Triumphal Honors
“Is it burdensome?”
“Yes, honestly, it's very burdensome.”
No meant no.
Think about it. Everyone's waiting for the prince who racked up all that merit. Then some unheard-of nobody steps up front. Ugh.
The emperor could order my head chopped off, and no one would bat an eye.
“Then ride in beside me. This is a huge concession, so no more refusals.”
Anyone hearing that would think he was granting some grand favor.
I desperately wanted to call bullshit, but there were too many eyes on us.
Damn, refusing again here carries big risks.
He looked like the stubborn type—arguing would be pointless.
“I am deeply grateful for Your Highness's consideration.”
“Then form up in single file.”
“Yes...”
I sighed endlessly inside as I took position at the very front of the triumphant procession—right next to the crown prince—and urged my horse forward.
Whatever. Might as well enjoy it.
I felt like I was going insane.
But this empire had made me this way.
Roooooooar!!!!!!!!
As the army neared the south gate, the military band atop the walls blew massive hornpipes with all their might.
Rumble rumble rumble!
The massive gates creaked open, revealing an endless sea of people flooding the streets.
“Crown Prince! Long live!!!”
“Long live!!! Long live!!!”
“Mom, hurry! Hurry up! The ceremony's starting soon!”
The path ahead was cleared just wide enough for the procession, packed shoulder-to-shoulder everywhere else. They'd all come out to see the victorious soldiers.
“Let's go.”
The crown prince glanced at the crowd, gripped his reins, and spurred his horse.
This guy's tense.
His voice had a different edge to it.
And I was just as nervous.
“Hoo.”
I exhaled deeply to steady my breathing and slowly advanced toward the grand plaza.
“Isn't that the young master from the Oclo count's family?”
“He's younger than I thought. I figured he'd be some grizzled veteran.”
“My son's serving in the west, and he's a huge fan of that guy. Guess there's a reason.”
Standing next to the crown prince naturally drew the second-most attention.
At least no one's cursing me out.
That itchy ear earlier must've just been dust after all.
“There's His Majesty.”
Minutes after entering the capital, I looked up at the crown prince's words. The emperor stood in the center of the grand plaza.
His expression looks okay, right?
Too far to see clearly, but I trusted it was fine.
Whinny.
As they drew closer, the crown prince and everyone dismounted and walked into the plaza.
Now the emperor was right in front of us.
The emperor's one thing, but why are so many people here?
It looked like every noble in the capital had been summoned.
Dad's here too.
My eyes naturally met my father's, standing not far from the emperor.
He's grinning way too hard. Was he always that cheerful-looking?
Of everyone here, he seemed the happiest.
“Your Imperial Majesty, Sun of the Empire! I report the results of the battle!”
The crown prince stepped forward, saluted perfectly, and kicked off the ceremony proper.
“We reduced the enemy fortress of Hasmont to flames, rendering it unusable. All enemy forces on site were annihilated. Additionally, we seized Yalk Island and captured two thousand prisoners.”
Perfect results, straight out of the playbook. Textbook beautiful.
“Imperial Army casualties: 211 dead, 108 seriously wounded, 493 lightly wounded. By Your Majesty's grace, the Imperial Army emerged victorious and returns here today. That is all!”
“Wooooooooooh!!!!!!!”
The overwhelming victory news ignited cheers from the citizens.
The emperor surveyed the crowd, then took a step forward. The plaza fell silent at that tiny motion. All eyes locked on his mouth.
“Citizens of the Empire, hear me.”
Amplification magic tools everywhere drilled his words into every ear.
“For over a century, our empire's sore thumb has always been the sea. But! Our proud crown prince and army have pierced the adversity and brought tidings of victory!”
His voice built with power, layer upon layer like some kind of art.
“The arrogant Aditz Empire, blind to its place, now senses something amiss! But it's too late.”
No. No. Not late at all. Let's sign that peace treaty right now.
I couldn't fathom what was so 'late' about it.
“The price of touching our empire weighs heavier than anything! I shall show them that! So contribute to the empire's victory, all of you!!!”
The emperor thrust his clenched fist skyward.
“Emperor! Long live! Long live! Long live forever!!!”
“Long live!!! Long live!!! Eternity to the Empire!!!”
The crowd surged with nationalistic fervor at its peak. What else was there to expect?
