Ch.29Blade Wind War (2)

Following the southern expedition, Durin’s second planned campaign to the north was substantial enough to draw attention from the angel garrison.

The detachments that had been continuously probing the border had disappeared. They seemed to be gathering their full strength in preparation for a possible confrontation. When the invasion forces in the northwestern swamplands hunched down like this, the northern and western forces had no choice but to follow suit and hunker down as well.

This moment of standoff—when these massive forces were holed up in their territories, unwilling to make a move—was the opportunity. The path forward had opened wide for the border warlords who had been watching cautiously between the two continents.

Durin immediately split his thirty thousand troops and dispatched them to various central regions.

The infantry composed of Durahans was a unit with very poor mobility, so they had to protect the command post alongside the regent. In other words, the main force tasked with confirming loyalty oaths was not the core army of the castle, but rather the armies mobilized by the grand dukes to demonstrate their power.

“As the next heir to the throne, I’ll use this opportunity to make myself known. I don’t know how the Red Horns of the central region will view us, but I’m ready to embrace everyone. The regent said it, didn’t he? To prove myself. I’ll try ruling over them.”

The eastern army led by Serphin was the first to spring into action.

Hundreds of years ago, they had suffered the pain of losing the throne, but now was the time to temporarily forget that. United power creates complete authority. Knowing this well, she nurtured her forces with the help of Alberto, the representative of the grand duke.

If she could achieve an alliance between the Red Horns and the Green Horns, she could stand in the center as a perfect ruler without needing to build up justification as she was doing now.

“Absolutely. We must never allow that to happen. We may be able to absorb the central warlords, but our Senate will surely not survive. Let’s not just sit and watch—we must move quickly.”

The Central Red Horn Senate, accompanied by several hardline guards, also hurried. They mainly approached nearby powers close to the castle to appeal for support. In fact, territories with blood ties to the Senate even prohibited entry to the eastern army.

It was only natural that Serphin, unable to tolerate such interference, charged at the Senate without looking back.

“Isn’t this too much! We’re facing a war. There’s nothing good about being at odds with each other!”

“Ho ho ho. As the northern expedition force, we’re bound to one place—what discord are you talking about? Surely no one would be plotting such treachery.”

“How shameless. Almost enough to make me lose my desire to show mercy.”

“You seem to think you’re already sitting on the throne while the regent is still here. Is the East already disregarding his authority?”

“Don’t carelessly bring up the regent. Isn’t it your side that’s disrespecting him and trying to use him for your own benefit?”

One peculiar point was that Durin, who was actually staying quiet, began to be invoked everywhere. They were attempting to use the authority of the strongest being in the demon realm to belittle their opponents.

“If you keep acting like this, I’ll formally protest to the regent and prevent you from recklessly taking action.”

“Feel free to try whenever you wish. Just don’t forget that His Excellency is a Red Horn like us and served the previous Demon King alongside us.”

As the conflict intensified, the proportion of him in their conversations gradually increased.

While he was deeply focused on establishing strategies for the war with the North, the strange phenomenon of the regent’s authority steadily accumulating was occurring. From Durin’s perspective, this wasn’t bad at all. It was a good opportunity to store up power for what he needed to do even after the Demon King appeared.

“I will grant priority rights over the entire northern region to whoever brings back more loyalty oaths.”

He actually incited both sides. There was no reason to refuse since he could use the noble private armies to deal with the remaining forces.

“I won’t place any restrictions on means or methods. Like true demons, use your power to expand your influence. If you wish, you may take the guards with you. After all, they need to find a new king, so it wouldn’t be a bad experience to have them directly under your command.”

This was the moment when all military forces, except for Durin’s warriors, jumped into the chaos.

The Red Horn warlords who had remained until the end found themselves facing the jaws of the powerful central forces.

#

With the castle as the reference point, Serphin extended her reach to the east, while the Senate did the same to the west.

What remained were the south and north, but with Governor Aurelia bringing her troops up this time, the loyalty oaths from the southern continent were quickly secured without much concern.

“Your Excellency. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you.”

“You look radiant. The authority you’ve gained as ruler of the South is considerable.”

“Who would resist when backed by Your Excellency’s power? I merely directed some of the fervent loyalty they will deeply engrave in their hearts toward myself as well.”

“And the result is three thousand warriors. Excellent.”

Aurelia grinned broadly at Durin’s rare praise.

She had breathlessly revived Laktelrun for this day. Her efforts to gain favor had united everyone, and instilled the will to pull the city out of the ashes.

“Your Excellency. Will they also be incorporated into the central legion?”

“That won’t happen. The South still needs to sharpen its edge for future days.”

“…That’s disappointing.”

Berdia, who had been licking her lips nearby, retreated with disappointment. At the same time, Aurelia glared at her sharply. She was annoyed at Berdia for trying to snatch up the soldiers she had painstakingly raised.

Durin spoke first, before any unnecessary quarrel could break out.

“Instead, we will test the new legion we’ve raised. I need to see how strong their combat power is.”

“Is there a battlefield where we can step forward?”

“The northern border. A land where enemies of the castle lurk.”

At Durin’s words, the two women from the South knelt down. It was a solemn posture indicating they would accept his orders at any time.

“While the Senate and the eastern army are fighting, we will lead the castle’s defense force and the southern warriors to punish the traitors.”

“Traitors, how dare they! What ignorant fools would commit such acts in front of Your Excellency?”

“The border is originally a land where people from both continents live together. Just as there are places like Laktelrun in the South that have accepted central rule, there are cities in the North that maintain relationships with barbarians.”

“I don’t understand. How could those who should be responsible for the castle’s defense make such choices?”

