Chapter 131
Chapter 131
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 131
Chapter Title: The Prepared Stage
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"The Imperial Army is moving through Habis Kingdom territory?"
"It's a remarkably swift advance."
"They're war-hardened veterans, so that's to be expected."
"Five hundred wyverns... What barbaric fools. Just how many wyverns do they even have?"
Information poured in moment by moment.
Most of it came secretly from Habis Kingdom.
The knights grimaced as they examined maps of Neruman and the continent.
They were dumbfounded by the mention of five hundred wyverns.
'The known number of wyverns on the continent is wrong. If two legions of the Empire are deploying five hundred, then adding the remaining six regular legions and two provisional ones... how many is that?'
A single kingdom might have at most five hundred at best, and even the Empire was said to have around a thousand. Yet Raviter Empire possessed an astonishing wyvern force far beyond what the continent knew.
It was worthy of being called the continent's foremost empire.
"Are the observation forts in the Kobiran Mountains operating smoothly?"
"We've built seven in total, though it's still not enough."
The enemy didn't frighten him, but a coordinated assault would be trouble.
Denfos was the heart of Neruman, something he couldn't abandon.
If enemies crossed the Kobiran Mountains and attacked while he was away, it would be a disaster.
Even concentrating all forces in one place felt insufficient; splitting them would be impossible.
"How are the new Sky Knights performing?"
"Not up to satisfaction, but they'll handle their share."
The territory's key knights gathered in the office.
Knight Shailt, in charge of Sky Knight training, reported in a trustworthy voice.
"Is there nothing we can do to help?"
Irene, who had been listening quietly.
She attended the meeting as the representative of the Royal Guard knights.
"Please ensure the safety of Her Highness the Princess and His Highness the Prince."
"Yes....."
One wyvern short was regrettable, but the safety of Denfos and the guests was crucial.
'The Royal Guard Sky Knights and Holy Knights should be reliable enough.'
For royalty and saints, the Royal Guard and Holy Knights wouldn't hesitate to lay down their lives.
They were more reassuring allies than expected.
"Did you order the field workers to halt until further notice?"
"Yes, as commanded."
Only mana users could issue the Dravilt order.
Knights were short in number, but the fields couldn't be neglected either.
"How's the deployment of the large ballistae from the dwarves?"
"We've installed around a hundred in Denfos and added fifty more to Gadein Castle."
'A bit short.'
He wanted to cover Denfos's walls with large ballistae, but the limit of magic furnaces for melting mithril and the scarcity of dwarves who could handle it were issues.
Plus, large ballistae required knights who could wield mana.
All in all, insufficient forces.
'All that's left is to wait for the enemy to cross the border.'
Neruman's terrain, unfamiliar to the foe.
The plains invited complacency, making it all the more treacherous.
In a vast plain without landmarks, losing direction was easier.
"Let's end the meeting here. Everyone except Knight Derbal, return to your posts!"
"Yes, sir!"
The knights' faces were taut with tension, unlike usual.
A stark contrast to fighting Habis nobles.
A showdown with Raviter Empire, possessor of the continent's mightiest force.
It was impossible not to feel the pressure.
"Hoo....."
As the knights left, a long sigh escaped.
"My lord, are you alright?"
"Guess I got tense without realizing."
"Understandable. I haven't slept well lately myself, though I didn't say it."
"That's why I keep telling you to get married. You're not getting younger."
"How can I go first when you, my lord, haven't? Besides... no lady would ever like me."
Tension melted away in Derbal's presence, unlike with others.
"Don't worry. Once this war ends, I'll find you a fine lady."
"No need, really....."
Despite his words, Derbal's face subtly betrayed expectation.
Seeing that eased the physical strain slowly.
"Confident?"
"I trust only in you, my lord."
Derbal at fanatic devotion level.
That's why it was good.
Humans drew strength for those who believed in them.
"Still, that's too many, isn't it?"
"Honestly, 200,000 is unimaginable. Neruman's total population just topped 550,000, and they're sending 200,000 troops?"
