27 – Dependence
Le Khan, Emperor of the Kareldean Empire.
Despite the fact that countless people were dying in the war he had started, the Emperor sought after alcohol and women. The women were mainly holy maidens.
The Emperor always said. Only the superior ones, chosen by the gods, were worthy of him, among the holy maidens, excluding the defective ones.
Some of the knight commanders and officials had great dissatisfaction with the Emperor’s debauched lifestyle, but there was nothing they could do. This was the Empire. The Emperor was no different from a god of the nation. With his absolute power, he killed anyone who gave him advice.
[You say we should no longer wage war? By what authority do you dare to utter such words?]
Due to the war, the people were filled with anxiety, the country’s economy was in shambles, and even if soldiers died in droves, Emperor Lecan ignored it all and continued the war.
By plundering the resources of other countries, depleting their manpower, and even stealing their resources, the war allowed the leadership of the Kaoreldon Empire to live an even more prosperous life. Even if a few soldiers were sacrificed, they could always extract citizens from the occupied areas and produce more soldiers, almost like a creative economy.
Emperor Lecan always thought this way, believing himself to be clever. It was only natural for the weak to be exploited, and as someone chosen by the gods to be born into the noble class, he believed he had the right to enjoy everything.
So far, the battles had been going in his favor. The number of countries they had occupied was hard to count, and this time, they had a golden opportunity to conquer the Fibron Empire all at once.
In fact, news of their victories had been echoing on various battlefields, and that’s why he predicted that the fall of the Fibron Empire wouldn’t take long. But…
“Yo…Your Majesty…those Fibron…those Fibron Empire bastards…monsters…monsters…”
One of the knights shouted urgently. When the Emperor gave permission for him to come closer, the knight hurriedly approached.
“Get out of here.”
Emperor Lecan pushed the saint who had been clinging to his side aside and asked the knight.
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“Your name, and your business.”
For a moment, the knight’s expression twisted. He had reported the situation several times, but Emperor Lecan couldn’t even remember his name. It was probably because he had been heavily intoxicated most of the time he received the reports.
The knight didn’t show any signs of displeasure. He knew that if any emotion were to show on his face, he would know exactly what would happen to him.
“I am Knight Commander Fidre. I have come because a serious problem has occurred on the battlefield, and I judged that Your Majesty must be informed of it.”
“What problem?”
The Emperor didn’t bother to hide his annoyance. His hand and gaze were directed towards a luxurious wine glass that he hadn’t yet had a chance to savor. Unless the news was important enough to disturb his drinking, he vowed to kill that bastard called Fidre.
But the news that came to his ears was something that even Emperor Lecan couldn’t help but find interesting.
“A slaughterer has appeared on the battlefield.”
“A slaughterer, you say?”
“According to the reports, a person who has single-handedly slaughtered over 500 knights and wizards in our army exists in the Fibron Empire.”
“Hmm…”
The emperor pondered as he tilted his glass, but then quickly muttered,
“Only about 500 people are making a fuss. The soldiers of the Kaorelden Empire must have many more. If the numbers are lacking, gather and kill them. If that doesn’t work, capture civilians and threaten them.”
“But… it is said that they are not opponents that can be dealt with. It is said that they absorb power into strange orbs every time they kill someone…”
“If the opponent is a magician, can’t we respond with other magicians?”
“There have been reports that they also wield swords…”
Emperor Lecan began to visibly contort his expression. It was because the man was uttering increasingly nonsensical words.
“Have you seen it yourself?”
“I haven’t seen it myself, but I’ve heard reports.”
“You think that someone who has mastered both magic and swordsmanship exists in the Phebron Empire, having killed over 500 people? Are you sure you understand the words you’re spewing?”
“W-well, yes.”
“Ask again. Do you think that makes any sense?”
The emperor thought it made no sense. If the Phebron Empire really possessed such a monster, there would have been no reason to deploy troops when the battle was already lost.
If he had wanted to minimize the damage, it would have been more advantageous to demand a ceasefire negotiation at the beginning of the war and use the so-called “slaughterers” as a bargaining chip. But now, after a considerable number of troops had died and the border had been breached, they were suddenly rushing to deploy troops?
Even the foolish emperor himself wasn’t naïve enough to believe those words at face value.
“The ones who failed their mission are lying.”
The emperor’s conclusion was simple.
The person called the “slaughterer” was a fabrication created by defeated knights on the battlefield. They fabricated false reports out of fear of being punished for losing a massive number of troops without any achievements.
“Even upon further reflection, it’s such an absurd thing to say. How stupid did they think I was?”
Emperor Lecan walked towards Pidre, holding his sword. Pidre, realizing what the emperor was about to do, hastily shouted,
“It’s not a lie! I confirmed countless amounts of blood and corpses on the scene! Your Highness! You must listen to me. The one called the slaughterer is not the kind of enemy that our troops can deal with. We should even now consider the ceasefire treaty that the Phebron Empire had previously requested…”
Thump.