“Berdia. Maintaining an amicable relationship with a sword that’s close by is almost instinctual.”

The South was a unique case. Having lived in such close contact with barbarians, their desire to lean on civilization instead created a separation between the two continents.

“We’ve confirmed the castles that have sent loyalty oaths. Using them as bridgeheads, we will burn down all territories that have refused to pledge loyalty.”

“Are you planning to implement a scorched earth strategy?”

“Impossible. The moment we try to destroy all the fortresses built to counter the northern beast cavalry, it would drag on for too long. The angels would be the ones most pleased by that.”

“But how do you plan to conquer them without siege warfare?”

Aurelia’s question was reasonable. She was looking at the same map Durin was examining, so she couldn’t help but tilt her head in confusion.

Areas relatively close to the center and the northeastern region under the Grand Duke’s influence were marked as friendly, but the entire northern border region extending to the northwestern swamplands was colored red. It was clearly a formidable opponent, too large to be easily dealt with.

Moreover, while the southern region, mainly composed of tribes and nomads, had no walls to conquer, the north had solid barriers blocking the Demon King’s castle. These fortresses, built with both northern civil war and war against angels in mind, possessed an intimidating presence.

“Considering the reinforcements from the Northern Grand Warriors… honestly, I don’t think it will be easy.”

Aurelia spoke her mind while being careful. She wanted to understand his intentions because she wished to be part of the picture her master was trying to paint. Responding to her thoughts, Durin answered immediately.

“Governor Aurelia. We will not clash with them. There’s no need to waste strength on siege warfare.”

“Then…”

Aurelia stepped closer, ready to listen carefully to his words. Berdia, who had followed, did the same.

“We simply need to bring someone who can destroy walls in place of an army.”

*Flap*

At that moment, the closed tent opened wide. Their sudden appearance startled them.

“What? Did you see something you shouldn’t have?”

A playful voice greeted the two. The two southern demons froze in place. Their expressions showed a mixture of confusion and surprise. Pleased with their reaction, she let out a giggle.

“Durin. Is this why you told me to come later?”

“It was to reduce rumors.”

“Right. How nice it would be if war preparations were always this fun.”

She ignored Durin’s words lightly and took a seat next to the commander’s table.

There was only one person in the castle who could speak so casually with the regent.

The one who sees the future of the castle. The highest sorceress, Ludmila.

“By the way, I’m excited and nervous to go out after so long.”

Could those who handle sorcery reach high positions in the castle just by glimpsing the future?

Again, demons were beings who made struggle their reason for life.

“So, who do I get to kill?”

#

“My lady, the castle’s main force has finally begun its march. The direction is, as expected, the northern border.”

“So they’re leaving the subjugation of the center to the two forces and going to cut off the enemy commander’s head?”

“That’s how the entire South proceeded as well. The regent has always beheaded the leaders before war.”

He favored asymmetric warfare. He delivered unexpected blows by employing superhuman powers that defied the conventional rules of the battlefield. Who could have known that the head of the southern chief, whom Serphin knew well, would be cut off so easily?

The northern expedition seemed to be heading in the same direction.

“Alberto. We can’t fall behind, can we?”

“If you want to stand above those damned Red Horns, you mustn’t be constrained by mere warlords.”

“What loss could be greater than missing the regent’s grand picture for the sake of gaining a handful of supporters? We must always watch ahead of him.”

“That’s why we’re here.”

*Whoosh*

A cold wind blew with perfect timing. The harsh climate of the other continent, not the mild center. The winter of the North, where frost settled every day, was welcoming them.

Serphin exhaled a visible breath into the air and said:

“We already have the eastern warlords in our grasp anyway. If we want to expand our influence, we need to pioneer new territories.”

“There are some among the border nobles who were loyal to the center who are showing interest.”

“Is there a specific reason?”

“They seem to be captivated by the Grand Duke’s military might that conquered the northeast. What other force could rival the center?”

Alberto spoke confidently. As he said, the visible military force before them was indeed only about ten thousand strong.

The images sent by the reconnaissance beasts showed two forces facing each other across a wall. The regent was sharing these battle images with high-ranking officials to demonstrate his authority, but from Alberto’s perspective, this battlefield was expected to be a stalemate.

As far as he knew, the center didn’t possess any decent siege weapons.

Beasts were resources that needed to be saved for the celestial war, and bringing sorcerers could be a dangerous move that might provoke the angels. In the end, they would have to surround the traitorous castle and starve them out, but someone who wanted quick results wouldn’t take such an approach.

“We just need to watch. And then make him a proposal.”

“The eastern army will handle the siege, so the regent’s army can advance north… right?”

“If that happens, we can stably bring the northern forces within our sphere of influence.”

“I hope it works out that way.”

“It will, my lady.”

Serphin chuckled at her secretary’s confidence. His pride as the Grand Duke’s demon was good. But Durin was the most hardline and violent being Serphin had ever seen among demons.

He would use any means necessary for victory. He was always extreme.

As someone who had gone from being a traitor to a throne successor in a short time, she could be certain.

Durin must be hiding a trump card.

Just as she was thinking this—

*BOOM*

As if on cue, a loud explosion was heard from the images transmitted by the reconnaissance beasts. The scene of solid walls shattering into pieces followed. The flying debris seemed like it might burst out of the screen at any moment.

“……”

That was when Alberto closed his mouth.

Glancing at him, Serphin shrugged and replied:

“So it has happened.”

They would find out who Durin had brought with him when they got there.

As if she hadn’t expected a good showing in the North from the beginning, Serphin naturally urged her warhorse forward.

Her destination was the camp of the Demon King’s northern expedition force.