Chapter 176 ·A Heated Debut

Shatien's ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍army, appearing so abruptly, was utterly devastating.

“Enemy! ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍It's the enemy! Enemy to our rear! Report to His Majesty quickly!”

“B-but ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍His Imperial Majesty is currently at the very front line alongside the knights, Sir!”

A ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍sudden appearance.

To ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍stop them, someone was needed to command without panic, but the Emperor was right at the frontline. Furthermore, because the heat of battle had reached its peak, no matter how loudly intermediate officers screamed, their voices couldn't properly spread.

And ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍as a result:

*Rumble, rumble, rumble.*

“Pierce right through those bastards just like this!”

“Kiiiyahooo!”

“Kyaaaah! Let's slaughter the feeble human soldiers!”

Gathering full momentum, Shatien's heavy cavalry crashed directly into the Imperial Army's rear, which hadn't even formed a square.

*Crunch.*

*Crack!*

*Clang!*

Spearshafts snapping, armor splitting apart, and soldiers' bodies being crushed into chunks of flesh—truly spine-chilling and savage sounds covered the battlefield. As luck would have it, the elven knights led by Shatien charged down a sloping hill, bringing their destructive power to the absolute maximum.

*Gurgle...*

*Gasp...*

Thanks to that, hundreds of Imperial soldiers died instantly in a single collision before they could even scream.

“C-crazy bastards!”

“Fuuck! What kind of dog shit is this? What is our cavalry doing?!”

Screaming in tears, the Imperial soldiers trembled as they gripped their spearshafts somehow.

They knew it too.

That scattering out of fear would leave only a gruesome, meaningless death.

However, Shatien was vicious and experienced.

“Flank! Wheel around!”

“Kiiiyahooo! Turn! Turn around, as ordered!”

The moment it grew slightly too deep, they pulled back, leveled their lances, and charged again. Thanks to that, as if sewing back and forth through the Imperial Army's long ranks, they swept away the entire front line completely.

“What kind of command is that?!”

Watching this, the Imperial nobles were struck with immense shock.

He displayed unbelievable cavalry maneuvers. Commanding cavalry with such absolute freedom was exceedingly difficult. Once fully worked up, words could barely be heard in one's ears, and the heat of battle narrowed one's field of vision.

The reason gesturing from the forefront a hundred times proved futile.

A profound bond and trust toward the commander.

Without that, it could never be achieved.

Yet right now, that young count, Shatien, was pulling it off. Just like the Holy Roman Emperor.

‘I-impossible!’

Indeed.

It was impossible. For a commander who looked so young to show such a performance.

Did knights possess only a little pride?

Elven knights were especially so. Yet making them follow from the bottom of their hearts and moving as one?

There was good reason for the Imperial nobles to be horrified.

However, this was sadly reality. Reality, not a dream or imagination.

*Crunch!*

*Aaaargh!*

The fierce charge of the elven knights led by Shatien engulfed the Imperial Army like a surging wave.

― Waaaah!

― Chaaarge!

Once they adequately broke the Imperial Army's ranks, the infantry, arriving late over the hill, began sprinting at full speed to trample the Imperial troops.

“Do not give them time to collect their wits! Deliver overwhelming shock just like this! Trust the employer who trusted and hired you, Shatien, and charge! You are plenty strong. Catch your breath and run, you slugs!”

Joachim shouted like that as well, sprinting forward swiftly.

Though well-trained, the majority were recruits lacking combat experience. Someone needed to lead steadily from the front. And Joachim was perfectly suited for that role.

― Hold them back! Block those bastards!

― Send the knights, send the knights to crush those insolent mercenary bastards... *Gak!*

*Slash!*

*Swish, swish!*

― W-what is this! What kind of absurd swordsmanship is this?!

Whenever knights sprang from the Imperial formation to blunt the momentum of the charge, Joachim stepped up and slaughtered every single one.

