The Main Family Is About to Die Out, so I, from a Branch Family, Am a Seed Provider (WN): Chapter 45

 

Episode 45: The Living Hero of the Empire

 Several hours had passed since the battle began.

 The sun's rays were already shining almost directly overhead, and the Imperial Army's headquarters was beginning to show signs of impatience.

"There is no other way now but to send out the back-up force and kick the Kingdom Army to the curb in one fell swoop!"

 The captain of the Knights of the White Rose, who was present at the meeting, thought that the fact that a lieutenant's voice, which sounded like an angry shout, was flying around while the main officers were gathered in the headquarters for a military discussion was the best proof of their impatience.

 At present, the two armies of the Kingdom and the Empire are fighting each other to the death, but the situation is still at a standstill. No, the stalemate may be synonymous with victory for the Kingdom, despite the fact that the Imperial forces, which outnumbered the Kingdom, were attacking.

"W-wait a minute, Lieutenant. In a short while, the enemy will get tired and the situation will quickly turn in favor of the Empire."

 An officer with a white beard calms a man who stands up and insists on brute force.

(......I'm not seeing the essence of the situation).

 The captain of the Knight of the White Rose, however, dismissed her optimistic prediction.

 The reason was that the kingdom had cleverly taken advantage of the place and was preparing for the battle with adequate, if not perfect, preparations.

 Moreover, the place is a road that is sandwiched between a mountain and a river at both ends and where the width of the road becomes extremely narrow, and if the mountain is held by the enemy, it is fair to say that the geographical advantage is on the Kingdom side.

(And it is the same for us, we are also getting tired. Moreover, if one looks at it, it is obvious that we are attacking less frequently. Morale is also beginning to drop slightly.)

 If so, If the Kingdom Army had the same number of soldiers as the Imperial Army, the battle would have ended with a victory for the Kingdom. The captain of the Knight of the White Rose felt disappointment in her heart, wondering why she could not see through the situation clearly.

"......"

 Then she gently turned her gaze to Lieutenant General Rojisko, the commander of this army, who was sitting in a place where he could see all the Imperial Army officers.

 A veteran Imperial Army general, who is approaching 60 years of age and will retire from the military this year, simply remained motionless and still. Rather, the smoke rising from the pipe in his mouth only wavering, it is occasionally shaken by the blowing wind, and disappears behind the tent.

 A large slash wound was carved vertically across his left eye, and as the wind blew the red cloak on his back, trimmed with golden eagle embroidery, caught sight of the cane that had been hidden beneath it.

 It was the precious cane that supported the living hero of the empire, who, despite losing his right leg in battle, had participated in the War of Independence against the Principality and brought a miraculous victory to the empire, which was deteriorating.

"Report! Both the Third Corps and the Seventh Corps have retreated from the front line!"

 The officers in the room were shaken. Aside from the Third Corps, which had just reported its defeat, the Seventh Corps, led by Lieutenant General Rojisko, was the elite of the Imperial Army's 45,000 men and had been the most powerful force in the Jubelia Castle a few days earlier. Having also the achievement of taking out the enemy's general in the raid.

 The captain of the Knight of the White Rose, who had been watching the noisy headquarters, finally opened her eyes, which had been closed, and her mouth, which had been heavily closed, fell open.

"How is the enemy?"

 It was a heavy, yet well-defined tone of voice. The voice made the backs of the officers present, not to mention the soldiers who served as messengers, stand up straight.

"H-ha. The enemy army is not pursuing us, but has regrouped and is ready to intercept us again!"

"If so, we'll respond. Fifth and Sixth Corps, move forward. Attack the mountain and the road at the same time."

 At that order, not only the soldiers serving as messengers but also the Imperial Army officers present widened their eyes in surprise.

 Of course, the captain of the Knight of the White Rose, who was watching Lieutenant General Rojisko, was equally surprised.

 The Fifth and Sixth Corps are the reserve Corps of the army, and if they were to be deployed and defeated, the army would finally be unable to stand.

 Above all, if the imperial army, which is superior in number, was defeated in front of the Kingdom's hastily assembled army of defeated soldiers, not only the Kingdom but also the northern principality might joyfully attack again with a large army. If that were to happen, the Empire would no longer be able to maintain its national identity, and the life of the Empress they served would be in jeopardy.

 With that in mind, she takes a step forward to express her opinion that there should be no further aggression.

"With all due respect, sir."

 But it was Jeshilka, her immediate subordinate, who preceded her, standing behind as a lieutenant general's bodyguard.

"Let's hear it."

 Without turning around and looking straight ahead, Lieutenant General Rojisko gives his permission.

"Our forces already have lost several thousand men, both killed and wounded. I don't think that continuing our offensive will help the situation. Please reconsider your orders."

 Everyone was silent at Jeshilka's clear, unabashed words, and some were taken aback by the admonition that came out unexpectedly. But only a few are in awe, and most of them are coldly eyeing her.

"......"

 Only Lieutenant General Rojisko kept his serious eyes forward, thinking and examining Jeshilka's words.

"Then I will ask you a question."

"Y-yes."

 At the sound of Lieutenant General Rojisko's heavy voice, Jeshilka, who had earlier offered a dignified admonition, was slightly at a loss for words.

"What are we fighting for in this battle?"

"That, of course, is for the sake of the Empress, and to drive out the Kingdom Army that had attacked us......"

"No, it's not."

 Cutting her off, Lieutenant General Rojisko looks around at the Imperial officers present and said.

"This battle is to put an end to the long war between the Empire and the Kingdom."

 There was a big buzz. Of course, Jeshilka, standing behind the Lieutenant General and captain of the Knight of the White Rose, also looked surprised.

 At first, they all thought that such a thing was impossible.

 In the first place, they have been fighting each other for the past several hundred years. They have fought each other to win by piling up numerous corpses.

 However, the conflict between the two countries, whose national strengths are the same, has gradually reached a stalemate.

 They moved to reconnect the lines on the map at their current borders, but the constant flickering of swords pointing at each other's backs prevented them from reaching an armistice agreement or even peace.

 The two countries, driven into a situation from which there is no escape, have no choice but to look forward and fight, hating, envying, and being jealous of each other. There is no way to end this long war except by burying the other side.

"This is a battle between two nations that have been fighting for hundreds of years, shedding blood in vain, to finally put an end to the war. Therefore, it was foolish to not use every means we have in this battle."

 To stop the conflict, they need to fight.

 Despite his contradictory tone, Lieutenant General Rojisko looks around at the still-noisy crowd, determined to bring this war to an end.

"Besides, we are not the only one fighting in this war."

"Eh?" 

 While everyone was wondering what he was talking about, another soldier came running into the room as if to answer the question and shouted with a look of unquenchable excitement.

"Report! We have just received information that 30,000 Imperial troops, who were moving separately, have attacked and brought down Brumud Castle!"

 Everyone present at the meeting looked at each other at the report, and their eyes widened in astonishment at when such a large army had moved.

 Looking over them, the living hero of the empire announced.

"Now, everyone, it is time to settle this. The time has come to eradicate the kingdom and bring victory and peace to the empire! Glory to our homeland!"