Thedorant's Royal Palace was filled with a terrible silence.
Just a few years ago, it daily resounded with cries for the Glory of the Theian People.
They were convinced that a savior on a white horse had finally descended upon this land and would unite the entire west.
In fact, they had absorbed Atria and conquered Dregali.
And even pressured Rostanica by allying with Benito.
It proved that the words, Thedorant's Best moment, and the Theian People's Best Glory, were not an illusion.
Perhaps they might have even fought well against the Empire, establishing dominance in the west.
But now, it has all become a mere dream of the past.
Although they had achieved a Great Victory in the early stages, the Empire refused to accept defeat.
Rallying themselves, they pressed Thedorant with fearsome resolve and finally succeeded in cornering them.
Benito, allied with Thedorant, even surrendered its Royal Capital.
It was said to be north and south, but in reality, the real Benito had settled in the south.
What remained was an almost insane Andrea II and a small number of nobles who followed him.
“…”
There, Cassius II stared motionless at the Battlefield drawn on the map.
Places that had recently been Thedorant's proud dominion were falling to the Empire one after another.
The defensive strongholds and castles that had to be defended at all costs were disappearing one by one.
The Empire was rushing in without stopping, and Thedorant could no longer stop it.
Troops remained, with still tens of thousands of elite soldiers and twice that number of conscripts.
But war is not fought with numbers alone. If there is a Military, Supplies are essential.
They had held out quite well so far, but further resistance is impossible. Food to feed them, clothes to wear. Even the weapons to arm them were almost entirely gone.
‘The fall of Benito is too big.’
If only it hadn't been for the epidemic, it would have been fine. That proved too fatal.
Still, as it was a fairly prosperous place, the food from Benito was quite helpful.
But now that place has fallen under the Empire's complete control, making it impossible.
Atria, a source of good quality iron, is also nearing its end.
News came in a while ago that the Empire had entered the road to the Atria Royal Capital.
The castle that had blocked that path had finally been captured.
“…”
Cassius II, formerly Prince Georg, looked down at his hand.
It was trembling slightly. Was it due to three days and nights without sleep? Or from fear?
After a moment's thought, he let out a hollow laugh, looking at the Empire's pieces swarming in from all directions.
‘How did it come to this? In the beginning, everything was going just as I wanted.’
He had no intention of fighting to win against the Empire. But he was confident he could fight and hold out.
In fact, they had even lured and devoured two entire legions, making the possibility seem even greater.
If his elite army had pushed to the border, the situation would have been different now.
“What a pity. To think that was the first and last chance.”
He hadn't believed it at first, but as time passed, he naturally came to understand.
The Empire was truly in a crisis at that time.
If they had attacked at that gate instead of turning away, everything would have changed.
What if they had captured the gate and swept through the rear?
What if they had captured the Empire's young Genius Strategist, the Commander-in-Chief Kael?
There is nothing more foolish than 'what if' scenarios, but the question kept coming to mind.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
He positioned the advancing Imperial Army pieces at a roughly estimated point.
Accordingly, he adjusted the position of his allies who would be forced to retreat, outnumbered.
Thedorant's territory is shrinking, and the Empire is at its doorstep.
Their advantage from defensive strongholds and castles has now almost disappeared.
The defender is more advantageous than the attacker because, under equal conditions, the attacker suffers more.
But in the present situation, the attacker is actually much more advantageous than the defender.
Their scraped-together Supplies are at rock bottom, and it's now difficult to even bring in more.
Those who should have been cultivating crops, making goods, and transporting them have been lost on the Battlefield.
War is like that. You either take the spoils of war by mortgaging the future, or you become the spoils of war yourself.
Until now, Thedorant had been among the former, but now it seems it will become the latter.
‘Is it no longer possible?’
When he ascended to the throne as the King of Thedorant and saw those who were cheering there.
For a brief moment, he had even hoped that it was not yet over.
In fact, the Empire's Offensive had faltered for a brief time, so it was plausible.
But that was a brief crouch for an even bigger leap.
No. It wasn't even a crouch. It wasn't even a falter.
The Empire might have simply been taking a deep breath as usual.
He even thinks perhaps they had just jumped to that conclusion.
“Your Majesty.”
