The Secret Supply Depot has been completely torched by the Empire.
It’s not a total loss, but with two out of five depots obliterated, we’re looking at roughly half our supplies up in smoke.
The situation regarding Dedolant’s resources has been dire for quite some time now.
Originally, the war we anticipated was supposed to wrap up last year.
The plan was to negotiate a ceasefire with the Empire, rest for a few years, and rebuild our strength.
Later, when the Empire tries to reign us in again, we’d strike swiftly and knock them down.
If we manage to score a major victory over the Empire, the neighboring kingdoms to the north, south, and east would likely awaken and join in the fight.
This was the ideal future Dedolant’s command dreamed of.
Unfortunately, that future is no longer viable. It shattered long ago like a fragile vase.
Our army is shattered, and nearly half of our territory has been occupied by the Empire.
Worst of all, we’ve lost our king, leaving us in an absolutely dire situation.
“First things first, we need to address the food shortage.”
“Our frontline soldiers are starving. With morale already at rock bottom, if we can’t even provide them with proper meals, I guarantee they’ll start surrendering en masse, just like what happened in Benito.”
“Solve hunger? Excellent idea. Very practical. But how, exactly, do you propose we solve it? Our reserves are almost depleted, and the supply depots have been torched, leaving us with next to nothing.”
“We can’t rely on Atria or Benito for reinforcements anymore. Now, Dedolant must endure this tough time on its own.”
Soldiers have been recruited by stretching the enlistment age, barely managing to keep the lines staffed.
Equipment has been scrounged from every Dedolant warehouse and the occupied Dugal territories alike.
But food? That’s the big question. How can we feed the masses when most able-bodied workers are now part of the military?
Even if the remaining civilians work tirelessly to farm and produce, there’s simply no way they can meet current demands.
Given the circumstances, we have two options: We can call upon the entire kingdom to make sacrifices, while simultaneously plundering everything we possibly can from the occupied Dugal territories.
The kingdom’s populace must cut back. Instead of three meals a day, they’ll have to make do with two—or, more realistically—one.
This way, diverting the saved rations to the army will allow us to endure until next year.
As a bonus, if we strip Dugal of every last thing it has to offer, we’ll expand our reserves even further.
In truth, if Dedolant falters, there will inevitably be resistance. We can’t afford to waste resources on rebellions, so the solution is simple: make the residents prioritize farming over taking up arms.
Rather than focusing on reclaiming the kingdom, they’ll be motivated to work the fields to avoid starving.
“Very well. Issue the directive throughout Dedolant. The Deo people have always managed to survive in harsh conditions. Let it be known they can endure on just one meal a day. Gather the food in accordance with this edict.”
Gruber, who temporarily filled the seat of King Cassius II, swiftly issued the order. He believed that even if the king were present, this decision would have been inevitable.
“No meals for Dugal. Strip them of everything—every last grain, every drop of soup meant for children and elders, even the acorns meant for livestock. Take it all!”
After all, if we lose, there won’t be much point in holding onto the Dugal territories anyway. Since we can’t guarantee control over them, better to destroy them now rather than risk losing them later.
And soon enough, backlash from Dedolant’s citizens was relentless.
“What?! If you take this much, how are my family and I supposed to survive?!”
“There are no able-bodied men left here—just women, children, and the elderly. You expect us to survive on one meal a day?!”
“Since when did Dedolant become a place where the Deo people steal from fellow Deo people?!”
In response, Dedolant’s command issued this decree:
“The greatness of the Deo people began with obedience to higher commands. When our late king was on the throne, it was only because of his loyal advisors following orders diligently that anything was accomplished.”
“Deo people, endure the hardships of this trial. In the end, ultimate victory will be ours. View this as a sacrifice for future glory!”
The calls from the front lines feel distant, but the power of Dedolant’s command is immediate and nearby.
Bowing to this power, the local nobles began sending what little food they could spare, enabling the Dedolant army to offset some of the damage caused by the destruction of the supply depots.
Even so, this was a decision that mortgaged Dedolant’s future.
Still, Dedolant handled things relatively well, refraining from outright brutality.
