Chapter 582: The Rebels

The combined forces of the Great Holy Church and the Old Kingdom dispatched new reinforcements to the advance force of 60,000 soldiers that had captured Fort Medraut. The reinforcements numbered just under 40,000. Combined with the advance force, the total number of troops reached 100,000.

The core of the reinforcements consisted of private armies of nobles, including the Roymetz Formor and Gilreage Families, and also the Cathedral’s Guardians.

King Ameritz Gharast and Saint Ariene, along with their personal forces, displayed a burning determination.

However, the command of the entire army rested not with the King, the Saint, or any of the nobles. Command was entrusted to only one man.

Protector Jace Brackenberry. The supreme commander of the national army. A man who had never suffered defeat in numerous campaigns and considered the protector of the nation.

He was entrusted with even the command of private armies, a power that should have belonged to each noble. He single-handedly became the main brain of 100,000 soldiers.

「How do you view this campaign, Guardian Brackenberry? 」

On a night when the moon was almost hidden, only Brackenberry and one other high-ranking noble, Roymetz, were inside the commander’s tent. Roymetz leaned his large frame back in the chair, letting the candlelight rest on his cheek.

「A campaign, you say? This is nothing more than a civil war, Lord Formor. And the worst civil war ever, one that has turned the capital city into a battlefield. 」

Brackenberry replied while showing the furrow on his eyebrows. His emotions were unusually open. One could even sense a hint of dread in his voice.

「Zebrililith is dead. The great catastrophe, the war against the great demons, is over. Therefore, the crucial point is the postwar period. You understand this well, don’t you? 」

Roymetz nodded, meeting Brackenberry’s gaze. He already grasped what he was trying to say. And the postwar period, in essence, was the realm of politics. In fact, Roymetz had the upper hand in that regard.

「All the surrounding great nations were wounded by the great catastrophe. Bolvat, whose main magic army collapsed; Elizard, whose tribal cities were half-destroyed; and Roah, whose leader was lost. And we, whose land was greatly ravaged, even losing our capital…We gained nothing. So, what will become of us? 」

If one were to put it bluntly…all they had gained was peace. But would the lords be satisfied with that?

Of course not. Even if they accepted peace for a time, it was human nature to eventually desire something commensurate with what they lost.

「You are right. Peace will last for a few years for reconstruction, but what about after that? Once reconstruction is complete, and other countries are still in chaos, someone will inevitably turn against us. We must take action for the peace that follows the war. 」

Brackenberry believed that the peace during reconstruction would probably only last five years at most. Five years would be enough time for nations to mend their wounds. Even if a complete cure was impossible, they could at least mend their lost armies.

And once the rebuilding was complete, nations would begin invading other countries, venting their pent-up frustrations.

Countless fields would be lost due to the insidious ravages, and human losses would be immense. Food and money would be severely lacking, yet taxes must be collected for reconstruction. Domestic discontent would inevitably continue to rise.

Unless nations possessed a unified will, they would begin to move to import victories, supplies, and territory from other countries.

「This civil war can be won if it is waged. I’ve investigated the campaigns of this hero…No, this Lugis, but regardless of his individual skill, military tactics are clearly not his specialty. 」

This, too, was Brackenberry’s honest opinion, without reservation.

As far as Brackenberry could observe the New Kingdom, what was remarkable was the individual talent, not the military tactics. From the fall of Garoua Maria to the Battle of Sanyo, the Prison of Beulah, the Bolvat Dynasty campaign, and finally the recapture of the capital, there was no instance where their victory was due to military tactics.

In fact, if you only looked at the movements of their army, there were even points where defeat wouldn’t have been surprising. Yet, they overturned that fate through the actions of multiple heroes.

「They are a threat, but we can win the campaign because of our difference in military strength. However, it won’t be immediate. The enemy has over 20,000 troops and the capital city obviously; it will take time if they hold out. As a result, the country will be devastated, and we will be defeated in the next campaign against other nations. 」

「…I understand. Therefore, I would like to hear the Protector’s deep thoughts. 」

Although it was a bit of a roundabout way of speaking, that was the focus of Roymetz’s interest.

