Before the Final Battle
Before the Final Battle
Noon the following day.
The Permanent Member State of the International Union, Edria.
"Your Excellency! Your Excellency!"
Vek, Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Department, searched the mansion garden for Count Kaledra.
His flushed face, so unlike his usual self, and his eyes trembling with tension laid bare the emotions Vek was feeling right now.
Vek, who had been moving his feet diligently while scanning his surroundings, soon spotted Count Kaledra.
Count Kaledra was in the middle of watering the flowerbed with a watering can.
Vek, who had been watching Count Kaledra's back, drew a deep breath and opened his mouth.
"Your Excellency. Have you heard the news?"
"What news are you referring to?"
"The naval port... Mansirita Naval Port is said to have been struck by the Empire's nuclear attack. The naval port was annihilated in a single blow. All the ships in the port were destroyed, of course, and approximately 30,000 troops along with countless supplies were all burned away!"
The hand of Count Kaledra, who had been watering the flowerbed, paused for a moment.
"Mansirita Naval Port... I see."
As if this were something he had expected, Count Kaledra resumed watering the flowerbed.
Finding this absurd, Vek raised his voice.
"Your Excellency! The nuclear weapon possessed by the Empire is dangerous beyond imagination! If the Imperial Army had hardened its resolve and decided to use a nuclear weapon on this location, even more severe damage would have occurred!"
"That's not incorrect."
"Then shouldn't we raise the white flag to the Empire now? The moment the Empire produces additional nuclear weapons, Edria will become hell!"
The sound of watering the flowerbed stopped abruptly.
"Are you telling me to bow my head to the Empire now?"
"Do we have any other option? If the war continues like this, the Allied Nations have no chance of victory! By now, the allied nations will have also heard the news that Mansirita Naval Port has been annihilated by the Empire's nuclear attack. Do you think they will cooperate after witnessing the horrors at Mansirita Naval Port?"
The allied nations would not want the terrible explosion that occurred at Mansirita Naval Port to happen on their own territory.
Therefore, it was clear they would try to avoid a direct fight so as not to provoke the Empire.
In the worst case, they might even show signs of withdrawing from the alliance.
"There is an option. You simply have your eyes averted."
But Count Kaledra did not yield his opinion.
"The Empire only had one nuclear weapon. They used it on Mansirita Naval Port. Since they likely haven't properly built their manufacturing infrastructure, it will take about a month for a new nuclear weapon to be produced. So we will exploit that gap."
"......What do you mean by that?"
"With the naval port annihilated, the Allied Nations' naval power is effectively neutralized, albeit temporarily. That is equivalent to saying the Empire can lead its fleet and blockade all of the Allied Nations' sea routes. Naturally, we will be isolated."
Count Kaledra knelt on one knee and set the watering can down on the ground.
"There are land routes, but they are woefully insufficient to receive all support. The allied nations are also highly likely to be reluctant to support Edria because the sea lanes have been destroyed. The Empire knows this as well, so a full-scale offensive will begin soon."
His hand, stretched forward, gently stroked a flower petal.
"We will somehow repel the Empire's offensive. Only then will the allied nations regain their trust in Edria, and it will be possible to pioneer new sea routes."
Count Kaledra's eyes half-opened.
"Concentrate all available forces on the front line. If we can only repel the Empire's first offensive, the Allied Nations do have a chance after all. For that possibility, everyone must stake their lives with one heart and one mind."
Vek opened his mouth blankly.
This was bewildering on many levels—watching Count Kaledra advocate for continued resistance rather than surrender after a naval port had been annihilated overnight.
Vek, who had been silent for a long while, opened his heavy mouth.
"......Your Excellency. Even if we deploy all available forces to the front line, the supplies won't follow. The damage incurred from the naval port's annihilation is immense. Not only have we lost most of our stockpiled supplies, but the command structure has collapsed, making efficient resource distribution nearly impossible."
Driving troops to the front line without even having restored the collapsed command structure caused by the naval port's annihilation was an irresponsible act.
Vek was pointing that out, but Count Kaledra didn't blink an eye.
"Why are supplies necessary?"
Just as Vek wondered what he meant, Count Kaledra continued.
"They are all going to die anyway while blocking the Empire's offensive."
It meant that supplies were unnecessary because they would all die blocking the enemy's attack before they could even use up the stockpiled materials.
Because of this, Vek felt a certain sense of revulsion bloom within his heart.
He also got the impression that Count Kaledra was somehow twisted inside.
'......It's gone.'
The brilliance Count Kaledra had shown long ago when he unified the fractured Edria was no longer visible.
