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The official retreat order from the Ministry of War and Headquarters of the Empire has been issued.

The targets are the 6th Legion and the 13th Legion, which have suffered direct combat losses.

The 4th Legion and the 15th Legion have made the decision to remain for the stability of the homeland and its vicinity.

The war with Benito is not over.

Unlike the eastern kingdoms, he did not surrender.

For now, we have merely fallen back to catch our breath.

Anyway, Benito won’t recover just because he takes a short break like the Empire.

With the main force shattered, how can we possibly rebuild in a short time?

The army may relist soldiers, but it’ll only fill the numbers.

The Empire’s temporary retreat is solely due to Dedorant.

It’s a sort of warning that he will make us pay dearly later.

For now, we are just smiling and hiding our true intentions from each other.

I and the Princess have also received a return order, directly mentioned by the Emperor himself.

It was an Imperial Decree telling us not to linger and to quickly return to the Empire.

“….”

Throughout the journey back, the Princess seemed very subdued.

Normally, she would be basking in victory and chatter, but this time was different.

Perhaps it weighed on her heart that we are returning without finishing off Benito.

‘Hmm.’

I felt like I needed to say something.

Seeing such a bright person down like that put me in an uncomfortable mood.

“There’s no need to overthink it, Your Highness.”

“Ah, Kael.”

“The three kingdoms of the East. Burgai, Kaden, and Polrand have all declared war, but the Empire has not occupied them. Because there’s more to lose than to gain.”

“…But still. I worry that if this continues, the foolish will come to look down on the Empire.”

I nodded in agreement with her words.

Despite the Empire’s victories in the North, the East, and even in the South, we didn’t exercise the rights of a victor.

Some may see it as mercy, but others may perceive it as weakness.

When such things accumulate, eventually someone will cross the line.

“I understand well what worries you, Your Highness. However, I think that maybe that’s what they’re aiming for.”

“Pardon? What do you mean?”

“I mean exactly that. Both His Majesty the Emperor and Your Highness the Crown Princess are targeting that.”

“Targeting? I don’t quite understand, Kael.”

“If you crush anything that comes into your grasp, wouldn’t they feel fear rather than awe? And that fear would soon turn into resentment and resistance.”

“But.”

“But if you completely crush an opponent with justified reasons, they will surely understand it. It will legitimize the Empire’s actions while they console themselves that it isn’t about them.”

“Are you saying that target is Dedorant?”

“Just once. Just about once in the long years that the Empire has violated its promises.”

So, to put it in a metaphor, I can explain it like this.

At one time, the fist that wielded power could hold back and stop expanding.

While those below may do whatever they wish, they won’t be touched majorly.

If they defy, they will only receive a few light slaps.

But if a new fist appears that can shake everything up, it would crush them immediately.

Some of them were already beaten up, so there’s no problem at all!

“Once we return, I believe the first thing to discuss will be how to deal with the East.”

“To focus on the Western Front requires dealing with the East, which can be considered our rear.”

“Also, if too many forces die, it would be problematic, so we’ll have to give the pro-peace faction some breathing room.”

This is what makes our Emperor great.

He prevents the public sentiment from leaning too far in one direction.

Even if it looks tilted from the outside, he maintains an appropriate internal balance.

Thanks to that, it prevents overheating and losing reason.

The Empire maintains a healthy conflict structure without crossing lines.

It directs national power to focus on more beneficial paths.

“Well, is there a good plan?”

“…Pardon?”

“Your strategy in the Eastern region was a great success, right? I’m asking if there’s a continuation of that.”

Hmm. A continuation from the work in the Eastern region. Well, I wonder if that’s possible.

At first, I reflexively wanted to say, ‘There isn’t.’

But the way the Princess was looking at me reminded me of her glance back in the North.

Adding that I might have to start accepting it myself little by little.

I think of myself as ordinary, but to others, it’s different.

I now know that I’ve come too far to simply return.

I’ve shown too much to live as I did before.

I still want to insist that I’m not some genius or mastermind, but that burdens me, and I sweat over it. But in the end, it’s part of me.

“The best method for now would be to create a competitive structure between Burgai and Polrand.”

“Aren’t you already doing that? It’s like a death race. The Empire balanced things out, and now if one falls behind, the first becomes last, and the last becomes first.”

“What I mean is not that competition.”

It’s about showing their true intentions towards the Empire. That’s the competition I’m talking about.

As I said this, the Princess’s expression twisted in a strange way.

“Kael? It feels a bit strange to say this, but is that really possible? Maybe not Polrand, but for Burgai to show their true intentions towards the Empire? They wouldn’t hide their anger as soon as the Empire is mentioned.”

“That might be the case from their rulers’ perspective.”

It makes sense since the Empire has stolen their authority and toppled their power.

If someone proposes to befriend the Empire, they might even assassinate them.

