Chapter 13
The carriage, which continued moving even after entering the encampment, stopped in what seemed like an open space where many imperial soldiers had gathered.
The occasional familiar unit flags suggested that the forces that had been surrounding Zabinsk had moved here.
Whether they knew I was in this carriage, they were all glaring at it with great intensity.
The mini-map was also full of red dots, making me feel as if I had dropped alone into the middle of enemy territory.
...Although it's just me feeling an internal sense of closeness, it is still enemy territory for now.
I need to act cautiously.
There are crazy people everywhere, and in most armies, the proportion of such people is quite high.
If I don't stick close to Erika and Paul, I might be killed without anyone knowing.
"...Wait a moment."
Before getting out of the carriage, Paul finally untied the ropes binding my body.
I hadn't felt particularly uncomfortable, but once the bonds were released, my fingertips tingle with a feeling of blood flowing.
Erika and Paul looked slightly apologetic as they watched me move my arms and stretch my body.
They might have really forgotten that I was tied up.
Maybe it was difficult to untie me easily because of the atmosphere.
Still, the fact that they untied me was a good sign, so I felt a bit relieved.
I trust the mini-map, but seeing it demonstrated through actions is more convincing.
I got out of the carriage following behind Paul and Erika.
The gazes around were extremely sharp, but I controlled my body's reactions to appear as if I wasn't bothered at all.
-Thud, thud.
"Ah, General Paul! You've returned!"
A moment later, a well-built middle-aged man in an imperial general's attire parted the wall of soldiers and approached us.
He saluted Paul sharply.
I felt a vague sense of familiarity from that genial face.
"General Josef Steiner. Has everything been alright?"
"Yes! There are a few soldiers who got indigestion from eating too hastily, but nothing major!"
Hearing the name Josef Steiner, I remembered who he was.
He's one of the dukes who participated in the Northern War, and in the game, he appears as the leader of the noble faction.
Unlike Paul, who was satisfied with the territory given, he's a character who becomes the leader of the noble faction for more power and opposes the Empress.
"General Josef, hello! I'm..."
"Hmm. Let's talk inside."
"...Ah, yes."
I particularly remember him being portrayed as genuinely committed to the noble faction in many events.
Blatantly ignoring Erika, who was directly carrying out the Empress' orders, he glared at me with eyes full of killing intent.
"...Is this Viktor?"
"Mm."
As if he disliked even speaking to me, Josef deliberately asked Paul.
I remember that he had the strongest influence within the noble faction after Paul, and also invested the most in the Northern War.
Originally, he should have become the core of the noble faction instead of Paul, who had little political ambition, using those achievements...
Although the Northern War effectively ended in the empire's victory, the losses he suffered must be unimaginable.
The noble faction's forces reached 80,000 in the early stages of the war, but if I remember correctly, less than half of that remains now.
Moreover, with the Empress' intervention in the negotiations, even the fruits they gained have to be shared with the Empress.
Josef, who mobilized large-scale forces, must have suffered particularly severe troop losses and supply consumption, so such a gaze could be understandable if understandable.
To him, I'm a mortal enemy.
It wouldn't be strange if he was jumping up and down saying he'd kill me if it weren't for the Empress' orders.
His hand keeps twitching around his sword hilt, so it seems he's still holding back even now.
"...Hah. General Paul. I'll escort you to the tent."
"Alright."
Josef, who had been having a brief staring contest with me, turned around first and walked away.
Is it just my imagination?
The back of his head seemed balder than in the game.
Feeling a slight pang of guilt, I quietly followed him for now.
***
"Will you be moving right away?"
"We'll stay here for one day and depart tomorrow."
Josef, who had led our group into the tent, sat facing Paul and conversed looking only at Paul's face, as if Erika and I didn't exist.
"Understood. We've kept the tent you used empty, so you can use it."
"Thank you."
"Um, what about me... Eek."
He did occasionally glance briefly at Erika when she tried to speak.
Erika, who was trying to hide behind Paul, couldn't withstand Josef's gaze and moved closer to me.
Josef was consciously avoiding looking at where I was sitting, so apart from me being the fundamental reason for that anger, it might not be a bad seat selection.
"...I'll report on the current troop deployment."
"Mm."
More than that, I found Josef's reaction unexpected.
