Chapter 121
Erase Taewon before the academy is completed.
At the Crown Prince's command, every military force in the Empire immediately went on a wartime footing.
Those who took the situation most seriously were the knights dispatched to the Eastern Continent.
"His Highness the Second Prince was at our location...."
"If there was a sound loud enough to make a cannon roar, we should have noticed something was wrong and gone to escort him long ago."
"Our excitement at coming to the Eastern Continent made us negligent."
The crime of failing to protect a member of the imperial family despite having been at his side.
In truth, strictly speaking, this had all happened because Second Prince Bedin had thoroughly concealed his identity and secretly slipped away.
But not a single knight considered that to be the problem.
"Our crime of failing to properly serve our lord is great."
"Though we have committed a crime worthy of death, we must live."
"We must live—live and atone for our sins. Death is an escape; we must live and repay every one of our crimes."
"May annihilating every country that joined hands with Taewon serve as even a small measure of atonement."
Failing to properly serve their lord was a crime, and repaying that crime required them to carry out the imperial command to the letter.
The Imperial knights continued sharpening their swords until the signal for full-scale war was given.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince! I, Arveda, have finished preparing the Dragon Legion for deployment!"
"Thank you."
"Heehee."
The Crown Prince prepared to make active use of the executioners in the war.
With overwhelming firepower, casualties could naturally be minimized.
Crown Prince Bellon decided to use every card he held in this war.
Of course.
'But it looks like it will end before I need to play them all.'
Showing those cards and whether the opponent could withstand them were entirely separate matters.
The special forces currently being operated by the Empire were not limited to one or two types.
Starting with the Dragon Legion I mentioned just now.
The dwarven golem-supply corps, the giants' vanguard, the beastmen's melee unit, the fairy and elf reconnaissance team, the merfolk's submarine unit, and so on.
Even though they had only taken shape and had not yet begun proper training.
The moment they began moving in earnest, each force would be powerful enough to swallow an entire country with ease.
"Unfortunately, using all of them would be virtually impossible if we want to wage a modern war."
To inflict the greatest humiliation on the Taewon Coalition while ensuring that the people unrelated to the war suffered no harm.
The fastest method would be to kidnap every high-ranking member of the Taewon Coalition.
Just as I had done when I killed the Northern Grand Duke.
But there was one difference from that time: I had to bring them to the Empire instead of killing them immediately.
They would be publicly executed before the eyes of the entire Empire, rather than being killed on their own soil.
The key to this war was capturing them alive.
Of course, if that proved impossible, I would have no choice but to kill them on the spot.
But we decided to prioritize capturing the Taewon Coalition's high-ranking figures whenever possible.
"They only need to be alive. In any condition—as long as they are breathing, can see, and can speak... any condition will do."
"Understood!"
After giving that order, the Crown Prince headed toward the place where Second Prince Bedin was lying.
Bedin was lying quietly on a bed, with high priests and a saintess at his side, continuing to treat him.
"If all he needs is to regain consciousness, is there really any need for continued treatment? His body looks perfectly fine."
"Even so... just in case... we judged it best to remain at his side for now."
"From Saintess Rowena to the other priests, there is no need for you to remain beside someone whose body is perfectly fine. Go where your services are truly needed."
"We shall obey."
However, the Crown Prince decided that even this was excessive. There was no real danger to Bedin's life, and all his wounds had already been treated.
Since all he needed was to regain consciousness, the dedicated treatment of the high priests and the saintess was meaningless.
"Have the fairies watching him contact me when he regains consciousness."
After saying that, the Crown Prince glanced down at Bedin.
When he had heard that Bedin had been injured while working so hard to act like a proper person, he had briefly doubted his ears.
But seeing him lying here after actually doing such a thing left him feeling conflicted.
"What's the use of carrying a cannon if you get stabbed by a sword? You should have managed your distance better."
Your training is still lacking.
Still, I'll make sure you get your revenge.
Just as he was muttering that inwardly and about to leave the room.
"Oh! Oppa!"
"Not oppa... Yes, whatever."
After a very long time, First Princess Erna suddenly popped into view before the Crown Prince.
"At least you're a younger sister who knows to visit the sick."
"Of course! And I didn't come alone!"
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, I hope you have been well. Estella Naive, Northern Grand Duke, greets you."
Along with the Northern Grand Duke, that is.
+++++
'It's really been a long time since I've seen her.'
The moment I saw Estella, I suddenly felt sorry.
Come to think of it, I had neglected the North far too much lately.
They said I had provided more than enough in terms of supplies and support.
But that was entirely different from meeting her in person and commending her for all her hard work.
I was grateful and sorry to Estella, who had quietly and consistently done an excellent job without ever saying a word.
"I feel ashamed. I practically tossed the North to you and turned my attention elsewhere."
"No, Your Highness. You must oversee the entire Empire, so there is no reason for you to feel that way at all."
"Instead, I'm the one receiving comfort. Anyway, have you been well?"
"...Since Your Highness has looked after the North in so many ways, we have been living without any shortage."
After carrying on a brief conversation about everyday matters.
"I would like to have a cup of tea with you, but the Empire's current situation won't allow it. What a shame."
"I-I feel the same way. Regarding that... the North also wishes to be of help to the Empire."
Northern Grand Duke Estella revealed her true feelings, and I slowly shook my head.
