Chapter 86
Florian, recalling Viktor's attitude when leaving the meeting room, swallowed hard.
Previously, he could only confront Viktor because he had Volker's backing and knew he was watching from behind.
Now, with Volker lying in a sickbed, there was no one to protect him from Viktor, who had the Empress’ full attention.
Similarly, other officers who had pressured the Red Dragon Corps officers during the meeting shrank back, watching Viktor's expression.
They thought some form of retaliation would come, as they had done something.
"..."
However, even the Red Dragon Corps officers just watched them with slightly flushed expressionless faces, and a strange silence briefly spread through the tent.
"Currently, the siege..."
Florian, growing impatient under Viktor's silent gaze, tried to make excuses, but,
"...The Corps Commander fell from his horse while leading the soldiers and is currently under treatment."
Axel, who was relatively less intimidated, carefully explained the 5th Corps' situation first.
Florian looked at Axel in surprise.
"...With the entire corps in confusion now, it's more important to rectify the situation than to watch each other. The Red Dragon Corps is our ally, and the enemy is the Esperian kingdom's army."
Axel spoke firmly, and Florian, after deep consideration, finally nodded and stepped back.
Viktor looked at him with an unreadable expression.
As if he had anticipated Volker's misfortune, no agitation was visible in Viktor's expression.
"Who is currently commanding the 5th Corps?"
"I, Count Axel Lübeck, the Deputy Corps Commander, am temporarily commanding the 5th Corps."
Viktor's questioning attitude was polite, and Axel relaxed a bit, but,
"I see. Then, may I ask Deputy Corps Commander Axel Lübeck a few questions? Is that alright?"
"...Yes."
"First, what is the battle situation?"
"..."
Viktor came in strong from the first question.
Axel exchanged glances with the officers.
Florian nodded half-resignedly, and other officers' reactions were similar.
"When the Corps Commander was directly commanding, success seemed imminent, but in the process of hastily withdrawing the army, we lost most of our siege weapons. It seems many of the enemy's catapults have also been neutralized, but..."
"Are you saying the 5th Corps is unable to launch additional offensives?"
"...That's correct."
Having obtained the officers' agreement, Axel answered Viktor's question, disregarding Florian's twitching eyes.
"Well, alright. I understand the situation."
Viktor spoke softly as if the questioning was over, and Axel and Florian were relieved that he didn't ask about Volker's condition, but.
"From this moment on, our Red Dragon Corps will take charge of the Serona siege."
Viktor surprised them again by declaring that they would take over the Serona siege.
A shallow ripple spread through the meeting room.
The 5th Corps officers murmured quietly, and,
"Wh-what do you mean! ...Do you mean you'll conduct the siege together with our 5th Corps?"
Florian hurriedly stood up and spoke.
"No. Our corps will conduct the siege alone."
Viktor answered firmly, crushing the hope Florian had harbored.
"I didn't come here seeking cooperation. Our weapons can be dangerous even for those nearby who are unprepared, so I came here to request that you completely withdraw your troops to prevent unnecessary casualties to our allies."
"Withdraw the soldiers..."
The officers' faces turned pale, knowing the reason why Volker had desperately tried to breach Serona fortress.
"...Do you really not need our assistance?"
"As of now, that's correct."
"..."
It was confidence that seemed almost arrogant, but these people now were different from the unproven new corps leaving the meeting room earlier.
Having already demonstrated their strength by capturing La Leon and Adense at an incredible speed, the 5th Corps officers couldn't confidently refute as they had during the meeting.
"...What should we do?"
"If we're pushed back even from here..."
Rather, the officers recalled the 'Empress’ gaze' Viktor had mentioned before, and feared that they might really fall out of the Empress’ favor.
"Or would you like to participate in the siege? Our supplies aren't abundant enough to arm other troops, so it's difficult to provide weapons. And the sound of the siege cannons firing is extremely loud, which could have adverse effects just from being nearby."
"..."
"Of course, as brave soldiers, you could charge the walls with just ladders, but I don't wish to see the empire's young men shedding blood meaninglessly."
"...I agree. The 5th Corps needs time to reorganize anyway, so we'll withdraw our troops for now."
Axel, not wanting to weigh the soldiers' lives against his own safety, agreed to Viktor's persuasion, but,
"...I need to see it with my own eyes."
"Oh ho."
Florian reacted intensely, as if representing the officers' anxiety.
He glared at Viktor with blazing eyes.
"They say La Leon fell and Adense was captured, but we haven't properly confirmed the process and results yet. How powerful those siege cannons are, before seeing it directly..."
"It's hard to believe. I understand."
Viktor nodded slightly and looked at the other 5th Corps officers.
