Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: I Will Rule Solely by Military Law (4)
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Viscount Maxit's execution caused quite a stir in the territory in several ways.
The royalist nobles reacted with disbelief that he had actually gone through with it.
Conversely, even the earl's faction nobles who had supported the execution showed signs of worrying about repercussions.
"Who would've thought he'd really execute a fellow noble."
"W-we need to watch our step for now."
"If we rub him the wrong way and he finds an excuse, we could end up on the chopping block too..."
But personally, it felt like things were heading in a positive direction.
First off, it unified military command. Right now, various nobles were gathered in the earl's territory.
Naturally, their forces were scattered, with no cohesion whatsoever.
The famous hundred-strong Ghost Cavalry had been led personally by Viscount Maxit right up until moments before his death...
However, after the viscount himself was executed, their attitudes shifted completely.
If he'd executed a noble, what chance did lowly soldiers have of escaping punishment?
"W-we had no choice! It was Viscount Maxit's orders!"
"That's right! Please, just spare our lives!"
In a way that ill suited their name as the Ghost Cavalry, they were pale-faced and begging desperately for mercy.
Of course, I had no intention of executing all hundred cavalrymen.
Not when the main Imperial Army force was on its way and we couldn't afford to thin our ranks.
"You deserve execution by rights, but considering the difficulty of defying a noble's orders and the urgency of the situation, I'll give you a chance to earn merits first."
"Thank you! We truly thank you!"
Even Viscount Maxit's famed Ghost Cavalry was now firmly under my command.
In the end, military authority across the earl's territory was solidly unified under me, Cain Blackguard.
Thinking back to the pre-regression fractures over who would command the army... at least the first button was sewn on right.
"Feeling glum? Wanna grab a drink later?"
"Bullshit. You've got night watch duty later."
"No way anything happens, right?"
"Hey, even the noble got the axe. What do you think happens to us?"
"Ah, right..."
And one more thing: soldiers' discipline felt far heavier than expected.
The capable ones pushed themselves even harder, and even the slackers were at least trying to get their jobs done somehow.
Apparently, executing a noble firsthand had set a stronger example than I'd imagined.
"Send scouts toward Rock Iron, especially the bridges, and monitor them daily without fail."
"Isn't Rock Iron the area positioned toward the capital?"
"Correct. The main Imperial Army will hit us here within at least half a month. We must prepare thoroughly beforehand."
Pre-regression, I'd trusted others' words blindly, slacked on prep, and paid for it.
But thanks to that, at least I knew for sure the main army was coming.
However, the nobles who had no inkling were skeptical of my claims—even the earl's faction, not just the royalists.
"Not questioning your foresight, Baron, but the distance from the capital to the earl's territory takes over a month at minimum."
"Even for the Imperial Army... half a month to reach here?"
Yeah, damn it. Even the Imperial Army couldn't ignore travel time over that distance.
But incredibly, the Empire pulled it off. What method did they use?
Magic? Potions? No idea. But I knew for certain I had only half a month.
"The east is the Empire's granary and a fallback base. They'll come at us full force to secure the region completely."
"If the baron says so."
"We'll gladly follow."
Fortunately, the earl's faction nobles only voiced concerns. When I pressed strongly, they all nodded and backed me.
Of course, the royalists didn't budge and voiced open discontent, but I had no time for such trivia.
And sure enough... exactly three days before the half-month mark, the scouts returned pale as ghosts.
"I-Imperial Army! The Imperial Army is coming!!"
Unwelcome news, even for me who knew ahead of time—it was still a shock.
For the nobles and folk utterly clueless, the impact would be beyond imagination.
"Th-the main Imperial Army coming straight here!!"
"We have to abandon the castle and flee now! There's no way we can hold them off!"
Panic erupted, as expected. The Imperial main army was bearing down on us.
We'd already been pushed back this far by mere detachments—how much worse would the main force be?
Naturally, failing to rein in this chaos was the second reason for my pre-regression defeat.
"......Do not move rashly."
And I had zero intention of repeating the same mistake twice.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Imperial Army.
