Before the war between the Empire and Dedolant broke out, Dugal was already half-collapsed.
They had lost nearly half their territory, and shortly afterward, their king fell as well.
By a hair’s breadth, the royal family managed to escape, but the nation’s pride was shattered into pieces.
For those who once boasted of being a powerhouse in the western part of the continent, it was an unbearably tragic reality.
And yet, despite all this—despite the royal family fleeing into exile and countless nobles surrendering—many of the people of Dugal stubbornly resisted Dedolant’s rule.
Even without their king or their nobility, the land was still Dugal to them. And it wasn’t a place they could simply hand over to Dedolant.
“Attack! Smash those d*mn invaders to bits!”
“Who the hell do you think you are, crawling this far? You must be desperate for d*ath!”
“Just because some fancy nobles surrendered, does that mean Dugal’s bowed its knee? Not a chance!”
In every nation, the further you go from the center, the weaker the central authority becomes. And that was already true of Dugal even before Dedolant’s occupation. So, how much worse must it be now with the chaos of Dedolant’s rule?
Today, yet again, Dedolant’s forces attempting to capture a small region of Dugal suffered a humiliating defeat.
They lacked local knowledge, and they weren’t exactly in overwhelming numbers anyway. Their main forces were focused on the front with the Empire, busy in Artria and Benito, with most of their capable fighters stationed in the Ross Tannika front.
Which left merely guard-level troops to manage the remaining Dugal lands—hardly enough to handle the fierce resistance in their own territory.
“Come on, you bastards! Bring it on!”
“Waaaah! For Dugal! For Dugal!!”
Ordinarily, regular troops would’ve been sent immediately to deal with such a minor group of insurgents. But Dedolant simply didn’t have the luxury right now.
Especially since they were dealing with a remote region—far away from their centers of control, underdeveloped, and extremely neglected. Areas where Dedolant was more content to wait for a “natural” surrender rather than go to the trouble of full occupation.
Which is why it wasn’t surprising that they hadn’t sent a proper expeditionary force…though this decision would come back to bite them later.
Though many of the nobles had surrendered, not all of them had bowed to Dedolant. A small, stubborn group remained loyal to the Dugal royal family, and they continued to fight fiercely. These nobles had also begun aiding the remote regions, turning them into bases of resistance.
Dedolant, realizing the situation but still unable to spare troops, tried to send reinforcements. But recently, the resistance forces had been alarmingly well-armed—almost comparable to Dedolant’s own reserve forces. Even the hastily dispatched troops were continuously routed.
“So, when are the reinforcements from Ross Tannika supposed to arrive?”
“According to the cipher message, they’re crossing the border this afternoon.”
“Lately, we’ve been involved in so many battles, and our weapons are pretty beat up. It’d be great if they could bring some good stuff to resupply us.”
Of course, this was all thanks to Ross Tannika’s generous support. Since Empire supplies started coming through, the flow of resources had more than doubled.
Because of that, the Dugal resistance forces were eagerly counting down the days until Ross Tannika sent more aid.
“But, there was something odd in the cipher message.”
“Is there some kind of issue?”
“Well, it’s not that. There’s mention of a white owl arriving along with the supplies.”
The mention of a “white owl” prompted a grimace from all the resistance leaders.
In cipher terms, the white owl signified an important visitor, naturally leading them to think of high-ranking members of Ross Tannika’s government.
“Could Ross Tannika be trying to take command of our Dugal resistance forces now?”
“That can’t happen. We’re already doing everything they want, spilling so much bl**d, and now we’re supposed to take orders from their guys? No way.”
While they were grateful for the aid, they were well aware that Ross Tannika’s intentions weren’t completely altruistic. For Ross Tannika, the Dugal resistance was a valuable asset—forcing Dedolant to fight on yet another front.
And naturally, Ross Tannika didn’t care how many Dugal people died in the process. All they cared about was supplying weapons to keep the fight going day after day.
“What if they use this opportunity to subtly take control while pretending to help?”
“Ross Tannika isn’t exactly friendly, but they’re still better than Dedolant. But letting them walk in and take over our resistance like it’s their own backyard? That’s unacceptable.”
With these concerns weighing heavily on their minds, the resistance leaders waited for the arrival of the white owl later that afternoon, hoping anxiously that their fears wouldn’t be realized.
