Holy Empire #1

The ten-day long memorial service has already come to an end.

The so-called requiem ritual to appease the souls of the dead.

The target is the northern dead who have not been able to rest until now, and the priest is Kamullah.

“Now the souls of our compatriots can rest in peace.”

Jonathan muttered bitterly. The shadow of the burning torch flickered across the young orc’s face.

The war for hegemony in the North also ended.

The winner is me, Estelle. Camula eventually gave in and decided to join me.

Instead, Kamula, in order to seek forgiveness from the victims, freed the spirits of the orcs and countless other dead who had been bound so far, and promised to serve our faction wholeheartedly in the future.

This has two major implications.

First, my power has become much stronger with the addition of Kamula and his army.

Secondly, I was able to show the world that I was a surprisingly merciful monarch.

The army of the dead is even more forgiving than the living. If you surrender, they forget all the petty details and accept you with magnanimity.

With this, the number of enemy troops surrendering without firing a single arrow will gradually begin to increase.

“I respect your choice, Estelle. Strategically, it seems right. However, as an Orc, I cannot completely forgive that woman! I will continue to keep a close eye on her. I assure you, we Orcs will not forget Kamula’s atrocities.”

Jonathan stated his position with a stern face.

‘Yeah, that’s just right.’

It was what I expected. And it was what I intended.

I have no intention of giving power to just one side. Ideally, both the Orcs and the Camula would check and compete with each other.

‘Because if the balance is further disrupted and your head becomes too big, you’re bound to end up harboring other thoughts.’

In my kingdom, there must be only one absolute being, and that alone must be me. To achieve this, I must coordinate my subordinates, as I am doing now, to share their power among themselves.

“Jonathan, after the Requiem, you’ll be busy for a while. A war even more daunting awaits you, making the Northern Conquest seem like child’s play. Are you ready?”

“Of course. Our orcs are always ready.”

In the center of the village, orcs and undead mingled, dancing and singing around a large burning torch.

I listened to the cheerful yet sad melody of the song and gave Jonathan some instructions.

Now that we have full access to all the resources of the North, our military can grow in size accordingly.

There’s a mountain of work to do.

Developing a stronger army, exploring northern ruins and unexplored dungeons known only to me, and obtaining rare resources⋯.

“I won’t tell you to get along with Kamula. But don’t forget our ultimate goal. If you’re going to fight among yourselves, fight afterward.”

I emphasize this again and again.

Soon, I will be away from the Northern Kingdom for a while.

In the meantime, I have no choice but to leave my army to Jonathan and Camula.

“Estelle, are you really going to do as you said?”

Jonathan looked at me with worried eyes.

I understand your concerns. The strategy I’m about to take is practically a gamble.

However, it is a danger that must be overcome to defeat Michael.

“In my calculations, this is the best.”

I nodded calmly.

It’s time for the Empire to finally lift its heavy butt and take action.

I had no intention of sitting still and taking it.

***

Julius, a veteran general of the empire, set out on his campaign with a heavy heart.

Suppression order.

He was given a weighty mission that he could not refuse no matter what excuse he made.

‘But the fact that the punitive order was issued at this time makes the intention obvious.’

Julius was no fool. He was also fully aware of the current political situation in the empire.

The Emperor of the Empire has long since been reduced to a mere figurehead, and the real decisions are made by the Paladin Michael, who sits behind the Emperor.

So it is clear that the order to punish was also Michael’s will.

“What a cunning knight commander. He must be trying to divert attention from the outside world to quell the political attacks focused on him.”

The target of the purge, declared an enemy of the empire, was a rather unexpected figure even for Julius.

The Immortal Monarch, Lich Estelle.

A top-tier wanted man who dominates the blizzard-swept north and commands disgusting orcs and creepy undead.

The men of power in various regions, including Julius, were heading north under the banner of subduing the Lich.

“General, we’re about to enter the Northern Canyon. From here, we enter the realm of the Lich.”

The adjutant’s face was visibly tense. Given the nature of his territory, bordering the north, Julius had no choice but to assume the role of vanguard, the first to enter Richie’s territory.

“Everyone, don’t let your guard down.”

Julius said, holding the reins short.

The soldiers’ expressions were dark.

They were mostly tenant farmers, uninvolved in the empire’s political affairs. They didn’t care whether they were enemies of the empire or liches.

