Chapter 86
Chapter 86
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: Seizing Serona Fortress
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Florian swallowed hard as he recalled Victor's demeanor when he left the meeting room.
Previously, he had been able to stand up to Victor because of Volker's hints and the knowledge that Volker was watching from behind.
But now, with Volker lying bedridden, there was no one to protect them from Victor, who had the emperor's full attention.
Likewise, the other officers who had pressured the Red Dragon Legion's officers during the meeting shrank back, watching Victor's expression.
They figured that since they had crossed him, retaliation was inevitable in some form.
"..."
However, the Red Dragon Legion officers merely watched them with faintly flushed, expressionless faces, creating an awkward silence that blanketed the tent.
"The current siege of..."
Florian, growing impatient under Victor's steady gaze, tried to make excuses,
but Axel, who had the fewest qualms, was the first to cautiously explain the 5th Legion's situation.
"...While the legion commander was leading the troops, he fell from his horse and is currently receiving treatment."
Florian stared at Axel in surprise.
"...With the entire legion plunged into chaos right now, spying on each other is less important than straightening things out. The Red Dragon Legion is our ally, and the enemy is the Esperia Kingdom's army."
Axel spoke firmly, and Florian, after deep thought, finally nodded in agreement and backed down.
Victor watched him with an inscrutable expression.
As if he had anticipated Volker's misfortune, there was no hint of agitation on Victor's face.
"Who is currently commanding the 5th Legion?"
"I, Deputy Legion Commander Axel Lübeck, Count, am temporarily taking command of the 5th Legion."
Victor's questioning tone was polite, and Axel relaxed a bit in response,
but then...
"I see. In that case, may I ask Deputy Legion Commander Axel Lübeck a few questions?"
"...Yes."
"First, what is the state of the battle?"
"..."
Victor came out swinging with his opening question.
Axel exchanged glances with the other officers.
Florian nodded in half-resigned fashion, and the others reacted similarly.
"When the legion commander was personally in command, victory was within sight, but we lost most of our siege engines during the hasty retreat. It seems the enemy's catapults were largely neutralized as well, but..."
"Does that mean the 5th Legion cannot launch any further assaults?"
"...Yes."
With the officers' agreement secured, Axel answered Victor's question without regard for Florian's trembling eyes.
"All right. I understand the situation."
Victor's low voice suggested the questioning was over, and Axel and Florian breathed a sigh of relief that he hadn't asked about Volker's condition.
But then,
"From this moment forward, the siege of Serona will be handled by our Red Dragon Legion."
Victor's declaration that they would take over the siege left them flustered once more.
A faint stir rippled through the meeting room.
The 5th Legion officers murmured softly,
"Wh-what do you mean by that? ...Does that mean you'll conduct the siege alongside our 5th Legion?"
Florian shot to his feet and spoke up hastily.
"No. Our legion will handle the siege alone."
Victor's firm reply crushed the hope he harbored.
"I'm not here to ask for cooperation. Our weapons can be dangerous even to those just nearby if they're unprepared, so I've come to request that you fully withdraw your forces to prevent unnecessary casualties among our allies."
"Withdraw the troops...?"
The officers, well aware of why Volker had desperately tried to breach Serona Fortress, went pale.
"...You truly don't need our assistance?"
"Not at present."
"..."
It seemed arrogant, even overconfident, but these men were no longer the unproven new legion they had faced when leaving the meeting hall.
They had already proven their might by capturing La Leon and Adense at astonishing speed, so the 5th Legion officers couldn't confidently refute him as they had before.
"...What do we do?"
"If we're pushed back this far..."
On the contrary, the officers recalled Victor's earlier mention of the 'emperor's gaze' and feared they might truly fall from imperial favor.
"Or would you like to participate in the siege? We don't have enough supplies to arm another army, so providing weapons is out of the question. And the siege guns are extremely loud—the noise alone could have adverse effects if you're too close."
"..."
"Of course, your brave soldiers could always scale ladders and charge the walls barehanded, but I don't want the empire's youth spilling blood pointlessly."
"...I agree. The 5th Legion needs time to regroup anyway, so we'll withdraw our forces for now."
Axel, unwilling to weigh his soldiers' lives against his own safety, consented to Victor's persuasion,
but
"...I need to see it with my own eyes."
"Ho."
Florian reacted vehemently, voicing the officers' unease.
His eyes blazed as he glared at Victor.
"Even if La Leon fell and Adense was captured, we haven't properly verified the process or results. Until we see this siege gun weapon for ourselves..."
