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The Empire’s Southern Legion. 4th Legion, 6th Legion, 13th Legion, and the 15th Legion.

Four legions sequentially departed their encampments and began their deployment.

The 18th Legion, which felt somewhat like a reserve legion, followed closely behind.

A grand army nearly 100,000 strong.

And that number only includes pure combat troops, not counting the Transportation Unit.

That tremendous force began its majestic march southward.

Just a short while ago, the Empire held a negative stance on mobilizing legions.

They had already spent an excessive amount on military expenses, which could shake the foundations of the Empire.

In just under two months of operations in the East, how much tax money had been consumed?

The current Empire faces a different scenario compared to Dedorant beyond the western border.

There is an established order of the Empire that cannot be filled with the spoils of war.

Time is needed. Some leeway is essential to make up for this loss.

However, the situation did not go as planned.

Flames erupted all around, any one of which could spread to the Empire at any moment.

For this reason, the Empire deemed this moment a severe crisis.

First and foremost, the Imperial Family stepped forward, declaring they would contribute the royal assets to the National Treasury.

Following them were the marquises and dukes, and numerous nobles.

If that still wasn’t enough, there was no choice but to revise the laws.

It’s a sorry matter for the people of the Empire, but they too must tighten their belts.

“In the worst-case scenario, we may have to open both the western and southern fronts simultaneously.”

This was the chilling conclusion pondered over by the Ministry of War and the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

*

“Your Highness the Princess.”

“….”

“Your Highness the Princess?”

“….”

It felt oddly reversed from the norm.

Usually, the princess would call for me, and I would snap my head up in surprise.

But now, the princess stood there, completely dazed.

And honestly, that was understandable. I was barely holding it together myself.

The news that flooded in over the past weeks was all utterly absurd.

‘Did Benito just curse the church and crush the Holy Kingdom? Isn’t Dedorant right next to DeGale, taking over the entire west? And… those two even formed an alliance.’

It was said that the Foreign Affairs Ministry hadn’t anticipated this clandestine treaty at all.

So sudden was the occurrence that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was reportedly paralyzed for some time.

Outside of the Empire, Dedorant could be considered a true military powerhouse.

Although that only applies when looking from the South, Benito had fortified its strength regardless.

The fact that these two joined hands was definitely not pleasant news.

To top it all off, the most recent event capped everything off.

“Prince Kael.”

The commander of the 6th Legion cautiously approached and continued.

“Why exactly did Benito declare war on the Empire?”

“…It seems King Benito went mad after being excommunicated.”

“Haha! Hearing your joke lightens the mood a bit. Ha ha ha!”

But it’s not a joke. I’m speaking from the heart.

What kind of insane person attacks the Holy Kingdom and then declares war on the Empire?

Honestly, saying, ‘I feel like committing suicide,’ would sound more credible.

There’s no way this could happen if he still had his wits about him.

Even if he wanted to, the surrounding ministers should be gritting their teeth to stop him.

This is akin to Japan launching a preemptive strike on the US while trying to find Tennō.

Or Italy suddenly striking Greece while shouting Duce, for that matter.

‘What on earth is he thinking? Does he have some hidden trump card up his sleeve?’

I repeatedly considered every possible option Benito could take and erased them one by one.

From that, a conclusion emerged—though many thoughts crossed my mind, the most prominent one was.

The king, the one who is Andrea II of Benito, was merrily spinning an imaginary wheel of happiness.

“The most likely scenario is that he aims to draw our Empire as far south as possible.”

“Draw us in, you say?”

“Yes. They must have heard the news. They know how exorbitant our military expenses have been in less than a year.”

“Thus, he declared war to force even more of a bleed on the Empire.”

“If the legions cross the border and head south, the costs will skyrocket compared to merely staying in camp.”

Hearing my answer, the commander of the 6th Legion nodded, indicating it made perfect sense.

With an expanded front, the burdens naturally increase.

The Empire may be the strongest nation and capable of enduring it, but there’s a limit.

Furthermore, once troops enter enemy territory, supply concerns become even trickier.

The problem, though, is that we are merely predicting it in the most plausible way.

Even accounting for all that, declaring war is genuinely insane.

For this to work, Benito’s forces must withstand our Empire’s legions.

Additionally, the forces sent from the Southern Kingdoms should perform at least half as well as Benito’s.

This is the minimum condition. Without it, their grand strategy is doomed from the start.

‘Knowing the gap between the Empire’s legions and the Southern armies, why are they acting like this? What will happen if the Southern kingdoms turn on them? They’ll end up isolated and crushed before they even have time to resist!’

They aren’t oblivious. They must be aware of the situation across the eastern front.

They boldly started as an alliance, only to get smashed within a month like their promises meant nothing.

I heard that plans and operations rarely go as envisioned for more than three minutes.

No matter how much they chant about not betraying one another, it’s all meaningless.

Humans are too fickle and self-centered, their hearts can change on a whim.

But soon, I realized I had underestimated the South far too much.

*

“…No kingdom has responded positively yet?”

