Chapter 6: Deployment
Chapter 6: Deployment
The northern war map on one wall of the grand conference room.
Black markers densely dotted the area right up to the Second Defense Line.
And that was only the reported traces of monsters.
How many more had gone unnoticed?
I glanced at the troublesome trio.
All three stood at their posts, having obeyed the summons for this emergency meeting.
Whether it was Ophélie's drugs working wonders or the gravity of the situation knocking some sense into them, either way, it was a relief.
"Report."
A mage rose from his seat.
"The last communication from the Third Watchtower was at 3:12 this morning. They reported a monster horde ten times larger than usual moving along the southeastern ravine before contact was lost."
"How long until they reach the Second Defense Line?"
"Before sunset at their current speed."
"Can we stop them?"
Dietrich cut in sharply.
"Not with our current forces."
He pointed at Gray Shoals on the map.
"If we collapse the entry route, we can buy two hours. But a single cavalry squadron from the Northern Army will need to cover the demolition team's retreat. If the operation runs late, they'll be trapped together."
Caspar traced the villages behind the defense line one by one.
"I'll order the local knight detachment to begin evacuating civilians. Once the Central Knights' vanguard arrives, we'll hand over operations. If we throw all our forces into the defense line and the flanks are breached, the evacuation routes will be cut off first."
Ulrich set down the latest report.
"Six species moving in the same direction isn't natural. Either someone's herding them, or the initial reports were wrong. I'll activate high-altitude observation through the Northern Branch immediately."
Before Ulrich could finish, the communication crystal on the table flashed red.
Crackle.
A frantic voice spilled through the fractured light.
—Emergency report from the Second Defense Line! The forward scouts have engaged the vanguard of the monsters! They're much faster than anticipated!
"What about civilian evacuations?"
—Two villages in the eastern outskirts are still occupied. The refugee columns haven't fully cleared the rear of the defense line either.
It wasn't sunset yet.
The battle had already begun.
"Fine. Let's prioritize."
Buy time,
evacuate the civilians,
and confirm the enemy's identity.
The tasks were simple.
The problem was the criminally insufficient time we had.
"Grand Duke, you take Gray Shoals. Determine the retreat timing for the demolition team and their escort. Don't trade a single shoal and a cavalry squadron for nothing."
"Understood."
"Knight Commander, split the vanguard into two—one to reinforce the defense line, the other to assist civilian evacuations."
"Yes."
"Tower Master, observation. Now."
Ulrich raised his hand on the spot.
A violet-blue magic circle unfurled, its light shooting up to the ceiling as it connected to the Northern Branch of the Magic Tower.
Dietrich was already calling for his adjutant, rattling off the names of Northern cavalry units.
Caspar, the Sword Saint, pulled over a blank sheet and began dividing the knights into two columns.
There was no time for a perfect plan.
Even if we couldn't predict victory, we had to move now.
"What about supplies?"
Count Wolfram, the Minister of Military Affairs, stepped forward.
"We're short on transport wagons and warhorses. We'll need to open the Imperial reserves."
The Minister of Finance interjected with an uneasy expression.
"Without His Majesty's approval—"
"This is an emergency. I'll issue the order as acting authority. The Treasury will prioritize supplying the Northern defense."
One day, the Emperor vanished.
Whether he died, was kidnapped, or walked out on his own—no one knew.
I wondered if my sister had written the original setting poorly or if I just hadn't read it properly, but even in Ludwig's memories, there was no information about the Emperor's whereabouts.
Many suspected the Empress, but that was strictly unofficial talk—speaking it aloud would invite disaster.
Which meant all the dirty work fell to me.
I stamped the reserve release order with the Imperial Regent's seal.
Thud.
The Imperial crest pressed sharply into the red wax.
"If the North falls, the capital won't be safe either. I'll take responsibility. So, gentlemen, do as you're told."
A servant snatched the order and sprinted out.
I looked down at the map.
The small dots behind the Second Defense Line.
Villages barely a finger's width apart on paper.
And in those places, people lived.
While the original protagonists were busy loving, misunderstanding, and rescuing each other, countless tragedies like this must have unfolded.
We had to protect those people.
I tapped a key transport hub behind the Second Defense Line.
"The reserve command post will be set up here."
Then I slowly scanned the room.
"Overall command... I'll take it personally in the North."
The room stirred.
"Your Highness, with His Majesty bedridden, if the Crown Prince also leaves the capital—"
The "bedridden" Emperor.
A flimsy excuse, but no one believed it. Still, in a setting like this, everyone had to pretend they did.
"The Northern Grand Duke's forces, the Central Knights, and the Tower's reinforcements are all mobilizing at once. Going North doesn't mean I'll be charging into the front lines. I'll oversee troops, supplies, and Tower support from the rear command post."
Dietrich, having checked the location, nodded.
"Reasonable."
"So, gentlemen, save your loyal concerns for later."
Then the Minister of the Interior spoke.
Before his name, the label "Empress Faction" came to mind.
"Then will the Second Prince remain in the capital to safeguard the Imperial Family?"
All eyes turned to Prince Konrad.
"The Second Prince will accompany me to the North."
The Empress's faction erupted.
"Both Your Highnesses cannot leave the capital at once!"
"The Second Prince lacks battlefield experience!"
I raised a hand to cut through the noise.
"I need to oversee the entire Northern front. I can't personally lead a single vanguard unit around."
Prince Konrad.