Derbal shook his head.
'It is a lot.'
Regular soldiers defending Neruman numbered exactly 10,000.
Those too old or with families to support were shifted to reserves this time, totaling 30,000 including reserves.
Fortunately, over 3,000 regular cavalry and many mana-wielding knights.
'Elite troops are great, but you need numbers too.'
This wasn't a movie like Sparta; beating 200,000 elites with 30,000 wouldn't make legends lightly.
One misstep, and the territory's youth would dry up, turning it into a widow-making specialist.
'No choice but to call for aid.'
Survive this crisis, and the territory could stabilize for a while.
Bazran's thug emperor worried him, but he eyed bigger prey than Neruman.
"Derbal, reinforcements would help, right?"
"Reinforcements? Rumors must be all over the continent by now—who'd help? Even mercenaries won't come, no matter the pay."
He didn't trust mercenaries either.
Last year's early recruits—over half fled for freedom.
Lives like reeds in the wind.
Less trustworthy than himself.
"If I brought reinforcements, would you accept anyone?"
"If they help, I'd even call Bazran Empire troops 'big brother.'"
Derbal loved the territory as much as he did.
"Then I'm off."
"Pardon? Y-You're saying we really have reinforcements?"
"Heh, heading to the mountains to negotiate with the beasts. Promised to feed them well for months if they help."
"...My lord."
Derbal smacked his lips at the joke.
But he couldn't reveal it yet.
Who those reinforcements were.
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Bwoooooooong! Bwoooooooong!
Long blasts of horn shells.
Clink, clink.
A 200,000-strong army armed with polished armor, spears, and swords.
They stood in perfect formation from the Raviter Imperial battle manual on the vast plain.
Whirrrrrr.
Early spring chill lingered on the land.
Cold winds swept over the unshaken soldiers like grass.
Kuaaaaaaaa!
A thick wyvern cry from the skies.
Shiiiiiieeeek.
In that instant, hundreds of wyverns swarmed overhead.
A magnificent sight.
Wyverns from Raviter's Western Corps, 3rd and 7th Legions.
Flying with gold dragon banners—symbols of Imperial regular legion wyverns—under their armor.
Enemies would quake and flee.
Raviter's wyvern flocks outnumbered most kingdoms combined.
Their massive forms darkened the sky like thunderclouds.
Kuaaaaaaaa!
Amidst it, another thunderous wyvern roar.
Shiiiiiieeeek.
Among the swiftly flying hundreds, gold wyverns appeared.
They circled above the 200,000 as if bestowing blessings.
"Waaaaaaaaaah!!!!!!!!!!!"
Soldiers roared earth-shaking cheers at the gold wyverns symbolizing the Raviter Imperial Family.
They thrust spears and swords skyward, cheering till their throats burst.
Flap, flap, fla-flap-flap.
The gold wyverns surveyed all soldiers.
They slowly descended to the center of the formation.
"Chuuuuwuuung!"
As wyverns flapped wings for safe landing, dozens of commanders and hundreds of knights shouted salute.
Right hands to hearts, heads bowed in knightly courtesy.
Clink.
Amid nobles' and knights' utmost reverence, a man dismounted the lead gold wyvern.
Air plate of mithril-gold alloy and imperial red cape billowed in the wind.
"Raise your heads."
A quiet yet authoritative command.
Rustle.
Raviter nobles and knights lifted their heads.
"3rd Legion Commander, Count Halsbane, greets Your Highness the Prince!"
"7th Legion Commander, Count Harntes, greets Your Highness the Prince!"
"Greetings, Your Highness the Prince!"
As the senior legion commanders saluted, other nobles and knights followed.
"I look forward to working with you."
Prince Alskein, impatience shed now that Neruman conquest was set.
Young, yet imperial dignity overflowed.
"Not just Your Highness. Enter, Your Highness and Supreme Commander."
Prince Alskein wasn't alone.
Duke Yanovis, appointed Supreme Commander by the Emperor, stood beside him.
"Your Highness, shall we proceed? The strategy meeting is ready."
