Blanc Arrives on the Southern Front
The imperial palace's conference hall.
In a room that would normally buzz with heated debates, a heavy silence hung thick, laced with unmistakable tension.
“Your Majesty. The movements of the barbaric tribes advancing southward from the border regions have grown increasingly concerning.”
The empire’s advisor offered a cautious report, eyes flicking nervously toward the Emperor.
“Concerning? What in the world are those primitive brutes up to that has them acting like this?”
“It is… their tactics have changed drastically from before. Normally they would at least employ minimal beast-like strategies, using terrain or ambushes.”
The advisor swallowed hard, his voice trembling as he continued.
“Now they charge forward without a shred of concern for our casualties or sacrifices.”
Whispers erupted among the nobles seated around the table.
Even the most primitive barbarians were still humans who thought with their heads. That much the nobles who had fought them already knew.
Especially since they called one another brothers, and valued a brother’s life above all else.
Suicide charges from such warriors? It was an incomprehensible tactic.
Karsion tapped his fingers idly on the armrest of his throne, lost in deep thought for a moment.
“Too organized for mere madness. Have you found any other anomalies?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. No anomalies detected yet. We cannot even begin to guess why the enemy has suddenly gone this mad.”
“Hmph…”
Karsion scanned his advisors before speaking again.
“Then what is their primary target? Where are they concentrating their strikes?”
A general in charge of the military hurriedly unrolled a massive map across the table.
“This is truly strange, Your Majesty. They are not advancing toward the fertile plains or the relatively undefended border provinces as expected, but in an entirely different direction.”
The general traced the line slowly across the map.
The red ink representing the barbaric tribes’ path.
Karsion’s golden eyes, following the line intently, turned icy with killing intent.
“These mad fools…”
A low chuckle escaped Karsion’s lips.
The red line on the map bypassed the fertile plains and forward bases entirely, heading straight for one single location.
“They’re aiming here. They’re going after the capital.”
The chill in Karsion’s voice made the advisors staring at the map widen their eyes in shock.
“The… the capital?!”
“Barbaric primitives daring to strike the imperial capital itself?!”
“How arrogant and insolent!”
“Your Majesty! Allow me to lead the charge! I’ll leave none of their bones behind!”
Karsion looked at the snarling advisors and swept them with a cold, piercing gaze, then lowered his chin.
Blind suicide charges aimed at the capital. There is something behind all this.
“Kyahooo… I’m so bored.”
I stretched lazily on the soft carpet, belly up and paws dangling.
Butler #1, Kailian, had been summoned to the Emperor’s meeting but showed no sign of returning soon.
“Oppa! Look! I can write now!”
Lumia sat beside me, scribbling crooked letters on a small piece of paper.
“Kyah.”
Oh, it’s starting to look like actual writing.
At first it had been impossible to read, but now it was taking shape as letters.
“Heh, you can’t write, Oppaaaa. Now I can even write my own name.”
“Kyah!”
I can write my paw-print properly if you give me the chance!
I tried to move the stiff toes of my front paw.
… Damn.
I slid my paw under the table so Lumia wouldn’t notice.
Creak.
The heavy study door opened, and Butler #1 entered looking exhausted.
“Kyah!”
Butler! She’s teasing me that I can’t write!
I leaped off the floor and dashed over in a single breath, flopping onto Kailian’s legs with a slap.
Kailian staggered for a moment before letting out a soft laugh and scooping me up.
“Blanc, have you been good?”
She gently stroked my head.
But something felt off in her touch today, a strange tension beneath the affection.
“Kyah?”
Why the sad face? What happened?
I tilted my head curiously, and Kailian paused her stroking, meeting my eyes with a bitter expression.
“Blanc… I won’t be here for a while. I’ll need to take a few days off.”
“…Kyah?”
What? Where are you going?
My eyes grew round.
“The barbaric tribes have suddenly advanced toward the capital. Our southern defense line is crumbling… so I’ll have to take the field myself.”
War… yeah, this isn’t exactly a place where wars are rare.
“Kyah!”
