Chapter 222 - Giant Caterpillars

After the Heinkel Kingdom allied with the Demons, the neighboring kingdoms massed their armies along its borders to isolate and blockade it. They then slowly advanced, tightening their encirclement until they surrounded Heinkel's capital.

The largest force, of course, belonged to the Arken Empire. Three corps had been mobilized for the operation, joined by mercenary companies hoping to claim a share of the spoils. Altogether, they numbered one hundred thousand—a force most kingdoms could not muster even with full mobilization.

With so many people gathered, their forward base was on a different scale as well. Their temporary barracks were built from sturdy timber and brick, and they had even dug wells and laid roads. The place could serve as a village after the war. The Empire had invested so heavily that it was no exaggeration to say they had come determined to swallow up this land.

"King Heodret has proposed an alliance?"

Ureas sat in the command post as his commanders continued their reports, using markers on the map.

"Yes. He has already formed a coalition with the neighboring countries and is asking the Empire to join."

"He argues that this is a war between humans and Demons, not between humans, and that victory will be difficult unless we unite and commit our full strength. He proposes putting our individual interests aside to focus solely on the war."

Ureas snorted. "Ha! What a transparent ploy. After brazenly swallowing the Yurei duchy, he wants to set our interests aside? Doesn't that mean he intends to swallow the capital too?"

"That is likely part of his intent."

"How many cowards have banded together in this so-called coalition?"

"Fifty thousand combat troops."

"Is that figure reliable?"

"Yes. Our scouts counted them all."

The Empire's total force was an astonishing one hundred thousand, but only forty thousand were actual combatants—far fewer than the coalition's.

"Aren't there only three other kingdoms nearby? They wouldn't mobilize everything just to crush a Demon. How have they managed those numbers?"

"Because the surrounding countries aren't about to sit idly by either."

A woman's voice sounded out of place in the command post, thick with the smell of sweat and tobacco. Princess Olivia Arken was also attending the meeting. She had put aside her lavish dresses and jewels in favor of armor. Her current position was head of the Order of Altes's relief corps, responsible for tending the wounded and providing support in the rear.

"This war has a clear and just cause. They also want to keep another enemy from using it as a pretext to run rampant."

"By another enemy, surely you don't mean us?"

"Yes, precisely. Those people see us as ravenous fiends who indiscriminately devour everything."

"Hardly surprising."

Ureas did, in fact, intend to do just that. He planned to condemn the weakness of the Heinkel Kingdom for siding with Demons, win a crushing victory, and strip the capital of most of its resources. Nor would he stop there. He intended to meddle in the neighboring countries' internal affairs as well, arguing that there was no guarantee they would not ally with Demons too. Nothing could better win him support at home while adding to his achievements.

"What do you think, sister? How should we get out of this situation?"

"I think we should join the coalition and form a united front. Wouldn't that ease some of our neighbors' suspicions?"

"Hmm..."

Ureas stared down at the map and ran through the possibilities. Once he pictured twelve countries joining the war and dividing the spoils, he was already facing a loss in terms of resources gained alone. He hated taking a loss more than anything. Wasn't there a better way?

Just then, a sentry came in from outside to report. "General. Count Ruster has arrived and is waiting."

"Send him in."

A moment later, a huge, powerfully built man entered and offered his greetings.

"My greetings to Your Highnesses, the Second Prince and the Princess. I am Count Oldin Ruster. On Grand Duke Gold's orders, I have come to the front with the Eleventh Corps."

"Thank you for coming, Lord Ruster. We were just facing a little difficulty. Now perhaps we can get somewhere."

Oldin Ruster, the veteran of countless battles. A man who had earned Waldemar's trust through loyalty and martial prowess alone. Ureas liked him, believing they had something in common.

Olivia greeted him in turn. "Welcome, Lord Ruster. Will Grand Duke Gold not be joining the campaign?"

"His Grace is advanced in years. He will not be taking part in this battle, so I have come in his stead."

"Is that so? He seemed quite healthy when I last saw him, but I suppose his age is taking its toll."

Count Ruster looked Olivia straight in the eye. "His Grace is very concerned about you, Your Highness."

"About me?"

"He believes a woman has no place on a battlefield like this."

A hothouse flower should remain in its hothouse. His meaning could hardly have been clearer.

Olivia smiled as she answered. "To be born into the nobility is to bear the duties that come with it. As an heir to the golden bloodline, how could I claim to serve a greater cause if I sat idly by to keep myself safe while the continent's welfare was threatened?"

"A princess need not concern herself with such menial work."

"I am also an apprentice Saintess of the Order of Altes. How is caring for the soldiers risking their lives and supporting them menial work?"

She continued, "Grand Duke Gold cares so deeply for his soldiers, yet he does not come to the battlefield himself. It makes me wonder what greater cause he serves."

"I told you His Grace is unwell, Princess Olivia. I ask that you watch your words."

"Watch that threatening tone of yours." Ureas stepped in front of Ruster. However much he liked the man, he would not tolerate him rounding on his younger sister.

"How dare a lowborn wretch bare his teeth at the imperial family, as far above him as the heavens? Insolent bastard."

"..."

"I don't like that look in your eyes. Are you contemplating treason?"

"I am loyal to the Empire."

"If you are loyal to the Empire, shouldn't you show even greater loyalty to its emperor?"

There was not a trace of respect in Count Ruster's eyes. He bowed his head mechanically and answered, "Prince Ureas, you are still only a prince. Your current position makes you the emperor's proxy, not the emperor."

"You dare..."

"Enough." Olivia intervened as the tension threatened to erupt.

"It feels as though the Demons have already worked some trick on us. Here we are fighting among ourselves... Tempers ran high on both sides, so let us put this behind us. Would that be acceptable, Lord Ruster?"

