Etergranze, the imperial capital of the Caenis Empire.
　The Royal Palace, located in the center of the vast and splendid city.
　In the depths of the palace, in the second audience hall, like a hermitage in a floating garden.

...... is all I have to report.
"I see. ......

　In the second audience room, which was like a hermitage in the deepest part of the palace.
　Both had stern faces.

　The general himself reported the defeat in the Duchy of Cadenis, an occupied territory in the far south of the Empire.
　The troops that had been deployed to capture the Great Forest of Goosenfall had suffered a devastating defeat, as their base city was surrounded and they were thoroughly massacred, except for those who had managed to escape by mistake.
　An hour had just passed since the battle had largely ended. The information gathered by the observation team had already been sorted out, and Hoshihaki had reported it in detail to Ryuyuchi.

You can find a lot more information here.
　I'm not sure what to make of that. I'm not sure what to make of that.
I'm sure you'll agree.
　It's a good thing that you're not the only one who has a problem with this.
　The reason I didn't do that is because I misjudged the enemy's strength and thought that I could win.
"Hmm. What are the specifics?
"The unexpected element was the unconventional tactic of using the Eel River to supply magic power during the siege of Traunil, and the technological power that made it possible.
　The quality and quantity of the enemy's elite forces worthy of special combatants, which were concealed during the battle in the forest.
　I had anticipated that I would be able to steal the vein manipulation technology of the elves of the Great Forest, but I had miscalculated the number of elves absorbed into the war effort and their high morale. I was expecting them to be turned into undead, but they stayed alive, and many of them turned into dark elves.

　Ryubuchi sniffed lightly as he listened to Hoshihuan's unhurried reflections.
　The undead have many strengths, but they also have a weakness: they are extremely vulnerable to holy air attacks.
　If you've been preparing to take on an elf zombie, you'll know that you'll be scratched by a living enemy (dark elf). Dark elves and other demons are still damaged by the holy air, but they are not as vulnerable to it as the undead.

In the event you've got any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at any time.
　However, the information we obtained about the Great Forest through intelligence on the Lugarut Kingdom was probably also controlled to mislead us about the threat level.
"Well, that's about it. Get the Bureau of Staff to verify.
As you wish.

　Hoshihaki, who had been kneeling and hanging her head, folded her thin body and fell flat.

I am deeply ashamed of this defeat, as a general I feel my own ignorance and lack of strength.
　I apologize from the bottom of my heart for not being able to offer victory to the Lord and the Empire.
"What an uncharacteristically emotional thing to say, Hoshihaki.
　If you have time to apologize, why don't you think about how to get it back?

　Ryubuchi had no intention of making Hoshihuan take responsibility for this defeat.
　However, if no one takes responsibility, it will not be a good sign, so General Qing will have no choice but to retire.
　There is probably no tactical flaw. If you are talking about the strategic failure of not concentrating the forces, then Long Yuan was just as guilty.
　Rather than worrying about who is responsible, we should first think about how to recover from the damage caused by this failure and move on. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

In the end, he was able to get the best out of her. "G(le)n(le)mi(le)s.
"G!

　When he called her by the original name his father and tribe had given him, Hoshihuan's back shook as if a block of ice had been shoved into her mouth.

"My Lord. Please don't say that in your dreams.
　...... I am Hoshi Huan, General of the Caenis Empire.
　I have abandoned the forest and my family, and they have abandoned me. That's all.
So that's it. Then we're done here.
"Power gets you everything, power protects you everything. ......

　"Power gets you everything, power protects you everything..." muttered Hoshihaki in a small voice.
　It's a philosophy that Ryuben has heard many times. I'm not sure if you've ever heard of it, but I'm sure you've heard of it.

I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that.
Yes.
I'm not sure what to make of it.

　"Yes," Ryuyuchi spat sarcastically.

"You can't stop a rebellion you know will happen before it happens. Our empire has fallen into decline.

　The Imperial Intelligence Bureau had discovered that the anti-imperialist organizations had been unusually active in the areas occupied by the Blue Army and incorporated into the Empire.
　Some of them had infiltrated with spies, but all of them were smuggling and supplying weapons, supplies and battle golems.
　All of the organizations were preparing for an uprising on the same day.

