Chapter 12
Prisoners from the Rus Kingdom were mostly rude and arrogant, not even caring that they were in an enemy country.
Especially the noble-born prisoners.
They would often enthusiastically preach about how great they were in the Rus Kingdom and how insignificant the empire was.
Then, when it was time to die, they would spill everything they knew, begging for their lives in an ugly manner, saying how much money their family had and asking if they could be sent back if they paid that money.
Such information was usually useless, but thinking it would be good if these incompetent people came back as commanders, most imperial commanders would release the noble prisoners after just taking their money.
Those who were actually sent back would take up commander positions again and make the same mistakes, so it was very successful until Viktor gained command.
This was the impression of prisoners from the kingdom, so when Viktor first answered, I thought things would go as I expected.
It wasn't easy to get the desired words out of the existing prisoners, but Viktor readily accepted the conversation despite the difficult atmosphere.
I planned to gather information as per Her Majesty the Empress’ orders, and incidentally satisfy some personal curiosity.
I was curious about what kind of person Viktor, who was the subject of so many rumors, was.
I spoke confidently like that, but.
"Hmmph..."
The result was completely unexpected.
I clenched my teeth tightly, feeling that if I relaxed even a little, tears would flow.
This wasn't the answer I had expected.
I knew he wouldn't boast openly, given the unfavorable situation and mood.
Still, I thought he might subtly show off his achievements while pretending to be reluctant, or at least display some false modesty for show.
Regardless of how Viktor had appeared so far, all the high-ranking officers I had met were like that.
General Gerhardt, who was always full of passion, the officers and knight commanders I often met.
Even officers from other countries.
When their own battles were mentioned, they would get excited and talk about them.
Especially for someone's official first battle, it's even worse.
They start by praising the enemies they faced, then explain the background and boast about how excellent their strategy and tactics were, and how glorious their victory was.
Of course, they would brag about the difference in troop numbers and enemy casualties, but never mention their own casualties.
It felt like they viewed battles as memories, and every time I talked with such people, I felt an indescribable feeling.
There was something that bothered me, you could say.
I didn't know exactly what it was, and feeling I shouldn't speak carelessly, I had been swallowing it until now.
Only after hearing Viktor's story could I understand the nature of that irritation.
Not a single one of the people I had met so far had ever mentioned fallen allies first.
At best, some would occasionally say things like 'along with glorious sacrifices...', but even that was rare.
I thought Viktor would be the same.
I thought he wouldn't deviate from the high-ranking officer mold, since he too had urged the king to war using the soldiers' blood as an excuse.
I thought he loved war and was obsessed with it, which is why he had achieved such tremendous military exploits at a young age.
I thought he commanded troops diligently because he loved the kingdom, and sometimes fought directly on the battlefield wielding weapons.
Like other soldiers, I thought death on the battlefield was just glory to him, and he neither feared nor was particularly conscious of 'sacrifice'.
It was the opposite.
The thoughts Viktor held had some commonalities with the sentiments of ordinary soldiers rather than officers.
Skepticism about war, guilt towards fallen allies, and a sense of responsibility.
When I mentioned the Battle of Angelkorod, which could be considered his monumental first battle.
He didn't recall the victory first.
He didn't remember the fleeing imperial army, didn't mention the enemy commander, didn't talk about his tactics.
Without a moment's hesitation, he recited the names of those who had departed.
It was two whole years ago.
It's not like he only commanded 100 soldiers, he went on to command tens of thousands afterwards.
Yet he still hadn't forgotten the names and stories of those who fell in his first battle.
He spoke in a just polite tone, calmly, but sadness was constantly visible in his eyes.
At least the education at the Imperial Military Academy doesn't teach such aspects at all.
They often praise going to war as glorious, and death as honorable.
They mainly teach about victorious wars, well-fought wars, and are urged to become cold, saying that the weak cannot become generals.
They treat soldiers as mere numbers and train them to handle them efficiently.
The Rus Kingdom's military academy must be the same.
