Chapter 51
A week had passed since the notice was posted. Five thousand volunteers had already gathered.
I extended the schedule further and raised the estimate to ten thousand.
If the roster reached ten thousand, I planned to select only 300~500 for the vanguard. That was the absolute limit we could control.
Needless to say, I would be the vanguard commander.
Some might call it insane for the commander-in-chief to serve as the vanguard commander. In fact, I had heard exactly that.
'It's madness, Young Master. The commander-in-chief standing at the vanguard!'
At the meeting, Julian's opposition had been entirely reasonable.
Putting the head of the chain of command on the front line ignored the fundamentals of military strategy.
But this expedition had certain special circumstances.
'Julian. The men gathered here aren't regular troops. No one will follow orders just by watching spit fly from a commander's mouth. They'll steel themselves when they see blood being spilled.'
They were just as rebellious as they were skilled. Orders from the rear would not control them.
Only if I stood at the vanguard would they be swept up in the madness and follow.
Staying in the rear just because I was commander-in-chief would also mean wasting our fighting strength.
That didn't mean I planned to swing my sword all day.
I would stand at the front only at the first clash, when the most dangerous monster wave came surging in, and raise our troops' morale.
Once the battle stabilized, I envisioned returning to the center of the formation and taking command from there.
'The problem is the brief gap while I'm at the vanguard.'
Who would take responsibility for that gap?
'Adjutant. While I open the way at the vanguard, you will be solely responsible for maintaining and controlling the main force's formation.'
'You're saying you'll delegate all command authority to me?'
'Is that too much of a burden?'
At my matter-of-fact question, Lucia shook her head with a faint smile.
'Of course not. I'll make sure the front line never gives way.'
In my first life, she had been the commander-in-chief of the Allied Forces of Humanity.
Lucia did not study military strategy at the academy, but she had already devoured every military treatise.
She had been exceptional from the very start.
"Ten-minute break!"
Appointing the vanguard was solely my authority.
Even now, I was filtering out the elite soldiers to draft into the vanguard.
A mercenary wiped the blood from his mouth and staggered off the field.
One by one, the people who would stand at the vanguard were being filtered out through relay sparring matches.
'There was no one better than Bagot and the Tak-Tak brothers.'
Bagot, Bellutak, Bural-tak, and Jenkinson.
These four had made the vanguard roster whether they wanted to or not.
They had all intended to volunteer for the vanguard anyway, so there was no problem.
Since it was also break time, I went to the central tent to catch my breath.
As expected, someone had already gotten there first.
"Hey. Keeper of the Holy Sword."
The red-gold eyes fixed on the floor turned toward me.
For four days, the Keeper had done nothing but sit there and take up space.
The Keeper was not entirely useless, since the occasional Ring Knight with potential would prompt a rush to tell them to try holding the Holy Sword. The Keeper was closer to an obstruction.
"Hey, you aren't planning to join the expedition, are you? Because of those tenets or whatever."
The Keeper of the Holy Sword nodded.
The Keeper of the Holy Sword could not use that power for personal purposes. That was the Keeper's own tenet and prohibition.
"Since we're on the subject, we don't need an unwelcome guest who isn't going to help, either."
The Keeper of the Holy Sword could use that power only for the greater good.
What sort of actions counted as serving the greater good here?
To begin with, it wasn't the Ashen Forest expedition.
Beating up those who refused to take the qualification test did.
The greater good was apparently defined however the hell they pleased.
"Frankly, once we set out, you'll follow us again, won't you? You'll just sit back and watch for anyone who might become the Holy Sword's master. Am I right or wrong?"
If the Keeper stubbornly tagged along and merely searched for a master, the Keeper would only create an awkward atmosphere and make things uncomfortable for us.
It was no different from interfering with the expedition.
The Keeper knew that, too, so there was not even a single retort.
"So let's make a deal. After we set out, I won't object to whatever you do or whoever you do it to. In return, you follow my command."
"I have tenets."
"I know, that's exactly what I'm saying."
There happened to be a shield propped up in one corner of the tent. I brought it over and handed it to the Keeper of the Holy Sword.
"You won't need to use a sword there. Just be a meat shield."
"……."
"What? You can at least hold a shield and block monsters, can't you? If it looks like the expedition is going to fail, you can run off on your own."
Every tenet had loopholes.
Just as the Holy Sword's tenet of chastity forbade only intercourse.