Graduate of Imperial military training.
Honorary commander of the Central Knights' reserve force.
No combat experience, but not just a decorative prince either.
"Prince Konrad will take charge of the Imperial Reserve Force and civilian evacuations."
As soon as I finished, the Minister of the Royal Household cut in from the corner.
"Impossible! The Imperial Reserve is the last line of defense for the palace and royalty in emergencies. They cannot be deployed recklessly!"
What kind of nonsense—
Ah, so it's Season 2 of "Our Prince Must Not Leave at Any Cost."
I glared at him.
"Ah, so our esteemed Minister believes that with the Demon King's army at our doorstep, the Imperial Reserve should stay put under the pretense of 'stability.' How amusing."
The room froze.
"That's not what I meant—it's protocol—"
"Unless you have ulterior motives, how dare you suggest such a thing?"
"Sir Nicholas."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Throw him in the dungeons. As of this moment, the Minister of the Royal Household is suspended from duty."
Tension thickened the air.
Good. The mood was ripe.
"The charge: collusion with demons."
The minister's face turned white.
"Your Highness! This is unjust! I've served the Empire—"
"Indeed. Whether you've been buying time for the demons or not, we'll find out during the investigation."
I didn't spare him another glance.
"Make sure he keeps his head until then."
I scanned the ministers one by one.
I had no way of knowing what they planned if Konrad stayed in the capital. Maybe they genuinely wanted to protect the Imperial Family, as they claimed.
But what if they didn't?
I needed an example—something to ensure no one got any ideas while I was away.
"......"
Now, someone needed to break this frozen tension.
"Your Highness is right. If I take full command of the Central Army, military authority in the North will be too concentrated. We need Prince Konrad's leadership."
Dietrich was the first to back my decision.
As if the earlier disgraceful incident had never happened, he smoothly steered the discussion back on track.
Good. My golden boy was reliable in times like these.
"Leaving the Second Prince in the capital would split the chain of command. Even if he doesn't intend it, others will create separate orders. Like just now."
Ulrich spoke without looking up from his magic circle.
"This is war. The Imperial Family must fight."
Finally, Caspar spoke.
His sharp gaze pinned the Empress's faction in place.
Surprisingly, these three headaches were all on my side. Without Ophélie around, they were actually useful.
Now the ball was in Konrad's court.
After a brief glance at the Empress's faction, he bowed his head.
"I will obey the Crown Prince's command."
Half-crushed under authority, one problem was solved.
Next, we needed to confirm transportation.
"Can we use the military teleportation circles in the capital?"
Ulrich answered.
"Up to the Northern First Rear Base. That's the limit for the command staff and vanguard, but the base has reserve warhorses."
"That's enough."
I tapped the Second Defense Line on the map.
"The local Northern Army must hold until sunset today. The command staff, Central Knights' vanguard, and part of the Imperial Reserve will teleport ahead. Follow-up forces and supplies will move by land."
"Tower Master, join us in the North once you've finished repairs on the Seventh Magic Core."
"I'll depart within four hours."
Earlier, he'd said six. Now it was down to four.
Seems he's in a hurry to report results to Ophélie in three days.
Even now, he's whipped. Pathetic.
"Minister of Military Affairs, organize the supply convoy. Minister of Finance, issue emergency expenditure orders. Acting Chancellor, assemble the capital's administrative council and report."
I rolled up the northern map from the wall.
"That's all. Move out."
The doors of the grand conference room swung open.
Officers and servants scattered in all directions with their orders.
Soon, bells rang throughout the palace.
The sealed gates of the reserves creaked open, and wagons and warhorses streamed out. In the Central Knights' training grounds, names were called for deployment. Mages hauled crates of communication crystals bound for the North.
The Empire, frozen on the map, had begun to move.
Ding-ding-ding.
A signal came from Mung-i in my pocket.
[Response to the Northern Front has begun.]
[World Destruction Rate has decreased from 93% to 88%.]
[Crown Prince Ludwig's memory synchronization rate has increased.]
[Partial recovery of memories related to wartime administration and Imperial military authority.]
Oh-ho, a full 5% drop.
Now that's a rush.
This deployment—I've got a good feeling about it.
Two hours later.
The training grounds were packed with armored knights and supply wagons.
Konrad, freshly suited in armor, walked toward me.
One of his usually pristine pauldrons was crumpled.
His expression was stiff.
Seemed the mother-son farewell had been intense.
"Mother said you're taking me as a political hostage."
And?
"I'd like to hear your answer, Brother."
What use is a hostage on the battlefield?
Sorry, but what I need right now isn't a hostage—it's someone to work like a dog.
"Hostages stay locked in the palace."
I jerked my chin toward the soldiers awaiting deployment.
"You're going to work."
"It's unfair if only one of the two princes has to work."
Konrad's face twisted.
Strangely, he also looked somewhat relieved.
"We're moving out."
Beyond the gates stretched the road north.
The vanguard's banners caught the wind.
Outside the gates, the procession split in two.
The command staff and Central Knights' vanguard headed for the military teleportation circle. Konrad and I joined their ranks.
The supply wagons and follow-up forces took the northern highway.
"If you fall behind, we leave you."
Konrad gave me a disbelieving look.
"You wouldn't actually depart without a prince, would you?"
I kept walking as I answered.
"Want to test that?"
The deployment horns blared.
My heart echoed the call.
The feeling of heading to war—twice now.
Truly exhilarating.