It was two days after the tornado had swept through and subsided near Senkelien.
Before the monsters could pour out again and fill the empty plains, the allied forces had already completed their preparations for the march.
As soon as the weather anomaly had ceased, the allied forces immediately advanced towards Senkelien.
The battle was surprisingly easy.
The allied forces, divided into three large units, attacked Senkelien—which had been reduced to a wasteland after the tornado swept through—from the east, south, and west, as if encircling it.
It wasn't just the monsters that the tornado had reduced.
With the entire city in ruins, the exterior walls and debris of the buildings where the monsters could have hidden were all swept away.
The allied forces only had to face the newly emerging monsters from the conquered city and the powerful monsters that had survived the tornado.
And there weren't many of these powerful monsters. They were swept away like fallen leaves by the vanguard, composed of master-class fighters.
Given Senkelien's three warp gates, one could not say the number of monsters was small.
However, compared to the size of the allied forces, it was pitifully few.
The colossal weapons that had been brought along were installed, but they couldn't fire a single shot due to the quick infiltration of the skirmishers into the city.
In the first place, there was no need to fire. These weapons were designed to cause devastation in the midst of a massive swarm of monsters.
There was no need to shoot at the already devastated horde, and if they did, there was a greater risk of friendly fire.
The allied forces' first offensive operation ended in less than half a day.
Two medium-sized warp gates were taken by the squad led by Ellen Artorious.
Saviolin Turner destroyed the barrier of the large warp gate and caused it to collapse, concluding the conquest of Senkelien.
It was a surprisingly easy conquest.
The number of allied casualties was less than a hundred.
These were casualties, not fatalities.
The number of monsters had been drastically reduced, allowing the elites to quickly enter the field and strike at the warp gates.
Swoosh -
Ellen sheathed her Void Sword while gazing at the ruins of the collapsed warp gate.
Of course, it wasn't over just because the gate was destroyed. There was still work to be done to eliminate the surviving monsters, but they were very few in number.
"Operation complete. Good work, everyone."
"…Yes."
Ellen nodded quietly.
The operation was successfully completed.
Casualties were minimal.
Ellen had some intuition as to whose assistance had brought about this outcome.
She clenched the necklace, steadying her breath.
When she returned, she planned to hug the cat tightly and pet it.
She intended to tell it that everything had gone better than expected.
She wished that everything would continue like this, that every matter would be resolved this easily.
Of course, this would only be possible when that cat, who disappears and reappears suddenly, was at the base.
—---
The allied forces successfully occupied Senkelien.
The high command of the allied forces knew that the large-scale natural disaster had not occurred by coincidence.
A considerable number of commanders in the allied forces believed that it was the empire's hidden power.
Although the battle had ended surprisingly easily, it was a great victory nonetheless.
Their first victory since the expedition began.
Starting from this, they would reclaim all the small and large cities, as well as the capital of the Kingdom of Riselen, and the gate crisis would be over.
There was still a long way to go.
However, there was no reason not to celebrate this first victory.
After the cleanup near Senkelien, a feast was held at the garrison.
There was no reason not to celebrate, as there were hardly any casualties in the battle where a large number of casualties were expected.
Though it was not an excessive amount, the Emperor permitted a certain degree of alcohol consumption.
Songs filled the garrison, sung by soldiers hoping for the complete end of the war, peace, and the death of the Demon King.
It was natural for such a feast to take place within the Royal Class garrison.
Some of the capable students had a drink or two, and Ranian Sesor played his instrument while intoxicated.
Of course, his skills were not extraordinary, but even in his drunken state, the performance was lively, if not entirely accurate.
-Azahaaaa!
So far, the Allied Forces had fought many battles, but today was the first time they could claim a victory.
So it was only natural for the students to be intoxicated by the sensation of victory.
For the sake of maintaining their sharp senses, or because some didn't believe this was a true victory, a few people didn't dampen the atmosphere today and listened to the songs of victory.
The Allied Forces base was bustling.
