Ch.620Story and Dream

The funeral mass to honor the fallen was postponed until after the end of military operations.

This decision stemmed from military concerns that funeral atmospheres could negatively impact troop morale, the practical limitations of allocating time and personnel for funeral preparations, and the cynical notion that if they were defeated, there would be no need for funerals at all.

While normally such a postponement would raise concerns about decomposition, in this particular case, there was no need to worry about that aspect.

The bodies of the fallen would all be lying beyond the Wall. Even masters were no exception. During the desperate retreat, there had been no opportunity to retrieve allied corpses.

In the end, those who lost their lives in the previous battle had, as the Ka’har would say, become one with the soil of the steppes.

—-

“So, what are you planning to do now?”

I visited Ludwig’s command tent and asked him a direct question.

“Surely you’re not going to give me some obvious answer like ‘trust the Wall and defend’? I don’t believe you would.”

Though I had told Leonore we had no choice but to defend at the Wall, Ludwig might have come up with a different strategy.

[Obvious answer? Wasn’t that exactly what you told Leonore?]

‘I was just stating the general principle. If I had the brains to come up with detailed strategies, I’d be wielding a pen instead of a sword, wouldn’t I?’

In other words, Ludwig, who wields a pen instead of a sword, should rightfully devise strategies I couldn’t even imagine.

Like when he sent Joshua’s main force to the Dane border to provoke a conflict between the Ka’har and Dane.

When I first heard about that, I could barely contain my anger. Leading the Ka’har army to Dane wasn’t simply causing a military conflict.

It meant throwing countless civilians to those creatures as prey, just like the evil deeds I had committed when I first arrived in this world.

To do such a thing while hiding the detailed operation plan from me… it made me feel sick as old memories resurfaced.

So I immediately stormed into Ludwig’s tent to confront him… but Ludwig, as the Margrave of Landenburg, calmly defended himself, saying he had no choice in order to protect the Empire.

– My duty is to protect the lives of Imperial citizens, not Danes. If sacrificing a hundred Dane lives could save one Imperial citizen, I would choose that path without hesitation.

– After our defeat, Dane wouldn’t have been safe anyway. Do you think the Ka’har crossing the Wall would distinguish between Dane and the Empire?

– Think about it. If the Empire weakens from war with the Ka’har, would Dane help the Empire… or march against it as they did with Panam? I’d bet on the latter.

– There might have been a better way… but unfortunately, I couldn’t think of one. Could you have come up with a better strategy?

That’s the kind of things he said.

While strategic judgment couldn’t justify actions that led to civilian massacres, it was clear that I couldn’t have thought of a better strategy either.

And what else did he say… something about directing Dane’s main forces to their border with the Ka’har to save Panam while preventing the Ka’har from using Dane territory as a shortcut to bypass the Wall.

Hersella agreed with that part. She mentioned that Orhan had attacked the Empire that way nine years ago.

At that time, the Imperial army was still intact, so he had no choice but to retreat when surrounded on three sides by two corps and the Landenburg forces.

Anyway, I had to suppress my anger in the end.

I couldn’t confront someone who was simply fulfilling his duty with nothing but irrational emotions, and it was obvious that if the commander-in-chief and the strongest force began to oppose each other, even a winnable war would be lost.

—-

“An obvious answer… indeed it is.”

Ludwig nodded as he cut off the thick end of his mana herb with scissors.

“But I have no choice but to give you an ‘obvious answer.’ In a situation where neither mobile warfare nor guerrilla tactics are possible, what alternative is there besides a defensive battle? Unless we had allies of your caliber, defense is the only viable tactic with our current forces.”

“What a disappointing answer. I thought the ‘Bulwark of the Empire’ would have come up with a couple of strategies I couldn’t anticipate.”

I created a small flame to light both our mana herbs as I sat down on a chair in the command tent.

Perhaps startled by the sudden flame, Ludwig, who had been about to take out a match, opened his eyes wide and let out a soft exclamation.

“Thank you. And… when did I say I had no strategies? If we must choose a defensive battle, considering how to defend is precisely a commander’s duty.”

