Chapter 295

The academy was in chaos.

It was inevitable, considering the significant number of students and staff from the Empire.

But this wasn’t just an issue for the Empire.

It was a major event that affected the entire continent.

The Kingdom and Holy City were also on high alert, holding emergency meetings to discuss countermeasures.

The smaller nations were no exception.

“Temporary suspension of the semester…?”

Some students were confused by the notice posted on the bulletin boards.

But most of them had expected it.

It was impossible to hold classes normally when half the classrooms were bound to be empty.

Thankfully, the academy wasn’t completely shut down.

Many students had nowhere else to go but the dormitories, and they would have been forced to return home if the academy had closed its doors.

“Damn it, I’ll wait as long as it takes, so just come back safe and sound, you brat!”

“Don’t worry, I’m not going to die, even in hell!”

“…Take care, senior. We’ll see you again with smiles.”

“Yeah, thanks.”

“Waaaaah, don’t go!”

“Sniff, d-don’t cry! You’re making me cry too… Sniff!”

Students were forced to part ways due to circumstances beyond their control.

It was a bittersweet sight.

Especially for those who were in love.

“…Don’t forget our promise to be together forever.”

“I won’t.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

I turned away from those parting scenes.

Because I knew.

How many deaths would follow.

Including the young lives of the academy students.

Some of my juniors might even die because of me.

But it couldn’t be helped.

War was a place where you either kill or be killed.

It wasn’t their fault.

It was the fault of those who had created this situation.

The late Emperor, who had failed to name a successor and had fueled the rivalry between his children.

The First Prince, who had killed his father and had plunged the Empire into a bloody civil war.

At this point, the First Princess could be considered a victim.

Of course, I knew that she would become a terrible tyrant if she ascended to the throne, so I saw her as just another threat to the world.

“…There you are.”

I turned my head at the sound of a voice.

Elaine and Riviera were standing there.

Elaine looked worried, while Riviera’s expression was as usual.

I stood up.

“What’s up?”

My casual tone seemed to upset Elaine even more.

“What’s up…? You know…”

Her voice trembled.

“It’s not nice to make a girl cry.”

Riviera chimed in.

I chuckled.

“Sorry. You know me. I’m not good at being serious. It’s not like we’ll never see each other again.”

“Max…”

“I’ll be back. I’ll definitely graduate from this academy. And I’ll graduate with you guys, my friends.”

I smiled reassuringly.

I reached out and took Elaine’s hand.

“Holy City will be in chaos too. Don’t worry too much and try to live your lives as normally as possible.”

“Y-Yes…”

Elaine bit her lip, holding back tears.

“Tsk, why am I second?”

Riviera grumbled.

“You have a heart of steel, dude.”

“That’s true.”

She readily agreed.

I couldn’t help but laugh.

Thanks to her, the atmosphere wasn’t as heavy as it could have been.

I was grateful.

I took Riviera’s small hand.

“You take care too.”

“Of course.”

She swung our joined hands up and down.

I chuckled and let go of her hand.

“Are you leaving today?”

“I have to.”

Every Imperial citizen was in a hurry.

But I still had some time.

Because I had made thorough preparations.

And I knew that those who would become my enemies wouldn’t be able to mobilize their forces immediately.

They needed time to prepare, and the lines between friend and foe hadn’t been drawn yet.

Many lords were probably still trying to decide which side to choose.

It was then.

“Leader!”

Someone came running towards me, shouting.

It was Allen.

I had been wondering where he was.

“Dude, if you’re going to say goodbye, at least come with the others.”

And so, I said my farewells to my last friend.

* * *

I hadn’t left yet.

Because there was one last person I had to talk to.

My fiancée, Regina.

*Swish, swish.*

Regina was polishing her sword with an oiled cloth.

She always meticulously maintained her sword, but this time, it felt different.

It was the sword maintenance of a knight preparing for war.

I could sense the weight and solemnity of the task.

“Why don’t you sit down?”

“Alright.”

I sat down.

Regina asked, still polishing her sword, “Can you give me an answer now?”

“An answer to what?”

“Who you’ve chosen.”

Her gaze met mine.

It was the most important question.

That’s right.

I hadn’t chosen a side yet, between the First Prince and the First Princess.

The reason was simple.

I knew that the Imperial Civil War always played out differently.

Sometimes the First Prince had the advantage, sometimes the First Princess did.

And sometimes it was a stalemate.

So I had waited, not wanting to make a hasty decision.

But now it was time to decide.

Because the civil war had already begun.

“Let’s talk.”

I spread out a map on the table.

It was a map of the Empire.

“First, the Imperial Capital.”

I pointed at the large city located in the center of the Empire.

“The First Prince has complete control of it. It was worth striking first. But it wasn’t a complete victory. He let our princess junior escape.”

