Level up with swords (183)
“―It’s an opportunity!”
King Arpos III of Fermat spoke in a heated voice.
“Now is the time to collect the debt the Empire owes us!”
The subjects also nodded in response to the shout.
It was an opportunity that may come only once in decades or even hundreds of years. The moment when they could overthrow the continent’s strongest empire, Clyde, and restore the grandeur of the old days was looming before their eyes.
Kingdom of Permat.
Due to its proximity to the northern border of the Clyde, it was a country that had been in limbo for several centuries. The gold and silver offered as tribute would accumulate like a mountain, and the blood shed on behalf of the empire would form several rivers.
Even though I knew it all, I endured it again and again.
I continued to hold on to this groundless belief, passing it on to my children several times, believing that one day I would avenge this shame.
“your majesty!”
The knight who came forward before anyone else and knelt before King Arpos III shouted in a blood-curdling voice.
“Please put me, this Walter, in the vanguard! For the glory of Fermat! “I will stab the mad emperor in the back and rip open his ugly swollen belly!”
“Is this the Marquis Walter!”
It was Walter, the only sword master in Fermat.
Armed with loyalty to the royal family and hatred for the empire since childhood, he did not lose those feelings even after reaching the highest level, and proudly declared his aspirations.
It was unimaginable until last year.
There was a time when people were afraid of the empire as much as they hated it, and could not even use the title ‘Your Majesty’ for fear of falling into the emperor’s ears.
The eyes of the subjects burned as they recalled that time.
Shame, fear.
As soon as I figured out that it was a fight worth fighting, I turned into anger.
“Listen!”
King Arpos III, who was ignited by Walter’s fighting spirit, stood up on the spot, waved his fists and spoke.
“Assemble the entire army right now! Issue a conscription order to each territory and deploy all mobilizable troops to the empire’s border! It may be reeling, but an empire is an empire. “The number of defensive troops stationed in the border area alone will be 200,000!”
Even if we pour out all our saved strength, a wave offensive is impossible. If you don’t get through it all at once, you’ll only get angry. With Sword Master Walter at the head, we had to overcome the weak point at once.
Normally, this would have been very difficult.
The empire’s civil war was a sudden event, and it was surprising that the news spread far beyond information control. Normally, there would be too little time to understand the situation, let alone summon the military.
Nevertheless, the Kingdom of Fermat drew its sword.
Even if it looked a little suspicious, this was an opportunity.
Fermat’s advance, having thoroughly organized the geography, military information, and conscription system near the border, was faster than expected.
“It’s ten days.”
King Arpos III declared while looking down at his subjects.
“In ten days, we will cross the northern border of the empire!”
* * *
Kingdom of Hispania.
Unlike Fermat, who had been sharpening his sword for hundreds of years, Hispania’s attitude was passive. Like Fermat, they were not prepared to attack the empire, and the center of power was controlled by nobles who were more interested in self-interest than patriotism.
The king who was supposed to lead the country properly was also like them.
“Hmm… .”
Cornel, King of Hispania, played with his mustache.
“That’s interesting. This is not a situation that can be ended in a day or two. It looks like the Fermats will also move in earnest, and regardless of victory or defeat, the empire will inevitably suffer great damage.”
“Your Majesty, what you are saying is that the rebels might win…” ?”
The Minister of Military Affairs asked a question in a cautious tone.
“under! No way.”
Cornell, who denied that possibility with a snort, chuckled.
“No matter how much Emperor Guang has ruined the country, the empire is an empire, and its power is not something that can be overcome by a few territories uniting. “I wouldn’t know if Fermat, Meryl, and we were added as well.”
“You are saying that even if you add the allied forces of three countries to a large-scale rebellion, you cannot guarantee victory.”
“Okay, I understand.”
Clyde has not been the strongest on the continent for centuries for no reason. This was because he occupied the highlands without any gaps, from the land mass to the population, economic power, and military power. To a level where there is no chance of victory even if all neighboring countries join forces.
