Chapter 101: Your Faith (4) My enemy is the Isenheim.
No, the enemy of all humanity is the Isenheim.
Yet, I still know so little about them. Not their homeland, their identity, or their origin—and certainly not why they are so hell-bent on destroying this continent.
The fundamental reason remains shrouded in mist.
Because of that, I find myself conflicted every time I face them.
Is simply killing them the right choice?
Shouldn't I capture them, torture them, dissect their brains, and perform human experiments to dig out their secrets?
"······."
A swordsman stood across from me. A captain in a military uniform.
He was an enemy that made my heart react. Behind him, a small number of soldiers stood with their rifles aimed.
"Are you a Knight of the Empire?"
He asked me in fluent Imperial. I stood still, measuring his strength.
Thump.
The virus's reaction was heavy. However, he was a much easier opponent than Dune Khan.
Fortunately, I had a bit of time to spare. I had already destroyed the communication outpost.
"Captain! Give us the signal whenever you're ready! I'll blow him away!"
One of the soldiers shouted, his voice trembling.
"No. Do not fire."
The captain restrained them.
"He is not someone you can handle with mere guns. Do not provoke him needlessly."
He looked at me and gave a bitter smile.
"······It seems I won't even be able to buy much time."
His eyes seemed to be 'acting' out resignation.
He spoke again in Imperial.
"If you truly are a Knight of the Empire, I appeal to your chivalry."
The importance of language in the Great War to come would certainly be immense.
Thanks to this, my motivation to learn was further piqued.
"Please let the soldiers go. They are merely following orders."
Seeing him bow politely while gripping his sword made a surge of disgust well up inside me. It was absurd and utterly preposterous.
I replied without lowering my sword.
"Only if you answer my questions."
"······Please send the soldiers away first."
Many of the soldiers here had youthful faces.
Barely twenty, or perhaps nineteen. They were pure Zerpans, not Isenheim.
"······."
I gestured toward the end of the tunnel with my chin.
The captain spoke to them.
"Go."
"B-but..."
"Go, now—!"
This was the first time I'd encountered an Isenheim who acted so blatantly like a saint.
The soldiers dropped their guns and fled. I glared at the man and spat out a single sentence.
"You're Isenheim, aren't you?"
"······If you are asking about my roots, then yes. I am."
He was confident. The more I saw, the more he seemed like a new type of Isenheim... but that couldn't be right.
Until now, I might have unconsciously trapped the Isenheim in a certain 'mold.'
They were a race that would do anything for their cause.
"An Isenheim once said something like this to me."
I recalled Jacob.
The first Isenheim I encountered and killed after my regression. My very first one.
That fellow was definitely an immature specimen. He was young, emotional, and above all, unable to hide his identity.
" 'How dare you steal our language? I'll tear your heart to shreds and eat it.' "
I mimicked the vibration of the language he had muttered.
In an instant, the captain's face froze.
"He said he grew up eating hearts. He said your goal is the extermination of humanity."
"······."
"Where did you come from, and why are you trying to destroy us?"
He looked dazed for a moment, but soon a sorrowful smile touched his lips.
"I knew... there would be someone like you."
His sorrowful acting was loathsome.
"But just because we are Isenheim doesn't mean we all live for the same goal. Just like your kind."
──Perhaps.
This aspect of the Isenheim was likely the biggest reason humanity lost.
"In the end, we are humans just like you."
That incredibly human expression.
Those incredibly human emotions.
All of it... a mere imitation.
"On the contrary, I oppose my own kin. I fight for what is right."
They wear the same skin, speak the same language to break down our guard, and then burrow into our hearts.
"You would betray the will of your own kind?"
"Yes. Everyone, everyone in this world has that right. Race is just race. It cannot determine my ideology, my beliefs, or the future I choose. We all stem from the same roots... we are the same humans, after all."
The same humans.
I let out a hollow laugh and raised my sword.
"You are not the same. At least, not your kind."
The captain's complexion turned sorrowful.
"······You harbor such hatred. A blind, primal hatred for a single race..."
Ssssss──.