Gruber, his adjutant from his princely days, enters.
Cassius II stared at Gruber blankly for a moment.
He was an extremely loyal man who had dedicated everything to him from the outset.
He had shown more fervor for the revival of Thedorant and the Glory of the Theian People than anyone else.
He is still persuading the Thedorant Command Staff that one more chance will come.
Not to surrender. Not to betray. Not to have any other thoughts.
If they believe in victory without a doubt, they will be able to overcome it.
Looking at his adjutant, he feels his own Heart weakening.
To a person who has followed him so enthusiastically, how can he say it's over now.
He should be cold, but being human, he cannot.
“Gruber.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Have I been dreaming a vain dream?”
“Your Majesty!”
“I was certain there was a possibility. But where did it all go so wrong?”
At those words, Gruber fell to his knees and let out a voice filled with indignation.
“You must be steadfast in your heart. Thedorant can still fight. There are those who will die fighting for the Glory of the Theian People. Until then, it is not over! As long as the Empire approaches and forgets that fact, an opportunity will surely come!”
“Even as the Empire tightens its noose from all sides?”
“The Theian People are strong. They are different from the weak Imperial Army. They will fight even when starved or injured. Our fighting spirit has always been strong, so you just have to lead us as you always have!”
“…”
For a moment, Cassius II felt an inexplicable chill.
Because what his adjutant, that loyal man, was saying now sounded strange.
Of course, he thought he was loyal to him. But now, that no longer seemed the case.
The man named Gruber was pouring everything into the phrase 'the Glory of the Theian People'.
“Do not lose faith. Not only I, but all those who remain are loyal subjects. Even if the very last moment comes. All who remain here will gladly become fertilizer for the Glory of the Theian People. Furthermore, a new Thedorant will rise again!”
“…Is that so.”
“Yes, Your Majesty! Just give the command. Even now, there are tens of thousands of Thedorant elite soldiers who are burning with anger and hostility towards the Empire and undergoing grueling training day after day!”
Until now, he thought he was leading all these people.
Since he was the first to utter those words, he naturally thought so.
But now, he sees that they were clinging to it even more fanatically than he was.
In the beginning, it was just a strategy to gather people.
Ultimately, it has become the reason for their existence and a truth that must never change.
Consider offering an honorable surrender.
He wanted to say that to his adjutant, but in the end, Cassius II could not.
He thought he was holding them. But it seems it was the other way around.
*
“…Something's a bit strange.”
Listening to the war report, those words slipped out of my mouth unconsciously.
They are definitely individuals steeped in madness. But that, too, is fading significantly now.
Furthermore, unlike in my Memories of a Past Life, they haven't committed any atrocities like ethnic cleansing yet.
They can still come to their senses, even if it's late. The King was also a fairly resourceful person.
He must know by now that Thedorant's life is on the line.
The leadership may all be gone, but they would at least want to leave the Name Thedorant behind.
Even unofficially, they should secretly be showing a subtle intention to submit, but it's too quiet.
“Kael? What's strange?”
So I told the Princess my thoughts in a low voice.
“Hmm. If you ask me, I think it's just... the Stubbornness of those with nothing left to lose. A tantrum. Something like that?”
“Pardon?”
That's too irrational a concept. Stubbornness? A tantrum? They're about to die throwing one?
I said I wouldn't leave Thedorant untouched, but that was at most about removing the royal family.
And that's not about killing them all, but just removing a few key figures and punishing the rest moderately.
In this world, Surrender is a surprisingly common occurrence.
A natural choice if there is no justification for one's Loyalty.
Or, they surrender when they can no longer bear the country's Damage.
In fact, Benito also, when we presented a justification, the south immediately surrendered.
Following that, when we took the Royal Capital, a few from the north also surrendered.
Atria is still holding out, but it's the opinion of the Ministry of War and the Chief of Staff Office that it's only a matter of time.
“Some can't accept it. Others deny it, even knowing it. I know because I've studied the history of the continent. Such cases are surprisingly common. It's a kind of disease. A disease that comes from those in high places. That if they are not the victors, then everything must disappear.”
“…The possibility makes it all the more uncomfortable.”
Give up. Or go mad.
The King of Thedorant seems to be the former.
But the rest. Well, I don't know.