Of course, not everyone was drunk, and everyone enjoyed the feast in their own way.
In a corner of the Royal Class garrison's banquet hall.
-Euueuuueung
Some students watched a black kitten twisting its body and rolling around on a pile of blue leaves.
"Is this… alright?"
Ellen looked back and forth between the kitten twisting its body and the unidentified leaves Anna de Gerna had brought, with a worried expression.
"It's fine…"
-Euueung
The kitten, as if intoxicated by something, sniffed the scent of the leaves and rolled around, twisting its body.
As always, the black kitten disappeared somewhere and returned to the Royal Class garrison after the occupation of Senkelien.
The Royal Class students had become accustomed to the kitten, which would disappear for a few days and then reappear, and then disappear again for another few days.
By now, everyone believed that it would return eventually, even if it disappeared for a week or so.
But this time, as soon as Anna de Gerna saw the kitten return, she laid out some mysterious leaves for it and placed the kitten on top.
It had been like that ever since.
The kitten rolled around.
Scarlett, Christina, Adelia, and the other Royal Class students watched the kitten twist its body as if intoxicated by alcohol.
Anna said it wasn't dangerous, even though it looked like it might be.
"Is this what you snuck into the supply list last time?"
"Yeah... It's called Catnip."
When they wondered why she had slipped something strange into the list of essential alchemical supplies.
"It's like a drug for cats…"
"!"
-Ehng
At Anna's words, a shocked Ellen quickly lifted the kitten from the catnip leaves and glared at Anna.
What are you doing to our baby?
That was the thought clearly visible in her eyes.
"A drug…?"
"Just a figure of speech. It's not a real drug."
"…Really?"
Another senior student nodded.
"Right. It shouldn't be harmful to the body. That's what I know too."
"…"
-Ehng
The kitten continued to roll around, still stretched out. It seemed to be completely out of it, as if intoxicated by something, but it certainly looked happy rather than upset.
Ellen hesitantly placed the black kitten back on the pile of leaves.
-Eung
The kitten began rolling around on the catnip leaves once more.
Of course, only the cat itself, who couldn't quite grasp its situation, would know what kind of internal screams it was letting out.
A banquet was also taking place in the Kernstadt Army's command headquarters.
A lavish spread was laid out on the table, celebrating the victory of their strategy.
"Do you think the Gate incident will soon come to an end at this rate?"
"It's easier than expected. I don't understand why we didn't do this earlier."
"If it was only going to amount to this, there was no need for such a large-scale military organization."
"Once this war is over, all those who participated will have their names etched into history."
Heinrich quietly listened to the commanders' conversation.
Alphonse, Louise, and German sat side by side at the clearly designated head seats, with Heinrich seated next to German.
But Heinrich felt a palpable distance between them.
"Milady, how much longer until we reach the next operation area?"
"About a week's journey."
"That's quite close."
"But it's just a small town. The operation should be easier than this one. There's only one small Gate, so perhaps a raiding party could handle it."
German von Schwarz blatantly turned his back towards Heinrich and conversed with Louise.
He was clearly shunning him.
But Heinrich was not someone to be ignored.
"Prince Heinrich, do you not drink alcohol?"
A commander, his face flushed from drunkenness, asked from afar.
"Ah... I don't particularly enjoy it."
"But on a day like today, shouldn't you at least have one drink?"
"One drink, I suppose..."
"To the prince!"
As the man shouted, others raised their glasses and downed their drinks.
Heinrich reluctantly took a small sip from his wine-filled glass.
Heinrich didn't know much about the structure of the Kernstadt Army.
He simply followed the orders of Commander Louise von Schwarz, unaware of the military hierarchy or even the names of the other commanders.
But Heinrich von Schwarz, always at the forefront in battle, sweeping away enemies in the exceptional situation of war, could not have a low status.
The one who killed the most enemies saved those who would have died fighting the monsters.
No matter what the royal family seated next to him thought, Heinrich had the support of the overwhelming majority of soldiers and commanders.
