Chapter 321: Just What Kind of Battle Have You Been Fighting? (3)
Chapter 321: Just What Kind of Battle Have You Been Fighting? (3)
September 21, 1530.
The Yuzef Kingdom suddenly initiated a war, leading a massive army of 150,000.
Their target was the Magellan Kingdom.
They had launched a full-scale invasion of a nation that had maintained peace through a neutral diplomatic policy even amidst the continent’s recent upheavals.
It was incredibly abrupt.
Faced with a sudden invasion without even a declaration of war, the Magellan Kingdom—whose military strength was relatively weak—was left utterly defenseless.
Furthermore, the nature of this war was different from before.
In previous conflicts, the Yuzef Kingdom had done its best to minimize civilian casualties and avoid turning the local populace against them. Thanks to that approach, the Overlord had been able to smoothly absorb the lands and people of the territories he conquered.
However, this invasion of Magellan revealed a monstrous cruelty.
Not only did they take no prisoners, but they also forcibly requisitioned supplies from civilians along their path of advancement. If the people resisted, the army carried out "clearance operations," massacring entire villages.
It was a campaign of thorough destruction and pillaging.
The nature of the war had clearly shifted.
Terrified, the Magellan Kingdom hastily pleaded for help from other nations on the continent. They appealed to the international community, condemning the Yuzef Kingdom’s sudden, unprovoked aggression.
However, the Saint Louis Holy Church State and the Empire, who received these requests, were in no position to intervene.
Not only had they yet to recover the national strength spent in previous wars, but the Yuzef Kingdom was no longer an opponent that the Empire or the Holy Kingdom could easily look down upon.
They merely criticized the Yuzef Kingdom for starting a war without a proper justification. They refused to provide any practical assistance.
The Magellan Kingdom, which had pinned its hopes on the intervention of the Empire and the Holy Kingdom, was left to be ravaged by the Yuzef Kingdom. Finally, clutching at straws, they sent an envoy to the Schneider Duchy.
February 3, 1531.
In the royal hall of the Schneider Duchy, the envoy from the Magellan Kingdom prostrated himself piteously and pleaded fervently.
"Please, help us. I beg of you, look upon the pitiful people of our kingdom with mercy."
The Magellan Kingdom was considered a nation of mid-tier power on the continent. Yet, the envoy kneeling before the Grand Duke showed no trace of dignity or pride.
The only thing visible on his face as he bowed low was sheer desperation.
"First..."
The Grand Duke spoke with difficulty.
"We must hold a meeting. Marquis, we shall provide you with a villa, so please rest there for now."
"Your Grace. If you turn a blind eye, the only fate awaiting the Magellan Kingdom is death and ruin."
"..."
"Even now, the soldiers of the Yuzef Kingdom are slaughtering our innocent people and burning our lands. Please, do not ignore this."
"..."
Moved by the Marquis's desperate pleas, the Grand Duke nodded heavily and dismissed him for the time being.
Immediately afterward, he gathered the high-ranking officials of the state for a meeting.
"What are your thoughts on this?"
The first to speak in response to the Grand Duke’s question was Alexander Krupa, who had recently become a Marquis of the Schneider Duchy. As the man in charge of most of the state's internal affairs, he was effectively the Prime Minister of the Duchy.
"To speak coldly of the reality... this is someone else's problem."
"..."
"There is no benefit to be gained by our country intervening in the war between the Magellan Kingdom and the Yuzef Kingdom. Therefore, it is only right to refuse."
Marquis Krupa’s words, based on a cold calculation of profit and loss, were logically sound. However...
"Marquis, then what happens to the Magellan Kingdom and the people living there?"
Sanson Kainel, the commander of the Double Dragon Knights who had received a Count title in the Schneider Duchy, spoke up in protest.
To this, Marquis Krupa replied nonchalantly.
"Is there any reason why we should care about that?"
"That... isn't it obvious that we should?"
"Pardon?"
"They say people will die if we don't help. So, of course, we should care and help them."
"..."
For a moment, Marquis Krupa was taken aback.
The emotion visible on Sanson’s face wasn't anger or defiance; it was pure, genuine confusion. His expression seemed to ask: I’ve been taught my whole life that this is the obvious thing to do, so why aren't we doing it?
