Chapter 162

The Reunion of Yuwon and Count Valaris.

Between the two men, meeting again after a long time, stories they had missed over the years flowed back and forth.

From why Yuwon had chosen the Great Jungle, to why he had returned so late, and even the reason he was standing here now.

“……So I was thinking of going to see him in person. In my personal opinion, it seems Marquis Carson may need help.”

After hearing Yuwon’s entire account, the count nodded slowly, as if in agreement.

“…I see. Thinking about it again after hearing Your Highness’s words, that certainly seems to be the case. It makes no sense for a marquis who faithfully served His Majesty the Former Emperor to follow the ringleader of those traitors.”

“Exactly. In any case, that’s why I finally came up here after so long. I missed the air of the Empire, but perhaps because it’s wartime, it feels rather bleak. That’s a shame.”

It seemed the important matters were finished, as Yuwon wrapped up the fairly long conversation by tossing out a light joke. Yet perhaps it was not entirely a joke, for a bitter smile lingered at the corner of his lips. Understanding the unspoken emotion behind those words, the count offered no particular reply and merely shared that same bitter smile with him.

“That’s true… it is wartime, after all.”

After that, a brief silence passed between them. Yuwon lifted his teacup to moisten his throat, then opened his mouth again in a notably serious tone.

“…How is the situation in Valaris at present?”

It was the very point the Count of Valaris both wanted to speak about and did not want to speak about. Forcing himself to appear bright, the count answered stoutly.

“I am thoroughly making every preparation possible within my means. The morale of those who have gathered under the banner of reclaiming Aphahiel is soaring to the heavens, unstoppable. All forces assembled in Valaris, regardless of rank, are faithfully carrying out their assigned duties day after day while preparing for war. The soldiers are brave, and supplies and provisions are prepared without shortage.”

The count’s answer flowed smoothly and eloquently. However, this was not what Yuwon wished to hear. The usually gentle Yuwon pierced the count with a sharp gaze.

“Count.”

“Yes—yes, sir!”

Yuwon’s gaze was so sharp that the count stumbled over his words without realizing it.

“…There’s no need to tell even me only hopeful stories. That isn’t what I want to hear. Speak of the matters you cannot bring yourself to tell others, the things you are worrying over alone. That is what I want to hear.”

Others might be deceived, but no one could deceive Yuwon’s eyes, which judged people with both the five senses and a sixth. His keen gaze, which seemed as though it could pierce the skull and peer directly into the brain, softened in an instant, as if nothing had happened. Confronted by that reassuring look, the count finally brought forth the story he had kept hidden.

“Hah… as expected, I cannot fool Your Highness. Very well. Since this is something I must report to you anyway, I will speak without embellishment.”

“Yes, that’s exactly what I wanted. Take your time and tell me.”

“…In truth, the situation is not very good. Since we are not stopping them, the number of refugees leaving the territory increases by the day, and the reinforcements that once arrived sporadically from all over are visibly dwindling. On top of that, with news that the Imperial Army has begun marching south, some have started to reverse their decision and return to their original territories.”

A war against Gion, who had seized control of the great empire of Aphahiel, and his followers. It was never going to be easy. As if this outcome had been expected, Yuwon quietly nodded.

“So that’s why provisions were plentiful despite the lack of time to prepare for war. Fewer mouths to feed—it follows naturally.”

“Yes, that is correct. However, I believe the issues within Valaris itself are not the greatest problem. Above all, what concerns me is the overwhelming number of enemies.”

An absolute numerical inferiority. It was the greatest problem facing the Valaris allied forces.

“How many troops can Valaris currently deploy?”

“At present, those who can do their part and still remain amount to fifteen thousand. Even if we scrape together everything we have, we cannot even reach twenty thousand—barely eighteen thousand at most.”

The figure was slightly below his expectations, and Yuwon furrowed his brow.

“The enemy set out from the Capital with fifty thousand, and they plan to increase their numbers as they march south. The gap will only continue to widen.”

“That is exactly as you say. No matter how Valaris Castle is considered a place of natural advantage, it seems unlikely we could overcome a difference in forces of four or five times our own.”

“Hm… It was a problem I anticipated as well, but if those words came from your mouth, then we must assume we have no chance here. In that case, what do you estimate our chances would be if we were to resist here in Valaris until the very end?”

A battlefield was something whose outcome could never be known until it was over, but as the head of an army, one could not avoid predicting the course of war by comparing friend and foe. Faced with the sharp question, the count carefully gave his answer.

“I beg your pardon for my bluntness… but I believe it would be less than one-tenth.”

“One-tenth… less than one-tenth, you say… That is your judgment.”

At Yuwon’s ambiguous response, the count harbored a faint hope and asked again.

“What do you think, Your Highness?”

“In my view, it seems to be a little over two-tenths.”

Even Yuwon spoke of no more than two-tenths. The count’s heart sank, having secretly hoped for a more positive answer.

“Then….”

