SWNOVELXO Chapter 119
Self-entrapment. Being constrained by one’s own words and actions.
The situation of Prince Georg of Dedorant and his commanding staff was precisely that.
It began during the early days of Dedorant’s rapid expansion.
Next, they purged all existing political powers and reorganized from within.
From the annexation of Atria to the conquest of DeGale, and ultimately the attack on Ross Tanika.
What they shouted was but one thing: the glory of the Deo ethnicity.
In the past, the Deo ethnicity, which lived in the western continent, were undeniably powerful beings.
What is now the territory of the Empire was at that time their land.
As time passed, they lost it due to external pressures and internal divisions.
And it was this that the leadership of Dedorant once again raised its voice about.
Let us reclaim the glory of the past. Our Deo ethnicity is not meant to be in this state.
We could establish not just a kingdom, but an empire, yet we do not.
Let’s bind together and crush those who rebel against us, turning them to fertilizer!
The effect was tremendous. It far exceeded expectations.
By then, Prince Georg had already accomplished numerous military feats.
Amidst all this, that figure stood tall, proclaiming the glory of the Deo ethnicity.
Who could possibly resist the blood of Deo watching that?
The flame spread vigorously to Atria, which shares the Deo ethnicity.
To some extent, the people of DeGale with Deo origins also resonated with this.
This became one reason why DeGale fell so quickly and easily.
Such was the case. Everything was going smoothly.
In every endeavor. In any situation. Even if they had to fight someone.
Whether concerning taxes or military matters. In all national affairs.
Whenever the card of the glory of the Deo ethnicity was presented, everything was resolved.
Thus, at some point, the leadership might have forgotten.
That nothing exists without a price. That there is no such thing as a free lunch.
If there happens to be, in some shape or form, the price must ultimately be paid.
“Phew.”
Prince Georg let out a sigh while sitting in one corner of his tent.
He kept rubbing his forehead, as if his head was throbbing.
“Our Deo ethnicity must be so desperate that the Empire, which faced us in total defeat, wants to die!”
“Seton. To dare engrave that vile name! This cannot be allowed!”
“We must reclaim it. We must take it back! If it is impossible, then let’s burn it all down!!”
Claims like these are pouring out from Dedorant, Atria, and even the conquered lands of DeGale.
The flames are burning fiercely. No one remained silent about having touched the reverse scale of the Deo ethnicity.
How could they endure, considering what they achieved through that glory?
How could they dismiss it when it became ingrained or, perhaps, indoctrinated?
Thus the option of overlooking it never even existed in the minds of the Deo ethnicity.
“Your Highness the Prince! The preparations for the attack are complete! Just give the order!!”
“…”
Orders. Indeed, at this moment, his reason was screaming for this attack to be halted.
Should he then command to simply “retreat the troops”?
Unfortunately, the world isn’t so simple. And it isn’t easy either.
If something is gained, a corresponding price must be paid.
Whether that cost is paid by oneself or forcibly dictated by another.
“Phew.”
Standing from his seat, Prince Georg exited the tent.
Many aides followed behind him, soon joined by commanders.
“…Is that the place?”
“Yes, Your Highness. That is the castle that dares to carry that vile name.”
At those words, Prince Georg fixed his gaze on the distant castle.
Just a year ago, it was the beautiful castle of Dedorant.
The capital of the kingdom that would become the present Dedorant and Atria.
A symbol of ancient history, the glory of the Deo ethnicity, and the duty of revival.
Thus, it gleamed as brightly and received much care as the royal capital of Dedorant.
Yet, it fell to the assault of the Empire.
To be precise, it was intentionally given up to lure in the enemy.
At that time, there was tremendous opposition, but Prince Georg pressed on.
“Back then, I also shouted the glory of the Deo ethnicity. If a moment of disgrace could yield eternal glory, our ancestors would surely forgive us.”
Ideally, they should have made a large-scale counterattack on Dedorant.
Prince Georg himself would pass through the Empire’s gate and sweep through the rear.
In the meantime, the restructured elite of Dedorant would be ready to emerge.
However, the plan went awry. He could not launch an attack on the Empire’s borders.
The reorganized Dedorant Army went on to Atria and Benito without rest.
Consequently, the recapture of that castle continued to be postponed.
Taking advantage of this delay, the Empire twisted that castle completely.
“Setongrad.”
Damn it. Georg cursed internally.
From every angle, no matter how many times he looked, that place was the jaws of a beast.
What was once a rather sturdy castle had now become literally impregnable.
It is clear. The moment they launched an attack, they must force their way in until it falls.
If they hadn’t even begun, that would have been one thing. But once combat commenced, they would be ensnared.
