Chapter 67
Western Conquest War.
This was a situation not part of Mirne’s original plans.
For her, who wanted to strictly follow the Original Plot Development and guide the situation as smoothly as possible.
Stepping away from the Original Plot Development herself and creating a situation where variables were bound to occur was not a welcome development.
However,
“The situation… the situation made me do this.”
She needed a decisive blow to cut off the continuous Confession Attacks.
Actually, at first, she had considered gathering everyone in one place and talking to them all at once.
But thinking that would take too long and be inefficient, she steered her direction toward waging a war.
It was a Conquest War in name only.
If she dealt with one properly, the rest wouldn’t be able to act rashly.
Mirne acted on this calculation, and the results were incredibly ideal.
The opposing Kingdom, which had expected to lightly exchange Magic on the plains.
Was completely unprepared for the sudden ambush of knights falling from the sky.
It was no exaggeration to say the war was won in that very moment.
“Proceed in a way that minimizes casualties as much as possible. Once we win this war, it will all become the property of the Maselin Kingdom anyway.”
“I can only marvel at the wisdom of Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mirne. We will do just that!”
To Mirne, the most important thing in war was speed.
If time dragged on with half-measures, the cost of war would pile up like a mountain.
If a sword was drawn, the mission had to be completed quickly.
“The Empire hasn’t shown much of a reaction yet, right?”
“That is correct.”
“We have to finish this before the Empire makes a move. Even if we conquer only one Kingdom, this war is a profit.”
While keeping an eye on the Empire, Mirne swiftly dealt with the opposing Kingdom’s High Command.
The methods varied. These included appeasing them or imprisoning them.
Killing was the absolute last resort.
“We will aim to subdue the High Command without killing them as much as possible… and then proceed with discussions once we determine the conquest is complete.”
“We will follow your orders.”
Everything had to be handled before the Empire made a move.
“Unless they were crazy, there was no way the Empire would sit back and watch another Empire try to rise.”
The one fortunate thing was that their justification was solid.
And the support they had received was shining brilliantly all this time.
An overwhelming power was unseen among the Western Kingdoms.
The combat power of the knights, in particular, was at an absurd level.
From their armor to their weapons and even their Cultivation Method,
Not a single one of them could be considered on the level of the Western Kingdoms' groups.
It was now at a level where comparisons could be made on the continental scale rather than just a Western Region scale.
It was true that they still fell far short when compared to the Empire.
But compared to the opposing Kingdom they were at war with, they stood head and shoulders above the rest.
'Let’s end the Conquest War quickly, go meet the Elves, and claim the World Tree. And using that as a foundation… I’ll even resolve the Executioner’s Covenant.'
If she had her way, she would have quickly gathered clues related to the Covenant and pulled the Executioner out right away.
But because of an inexplicable sense of rejection, she was in a position where she had to wait five years.
She had come to the conclusion that she might as well monopolize the information regarding the Covenant instead.
Thus, she intended to quickly wrap up this Conquest War.
And first secure the information about the Executioner’s Covenant, which would become the strongest sword in the Empire that would later turn into the Demon Realm, but…
“Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mirne! Breaking news! On the side of the opposing Kingdom, the Kanda Kingdom… there are reports that knights presumed to be Imperial Troops have appeared!”
“What?!”
The worst possible development had arrived before Mirne.
+++++
There shall be no blind spots beneath the Eye of the Empire.
This was a saying passed down through generations within the Eye of the Empire.
Originally, it was slated to slowly fade away without any support.
But in the process of the Empire normalizing, it naturally regained its original form.
As a result
“…To think you even found this out, it’s astonishing.”
“For Your Highness to say such a thing… it is an honor! Thank you!”
Starting with the current military strength and strategy of the Maselin Kingdom.
I could easily see a summary of everything, from how the tide of war was turning to the situation in the Kanda Kingdom.
To think that everything about the two kingdoms currently at war could be contained within the three thin sheets of paper in my hand made me wonder if it was even fair that they were this competent.
“This makes no sense.”
As soon as I heard the news that the Maselin Kingdom was waging a Conquest War.
I mobilized the remaining High Elves and ordered them to quickly move the World Tree to the Empire.
There was no resistance whatsoever during this process, so the World Tree was swiftly moved to the palace rear garden.
[ The World Tree has taken root in Imperial Territory. ]
[ The World Tree will spread its roots throughout the Empire in the near future. ]
[ As the World Tree, which was originally slated to be in the Maselin Kingdom, settles in the Empire, the world line changes. ]
[ The World Tree possesses the power not to lose its memories. ]
[ This will be of great help in resolving Pavan’s Covenant. ]
The moment the message about its relocation appeared, a hint regarding Pavan’s Covenant also popped up.
I had expected as much, but the World Tree really was connected to Pavan.
