Chapter 309
Chapter 309
The Iron Emperor — Chapter 309
As for Baron Galmaro, the Haian Kingdom had contacted the Federal Empire and the Maritime Empire the moment he went missing. They had also tried to reach the transport fleet, but magical jamming was already underway by that point.
In other words, it was a situation of force majeure.
Furthermore, the Haian Kingdom fleet that arrived belatedly engaged the Holy Empire fleet disguised as pirates and rescued the wizard who provided decisive testimony, bringing the full truth to light—an achievement in its own right. However, a full third of the Haian fleet was annihilated in the process, making it difficult for the Empire Coalition to shift any more blame onto them.
[It can't be helped. We had little expectation of the Four-Nation Alliance to begin with, so we have no choice but to proceed according to the original plan.......]
"Hmph, that whelp of the Holy Empire has put his head to use."
The face of Emperor Heise Kire Viahole of the Maritime Empire within the magic communication orb was little different from Emperor Bishu's. His already wrinkled face looked even more aged.
They consoled themselves with the fact that at least they had confirmed who was behind it—and that the Holy Empire was unexpectedly wary of the Four-Nation Alliance. Deeming that alone a gain, they concluded the communication.
* * *
[For the time being, I thought a wizard would be received with greater credibility.]
"Mm. And the Haian Kingdom's navy?"
When Go Jin-cheon posed the question through the crystal orb, Gerard shrugged and answered.
[They have all safely returned to the main island. Some are departing with the weapons we packaged for them, and the rest are scheduled to coordinate with our fleet. All in all, I'm relieved things seem to have wrapped up well. Fortunately, Uljeol Risel lent his assistance, which made deceiving the enemy easier.]
"Mm. Any backlash from the Gauri Navy?"
His voice was as curt as ever, but the words carried a trace of concern.
[The people here have things they wish to protect as well. Having lived by taking, they know all too well how difficult and demanding it is to protect something.]
"You've done well."
At Jin-cheon's brief commendation, Gerard smiled, barely perceptible. Once the communication with Gerard ended, King Alsein and the allied leaders, who had been listening to the exchange between sovereign and retainer, brightened and began speaking among themselves.
"Truly remarkable. When did you manage to build up your navy to such a degree!"
"Indeed, what foresight. Is this not tantamount to achieving control of the Central Sea—something no one has ever accomplished?"
"Ha ha ha."
How could they possibly know?
That they had seized control simply to eat and survive.......
"Even if the supplies vanished midway, the Empire Coalition will still want us to keep prodding the Holy Empire for them. But are we not short on supplies ourselves?"
The corners of Jin-cheon's mouth curled up as he spoke of the supply shortage.
The others already understood the meaning behind his words. They simply answered by exchanging knowing smiles.
The operation had been flawless.
Of course, had they possessed any breathing room, things might have been different—but now, war loomed directly before them. Moreover, from their perspective, the deceased Baron Galmaro had been little more than a Federal Empire puppet to begin with, making him an acceptable sacrifice. And the Empire had never imagined that an allied nation would strike down one of its own nobles in such a manner. In truth, Baron Galmaro himself had been ignorant of the facts, never realizing he was being used even at the moment his head was severed.
* * *
Once the council dispersed and Jin-cheon was left alone, he spoke to Yeon Hwi-garam, who stood behind him.
"Everything has gone as intended so far, but it still leaves an uneasy feeling."
"Indeed it does."
"The fact that the Federal Empire and the Maritime Empire are continuing their war preparations despite the loss of our utility to them—that suggests they possess some measure of confidence, doesn't it?"
"......."
At Jin-cheon's question, Hwi-garam sank into silent thought.
Jin-cheon continued speaking as Hwi-garam listened.
"A man cannot know and account for all things, but in war, the unknown has always been the cause of defeat. A pinhole, in the end, will tear into a gaping breach."
As they exchanged words with grim expressions, Jin-cheon abruptly changed the subject as if something had just occurred to him.
"How is the troop reinforcement proceeding back home?"
"Buru is handling it well. The first batch of trained troops has already departed, and he has reported that the training of the second assembly of troops is now in its final phase."
"Mm. Then I should contact Buru. I only hope he hasn't caused some incident out of sheer restlessness."
"Heh heh heh."
Well acquainted with Buru's temperament, Jin-cheon and Hwi-garam smiled as they spoke of him.
"A magic communication has come in from the expeditionary force!"
"Bring the wizard."
Eulji Buru, who had been reviewing supply matters and other general troop affairs, gave the order without even looking up. As if anticipating this, the wizard entered the barracks at once, crystal orb in hand.
"Connect it."
As light flared within the crystal orb, the wizard stepped back and announced,
"Connected."
"The regular report is already finished—what is it this time?"
Buru’s irritated voice went into the crystal orb.
[No reason.]
"Hup!"
[I contacted you for no reason.]
"Y-Your Majesty, Supreme One above heaven......."
[You've already slipped up now.]
"Urgh."
Within the crystal orb, Go Jin-cheon sat slouched in an off-kilter posture, staring at Buru. The responsibility for communications from the homeland normally fell to Mong Ryu-hwa, so Buru had simply spoken as he always did.
In short, it was simply bad luck.
[Are you managing?]
"Can't exactly say it's manageable, but I've got no choice but to manage."
A curt reply.
[Mm. The battlefield situation has unfolded favorably so far, but I have a foreboding that a variable will arise.]
"Hrm."
At Jin-cheon's worried tone, Buru straightened his posture and began listening with a solemn expression.
[As history teaches us, even a war that is all but won can be lost through a single moment of negligence. You also know well that victory and defeat mean nothing until the very moment the war ends. The victor at the war's conclusion is the true victor.]