As the loyal servant spoke heartfelt advice, blood dripped from his mouth and the man’s body and face separated. The holy maidens behind him dared not even scream, fearing for their own safety.
Emperor Rukan shook his bloodied sword disdainfully and spoke.
“Since ancient times, lowly men have created illusions to hide their incompetence. They speak of ghosts and other nonsensical things. Isn’t that right?”
The emperor asked the holy maidens, but they were too afraid to answer. They must have feared dying like the man who had fallen to the ground.
“Answer me. Do you think I’m right?”
“Yes… Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Your words are correct, Your Majesty.”
Reluctantly, the holy maidens trembled in fear and appeased the emperor. The emperor threw his sword as if he had lost interest and turned to the silent royal knight commander, Bripin, standing next to him.
“Bripin, what do you think?”
“Your Majesty’s words are correct.”
Finally, the emperor sat back in his seat and drank his wine.
“Your Majesty, I will take care of the matter.”
“Yes, get rid of him. I don’t want to see his face.”
Royal Knight Commander Bripin carried the corpse on his back and left. He went to the nearby cemetery, where a space had already been prepared, and buried the body with the help of those around him.
He briefly clasped his hands together and prayed. May the devoted young man not be born in this empire again.
He briefly reminisced. Fedre was a dedicated knight. The man ordered the knight next to him.
“Tell Fedre’s family that he died on the battlefield. Provide them with enough compensation and find them a house in the rear of the battlefield to relocate them to a safe place.”
“But… Is that really okay? If word gets out that you ordered the immediate execution, it could cause trouble.”
“If any problems arise, I will take responsibility.”
“…Understood.”
After a brief moment of recovery, Bripin stared blankly at the sky. Today, the night was resented for its brilliant starlight.
“This place is a luxury even for those with little faith.”
Bripin briefly mourned his comrades and returned to the palace. He saw the emperor, drunk and reveling in debauchery.
Despair washed over Bripin.
He did not believe in gods.
If the goddess Luasta truly existed, she would have taken that man’s life first. Even if there were gods, they had abandoned the Kaorelden Empire.
Under an incompetent leader, the Kaorelden Empire would continue its endless cycle of atrocities.
To witness the deaths of his subordinates and be unable to do anything – it was a night of frustration.
— — —
Leaving the battlefield filled with corpses, they headed towards the territory of the Phibron Empire.
Choi Ye-bin remained vigilant, but there didn’t seem to be any emotional issues. Well, she had experienced similar situations in the novel she possessed, so it was somewhat expected. But the Saintess next to her, Flemia, was different.
Her pupils were dilated, her hands trembling as if she were holding a quivering bamboo. Especially when she saw the corpses of the Kaorelden Empire knights, she would fall into fear, unable to understand what was so terrifying.
“Is it trauma?”
Flemia, who had almost met a tragic end despite sacrificing herself for her country. She seemed afraid of everything.
“They’re dead. You don’t have to be scared.”
Flemia fell silent for a moment before speaking.
“The Administrator said it was necessary, but… I’m just too scared. What if the people from the Phibron Empire betray us like Galad?”
Macderas glanced at those around him and shook his head.
“Tekelomand Knight Commander, that honorable man wouldn’t do something so despicable. It wouldn’t benefit him to turn us into enemies in the first place.”
“I trust Commander Tekeloman… but it’s clear that I am their enemy. Especially as a former saint of the Kaorelden Empire… I’m afraid, in case… something like before happens again…”
The saint trembled in fear and stopped in her tracks. I quietly took her trembling hand in mine. The girl’s hand was incredibly cold.
Flemia looked at me with surprise in her eyes.
“Just stay like this until you feel stable.”
But her trembling didn’t stop. Her eyes kept darting towards the countless soldiers surrounding us. Flemia’s wandering gaze met mine.
How could someone be so pitiful? She dedicated herself for her country, sacrificed everything for them, and yet her life had fallen into ruin.
When I saw the post she made on the community as her username “holly trust,” I honestly decided to come here out of curiosity.
But now, for some reason, I didn’t want to ignore her. I wanted to prove to her with my own hands that the gods don’t betray. I wanted to show her that miracles can happen if you wish for them earnestly.
“Don’t worry. Even if some people attack us.”
I held one of Flemia’s hands and spoke quietly.
“I will protect you.”
Only then did the trembling in Flemia’s hand stop. She clasped my hand with her other hand.
“I believe you. You’ve already saved me from hell once.”
As we continued our conversation, we could hear the voice of Commander Tekeloman.
“We have arrived.”
We had arrived at the imperial palace of the Pibron Empire. The plan had already been finalized. We had finished all the calculations on how to utilize the Pibron Empire’s forces.
The question now was how to negotiate with them.
The real war begins now.