That name had already become synonymous with hell's devils to the people.
And fear breeds rumors, which swell into endless monsters of their own making.
"Covering that over-a-month journey in just half a month...?!"
"D-devils! They must've borrowed demonic power to get here!"
In the face of utter absurdity, everyone tacked on their own explanations, amplifying the anxiety even further.
This wasn't limited to ignorant soldiers—even nobles with some learning were the same.
Not just the royalists, but even the earl's faction who'd already clashed with the Imperials once or twice looked unwell.
"Abandon the castle and flee."
"You're saying abandon the territory's people and run ourselves?"
"Then what?! You wanna fight those devilish bastards?!"
"Th-that's..."
Even the bold earl's faction nobles couldn't muster a retort to the royalists.
The taster knows best. Those who'd fought the Imperials first knew it all too well.
We can't win. Not desperation—just the plain, staring truth.
"......Do not move rashly."
As the mood of defeat thickened, one man alone spoke calmly.
Cain Blackguard.
The sole man who'd predicted the Imperial advance amid universal doubt.
"Be as steady as Mount Tai."
Indeed, just as he said, Cain Blackguard held his ground as immovable as Mount Tai.
His utter lack of agitation began to quiet the nobles' unrest.
In the pit of despair, people grasp for a lifeline out. This time was no exception.
"R-right! Didn't Baron Blackguard predict the Imperial advance?!"
"Exactly! That means he's already seen through their vile sorcery!"
"......"
Having grasped the Imperials' intentions a step ahead, he'd surely prepared countermeasures.
That was the lifeline the nobles clung to from the pit of despair.
Of course, Cain wasn't some strategic genius who'd pierced their aims. He just knew from direct experience.
'Yeah, go ahead and delude yourselves like that. Don't bolt off on your own and get caught and beheaded by the Imperials like last time.'
The moment they realized the Imperials were near, most nobles had fled.
But already surrounded, where could they flee to? They hadn't gotten far before the Empire's cavalry scooped them up and took their heads.
And with nobles fleeing, morale already tanked—then they impaled those severed heads on spears and paraded them openly?
'Supplies plundered by over half, soldier morale scraping bottom... an already bad situation got way worse.'
I hadn't understood "defeat before battle" before, but now I did.
And Cain had no desire whatsoever to recreate that horrific scene.
That was why he didn't bother correcting their misconception. Without even false hope... people inevitably crumble.
'Nobles seem settled enough... now the soldiers are the issue.'
Judging he'd quelled the nobles' anxiety sufficiently, Cain moved at once.
As Cain stepped outside, every soldier's gaze locked onto him without exception.
He didn't turn away from their trembling, anxious faces. He understood their feelings better than anyone.
I wished someone else would handle it for me too.
Escape this crushing responsibility.
So he pictured the most ideal, trustworthy figure in his mind.
From his lips emerged a voice so calm and weighty it surprised even him.
"The military classics state: Those who seek death shall live; those who seek life shall die."
He knew better than anyone that he couldn't quell everyone's anxiety with his own power.
So he imitated to the best of his ability. The one great general he knew.
Believing that person would offer encouragement, not reprimand.
"One man resolved to die can guard a pass and terrify a thousand; a thousand resolved to die can terrify even a million-strong army."
Of course, illiterate, ignorant soldiers had no way of knowing the precise truth.
They simply accepted it. But more than words, they were watching the man.
Cain Blackguard. The man who'd recaptured the castle alone and repelled hundreds of Imperials. That's why he had credibility. That's why they could believe.
"So fight with resolve to die! Anyone who disobeys orders or breaks discipline will be ruled by military law!"
"The baron's words are true!"
"Long live Cain Blackguard!!!"
"We will surely win!!"
Just one man. But his mere presence slowly dissolved the anxiety.
Simultaneously, a fire called fighting spirit began to blaze. And that fervor spread outward.
Judging the momentum had spread enough, Cain raised his greatsword toward the sky. Then, calmly but resonantly, one phrase rang out.
"Follow me."
And we shall have victory.