Chapter 37
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Subjugating the Rebels (3)
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"It's an honor to meet you like this, Your Excellency the Marquis."
The Northern Front Army commander greeted Yujin with utmost courtesy.
He stole glances at Yujin, thinking to himself.
'...Impressive.'
Just standing there silently, gazing ahead—no mana being emitted, nothing but a dignified stare.
Yet the pressure was this intense...
It felt as if...
'...An unstoppable being is standing right in front of me.'
The sensation that his head could fly off at any moment if he slipped up.
Only then did the Northern Front Army commander understand why some nobles feared the war hero Yujin.
It wasn't just his absurd strength in single-handedly capturing fortresses. It was as if one's very presence was crushed by his innate aura.
His head bowed even lower involuntarily.
And even without that, Yujin was a high noble trusted by the Second Prince and the Emperor. He was practically the core of the loyalist nobles... Not bowing would have been the strange thing.
Yujin spoke casually, as was natural.
"Glad to meet you too."
He extended his hand first. The two men soon clasped hands.
Yujin gazed steadily at the commander, thinking.
'Seems like a decent fellow.'
A gut feeling honed from encountering all sorts of people? His capabilities as a commander were one thing, but his character seemed trustworthy too.
'Of course. That's why His Highness the Second Prince appointed him as Northern Front Army commander.'
The man before him was the Second Prince's appointee.
Normally, the Emperor would have given the Crown Prince a chance to place his own aides to ensure a stable handover.
But before that could happen, Second Prince Russel surged ahead.
Even the Emperor now subtly favored Russel.
There were rumors that the Crown Prince, robbed of the honor of personally dealing with his romantic rival(?), had thrown a massive fit... But no need to verify; it was obvious enough to let slide.
Anyway.
'Until now, it was wartime, so they left the Crown Prince alone to avoid internal chaos.'
But now?
There were 'no' overt external threats on the surface 'yet'.
Ah, of course, Pandemonium existed...
But officially recognizing those 'cultists' as an external enemy would only prove the Empire's weakness.
No matter what real forces Pandemonium wielded, on the surface, they were demon-worshipping heretics.
So, aside from the Holy Kingdom, what nation would elevate a mere cult to primary enemy status? It was a matter of national identity and pride.
Thus, every nation on the continent except the Holy Kingdom treated Pandemonium as a high-priority subjugation target at most—never promoting them to 'archenemy' or 'primary foe'.
In any case.
'This is essentially the perfect chance to clean house.'
A chance to sweep away the fools. And among those fools were, predictably, the Crown Prince and the Northern Grand Duke.
...Suddenly, the Emperor seemed admirable.
After all, the Crown Prince was his son, and he was the father... Yet he was boldly pushing aside his own bloodline.
'...That's why such a man can rule this vast Empire unscathed.'
As a father, who knows—but as a leader, he was undoubtedly great. That was the Emperor.
...
Then, as Yujin was lost in thought, the commander's voice reached his ears.
"...His Highness the Second Prince expects us to 'normalize' the North as quickly as possible. To that end, Your Excellency the Marquis will take the forefront in subjugating the rebels, while our forces provide support..."
"Is that what he said?"
"Yes."
Nod—
"That's why we've welcomed Your Excellency to headquarters. To hear your thoughts on our movements..."
"Hmm..."
Yujin slowly examined the map.
The Northern Army's movements and the Imperial Army's positions.
Gazing at it, Yujin discussed plans with the Northern Front Army commander for a while.
After wrapping up the discussion and stepping out of headquarters, two figures suddenly rushed at him from both sides.
For a split second, he thought it was an ambush...
But he soon dropped his guard. No need against these two.
Squish—
"......"
The soft sensation in both arms. A familiar feeling.
Size, shape when pressed, softness, elasticity...
It could only be Lucia and Irene's breasts.
And sure enough—
"Hehe. Missed you, Yujin."
"I heard what you just said, Yujin—you took down that fortress all by yourself?"
Irene and Lucia looked up at him with enchanting smiles.
Their faces flushed slightly upon locking eyes with their beloved.
Squeeze—
They hugged his arms even tighter.
Yujin meant to respond to their bold(?) greeting, but realizing they were outdoors with people passing by, he hurriedly led them into an empty tent.
Their affection was welcome, but no reason to put on a show for the officers.
"Hehe."
"Hmng."
They pressed their faces into his chest with knowing smiles.
Irene was one thing, but Lucia sniffing around too...
'...Does she think I smell right now?'
...
Probably not...
...Not to put it this way, but demolishing the fortress was child's play. Even other masters could do it effortlessly, if not quite like Yujin.
He hadn't broken a sweat. And he bathed daily, spotless.
So... pheromones?
'......'
...
Shaking off the pointless thought, he asked why they'd come all this way.
"Obviously to support my husband as his wife?"
That was Irene's answer.
"To elevate my prospective husband's honor."
That was Lucia's.
Yujin's expression hardened at their replies, and he opened his mouth to speak... then closed it.
'...No danger... right?'
...
He thought objectively.
Three legions, plus three reserve divisions waiting in the rear. Plenty of special forces like knights and mages on standby.
And their own strength was 6th rank.
'...And I'm here too.'
Unless Pandemonium popped up like last time to tie him down, they were safe.
Smack—
"You think it's safe too, right Yujin?"
Irene kissed his cheek with a seductive smile.
"Even if it weren't, I'd follow you anyway."
—Isn't it a wife's duty to stay by her husband's side?
She added.
"...I see."
He didn't ask the dense light-novel protagonist question of why they called him husband and themselves wives.
It wouldn't change anything, and he didn't mind.
Yujin chuckled.
"Then I just need to protect my wives?"
At that moment, their hearts raced.
Calling them his wives, opening his heart—and that decadently handsome face flashing a manly smile. Unfair.
...
Thus, hearts aflutter, they set off to sever the rebels' heads.
Of course, it was a sudden burst(?) of enthusiasm. Yujin sighed lightly but quickly caught up, and they happily chopped heads together.
"My lord...! Viscount Ches from next door was just executed on the spot...!"
The butler burst through the door, his face ashen, shouting.
Count Hornfeldt, gazing out the window, replied flatly.
"...I see."
Since Calderon Grand Duke and several Northern nobles were suddenly accused of treason, events had been one shocking blow after another.
Summon orders to the capital, confirmed treason charges. Sudden Imperial Army redeployments and Northern Army movements. The clashes that followed...
'The Northern Army's chances of victory...'
None.
Not just near zero—absolute zero.
Not only in conventional battles, but the enemy had a master-class asymmetric force, while they had none.
'...The Guard Captain, another master, must stay by the Emperor's side—excluded.'
The Imperial First to Fourth Knight Order captains, also masters, were tied down watching foreign borders—excluded.
In the end, the only freely mobile master was current Yujin Banus.
'...If the previous Grand Duke saw this, he'd lament bitterly.'
The North's sole master had died of illness, passing the title to his young son.
That son, the current Grand Duke, had talent and would surely become a master someday.
...The problem was "someday," not now. Compared to the approaching Banus Marquis, Yujin, Calderon's talent paled.
His intellect and temperament were dull, constantly causing issues.
Now, the entire North was engulfed in treason because of it.
He inwardly cursed Calderon Grand Duke and the Northern nobles who'd committed treason.
...
'...We should surrender now.'
He resolved to surrender.
And the moment he faced Yujin, who led the Imperial Army—
'...Good call surrendering.'