Imperial Southern Legion: the 4th, 6th, 13th, and 15th Legions.
Four Legions sequentially departed the Encampment and began their deployment.
The 18th Legion, as a reserve force, followed behind.
A grand army numbering nearly 100,000 combat troops.
This grand army numbered nearly 100,000 combat troops, not including the Logistics Corps.
That enormous military force began its majestic march south.
Until recently, the Empire held a negative stance on mobilizing the Legions.
Too much military expenditure had been incurred, posing a risk of destabilizing the Empire.
How much blood tax had been consumed in the eastern campaign, which lasted just under two months?
The current Empire's situation differs from that of Thedorant beyond the western border.
There's an imperial order already established in those lands, making it difficult to recoup losses through war reparations.
Time is needed, and a slight leeway is necessary to cover this loss.
However, the situation did not unfold as they wished.
Flames erupted on all sides, threatening to spread to the Empire at any moment.
Therefore, the Empire regarded this moment as a serious crisis.
The Imperial Family took the lead, offering to contribute their wealth to the national treasury.
They were followed by the Marquises, Counts, and numerous other nobles.
If that still wasn't enough, amending the law would be unavoidable.
It's regrettable for the Imperial Citizens, but they too must tighten their belts.
"In the worst-case scenario, we may have to open both the western and southern fronts simultaneously."
Mulling over the chilling conclusion presented by the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
*
"Your Highness."
"..."
"Your Highness?"
"..."
It feels like the usual dynamic has been reversed.
Normally, the Princess calls for me, and I, startled, snap my head up with a 'Yes!'.
But now the Princess is completely zoned out.
Frankly it's understandable. I'm barely holding onto my sanity myself.
The news arriving over the past few weeks has been uniformly unbelievable.
'Benito tells the Holy Church to shove their excommunication and Holy War and crushes them. Thedorant slams Dregali's flank and takes the entire west. And those two even formed an alliance.'
Even the Ministry of Foreign Affairs apparently didn't anticipate such a secret pact.
Word has it the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building was paralyzed for a while due to the suddenness of it all.
Thedorant is arguably a true military power second only to the Empire.
Benito, although only by southern standards, has somehow grown stronger.
The fact that these two have allied was definitely not pleasant news.
And the finishing touch to all this, naturally, would be the most recent event.
"Young Master Kael."
The 6th Corps Commander, who had quietly approached, cautiously continues.
"Why on earth would Benito declare war on the Empire?"
"...Seems like the King of Benito went mad after being excommunicated."
"Ahaha. Hearing a joke helps ease the tension a bit. Hahaha!"
It wasn't a joke. I'm being completely serious.
What kind of crazy bastard attacks the Holy Church and then declares war on the Empire?
It would be far more believable if they just said, 'I feel like committing suicide.'
No one in their right mind would do this.
Even if they intended to, their surrounding Subjects should have desperately tried to stop them.
This is like Japan launching a preemptive strike on America.
Or Italy shouting 'Duce!' and suddenly hitting Greece.
'What were they thinking? Do they have some hidden ace up their sleeve?'
I considered every possible scenario Benito might pursue, then repeatedly discarded them.
The resulting conclusion, while varied, ultimately boiled down to one main point.
That guy, King Andrea II of Benito, is furiously running his happiness circuit [TL: Korean slang for engaging in wishful thinking/being overly optimistic].
"If I had to pick the most likely scenario, it would be their desire to drag our Empire as deep into the south as possible."
"Drag us in, you say."
"Yes, they must have heard the news too. About the immense military expenditure the Empire has incurred in less than a year."
"So they declared war to inflict more losses on such an Empire."
"If the Legions cross the Border and head south, the cost will be incomparably higher than staying in the Encampment."
The 6th Corps Commander nodded, acknowledging that my answer certainly made sense.
If the front line extends, the burden naturally increases.
The Empire, being the strongest nation, can endure it, but there are limits.
Moreover, an army entering enemy Territory must worry about supplies, making it even more taxing.
The problem is, this prediction assumes the most plausible scenario.
Even considering all that, declaring war is truly insane.
For this to work, the prerequisite is that the Benito army must hold out against the Imperial Legions.
Additionally, the armies sent by other Southern Kingdoms must perform at least half as well as Benito's.
This is the minimum condition. Without it, their grand Strategy is doomed from the start.
'Knowing the gap between the Imperial Legions and the southern armies, why are they doing this? And what if the Southern Kingdoms turn their backs? Wouldn't they become instantly isolated and crushed without a chance to resist?'
They aren't deaf. They must know about the situation on the Eastern Front.
About their promise, which started as a grand coalition but shattered in just one month.
I've heard that operations and plans rarely go as predicted for more than three minutes.
It means no matter how much they promise not to betray each other, it's pointless.
Humans are just too deceitful and selfish; their hearts can change anytime.
However, I soon realized I had grossly underestimated the place called the South.
*
"...You're saying not a single kingdom has responded yet?"
A week after crossing the Border into the southern continent.
Hearing the news delivered by the Corps Commander, a sigh escaped me automatically. "Ha."
