It hasn’t been long since I came back from the east, and now I’m heading over to the west.
Upon hearing this news, my father hummed and stroked his chin thoughtfully.
“Hmm… Your Majesty seems to have high expectations for you, Kael.”
“I can’t help but worry that this might just be another test,” I replied.
“Would His Highness send the princess along if it were a test?”
Indeed, there wasn’t much to argue with in what Father had said.
Yeah, sending me alone would make more sense if this was some sort of loyalty test. Instead, sending both of us means they’re expecting us to accomplish something substantial.
But the Emperor was quite clear: the princess is to oversee morale, and I’m tasked with investigating beyond the western border. Sounds like they’ve got something specific in mind. Perhaps this isn’t so much a test as it is the Emperor’s way of sizing me up.
In fact, thinking about it now, Father mentioned that the Emperor intends to confer on me the title of “Adviser General.”
Was it because I went to the east without any rank, and people talked? Or has it been decided that, since I’ve established myself as useful, it’s time to assign me a proper role?
Either way, I officially received the title of Adviser General from the Emperor, along with my orders.
“Maybe it means they want me to work as a military advisor once I arrive in the west.”
Being an Adviser General doesn’t necessarily mean being attached to a specific legion. I can roam across any region, join any legion, and offer my recommendations freely.
Father saw this as a great honor, but let’s be honest—it’s also a little terrifying. Why on earth would the Emperor go out of his way to create such a position for me? Not tied to any specific army or legion, just free to act wherever the Emperor sees fit.
Just how far is the Empire planning to expand its influence anyway? First it was the north, then the east, now the west and south. Are they aiming for total continental domination or something?
“So, when are you planning to depart?”
“Probably next week. If the Emperor specifically chose both the princess and me, it must mean the situation in the west is as unstable as it was in the east.”
“…Most likely.”
With that, Father handed me something. Taking a quick glance, I could see an official seal of war.
“Looks like this is some pretty important intel.”
“That it is.”
“Should I even be looking at this?”
“On the contrary, Kael, it’s precisely because you were chosen by the Emperor that you’re allowed to see this.”
Oh right. Advisory General. That title comes straight from the Emperor himself. Which means I should have no trouble getting cooperation from the War Ministry. If they give me the intel, I might as well take a look.
Flipping through it, I started reading the contents of the various documents my father provided.
Each page was packed with text, numbers, and charts, all of which I carefully absorbed, memorizing and organizing into my mind.
Once done, I handed the documents back to Father, who reviewed them himself.
“Hmm.”
“If everything we’ve read is true, Father, the actual situation beyond the western border might be worse than we imagined.”
“Likely. Information takes time to reach the capital, after all.”
The War Ministry, Special Operations, and Foreign Affairs Departments—they’re experts in intelligence gathering. If they’ve flagged these reports, then they’re probably reliable. Among them, there was plenty of material on Dedolant, the emerging power across our western border.
—
[Dedolant’s Third Prince, Georg Systania, consolidates all domestic power]
[A large number of experienced officers within the military publicly pledge allegiance to the Third Prince]
[Dedolant’s King formally designates the Third Prince as heir, likely under pressure rather than personal choice]
[Military spending has increased dramatically, and it is confirmed that their active army exceeds 100,000 troops. This number excludes reserve forces and is purely offensive in nature]
—
A while back, Father explained the situation to me: Dedolant has been on the rise. At its core stands their Third Prince, a war hero who’s wildly popular at home. He’s already eliminated the Crown Prince, so his ascendance to power was inevitable. The King himself only named him heir under heavy pressure.
I already knew all this. But the real issue lies with Dedolant’s rapid military expansion.
They’ve reportedly amassed an army of more than 100,000 men—and these aren’t just any conscripts. Dedolant is a military powerhouse recognized even by the Empire. They’ve shaken up the continent’s west many times before, and they’re still going strong. With that kind of offensive force, the Empire certainly can’t afford to be complacent.
