Chapter 193 – Treason or Revolution (3)
“The system has fallen. The ringleader of the treason is Benelia von Esteban. Counts of Pelgarin, rebels, paladins, and witches join the princess’s rebellion. The guards guarding the imperial palace were virtually destroyed. Upon seeing this letter, I want you to return immediately.”
A letter from Jeon Seo-gu calmly explained the worst situation.
Since the letter was not signed, it was not known who sent it.
However, unlike the plain content, the handwriting was very sloppy, which clearly showed the urgent situation at the time.
Opinions of staff who received this letter were divided.
At first, voices saying that the unit should not be recalled, saying that it was a scheming by cunning devils to buy time, gained strength, but public opinion reversed when a staff member claimed that the tail feathers of pigeons were red.
Pigeons with red tails are kept only by the guards of the imperial family. Of course, it was a subspecies that went through magical crossbreeding, and considering that it came all the way here following the emperor’s energy, there was no flaw in its function.
In addition, the direction the pigeon flew was not the Devil’s Land, but the Empire.
Did the demons prepare all this in advance and create confusion? If not, did the system really fall into the hands of Princess Benelia?
The staff exchanged opinions with each other and argued, but it did not last long. It was because the emperor, who was sitting at the head of the command tent, clenched his fists and gnashed his teeth, gave the order after much thought.
“Go back to the Islands.”
This was the result of the combination of the emperor’s tendency to distrust Venelia and his intellect, which he believed that it was right to return to the army if there was even the slightest possibility that the system had been captured.
In the end, the 45,000 troops followed the emperor’s order and returned the way they had come. The rapid march was carried out, but strangely, heavy rain poured down at every corner, so the unit’s return was delayed.
For the soldiers who were already exhausted from the three-day march, the weather with the continuous heavy rain was the worst.
Soldiers afflicted with fever fell pickpick, and even the knights felt the limits of their stamina and complained.
Thanks to the heavy rain that seemed to follow the troops, the expectations of the staff that a quick march would take two days were shattered.
Nevertheless, the march continued, and only after five days had the emperor’s army reached the northern wall.
“…….”
Although they returned with all kinds of hardships, no one could cheer for the fact that they had arrived at the castle. It is because he has witnessed that more suffering awaits before his eyes.
“What the hell did the princess do…….”
The chief of staff for operations, Chief Secretary Dehelm, who was riding a warhorse next to the emperor, looked at the scene with a sigh.
It was raining in front of the fortified walls. As if it hadn’t rained for a day or two, the ground was green like a swamp, and on top of it were barriers placed in disorder to block the enemy’s advance.
In addition, the archers were tightly packed in the protruding guns above the ramparts. In the middle, you can see the main figures, including Benelia, standing vigorously.
“The news from Jeonseo-gu…… You mean it wasn’t a lie?”
The general secretary took a deep breath and looked around with a wide gaze.
The black scorpion-patterned flag that symbolizes the rebels flutters side by side with the Pelgarin and the imperial standard.
In the sky, countless witches on broomsticks were laughing among themselves. The general secretary, who had been watching the scenery blankly, gasped in vain at the low realization.
“Elegy….”
Not a single drop of rain fell on the rampart where Benelia’s troops lined up. As if there were clear boundaries, it was raining only outside the walls.
The thought of having been hurt hits the back of the head. The princess secretly improved artificial rain magic. Set the coordinates so that it rains only there.
If so, it wasn’t simply because the weather was bad that it rained throughout the march. When Benelia predicted where the Emperor’s army would pass, she used artificial rain magic.
Using the time thus earned, Benelia strengthened the defenses of the city walls. She set up a wooden fence and turned the ground into mud.
“…….”
The defeat was deep.
Even if you order a charge to recapture the castle, the ground is muddy and the horses cannot use their strength. Not only will progress be slow, but the odds of dropping a horse will rise exponentially. In addition, wooden fences were laid everywhere, so a bottleneck phenomenon naturally occurred.
At that time, it was clear that if Benelia’s archers fired arrows and her witches poured magic, countless troops would be lost before reaching the walls.
In addition, there are not only archers in the rampart. For some reason, the paladins and priests were also looking down at us with calm eyes while wearing the red spiritual belt around their necks.
If they deploy a barrier at the gate, it is almost impossible to break into the castle. No, even if it were possible, it would be at the point where the majority of the troops had already been disbanded.
The emperor, acutely aware of the unfavorable war situation, took a low nap. Rain water dripping incessantly bounced off the emperor’s dazzling armor.
“What is it….”
The emperor gripped the reins and looked back at the stunned pope on the right.
“Why are the paladins helping that monster!”
The pope opened his mouth bewildered at the emperor’s shout. It’s like he doesn’t even know what’s going on.
“I just asked the saintess to remain in her system her and protect her order her. I can’t believe she thought the saintess would betray her…….”
“You say that now…… !”
The emperor, who had shouted at him, grabbed his neck. His veins are burning hot. When the emperor calmed his breath as much as possible by catching his trembling breath, Venelia, who was contemplating the emperor’s soldiers, used amplification magic.
