Gigantomachia: The Iron Heart of Empire
Gigantomachia. Gigantomachia. The imperial capital of the Eisenreich Colonial Empire. A fortress erected by the giants of the Steel Mountains. The iron-blooded core that dominates countless vassal territories through sheer force. It radiated an overwhelming sense of intimidation and majesty.
The colossal gate of Gigantomachia, forged from black iron, loomed like a monster's gaping maw ready to devour all in its path, exuding a brutal menace. Carriages and wagons streamed in and out, testament to the unchecked hegemony and prosperity of the colonial empire that gripped absolute power.
Rumble rumble.
There was no waiting in line for a turn. We bypassed the throngs of carriages queued at the gate, slipping through in blatant inequality. But that was only natural. This was the triumphant entry of war heroes.
No one dared block the judges' path.
The Edelgard family. The Wynder Mercenary Corps. The pure white raptors soaring through the frozen skies of the east. The crimson-maned lion glaring with a greatsword in its jaws. The Ice Executioner and the Red Mercenary King had arrived.
The imperial guards stationed at the capital's gate snapped crisp salutes at the sight of the banners symbolizing their houses and forces, then stepped aside.
"All citizens of the empire, show your respect!"
"The entry of Judge Edelgard and Judge Wynder!"
"Glory to the great Colonial Empire! Victory to the valiant War Council—!!"
Power is the force that commands the masses. Fear and dread. That is the true root of power. Nobles of every faction ruled the crowds through terror.
As the carriages of the Edelgard family and Wynder Mercenary Corps passed through the gate and onto the vast boulevard, the throngs milling about the streets dropped to one knee, bowing their heads in reverence and submission.
"We've arrived."
How long had we raced? We'd reached the heart of Gigantomachia.
The War Council. The central headquarters directing all the empire's wars. News of the Ice Executioner and Red Mercenary King's arrival set the council abuzz.
"Glory to the great Colonial Empire! Victory to the valiant War Council—!!"
Red imperial banners fluttered around the War Council, asserting a heavy presence. The capital's guards, clad in sturdy black iron armor, raised their spear tips sharply, expressing loyalty and respect.
It was brutally intimidating. Like stepping into a den swarming with beasts.
Every rooftop facing Gigantomachia's streets bristles with gun ports. The plan is to turn any rebel forces infiltrating the capital into Swiss cheese the moment they arrive? Defense towers nearby to seal off the roads at a moment's notice... With kill zones deployed everywhere, it's no wonder the instinctive pressure hits so hard.
From the War Council parliament building outward, every structure in the capital exuded massive intimidation wrapped in cold, crude brutality. Designed to fortify into a labyrinth of buildings at the outbreak of urban combat. A true city of war maniacs.
These war fanatics preached endless conflict while maintaining ironclad defenses. Impeccable. Perfect. It fulfilled the capital's role while doubling as a fortress. I wanted to applaud the architects who built Gigantomachia from the heart.
"You there."
"Yes, sir?"
"Mark my words— the moment we enter the War Council, the nobles' attention will zero in on you, adjutant."
"Me? No way, ma'am. I'm just a defector knight from the Holy Empire..."
We ascended the steps of the parliament, built from granite so dark it seemed to swallow light. The War Council parliament, plastered with straight lines and massive stone pillars, evoked a temple to the god of war. Statues of black eagles with wings spread wide. Red imperial banners lining both sides. A central hall crossed by vividly colored carpets.
Clack. Clack.
We entered, the stunning judges leading the way.
"Judge Edelgard! Judge Wynder!"
"We heard the victory report from Sanctus— you crushed the arrogant Holy Empire!"
"Congratulations on the triumph! And you... you're that noble from the Holy Empire, right? Judge Edelgard appointed you her eastern guard captain on the spot."
Word of the Ice Executioner and Red Mercenary King's return to the capital had spread like wildfire. Nobles waiting at the parliament's colonnaded entrance showered Leonora and Frederica with fervent congratulations.