The national army, private army and the Cathedral army. Where were the commanders of these 100,000-strong armies headed? What were their objectives and what did they intend to accomplish?

Was that truly the same as his own intentions?

Brackenberry looked into Roymetz’s eyes, paused for a moment, and then said.

「…Of course. I will stop the civil war. Even if it goes against the wishes of His Majesty and the Saint. 」

Even though everyone had been dismissed, those bold words made Roymetz’s large body lean back slightly.

「…That’s unexpected. I thought the Guardian of the Nation considered His Majesty’s word absolute. 」

「I’m confident I’ve been seen as rigid. I like the words loyalty, pride, and discipline. But my primary objective must be the preservation of the nation. His Majesty himself once desired this and gave me this position. 」

「I see…」

Roymetz said, stroking his chin. He understood that this was the form of loyalty Brackenberry accepted.

If this civil war were to drag the Gharast Kingdom into a quagmire, then he had no choice but to act as Guardian of the Nation.

「With him…Lugis…killing Zebrililith, the tide of the battle will shift. Even among those who uphold the Holy Order as justice, doubts may arise. It’s true that I would have preferred to stop this before the campaign began, but even a second-best option is unavoidable. 」

Roymetz smoothed the wrinkles between his eyebrows with his fingers, carefully considering Brackenberry’s words. He deliberately adopted a relaxed demeanor, tightening his lips.

「Now…after telling me all those thoughts, surely this isn’t just a meaningless conversation. 」

「Of course not. There’s something I’d like to ask you. 」

Roymetz and Brackenberry spoke as if the conversation up to this point had been predetermined.

For Brackenberry, who had deliberately avoided many political allies, Roymetz was practically the only person he could open up to. And he trusted him.

「…I would like to ask His Majesty and the Saint to step aside for now. After the incident occurs, I would like to entrust you with the political resolution. I will also do some groundwork with the military, but there will likely be many nobles who will not agree with me. 」

Brackenberry’s words made Roymetz pause for a moment. He had seen this coming, but it was a habit of his to pause before making a final decision.

At the very last moment, was this truly the right thing to do? His greatest weapon was the caution that wasn’t at all apparent from his large physique and rough demeanor.

A moment of hesitation.

Then, like a blade being brought down, words came out.

「I also agree with the Protector, Your Excellency. 」

Only one person stepped boldly into the tent after everyone else had been dismissed. From the beginning, she alone had been allowed to be present as Roymetz’s bodyguard.

And above all, she was more loyal to him than to the King or the Saint.

「…Valerie. 」

「As I said… Richard was implanted with the seed of immortality by the Great Holy Church. I cannot place my faith in the Great Holy Church now. Furthermore, now that Zebrililith is dead, there is little need to join forces anymore. 」

Valerie Brightness spoke with a striking presence and an overwhelmingly sorrowful expression. Her eyes were as narrow as ever, but it was easy to imagine the multitude of emotions swirling within her.

「Even if the teachings of the Great Holy Church are correct, that does not justify the current situation. That is my opinion, Your Excellency. 」

「Hmm, you really think so? 」

Roymetz nodded in response to Valerie’s sharp words.

Roymetz’s resolve was now firm although it had been almost decided from the start. As a member of the Formor Family, related to the King by marriage, they had a duty to protect this nation itself.

「Understood. Though I am of little ability, I will do my best. 」

「…Thank you. But before I go into details, there is one thing I must tell you. 」

Brackenberry’s expression became extremely complicated before he spoke. It was rare to see him make such an expression.

Brackenberry spoke, as if forcing himself to choose his words carefully.

「The truth is unclear. Please just keep it in mind…It concerns the Saint’s secret letter. 」

Previous | Next

😉

—————–

Support us on Patreon and get access to early chapters