"It's hard to believe. I understand."
Victor nodded slightly and looked at the other 5th Legion officers.
"Do you all feel the same?"
"..."
The officers quietly nodded or otherwise assented to Florian's view.
"If you're only agreeing for your own safety, I have no issue showing you."
Having confirmed their intentions, Victor accepted their demand without hesitation.
"Then I'll..."
"I'll witness it too..."
Victor's straightforward approval only heightened the officers' anxiety, but they masked it as best they could and sought to verify the Red Dragon Legion's power firsthand.
At Axel's order, the 5th Legion troops fell back, and the Red Dragon Legion cooled down their siege guns in preparation for the assault.
"...What is this?"
"Earplugs. I'll teach you a few hand signals. Do not remove them until you see the signal to do so."
The 5th Legion officers donned earplugs and stood beside Red Dragon Legion officers, watching the legion move with perfect discipline.
Moments later, after signaling them to brace themselves.
-Kwarung! Kwarururung!
The Red Dragon Legion's artillery opened fire on Serona's walls.
"..."
"Hah..."
The officers who had seen guns or cannons on the battlefield merely reacted with great surprise,
but
"Aaaagh!"
"Divine punishment! It's divine punishment!"
Florian and the rear officers, who had never encountered cannon fire, nearly lost their minds at the world-shattering roar.
They clamped their hands over their ears, squeezed their eyes shut, and trembled violently.
Several more salvos followed at intervals of a few minutes.
The Red Dragon Legion officers signaled to the 5th Legion officers that the bombardment was over.
Hands shaking, they removed their earplugs,
and
"..."
"The walls...?"
They were dumbstruck at the sight of one section of the supposedly impregnable fortress's walls completely demolished.
What the 5th Legion couldn't achieve in days, the Red Dragon Legion had accomplished perfectly in mere hours.
There was no room for doubt.
The Red Dragon Legion marched through the gaping breach in the walls, thoroughly crushing the kingdom forces' negligible resistance.
Once Serona was secured, Victor gathered the 5th Legion officers again.
Victor sat at the center of the round table, but the utterly overwhelmed officers voiced no complaints about it.
"Do you now fully understand what I meant by 'no help needed'?"
"..."
A few officers were still dazed,
and
"W-We had no intention of defying His Majesty's orders! It was just...!"
Florian desperately tried to justify the 5th Legion's—and his own—behavior.
Victor raised a hand to silence him.
"How is Legion Commander Volker's condition?"
He finally asked about Volker's state.
"...They say it's uncertain when he'll wake. He hasn't regained consciousness yet."
Victor grinned at Axel's reply.
"As you've seen, the Red Dragon Legion is strong. But the fact remains that it numbers only ten thousand."
"...!"
"His Majesty's order was to deal a decisive blow to the Esperia Kingdom, and I believe we haven't fully achieved that yet."
The sharper officers, led by Florian, had a shift in their eyes.
"In the current situation, every single soldier is precious if we are to carry out His Majesty's command effectively. What say you?"
"If it's His Majesty's will, it is our duty to obey!"
"I am ever loyal to His Majesty!"
Starting with Florian's shout, the officers clamored their loyalty to the emperor.
Some tried to stay silent, but with those beside them giving pointed looks, they had no choice but to go along.
"...Your resolve and loyalty seem to pierce the heavens. His Majesty would surely be impressed by such a display. Though it seems quite different from the 5th Legion I saw before..."
"Advocating defense and delaying the advance was Legion Commander Volker's arbitrary decision!"
As soon as Victor broached the topic, Florian—who had already cast aside all pride—immediately threw Volker under the bus.
In his mind, the self-justification that Volker's sacrifice was necessary for the 5th Legion was complete.
"I, too, was forced by Legion Commander Volker's coercion..."
"Me too...!"
With even Florian, who had Volker's greatest trust, leading the way, the officers now freely betrayed him without hesitation.
"In other words, you all intended to follow His Majesty's orders, but Legion Commander Volker dared to disobey?"
"...Yes."
"...See to his proper treatment. We will have to hold Legion Commander Volker accountable for defying His Majesty's command."
With Axel's final, reluctant answer,
"We will advance on the Esperia Kingdom's capital, Ordoova. Seeing your spirit, I believe it won't be difficult with the 5th Legion's help."
"Of course!"
"Absolutely!"
The divergent fates of Volker and the 5th Legion were sealed.
A few officers agonized to the end, unable to ride the wave, but not one stepped forward to defend Volker.
Victor smiled with deep satisfaction.