The End (Part 2)
While negotiations proceeded smoothly, the Count mentioned the end of the war and the next day a ceasefire order was issued to the entire army.
Through the media, the Lawrence Kingdom and the Croisen Empire officially announced that they were conducting war termination negotiations.
Both nations had been busy boasting of their war achievements in the media day after day, but in reality the battle had left both sides with nothing and only losses.
Army casualties totaled 32,203, of which 8,520 were deaths.
Most casualties were soldiers swept up in battles with Vanguards and Sky Fortresses, so the leadership of both countries cared little about human losses.
After all, ordinary conscripts were little different from consumables.
Instead, the kingdom focused heavily on the loss of the Sky Fortress from the Croisen Empire's suicide attack, using the taxes spent on recovery to condemn the empire.
This war has resulted in the loss of a total of six Sky Fortresses! The cost of recovery alone has been revealed to be close to 80 trillion!
The kingdom's six Sky Fortresses that shot down ten from the Croisen Empire— what was the empire thinking with such futile attacks that only increased the scale of damage?
Weapons that defy the era! Suicide Sky Fortresses are nothing more than giant mass missiles with thick armor, except for their appearance. The explosive magic fusion reactors used for propulsion are powerful, but inefficient and a crude weapon that only increases collateral damage.
Missiles that arrived thanks to Grand Duke Lucas and disappeared thanks to Grand Duke Lucas, reappearing in a bulky, grotesque armored form.
Who would want to fight for their country like this?
The only ones to pity are the ordinary soldiers mentioned only in passing as extras.
Even so, I think it was fortunate that the war ended.
After the ceasefire, Sir William, who had finally gotten a proper rest, approached me while I was looking through the casualty list and said,
What if our country and the Croisen Empire had fought a serious total war? One hundred Sky Fortresses and tens of thousands of Vanguards would have wiped everything out. An unimaginable disaster would have struck.
That was correct.
If the two great powers had committed to a line war instead of a territorial war, the damage could have been hundreds or thousands of times greater.
No, in the event of total war, every country entangled in the alliance would have joined, so simply tallying casualties might not even make sense.
It was an event that could have destroyed the continent.
Rest more. What are you doing out here?
I dismissed the holographic casualty list and reached my hand toward Arsia, who sat beside me like a shadow.
She took a chocolate sandwich from the cookie basket and placed it in my palm.
I handed the treat to Sir William.
It was a gift from Count Otis, so treat it with care.
Despite saying it was precious, Arsia was stuffing it down her throat.
Sir William smiled and devoured the cookie in one bite, amused by the sight.
I feel the same for the first time, but Young Master is very different from the other nobles. Even as a soldier, you pity the sacrifices of these commoners, let your subordinates rest, and you yourself stand guard in the command post.
It was only natural to differ from normal nobles.
In my previous life I had been an ordinary office worker.
And there was something he misunderstood. What I was doing here was not out of consideration to let my subordinates rest comfortably.
It was simply because the game connection time limit had been reached.
Well, it was not a bad misunderstanding, so I did not correct it.
But while doing so, you maintain nobility and a sense of dignity.
My head tilted at the next words, thinking it was a strange expression for me.
That part seems to be a misunderstanding.
You watch your subordinates while they are tense, yet you sip tea as if nothing is happening. I think that is possible only with absolute faith in yourself. Your subordinates could relax and drop their guard, seeing your composure. Now, every member of the 232nd Independent Legion trusts you.
Ah, I knew roughly what he was trying to say.
Why suddenly praise me like this? It seemed to be the aftermath of the statement I made four weeks ago.
The one about pushing me as the heir to the estate.
It must have been sincere. Cedric must absolutely not become the lord.
But as before, Sir William lacked caution.
I quickly checked the command post with Mankyung before any problematic statements could leave his mouth.
-Thud!
Sir William?
However, instead of words, he demonstrated his actions. The man knelt before me with a thud.
I have placed trustworthy subordinates who cannot be approached by anyone around us. I have also thoroughly checked the surveillance devices, so you need not worry.
As he said, nothing problematic was visible.
But the thought of trustworthy subordinates made me suspicious, so I used Mankyung's vision mode to inspect the gate guards.
They were all people from my father's side.
Those knights were people who followed my father like Sir William.
Even their personalities were similar, righteous loyalists.
It was good that he had realized and corrected his careless statement, but I sighed at his impulsive action.
I know you have caught on. But rather, this action might stand out.
That is why you came at this time when everyone is resting.
In the end, I gave a thumbs-up, meaning he should say whatever he wanted to say.
I, Gilbert William, hereby pledge my loyalty as the second prince of the Lawrence family to my lord, Adrian.
What was he trying to convince me of now? Watching silently, I was stunned by the unexpected oath of loyalty.
After all, their lord had always been my father.
It is a decision made after careful consideration of what is best for my lord at this time.
And as he explained further, I stroked my chin and asked,
Do you mean the knights outside are also in the same position?
Yes.
