“…We've taken a hit.”
While we worked hard to find the weaknesses of the King of Benito.
Some news arrived via Sharlua, who was attacking the Atria side.
Signs indicated that some nobles there wanted to cooperate with the Empire.
Not long after, all of them had been eliminated by Thedorant.
Thedorant's thoughts and actions were extremely swift and effective.
They quickly dealt with those plotting to defect before they could act.
They didn't claim the resulting vacuum for themselves, but gave it to Atria.
The nobles of Atria, who gladly accepted it, had now become the perfect dogs of Thedorant.
“We were too focused on Benito.”
“My apologies, Commander-in-Chief. It seems both the Chief of Staff Office and the Ministry of War focused on the supply of the entire Thedorant front and Benito side matters, leaving the Atria side neglected.”
“It means Thedorant was that swift. It seems they also received the information first.”
The wider and deeper the front line becomes, the more the Empire's advantage is diluted.
The supply problem alone is a headache, but it's the same with information.
If previously we had been one step ahead, now it's the other way around.
‘According to Commander Faelus, he was in seclusion, lost in despair.’
Did he come to his senses after officially becoming King?
I was hoping he'd stay out of his mind forever, but this is a bit of a headache.
That Thedorant could come this far was, upon reflection, thanks to the 3rd Prince Georg.
No, should I call him Cassius II now? In any case, it was possible thanks to that man.
Though he has a somewhat radical and thoughtless side, he is swift and bold.
If I had to categorize him, it would be fair to say his disposition is opposite to mine.
The news from Benito right now illustrates his characteristics well.
“Thedorant's 5th Army is pulling out of the Royal Capital, you say?”
“Yes, Commander-in-Chief.”
“Is there a possibility they are temporarily retreating because of the epidemic?”
“We are also considering that possibility. We will report again after gathering more information.”
After the epidemic swept through, Benito's capacity had hit rock bottom again.
In particular, more than half of the defensive lines that had held up well until now are on the verge of collapse.
In this situation, it must be a struggle to decide between holding their ground or retreating.
And Thedorant seems to have given the King of Benito an answer as to what to do.
…No, that's not right. Should I see it as not giving him an answer, but forcing him to do this?
In fact, from Benito's perspective, they can no longer defy Cassius II.
They've already received so much, and continue to do so. What could they say?
Though they provided military resources, less was actually taken from them compared to other places.
When Faelus surrendered this time, he had a large number of Atria troops and those from Dregali under his command.
But there was almost no one from Benito. Even if there were any, it was only a few who had volunteered.
I don't know the reason, but compared to the other two places, they are being treated relatively well.
I guess it's because they somehow held out well in the south and tied down our Empire's full power.
‘I was starting to think that those bastards would either give up, or be driven mad and only do foolish things. But to think they would deal with it right away when the atmosphere in Atria seemed to be wavering.’
Just when I was worried, news from Dregali arrived this time.
It came through the people we had sent to the Rostanica side, and the contents were not good.
[ Internal conflict in Dregali worsening, with confrontation between resistance forces and pro-Thedorant forces intensifying ]
[ Due to Thedorant's blatant actions, public sentiment for the resistance forces is falling even among the general populace of Dregali ]
It seems these guys were quite intrigued by what I had done in the east.
It seems they realized it's far more convenient to make them kill each other effortlessly.
They are suppressing all those who align with the resistance forces, and conversely, actively supporting those who are hostile to them.
As a result, even though they are the Same Dregali people, the conflict intensified due to their various differences.
Those who want to reclaim the kingdom, and those whose lives and families come first for now.
Are these two not parts important to each other, but cannot coexist?
“…This isn't good.”
I was hoping they would fall into a national coma due to the shock of the Great Defeat.
But after getting intoxicated by the drug of a royal coronation, they didn't descend into complete madness but instead awakened.
If this happens, not only will Benito be split in half, but the entire Thedorant front will have to start over.
If you give them time, both sides will suffer a Loss. And if both suffer a Loss, the victorious side suffers more.
I am sure of it. In the end, the Empire will be the final Winner. Thedorant will ultimately be defeated.
The problem is what comes next. Winning this war is not the end itself.