The Keeper of the Holy Sword's 'restriction on the use of force' also had an obvious loophole.
The restriction only prevented attacks; the Keeper could still act as a shield.
"I understand."
The Keeper of the Holy Sword nodded reluctantly.
"Good. Later, I'll send the people assigned as shield-bearers to you. Before then, I'll give you a shield-fighting manual, so study it."
With that, I had won over the Keeper of the Holy Sword. All that remained were the elves and Sister Selena.
The former was essentially in a position where we held all the leverage, so I wasn't worried.
The troublesome one was Sister Selena.
"Young Master! Young Master!"
A servant pushed aside the tent flap and rushed in, panting. The servant's face was covered in sweat, so it must have been urgent.
"What is all the fuss about?"
"B-breaking news! Look at this!"
The servant's arms were laden with all sorts of morning newspapers.
The servant held out the stack of newspapers with trembling hands.
I quickly skimmed just the front-page headlines.
[Imperial Geographical Society Issues Emergency Statement! A Preemptive Strike on the Ashen Forest Could Become the Spark for a Monster Wave……]
[Leading Monster Scholars in the Imperial Capital Strongly Condemn Cardenos's Reckless Expedition!]
[Coalition of Intellectuals Submits Joint Petition Calling for Expedition to Be Postponed……]
The Empire's most prominent intellectuals were up in arms, condemning the expedition.
I carefully checked the dates and publication times of the articles.
"They coordinated the releases."
Scholars with lofty airs and strong opinions had all raised their voices at once.
At precisely the same time, as if they had made an arrangement.
"They didn't come forward of their own accord. Someone's behind this, bribing them and getting them to sing the same tune. It's obviously Rosenthal's doing."
"T-the House of Rosenthal?"
Rosenthal had incited influential scholars to submit a protest petition.
I let out a hollow laugh and crumpled the newspaper in my hands.
"Then how are we supposed to respond? Won't His Highness the Crown Prince stop them even if we leave things alone?"
One could think that. The Imperial Family had provided military funding, after all.
The Rosenthal faction could not possibly have been unaware of the Crown Prince's public declaration, either. They had mobilized the scholars despite knowing that.
They knew that, too.
Imperial military funding could hardly be called full support; it was merely nominal support that could be withdrawn at any time.
It was obvious that the Crown Prince must be agonizing over it by now.
Whether to withdraw despite taking a slight blow to his dignity.
'In the end, he'll pretend he has no choice and side with the scholars.'
If experts were opposing it so vehemently, the Crown Prince, who wasn't even the emperor, could do nothing but lose his nerve.
Rosenthal had set this whole scheme in motion with that in mind.
From the Crown Prince's perspective, Rosenthal must look contemptible, but there was nothing he could do.
If Rosenthal sided with the scholars and called it a service to the Empire, what could he say?
"What should we do now?"
"There still hasn't been an official statement from the Imperial Family, right?"
"Yes, that's right, but……."
Rosenthal and the Imperial Family had not coordinated in advance.
That left us a clear path forward.
Zenon was a hollow man who lived and died for appearances. He was indecisive, too.
That indecisiveness was a great help to us.
"Whatever its scale, the Imperial Family provided military funding. That alone gives us the justification."
***
The next morning, in the Crown Prince's office.
Crown Prince Zenon clicked his tongue as he looked down at the daily newspaper on the table.
[Imperial Geographical Society Issues Emergency Statement! A Preemptive Strike on the Ashen Forest Could Become the Spark for a Monster Wave……]
"Rosenthal has played its hand skillfully."
Zenon had provided military funding to build Astin up and send him into a deathtrap.
But Rosenthal's intervention had sent matters down a different path.
After the scholars united their voices, Zenon watched the public reaction for a day.
The agitation was largely baseless, but the people of the Empire looked to the intellectuals' prestige.
Public reaction unfolded exactly as Zenon had predicted.
That day, protesters took to the streets in the Imperial Capital's central square.
Their slogans included: Cardenos has been blinded by vainglory at the expense of the Empire's safety!
The scholars' campaign would spread like wildfire from the Imperial Capital throughout the Empire.
Judging by public opinion now, withdrawing was the wisest course.
It would be difficult to push ahead with the expedition in defiance of them, either—and what if, by some chance, the expedition ended as the scholars had predicted?
Then everyone would point fingers at Zenon.
They would say he had turned a deaf ear to the intellectuals and put the Empire in danger.
It would be a slight blow to his dignity, but what other choice did he have?
