Chapter 46
plla“L-lie? H-how would I dare lie to you, my lord…?! P-please, forgive me!”BED1VFd
Wr1hAt Lucian’s words, the village chief turned pale and prostrated himself on the ground.zGq
f7nAt first glance, he looked like someone terrified of being faulted.khRWR
xNRUJqHowever, Lucian continued speaking with a calm expression.h2sxP
xD1f5“It’s not unusual to evacuate only the children when war breaks out. Leaving one’s home is not easy, but at the very least, people try to save the children just in case.”kx6BuI
0zM“Y-yes! T-that’s exactly why we…!”tHhptQ
WVpV“But that only applies to those who have some leeway or relatives in other villages. Generally, people either abandon the village entirely, or everyone stays together. Do you know why?”Rwm8j
N496“Y-yes…?”sRcb2
123fnE“Because evacuating one’s family is an idea reserved for those who can afford it. In a backwater village like this, people are far too busy surviving day to day to think about evacuations.”FmR
4IcKThe village chief, who had been trembling, went completely rigid, as if he had even forgotten that he was supposed to keep trembling.90NmLI
XOby9Lucian once again swept his gaze over the villagers.BUFBB8Z
MtEcu“Also, distinguishing between children and adults is a classification that works in cities or wealthy towns. In the countryside, whether a child or not, you’re put to work immediately. If you’ve stopped wetting yourself, you’re treated as an adult, and the age for marriage is early as well.”O2IncWH
SxYnPV“…”kb4
S8pQG“So, once you’ve passed thirteen, it’s not an age for evacuation, but for being here, among the adults welcoming us. But here, no matter how I look…”MdOQ1Qz
6D6G0QALucian paused for a moment, then spat out the words with an icy smile.VBDkp
glS0tI“Everyone looks to be over twenty. How strange. Isn’t there a single thirteen-year-old groom? In a village like this, at that age you’re already someone dragged along to hunt if a wild beast appears.”BkB5T
EUminWhen Lucian finished speaking, silence spread everywhere.Cb3R
CNPXvVThe lords and knights, unfamiliar with rural life, had nothing to say and merely exchanged glances.8svHP
QhNVaMeanwhile, some soldiers who came from remote villages nodded, thinking it made sense.sLTdmVo
0yWkQEveryone fell silent, waiting for the village chief’s response.R9o47Y
9ks3Ng“Hehe.”dXBo
mJtbi6Instead of an answer, an empty laugh escaped from the chief’s lips.akMzTI
N2jAt the same time, his eyes, which until then had looked naive, sharpened and filled with murderous intent.j10jCNH
wGBFshhk!Rk96D5
s94c“Gugh!”LTc0c
OvyvIn an instant, a flash shone and the chief was flung backward.IRemIr
aCrLFqFBlood gushed violently from his severed arm.pcJDe2
RuZ55yHe had charged at Lucian with a dagger, but Raymond had cut him down.BEbi
rKHN3Raymond shook the blood from his sword and looked up in fury.syGmQv
Eh8FI“You filthy trash, how dare you!”qRyKTOD
E9J0“Kill them!”0T10Yl3
jhVcEJiThe chief—no, the assassin disguised as the chief—shouted through clenched teeth.fijS3
7kRCThe moment he gave the order, the innocent-looking villagers simultaneously drew daggers and rushed to attack.iCvJXDn
QPF9gFaced with the sudden change, the allied army was startled, but quickly reacted with cold precision.r0CY
udXIC0“Enemies! Everyone, prepare your spears! Attack together!”9QSkM
9d1VQ“Smash them with the shields! Once they fall, finish them!”z3OEa
pyYThe assassins flailed chaotically, but they failed to inflict any significant damage and fell one by one.cea
BatFThe army had not yet rested and maintained perfect formation.GRXj
MmGZMoreover, they were all elite professional soldiers; mere assassins stood no chance.bsnPB7
aB1Xp2WFshhk!YusdXq
oAKt“Guh!”bPp
GvIZYKIFive spears pierced the body of the last remaining assassin, excluding the chief.CdQH
augSXAThe body trembled for a moment before collapsing lifelessly.xEmDr
X7vcRLFWhen all the assassins had been eliminated, the one-armed chief smiled with a demonic face.he8Y8ei
flm7O“Puhuhuh. I never imagined that it wouldn’t be a battle-hardened veteran, but a brat like this who would see through me.”wDRV
