Etelgranze, capital of the Khenis Empire.
In the center of the vast and splendid capital lies the royal palace.
Deep within, in the second audience chamber resembling a hermitage in the water garden.
“…That concludes the report.”
“I see…”
The kneeling Grand General Hoshikan and the Emperor Ryubuchi, seated deeply on the throne.
Both wore stern expressions.
The report from the Grand General himself was about the defeat in the occupied territory at the southern end of the empire, the Cadennis Principality.
The Gaisenfall Great Forest conquest unit that was deployed suffered a devastating defeat, with the base city besieged and thoroughly massacred, except for those who managed to escape through some mistake.
The battle had largely subsided, about an hour had passed. Hoshikan quickly organized the information collected by the reconnaissance unit and reported it in detail to Ryubuchi.
“It seems we lost as expected. …What are your thoughts, Hoshikan? Why did we end up losing this battle?”
“Well, if I may. If we judged that the result would be like this, we could have given up on the conquest of the Gaisenfall Great Forest and abandoned the Cadennis Principality to lower the front line. We did not do so because we misjudged the enemy’s strength and thought we could ‘win’.”
“I see. Specifically?”
“Unexpected factors include the unconventional tactic of using the Eel River for magical supply during the siege of Traunil and the technological capability that made it possible. The quality and quantity of enemy elite forces worthy of special combatants that had been concealed in the forest. We expected to capture the forest’s elf-operated land vein manipulation technology, but the number and high morale of the absorbed elves as forces were miscalculations. We anticipated they would be turned into undead, but many remained alive, and many even became Dark Elves.”
Listening to Hoshikan’s matter-of-fact reflection, Ryubuchi lightly snorted.
Undead have various strengths, but they also have a weakness to attacks of holy energy.
However, if they had prepared to deal with even living enemy Dark Elves as they would with elf zombies, it’s understandable that they would be thrown off. While monsters, including Dark Elves, do receive damage from holy energy, they are not as vulnerable to it as the undead.
“We should have investigated the internal situation through spies and intelligence operatives. However, intelligence gathering on the closed Gaisenfall Great Forest was difficult and remained indirect. However, the information about the Great Forest that we obtained through intelligence on the Kingdom of Lugarut was probably controlled to underestimate the threat.”
“Well, that’s how it goes. Hurry the verification process in the General Staff Office.”
“As you wish.”
With bowed head, Hoshikan folded his slender body and prostrated himself.
“I deeply feel my own ignorance and inadequacy as the Grand General for this defeat. I apologize sincerely for not being able to bring victory to Your Majesty and the Empire.”
“Hoshikan, that’s not like you, speaking so emotionally. If you have time to apologize, you should think about how to make amends.”
Ryubuchi had no intention of holding Hoshikan responsible for this defeat.
However, if no one takes responsibility, it would be difficult to show resolve. It seemed there was no choice but for the Blue General to retire.
There were probably no tactical flaws. If we were to speak of strategic failures where we couldn’t concentrate our forces, then Ryubuchi was equally at fault.
More than who takes responsibility, the priority should be how to rectify the damage from this failure and move forward. Normally, Hoshikan would likely be the one to say such things, but Ryubuchi felt that, somewhere, even if only slightly, Hoshikan lacked his usual calmness.
“It’s a complicated feeling that your former homeland, the Great Forest, has dealt a blow to the former Blue Army. G-L-E-N-M-I-R-E-S.”
“!”
When he called her by her original name given by her father and tribe, Hoshikan shivered as if she had been jabbed with a block of ice in her back.
“My lord, please do not speak of such things even in jest. …I am the Grand General of the Khenis Empire, Hoshikan. I abandoned the forest and my family, and my family abandoned me. That’s all there is to it.”
“I see. Then let’s leave it at that.”
“Power gains everything, and power protects everything…”
Hoshikan murmured in a small voice.
It was his philosophy that Ryubuchi had heard several times. He chose to pretend not to hear it.
“…Wasn’t that plan supposed to be tomorrow?”
“Yes.”
“In the end, it seems things are going according to their plan.”
Ryubuchi sneered sarcastically.
“We couldn’t stop the anticipated rebellion in advance. Our empire has also weakened.”
The Imperial Intelligence Bureau had noticed an unusually active movement of anti-empire organizations in the areas occupied and annexed by the empire. Some of them had spies infiltrated, but all of the organizations were smuggling and supplying weapons and combat golems.
