Veteran of the Northern Front - Chapter 37

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Translator/Editor: Asakusa

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◈ Veteran of the Northern Front ◈

Chapter 37: Setting Out

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After winning the battle,

I immediately began dealing with the aftermath.

“Ren, write a report and inform the central government of what happened here.”

“The central government? Not headquarters?”

“Headquarters is probably surrounded by barbarians by now. How are we supposed to get word to them? Just inform the central government for now.”

“Yes, sir!”

The Imperial Army was currently floundering without a single victory. If news of Camilla Fortress’s triumph spread, it would at least improve morale.

I decided to spread news of our victory widely, both to raise the Imperial Army’s spirits and make our achievements known.

“Collect all the enemies’ weapons and lock the prisoners in the fortress’s underground cells. It’ll be troublesome if they start causing trouble inside, so give any who refuse to listen a good beating.”

“I’ll tell the men.”

“Move all the wounded inside the fortress and take them to Carbin, the medical officer.”

“Understood.”

It was fortunate that no one had died, but there were quite a few wounded. Considering we had to set out and join the main force, that was not good.

‘I should exclude all the wounded and leave them at the fortress with the garrison.’

We needed to leave behind enough soldiers to defend the fortress, even if we were heading out.

It would be a disaster if we let our guard down and got robbed while the house was empty.

‘The cleanup is almost done.’

Around the time the aftermath was nearly settled thanks to everyone’s efforts,

“Commander, the Camellun siblings have arrived.”

Kane arrived at the fortress at just the right time.

Along with the mercenaries I had requested before.

“I’ll go meet them right away.”

“Yes, sir.”

I went out with Ren to welcome them.

When we reached the southern gate, we found Kane and Reina waiting there.

“My lord.”

“It has been a while.”

“Thank you for coming despite the unrest throughout the Empire.”

“Not at all. It is only what we should do. But I heard there has already been a battle...”

“Haha, it was nothing.”

I modestly brushed off Kane’s admiring look and turned my gaze toward the group following him.

‘Oh? They’re quite impressive.’

The mercenaries carried themselves with an edge comparable to elite soldiers, drawing a quiet note of admiration from me.

Even with so little time, I had not expected them to recruit this many skilled mercenaries.

‘It shows just how much influence the Camellun Trading Company has gained.’

Noticing my gaze, Reina spoke demurely.

“As you asked, we hired two hundred mercenaries. They were all selected for their extensive experience, so you can trust their skills.”

“Thank you very much. Along with the mercenaries’ wages, I will separately provide compensation for your trouble...”

“You need not worry about the money.”

“What? But...”

Reina looked at me with a peculiar smile.

“Considering the connection we have built so far, we should show this much sincerity.”

Put another way, she wanted to strengthen her ties with me even further. That meant she had judged that I would rise higher through this Great Invasion.

‘As expected, she’s no ordinary person.’

Her eye for the market and her instincts were remarkable,

but more than those, I found her boldness even more impressive.

‘Is this what they mean by natural talent?’

Since they had shown faith in me first, I decided to do my utmost in return.

“I will do my best to repay your trust, my lady.”

“Also, our company employees are still traveling through nearby territories and hiring more mercenaries. Additional personnel should arrive soon.”

“That is reassuring already. By the way, where is Peiron?”

“I’m here... Ahem! No, I am here, sir.”

Peiron, who had been standing behind the mercenaries, cleared his throat and stepped forward.

It seemed he had been commanding the mercenaries.

“Have you been well?”

“Thanks to you, I’ve been doing well. But I heard there was a battle. Why didn’t you call for me? Don’t tell me you forgot about me...”

“Why would I? I was planning to take you with us this time anyway, so don’t worry.”

“Is that true?”

“Would I lie to you?”

Once we joined the main force, battles on an entirely different scale from anything so far would break out. In a situation where every knight-class combatant was precious, I could not leave him behind.

“Did you decide to command the mercenaries?”

“Ahem! That’s right.”

“Can you handle them properly?”

“Heh heh. I already established discipline on the way here, so there’s no need to worry.”

“That’s good.”

This more or less completed our force.

‘If I leave around two hundred behind at the fortress, including the wounded, that should do it.’

Martin and the garrison would remain, and Reina was hiring even more mercenaries. Even if barbarians came, the fortress would not fall.

‘That makes roughly five hundred heading out, including the mercenaries?’

It was a small force, but considering the fortress’s size, this was the best we could do.

A few hours later,

I finished handling the aftermath and gathered the mercenaries and soldiers who would be marching out.

Perhaps because they had been informed beforehand,

they all waited for my words with serious expressions.

Under their gaze, I calmly opened my mouth.

“From this moment on, we will leave the fortress to subjugate the barbarians.”

Tension settled over the soldiers at those brief words.

“According to the information we have, the barbarian forces currently surrounding the main army number about forty thousand. Another thirty thousand enemies have infiltrated the rear.”

The soldiers’ faces visibly stiffened at the enemy’s numbers, more than double the entire Northern Army.

Looking over them, I asked in a low voice.

“Are you afraid?”

“...”

