episode_0029

“I will hand over the military command authority. If that is the only way to survive, I can cooperate. However, you must promise to help the people of the Phyrone Empire survive as much as possible.”

Princess Brainy made up her mind. If the ship was going down anyway, she decided to pass the helm to someone else. I willingly accepted her proposal.

“I will do my best as far as my abilities reach.”

Princess Brainy handed me a nameplate.

“In the event of an emergency where the emperor cannot issue direct orders or a similar situation arises, the bearer of this nameplate is authorized to assume full military command. However, it may be difficult for everyone to follow just because a stranger holds the nameplate. Therefore, I will also take to the battlefield. You will be in charge of all commands, and I will support you, so don’t worry.”

“If you are willing to go that far, there is nothing more to be desired.”

I formally bowed to the princess and saluted properly. After a while, I headed outside.

“You have to come with me.”

Although the princess had already given me the nameplate, she followed me with small steps. Outside, I could feel the gaze of the imperial knights and some other knights. Before anyone could ask why the princess had gone outside, she announced to the people.

“From now on, Macderas here will hold the entire military command of the Phyrone Empire and lead the battlefield. So, everyone, including the Imperial Knights, must obey his words completely!”

Despite the princess’s words, immediate resistance arose.

The Phyrone Empire’s Plutain, the commander of the Imperial Knights, immediately looked at me and shouted.

“What have you done to the princess!”

Threats, and even mind control through magic, it was a situation where any suspicion could arise. From others’ perspectives, the princess’s actions seemed utterly insane. The importance of those who hold the power to make decisions becomes increasingly crucial as the nation teeters. To temporarily transfer such authority to another is preposterous rather than being a threat or mind control.

However, unlike before, the princess stepped forward with dignity and spoke firmly.

“I am not being threatened, nor am I under the influence of mind-altering magic. The Royal Sorcerer can confirm this fact, so feel free to verify it if you wish.”

“D… dare not use mind-altering magic on your highness.”

The commander of the Platine Knights began to tremble on his knees. His reaction was not unpleasant. It was a natural response. Instead, you have handed over the decision without saying a word? I will follow you in the future. If he had shown any other reaction, it would have been just as alienating.

However, as the princess’s resolute voice began to echo, everyone ceased their objections.

“If you believe in me and follow me, then I ask that you respect my decisions without question. The Empire of Phaibron! We have already suffered defeat at the hands of the Kareldean Empire on most fronts. The bodies of our knights are desecrated, the few remaining holy maidens have been kidnapped, and innocent citizens are dying at the hands of Kareldean Empire’s knights without even being able to resist. Despite witnessing the Kareldean Empire’s disgrace of not even honoring the minimal terms of war treaties, I could do nothing.”

Princess Braine threw off her crown and shouted.

“I am the heart of the Phaibron Empire, and I am the one who must protect the people following in my father’s footsteps. I acknowledge my incompetence. If I were a little more capable, we wouldn’t be cornered like this. If I acknowledge it, I must improve. I have kept it a secret from you, but I possess the ability to discern the truth of what people say. This man is undoubtedly the sole salvation and last hope for our Phaibron Empire. So, just once, I hope you will respect my choice without a word.”

She could have used force to press her, but she appealed to her sincerity in throwing off the royal power. Has her heart been touched? All the knights knelt before the girl and shouted.

“I will follow Your Highness’s orders.”

It wasn’t short, but the perfect reorganization was complete. From now on, I had legally acquired the authority to freely command all the battlefields of the Phebron Empire. I immediately asked the commander of the Phtain Royal Knights.

“If there is a summary of the number of knights and wizards spread across the continent, bring it to me immediately.”

The commander of the Phtain Royal Knights brought me the most important information about the war without hesitation. Looking at the map, I could see dots moving in real time, as if magic was cast.

“Here, this is the information that marks our knights and wizards. You can assume that a hundred people are gathered around each big dot.”

