Chapter 303
Chapter 303
Iron Emperor — Chapter 303
It was not long before a change began to stir along the front, which had settled into a brief lull after the Holy Empire's general mobilization.
Word erupted that the Federal Empire and the Maritime Empire had declared their entry into the war. The reaction came from the Holy Empire first. All of the empire's matériel was being concentrated toward the capital, and the general mobilization accelerated even further. Rumors arrived that a great army of three hundred thousand had already assembled at the capital alone.
Naturally, the defensive lines of the Roselin Kingdom could not help but grow tense at the news. In one sense, the two empires' entry might give some breathing room to the Gauri Alliance, but they also knew that these two empires were no different from the Holy Empire.
"In the end, events are unfolding exactly as expected."
Yeon Hwi-garam, who had approached Go Jin-cheon's side as he watched the soldiers bustling about, quietly spoke.
"Mm."
Jin-cheon answered Hwi-garam's words with a silent nod. Because of the two empires' declaration of war, the leaders of the Tripartite Alliance were gathering daily and holding repeated councils to devise countermeasures.
But as yet, no clear solution had emerged. When even Jin-cheon, who ordinarily opened a path forward, remained silent and merely observed their debates, day after day, the leadership council merely ran in circles.
"It seems something is weighing on you."
"The Holy Empire keeps bothering me."
The concern seeping into Jin-cheon's voice roused Hwi-garam's curiosity.
"What aspect do you mean?"
"The Holy Empire's troop movements."
"Hmm."
At Jin-cheon's words, Hwi-garam too bowed his head slightly and stroked his chin as if sinking into thought. As soon as the two empires' entry into the war became known, the Holy Empire's already-mobilized forces had begun moving en masse toward the western coast and the northern border adjoining the Maritime Empire's continental territory. It was as though the Gauri Alliance's forces did not even register to them.
For the Gauri Alliance, which had bought time, this was fortunate, but Jin-cheon remained silent even during the daily councils, as though it still gnawed at him.
"What is the state of the watch along Roselin's eastern coast?"
"It is said that not a single vessel—not even a fishing boat, let alone a warship—has been sighted."
"Is that so."
The Holy Empire's vanished grand fleet.
What had worried the allies who had survived the First War was precisely the whereabouts of the Holy Empire fleet that had disappeared. Like the Federal Empire's intelligence branch, they too had assessed a high probability that the fleet would land on Roselin's eastern coast.
"What on earth is it?"
Jin-cheon's tone was somber.
The probability was clearly high, yet no news whatsoever had come from the coast entrusted with the watch. The spies planted in the Holy Empire's ports were also not bringing back any related intelligence. In short, it was obvious they were taking a long detour. It was enough to make one wonder whether such extreme caution was truly necessary.
"For now, we have mobilized all wagons and refitted them, and we stand ready to move large-scale forces at any time, so please do not be overly troubled."
"Mm."
At Hwi-garam's words, Jin-cheon nodded with a rigid face.
This was no time for Jin-cheon to waver. Of course, he was not a man who would waver, but his silence had caused King Alsein and the other alliance leaders to begin betraying hints of unease.
"Then again, if you worry too much, you end up unable to act when a real crisis comes."
"To be honest, worrying does not suit you anyway."
"Heh."
At Hwi-garam's nonchalant remark, Jin-cheon let out a short laugh.
"Let us go inside."
"I will remain a while longer before I go."
Jin-cheon answered Hwi-garam's reply simply by raising a hand.
Left alone, Hwi-garam watched Jin-cheon's retreating back and quietly murmured.
"You must always stand proud. My Yeolje."
A gust of wind blew around Hwi-garam, scattering his silver hair in a single tousle before passing on.
Chapter 101 — Envoys from the Empire Coalition
After the Slegian Maritime Empire and the Ameri Federal Empire declared war against the Holy Empire, fresh ripples stirred through the taut Gauri Alliance army. Word came that envoys from the Empire Coalition would be visiting.
For the Gauri-allied nations who had already made an enemy of the Holy Empire, a visit from the envoys of the two great empires could not be anything but a monumental event. They were not in a position to make enemies of them as well, yet neither could they welcome a visit from envoys whose intentions were plain to see.
"They are truly going too far."
"From their perspective, this is only natural behavior. When have they ever acted with any consideration for our position?"
To King Alsein's grumbling, Marquess Gaun of the Haian Kingdom replied in a bitter voice.
Word that envoys from the Maritime and Federal Empires were coming had arrived only two days earlier, and the envoys were due in another two days. They had, in other words, announced their visit just four days in advance. That would have been a burdensome deadline even in peacetime; imposing it during a war was plainly deliberate.
"When those bastards get here, I'm stuffing an arrow through each of their skulls."
"L-Lord Eulji!"
At Eulji Uru's murderous voice, King Alsein called out with a pale face. Uru then curled the corners of his mouth high and answered.
"Heh heh, it's a joke."
"Not many would take that as a joke with that face."
"......."
At Go Jin-cheon's single sentence, Uru dropped his head and shut his mouth. At the absurd exchange between sovereign and retainer, Alsein shook his head and resumed the conversation that had briefly lapsed.
"No doubt the Empire Coalition wants only one thing from us."
"They want us to push up from our side when the empires land and strike at the Holy Empire."
At Jin-cheon's curt reply, Duke Ken of the Malin Kingdom let out a sigh and picked up the thread.
"It would be fortunate if they ask us to push up. Most likely, it will be a command."
"If they put it that way, I'll shove a whole bunch of arrows down their gullets."