"Do you all think the same?"
"..."
The officers also quietly nodded or showed agreement with Florian's opinion.
"If you agree to measures for your safety, there's nothing we can't show you."
After confirming the officers' intentions, Viktor accepted their request without hesitation.
"Then I too..."
"I'd also like to observe..."
Viktor's ready acceptance only stimulated the officers' anxiety more, but they tried to hide such reactions as much as possible while seeking to directly confirm the Red Dragon Corps' strength.
Following Axel's orders, the 5th Corps soldiers withdrew to the rear, and the Red Dragon Corps prepared for the siege by deploying siege cannons.
"...What is this?"
"Earplugs. I'll teach you a few hand signals, so don't remove them until you see the signal that it's okay to remove them."
The 5th Corps officers put on earplugs and stood next to the Red Dragon Corps officers, watching the Red Dragon Corps move in perfect unison.
A moment later, after giving the hand signal to prepare mentally.
-Boom boom boom boom boom!
The Red Dragon Corps artillery began bombarding the walls of Serona.
"..."
"My..."
Officers who had seen guns or cannons while on the battlefield only reacted with great surprise, but,
"Aaaagh!"
"Divine punishment, it's divine punishment!"
Rear officers including Florian, who had never had occasion to encounter cannon fire, almost lost consciousness at the world-shattering sound.
They covered their ears with their hands, closed their eyes, and trembled violently.
The bombardment continued several more times at intervals of a few minutes.
The Red Dragon Corps officers signaled to the 5th Corps officers that the bombardment had ended.
They removed their earplugs with trembling hands, and,
"..."
"The walls...?"
They were astonished to see that a part of the fortress walls, which had seemed eternal, was completely destroyed.
What the 5th Corps couldn't achieve in days, the Red Dragon Corps had perfectly accomplished in just a few hours.
There was no room for doubt.
The Red Dragon Corps marched through the widely opened walls and thoroughly crushed the kingdom army's almost non-existent resistance.
After finishing up in Serona, Viktor gathered the 5th Corps officers again.
Viktor sat at the center of the round table, but the already completely overwhelmed officers couldn't express dissatisfaction with this fact.
"Do you clearly understand now what I meant when I said we didn't need help?"
"..."
Some officers were still dumbfounded, and,
"We, we didn't dare to defy Her Majesty's orders! It's just...!"
Florian desperately tried to excuse the 5th Corps' and his own attitude.
Viktor raised his hand to stop him, and.
"How is Corps Commander Volker's condition?"
He finally asked the officers about Volker's state.
"...They say they don't know when he'll wake up. He still hasn't regained consciousness."
He grinned at Axel's answer.
"As you've seen, the Red Dragon Corps is strong. However, the fact that its size is only 10,000 remains unchanged."
"...!"
"The order given by Her Majesty was to inflict a decisive blow on the Esperian Kingdom, and I don't think it has been fully achieved yet."
The eyes of quick-witted officers, including Florian, changed.
"To effectively carry out Her Majesty's orders, every single soldier is precious in the current situation. What are your thoughts?"
"If, if it's Her Majesty's will, shouldn't we follow it!"
"I am always loyal to Her Majesty!"
Starting with Florian's shout, the officers one after another proclaimed their loyalty to the emperor.
Some officers tried to remain silent, but when those sitting nearby gave them looks, they reluctantly followed the majority.
"...Your spirit and loyalty seem to pierce the heavens. If Her Majesty had seen this, she would surely be impressed. However, this seems quite different from the 5th Corps I saw earlier..."
"Arguing for defense and trying to delay the advance was Corps Commander Volker's unilateral decision!"
As Viktor broached the subject, Florian, who had already thrown away all pride and everything else, immediately swallowed it up.
In his mind, the self-rationalization that Volker's sacrifice was necessary for the 5th Corps had already concluded.
"I too, due to Corps Commander Volker's coercion..."
"Me too...!"
With Florian, who had been most trusted by Volker, breaking the ice, the officers now sold out Volker without hesitation.
"So, you're saying that you tried to follow Her Majesty's orders, but Corps Commander Volker dared to attempt insubordination?"
"...That's correct."
"...Tell them to treat him well. Corps Commander Volker will have to be held accountable for insubordination against Her Majesty's orders."
With Axel's answer uttered after a final hesitation,
"We will advance to Ordova, the capital of the Esperian Kingdom. Seeing your spirit, I think it won't be difficult with the 5th Corps' help."
"Of course!"
"That's right!"
The divergent treatment of Volker and the 5th Corps was decided.
Some officers agonized to the end, unable to ride the atmosphere, but not a single person stepped forward to defend Volker.
Viktor smiled deeply with satisfaction.