Ebenholtz's mana shimmered on the blade. The man took a deep breath and raised his sword.
"If my death can bring you comfort, I will gladly accept it."
He continued his dog-like deception until the very end.
I drew an invisible line in the air. The mana wavered like moonlight, and a crescent-shaped strike formed at the tip of the blade.
Ebenholtz Second Form── Moonlight Slash.
The Isenheim also swung his sword. His mana was blue. It wasn't much different from a human's.
He never showed an impulse like Jacob's.
······Perhaps the existence of an Isenheim like Jacob was the greatest stroke of luck for me and for humanity.
Screeeech──!
In the flash of light, the captain's sword shattered, and his head soared into the air.
Even as he died, he collapsed with a gaze that seemed to say he didn't resent me, or perhaps, that he understood me.
"Scumbag."
The virus greedily absorbed his mana, and I ground my boot into his face.
Crunch! Crack!
I distorted the features that had settled into such a peaceful expression.
"······Haa."
But this was unbecoming of my status.
I calmed myself and took a deep breath. I ran a hand through my hair. I straightened my disheveled clothes and wiped the bits of flesh and dust off my shoulder.
There was no need to get excited.
No reason to get heated.
Because I already knew what they were.
"They... use their own deaths."
They were creatures who would use even their own deaths as stepping stones. All for the single purpose of world destruction.
Therefore, a hardened heart was necessary.
An unwavering killing intent. A hatred that never strayed.
"Phew..."
I pulled a high-purity mana stone from my inner pocket.
After tossing it lightly, I slashed at the entrance of the tunnel.
Rumbleeeee───!
A silver flash, amplified by the mana stone, struck the ceiling's arch. A thunderous roar echoed as the bedrock collapsed.
The completely caved-in tunnel returned to being part of the mountain range.
—Leon. Bridge destruction complete.
—Dare Tan. I've destroyed the bridge.
—Hannah. Bridge destruction complete!
—Lois. Mission success.
One by one, the briefings announcing the completion of the mission came in.
"······This is Maximilian. We are moving to the Zerpa capital now."
* * *
We destroyed enemy facilities to cause chaos, broke through the gaps in the rigid encirclement, and entered the capital of the Royalists.
Thus, we arrived at the heart of the Zerpa Kingdom── the Elenium Royal Palace.
"Knights of the Empire."
The three rookies, Leon, and I presented our identification at the palace's main gate.
The guards bowed after thoroughly verifying the Sentinel mana crests.
"Yes. We have been expecting you. Please, come inside."
We were guided inside by a butler.
Unlike the brilliant exterior, the interior was thick with a gloomy atmosphere. The expressions of the passing servants were dark, and the nobles glanced at us with wary, defensive eyes.
The stench of defeat was everywhere.
"First, please stay here."
The butler pointed down a long corridor lined with guest rooms.
"The Crown Prince will arrive shortly. It would be best to wash off the dust of your travels until then."
"Yes. We'll do that."
I spoke to the other knights.
"Everyone, unpack and get some rest."
The rookies didn't look good. They had dark circles under their eyes and sunken lids. Well, I hadn't slept in sixty hours myself.
"Yes..."
"Understood..."
They all answered weakly and entered their respective rooms.
I also opened the door to my assigned guest room.
A VIP room prepared for guests. It had a luxurious carpet, a plush bed, and a well-tended potted plant by the window.
"Not bad."
I took off my coat and hung it on a chair. As I sat heavily on the bed, a weight of fatigue pressed down on my shoulders.
"······Max. Do you have a minute?"
Leon followed me into my room.
"Yeah. What is it?"
"I have something to say."
"What?"
He pulled a chair over and sat on it backward.
"Um... about the Imperial Army. Honestly, it doesn't look like they have any intention of properly participating in this civil war, other than us."
He scratched the back of his neck and continued.
"Actually, the atmosphere has been like that from the start. Even before we came here."
The Empire hadn't hesitated to dispatch Sentinels for nothing.
Their true goal wasn't to rush to the rescue of the Zerpa Royalists.
"No. The reinforcements will move soon."
However, it didn't matter.