When Uru, who had hung his head, interjected again and spat out a remark, the seated Duke Baikal burst into a hearty laugh.
"Hahaha! What refreshing jokes you make, just hearing them!"
"Uru, do not do so unless I give the order."
"Grrn, got it."
"Haha......."
Amid the exchange between Jin-cheon and Uru, Duke Baikal, who had been laughing, felt a chill run down his spine.
'Where in the world is the line between their jokes and their serious talk?'
As Duke Baikal's now-awkward laughter echoed, every figure in the assembly conjured the exact same thought.
"At this moment, while we are at war with the Holy Empire, there is no reason to deliberately make enemies of the two empires."
At Jin-cheon's words, King Alsein and the other leaders wore expressions of relief. Knowing his usual temperament, they had worried he might take an uncompromising hard line this time as well.
"Then what must we do?"
When Duke Ken carefully posed the question, Jin-cheon slowly surveyed the room and spoke.
"In any case, the choices we must make are few. But there is one thing we must not forget—the reason we are waging this war."
"The reason......."
A solemnity rose onto the faces of the gathered leaders, who had been worried by the news of the Empire Coalition envoys' visit.
"In the face of the difficulties before your eyes, have you forgotten the blood the people have shed until now?"
"We have not."
The solemnity shifted to grim resolve.
"One who leads the people must not waver under any circumstances. That said, one must also not ruin the greater cause for the sake of one's own pride."
"We understand."
"Do not worry. I will not allow the situation you fear to come about."
At that single sentence from Jin-cheon, King Alsein and the nobles once again bowed their heads.
When the appointed hour for the Empire Coalition envoys' arrival came two days later, Duke Baikal and Yeon Hwi-garam came out to receive them.
"We have received the link coordinates. We will commence the summoning now."
At the call from the wizard operating the communication magic, the wizard who had drawn the response magic circle began to form hand seals.
A moment later, the Teleportation Magic Circle activated, and a burst of light began to erupt.
HUMMMM!
Within the pillar of light rising from the magic circle, the resonance of mana resounded. A short while later, as the pillar of light dispersed, some twenty-odd figures appeared.
"Welcome, having come all this way to such a rugged place. I am Helios Baikal, Duke and commander of the Roselin Kingdom army."
Duke Helios Baikal's voice, deliberately humble, greeted them.
"I am Count Deli Carson of the Great Federal Empire."
Contrary to Duke Baikal's humbler address, Count Carson spoke down to him in a somewhat arrogant tone, answering Duke Baikal cursorily before casting his gaze this way and that.
'Hmph, just as I thought.'
He was unmistakably checking whether King Alsein had come out. Once the envoys confirmed that Duke Baikal was the highest-ranking person present to receive them, their expressions hardened and they spoke.
"First, I wish to rest. I am rather weary."
When Count Carson complained of weariness despite arriving by teleport, Duke Baikal merely acknowledged it politely.
Normally, one who had come in the capacity of an envoy ought to seek out the sovereign of the host kingdom and pay his respects, but not a trace of such courtesy could be found in their demeanor.
"I shall guide you."
"Would you, please."
When Hwi-garam stepped forward to guide them, Duke Baikal responded with a faintly welcoming note. As the eyes of the Empire Coalition envoys watching their conduct narrowed, Hwi-garam stepped forward and announced himself.
"I am Yeon Hwi-garam, Taedaehyeong of Gauri."
Hwi-garam's posture was formally humble, yet he met the envoys' eyes without yielding, lending him an oddly imposing air. At his introduction, Duke Baikal stepped in to explain his position.
"The rank of Taedaehyeong corresponds to that of a duke."
"Hm, pleased to meet you."
When it was said that the position corresponded to a duke's rank, a slight change came over the Empire Coalition envoys' expressions. And only once they realized he was a high-ranking noble of the rumor-laden Gauri did they take note of the exotic features illuminated beneath his silver hair.
As Hwi-garam led the envoys to their prepared quarters, Duke Baikal watched them go with troubled eyes. Their exchange had been too brief to reveal much, but he had already seen enough to worry him.
"Dammit. What can I do when I'm ordered to serve them a grand feast."
Thwack!
A large kitchen knife slammed forcefully down onto the wooden cutting board. Delviron, the Roselin royal head chef famous for his genial good nature and ever-present smirk of a grin, was ordinarily beloved by those around him, but even he could not put on that pleasant face in the presence of the word "empire."
"Having to feed this precious stuff to those damn bastards......."
Furrowing his brow, he looked at the high-quality ingredients piled to one side and let out a sigh. He desperately wished he could cook these for the alliance's leadership, who due to wartime had been eating fare scarcely different from the soldiers' meals. But reality was beyond his control.
"Look here."
A rough voice reached Delviron's ears as he gazed at the ingredients with regretful eyes.
"Ah, Taedaesaja."
Something flew and landed before Delviron's eyes as he hurriedly turned around.
Plop.
"Gasp!"
"Squeet! Squeek squeet!"
The thing that had landed before Delviron was an orc, its limbs bound and its snout stuffed with rags, bawling piteously.
"Wh-Why is this......."
"It's an ingredient I personally procured."
"Excuse me?"
"Chop its head off, cook it, and serve it to 'em."
"......."
Delviron was not so slow as to fail to grasp who the intended recipients of this cooked dish were.
But no matter how much he detested them, cooking an orc and serving it to humans was something beyond his imagination. It was the kitchen assistants who rescued Delviron as he stared wordlessly at the trussed-up orc.