Episode 13: Piles of Corpses
Sixty years ago, House Naia instigated a coup, plotting to usurp the throne. They succeeded in overthrowing the then-ruling House Ortenos and establishing the Naia Dynasty. However, they allowed Princess Elmia to escape into exile in the Zachrian Empire. This major event in the center of the Atra Continent was more than enough to rewrite the power map between nations at the time, and it is still widely talked about today.
“Yes, Elmia’s existence is quite troublesome for us. There couldn’t be a more convenient figurehead for the restoration of Ortenos, after all.”
For Naia, it was an unparalleled blunder. But with the birth of Elmia, who reminded them of that situation, the Naia Royal Family would never allow her to exist. Nephthys believed that while Ulgool was the top priority to eliminate, once that was done, Elmia would be next in line.
“That’s why I’m telling you, I’m definitely going to make Elmia my plaything. Oh, that’s right, Nephthys, I might even let you have her once I get my hands on her. Of course, only after Elmia is rotten and useless.”
Seeing Barbat twist his handsome face into a greasy grin, even Nephthys grimaced.
It is common knowledge among nobles that the primary role of a Stella-Class individual is to pass on Stella-Class blood to the next generation. However, Barbat, who did not fulfill this role and instead preyed on young girls, leaving them damaged, had a terrible reputation even in noble society. The fact that Barbat, who should have been royalty, was now being sent to war was a result of his own misdeeds coming back to haunt him, yet he showed no signs of remorse. Therefore, Nephthys, who served as his attendant, was constantly worried, and his hair roots thinned day by day.
“Your Highness, do you understand? You are the key to this operation. The ‘lid of the pot’ is still open.”
Nephthys suppressed the urge to nag and steered the conversation back to the current operation. The “pot” was a metaphor for the three Stella-Class members of House Hoshiros currently besieging Fort Ronchant. Since they had not yet blocked the Ortena River behind Fort Ronchant, the encirclement was not complete. By Barbat positioning himself on the west side of the river as the “lid of the pot,” Ulgool would have nowhere to escape.
“I know that! That’s why I’m thinking about what happens after! Listen, once Ulgool is dead, I’ll be king. Once he’s gone, Ortenos will have no way to stop Naia. Once I become king, I’ll definitely take revenge on that damn queen (hag) and those trash siblings who exiled me!”
Hearing that Barbat was plotting personal revenge against the Naia Royal Family, Nephthys heard the sound of even more of his hair falling out.
“Your Highness, have you forgotten that House Lanecki is behind Ortenos?”
“Tch, oh, that’s right. Damn traitorous Lanecki. If it weren’t for them, this war wouldn’t have started.”
House Lanecki was once a kingdom noble family, but they had now switched allegiance to the Empire. They held territory west of Ortenos and supported House Ortenos from behind, making them a thorn in Naia’s side.
“Yes, the current Ortenos is nothing more than their puppet. Unless we strike at the root, this quagmire of a war will never end.”
“The Lanecki are a bunch of bastards who are making their former lord, Ortenos, take the heat while they watch from the sidelines. There’s no choice but to destroy them…”
Barbat stopped mid-sentence, noticing something was amiss. It was a slight chill that only a Stella-Class with excellent Magical Power Detection could sense.
“Yes, we must also pay close attention to Lanecki…”
“Shh.”
Barbat silenced Nephthys with a hand gesture. Nephthys didn’t seem to have noticed yet, but the chill was growing stronger. Barbat heightened his vigilance to the maximum, sensing that something powerful was approaching at an incredible speed. — But it was already too late.
“Your Highness?”
“…Damn! Something’s coming!”
The next moment, a massive lump of Magical Power exploded behind Barbat, and multiple layers of Magical Power Waves spread out in concentric circles. Barbat’s vision suddenly switched to the sky. He spun around once, twice in the air, and then slammed headfirst into the ground.
“Gah…! Guh… Goh…!”
Barbat tumbled across the ground for dozens of meters like a small animal hit by a truck before finally stopping.
“Kuh! Haa… Haa, what the hell just happened?”
Barbat, who had been riding at the head of the cavalry, realized that he had been struck from behind by a massive wave of Magical Power, knocking his horse unconscious. Barbat’s handsome face and the royal black armor were covered in dust, giving him a wild appearance, but as expected of a Stella-Class, he suffered almost no damage to his body.
“Hey, hey! Nephthys! What the hell is going on…?!”
Barbat, trying to get Nephthys to assess the situation, stood up and turned around, only to be left speechless.
“Huh?”
— Piles of corpses. Ten thousand soldiers lay prostrate on the ground.