And it wasn't just Sanson. Most of the vassals who were natives of the Schneider domain wore similar expressions.
'...No wonder the Grand Duke Schneider was going crazy.'
Marquis Krupa felt he finally understood why Patrick used to live with the word "pushover" constantly on his lips.
He continued calmly.
"Let me make one thing clear."
Marquis Krupa scanned the room before continuing firmly.
"We are not a hegemonic power tasked with upholding justice and maintaining the balance of the continent."
"Well, that's true, but..."
"In the first place, that was the domain of the Empire and the Holy Kingdom. If they claim to be the sole Empire of the continent and pride themselves on being the religious headquarters, they should not have stood by during this Magellan crisis."
Many nodded at Marquis Krupa’s words. In truth, they too had questioned the lukewarm attitude of the Holy Kingdom and the Empire.
Why would those powerful nations not step forward against this unjustified war?
Why were they just watching as the Magellan Kingdom was being unilaterally invaded?
Marquis Krupa provided a clear answer to those questions.
"The reason the Empire and the Holy Kingdom are not intervening is partly due to the lingering aftermath of previous wars, but more importantly, it is because the Yuzef Kingdom is a formidable opponent that cannot be taken lightly."
"Mmm..."
Several people groaned and nodded.
Indeed, the current Yuzef Kingdom was no longer the weak nation once mocked as one of the "Four Weaklings of the East." In terms of pure territory size, it was now a superpower that surpassed the Empire.
"To uphold justice and help others, one must have the capacity to do so. This applies to nations and individuals alike."
"..."
"But right now, neither the Empire nor the Holy Kingdom has the capacity to help Magellan while clashing with a powerful enemy like the Yuzef Kingdom."
To be more precise, the biggest reason was likely that if they exhausted their strength, they would no longer be able to maintain their status as hegemonic powers. However, there was no point in explaining such political analysis to these good-natured pushovers.
Marquis Krupa continued steadily.
"The current Yuzef Kingdom is an enemy so strong that even the Empire and the Holy Kingdom hesitate to act. Are you saying we should go to war with such a superpower just to help the Magellan Kingdom?"
"..."
"Furthermore, our national strength is not currently at its peak. You all know the reason why, don't you?"
"Ugh..."
"That is true."
Everyone agreed with Marquis Krupa.
The current Schneider Duchy had an elite force that could be expanded up to 30,000 as its population and scale grew. They possessed a powerful knight order and had strong alliances with the Orcs and Elves. Moreover, the Tower of Truth, one of the Three Great Powers, was also an ally.
However, even with such forces, the military power of the Schneider Duchy could not be called "perfect."
Because...
'The Grand Duke Schneider isn't here...'
'He needs to return as soon as possible.'
The absence of Patrick Sky Schneider.
Whether that one man was present or not made a world of difference to the military might of the Schneider Duchy.
Even Marquis Krupa might not have been entirely against this war if Patrick were present. Even if it was a war with little to gain, if a certain victory was guaranteed, the Schneider Duchy could move beyond its current borders and become a kingdom—perhaps even a hegemonic power leading a new order.
But not now.
A war where victory could not be guaranteed.
A war where there was no practical benefit even if they won.
Stepping into such a war was an act of extreme foolishness.
Marquis Krupa stated his conclusion plainly.
"It is only right that we stay out of this war."
It was a logical argument based on a precise and cold assessment of the national interest and the current situation. Most of the people gathered in the hall seemed to nod in agreement. However...
"Marquis Krupa."
He didn't know yet.
"Please speak, Your Grace."
He didn't know that the true King of Pushovers still remained.
The Grand Duke, having called upon Marquis Krupa, spoke in a calm voice.
"According to the Marquis's words, are you saying we should just stand by and watch this situation unfold?"
"That is correct."
"Then what becomes of the people of the Magellan Kingdom who are dying right now due to the Yuzef Kingdom’s invasion?"
"They are..."
For a moment, Marquis Krupa hesitated.
If he were to speak his mind directly, he would say, "That has nothing to do with us." But he couldn't say that so bluntly in an official setting.
Marquis Krupa thought for a moment and chose his words carefully.
"Their situation is tragic, but I do not believe we should replace their blood with the blood of our own people."