“Just yesterday and today, we fought more than two thousand enemies and won in the end. Without losing a single man, we defeated enemies four times our number.”

“...”

“I’ll ask again. Are you afraid?”

“No, sir!!”

“That’s right. We have no need to fear the enemy. So let’s show them!!”

I drew up a faint trace of energy and took hold of the atmosphere around us.

“That they should fear us, not the other way around! We’ll let them know who they truly ought to fear!!”

“Wherever you wish to lead us, we will follow you even at the cost of our lives!”

“We will follow you!!”

When Marcus saluted, not only the commanders and soldiers but even the mercenaries, caught up in the mood, echoed their pledge to follow me.

Satisfied at the sight, I steeled myself inwardly.

‘The real beginning starts now.’

The episode that marked the beginning of the game Song of the Empire,

the Great Invasion that would become the start of this chaotic age.

It was time to step onto that desperate battlefield.

＊＊＊＊＊

Meanwhile,

around the time Ubel had finished his preparations and set out,

meaningless arguments continued within the imperial palace’s conference hall in the Empire’s capital.

“Those lowly barbarians are ravaging the north. If this goes badly, the damage could reach the central regions.”

“This happened because Schultz, commander of the Northern Front, failed to defend it properly.”

“Your Majesty, dismiss Schultz Konrad, who failed to carry out his duties, and punish him severely!”

The corrupt courtiers of the Noble Faction were more concerned with assigning blame than resolving the crisis. Ordinarily, the Emperor himself should have stepped in and corrected their disgraceful conduct, but...

“Hmm, even so, is he not a member of the Ducal House of Konrad? I hear he is still at the front fighting. Perhaps we should watch a little longer...”

The Emperor lacked both the power and ability to rebuke them.

After all, it was the corrupt courtiers of the Noble Faction who had placed him, a collateral member of the imperial family, on the throne.

A puppet of the nobles.

That was the position of Billian de Helion, Emperor of the Empire.

And as someone watched this scene while suppressing his anger,

‘What a spectacle.’

It was not as though this was the first or second day the old nobles of the Noble Faction had behaved this way, so he understood. But even with the border breached by the barbarian invasion and holes torn in the northern front, they thought only of their own interests and slandered others. It was beyond frustrating. It was infuriating.

As he rubbed between his brows and lamented inwardly,

one of the old nobles from the Noble Faction spoke to him.

“Young Marquis Hallios, you have been quiet for some time.”

“Ah, perhaps because I am not feeling well, I was briefly overcome by dizziness.”

“Tch. We showed consideration by allowing you to attend the meeting in place of your ailing father, yet what will we do if you are ill as well?”

My head hurts from looking at your faces.

The words rose to his throat, but he forcibly swallowed them.

No matter what anyone said, these were powerful officials who controlled the Empire.

“I apologize for showing such an unseemly side. I will get some air and compose myself for a moment.”

“As you wish.”

Pretending to be unwell, he excused himself and left the conference hall.

‘Phew. I can finally breathe.’

Being outside after standing beside those filthy, disgusting old nobles made his head feel clearer.

How much time had passed after he left the conference hall?

Clap clap clap~

“I was wondering where you had gone. So you were here?”

An irritating bastard had appeared.

Garsion Ludwig.

A direct descendant of the Ducal House of Ludwig, which had produced high-ranking ministers for three generations, and one of the friends he had known since childhood.

“Has the meeting ended?”

“While you were gone, we settled the broad outlines.”

“What happened with the subjugation force?”

“Unfortunately, we decided to compromise with the corrupt courtiers.”

A faint look of disillusionment and anger appeared in Garsion’s eyes, unlike his usual self.

“We had to give the rear supply unit and the position of inspector to people from the Noble Faction.”

It was more or less what he had expected.

“Those scheming old nobles would never easily surrender the supplies and inspection authority that could put a leash on the subjugation force.”

“Still, we secured command authority, so do not be too disappointed. Marquis Rokselon, former commander of the Western Front, and Count Mirus, who once commanded the central forces, will lead the subjugation force. They will not be able to act recklessly with those two in command.”

“Hah. The old nobles in the conference hall actually allowed it?”

Marquis Rokselon and Count Mirus were experienced commanders of the Emperor’s Faction. It was surprising that they had appointed as commanders the two commanders they had personally driven out in fear of their reputation and ability.

“Did those old nobles finally realize how serious this is?”

“They must have been anxious, even if they did not show it. If the north falls, the barbarians will reach the central regions in no time. So what will you do now? Your name is not on the subjugation force roster.”

That sly smile.

Was this bastard joking right now?

“If there truly is no position, I will take soldiers from my house with me. Do not worry.”

“Haha, it was a joke. Jeg, you are still as headstrong as ever. Well, that is one thing I like about you as a friend, though.”

“You creepy bastard.”

“I will take that as praise.”

“Enough nonsense. Tell me when we depart.”

“We depart in three days. There is not much time, so be prepared.”

“Three days, huh? Soon, we will be able to wipe out every last one of those scum threatening the Empire.”

“And the vermin eating away at it from within.”

He gave a faint chuckle at Garsion’s addition.

“What an obvious thing to say.”