Elizaveta was flipping through the reports with bloodshot eyes. From the moment the urgent tactical meeting ended until now, she had not slept, passing through the late dawn and into the break of day.
Swish, swish. The sound of paper rustling filled the barracks. Despite her extreme exhaustion, her eyes scanned the lines of the report with an undiminished focus.
Tap, tap.
The silence was broken by the sound of a salute from the lieutenant. Just that sound made it clear who was approaching. There was only one person who would seek her out at this hour. Before the officers could open their mouths, Elizaveta spoke with a strained voice.
“Come in.”
“…Yes, Your Majesty.”
Soon, the tent opened, and Lucia returned. Judging by her muddy and blood-stained appearance, it seemed she had requested an audience immediately upon returning from the battlefield.
Lucia performed the military salute as per protocol and spoke.
“Your Majesty. Alley 18 has been occupied. The collapse of the alley from 21 to 13 has occurred, and the next expected breach time is 0300, at point 07.”
“Advance the encampment 5 kilometers according to the existing operation. Tell Rundis to explain the situation and rearrange the sequence of each checkpoint to create a new tactical map. Set the encampments from number 01 to the northernmost number 33 again.”“There isn’t enough time to relay evacuation orders to nearby territories.”
“No territory will evacuate.”
Elizaveta’s words made Lucia hesitate for a moment. She spoke in a trembling voice.
“However… Your Majesty. Even if we can’t save them, we at least have to share the tactical situation…”
“I refuse.”
Elizaveta cut her off decisively. After a brief pause, Lucia closed her eyes tightly, nodded, and stepped back.
“I will obey. Your Majesty.”
“…Thank you for your efforts. You may leave.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Lucia left the barracks without making a sound. Because of that, Elizaveta was finally able to let out a deep sigh after counting to five in her mind.
She picked up the report silently again but put it down before she could even read the first two sentences.
She pressed her temples, trying to regain her focus. But it wasn’t easy… No, it was impossible. Her gaze kept being drawn back to the current tactical map.
The situation board hanging in a corner of the barracks was covered in tactical symbols, looking like a rag now. It was the remnants of the officers who had clung onto that board just a few hours ago.
And that map was about to be replaced anew. The situation was changing rapidly every moment. How long would this newly rewritten map maintain its form this time?
“Grandfather…”
Elizaveta finally set the report down, staring blankly at the map and murmuring.
“How have you fought in such a way?”
In just three days, three cities fell after the northern front collapsed. The fortress cities nearby the northern realm fell like dominoes, unable to withstand even a day.
Unlike most other wars, the war against the demons was prone to inflict significant casualties.
Demons leave no survivors in the conquered territories.
Everyone remaining in that area would be quantified as “losses.” Most of the report she was reading explained such losses, projected losses, and the worst-case loss scenarios.
Thus, it meant she could mathematically confirm how much and how her country, people, and land were being destroyed from where she sat.
“I cannot save everyone…”
Civilians rescue inevitably consumes a considerable amount of time. It would be the same even if they used the underground alleys to rescue citizens. Introducing all the cities would take at least three days, no matter how fast.
If even one city could be saved with that amount of time invested, a dozen others would fall into the hands of the demons. The military should be invested in the battlefield, not in rescues.
So, she must give up. They must save time even to share the situation with the enemy. To prevent civilians from panicking and becoming immobilized before the death approaching them. Thus, hoping the lords of the northern realm would fight for survival to buy at least a minimum amount of time.
This is the king’s ruthless duty. To block information to prevent panic and city collapses, and instead, command them to die while buying time. It cannot be yielded to anyone… It is a task that cannot be delegated to the ministers while being hypocritical.
All vice must be borne by the king as a duty. The master of a state must become the most vicious tyrant in that state. If paying that price is to protect one’s nation, then it is acceptable to lose everything else.
But.
However, a king has a heart too.
“Vanka…”
Elizaveta gently caressed her still slim abdomen and wept.
“Grazvork, 78,322 people. Among them, 8,911 are children who have not reached adulthood.
Rubosko, 112,819 people. Among them, 10,742 are children who have not reached adulthood.
Berezhisk, 94,195 people. Among them, 11,285 are children who have not reached adulthood.
And below that, the northern territories that will lose contact after today.
Kamennograd, Starichev, Volhovar, Borodinsko…
100,000, 80,000, 130,000, 150,000. All those lives are deeply etched into her eyes as quantified figures.
The demons continue to advance either above or underground. The route leading to the ground is blocked by Rasputitsa, scattering across territories, and the advancement leading underground is stalling due to the collapse of the alleys.
Thus, they are retreating exhaustively, to preserve a more suitable battlefield. A lengthy retreat towards the area where the entire 2nd Legion can concentrate its firepower, and where the enemy’s largest forces can gather.
To ensure they don’t get hit before sufficient preparations are ready, it is a long retreat aimed at buying time while incurring the least amount of losses.
“Elizaveta, the preparations for the encampment’s withdrawal are complete.”
A cold glint returned to Elizaveta’s eyes as she looked at the map again. The woman who crumbled before death was no longer here.
The arrogant king who can count the lives of his people as numbers had returned.
With a voice devoid of any tears, she responded.
“Thank you for your efforts. I too am ready, so proceed.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Elizaveta stood up from her seat, opened the tent, and stepped outside. In the massive communal area set up underground, numerous crowds were finishing their preparations for the movement and disassembling the encampment.
Overseeing this, Elizaveta moved forward. Following her steps were the lieutenant, the officers, and soon the soldiers.
The lord of Krasilov never shows tears to anyone under the sky. She turned, walking away from her people with her chin held high.
There is no day or night underground. There are no sun, moon, or starlight. Here, every moment with a torch is day, and every place where light does not reach is night.