The Imperial Army's rear began collapsing at an uncontrollably rapid pace.

And hearing that news, the Emperor:

“Your Imperial Majesty! Sire! Our rear... our rear is collapsing!”

“What? Not their rear?”

“Yes! Our rear suffered an ambush and collapsed! It is a disaster, Sire!”

Turning back in surprise, the ones being gruesomely crushed and fleeing were indeed his own troops.

‘What is this? They aren't even total idiots!’

The Holy Roman Emperor contorted his face in disbelief.

Although most of the elites were drafted to hold back Count Balud in the north and west, the troops under his command right now were still a formidable force. Yet to be crushed so miserably by a single charge?

It was astounding.

“Where are the reserves? Mobilize the reserves immediately!”

“All remaining reserves came with Your Majesty to strike their main force!”

“The steppe tribal warriors! Send them to stop the chaos in the rear!”

The Holy Roman Emperor shouted, but a noble under his command shook his head.

“Sire… they are engaged with the enemy's right wing.”

“Hah…!”

Damned Shatien.

This lowborn mercenary noble bastard was holding him back by the ankles. The steppe tribal warriors, a powerful asset available for use, were tied down completely by the pikemen he trained, unable to budge an inch, while his rear was crumbling to his cavalry.

Had there ever been a bastard who backed him into a corner like this?

“We're almost there! Just a little more pressure, and those bastards will collapse!”

Growling, the Holy Roman Emperor shouted. The army led by the exceedingly fragile Count Shatin already showed signs of imminent collapse. If he charged with all his might one more time, they would disintegrate.

“B-but Your Imperial Majesty. Our forces... our forces are…”

Indeed. Contrary to the Emperor's hopes, the Imperial Army was already falling apart. Very rapidly from the rear.

Though violent in temper, he was not foolish. Since the battle was already over, minimizing losses was the right choice.

In the end, the Emperor had no choice but to let out a sigh.

“Withdraw… We withdraw. Send messengers and turn the army around.”

* * *

“Waaaah!”

“It's a victory! Ahahaha!”

Cheers erupted.

Everyone cheered in delight at the fact that they had achieved victory against that ferocious Imperial Army.

The nobles, spearheaded by Count Shatin, were especially so. To step up to the very front line, soothe the wavering soldiers, and finally defeat the Emperor!

“Lord Count Shatin! Truly a tremendous victory! A great triumph achieved by uniting under your leadership, Lord Count!”

“Haha. How could it be my merit alone? Is it not thanks to all of you soothing the soldiers so diligently at the front line?”

Therefore, they were busy heaping praise upon one another. Of course, if one knew the detailed truth, Count Shatin and the nobles weren't the core that decided the victory or defeat of this battle, but that didn't matter to them.

What mattered was that this victory brought immense honor.

“…Those folks truly remain shameless in every way.”

“Well, isn't it cute? Still, they fulfilled their role just by not running away and fighting at the forefront, Mage Agphiel. Haha.”

“Cute? Be cute twice more and the world will turn thoroughly grim.”

Mage Agphiel grumbled as he spoke. It was true that they won because they held out well as Shatien said, but he didn't like how they were busy praising themselves.

Without the rear pikemen he led and Miles on the right wing who held off the steppe nomadic warriors, the Imperial Army's other main strike force, wouldn't this battle have ended in defeat long ago?

“Hahaha. Count Shatien! Thank you truly!”

Fortunately, Count Shatin knew this fact all too well. During their first meeting, Shatien was merely a knight without a title, making it easy to look down on him, but he showed no such attitude at all.

‘A remarkable bastard. The Church didn't grant him a count's title for nothing.’

The other nobles might not know, but Count Shatin clearly witnessed the cavalry charge led by Shatien from afar.

The way he ruthlessly tore apart the Imperial Army's rear ranks!

It was truly thrilling.

Someone worth staying on good terms with for a long time.

That was precisely Count Shatin's evaluation of Shatien.