World Cup semis get milked for twenty years as peak patriotism. Imagine an actual war win.
It was explosive.
“Our empire...”
The patriotism injection continued. Aditz smashed to bits, our army unbreakable, and so on.
He even called the crown prince onstage for a hand-waving performance.
Isn't it time to wrap this up?
We'd paraded, reported victory, given speeches. Drag it out too long, and it loses punch.
“Beloved citizens of the empire. If you've read the papers, you know this landing op didn't go perfectly as planned.”
Sending the crown prince down, the emperor launched into a new topic.
Damn, he talks a lot.
I didn't remember him being this type. People change.
Can't even doze off.
The spot kept me wide awake anyway.
But the emperor seemed intent on dosing me with anti-sleep meds.
“Amid trials and tribulations, three brave soldiers turned the tide of battle—and led us to victory!”
Three soldiers. Only an idiot wouldn't know who.
“I commend their feats here. Colonel Schultz, Major Garen, Captain Palan Oclo—approach.”
At the emperor's words, Colonel Schultz moved first.
Damn, I had a bad feeling.
Putting us in the front row, I'd half-dreaded this. But with all the crown prince praise, I'd figured it was just rewards.
The great ones stayed great.
Sigh, here we go.
Moving late might look like I'd zoned out, so I hurried up.
At least front row means it's close.
No long walk to the stage.
“Colonel Schultz reports to His Imperial Majesty!”
“Major Garen... reports to His Imperial Majesty!”
“Captain Palan Oclo reports to His Imperial Majesty.”
We lined up by rank, dropped to one knee. Major Garen looked seriously tense.
Regiment commander's holding steady.
Makes sense. How could he protect anyone if he cracked just facing him?
“Rise.”
We stood at the emperor's command.
Why's he staring at me?
Schultz and Garen were there too, but his gaze fixed on me.
“When I first heard of your operation, I doubted my own ears. It was so reckless, perilous—a gamble with your lives.”
True enough.
It was reckless and dangerous.
But the reason we pulled it off...
“Yet you executed it. Fueled solely by zeal for victory and noble conviction to defend the empire.”
No. That's not it.
We were surrounded and about to get wiped out.
Noble conviction to defend the empire? I could barely save my own skin—fat chance.
Well, it's packaged nicely, so that's good...?
A self-serving bastard beats a sacrificial hero? No contest.
“Your actions evoked Sir Hamus, who annihilated a corrupt knight order with a single blade.”
That legend's fake too, right?
Gotta ask about that later.
“Thus, I bestow the Second-Class Military Merit Medal. Colonel Schultz, step forward.”
Shiver shiver.
At 'Second-Class Military Merit Medal,' Major Garen went from tense to leg-shaking.
I felt the exact same.
For real...?
I might lack expertise, but I knew what that medal meant.
Third highest honor.
Second was first-class, top was named after the three founding heroes—reserved for empire-savers.
Practically unattainable, so...
Near-max praise from the emperor himself.
And praise wasn't just words—benefits and rewards galore.
I hear even third-class gets a get-out-of-jail-free card once.
Prime perk: one-time pardon for crimes. Not for assassinating royalty or absurd stuff, obviously.
Step step!
Colonel Schultz marched crisply to the emperor.
Standing at attention up close, the emperor personally hung the medal around his neck.
“Wooooooooooh!!!!!!!!! Schultz! Schultz! Schultz!!!”
“Schuuultz!!! Schuuultz!!!”
The plaza chanted Schultz's name. The emperor gave them a moment, then spoke.
“I hear you've been assigned to the Imperial Knights after this op, Colonel.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Guard me well. I promote you to brigadier general, grant you the surname 'Gadriel,' and bestow the barony.”
“Y-Your Majesty! I am eternally grateful!!!”
Schultz, who'd seemed unflappable till now, finally bulged his eyes and slammed his knee to the ground.
Damn, nobility title too.
He'd earned it, but this was generous.
Next, Major Garen.
“Promotion to colonel and ten thousand gold reward. Continue your valor, leading our wars to victory.”
“Y-Your Majesty! Eternally grateful!!”
No title like Schultz—just promotion and cash.
Not bad at all.
Recent major promote; colonel skips years—four at least.
Plus second-class medal? Career boost city.
Unless he pulled some insane screw-up or joined the knights, stars were guaranteed.
And after Garen...
“Captain Palan Oclo.”