'It's a shame I can't let Astin die.'
Zenon pulled over the documents lying at one side of the desk and picked up a pen.
He would revoke the Imperial Family's support in full. Preparations for the expedition would stop at once.
It was a statement announcing the withdrawal of support in agreement with the scholars' opinion.
'This might not be so bad, either.'
Once he signed it, Astin would be branded a traitor who had merely stoked public fear.
Complete isolation and ruin. This, too, was a satisfying outcome in its own way.
He had just dipped the pen nib in ink and moved it toward the paper when—
Bang-!
"Y-Your Highness! Your Highness!"
The chief aide threw open the door and rushed in. His face was deathly pale.
"What is this commotion? How uncouth."
"The Imperial Capital Daily has issued an extra! Public opinion across the entire capital is turning upside down!"
Zenon frowned and snatched the extra edition from the trembling aide's hands.
The instant he read the huge headline emblazoned across the front page, his expression froze.
[Arrogant Scholars Rebel Against the Imperial Family's Great Decision! Where Is Their Evidence?]
[The Ivory Tower's Intellectuals Clinging to Self-Preservation—How Dare They Trample the Imperial Family's Greater Cause?]
Zenon's eyes trembled as though shaken by an earthquake.
A coalition of intellectuals had risen against the Imperial Family's decision. The Imperial Family was condemning them.
Only then did Crown Prince Zenon realize what he was seeing.
Then who? From where?
His conclusion came quickly.
"That rat Astin!"
Bang!
Zenon's face flushed crimson.
The Cardenos brat had used the Imperial Family under the pretext of military funding.
"How dare he use my name to stir up public opinion!?"
It was infuriating, but Zenon himself had provided the expedition's funding.
And since it was military funding in particular, he had handed Astin all the justification he needed.
Even if he tried to imprison Astin for disrespecting him, he had no grounds.
The article did not advocate rebellion or usurpation; it consistently praised the Crown Prince's decision.
That left no grounds for reprimanding Cardenos.
"What a sly little rat……."
The brat had used his head well, too—without an ounce of fear.
Zenon held his forehead and sighed as if the earth had caved in.
What mattered was public opinion—the people's support.
Would the citizens of the Imperial Capital side with Cardenos and the Imperial Family, or with the scholars…….
"I suppose I need to watch public sentiment for a day."
And the next day.
When the chief aide brought him the report, Zenon clicked his tongue bitterly.
"The citizens of the Imperial Capital are urging people to sign in support of the Imperial Family and Cardenos. At this rate, the intellectuals look ready to tuck their tails between their legs."
"……I see."
Zenon crumpled the withdrawal statement into a ball and threw it away.
Public opinion had already swung to this side.
He disliked feeling as though Astin had played him, but Zenon thought of it differently.
Hadn't Astin volunteered to die in the expedition of his own accord?
I have no reason to be angry. Yes, that brat will pay for his crimes with his life anyway.
……Even so, his anger refused to cool. He felt as though he had become that brat's chess piece.
Bang!
"Summon the spokesman at once. We need to issue an official statement."
Zenon panted as he forcibly tamped down his anger.
"Address it to the academic world. Tell them to keep their mouths shut if they don't want holes punched in those overstuffed heads!"
Oops.
Zenon rubbed his aching forehead and added,
"……Put it more tactfully."
*
―Imperial Family Statement: Pens Cannot Break Swords―
[The Imperial Family expresses its deep regret at the self-preservationism announced by the academic world at this time.
Remember this. The history of the great Empire was not written by scholars' pen nibs. You must bear in mind that its foundation is the blood and sweat of warriors who advanced without fear of death.
(Omitted)
The Ashen Forest expedition by the Grand Ducal House of Cardenos cannot be dismissed as mere territorial expansion.
It is a grand vision and a noble decision to expand the frontier of humanity's survival.
To disparage it as 'the spark of a disaster' is an act of treason that seeks to break the Empire's enterprising spirit.
We will never stand idly by while the academic world's arrogance incites public fear through armchair theorizing.
(Omitted)
We once again proclaim our wholehearted support for the Ashen Forest expedition.
Empire, humanity—behold.
Human history has always burst forth into a dazzling dawn by transcending the impossible.
Look upon the warriors gathered beneath the Black Lion's banner.
In the land of death that even the gods have forsaken, humanity will once again demonstrate infinite possibility.
―Imperial Capital Daily Extra―]