As soon as I walked into the room after the interrogation of Nune and Tine was complete, I felt a refreshing sense before I began to clearly recognize the situation I was in right now.
“I was somewhat expecting this, just like in the original work… but they’ve really started to move in reality.”
The scale and troop composition of the enemies that came from Nune and Tine. While information about internal military affairs was of course important, there were stories beyond that I couldn’t ignore right now.
“Valenshtein, Otto, and Hestia. They’ve finally started their official activities. This so-called ‘protagonist party’ from the original work.”
Paladin Otto Kaiser, his sponsor and lord Valenshtein Alfred, and his companion Hestia Playmer.
In the original work, they struggled endlessly to save the Sacred Empire, which was sinking into despair amidst everything collapsing.
Under the emperor’s orders, they attempted to defeat the enemies and help the indomitable, trying to find hope amidst repeated crises.
If I had continued as a Paladin, they would have likely become good companions and reliable allies, and I was also looking forward to the day I would meet them while gathering funds.
However, with Nune and Tine now buried in the depths below, and the Archbishop Maxim, whose whereabouts were unknown, the entire situation had been thrown off course, making them effectively my most powerful “enemies.”
“To be honest, I don’t want to fight these people… but there’s no choice for me, since I’ve completely turned my back on the Church’s forces. After all, I am currently overseeing the Heretic Forces, which can be considered their rivals.”
I hadn’t intended it, but somehow, I had become like the final boss according to the original work.
Of course, my combat power was just that of a fourth-grade mage now, which wasn’t much. From the perspective of organizing and leading this force, Otto, the protagonist of the original work, was probably sharpening his sword thinking about how to take me down.
And of course…
Having long given up on the loyalty of being a reader of the original work, I had no intention of dealing with this softly.
“Since they’re aiming their swords at us now, we naturally have to respond accordingly. To do this, we need to prepare to move in earnest.”
Chris IV and Mansfeld, who were slowly advancing south from the north.
And General Tilly and Valenshtein’s forces, who were heading north to stop them.
However, while everyone’s eyes were focused on this situation, mine were directed elsewhere.
“Those two look like they could clash at any moment… but not yet. Most likely, there will be a movement from their side before a war breaks out.”
Of course, there was no guarantee that everything would flow exactly as in the original, given how much had actually changed.
However, considering the overall situation, the possibility was definitely there, and I had already taken preemptive measures from a purely preparatory standpoint.
“This should be of some help to that village fool. No way he won’t be able to handle the food being served…”
*
War is fundamentally determined by how well you deceive your opponent.
Though people elegantly describe this as strategy and tactics, the basic principle remains the same.
It’s all about how well you can lie to your enemies.
And in that regard, the person currently leading the army and moving quietly was…
General Spinola, the governor of Esban and a key figure in Emperor’s Army, wore a broad smile.
“Finally… I can restore my long-held wishes.”
General Spinola had remained in the Palatinate region, citing health issues.
However, at this moment, he was secretly moving with the defensive forces stationed in Palatinate.
Although he was aging, his physical condition wasn’t actually that bad, and all of this was merely a disguise to execute this operation.
Leading a not insignificant force of 20,000, General Spinola was quietly advancing north.
But at this moment, his destination was neither the place where General Tilly and Valenshtein were nor where Chris IV was stationed.
The place where General Spinola’s army was moving to…
Was precisely the so-called lower lands of the Lorend Region.
Their movements might appear absurd to outsiders.
However, all of this had been previously discussed among the three generals of the Empire.
General Tilly and Valenshtein had moved to stop Chris IV’s southern advance.
However, their purpose was not merely for defense and counterattack; it also served as a simultaneous “bait.”
Two generals leading an army of just over 50,000 against Chris IV’s grand army would naturally shift the world’s attention towards them when an army of 100,000 moved and the war atmosphere loomed.
Moreover, in such a situation, the movements of the relatively smaller forces would hardly be noticeable, and with their utmost effort to conceal themselves during the march, there were almost no individuals who could comprehend General Spinola’s movements.
Thus, General Spinola successfully arrived near Lorend, evading the eyes of other countries.
In this moment, he was filled with excitement at the thought that he could finally accomplish the goal he had yearned for since his youth.
“I’ve been waiting for this opportunity since the past… The Lorend region, which was originally under the Sacred Empire… I’ve longed to reclaim this land since my youth, and now the time has come.”
The Lorend region, one of the commercial centers of the continent, had amassed immense wealth.
This place had historically belonged to Esban and was regarded highly, akin to a goose that laid golden eggs.
However, they declared independence due to their vast wealth and religious conflicts, ultimately splitting from Esban when Spinola was still a young man.
For General Spinola, a proud nobleman of the Sacred Empire and governor of Esban, regaining the Lorend region had become the goal of his life, and given this, he was more excited about this operation than during the time of occupying Palatinate.
“They probably don’t even know we are here. And with 20,000 troops, it’s a force that can surely overpower them. I’ll attack suddenly and conquer Lorend in one swift blow.”
Leading an overwhelmingly powerful army amidst what seemed like a perfect plan, General Spinola believed he couldn’t lose, and objectively, this was not a mistaken thought.
But at this moment, unfortunately for General Spinola, there was one fact he was overlooking.
The enemies were far from the easy targets he anticipated.
*
“Ugh… they really came…”
A figure watched the great army moving stealthily, wearing a hardened expression.
Duke Moritz of Lorend, a member of the Heretic Alliance, was tensing as he observed the advancing enemies near Lorend.
“As expected… as the Lord said, they are targeting our Lorend from the beginning.”
“To be exact, it’s information provided by my friend Santana. Regardless, since they’ve appeared as expected, we must take action.”
“Of course. We have already prepared for this. All that’s left is to proceed according to the plan.”
Responding to Lord Friedrich’s words with a voice tinged with both tension and slight anticipation, Moritz began signaling the waiting soldiers.
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