"My apologies for the discourtesy. I will provide a written account of our force's operations. Please refer to it."

In effect, he was declaring that he would not join Ureas's force. Count Ruster withdrew, leaving Ureas red-faced and seething as he stared after him. Without Olivia, there would undoubtedly have been an ugly scene.

'As difficult a man as ever.'

If Olivia had to name the five talented people she most coveted, Count Ruster would undoubtedly be among them. He had returned alive from countless battlefields where the chances of survival approached zero, earning his reputation as a veteran warrior. Strategy, tactics, personal martial skill—he lacked nothing, possessing every quality of a true general.

But what she valued most was his loyalty to Waldemar. It was no easy thing to be both capable and deeply loyal.

'If only I could discover where that loyalty comes from.'

Olivia tapped her lips. She wanted him. But there was nothing she could do except swallow her disappointment.

Still angry, Ureas lashed out at no one in particular. "When are those reinforcements from the far east arriving? Why are they dragging their feet?"

"We received word that they would arrive soon, but... I'm not sure how that is possible for an army that departed a week ago..."

"A week ago? Is it such a short journey that they can cover it in a week?"

Even the imperial army, stationed much closer, had taken over two weeks to arrive. Ureas could no longer contain his simmering anger.

"That Ferda seems determined to fuck us over. I'll show him just how much he'll regret that choice."

Olivia sighed inwardly. Soothing this fool would only wear her down again.

Just then, the sentry reentered the command tent to report.

"Salute! Strange creatures presumed to be the forces from the Grand Duchy of Valdrova are approaching."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

Ureas frowned at his adjutant, and the sentry explained again.

"Well, something is coming this way flying the flags of the Grand Duchy of Valdrova. They look like giant caterpillars, and there are over thirty of them."

"Caterpillars?"

"S-surely the Grand Duchy hasn't sided with the Demons too...?"

"No, nothing like that! They don't appear to have anything to do with Demons. All we can see is that they're bringing some very unusual creatures...!"

The adjutant was babbling as though he had seen some bizarre creature himself. Looking exasperated, Olivia rose.

"Rather than sit here fretting, why don't we go and see for ourselves?"

Her steps were remarkably light as she went to see for herself. With every step, the oppressive air seemed to lift, allowing her to breathe freely again.

And then she understood why the adjutant had called them giant caterpillars. Their long bodies and the curves formed by their canvas covers made the mistake perfectly understandable.

"What in the world are those?"

The commanders regarded the objects with fear and wonder. At first glance, their construction resembled the body of a carriage. Yet they rolled along smoothly without any horses in front.

Mana was the most sensible explanation for what could move something so large. Even then, their unnecessarily enormous size made one wonder whether they could move at all.

"They're mana-powered cars," Olivia answered.

"Mana-powered cars?"

"Yes. They mentioned making vehicles that run on mana stones. I heard they were being developed in Escolaia, but I never imagined they had already made so many."

Her face began to brighten. Between the enormous mana-powered cars, she could see a carriage approaching.

It stopped in front of Olivia and Ureas, and a man emerged. Gray hair and blue eyes. A cold expression that betrayed nothing of what he might do next. Despite his youth, he carried an air of experience that no one could dismiss. Ferda Valdrova.

He stepped down from the carriage and offered a courteous greeting. "My greetings, Prince Ureas."

"You've arrived early, considering you only set out a week ago."

"I apologize for taking so long. These vehicles employ new technology and must be handled carefully, so we allowed ourselves ample time for the march."

"You took your time getting here?"

"Yes."

Ureas could hardly believe it. His long experience on the battlefield told him it was impossible. A small elite force on a forced march might plausibly arrive in a week, but a force on the scale Ferda had brought should have taken a full three weeks even at a forced march.

'So those caterpillar things are that useful.'

He already coveted the powerful magical engineering weapons. Now the mana-powered cars had caught his eye as well. The others felt the same way.

The convoy of mana-powered cars formed neat ranks, and the soldiers inside began pouring out. Their helmets and armor were comparable to the imperial troops' equipment, if not inferior. But instead of long spears, they carried something resembling staffs.

"Are those the things that killed demonic creatures in a single shot?"

"How could something like that kill a demonic creature?"

Nothing about the weapons looked powerful, nor did the infantry seem particularly well trained. They looked as though they would be helpless against an immediate charge, making the onlookers feel an unwarranted contempt. Ureas was no different.

Studying the troops Ferda had brought, he asked, "I heard you were sending a hundred knights, but there appear to be fewer than a thousand infantry."

"We selected four hundred infantry, all of them tactical infantry."

"You won't be fielding cavalry?"

"No. We intend to form a defensive force centered entirely on tactical infantry. We judged that the most effective approach."

"So you mean to advance over our corpses."

Ureas gave him a sour look. He already knew Ferda had offered to join the war because he did not want to supply magical engineering weapons.

"You needn't worry. Even if our army advances in a defensive formation, we will never retreat."

"That remains to be seen. If your vanguard is weak, won't it all come to nothing?"

"You're quite right. That is why we selected the finest knights in the far east to form our vanguard."

"The finest..."

Ureas glanced toward the knights. They might have made names for themselves in the far east, but in the Empire, they were merely frogs playing king at the bottom of a well.

As he scanned their ranks, his eye happened to fall on a man in heavy cavalry armor.

"Is that...?"

Ureas was not the only one to notice him. The other commanders' eyes fixed on the man as well.

"That man..."

"That armor and that huge club... There's only one man who uses equipment like that... Could it be?!"

Ureas had once sought him out himself and offered him a knighthood, only for the insolent man to walk away without even acknowledging the offer. He asked Ferda to confirm whether it was the same man.

"Is that really the man they call the moving fortress?"