Chapter 25 - Volume 3 (2/2)

The girl who had enlisted in the military despite her gender, the girl who was frequently mocked by the men, and at one time, had retorted in a loud voice questioning where the males and females of the North were, was now replying to my commands here in this location after many decades had passed.

“Mighty soldiers of Habsburg, listen to my words.”

I turned towards the troops.

“I do not know who you all have sworn your loyalty to, and I do not believe that loyalty is required when your meals are on the line. However, all of you should know. The duty of a person and the task of a soldier, these are things that you all should know well. If we flee, then the youths of our country will die. If we yield, then our country’s land will be set ablaze. Oh, great soldiers of Habsburg, who were once young and have always lived in these lands, it is time for us to pass down the things which we have enjoyed to our sons and daughters.”

I unsheathed my sword and raised it to the sky. The formal dress-sword, which had been passed down for generations within my family, was lost in the previous battle. But why did that matter? I lived on the battlefield. This was my home. This was where the House of Rosenberg was at.

I cried out. The heat from my gut surged upwards, burning and piercing through my wet coughs, and exploded in the winter atmosphere.

“For the Empire!”

The soldiers raised their crossbows and spears and shouted back fervently.

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— For the Empire!

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While hoping for my voice to reach the other side of ranks, that could not be seen due to the fog and snow, I roared.

“For the Empire!”

The soldiers reciprocated.

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— For the Empire!

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The voices from the other side of the base, which was concealed by the flurry, reached where I stood as well. The aged soldiers, who were born from different places and lived their lives differently, were going to die together at the end of their lives in the same location. The snowflakes, which had all respectively formed within different temperatures and were carried by diverse winds, all fell to the same floor and subsided. To live like a snowflake and to, at last, die like a snowflake. The snow that melted first in order to prevent the snow, which was going to stack on top of them, from melting. I gladly accepted all the snow with similar lives and all the snow with similar deaths. The North was a country of snow. A home that was established for the people who were unable to go south. Turning my face towards the sky, I let out a sigh. This was a day well suited for wailing. A good day to wail……

At forenoon, a captain came running to me.

“Your honor, the first line has been breached. The remnant soldiers of the first line have joined the second line. Fortunately, there was little confusion during the momentary retreat. Although many were injured, few were killed.”

“Good. Continue to defend as so.”

While glancing down at the map, I gave the order. The blizzard was fierce so it was impossible to perceive the military camp with one’s eyes alone. While drawing the things that could be seen and could not be seen on the map, I felt my way towards a direction and made assumptions as to where our soldiers had to go.

“We are already winning just by being able to hold out like this. Do not fight hastily, and do not die quickly. Endure for as long as you can. Instruct this to the troops once more.”

“Understood!”

After a while, an orderly ran in. The orderly was the captain’s adjutant. Since the captain had fallen in battle, the adjutant was doing the captain’s task in their stead. I did not ask where the captain had fallen, and the adjutant did not tell me as well.

“General, the second group has been breached. The second and third line have joined together and are resisting the enemy. Our morale has yet to diminish. The leader of the knight corps has fallen.”

“Very well. On your way back, inform company commander Gebauer to abandon her given task and participate on the front line. Fight while abiding your time, but move with haste. By moving quickly, you will be able to fight less.”

“Understood, general!”

Once it had become midday, around the time the blizzard had ceased, an orderly ran in. Once again, it was a completely different person. On the next occasion, the orderly had died and nearly all of the other captains had fallen, so the only ones who could run in to report were now the adjutant’s servants. The messenger gave a very punctual salute and gave the situation report.

“The third line has been breached. Our whole army is fighting back at the final wooden barricade. Although the ranks of the unit are disorderly and assimilated, there are no issues in fighting together as a group.”

“Good. I command the remaining knights to charge. If you utilize the narrow pathway between the fences, then the charge should be easy to carry out. Strike the flanks of the enemy who are engrossed in our side.”

“Understood, your honor. May we achieve fortune in war.”

Then a different soldier, and a different soldier……

Finally.

Everything had become still because there was no longer anyone in my surrounding.

Like a person of the North, the captains had struggled till their very last moments. We did not capture the soldiers who fled, and since we did not catch them, I believed that more had stayed. In the Royal Knight Guard, from the royal knights to the knight servants, all of them had died in battle heroically. During the final assault, the Crown Prince went forward with the troops without a word. I did not ask how the Crown Prince had died, and no one had told me how he had died either. The final messenger to give me the battle report was not a captain, not an adjutant, and was not even an adjutant’s servant. The last report was given by a soldier who did not have a rank. The soldier informed me that the final line had been breached and immediately headed back out to the front.

“……”

While receiving the serene midday sun on my back, I stared down at the map.