A week after crossing the border into the Southern continent, I involuntarily sighed at the news delivered by the commander.

“Yes, Prince Kael. Not only the kingdoms near Benito but even those far away are wary of our legions. At this rate, we can’t advance deeply due to the instability of our supply lines.”

“If we try to break through one kingdom at a time in the South, our legion will surely suffer casualties as well.”

The goal of the Empire’s Southern Legion is twofold: to overthrow Benito and to rescue the Holy Kingdom.

Engaging in battles with the other Southern kingdoms is part of that journey.

However, considering various factors, we decided to lean more towards appeasement and intimidation.

For now, it was in regard to the supply lines and for future trade in the South.

Yet, arriving here, even with the intimidation of showing four Imperial legions, they still refused to yield.

All we heard was news of a worsening atmosphere.

“The declaration of war was made by Benito, not by them. Yet, if they are so hostile towards us, they are likely to sail the same boat as Benito.”

“The armies of the Southern kingdoms are waiting in the direction our legion is advancing. What shall we do?”

“Send an envoy to inquire whether the Empire genuinely came for a crusade or if it plans to swallow the South in this opportunity. We ask for an answer.”

This is not good. From the start, something was very off.

While the East harbored considerable resentment towards the Empire, I remember it wasn’t to this degree.

“It seems the rejection of the Empire is spilling out in this manner.”

The answer to this lay with the princess, who had returned to her usual self mere days ago.

Having spent time close to Marquis Rael of the South, she seemed to have gleaned something.

“The Southern region has never particularly had a strong focal point. It was entangled in the church due to the Holy Kingdom, and culturally and economically burdened by the Empire.”

“But to align with Benito when our legions are right in front of them? It simply cannot be explained rationally, Your Highness.”

“I understand the commanders’ opinions. However, sometimes there are things in this world that cannot be explained rationally. Isn’t that right, Kael?”

At the princess’s question, I slowly nodded.

True. The world is not a place that operates purely on rational judgment.

If it were, those significant victories in the East wouldn’t have been possible either.

Rather, because it is the world, feelings often take precedence over reason.

“Regardless, this situation cannot continue. We’ll have to face the entire Southern kingdoms before we can drive out Benito. Right, Kael?”

At the princess’s question, I pondered before revealing the results based on the current situation.

“Yes, Your Highness. And if it truly unfolds this way, tactical victories will be claimed by the legion, but strategic victories will ultimately belong to the South—specifically to Benito.”

The reason our Empire eventually crossed the border into the territories of the Southern kingdoms is that the Holy Kingdom expelled Benito. They declared a crusade and moved.

Their goal is not to occupy the Southern kingdoms. Such would yield far greater losses than gains.

Yet these Southern kingdoms still stand firm against the Empire’s threat and side with Benito.

To suppress them by force would entail all the public sentiment of the South—no, it wouldn’t end there.

Once this news spreads, it would further ripple through the West, East, and even North.

The Empire would be perceived as utterly sinister. If we proceed with propaganda, there’s no solution.

Ultimately, if we get stuck here, Benito will crush even the last resistance of the Holy Kingdom.

The Pope would forcibly resign, put a puppet in place. If the excommunication and crusade were withdrawn, our Empire would lose both justification and advantage. Our pride would be in tatters.

“…Perhaps storming through the Southern kingdoms at once could be the method.”

“Impossible. If we did that, we’d be slapped with the stigma of invading the Southern kingdoms, and it would spiral out of control.”

I hastily stopped the commander’s opinion and reiterated the importance of justification.

Why do I keep emphasizing justification? Is it that significant?

Absolutely. This justification is vital for swaying the local sentiment in our favor.

This sentiment is so crucial that not even a hundred—no, a thousand reminders would be too many.

“Then there’s only one method. We must take the Southern kingdoms away from Benito.”

“However, Your Highness, even with four legions advancing, those people are still holding firm. If the Empire takes a step back, they will surely look down on us even more.”

“I believe we must also uphold their pride. Think about it. What ruler would allow a foreign army to traverse their territory?”

Justification. Advantage. And pride. These are not just minor headaches; they are three-fold.

We need to find a compromise. Something that can allow both sides to concede adequately.

What could there be? How might we entice the Southern kingdoms?

No matter what Benito shouts, without looking back, they need a reason to cooperate with the Empire.

The traitors who bowed to the Empire! A reason that allows them to stand tall!

And something that won’t hurt their pride too much…

‘Hmm.’

No matter how I think about it, this seems like the best option for now.

“Your Highness the Princess.”

“Yes, Kael?”

“Are there any countries in the South that are not particularly friendly with Benito?”

“I have a rough idea based on what I heard from the marquess.”

“Then let’s send an envoy there. Let’s hold talks. And, Legion Commander?”

“Yes, Prince Kael.”

“It seems we’ll have to engage in a round. The Kingdom of Gori stands in the direction towards Benito.”

“That’s right. They say they are quite close to Benito.”

“Perfect.”

The card I’ve drawn holds money in my left hand and a club in my right. You bastards.

 

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