If the Empire wavers after winning the war, it's no different from Thedorant having won.
‘Preparations to diminish the authority of Benito's King are in progress. The problem is that northern Benito seems overwhelmingly supportive of the current King, preventing us from making them secede.’
The thought that taking half of Benito would suffice was only valid when Thedorant was acting foolishly.
If those bastards regain their senses and display the same form they did at the beginning of the war, it will be quite challenging.
I must not forget. Thedorant's combat Power was always comparable to our Imperial Legion.
We had just continuously undermined it in various aspects, preventing them from exerting their Full Power.
Expanding the Battlefield. Making them divert their troops to various places. And our Empire concentrating its efforts on one place.
“Adjutant.”
“Yes, Commander-in-Chief.”
“How far is it to the Thedorant Royal Capital now?”
“Based on the legion that has penetrated deepest, it would take ten days even if they march day and night.”
“Close if you're close, far if you're far.”
That number of days also applies when the roads in Thedorant are used without any problems.
In reality, those bastards will either destroy the roads, or place defensive troops in various places.
In that case, it could be not a week but 10 weeks. No, ten months.
“Their defensive lines are here, and here. If we can just break through these two main places….”
“Instead, if we go that far, our Empire's supply line will become even longer. Adjutant, do you think we can handle that with our current supply capacity?”
“Wouldn't it be possible if the Ministry of War somehow manages it?”
“Don't give me a hopeful answer. Speak coldly, objectively.”
At my urging, the adjutant hesitates for a moment before letting out a groan.
“It will take several months just to capture each Castle and defensive stronghold. On top of that, the longer it gets, the burden on supply and logistics will double. I am well aware of what you are worried about, Commander-in-Chief.”
The prisoner problem is almost solved, and supplies have resumed.
The moment we split Benito in half, the armies on the central front will also advance.
It starts then. Endless battles and continuous bleeding.
There's nothing I can do about this. Unless the gods are really helping.
“For now, let's focus on finishing the Benito problem for sure.”
“As it happens, the 4th Corps Commander has sent news. He is said to know a lot about the Benito royal family.”
“Send him to me at once.”
First, the King of Benito. I'll dig into him thoroughly and shatter all his authority.
He's already lost his elite soldiers. On top of that, an epidemic has broken out, so he must be at his wit's end.
What kind of reaction would he show if he suddenly heard, 'Actually, you lack legitimacy. That's why the gods are angry'?
Of course, he'll say it's a forced assertion, a trick of the Empire.
To that, our Empire has only one thing to say. So what?
Ah, a new King of Benito has ascended, and he has more legitimacy, so this here is the real Benito, you see?
*
A month later, Andrea II, the King of Benito, received some very unpleasant news.
[ Andrea II is not, in fact, the King of Benito. He is a man who lacks legitimacy. ]
[ Because such a person became King, the gods are angry, causing them to lose every battle, and an epidemic is sweeping through, brutally wiping out the innocent. ]
“Who dares to speak such nonsense!”
Andrea II, enraged, makes the subjects around him flinch.
The Royal Capital Defense Commander who brought the news quickly bows his head.
“This is the situation at each Castle blocking the Empire. They are either sending news into the castles, or they are shouting it openly using amplification Magic, Your Majesty.”
The Empire is doing something strange again. I had never imagined something like this.
To use amplification Magic like this. To do that right in front of the Enemy Camp!
What will they do if we target the devices or mages casting that Magic?
Are they really exposing those important devices or mages just to do something like that?
But given how things are going, it's hard to call it 'just something like that'.
The common report from the defenders of each Castle.
That, due to that amplification Magic, Public Sentiment is wavering more than imagined.
[ Oh you who fight for Benito. O you who desire the Glory of Benito. You are not wrong. It is just that a wrong master, a false King, is occupying the throne. ]
[ There is one here who should be the true King. The Empire already regards that noble person as the King of Benito and is treating him with the utmost courtesy. ]
[ Your courage. Your Loyalty. Must not all of that be offered to the right place? ]
In various places in Benito, wherever the Empire had occupied, the amplification Magic with that content resounded.
Andrea II told them to get rid of that damn thing, but that was no easy task.
Today, too, the Great Benito Broadcast was booming.