Chapter 68

In the grand hall at the heart of the fortress towering over the water city of Ankshio, which has functioned as the general headquarters of the Myard Principality Army since the start of the war, the clothing of the ministers who gathered there daily was as withered as dried straw. As the pillars of state administration, they were expected to set an example for society. In peacetime, not even a wrinkle or speck of dust on their clothes would be tolerated, and it would be carefully removed. However, repeated hardships had stripped away all their resources for adornment and maintenance.

Chronic fatigue and lack of sleep had dyed their lower eyelids a dark black, giving the impression that their eye sockets had sunken in. Even their movements showed signs of deterioration. What was usually brisk and lively had become sluggish, as if weighed down by wet cotton.

Due to the nature of military operations, the opening and closing of windows and doors were restricted, and the air, lacking proper ventilation, had become stagnant. It was not just the absence of fresh air that caused this. Repeated setbacks, the suppression of the current unfavorable situation, and the dark emotions of the people had mixed into the air, creating a gloomy atmosphere. A breeze blew through the stagnant command center. The reports carried weight, and the words exchanged naturally carried a fever.

"The old Felius militia in the central part of the Zerebes Mountains has defected, demanding the return of their former territory! They even took the head of the Rehazen senior knight during the uprising!"

"At the Olzerica Slope, the enemy troops, mainly from the Yarukku territory, have shown signs of submission and are now in a combat state with the remaining Clayst Kingdom army!"

"An urgent report from the western end of the mountain perimeter! The Jayf Cavalry Brigade has launched an attack on the Clayst army units preparing to retreat from the Asarina Slope. The Asarina garrison has also responded and launched an attack!"

The vigor of the military officers, like beasts released from their collars, was restored. They had suffered greatly, their heads burning with the effort to fulfill their duties, to devise strategies, and to endure the war's deadlock. In such a situation, the breakthrough by the Jayf Cavalry Brigade was a beacon of hope, and no one could remain unlit.

"The Cokuro Slope garrison has cleared the enemy army from the attack point and is now moving as ordered to the adjacent Tarmakane area."

"The Kagatsu garrison lacks the manpower to launch an attack and will maintain the current situation."

"The Asarina and Cokuro garrisons have caught the enemy army retreating from the Tarmakane Pass. The Jayf Cavalry Brigade and the Tarmakane garrison have joined the encirclement, making it a four-pronged attack!"

The solemn faces of those gathered in the command center betrayed a hidden excitement. This was truly a decisive move that could turn the tide of the battle, and the excitement of the military officers was understandable. However, Ritta Myard, the ruler of the Selta Peninsula, could not join in this fervor. No, she could not. Her eyes were fixed on one of the pieces removed from the board.

"…There is a victory, I suppose."

At first glance, it seemed like any other piece. But for the female duke, who was about to be swept up in the frenzy of victory, it was a sufficient cold shower. While the ministers, whose morale was boosted by the good news, were not dampened, she silently reminded herself. Like an ice road collapsing, the Myard Principality, reaching out for victory, was standing on thin ice.

One of the pieces removed from the rear of the Lagar shore was the mixed unit of the Hayselk Empire army, which had been ordered to defend the post town. They had literally worn themselves out to buy time, worth a fortune. In total, six hundred men, of whom only a squad-sized group survived. The commander, Captain Flueg, also met his end with the arrival of the imperial knights.

Ritta did not know their faces, personalities, or what kind of people they were. All she had were the pieces, the symbols, and the numbers. But they were indeed alive. They were not just numbers. If she were to become arrogant in her position and fail to see people as people, she would become a tyrant. Even if it was an escape from the heavy burden of human death—

They were not the only ones. Ritta had to continue giving orders, recognizing the pieces on the table as real people and imagining them as specific individuals. This was her duty and responsibility as a ruler, a matter of principle. The pieces, named after people, moved busily on the map according to the battle situation and were removed. Hiding the discomfort in her chest, Ritta asked one of the military officers moving the pieces.

"What is the situation with the Sarevo Fort encirclement army and the Kagatsu Slope?"

"Hai, both are aiming for the transportation routes used for the north and west movements from the Kagatsu Slope. There are no signs of relief for the encircled area."

They had abandoned the powerful allied army surrounded by four units. It was a cowardly move, but in the grand scheme, it was not a mistake. To prevent the spread of gangrene, a bitter amputation was necessary. The last deputy commander, who inherited the command, prioritized the concentration of scattered forces. He was an excellent general who could see the battlefield from a distance. If the roving army, which was being reorganized and withdrawn from the ice road, could move freely, a counterattack with six openings would have been impossible.

"The purpose of the concentration is either a decisive battle or a retreat."

Although the imperial and principality armies had taken the initiative, they were still too fragile and weak. Ritta, staring at the large map, asked her confidant and advisor.

"Latwidge, do you think we can press on from here?"

The old knight took a few breaths before answering.

"Even with the momentum, it's a fifty-fifty chance. No matter the outcome, a clash will result in mutual fatal wounds."

Even for Ritta, who was not well-versed in military affairs, this was enough. Even if they won the decisive battle, how many pieces would remain? — The nails of her fist, clenched under the table, dug into her skin.

"The enemy is concentrating to the north of the Kagatsu Slope. The remaining forces from the Lagar Cape and the ice road are also aiming for the transportation routes."