81JdxM“You’re laughing? Do you even know what you’ve just done?”VWPztH
CMdy“Of course I do. The breaking of that old, moldy Grand Accord. Isn’t it truly a historic moment?”ftGz7Lc
8XB“You damned lunatics!”jtVxg
aNUJurgen let out a curse without realizing it.WnX
GIUH4They truly understood what it meant to break the Grand Accord, and yet they still did this? It was absurd, but the chief’s face looked strangely relieved.ptCFWf
qCY“Yes, that glorious Grand Accord. A pact to slap and kick instead of cutting throats or stabbing bellies. It was disgusting, but it has finally disappeared.”NTXldE
AM4RLF5“Are you serious? The ones who benefited most from the Grand Accord were you!”VZ5
yUnMbf“No! It was a law made for you!”MXziOL
lE2zWpThe chief shouted, glaring straight at Jurgen.rtWVgqR
2eWSuch was his fervor that even the other lords shuddered.vB3
sIE“Because of the Grand Accord, we never drew swords! We always had to use our fists to adapt to you, and receive one-sided beatings from an Empire several times larger. Do you know what it’s like to live being trampled and kicked without dying?”lZo00ag
g3Y2x7LFshhk!M1op
FCaGA jet of blood burst from the open wound of his severed arm.Hws
VbIBHe had tightly clenched the hand trying to stop the bleeding.VWFORk
Lj11TVYet, as if he felt no pain, the chief shouted even louder.YmkhGW
tbRAs4w“Just for being a vassal state, everything in Kreppelt was treated as inferior to the Empire! Goods, people, even nobles and the king! A beggar of the Empire looks down on a peasant of Kreppelt, and a mere baron despises a marquis just for being from a subordinate state. Under that oppression, we didn’t even dare to squirm!”Eeu5vC
nPjMtEkKreppelt, with its flat territory and temperate climate, almost completely lacked geographical advantages for war.XrOA8V6
4DHvzFighting the Empire while respecting the Grand Accord was practically impossible.HpAgqlD
8FN8But they also couldn’t resort to dirty methods just to win once.FJ51
OmCwsxEven if it worked once or twice, the Empire would return again and again until Kreppelt was annihilated.VRuOnDD
xxg“Endless years of humiliation and disgrace… we endured and endured. Without pulling out the dagger lodged in our chests, only sharpening it in silence. But no longer.”IFLQ
pJf5With a laugh filled with madness, the chief fixed his gaze on the First Prince.uZFji
boT0hKFaced with those bloodthirsty eyes, the First Prince instinctively took a step back.mLxK
LDTnc8“One victory is enough. It’s enough to prove that the Empire is no longer what it was. Your karma has piled up to its limit, and there are many who wish for your fall. If they still restrain themselves, it’s only because they lack certainty.”4YZrsq
9k0ho“…Is that why you broke the Grand Accord? Are you going to burn Kreppelt just to obtain a single victory?”t18n
kBGtUWa“Who knows. I wonder if, after this war, you’ll still have the leeway for that. No matter how large the hand, a human cannot cover the sky.”FPlq
z3Z5nOfAfter speaking, the chief stopped laughing and pulled another dagger from his clothes. Raymond immediately stepped in front of Lucian, but the dagger went toward the chief’s own neck.xvsy
XP8Ij“Struggle on. Your hell begins now.”5RHH5a
6WvFshhk!lSCWiA
GMpAt the same time as the dagger slid across, blood spurted from the slashed neck.zrDlt0
2uCtWith a satisfied smile, the chief plunged his face into the pool of blood he himself had created.ZrViZs
rZIU4“…”yqGfN
SRmwH7T“…”jIA
O7LRbcEven though everything was over, no one could move for a long while.pSnP
1rkjNXgEveryone felt that, in that instant, an enormous invisible barrier had completely collapsed.Og0Hqiu
OeXhuThe heavy silence was finally broken by Lucian.8tz
vP7Q“For now, let’s check the water first.”0PcV
TYYgR“…Let’s do that.”kzgBQB3
e9IfDMarquis Bernhardt nodded gravely.GwdkB5
lANZLThere was no longer anyone who mocked Lucian’s concerns.FJanDn
O4N4B0k***X6ryAS
DGvgTe2The coalition immediately called for military doctors to check whether the well had been contaminated.yjpOfe
