To ensure the security of the palace, I decided to reinforce the defenses at my discretion.
The exhibition I organized, with the Empress Sister’s permission, was none other than a skeleton exhibition.
The underground palace, which had been closed off, was transformed into a skeleton museum.
The exhibition, officially opened under the pretext of showcasing old weapons and armor, invited elementary school students for its first event.
“Wow!!!”
“The bones! The bones are moving!!!”
As soon as they entered the exhibition, the children started crying and started fighting, so the exhibition was immediately temporarily suspended.
As soon as the children entered the exhibition, they began to scream and cry, causing the exhibition to be temporarily halted.
Thus, the underground palace was closed once again.
The skeleton soldiers were left as they were, and no one could enter or exit.
At first, I was in favor of continuing the exhibition.
Julia’s undead army is peculiar in that it is not the magic that moves the bones but rather the spirits contained within the bones that move on their own.
No matter how many experts came to investigate, they would see nothing more than ordinary bones and would not find anything suspicious.
Therefore, I believed it would be better to keep the exhibition open to avoid suspicion.
“But it’s so sad for the skeleton grandpas!”
“That’s right! They have to stand still all day long! They just have to be a spectacle for people! How hard must that be!”
“They’re so old, it feels too harsh. I just want them to be comfortable.”
“···”
[The Evil God ‘Kali’ sheds tears over our necromancer and dark knight’s deep filial piety.]
Faced with Charlotte and Julia’s strong opposition, it was ultimately decided to close the exhibition.
They had been buried for nearly a thousand years; I wondered how uncomfortable it could be to stand still all day.
But that was just my perspective.
It was Julia’s kind-heartedness that caused the stiff-necked skeleton nobility to bow their heads to her.
Since the undead army belonged to Julia, I had no choice but to follow her judgment on this matter.
‘With this, we can mobilize troops from the palace in case of an emergency.’
From the cutscene of the original story, when the palace was devastated, it was clear that not only the imperial guard but also the Empress Sister herself had been completely incapacitated.
Even though she is formidable, one of the strongest in the world, it was still a dire situation.
Sylvia and Charlotte would also likely not be able to withstand such an event.
If a showdown as an individual is not possible, we have to push through with numbers.
While one might think that hundreds of units are too few when talking about quantity, the fact is that those hundreds are an undead army that rises again and again, effectively representing thousands or tens of thousands.
‘Of course, this is just a prediction. I can’t be sure since I don’t know the enemy’s full strength.’
I did prepare as much as possible, but I couldn’t know if this would work.
Ultimately, the information given to me is that Reinhardt would betray us and that the palace would burn.
I should have just played until Chapter 2 with my eyes closed.
The story was a mess, but the gameplay itself was pretty good.
A wave of regret washed over me.
‘I need a more definitive countermeasure than this makeshift solution.’
Making plans without knowing the enemy’s strength is meaningless.
What I need now is a solid counter. I do know one that could never lose against Reinhardt.
“Sylvia. I have to bring out the ultimate weapon.”
“Huh? The ultimate weapon means…?”
No matter how much Reinhardt Friedrich is a Swordmaster and the commander of the imperial army, he is not even the final villain; he is merely a chapter two villain.
And mid-bosses are always soundly defeated by the protagonist.
“I’ll have to use Yuri… Yuria.”
“Ah, yes.”
[The Evil God ‘Kali’ scolds you, telling you not to call Yuri like an object!]
We have the protagonist’s shield. I have never felt as secure about Yuri’s presence as I do now.
***
The eastern border of the empire. Along the wide road, a long procession was marching.
Instead of the imperial flag, the military flag representing the 4th legion of the imperial army rose throughout the procession.
In the midst of the march, many slaves were being transported as spoils of war.
At the forefront, a gallant man atop a noble steed took off his helmet, letting his golden hair fly.
“The capital will soon be established. Was it five years until we returned?”
Heh heh heh. Reinhardt Friedrich chuckled softly, gripping the hilt of his sword tightly.
It had already been five years since he set out on a campaign at the behest of the Empress.
He was commanded to suppress the rebellion occurring in the Empire’s puppet state.
While it was called a rebellion, it was the puppet government that was cornered.