"No, never mind. You're the Supreme Commander for this campaign—conduct it without minding me. I'll scout the area."
"As you wish."
Prince Alskein deferring to Duke Yanovis.
He had matured.
If only he didn't spasm at mention of Neruman's Kaier, he could be emperor now.
Flap, fla-flap-flap.
After greetings, Alskein remounted his wyvern and soared.
Shirrriiirik.
Imperial Royal Guard Sky Knights shadowed him.
Direction: northwest.
Where that man he yearned to crush swiftly awaited.
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"Take me with you!"
"It's dangerous....."
"Dying for the Great Guardian Warrior would be the tribe's honor!"
"Take him. Lady Rokoroia would wish it too."
'I was planning to anyway, folks.'
That's why he visited the Temir Aishin Tribe.
Told them Neruman faced crisis; Khan Tahar fervently begged to join.
Even his father and chieftain, Merkara, approved.
"Saw some new wyverns outside—what's that?"
Casual speech came naturally.
Rokoroia had said it.
The Great Guardian Warrior equaled her status; treat all Temir tribes as subordinates.
"All thanks to you, Great Guardian Warrior. Lady Rokoroia, who destined you, granted three wyverns."
'Kid's got flair.'
Jeanne d'Arc-level aura from wyvern hunt.
Young, but clear on rewards and punishments.
"Deliver this letter."
"This is....."
"Very important missive. Hand it over; Rokoroia will handle it."
"Understood!"
Not even his subordinate, yet the chieftain replied firmly.
'Kid, I'm counting on you.'
Visiting personally was fine, but the kid scared him—what she'd do seeing his face.
But aid was essential.
Needed a one-ton hammer to smash Raviter's rear.
"Anything to prepare?"
"No. Ready to depart now."
No joke—real danger, yet Tahar beamed.
Last return, he'd begged too; refused then.
Great Guardian talk could complicate things.
But time was right.
All things needed pretext and order.
Moment to reveal he was Temir's Great Guardian Warrior.
"Then let's go."
"Chuwung!"
Knight mimicry from somewhere, by Tahar.
'Do well. I'll knight you officially.'
No one knew—not Derbal, no one.
Neruman's population exceeded 550,000.
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"Countess Irene fled?"
"Y-Yes."
"With my dear little siblings to Neruman, no less."
.....
Quiet voice of Bazran Empire's ruler, Poltviran.
"Count Silbern, do I look like a fool to you?"
Promoted right-hand Viscount Silbern to count upon ascending throne.
Crunch, crunch.
Emperor bit into thick, juicy apple, then asked.
"What do you mean, Your Majesty? You are more than anyone....."
Shiiiik!
Thwack!
"Guhk....."
Apple smashed into Count Silbern's face mid-sentence.
"Kekekeke."
Emperor's unpredictable madness.
Top-ten marquis butchered by the palace, his house ruined—mad emperor.
Freshly enthroned, yet infamous empire-wide.
Dozens of innocent houses already exterminated.
"Handle things properly so I can rest easy. Letting rats slip away."
Vast imperial council chamber.
Emperor's closest Royal Guard knights and Count Silbern chilled at the bored tone.
Quiet, drawling voice preceded massacres.
Dozens of times already.
"Raviter's marching on Neruman?"
"Y-Yes, Your Majesty."
"Then our Empire can't sit idle."
Emperor handled nothing major—Duke Omar did.
Yet suddenly mentioning Raviter, declaring inaction impossible.
.....
Count Silbern eyed him warily.
Crown Prince madness evolved.
Not just title emperor—madness too.
"Summon them."
"Pardon?"
"All ministers. That Krantz Kingdom envoy yesterday irked me. Daring to call that trash tribute. Time to show our Empire's and my dignity properly. Kekeke."
Absurd nitpick by Poltviran.
Krantz Kingdom bordered Bazran.
Sent massive tribute for enthronement: beast hides, mithril, gold, gems.
Yet emperor dismissed as 'that trash.'