Ludwig closed his eyes, savoring the smoke from his mana herb, and continued in a subdued voice.

“I was planning to discuss this matter with you anyway. I didn’t expect a private audience… but that’s not important.”

“Discuss?”

“You’re the only knight with recent experience facing Orhan.”

That’s true. The Orhan that Ludwig faced would have been stagnant behind the Wall, just like Zolryeolgum.

“It’s not difficult to gauge how a battle between humans might unfold, but battles involving those who have transcended humanity are unknown territory even to me. I have no choice but to ask you.”

Ludwig leaned forward slightly and stared intently at me.

…That’s a somewhat uncomfortable gaze.

“What do you want to know? I already explained about the punching and kicking through the air, and I also mentioned that my attacks couldn’t break through the Unyielding Flesh.”

“Yes, you did. But you weren’t overwhelmingly defeated—you just couldn’t win because your strength was exhausted. Even Orhan seemed reluctant to continue fighting.”

“Right! That’s what I’m saying! He looked just as exhausted as I was. It was essentially a draw.”

My voice was a bit higher than usual as I answered.

As expected of the Bulwark of the Empire. He understands that the fight wasn’t my complete defeat but rather a draw or a narrow loss by decision.

Yes. One needs this level of wisdom to deserve the responsibility of being a Margrave.

“If it weren’t for those Cheonggi troops, I could have left a deep wound on that body. It’s truly regrettable.”

[How shameful… how can one be so shameful!]

Hersella spat out a mockery mixed with shock, but I generously ignored her outburst. Lack of wisdom isn’t a sin, after all.

Hersella simply lacks the intelligence to understand the significance of that battle. Unlike me. So, as the wise one, I should understand.

“Ahem, ahem… If you say so, it must be true. However, the outcome of that battle isn’t the important issue. Both sides are still alive.”

Ludwig cleared his throat and tapped the ash from his mana herb. Being as thick as a cigar, it burned much slower than mine.

“I want to ask two things: whether you can endure until the Unyielding Flesh approaches its limit, and whether the blessing of the Fire Seal remains after your strength is exhausted.”

Can I endure until the Unyielding Flesh fades?

Well, that’s difficult to answer definitively because there are so many variables.

In aerial combat, strength consumption is faster but it’s easier to withstand his power, while ground combat would be the opposite.

Whether it’s one-on-one or multiple combatants with support from others would also affect the outcome, and if Hersella fought directly instead of me, who knows what would happen.

“Whether I can endure depends on the situation. But maintaining the blessing’s power won’t be a problem. The blessing of the Fire Seal doesn’t consume karma power.”

Hearing my answer, Ludwig smiled triumphantly.

“Then there is a way. Though we need to know more precisely what you can and cannot block.”

“…There’s a way?”

Half-doubting, I explained what I could block according to Ludwig’s questions.

About five minutes passed. After pondering while puffing smoke like a chimney, Ludwig presented one strategy.

A strategy to send Orhan to the next world.

======[ ■■■ ]======

I had a dream.

A dream from over a decade ago, now barely a memory.

“Homeland… I do miss it. Though I can no longer return.”

Golden hair that shone brilliantly like a wheat field at sunrise.

The scent of marigolds carried by a gentle breeze.

“Do I regret it? No. It was my choice. Thanks to you, I was able to protect countless people from the horrors of war. What greater honor could there be for a knight?”

I still remember clearly.

Those clear, blue eyes like an autumn lake, and that voice—warm as spring yet overflowing with pride.

“However… I do regret that I cannot let my parents know I’m alive… that I cannot show them their granddaughter. Will there ever come a day when I can see them again…?”

Facing her as she gazed westward with a wistful expression, I unconsciously uttered one phrase:

“…Yes. Someday, for certain.”

That promise was never kept.

—-

“……”

The man who opened his eyes silently stared at the ceiling of his chamber, then let out a deep sigh as he rose.

Arms thick as horse thighs. Abdominal muscles that seemed harder than steel. A massive physique like a metal statue come to life.

Aishan-Gioro Orhan had awakened from his sleep.