Ch.313313. Sirah Relocation War (7)

Trudge, trudge.

Though she held documents that Senia would surely appreciate, her heart was far from at ease, and even her footsteps lacked any sense of relief.

‘Is this information really enough?’

Aris knew with certainty, thanks to her former student’s help, that what the Imperial Army officer had taken was drugs.

‘I just saw it. An Imperial Army officer smuggling drugs.’

No matter how much she struggled with thinking, this was a question with an obvious answer she could determine herself.

In a wartime situation. In a place where everyone needed to keep their wits about them to fend off two named beasts.

She had collected evidence of someone secretly using drugs.

‘I’ve never seen anything like this before…’

At the ruins of Sirah, when the Tembris members each faced their past through the Clock Hand Formation, nothing like this had been revealed.

What if.

It’s just a hypothesis, but.

What if the Imperial Army’s devastating collapse in the past was due to internal problems?

Clench-

Her palm, the one not holding the ledger, turned white. She bit her lip. Her eyes squeezed shut.

Only when the metallic taste of blood filled her mouth did Aris come to her senses.

“…Let’s ask Senia.”

No matter how much she racked her brain, she couldn’t be certain.

Even if the officer had said “today as well,” even if the ledger was filled with entries suggesting other officers were involved.

For someone as stupid, dull, and hot-tempered as herself, she needed someone else’s help.

So Aris ran as fast as she could. She just needed to get this information to Senia even a minute, even a second faster, and ask her about it.

And so, moments later.

After running quite a distance, Aris approached Senia, who had come into view, removing the robe that had been covering her face.

“You’re back sooner than I expected. What, did you run here?”

“Y-yeah.”

“What’s wrong? You look terrible. Did something go wrong?”

“No. Nothing happened. Here’s what you asked for.”

Though she held out the documents as if everything was fine, Senia could see at a glance that Aris was not in good shape.

When Senia had explained the situation through their connection formed during the faction war and asked if she could retrieve these documents to help Junon, Aris had been brimming with determination.

But now, even without Senia looking too deeply, it was obvious. Aris had come to a realization.

“You’re thinking that if the officers are using drugs, the Empire might be in a strange state, aren’t you?”

“…Huh?”

“You must have heard it from your former student. That her father is someone who produces drugs in Sirah.”

Aris could only nod, unable to deny it.

But the fact that Senia brought this up first meant that she already knew about it too.

“It’s ridiculous. People who joined the Imperial Army thinking they were on the same side, even those who sided with the Grand Duke from the Empire, are secretly trafficking and using drugs.”

Senia spoke mockingly, specifically pointing out the officers, saying it was absurd that such people held officer positions.

No further explanation was needed.

“Was it… like this in the past too?”

“Probably. If anything, it might have been worse, not better.”

“I… see…”

She had already felt vaguely uneasy just knowing that an Imperial officer was smuggling drugs through civilians.

“Was Junon… ever targeted?”

The word “targeted” doesn’t really suit Junon.

Junon has nothing.

He has nothing, and the only thing he possesses is his body, appointed to the untouchable position of commander.

Nevertheless, Aris found herself considering the possibility that Junon could have been targeted.

The only thing he has—his life.

Senia closed her eyes at Aris’s direct question, and after a moment, answered with a trembling voice.

“Just today, he was targeted only a few hours ago.”

“A few… hours…”

Then how many times? Counting all the threats they hadn’t seen, how many more times had he been threatened?

Her initial uneasiness had been correct.

Junon had been simultaneously facing his most difficult enemy—himself—along with external enemies like the beasts, while also dealing with internal enemies like the Imperial Army officers.

Though she had hoped otherwise, Aris hated herself in this moment for having stood in Junon’s way as yet another enemy rather than an ally in such an environment.

“Ugh… why did I… ever…”

“…”

Why did she do it?

For what reason?

Why had she never questioned it?

Countless regrets must have been swirling before Aris’s downcast eyes.

