Children of the Holy Emperor Chapter 105

§ 105. Ortona Civil War (4)

Martyr of the Republican Party.

This is a bit of an extreme expression to utter in the face of the last sword of the Republican Party. It was a clear indication of the Republican camp’s sentiment that no matter how hard they tried, they would ultimately be defeated.

Justin is startled by the boy’s sudden remark and looks at him.

But instead of getting angry, Gael smiled bitterly. In the end, the boy’s words really caught the pulse of the times.

After the republic was first established in central Ortona, there was some confusion, but Ortona soon regained stability.

For about two years, the new government successfully ran state affairs, and the appeasement of local nobles went very smoothly. At least, there is no way that a civil war could have been ignited so easily by the remnants of the royalist faction.

In Ortona’s civil war, another invisible hand is involved, hoping for the downfall of the Republicans.

A huge hand that can control the power and capital of the continent.

Now, even if the outstanding sword master goes on a rampage alone, he will not be able to change the result. It is no wonder that the brilliant Prince Benicio is so despairing that he wastes his days drinking every day.

“On the surface, it is said that the Breton army entered the war at the request of King Ortona.”

Gael was silently listening to the boy’s calm voice.

True to his word, after the establishment of the republican government, the King of Ortona, who had gone into exile in Brittany, promised them part of the western territory. Their old territory was ceded to Ortona over a hundred years ago.

This is a sufficient excuse for the Breton royal family to take action.

“However, the success of Delcross is due to the fact that it mediated the territorial cession a hundred years ago in the first place. “It is highly likely that they were involved in this return as well.”

That’s not all. Ortona’s merchant union is also mobilizing huge capital to support the royalists.

The purpose is to declare part of the southern region of Ortona, including the capital, as an independent free trade zone, with the connivance of the royalists. The free trade zone will, of course, be the border area with Delcross.

“On the surface, it is a merchant alliance centered around Prince Asane, but Asane is nothing more than a third party that must move with Delcross in between. “If it’s not an empire, there’s no need to take active action.”

Gael’s face suddenly hardened. To him, the boy calmly told him the truth he never wanted to know.

“Behind all of this is the Delcross Empire. General.”

Delcross, a thousand-year-old kingdom.

It is a land ruled by the most powerful absolute monarch on the continent, and a place where Ortona’s republican government is considered a thorn in the side of others.

No matter how hard Gael tries, the invisible hand of the continent is creating a trend that he will never be able to defy.

That’s why the boy said it was a meaningless fight. If Delcross decides to abolish the Republic, it is already a result that cannot be changed no matter what.

When Gael had his vague guess confirmed by an unexpected person, he felt his heart calming down.

“… “For someone so young, you really have great insight.”

How long are you going to continue this fight?

That is until Prince Benicio, the leader and spiritual leader of the Republican remnants, makes a decision.

Are you going to become a martyr for the Republican Party?

Of course, he is the last sword of the Republican Party. It had to become the perfect symbol of the Republican Party.

So that the empire would consider his death to be the complete fall of the republican party.

“To you, all of this may seem like just a meaningless struggle. But sometimes, even though you know, you just have to endure it in silence.”

Gael already knew how his end would come. The boy’s eyes waver for a moment as he sees the faint smile on his face.

“Come on, come on. How about we stop at this point? “The general worked hard today, so you should go back and get some rest.”

Justin, who couldn’t see the air becoming too heavy, got in between them, making a fuss.

“And we will meet tomorrow in a refreshed mood and discuss the hazard pay from earlier.”

Gael blinked.

Hazard pay? If that were the case, wouldn’t you have already given up?

Justin’s face, which seemed infinitely light, suddenly became serious.

“Aren’t you saying that the Holy Empire is helping the royalists? “Thanks to this, the risk has doubled, so I think allowances should also be discussed again from the beginning.”

is it? As Gael tilted his head with a nervous expression, the boy glared at Director Justin with cold eyes.

“Would the outcome be different no matter who intervened? What on earth is normal? “If you just pick it up and serve it, it doesn’t make sense.”

“uh? hey… Aren’t you really taking it too far? No matter how temporary it may be, you are now part of the Astros mercenaries! “Why do you always take the general’s side?”

Justin seemed really upset, so Gael helped him out without realizing it.

“okay. Now that I think about it, there is some truth to what the leader said. At least he told the truth. So, let’s discuss it again tomorrow.”

But the boy was adamant.

“Do you believe the author’s sincerity? “He is capable of distorting even his own memories and emotions for his own purposes.”

“and… Bart, are you really like this?”

Justin trembled in betrayal.

Gael watched the two people bickering for a while, not knowing what to do, and was finally able to return to his barracks after suddenly receiving some divine power from the boy.

“Bart, aren’t you really being like yourself these days?”

After Gael left the mercenary barracks, Justin, who had been looking in the direction he disappeared for a while, turned to the boy and said.

“… … .”

The boy didn’t respond and just furrowed his brows.

He too was aware that he had been acting very differently from his usual self recently.

Originally, I would have ended up just providing moderate support to the mercenary group, but I had no idea that I would take the lead and slit the enemy’s head. Moreover, just because General Gael looked very tired, he used sacred power, which he rarely used in front of others.

Above all, what does it have to do with what happens to General Gael in the future, so he asks questions and interferes?

However, for some reason, the boy was very concerned about General Gael.