Roughly estimating the numbers, the significant military strength of the Phebron Empire was estimated to be around 700,000.

“There are more people left than I thought.”

“We originally had 1.5 million troops. However, after many died, we conscripted all the men who could be mobilized for war, reducing the number to 700,000.”

The number 700,000 was by no means small. However, the problem was that this was not a professionally trained force, but rather an ambiguous figure that included civilians capable of combat.

“What is the enemy’s strength?”

“2.5 million. Even just those professionally trained amount to around 2.5 million.”

I sighed. This overwhelming force was probably why the Princess of Kaorelden Empire could engage in such absurd activities. A fourfold difference in strength. Excluding the untrained, it could be over eightfold.

This was a part where I could understand why the princess had appealed to them so desperately.

“How many casualties are there?”

“We haven’t properly estimated yet… but we estimate at least 3 million.”

There are misconceptions among people. When war breaks out, most think that soldiers will die, but that’s only the case when the enemy engages in minimal humanitarian combat. In wars where slaughter occurs indiscriminately, civilian death rates inevitably soar. Even a trained knight can become a corpse when dozens of civilians rush at them, let alone a magician who is difficult to approach in the first place.

Considering the existence of magic in this world, it wouldn’t be surprising if even greater casualties occurred. In fact, I have experienced a war with casualties so significant that it’s hard to compare to a larger battlefield.

Having assessed the damage and resources, it was time to act.

“Concentrate all those holding off the enemy in the border areas into the central zone.”

“…Impossible. Several fronts have already been breached. If we divert elsewhere, they’ll quickly infiltrate civilian territories.”

“Extract the magicians separately and use large-scale warp magic to gather all civilians into the central zone, leaving them behind while we gather in one place to wage war.”

“It’s too risky. If we deplete all mana on warp magic, they won’t be able to continue fighting. It’s suicidal to waste the mages’ withdrawal from the battlefield due to the significant power difference, then concentrate forces in one place. We’re doing our best to delay the advance by provoking as many small-scale skirmishes as possible, even in the current situation, and everyone would end up dead.”

“You’d better be within my territory to survive.”

The princess looked at me and ordered Pflain.

“Listen to Macderas.”

“…”

It’s an unheard-of strategy. A slight mistake could have led to the disappearance of the Phibron Empire in history. Gathering refugees in one place is something that should never be done. It’s tantamount to begging the enemies for an attack.

Unless one has the ability to repel all attacks and simultaneously launch an offensive.

“Damn it…”

The commander of the Plutain royal knights looked into the eyes of the princess. She had eyes filled with unwavering conviction.

“I understand.”

In the end, the commander carried out the orders. He knew it himself. They would lose all their forces if they continued like this anyway.

All personnel in the border area withdrew in an instant, and using numerous wizards, they gathered civilians in one place through warp magic. Thanks to this, the mana of the wizards began to dwindle. However, they unquestionably followed the orders.

The border area was breached but they no longer defended it. After all, they would regroup eventually.

Those who arrived in the central zone resumed the battle. However, the situation naturally began to turn against them. This was because a large number of forces from the Karelendian Empire started to converge on the central zone. Macderas hastily prepared something.

What he handed over was a document expressing his intentions.

“Is there any way to send this to the Emperor of the Karelendian Empire?”

Princess Breynie shook her head.

“There’s no way other than sending someone directly.”

After briefly looking at the document, the princess soon nodded. What was written in the document was a final request for a ceasefire. Princess Breynie dispatched an envoy to the battlefield, but what returned were the bodies of those who had been sent.

They had finished even the minimal humanitarian considerations. They had provided an opportunity to end the war on their own terms. It was their own form of propaganda and the minimum ethical procedure.

Now, all that remained was to exercise force.

“I am going to the battlefield. I will help you regain your everyday lives.”

Blood and corpses overflowing on the battlefield. As they approached that place, Macderas’s crimson sphere began to surge wildly.