After brief greetings, the nobles' gazes shifted intensely to me—their true target all along, proving my origins as a third-rate Holy Empire noble were the point.
"You must be Kailun von Valtenstein!"
"You exposed the Holy Empire's hypocrisy using their own intelligence network? Those arrogant bastards got what they deserved!"
"You wiped out 7,000 private troops of the Kreuz family! A hero's feat. If you need help from the War Council, just ask me anytime— I'll support you fully!!"
What the hell? Since when was I a celebrity?
I finally understood the heroine's plight surrounded by thirsty old pervs. Leonora's prediction nailed it. The instant we entered the parliament, attention poured in.
I responded to the empire's leading nobles with utmost courtesy.
These generals, elevated to great commander status, must have plenty of underlings already. But no one knows the Theodor Holy Empire better than me. They must envy Leonora and Frederica for the astronomical spoils from conquering Sanctus. The empire's war maniacs are greedy by nature, after all.
If this were the Holy Empire's military council, I'd hear, "A victory won by vile trickery!" or "You've tarnished our infinite justice and sanctity!"
Chivalric honor and faith. The military council chased hypocritical romance. Thus, Holy Empire commanders were trapped in contradictions, forced into rigid, stubborn tactics that defied chivalry and piety.
The Colonial Empire? They embraced any means, no exceptions.
Damn. Should've defected sooner.
Through the War Council's fervent welcome, I realized my twisted life had finally hit its peak.
* * *
I stayed at the Edelgard family villa in the capital's inner district. Fitting for descendants of the empire's founding heroes and lords of the eastern territories, it rivaled a principality's palace in supreme luxury.
Tomorrow, I'd visit the War Bank. Leonora promised to introduce me to its president.
I opened the guest room door. And faced a guest.
A dark elf beauty perched on the bed, flaunting her alluring figure.
"The Colonial Empire's culture is bold, huh? Providing a prostitute to stave off loneliness. Exciting in all sorts of ways."
"What nonsense? I came to share Holy Empire intel...! I'll kill you!!"
It was Bellesra, the dark elf intelligence officer who'd interrogated me as a Holy Empire defector, now active in the empire's spy bureau.
In the original story of Your Empire, I Shall Protect, she'd have been brutally killed by Zigrinde's lovers, but fate twisted by chance, letting her thrive as spy chief.
Why'd she sneak in? Fallen for the Holy Empire defector at first sight...?
I eyed the dark elf beauty with her lustrous purple hair cascading long. She lowered her mask, speaking gravely.
"The Holy Empire's Black Lion completed his campaign and returned with the main army."
"No surprise from the famed Black Lion... It was supposed to tie him down for at least three years, but he wrapped it up in months?"
Holy Empire nobles seduced by the southwestern Liberian Kingdom had rebelled in the borderlands. The Black Lion parted briefly from the Steel Lorelei, leading the capital's main force on campaign.
Ergon Magnus Theodor. The great swordmaster. The Black Lion safeguarding the Holy Empire. Betrothed to the Steel Lorelei, heir to the empire.
The crown prince beheaded all the rebelling nobles, forced the Liberian Kingdom—source of the chaos—to surrender. Without Bellesra's intel from our brief partnership, I'd have dismissed it as rumor. Astonishing exploits.
"A bolt from the blue. Even our spies embedded in the Holy Empire are stunned."
"......"
"The War Council's nobles will know by tomorrow. As a Holy Empire defector, I wanted to warn you about the Black Lion's threat."
"Got it. Thanks for the heads-up."
Ergon was back.
Terminal neat freak. Monster worshiping justice and sanctity. Madman who eradicated all evil and heresy defying the Holy Empire.
Female readers of the romance fantasy original dubbed him "Obsessive Male Lead" or "Cold Glass Heart Warm for the Heroine"—cringe nicknames—but by the lore, he rivaled the extreme zeal of Christian nobles massacring in the Jerusalem front during the Crusades.