Chapter 71
Chapter 71
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: The Path Forward for Kara Kingdom
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Duke Bastain's army swept across the Epohzeum Mountains like a storm, unstoppable. Numerous checkpoints blocked their path to the mainland, but they crumbled helplessly before the might of the magic cannons I had supplied to his forces, opening the way with ease.
Soon after advancing into the mainland plains, the Bastain army clashed with the 70,000-strong subjugation force commanded by Marquis Vernike. But they were no match for Duke Bastain's troops. It was simply impossible for a hastily assembled army to overcome his elite forces armed with cutting-edge weapons.
The head-on battle between the two sides at the upper reaches of the Sinus River ended anticlimactically after just one day.
With their formations shattered by the magic cannon barrages and their entire cavalry force decimated by the 1,500 riflemen equipped with the mana cartridge launchers I provided—without even putting up a fight—Marquis Vernike had no choice but to surrender.
Two weeks after that battle, the Bastain army arrived before Robros Castle.
Ten thousand defenders against 150,000 besieging troops. The battle seemed poised for a brutal slog, but it wrapped up in less than twenty days. The eastern gate commander, unable to endure the relentless magic cannon fire even during preparations, surrendered at Count Malthus's persuasion, clearing the path.
Bastain then launched a full assault, seizing the capital. He captured and immediately executed King Robros and most of the royal family, proclaiming the founding of the Kingdom of Bastain to the world.
But the war was far from over. Numerous nobles and power brokers dissatisfied with Duke Bastain's rebellion banded together to form a resistance army, plunging the newborn Kingdom of Bastain into a long period of chaos.
Meanwhile, Kara launched its own full-scale conquest, swiftly swallowing up the western great plains forces. Absorbing neutral factions within the plains, it incorporated 18 new castles into its territory and easily overran the remaining 27 hostile ones.
The coastal city-states were particularly easy targets. Though each boasted considerable military strength, they stood no chance against Kara, which had nurtured a formidable army with mere thousands of troops. Joint land-sea operations backed by advanced weaponry left them no room to resist.
In the end, Kara completed its conquest of the western great desert by seizing Andrea Castle last, positioning itself to proudly proclaim its kingdom.
"The top priority is developing Jores Island."
I had brought Padila over and was laying out my vision for her. I was explaining the future direction of her national administration.
Padila eyed Jores Island on the map I'd spread out. Though it paled in comparison to the vastness of the great desert, fully developing it would provide enough land and farmland to relocate the entire Sika tribe and then some.
"Got it. Once we develop it, our kingdom's population will more than double."
She wasn't wrong, but my true aim was a refuge for the era of destruction.
When that time came, the Sika tribe would be the first to fall. The monster great horde would spawn right in the heart of the great desert, with nowhere to flee.
But developing Jores Island would give even them a safe haven to survive for a long time.
"That's not all. Jores Island will become one of the central hubs for maritime trade to come. Ships sailing the world over will have to stop there."
"Like our Kara?"
"Exactly. Which means the Kingdom of Bastain will eye it relentlessly. Other continental powers too, of course. So defenses must be ironclad. Build coastal walls, mass-install magic cannon batteries to target enemy warships. In short, fortress the entire island, even if it costs a fortune."
"Yes. I'll make it the kingdom's first national project and push to develop it as soon as possible."
Fortunately, Padila understood perfectly. And rightly so—Jores Island was far too crucial beyond just being a refuge.
I pointed next to Ramis.
"Send a governor to develop Ramis too. It's just as vital as Jores Island."
Ramis was a trade hub and a key strategic point that absolutely needed development for the future. Kara's citizens would board ships here to evacuate to Jores Island.
"Fortress it as well?"
"Not quite. It's far from the Prosia Continent, so full fortification isn't necessary, but expand the port facilities and shipyards massively. It needs to house a naval base for our main fleet."
Padila glanced back at Jores.
"Wouldn't stationing the main fleet at Jores Island be better?"
"No. Jores is too close to the continent. A surprise attack could wipe out the whole fleet. Better to defend Jores mainly from the coastline while our main fleet sorties from Ramis to hit the enemy from behind."
"Ah, yes. I see."
Padila readily agreed to my grand strategy. She trusted my military prowess. Just recently, I'd repelled the Bastain invasion of the great desert and orchestrated the downfall of the invading Robros Kingdom.
All with only a few hundred casualties. Thanks to that war, I was gaining quite the reputation as one of the continent's top strategists.
I drew lines across the map.
"And we need a road network connecting the cities. At minimum, roads from Kara to Ramis, Kara to Polkin Pass, and linking the coastal cities."
"That'll cost a lot. Can't we use the existing routes?"
Absolutely not. To evacuate masses of refugees stably, we needed paved roads, not bumpy dirt paths. We'd have carts carrying the elderly and children. Facing the era of destruction on these trails would doom the frail ones.