Although they didn't show it, Heinrich couldn't help but notice Alphonse, German, and Louise's expressions harden.
The rolling stone was growing larger.
So, it was inevitable that the lodged stone felt threatened. Heinrich seemed to understand that now.
But why?
Why did they treat him like an eyesore to this extent?
"Youngest one."
"...Yes, sister?"
"You must be tired. Go inside and rest."
Why?
Though the banquet wasn't very enjoyable, did they want to drive him away, as if he didn't deserve to be seated there?
Was the praise for the youngest prince's martial prowess so detestable?
Why?
Why do they hate me so much?
"Yes, sister."
Suppressing the surge of emotions welling up inside him, Heinrich left the banquet at the command headquarters.
The commanders encouraged the departing Heinrich von Schwarz, the hero of the Kernstadt Army, to rest comfortably.
In that nauseating scene where praise and disdain coexisted, Heinrich had no choice but to escape.
The garrison was shrouded in night.
The banquet was in full swing, and although they would stay nearby Senkelien for a few days under the guise of rest, they would soon depart.
Not only in the banquet hall but also in various places of the garrison, soldiers could be seen eating and drinking.
The banquet hall was stifling, and the air felt oppressive.
There was still a little time.
Watching the soldiers carry food and drink, Heinrich approached them.
"Ah, Your Highness!"
"Excuse me for a moment."
Heinrich took a bottle of wine from a crate that was about to be moved into the banquet hall.
Alcohol.
His first time drinking it was at Liana de Grantz's mansion.
After hearing that he had been shocked by Liana for causing a scene, he realized that he had no self-control when it came to alcohol.
Of course, the situation at the time was strange in many ways.
Since his first experience wasn't a good one, Heinrich had no reason to seek alcohol.
But now he was an adult, and no one could say anything about him drinking.
Since he hadn't had a chance to drink since becoming an adult, this was the first time Heinrich had drunk alcohol since that day.
In his own quarters, Heinrich sat on a chair and drank the wine straight from the bottle, without a glass.
Was his past sin so great?
He had no choice but to accept it.
Still, he was doing his best in his position.
It was a long-forgotten event from a very distant past.
Could his brothers still not forgive him?
He was nothing more than an eternal unwelcome guest.
"Hoo..."
Heinrich had no taste for alcohol, so he couldn't tell good wine from bad.
However, he could feel that the wine's taste wasn't particularly good.
The empire still had a surplus, but the state of the wine provided to the commander's quarters showed that it wasn't abundant.
Heinrich knew that this operation had been too easy.
Suspiciously easy.
If they continued to suppress the gates this easily, the complete end of the gate crisis would come soon.
And then what?
What would happen next?
Not only the commanders who treated him like a hero, but also the soldiers were uneasy.
The soldiers returning to Kernstadt would talk about the youngest prince's prowess, and songs about him would be created.
His resentful brothers would hear the songs of their youngest sibling echoing throughout the country.
Your siblings will kill you.
"Heh... Huh..."
Heinrich felt the truth of that statement was not far-fetched.
Seeing his siblings, who strangely despised him, made him think that it could happen.
Despite being siblings.
"..."
He tried to suppress such thoughts, but they kept surging.
Heinrich didn't understand politics.
He didn't understand familial love either.
That's why he didn't understand why he should be hated enough for his family to want to kill him.
He didn't know love or hate.
He couldn't remember tasting something he'd never eaten, so how could he dislike it?
Heinrich was merely frustrated.
Why do they hate me so much?
Do they really want to kill me?
Heinrich drained the remaining wine and stood up.
If you don't know, ask.
If you're still unsure, find someone who knows.
Heinrich von Schwarz mustered his courage.
Since he didn't know politics, he had to seek someone who did.
Borrowing the courage from the alcohol, Heinrich intended to find someone he hadn't seen in a long time.
Bertus de Gardias.
He would surely still be at the garrison.
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