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I’m going crazy! Seriously, I’m about to lose it! Damn it. Damn it!

This was the lament coming from Benito’s commander and staff lately.

Everything was clearly going smoothly as planned.

The military power of the Holy Kingdom was so weak it was almost irrelevant.

It was laughable how they pranced around claiming to be knights while just praying to God.

The once-proud Holy Knight Order was shattered, and the militia had crumbled.

The valiant son of Benito proudly entered the Holy Kingdom.

Of course, there was no reason to provoke unnecessary hostility.

Even though they had been excommunicated and had a crusade declared against them, there were still lines to draw.

Thus, they made their way to the sanctum where the Pope resided, slowly but surely, and without looting.

If things went as planned, they could replace the Pope with someone aligned with Benito’s interests.

If they could lift the excommunications and turn the Holy Kingdom into a puppet of Benito, it would be the best outcome imaginable.

That was, of course, unless a sudden piece of news had come.

[ Benito. Declaration of War against the Empire ]

At first, they doubted their own eyes. Then they questioned their ears.

Suddenly, why? Why had our king declared war on the Empire?

A huge confusion ensued. What the heck was going on?

They had successfully dismantled the Holy Kingdom’s army; it was undoubtedly a great victory.

But when you looked closer, it was clear they were just a bunch of nobodies struggling to muster a proper army.

They had entered the Holy Kingdom. However, now, the real battle was about to begin.

Regardless, the Holy Kingdom was the order of the South. Many still believed in Runen.

It wasn’t possible to set the Holy Kingdom ablaze and loot it. There were simply too many eyes watching.

As a result, their advance naturally slowed down, and resistance continued to arise.

In this situation, knowing little about the circumstances at hand, they proclaimed war.

Benito’s forces were anxious, but there was nothing they could do immediately.

They couldn’t possibly burn down the Holy Kingdom and massacre those who stood in their way.

Even so, things were still okay for now. Their king had taken measures ahead of time.

The Southern Kingdoms would answer Benito’s call and help fend off the Empire.

There was no need for a great victory; all they needed was to buy time. Just a little more, just a little longer!

However, much like the world, troubles tend to come in waves.

[ Urgent News. The Southern Kingdoms have opened their paths to the Empire ]

[ Empire’s 4th Legion and 15th Legion advancing swiftly southward ]

“…”

The Empire’s legions are coming. Two legions, no less, are closing in fast.

At that news, the commander and his officers turned pale.

“What the hell! To discard the promises made with Benito like old rags?!”

The reason nearby Southern Kingdoms quickly switched sides was clear.

The Empire had promised them benefits that were many times greater than what Benito had offered.

And they would later learn that half of those benefits were already handed over.

In any case, this left Benito’s forces isolated in an instant.

The kingdoms near Benito were still on his side, but the ones nearby were no longer.

If the Empire’s legions advanced along with troops from other kingdoms, they would be trapped without a way out.

The commander had to make a decision: To seize the Pope and lay siege here, or to call off all plans and retreat.

Just as he was caught in thought between those two options, another piece of news arrived.

“The Kingdom of Gori has retreated. The path to Benito is now clear!”

At this moment, Benito had only about 20,000 soldiers left.

Most of them were reserves, coming up short on training.

Even compared to what remained of Benito’s army, how could they hold against the Empire’s legions?

“Retreat.”

Finally, Benito’s commander made the decision and acted immediately.

He would normally have to consult his liege and King Andrea II first.

But given how dire the situation was, he thought this would be overlooked.

They needed to return quickly. Only they would stand a chance against the Empire.

Over far in the western front, there were veterans with experience in their ranks.

They were the sole core of Benito’s strength, with soldiers trained through hard work and sweat.

It was indisputable that their return was essential to securing Benito’s safety.

And so they began their journey back to Benito, having left the Holy Kingdom behind.

Fortunately, the Empire’s legions that arrived later did not pursue them.

Instead, they only sought to stabilize their hold over the Holy Kingdom.

‘It seems they intend to make sure the nearby Southern Kingdoms don’t rebel again.’

That’s right, the Empire. The commander of Benito sighed at the thought.

Things had become complicated. Truth be told, if it weren’t for that declaration of war…

It wasn’t that he couldn’t understand his king. It was indeed a necessary move.

However, the timing was off. If they had just delayed their plans a bit longer, it could have been flawless.

“…Alright. No more thinking about it.”

