go to the royal family.

After that, they’ll distribute them as rewards based on merit.

“It’s a good thing. This will only boost my lady’s reputation further.”

Leonor grinned.

======[Five days ago, Benes Territory]======

Right after Ha-shalleur and her group left for the capital to stop Isabella, the rest of us marched toward the Benes Territory as planned.

It was the obvious move.

We couldn’t be sure if Isabella had really gone to the capital, and even if we defeated her there, the monsters infesting Benes wouldn’t just disappear on their own.

Thanks to one person’s heroic efforts on the Zeren Plains, we managed to preserve a lot of our forces.

The army’s morale was sky-high.

At least, until we reached the outskirts of Benes.

“This… is literally the heart of hell.”

Marquis Ludwig muttered softly, exhaling smoke.

No one responded, but everyone felt the same.

We’d heard reports from messengers, but the actual sight of Benes far exceeded our vague expectations.

An uncountable number of bugs covered the entire city, squirming.

It was as if every bug in the world had been gathered here.

The whole world seemed to writhe like a river—brown, yellow, and green mixed into a black wave.

It was a sight that made you realize how disgust could turn into terror.

“The soldiers’ losses… might be worse than expected.”

Duke Bien was also barely holding back his nausea.

As a high-ranking noble, his pride wouldn’t let him show such weakness.

But while he could suppress the nausea, he couldn’t shake the unease.

Could we really win? The confidence we once had was fading.

Just like when we’d witnessed Valenstein’s skills firsthand.

—-

“Kreeeeek-!”

The bugs, spotting their enemies, screeched furiously.

A giant mantis raised its forelegs, and thousands of flying insects swirled like a storm.

“Elpinel, have mercy…”

“Good heavens… this is…!”

Even those who weren’t devout found themselves muttering the name of God.

The soldiers, overwhelmed by fear, stepped back.

This was supposed to be the Empire’s finest army.

Duke Bien’s forces, the 1st Prince faction’s lords, Duke Pailoon’s northern army, and the combined forces of the Randenburg border lords.

Eighteen master-level fighters. Hundreds of knights.

Yet, the sheer numbers of the enemy, coupled with the terror and disgust, were enough to crush their morale.

“What are you afraid of! They’re just bugs! Did you come all this way just to cower before a bunch of insects!”

Leopold stepped forward and shouted.

The mages accompanying the army amplified his voice so every soldier could hear.

The soldiers’ eyes turned to their leader.

His face showed no trace of fear, and golden threads scattered like sparks behind him.

“Of course not. We came here to burn the witch, to exterminate the pests gnawing at the Empire! These ugly bugs born of the witch are no different! No matter how many there are, they’re still just bugs. Weak maggots destined to burn in the flames! Brave soldiers of the Empire, are you really so cowardly as to fear these flies!”

Leopold, mounted on a white horse, flutters his purple cloak.

Was it his dazzling golden hair and noble appearance? Or perhaps the holy light emanating from the priests behind the prince? His majestic presence was like a painting, utterly breathtaking.

“No!”

The soldiers raised their weapons and shouted loudly.

Crowds are easily swept up in the atmosphere. Hearts once stained with fear were now covered with pride and determination.

“Then it’s time to prove it! Let’s go! Burn them all! So that even the children just growing up and the unborn descendants will remember your courage, let’s ignite a flame that will be etched in history and passed down forever!”

Drawing his sword and pointing it at the enemy lines, Leopold charged ahead.

Tens of thousands of Imperial soldiers responded, charging towards the Vennes territory with the force of a typhoon.

‘…He certainly has a way with words. Though that alone won’t win a war…’

Duke Pailoon, Valdemar, muttered softly as he mounted his horse.

No war can be won by momentum alone.

Momentum without strength and strategy is just a fleeting passion.

However, the ability to boost morale with a few words and a striking appearance is undoubtedly a valuable trait for a leader.

‘Not bad.’

He wasn’t outstanding enough to overwhelm the lords, so there was no need to be wary, but he was competent enough.

From the perspective of the Electors, there was no better candidate for emperor.

They didn’t want an emperor who was too capable or too incompetent.

With a stiff expression revealing a hint of satisfaction, Valdemar tightened the reins and moved towards the charging soldiers.

He had to control the fools who seemed to have forgotten the original plan and were charging recklessly.

“Northern Army! Where are you heading? Our hunting ground is not the center but the left flank!”

Hearing Valdemar’s command, Pailoon’s soldiers finally snapped out of it and veered to the left.

Following suit, Duke Bien and the Margrave of Landenburg also began to command their respective troops.

“Central Army, protect His Highness the Prince! The rest, flank wide and target the enemy’s rear!”

“Landenburg Knights! Maneuver to the right! Surround the Vennes territory!”

The troops, receiving their commanders’ orders, slowed down and dispersed in all directions.

The battle plan had been established even before arriving at the Vennes territory.

Yes. They never intended to enter the Vennes territory, which had become a den of monsters.

They planned to surround the entire territory, burn it all down, and only face the monsters that charged through the flames.

“Prepare to attack!”

Confirming that the encirclement was in place, Leopold raised his longsword high into the sky.

Oil barrels were placed on the ballistae brought from various territories.

Magicians gathered magical energy, casting their spells into the air, while soldiers lit the arrowheads.

“Fire!”

The blades aimed at the monsters.

Following Leopold’s command, the commanders of each unit swiftly and accurately carried out their assigned roles.

“Ballista bombardment commence!”

The heavy and massive catapults launched oil barrels instead of rocks.

Hundreds of wooden barrels arced through the air towards the swarm of insects.

“Archers! Draw your bows! Fire at will as soon as the barrels hit! Give these bugs a taste of hell!”

“Magician Corps, stand by! Not yet, wait for the flames to rise!”

Soon, the oil barrels crashed into the insect-infested ground, shattering upon impact.

– Crash.

Unfortunate insects were flattened, and the spilled oil soaked the ground, forming puddles.

The monsters, drenched in oil, let out bewildered groans at the pungent smell.

“Now! Commence firing!”

Thousands of flaming arrows streaked across the sky.

Unlike the ballistae, which were positioned on one side, the archers had already surrounded the territory.

Flames began to spread from the arrows embedded in the oil puddles.

“Magician Corps! Fire!”

The flames and wind conjured by the magicians swirled, intensifying the blaze.

The witch’s den, the Vennes territory, began to burn.

“Kreeeeek!”

“Kaaaak! Kaaaaak!”

In an instant, the insects turned into fireballs, writhing and screaming.

The nobles watching smiled triumphantly.

As they had expected, the small insects were helplessly burning in the flames, unable to resist.

“Kiiiiii!”

The larger insects, protected by their thick shells, emerged through the flames, but they were met by a perimeter of hundreds of knights, eighteen masters, paladins, and priests.

“Hold the line!”

“Elpinel, grant me unwavering courage!”

The insect monsters collided with the perimeter, and after fierce combat, they began to fall one by one.

“They’re coming again! Defensive formation!”

The number of insects charging through the flames was increasing, but the Imperial soldiers stood their ground, swinging their swords and spears, fighting to the end.

Fierce battle cries filled the air, and blood and screams flowed like a river.

The heated air distorted like a mirage.

—

The final battle that decided the outcome of the civil war.

When the soldiers’ cries subsided, all that remained was a mountain of monster corpses and ashes.

‘…We won.’

Leopold, drenched in sweat, lowered his sword and smiled.

It was a dazzlingly precious victory.