Ch.218Chapter 218: Lament

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For Imperial Knights, the end of the year is a busy time.

This is because it’s when the Imperial Knights, who must actively stand against external threats to the empire’s peace, need to pour all their organizational capabilities into their duties.

As the year-end approaches, monsters and undead, driven by the impulses of surging magical energy, descend from the vast mountain ranges they inhabit.

It would be problematic to claim this period isn’t busy when these creatures, led by their destructive instincts, indiscriminately destroy everything in sight while attempting to hold a festival of blood.

Of course, while the scale of these deliberately descending creatures is impressive.

The Imperial Knights and their elite headquarters, Knight Haven, aren’t so fragile that they can’t withstand such a mass offensive.

Therefore, even during busy times, it shouldn’t normally reach the point where one feels their body and soul are being drained away in such a mentally exhausting environment.

But this year was different.

In previous years, during the Subjugation Festival period, the Imperial Knights with their overwhelming skills simply swept away the numerous monsters and undead.

What had been little more than an annual event called the “Subjugation Festival” had drastically changed for two consecutive years, including this one.

It all began with the appearance of a quasi-deity (准神), confirmed to have been active even during the Great Holy War when a single gesture brought down the outer walls surrounding what was thought to be an impregnable fortress, a description that “iron fortress” would be insufficient to describe.

No matter how numerous they were, the Imperial Knights had never been overwhelmed by monsters or undead that moved without organization, driven only by instinct.

Since that being’s appearance, the northern year-end had changed significantly.

When it first appeared three years ago, despite the unprecedented collapse of the fortress walls, they miraculously repelled the offensive without a single casualty.

But miracles don’t happen every time—that’s why they’re miracles.

The following year, while there were no deaths, many knights suffered severe injuries requiring extensive rehabilitation.

And the year after that, though few in number, precious lives of knights were tragically lost.

The emergence of a “head” that issued unified commands and coordinated the beings tainted by destructive magical energy—beings that had previously been focused solely on destruction—posed a significant threat to the empire’s security.

Fortunately, recognizing the danger, they replaced the already sturdy fortress walls with ones built using the latest construction methods.

This gave them the advantage of having outer walls sturdy enough to withstand even the blows of a quasi-deity containing traces of divinity, however slight.

But such advantages can only be properly utilized when accompanied by the human resources capable of fully employing them.

What the soldiers and knights desperately holding back the fierce onslaught of monsters and undead battering Knight Haven needed was the smooth supply of overwhelming manpower and resources.

The peak of this busier-than-usual year-end should have been spent solely on providing that support.

But a sudden special “event” prevented even Iriana’s modest wish from being fulfilled…

“Those damn fools… if they were going to do it, they should have done it at the beginning of the year, not the end…”

The Imperial Inspectorate’s sword dance—an event that pushed Iriana to the point of showing weakness, something unusual for someone who normally commanded even more experienced knights with a single order—was that event.

Sword dance, yes, sword dance.

Though somewhat extreme an expression, if one were to see the inspectors of the Inspectorate conducting their fierce inspections of the empire’s prominent administrative and foreign affairs departments, brandishing their golden sun-engraved nameplates.

Anyone would not hesitate to describe it as a sword dance.

This was true not only for the victims(?) who had properly felt the brunt of the Inspectorate’s sword dance.

“I understand they’re doing their best without cutting corners because it’s their job… but there should be limits.”

But also for those who hadn’t suffered even a scratch from the fierce dance yet still shuddered at the thought.

Iriana disliked the Inspectorate’s rigorous audits.

It wasn’t because she feared negative results from the audit.

Not only she herself, serving as the vice-commander.

But unlike the Royal Knights, who focused on protecting the imperial family—the foundation of the empire.

The members of the Imperial Knights, focused on protecting the safety and peace of the citizens—another foundation of the empire—were all individuals devoted to their respective duties.

They were handling the audits with a cleanliness that didn’t raise even a speck of dust despite the Inspectorate’s literally fierce sword dance.

The inspection itself didn’t cause any harm to Iriana or the Imperial Knights.

However, there was a reason why Iriana disliked the inspection taking place at this time.

Pushing forward with inspections based on principles and rules, regardless of the Obsidian Palace’s offensive against Knight Haven that was incomparable to any other time.

This inadvertently shackled the knightly order that needed to actively deal with the enemy offensive during the year-end.