"That is so."
[In that regard, you will understand that the current situation is hardly ideal. You have not forgotten the lessons of the Su-Tang War, I trust.]
"I have not."
His reply was grave.
In the Su-Tang War, Gauri had always been the victor. Gauri had triumphed in countless wars.
But had not the Gauri capital burned to the ground after a single defeat?
[I hope it is merely needless worry, but the whereabouts of the vanished fleet before the war continues to nag at me. If by any chance they strike the alliance forces, we could be shaken. The most dangerous positions are the Roselin and Malin Kingdoms—we are preparing thoroughly—but when it comes to preparations, better to have too much than too little.]
"I understand your meaning clearly. I shall see to it that the troops who have finished training are ready to move anywhere, at any time."
[I leave it in your hands.]
As he received Jin-cheon's charge, the dissatisfied expression Buru had worn at the start was nowhere to be found on his face. He appeared every bit the disciplined soldier, as if he were a fresh recruit who had just entered the army.
"By His Majesty the Yeolje's command, I'll have to work them even harder starting tomorrow, heh heh heh."
......Yet an undercurrent of personal grudge remained, somehow.
The communication wizard and the soldier who witnessed Buru's clenched fist could only shiver with an unaccountable chill.
They remembered what always happened the day after Buru became fired up: the soldiers suffered for it.
* * *
"Kyaaaak!"
Along with a drawn-out scream, a torso was torn apart left and right.
"Everyone fall back! Pikemen and shieldbearers, form ranks and contain it!"
"Uwaaagh!"
Shouts rang out everywhere, and another scream resounded amidst them. Yet rather than mourning the dead soldier, only sharp rebukes for the survivors were shouted.
"I said don't charge in—just contain them, contain them! You morons!"
"Yes, sir!"
The reply came from a soldier drenched in fatigue. The screams of comrades dying no longer seemed to stir much feeling.
"Krwaagh!"
A green giant with two heads let out an enormous roar. These frail creatures that tore apart at a mere grip were now merely darting about, and it was proving extremely annoying.
"Just hold out a little longer—the knight order is on its way!"
"Krwoooaaaaar!"
"Damn it all, Two-Headed Ogres that you only ever heard about are popping out like neighborhood orcs......."
Profanities spilled from the lips of the commanding noble. Still, whether the noble's command had taken effect or the soldiers had simply adapted, once the formation was somewhat restored, no more screams could be heard. At that, the Two-Headed Ogre let its arms hang loose and howled.
"D-Damn it all, there's another one!"
The soldiers' faces went pale.
How could they know of the unseen Two-Headed Ogre lying in wait?
These were the Holy Empire troops who had landed on the northern coast of the Reganza Mountains.
They had suffered heavy losses over time, but those who survived had become elites before they knew it. And they had learned what consequences a monster's behavior could bring. This was the result of doing their utmost—because failing to learn meant they would be the ones dying.
"Kruh!"
"Krwaaaagh!"
Thud. Thud.
The soldier's warning proved exactly right. Except it wasn't one more—it was two. Thinking was not the sole province of humans. The ogres that now appeared had launched themselves through the trees.
"Kyaaak!"
"S-Somebody save me!"
Two Two-Headed Ogres plunged into the soldiers' ranks and claimed dozens of lives in an instant. No matter how well-trained the soldiers were, if they lacked the decisive means to respond, flight was the only option left.
"Reform the ranks at once! The Holy Knight Order is coming!"
The noble's shout rang out again, but the formation was already beyond recovery. More than that, he should have worried about whether his voice had irritated the Two-Headed Ogres.
"D-Danger!"
"What?"
Crunch!
Even the warning cry of his apprentice knight guard could not protect the commanding noble. Or rather, the boulder hurled by the Two-Headed Ogre was simply that fast.
"Aaaahh!"
When the commanding noble's upper body was crushed by a boulder the size of his own torso, the soldiers abandoned any further resistance and scattered in every direction to survive.
The Holy Knight Order arrived belatedly behind them, but by then the three Two-Headed Ogres had already slung armloads of soldiers' corpses over their shoulders and vanished.
"Hrm."
The gleaming silver-white armor bore the distinctive emblem of the Holy Empire upon the chest. Twenty-some knights gritted their teeth at the scene that had already ended, dispersing to gather the surviving soldiers.
"Hmm."
A cluster of riders approached the Holy Knights, who were bustling about.
"Marquis Luchia."
Marquis Bello von Luchia.
He was the supreme commander of the Gauri Expeditionary Force. The situation was gradually being put in order, but simply looking at the soldiers' faces gave him a rough idea of how much damage had been inflicted.
"Where is the one who was in charge here?"
"It was Baron Quoi."
The knight answered in the past tense.
"Fool."
Marquis Luchia accepted the fact as a matter of course.
"There are not many wounded."
"How many?"
At Marquis Luchia's question, the knight gathered his thoughts for a moment before parting his lips.
"For now, there are about fifteen with light injuries that can be healed within a day or two. Five soldiers require roughly a week of treatment. About fifty have fled. And finally, thirty-some are dead."
"Take the fifteen lightly wounded. The other five—deal with them as we always have."
"Then......."
When the knight trailed off with a regretful face, Earl Pelloman, the captain of Marquis Luchia's guard knight order standing behind him, spoke up with a sigh-laden voice.
"Orcs broke into the central area and the rear supply train. We have over eighty severely and moderately wounded."
"Understood. I shall carry it out."
At Earl Pelloman's reply, the knight lowered his head in assent without further question. Then he relayed the order to the apprentice knight standing behind him.