Senia couldn’t ease that pain. She herself had already placed an additional burden on Junon.

Nevertheless, she reached out and grasped Aris by both shoulders.

“Steel yourself, Aris. You didn’t come all this way just to collapse in despair.”

That’s right. He still had too many enemies, and the burden placed back on his shoulders remained heavy.

“At this rate, Junon will have to solve everything again. Do you want the same events to repeat themselves?”

“Of course not…!”

Eliminating enemies. Lightening his burden.

They could no longer just leave everything to Junon.

No, they had to reduce the tasks that Junon had to handle alone.

To do that, instead of collapsing under guilt from the shock of realizing the truth, she needed to use that time to take action, even if just a little.

Aris wiped away the tears flowing from her reddened eyes, then raised her head again to meet Senia’s gaze.

It was a moment when resolute determination was born once more, ensuring she would no longer be dominated by the emotion of guilt.

“We’re moving out right away. Can you move?”

“My body’s fine, so don’t worry about that.”

“Judging by your snappish attitude, your mind seems to be working properly too. Well, do it right, okay?”

“Ah, I’ll do it properly!”

And so, the results the two women obtained after staying up all night were not bad at all.

***

‘It couldn’t be more perfect.’

The preparations were complete.

He had met nobles like these all too frequently at Levrant Academy. So he had naturally learned how to deal with them.

How to handle them, what methods to use to deliver critical blows.

Or how to deflect their attacks and counter them.

And on top of that, he possessed the overwhelmingly powerful weapon of a regressor’s power.

They would probably spout the same nonsense this time too. It meant he couldn’t lose. If he just responded the same way as before, they would fall into their own trap.

“Are you sure you’ll be alright? I think I should go with you.”

Lenias said with worried, drooping eyebrows.

“Are you concerned something might happen inside the conference room?”

“Well, I saw everything yesterday.”

Having witnessed an assassin appear before her eyes, throwing daggers and even using magic to harm him, Lenias couldn’t possibly feel at ease.

Junon understood her feelings perfectly.

“Hmm… if you insist. I’ll take you with me if you promise to stay quiet no matter what conversation takes place in the conference room.”

“Huh? Is that really okay?”

“You already know everything now, Lenias. From the Sirah relocation agenda to encountering the assassin. So as long as you just stay quiet and don’t cause me any trouble, it’s fine.”

“If that’s all, of course I’ll come! Hehe.”

“Ahem. By the way, you can’t stick this close to me either. People will get suspicious.”

“Aww. That’s not allowed either.”

She seemed happy at the thought of being able to stay with him by entering the conference room together, but unfortunately, Lenias needed to be someone who wasn’t directly participating in the meeting.

“It’s almost time. After walking around here once, enter through that door over there. But remember, stay quiet as I said earlier, okay?”

“Tch. I got it.”

She looked somewhat dejected.

That kind of expression didn’t really suit Lenias, so he decided to give her a little energy boost by pulling her small body into his embrace.

Though surprised by the sudden back hug, she didn’t push him away.

“Oppa… what if someone sees us…”

“Only I can enter this way. There shouldn’t be anyone to see us. Besides, when I’m like this, you’re hidden from view anyway.”

“I don’t mind, but… aren’t you going to be late? You just said it was almost time.”

“There’s still some time before we need to be seated. We can stay like this for a minute or two.”

“Hehe, really? Then I’ll hug you back too.”

The single strand of hair sticking up from her head swayed happily. Lenias also turned around and wrapped her waist tightly with both arms, savoring the happy moment.

Though brief, the effect was clear.

Both of them were now in full condition, and after waving goodbye and parting ways, they met again after entering the conference room.

‘The timing is about right. And everyone still has that dissatisfied look in their eyes.’

But something felt different.

“Ahem!”

“Hmm.”

“Hrm-hmm!”

He had just looked around, but people started clearing their throats as soon as they made eye contact.

‘It seems like some officers aren’t even making eye contact.’