─ The rise and fall of the revolution was decided.
A quiet, arrogant voice.
— From now on, it will be a meaningless fight.
That’s why the tone that is closest to that of a ruler resonates throughout the battlefield.
─ So, Your Majesty the Emperor. You have to decide.
The emperor’s gaze reaches Benelia. Benelia also looked down at the emperor and chanted coldly.
─To protect your pride, listen to the resentment of 45,000 and defeat servilely, or to abandon your pride and save the lives of 45,000.
Coo goo goo palace-
At the same time as the sound of scratching the ground, the huge gate opened. The gate, which had created a gap so narrow that only one person could enter, stopped working.
─ The choice is entirely yours. Your Majesty the Supreme Emperor.
That was the end of Benelia’s words her.
Amid silence in the emperor’s camp, the sound of horses hooves kicking on the muddy ground is heard.
Leonhard, who passed by the soldiers splitting left and right and approached, hurriedly pulled the reins and shouted.
“Father! You must never respond! I mean, don’t fall for that bastard’s tricks!”
“…… There is no choice. Come hear the story.”
Taking a deep breath, the Emperor kicked the side of his horse and rode forward. Leonhard, who was watching his back in awe, shouted with a face stained with fear.
“Father! Please—!”
Screams resounded, but the emperor did not return.
*
After entering the castle, the emperor followed the soldiers’ guidance to the keep. In the process, he was humiliated by being disarmed by a single soldier, but he endured it with gritted teeth.
Arriving at the temporary command room prepared in the stronghold, the emperor found Benelia sitting in front of a table with a map of the operation spread out. On the map, the path of the emperor’s troops was tightly marked.
“Ah.”
Benelia raises her head and points her hand at her chair in front of her.
“Welcome. Please sit down first.”
“Benelia…….”
She was so angry that veins bulged on her forehead of her, but she didn’t show it. The emperor, barely breathing, pulled out a chair and sat down.
The Emperor’s thick eyebrows narrow fiercely as he gazes at her Benelia.
“Do you know what you just did?”
“Why don’t you know? I was the one who planned all of this.”
“Goodbye four years…… !”
As the emperor gnashed his teeth, the knights lined up around him put their hands on the handle of the sword. Sensing the hideous atmosphere, the emperor struggled to suppress his anger.
“…… Good night. Start negotiating what do you want.”
“It is an unconditional surrender. Go back and let me know. All troops lay down their weapons and show their intention to surrender to Princess Benelia.”
The emperor let out a laugh. It was because she expected it, but it was absurd to hear that sound directly from her benelia’s mouth.
“What are you going to do if you don’t surrender?”
“I will have to fight. Undoubtedly, countless numbers of people will die meaningless deaths. What awaits at the end will be a hopeless defeat.”
“I mean Or four years?”
“I’m sure you know better who you’re referring to.”
The emperor’s hand his gripping his armrest his trembles. The emperor, unable to control his anger, spat out words nervously.
“Four years have finally gone crazy. Do you think you can deal with my army just by collecting rags?”
“Why can’t I deal with you? Currently, there are 25,000 soldiers following me. While my father is away from the army, I have a good rest, so my morale is perfect. On the other hand, isn’t your father’s army weakened to the point where it wouldn’t be strange if it collapsed at any moment?”
In normal cases, it would take three times as many troops to capture a castle. That’s if you’re properly prepared.
However, it was difficult to imagine that the exhausted troops from the continuous march in the heavy rain would be able to demolish the castle.
The emperor was well aware of this fact, but he did not give up. I didn’t want to bow my head to that detestable illegitimate son.
“Long and short are the laws to deal with.”
“You insisted on coming to the end. How much can my father’s soldiers fight in the yard where supply is also blocked. It is a fight that we can win just by holding on. Moreover, the longer the fight continues, the more demons who smell the blood will come down from Grimund Forest.”
“Benelia.”
“I hate to use the devil, but it’s a diversion I can’t help. A picture is already being drawn. It is the image of my father, who could not do this or that, lose command and be bitten terribly by the devil.”
“This, this monster bitch—!”
A roar erupts from the emperor’s mouth. The emperor kicked off his chair and stood up, raising a bloodstain around his neck and shouting.
“I shouldn’t have given birth to a monster like you! Because I, I was blind for a moment and mingled with that worm-like bitch…… !”
At the sudden action of the emperor, the knights unleash their swords. The sound of metal echoing here and there chilled the back of my ears. It was an immediate situation, but Benelia calmly raised her hand to stop her knights.
“Calbanes von Esteban.”
Chilly voice. Benelia, who grabbed her armrest her, rises from her seat her. The white lion-patterned drapery hanging from the back of her benelly her sways gently in the wind.
“Since when?”
The golden eyes narrowed sharply. While the emperor, who had unknowingly shrunk and forgot her words her, Benellia chanted with a will to die.
“I gave you permission to insult me.”
The emperor could not answer easily.
It was because the feeling of intimidation that gripped the space made it difficult to breathe.