The sunlight melted the frozen waste, spreading a foul damp smell throughout the camp. It was the breath that had flowed from the Heavens. Since snow descended from the sky, and this was the scent that was emitted when that snow had melted, it felt as if this was the smell of the sky. ……Was the country of snow the country of the sky? Were the people of the snow the people of the sky? Was that the reason why the people of snow returned to the sky so easily?

My back became heated because of the sunlight. While taking in the damp scent, I recalled the time the Imperial Princess had washed my body. I was not completely ignorant in regards to the reason behind why the Imperial Princess had discarded both the Crown Prince and myself in this location.

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— What should this one do?

— You will block our rear.

— Is your highness telling this one to die while defending?

— I will not stop you. However, it will not only be you. My brother shall be there as well. If you let the Crown Prince of the Empire die, then you will most likely become known as a traitor for all of eternity.

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Become an eternal traitor.

The Imperial Princess was saying that.

People whispered among one another that Margrave Georg von Rosenberg was the origin to the start of this war. Margrave Rosenberg lost the Black Mountains and ruined the Empire’s plan to end this battle with a short war. Furthermore, Rosenberg was now unable to protect the Crown Prince from death and will thus shake the courtroom of the Empire. Therefore, while shouldering all the crimes and tasks by himself, Georg will collapse and be submerged in the frozen waste, that is how you will contribute greatly; this was the Imperial Princess’ true words. Feeling blinded by that immense Imperial grace, I asked the Imperial Princess.

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— Is your highness giving this one an opportunity?

— I simply wish to give you an appropriate location. Leave while bearing all of your humiliation alone.

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Although it was a devil’s offer, at the same time, it was the only path to saving the Empire so it was an undeniable offer.

……The Imperial Princess has truly given an appropriate place to this old bag of bones. As this region was my home and my country and was the place where the people will reside and reside again, her highness had seen through this.

A shadow entered from behind my back. The shadow stepped on the snow. While making an indistinct sound, the snow received the weight of the life which stepped on them.

“Hm. Are you Georg von Rosenberg?”

“That is so.”

I continued to stare at the map. Each map was a place where people had died. I thought of the people who had fought similar to the ways they had lived. I thought of their coarse and firm hands that pulled the triggers on the crossbows. Even after they had fired the bolt, they continued to pull the wire. Shoot and pull again, they continued to pull. The battle continued on as long as life persisted, and it felt as if I was nothing more than the single instant that proved that endless continuation.

“The battle is over, human child. What are you looking at?”

“The battle.”

“And if that battle is over as well, what will you look at?”

“The battle.”

The sound of metal approached and severed the winter air.

……So this is the sound of my life being cut.

I thought as so. I wonder if the flesh diverged more delicately than the air since I could not hear the sound of it being severed. My vision was flipped and flipped several more times until I was eventually staring up towards the sky. That was the place where I will turn to. I closed my eyes.

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— Since I cannot cleanse your mind, consider the thought that I am consoling you by cleansing your body. The path of consideration will at least not be solitary.

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I shall contemplate the meaning and contemplate once more. However, since the country of snow was the country of the sky, one day, they will return to the earth and pile up once again, thus continuing their pitiful lives. The thing which consoled me were those poor lives and was immensely more comforting than your highness’ consideration.

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Your Imperial grace is immeasurable, your highness.

Please treat us subjects with sympathy.

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▯The King of Peasants, Rank 71st, Dantalian

Empire Calendar: Year 1506, Month 3, Day 12

Naris Plains, Imperial Army Encampment

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“……”

I gazed down at the head of Rosenberg which had fallen to the snow-covered ground.

Rosenberg was still looking forward with narrowed eyes. Things were most likely no longer visible in those eyes and things were most likely unable to be appreciated by those eyes anymore. Regardless, Rosenberg will forever point towards a direction with that frozen gaze. After I turned my head to follow his eyes, I saw the sky. I muttered.

“Go to a good place, margrave.”

I lifted up Rosenberg’s head from the snow. I brushed off the snow that was in his hair and wiped off the liquid which was flowing from his neck with a washcloth. Barbatos had beheaded Rosenberg.

Thus, our plan was a success. Although there was a variable where Marbas’ second army was defeated by the Imperial Princess, considering the Imperial Princess’ capabilities, if anything, that was an acceptable result. It would be better to consider it a relief that Barbatos had not lost. Additionally, it was thanks to the Imperial Princess winning that I was also able to acquire victory. A tie. It was still a tie……

For quite a while, the war had reached a state of lull.

Marbas had to recruit troops once more and Barbatos had to reorganize her army as well. The ones that needed time was not only the Demon Lord Allied Forces but the Human Alliance, which required time to form a new strategy, as well.

