The Subjugation Campaign Begins
The borderlands between the Adamant Kingdom and the Ventrum Empire.
A colossal rampart stretched across the terrain like the severed waist of a monstrous serpent, upon which the Adamant subjugation force stood waiting.
“There they are. I can see them.”
Standing atop the fortress wall, Aurel squinted against the midday sun, which shone down with unusual brilliance today.
“Let's see... where might the Third Prince be?”
“At the very rear of the procession, naturally.”
“Ah, because he's the youngest?”
At Oliver's answer, Aurel gave an understanding shrug.
“Your Majesty, shouldn't we go out to greet them?”
The King of Adamant, Kaiden, stared down at the distant procession with an indifferent expression. No matter that the subjugation of demonic beasts was their shared cause, the mere sight of imperial legions marching up to the frontier was enough to set anyone's nerves on edge. Yet not a trace of tension showed on the young monarch's face. If anything, there was only a flicker of annoyance and restless impatience.
“Sir Aurel, did something happen during yesterday's council?”
“Nothing in particular.”
Keeping a wary eye on the king, Oliver nudged Aurel in the ribs. “If nothing happened, why is His Majesty in such a foul mood?”
“What is strange about it?”
“He looks thoroughly displeased right now.”
“Isn't our lord always displeased?”
“What kind of logic is—”
“Well, if you insist on finding a cause...”
Could it be that he failed to reach that nanny through the communication crystal? Aurel recalled the young king sitting hunched over the small orb, endlessly channeling his mana into it. When the woman's face stubbornly refused to appear, Kaiden had scowled and stormed out of the room—a sight so uncharacteristic it had bordered on bizarre.
“Let us simply say there were woman troubles.”
“Pardon? Don't tell me that habit of his—losing his mind whenever he spots green eyes—has flared up again...”
“I'm joking.”
To dare make a sovereign the butt of a joke would have horrified anyone else, but the subject of the quip himself seemed entirely unfazed.
“You certainly speak boldly before your king. Are you quite sure that wasn't your honest opinion?” Kaiden retorted casually to his adjutant. “And it wasn't woman trouble—it was a communication failure.”
Naturally, he did not forget to correct the record regarding his displeasure.
“Let's head down.”
Kaiden's black cloak billowed in the wind. His stride as he descended the massive wall carried not a sliver of hesitation.
“I suppose I should go greet them, just as our esteemed Court Mage suggested.”
The irritation that had weighed on his brow moments ago vanished without a trace. In its place, a grin spread across Kaiden's face—one imbued with the haughty majesty of a true sovereign.
“After all, the imperial royals have yet to learn just how terrifying the beasts of this land truly are.”
The border between Adamant and the Ventrum Empire. It was one of the regions where demonic beasts appeared in the greatest numbers.
And yet, this place...
I looked up at Adamant's towering rampart. Its translucent, azure surface caught the sunlight, refracting faint shimmers of iridescent rainbow hues. For a defensive barrier partitioning two hostile realms, it felt entirely too breathtaking.
“What in the world is that wall made of? Look at it sparkle.”
“You fool, that's adamant. The hardest, most unbreakable mineral in the world—even the fangs and claws of ancient demonic beasts can't shatter it.”
“Wait, isn't adamant also the most expensive mineral on the continent? They built a fortification that massive out of that?”
“They must be rotting in gold.”
I found myself agreeing vehemently with the murmurs of the knights and soldiers.
Indeed. Unless you're practically drowning in excess wealth, you wouldn't dream of encasing an entire rampart in adamant ore.
Even if his realm sat upon the largest adamant deposits in the known world, this was absurd.
What could he possibly be thinking?
Narrowing my eyes, I watched the rampart. The very architect of this sheer lunacy was now descending with an imposing, stately stride.
He certainly looks well.
The young Knight King clad in pitch-black: Kaiden Ram.
With golden eyes gleaming like those of an apex predator, the king stepped forward to receive the imperial subjugation force.
“You have traveled far. Welcome.”
Kaiden extended a hand, flashing a hollow, diplomatic smile entirely devoid of warmth.
“Not at all. Your Majesty is the one who bears the greatest burdens day in and day out, do you not?”
The Emperor's representative and Supreme Commander of the Imperial Armed Forces, Duke Crowner, offered an affable smile. Dismounting his steed, he grasped the young king's hand.
Between the two men—both peerless warriors renowned across the continent—a subtle tension rippled through the air.
“All unit commanders, please gather in the command tent. We shall convene a council to discuss the strategic deployment of the subjugation campaign.”
At Adamant's summons, the commanders of each division were called away, granting the ordinary knights and foot soldiers a brief reprieve to rest in the shade.
“D-Do I really have to go?”
“Of course you must. Were you planning on playing pretend? Hurry along, Your Highness.”
Edwin looked at me with a face wrought with terror. He looked for all the world like a frightened golden puppy.
“B-But...”
Edwin stared in dismay at the figures entering the tent. Duke Crowner, Marquis Radcliffe, and the other imperial princes were all filing inside.
And among them, naturally, walked my oldest, most wretched nemesis.
