episode_0216

If only one person were to be added, Runarien’s current actions were all understandable.

Not Tifa or Kane or the other military officers following her… … If there was something else attached to her like a ghost, it wouldn’t be unreasonable for it to come up with such a gloomy plan.

‘I underestimated her too much.’

The original plan to use Mets to instigate her, and if that didn’t work, to eliminate her was also a plan made under the assumption that Lunarien would be a human being completely similar to Karelia.

If it were Karelia, she would have tried to remain faithful until the end even though she was suffering. So I expected Luna to act like that too, so I thought she would take on her responsibilities with integrity even if Mets betrayed her in the end.

After thinking that far, Vanessa closed her eyes and cleared her mind.

‘This isn’t important right now.’

No matter what kind of person Luna was, and no matter who was by her side – in this situation, such matters were of no concern.

What is important is that she took possession of a very useful piece of land called Tepelo Castle.

And, all the war materials that our Karelian army had stored up for a long time were robbed.

Although the situation became very unfavorable, there was still a basic difference in weight class.

In the end, the opponent only took possession of one territory. Although the Ohana army was very concerned, the Roland army and Hesna army above would not be able to pay attention to this area due to their own checks and friction with the central continent.

‘As expected, we have no choice but to conscript additional troops here and respond quickly.’

Since he had already applied military law very strictly and was concerned about public sentiment among the territory’s residents and did not push his own opinions, the fact that there was still a population of young men left to be conscripted felt like a lifesaver.

Even in the case of resources, if the worst comes… …

‘I might have to force it to be confiscated.’

Until now, the Karelia military had used taxes to purchase all military supplies.

No, not just the Karelian Army, but most countries prepared supplies in that way.

Of course, it was necessary to be able to plunder the territory, but if the public sentiment among the people of the territory was shattered in that way, let alone a unified nation, we would immediately fall into a situation where we had to watch out for internal rebellion.

Even so, it was better than having the country collapse due to lack of supplies to feed the soldiers here.

‘Anyway, once the situation calms down and Karelia takes over, public sentiment will naturally be able to regain stability. Just one territory… … It’s just one territory.’

Karelia, who had gathered her thoughts up to that point, spoke in a serious tone to her lord, who was kneeling down.

“Master. You might have to go back a bit. You may have to break your convictions. Is that still okay?”

“Do you mean to break faith? What is that… … ?”

“We will proceed with additional military conscription. Fortunately, there are 30,000 troops remaining, excluding the minimum troops to guard the castle, but in the worst case, we cannot rule out the possibility that the Lunarien army will sign a temporary ceasefire agreement with the Ohana army and then send 90,000 soldiers in this direction at once. To do that, we must prepare a much more overwhelming force.”

“… … .”

That figure of 30,000 was the same as the troops that were barely pulled out because Vanessa said, ‘It is better to leave out about 30,000 people.’

Now that the situation was like this, Karelia couldn’t deny what she said.

“And… … It seems that a decision must be made to conscript troops and expand war materials at the same time.”

“It’s a decision… … ?”

“Yes.”

Karelia looked blankly into Vanessa’s eyes… …

Soon, with four hundred eyes, he said ‘that word’.

“No way… … Are you trying to say that we should exploit the people of the territory?”

“… … .”

Vanessa was silent, but it was as positive as an affirmation.

Because it was the most realistic and only way to replenish war supplies.

And, the moment I heard Karelia’s words.

Vanessa sensed the words that would follow in a moment and closed her eyes tightly.

Then, he remembered why he had come to follow Karelia.

In Vanessa’s opinion, she was too sparkly to survive in these difficult times.

He truly cared about the people of the territory, never did anything that was wrong even when no one was watching, and never once told a lie.

He was a warm person who valued each soldier and citizen equally, and could truly sympathize with the pain of the weak.

Because I too fell in love with her personality, I wanted to live in a world where she became a unified monarch, and I worked hard for just that.

but.

“That’s… … That’s not possible.”

The upright nature that he fell in love with-

“No matter what happens, you cannot arbitrarily exploit the property of the residents of the territory. Even if conscription is inevitable… … I will never commit exploitation, even if a knife is put to my throat!”

-The Karelia army began to be quickly pulled into the abyss.

* * *

Karelia simply deployed whatever troops it could muster to the border – it did not make any special moves first.

To be precise, it would be more accurate to say that he couldn’t move in the first place.

Since most of the supplies and other supplies that could be used for dispatching troops were handed over to Luna, it was inevitable that using a large army carelessly would be a burden.

The plan to use Ohana County rather than exploit it was also almost similar to Violet’s prediction.

