Chapter 281: Conclusion (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 281: Conclusion (1)
A ceasefire order.
The situation had changed.
The moment Marquis Memphis left the audience chamber after receiving the Kronos Emperor's command to end the war, he immediately summoned his subordinate.
"Report the situation."
"The operation is proceeding as planned. Our commanders successfully warped into the capitals of the Umberto and Odelia Kingdoms. In Odelia, our forces are currently wiping out the remnants holding out in the inner castle. It will take a few days at most before both kingdoms declare their surrender."
"…It is too late to turn back."
This operation was a two-pronged offensive. While Duke Bamford's 300,000-strong army crushed Dmitry from the front, another force was to secure a bloodless entry into the Umberto and Odelia Kingdoms under the guise of an alliance. The Kronos Empire's ambition for continental conquest left no room for vassal states. They intended to be the sole remaining nation. They had lured Umberto and Odelia with sweet words, but from the very beginning, they never had any intention of keeping their promises.
This world operated on the logic of absolute power. Even if the weak cried out about faith and loyalty later, the remnants of a fallen nation could do nothing.
The problem is that His Majesty the Emperor wants a ceasefire.
According to the original plan, conquering Odelia and Umberto was just the first step to swallowing the entire Kingdom Alliance. Crushing that ragtag alliance wouldn't be difficult, but to proceed with the ceasefire negotiations with Dmitry, they couldn't afford to completely destroy the Kingdom Alliance right now.
It was an awkward situation.
Irritation flared within Memphis. The Kronos Emperor's sudden change of heart had made a mess of everything, but he couldn't simply withdraw the empire's soldiers just to obey the command. The sword had already been drawn. If they sheathed it without cutting anything—if they failed to secure any practical gains—the Kronos Empire would become a laughingstock.
Especially after the defeat on the Western Front.
If they pulled back now, it would look as though the mighty Kronos Empire was terrified by a single loss and fleeing with its tail between its legs.
"…What shall we do?" the subordinate asked cautiously.
With the fall of Odelia right before them, Marquis Memphis's next words would determine the fate of an entire kingdom.
His deliberation was long. Finally, he made his decision.
"We proceed with the operation. First, we conquer Umberto and Odelia. Then, we use them as hostages to extract favorable terms in the ceasefire negotiations with Dmitry. I will report this to His Majesty the Emperor myself. Tell the commanders executing the operation that they have exactly three days. Within that time, they must secure absolute control over Umberto and Odelia."
"Understood."
The subordinate quickly withdrew.
The war had already begun. There was no stopping it now.
Roman Dmitry. Things will not go as you wish.
He could never allow an ending where the prestige of the Kronos Empire was tarnished.
* * *
They were utterly helpless.
By the time they finally grasped the situation, Odelia's capital was already burning fiercely, teetering on the precipice of ruin.
"Your Majesty! Two battalions of the royal army have already been wiped out! The Warp Gate has completely fallen into enemy hands, and there is no way to stop the Kronos soldiers pouring through!"
"It's a disaster! The Kronos 4th Knights Division is among the mobilized forces! The Royal Knights stepped forward to stop them, but they were massacred by their commander! At this rate, it is only a matter of time before the inner castle falls. You must flee immediately!"
"Our retreat is cut off! There is nowhere left to run!"
Desperate reports flooded the throne room.
Looking at his subordinates, who were screaming in ear-splitting panic with despair-ridden faces, the King of Odelia couldn't collect his thoughts. His head spun dizzily. When he had secretly plotted a future with Kronos, he had believed it was the right choice for the kingdom's survival, no matter how miserable it made them. Yet, the reality unfolding before his eyes was unimaginably hopeless.
It was over.
Beyond the inner castle, a brutal massacre was taking place.
Abandoning the citizens who begged for their lives and cried out for help, the King of Odelia had locked the gates of the inner castle just to survive. The frantic pounding on the heavy iron doors echoed from outside. The desperate pleas of his subjects quickly turned to anger, and the voices cursing their king eventually faded into agonizing screams.
He was cornered.
With a pale, bloodless face, the King of Odelia ordered, "Do not open the gates under any circumstances! We will fight to the death here until the very end!"
