Ch.145The Declining Imperial Family (16)

I followed Irene to the 4th defense line, the Windsor Knights Headquarters.

We were able to warp there with Rosalie’s help.

‘How convenient.’

Ruide thought as he walked.

The Windsor Knights Headquarters was made of white marble.

Perhaps because of that, it looked extremely elegant and clean.

“Did you call the knights?”

“Yes. I issued an assembly order. This is war, after all.”

“What about the other defense lines?”

“They’re all gathered at the 9th defense line, so Mother will handle it well.”

‘Go Mom!’

Ruide held tightly to Irene’s sleeve as they walked.

Right now, he was quite tense. His heart was beating fast, and he felt a bit afraid.

In theory, with his abilities, he could face the Empire alone.

But the weight of war, something he had never experienced before, pressed down on his shoulders.

Irene opened the reception hall.

The Windsor Knights were lined up inside.

However—

“?”

There were too few of them.

Just 5 people.

A number you could count at a glance.

‘Well, I guess the Windsor Knights are an elite force.’

Ruide was a bit surprised but accepted it.

While strength couldn’t be judged solely by magical power, it was generally a good indicator.

The five people before him each possessed an astonishing amount of magical power.

‘One worth a hundred, no, one worth a million, I suppose?’

“Lloyd, responsible for the 2nd defense line. I’ve answered your call.”

“3rd defense line… I-I’m Lina.”

“4th defense line!”

“That would be the 5th defense line. The 4th is our lord’s. You’re still an idiot, aren’t you, Fin?”

‘…I’m already not feeling confident about this at all.’

Ruide half-opened his eyes.

Some faces were familiar, but he didn’t know most of them. Even those he recognized, he had never seen them fight.

“One person is missing.”

“Charlotte has… a stomachache.”

A solemn silence briefly filled the room.

There couldn’t be a more obvious lie in the world.

“She never comes to these things anyway.”

“Always talking about peace and whatnot. Anyway, Captain, is it true we’re at war with the Empire?”

“We declared war a little while ago. They should be coming eagerly by now.”

“I-I’m scared.”

“Aren’t you embarrassed to act like that in front of the young master?”

“B-but I can’t help being scared…”

Lina, responsible for the 3rd defense line.

She was someone Ruide didn’t know well.

At first glance, she appeared to be a pure and innocent girl.

‘But according to novel clichés, this type is usually the most cruel.’

Ruide suddenly realized that despite having read 1000 chapters of the novel, he knew very little about the North.

Why hadn’t these powerful forces appeared much in the original work?

“By the way, it’s been a while, young master.”

“You’ve grown so much already, I’m moved.”

“I saw him recently. Jealous?”

Ruide felt somewhat embarrassed and hid behind Irene.

“But Captain, why did you bring the young master if we’re going to war?”

“Ruide will be participating too.”

“Oh, I see. Our young master is also participating in the war…”

“…What?”

The five knights opened their eyes wide and looked at each other.

“I-is that true?”

“The young master is participating in the war?”

‘Is this really that surprising?’

Ruide tilted his head in confusion.

“No, no, forget it. I think the Captain is still dangerous. The war was probably instigated by the Captain anyway, right?”

“Do you want to throw such a lovable brother into that cesspool?”

“Captain, are you insane?”

“She’s lost it.”

They quickly determined Irene’s mental state.

Ruide glanced at Irene.

She was still smiling.

“Um, um.”

At that moment, Lina raised her hand.

“I, I don’t agree.”

“…”

The room fell silent again.

Lina shrank back.

“If the chitchat is over, may I continue?”

“…I had my doubts from the beginning.”

Lloyd shook his head.

“I apologize. I cannot participate. Judging by the situation, this hasn’t been approved by our lord.”

Irene didn’t answer and just stared at him.

Lloyd stared back at Irene without wavering.

After a moment—

Lloyd closed his eyes and slightly bowed his head.

“I will participate.”

“That’s good.”

Irene walked to the center with her hands behind her back.

“Now, I will explain the strategy to destroy the Empire.”

The knights’ demeanor, which had been somewhat relaxed until now, changed.

Everyone listened seriously.

“Lina.”

“Eek!”

Lina hunched her shoulders.

Irene smiled and said:

“Go to the Black Mages and become their strength.”

“What?”

Everyone was surprised by those words.

Ruide was no exception.

‘What is she thinking?’

Was she planning to use the Black Mages to shake the Empire?

But it seemed unnecessary to him.

He thought they could defeat the Empire in a direct confrontation.

“Build up your power as much as possible and do bad things.”

“H-how could I?”