A cadet who shows a different aspect from what the school demands would naturally be ostracized internally.
They might be labeled with various insulting titles like coward or chicken-hearted.
In fact, he said he had conflicts with others at the military academy.
The important thing is, Viktor proved that he was different.
Viktor was never weak.
He became a hero of the Rus Kingdom by not following the conventional wisdom that generals should be cold, keep their distance from soldiers, and just be good at strategy and tactics.
Perhaps sublimating his guilt towards fallen allies into a sense of responsibility, he commanded the battlefield more perfectly than anyone else.
As a result, he was called invincible, and his corps earned the title of 'Immortal Legion' for having extremely few casualties.
In fact, until I faced him now, no.
Until I somehow mentioned the battle, he seemed like a person who had no fear at all.
Even when surrounded by Royal Guard members who came to arrest him, and in a situation where dozens of nobles and the king were all looking at him, he maintained his dignity.
Perhaps to ensure his subordinates could trust and follow him, he must have hidden such thoughts deep in his heart.
Even in the reports of the imperial army who were desperate to find his weakness, it was written that he had 'no gaps'.
If he hadn't been betrayed by the Rus king, he probably wouldn't have said such things to me.
"..."
Strangely enough.
Seeing this side of him makes me more interested in him.
He had felt too distant before.
While General Gerhardt is certainly admirable, I never felt the desire to become personally close to him.
Just as the Empress Louise is merely an object of loyalty.
I didn't have feelings beyond admiration for Viktor either.
I was just amazed at his competence and impressed by his strategies and tactics.
Now it's a bit different.
I could understand why he received the full support of the Rus Kingdom army.
After hearing his story, I even thought that if I became a soldier, I would want to be under his command.
I wanted to have a separate conversation with him.
Both personal and work-related.
However, since Viktor closed his eyes as if there would be no more conversation, it seems difficult to speak to him right away.
...His mind must be complicated since the country he served discarded him like an old shoe.
No matter how curious I am, it wouldn't be polite to keep trying to talk.
Perhaps I should be grateful that he shared the story he had kept inside.
-Scribble, scribble.
I took out my notebook and recorded our conversation.
The tip of the pen writing the words trembled slightly.
---
Somehow, Erika's gaze has become a bit warmer since earlier.
And,
"...Viktor."
"...?"
Suddenly, Paul, who had been quiet all along, opened his mouth.
He seemed to be pondering something throughout my conversation with Erika, and then,
"You are... unusual."
"..."
He came out with this strange statement out of nowhere.
Just in case, I checked, and Paul was now marked gray on the mini-map.
What's this?
What did he feel from my story that made his desire to kill me disappear?
What on earth was he thinking?
"Isn't he?"
"Mm."
Erika and Paul made eye contact and nodded to each other.
Unable to understand, I quietly closed my eyes.
"...Your mind must be complicated. Take a rest."
Not realizing that he was the reason my mind became complicated, Paul looked out the window again, unnecessarily trying to look good.
***
"We've arrived."
The carriage stopped as the sun was about to set.
Through the window, I could see tents with the empire's flags fluttering.
The soldiers inside the camp were busy setting up tents and moving supplies.
I thought it took longer than expected to move, but it seems the empire had already moved their camp to the rear before the ceasefire agreement was concluded.
Perhaps having heard that the war had stopped for now, the expressions of the working soldiers were bright.
The soldiers on guard were casually conversing with their comrades beside them, and the officers watching this didn't particularly intervene.
It was quite a contrast to the Rus Kingdom soldiers who stood guard with serious expressions until the carriage departed.
Seeing the imperial army with their different attire, equipment, and tent shapes, I finally realized that I had been handed over to the empire.
From now on, there won't be any major incidents until I reach the Empress.
Even Paul, who was the last variable, has turned neutral, so unless an accident occurs, my life shouldn't be threatened.
Imagining the rosy future that lay ahead, I leisurely appreciated the sight of the imperial army I would be joining.