Outside, he seemed to want to take action immediately, but once inside the tent, he was consistently ignoring me.
Even considering that he's watching Paul's reactions, this level of behavior is quite polite.
"...The duke's troops are..."
"...That's the supply department's..."
-Thud. Thud. Thud.
It could be because he's prepared something else.
Instead of listening to the conversation with little substance, I focused on the sound of footsteps coming from outside the tent.
Checking the mini-map, I saw numerous red dots slowly converging towards this tent.
"Well then, I'll be going now. Keep up the good work."
"Yes, General Paul."
The conversation ended quickly.
Preparing myself mentally, I followed Paul out of Josef's tent.
"...What's going on here?"
"General, please step aside!"
Outside, imperial soldiers had gathered.
They were gripping their weapons tightly, looking at me as if ready to swing at any moment, and didn't seem inclined to back down even at the sight of General Paul.
Seeing some with bandages on their bodies here and there, it seems those who hold direct grudges against me have gathered.
Is this the soldiers acting on their own?
Well.
It doesn't seem likely.
"Disperse."
"How can we back down with our enemy right before our eyes!"
Despite the commotion outside being audible, Josef didn't come out of the tent.
Whether it's tacit consent or his intention, I couldn't tell, but at least it was easy to see that he had no will to help me.
"It-it's Her Majesty the Empress’ order! Please step aside!"
"Ah, Her Majesty's order, is it? But isn't Her Majesty too far away?"
"Wh-what did you say?"
Erika was of no help at all.
Completely ignored, she shrank back, hiding behind General Paul.
Although the situation seems volatile at a glance, I don't feel much sense of crisis.
Because,
"...Are you disobeying orders now?"
"General Paul...!"
As long as General Paul is marked gray on the mini-map, meaning neutral, he has no reason to let me die here.
I just need to stay still.
"Why are you protecting that bastard!"
"...Disperse!"
If Paul allows it here, I would certainly die, but the key is that Erika, who is from the imperial faction, is here with us.
If they kill Erika too, the Empress would directly intervene at that moment.
The noble faction would have to face the imperial faction with just their current weakened power due to me.
Even when the nobles' power was strong, it was a justification difficult to gloss over, so in a situation where the balance is tilted like now?
Something big would surely happen, so it's not something nobles who are clear about profit and loss calculations would do.
In the end, unless Paul wants a civil war, there's no reason to touch Erika.
Even if they just kill me, it wouldn't be good for Paul.
Erika would return alive and report what happened here to the Empress.
That Paul, who went together, cooperated and killed me.
Here, the noble faction's options become two again.
Either cut Paul off like a tail and offer him as a sacrifice, or defend him and confront the Empress.
Similarly, since the justification lies with the imperial faction, the latter is a considerably burdensome choice for the nobles who have already lost a lot of power.
Naturally, the nobles would pin all the blame on Paul.
Depending on how great the Empress' expectations for me were, Paul's head might even roll in severe cases.
Empress Louise is quite hot-tempered.
"...General Paul."
"Disperse immediately! It's an order!"
The moment I die, Paul will inevitably suffer great losses one way or another, so you could say we've temporarily become a community of fate.
For him, the safest choice is to keep me alive and send me to the imperial palace.
Even if he raises his voice later, for now, he needs to appease the Empress and plan for the future.
If Paul is willing to accept all the losses, there's nothing I can do, but seeing that he's not marked red, it doesn't seem like he wants to kill me that badly.
When there's a gap to escape, is there any reason for him to risk his life to kill me?
So I just need to stand tall behind this invincible shield and show my dignity.
"If you don't disperse immediately, you'll be punished according to military law!"
"Eek..."
The soldiers who had been angry finally scattered at Paul's stern command.
Now there should be no more variables.
Someone with deep resentment might try to come in at night to kill me, but since we're not staying long, it's a problem that can be solved by staying up for a few nights.
"...Thank you."
I'm curious how he feels about having to protect me, who was his biggest enemy, but considering his age close to an elder statesman and my prisoner status.
Instead of asking such a dangerous question, I simply expressed my gratitude.
"I only stepped in because military law must be strict."
General Paul, who was fiddling with his graying hair as if embarrassed,
"Let's go."
Started walking with slightly hurried steps.