Unification War - Dharon (2)
Unification War - Dharon (2)
"I have relayed the order to all personnel to maintain a standby status, just as you commanded, Commander-in-Chief-nim!"
"Good work. Please wait for a moment."
"Loyalty!"
Reporting finished, the sergeant from the reconnaissance unit stepped back to allow for a smooth conversation.
Two division commanders and Belletria were looking at my incomprehensible order with puzzled expressions.
Among them, 4th Division Commander Gerbern Ataolf spoke up cautiously first.
"What on earth is the reason for stopping the advance, Commander-in-Chief-nim? The longer the delay, the more time we give the enemy."
5th Division Commander Chern Oldea added, "Didn't you say nothing was found? If we give the enemy time, they might even find out that the Kalpen Fortress has opened its gates."
But I remained silent.
It was fine that I stopped, but the problem was I hadn't thought at all about how to convey this fact.
'Damn it... Stopping the advance is fine, but how the hell am I supposed to explain this?'
Just a moment ago, I had triumphantly shouted that I was a bastard who hadn't even been treated properly as a prince.
But now, suddenly saying, "Actually, that prince knew about the Kingdom Alliance's secret project, and it's highly likely that project is being used in this war"?
That makes no sense.
Besides, even if I packaged it well, there was an even bigger problem.
To wipe them out in one go without being caught by the enemy, we had to use the Anti-Magic Artillery Shells operated by the Magic Artillery Battalion.
But the cost of each shell we intended to use was more than the annual budget of a decent noble family, and because they took so long to produce, we had only brought enough to destroy the 4th fortress of Dharon, Basern, and the capital's gates.
That meant I would have to use more than three of the four shells—which were brought as spares and just in case—without any certainty, simply because I, the Commander-in-Chief, said so... Could that even be possible?
'But the risk is too great to just ignore it and pass by, and if I just pour down a rain of arrows, who knows what kind of barrier might be there.'
In the end, there were only two options.
Advance the troops while risking the danger of an unknown 7-Star Barrier and face a crisis, or fire three shells worth a fortune—each equivalent to a noble family's annual budget—into thin air without any certainty.
While I was deep in agony, the air inside the carriage was becoming increasingly hostile.
"Commander-in-Chief-nim! Answer me. The Imperial Army's advance guard has already guaranteed safety, so on what grounds are you doing this!"
Obvious annoyance began to mix into 4th Division Commander Gerbern's voice.
5th Division Commander Chern also crossed his arms and openly expressed his dissatisfaction.
"I understand you are nervous because this is your first actual command, but a commander's rash misjudgment and delay can cost tens of thousands of lives. Issue the order to advance immediately."
I was speechless at their sharp questioning.
Honestly, if I were in their shoes, the sight of a young Commander-in-Chief who suddenly stopped the advance and shut his mouth would have looked pathetic and frustrating.
Above all, I am a prince of Rihentra. It was natural for them to react like that.
'What do I do? How on earth do I convince them...'
That was when it happened.
Sreureuk-.
Belletria, who had been silently looking out the window, slowly raised her hand.
She had only lightly raised her white hand, but the air inside the carriage froze instantly.
"......."
Division Commanders Gerbern and Chern immediately shut their mouths, which had been berating me, and held their breath, watching the Empress's mood.
Belletria scanned the two division commanders back and forth with an indifferent gaze.
"It seems you two are under a serious misunderstanding right now."
"......."
"The man before your eyes, before being the abandoned prince of Rihentra, and before being the Commander-in-Chief of this Dharon war... is the man who will become the Imperial Consort of the Empire."
Overwhelming Aura and killing intent.
At that energy, the two division commanders swallowed dryly and shrank back.
"One act of insolence is enough. Be careful with your words and actions from now on."
"A-understood!!"
"We apologize!!"
The two division commanders' faces turned pale at the Empress's cold warning.
They hurriedly bowed their heads and kept their mouths shut.
Belletria, who had instantly pacified the inside of the carriage, slowly turned her head to look at me.
"Idelon."
"...Did you call, Your Majesty?"
"You just need to calmly explain why you judged it to be dangerous. Even if your judgment is wrong and the war drags on a little, the Imperial Army has already finished all preparations, so there is no need to be impatient."
