Chapter 126
Chapter 126
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 126
Chapter Title: Blitzkrieg (3)
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With the mid-level commanders and lesser nobles assassinated in droves, the morale of the Free Isiria Kingdom's army, led by the 3rd Marshal, Marquis Diref, had hit rock bottom.
Even after promoting lower commanders and rehiring some of the lordless troops as mercenaries, restoring morale and quelling the chaos was no easy task.
In the end, Marquis Diref had no choice but to delay the attack on the Philius Empire's detached force for reorganization.
While the forces led by the 3rd Marshal, Marquis Diref, reorganized in front of Raymond's army, Count Denitz led the Philius Empire's main force in a fierce assault on the central city of Marquis Ireiser's territory.
As a result, the 5th Marshal, Marquis Lanins, lost his life, and the army he commanded was utterly destroyed.
"Reinforcements will arrive soon! Just hold on a little longer!"
Marquis Ireiser himself dashed along the walls of the besieged central city, rallying the soldiers, but the reinforcements never came.
Soon after, the city gates were shattered by the Azure Tower Lord and Crimson Tower Lord, and Philius Empire troops poured in.
The Ireiser territory forces were exhausted from fighting enemies on both front and rear. In contrast, Count Denitz's army was brimming with sky-high morale and well-supplied.
The Ireiser territory forces couldn't hold out for even a day once the siege began.
In about 26 hours, the Ireiser central city fell into the hands of the Philius Empire army.
At the same time.
Raymond, taking a walk in the night breeze to clear his thoughts, felt his depleted Dominance suddenly begin to recover.
'Has something changed?'
Assuming indirect intervention could restore Dominance, it was likely related to Marquis Ireiser's territory. Count Denitz, under his orders, was conquering it, so a favorable outcome would naturally replenish his Dominance.
And sure enough, a messenger came galloping from afar. It had to be news from Count Denitz regarding Marquis Ireiser's territory.
"Your Majesty the Emperor!"
The messenger rushed up, dropping to one knee in salute. His energetic demeanor was enough to confirm it was a report of victory.
"Grand Marshal's forces have captured the Ireiser central city!"
Raymond unconsciously clenched his fist at the report. Had there been no onlookers, he might have let out a cheer.
"The Grand Marshal is currently deploying troops to mop up remnants in the central city and marquisate. Additionally, 15,000 troops for rotation with the detached force are en route here."
The detached force hadn't yet clashed properly with the 3rd Marshal Marquis Diref's army, but until recently, they had been locked in fierce combat with the Ireiser territory forces.
None of the soldiers in the detached force were unwearied, so Count Denitz's decision to send fresh troops for rotation was spot-on.
"When will they arrive?"
"No later than five days from now, they'll reach the defensive position here and begin the rotation."
"Good work."
Raymond nodded with satisfaction and dismissed the messenger.
Now, five days left. After that, he could bid farewell to this place for a while. He glanced at the night sky before turning toward his tent.
The five days predicted by the messenger flew by, and as promised, 15,000 troops arrived at the border of Marquis Ireiser's territory guarded by the detached force. The commander of the 15,000-strong unit was Count Danchi.
"Your Majesty the Emperor. We will guard the defensive line with our lives."
Leaving Count Danchi and his 15,000 resolute troops behind, Raymond led his roughly 20,000 detached force toward the Ireiser central city.
The central city, reached after nearly a week's short journey, bore the scars of battle everywhere.
No bodies remained, but the walls were pockmarked with damage, and red bloodstains were easy to spot throughout the city.
"Your Majesty the Emperor. Welcome to Ireiser central city."
Count Denitz greeted him with his attendants. Raymond joined them and entered the lord's castle.
As Raymond took the lord's seat, the commanders and nobles, including Count Denitz, naturally lined up on either side.
"What of Marquis Ireiser?"
He hadn't received a report on his whereabouts. Occasionally, reports got omitted due to errors by messengers or top mages handling magical communication, so Raymond asked patiently, with no intent to blame.
"Marquis Ireiser lost his life during the siege. We recovered the body and held a proper funeral."
Raymond nodded slowly in satisfaction at Count Denitz's report. Even for an enemy noble, protocol demanded a minimal funeral with due respect. It was a clean resolution.
"How far along is the full occupation?"
They had planted the Philius Empire flag in the Black Mountains, but this was their first proper conquest of foreign territory in this war. Trial and error was expected, as were resistance pockets.
"Progressing smoothly. However, I can't guarantee security if the garrison troops advance to the front lines."
"What do you mean by that, Count Denitz?"
"Just as I said. We're maintaining order in the occupied territories through overwhelming force. If those troops move north, security could deteriorate sharply."
Raymond nodded slowly at Count Denitz's words. The Philius Empire hadn't expanded territory in centuries, so strategies for holding conquests had been largely lost.
Intelligence agencies could help suppress resistance, but the Central Intelligence Agency was tied up monitoring the 3rd Marshal Marquis Diref's army, with no spare manpower.