Though it seemed the humans were hoping for the war to end with a short battle, I apologize. This is still much too soon. Please partake in my waltz a little longer. While looking at Rosenberg’s face, I beamed.

“What are you trying to see even after death? Close your eyes and rest well, margrave.”

I lowered Rosenberg’s eyelids with my palm. Thus, Rosenberg had finally closed his eyes. I did not know what great cause and what sense of justice this old man was trying to look at in his final moment. It was probably something tedious.

A captain approached and informed me that Barbatos had called for me. I ordered the captain to hold onto Rosenberg’s head. I intentionally intimidated him.

“I plan to gift this to General Farnese. Hold onto it well since the general will like it very much. If you were to, perhaps, lose it, then the general would be quite upset at you. At that time, even I will be unable to stop the general.”

The captain’s face turned pale and he carefully bundled Rosenberg’s head. The way his fingers trembled made it seem like he was handling his own head. I chuckled and made my way towards Barbatos. Within the empty enemy quarters, Barbatos was filing her nails.

“Oh, you’re here?”

“I am here to congratulate you for the great victory, your highness–.”

I uttered while kneeling down. I was the type of person who would even kneel if it was for a joke. Barbatos snorted.

“All right. It’s quite nice to see that your bullshit is ascending. Follow me.”

“Are you going to show me something good again? Your good things are lined up for each day, so I’m unsure when I’ll be able to get some proper sleep.”

Barbatos grinned.

“Can you just follow me without a word?”

If you make a fuss, then I’ll pour profanities on you by the bucketload again.

That was what Barbatos’ gentle smile was suggesting.

As an individual who believed in common sense and refinement, I followed Barbatos. A prisoner was bound in one of the corners of the military camp. His armor was quite thick. His social standing was most likely a high noble. Barbatos whispered into my ear.

“That’s the Crown Prince of the Habsburg Empire.”

“……”

Surely.

This was something truly great.

Barbatos slightly bit my earlobe with her front teeth.

“Dantalian, you won’t swear your loyalty to me. That is a tragedy that I consider to be quite regrettable. However, although you haven’t sworn your loyalty, you are still faithful to me. I don’t plan to accept that without a price.”

“Oh? And what do you mean by that?”

“I will give him to you.”

Barbatos brushed my chest with her hand. It felt as if each of her fingers contained an organic function. So this was what the touch of a hand, that could resurrect the dead from the earth, felt like. That was how I thought. If it was this much, then even I would have gladly stood up immediately if I were a skeleton.

“You can use that prisoner as you wish.”

“Barbatos……”

I gently raised Barbatos’ chin. Barbatos did not refuse my discourteous touch. Our lips drew near.

“You may know this already, but I despise women with small bodies.”

“Hm, so?”

“But you alone, I cannot refuse.”

“I know, you idiot.”

We kissed for a long time. It was a kiss that contained gratitude instead of lust. Barbatos, for the reason that I had forced march northwards in order to save her, and myself, for the reason that she did not disregard my standing and presented me with a proper reward. How beautiful is a partner who knows how to be honestly grateful for what they had received, and reward the other party soon after? We were beautiful business partners. I removed my lips and whispered.

“—Although it feels like the desire to take this to the end right here and now, has piled up.”

“It’s fine. We already had our fucking fun yesterday. Go and take care of your business.”

Barbatos gestured towards the Crown Prince with her chin. I nodded my head and approached the Crown Prince of the Empire.

I wonder if the Crown Prince had rolled around on the ground a bunch since his appearance was dirtier than that of a mongrel. His hair was silver, and yet, due to the mud, it was crudely mixed together with a brown color. With a face full of dirt, the Crown Prince looked up at me. His eyes were sunken like a drunkard who had just woken up from being intoxicated.

“Who are you……?”

“Elizabeth’s enemy.”

“……”

“Do you not wish to hear my proposal, oh Crown Prince?”

I grinned smoothly.

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Sir older brother.

I am here to inform you of something nice.

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Name: Barbatos

Race: Demon Lord

Job: Demon Lord(SS)

Reputation: The Third Empress

Leadership: S rank Might: A+ rank Intelligence: A- rank

Politics: C rank Charm: A rank Technique: C rank

Title: 1. The Immortal King 2. Leader of the Plains Faction

Abilities: Dark Magic S+, Tactics A, Acting A-, Stratagem B

Skill: Saintess of all who have died (S)

[Achievements: 451]

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TL Note: This marks the end of chapter 4! There are two chapters, the intermission, and the afterword and volume 3 will be over! Do note that the next two chapters should also be around the same length as chapter 4. Chapter 1, 2, and 3 were pretty much the thickest parts of the volume, but that doesn’t mean it’ll be that less intensive!

I’ll end this TL note here since I still feel sick, so I’ll see you guys once I’m better!