And then—before long—they were utterly shocked.
“Hello, everyone. It’s truly an honor to meet the mighty leaders of Dugal’s great resistance.”
“…WHAT?”
It wasn’t someone from Ross Tannika. It was a man from the Empire.
And when they heard the name, disbelief turned into outright shock.
“I am Kael Klauwitz, Chief of the Imperial Staff and acting Chief of Staff for Army Group One.”
“Kael Klauwitz? That can’t be right. You mean THAT Kael Klauwitz?”
“This can’t be happening. Why is HE here of all people?”
Leaders who had previously been struck speechless now stammered out questions in disbelief.
“And why in the world are you here?!”
“Ahahaha! Calm down, friends. Believe it or not, that’s exactly who I am—the infamous Kael Klauwitz himself.”
“If this is true… Emperor himself is keeping tabs on us? Not just Ross Tannika or our exiled king but directly from the Empire?”
“Indeed! And let me assure you, His Majesty the Emperor has personally expressed admiration for your heroic resistance.”
The resistance fighters had been resigned to the idea that their struggle might go unnoticed forever. Their noble families had surrendered to Dedolant. Their royal family was barely surviving in Ross Tannika. They fought on, expecting only a handful of comrades to remember their sacrifices—and perhaps even to be forgotten entirely.
But no, someone had noticed. And not just anyone: the distant Empire, the very ones battling Dedolant on a grand scale.
“Is this really happening?”
“The Empire treasures those who willingly take up arms in the name of justice. Haven’t we already helped the likes of Nobogorod, the Eastern Kingdoms, and the Southern Kingdoms? Aren’t we standing up together against the tyranny of Dedolant?”
For a moment, there were doubts. For a brief moment, the Resistance leaders feared being used. But in their hearts, they felt pride. The Empire acknowledged them. A great Empire that fights Dedolant—their shared enemy—was watching them and cheering them on.
Gathering their forces, the resistance leaders wasted no time announcing the Empire’s recognition. This was crucial to keep the fighting spirit alive.
“Did you hear? The Empire sent one of their top people!”
“I heard! Hard to believe, but it’s true. They must see real potential in us if someone so prominent is here.”
“Kael Klauwitz himself? The guy who’s been leading the Empire’s forces against Dedolant?!”
Curiosity, excitement, and an overwhelming sense of purpose ignited within them. What was the Empire’s true intention here? What did they want? And when the resistance finally gathered, Kael addressed them from a podium.
“Great children of Dugal! Sons and daughters who wield weapons instead of farm tools. You who rise for your parents, your homeland, and future generations, despite knowing that your efforts may go unappreciated!”
Kael spoke not of what the Empire expected in return, something unusual compared to Ross Tannika’s subtle coercion. His words seemed to be straight from the heart, as if he too was a Dugal native.
“Dugal has suffered. It has been violated by the vile invaders and betrayed by those who knelt before them. Horrific destruction has left it barely recognizable!”
But Kael didn’t stop there. He fueled their anger, reminding them of betrayals and injustices, stoking the flames of passion within.
“But there is hope yet. From afar, the Empire fights alongside you. And though Dedolant may seem mighty, victory will come, for such is the promise of the divine!”
If the words had come from the resistance leaders themselves, it might’ve seemed like empty bravado, but this was Kael Klauwitz—a man who had never lost, a man whose mere presence struck fear into Dedolant’s heart. Belief surged forward, turning into absolute conviction: they will triumph.
“URRRRAAAHHH!”
“We will take back what’s ours! Our land, our dignity, and our glorious future!”
Kael sealed the deal with his final rallying cry.
“When the time comes, we shall reclaim what is rightfully ours! Our homeland, our heritage!”
Days later, Dedolant’s southern forces fragmented once again, this time due to a massive uprising in Dugal’s southern territories.
—
“…I was scared.”
Truly, utterly terrified. What if the resistance had captured him and handed him over to Dedolant as a war prize? Even with the highest levels of security, the risk was real.
But it had to be done. For the Empire to win, both Ross Tannika and the Dugal resistance had to believe in the Empire’s sincerity, fighting until the end. They couldn’t afford to lose faith, not now.
“If they stay committed after all this effort, then we’ll bury Dedolant along with them!”
