Episode 87: Frenzy

　–This has turned into a real mess.

　That much was certain. After all, the supreme commander had lost his life.

　But–in truth, to the soldiers, the Eastern Front commander was an existence far too distant.

　Before even considering whether they liked or disliked the man named Bertram, his position was so vastly different from theirs that his death didn’t feel real.

　That was the soldiers’ honest feeling.

　Cutting through that atmosphere, Siegfried declared.

“At this rate, we–are going to die.”

　Death–that simple word echoed heavily.

　However, the soldiers couldn’t understand why they would die.

　They merely stared at Siegfried, waiting for him to continue.

“Think about it. Commander Bertram was one of the Five Great Nobles. A status second only to the royal family. For such a noble person to be assassinated by soldiers from the Serodonia Kingdom–this is nothing less than a situation that severely damages the prestige of the Kirchhen Kingdom. His Majesty King Luverios would never ignore this. He will surely hold someone accountable. And that someone–needless to say, is us, the Eastern Front Army.”

　Of course, one reason Bertram was killed was his own carelessness. But you can’t make a dead man take responsibility.

“First, all soldiers directly under the headquarters will be executed. For allowing Suneiras’s intrusion, the camp’s guard soldiers will also be executed. As for the other soldiers and commanders, almost none will escape severe punishment.”

“W-Wait a minute!”

　One of the soldiers couldn’t help but cry out. He was a soldier directly under the headquarters.

“We were dealing with the fire on Commander Bertram’s orders! In that situation, how were we supposed to protect the commander!?”

“That’s right–it was impossible for you to protect Bertram.”

　Siegfried nodded.

“But what’s crucial isn’t whether you truly bear responsibility. It’s the fact that punishment is carried out that matters. …In other words, it’s for show.”

　This was different from when Siegfried had driven Ludendorf to ruin.

　That had merely been a conflict among nobles within the country.

　But this time was different. He had been killed by the enemy nation’s hand.

　Moreover, despite having over ten thousand soldiers present, they couldn’t protect even a single life.

　That fact was enough to crush the kingdom’s honor.

　–That said, in reality.

　Siegfried himself understood that a situation where the entire Eastern Front Army received punishment was unlikely to happen in practice.

　Doing so would cause the Eastern Front Army itself to collapse. Executing a few soldiers as an example. Demoting a few commanders. –That was probably the realistic outcome.

　But Siegfried’s aim was to make the soldiers believe that ‘everyone might be punished.’

“As you all know–His Majesty King Luverios is the ‘King of Ice Blood.’”

　The man who killed his father and two brothers to seize the throne. People called him–the ‘King of Ice Blood.’

　Officially, though, the deaths of Luverios’s father and brothers were recorded as accidents. The truth was shrouded in darkness.

　But the populace knew. Or rather, they believed it.

　That Luverios was ‘a man who would kill even his own family without hesitation.’

　Such a king wouldn’t value the lives of ordinary soldiers like them–a cold terror began to spread among the soldiers.

“In other words–among those here right now, a certain percentage will face execution. The lucky ones might at best be exiled to the northern development lands.”

　The northern development lands–it was a development area in name only, but in reality, it was equivalent to a penal colony.

　Most of those sent there lost their lives within three years.

“Are you serious…?”

　One soldier muttered softly.

　Until just moments ago, Bertram’s death had felt like someone else’s problem, but suddenly it loomed as a reality directly tied to their own fates.

　Toward those soldiers, Siegfried spoke.

　As if–offering the one remaining path of salvation to those standing on the edge of hell.

“But there is one way–to overturn that future. And that is to achieve victory over the Serodonia Kingdom’s army.”

　The soldiers fixed their gazes on Siegfried without even blinking.

“If things continue like this, Commander Bertram’s death will end as a ‘failure.’ But if we defeat the enemy, his death will be praised as a ‘noble sacrifice.’ We too will likely avoid punishment.”

　Siegfried paused, then continued quietly.

“We are now–in the midst of a story.”

“A story…?”

　Someone muttered in confusion.

　Siegfried added more words.

“You’ve all heard them in your childhood–stories of heroes. The fate awaiting a hero is one of two things… namely, defeat and death, or victory and glory. We too stand at that crossroads. Yes, if we win against the Serodonia Kingdom’s army here… we will be heroes.”

　–Heroes.

　That word struck the soldiers’ hearts.

　Everyone dreams of becoming such a being at least once. Many joined the military with that motivation.

　However, reality doesn’t go like in stories.

　Battles for glory don’t occur, and days are filled with boring chores and obeying unreasonable orders.

　But–Siegfried said.

　That everyday life had now come to an end.

“The Kirchhen Kingdom hasn’t achieved victory in a large-scale battle for many years. But if we defeat the Serodonia Kingdom’s army in this land–we will become figures who leave their names in this era.”

　Siegfried slowly scanned his gaze around. As if posing a question to each and every soldier.

“Will you wait for execution? Or take up your swords and stand on the battlefield? –My choice is made. Even if you don’t come, my unit will fight Serodonia. Now, what about you?”

　The soldiers were at a loss for words, merely holding their breath.

　Seeing that, Siegfried smiled ever so slightly.

“–I see. You won’t fight. Very well, that’s one choice too.”

　With that, he turned his back on the soldiers and was about to descend from the platform when–.

“W… Wait!”

　As if unable to contain the heat surging from within, one soldier raised his voice.

“I… I’ll fight!”

　That voice triggered others, and voices rose one after another.

“Me too! Take me with you!”

“Y-Yeah! If we’re going to be executed anyway without fighting–we should fight and find a way to survive!”

　Those cries gradually grew heated, eventually turning into roars that shook the ground.

　Like beasts unleashed–the soldiers’ morale had reached its peak.

　Siegfried slowly turned back.

　In that instant, the beasts’ cries–stopped abruptly.

“–Very well. If that’s your intent… let’s fight together. To seize glory.”

　–UOOOOOH!

　The soldiers’ roars pierced the sky and shook the earth.

　Watching that, Siegfried muttered coldly in his heart.

　–Glory, huh… It’s amazing how they can burn their hearts so much for something like that.

　To Siegfried, who walked the path of evil, glory was nothing more than worthless ornamentation.

　However, to the soldiers, Siegfried’s words were their only hope.

　And Siegfried himself was satisfied with the current situation.

　Because–evil is one who leads the masses into frenzy with words filled with deception.

　Meanwhile, Almants, looking up at the scene from below the platform, was simply stunned, speechless.

(Th-This is bad…)

　Siegfried’s true objective wasn’t to condemn him or anything like that.

　No, far from it–even Bertram’s death was merely a stepping stone.

(To bring the fifteen thousand soldiers of the Eastern Front Army under his control… that was his aim–!)

　But realizing it now was too late.

　–Even if he said something like, Siegfried’s words are exaggerated. King Luverios won’t punish all of you–the soldiers wouldn’t believe it.

　The soldiers were completely swallowed by the vortex of frenzy.

　And so, led by the one advancing on the royal path of evil, they would throw themselves into battle against the Serodonia Kingdom’s army.