Chapter 26 : Guardian of the Empire (2)

With the Empire’s victory in the Winter War, the Endless Winter was finally brought to an end. 

Thanks to this, the Empire began to develop rapidly, utilizing the experience and resources it had accumulated over time.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call this period the Empire’s golden age. 

However, this prosperity wasn’t exclusive to the Empire. 

The monsters, which had been dormant during the Winter, also began to stir once more.

These weren’t mere monsters to be taken lightly. 

They, too, had survived the Endless Winter, and their strength was nothing to scoff at.

In fact, the monsters in the Empire were considered at least three times as ferocious and powerful as those in other regions, according to an academic study. 

And that was why Wolfgang had been summoned.

Although her holiday had been interrupted, leaving her with a scowl as if she had swallowed something bitter, she didn’t voice her complaints. 

The situation was far too grave for that.

Monsters were living creatures, after all. 

The difference, however, lay in their ecosystems. 

Unlike most animals, which formed groups based on species, monsters gathered in completely chaotic clusters.

Small-scale alliances between goblins and kobolds were common.

Drakes and lizardmen would sometimes join forces.

In short, predicting their groupings was nearly impossible due to their diversity.

But that wasn’t the core issue. 

Monsters forming groups was natural, and as long as they caused problems, extermination was the standard response. 

The problem arose because of their location.

“So, you’re saying the monsters have settled at the border between the Empire and the Kingdom?”

“Yes, and that’s the truly annoying part.”

“Damn it, of all places, why there?”

The monsters had chosen to settle right at the border between the Empire and the Kingdom. 

This made it tricky for either side to deploy their armies. Hiring adventurers was an option, but…

At least in the Empire, there was no adventurer guild to rely on. 

Moreover, the Kingdom had already hired adventurers three times to handle the issue.

Shockingly, all three A-rank adventurer parties sent to the border were completely wiped out. 

The adventurer guild deemed that at least an S-rank party would be required to deal with the threat.

Unfortunately, all the S-rank parties in the Kingdom were occupied with other missions. 

This left both sides with no choice but to mobilize their armies.

However, if the Empire deployed its forces, the Kingdom would likely respond in kind. 

Without prior agreements, this could lead to an accidental clash at the border—or, in the worst-case scenario, full-scale war.

“Were there any reported casualties?”

“Fortunately, no. It’s not a populated area.”

“Then there’s no immediate need to act.”

‘As expected, she doesn’t want war,’ thought those present.

Wolfgang Leonhardt was the very model of a hero. 

She valued human life above all else and despised needless bloodshed, even if it meant suppressing her own hatred.

In contrast, Emperor Reiphen didn’t necessarily oppose the idea of war with the Kingdom. 

In fact, he had recently taken a more radical stance, advocating for crushing the Kingdom entirely.

Logically, however, waging war with the Kingdom now would be a disastrous decision. While the Empire was thriving in its golden age, the scars of the past hadn’t fully healed.

Plunging a healing body back into battle would only worsen the damage, even if the war were won. 

The losses would outweigh the gains. 

This was the conclusion Reiphen had reached as an emperor.

Logically, negotiating with the Kingdom was the best course of action. 

But as the leader of the Vendetta Corps, Reiphen couldn’t bring himself to like the idea.

“Once again, we’re entangled with the Kingdom.”

While things had worked out the last time, Reiphen still found dealing with the Kingdom distasteful. 

Deep down, he simply didn’t want to engage with them.

All the talk of casualties and diplomatic friction?

Those were just excuses.

Reiphen simply disliked the Kingdom.

However, he wasn’t so foolish as to let personal feelings cloud his judgment. 

Allowing the monster horde at the border to fester was unacceptable. 

Ignoring it would eventually harm the Empire itself, which he, as Emperor, couldn’t allow.

“It seems we’ll need to hold talks with the Kingdom.”

“Yes, that appears to be the best course of action,” Wolfgang agreed.

Reiphen’s regal bearing was met with Wolfgang’s professionalism. 

She also believed that swiftly resolving the issue through negotiations was the most prudent approach.

The Kingdom was no less competent than the Empire. 

They had already begun preparations for negotiations with the Empire to address the situation.

While the talks were tense, full of push-and-pull diplomacy, both sides ultimately agreed to launch a joint operation to eliminate the monster threat.

It was the only logical conclusion.

Monsters left unchecked would grow into a significant threat to any nation. 

Moreover, the leader of the monster horde had demonstrated an understanding of the concept of borders.

In other words, the leader possessed intelligence comparable to—or at least capable of comprehending—human concepts.

Recognizing the potential catastrophe that could arise from delay, both the Empire and the Kingdom concluded their negotiations within a mere fifteen days, agreeing to a joint operation.

The Empire naturally entrusted the operation to its Winter War hero, Wolfgang Leonhardt.

The Kingdom, however, made an unexpected choice.

The commander they selected was none other than Jaiha Barkleon von Mines, the deposed crown prince.

Jaiha was nearly perfect as a crown prince. 

He was intelligent, noble in character, and possessed the combat prowess befitting the “Kingdom of Knights.”

Even his younger brother, Zaid, had initially eyed the throne but eventually gave up, realizing he couldn’t surpass Jaiha in the struggle for succession.

Thus, it wasn’t particularly strange that Jaiha was chosen to lead the monster subjugation. 

His capabilities and strength were unquestionable.

“What is the prince aiming for?”

However, Theodore, who was part of the expedition, wasn’t content to merely observe.

He knew Wolfgang, his estranged sister, would also be participating in the mission. 

Though she was no longer the younger sibling he remembered, Theodore couldn’t help but worry about her reaction to meeting Jaiha, the man who had abandoned her.

The march toward the monster horde began, filled with tension. 

Jaiha led at the front, with Theodore sticking close by.

For those aware of the circumstances, the air felt suffocating. 

Fortunately—or unfortunately—few soldiers were privy to the deeper context.

Theodore initially intended to carefully analyze Jaiha’s intentions. However, their arrival at the monster nest left no time for subtle inquiries.

Suddenly, the monsters launched an all-out attack.

The horde was vast and diverse, consisting of goblins, kobolds, and even ogres.

“Hold the formation! Mages, focus fire on the ogres! Soldiers, prepare for melee combat!”

“Move faster! If we lose momentum, we’re all dead!”

Though initially caught off guard, the Kingdom’s forces quickly regrouped under Theodore and Jaiha’s leadership. The losses from the initial ambush were contained.

However, as the battle unfolded, Theodore noticed something odd.

At first, he assumed it was a simple ambush.

But the monsters’ movements resembled desperation—more like fleeing than attacking.

“What could possibly terrify these monsters so much?”

Boom!

A sudden flash of flame answered his question.

An enormous fireball fell from the sky, obliterating a lizardman that had been clashing with Jaiha.

Boom! Crash!

The flames consumed all the monsters in their path, reducing them to ashes.

Jaiha, finally able to lift his gaze, looked skyward.

There, cloaked in flames, stood a white-haired woman.

With just a gesture, she summoned fiery meteors from the heavens, annihilating the monster horde.

The monsters, overwhelmed by her sheer power, fled in terror.

Instinctively, Jaiha understood: This was the Empire’s war hero, Wolfgang Leonhardt.

From above, she gazed down upon them all.