Chapter 18

As Leon succeeded in recruiting Belius with his outstanding eloquence, something like an operations room was set up in his office at Modera Fortress.

To give it a rough name, it could be called a joint investigation headquarters where the Imperial Central Army and the retired Snow Elf soldiers worked together.

Even though one side was not an official unit.

Anyone could see that a hastily formed organization would not run well.

So they clearly divided the work.

While Belius convened his officers to prepare for battle, Leon called in the retired Snow Elf soldiers and had them search for Isak's forces, which had not yet appeared.

Although they had recruited Belius, as long as they hadn't annihilated Isak's forces, it wasn't over yet.

Before long, one of the retired Snow Elf soldiers who had gone out on reconnaissance returned.

He was out of breath from running so fast.

“Did you find them? How close has the enemy force approached?”

“No. I didn't find anything like that.”

“You didn't?”

Leon had expected a report that they had found Isak's forces.

But what the scout had found was something completely different.

“Instead, I found a campsite where a large number of people had stayed. It was recent, and the tracks were heading towards the Imperial Capital.”

“The scale?”

“It looked to be at least in the thousands. Judging from the remaining tracks, they left the campsite last night.”

That meant only one thing.

Realizing that fact, Leon couldn't help but scream.

“Duke Isak's forces have already passed through the fortress?!”

***

Really?

Isak's forces have really passed through the fortress already?

We were beaten before we could even do anything?

Is it already too late?

My mind went completely blank.

Fragments of thought flashed through my head like lightning.

I reflexively looked at Belius.

Controlling passage is the main duty of Modera Fortress.

And the person in charge is Belius.

If that many people passed through, there's no way Belius wouldn't know.

If so, I had no choice but to suspect the possibility that Belius had already colluded with or betrayed us to the enemy.

It was the moment my thoughts reached that point.

“Freeze! Nobody move!”

“……?”

Ryuba shouted, placing his hand on the hilt of his sword.

His words about having a lot of experience in these matters weren't a joke.

As soon as he felt something was wrong, he immediately took action.

And the meaning of that action was more certain than anything.

The faces of the fortress officers turned pale from the pressure emanating from the Snow Elf warrior.

“Gasp.”

“Wait a moment.”

The Emperor's Royal Guard, from the captain to the lowest rank, were renowned human weapons.

There was no way they would dare to face them.

However, they couldn't just do nothing in a situation where a sword fight could break out at any moment, so the officers also eventually put their hands on the swords at their waists.

During the standoff, Ryuba whispered.

“Hey, Leon. If it comes to it, I'll get you out of the fortress, so don't worry.”

Theo, who had drawn his weapon a beat later, also said.

“Yes, do not worry. I will save Your Highness even if it costs me my life.”

So there was only one thing I could say.

“That's so movingly grateful. But don't move rashly.”

“Right, none of you move recklessly! I'll cut down the first one who moves!”

“Ryuba, I was talking to you.”

“Huh?”

I ignored Ryuba, who made a stupid sound, and looked around.

The atmosphere was grim, as if it could turn into a bloodbath at any moment.

But it seemed we were at a disadvantage.

“What about the other retired Snow Elf soldiers?”

“They haven't returned yet. They're probably outside the fortress.”

“That's a relief they're less involved.”

“Ah, I told you not to worry. You don't think I can't beat one old geezer?”

“That old geezer is listening right now.”

“Sharp ears, really.”

Ryuba spoke confidently, but my thoughts were different.

It was hopeless to defeat Belius and the officers gathered here, but even if that were possible....

If a fight started, all the fortress garrison troops outside would swarm in.

If that happened, not a single one of us would get out alive.

So fighting here was the worst choice.

Calculations are done.

“Commander Belius.”

I called Belius and looked at him.

Belius also had a surprised expression.

If that's really acting, then he either genuinely didn't know or he's putting on a devilish performance, one of the two.

And I didn't think Belius had betrayed us.

For one, the Descendant of a Demon trait had activated, and the form he revealed was also genuine.

But I needed to hear what had happened.

“Can you explain what is going on right now?”

“I swear to the one in heaven, no, I swear on the pension I'm supposed to receive, I have never let Duke Isak's forces pass.”

“What on earth is with the pension..., no, please stop the side explanations. Then what are those tracks?”

“It must be the tracks left by a merchant caravan that passed the fortress recently. It was definitely yesterday.”

“A merchant caravan?”

“Yes. It was a large caravan, just as that friend said. That campsite must be the tracks of where they stayed. I never saw Duke Isak's forces.”

As soon as I heard that, I realized what was going on.

It was the period of the Emperor's funeral.

There's no way Belius would have let such a large-scale army pass when the defense of the Imperial Capital had to be strict.

But Belius did not see a large-scale army.

Then there is only one answer.

“You fool! That's it!”

“What?”

“What better way to hide and move a large number of troops than to disguise them as a merchant caravan? They were Duke Isak's disguised forces.”

A merchant caravan's journey basically includes a large number of people and animals.

There are the servants and porters employed by the merchants, and even escorts to fend off bandits.

In other words, it's a suitable way to transport troops and weapons without arousing suspicion.

The wagons the caravan was transporting must have been filled with weapons.

Even if not, there are many ways to smuggle in weapons.

If it comes down to it, they could disassemble the weapons and bring them in separately, or even produce them directly in the Imperial Capital.

It's a clear act of treason, but what does that matter when you're already starting a rebellion?

The law doesn't actually restrain people.

Everything is done by people who are moved by the system.

Belius had a look of disbelief.

“But, how can you be so sure?”

“Did you check all the contents? No, right? Of course, you didn't. There must have been too many. You probably did a cursory inspection like usual. Isn't that right?”