It was heartbreaking that these capable individuals, who could undergo countless audits without a single flaw.

Were being held back by this, unable to go where they needed to be for proper action.

They were competent administrative officers who could have quickly prepared complex forms for personnel and supply requisitions according to the busy year-end schedule.

And some capable mid-level knights who should have been deployed to the front lines immediately to face the monsters.

Because of this, Iriana, as vice-commander of the Imperial Knights, strongly protested to Count Jonathan, the head of the Inspectorate, citing the inappropriateness of the inspection timing.

-If northern defense is compromised by this already simplified audit, conducted with consideration for the awkward timing and the status of the Imperial Knights, wouldn’t that indicate a problem with the Imperial Knights themselves? Our Inspectorate is already providing maximum convenience.

She had only received the Inspectorate head’s confident reply that they should be grateful for the accommodations being made rather than complaining.

Crunch

Iriana couldn’t help but grind her teeth without realizing it.

“I admire the courage to speak boldly without intimidation, but I wonder if such boldness would be maintained if a legion of monsters invaded the capital.”

She muttered to herself.

“As if I don’t know they’re trying to elevate their own status by hindering the Imperial Knights, whose top priority is protecting the country that established those very principles and rules…”

Still unwilling to lift her body from the desk, Iriana used her left hand—free since she wasn’t holding her coffee cup—to brush back her hair.

Though her physical condition wasn’t at its best due to overtime work and short sleep.

Her silver hair, so meticulously groomed that one might wonder how she managed it, shimmered as if emitting light with each movement of her left hand.

“Well, have I done something to make our vice-commander upset? I told Jonathan to restrain his excessive enthusiasm, but I didn’t expect things to turn out this way. I’m sorry.”

A voice that wasn’t hers echoed in the office where she thought she was alone.

The voice, as if covered by a thin veil, was so indistinct that even the gender of the speaker was ambiguous.

If anyone else heard an unfamiliar voice in a space they thought was private, they would have shown at least minimal vigilance.

“What are you sorry for… It’s not like you ordered the Inspectorate to act this way.”

Iriana’s voice, as she slowly opened her mouth while still slumped over the desk, showed no sign of wariness toward the unfamiliar voice.

Rather, given that she was waving off the apology, saying there was no need to be sorry.

It seemed she had known all along that someone else was present in the room besides herself.

And not just anyone, but someone she knew very well and was on intimate terms with.

Swoosh

Iriana’s upper body, which had been slumped over the desk the entire time, finally lifted.

“Isn’t it uncomfortable staying like that? It would have been nice if you’d at least greeted the people who will be accompanying you to Geumwol.”

Naturally raising her head and turning it to the right side of the desk, Iriana spoke again to the person who had only addressed her with their voice.

As if she knew exactly where the other person was.

“…I’m secretly visiting to see a friend, you know. If I’m discovered, it could cause quite a commotion.”

The other person replied with a voice that showed slight discomfort, referring to Iriana as a friend while explaining why they weren’t revealing themselves.

“Besides, we’ve met once a few years ago, so is there really a need for introductions? I think it would be more fun to see their surprised expressions when we meet on the day of departure.”

They added with a voice full of mischief, becoming Iriana’s conversation partner.

In response to this friend who was deliberately hiding their appearance and only revealing their voice despite there being no apparent need to do so.

“…I don’t understand why Princess Lukius has suddenly become so mischievous lately. Have you been going on frequent dates with that shadow person and become like this…?”

Iriana tried to tease back.

“W-why are you taking it in that direction?!”

The ‘princess’s’ voice, filled with embarrassment, quickly cut off Iriana’s words before she could continue with what would have been an uncomfortable tease.

Indeed, whether it was because the emotions of playfulness and embarrassment had lifted the thin veil that had been obscuring the otherwise ambiguous voice.

Or because Iriana had already revealed the other person’s identity.

Or perhaps a delicate combination of both.

“A-ahem.”

After clearing her throat once to compose her embarrassment.

“A-anyway, when I saw them three years ago, they were all talented individuals, but they’ve grown incredibly in the meantime. Especially your younger sibling—they’re truly remarkable, aren’t they?”

The voice of Imperial Princess Lukius Bright Solarium, attempting to change the subject by evaluating the three people who had just been facing Iriana at her desk, finally revealed the delicacy and softness characteristic of a woman.