That person is the strongest sword in the East. He was clearly a stronger adult than anyone else, but strangely enough, I kept vaguely feeling the need to help him. I couldn’t figure out why.

Well, there are not many days left until I feel this strange feeling.

“The civil war is taking longer than we thought. Now, the Merchants’ Association will gradually adjust the capital it invests.”

Justin asked back with wide eyes.

“What does that mean?”

“I’m asking you to look into other requests soon.”

The boy waved his hand and turned toward the inside of the barracks.

Ortona’s territory is already ripe.

Now all that remains is to tear off the soft flesh and share it.

Soon after, the boy’s prediction came true.

This is because Count Milo, who had hired and supported the Astros mercenaries, suddenly decided to stop hiring them. As the front line remained tighter than expected, Count Milo’s ally, Archduke Assin, must have put pressure on him.

He received an answer that he would send another mercenary group in the near future, but it seemed to Gael that there would be no further support from him in the future.

And the day before the Astros mercenaries withdrew, general manager Justin visited Gael and handed him a small box.

“It was an honor to be with you, General. “This is a small gift given only to special customers of the mercenary group.”

When I opened the box, I found a jewel as small as a fingernail.

It looked like a nameless gem, but it was white and clean and gave off quite a brilliant light when exposed to sunlight.

“… “What is this for?”

“It’s a good luck talisman. “They say that wearing it will relieve fatigue.”

“… … ?”

This is something a pagan somewhere would say.

Gael passed it over without much thought, but less than a day later, he learned that what the leader said was true. After walking around without thinking about putting the box in my pocket, the fatigue that had been chronically accumulated began to noticeably decrease.

Gael, who was sensitive to aurors and surrounding energy, could feel that the effect was really coming from the amulet. It somehow feels similar to receiving divine power.

Soon the jewel found its place on the tip of Arjuna’s scabbard, which he always carried.

The Astros mercenaries left the front line like the wind just as they came.

And after that, Gael held out for about six more months, maintaining the front line alone without recruiting any more mercenaries.

* * *

Block the incoming arrow and strike away the sword.

Avoid the incoming spear and cut down the enemies in front of you one after another.

Arjuna’s aura no longer flowed, and his blade became dull as it became dull, and he was now ripping off the enemy’s flesh rather than cutting with a straight cut.

My vision went blurry for a moment, but then my vision recovered.

Wake!

It’s been a long time since the aurors were depleted. Gael forcefully swung his unmoving arm without even having time to catch his breath.

I never thought the day would come when I would feel that Arjuna’s hands were heavy.

Strike it out. Avoid. It stabs. Cut it.

The action is repeated for a long time that seems to last forever.

Then, the rain of arrows suddenly stopped. Gael, noticing his son-in-law who had become quiet, stopped moving for a moment and looked around him.

Suddenly, he was the only one standing in the Republican camp.

Several knights dressed in full armor were surrounding him.

They seem to be an elite unit specializing in spearmanship, and the force with which they aim their long shields and sharply forged spears is unusual. With his blade dull and without even an auror, he probably wouldn’t be able to get past the gap between those knights and pierce his armor.

Gael had a premonition of the end.

“It is indeed the best sword in the East, General Gael.”

The person who appeared to be the leader took a step forward and spoke to him. He is a head taller than other knights of good stature.

“Huge bio. Even though the royalist coalition did its best, it took five days… … .”

Five days. You lasted longer than I thought.

By now, the group he had stolen would have had enough time to escape across the border.

Only then did Gael relax his body and let down the arm holding the sword.

“… “What about you?”

“I am Silas Azen, commander of the 3rd Knights of the Royal Guard of the thousand-year-old kingdom of Delcross. I was sent all this way just for you. “It is very unfortunate that he lost his life in this way.”

I thought he was not an ordinary person, but he turned out to be someone worthy of being a knight commander.

I thought the armor and spear style were a bit unfamiliar, but I didn’t expect them to appear directly in Delcross.

And soon spears flew at Gael from all directions.

He moved his body reflexively, but was unable to avoid all the spears coming at him from all directions.

Quad deuk.

The sound of the spears hitting the critical spot was so loud that it felt like it was ringing in my ears.

His body, completely spent, quickly poured out the remaining life.

Silas Azen whispers to Arjuna as he catches Arjuna slipping from Gael’s hand.

“I will remember your inaction. Please rest in peace.”

In this way, Gael, the last sword of the Republican Party, met his death on the Plains of Andres.

As I slowly closed my eyes, I felt like I heard something cracking in my head.

Gael couldn’t completely remember what happened after that.

The only impression that remains is that his soul, which left his body immediately after death, was wrapped in a dazzling white light, and it was very cozy.

It seemed like someone had lightly stroked his head as if it were a child.

[Was there any need to hold on so foolishly?]

A question that may seem a bit reprehensible.

Gael felt sorry for the man who had no idea who he was.

But what can you do? He didn’t know how to use any tricks, and the only thing he knew was how to live like that.

With a sigh-like presence, a voice eventually spoke to him.

[You worked hard, son.]

son?

With no time to wonder, my consciousness flickered after those words, and soon everything went dark.

* * *

I thought it was all over.

But he never thought he would be reborn as a Delcrossian.

And that he would become the first prince of the Delcross Holy Family, the culprit behind everything.

‘… How should I live from now on?’

A look of deep agony appeared on the small child’s neat face.

fantasy,