"I understand how you feel. The Empire is furious, and I imagine you feel the same. But if you leave the North, who will hold things together? The North doesn't even have an heir at present."
Estella probably knew that she could not do so, but wanted to say that her heart was with the Empire all the same.
Her words alone were heartening, so I was about to gently admonish her and send her away.
"Then just produce an heir, right? With someone of imperial blood...."
"...!!!"
At Erna's shocking remark, Estella covered her mouth and opened her eyes wide.
I immediately grabbed Erna by the head.
I knew she was simple-minded, but I never expected her to blurt out something so innocent.
She was not merely being innocent, either. There was no way she did not know what it meant to mention an imperial heir here.
A thoroughly deliberate remark.
"Erna, you are excessively lacking in the etiquette one ought to possess as a member of the imperial family."
"...I was wrong! I'm sorry!"
Since she seemed genuinely sorry, I relaxed my grip for now.
"The Empire is currently under wartime conditions. I will overlook this joke once. If you repeat it... I would rather not put what happens into words."
"I will never act rashly again. I am sorry, Your Highness the Crown Prince."
And yet at times like this, she apologized with impeccable decorum.
Leaving Erna to handle it, I sent her a look telling her to apologize to Estella as well.
'Even during wartime, a moment that loosens the tension like this isn't bad. It's better than letting the atmosphere grow rigid.'
In the Crown Prince's memories, this was one reason he had cherished his younger sister.
Should I call it a power to make those around her feel at ease?
There seemed to be an aura about First Princess Erna that let one feel the warmth of the sun.
"But Estella, what reason do you have for leaving the North and coming here?"
"Ah, it became time for the regular report... There were many matters to report this time, so I came myself."
"I see. I'll hear about them on the way."
After that, I walked to the State Council chamber with Estella, matching her pace as we talked.
Behind me.
"...The Crown Prince's heir?"
"His Highness the Crown Prince's heir...."
Arveda and Rowena lowered their heads and seemed to be saying something.
But I was so focused on my conversation with Estella that I did not hear them.
+++++
Bang!
"No, you should have chosen your opponent more carefully! Even so, how could you attack the Empire's Second Prince!"
"They have the justification now! What are we going to do!"
"After declaring war in the first place, what does it matter who has the justification? We intend to charge straight ahead anyway."
The Taewon Coalition's conference room was in an uproar.
The Empire's Second Prince had lost consciousness while stopping the Coalition's small elite force.
They had heard that, as a result, the Empire had entered a full wartime footing and was preparing to destroy the Taewon Coalition.
It was nearly impossible to continue speaking calmly.
"By the way, who was the expert who pierced the Second Prince's stomach? Impressive."
"He is the strongest weapon our side painstakingly raised. He could have taken the Second Prince's life, but the Second Prince escaped by firing his cannon at full force at the last moment...."
The excited discussion continued, and its final conclusion was, 'Who could have harmed the Second Prince?'
At this point, Taewon could naturally prove that it was the leader.
"Taewon has dozens more people like that. I hear the Western Continent calls such people Sword Masters... But when you get down to it, our Taewon Kingdom, known as the hegemon of the Eastern Continent, has an abundance of them as well. Every commander of each unit is a Sword Master! Hahahaha!"
"...As expected of Taewon."
"How reassuring!"
"You mean those in the Transcendent Peak realm. I had certainly heard that Taewon had many Transcendent Peak masters... but every commander being at that level is astonishing."
The countries belonging to the Taewon Coalition were startled by Taewon's overwhelming martial strength.
They had heard that Taewon possessed countless units, but every person serving as the head of one was at the Transcendent Peak realm.
They could only wonder why Taewon had not yet become the Eastern Continent's empire.
'Once the war with the Empire ends, Taewon will naturally become the hegemon of the Eastern Continent.'
'We will be the first to come under that hegemon.'
'Becoming a country that lives beneath an eternal empire isn't so bad. We will continue to remain in history, after all.'
'In the end, aren't those who survive the strong? Foolishly, Cheongryu went against the tide of history.'
The countries belonging to the Taewon Coalition mocked Cheongryu's foolishness.
As a result, the heated atmosphere naturally settled down.
"Although the forces we sent to Jinseong failed to accomplish what they originally intended, they still rendered the Empire's Second Prince unconscious. The Empire must obviously be on high alert by now."
"Naturally. They must be trembling in fear, holding back and fretting over what we might do next."
"Then what if we move even more actively now? The Empire will be completely overwhelmed from the very beginning!"
"What if we invade the Empire ourselves? They would never expect us to cross the sea and attack the Western Continent instead of targeting Cheongryu!"
As various proposals emerged amid the calm atmosphere.
One matter that would determine the Taewon Coalition's next move was suddenly brought before the conference room.
"...The Kingdom of Je-an, which was near Jinseong... has reportedly been attacked!"
"What?!"
"All the high-ranking officials except the king... They say every one of them vanished in the blink of an eye!"
It was news that a country belonging to the Coalition had suddenly been attacked.
Vanished? Everyone except the king?
"...Are you saying my entire royal family has vanished, except for me?"
What in the world was this supposed to mean?
In the Taewon Coalition's conference room, it was as though someone had thrown a bucket of cold water.
Everyone clamped their mouths shut and began watching one another warily, as silent as mice.
All of them wore expressions saying that they had no idea what was going on.