eDwAt first glance, it seemed to be in good condition, but they couldn’t take any risks.QRG
ykXxAyAnd, as if it had been foreseen, not long after, the doctor entered the tent with a hardened expression to report.np5P7FZ
74X0Y5“We have confirmed that the well water is mixed with poison. It’s not a lethal toxin, but if ingested, it causes, after two or three days, severe abdominal pain and vomiting.”Vjyu
kLPrawB“So, it doesn’t kill you if you drink it?” someone asked.Tphx9NW
Xkqn1pG“Not directly. However, it causes severe dehydration for about two weeks, so if the person doesn’t receive care and is left unattended for too long, they could die. And, more importantly…”1bnph7
EnzLLo5The doctor paused, hesitating. He didn’t seem sure whether to say what came next. When he didn’t get a response, the first prince burst out with a furious shout.TsZMxC
JUHfam“Speak already! Even if it’s not lethal, what else happens?”FahWUvZ
YlpPdrl“…It’s a poison typically used to incapacitate people without killing them—not to kill outright. Generally, it’s not used with good intentions. It’s employed when someone wants to keep the victim alive to do something else with them.”tGr1
OzY0YTAfter those words, everyone fell silent. The resentful scream of the assassin who had posed as the village chief echoed once again in their minds.wt6
dKPPeople with such deep hatred for the Empire—what would they have done if they had captured the nobles and soldiers alive? Just imagining it made the skin crawl.rST6U
7boBaxR“Can it be detoxified?”iHeX
YNL0“It’s possible, but it requires several medicinal herbs.”EvlTb
ArlN6“In the middle of a war, that’s complicated. Understood.”EFkLIl
qP9egAfter concluding his report, the doctor bowed and left the tent.LLieh
Ztti3The first prince, pale as a corpse and far from the confidence he had shown earlier, looked at the feudal lords and spoke.UTSYahu
GXsKnml“So what do we do now?”PphmXrE
46G“…”DWvsu7s
MabGdEveryone lowered their heads in silence.4Taf
GxJz3AThe assumption that the enemy would respect the Grand Accord had completely collapsed.wBFyCv
7JxvYWhat could they do now?2uG
4hLpUIt was the first time in hundreds of years something like this had happened; even the most experienced knights were bewildered.LmWFR
48M‘If the enemy doesn’t respect the Grand Accord, their options multiply. In contrast, we have no preparation.’zuKJt
rrmxYf‘Just as Duke Lucian said, by merely poisoning the water sources, we can no longer advance. Where are we going to get water from?’UaL
UWM‘And even if we solve the water problem, they’ll harass us with methods unseen in centuries. What are we supposed to do?’UOGf2
fMUTa3DAs the silence dragged on, the first prince looked at the marquis with eyes full of anxiety.kIQJ0zs
mERWlQvSince he had proposed the rapid advance strategy, the prince still hoped he might have some kind of backup plan.U0JkQme
aAvZ3“Marquis, is there really no other method? You proposed the original plan, so you must’ve had a contingency in case things went wrong.”4Smsg
LbP“I’m sorry… This is new to me as well…”ZmU
YNjeqEMarquis Bernhardt Roglan avoided the first prince’s gaze and left the sentence hanging.ZOhBB
JPBxLDGTo be honest, there was a method, but it wasn’t something he could say aloud.hfH0ua
FBtWhen even the marquis—his last hope—fell silent, the first prince shut his eyes tightly.mDWDtlR
iXm74“…Duke Lucian, is there no solution?”hKyOZDP
aG8t3Though his tone was desperate, the prince’s body trembled with humiliation.hoeyYR
Aij2He seemed unable to bear having to yield to someone he had just insulted.Wl0ZD
k5QSLucian observed him for a moment, then nodded.aOhEI
4kQ“There is one option.”6BBTRN
JsM“There’s an option!?”kMn
wshuwXThe first prince shouted, suddenly standing up.WIIFy7n
nxcIf there really was a way to overcome this situation, he was willing to accept any condition.gfT4pbF
xUrSf7GHowever, Lucian’s proposal shattered his hopes in an instant.RbIfARF
P5cG“Let’s return to the Empire first and reorganize the army. Since the enemy has broken the Grand Accord, we must prepare forces and countermeasures accordingly, then come back to suppress the rebellion.”xVIAj
