“Hurry up and move! Hurry! There’s no time!”
“The command center retreats first. Grab only the classified documents, and burn the rest!”
“Only take what we can carry. The rest will be incinerated.”
“Find it wasteful? Sure, it might be! But you’ve still got to do it! We can’t let the Empire bastards get their hands on our dear Deo people’s hard-earned stuff, now can we?!”
Meanwhile, reports came in that the enemy had launched a powerful attack from the flank.
We sent reinforcements immediately to strengthen the defenses there, but it likely won’t hold for long.
Before that happens, we need to quickly withdraw whatever troops we can salvage.
The issue right now is the sudden appearance of the enemy’s mobile units just the other day.
[broadcast from rear defense points: no signs of enemy infiltration]
[we’ve increased the number of couriers, but they’re consistently being intercepted]
[magic communication stations have been fortified, but many have already been destroyed]
[contact has been lost with the small patrols guarding various crossroads]
These bastards have been ravaging our rear lines systematically, but they carefully control the intensity.
They’re leaving Dedolant’s defense points untouched, simply cutting off couriers and magic communications.
And they keep prodding at the crossroads our forces must pass through, effectively warning us—”Hey, maybe you’ve got a major ambush here!”
Of course, armies can’t just run willy-nilly through the wilderness. They have to stick to established routes. That’s the best way to preserve their strength.
Now and then, history offers examples of some foolhardy general doing something crazy and unexpected, but those stories are precisely why they’re recorded in history—they were insane and risky maneuvers.
So naturally, Dedolant’s army also has its set routes to follow. There might be other ways to travel, but any deviation would weaken the force and supplies.
Given they’re a proper army, there’s only so much they can do except fall back on the roads where their resources and reinforcements can be most effectively moved.
Right now, the enemy behind our lines might be lurking along these same roads.
They haven’t occupied them outright, but they’re effectively threatening—”If you try to hold on to everything at once, bad things might happen. Better to retreat orderly.”
“Should we contact the rear defense points and have them guard the crossroads?”
This suggestion, made at Dedolant’s command center, wasn’t completely unreasonable.
But others quickly shot it down, noting the impracticality. After all, reinforcing the crossroads means pulling troops from the defense points. If they’re left empty, there’s no guarantee the enemy won’t decide to assault them.
It all boils down to one problem: insufficient manpower.
If we’d had the resources, we could have stationed more reserve forces in the rear. But with troops already dispatched to the north, south, Ross Tannika, and Dugal, it was impossible to secure every single defense point and crossroad.
“Let’s pull out the elite units first while the flank holds up. They can cover the retreat.”
“On the contrary, shouldn’t we let them buy time while we evacuate the others first?”
“Perhaps let’s leave the rear defense to the mercenary units recruited from Dugal. They’re not Dedolant’s best soldiers.”
“Will they really listen?”
“They will. They’ve already prepared themselves, and most importantly, Dugal is still under Dedolant’s control. For the sake of their homeland and families, they wouldn’t openly defy the orders.”
While the frontline holds, and before the rear gets any worse, Dedolant’s key personnel and core troops must evacuate.
With the decision made, they swiftly assessed the status of each unit and established a retreat order.
First to withdraw would be those who led the initial attack on Setongrad. These soldiers are always at the forefront due to their bravery and skill. Dedolant can’t afford to lose them.
Next are the commander’s escort details and the staff assisting them. Also elite troops with extensive combat experience. Many from noble families of the Deo ethnic group—returning them safely is a top priority for the nation’s future.
Afterward, if at all possible, they aim to pull out the rest of the army. The average soldiers of Dedolant, the volunteers who came from Artria, and the soldiers from Dugal.
“Then, Your Highness, the Prince, we should begin the retreat immediately. Your Highness, you should move…”
“I will observe the situation a bit longer and then move.”
“Your Highness!”
“What madness is this?! No one else, but the Prince must retreat immediately!”
The Dedolant command personnel panicked, trying to persuade the prince.
But Prince Georg merely went outside the tent and looked over the encampment instead of responding.
“If I leave now, what will they think? That I pushed them off into danger all this time and now run away as soon as things get tough? Surely they’d point fingers at me.”