“Do not worry, Count. From the beginning, I never intended to make Valaris the final battlefield. Of course, we cannot avoid fighting here. Valaris Castle is far too advantageous a location to simply abandon. However, the end of this war will be decided elsewhere. To put it simply, we will use the battles in Valaris as a foothold to accumulate damage on the enemy, and then, in the final act, we will cut off their very lifeline.”

It was an answer filled with an unshakable certainty that could inspire nothing but confidence. The count cautiously asked where that final stage Yuwon had chosen would be.

“Then where…?”

At that question, a faint smile spread across Yuwon’s lips. It was a smile brimming with confidence, utterly free of doubt, certain of victory.

“This war will end in the Great Jungle. With our victory.”

—

Because Yuwon was worried that the marquis might be in danger, he could not afford to spend any more time in Valaris. After meeting the count upon his long-awaited visit, Yuwon slept only briefly before pushing ahead with his schedule.

“Then, until the day you return once more, please remain in good health, Your Highness.”

“I will return without delay. Until then, you too, keep yourself safe.”

Thus Yuwon came like the wind and vanished like the wind. No one knew where he had gone except for Hastings and Bernid, who accompanied him, and Yuwon himself. Others could only speculate that he had headed north to seek out Marquis Carson.

After Yuwon departed Valaris, time passed swiftly, more than half a month in the blink of an eye. And around then, the Imperial Army arrived at the edge of the desert region that divided the south and the central lands.

It was only possible due to a forced march, resting briefly in territories along the way and otherwise walking more than sixteen hours a day. The Supreme Commander of the Imperial Army, Marquis Carson, fixed his gaze on the sand dunes of the desert stretching far beyond the horizon.

‘The desert. We’ve already come this far… It’s about time I fulfilled my role.’

Already, there was no way a mirage should have appeared yet, but in Marquis Carson’s gaze, the southern battlefield beyond that desert shimmered like a mirage. And at the very center of that mirage stood Marquis Carson himself—standing atop the corpses of allied troops, no, of Imperial soldiers.

Of course, without even realizing it, the marquis had already been putting that plan into practice. The forced march that continued for sixteen hours each day was proof of it. From the outset, as the numbers themselves demonstrated, the disparity in strength between the Imperial Army and those gathered around Valaris was unmistakable.

Thus, in truth, there was no particular reason for the Imperial Army to rush southward with such urgency. Yet the marquis knew that better than anyone and still ordered a forced march for the entire army. It was a small scheme, intended to accumulate fatigue within the ranks by any means possible.

After that brief contemplation, the marquis tore his gaze away from the desert and, without hesitation, ordered preparations for encampment.

“There’s the desert ahead. From tomorrow on, it won’t be easy. It’s a bit early, but we’ll rest here today.”

“Yes, sir! I will relay the order! All forces—halt! We’ll rest here!”

“Prepare the camp!”

The adjutants who had received the command of Marquis Carson, the Supreme Commander, immediately passed it down the line. Before long, the massive army—now well over seventy thousand after passing through multiple territories—began preparing camp as if it were second nature.

While the Imperial encampment grew noisy amid the bustle of preparations, one of Gion’s men, Colbus Seral, approached Marquis Carson and spoke.

“Supreme Commander. You’ve worked hard to come this far. Once we cross that desert, we’ll truly face the enemy at last.”

“Ah… thank you. But what hardship is there to speak of? I’ve lived on Aphahiel’s stipend all my life. I’m simply fulfilling my duty.”

“Is that so?”

At the meaningless question, the marquis drew a faint smile, as if asking why such a thing needed to be said. It was the first smile the marquis had ever shown to Colbus.

“Tomorrow won’t be easy. No matter how strong a man may be, the desert is no simple matter. Go and get some proper rest.”

“Yes. Then I wish you a comfortable night as well, Supreme Commander.”

With that brief exchange concluded, Colbus departed from the marquis’s side. As he walked away, a chilling killing intent flickered across Colbus’s face before vanishing.

‘There’s no benefit in delaying any longer. As per His Majesty’s orders… tonight, I kill this man.’

Before long, the Imperial Army finished preparing camp and greeted the night. The desert night grew deep.

And at that same moment, on the opposite side. Far away from the Imperial encampment, a small group crossing the southern desert came into view. With not a single camel among them, consisting of only three people, it was impossible to tell how they had crossed the desert at all.

Step, step—

The very sight of that suspicious group traversing the desert was strange beyond measure. One of them moved without even stepping on the sand, floating lightly above the ground, while the other two walked across the sand yet left behind only the faintest footprints, so shallow they would vanish with a single gust of wind.

Stop—

At that moment, one of the suspicious trio suddenly came to an abrupt halt mid-stride. The odd behavior drew the attention of the others walking alongside him, and the man who had stopped slowly opened his mouth.

“Found him.”

Yuwon’s voice. The same Yuwon who had left Valaris was now standing atop the southern desert.

The sword of Gion, Colbus Seral—the man Gion was confident could be called the strongest in the world as far as he knew. A mysterious man about whom almost nothing was known beyond his name. Yuwon and that man now faced each other, separated by only a few kilometers.

One who intended to kill the marquis, and one who intended to save him.

The clash between the two was unavoidable.

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