tjm0VjB“…Are you mocking me? Retreating without even fighting? My name will become a joke!”cmYf
5lCs3zo“But it’s the option with the fewest losses. It’s better to retreat on our own terms than fight at a disadvantage, lose, and be forced to flee.”yIMU6
zxNu3“Don’t talk about defeat like a coward when we haven’t even fought yet! We haven’t lost!”qut6
dKwqvD“We haven’t lost, but we’re forced to fight in a disadvantageous situation. Your Highness, with all due respect, there is no miracle strategy that can suddenly reverse everything.”4nX
57945nLucian spoke firmly, looking at the first prince, who insisted like a spoiled child.aJBp
JsjtLZ“If we fall into the enemy’s trap, we’ll always be fighting at a disadvantage, and if we lose the initiative, we’ll be dragged along by their moves. That’s how it works, and there’s no other way. Countermeasures are prepared in advance precisely to avoid reaching this point.”SrV5x7Y
V3GOR“So you’re saying we’re in this situation because I wasn’t prepared? That since the outcome is the worst possible, we should just run away?”Vm7yXSq
aUJVQn0“Yes. The coalition’s preparation was lacking, and from now on the enemy will manipulate us at will. The only way out is to retreat, flip the board, and start over. Please make the decision while the losses are still manageable.”U3mrlMI
6nq9ii1The marquis nearly nodded unconsciously.vJS2
VYjZ1gEvery word was correct.CnyHk
veyRetreating now would mean huge losses—the cost of troop mobilization, the Empire’s prestige, the reputation of the first prince, and of the nobles gathered here.Oatyp
eJDQq‘But there’s no other choice. If you refuse to cut off a gangrenous finger, you’ll end up losing the arm.’QRLf
HPu0There are moments when, even if it feels like gouging out your own eyes, you must make a decision.UKyJy
33CMjLucian’s judgment wasn’t just correct—it was practically the only way out.zMVKn
boJ0However, the first prince’s face twisted with rage, and he shouted.YMNd2A
G5TfUzZ“No, I can’t do that! Running without fighting is unthinkable! At the very least, I’ll return after achieving a victory! If the enemy scares you so much, stay behind and rest in the rear!”jpNY4X3
1SsklPs“Your Highness!”oOa
FPO3“First Prince!”5cEbW
4Dn“Silence! It’s already decided, so I won’t hear another word!”Sr9
RB1BoZThe first prince stormed out of the tent, slamming the flap behind him, leaving the nobles behind to stare at each other with pale faces.YC0W7iN
kK2In such an uncertain situation, pulling a thousand elite soldiers from the front—wouldn’t that mean House Valdeck would preserve its forces while the others wore themselves out?imTATq
ypadwMMarquis Bernhardt Roglan’s face turned so pale he looked ready to faint.O9qMf
lDVU3P‘This is bad.’4Nlv
9vHbrNThe vanguard is where it’s easiest to earn military merit, but also where you take the first blow when things go south.CrsdNj
eF6RvAnd now, they were leaving the vanguard solely to House Roglan, with House Valdeck pulling back? If anything went wrong, only House Roglan would be annihilated.9Js
C3eUCq“T-this… no, Duke Lucian.”vJ79
rm7GzThe marquis quickly changed his tone and addressed Lucian with respect.1s4r
X5l8Pride no longer mattered—the only thing that mattered was convincing Lucian to stay in the vanguard.4z4590x
5Lnsys“I’ll speak to the first prince. Let’s go together, I’m sure he’ll change his mind. There’s no need to bear this disgrace. It makes no sense for House Valdeck to retreat from the vanguard…”Gtv
Vz2UD“No, that won’t be necessary. I’m fine with this.”V4vBE
ss2Lucian shook his head before the marquis could finish speaking.9TK
mb7Then he smiled with a face so calm it didn’t show even a trace of resentment.CCFHk
i3U“How could I disobey the commander-in-chief’s orders? I’ll remain in the rear and reflect, so please go forth and win glory alongside His Highness. I’ll await news of your victory.”sZH
bDl4“…”rB1BC1
m4ZFlwdSeeing Lucian’s smile, Marquis Bernhardt Roglan’s mind went completely blank.LTs8q
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