Whatever the Empire's intentions were, I would focus this civil war on a Royalist victory.
"Huh? Really? I heard the reinforcements are the Durkon Legion. They're a pretty tough bunch."
The ten-thousand-strong Durkon Legion was quite famous in the Empire. They were capable, but half of them were complete blockheads.
Before my regression, they had dawdled for years, requisitioning local Zerpa resources.
"Yeah. Durkon will march. Definitely."
"How can you be so sure?"
I picked up a towel from the shelf and chuckled.
"I wrote a few letters."
The handwritten letters I had left for Lieutenant Colonel Kai Han.
Those sentences would be making their way back to the Empire by now, poking at the sensitive spots of the military leadership.
"It's not orders that move people, Leon."
I took off my shirt.
"It's 'relationships.'"
Leon looked at me with a strange expression, then shrugged.
"Sure~ well. You know knights are only on dispatch and don't stay for more than a month, right?"
"I know, brat. Now get out, I'm going to wash up."
"Okay."
After Leon left, I stepped into the bathtub.
Only after checking for any potential bugs or wiretaps.
Splaaaaash...
I turned on the hot water and submerged my body.
I let the warmth soak away the accumulated fatigue.
* * *
──Inside Zerpa territory, local headquarters.
Major General Schweitzer, commander of the Durkon Legion dispatched as reinforcements from the Empire, had forcibly requisitioned the penthouse of a luxury hotel in the city to preside over a strategy meeting.
"First, calculate how many of the new magical bombs are needed to erase a village of this size from the map."
He pointed at the map and instructed his officers. It was a place where peaceful civilian houses were clustered.
"We will also conduct efficiency tests for wide-area incineration magic."
From the beginning, the Durkon Legion's goal wasn't immediate combat.
The cowardly Royalists were bound to drag their feet and hole up in a siege, so there was no need to waste the Empire's precious resources for them. Therefore, they were there to test new weapons and military operations for future wars.
In fact, Major General Schweitzer had received such 'orders' from high-ranking officials in the Imperial Palace.
"Also, verify to what extent we must push the mages' mental fragility before they break."
Mages were walking tactical weapons. However, to use them in battle, they required mediums like magic circles and mana stones, and above all, their sensitive minds and bodies had to be coddled to perform at their best.
"—Yes, sir! Understood!"
The staff officers shouted in unison.
"Later, we will eliminate the civilian sectors cooperating with the Republicans."
If the civilians break, the nation breaks. This was the philosophy of Wolfgang, the Chief of Staff of the Imperial Guard.
By verifying the effectiveness of 'terror tactics' through civilian massacres, they would demonstrate the Empire's majesty—
"Major General! A messenger has arrived."
A communications officer ran in, making Schweitzer frown.
"······A messenger?"
"Yes. A messenger from the Bertun Unit. They are requesting cooperation regarding the march plan..."
"Get rid of him."
"Yes, sir!"
Schweitzer waved his hand.
Bertun. He didn't even know who they were.
After dismissing the communications officer, Schweitzer was about to resume the meeting—
"──Major General! A communication!"
The communications officer appeared again, this time with a more urgent face.
"A communication?"
"Yes! An emergency communication via the military line!"
The military mana line connected to the military headquarters in the mid-western part of the Empire, installed in the hotel basement.
Schweitzer ran a hand through his hair and went down there.
—Ah. Major General Schweitzer. Can you hear me? This is—
"I hear you."
—Ah. It's Major General Maut.
"Oh, Maut? What is it?"
—It's been a while.
It was Major General Maut, an old classmate from the military. He had been active in the suppression forces in Genen.
—It's nothing much. I was just wondering, when do you plan to march?
"······What?"
Schweitzer let out a hollow laugh at the sudden question.
—The march, I mean. The march. It seems you've had enough rest locally; how long do you plan to just sit still?
"······I don't know what you're talking about. This is my jurisdiction, and I've already received orders from above."
—The Royalists are isolated. The Bertun Unit is already carrying out operations at the risk of their lives; is it right for the main force to be idling? Did you go there for a vacation?
"No, what... Haven't you heard? I received orders!"