The most overwhelming part of all was military power.
It was possible to wage war by mobilizing only the imperial capital’s standing army, without even issuing a conscription order to each territory.
Not only the quantity but also the quality is the best on the continent.
To this day, the only time the Imperial army has been defeated at full force was in its attempt to conquer the Titan Mountains.
“There’s no need to gamble on something you can just get soybean water from.”
As a smile that suited the word mean appeared on Cornell’s lips, the servants lined up below him also showed similar expressions.
A cunning person has a clever mind, and a mean person has a tendency to come up with extraordinary tricks. This was precisely the Hispanese style of diplomacy, which diplomats from other countries despised as ‘bats’.
If there are countries that lead a stiff life like Fermat, there are also countries that swallow what is sweet and spit out what is bitter.
“We are targeting the rebels. Since we emptied our territory to advance to the Imperial Capital, the attack won’t be that difficult. “This is a land that must be returned when the empire is victorious, so take away everything you can and return it immediately.”
“It would be best to wait until the rebels move away.”
When the military minister estimated the speed of the Hispanian army’s advance, Cornell accepted the advice and responded.
“If they knew that a ruined land would be waiting for them if they returned, the option of returning would disappear. “The rebels must chip away at the empire’s power as much as possible.”
It was truly a dastardly move.
It seems that they only want to take advantage and not suffer any loss.
The rebels’ core forces are already advancing toward the imperial capital, and the number of troops defending their territory is less than 20%. Even if Hispania was a weaker country than the Clyde, it would not have been a problem to shake off a few of its territories.
As a result, the only way left for the rebel leadership that has lost its foundation is to make this rebellion successful, so they will have to fight until they die without even thinking about surrendering or running away.
Cornell opened his mouth.
“Send a delegation to the Merrill Maritime Alliance.”
That wasn’t all.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs answered as he took a step forward.
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“Secretly, you mean?”
“of course.”
Cornell said, tapping the armrest of the throne.
“The Merrill guys will want to use this opportunity to reclaim their maritime rights. And to achieve that goal, we must subdue the empire’s port fortifications. “Coincidentally, it’s that iron fortress located in a territory close to our army’s advance route.”
The naval power of the Merrill Maritime Union was worthy of competing with the Empire, but it was difficult to demonstrate its power as long as there were port fortresses that were difficult to attack even with ten times the power.
This is because there were many cases where winnable fights ended in vain, as all one had to do was retreat and stay in the port.
However, if the port fortress could be completely neutralized at this opportunity, the Clyde Empire would also have to pay a huge amount of interest to the Merrill Maritime Alliance for the next several decades.
“You can’t attack that strategic point with ships alone. You never know, the Merrill Maritime Alliance may have dispatched a ‘landing force near us’. Isn’t that right, Minister of Foreign Affairs?”
“… Yes, maybe. your majesty.”
The Minister of Foreign Affairs also grinned, understanding what he meant.
It was a secret proposal to build the back of the port fortification if a satisfactory price was paid.
There was no particular reason for the Maritime Union to refuse. There is more to gain from maritime rights than to give to Hispania. If they have the brains to think, they have no choice but to accept it in the end.
Pubic hair blooms.
Someone for revenge.
Someone for profit.
“―Hehehe.”
Someone, just to stir up the mess.
* * *
Kingdom of Jugend.
It was a few days after bad news was delivered from the empire.
Irexana immediately delivered the news to the headquarters of the Holy Order and discussed in depth how to respond to this situation with the rest of the cardinals. Not only is it not enough to get involved in another country’s civil war, but the situation is such that the war in three neighboring countries may escalate.
Above all, the problem was that it was assumed that the person behind it was an evil sect.
“The Holy Church has classified this incident as a level 2 or higher risk, and has sent a summons to the entire continent.”
The three people’s faces hardened at Irexana’s notice.
Not level 2, but level 2 or higher.
