Chapter 74. No More Lingering Attachments

Two months later.

"I am Dominic Smith, master firearms craftsman from the Anchester Kingdom."

"Oh my, I look forward to working with you."

Dominic temporarily joined the empire and began preparations for full-scale production of matchlock muskets.

"Have you ever tried using grooves inside the barrel?"

"Carving spiral grooves makes the bullet fly more accurately, but it becomes too difficult to process and load as the bullet needs to fit tightly."

"If we use this Lorenz bullet, wouldn't it offset such disadvantages?"

"...I'll research it."

As engraving rifling in the barrel was technically difficult, I just mentioned this clue in advance and moved on.

"What do you think about attaching a structure to fix a sword at the front of the barrel?"

"Attach a sword? What do you mean?"

"Although it's heavy at the rear where the action is located, if we attach a sword to the sturdy, weighty end of the gun, it could be used similarly to a spear in emergencies. Isn't it more efficient to wear a single dagger than carrying a separate auxiliary weapon?"

"A sword at the end of the gun... Haha."

Instead, I prepared a bayonet that would greatly improve the close combat capabilities of the gun troops.

As proper tactics using guns haven't been established yet, this much should be enough to show an overwhelmingly impressive appearance.

"First rank, prepare to fire!"

-Click.

"Fire!"

-Bang!

"First rank, retreat! Second rank, prepare to fire!"

The Red Dragon Corps, having received firearms, also began full-scale training including formation alignment, volley fire, repeated loading, and bayonet fitting.

As saltpeter was produced in both the empire and the Brotan Kingdom, there was no need to worry about a lack of gunpowder.

Considering the Red Dragon Corps' training situation and the dates when additional quantities would be transported, I planned the western expedition for three months later.

I intended to thoroughly train the Red Dragon Corps to prepare for battle during that time.

"Corps Commander! Corps Commander Viktor!"

However, while training the Red Dragon Corps like this,

"A coup led by Pavel Andreyev has occurred in the Rus Kingdom, and Pavel has ascended to the throne!"

A messenger came to deliver news to me.

"In response, General Josef Steiner has marched using the coup as justification, and is currently besieging Zabinsk!"

"..."

The shocking news that the generals who remained in the Rus Kingdom had finally made a fatal move.

"...I thought there wasn't much time left for the truce to expire, but I didn't expect they wouldn't even fulfill that truce period."

Anna, who heard the news alongside me, left a calm impression.

And I fell into contemplation.

***

There were no unexpected events.

Zabinsk fell not long after, and the Rus Kingdom, with its capital captured, officially surrendered.

It took less than a month from Josef moving his army to the Rus Kingdom's surrender.

Louise decided to completely annex the Rus Kingdom.

"How would you like me to handle your homeland? If it's your request, I'm willing to listen."

"No. Please do as Your Majesty wishes."

Before making the decision, Louise asked for my opinion, but I just told her to do as she wished.

She dismissed me with a slightly displeased expression.

"Josef Steiner, I appoint you as Governor-General of the northern occupied territories. Show the mercy and benevolence of the Dragonian Empire to those who have been groaning under the tyranny of the Rus Kingdom."

In the subsequent distribution of merits, Josef, who had returned to the capital majestically, was put in charge of overseeing the occupied territories of the Rus Kingdom.

Perhaps because the occupied territories were unremarkable in both resources and manpower, Louise, who had still kept most of the occupied areas in the Brotan Kingdom direction as direct territories, distributed the northern lands to those who had achieved merits in the Northern War.

"..."

I stood quietly behind Gerhart, watching the scene of the Rus Kingdom's lands being dismantled one by one according to Louise's declarations.

My mind became complicated.

Although there was hardly anything worth calling memories, and I had already spent several months in the Dragonian Empire, so I thought I wouldn't have much feeling about it.

It was certainly a strange feeling to see the Rus Kingdom completely disappear from the map.

Perhaps because those complex emotions showed,

"You look tired, General. How about resting a bit earlier today?"

On the way back to the tent, Anna spoke to me.

"I'm fine. I won't work too late, so there's no need to worry."

"...Yes, General."

Even though I said I was fine, the concern in Anna's expression didn't disappear.

...Was there still some lingering attachment to the Rus Kingdom?

It's not strange for some feelings, whether resentment or whatever, to accumulate after having been enemies for so long.

But if it's noticeable enough for others to perceive, I can't just leave it be.

Wanting to shake off even the last lingering attachment, I headed towards the prison where the Rus Kingdom's prisoners were confined.

---

Pavel and Yuri were captured as prisoners during the siege of Zabinsk and transferred to Rainesberg.