But there’s more. The real trouble may only just be beginning.
[Possibility of annexing Artria]
Beyond the Empire’s western borders lies a collection of kingdoms. Among them, four major nations maintain some semblance of order:
Dedolant, the current source of unrest; Dugal, locked in constant conflict with Dedolant; Ross Tannika, quietly watching from the sidelines; and Artria, occupying a position above Dedolant.
There are other smaller nations too, but many are effectively satellites, so let’s skip over those.
Anyway, amidst all this, rumors suggest Dedolant may seek to annex Artria. This isn’t conquest or vassalage—we’re talking annexation. Why? Likely because of historical ties between the royal families. Although distant relatives, Dedolant and Artria have maintained relatively friendly relations over the years.
Six months ago, Artria’s Crown Prince died suddenly. Soon after, the King passed away as well. The key figures of the monarchy gone in the blink of an eye, leaving the kingdom in turmoil, with no clear successor.
“Kael, if Dedolant does pursue annexation, how do you think Artria will react?”
“The nobles might resist, but the common folk likely won’t oppose it. After all, Dedolant has always been on relatively good terms with Artria.”
“And if Dedolant makes an example of a few Artrian nobles, confiscating their lands and redistributing them among the people, they’d win the hearts of the populace in no time,” I added.
Father nodded in agreement. “Exactly my thoughts. Dedolia will likely take that route.”
Though the various departments only speculate about annexation, their reports suggest the outcome is all but certain. Dedolant simply needs time to assess how it would impact them, Artria, and the other neighboring nations.
—
[Dugal and Ross Tannika declare an alliance to counter Dedolant’s rise]
Naturally, the nation trembling hardest at Dedolant’s growth is Dugal. They’ve warred countless times, and Dedolant has dealt them bitter defeats in the past. It’s no exaggeration to say their relationship is toxic. Watching Dedolant grow so rapidly must keep Dugal’s leaders up at night, plagued by nightmares.
Their response? Forge an alliance with Ross Tannika, a neighboring kingdom. Together, they believe they can withstand Dedolant’s might.
Still, there’s a hitch.
“If Dedolant annexes Artria, then even this alliance won’t cut it,” I pointed out.
“Dugal and Ross Tannika aren’t exactly slouches militarily, yet you still see problems?”
“I’ve heard Dedolant already seized the Jugel region—a crucial area for Dugal.”
The Jugel region, once home to the Deo ethnic group, was branded as Dedolant’s by the Third Prince, who loudly proclaimed it a liberation. In reality, they wanted its strategic value. Losing this buffer zone and defensive line has shaken Dugal to its core—royalty, nobles, and commoners alike.
“War is just as much about momentum as it is about strength. If Dugal’s already behind in both areas, they’ve essentially lost half the battle.”
With their original defenses crumbling and morale at rock bottom, if Dedolant swallows up Artria next, the situation will become dire for Dugal. And once they fall, Ross Tannika will be next on the chopping block.
—
[Dedolant declares no intention of disrupting the Empire’s established order in the continent]
Now, here lies the question: Are they being sincere, or is this just a temporary ruse?
Dedolant’s biggest fear is the Empire’s intervention. If a single nation gains too much power, it upsets the carefully maintained balance. History shows that upstarts often attempt to carve out their own empires—something that must be preemptively stopped. That’s why the Empire maintains its 400,000-strong army.
“At the very least, the timing is awkward for Dedolant as they’re still consolidating internally. So publicly bowing to the Empire makes sense for them. Then again, it could just be an act.”
“Or perhaps they’re pretending to submit. That’s likely why His Majesty entrusted you, Kael, with the responsibility of keeping an eye on them.”
Given my recent track record, it’s no surprise.
I can’t help but let out a groaning sigh. I’m no diplomat or spy—but seriously, this is such a daunting task. At the end of the day, I’ll still have to rely on the intelligence coming in from across the border. Will I actually be able to do this? The doubts are already creeping in.