“I heard her whereabouts are unknown. Do you have any guesses?”

“It’s simple. She would have gone to her strongest supporters.”

“The west.”

Regina had probably already guessed the answer.

But she wanted to hear it from me.

I nodded and tapped a location on the map with my finger.

The western region of the Empire.

“Yes, the Sapia Duchy.”

The Sapia Duchy, ruled by Duke Sapia, the most powerful lord in the west.

It was also the home of Ethan and Emily Sapia, the princess’s loyal followers and my fraternal twin juniors.

They weren’t considered one of the three great martial families, but their power was comparable to any other duke.

Because the western region was densely populated, thanks to its fertile plains and warm climate.

Population meant power.

The western region, ruled by the Sapia family, could mobilize a large army, thanks to its abundant human and material resources.

“On the other hand, this place is the opposite.”

I tapped another location on the map.

The eastern region of the Empire.

Where the Cavern Duchy, ruled by Duke Noah Cavern, one of the three great martial families and the most powerful lord in the east, was located.

They possessed the strongest army in the east and a powerful knight order.

And they openly supported the First Prince.

Duke Noah Cavern had even personally visited the Celtrine family, proposing a political marriage between my sister and his son, in an attempt to win our support.

Of course, I had managed to escape the situation, even turning the tables on him with my wit and composure.

Anyway,

It was a fact that the eastern region’s power was a strong backing for the First Prince.

So the east and west were divided.

The north, south, and central regions remained.

I moved my finger to the south.

“And according to the information I’ve received, this place has sided with the First Prince.”

One of the three great martial families.

The Henatus Duchy, ruled by Duke Henatus, the most powerful lord in the south.

Two out of the three great martial families were now on the First Prince’s side.

It meant that he had secured the support of two of the most powerful lords in the Empire.

The balance of power was clear.

The First Prince had a clear advantage.

In my memories, whenever the Henatus family in the south sided with the First Prince, he would win nine out of ten times.

Why?

Because even if the First Princess secured the support of the Ehrenbert family, the most powerful lord in the north, they wouldn’t be able to mobilize their full strength due to the barbarian invasion.

The situation in the central region was different, but the conclusion was the same.

The central region, a prosperous land surrounding the Imperial Capital, didn’t have a single dominant family. It was divided among several powerful families.

My family, the Celtrine family, was one of them.

Anyway, it was impossible for either side to completely control the central region.

It was always a power-sharing arrangement.

So it would be difficult for the First Princess to gain an advantage here.

‘Of course, there’s one crucial difference this time.’

The Ehrenbert family, who had completely eradicated the barbarians.

Their shackles were gone.

They could now mobilize their full strength.

Their decision could completely change the course of the Imperial Civil War.

Regina knew that too.

“If we support the stronger side, the civil war will end quickly.”

*Clink.*

Regina sheathed her sword, the polishing complete.

“That’s true.”

I agreed.

Supporting the stronger side.

I had thought it was the obvious choice when I first played the game.

But the outcome had been different.

“The civil war will end quickly, yes.”

Regina seemed to sense the underlying meaning in my words.

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve seen it. I’ve seen it clearly. The flames of war spreading across the entire continent.”

Regina’s misty eyes widened.

“You don’t mean…?”

“Yes, I do. A continental war will break out. The Empire will invade the other nations.”

“You saw it?”

Regina knew that I had a powerful prophetic ability.

So I could use it as a tool of persuasion.

“Yes, very clearly.”

It wasn’t a lie.

Whether it was the First Prince or the First Princess, their ambition was so great that once they secured control of the Empire, they would inevitably wage war on the other nations.

And it was a trigger that always led to the bad ending.

I had to prevent it.

“That must never happen.”

Regina seemed to agree.

Anyone who wasn’t a warmonger would feel the same way.

“Is there a way to stop it?”

“I have a plan.”

I replied seriously.

“What is it?”

“We support the weaker side.”

Regina’s eyes narrowed.

“Why?”

“Because it will give us more leverage.”

I said clearly.

Supporting the stronger side wouldn’t give us much leverage.

We would just be latecomers to the winning side.

But the weaker side was different.

Our support would be crucial to their survival.

We would naturally gain a lot of influence and a voice in their decisions.

“And then?”

Regina asked.

“If we have enough leverage to keep the new Emperor in check, even the Emperor won’t be able to act recklessly.”

That was my goal.

To build a force that could counter the Emperor’s power.

It would have been impossible in the past.

But now it was possible.

Now that the Ehrenbert and Celtrine families, united by their shared victory against the barbarians, had formed an unbreakable alliance.

But it wouldn’t be easy.

The princess was a monster, a psychopath.

“I understand. It seems like the decision has been made.”

Regina’s eyes showed that she understood my intentions perfectly.

“Yes.”

I smiled faintly.

“We’re supporting Princess Oscar.”