Envoy would've begged forgiveness, head split.
One imperial word could erase a kingdom from maps.
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"A-Arm the slaves, you say?"
"Yes. Short on weapons or armor?"
.....
Derbal gawked at order to arm captive Temir warriors.
Madness—what else?
"My lord, over 2,000 of them. All battle-hardened, born warriors. Arm them, and if anything happens, the territory's done."
Derbal stated firmly.
"Don't worry. My word, and they'll play dead."
"What do you....."
My outlandish acts finally clicked for Derbal.
"Didn't I tell you last time? Signed permanent peace with Temir race."
"But that's....."
"Revealing now: Temir and I aren't enemies anymore. I'm their Great Guardian Warrior."
"Great Guardian Warrior?"
Obscure Temir tribes.
Derbal repeated the term.
'Sigh, how to say I'm the kid's pillar hubby.'
Wyverns received as bride price from Temir.
No denying now.
'Sacrificing(?) this body for Neruman's prosperity—what isn't that saintly?'
Noble sacrifice, truly.
Not to handle pint-sized Rokoroia, no.
Sure, envied friends with girlfriends sometimes, but not scheming like them.
Purely sacrificing for Neruman, great saint's path.
No—had to be.
To silence conscience stabbing his chest, self-brainwash required.
"Knight Derbal, no choice. Temir tribes stronger than we knew. Over 500 wyverns, warriors over 100,000."
"Huh?! 500!?"
Derbal startled, as expected.
Slight exaggeration, but wild wyverns everywhere—tameable anytime; 500 was modest.
"So I made a pact with their ruling grand sorceress Rokoroia. Me as her Great Guardian Warrior for... permanent peace."
Grave tone, heavy atmosphere for inevitability.
"M-My lord....."
Derbal teary-eyed, calling 'my lord.'
"Trust me, Knight Derbal. I won't disappoint Neruman or you."
No spicy powder, no true Jjamppong.
Dramatic line sprinkled on Derbal's soul.
"U-Understood. Arming them now."
"Thanks, Derbal....."
"No. Your love for Neruman... I could never match, even in death. I respect you, my lord!"
Hot praise from Derbal.
'Heh, thanks, Derbal.'
Nodded sternly outside, thrilled inside.
If Derbal accepted, other knights would too.
"Station armed Temir warriors at Gadein Castle."
"As you command."
'Sacrifice what must be. Can't defend whole territory.'
Wanted to blockade border entrance, but fort foundations undug.
Thus, frontline centered on Gadein Castle, like Habis noble war.
"Any word from Habis Kingdom?"
"Yes. Raviter's Supreme Commander is Duke Yanovis—one of five ducal houses, imperial kin."
"Duke Yanovis—the mad bull of Raviter Empire?"
"Yes. 30 years ago, top contributor to Perkan Kingdom's fall. Led special forces over Vets Mountains, seized capital. That's why Perkan, Raviter's rival, collapsed swiftly."
I knew the tale.
Raviter legendary knight from Bazran knight academy.
Rode ducal wyverns, night raided Perkan capital, captured king—ended war quick.
Huge stature, cow-like face earned 'mad bull' nickname.
"Been wanting to see him. Perfect."
"Empire's prince joins too."
"Prince?"
"You know him. Gold wyvern's former owner, frolicking in Sky Knight yard."
'Ugh.....'
This war entirely my fault.
Would Raviter bother with backwater Neruman otherwise?
I tried killing prince, stole Empire's pride—gold wyvern.
"Haha, capture him, jackpot."
"C-Capture the prince?"
"Well, not first time....."
'That punk hasn't tasted full spice yet.'
Regretted not scaring him pissless.
"As ordered, arm the slaves—no, allies."
"Pick the best gear."
"Understood."
Gadein Castle warehouse piled with armor, weapons.
Habis nobles' tearful gifts.
'Stage set, just wait for extras.'
Long-prepared for Raviter invasion.
Defenses maxed out.
'Time for a spin around.'
No easy welcome.
This was his land.
Every comer would taste hot enema.