Otherwise, there was no explaining why Pavan had wanted to accompany me when I went to see the World Tree.
“I should stop the Conquest War first, and then resolve Pavan”s Covenant through the World Tree.'
But if that’s the case, is the Noble Title ultimately connected to the Covenant as well?
'It’s true that the Executioners are strong, but it’s fascinating how closely they’re tied to the story.'
I thought they were simply a devastating force, having been briefly sent by the Maselin Kingdom to study abroad in the Empire.
But it seemed there was something much more deeply intertwined than I thought.
Of course, this wasn’t something I could figure out right away.
“To dare wage a Conquest War despite the Empire not granting permission.”
I decided to focus on the current situation.
“Where is the Knight Order that will go to the Kanda Kingdom and punish those who acted rashly without the Empire’s permission?”
The moment my words fell.
“Your Highness! Please leave such a task to our Blue Flame Knight Order! We shall go and engrave the terror of blue flames into those ignorant fools!”
“Your Royal Highness, Crown Prince! The Flame Wing Knight Order has its roots as mercenaries, so we have participated in more wars than anyone else! If you entrust this to us, we will carve the Empire’s majesty into the souls of those insolent wretches!”
“Your Highness, please grant our Scorching Knight Order the opportunity. We shall go and hammer eternal submission into the minds of those reckless fools.”
“Oh, Little Sun of the Empire…”
The waiting knights clamored over one another, shouting to send their respective Knight Orders to the war.
I could see the look in the Knight Commanders' eyes - the look of having found the perfect prey right in front of them when they were bored.
These were the ones who had silently held their posts without a single stray thought, even while the Empire was falling to ruin.
The pillars supporting the Empire so strongly desired to go to the Battlefield.
“Teo.”
“Staff #1 Teo! Ready to receive your orders!”
“Go to the Kanda Kingdom with everyone.”
“Loyalty!”
I had no choice but to grant their wish, didn’t I?
As soon as my words fell, Teo immediately prepared the Group Spatial Movement Magic.
“Your Highness! This Humble Woman can help too!”
“Arveda, I leave it to you.”
“Ehehe…”
Arveda, who was beside him, immediately joined in and completed the Magic instantly.
What to do after completing it was simple.
“Show everyone that nothing can be done without the Empire’s permission.”
“Loyalty!!!”
We stop the war.
Someone might ask what justification we have for doing so.
If so, the answer to that is already set.
Just because.
“I don”t like it.'
It is to dare offend the Empire’s temper.
Where could there be a greater justification than this?
+++++
Knights fell from the sky.
“Ah, aaaaaah…”
And that was the despair of all the Troops waging war in the Kanda Kingdom.
Fwoosh.
Flames could be seen filling the sky.
Their colors varied, but the fact that they were all flames remained unchanged.
The Imperial Knights spoke.
“The war is over. Everyone, drop your weapons and surrender.”
He was telling them to stop their meaningless actions any further.
At those words, everyone stopped what he or she was doing with hollow expressions.
The knights of both kingdoms, who had been fiercely crossing swords just moments ago.
Lowered their eyes like intimidated puppies the moment the Imperial Knights appeared.
They realized that the moment they appeared, the war was no longer a war.
There was no more fighting to the death.
From the moment another sun rose beneath the sun.
Nothing could be done as one pleased without one’s permission.
No one could even ask why this was happening.
The war was over. The moment the Empire intervened, continuing it was impossible.
Of course, that didn’t mean everyone listened.
Variables always existed, and those with reckless courage existed everywhere.
“Just how long do we have to walk on eggshells around the Empire? We’ve gotten stronger too! Isn’t that right!”
With words meant to boost morale, a Knight from the Maselin Kingdom raised his sword.
The momentum looked like he would swing it at any moment.
Up until this point, the Imperial Knights showed no change in expression.
A tiger wouldn’t flinch just because a newborn puppy barked.
However,
Swaaash.
“As long as I have this power…!”
It was the moment when a wave-like Aura imbued the blade of the Maselin Kingdom Knight.
Slash.
“Kuaaaaagh!”
At an imperceptible speed, both legs of the Knight who had emitted the wave-like Aura were severed.
“How is it that a Knight of the Maselin Kingdom possesses an Aura with a nature similar to that of the Imperial Eastern Knights?”
For the first time, anger settled on the faces of the Imperial Knights.
When they first came to the Kanda Kingdom, they had expectations of being able to wage war.
But as everyone quickly surrendered, they were all disappointed by the fact that they couldn’t play an active role.
They had wanted to earn merits and receive praise from the Crown Prince.
But the moment they saw that wave-like Aura, those thoughts completely vanished.
“Did Kailen Marin truly hand over the Cultivation Method to Maselin?”
If this was not the result of private teachings, but the result of planned, collective training.
“Answer.”
The Maselin Kingdom would come to know what a true Conquest War was.