However, Dugal was not Dedolant. It was land they had occupied by force.
“This is robbery! If you take this much, we’ll all starve to d*ath by tomorrow!”
“You said you’d let us live! If this keeps up, we’re dead!”
“What kind of nonsense is this?! We didn’t help any resistance movements. We agreed to cooperate in exchange for safety! This is breaking your promise!”
As protests continued, Dedolant quickly deployed troops to “handle” the Dugal occupation zone.
These weren’t just conscripts; they were experienced, battle-hardened soldiers who had been fighting the Empire.
Compared to them, the local resistance in Dugal was no match.
“Any who refuse to hand over their food are to be cut down!”
“Anyone who refuses to cooperate, regardless of rank, can be killed!”
The Dugal nobles, who only recently enjoyed protection as allies, were now fair game for Dedolant’s wrath.
Their properties were stripped bare, leaving them with scarcely anything.
There was no justice, only Dedolant’s iron grip. If you cooperated in the past, didn’t matter. If you stayed silent about their atrocities up until now, also irrelevant. Resistance now was futile.
Besides, Dedolant’s current forces were composed of men with nothing to lose—monsters without a future.
Fight back now without a plan and they’d all be wiped out. Hunger and starvation were rampant in Dugal. They simply couldn’t afford resistance.
“I’m hungry… I’m so hungry…”
“P-please! At least leave something for the children! For heaven’s sake!”
“Sorry, we don’t have food either. We haven’t eaten bread or potatoes in days.”
In just one month, the once-prosperous Dugal region became a living hell.
—
“Chief of Staff, we’ve received urgent news from Ross Tannika.”
“Is Dedolant attacking them now?”
“No, worse.”
Ross Tannika. That thorn in Dedolant’s side on the western frontier.
Early in the war, Dedolant poured significant resources into holding those borders.
Now, they merely maintain the lines, ensuring Ross Tannika can’t go on the offensive.
From the Empire’s perspective, Ross Tannika is a solid ally.
They’re receiving our support and continue to fight Dedolant.
The downside? Their land army is pathetically weak, which sometimes leads to unnecessary drama. If this news is just another overreaction…
“Dedolant is reportedly laying waste to the Dugal occupation zone.”
“What does that mean exactly? Your Grace.”
“All available food in Dugal is being plundered, including from allies and civilians. The people of Dugal will soon struggle to even eat tomorrow’s meal.”
Managing the hearts of an occupied population is crucial, even if you seize land by force.
After all, it’s heartbreaking to win a war but lose control of the land because you couldn’t stabilize it. In the past, the Empire strictly prohibited looting for this reason.
Dedolant had once seemed humane when they first occupied Dugal.
But now, even that pretense is gone. They’ve given up.
All that’s left is clinging to the Empire and dragging us down with them.
This news reached the meetings led by me among the legion commanders.
“The enemy is ramping up preparations for their last stand, abandoning Dugal in the process. The impact of losing the supply depots won’t last long in this context.”
“Taking it doesn’t mean the end. You still need storage space, and re-preservation processes for the food to be usable.”
“Chief of Staff, what about launching a swift assault on their castles using War Wolves before winter sets in and stalls our progress?”
Speed up the offensive. The legion commanders’ opinions converged on that point.
I agreed, and promptly gave the command. The Empire’s spear advanced swiftly toward Dedolant.
During this march, surprising news arrived.
“Chief of Staff, there’s been a sudden increase in Dedolant defectors seeking refuge under the Empire, citing looting.”
“Looting? Officer, haven’t I repeatedly emphasized that looting is strictly forbidden? Any violators, even legion commanders, face severe punishment.”
“Well, it’s not our troops…”
“Then who? Nobogorod? Or the Eastern Coalition?”
Are these guys so complacent after two years with the Empire that they’ve forgotten basic discipline? Command authority clearly rests with me. What the hell are they doing?
“Neither. It’s Dedolant.”
“…What nonsense is this?”
“Dedolant’s own soldiers are raiding them, stealing all their food. With no means to survive, they’re now seeking protection under the Empire.”