Of course, some losses were inevitable, but saving who we could seemed better.
"Camels alone won't cut it for bulk transport. We need cart roads. Otherwise, the moment the maritime trade era dawns, capital Kara crumbles into a backwater village. We could move the capital to Ramis, but..."
"Yes. I'll do it."
Padila agreed immediately. Kara was her beloved hometown. She had no desire to relocate the capital.
I stared at the road network, deep in thought. Honestly, paved roads alone weren't enough.
Even with them, Kara to Ramis took a month—by army or caravan speed. Most refugees would surely get caught by the monster hordes, leading to disaster.
We needed faster, higher-capacity transport.
"And offer bounties for ideas on new transportation methods."
"What kind?"
"Something that moves large numbers of people and goods quickly over long distances. Put up 10,000 gold riffs right away."
Padila's eyes widened.
"Ten thousand gold riffs?"
"Only then will everyone scramble for it. Transportation is critical. Kara's future hangs on it—life or death. Got it?"
"Yes."
Good, she accepted. She was the world's richest woman, after all. Ten thousand gold riffs were pocket change.
"And improve the magic cannons too."
"How?"
"They're bronze now, right?"
"Yes."
"Bronze is too precious. We need iron ones. Set up a research institute and prototype it."
In the era of destruction, humanity desperately tried making iron magic cannons. Iron was cheaper, lighter, and tougher. But time ran out before success.
If we developed them now, humans could counter monster hordes far more effectively with mass-produced, superior cannons.
"Yes."
"And develop new weapons overall. Kara's population is small. To defend this land from the Kingdom of Bastain, superior arms are our only option."
"I know. I was planning that anyway."
The recent war showcased the magic cannons and mana cartridge rifles.
They let us take castles with minimal losses and revolutionized tactics with rifleman units.
The world was now racing to replicate them. These weapons had shifted warfare's paradigm—adapt or perish.
Padila seemed to grasp this. She'd witnessed firsthand how new arms transformed battles.
"And shut down all mercenary guilds nationwide."
Padila hesitated, objecting for the first time.
"But, Your Grace, who'll hunt monsters without them?"
"The state will. Essences are now a national military resource. We can't let guilds control them."
The great desert dwarfed any continent. Just the western sector rivaled Prosia's size—immense.
Monsters abounded, but Kara had few essences. Guilds had shipped most off-continent.
"But the guilds will push back hard."
"Let them. The people's safety is the state's duty, not mercenaries'. Didn't we see it in the war? Mercenaries didn't defend Kara—it was Sika warriors and the people. We'll hire orc mercenaries, though. They honor loyalty."
"Yes. Understood. I'll do as you say."
Padila nodded without hesitation. She wholeheartedly agreed.
Truth be told, she resented mercenaries too. Human ones had all sided with Robros.
Only dozens stood with Kara, while 17,000 flocked to Robros.
We'd offered higher pay, yet they chose Robros to loot us.
How could we trust them? Better to eliminate guilds and build our own forces.
The only mercenaries worth Kara's grace were the few loyal humans and orcs from this war.
"And build lots more schools."
"Like the Royal Noble Academy?"
"That too, but mass-build ones open to all classes. Ideally mandatory—every kid goes."
"Why?"
Simple. Today's children would be tomorrow's warriors against the monster hordes. Train them early.
"Kara's underpopulated. If continental powers invade, the whole populace fights. Hence education."
"Like the last war?"
"Exactly."
"Yes. Got it."
Padila accepted easily. The last war's victory came from everyone's effort—even if most provided labor, many fought directly.
"Include language, history, math, drill, mana training, and magitech engineering. And set up specialized academies for mana-talented kids."
"Yes. Anything else?"
I shrugged.
"The rest is up to you. You're the ruler of Kara."
"But aren't you the king father?"
"Which is why I stay out of politics. A snake with two heads doesn't last. That's why I made you supreme commander before. I'll step in for crises or advice, but Kara's yours to rule. Clear?"
"Ah... Yes."
I stated my desired policies and stepped back. Politics is a daily headache.
In my past life, I handled it for eight years straight, save the last two. My father was the Iron-Blooded Chancellor, a political titan; brother Yosef, a prodigy hailed as history's greatest young statesman.
Sandwiched between them, no wonder I soured on it. Saw too much ugliness.
King Robros's recent "unjust" death fit that mold. I went easy—if Father were there, he'd uproot Robros entirely, killing the king, Duke Bastain, and Marquis Fabius too.
I walked to the window, gazing at the distant sky.
'To endure the era of destruction longer, the people must grow stronger.'
I believed that because, in that era, it was the common folk who truly held back the monsters. Heroes led, but the masses fought the battles.
That's why most of my suggestions to Padila centered on the people. For humanity to survive longer, every individual needed strength.
< 카라 왕국이 나아갈 길. > End