“And Lloyd, you will stop those bad things. Also…”

Ruide, feeling frustrated, shook Irene’s arm.

“Please explain properly what you mean.”

Though he interrupted Irene, everyone was so confused they were grateful to Ruide.

Only Ruide could interrupt Irene and remain unharmed.

Some even thought this might be why Ruide was here.

“You want to know my intention?”

“Yes. We can defeat the Empire without helping the Black Mages. So why stage such a play?”

“As you said, winning the war is easy.”

Irene explained kindly.

Ruide nodded as he listened, finding it all quite obvious, but the other Windsor knights found this scene unusual.

Irene’s way of speaking was typically difficult to understand. And even if you asked, she wouldn’t answer. But here she was, explaining things so kindly.

It showed how important Ruide was to Irene.

Though the person in question didn’t notice at all.

“But our goal isn’t to turn the Empire into a wasteland.”

“…It’s not?”

“Y-young master is scary too…”

Lina buried her face in her knees.

“Rui. War is waged to gain something.”

Irene sat down to meet Ruide’s eye level. Then she stroked his head.

“The reason we’re going to war with the Empire is to gain the Empire. Do you understand?”

“Then the Black Mages…”

“Without the recognition of its people, a country cannot last long.”

Irene stood up.

Looking around the room, she said:

“By using the Black Mage group, we’ll increase the imperial citizens’ distrust of the current imperial family—and if we win the war in that state, we gain legitimacy. That is our purpose. For that…”

Irene paused briefly and pointed at Lloyd.

“Become a hero.”

“…I will follow orders.”

“The rest of you, except Ruide, will be dispatched to other kingdoms and holy nations to promote the atmosphere of war and take control from within. Since the commander of the South has left his post, they’ll likely be thinking similarly, so it shouldn’t be difficult.”

‘…Could it be that Irene’s target isn’t just the Empire?’

Having similar thoughts to Ruide, Olivia, the person responsible for the 6th defense line, raised her hand.

“Wait. Setting aside that our mission seems excessively difficult, what do you mean by taking control of other kingdoms?”

Irene smiled brightly.

“Because they’re our next targets.”

“…!”

“You can take your time. I’m just giving these orders because it would be a waste to use this force only against the Empire.”

Irene’s words were extremely arrogant.

But no one here questioned them.

Because it was entirely possible.

However, Ruide looked up at Irene and asked one thing:

“Sister, what about me?”

Ruide had no intention of spending his time lazily napping again.

And Irene had no intention of telling her brother, who was showing initiative for the first time in a long while, to do nothing.

“Ruide, go to the 4th defense line.”

“Okay. And?”

“I’d like you to greet the guests who will be arriving soon.”

Irene spoke casually, as if—

She could read the future.

**

“The sky is dark.”

200,000 soldiers.

20,000 knights.

10,000 mages.

At the head of a total force of 230,000, Commander-in-Chief Margrave Sheffield stood with his hands in his pockets, looking somewhere in the distance.

The Windsor Castle, covered in pure white snow and looking like a frozen fortress, was faintly visible.

The core of the Windsor Duchy, the 4th defense line.

Today, they would bring it down.

He turned around with a languid expression.

The column was so long that its end couldn’t be seen.

The soldiers were looking at Sheffield with tense faces.

Sheffield calmly opened his mouth.

“Today, one side will disappear from history.”

The Empire that had continued for a thousand years.

The Windsor family, which had been loyal to the Empire for a thousand years.

He didn’t know where this tragedy had begun.

But he knew one thing.

“There will be no more peace.”

The fact that Margrave Sheffield had left his post would have spread to the South by now.

It would be a golden opportunity to overcome what had seemed like an insurmountable mountain.

“The Empire has many enemies. From this point on, you will likely fight countless wars.”

Sheffield took a light breath.

Filling his lungs with air, he shouted with a thunderous voice:

“Subjugating Windsor is just the first gate! If we cannot pass even this, the Empire does not deserve to be an empire!”

“Do not be afraid! Windsor’s reputation is nothing but an illusion! They are also human! A mere noble family cannot face this great army!”

The atmosphere was ripe.

Sheffield drew his sword and raised it high.

“We will be victorious!”

Waaaaaah-!

A tremendous roar filled the air, enough to shake the ground.

“Hup.”

Sheffield crouched down.

The mighty magical power of Crisis, known as the Empire’s hero, rippled.

He drew that explosive power from his toes and launched a slash toward Windsor Castle.

Kwagagak-!

Sheffield’s slash reached Windsor Castle.

A blue pentagram magic circle appeared, and the castle entered self-defense mode against external attacks.

It was the beginning of the war.