Chapter 41
Chapter 41
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: War and Victory
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There was no grand send-off ceremony. That had already taken place, and Lainen had no desire for one anyway. He was simply heading out because it was his duty to protect this empire.
The horse galloped swiftly northward. He fiddled with his sword. This was the start of the war, and as the commander, he was responsible for everyone there.
“Once this war ends…”
He had never been particularly attached to this position. But he couldn’t give it up, not when his brother was being denied his rightful place because of him.
“I’ll take up the burden again.”
That was his resolve. The emperor had made it clear he had no intention of passing the throne to his younger son. So Lainen had decided to become an emperor his brother could be proud of in his stead.
“For now, let’s win this war.”
As he steeled himself with that thought, the horse came to a stop. He brushed off the greetings from those around him and climbed up to the ramparts. In the distance, he could see the enemy’s tents.
“They’re pretty confident, aren’t they…?”
After roughly assessing the situation, he descended to the command tent. The nobles were seated inside.
“Report on the current situation.”
At his command, Marquis Raimunta, who had held temporary command, began briefing him.
“In yesterday’s first battle here, our side suffered 245 casualties, while the enemy lost approximately 570.”
“Who’s their commander?”
“The first prince.”
“What’s his command style?”
“It’s no different from before. He doesn’t seem to be doing much actual leading.”
That meant they could fight as usual.
“What’s their approach?”
“Extremely aggressive. They’ll do anything to seize the castle.”
“We’ve lost a total of two castles so far.”
“Those weren’t major strongholds, but… this place is different.”
“Exactly. The moment it falls, the entire north is in danger.”
Up until now, it had been a back-and-forth affair—seizing territories, reclaiming them, retreating, advancing, an even match. But things were different now. They couldn’t afford to lose this one. They had to win. Defeat here would spell disaster.
If the emperor had been in good health, this war would have ended easily. A single spell from him would have finished it. But ever since Lainen had met Cannivela, the emperor had been steadily weakening. Maintaining the barrier alone was all he could manage; he couldn’t intervene in the war.
It was a shame, but there was nothing to be done, so Lainen didn’t dwell on it. Gazing at the enemy tents in the distance, he said,
“For now, divide the troops.”
“Pardon?”
Everyone looked baffled at his words. With forces already stretched thin, splitting them up?
But Lainen was confident. He had a plan to sow chaos among the enemy and claim a swift victory. They all leaned in as he explained.
“That’s a brilliant idea!”
“Then select the best riders starting now.”
“Yes, understood!”
The real battle was about to begin.
The Kingdom of Sistia lagged behind the Luminir Empire in every way. But they had one advantage.
Gunpowder technology. In the last war, countless soldiers had fallen to it.
To win, they had to neutralize that edge. Lainen assembled an elite unit and sent them on a night raid to destroy the enemy’s gunpowder stores. It was late, so the enemy put up little resistance and lost everything in a pathetic rout.
“Your Highness, we’ve returned.”
“Well done.”
But it wasn’t over yet, so they held another meeting. The enemy wouldn’t just take this lying down.
“What do you suggest we do?”
“They’ll try to lure us out of the castle somehow.”
“With so many losses from the raid, it’s their only path to victory. Or they might attempt a sneak attack.”
“A sneak attack?”
“With a third of their forces dead from our raid, how could they manage that?”
Lainen raised the question. One knight met his gaze and replied,
“The first prince is their greatest symbol, just as Your Highness is ours. They’ll come for you.”
“Kidnap me, you mean?”
“I’m just saying it’s possible.”
The man was usually taciturn but never wrong, so Lainen fell into thought. What should they do? Pretend to fall for their ploy?
A smirk crossed his face. He was the supreme commander. Did they really think they could capture him and negotiate, or stab him in the back? Their ridiculous delusion genuinely amused him.
“It’s a plausible scenario.”
With all their heavy hitters gone, it was their lowest tactic. But he found their desperate flailing in a hopeless war truly laughable.
“Then it wouldn’t hurt to play along.”