This means that it may be upgraded to level 1. It was a threat to the world, a level of danger that had never been issued since Roderick defeated the Demon King and ascended to heaven.
“Within fifteen days, all of the Holy Iron Knights will gather in Jugend and march to a point where they can block the movements of the three countries together with the Jugend Kingdom Army.”
“If it’s a full moon… .”
“Yes, we might be late. No, you will definitely be late.”
Before Leon could finish speaking, Irexana nodded heavily.
Unlike Jugend, the Maritime Union of Fermata, Hispania, and Meryl are countries that were closely connected to the empire. It was highly likely that the news was delivered and the decision to respond was made a few steps earlier.
If the intervention itself could not be prevented, the limit was to restrict movement by glaring at the back.
“If only we could somehow bring them to the negotiating table… .”
Irexana, unable to finish her sentence, let out a long sigh.
It was not a situation that could be overthrown by force.
The interests and dynamics between countries have become entangled like a complex tangle of threads.
“Cardinal.”
Leon said.
For the past few days, he had been worrying all day.
What is the best a hero can do in a fight between humans, not monsters or evil cults? If it were Roderick, he might have been able to stop or end the war on his own, but it was too much for Leon.
A situation where the boundaries between good and evil have become blurred.
You can’t call someone good or someone evil.
Even if each person is good or bad, if it becomes a national issue, it becomes a story that has nothing to do with that person’s tendencies.
“Me and my group are thinking of going to Clyde.”
“Hero, that is!”
“I know it’s dangerous.”
After smiling at Irexana’s reaction, Leon told her the conclusion he had come to after thinking about it for several days.
“I also don’t plan on going forward recklessly. “The three of us plan to travel around the empire and investigate the factors that are making the situation worse.”
“… Are you planning to track down the evil cult?”
“Yes, if it is proven that they were involved, the Holy Church will also have justification to jump into this situation.”
And then Leon added,
That is the only way to prevent the possibility they are most concerned about: a major brawl.
The evil cult is the public servant of the entire continent.
If, as Leon thought, it was the evil cult that started this civil war and dragged the three countries into it, they could prove it and demand that the three countries withdraw their hands.
No, it was also possible to mobilize the three countries in the battle to subdue the evil cult. Ferma and Hispana. Even the Merrill Maritime Union had suffered great damage from their tricks at least once.
“I will find an opportunity to destroy their work inside the empire. “This is the best I can do as a warrior.”
Intervening in a dispute between countries and taking one side, or knocking everyone down and making them listen to you.
This is impossible for Leon.
So I chose the third path.
If the purpose of the evil cult is to spark a war that will embroil the entire continent, then I will crush it from the front. I will expand the battlefield and crush everything that pushes people to the edge.
“… “I understand, warrior.”
Irexana looked at his determination and put her hands together with a calm smile. If this is a conclusion he came to after looking back and thinking over and over again, there is no reason to hold on to him as a servant of the goddess.
It was a difficult road.
The three of us are going to jump into that mayhem and uncover a scheme in which the ‘Exorcist Bishop’ must have been involved.
That’s why that determination shined even more beautifully.
“Please tell me as soon as you are ready. “If you need anything, please feel free to ask.”
“Thank you for your trust.”
When Leon nodded once, Irexana shook her head and said that it was no such thing.
The person who should be thankful was not him, but himself.
Cardinal, Grand Meister.
The contradiction is that positions that some would praise as great have been robbed of the room to move freely. It was a reality that made us realize once again why we need warriors.
It was then.
“hmm?”
After hearing a few words from the suddenly blaring radio, Irexana turned to Leon and the others.
He looked like he didn’t know what was going on.
“Hero, did you tell Cedric first?”
“yes? What?”
Leon, with a puzzled expression, heard something unexpected.
“Cedric’s request to accompany us has been received through the guild. “I’m thinking of going to the empire, but I want to move with the warrior’s group.”