—For your own sake—
Click.
Schweitzer hung up irritably. Had this guy taken the wrong medicine?
"That crazy bastard, suddenly giving me unsolicited advice..."
Muttering curses, he went back up to the meeting room.
However.
Not even five minutes had passed before the communications officer ran in again.
"M-Major General. Another communication has arrived."
"If it's Maut, tell him to shut up and get lost."
"It's not Major General Maut."
"Oh, for heaven's sake. Then who is it!"
──It is Lieutenant General Litruman.
At the voice over the communicator, Schweitzer answered politely.
"······Ah, yes. Senior—no, Lieutenant General."
It was Litruman, the head of the Empire Point Academy and a veteran of the military.
—I heard you've established a local headquarters in Zerpa. Quite some time has passed; what is the march schedule?
"Uh... I apologize, but we have no plans to march immediately. We are currently—"
—What?!
A roar erupted from the receiver.
—Do you want to die?! You went all the way there, so why is there no march plan!
"N-no, sir. However, there were orders I cannot speak of. Regarding new weapons and new tactics—"
—You can test those on the battlefield, you balding fool! Get out there right now!
"······."
Schweitzer bit his lip, touching his thinning crown.
Litruman was the head of the Empire Point Academy. It might be a key political position, but it meant he was currently far from the battlefield.
So why suddenly—
—If you keep idling there, eh?! You'll die by my hand. Understood?!
"Lieutenant General Litruman. I apologize, but there were orders from above."
—This brat, until the very end! You stay right there!
This time, Lieutenant General Litruman hung up first.
"······Ha."
Schweitzer stared blankly at the receiver.
Had these old men all eaten something wrong together?
"What the hell..."
He was already stressed enough about his hair loss.
He felt like he needed to vent his anger properly. One village wouldn't be enough. He'd have to blow up at least two to feel better.
"Everyone, sit back down!"
Just as Schweitzer returned to the meeting room to resume the strategy meeting.
Once again.
"M-Major General!"
"No, what now!"
The communications officer ran in with a tearful face.
──Major General Schweitzer. This is Lieutenant General Walter.
Schweitzer groaned, pressing his forehead.
Lieutenant General Walter, a power player in the military whose promotion to General was almost certain.
—It's been a while. Good to hear from you.
"······Yes, Lieutenant General. It's good to hear from you. Is it about that again?"
—About that? What do you mean?
"You're talking about the march, aren't you?"
—Hmm~
Walter sounded like he was going to say something else.
"Ah, perhaps—"
—That's right. Why aren't you moving?
Goddammit.
"······I am currently carrying out secret orders—"
—Then consider this a public order. Move immediately.
Maut. Litruman. And now even Walter.
The generals of the Imperial military were pressuring him as if they had conspired together. At this rate, he might even get a call from the General himself.
"But—"
—An army that goes to provide support is a reinforcement. An army that stays put is just an occupation force.
Schweitzer broke into a cold sweat.
—I won't say it twice.
"Ha..."
He couldn't understand the reason.
He had no idea why, but the pressure from the military was too strong to withstand just by relying on his connections in the Imperial Palace.
To be honest, testing new weapons was perfectly possible on the battlefield, wasn't it?
While using them on civilians could measure the enemy's psychological damage, he couldn't afford to make the entire military his enemy.
"······Understood. Where should I go?"
—Align yourself with Bertun.
Click.
The communication cut off.
Schweitzer slumped into his chair.
"What on earth is this... and what is Bertun?"
The Major General suddenly remembered what the communications officer had said earlier.
-A messenger from Bertun is waiting.
"······The messenger."
He jumped up and went down to the hotel lobby. A single soldier covered in dust was standing there.
"Loyalty!"
"Are you from Bertun?"
"Yes, sir. My commander told me to deliver this to you."
The soldier politely presented a sealed letter.
Schweitzer snatched the envelope roughly. He checked the sender's name written on the front.
"Heh, well now..."
A hollow laugh spread across his lips.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Read 60 more chapters ahead on NovelDex!
https://noveldex.io/series/semi-coercive-imperialist
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━