episode_0034

After the situation in the Capital was somewhat resolved, the Vice-Commander of the Baugliir Knights, who had been leading them to control the Capital, came to the audience chamber.

Rodrigo de Dias.

Also known as [El Cid].

She was the Sixth Executor of Gram and the Vice-Commander of the Baugliir Knights, a woman who had once been one of the trusted subordinates of Morgoth, the ancient calamity.

Now, however, having had her seal broken and her qualifications proven, she had become a loyal subject willing to lay down her life at my mere word.

“The takeover of the Capital has been perfectly completed.”

Her voice had a soft tone, but due to years of shouting on countless battlefields, a hoarse rasp mixed in occasionally.

“Where is Marquis Stund?”

“The Ninth Executor is currently controlling the Capital.”

[The Servant], Henri D. Stund.

That Henri D. Stund was indeed the Henri D. Stund of the Clock Tower with the Infinite Bell in the Capital’s Tenth District. Originally one of the thirteen great marquises, he was also an Executor of Gram who helped seize the Capital, and a traitor to the Empire. As he was intimately familiar with the Capital’s situation, he was tasked with stabilizing the chaotic Capital.

‘The Capital’s affairs are completely finished.’

The takeover was completed before Feanor’s Lighthouse reignited, and with Marquis Stund’s help, complete control was achieved. In essence, now that the Capital could be left to Marquis Stund, I no longer had business there.

‘It’s time to move on to the next stage.’

“Tell them to activate the Lapis Lazuli Gate’s Teleport Gate.”

It was the name of the gate and teleport gate that moved the Imperial Army to Numenrora. As it was capable of long-distance travel to Numenrora, the Teleport Gate could transport anywhere simply by setting the coordinates of other gates and synchronizing with them.

At my words, a glint appeared in El Cid’s eyes.

“You intend to capture the Five Cities.”

“Yes.”

The Five Cities.

Five great cities located near the snow-capped mountains, surrounding Sirius, the Capital ruled by the Shahlnu Imperial Family. Each city’s economic power surpassed that of a single nation, serving as the Capital’s main arteries. They were essential cities to conquer for the coup to succeed.

The city of the Impurity Ducal Family, the First City Mirzam. The city of the Oleg Ducal Family, the Second City Mulyfen. The city of the Basilica Ducal Family, the Third City Wezen. The city of the Bellium Ducal Family, the Fourth City Adhara. The city of the Angelus Ducal Family, the Fifth City Aludra.

A total of eight Executors and one Judge had been dispatched to each of these cities. In fact, including me, El Cid, and Marquis Stund, all the Executors, and two of the three Judges, had been deployed for the occupation of the six cities. Since the most difficult task, the takeover of the Capital, was completely finished, it was now time to assist them.

“First, news has arrived that the Fifth City, Aludra, fell on the day of the coup.”

Aludra was where the Prophets’ second largest residence was located, but now, the Prophets’ foresight was rendered useless. Consequently, Aludra, which had entrusted its defense to foresight, was easily captured by a single Executor.

“And the Fourth City, Adhara, was reportedly captured by ‘Oh Shin’ this dawn, as Duke Bellium, the family head, was absent.”

The Bellium Ducal Family, rulers of Adhara, was a prestigious house that had historically produced Imperial Knights and Royal Guards. It was one of the two prominent martial families remaining in the Empire, but due to the absence of Duke Bellium, who had reached the mid-to-high Sword Master realm, it was easily captured. It was just a matter of speed, but up to this point, I had expected them to fall relatively easily.

The problem lay with the next cities.

“The Third City, Wezen…”

El Cid, who had been reporting without a break, finally faltered in her speech.

“It is still under siege.”

“Of course.”

The Guild of Truthful Rulers.

A living history that had survived since the Golden Age, and a guild founded by two old veterans who were once ancient kings. No matter how old and frail the two High Elves had become, their skills as a Great Mage and Grand Master were undeniable. Although they were humans nearing the end of their lives, as monsters who once held the title of ancient kings, I hadn’t expected their capture in the first place.

“And the Second City…”

“Not the Second City. Report on the First City first.”

The First City, Mirzam, ruled by the Impurity Ducal Family.

It was the largest of the Five Cities and geographically closest to Sirius. While the occupation of other cities was important, the occupation of this city had the highest priority.

“Mirzam is currently under siege, it is reported.”

“Is that so.”

This, too, was an answer I had somewhat expected. Aside from the Imperial Family and the Prophets, who held overwhelming authority on the continent, the Impurity family’s prestige was virtually unrivaled among the other great nobles. Unlike the Third City, I didn’t think it would be impossible to capture, but I also didn’t expect it to fall so soon.

“Were you perhaps thinking of sending support to Mirzam first?”

I responded immediately to her cautious question.

“Mirzam will fall eventually.”

The Impurity Ducal Family.

Although it was one of the two martial families representing the Empire, alongside the Ballium Ducal Family, the hero Astolfo, who was the core of their military strength, was absent, and the current family head was bedridden due to a curse. Of course, several highly skilled individuals, excluding those two, were positioned within the city, but since the First and Fourth Executors had been sent, it would eventually fall. The Impurity Ducal Family was far too arrogant to overcome the cunning of those two.

“……”

I had heard reports on four of the five cities.