“I don't want to go in there. It's so suffocating,” Edwin mumbled in a shrinking voice, dragging his feet. “I'd rather go fight the monsters right now.”
My eyes locked onto Ian, trailing just behind the Second Prince. Even the mere sight of the back of his head made my blood boil and my stomach churn with revulsion.
“I feel the exact same way.”
“Huh? What did you say?”
“Nothing, Your Highness. Let us proceed.”
His resistance was short-lived. Squaring his hunched shoulders as best he could, Edwin finally stepped inside the command tent.
“I presume every commander is already well-acquainted with their designated patrol sectors.”
Before a massive map unfurled inside the pavilion stood a slender, handsome man with sharp, narrow eyes, energetically flicking a baton across the parchment.
“However, strictly confining subjugation efforts to individual sectors is, practically speaking, an impossibility.”
Demonic beasts were living creatures. Territorial beasts though they were, they roamed constantly, and when pursued by hunters, they would willingly risk fleeing beyond their territory to escape.
“Therefore, we propose an alteration to the operational plan.”
“What? All of a sudden?”
Displeased by the unexpected change, the Second Prince, Lloyd, knitted his brows. “Such matters should have been coordinated in advance—”
“Second Prince.”
At that moment, Kaiden raised a hand, wearing a faint smile.
“Pardon the interruption.”
He gestured toward the man holding the pointer.
“My subordinate is an exceptionally rational and intelligent individual. He is not merely adept at magic, but highly proficient in battlefield tactics as well. Why not hear him out?”
A mage.
With that single word, the gaze of everyone gathered in the tent converged upon Aurel.
Looking slightly sheepish, the man cleared his throat. “Ahem. I am Aurel, Court Wizard of the Adamant Kingdom. May I continue with the briefing?”
“Proceed,” Kaiden chuckled, his gaze fixed squarely on Lloyd. “Why bother asking?”
For an instant, Prince Lloyd's face flushed crimson, but he held his tongue and said nothing further.
“The sheer volume and variety of demonic creatures inhabiting this region defy imagination. Furthermore, anomalous specimens displaying erratic behavior have begun emerging recently, escalating the danger considerably.”
Aurel traced a circle above the wall illustrated on the map.
“Thus, we intend to conduct a drive.”
“A drive?”
“Yes. The imperial forces will form a semi-circular perimeter encircling the primary infestation zones, while the Adamant vanguard lures and herds the beasts directly into the cordon.”
A killing pen, then.
It was a sound strategy.
Adamant's knights are far more seasoned in fighting beasts. The veterans will herd them into position, allowing the empire's numerically superior vanguard to box them in and slaughter them all at once. It certainly is more efficient.
From the empire's vantage point, it was an exceptionally generous proposal. Adamant was volunteering to shoulder the perilous burden of baiting and driving the monsters themselves.
“Hmm. So you are telling us merely to form the cordon and lie in wait?”
“Precisely,” Aurel answered Duke Crowner's inquiry respectfully. “Demonic beasts possess power vastly outstripping mortal men. Complacent plans such as dividing sectors and mopping them up individually are meaningless against such adversaries.”
Looking around at the imperial commanders seated about the table, he added:
“The Kingdom's forces will drive the quarry, and the Imperial legions will strike them down with one heart and one mind. Do that, and this campaign will conclude with swift victory.”
With one heart and one mind...
I chuckled mirthlessly to myself.
Asking people who marched onto this battlefield purely to outshine one another to fight with unified purpose?
Was he speaking earnestly, or delivering a masterclass in mockery? Whatever lurked beneath the surface of that man Aurel, one truth remained glaringly clear.
This subjugation campaign...
I stared quietly down at the crown of Edwin's head in front of me.
...is not going to end easily.
The war council concluded swiftly.
Every commander readily agreed to adopt Aurel's strategy.
Prince Lloyd alone seemed simmering with discontent, though having his maternal grandfather, Marquis Radcliffe, immediately voice approval forced the young prince to begrudgingly fall in line.
“Rachel, I—”
The moment we stepped out of the tent, Edwin spun toward me, only to clap a hand over his mouth in sheer panic upon realizing his slip.
“I-I'm sorry! It was an accident!”
“It is quite all right.”
Fortunately, there were no prying ears nearby. Even so, I took the opportunity to caution him once more.
“However, from this moment forth, you must exercise extreme vigilance.”
“Yes... I'm sorry...”
“Now then, please address me by my name once more.”
Edwin nodded vigorously. “Kyle!”
“Yes, Your Highness. You called?”
Kyle Angela.
The alias I would answer to as Third Prince Edwin's attendant.
Is it a bit plain?
It felt perhaps a little too transparent, but it couldn't be helped. It was the only masculine name that had sprung to mind.
“Since operations commence at dawn tomorrow, for today we should return to Your Highness's tent to rest and—”
“Prince Edwin.”
Just as I was advising Edwin, a deeply familiar voice swept in from behind us.
“It has been far too long.”
Footsteps slowed to a halt at our backs.
“Have you been keeping well?”
It was Kaiden Ram.