The Clayst Kingdom army, scattered across various regions, had achieved concentration at the cost of many sacrifices. Their numbers exceeded thirteen thousand. A grand bluff involving the fallen Felius. Still, even with the defection, the forces were not enough to deal a fatal blow. On the other hand, the Myard-Hayselk Alliance Army's forces were scattered inside and outside the Zerebes Mountain perimeter, from the eastern to the western end. The uneven distribution of forces. If the internal situation were exposed, the six openings would be broken this time.

Ritta and those gathered in the command center waited for further reports. A draw or a decisive battle for destruction. The initiative, which had been floating, now belonged to the Rehazen Knights. The magic soldier operating the communication magic device suddenly raised his head. A look of breathlessness. Everyone realized that this was the news that would determine the fate of the Selta Peninsula.

"The concentrated enemy forces are retreating from the provisional border at Barboar and Lanaisphia! The Clayst Kingdom army has begun its retreat!"

A cry of relief or joy echoed through the grand hall. It did not last long. When the oldest military officer, Latwidge, voiced his concerns, the command center immediately resumed its functions.

"Let's not get too excited. Nothing is over yet."

"Latwidge is right. The retreat could be a ruse. A counterattack is possible if we get too far ahead."

"Do not move the Sarevo and Reven garrisons. Maintain the current situation."

"Move the deployed units to the inside of the mountain perimeter. Be especially careful with the defected Felius people. Without a country, they can choose anything."

"In the Yarukku territory, the lord has shown submission in exchange for his head. The lord of the Balbusek territory has fled to the Clayst territory."

The victory was too hollow. The cost in human lives had reduced the enemy field army by half. The land was devastated, and the personnel and materials needed for reconstruction were wasted. But it was not without value. Military power was not just about external affairs. The refugees and demon territories suppressed by the Clayst Kingdom would inevitably rise up. The suffering of the half-paralyzed would begin. Ritta, who had experienced the quagmire of reconstruction, understood this well. There was no magic solution to this kind of problem. Only the hope for the best solution, struggling, and enduring.

Ritta, lost in thought, met the gaze of a military officer sitting halfway down the large table and gasped. It was Yustus, the brigade commander of the Hayselk Empire army stationed in Myard. He said nothing, just staring at the female duke.

The silence spoke volumes about their emotions. Whatever was said would be cheap words now. The imperial army had answered with action. Now it was the Myard Principality's turn to show action. Ritta looked at the piece representing the Hayselk unit, which formed the foundation of the two countries, and quietly spoke.

"Thank you."

The piece removed from the board could not answer. It just lay there quietly.

◆

In the half-destroyed front-line treatment center, Worm was looking at a corpse and a sword. It was war. Corpses and swords were not unusual. But when they were the remains of an acquaintance, it was hard to get used to. The corpse was that of Jusitan, a former Felius Kingdom royal guard. His body, riddled with fatal wounds, had no part left unscathed. Despite the brutal death, the former guard looked somewhat satisfied.

"He passed away shortly after we parted."

Maya, trying to hide her agitation, spoke calmly, but her swollen, tear-streaked face gave her away easily.

"What do you mean, 'it's nothing'? He's dead, isn't he?"

Worm, the imperial knight, muttered, as if blaming the last conversation he had with Jusitan. He knew it was a facade. There was no way Jusitan could have survived those fatal wounds. Still, somewhere in his heart, he had not given up. What had he been expecting? Worm asked about the owner of the sword placed next to the former guard.

"Is Flueg's body—"

"Guided by the lure, it was sent to the underworld. Only the sword remained."

"See, it didn't survive the fire."

Maureitz, a survivor of Dandueg Castle who had interacted with Worm, answered vaguely. Worm already knew this. Understanding this, he had burned them along with the enemy. There was no way any part of the body could have survived the inferno. The ashes had been burned away by the wind.

"Worm, are you—tired?"

"…Me? I'm fine. There's no need to worry."

Worm, the imperial knight, shook his head to reject Maureitz's concern. There was still work to be done. It was not time to rest.

"Can I talk to Ayane alone for a moment? There's something I need to tell her."

No one objected. Leaving the place where the dead were laid out, Worm was alone with the young girl from his hometown. He struggled to find the right words. He could not lie to the girl, who waited silently without rushing him. He could not sugarcoat the facts.

"Yuto is dead."

"Yes, I see. Yuto…?"

Perhaps she had sensed it from the rumors on the battlefield. Ayane did not lose her composure. She bowed her head sadly, her lips tightly closed.

"I set the trap. Even though I knew Ayane and Yuto were childhood friends, I stirred them up as my own people and killed them."

The words came out in fragments, but he managed to finish them. His feet felt unsteady, as if on a slope. He had no intention of fleeing. Worm braced himself, clenching his jaw to maintain his stance. He was prepared for insults and hatred.

"…Worm, I understand. There was nothing you could do, right?"

Her warm, gentle smile was painful. It would have been better to be hit. It would have been easier to be called a monster and rejected.

"Stop it. He was still a kid, still figuring out how to live his life. To say there was nothing you could do…"

At that age, values could easily shift. In the old world, Yuto would have been figuring out how to live his life. There was a future. Worm had taken that possibility away.

"He said he wanted to go home. He also mentioned Ayane and Makoto's names—"

Hearing the painful words, Ayane's gentle smile did not waver. He should not have said it. But he could not stop. The suppressed emotions leaked out uncontrollably.

"I'm different. Even with