SWNOVELXO Chapter 122
Before the war between the Empire and Dedorant began, DeGale had already collapsed long ago.
They had lost nearly half of their territory and eventually lost the Royal Capital as well.
By a hair’s breadth, the Royal Family managed to escape, but the nation’s pride was shattered.
For those who had once claimed to be strong in the west of the continent, it was a bitter reality.
Perhaps that’s why, even as the Royal Family went into exile and many nobles surrendered, many in DeGale still rose in resistance against Dedorant.
Even without their king. Even without nobles. This land was still DeGale.
It was a place that could not just be handed over to Dedorant.
“Attack! Smash those damn invaders to pieces!”
“How dare you crawl all the way here! You must have a death wish!”
“Just because the highborn have surrendered, do you think DeGale has knelt?”
Like all nations, as you move to the outskirts, the central power weakens.
It was the case even when DeGale was strong, and how much more so in the chaos of Dedorant’s occupation?
Today, Dedorant’s forces, trying to occupy a small area of DeGale, were repelled.
They had no knowledge of the geography and not many troops to spare.
The main forces were concentrated on the Empire’s frontline, over in Atria, and were with Benito.
Even those capable of putting up a fight were mostly deployed on the Ross Tanika frontline.
In the end, what remained to oversee the rest of DeGale was composed of mere militia.
They struggled to deal with those fiercely resisting on their own land.
“Come at us as much as you want, you bastards!”
“Waah! DeGale! DeGale!!”
Normally, regular troops would have been sent immediately to deal with such a small group.
But from Dedorant’s perspective, they couldn’t afford to do so.
Plus, being in such a remote area contributed to the situation.
If such resistance had taken place near the Royal Capital, it would have been wiped out instantly.
But this was the outskirts; one of the most underdeveloped regions.
A place where even Dedorant would prefer waiting for voluntary surrender rather than occupying it outright.
Given this, it was only natural that proper punitive forces weren’t dispatched.
However, this would later prove to be a poor decision.
Although many nobles had surrendered, not all had.
There remained a small number of nobles still loyal to the DeGale Royal Family, resisting.
They quietly supported these remote areas, making them bases of resistance.
Dedorant, wanting to send troops belatedly, faced the reality of being stretched too thin.
Additionally, the armed status of the DeGale resistance forces had significantly improved recently.
To put it bluntly, they were now comparable to Dedorant’s reserve forces.
The hastily dispatched troops were simply facing continual defeats.
“When did they say they’d arrive from Ross Tanika?”
“According to the cipher, they should cross the border and arrive sometime this afternoon.”
“With all the recent battles, our equipment has seen better days; I hope they bring in good supplies.”
The reason was obvious: the overwhelming support from neighboring Ross Tanika.
Especially when supplies started coming in from the Empire, the quantity had doubled compared to before.
Thanks to that, the DeGale resistance forces were eagerly awaiting Ross Tanika’s support.
“By the way, there was something odd in the cipher.”
“Is there a problem?”
“Not exactly, but it mentioned that a white owl would be coming.”
The mention of a white owl made the resistance leaders grimace.
According to the cipher, that white owl signified an important figure.
And naturally, it conjured up images of high-ranking officials from Ross Tanika.
“Are Ross Tanika folks trying to take command of our DeGale resistance forces now?”
“That won’t do. We’ve been moving according to what Ross Tanika wants, shedding an enormous amount of blood as it is. We can’t accept commands from them.”
While they felt grateful for the assistance, they also knew it wasn’t purely out of goodwill.
From Ross Tanika’s perspective, the DeGale resistance forces were a necessary entity.
They were a friendly force forcing Dedorant into a two-front war.
That’s why they were pushed to fight while sharing their supplies.
How many DeGale people died fighting mattered not to them.
They were only concerned with supplying weapons so that fighting could continue day by day.
“What if they try to sneak in their influence under the pretext of supplying us?”
“I don’t like Ross Tanika much, but they’re better than Dedorant. Even still, having them dictate our resistance is a bit…”
With various concerns and worries in their hearts, each leader awaited the arrival of the white owl, expected to come this afternoon.
Hoping that the events they feared would not come to pass.
And soon, they were all left astonished.
“Greetings, everyone. It’s an honor to see those leading the great resistance of DeGale.”
“…??”
This person wasn’t from Ross Tanika; no, they were from the Empire.
Most importantly, the moment they heard the name, the eyes of the resistance forces widened in horror.
