Chapter 468 - Episode 451: End of the War
The one called forward was Noein. When Noein looked back, one of the generals on the Betumia Republic Army side—General Steve Barrel—stood up and was looking toward Noein.
What floated upon that face was regret. Or perhaps helplessness. At the very least, it was not a favorable emotion toward Noein.
"I... I came to this land once again to avenge my younger brother... to avenge my younger brother who was killed by you seven years ago. And yet, and yet, I could not even fulfill the wish of fighting you directly, the Wealthy Nation Faction was defeated... For what, for what on earth did I... What was it that differed so much between me and you..."
Steve's words and actions were abrupt for this setting, and the content was disjointed; it was obvious that he was emotionally shaken.
"Stop it, General Barrel... Grand Duke Arqvist-sama. My sincerest apologies. He seems to be terribly confused. Even if he is one of the generals, I should not have brought him here in such a state."
"No, it is fine."
Noein answered Donald, then turned toward Steve and took a few steps closer to him.
Yuri, who was present as a guard, attempted to stand in a position to shield Noein, but Noein restrained him with a hand.
Steve was severely injured, and no matter how one looked at it, he was not in a state to suddenly attack Noein. Even if Steve tried to attack Noein, Yuri could easily stop him from behind.
"General Steve Barrel. Your name sounds familiar. If I recall, you served as the commander of the capital invasion force in the war seven years ago. Seven years ago, was your younger brother on the western front where I fought?"
"...That is right. He died there. I heard from my brother's comrades that he was beaten to death by your golem units."
"I see, so that was it."
While Oscar, Donald, and the generals of both armies watched, Noein exchanged words with Steve. After listening to Steve's story—Noein placed his right hand over his left chest and bowed his head to Steve.
"I express my heartfelt respect to your younger brother, who fought bravely as a soldier and passed away in a foreign land. At the time, I was an enemy to you and your brother, but when respecting those who fell on the battlefield, enemy or ally does not matter. That is the code of those who fight."
At Noein's action, Steve's expression became one of being caught off guard.
"The war between us and your country has ended. A peace treaty will soon be concluded. In other words, we and your country are now friendly nations. I pray from my heart that the now-deceased warrior of a friendly nation may obtain eternal peace. In the battle seven years ago, twenty-four of my people also died. Even now, I pray for their repose every week at the church. The next time I pray in their memory, I shall also pray for the repose of your younger brother..."
Noein stepped closer to Steve and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I sincerely hope that the sacrifice of your younger brother becomes the foundation for the rebirth and development of your country. Steve Barrel-dono."
Steve was stunned and fell to his knees on the spot. Noein gave him a bow and turned on his heel.
To anyone watching, it was Noein's victory and Steve's defeat. With the achievements and experience he had accumulated thus far, and the breadth of character backed by them, Noein had made Steve's petty desire for revenge dissipate and had crushed it.
As Noein left the tent, Oscar walked beside him and spoke.
"Grand Duke Arqvist. You just said some words that sounded appropriately kind because it would be a pain to be hated by that general, right?"
Asked this, Noein maintained his forward gaze and wore a meaningful smile.
"Now, I wonder."
.....
A few hours later. At the gates of Ostraich, over a hundred cavalry led by Donald had gathered.
Every one of them was a veteran general or officer who had been deeply tied to the Wealthy Nation Faction. Even the young ones were past their mid-forties, and some reached the age of sixty, just like Donald.
It was too late now to start their lives over while harboring a past of having dirtied their hands along with the Wealthy Nation Faction. They believed that if they continued to live, they would only be a detriment to their homeland. These were the people who had decided here to bring their fates to a conclusion.
Beside Donald, who was quietly waiting for the time of departure, Steve approached. Steve, who had been distraught during the discussions with the Lordberg Kingdom side, was now calm.
"...Commander-sama. Is it truly impossible for m-me to accompany you, sir?"
To Steve, who had not yet reached the age of forty, Donald did not permit a suicidal charge. Seeing Steve's appearance—seemingly feeling guilt for being the only one to survive despite holding the same rank of general—Donald gave a faint, bitter smile.
"Compared to us, you are still young. Your ties to the Wealthy Nation Faction were also weak. You can still start over."