Unlike Antoine and the hostages from the Brotan Kingdom who received at least superficial respect, these were imprisoned as examples in accordance with Louise's policy to completely annex the Rus Kingdom.

"...Is this the result of our decision? To be locked up in a damp prison, eating hard bread?"

Pavel tore at the bread given as rations and spat out a complaint mixed with rebuke to Yuri, who was imprisoned with him.

"Didn't I tell you to send a letter to the Dragonian Empire right away! If we hadn't just held banquets to celebrate..."

"Didn't you agree at the time? Saying it would relieve tension?"

"Isn't this a disaster because we didn't properly communicate with the empire! Are you blaming me even now that we've come to this?"

Yuri also raised his voice in response, and their noisy argument echoed in the prison.

After arguing about each other's faults for a long time,

-Creak.

"...!"

When they heard the sound of the prison entrance opening, they reflexively closed their mouths.

"...? That..."

"..."

As the sound of the guard talking to someone grew closer, Yuri and Pavel sat down with a hint of expectation.

A moment later,

"It's here."

"Hmm, thank you."

The door of the cell where they were confined opened, and a man wearing an imperial army uniform painted black appeared.

Pavel confirmed the face of the person who entered,

"...Viktor?"

He could recognize the face even in the dim light of the cell.

"Viktor? This..."

Yuri flushed and tried to rush at Viktor, but sat back down seeing the guard watching from beyond the bars.

"You've become a proper imperial officer. Have you come to mock us?"

Pavel spoke mockingly, looking at Viktor's uniform engraved with the empire's symbol all over.

"Hmm... Come to think of it, that might be right."

Viktor nodded slightly with a faint smile.

"Ha! The person who should be most ashamed for betraying his homeland is going to mock us? Do commoners have no sense of patriotism? Well, I guess they're commoners because they don't."

"Ingratitude has always been a characteristic of commoners. So, when are you going to betray the empire?"

They could have begged for good treatment, but their pride wouldn't allow them to flatter Viktor, whom they hadn't liked even when in the kingdom.

Yuri and Pavel naturally joined forces, mocking Viktor and maintaining their last shred of dignity.

To such criticism,

"...Hmm."

Viktor hardened his expression and glared at Yuri.

"Do you think I'm a traitor?"

"Then, aren't you? Someone who was a general of the kingdom handed over all our main forces to the empire. If this isn't betrayal, what is?"

Pavel held his tongue feeling ominous, but Yuri continued to spit out words.

"Haha. I think so too."

Viktor, looking at Yuri, agreed with those words with a laugh, and,

"So, aren't you traitors too?"

Raised the corner of his mouth in a smirk.

"What?"

"I hear there wasn't a single noble who refused the proposal to sell me out, including you. You must have known what efforts I had been making for the Rus Kingdom all this time."

"That..."

"Did you really not know what it meant to hand me over to the empire for a one-year truce? Did you sell me out without really knowing?"

Viktor leaned forward and met Yuri's eyes.

"Weren't you trying to escape? Weren't you trying to pack up your wealth and run away, like Nikolai?"

"..."

Viktor, who had been reprimanding Yuri with a smiling expression like that,

"Well, it's fine. Thanks to you all, I gained certainty."

Hardened his face again as if he had never smiled.

Yuri felt goosebumps rising up his arms as he watched Viktor's rapidly changing expressions.

"I'm going to become a hero. Since there's someone who wants that, shouldn't I become one? I'll unify this continent and bring peace to this chaotic world. It might sound paradoxical to say war for peace, but I think it's the most appropriate expression to show the current reality of the continent."

"...You're mad."

At Pavel's muttered words, Viktor looked at him and moved his head slightly.

"'Mad,' you say, I'm not sure about that. You, who betrayed me out of lust for power and thoughtlessly staged a coup leading to the country's destruction, seem more like mad people to me."

"Ha, that's..."

"You don't need to say it, I know. It's obvious what you're thinking. You'll make excuses like things didn't go as expected, as you always have."

Viktor reached out his hand and covered Pavel's mouth.

"Still, I thank you all. If I had stayed in the Rus Kingdom, I would still be trapped in the northern part of the continent, panting while fighting against your checks."

He left his final impression and turned around with a refreshed expression.

"Thanks to you, I was able to discard even the last bit of lingering attachment. As a reward, I'll speak well to Her Majesty so that you can spend your last moments without pain."

"...Huh?"

"Wait, what does that..."

-Thud.

Viktor left with lighter footsteps than when he entered, and the prison door closed again.

Pavel and Yuri, sensing their future, looked at each other, and,

"You needlessly provoked him, and this is what happened. Are you happy?"

"...Are you speaking like that again?"

As always, they started arguing again.

To not feel the damp and chilly air of the prison.