Episode 98: After the Battle

“Your commander, Borbon de Serodonia Volfirio, has fled! Cease this pointless resistance and surrender! I repeat, surrender!”

　Across the battlefield, announcements from the Kirchhen Kingdom’s soldiers echoed everywhere.

　The outcome of the battle had already been decided.

　The Serodonia Kingdom’s Western Army had completely collapsed. Soldiers fled in droves like an avalanche, and those who lagged behind surrendered one after another, becoming prisoners.

“It’s our victory!”

“We won! We really… we actually won!”

　The soldiers of the Kirchhen Kingdom’s Eastern Front Army erupted in joy.

　For them, who believed that defeat meant execution and victory meant becoming heroes, this triumph was truly a turning point in their fate.

　Moreover, the fact that their own side’s casualties were extremely minimal amplified their elation even further.

“Hey, did you hear? Our side barely took any losses at all!”

“Winning a battle of this scale with practically no injuries… it’s nothing short of a miracle!”

“Yeah, a miracle! Count Kreving… he made a miracle happen!”

　Amid such cheers flying about, the man in question, Ziegvolt, surveyed the battlefield where the fighting had ended, his expression utterly detached from the frenzy.

　He had no intention of getting drunk on victory. His gaze was fixed solely on the next villain to come.

　And so, he calmly issued orders to his subordinates.

“Beatrice. Take command of the Eastern Front Army’s soldiers and proceed with detaining the prisoners and tallying their numbers.”

“Yes, sir!”

　The red-haired knight immediately saluted in response.

“Fen, Leon. You two lead my unit and handle the perimeter surveillance. The chance of an enemy counterattack is low, but don’t let your guard down. Rotate the soldiers for rest. You two should take turns resting as well.”

“Got it.”

“Yeah.”

　The beastkin girl and the tall young man nodded.

　Having finished giving instructions, Ziegvolt turned his back and started walking away.

　A question from Fen flew at his retreating figure.

“What about you?”

“I’m heading to the Western Army’s headquarters. There’s—someone waiting for me there.”

 

◇

 

　In the operations room on the first floor of the tower that had once served as the Western Army’s headquarters, three men sat side by side in chairs.

　Behind them, over ten armed Kirchhen Kingdom soldiers were positioned, watching the men intently with grave expressions.

　The three seated men were all high-ranking commanders in the Serodonia Kingdom’s army.

　Given their positions, which granted them insight into the military’s inner workings, they were treated separately from the regular soldiers and thus gathered in this operations room.

　They were about to undergo interrogation directly from Ziegvolt himself.

“Wh-what’s going to happen to us now…?”

　Mindful of the soldiers behind them, one of the commanders—a thin man—whispered in a low voice.

“I-I don’t know what will happen… All we can do is hope for lenient treatment…”

　The bespectacled commander replied, his lips trembling.

　What filled their hearts was terror toward Luverios, known as the King of Icy Blood.

　Execution wasn’t out of the realm of possibility—not by a long shot.

　A heavy atmosphere enveloped the operations room.

　But in the midst of it, there was one man who seemed utterly unperturbed, as if it were just another breeze.

“Come now, no need to worry. I’ve heard that His Majesty Luverios of the Kirchhen Kingdom, while reputed to be ruthless, is someone who properly understands reason. He wouldn’t make a foolish decision like executing us.”

　The other two naturally turned their gazes toward the man who declared this in a tone brimming with confidence.

　A middle-aged man with a neatly trimmed mustache under his nose—his name was de Parnia Pebrio.

　He was a noble of the Serodonia Kingdom holding the rank of marquis, and his demeanor exuded unshakable composure.

　Pebrio leisurely shifted his gaze to the two beside him.

“After all, we’re nobles.”

　Though there were a few commoners who had risen through the ranks in the military, they were a minority. In fact, all three gathered here came from noble families.

“And historically, nobles captured as prisoners in war have almost never been killed. You’re aware of that, aren’t you?”

“Y-yes… of course…”

　The thin commander nodded.

“Since ancient times, it’s customary for captured nobles to be repatriated in exchange for ransom…”

　This was a tradition in this world that had persisted for over several centuries.

　Nobles, even when defeated and captured, received treatment distinct from that of other soldiers.

　Nobles would offer the wealth they had accumulated in their homelands as compensation to secure their release—that was the established practice.

　In essence, they paid a ransom in exchange for being sent back to their home country.

(It’s galling to have to cough up the fortune I’ve amassed… but oh well, I can just squeeze it out of the peasants again. Besides, if I can get close to King Luverios, I might secure an even more advantageous position.)

　Even the Kirchhen Kingdom wouldn’t continue invading Serodonia indefinitely.

　At some point, peace negotiations would have to take place.

　What Pebrio was aiming for was to become the liaison when the Kirchhen Kingdom and Serodonia Kingdom entered negotiations.

(If I can ingratiate myself with King Luverios through this opportunity, I might even become the mediator for the peace talks. If that happens… enormous profits would come rolling in.)

　Standing between the two nations, adjusting their interests.

　That position would allow him to control the flow of money and sip the sweetest nectar more than anyone else.

　Pebrio’s lips curled up at the corners, a satisfied smile spreading across his face.

　It was at that moment.

　The door to the operations room opened, and a silver-haired young man appeared.

“I’m Ziegvolt von Kreving, temporarily in command of the entire Kirchhen Kingdom Eastern Front Army.”

　The young man stated his name matter-of-factly.

“Well, well, pleased to meet you. I am de Parnia Pebrio, and…”

　Pebrio responded to the silver-haired youth with a genial, forced smile. However, Ziegvolt cut him off with a wave of his hand.

“I’ve already been briefed on your identities by my subordinates. No need to introduce yourselves.”

　Ziegvolt declared this coolly, then continued while glancing over the three commanders.

“There are two reasons I’ve come here. One is to interrogate you. You’ll tell me everything you know about the Serodonia Kingdom’s military secrets, strategies, and upcoming defensive installations—without holding anything back.”

“O-of course…!”

　Pebrio leaned forward.

“I will cooperate with you fully.”

　Revealing Serodonia’s military secrets to an enemy nation’s personnel—essentially betraying the Serodonia Kingdom—but to Pebrio, such a thing didn’t matter in the least.

　The priority was to curry favor with the other side, no matter what.

　To emphasize that intent even more, Pebrio asked in an obsequious tone.

“A-and… what is the other reason you’ve come here?”

　He assumed it was probably about the ransom. That’s what Pebrio had confidently anticipated—but Ziegvolt’s response betrayed that expectation.

　The young man declared with a cold expression.

“I thought I’d give you a warning.”

“A-a warning… you say…?”

“You may be nobles—but that doesn’t mean I’ll give you special treatment. You’ll be handled the same as the other soldiers. That’s what I came to inform you.”