"But, even so, I... I was part of the Wealthy Nation Faction. Even if I return to the country as I am and am not held accountable for great crimes, with what kind of face could I possibly live... I cannot even face my dead brother."
"That is exactly why, General Barrel."
To Steve, whose face was lost, Donald spoke.
"The Wealthy Nation Faction government and its clique... they may have been different when the Republic was first established, but at the very least, they were rotten to the core in their final years. We shall die as symbols of such a clique. Therefore, you must live. Live to make atonement, and witness the future of the Republic that has achieved transformation."
As he spoke, Donald felt a small amount of guilt.
To vanish along with the era of the Wealthy Nation Faction. That was the only way left for them to protect their pride. Even so, he still wanted there to be someone who had lived until now as part of the same clique, who would continue to live bearing that past, and who would witness the future in their stead. He couldn't help but think so.
That was why Donald was trying to push that role onto someone who had not yet aged as much as he had, like Steve. He was forcing him to cling to life, to cling to this existence.
"No matter how much shame you feel. Even if you are pointed at by others as a person who lived as part of the Wealthy Nation Faction but switched sides to the Nationalists. Even so, please live. See the future for the sake of your brother."
When his brother was mentioned, Steve's expression finally changed.
It was not something as simple as determination. It was an expression containing complex, intertwined emotions: humiliation, regret, resignation, hesitation, and fear.
"..."
To Steve, who saluted in silence, Donald returned the salute from atop his horse.
"Commander-sama. Everyone's preparations for departure are complete."
"I see... Then, gentlemen, let us go."
Told this by one of the generals, Donald called out to those who would commit suicide with him and exited the gates of Ostraich.
The group proceeded for a while and lined up on the plain. In front of them, the Lordberg Kingdom Army—the force of approximately thirty thousand led by Oscar, who would accompany Donald and the others in their suicidal charge—stood in opposition.
With this difference in military power. It would be a suicidal charge for the sake of a suicidal charge, where they would not even be able to reach the enemy.
"...Political Advisor-dono. Are you truly coming as well?"
Donald asked Representative Dickens, who was mixed among everyone lined up on horseback.
"Conversely, why do you think I would not come? If I return to the country as I am, my fate is obvious. Therefore, I shall die here as a member of the Wealthy Nation Faction. That would be a fitting end for a Wealthy Nation Faction representative."
To Representative Dickens, who answered with the same steady eyes as always, Donald gave a bitter smile.
"Then, as you wish."
"Yes, I shall do as I wish."
Donald shifted his gaze away from Representative Dickens and looked around at everyone who was about to commit suicide with him. Generals, Great Legion Commanders, Legion Commanders, or those in their inner circles. Everyone wore a refreshed expression.
While witnessing the corruption of the Wealthy Nation Faction up close, they had followed along for the sake of self-preservation, or had ceased thinking and obeyed the principle of civilian control, and had come here having done nothing until now. Those days were also ending. That was why everyone looked as if they had been liberated from something.
"Gentlemen, our era has ended. Along with this era, let us all leave this world... Charge."
It was a quiet voice for a charge order. Following the final order, the high-ranking military officers who had served as the hands and feet of the Wealthy Nation Faction within the military advanced.
The group of over a hundred riders galloped across the plain that led to death.
The forces of the Lordberg Kingdom and its friendly nations intercepted them.
"All army, prepare to attack!"
The enemy was a mere hundred-odd riders. Even so, Oscar ordered a full-scale interception by the thirty thousand who met them. As a courtesy to the enemy generals who had chosen to die to take responsibility for the defeat.
The Ballista units, archers, crossbowmen, and mages of the Lordberg Kingdom, the Grand Duchy of Arqvist, the Kingdom of Lancel, and the Kingdom of Reuveland aimed at the approaching enemy.
"Fire!"
Oscar's order spread through the officers, and attacks were unleashed from hundreds of ballistae, thousands of bows and crossbows, and dozens of magic circles. That giant wave of destruction swallowed the hundred-odd riders in an instant.
Shortly thereafter, under the command of General Steve Barrel, the remaining forces of the invasion force that had been besieged in Ostraich surrendered to the Lordberg Kingdom.
Due to the writing pace, the next update will be on December 25th. I am very sorry...