“I am Kael Clausewitz, the Imperial Chief of Staff, acting as Chief of Staff of the First Army.”
Kael Clausewitz. They heard correctly; that name was indeed right.
This was neither the DeGale territory on Dedorant’s frontline nor near Ross Tanika.
How had the Kael Clausewitz from the Empire come here?
As a result, the bewildered leaders stammered before finally speaking up.
“W-wait a minute. Just a second, what did you just say?”
“Kael Clausewitz? You mean that strategist from the Empire? Is that you?”
“No way! How could someone like you come all the way out here?!”
Leaders flocked from all directions, firing off questions without respite.
In response to their words, Kael chuckled and replied.
“Now, now. Please calm down. It might be hard to believe, but I am indeed that infamous individual.”
“Ahhh!!”
“And if you’re wondering what I’m doing here, it’s quite obvious. I am here to convey that His Majesty the Emperor is impressed with your heroic resistance.”
The Emperor of the Empire was watching over them.
Not Ross Tanika, nor their king, who had fled to that land.
But them, fighting in the backwoods of DeGale!
“Is that really true?”
“The Empire cherishes those who willingly take up arms to act for good and justice. Look. Nobogord and the eastern three kingdoms, and the Southern Kingdom stand at the ready alongside the Empire, forgetting everything up until now to assist.”
They had wondered who would ever acknowledge their struggle.
The nobles of DeGale had already surrendered to Dedorant.
The once-great Royal Family was merely surviving in Ross Tanika.
No matter how hard they fought or even if they lost their lives,
only a few comrades would likely remember their efforts.
In the worst-case scenario, no one might ever know or remember this intense struggle.
But that wasn’t the case. There was a place that acknowledged their fight.
Far away, the protagonist of the battlefield where Dedorant and hundreds of thousands were clashing.
The only being capable of delivering punishment to those damn invaders.
The leaders of the resistance quickly called for those who followed them.
They needed to inform everyone that the Empire was watching them.
To ensure that the will to fight would not waver but rather blaze even brighter.
“Did the Empire really send someone of such importance?”
“They say it’s true. Looks younger than our son.”
“Why is someone intended to lead hundreds of thousands in war come from so far?”
They were intrigued, curiosity bubbling within them. At the same time, their hearts raced with excitement.
What signal would the Empire show after not too long ago having been at odds with Ross Tanika?
Finally, as the resistance forces gathered, Kael took to the stage.
“For the glorious DeGale, those who rose with weapons instead of farming tools, even knowing that none would acknowledge you, those who fought for your father and mother’s land, for the land of your sons and daughters!”
In this war, there were no words about what the Empire was doing or how much.
A remarkable event considering Ross Tanika often flaunted their assistance.
To anyone watching, it wouldn’t be surprising if that man was seen as just another DeGalean.
“DeGale has been wounded. It has suffered. It has been sullied. By those vile invaders and the few traitors who accepted this! Everything has decayed horrifically!”
He jabbed at the painful spots while bringing up the traitors, reminding them that they were different.
Stirring up memories of shame and anger, increasing the temperature of their spirits.
“But the sun will rise again! The Empire from afar, and here, you all. Each in your position, doing everything you can. God will finally bring the promised victory!”
If the leaders of the resistance had said those words about someday winning, they would likely have accepted it.
But the one up there was an influential person from the Empire, one with an undefeated record.
Even Dedorant was said to flounder before him in confusion.
Thus came the belief. Perhaps, no—definitely, it would come true.
“Uuuh!”
“Uwaaaah!!”
They wanted to reclaim their land, their once-proud past, and the future that would shine again.
They would recover the legacies left behind by their ancestors from Dedorant.
And Kael put the final touch to their cries.
“When that time comes at last! We shall reclaim! Our homeland and our heritage!”
And just a few days later, the troops stationed in the southern Dedorant were split apart once more.
It was due to the massive uprising that occurred in the southern regions of DeGale.
*
“…That was terrifying.”
No joke, it truly was. I thought, what if the resistance forces captured me and offered me up to Dedorant?
Even though I had brought the highest level of guards just in case, it was natural to feel nervous.
But there was no way around it. This was something I had to do.
For Ross Tanika. And for the resistance forces of DeGale.
So they could fight to the last without a doubt in the Empire’s sincerity.
Don’t you dare fall behind! If you do that after all this effort, I’ll bury you alongside Dedorant!