Ch.371Chapter 371. A New Era, A New Order, Those Who Exit

* * *

After the battle at the border where the fate of the Brans Army and Lunarian Army hung in the balance.

The Brans Army, ultimately pushed back from the massive battle, was rapidly losing territory in the central region.

In truth, this wasn’t so much a case of the Brans Army being one-sidedly pushed back, but rather their deliberate avoidance of full-scale battles was the main reason.

“Are you saying we should gather our forces at Anel Castle?”

“Yes. If we continue like this, we’ll only end up being defeated piecemeal. Farfalle, think about it. What do you think would happen if Lunarian and the mage Tifa simultaneously attacked both sides of our frontline separately?”

“…We might somehow be able to hold one side with our forces, but—”

“Right. But one side will definitely be breached. That’s the cold reality we must accept after failing to hold the enemy at the border. If we delay this decision any longer, we’ll not only waste our troops but also end up handing over all our military funds and supplies in our territory to the Lunarian Army. I think our only correct answer here is to gather all our forces and funds at Anel Castle, building a kind of massive fortress to withstand a siege. We don’t have—”

—the capacity to maintain a territory of this size against the Lunarian Army.

“But my lord, no matter how many supplies we gather, surrendering territory is essentially surrendering national power…”

In response to Cecile’s words, Lynn twisted a strand of hair around her finger as she answered.

“That’s why we’re gathering at Anel Castle. As long as this place doesn’t fall, we can protect the western continent’s territories except for Zeilant Castle. We’ll be able to maintain the supply route to Rosalian Castle, where the Lohengrin Trading Company headquarters is located.”

Zeilant Castle was located on a plain leading to the southern continent, separated from other western continent cities by mountain ranges too treacherous to easily lead troops through, making it essentially part of the central continent.

Fortunately for the Brans Army, the place had no particular strategic value. It was an awkward location, neither ideal for invading Anel Castle nor advancing westward—a burden of a territory in an ambiguous position.

“And… when you compare somehow gathering forces at Anel Castle versus trying to hold onto as much territory as possible and getting defeated piecemeal, I sincerely believe this approach will maintain the Brans Army’s existence for a much longer period.”

“But isn’t what comes after preserving the nation’s existence important?”

“Yes, it is important. But… I’m sorry, this is the best we can do.”

“But that’s…!”

Cecile hung her head low.

“I’m sorry, Cecile. Still, I don’t think maintaining our existence itself is meaningless. Just by existing, we limit the Lunarian Army’s freedom of movement… and there’s still hope, isn’t there?”

“When you speak of hope, do you perhaps mean…?”

Lynn gave an extremely bitter smile.

A smile close to resignation, with her usual confident demeanor worn away by the storms of war.

“…The Serpina Army.”

“…”

Farfalle too, in this moment, couldn’t hide his despair as he lowered his head.

Once called the only hope capable of defeating Serpina, our Brans Army.

It couldn’t be more despairing for them to now consider the Serpina Army—a ghost of the past era succeeding the incompetent Einhart Empire that had brought the continent to this state—as their hope.

Where had things gone wrong, that they now had to entrust their fate entirely to the decisions of the witch they had so desperately wanted to eliminate?

“I heard that the rebellion at Einhart Castle was recently suppressed. It may be difficult right now… but if we somehow continue to hold out, the Lunarian Army and Serpina Army will inevitably clash. Then our opportunity will surely come. So… for now, this is our best option.”

“…”

Unlike Cecile who couldn’t possibly accept this, Farfalle quickly acknowledged Lynn’s opinion and bowed his head.

“I understand, my lord. I will ensure that as many watchtowers and walls as possible are installed around Anel Castle. Although the enemy’s mage doesn’t seem to use long-range attacks like the Serpina Army’s mages… we should still consider that possibility just in case.”

“I’ll leave that to you, Farfalle. You’re better at it than I am.”

“Yes!”

Cecile thought to herself.

I came here to take revenge on Lunarian… but if all we can do is hold out…

Do I have any reason to stay here?

Yet, if I leave here, the only place to go would be the Serpina Army.

Lady Karelia always used to say that Serpina von Einhart was a devil among devils who killed all her own blood with her own hands and perpetrated the Academy Massacre—someone with whom one should never associate.

How could I possibly serve under such a person!

‘Lady Karelia…’

She seriously considered.

Who truly was her enemy?

Serpina, who was already sufficiently hated by everyone?

