The Imperial War Department and Command Center issued an official order to withdraw troops.
Specifically, the battered 6th and 13th Legions who’d seen direct combat were pulled back.
Meanwhile, the 4th and 15th Legions decided to stay behind to maintain stability in the holy territories and surrounding areas.
The war with Benito wasn’t over yet. They hadn’t surrendered like the Eastern Kingdoms. We were merely stepping back to catch our breath.
Not that Benito could recover from a little R&R anyway – their main forces were obliterated. How could they rebuild that in a short time? Sure, they could draft up some fresh soldiers but that’d just be cannon fodder.
Right now, the Empire’s withdrawal is all because of Dedolant. It’s like a warning: “Just wait until later, you’ll pay dearly.” For now, we’re all just smiling and hiding our true intentions.
Even the Crown Princess and I received orders to return. By direct mention of His Majesty the Emperor himself. His Imperial Edict was clear – pack up and get back to the Empire ASAP.
The entire journey home, the Crown Princess seemed unusually subdued. Normally, she’d be chirping away, celebrating our victory, but not this time. Clearly, leaving Benito unfinished business was weighing on her mind.
“Hmm…”
I figured I should probably say something. Seeing her all quiet like this was making me feel awkward.
“Your Highness, there’s no need to overthink this.”
“Ah, Kael.”
“The Eastern Three Kingdoms – Burkhai, Caden, and Porland – sure, they declared war on us but we didn’t bother occupying them. Why? Because it’d cost us more than we’d gain.”
“…but I’m worried. If this keeps happening, the fools out there might start thinking the Empire is weak and laughable.”
At that, I nodded in agreement.
Northern Nobogorod, the Eastern Three Kingdoms, and down to the South – the Empire achieved victory but refrained from exercising the victor’s rights. Some might call that leniency; others, weakness. Too much of that, and eventually someone will step over the line.
“Your Highness, I believe I understand your concerns fully. But perhaps… perhaps this is what they’re counting on.”
“What do you mean?”
“Exactly what I said. His Majesty the Emperor and Her Highness the Crown Princess are counting on this.”
“Huh? I don’t understand, Kael.”
“If anyone we encounter were to crush them without reason, it’d instill fear, not respect. And that fear would eventually revert into resentment and rebellion.”
“But. If necessary, we could utterly crush someone with good reason. People would understand that. They’d see the Empire’s actions as justified and breathe a sigh of relief that it wasn’t turned on them.”
“Are you saying Dedolant?”
“Perhaps. After all this time of abiding by promises, isn’t it about time we broke just one?”
It’s like if you imagine someone who used to throw punches left and right but has decided to tone it down. They let smaller scuffles go unchecked and only give a couple of slaps in response. But when someone comes along that shakes things up – you know what happens? They get flattened instantly. And hey, everyone else is already used to getting beaten around anyway. No complaints!
“Most likely, as soon as we return, we’ll discuss how best to persuade the East.”
“For the Western front to focus effectively, we’ll need to secure the Eastern backline.”
“Exactly. Plus, we can’t let things get too out of hand, so we’ll let the Pro-Empire faction catch its breath too.”
See, our Emperor’s genius lies in keeping the balance. Sure, the nation’s policies may tip in one direction on the surface, but internally, he ensures equilibrium. This prevents the country from overheating unnecessarily, maintaining a healthy balance of opposition within the boundaries. It’s a system where national effort is directed toward more profitable outcomes.
“Do you have a good strategy for that?”
“…Pardon?”
“You had success with your tactics in the Eastern Theater. Is there a possible follow-up?”
Hmm. A follow-up to the Eastern operations, huh? Well, I was about to say “no,” reflexively. Until I looked into her eyes – they reminded me of the Northern campaign back in the day. Besides, I need to start accepting who I’ve become. Deep down, I consider myself ordinary, but others don’t see it that way.
I get it now. There’s no going back. I’ve shown too much already to continue as I was before. As much as I’d love to deny being some sort of genius strategist, I can’t escape it. Even if it makes me break out in a sweat sometimes, it’s still me at the end of the day.
“The best approach now would be to foster a competitive dynamic between Burkhai and Porland.”
“But aren’t they already competing? It’s like a race to the d*ath – wherever one falls behind, the other rises.”
“Not that kind of competition. I mean their competition to demonstrate genuine loyalty to the Empire.”
At this point, the Crown Princess’s expression twisted a bit.
“Kael? This is a weird one, but… do you think that’s possible? Porland, maybe, but Burkhai? Isn’t it hard to believe they’d show sincerity toward the Empire – especially since they can’t conceal their rage against it?”
“Sure, from their ruler’s standpoint, but let’s look at the general populace of Burkhai. If we play our cards right, we might actually increase support for the Empire.”
“Wait… so you’re saying they could blame Burkhai’s rulers instead of the Empire?”
“Not impossible, though it’s quite a challenge. After all, it’s the truth when you get down to it.”
We didn’t k*ll them – the Imperial Legion did. But who sent them to that battlefield? Burkhai’s leaders did. Thus, it’s both the Empire’s doing and Burkhai’s doing. We haven’t told any lies; facts are key.
“Why is losing a war so burdensome?”
“Because it raises questions like ‘why did we even fight?'”
“Why were we, as commoners, forced to sacrifice our sons, husbands, and fathers, while those in power sat above us, doing nothing?”
“And when that spark ignites, no one can stop it.”
“So the people of Burkhai aren’t moved by their rulers. The populace’s sentiment needs to change. If we get the people on our side, the rulers will follow suit, naturally.”
Unless they want to drown in a sea of shifting popular opinion.
“But to get to that point? We need some kind of catalyst. I’m not entirely sure what that would be.”
“It’s tough. Catalysts don’t just fall from the sky.”
Exactly, Princess. They sure don’t.
—
Elsewhere, things in the East were spiraling into an absurd situation.
Once the Empire pulled out two of their Eastern legions to focus on the South, old tensions between Burkhai and Porland resurfaced with a vengeance. Despite their previous wounds, Burkhai still saw themselves as the top dog in the East. “Rich man falls, but his pride remains,” as the saying goes. Meanwhile, Porland had bloated under Imperial favor. Not strong enough to claim supremacy yet, but itching to prove themselves.
So, a rivalry bubbled over into military collisions – surprisingly initiated not by Burkhai, but by Porland! Having always been pushed around by Burkhai, Porland finally struck back, seizing on the Empire’s tacit blessing.
“Those treacherous sc*m from Porland!”
“Shut your face! You had it coming!”
While Burkhai’s people suffered under the new hostilities, initially raging against the Empire and then cursing Porland, eventually, their anger shifted upward – toward their own rulers.
“Didn’t we used to consider ourselves the greatest? What happened?”
“How could we lose, not only to the Empire but now to Porland too?”
“Life’s getting harder, yet they want more taxes and soldiers from us?!”
“Why can’t we team up with the Empire like Porland?”
“Surely it’s not our children and grandchildren’s fate to continue this way?”
This wasn’t pressure from nobles or some fabricated sentiment. The general populace of Burkhai had come to these conclusions on their own.
So naturally, two groups started to emerge. One: Imperial agents working covertly in Burkhai after the war. The other: Burkhai’s opportunistic nobility, waiting to jump ship.
And just as this internal situation began to percolate…
Thunder rumbled
A sudden, torrential rain began – so heavy that it didn’t let up for nearly two weeks. Fields flooded, homes were washed away, and all semblance of normalcy vanished. Eventually, the three kingdoms had no choice but to confront the reality that they couldn’t recover alone. What they needed was a robust power with boundless resources and mercy.
And just like that, the stage was set.