Everyone’s faces hardened at his words. He was the empire’s future, their crown prince. The thought of him being mistreated in enemy hands, even briefly, filled them with dread.
“Your Highness! No! Let me go instead.”
“Indeed. You as their hostage? Absurd!”
They all shot to their feet. It was outrageous. But if they didn’t indulge this, the enemy would grow cautious, and the war would drag on.
“We must end this war. The longer it goes, the more the soldiers suffer.”
“…”
“Anyway, do you think they’ll move tonight?”
“Not tonight. They’re too disorganized. It’ll take a little time.”
“Then reduce my guard detail for a while.”
“Your Highness!”
They protested fiercely, but there was no alternative. No suitable decoy, and to lower the enemy’s guard, they had to take some risks.
“It’s decided, then.”
“…Understood.”
No one could dissuade him. They sighed inwardly and filed out of the tent. Lainen turned to Marquis Raimunta, who had been at his side.
“Marquis, do exactly as I say.”
He leaned in and whispered instructions urgently.
* * *
“We’ll succeed and return for certain.”
As Lainen and his knights predicted, the Sistian army was preparing a kidnapping operation.
“I’m counting on you.”
The prince wished luck to those departing on the mission. Capturing the enemy leader was their only way out.
“We’ll be off.”
They vanished into the darkness, racing through the trees toward Lainen’s castle. It was a pitch-black night, and the sentries were changing shifts.
“We go in now.”
“Yes, sir.”
They slipped past during that brief window and entered the castle.
“Where is he?”
Scattering to search, they spotted a large room guarded by two men. That had to be the crown prince’s quarters.
The guards were distracted, chatting idly. They darted past and into the room. The mission’s unexpected ease fueled their determination.
A figure lay sleeping on the bed. They drew their swords.
“Farewell, Crown Prince!”
They thrust. But it didn’t feel like stabbing flesh. Uneasy, one man threw back the covers.
“Damn it!”
It was just a bundle of blankets, disguised to look like a body!
“Caught you nicely.”
A cold, emotionless voice rang out. They whirled around. The door opened, revealing Lainen and his knights.
“Th-the Crown Prince?”
“That’s right.”
Their faces drained of color. The enemy had anticipated everything!
“Take them all.”
With that, Lainen exited. His knights charged. The intruders bit their lips. They had to escape alive!
Chaos erupted instantly. Swords clashed everywhere. Meanwhile, Lainen was safely escorted away.
Outnumbered in the heart of enemy territory—no, they were the intruders—they stood no chance. They fell one by one until only the leader remained, sword discarded, surrendering.
“You die with the prince.”
“…What?”
The leader trembled at Lainen’s icy proclamation. Failure was bad enough, but death alongside his lord? Nothing terrified him more. His men were dead, and he was captured.
“Stay put.”
If only he’d had poison, he could have ended it before this humiliation. Helpless, he could only shiver. At that moment, flames erupted from the enemy camp.
“Looks like it worked.”
Lainen muttered with a sneer. Marquis Raimunta had executed his plan perfectly, striking their base while they focused on the kidnapping.
As dawn broke, the marquis and his troops returned, dragging the prince behind them. Lainen strolled out casually with his retinue and the prisoners.
The prince stared in shock at his leisurely demeanor.
“No way… This was all a trap from the start?’
Lainen looked down at the quaking prince. He chuckled. What a pathetic royal.
“Do you feel wronged?”
“…”
Pointing at the silent prince, he ordered,
“Put the prince with the others.”
“Yes!”
The prince was flung among the prisoners. Soon, the leader’s head flew through the air. The prince shook in terror, expecting his own end.
“P-please spare me.”
“What a spineless cur.”
Not worth his time. He coldly regarded the prince’s desperate grasp and nodded. The blade fell, ending the cowering prince.
“You—take this to your king.”
He sent back the first to surrender. Upon seeing the prince’s head, the king recoiled in horror and dispatched terms of surrender, along with vast reparations.
The war ended anticlimactically.