　In the eastern part of the Caenis Empire.

　In the eastern part of the Caenis Empire, in Ren'ou Province, in the former royal capital of Rumaye, Kutura.

　On that day, a curfew had been imposed on all the citizens of the city without telling them the reason, and the guards and the Blue Army stationed to maintain public order were on high alert.
　However, the incident occurred as if to make a mockery of this precaution.

　At dawn, the former royal city and the communications office used as the executive branch were blown up one after another, and three high-ranking officials of the ministry who were on standby at home were assassinated.
　In the confusion, a group of armed men, accompanied by a large number of battle golems, attacked the Blue Army guarding the city. Although they were outnumbered by the Blue Army in total numbers, they definitely shed blood by destroying each of the troops deployed in various places.

　At the same time, the armed group that had taken control of the guard station used the publicity equipment installed there to send their voices throughout the city.
　Their name was "Lumaie Liberation Army". Their goal was to break free from imperial rule and rebuild the kingdom.

　* * *



　The remaining units of the Blue Army abandoned the city and took up positions in the Royal Castle.
　As if waiting for the battle to fall into a lull in the standoff, a glamorously dressed girl in an imperial dress came to Kanra, the General of the Lumaie Liberation Army, who was waiting for her at the guardhouse.

"Hello, how are you?
"How are you doing?　What brings you to such a dangerous place? ......

　A girl with a cheerful and lively atmosphere that doesn't fit the battlefield suddenly appears, wondering how and why she came to this place.
　She calls herself "Shunkai" in the imperial style, but she is clearly not an imperial person.
　No, she looks so worldly and determined that it's doubtful that she's even really the girl she appears to be.

　Some time ago, she suddenly approached Kanra and offered to sell the weapons and golem soldiers needed to start a rebellion to the Lumaie Liberation Army.
　Naturally, Kanra was suspicious. The Empire had taken strict measures against the rebels, and Kanra and his men needed to be careful and cautious even to obtain a single sword.
　Shunkai's offer was too good to be true, and it was natural to wonder if it was really possible, if she was a fraud or a spy for the authorities.

　But before she knew it, she had gained the trust of the main leadership, and Kanra had let his guard down.
　And best of all, she hadn't been lying.
　I had no idea how they had gotten there, but my heart burned hotly when I saw the armor piled up in the basement of the hideout, and the golem troops all lined up. At the same time, I was able to obtain a cure for the plague that had begun to spread in the surrounding areas.
　The price was not cheap, but considering the situation, it was reasonable. It was enough to pay for the Lumaie Liberation Army, which was supported by the hidden wealth of the old royal family.

　Even foreign merchants would not cooperate with the rebels for fear of having their trading licenses revoked.
　Not even the darkest crime syndicates would lend a hand easily, as the risk was greater than the reward, unless the reward was exorbitant.
　Who will give them a helping hand in such a situation? ......
　Kanra thinks he has some understanding of international affairs. He had some idea of what was going on, but decided to ignore it.
　He could buy weapons made of steel and mithril, not human bones, and golems, not skeletons or zombies, so he could keep a low profile.
　I'm willing to use demons to reclaim my homeland. Kanra had no qualms about it.

"Mother sent me to check on you. This is the biggest battle going on today.
How's the rest of the country doing?
Hmm, well, some things work and some things don't.
　But there's definitely a battle going on, so I don't think we'll be getting reinforcements here in a couple of days.

　Shunhai said matter-of-factly.
　I was surprised when Shunhai told me that she had contacted a number of anti-imperialist organizations for support, and had arranged for them to rise up in unison on the same day.
　If she could actually do that, she would be able to disperse the power of the Blue Army, which would give her an advantage.
　The sheer magnitude of the idea was astonishing, but to his surprise, it seemed to have come true.

　Kanra nodded broadly and turned to his comrades who were just there.

You hear that? It seems that we are not the only righteous warriors to stand against the rule of the evil empire.
　Now is the time to reclaim our homeland. Let's kill all the corrupt imperialists and make them pay for their crimes with their blood!
""Oh, ----!"

　The fighters raised their weapons and shouted.
　The fighters raised their weapons and shouted. The victory in the first battle had raised their morale to a fever pitch.