“Your Highness…”
“Your Highness!”
The prince’s words caused the command staff to shake their heads.
There’s absolutely no way our proud Dedolant soldiers would think that! They’d likely insist on pushing you back for your own safety. Because you, Your Highness, are the one destined to guide the Deo people to the very end!
“Please, Your Highness!”
“Fine. I will move with the guards then. But who should stay behind?”
At this question, the command center fell silent.
Everyone glanced around nervously, trying to figure out which unfortunate soul would be tasked to hold the position.
Unfortunately, someone has to stay behind to hold the line against the Imperial Army advancing from the rear and resist on the flanks while units prepare for an orderly evacuation.
The job requires someone of more than average ability. But there’s also a real chance of d*ath or capture.
It’s the kind of assignment that no one would willingly volunteer for or be eager to nominate another for.
“Someone who can effectively lead troops even if surrounded.”
“Someone with the resolve to fight until the end rather than surrender.”
“And lastly, someone whose loss wouldn’t be catastrophic to the army.”
For these reasons, the command staff nervously eye each other.
Whoever it is will be stuck in a hopeless position. They’d likely rather live to fight another day and have better chances of dying honorably.
“Now what, Your Highness?”
Only now did Prince Georg realize his hands were trembling.
He had underestimated the crushing weight of responsibility. The growing sense of anxiety and fear—losing—had all started since Kael’s appearance.
Everything had been going smoothly until now. But suddenly, everything went sideways, as if Kael had some divine favor!
“—No, no. It’s not over yet.”
With bl**d on his lips from biting them, the prince finally spoke.
“Where is General Paelus?”
“I’m here, Your Highness.”
“You take charge of holding this position for as long as possible. Can you do it?”
“I’ll give it my best.”
Some of the nearby command staff voiced their concerns.
“Perhaps we should assign one more person to assist General Paelus?”
“That’s right. We’ll need someone to help manage the nearly 40,000 troops remaining.”
“…”
It’s less about Paelus’s ability and more about his loyalty—they doubted it.
He wasn’t someone who showed particular devotion to Prince Georg. Rather, he served Dedolant as its commander.
“Let Leonite assist with Paelus, Your Highness.”
“Agreed. Leonite will surely help boost morale and maintain discipline among the troops alongside Paelus.”
For a moment, Prince Georg hesitated. From what he knew, their personalities and methods didn’t mesh well.
But as others suggested, now was the time for an abundance of caution—any hint of surrender could spell disaster.
Paelus would handle the combat strategy while Leonite focused on motivating the soldiers and enforcing military discipline.
With the decision made, the Dedolant command staff bowed their heads.
“And who’s currently covering our flank?”
“Styner.”
“Styner. Yes. Send him this message: He must hold the flank at all costs, by any means necessary. It’s the top priority, above everything.”
*
At that moment, the Eastern Division of the Imperial Legion was on the move under Kael’s orders.
They spent the winter hunkered down, preparing meticulously, until they could unleash an explosive force.
Now was the time to unleash everything in one massive attack.
And leading them was a warrior that everyone acknowledged as unmatched.
“To the 7th Legion!”
A few years ago, she had been no more than a girl, not even a knight. Yet, she had single-handedly faced the Burhai army in an epic duel.
Now that same Kaya stood before the 7th Legion, stirring memories and igniting their fighting spirit.
“Today, this very day, we will write a new chapter in history! Everything is perfect, everything is ripe! Nothing from Dedolant can stop us!”
—OOOOH!!
The soldiers roared in response.
They were the ones who witnessed Kaya’s initial feats. A knight so formidable that even the proud Demon Race bowed to her.
How could they fear anything with such a legend marching beside them?
“Let’s go, tear them down, push them back! From East to West, let the name of the 7th Legion echo forever!”
“WAAHHH!!!”
“7th Legion! 7th Legion!!!”
From the lowest rankers to the Legion Commander, they all roared for the glory of their unit.
The Imperial Legion advances. With an unstoppable knight leading them forward.
The Imperial Legion doesn’t retreat. With the mastermind strategist following behind them.
“Wow! Big brother really is amazing!”
Of course, Kaya’s stirring speech? Totally prepared in advance by Kael.