Even though what the enemies are aiming for, and what they desire, is so obvious.
It’s pitiful that they must step into that quagmire, even knowing full well.
How could he possibly persuade them now?
It was he and his leadership who first suggested giving up that castle.
While proclaiming the glory of the Deo ethnicity, he advised enduring a moment of humiliation.
To change his words now would mean outright denying everything they had built up until now.
There are times when shamelessness and duplicity are the specialties of those in politics.
Yet, there are situations where one should not act that way at all.
Right now is the latter. They cannot forsake the glory of the Deo ethnicity.
Whether they like it or not, they must reclaim that castle and remove Seton’s name.
“Yeah. We just need to win somehow, right?”
Confirming that he couldn’t turn back, his mind cleared.
And he realized. He was the one who had won countless battles up till now.
Though he had been struck by the Empire’s strategist, it wasn’t a major defeat.
“The imperial forces stationed within the castle…”
“According to our confirmation, it seems to be the Western First Legion.”
“Isn’t the Western Legion supposed to have retreated entirely?”
“That is what we heard, but it seems there has been some kind of change in plans within the Empire.”
The First Legion. The First Legion, indeed. Yes, they should be strong enough to defend that castle.
Why would they be called the First Legion of the Empire if not?
Moreover, they were the ones who had given them such a heavy defeat, so their desire for revenge would be considerable.
He wondered if the enemy was pulling a trick or not and checked multiple times.
Thanks to that, the attack was slightly delayed, but instead, he gained affirmation.
There, that castle. The ones inside Setongrad are indeed the Empire’s First Legion.
It is surely those who recently suffered a great defeat and were simultaneously retreating.
“What a twist of fate this is.”
From Dedorant’s perspective, to remove that name Seton,
To rekindle the flames of the glory of the Deo ethnicity once again,
He knew well that if something went wrong, the internal structure could become irreparably shaken.
Moreover, the Empire’s First Legion was here to repay their earlier defeat.
They were eager to shuck off the stigma of being the Empire’s broken spearhead.
Even in the worst case, they could face another annihilation of their legion.
In this battlefield, where one must live and the other must die,
Prince Georg steeled himself to face the enemy once more.
“Chief of Staff.”
Turning his head, he saw his dedicated aide carefully handing over some documents.
It appeared to be something needed for quick confirmation today.
“Are you alright?”
“To be honest, not really. I feel like I’m pushing them into a pit.”
Where I was looking at was Setongrad. The antlion ready to trap Dedorant.
Ideally, I planned to conscript other troops for defensive formations.
However, not long ago, an unexpected figure came to me and made a strong request.
“I ask you, Chief of Staff. Please, position me and the First Legion there.”
The identity of that person was none other than the First Legion Commander.
He was the one I had met when I first came to the West. Before I went south.
He suddenly came to me volunteering to be trapped in Setongrad.
Of course, I tried to stop him. The First Legion had already done more than enough.
While he may have suffered a defeat, he had also accomplished many things early on.
I understood the Legion Commander’s feelings, but I had to think about the soldiers too.
However, with his next remark, I couldn’t open my mouth carelessly.
“This is not just my personal decision, Chief of Staff. It’s a strong request from my subordinate commanders, extending even to the soldiers below.”
“Our First Legion had to leave our comrades behind. That was the best option, and we all know it was unavoidable.”
“But we cannot do that anymore, Chief of Staff. We are the Empire’s First Legion. If we retreat once again, we can no longer remain as the First Legion.”
“To face the enemy first, and to fight to the last; that is how our First Legion should be, and all personnel of the legion agree. That’s why we are here.”
I told the First Legion Commander to understand what it meant to serve as a garrison in Setongrad.
It was like being tossed into the oncoming tide with just a shield.
I warned him that it would be a difficult battle. It would likely be a harsh few months.
That, in the worst-case scenario, the First Legion could face annihilation.
“Yes, I understand. The soldiers responded that way as well. And they added this.”
“Regardless of whether we survive or die, we wish to proclaim proudly that we were the Empire’s First Legion.”
Upon hearing that, I had no more words to say.
All I could do was use my authority as the Chief of Staff and the one who managed the entire First Legion.
To transition the garrison at Setongrad to the First Legion.
The castle was stocked with provisions and supplies gathered beforehand.
It wasn’t ample, but some support from the outside was still possible.
Yet, it wouldn’t be easy. It was an operation to be besieged by the enemy.
The First Legion willingly took on that difficult and lonely path.
Let’s keep our spirits up. And let’s surely grant them.
The shining victory of the Empire. By the hands of those who believe in it.