Ainzar sensed that something was off.
He was a seasoned knight.
In his youth, he had fought alongside Fiore Briol, slaughtering orcs in the allied forces, and had continuously participated in territorial wars, mediating disputes between lords.
Because of this, he was well-versed in the nature of war and understood, as a fellow soldier, just how exceptional Yuri Briol was as a commander.
But this time, Yuri’s judgment seemed dangerously reckless.
Granted, if things went as planned and they could push into the heart of the Empire, they might catch the enemy off guard and seize the advantage in the war.
But the intelligence was too scant.
Advancing the army based solely on the fact that Imperial forces were massing on the eastern front was nothing more than wishful thinking.
“Do you really think this is wise?” Ainzar’s adjutant, who had been quietly riding alongside him, finally spoke up. He was a knight who had fought alongside Ainzar in countless battles.
“It feels reckless…”
“Maybe,” Ainzar replied.
“I’m sure His Highness has his reasons.”
“I hope so.”
“Perhaps he knows something we don’t.”
“You really trust him that much?”
“Are you worried?”
“How could I not be?”
The adjutant lowered his voice.
“The Empire isn’t a foolish nation. On the contrary, they’re very cunning.”
“Not an easy foe.”
“I acknowledge His Highness’s skill, but this decision is questionable.”
“Yeah…”
“Also, the way we struck the enemy so quickly earlier—it’s the same issue. We’re inside Imperial territory now. It was fortunate that the annihilation was successful, but to think we could attack Imperial troops within their own land without being detected is naïve.”
“But isn’t Inariel with us? We must be relying on her magic.”
“Even so, you must always be cautious in enemy territory. We might have already been spotted without realizing it. If that’s the case, the Imperial forces have likely already set up defensive lines.”
It was obvious, but in war, defense is always easier than siege.
The adjutant was pointing this out.
“And you saw for yourself—there could be far worse monsters lurking in the Empire.”
Ainzar rode on silently. The adjutant sighed before continuing.
“Of course, things might turn out well. His Highness is an extraordinary man, after all. I’m just… worried.”
After a long silence, Ainzar spoke.
“I understand your concerns.”
“Yes.”
“But the decision has been made.”
“Understood.”
The adjutant said no more.
Ainzar was a steadfast knight.
Just as a swung sword cannot be recalled, once a decision to follow is made, one simply trusts and follows.
After a tedious march, a village appeared in the distance.
Ainzar tilted his head.
“Was there a village here before?”
He unfolded his map, but it showed nothing.
“Looks like the map is outdated.”
“Really?”
“Terrain changes, so it’s not unusual for new villages to appear.”
The Briol army chose a longer route around the village. They were now quite close to the Empire’s core. If they were discovered here, everything would fall apart.
“Even if it takes longer, they’re choosing the cautious path.”
“Better to avoid trouble if possible.”
The anti-Empire alliance moved slowly.
It was almost strange that they hadn’t encountered any enemy forces despite being deep inside the Empire.
A growing sense of unease settled in. The absence of Imperial troops could mean only one thing.
The enemy had already identified their route and was lying in wait.
Otherwise, they couldn’t have advanced so far as if the enemy had been cleared out in advance.
As they marched on with this uneasy feeling, suddenly a commotion arose from the vanguard where Yuri was.
“What’s that?”
“Not sure.”
They hesitated briefly, then resumed marching.
Soon, they reached a hill.
“Huh?”
Below, something came into view.
“Ah…”
Ainzar exhaled sharply, and the adjutant’s mouth fell open.
What they saw was an Imperial defensive line barricaded with fortifications.
The existence of this line meant one thing.
The Empire already knew of Briol’s approach.
The adjutant said, “It’s not too late. We should turn back.”
It would be a waste of time, but retreating now would preserve their forces for the next move.
They had to retreat before the Imperial army blocked their rear.
But the vanguard pressed on without stopping.
They intended to fight.
“Is this really the right call?” the adjutant asked.
“We’ve clearly been spotted, yet we’re pushing forward?”
“Wait.”
“Now…”
“Hold on.”
Ainzar raised his hand, stopping the adjutant’s words. The adjutant fell silent.
Ainzar’s eyes darted rapidly.
He looked at the Imperial forces arrayed before them, then back at Yuri leading the vanguard.
Then he glanced upward, confirming the translucent barrier enveloping their army.
“Count?”
“Could it be…?”
Ainzar’s eyes widened in surprise, then narrowed sharply.
“Hahaha…”
“Why are you laughing?”
“If your eyes are still in your head, look closely.”
Ainzar reached for his sword at his waist and drew it, aiming at the distant Imperial troops.
“Do you know where we are?”
“Huh?”
At that moment, the bugle sounded, signaling the start of battle.
Ainzar shouted, “Now this is a real ambush!”
The eastern front had been breached.
But Liberta did not give up. Since the entire eastern front wasn’t compromised, they stationed troops at key points and resisted relentlessly.
Yet, at some point, the Imperial forces’ movements became strange.
They stopped attacking and hunkered down in their positions.
The endless supply of troops also ceased. Though many soldiers had gathered, no reinforcements arrived.
Some even seemed to be retreating back into the Empire.
This sparked debate in Liberta.
“It’s not certain, but could it be that another anti-Empire faction is advancing instead?”
“Would they really take such a reckless move?”
