Chapter 158
Chapter 158
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 158
Chapter Title: 54. Siege of the Capital (1)
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"We're targeting the left flank of the undead command unit!"
"Long live His Majesty the Emperor!"
With roars that seemed to shake the heavens and earth, the Heresy Inquisition Force charged at the left side of the undead command unit.
There were undead guarding the left flank, of course, but the true final line of defense—Death Knights and Dullahan units—were all engaged in combat against Raymond and his subordinates.
The remaining undead forces were armored in steel at best, but they were merely Skeleton Knights.
In contrast, the Heresy Inquisition Force was a combat unit rated as the empire's elite even among the Imperial Church.
Especially since they wielded divine power, which was lethal to the undead. When they launched a determined assault on the left flank, the Skeleton Knight unit collapsed pathetically.
"Skeleton Knight unit annihilated!"
"The left flank has fallen!"
The necromancers under Rodin's command shouted. Their voices, drenched in despair, echoed across the battlefield. But Rodin did not retreat. He had never intended to in the first place.
"Lord Rodin!"
"We can't hold any longer!"
The necromancers hastily summoned evil spirits to buy time, but even that wouldn't last long against the Imperial Church's Heresy Inquisition Force, who wielded divine power.
"Lord Rodin! Please!"
A subordinate necromancer guarding Rodin's side cried out in desperation. In that instant, a sharp flash gleamed, and the necromancer's head hit the ground. His headless body then crumpled limply.
The necromancers who had been noisily urging retreat fell silent at once. Having witnessed the summary execution right before their eyes, none dared press for retreat if they valued their lives.
"I said it once before: we are not retreating."
As Rodin spoke coldly, Bishop Receiver's Heresy Inquisition Force breached the left flank and closed in right up to them. The swordmaster-level Death Knight that had blocked Raymond's path lost even its right arm and was torn apart by swords and spears across its entire body. Yet no one dared urge retreat.
"Th-the enemy has breached the command unit!"
Someone shouted. The necromancers hurriedly raised their weapons. Some drew green magic circles with their staves, while others unsheathed swords imbued with wicked curses.
"You wicked horde of evil. Receive the righteous judgment of imperial authority."
Bishop Receiver slowly narrowed the distance, raising a scythe with a sinister appearance. Before long, the inquisitors of the Heresy Inquisition Force had surrounded Rodin and the necromancers.
"D-damn it!"
"Lord Rodin... These bastards' attire matches the Heresy Inquisition Force of the Imperial Church, said to have vanished in ancient times."
"Where the hell did they..."
The inquisitors spread out on all sides. Completely surrounded, the necromancers grew agitated. Only Rodin maintained calm breathing and silently held his position.
"These wicked ones dared challenge the sovereign imperial authority. Inquisitors, hasten and sever their necks."
"Understood!"
"Long live His Majesty the Emperor!"
At Bishop Receiver's command, the Heresy Inquisition Force's inquisitors roared and sprang into action. Necromancers fell, spraying blood under the blades of zealots.
"Kukuku, kuahaha! Come on, then, fanatics of the Emperor!"
Rodin laughed like a madman as he drew his sword.
He was a necromancer. Having walked the path of magic, he could no longer forge a mana sword, but his swordsmanship, honed since childhood, had not rusted.
With each swing of his blade, inquisitors fell one by one, spilling blood. They were experts wielding swords infused with divine power, but Rodin's swordsmanship was no joke either. In the end, Bishop Receiver, who had been watching, stepped forward himself.
Gripping a massive scythe in his right hand.
"Long live His Majesty the Emperor."
As Bishop Receiver's eyes turned ice-cold, his figure was sucked into the darkness. By the time Rodin sensed the presence, his back was already exposed.
"Receive the judgment of imperial authority!"
With a sharp cry, Bishop Receiver swung the massive scythe. Rodin hastily pulled back his sword into a defensive stance and swung his staff in his left hand to raise a wall of bone, but the explosive divine power in the scythe raged, brutally shattering everything in its path.
"Kugh, kraaaagh!"
A scream of agony rang out as his severed arm rolled across the ground. Rodin had lost his left arm—the one holding the staff, no less.
To a mage, a staff was like a knight's sword, so he had now lost a portion of his magical power.
"Youuuu scum!"
"Long live His Majesty the Emperor."
"Guhk!"
With a cold voice, the massive scythe swung and cleaved Rodin's neck.
For Rodin—a high-ranking executive of the Apocalypse Society, known as the Night Executioner and a figure who ruled in terror among those who lurked in the shadows—it was an anticlimactic end. ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "The enemy remnants are few! Charge and annihilate them!"
At Marquis Crayer's shout, the knight order charged ferociously into the enemy lines. In the border region, they had slain Rodin and utterly destroyed his undead legion.
Afterward, the Philius Empire's forces advanced deep into the territory of the Jeist Mage Kingdom, clashing with Marquis Hellings' border troops at the boundary leading into Count Pelkins' domain.
Marquis Hellings requested reinforcements from Count Pelkins, but the plea was ignored.
Count Pelkins was no fool; he had obtained information that King Rudel was siding with the Philius Empire's forces.
In the end, Marquis Hellings' army had to fight without reinforcements and, unable to withstand the overwhelming numerical disadvantage, suffered defeat.
"Show mercy to those who surrender."
Raymond declared, and heralds propagated the imperial edict. True to the Philius Empire's forces, who prioritized the Emperor's command above all, the order was strictly followed.
Thanks to the gold from the Black Mountains' mines, supplies were abundant, so even with a significant number of prisoners, it posed no issue for the advance.
Thus, the Philius Empire's forces crossed the domain boundary and entered Count Pelkins' territory. But Count Pelkins' domain troops made no appearance.