He knew the truth.
The Kronos Empire would never let him live. The moment the inner castle fell, his head would be severed from his neck. But he couldn't die like this. The only reason he had fluttered back and forth between factions like a bat was because his attachment to his own life was just that strong.
The inner castle was sturdy.
It would take a few days for the enemy to breach it, which meant he had to find a way to resolve this crisis before then.
Just then, a messenger arrived with unbelievable news.
"Dmitry has won the total war against Kronos! The Empire mobilized a hidden 8th Circle Mage and Hannibal, the second-ranked warrior in the Kronos Ranking, but they were both slain by Roman Dmitry! We severely underestimated Dmitry's potential. They truly defeated the Kronos Empire without relying on the Kingdom Alliance!"
The report left the King utterly astonished.
Even when Dmitry had made unprecedented moves, starting with their victory at Rascal, he had firmly believed they would inevitably fall to the main army of the Kronos Empire. It was the only logical conclusion. Guerrilla warfare was merely a desperate tactic born from a lack of strength; the objective difference in military power was simply too extreme.
Yet, they had won a head-on total war.
His legs giving out, the King of Odelia slumped into his throne with a dazed expression.
"…Dmitry won?"
He felt as if he were losing his mind.
Dmitry.
Their victory was a miraculous outcome that defied all probability. It wasn't just an absurd result—it was an absolute impossibility. And because he had judged it to be impossible, he had clung to the coattails of the Kronos Empire just to survive.
Where on earth had things gone wrong?
Hector, Redford, and Frank had placed their absolute trust in Roman Dmitry. Was the problem his own lack of foresight? Had he simply failed to recognize a sleeping dragon?
No. It wasn't.
They were the ones who were out of their minds. Any rational person would have made the exact same decision he did.
What is certain is that Dmitry defeated the Kronos Empire, and Kronos broke its promise by attacking Odelia. This might actually be an opportunity. Dmitry possesses enough power to defeat Kronos. If they take our side and don't abandon Odelia, we can survive this crisis.
He snapped back to reality.
Odelia wasn't finished yet.
His choice had been wrong, but there was still a chance to rectify his mistake.
"Connect a magic communication to Dmitry right now! Immediately!"
It was his last lifeline.
As the King of Odelia screamed his orders, the raw desperation of a cornered man was plain for all to see.
* * *
The screen flickered to life, revealing Roman Dmitry's figure.
The moment he saw Roman's face, the King of Odelia spoke, looking as if he might burst into tears at any second.
"The Kronos Empire has attacked Odelia! We are currently holding out inside the inner castle, but at this rate, its fall is only a matter of time. Lord Roman Dmitry, please help us! Save Odelia from the evil clutches of the Empire!"
It was an earnest plea.
Throwing away his royal pride, he desperately appealed to Roman's emotions.
[Why should Dmitry help you?]
"…What?"
The response was freezing cold.
Roman Dmitry didn't sympathize with Odelia's disastrous situation in the slightest.
[The fact that the Kronos Empire attacked Odelia's capital means you allowed them to use your Warp Gate. I have no intention of criticizing you for not taking Dmitry's side. However, you must take responsibility for your choices. If you plotted a scheme in cooperation with the Kronos Empire, shouldn't you resolve it yourself—even if they betrayed you?]
The King's face turned ashen.
His betrayal had been exposed.
Roman Dmitry had known the truth all along, yet he hadn't stopped the Odelia Kingdom from aligning with the Kronos Empire. If their loyalty was going to sway like reeds in the wind anyway, they would have only been a hindrance. Roman had left the choice in their hands, and now, it was time for them to pay the price for that choice.
The King of Odelia stammered, "W-We were wrong a hundred, a thousand times over! But even so, you cannot just watch Odelia be destroyed like this! The Kingdom Alliance, formed by the four southern kingdoms, is the last bastion maintaining the balance of the continent! If the Odelia and Umberto Kingdoms fall into the hands of the Empire... do you think Dmitry can handle a Kronos that has swallowed the entire Alliance? It will be the end for you as well! The fall of Odelia is not a matter to be taken lightly!"