He expressed it indirectly, but surely, any normal person would understand his meaning by now.
"In the end, are you saying the reality that the powerless and weak die in war remains unchanged?"
"..."
Well, yes. That's how it is, but...
"How can we cry out for justice while turning a blind eye to this reality where innocent people are dying? Is that not so?"
"..."
No. This isn't right.
The Grand Duke's words were so principled that it was difficult to refute them openly in an official meeting, but this was still wrong.
"Your Grace. But if we intend to face the Yuzef Kingdom now, our soldiers will have to make sacrifices."
"I am aware."
Oh, you are aware.
Good. Since you know...
"But is that not what justice originally is? Is it not our duty to step forward for the weak, even if we know the danger and must risk sacrifice?"
Aware, my foot...
Marquis Krupa let out a sigh at the Grand Duke’s words.
Yes, he was right.
The words themselves were correct.
It is a right and good thing to be just and brave, to not fear evil, and to rise up and fight for the weak.
'But there is such a thing as reality!'
The Grand Duke’s words were right, but one cannot always live rightly and perfectly in this world.
Fortunately, Marquis Krupa had already sufficiently explained why they shouldn't get involved in this war, and the other high-ranking officials seemed to agree with his opinion.
There was almost no chance of a war breaking out just because the Grand Duke alone went against the consensus. Even a dogmatic monarch would find it difficult to do, and wasn't the Grand Duke a man who was extremely... fragile? A pushover?
Ahem, anyway, wasn't he a man who respected and considered the opinions of his subjects?
He wouldn't go against the majority opinion alone and lead the nation into war...
"The Grand Duke is right."
Why is he acting up now?
The one who spoke was Oliver, who had recently received the rank of Baron. With eyes burning with unnecessary passion, he said:
"I became a knight to help those who suffer. There is no coward in our Schneider Duchy who would run away because they are afraid."
Then, Sanson, who was standing next to him, spoke as if in agreement.
"If Your Grace only gives the command, I and all the members of the Double Dragon Knights will gladly fight for justice."
Then, the other subjects around them began to chime in as well.
"We must not forget justice just because the Empire or the Holy Kingdom turned a blind eye."
"I, too, shall stand with Your Grace."
It didn't matter if they were military or civil officials.
Starting with those who had served the Schneider family for a long time, one by one, they began to agree with the Grand Duke.
"Wait... Please, everyone, calm down for a moment."
Marquis Krupa hastily tried to put on the brakes.
"Do you all truly understand the situation? We are about to step into a war where there is no profit and victory is not certain. Not for our own citizens, but for the people of another country. Is this truly what you want?"
Then, the Grand Duke nodded readily and said:
"I understand everything the Marquis has said."
"Then..."
"But is that not exactly what a person who claims to stand for justice and goodness ought to do?"
"..."
"I will gladly brave the danger. I will not discuss profit. But I cannot turn a blind eye to those who suffer. Is that not how you all feel?"
"That is correct, Your Grace!"
"Our knight order will follow Your Grace's decision unconditionally!"
As the majority of the subjects agreed, the Grand Duke nodded and declared:
"As the Grand Duke of this Duchy, I have made my decision. I can find no justice or justification in the Yuzef Kingdom’s invasion. Therefore, we shall stand on the side of the Magellan Kingdom and protect the powerless."
"Yes, Your Grace!"
"Yes, Your Grace!"
The decision to enter the war was made in an instant.
Throughout the entire process, Marquis Krupa stood there with his mouth agape, looking utterly bewildered.
'What... what on earth is this...'
He had spent decades in the political arena, but he had never, ever seen a situation like this.
Deciding like this?
Justice?
Without logic or profit, they just shout "Waaaah!" and run off for the sake of justice?
And for another country's war, at that?
Suddenly, a scene flashed through his mind.
[Sigh. My pushover father. I... I... Ugh...]
To be honest, until now, he had just chuckled and let it slide. He thought the Great Demon of Hell, whose personality was a wreck, was just acting out against the kind and highly moral Grand Duke.
But experiencing this during Patrick's absence...
"Just what kind of battle have you been fighting all this time?"
It seemed that people truly only realize the value of someone once they are gone.