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Clashing Prides and Border Warfare – Part 05

After expending too much mana, Paula was completely exhausted. Leaving only Lavia and herself in the fortress was a bit concerning, but Jillarte was also present, so Hikaru asked her to look after them. He departed alone from Parametria’s fortress.

The sun had fully set, and the crescent moon was the only primary source of light.

Hikaru moved inland, away from the gentle waters of the large river. The Empire did not use ships for warfare; instead, they deployed their ground forces on rolling hills. Their makeshift camp featured log barriers and a rudimentary moat, but lacked intricate fortifications.

There must be over ten thousand of them.

Flickering bonfires cast light on the rows of tents, illuminating the national flags bearing the emblem of the Quinbrand Empire, a serpent and a phoenix coiled around a staff.

Several patrol units, composed of both cavalry and infantry, remained vigilant lookout, holding magic lamps. However, Hikaru was confident that in this dim light, they would not notice him even if he passed right by them.

He crossed the dry moat and slipped through gaps in the fence, using Mana Detection to confirm the distribution of people as he maneuvered through the tents.

The question was: where was their commander?

“Haha, I win!”

“Hey, that’s cheating!”

“Don’t be stupid.”

Laughter and dins of conversation echoed through the camp. Some were drinking and gambling.

“Ah, yes. That’s it, sir!”

“Fuck, so good.”

And some were having sex with prostitutes.

“We’re up early tomorrow for kitchen duty.”

“I know.”

“Go to bed already!”

Others were doing their jobs properly.

Many soldiers were asleep inside the quieter tents.

The Empire’s army consisted of different groups, each with its own chain of command. Some were relaxed, while others were tense.

Is this how it’s like?

Hikaru, stepping into the front lines of a battle for the first time, found everything novel and unfamiliar. There were shops and blacksmiths, and areas where women congregated were under stricter security. This was a “moving city.”

As he extended his Mana Detection, the influx of information due to the large number of people made him feel queasy. He kept it on, carefully ascertaining his limits on the way.

Suddenly, he detected a solitary figure. He cautiously approached, wondering if it was the one he sought, and saw an exceptionally large tent adorned with the finest and biggest national flag he had seen so far.

He spotted a few individuals in attire distinct from the Empire’s soldiers near a distant tent. Clearly, they were not part of the Empire’s forces. However, Hikaru paid them little heed and proceeded toward the massive tent.

A campfire flickered at the entrance, but there were no guards, so Hikaru entered the tent leisurely using his Stealth. Heightened vigilance was unnecessary in the central part of the camp.

Upon entering, there was a partitioning screen, concealing a conference room behind it. The screen was crafted from an impressive single board, but it merely functioned as a divider with some inscribed text.

“In the Empire, there is an Emperor. The Emperor illuminates the entire Empire.”

“In the Empire, there are subjects. The subjects pledge loyalty to the Emperor.”

Hikaru had heard that the Empire’s subjects swore absolute loyalty to the Emperor, and it was observed even in a place like this.

Or is it the other way around?

A story he had heard back in Japan came to Hikaru’s mind. It was about the Japanese branch of a well-known IT company founded by a charismatic entrepreneur. One would assume they would have an advanced and diverse work style, but the founder’s words plastered on the walls—his values—took precedence. Those who didn’t conform would leave the company immediately.

Even in modern-day Earth, where telecommunications had advanced, rallying a large group of people often hinged on the charisma of the founder and the alignment of company values. While ethnic diversity was embraced, a clash of core values was viewed as a threat.

It’s not that people unite because they’ve pledged loyalty to the Emperor, but rather, everyone pledges loyalty to the Emperor to unite the country. That’s what they’re instilling.

The Quinbrand Empire’s veneration of the Emperor as a means of national unification had both religious and practical implications.

Hmm, quite profound.

Hikaru entered the conference room. A map of the vicinity was laid out on the bright table, complete with detailed information about the military might of the Theocracy of Bios. What caught his attention was the precision of this intelligence, even featuring a note that read, “Unverified,” regarding the recent departure of the Commander of the Knights Templar.

“…Is someone there?”

Startled, Hikaru realized that he was so engrossed in the map that he neglected his Mana Detection.

The conference room was divided by curtains, and behind them sat the tent’s owner—Hikaru’s target, the Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Army.

Standing at approximately 170 centimeters, he was relatively short for a warrior in this world. However, his loose attire couldn’t conceal the breadth of his chest and muscular shoulders. He moved with a strong, sturdy gait, and Hikaru could picture him effortlessly wielding the poleaxe leaning against the conference room’s rear wall.

His dark brown hair, parted to the side, had a silky texture, while his slightly reddish, somewhat flattened nose and round, green eyes gave him a mischievous look.

Gotta be careful…

Hikaru’s Instinct blared. When he was within the five-meter range, he checked the man’s Soul Board, and his hunch was proven correct.

【Soul Board】Daimon D. Rosworth
Age: 29 | Rank: 28 | 7

【Vitality】
【Natural Recovery】4
【Stamina】6

【Magical Power】
【Mana Capacity】3
【Elemental Affinity】
【Water】3

【Strength】
【Muscle Strength】7
【Weapon Mastery】
【Long Spear】4

【Willpower】
【Mental Strength】3
【Charisma】3
【Appeal】1

【Instinct】
【Instinct】2
【Intelligence】
【Computation】2
【Language Output】2
【Memory】2

He wasn’t as terrifying as Gerhardt, a combat specialist, or Lawrence, the Knight Commander of the Ponsonia, but he was highly capable nonetheless. Individuals with this blend of magical ability and martial prowess were a rarity, and he possessed stats related to intelligence, essential for leading troops.

Hikaru couldn’t help but wonder what kind of Blessing this man had received from the gods.

“You’re Lord Rosworth, the Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Army, correct?”

Hikaru dispelled his Stealth, appearing on the opposite side of the table. The commander finally saw him—he didn’t earlier; it was just his Instinct working.

Daimon’s eyes widened. “Are you… Silver Face?”

While genuinely taken aback, Daimon kept his composure and immediately delved into probing Hikaru’s identity. Hikaru couldn’t help but admire the man’s abilities.

“That would be me. I didn’t know I was that famous.”

“What brings you here? Weren’t you wreaking havoc in Einbiest?” the man asked in a high-pitched voice that belied his appearance.

Hikaru felt a twinge of annoyance. He had hoped that if Daimon knew about Flower Face’s medical activities within the Empire, the man would trust him more, but it appeared Daimon was uninformed. He must have been dispatched shortly after the Accursed Toxin started spreading.

While he should have been receiving information about the Empire through long-distance communication magic items, it seemed the news about the enigmatic masked group hadn’t reached him yet. In any case, Daimon’s knowledge about Hikaru was quite outdated.

“I’ve been sent here on a mission by the new Pope of Bios, Luvain.”

“Can you prove that?”

Daimon must have been aware of Luvain becoming the Pope.

Come to think of it, there were imperial spies in the holy city. Being at the front lines, Daimon should know about that. They could have at least mentioned me to him.

Hikaru cursed Unken’s old colleagues.

Well, whatever. I’ll do what I need to do and then disappear from Luvain’s sight as soon as possible.

He quickly shifted his focus and moved on.

“I have a sealed letter from the Pope here.”

“How do I know that’s the Pope’s seal?”

“You can summon a herald if you want.”

“Hmm…”

Hikaru placed the sealed letter on the table and took a few steps back. Daimon cautiously approached and picked up the letter.

“I will do just that.”

“All right. I’ll be lurking around until the verification is complete.”

Hikaru exited the tent and activated his Stealth. Soon after, he heard the tinkling of a bell.