His head began to ache from the complications. Raymond grimaced, feeling the sharp pain, and lifted the mug from the side table to his lips. Gulping cold water cleared his muddled mind somewhat.
"We'll discuss the rest tomorrow."
It was nearing midnight, and Raymond was exhausted from constant frontline tension.
The other commanders and nobles agreed, and everyone left the lord's hall.
Raymond headed to the bedroom. It had been Marquis Ireiser's, but Raymond would use it for now.
Before entering, Desia and Sylvia checked security once more. While scanning the room, Desia, who seemed hesitant, suddenly mustered courage and spoke.
"Your Majesty the Emperor. Your shoulders seem really tense. May I give you a massage?"
"Not a bad idea."
Though she braced for refusal, Raymond nodded readily, brightening her face.
"Lady Sylvia. Let's check the corridor's security for a moment."
"Yes, let's."
Gestain unnecessarily asked Sylvia to accompany him for a corridor recheck—something the Royal Guard could handle. Sylvia withdrew her odd gaze from Desia and exited with Gestain. Now, only Desia and Raymond remained in the bedroom.
"Please sit here, Your Majesty."
Desia brought a plush chair. Raymond sat without protest.
He removed his uniform jacket, which might hinder the massage, and felt her soft hands touch him.
"Your shoulders are really knotted."
Her gentle voice reached him. With no relaxation since the war began, it was inevitable.
"I'll loosen them up."
The tightly knotted muscles began to relax under her touch.
Raymond entrusted his body to her with a relaxed expression. Forgotten fatigue washed over him, bringing drowsiness.
"You're good at this."
"I've practiced a lot."
Desia smiled sweetly at his question. She didn't say for whom, but it was obvious. Raymond feigned disinterest, of course.
"Mm."
As fatigue eased, his eyes grew heavy.
He fought sleep stubbornly, but Desia noticed from behind and spoke with a faint smile.
"Go ahead and sleep. I'll use magic to move you to bed."
He'd forgotten she wasn't an ordinary woman. Raymond chuckled and nodded, surrendering to sleep. He drifted off completely soon after.
Desia stopped the massage, used simple magic to transfer him to bed, and tucked him in.
"Sleep well, Your Majesty the Emperor."
Leaving a sweet voice and fresh smile, Desia left the bedroom.
A masked man walked a forest path shrouded in deep darkness. His black robe fluttered in the cold wind.
After about ten minutes, he slowly lifted his head toward the night sky. His hood fell back, revealing his mask clearly.
It was the mask of the Herald of Doom, Richard Palaer. He stared at the dark night sky for a long while before lowering his gaze and speaking.
"Doesn't that black night sky feel just like the future of the Western Continent?"
"Talking like Baron Sidington, are we, Herald of Doom?"
Another black-robed man emerged from the shadows. Removing his hood revealed a golden-haired elf's face. He was Rodin, the exiled elf known as the Night Executioner.
"Implying I'll die like Baron Sidington?"
Richard unleashed a sharp aura—not a threat, but a simple warning.
Rodin felt his breath catch under the viscous, menacing pressure that eroded the surrounding mana.
Instead of countering, Rodin stepped back. Pride-stinging, but he lacked confidence in winning against Richard right now.
The Herald of Doom was one of the Apocalypse Society's most powerful high executives; facing him would require mobilizing his entire undead legion.
"Whoa, calm down. I have zero intention of fighting you."
"That's fortunate."
Only after Rodin raised both hands did Richard retract his aura. Rodin let out a short sigh and approached.
"Any special directives from the Society?"
Richard asked. Despite the deaths of high executives like Dominion Elpis and Spirit Proxy Od, the Society had been eerily quiet lately.
The Society Richard knew wasn't this subdued, so it was suspicious.
"Nothing special beyond 'prioritize personal safety for now.' Same as you."
"Indeed."
"But you know as well as I do. The Society goes quiet, then suddenly drops shocking orders on us."
Rodin grinned like a mischievous child. Richard nodded lightly in agreement.
As he said, the Apocalypse Society was never docile. No directive yet, but the top council must be plotting something.
"Still, we can't just sit idle."
"Herald of Doom, Richard Palaer. Got some interesting plan?"
Rodin's eyes sparkled at Richard's words.
A plan from the preacher of doom would likely claim thousands, even tens of thousands of lives.
But to Rodin, even that was just 'interesting.'
No normals in the Apocalypse Society, but the high executives were especially twisted.
"The greatest threat to the decree of doom right now is the Philius Empire. Agree?"
Though personal grudge fueled his claim, the unaware Rodin nodded slowly.
"Get to the point."
"You know the Three Kingdoms Alliance is the force we've corrupted most."
"The point!"
"We can't just watch their losses pile up. So, I'm thinking of halting the Philius Empire army's advance."
Rodin nodded but frowned at Richard's words. Good intent, but no forces to execute it.
"You're not thinking of using my undead legion, are you? Got other plans for them."
"Is that necessary?"
"What do you mean?"
"The resistance in Marquis Ireiser's territory. Arming them should suffice, don't you think?"
A sinister smile surely hid beneath the mask.