During the march to the central city, not a single Pelkins family banner was to be seen anywhere.
"Your Majesty. We will soon arrive at the central city of Count Pelkins' domain."
The central city, the heart of the domain, was just ahead. At Marquis Crayer's report, Raymond nodded quietly and spoke.
"Select a hundred cavalry from the mercenary forces to form an additional scout unit and send them out on reconnaissance."
"It will be done at once, Your Majesty."
There could be no complacency. The terrain near Count Pelkins' central city was heavily forested, so ambushes could not be ruled out. Raymond directly instructed Marquis Crayer, the mercenary forces' commander, to oversee the scouts.
A hundred cavalry were selected to form the additional scout unit. They merged with the existing scouts and conducted wide-ranging reconnaissance.
And the next day, the scouts brought unexpected news.
"A white flag was raised over the central city."
Early in the morning, the scout unit's lead commander visited the command tent and reported in a calm voice.
In the worldview of Empire of the Dead, a white flag carried religious connotations at times, but more often signified surrender.
"Any traps or ambushes?"
At Marquis Crayer's question, the scout commander slowly shook his head and replied.
"We deployed seven scout teams and thoroughly searched the area, but there were none at all. No ambushes or traps. I guarantee it."
He expressed strong confidence. And rightly so—not only had they deployed seven teams, but they had double- and triple-checked everything, giving him firm conviction in the results.
"What should we do?"
"Shouldn't we advance to the central city first?"
The commanders offered their opinions. As the discussion heated up, Raymond, who had been silent, quietly spoke.
"No need to overthink it. They must have heard that we've secured King Rudel from the border forces and acted ahead of time. And with ambushes and traps confirmed absent, all that's left is to march to the central city with the white flag, isn't it?"
The commanders nodded in agreement with Raymond’s words. That day, the forces of the Philius Empire reorganized their formation and headed straight for Count Pelkins’ central city.
"A white flag really is up!"
Silvia's eyes widened. Her voice rose in genuine surprise.
As she said, atop the tall towers of Pelkins' central city, white flags fluttered in place of the count's family and domain banners.
"The central city's gates are opening."
"Vanguard! Prepare to respond!"
Gestain said in a steady voice. Commanders followed, infusing their shouts with mana as they bustled about.
Even with a white flag raised, there was a chance of a mad cavalry charge, so the vanguard troops tensely watched the gates.
But contrary to expectations, those emerging from the gates were an envoy delegation bearing white flags.
Count Pelkins' banner was visible too. Their escort consisted only of a few lightly armed knights.
They shook the white flags repeatedly, emphasizing their lack of intent to fight, before slowly approaching on horseback.
"What shall we do?"
One commander cautiously asked Raymond.
"Order the troops to clear a path. I should meet them in person."
The formation parted. The envoys entered deep into the Philius Empire's camp. Raymond met them directly.
"Are you Count Pelkins?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
A blond middle-aged man standing at the center of the envoys stepped forward and answered. It was Count Pelkins.
"If you just confirm that His Majesty the King is safe, we will surrender."
It was as expected. Count Pelkins must have heard through some intelligence network about King Rudel's brief appearance at the border.
It was no difficult request, so Raymond readily nodded and ordered the Royal Guard to fetch King Rudel.
In the heavy silence, only Count Pelkins and his envoys waited tensely for King Rudel.
How much time passed? King Rudel entered the tent.
"Your Majesty the King!"
The tense Count Pelkins brightened. The faces of his envoys lit up as well.
"Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, Count Pelkins."
King Rudel replied calmly to Count Pelkins' question.
"I'm relieved you're safe, Your Majesty."
Though he looked a bit fatigued, King Rudel appeared unscathed, and Count Pelkins sighed in relief.
"Now it's time for you to keep your promise, Count Pelkins."
At Raymond's quiet words, Count Pelkins slowly nodded and spoke.
"Of course, Your Majesty."
Count Pelkins kept his word. He formally declared surrender, allowing the Philius Empire's forces to pass through his domain peacefully.
In truth, Count Pelkins had expressed a desire to personally protect King Rudel, but Raymond firmly refused.
There was nothing more Count Pelkins could do, so he had no choice but to accept it.
After Count Pelkins' official surrender declaration, the lords along the path to the Jeist Mage Kingdom's capital began surrendering one after another.
The process accelerated once Count Roak became the second.
Though the Apocalypse Society had seized the capital, they hadn't extended their reach to the neighboring lords, leaving no way to stop their surrenders.
"Your Majesty. The Jeist Mage Kingdom's capital central city is just ahead."
How long had they marched without rest since entering the capital? Kasias reported that the capital's central city was near.
Soon after the report, the outline of the capital's central city came into view in the distance.
Raymond let out a small gasp of admiration at the sight of the capital's central city shrouded in faint mist due to the weather. It was befitting the heart of the magic-advanced Jeist Mage Kingdom.
"Shall we surround and attack immediately?"
"No, first we'll send King Rudel forward to urge surrender."
Raymond shook his head at Marquis Crayer's question.
"It's under the Apocalypse Society's control. They probably won't surrender."
"But like at the border, we can shake the soldiers' morale."
"As per Your Majesty's command."
After a brief discussion, the Philius Empire's forces' course of action was decided. The encirclement of the capital's central city began.
Once the encirclement was complete, King Rudel stepped forward to urge surrender. As Marquis Crayer predicted, it had little effect, but to Raymond's eyes, faint cracks were beginning to form in the defensive walls guarding the capital.
"Just as planned."
Raymond murmured quietly, gazing at the complex expressions on the faces of the soldiers atop the walls.