Essentially, the entire kingdom, except for the government, had risen in revolt.
Even though the 4th legion of the imperial army was dispatched, the power disparity was nearly impossible to overcome.
However, requesting reinforcements would be tantamount to acknowledging defeat.
Reinhardt took the time to capture strategic points one by one, greatly altering the personnel and administrative capabilities of the puppet government.
Simply occupying with force would only lead to another uprising once the military left, so he believed it was right to resolve the fundamental issues first.
After five long years of completely restructuring the country, the rebels declared unconditional surrender, allowing Reinhardt to conclude his campaign and return to the empire.
“While you were feasting in the palace, I was rolling around in the mud because of this ridiculous order… Did you think I would give up easily? Not a chance. There is no such word as impossible in my dictionary!”
While there may be difficulties, there are no impossibilities.
If the way ahead is blocked, then one must break through it.
Reinhardt had overcome hardships and adversities with such a mindset, and he firmly believed that he would only grow stronger with each trial.
This campaign was no different.
At first, no one trusted the newly appointed legion commander who dropped in like a parachutist, but now the 4th legion was filled with seasoned veterans who would give their lives in loyalty to Reinhardt.
‘Is Sister not even afraid of my legion?’
Hehe.
It seems she had intended to politically neutralize her half-brother.
Now that I have returned, stronger than before, I wonder what expression Vanessa will have?
Reinhardt was itching to hurry back to the palace, nearly going mad with anticipation.
“Lord Reinhardt. It would be better to stop and take a rest at the next village.”
“Ah, Sephiroth.”
Clop, Clop.
At that moment, a horse carrying a dark-skinned elf followed beside Reinhardt.
Reinhardt’s expression brightened as he greeted her.
“Have you finished the investigation?”
“Yes. I infiltrated the territory in advance and thoroughly investigated the current situation of the empire.”
“Then tell me. Among those by my sister’s side, who do you think is the biggest obstacle?”
“Undoubtedly Count Vermont.”
“Count Vermont? That crazy old man is already dead, isn’t he?”
Reinhardt tilted his head in confusion.
Count Vermont?
What kind of threat could a count from such a remote area, most citizens probably unaware of his existence, pose?
“His son, Aslan Vermont, has taken over as the head of the family and succeeded the title of count by the Empress’s command. Currently, Vermont boasts a well-developed economy in industry, tourism, and transportation, making it one of the most prosperous regions after the capital, and Count Vermont enjoys the Empress’s deep trust to the extent that he can enter and exit the Empress’s office without special permission…”
“Nonsense! My sister would never do that!”
“…”
Reinhardt shouted, veins popping from his forehead, and Sephiroth’s mouth gently closed.
Does my sister trust someone?
That could never be true.
Ever since she was young, she had grown up with the Spirit King’s eye, allowing her to see through the dirty hearts of everyone in the world.
Perhaps, among all living beings in this world, my sister is the one who distrusts and despises humans the most.
How could she ever trust someone?
Especially if that someone is Count Vermont?
That kid was notorious for being a wastrel!
Reinhardt couldn’t suppress the absurd laughter that erupted from him.
“How ridiculous! Has my sister finally lost her sharpness? Keeping that filthy bug near her. I always hoped she would remain strong and unyielding…!”
Crack!
Reinhardt gritted his teeth in frustration.
He had expected his sister to be waiting for him as the iron-willed figure she always was.
But the Empire he returned to after five years was already rotting from the heart.
To think that the Empire had been decaying even before I arrived!
At this rate, there’s no fun in bringing it down!
No fun at all!
Reinhardt pounded his chest with his fist, suppressing his anger.
“Send a messenger immediately! My welcome ceremony should be prepared by now, right? And as soon as I arrive, I want to see this Count Vermont! If I remember correctly, he looked gloomy and was someone I didn’t want to approach within ten steps! I need to see how he’s changed in five years!”
“Count Vermont still looks gloomy and deceitful, and there are even rumors that he likes children, so now he doesn’t look like someone you’d want to approach within twenty steps.”
“Kraaaah! Why is my sister getting played by someone like that!”
The Empire must not be destroyed yet!
What kind of fool is Aslan Vermont!
Reinhardt tightened his grip on the reins, hastening his horse towards the palace.