Until now, Vek had thought of Count Kaledra as the hero who saved the nation and had followed his orders.
However, the madness-tinged thoughts and words Count Kaledra was now displaying were fitting to be called those of a tyrant.
'Why have you changed this way?'
Vek could not understand Count Kaledra's feelings.
He felt a sense of guilt toward the troops who would die countless deaths by Count Kaledra's orders.
In the worst case, not only the troops but also their own civilians could suffer great damage.
'......It must be stopped.'
To prevent greater damage in advance, Count Kaledra's madness had to be ended.
But how? Discussing the unfavorable war situation with an opponent immune to persuasion wouldn't change anything.
'If so.......'
There was only one method left.
It was to shoot Count Kaledra dead right here and now.
Vek, who had placed his hand on the pistol holstered at his waist, let out a trembling breath.
He just had to draw his pistol like this and shoot Count Kaledra in the back of the head.
But contrary to his thoughts, his hand would not move.
It was after countless inner conflicts that Vek finally grabbed the pistol grip.
"Do I look like I've gone mad?"
Vek's shoulders flinched.
"Perhaps I might be. However, the basis of all my actions lies in the glory of my homeland, Edria. Deputy Director. I am prepared to gladly die for Edria."
Count Kaledra rose from his spot.
"It is not the end just because winter is approaching. As time passes, spring will come, and the earth, having embraced the fertilizer, will become fertile again and bloom countless flowers."
Count Kaledra's calm words clouded Vek's resolve.
After much anguish and conflict, Vek released his hand from the pistol.
"......I shall take it to heart."
Having bowed his head, Vek unwittingly gritted his teeth hard.
*
A week later, at the review stand in front of the field command post.
"Soldiers, listen!"
Daniel raised his voice from the rostrum on the review stand.
Around Daniel, commanders of various ranks and staff officers were arrayed.
In the temporary field parade ground, the corps' troops were densely gathered, listening intently to Daniel's words.
On the eve of their deployment, a speech was being held to boost the army's morale.
"You are all aware that Mansirita Naval Port has been annihilated by an attack from our Empire. This is a historic victory and proof that the Empire has taken one step further toward triumph!"
The soldiers' gazes focused.
"However, just because the enemy's naval port has been annihilated does not mean the war is over! Someone must advance into enemy territory and hang the Empire's banner upon the enemy's city!"
Perhaps because they sensed they were on the verge of a decisive battle, a silence hung among the soldiers.
"His Majesty the Emperor is also aware of this! He has issued a general offensive order to all Imperial Army forces. Furthermore, the mission assigned to this corps, to which I belong, is to occupy Berkantach, the capital of Edria, the Permanent Member State of the Allied Nations!"
Daniel paused briefly before speaking.
"......It may not be an easy fight. Contrary to our expectations, the enemy might resist fiercely. Should we even become encircled in that process, we must be prepared for death. I know that there are not a few of you who worry about this."
After a deep breath, Daniel lifted his head.
"However, you all know. That the corps commander standing before your eyes right now is a person who has never been defeated in battle."
Daniel's calm words continued.
"At Edelkral Gorge, in the Nordia Invasion, in the border region of the Kingdom of Belmore, at Penbark, on the Sceolan Front, at the Filoena Highlands, and in the Rakedrapol Invasion—I have always seized victory."
At the truth containing not a single exaggeration, the soldiers' hearts were inspired.
"I promise you all. This time will not be much different. We will be victorious, and you will return to your hometowns bearing that honor."
Daniel gripped the rostrum.
"Esteemed soldiers! We know! That striking the enemy's capital is the fastest way to end this war! Therefore, we advance! For we are not unaware that the shortest path back home is the advance toward the enemy!"
Seeing fervor fill the soldiers' eyes, Daniel raised his voice.
"We will return alive! For I will ensure that it is so! Even if you meet death on the battlefield, I will not let its meaning fade! For I, like you, will stake my life and fulfill this historic calling!"
Daniel swung his hand forward.
"Then let me ask you, soldiers! What is our calling!"
Without exception, every soldier opened their mouth.
─ To end this war!
The united, resounding voice reached the ends of the sky.
"Then there is now only one thing we must do!"
Having heard their resolve, Daniel raised his clenched fist high.
"All forces, advance!"
Subsequently, countless cheers enveloped the parade ground.
On the soldiers' faces where fear had vanished, only the courage to accomplish the task was simmering.
Watching that scene from behind, Pelf thought.
'This is.......'
A historic moment that would decide the fate of the world.