Or was it Lunarian, that detestable being who had devoured what her lord had built through vile methods yet was revered as a wise ruler by the people?

Whichever it might be, the moment when she would have to choose was drawing ever closer.

* * *

“Damn it…!”

Having finally lost the capital and been pushed back to territories near the border, Hesna was striking the innocent armrest of her chair.

Although she used to mock the barbaric Rolland for being unable to control his anger—when composure disappears, ordinary people, not special ones, all think similarly.

And Hesna was merely a very ordinary ruler, far from deserving the title of special.

“…Please calm yourself, my lord.”

“Tera, I’ll admit it. We’ve been completely pushed back. …Honestly, there’s no way out.”

Beyond mountains and rivers, just across the border, lay the territory of the Serpina Army, formerly the territory of the Aeshus Army.

In front of them, a force of 300,000 troops was advancing toward this place under the command of Lunarian Army generals.

It was impossible to request help from the Brans Army. To begin with, securing supply routes was paramount for bringing in troops, but the areas between Hesna Army’s territory and Brans Army’s territory had long been occupied by the Lunarian Army.

Even if they could infiltrate one or two spies… it meant bringing in soldiers was bound to fail.

“I was certain… I was certain it was a brilliant move. I was convinced that even if we couldn’t become rulers of the Unified Empire, the flag of our Hesna Army would continue to fly. But. But why… why has it come to this? Now what… what should we do?”

“My lord…”

Only then did both Hesna and Tera realize.

That their existence was nothing before this massive flow of history.

Ohana knew this, while Hesna refused to acknowledge it.

Ohana accepted that what she could achieve with her own hands was limited, while Hesna was convinced she could manipulate powerful nations like the Brans Army and Serpina Army.

And—that’s where the victory and defeat diverged.

In times like these, recognizing one’s place and securing one’s position proved to be as excellent a skill as leading the era.

“What do we do now? Once Milan Castle falls, they’ll soon flood in here… and then… it’s over. If we’re captured… we’ll die. Damn it…!!!”

Hesna had always worn a relaxed smile and acted slick.

But even a cornered rat has limits to pretending to be strong.

“My lord… surrender instead.”

“Surrender…?”

“The fortunate fact for us is that we’re currently facing Ohana, the 2nd Corps Commander of the Lunarian Army. Corps Commanders are guaranteed a certain level of autonomy. And given his character, he will likely be reluctant to push to the very end. He will certainly offer terms of surrender. Even if he doesn’t… if we raise the white flag without starting a siege when war breaks out, he will certainly leave us be.”

“We… have to surrender?”

“…”

Tera lowered her head with a gloomy expression.

Yes, they had to surrender.

In a world divided between Lunarian and Serpina… they had no options.

If someone like Swen, who had the power to shake destiny, had been by her side, things might have been different—

But Tera was just an advisor with a slightly sharper mind, not one with extraordinary abilities.

“Preserve your life, my lord. Being alive is better than being dead, no matter what happens. Didn’t you yourself say that harping on about honor is the only pride of barbarians?”

“…Yes. I suppose so…”

Hesna let out a deep sigh.

* * *

And, almost simultaneously as she spoke—Ohana too was discussing with his comrade Lupio.

“You’re saying they’ll surrender?”

“Yes. Hesna isn’t the type of ruler who would give reckless orders like Rolland to ‘fight to the death until the end.'”

“What do you think we should do?”

“In the past, that is, if we were still ‘Ohana’s Army’ and not part of the Lunarian Army, I would have advised you to eliminate Hesna as she’s dangerous, but…”

Lupio shook his head.

“Now it seems better to keep her alive.”

“Why?”

“Because she’s likely to become a strong ally for us as a grand duchy.”

Lupio touched his forehead in thought, then carefully spoke.

“Hesna has some recognition and goodwill in the southern continent. If we considered her a competitor, it would make sense to eliminate her, but now it’s rational to see her as a partner who can share the same interests. The Lunarian Army has promised us a grand duchy, but no one knows what the future holds. At that moment, Hesna will certainly be of great help.”

“I see. Then, do you think we should offer terms of surrender first?”

“No. She will certainly raise the white flag first. Let’s talk then.”

Ohana nodded.

“Understood. We’ll do that.”

Rolland and Karelia, Hesna and Ohana.

—The only victor in the southern continent where four rulers competed for hegemony was Ohana, a small figure who had grasped the tail of the dragon called Lunarian.