"......."
Unlike a moment ago when she was like frost, her voice calling my name was soft and calm.
Was it thanks to that? I felt my tangled mind clearing and my heartbeat calming down.
I took a deep breath and began my explanation with the most plausible lie I could muster.
"Back when... I was hiding in a corner of the royal library, reading magic books without my family knowing while they were having lunch."
All three of them were focused on my words.
"I happened to overhear a conversation between the General Commander of the Rihentra Northern Capital Guard and Count Galden of the Western Border. They were talking about a new barrier project that the Kingdom Alliance was pushing forward in top secret."
"A new barrier... you say?"
Division Commander Gerbern asked back cautiously.
"That is correct. According to them, the Kingdom Alliance's top mages had gathered and brought a 7-Star level barrier with the ability of 'Spatial Peeling'—an improvement on the existing forbidden 6-Star barrier, the Infinite Corridor—to the brink of completion."
I added some details to the information I had heard from Ersil and continued my explanation.
"They were confident that if that barrier were completed, no matter how hard the Arkesium army pushed, they could isolate and annihilate our troops. And if it really is a 7-Star level barrier, our advance guard's average mages wouldn't even be able to detect the traces of its mana."
"......."
When my explanation ended, silence lingered in the carriage for a moment.
Soon, Division Commander Chern opened his mouth in a slightly lowered voice.
"Certainly... if the enemy has really deployed such an absurd 7-Star level barrier, it explains why the reconnaissance report and the subtle changes in the terrain occurred. It is sufficient grounds to analyze this situation as a new variable."
They nodded as if convinced, but a faint distrust still remained in their eyes—'Are we really supposed to gamble this big on just one overheard rumor?'
That was what bothered me the most, too.
But Belletria, who had been silently listening to my excuse until the end, had a completely different reaction.
Without a hint of hesitation, she picked up the communication mana crystal ball that had been placed in a corner of the carriage.
"Magic Artillery Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Dreven, do you hear me?"
An answer came immediately from across the crystal ball.
—What is it, Your Majesty!
"Aiming at the three coordinates where the advance guard discovered abnormal signs, load and fire three Anti-Magic Artillery Shells immediately."
-Loyalty!
"Wait?! Yo, Your Majesty! Just a moment. I mean...!"
I was startled and desperately tried to stop her from cutting off the communication.
"No one knows if that barrier is really complete, or if there's a trap there! If we miss, what will you do about that massive cost and the Basern Fortress assault...!"
"Shh."
But Belletria reached out her left hand and covered my mouth with ease.
A faint smile spread across her lips.
"If it can relieve the anxiety held by the man who will be my consort, I can gladly pay that amount of cost."
Belletria put down the crystal ball and continued speaking while looking at the Dharon cliff area that had started to become visible in the distance.
"If we run out of shells and can't destroy the fortress walls."
Her red eyes turned toward me again.
"I can just fly a sword aura myself and smash the walls to pieces."
"......."
Overwhelming arrogance and confidence in her own martial power.
I couldn't even offer a counterargument in front of the Empress, who was spouting such absurd countermeasures just to reassure me.
'Wow, damn... Why is she so cool? It's driving me crazy, seriously.'
I stared blankly at her profile, then hurriedly turned my head to look out the window.
The energy of massive mana gathering in the vicinity of the path the Magic Artillery Battalion was currently passing through was being transmitted through the air.
'Please... please let this not be a wild goose chase.'
I moistened my parched lips and waited for the massive explosion to come.
At the same time.
Some of the elite troops of the Ahantera Peace Alliance, an allied army created by the seven kingdoms of the Ahtera Continent to keep the Arkesium Empire in check.
Inside the secretly deployed 7th-Star level barrier, Spatial Peeling, they were holding their breath and waiting, easily ignoring the Imperial Army's detection magic.
And inside the command tent within the barrier, where only silence had lingered for a long time, the mounted communication orbs emitted red light one after another and spoke at the same time.
—This is Iron Fang. Ambush on the rear of the 3rd supply route complete. We have perfectly captured the enemy's blind spot.
—Ghost Stalker reporting. No issues with the detection magic jamming device on the 5th supply route. The Imperial bastards won't even know we're right in front of their noses.