"Yes, Young Master Kael. Not only Benito's neighbors but even distant kingdoms are wary of our Legions. At this rate, we cannot advance deeply due to the unstable supply lines."
"Yet, if we try to break through the Southern Kingdoms one by one by force, our Legions will inevitably suffer damage in some way."
The Imperial Southern Legion has two main objectives: overthrow Benito and rescue the Holy Church.
Engaging in Battle with other Southern Kingdoms during this process is part of the plan.
However, considering various factors, we decided to use appropriate appeasement and intimidation instead.
For the supply lines now, and for southern Trade in the future.
Upon arriving, it turned out that appeasement through various conditions was ineffective.
They had no intention of yielding even to the threat presented by the Empire's four Legions.
Instead, reports indicated that the atmosphere was only growing more hostile.
"They claim Benito declared war, not them. They say that if we treat them hostilely despite this, they too will side with Benito."
"The armies of the Southern Kingdoms await along the Legion's path of advance. What should we do?"
"They sent a Herald asking whether the Empire truly came for the Holy War or to swallow the South on this occasion. They demand an answer."
This is not good. Things are getting incredibly tangled right from the start.
The East also had considerable resentment towards the Empire, but I don't recall it being this severe.
"It seems the aversion towards the Empire is erupting in this manner."
And the answer to that came from the Princess, who had returned to her usual self a few days prior.
It seems she heard something while staying close to Marquis Lylas from the South.
"The Imperial South has historically lacked a strong unifying force. They were bound religiously by the Holy Church, and culturally and economically by the Empire."
"But are they saying they'll side with Benito when the Legions are right before them? It's utterly inexplicable by Reason, Your Highness."
"I understand the Corps Commanders' opinions. But sometimes, there are things in the world that cannot be explained by Reason. Isn't that right, Kael?"
At the Princess's question, I slowly nodded.
Right. Was the world ever a place run solely by rational judgment?
If it truly were, those significant victories in the East would have been impossible.
Rather, precisely because it's the world, things often flow more emotionally than rationally.
"Anyway, this won't do. We might have to face the entire Southern Kingdoms before even driving out Benito. Right, Kael?"
Pondering the Princess's question for a moment, I laid out the conclusion drawn from the current situation.
"Yes, Your Highness. And if things truly unfold that way, the Legions might achieve tactical victory, but the strategic victory will ultimately belong to the South, specifically Benito."
The reason our Empire eventually crossed the border into the territory of the Southern Kingdoms was.
It was because the Holy Church excommunicated Benito that we mobilized, as a Holy War was declared.
It is absolutely not for the purpose of occupying the Southern Kingdoms, as the loss outweighs the profit.
Yet, these Southern Kingdoms are siding with Benito, refusing to yield even to the Empire's threat.
If we suppress them by force, all Public Sentiment in the South... No, it won't end there.
Once news spreads, it will further destabilize the West, East, and even the North.
If they run Propaganda saying the Empire is this black-hearted, there's no counter.
Ultimately, if we get bogged down here, Benito will crush the Holy Church's last resistance.
If the Pope is forcibly removed, a puppet installed, and the excommunication and Holy War retracted...
Our Empire loses both justification and Practicality. Our Pride too will hit rock bottom.
"...Perhaps using a method to break through the Southern Kingdoms at once..."
"We cannot. If we end up bearing the stigma of invading the Southern Kingdoms, it will become truly uncontrollable."
I hastily cut off the Corps Commander's opinion, repeating the point about justification.
Why keep harping on justification? Is it that important?
Of course. This justification is the very tool that can turn local Public Sentiment in our favor.
This Public Sentiment is so crucial that emphasizing it a hundred times, no, a thousand times, is not enough.
"Then there is only one way. We must pull the Southern Kingdoms away from Benito."
"But Your Highness. These are people who are resisting even with four Legions descending upon them. If the Empire takes even one step back now, they will surely look down on us even more."
"I think we need to preserve their Pride too. Think about it. What kind of ruler would tolerate the army of another country moving through their own Territory."
Justification. Practicality. And Pride. Not just one, not two, but three troublesome things.
A compromise point must be found. Something that allows for mutual, moderate concessions is needed.
What could it be? How can the Southern Kingdoms be persuaded?
A reason for them to cooperate with the Empire without looking back, no matter what Benito says.
Practicality that allows them to stand tall even when called 'traitors who bowed to the Empire!'
And something that can be shown without hurting their Pride too much...
'Hmm.'
No matter how I think about it, this seems the best option for now.
"Your Highness."
"Yes, Kael."
"There are a few countries in the South that aren't on good terms with Benito, right?"
"I know roughly, having heard from the Marquis."
"Then let's send a Herald there. To propose a Conference. And, Corps Commander?"
"Yes, Young Master Kael."
"It seems we'll have to have discussions. The one situated towards Benito is the Gori Kingdom, you said."
"That is correct. They are said to be very close to Benito."
"Good."
The cards I've drawn are money in the left hand, and a club in the right. You bastards.