‘I don’t want to be dragged to such extremes and die a dog’s death.’

“Damn it, I want to go home! My wife’s about to give birth to our third child!”

Julius tried hard to ignore the blatant discontent on the soldiers’ faces.

In fact, he also had difficulty convincing himself of this expedition.

I kept wondering if I was being swayed by Michael’s ambition and being offered as the first sacrifice.

“Someone is approaching from ahead!”

The scouts who returned in a hurry reported.

“Is it undead?”

“I don’t know. He’s covered entirely by a hooded cloak, making it difficult to guess his identity. But there’s only one.”

“Only one?”

Julius tilted his head to the side.

The undead rely on a massed assault, a tactic that allows them to survive even when killed. A single individual could be a Death Knight, but if it’s a Death Knight, its massive size makes it instantly recognizable.

“Perhaps they’re civilians. They may have barely escaped the Lich’s rule with their lives.”

“I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.”

Julius advanced into the battle line after ordering his soldiers not to let their guard down.

Not long after, an unidentified person approached.

“Stop! Who are you? Come no closer and reveal your identity right where you are.”

Julius drew his sword and aimed it, stopping the suspicious man in his tracks.

The figure before me was tiny. Far too short to be a soldier. When he removed his hood, his beautiful, flowing hair flowed in the wind.

‘A girl⋯?’

Julius and the adjutant exchanged glances.

They are war professionals, having battled countless battlefields and amassed experience, but their prejudices are also entrenched. A delicate girl is simply not suited for battle.

“What’s wrong with you? Why are you wandering around alone? Where are your parents?”

“Ahaha, what nonsense are you talking about? Are you Julius?”

Suddenly hearing unexpected informality, a large vein bulged out on Julius’ forehead.

How on earth did you receive such a home education? Even if the North is a barbaric land, untouched by civilization, shouldn’t you show basic courtesy to your elders?

I felt bad, and then the next moment, doubts began to rise.

‘How does that little girl know me?’

Of course, Julius is a general with a great reputation in the empire, but that doesn’t mean even children know his face and name.

Moreover, the girl’s tone of voice was as if she had expected Julius to come here from the beginning.

“I know why you’re here. It’s obvious. Michael told you to, right?”

“⋯What?”

“Oh, isn’t that so? It seems like he’s gone on an expedition by order of the Emperor. Well, it’s like covering your eyes and pretending not to see.”

The adjutant’s mouth fell open. Before he could even rebuke the audacity of speaking so lightly of His Majesty the Emperor, he felt a sense of unease.

Although she appears to be a delicate girl, there is something hidden within her that goes beyond their imagination.

“No way, you-”

Julius trailed off. He knew someone would find his words absurd, but Julius’s intuition was sharp. He was clearly aware of the current situation.

“Are you Richie?”

“Oh. But you recognized me right away? As expected of a veteran. You’re quite the expert.”

Richie and Estelle clapped their hands playfully, half in praise, half in mockery.

The adjutant’s face turned pale.

The target of this expedition is within reach. It’s close enough that you can hit it with a simple shot without even needing to aim carefully.

“That girl is rich⋯!”

Julius frowned deeply and blocked the adjutant’s advance with his arm.

“Don’t act rashly. There must be a reason he’s come alone to confront us. Come on, Lord of Death! If you’re thinking of making petty jokes, then just leave it at that. I’m a warrior. It’s not my nature to engage in agonizing conversations where we hide our true feelings. If you have something to say, say it now! Otherwise—”

Julius’s eyes were filled with determination. Having fought in countless battlefields and witnessed countless deaths, his eyes resembled a tiger’s.

“I have no choice but to carry out His Majesty the Emperor’s orders from here.”

Julius, a hardened warrior, has always carried death on his back. Ever since he was a young squire, he never once expected to die peacefully in his bed.

He wasn’t afraid of dying in battle. He was more afraid of surviving shamefully.

“Hmm.”

Estelle smiled, her expression somewhat knowing. She put aside her playfulness and held out her palms.

“Don’t misunderstand. I have no intention of fighting. Win or lose, my opponent isn’t an old man like you.”

“Well then, why did you appear before us?”

“So that we don’t waste each other’s time.”

Estelle looked at Julius calmly with her large, clear eyes.

Those eyes seemed to be aimed not at Julius and the soldiers in front of him, but at someone else further away.

“I’m going to meet Michael. Can you show me around?”