Even amidst his desperate pleading, he subtly mixed in a threat, emphasizing that Odelia's fate was directly tied to Dmitry's survival.
[You seem to be misunderstanding something.]
The atmosphere shifted.
Discarding even the barest minimum of courtesy, Roman Dmitry directed a chilling gaze at the screen.
[From the very moment the Odelia Kingdom joined the Kronos Empire's operation, you crossed a point of no return. Why should we exert our strength to help you? Furthermore, your entire premise is flawed. Dmitry defeated the Kronos Empire without borrowing a shred of strength from the Kingdom Alliance. We have proven that Dmitry's power alone is enough to stand against the Empire. Do you really think we have any reason to accept a traitor like you? If you wanted to live, you should have knelt and bowed your head from the very beginning. Hector, Redford, Frank, and Umberto. The four kingdoms—excluding Odelia—chose Dmitry. They have entered the fence of my protection.]
The King was completely flabbergasted.
Roman Dmitry's ruthless rejection was shocking enough, but hearing the "Umberto Kingdom" included among those four loyal nations struck him like a physical blow.
[In the new Kingdom Alliance, there is no place for Odelia.]
"W-Wait...!"
Click.
The communication abruptly cut off.
He had intended to kneel and beg for his life, albeit belatedly, but Roman Dmitry hadn't even given him the chance to grovel.
The King felt his entire world collapsing around him.
From the moment the Dmitry Duchy defeated the Kronos Empire head-on, he should have realized that they were an existence equal to Kronos. The titles of 'Duchy' and 'Empire' were meaningless. By betraying Dmitry—a power that had proven its absolute dominance in a single war—Odelia had made a fatal miscalculation.
But Roman Dmitry had clearly stated that Umberto was under his protection.
Trembling violently in his hopeless despair, the King of Odelia initiated a magic communication with the Umberto Kingdom to confirm the truth.
* * *
Drip. Drip.
Blood dripped onto the floor.
A man with long, flowing gray hair answered the magic communication.
[…W-What is the meaning of this?]
On the screen, the King of Odelia's face was contorted in sheer shock.
A gruesome tragedy was displayed before his eyes.
The Umberto royal palace was drenched in blood. Amidst the mangled corpses strewn across the marble floor, the gray-haired man casually answered the call. The man swept his hair back, locking eyes with the King of Odelia. Though the King didn't recognize him at first glance, his identity soon clicked into place.
[…Calderon Drake?!]
The eldest son of the Marquis Drake family.
It was none other than Calderon Drake.
Recognizing his name, Calderon's lips twitched into a cold smirk.
"Judging by your pathetic expression, it seems you accepted the Kronos Empire's proposal. Why on earth did you do that? The Kingdom Alliance is the legacy of our ancestors' deep-seated sorrow, born from their desperate struggle against Kronos's oppression. You shouldn't have betrayed it. That is, if you didn't want to end up like the King of Umberto, who babbled the same nonsense about submitting to the Empire."
Odelia and Umberto.
Their fates had drastically diverged.
While Odelia's royal family had cowardly accepted cooperation with Kronos, the Drake family of the Umberto Kingdom had rebelled against their king's treasonous decision. The Drake family was the absolute symbol of Umberto's military might. Acting on his father's orders, Calderon Drake had stormed the royal palace and personally severed the king's head for all to see.
This massacre was the result.
By bathing the royal court in blood, they had successfully prevented the Kronos Empire from using their Warp Gate.
[…Just when did you abandon us to follow Dmitry?]
"Let's get our facts straight."
Truly, he is a fool.
Not only was the King of Odelia blind to the shifting tides of the continent, but he was also painfully slow-witted.
"We didn't abandon 'us'; we abandoned the Odelia Kingdom alone. And while our former regime might have been on your side, the loyal subjects of the Umberto Kingdom—led by the Drake family—never had the slightest intention of submitting to the Kronos Empire. To be precise, on the exact day Dmitry declared war, we swore our absolute allegiance to Lord Roman Dmitry."
Calderon recalled the memory.
Back when Roman Dmitry had headed to Redford, the Drake family had welcomed a very unexpected guest.