—Blood Hound Company, all personnel combat-ready on the expected route of the Magic Artillery Battalion. Just waiting for the signal.
Lieutenant Colonel Baron, the supreme commander of this Ahantera Alliance reinforcement force, checked the reports from each location and put down the communication orb with a satisfied smile.
"To think that the spy planted by the Reddion Kingdom would bring back information on the entire movement route and supply lines of the Imperial Army's Magic Artillery Regiment, which is known to be so difficult. This is quite the big catch."
He muttered in an excited voice, tapping the magic map in front of him with his finger.
"My hands are already trembling at the thought of showing the Ahantera Alliance's spicy taste to the backs of those Imperial bastards who are drunk on victory and let their guard down."
The adjutant guarding Lieutenant Colonel Baron's side also checked the mana of the communication orb and responded.
"It really is amazing. To think the Kingdom Alliance would actually evolve the Infinite Corridor—which the continent, especially the Empire's mages, had been spitting on and banning—one step further into the concept of Spatial Peeling, which separates the dimension itself, and apply it to actual combat."
The adjutant rubbed his arms as if he had goosebumps and continued.
"The 6-Star Barrier Mage Beld-nim and Professor Lucas, the authority on barrier studies, who managed to complete this absurd barrier, have truly rewritten the history of the continent. Seeing the Empire's detection magic brush right past our feet without them even noticing, I couldn't stop laughing."
"Well... it is a bit concerning that we drew suspicion by widening the hill a little to hide the two companies of troops... but as long as we don't get caught by the detection magic of the mages the Empire was so proud of, that's all that matters. Anyway, if we end up destroying the Magic Artillery Battalion—the one the arrogant Imperial Army is most proud of—in its entirety without them even being able to lift a finger, I'm already looking forward to seeing what kind of expression that crazy Empress Belletria will make. Perhaps with this one blow, we might be able to stop the Empire's ambition."
Lieutenant Colonel Baron adjusted his leather gloves and picked up his spear.
Before he knew it, the hands of the clock were pointing to the time the Imperial Army's advance guard should be passing through the expected route.
"Alright. Blood Hound, Iron Fang, and all companies, combat readiness. As soon as the target comes into view, activate all traps and clean up the Imperial Army. And retreat as soon as the objective is achieved!"
-Loyalty!!
Simultaneously with his command, the tension inside the barrier soared to its limit.
Thousands of soldiers gripped their weapons tightly and flashed their eyes in the darkness of the forest.
For a moment, a silence full of tension flowed.
But 5 minutes passed, then 10 minutes.
Not only were there no signs of the Imperial Army's Magic Artillery carriages or supply transport units that they had targeted, but not even a single bird was seen.
It was the same for the ambush points on the other two supply routes.
"...What on earth is going on? Was the intelligence wrong? Or did the Imperial bastards change their route?"
Lieutenant Colonel Baron's brow furrowed.
It was the moment he was about to pick up the communication orb again in impatience.
A sergeant who had been waiting outside the command post rushed into the tent in a hurry.
"Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces! What... what on earth is that? In the northern sky!"
At the sergeant's urgent shout, Lieutenant Colonel Baron pushed aside the command tent curtain with a puzzled expression and stepped out, and the moment he looked up at the northern sky.
The blood drained from his face in an instant.
"No way... how on earth...?"
In the cloudless blue sky.
A massive mana sphere, easily 10m in diameter and emitting an ominous blue light, was ruthlessly plunging toward the forest where the Spatial Peeling barrier was deployed at a speed exceeding the speed of sound.
And Lieutenant Colonel Baron remembered seeing it when he had stood against Arkesium to help Rihentra, which was part of the same alliance, in the past.
The Anti-Magic Artillery Shells used by the Empire's Magic Artillery Corps.
"That... why is it heading here?"
—!!!
It didn't even give the soldiers inside the barrier a chance to scream.
The moment the massive blue sphere swallowed the space above Lieutenant Colonel Baron's head.
The Spatial Peeling barrier that had been hidden in the cracks of the dimension shattered like a glass pane, making the name "7-Star level" meaningless.
Kwaaaaang-!
With a roar as if the world were collapsing.
The entire northern hill of the Cailders Plains was engulfed in a dazzling blue explosion and evaporated in an instant.