Instead of answering, Belius turned to his side.

An officer with a pale face was there.

It was the most certain answer of all.

─ Congratulations. You've been selected as Modera Fortress' unluckiest person of the month.

I forcibly suppressed the words that were about to come out.

It's not that I couldn't understand his negligence.

If there are many wagons, it's a pain for the inspectors too.

When would they have the time to open and check each one when it could take all day?

Besides, who would have thought that a great family would start a rebellion?

But it was a bad time to be negligent.

Because a real rebellion was about to happen!

Instead of curses, I barely managed to say what I originally intended.

“If they left the campsite last night, then Isak's army must have already infiltrated the Imperial Capital by now.”

***

“……”

“……”

A silence as if a typhoon had swept through filled the room.

It had already happened.

Everyone lowered their hands from their weapons with dumbfounded faces.

Then, Belius barely broke the silence.

“Leon, now that things have come to this, shouldn't we immediately inform Lord Zeta in the Imperial Capital and suppress the traitors?”

“One moment, please. Give me time to think.”

“In matters like this, every minute and every second is precious.”

“I said, one moment, please wait.”

At my glance, Belius shut his mouth.

I fell into thought for a moment.

Damn it!

My mouth tastes bitter.

I feel completely played.

To think Isak would move so thoroughly.

Right, you have a plan.

That very plan is the problem.

Now that things have progressed this far, it's impossible to drag Isak to the negotiating table and conclude with ‘let's pretend nothing happened.’

Isak has completely crossed the line.

I could feel his will to burn down the Imperial Capital no matter what.

Besides, the plan I had prepared was also ruined.

Originally, I was thinking of buying as much time as possible by waging a guerilla war centered on Modera Fortress.

But since the enemy had already passed the fortress, that plan was useless.

So, what should I do now?

I can't just suppress them as Belius said.

Although we absurdly allowed the intrusion, the initiative is still with me.

I know that Isak will start a rebellion, but Isak doesn't know that I'm moving secretly.

However, once Isak starts to move, the initiative will be taken away.

The attacker will turn into the defender.

Because I'm in the position of having to protect the Imperial Capital.

Is there any good way?

Please think of something, my brain.

If I've been carrying you around, feeding you, and putting you to sleep all this time, you should be worth your price, right?

Then, as if in response to my prayer, something flashed through my mind.

It was a surprisingly good method.

“Let's turn the enemy's plan against them.”

“Turn it against them?”

“Provoking the enemy will only increase the damage to the Imperial Capital. It would be better to gather them in one place and deal with them to minimize the damage and make suppression easier.”

“But how do you know how Isak will move?”

“I don't know that either. But.”

I looked back at Belius with a determined face.

“I know the places Isak would target. In the end, it would be the Imperial Palace and the Senate.”

“Ah.”

I'm not from the generation that directly experienced Korea's dynamic modern and contemporary history.

But I know that the scars created by that era penetrate the world.

I know that every sentence in the history textbook is soaked with the blood of someone I don't know.

Because someone recorded what happened in that era.

I learned that history.

In other words,

It means it's somewhat possible to deduce how the rebels will act, to infer Isak's plan.

“As it happens, the Emperor's will is about to be announced at the Senate. The key figures of the imperial government will gather there, so Isak will not miss that opportunity.”

When starting a rebellion, it is basic knowledge for the rebels to strike major government facilities and arrest key figures.

In this era, that target would naturally be the emperor.

Unfortunately, since the emperor is now dead, Isak's targets can only be those of lower priority.

Belius agreed with my words.

“You are right. But will Isak move like that?”

“We have to guide him to do so as much as possible.”

“Is there a way?”

I pointed to one person.

It was the Count of Apollia, Nilion, who had been forgotten in everyone's memory.

“Hic.”

Nilion quickly closed his eyes and pretended to be unconscious, but it was too late.

I saw you secretly open your eyes and watch earlier.

“Ryuba.”

“Yes.”

Nilion desperately tried to pretend to be unconscious, but it was no use.

When Ryuba's large hand grabbed Nilion's head, he automatically shot his eyes open.

Just as He performed the miracle of making the blind see, Ryuba also made the sinner open his eyes, which could be said to be proof that Ryuba's faith had reached the heavens.

“Ouch ouch! Ouch ouch ouch! Wait a minute! Let's calm down and resolve this with a conversation! I'll do as you say!”

“You should never forget that very mindset.”

I moderately threatened Nilion and got a request for cooperation.

It was not forced at all.

Nilion voluntarily decided to switch sides.

This too is His will.

***

I discussed a few matters with Belius, and afterward, Belius immediately left the room leading his subordinates.

Only myself and the retired Snow Elf soldiers remained in the meeting room.

Everyone present was trustworthy, and so I revealed my honest feelings.

“This is really draining.”

“Are you alright, Your Highness?”

“Honestly, it would be a lie to say I'm alright. I'm dying.”

“You can't die.”

“It's just an expression....”

So much has happened in the past few days that I'm really tired.

Honestly, I just want to collapse and sleep.

I want to wake up to find that the situation has ended and just receive the results.

Why do I have to handle this situation, and why do I have to suffer like this here?

How well do I even know these people?

The answer is simple.

“It's all for the sake of survival.”

The answer is automatically derived from my heart.

I resisted the urge to rest and slapped both my cheeks hard to wake myself up.

Slap!

A rather loud sound echoed.

Gazes gathered from all around.

They must be thinking I've suddenly gone crazy.

It's true.

I feel like I'm going crazy.

But time is too precious to just be frustrated.

I spoke to the retired soldiers.

“Alright. Let's get moving too.”

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