I’m going too! Take me with you!
I wiggled my front paws in the air as if ready to fight beside her.
I’d definitely win if I fired a beam, right?
But Kailian poked my nose with her finger and shook her head firmly.
“No, Blanc. No matter how strong you are, I don’t want to bring you to war… I don’t want you seeing that dirty sight.”
She set me down on the floor and spoke with uncharacteristic gravity.
p>Stay quietly in the palace, understand? Don’t even think about following me.
“Kyahuu!”
I don’t want to! I’m coming too!
I sat on the floor and puffed out my cheeks.
I immediately dashed back to Kailian and clamped my front paws around her leg.
“Don’t pull me off! That’s not why I want to come along—war is fun!”
“Kyah!”
It’s because you’ll get hurt, dummy!
I glared at Kailian, who clearly didn’t understand my words, and pressed even closer.
Kailian huffed in exasperation as she tried to pry me off, but the door swung open just then and Emperor Carchion entered.
Crash!
“That guy really has a stubborn streak. Who does he take after?”
The Emperor looked at me clinging to Kailian’s leg and smiled warmly.
“Ah, Aba-mama? Why are you here?”
“I came to have one last conversation before sending my daughter. From what I see, it seems Blanc here really wants to follow you around.”
Emperor Carchion stroked my head gently.
“Take Blanc to the battlefield with you.”
“What?! That’s…!”
Kailian’s eyes nearly popped out of her head.
“Take Blanc to the battlefield?!”
Kailian jumped in protest, but Emperor Carchion chuckled and shook his head.
“No matter how much you try to talk him out of it, you won’t be able to break that stubbornness of his.”
“Th-that’s…”
“And if you’re worried, just make sure he’s well-protected. My grandchild is no fragile toy.”
“Kyah.”
Grandpa is so good at talking!
I nodded vigorously at Emperor Carchion’s words and rubbed my head against Kailian.
“Kyah!!”
See? Grandpa approved! Let’s go together!
My cuteness made Kailian sigh deeply.
“Haa… fine… let’s go.”
In the end, I boarded the carriage heading south with Kailian.
Clank, clank.
The journey with the empire’s elite knights to the south was far rougher than I expected.
…Boring.
Inside the carriage, Kailian’s exasperated glare while I only pouted made me yawn repeatedly.
“Blanc, remember this. When we arrive, absolutely do not do anything dangerous. If you charge into the enemy lines without my permission, your snacks will be confiscated.”
Kailian lectured me the entire way in the carriage.
“Kyah~ Kyah.”
I know, okay. You’re underestimating me too much.
I yawned lazily and swished my tail.
Anyone watching would think I live without thinking at all.
I make plans too, you know. I live accordingly.
I even know how to eat snacks seven times a day!
Creak.
“We’ve arrived, Your Highness!”
As I stepped out of the carriage, the reek of blood and rotting flesh hit me like a wall.
A thick, disgusting stench of blood and flesh thick enough to numb my sensitive nose.
I instinctively shrank behind Kailian’s leg and pressed close.
“Kyah.”
I need to ask Rosalia to make a scent-masking magical tool next time.
As I tucked my tail and hid, Kailian stroked my head and surveyed our surroundings.
Scattered around the forward camps were wounded soldiers bandaged and moaning, broken weapons lying everywhere.
“Your Highness! You’ve come!”
A man who looked like the frontline commander ran over, covered in dirt, and dropped to one knee.
Kailian frowned at the injured soldiers.
“The casualties are far worse than reported. What exactly is going on?”
The general removed his helmet and let out a deep sigh.
“For the past few days, the enemy has suddenly snapped and started charging like rabid dogs. Even with arrows through their eyes or limbs severed, they keep pushing forward without a single scream.”
“Even with limbs cut off, they still charge?”
“Yes. Their persistence is breaking our formations because our soldiers can’t stand to watch.”
“Kyah.”
See? I have work to do right now.
Boosting morale is my specialty.
I flashed a grin at Kailian.
Time to show off the majesty of the Divine Beast properly.