She walks between them. Illuminating the night ahead. Into deeper darkness. Yet without stopping, at least without kneeling under the night.
Wherever she walks, the night retreats, and all lights held by those standing here gather to pull down day. As long as even a single person fights to live, the night can never bring a person down.
With the mindset to selflessly sacrifice everything else for this, with the king’s ruthlessness, Elizaveta moved forward.
Thud, thud, thud…
In the deep silence where no one spoke, the united footsteps echoed through the alley.
—
47. Prayer towards the Sunrise.
Splash, splash.
The swift boat glided across the open sea. A chill that hardly felt like summer seeped under the collar.
Ivan was lost in thought, gazing at the horizon of the deep night sea.
‘If we assume the demon army struck northern Krasilov with the same pressure as Drovian…’
First, the assault on Frechenkaya, and even at that point, he predicted the loss of the 1st Legion of Krasilov. At best, the collapse of a section of the front line, and at worst, the total loss of the 1st Legion.
By the time contact was lost, the legion was as good as annihilated. All troops whose positions are unknown are regarded as non-combat losses.
So let’s assume the 1st Legion has been annihilated. Somewhere deep in the demon realm beyond the northern front…
‘The northern gate could not withstand.’
Even if the 2nd Legion had made the shortest route, they would not have had enough time to prepare for battle. The Grand Gate built along the northern front’s canyon must now be assumed destroyed.
The dwarves of Andgrind could not physically cross the Sky Mountain Range. Thus, the route of the demon invasion is naturally limited to below the Grand Gate.
And below that, during this season, Rasputitsa would be in full swing…
‘If Elizaveta chose it, it would be a delaying warfare.’
If it is an operation established based on lessons learned during the great war, delaying warfare is the best option. At least they must fall back to the open plains near Karpinsk or Zversk.
The main force of the 2nd Legion is the artillery battalion. To engage in maneuvers, they need a wide plain that can endure Rasputitsa.
However, they could not continue the retreat on the surface. The withdrawal speed of the 2nd Legion, centered around the artillery battalion, is excessively slow compared to the demon army.
If they had aligned themselves with the dwarves and used underground tunnels, they wouldn’t be delayed in withdrawal, but in that case, they would lack the means to delay the demon army above ground. Elizaveta would not be foolish enough to try guerrilla tactics with a heavy artillery force.
Then, if Elizaveta’s best strategy is to sacrifice the entire northern territory.
Without informing all territories of the demon invasion, abandon them. To ensure that civilians, soldiers, or lords do not panic and flee in terror.
The lords who suddenly face the demon army would try to defend as much as possible and request assistance from Frechenkaya.
If in that situation Frechenkaya sends a reply indicating “reinforcements are on the way,” the lords would fight until the end, buying time for the enemies.
As a result, time can be bought until the entire northern territory collapses. With the time gained like that, Elizaveta can prepare for a counterattack, paying the price of a third of Krasilov.
“Elizaveta.”
Ivan whispered, looking up at the night sky. His low voice ebbed away into the wind.
‘Just hold on a little longer.’
There was nothing else he could say.
He believed this was the last hurdle. This campaign would mobilize maximum forces from the demon’s side too. The Seven Dragon Lords must have intervened in this operation without a doubt, and after defeating the Seven Dragon Lords that protruded on two fronts, there would be no focal point left for the demon army to regroup.
The demons would revert to tribal society and consume thousands of years in internecine conflicts once more. If they can just endure this time, the United Kingdom would spend centuries without the threat of demons.
Therefore, the Seven Dragon Lords must also be aware of this fact. The demons must bet everything on this operation.
To impose this level of loss on the Seven Dragon Lords, even Maximilian cannot remain in the rear. So, truly.
This is the last hurdle. The final front line. Beyond that horizon, over the realms of demons, beyond the northern front again, is Maximilian.
No matter what he wanted, what he attempted, and what purpose he moved for, the conclusion is singular.
The moment they confront, only one person will be able to see the end of this long conflict.
He quietly closed his eyes, recalling the cheerful face of that man who always walked ahead.
Splash, splash.
The swift boat crossed the night sea.
—
Once, the Grand Gate that spanned the deep valleys of the northern front became a ruin, covered in fallen stone pillars and debris.
Goblin swarmed and rummaged under the stone piles, while Tauruses dragged corpses and walked into the inferno. The smell of burning flesh wafted throughout the valley.
Orcs ran around shouting, and above them, the heavy strides of the northern giants moved forward.
Beyond the collapsed gates of the valley lay remnants that are many times more than this site. Countless troops had moved south, and even now, similar numbers of troops were preparing to march down in various regions of the demon realm.
And amid that chaos, a young man wearing a blindfold continued to walk.
“Lord.”
“Lord…”
With every step he took, the demons froze and humbly knelt, backing away. Even as the powerful sacred energy swirled, tightening around the demons’ throats, they simply bowed and could not even dare to breathe.
“Even if I pass through the Valley of Death, I will not fear evil, for You are with me…”
An orc made the sign of the cross and bowed deeply. Before him, the young man continued to walk without answering.
Stopping before the long plains that twisted below after passing through the valley, the young man slowly lowered his blindfold.
His clouded ash-gray eyes turned skyward. Toward the east where the morning sun was rising.
As if something pale was shining brightly beyond the sky, he gazed for a long time.
“Look joyfully upon what is now.”
The young man’s lips parted, and a low voice flowed out.
“This will be the last performance of this world that you will see. When the curtain falls, the audience must withdraw.”
He raised his blindfold, covering his eyes, and continued to walk. With every step he took, the earth seemed to reject him, blackening and screaming in agony.
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