“Everyone, express your gratitude to our Count Shatien! Had Count Shatien not sent his army, how could we have blocked our rear and the Imperial Army's assault?”

“U-uh, indeed, that's true…”

“Come, come. I shall prepare a lavish banquet in honor of the Church's Sword, Count Shatien. Everyone, attend. Hahaha.”

“A-ahahaha!”

“Indeed! We must hold a banquet for Sir Shatien. Achieving such a feat!”

The nobles were puzzled as to why Count Shatin shared the glory so generously, but Shatien smiled bitterly seeing that display.

‘A bastard quite quick on the uptake.’

Fitting for a noble who had defended his territory for a long time, a strategic trade hub linking the Southern Empire and the northern Apennine Peninsula.

His hidden motive for elevating him right now was glaringly obvious, but there was nothing bad about it.

Didn't he need to raise his prestige and rally his influence to some extent anyway?

“Splendid. Thank you truly for this grand hospitality, Count Shatin!”

“Hahaha.”

“Hahaha.”

And seeing that scene, Mage Agphiel:

“……Truly. It sounds just like the insidious laughter of foxes. Tsk, tsk.”

Could only criticize them in various ways.

Unfairly so!

* * *

The Emperor was defeated and fled!

This tremendous news struck the continent's political sphere immediately.

The power brokers in each region fell into confusion, thoroughly bewildered.

Since everyone knew the Emperor's might, they had expected the army led by Count Shatin to barely hold out in siege warfare at best.

Yet they won instead?

And in a pitched field battle at that?

Though they heard the newly risen count named Shatien barely managed to win after a biting, dog-eat-dog struggle, that wasn't important.

Only the fact that the Emperor was defeated mattered.

Thanks to that, another baseless thought began creeping into the minds of the nobles:

― Could it be… the Emperor is weaker than expected?

― Even if not that, hasn't the Emperor's capacity to wage war gradually depleted? For those fighting machines to lose to the Southern Empire's army, who are like peaceful sheep grazing on grass?

The delusion that the Emperor was nothing special.

This delusion, spreading like an absurd plague, swept across the continent in an instant. It lit a fire in the hearts of ambitious men.

Of course, to Shatien, who had fought the Imperial Army firsthand, it was utterly preposterous.

“What kind of nonsense is that?”

“What nonsense? It is the moment the Emperor's tyrannical reign collapses.”

At his master Joachim's attitude of speaking as if it were trivial, Shatien knitted his brows.

“The Imperial Army must be a tough opponent. Has everyone lost their minds? Calling them weak.”

“Heh-heh. When a newly risen noble like you, and the Southern Empire's army known for being poor fighters, defeat the Emperor, others can't help but harbor different thoughts.”

“Hah! If they suffer a string of crushing defeats later because of that, won't that just restore the Imperial Army's momentum, Mage Agphiel?”

At that, Mage Agphiel and Master Joachim shrugged their shoulders.

“Could that really happen? In truth, the Imperial Army lacks the capacity, doesn't it?”

“Your master is correct. If rebels rise up from all directions, by what means will the Emperor stop them? It's not like he can crush them all with barely a handful of cavalry. Heh-heh.”

It sounded reasonable, but… for some reason, Shatien couldn't feel at ease.

The Imperial Civil War spanning over thirty years that Shatien experienced in the past…

‘Was a one-man show by the Emperor's detachments.’

A one-man show where he completely pulverized small—no, even fairly large—noble coalitions with maneuverability and overwhelming destructive power.

There was no rule saying that past event wouldn't be reenacted now.

And Shatien's ominous premonition hit the mark precisely once again.

While the victory banquet was underway in Count Shatin's territory:

“Y-Your Excellency! Lord Count!”

As always, a messenger burst in shouting with an ominous omen:

“The central part of the Empire has reportedly been devastated! An urgent request for assistance has arrived from Sauerland!”

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