“Young blood can be impulsive.”
If Briol had truly decided to advance on his own, they had to do something.
Liberta was the only front in the anti-Empire alliance that had allowed the enemy to pass, damaging their pride.
“Let’s move as well.”
There was a proposal to use all available resources to reclaim the eastern front.
But few agreed easily.
Then, one voice spoke strongly.
“Let’s do it.”
It was Sven Gain.
Having served in the allied forces, he was now recognized as a full-fledged knight. Mature in character, some expected him to lead Liberta’s future.
He spoke with conviction.
“If we can’t handle this ourselves, we won’t win this war.”
“We risk losing all our troops. And even Moyongchan is injured. Fighting alone…”
“Does Moyongchan’s absence mean we can’t fight?”
“No, but we need to be at full strength.”
“The enemy won’t wait for us to be ready. This war was disadvantageous from the start. If we worry about that, we won’t fight at all.”
A fire flickered in Sven’s eyes.
“Liberta can do this.”
But his opinion was rejected.
Only one condition was accepted: to remain ready to deploy at any moment.
Following Sven’s advice, Liberta’s forces stayed alert, constantly monitoring the situation.
“Phew…”
Sven rode out alone from the camp, watching the Imperial army.
Someone approached him.
“Still watching?”
“Father?”
It was his father, Wolf Gain.
“Not a pretty sight. What are you looking at?”
“Just… something feels off.”
Wolf looked at the Imperial camp. Various kinds of monsters roamed about. It no longer looked like a human army.
“I have a bad feeling.”
“A feeling?”
“Yes. Like something’s about to happen, and I don’t want to miss that moment.”
“That happens.”
Wolf nodded knowingly.
“When you become a knight, sometimes your instincts move you. Sometimes you have to trust that more than reason.”
“That’s not like you.”
“Maybe I’m getting old.”
“You still have a long way to go.”
They shared a quiet laugh. Sven continued.
“That’s why I don’t think Yuri Briol will move so predictably. If he’s really aiming for something, he’ll deceive everyone without them knowing. Then strike from behind.”
“Sounds like you’re talking about an old friend.”
“We fought together on the battlefield.”
“Right.”
“That’s why I keep having this strange thought. Like…”
Sven pointed to a hill.
“Suddenly, a large force might appear there and sweep away the Imperial troops here.”
“That would significantly reduce the Empire’s strength.”
“Yes. The Empire has overextended trying to break the eastern front.”
“I hope that’s true.”
“Me too.”
They gazed silently at the hill.
Suddenly, something fluttered.
Neither spoke.
They thought they had misseen it, blinking to focus. Silence returned.
Then another flutter.
Now there was no doubt.
It wasn’t a trick of the eye.
“Son,” Wolf spoke first.
He paused, then in a slightly choked voice said, “Did you bring the bugle?”
“No.”
“Then let’s go quickly.”
As if on cue, Briol’s army appeared atop the hill, just as Sven had predicted.
At the front of the Briol army, Yuri suddenly spoke.
“Roland.”
Instead of answering, Roland acted.
From a short distance away, Asana was following on horseback when a blade of energy suddenly shot toward her.
Startled by Laurent’s aggressive move, Asana leapt off her horse. Unfortunately, the horse struck by the blade collapsed and died on the spot.
“Hey, hey! Take it easy!”
“Do you think you can handle her gently?”
“Just do it.”
“You do it then.”
There was a brief commotion, but Laurent and Jared quickly subdued Asana.
Bound tightly, she was loaded onto a horse like cargo.
Asana protested, “Your Highness, what is the meaning of this?”
“You’re not allowed to run away.”
“Run away? I’m not running anywhere!”
“Yes, you are.”
“What are you talking about?”
Amid the chaos, Yuri’s army pressed forward steadily.
Soon, they reached a low hill.
“Now you’ll understand,” Yuri said.
“What…?”
“Raise the flags!”
Yuri shouted loudly.
The riders behind him hoisted the banners of Briol and the Anti-Empire Alliance. One after another, flags representing each noble house and knightly order were raised high into the sky.
From the hilltop, the imperial encampment spread out below.
Yuri said, “This isn’t imperial territory.”
Asana’s eyes widened.
“We didn’t come from the north, but from the east.”
“Huh?”
“The barrier you see up there? It’s not from the Empire—it’s a spell meant to deceive our own troops inside. There’s a saying: to fool the enemy, you have to fool your own side first.”
After a moment of silence, Asana spoke.
“How long have you known?”
Yuri didn’t look at her, instead gazing down at the imperial forces below.
There were so many troops gathered that it was no wonder Liberta had been breached.
If they wiped them all out, the Empire’s strength would be dealt a severe blow.
“I knew from the start.”
“How?”
“Well…”
“Was there something written in the letter from Briol?”
Yuri chuckled softly.
“No.”
Then he signaled with his hand.
A soldier behind him blew a horn.
The sound signaled the start of battle.
Asana called out to Yuri just before he spurred his horse forward. He turned to her with a sly smile.
“Asana, we’ll talk details after we’ve killed every last one of them.”
His smile was loaded with meaning, a deadly gleam shining in his eyes.
Soon, Yuri disappeared down the hill.
The Order of Vengeance followed.
Then the entire force surged down toward the imperial camp.
The battle cries of the Briol army echoed across the eastern front.