In fact, it wasn’t difficult to realize that the best thing you could do right now was if you had a little bit of intellect.

To be honest, it felt more comfortable for Vanessa to deal with Ohana rather than Lunarien, and they weren’t even a threat.

A few days later.

Additional conscription of troops took place within the Karelian Army.

Since many people with healthy limbs had already been conscripted, this time, even those who were a little more unsuited for war – such as those who had not yet grown out of the appearance of a boy or were too old to swing a sword properly – were mobilized as soldiers of the Karelian army. It has been done.

Of course, it was inevitable that there would be dissatisfaction among the residents of the territory –

If the number of troops was not adjusted somehow, there would be no choice but to be at a disadvantage in the long run.

The problem was that Karelia did not really go as far as resource exploitation.

We managed to gather troops, but if we couldn’t feed them, we couldn’t use them.

There is still a long time left to harvest what can be called military provisions, and since additional resources cannot be supplied, the Karelia military is in a position where it cannot do anything.

This is especially true in situations where it is not possible to even operate existing troops.

There is such a saying.

If you’re going to do anything, do it perfectly without hesitation, and if you’re not going to do it, don’t even touch it at all.

Unfortunately, Karelia was unable to take either of those two positions.

Although he did not plunder in accordance with his beliefs, he used Vanessa as a middleman to carry out forced conscription.

Isn’t there any way that the continuation of this odd situation could be advantageous to the Karelia military?

In this situation, Vanessa could not bear to push her master further.

If he really pushed her hard here, the image of ‘Monarch Karelia’ that he had desperately created would inevitably collapse as he was unilaterally swayed by a single trickster.

Karelia was a person with a docile personality. He was someone who would eventually follow suit if he really pushed hard.

She also knew very well that her absolute power came from Vanessa’s cruel hierarchy, so she would probably listen to her if she made a request with the intention of making a life-or-death decision.

Vanessa thought and thought for hours to somehow overcome this situation.

A solution that pushes one’s way and does not damage Karelia’s status… … There was just one.

‘… … ‘It’s my life.’

In the end, he takes everything upon himself and dies.

Then, at the same time, you can do forced conscription, exploitation, and perhaps even more… … I thought that Karelia’s status could be maintained.

I vividly remembered the first time I met Karelia.

He was confident that only she could heal the continent that had been shattered by the tyranny of the Eingart royal family.

Humans, once born, were meant to die someday. It was clear that if the Karelia army were to fall anyway, it would lose its motivation to continue living.

If you’re going to throw your life away anyway… … It would be better to consume it most efficiently.

Vanessa truly thought so.

okay.

If, as the religious people cried so loudly in the past when the continent was flourishing, there really is such a thing as ‘God.’

So, if you consider Karelia, who is willing to achieve a great cause for everyone even though she is not suitable for difficult times.

In that case, I thought that something would happen that could definitely overcome this situation.

*

“What… … Did you do it?”

A few days later.

Karelia spoke with a deep sigh to Vanessa, who had become four-eyed in the throne room after receiving the call.

“You remember, right? A man named Kane… … They say he is actually a member of the royal family.”

“That… … !”

“Kyle von Eingart. It is said to be his real name.”

Except for Serpina, members of the royal family who were thought to be extinct appeared.

That alone would be of great significance to the people of the territories across the continent who are nostalgic for the days of the empire when it flourished.

Of course.

That existence… … It was an old man who stayed by Luna’s side and continued to assist her.

How can this be?

I felt like I had become prey in a vicious gambling game.

This is like God… … Not his master Karelia–

“And it is said that he declared it in front of everyone. He said he would recognize Runarien as the next emperor to lead the continent.”

――It seems like someone named Runarien is smiling.

Vanessa barely overcomes the first time her body almost lost its strength.

‘no… … Let’s calm down for now.’

but.

“Vanessa… … .”

“… … Yes.”

“Simply to tell that story… … I didn’t call you.”

Vanessa noticed that the voice of her lord was strangely trembling and looked at her.

… … The green eyes are trembling.

It’s like something happened that should never have happened… … Like someone who noticed.

“… … Answer me honestly, Vanessa. if… … There’s something I don’t know… … Isn’t there still more left?”

–ah.

As soon as she heard those words, Vanessa closed her eyes tightly.

“When Kyle said that, the Mets, who betrayed us, also added a word.”

Karelia’s face turned pale and she asked Vanessa one more question.

“His words… … Is it true?”

“… … .”

Little by little, but surely –

Everything that Karelia has accumulated over a long period of time… … It started to collapse like a sand castle.