All the organizations were preparing to revolt on the same day.
＊ ＊ ＊
In the eastern part of the Khenis Empire, in the Renou Province, in the former Royal Capital of the Rumaie Kingdom, Kutula.
On that day, from morning, a curfew was imposed on all citizens without explanation, and the Blue Army, stationed for public security, was on high alert.
But as if mocking that vigilance, an incident occurred.
At dawn, the former royal palace used as the administration office and the communication bureau were bombed one after another, and three high-ranking provincial officials who were on standby at home were assassinated.
Amidst the chaos, armed groups, accompanied by numerous combat golems, attacked the Blue Army patrolling the city. Although outnumbered, they systematically shed blood by defeating each unit stationed in various places.
At the same time, the armed group that captured the guard post took control and used the installed public address equipment to spread their message throughout the city.
Their name was the “Rumaie Liberation Army”. Their goal was to break free from imperial rule and revive the kingdom.
＊ ＊ ＊
The remaining Blue Army units abandoned the city and barricaded themselves in the royal palace.
And when the situation on the battlefield reached a stalemate, as if waiting for it, a girl dressed in a glamorous empire-style dress visited Marshal Kanra, the “Marshal” of the Rumaie Liberation Army, who was stationed at the guard post.
“Hey, how’s it going?”
“Shunkai-sama!? Why are you in such a dangerous place…?”
A girl with a bright and lively atmosphere, unsuitable for the battlefield, suddenly appeared, seemingly out of nowhere.
Although she called herself “Shunkai” in the empire’s style, she was clearly not an imperial citizen.
Well, looking at her worldly and composed demeanor, it was even suspicious whether she was really just a girl who looked the part.
Some time ago, she had suddenly approached Kanra and offered to sell weapons necessary for the rebellion and golems that would be a great force to the Rumaie Liberation Army.
Naturally, Kanra was suspicious. The empire had strict measures against anti-government forces, and even obtaining a single sword required caution and trouble for Kanra and his comrades.
Shunkai’s offer seemed too good to be true, and it was natural for them to doubt whether it was really possible, whether it was a scam, or whether she was a spy from the authorities.
However, she had somehow gained the trust of prominent leaders, and before he knew it, even Kanra had let down his guard.
And above all, she hadn’t lied.
When Kanra saw the arsenal piled up in the hideout’s basement and the neatly arranged battalion of golems, his heart burned hot. He even got his hands on medicine for the plague that had started spreading in the surrounding areas.
The price was not cheap, but considering the situation, it was a fair amount. Supported by the hidden wealth of the former royal family, the Rumaie Liberation Army could afford it.
Even foreign merchants were reluctant to cooperate with rebel forces for fear of having their trading permits revoked.
Unless outrageous rewards were offered, the risk outweighed the benefits, and even criminal organizations in the underworld wouldn’t lend a hand easily.
In such circumstances, someone extending a lifeline to them…
Kanra thought he had some understanding of international affairs. He had a rough idea, but he decided to turn a blind eye.
What they bought were decent weapons made of steel or mithril, not bone-made ones, and golems, not skeletons or zombies, so they could easily feign ignorance if questioned.
If it meant reclaiming their homeland, they would even use monsters. Kanra didn’t care about appearances that much.
“Mother asked me to come and see how things were going. This is the biggest battle happening today among all the others.”
“What about other countries?”
“Well, there are some where things are going well and some where they aren’t, right? But since battles are happening, I don’t think reinforcements will come here in two or three days.”
Shunkai said nonchalantly.
Kanra was surprised when he heard from Shunkai, but she had negotiated support with many anti-empire organizations and orchestrated simultaneous uprisings on the same day.
If they could actually do that, it would scatter the Blue Army’s forces, which would be advantageous.
He was amazed by the magnitude of that idea, but it seemed to have been realized.
Kanra nodded emphatically and turned to his comrades who were present.
“Did you hear that? We’re not the only ones fighting against the tyranny of the wicked empire. Now is the time to reclaim our homeland. Let’s slaughter all those rotten imperial b*stards and make them atone for their sins with their blood!”
“”Oooooohhhhhh!””
The fighters raised their weapons and shouted.
The victory in the initial battle had ignited their morale like a raging fire.