He was a faithful servant to his nation’s king.

Even if there were doubts, there could be no suspicion.

All he could do was contemplate what he could do for Benito and his king and strive.

That was when a report came in from scouts heading toward Benito.

“The Empire’s legions have been spotted up ahead.”

“It appears to be the 6th Legion, one of the two legions moving toward the Kingdom of Gori.”

There were definitely two legions from the Empire heading toward Benito.

One was the 6th Legion. The other was the 13th Legion.

However, there was currently only one legion standing in their way.

And that meant one thing:

‘The Empire has divided its forces.’

‘One is blocking our way, and the other is…’

‘Benito! It’s after our homeland!’

If one weren’t a fool, it would be obvious that the current situation could be deduced.

With the forces left in Benito, they could never hold against the 13th Legion.

After all, all the well-trained troops were here.

As this thought flashed through, it was the regular soldiers who became most anxious.

It wasn’t about Benito. The king didn’t even cross their minds.

It was their parents. Their wives. Their children. Their houses, their homeland that were at risk.

Their concern was solely for their families left behind.

As this atmosphere spread throughout the army, urgency and impatience grew stronger.

So much so that even simple marching became affected.

The commander tried to calm the soldiers via his officers, but it wasn’t easy.

What father in this world, what son, what husband could ever feel at ease leaving their children and parents behind?

As the entire 50,000 soldiers of Benito began to be consumed by this impatience, one more report came in through the scouts.

“The Empire’s 6th Legion is maintaining its formation with the river at its back.”

“They’ve formed a defensive position. The enemy has set a trap for us right behind our Benito!”

Hearing that, the commander and the other officers looked at each other.

They didn’t need to speak; they all thought the same thing:

They had to break through. There was no other choice.

The Empire’s 13th Legion threatened Benito, their homeland.

And the 6th Legion was trying to hold them back and not let go.

They could ignore it and pass by. But they’d be caught from behind.

There was also the option to throw back the rear units as bait.

But if they did that, the morale of the army would plummet.

Moreover, they couldn’t afford to lose the troops they had painstakingly trained.

Most importantly, there was one aspect gripping all ranks from the commander to the lowest officer.

“What are our chances even if we retreat to Benito?”

Very low. Extremely low. To speak frankly, almost non-existent.

They would face the 13th Legion knocking on the gates of Benito and the 6th Legion standing in their path.

Not to mention the 4th and 15th Legions, which were still in the Holy Kingdom and could appear at any moment.

If the reserve 18th Legion also moved down, they’d be up against nearly 100,000 elite soldiers.

They were officers of the military. Commanders leading the troops.

Those in such positions knew they must fight for victory.

In their eyes, the 6th Legion anchored in the defensive position was a crucial piece of the puzzle.

‘The goal of the 6th Legion is to buy time for the 13th Legion to break through the gates.’

‘There was a reason for their defensive position. They were trying to prevent being overwhelmed by sheer numbers.’

‘They want to hold us in place. Even if we slip past, they will pursue relentlessly. Rather than that…’

Rather than that, let’s capture them. Having set up defenses, if we can break through the front, there should be no further obstacles.

Acknowledging the Empire’s legions as the crème de la crème, they also admitted their disadvantage.

But now, Benito’s forces had become desperate. A reason to fight and win had emerged.

This would surely become a powerful weapon for their allies; they had no doubt about it.

“Our army will annihilate the Empire’s 6th Legion right there!”

Thus, when their commander expressed such a sentiment, no one opposed it.

In fact, if they had merely tried to pass by, they might have been met with backlash.

The army was already heated with urgency. They couldn’t afford to have enemies at their backs.

Even if the enemy was elite, there was at least a two-to-one difference in numbers.

This was a chance bestowed from the heavens. They had to win, no matter what.

It wouldn’t be easy. It was bound to be an extremely tough fight.

But there was no alternative; avoidance was impossible.

Let’s win. As long as we win, we can manage somehow.

That thought constricted the minds and bodies of all Benito’s soldiers.

Finally, having made their decision, the army of Benito headed toward the Empire’s 6th Legion.

On their way to the battlefield after a hearty breakfast, they all struggled to hide their impatience and unease, singing military songs with vigor.

In the spot they left, a single moth flitted helplessly in a spider’s web.

The spider that appeared so casually began to feast leisurely on the moth, now completely immobilized.

 

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