But beneath that, the average people of Burgai see things a bit differently.

If they use their numbers cleverly, they could raise support for the Empire.

“There were many Burgai soldiers who fell to the Empire’s legions in the previous Eastern operations. That resentment must still linger.”

“That means, conversely, it could be shifted to blame Burgai.”

“Shift the blame to Burgai…? Is that even possible?”

“It’s difficult but not impossible. After all, it’s the truth.”

The legions of the Empire’s spears and swords killed them. I wouldn’t deny that.

But those who pushed them into the battlefield were definitely Burgai.

So, it’s both the Empire that killed them and also Burgai that killed them.

I didn’t lie. It’s a clear fact. And that’s what’s most important.

Do you know why losing a war is burdensome?

Once defeated, the question arises, ‘Why did we have to fight?’

While my son, my husband, and my father are fighting, what were you up above doing?

Once that spark ignites, no one can stop it.

“Making the Empire favorable isn’t the rulers of Burgai. It’s the public sentiment. If that can be achieved, then the top will naturally follow.”

If one doesn’t want to drown in the rolling public sentiment, that is.

“However… it requires something to act as a catalyst. I’m not sure what that could be.”

“It’s tough. That catalyst isn’t just going to drop from the sky.”

Exactly. Your Highness. It’s not something that will fall from the sky.

*

Meanwhile, the situation in the East was unfolding quite mysteriously.

As the war atmosphere rose from the South, the Empire decided to withdraw two Eastern Legions.

There were minor hiccups during that process, but nothing major.

However, after that, several incidents occurred—

“Damn Polrand bastards!”

“Damn Burgai sons of bitches!”

As the Empire’s attention turned to the South, the previously quiet conflicts between the two kingdoms flared up.

Burgai, despite sustaining many wounds, still reigned as the number one in the East.

It was said that even if a rich family goes broke, they can last for three years. The remnants did not go away.

On the other hand, Polrand was able to grow partly thanks to the Empire.

But it was originally the weakest nation, so it still couldn’t be called number one.

Thus, a strange balance was maintained between the two countries, intensifying the conflict.

Kaden faced the issue of whose hand to raise.

But reminded of the Empire’s fearsome visage, they chose to remain silent.

The truth remained that it was a ploy by the perennial second-in-command to seize the opportunity.

In that process, military clashes began to occur.

What was surprising was that the instigator was not Burgai but Polrand.

For the first time, the previously submissive Polrand made the first move.

“Such cowardly traitors! May you receive divine punishment!”

“How dare you speak so much when you tried to eat us! What you’re receiving now is divine punishment!”

Not long ago, Polrand had only suffered at Burgai’s hands.

Thanks to that, they understood the fact that whatever they plundered became theirs.

Given that the Empire is also on our side, wouldn’t there be no problem gaining more from Burgai?

We’ve suffered, had to endure! Now we’re going to pay you back in kind!!

As the situation unfolded this way, it was the people of Burgai who suffered more.

At first, they were furious at the Empire and then cursed Polrand.

Why were they taking away their lives? Why were they tormenting them?

But after some time, the situation changed.

Now, their rage began to rise not against the Empire or Polrand but upwards.

“Didn’t we say Burgai was the best? But what the heck is going on?”

“We lost to the Empire, and now we’ve been defeated by Polrand? Is this even logical?”

“Life is getting harder. And yet, they’re asking us for more taxes and to enlist in the army?”

Polrand has aligned with the Empire and is flaunting their power.

What’s stopping us from doing the same? We can’t keep living like this.

There’s no way they expect my children and grandchildren to go on like this!

This was not just a forceful atmosphere imposed by Burgai’s nobles.

It was a conclusion that the Kingdom people themselves thought through and derived.

And as the situation unfolded, two groups naturally began to move.

“One must convey this news.”

One was the Empire’s special service that had secretly infiltrated Burgai after the war, collecting information.

“Good. Given this atmosphere, we can start discussing a pro-Empire faction now.”

The other group was the Burgai nobles who had been waiting for an opportunity to switch allegiances.

As the internal situation in Burgai began to twist peculiarly,

–Kurruurrg! Kuguuuk!!

Following the ominous dark clouds, an enormous downpour began to pour.

At first, they thought it was just passing weather, but the rain did not stop for ten days.

As if the gods were furious, torrents of rain continued to lash down from the sky.

“W-What the hell…”

“How could this happen….”

This was happening when the scars of war had yet to heal properly.

Such a disaster was indeed catastrophic.

Farms were submerged, and the houses where people lived were completely washed away.

Everything was destroyed and overturned to the extent that one couldn’t recall the original state.

When the rain finally weakened, the three kingdoms had no choice but to confront reality.

It was impossible to escape this disaster solely through their own strength.

They needed a robust entity overflowing with mercy, money, and resources.

 

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