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The Northern Expeditionary Force’s advance has come to a halt. If we continue this long-term northern campaign, the losses from combat will be less than those resulting from non-combat issues. The Northern Expeditionary Force, which set out with an army of 100,000, has now dwindled to 70,000.

It’s not that 30,000 have died or been injured. Most of the losses stem from the garrison forces securing rear supply lines, the purge of Orcs and Goblin partisans in the occupied territories, and various stabilization missions related to constructing new fortifications to replace the fallen Demon King’s lands.

The road ahead is still long, but the Hero has managed to reclaim a significant area of territory during this northern campaign. The area where Walter’s House has all but eliminated the enemy threat surpasses half of the existing Caprice royal family’s directly governed territory. Essentially, almost the entire western side of the Munninja Mountain Range has returned to humanity’s control.

However, despite this, the land occupied by the Demon King is so vast that the Hero has not been able to reclaim even one-twentieth of it. What’s more, the land we’ve taken back is still not suitable for human habitation, as land reclamation work is far from complete, making it difficult to officially integrate it into the Empire’s territory.

In wars against humans, as long as the banner of the castle is changed, the local populace can be taken as subjects without much hassle, making conquest quite convenient. However, when it comes to reclaiming land from the Demon King, the destroyed infrastructure must be restored, and great tax exemptions must be offered to migrants before any resettlement can occur, complicating the recovery of territories.

In the meantime, the extraordinary commanders who should have been the driving force for this advance, namely Margaret and Jenis, have both retreated from the battlefield. While it’s understandable that Jenis had no choice, Walter had his own reasons for not being able to keep Margaret with him; it’s a rather delicate situation that cannot be casually discussed with anyone. Even though Rose and Alex are exceptional, moving northward with just these two is a dangerous endeavor.

In the end, Walter found himself unable to move forward and welcomed the New Year in that very spot, continuing to halt the advance of all troops under the pretext of stabilizing the reclaimed territories.

The Demon King’s army seemed relieved that Walter’s Army had stopped its advance, but they did not dare attack recklessly. As the situation in the Second Region intensified, the First Region faced a lull.

Despite the lull, the Hero remained busy. Daily reports concerning regional stabilization and military base construction were pouring into the Hero’s tent, and Walter, as always, provided detailed instructions, anticipating various scenarios and solutions to the extent that field commanders hardly had to make any decisions on their own.

As soon as Rose entered the Hero’s tent silently, Walter was still adjusting his glasses and focusing on his administrative tasks.

“Walter.”

“Ah, Rose, you’re here? Sit down and wait for a bit. It won’t take long.”

“My father is showing signs of displeasure.”

At those words, Walter slammed the ink pot down on the desk. Rose’s father was Anton Caprice, the Emperor of the Audrich Empire and the absolute ruler of the Empire.

He was often misunderstood to have no real power due to Rose’s formidable presence, but when he expressed his feelings or opinions, no one could ignore him. Such is the nature of an Emperor.

Walter couldn’t afford to overlook Rose’s brief remark.

“To whom?”

“To Arthur Harker. Until the signing of the Southern Alliance, he hadn’t said much, but it seems he’s… a bit displeased with this latest move. My father believes you should… take some action.”

Walter gritted his teeth and removed his glasses. Even in the face of a mountain of paperwork, his expression was filled with anger and annoyance. Rose glanced at Walter’s trembling eyes behind his glasses.

Walter looked like he might explode with a little provocation, which made Rose keenly aware of the tension. Apart from his usual public outbursts during ‘showy’ moments in the council, Walter generally kept his internal fury well hidden. However, when faced with the exhausting reality of war and administration, the Hero’s patience had worn thin. Rose understood him.

“Count Harker is devising an optimal strategy to defend the South and is waging the best possible war. If it bothers your father, then what exactly is he expecting me to do?”

“My father believes the Count is overstepping Imperial law. I don’t know how much of it is true, but… His Majesty thinks Arthur Harker is trying to effectively incorporate the unclaimed territories into his own. There’s some evidence that suggests that might be the case…”

“It’s an old story that those nearby small territories have effectively become vassals of Harker’s! His Majesty is being overly sensitive.”

“He doesn’t mind if you treat subordinate lords like vassals. However, he’s clearly wary of Harker expanding his territory as a directly governed domain. My father is worried that if, for instance, Count Harker successfully secures the Southern Region, he might declare himself an independent principality and claim the title of Duke, which the Royal Family wouldn’t be able to counter.”

Walter slammed his fist on the desk. Rose flinched back. Seeing Walter’s face turn crimson, Rose bowed her head, feeling as though she had committed a crime.

“For the past eight years, I’ve battled with nobles in the council every day to amass an Imperial army of 80,000. All those troops remain under the Royal Family’s command, so what threat do a mere 40,000 forces from the Alliance pose, even with Jeffrey’s house included? And now Count Harker is perceived as a character who initiates civil conflicts within the Empire, pursuing his own ambitions?”

“A single squad can initiate a power struggle. The Empire may have diminished, but we cannot exclude the possibility of a reactionary force rising.”

Rose’s words had some merit, but Walter let out an exasperated sigh, clearly displeased by her comments.

When Walter regained his composure, he picked up his glasses and placed them back on his face, apologizing.

“I’m sorry; I got a bit worked up.”