Now, as I looked at her and asked for news about the last city, the Second City, Mulyfen, El Cid reported the ‘fate’ of the Executors sent to Mulyfen with an expression of great vexation.

“Mulyfen is…”

“……”

Creak. Creak.

After hearing her full report, Agape’s fingers, resting on the pommel, moved up and down in sequence. Agape, who had been contemplating the snowy fields outside the Capital as if reminiscing about the distant past, looked back at El Cid and commanded her.

“Leave only the minimum necessary forces to defend the city, and gather all remaining troops.”

“Yes. We will certainly live up to your expectations—”

“No.”

Beyond the eye-slit, a golden artificial eye fixed on her.

“I will go to the city myself.”

***

The Second City, Mulyfen.

This place, ruled by the Oleg Ducal Family, was effectively the only city that had completely defended itself from Gram’s attacks, apart from Wezen, where the ancient kings were stationed. Although Mulyfen had temporarily defended itself from Gram’s offensive, the knights of the Oleg Ducal Family, looking down from the city walls, could not hide their dismay.

“My goodness… are there still so many troops left?”

A knight stared blankly at the city’s exterior.

“To think those are the Shadow Forces…”

A knight chuckled humorlessly.

“Who would look at that and think they were merely Shadow Forces confined to the darkness…”

Up until the war against the Army of Death. No, even until before the First Great Expansion began.

The Shadow Forces had been suppressed by the might of the Empire and the Allied Nations, forced to cower and hide under the guise of justice, unable to even see sunlight. Like swarms of insects hidden in the dark, desperate to avoid the gaze of the giant known as the Empire.

But now, after more than 10 years, the largest of those insects that had always only wished to avoid the giant’s gaze had emerged from the darkness.

The insect that had stepped into the light was no longer an insect, but had transformed into a monster with enough power to choke the giant.

A tremendous roar erupted!

They had repelled two Executors in this city.

Although it had come with great sacrifices, they had still managed to defeat two of Gram’s strongest forces, widely considered to be the most powerful among the Shadow Forces. In such a situation, the city’s citizens, whose morale had soared the day before, fell into despair upon seeing an army far larger than anything they had encountered previously.

***

“Your Grace!”

A knight of the Oleg Knights hurriedly ran to him.

“……”

The very aged Duke was paying his respects at the Star’s Graveyard, where countless knights’ tombstones stood. Kalika, Malek, Alex, Kolpin, Kachinsky, and others. Seeing the Duke, who was silently mourning with his eyes closed, holding his sword inverted before their names, the knight quickly bowed his head.

“My apologies, Your Grace! This matter is simply too urgent, so…”

“It’s fine.”

Eyes, deeply wrinkled at the brow, turned towards him.

“No doubt they’ve come again.”

“Yes, but…”

The knight, who had been continuing his report, pressed his lips together and bowed his head. He couldn’t bring himself to tell his loyal liege that this city was now hopeless.

“There’s no need to say it aloud.”

Even without hearing it, he already knew what the situation outside was like. Recalling the enemies they would soon face, Duke Oleg spoke to the knight.

“I’ll be there shortly, so tell the retainers to wait a little longer.”

“…Understood.”

At the Duke’s command, the knight immediately ran off.

“A heavy sigh.”

Recalling the knight’s face, etched with deep despair, Duke Oleg let out a sigh.

“……”

There was no hope.

He knew that better than anyone else in the city. Even if this invasion were miraculously repelled, holding out would be meaningless considering the Empire’s inevitable destruction.

But he could not surrender.

Because they were the Shadow Forces.

Because they were forces of evil, desperate to shatter the continent’s justice.

‘It’s hard.’

The weight he had to bear as a Duke.

The weight of responsibility to sacrifice his life in a hopeless situation, as the lord of this city, as a subject of His Majesty the Emperor. It pressed so heavily on his shoulders that his back was almost bent.

‘If I were alone, it wouldn’t be this difficult.’

Unlike now, on the brink of collapse, the knights of the Oleg Ducal Family who once defended Mulyfen were all trustworthy and loyal subjects. However, because all those loyal subjects had died in long wars, the Oleg Knights no longer had anyone capable of providing strength, apart from the Duke himself.

‘I miss it.’

The past, 20 years ago.

Even then, war was raging, but it was also the time when the most comrades to trust one’s back to appeared, and the most survived.

Naturally, his gaze turned to the graveyard where the knights who had fallen in that era were buried.

‘Helena.’

Her uniquely lively personality had greatly helped boost morale within the Knights.

‘Anastasia.’

Her excellent teaching abilities had nurtured countless talented individuals within the Knights.

‘Nikita.’

Her unique fighting spirit had been a great inspiration among the knights.

“And…”

‘Agape.’

The knight who was least welcomed due to the burn scar on his left arm and the stigma of being unable to use Aura. However, with his uniquely superb swordsmanship, he rose to the position of military official in less than 10 years, making him one of the few knights with exceptional potential in Oleg’s entire life.

‘Although he was dragged off to the penal legion and ultimately met a tragic end.’

Up until then, he possessed reliable abilities, ranking among the top five within the Knights. He was a great knight, whom Oleg himself acknowledged, someone who truly demonstrated what human triumph meant even in adverse circumstances.

Thump.

Oleg, placing his hand on the tombstone of his grave, closed his eyes for a moment, reminiscing about the distant past he had shared with them.

Praying in his heart that they would help him secure victory in the coming war.