I could sense that Sir William had come with his mind made up.
Surprised by the oath, I soon changed my expression and looked troubled.
-Crunch. Crunch.
Only the sound of Arsia eating cookies echoed through the silent command post.
How long had I left Sir William kneeling?
I smirked and nodded.
Fine.
My answer meant I would accept their desire.
But the actions that would follow would differ greatly from their thoughts.
However, there is one condition.
What is it?
Until I give you an order, continue as before.
Huh? Isn't it better to quickly gather forces? Right here, we could already build up a force that is too big to ignore.
It is too big to ignore, but not big enough to win, is it? I have my own plans, so follow my instructions.
As he became tense with my authoritative tone, he swallowed hard.
But he soon nodded with a resolute expression.
Understood. I will trust my lord.
How many knights will attach themselves to me like Sir William?
For now, five Vanguards here are certain, and about thirty knights. Of course, if we gather those in the estate, the scale will be more than double.
Not bad.
At least the number of people I could command had increased.
Good.
-Swipe!
I stood up from my seat.
Sir William's gaze followed me upward, as if asking if the conversation was over.
I want to go back to rest now.
Ah, then. There is one thing I must convey.
As I tried to leave the command post, Sir William quickly grabbed my arm.
I heard that if you return to the estate, Lord will support independence.
You did say that. But why?
Lord intends to attach Sir Pessius to you. He thinks it is good to pre-emptively recruit him.
The sudden appearance of the name Pessius shocked me.
Sir Pessius? He retired, right?
Yes, he left the knight order after feeling disillusioned with the political struggles. It seems contact was made this time. Lord plans to have him return as the knight commander of the family you will establish.
Sir Pessius was originally the vice-commander of the Lawrence Knights.
Among Aura Experts, he was nearly unbeatable except for the commander.
But he left the knight order after becoming embroiled in the family politics centered on Anna.
If Sir Pessius returns, Anna will throw a tantrum.
It seemed my father was pushing himself because he felt sorry for me.
When he returns, many knights who have been neutral will likely switch allegiance.
Sir Pessius was a typical warrior and extremely popular.
In other words, it meant there was ample room for expansion through him.
Perhaps enough to be equal to Anna or Cedric Pa.
Sir Pessius... not bad?
But I did not think his value lay in recruiting him into the family.
It was simply that he would provide a useful long-term piece outside the family.
It seemed I would need to meet him soon. Can you arrange a meeting? Of course, secretly.
Seeing me take an active interest in Sir Pessius, Sir William nodded with a satisfied expression.
I will look into it.
Is there anything else? I am tired.
No. Rest well. I apologize for taking your valuable time.
It was a fruitful time.
I patted Sir William's shoulder like a superior.
As I left the office, Sir William's subordinates at the post saluted smartly.
Thank you for your work.
Yes.
It was not because returning to the room was tiring.
-Ding! Ding!
The long-awaited game connection time limit was lifted.
I turned off the alarm ringing from the bracelet terminal.
Soon.
Forces?
Of course it was good.
But the priority was not building my own forces.
It was to clear the next stage of the Arsia quest.
Achieve the seven-circle level by today.
-Cough! What madness! Arsia!
Yes!
I obtained Arsia hidden in Chronicle Online and reached level 200 without ever experiencing death.
Normally, in games you gain through trials and deaths, but here, since senses are shared with reality, death would be far more painful.
So I fought as safely as possible, without pushing too hard.
Well, I took many wounds against the named monster at the end of the Arsia quest, but I had never been in true danger of dying.
But...
After reaching level 200, the named monster at the seven-circle step of the Arsia quest was on another level.
Death Knight Pascal.
A Death Knight, an Aura Master-level monster.
-Boom! Bang! Wham!
Even Arsia, who had withstood any previous enemy firmly, was pushed back or bounced off by the sword's force.
It was unavoidable.
Aura Masters were a different rank from Aura Experts.
Even if it was only one step higher in grade, the power jump was completely different from before.
If one in ten knights becomes an Aura Expert from an Aura User, then one in a thousand becomes an Aura Master from an Aura Expert.
Aura Masters were a realm of pure talent.
That is why lords granted them grand titles alongside the honor of being a one-man army.
But this guy was not just an Aura Master; he had the body of a lion as a buff for the Arsia quest named monster.
What could one do?
-Grrr!
-Kieeh!
-Aaaah! Damn it!
The two-plus-one party consisting of me, Arsia, and Black Eagle mercilessly died.
[Death has occurred. Experience will be restored and you may retry.]
And when I revived in the nearby village, I felt the pain of death with my whole body.
-Kek!
But what annoyed me more was that, since no one was watching, I could not moan in pain or roll around.
I exerted maximum patience and spirit to drag myself to the nearby chair, slumped down with a thud, and only then could I scream inside.
After ten minutes, I calmed down and wiped the drool from my chin with my robe sleeve, grinding my teeth.
Yes, up to now it had been too easy.
This quest seemed to have been designed by Grand Duke Lucas with malice.
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