“That’s fine. I’d be sensitive too if my superior burdened me with additional worries in such a hectic situation.”

“Leave the issue with His Majesty to you. Calm him down suitably so that no further complaints arise. I have neither the intention nor the capacity to do anything for my father-in-law or anyone else. I can’t pacify the Royal Family’s unrest.”

Rose bowed her head slightly, as though acknowledging his response.

“I’ll do just that.”

With a much more relaxed expression, Walter looked straight into Rose’s eyes. When he spotted the strange worry on her face, he furrowed his brow.

“What are your thoughts, Rose?”

“My thoughts? Well…”

“About this matter. The Harker Clan has already gathered about 8,000 troops under its banner and exhibits direct governing power over the surrounding territories that provided these troops. It’s not like I’m ignoring the situation. Therefore, I’m curious about your perspective.”

Under normal circumstances, Rose Caprice would have felt compelled to voice her opinions. However, today she was unusually cautious. After hesitating slightly at Walter’s question, Rose finally spoke up carefully.

“I can’t take this matter as seriously as my father does. No, perhaps I’m actually thinking about it even more seriously than he is…”

“It’s not common for the Caprice father and daughter to have differing opinions.”

“Well, father doesn’t know much about Jenis Harker.”

Rose’s eyes lit up. From the anxious voice of the princess, the Hero sensed the gravity of her concern.

“Walter, I’m not particularly worried about Arthur Harker. However, he is old, and if the war intensifies, the possibility of his demise cannot be ruled out. If that happens, I won’t know what his successor is watching, and that terrifies me.”

“Jenis Harker is… a unique variable.”

“A uniquely dangerous one.”

Walter did not deny Rose’s words. Both of them shared concerns in that regard. Jenis Harker was unsettling. But it wasn’t merely because she was of vampire blood; it was because he couldn’t discern her thoughts.

“Her objective aligns with mine. We both agree that we must end this war and eliminate the Demon King, but… there may be some differences in our paths or perspectives on the world thereafter.”

“She’s an extraordinary schemer. Arthur Harker isn’t the type to forcefully expand his territory amidst this opportunity. However, Jenis Harker will voraciously seize everything as soon as she senses an opportunity.”

“Let her have some land; I don’t mind.”

Walter shook his head.

“Just let her have some land. She seeks power. Power equal to ours. Having already grasped the great sage’s staff, there might be nothing visible to her. Let her take the authority of the Magic Tower and the dominance of the South. If she needs it, I have no reason not to offer it.”

“Walter, this isn’t something to be taken so lightly.”

“She’ll recognize how far she must stop on her own.”

The Hero shook his head, showing signs of exhaustion.

“If she can’t, she ought to renounce her title as a Sage. Should she face off against the Demon King’s army while juggling issues with the Magic Tower and the South? Damn, even a legendary Hero wouldn’t pull off such a stunt.”

“She’s sharp. She knows that we won’t have the luxury to restrain her actions lightly. In fact, she may have even realized that we should actively support and protect her depending on the circumstances. Do you plan to stand idly by and watch her exploit her position without restraint?”

From Rose’s perspective, that felt somewhat sinister. While the prestige of the Royal Family wouldn’t be tarnished, realistically, if Harker were to genuinely pursue a claim over the unclaimed territories, the Royal Family would inevitably have to concede the titles of those territories to him, thereby recognizing the incorporation of the County Territory.

Even if the Emperor were exceedingly unsettled about it, it would be entirely impossible to raise an army to eliminate the Harker House. If it were Jenis, she would surely craft a scenario to fulfill her ambitions using such a situation. This was Rose’s line of thought.

Yet if Jenis Harker indeed harbored such thoughts and acted upon them, one fact must be remembered.

Few can afford to incur Rose Caprice’s displeasure and live to tell the tale. She is utterly ruthless when it comes to dealing with those she deems her enemies.

Feeling the overwhelming determination radiating from Rose’s expression, Walter raised his hands in a gesture of calm.

“Don’t get worked up. There are no traitors in our country right now. Or at least let’s hope so. If there are those conspiring to commit treason in these times, no matter the country, they won’t be pardoned. Remember, Rose, we are nearly outmatched by the Demon King’s forces in almost every respect. The only reason we can still harbor hopes of victory is that while the Demon King’s forces are fragmented, we remain united. We mustn’t squander that unique and strong advantage we possess.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Rose nodded with a firm expression. Walter then returned to his paperwork, opening an ink pot once more.

Among the reports was one regarding the financial support needed from the Royal Family due to the changing situation in the Southern Region. Among them was news that the Grand Mage, who had been coiled up in his nest for about three weeks, had finally begun to stir.

“Has he eliminated the sudden threats to the territory? Or has he deemed there were none to begin with…”

Even Walter, as astute as he was, could not foresee everything or prepare for all scenarios. If he had, perhaps he could have already turned this war into a victory.

In fact, neither the timing of this Northern Expeditionary War nor the onset of the second front that opened around the same time was entirely carried out according to Walter’s intent or under his control.

In the end, Walter could only trust his friends, including Jeongjae, and work diligently within the realm of what he could do.

There were many other factors of anxiety. In order for the Hero to move towards the optimal victory he envisioned, Walter earnestly wished to avoid any seeds of further discord from sprouting.

 

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