Could people who were so full of complaints and glaring at him just yesterday change like this so suddenly? Just looking at their eyes, they seemed strangely less sharp.

“We will resume the deliberation on the Ripol River during the Sirah relocation.”

Amid such suspicions, the meeting began.

***

‘Something’s strange.’

During the meeting, he felt that the officers were somehow shrinking back.

Those who had strongly opposed the Sirah relocation had their arguments resolved with Dusen’s help and the mana communication device, but they had still been raising their voices about how to fight the beasts.

However, now not even half of them were speaking up, and when the discussion moved in his direction, they could only make statements that were disadvantageous to themselves.

Conversely, for him, the questions that came up were easy and comfortable to answer, and he could see some officers openly frowning as they realized this.

Well, it’s not like he needed them to speak up. In fact, this was better as it saved time.

“Then regarding the establishment of the front line, we will proceed using the Ripol River as proposed.”

It was much easier to counter than he had originally expected. So no one else stepped forward.

But just as it seemed the meeting would end, sure enough, someone came forward in opposition.

“Commander. May I ask you one question?”

“Go ahead.”

“How do you view the lives of our soldiers?”

“They’re all the same, members of the Imperial Army, aren’t they?”

“That’s right! They’re all individual soldiers, members of the Imperial Army. But for some reason, you seem to be using other soldiers as mere pawns for your own gain?”

“I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

“Don’t play dumb! There’s clear evidence right here!”

Documents unfolded in the officer’s hands on the podium. It seemed they had conducted some kind of investigation into his background.

“Let me first use the Battle of Shanbereshu as an example. You achieved merit from the rear? But it doesn’t make sense that you alone weren’t infected, does it?”

“That’s right! That’s right!” several officers chimed in.

“It was the same during Defornice III’s time. You hid the truth about the Rakan tribe and used them alone. Isn’t that the perfect scene to make it look like your own achievement?”

“If we had been with the Rakan tribe from the beginning, we could have countered Pimpert’s distortion waves. Why? Because they have the ability to resist distortion waves!”

“That means it’s all a black lie! Even receiving the medal of honor was all about deceiving people!”

“That’s right, that’s right! Hasn’t your name spread only because of other people’s power?!”

Without realizing it, I let out a small laugh.

“Pfft.”

“Pfft? Are you laughing at my point, at their criticism?”

I didn’t need to hear more to understand.

This was all too familiar nonsense.

How should I pierce their core? Should I slowly crumble their arrogant pride, deliberately lead them into a trap, or tear apart what little self-respect they had left? The choice was mine.

Just as I was about to respond to their absurd accusations.

The conference room door opened again.

“Ah, sorry. I’m a bit late.”

It was Senia who appeared at the moment of rebuttal.

‘No. To be more precise, it would be correct to say it’s all of Tembris except Cain.’

Come to think of it, Senia wouldn’t be late to a place like this. Needless to say about Michelle, and at most Aris, but recently she’s been arriving on time.

Only Cain was missing. For some reason, he hadn’t shown himself at all, but excluding him, all of Tembris had essentially raided this conference room.

“What is the meaning of this, appearing in an important conference room…! You should enter properly and quietly take your seats!”

“Even if you are Tembris, we cannot tolerate such unruly behavior!”

In response, Senia waved her palm nonchalantly, saying, “Ah, ah. Sorry for being late,” cutting off their words and thoroughly irritating the nobles.

“But you know what? I heard something interesting as I was coming in.”

However, after briefly mocking them, Senia suddenly changed, revealing a sharp gaze.

“You say Junon deceived people… but weren’t you the ones deceiving us first?”

“What nonsense are you suddenly—”

Crash!

Numerous items came pouring out.

‘All of these are valuable items on the battlefield.’

Seeing this, I understood.

The reason why Senia had raided this conference room.

“These. They all came from where you’re staying. How do you explain this?”

She intended to eliminate them completely.

Those who had deliberately shown hostility toward me.