Side: Lydia
Five days have passed since Lord Vincent informed us that nobles in central Solemne were organizing a rebellion.
Given that the rebel army was expected to depart in two to three days, Lady Hilde immediately summoned neighboring nobles and decided on a policy of crushing the rebellion to show them its inevitable end.
It’s an extreme measure, not one I would expect from the gentle Lady Hilde, but it’s a decision made with consideration for the fact that the enemy is Solemne, and it will influence the future course of governance. It also stems from recalling the advice of Albert, who became the husband of her sister, Princess Brynhild. We are therefore merely following her lead.
A total of sixteen nobles were summoned. They are lords who govern regions close to Deseo, and some were nobles visiting their territories by chance.
Delfina brought them here using Traveling, with the accompanying Soldiers ensuring there was little room for refusal. Of course, having only nobles would be problematic, so a few guards have been permitted to accompany them.
“You intend to face such a large army with only eleven people?”
“This is madness…”
We are currently in the Praia Desert. Geographically, it’s about a two-day journey by Beast Carriage from Deseo, so we’ve already crossed the Klagen Plains.
Under the watchful eyes of High Soldiers and Raus, the nobles who witnessed the rebel army through the Order’s Guild’s Multi-functional Beast Carriages are trembling in fear at the sight of a military force they’ve never seen before. Even if the World Tree were to break, it would be unimaginable, but if we were to lose, their own lives would be forfeit, so their fear is understandable.
“You underestimate the power of an Ancient Class too greatly. An army of that scale could be slaughtered by a single person if so desired. However, if that were done, there would be others who would foolishly consider such actions again, much like the leader of that rebel army. This battle is meant to break such useless spirits. Open your eyes wide and witness their end.”
As Lady Hilde says, an Ancient Class can annihilate not just 2,000, but even twice that number of soldiers with relative ease. However, that would lead some to think that they only need to deal with that one individual. Lord Yamato, Prim, and Mana-sama made the judgment that this was the case and decided to lend their strength this time. Frankly, it wasn’t necessary for everyone to participate, but the intention is also to make them understand that such a number of Ancient Classes can be mobilized immediately, which is why I, too, am participating.
“It seems they’ve noticed us.”
“Yeah. Though we only have two Multi-functional Beast Carriages here, and it’s just us waiting, I can see plenty of idiots with smug grins.”
“Since they’ll be filled with despair soon enough, why not just leave them be?”
The distance between us is about 100 meters. At that range, with enhanced eyesight, even a High Class can clearly see the enemy’s faces, and I can clearly see the soldiers grinning with lewd smiles. I felt the same revulsion I did when I encountered similar soldiers near the capital of Libertà, Estrella.
“Very well, let us commence. I address the rebel army: I am Hildegard Minato Torencia, Queen of Torencia. By the authority of His Majesty Reinhardt Ray Amister, King of Amister, who rules the Philia Continent, I govern this land. If you withdraw now, your crimes will be minor. What say you?”
Despite saying such things, Lady Hilde has no intention of them withdrawing honestly. If that were the case, she wouldn’t have assembled an army in the first place.
“Hmph! For a country bumpkin chased by snow to govern our great nation is laughable! I shall present your head to the foolish King of Amister and reclaim this nation for our hands!”
The answer we received was as expected. This is the predetermined outcome, but their belief that they can genuinely reclaim the country strikes me as comically pathetic.
“Is that so? Then, at this very spot, all your soldiers will be defeated. And you, the ringleaders, will be publicly executed in Deseo.”
“Do you truly believe that a mere ten or so people can defeat over 2,000 soldiers?”
“Of course. Normally, one person would suffice, but we require you to serve as sacrifices, which is why we have assembled this many. Ah, if you have cannons, you may fire them first.”
“Hmph, you’ve grown arrogant after defeating His Imperial Majesty. As expected of ignorant, unenlightened country folk. Very well, I shall grant your wish. All cannons, prepare… Fire!”
It may seem as if they took Lady Hilde’s provocation, but our preparations were complete. They intended to use that as a surprise preemptive strike. However, such shallow tricks are obvious to us and, in the first place, wouldn’t work.
“Forty cannons, I’d say. More than I expected.”
“The army we fought in the Klagen Plains had 150, if I recall correctly.”
“Around that. To have nearly a third of their main force suggests they were trusted subordinates of the Emperor.”
“Or they were manufacturing cannons in their city.”
Both Yamato’s and Ludia’s predictions seem plausible. However, we’ve seen enough of cannons, and everyone is shooting them down in their own ways. Naturally, the Multi-functional Beast Carriages in the rear are unharmed.
“Im-impossible…”
“The performance is no different from before.”
“It hasn’t been that long, and they likely haven’t even considered improvements, so this is natural.”
“Indeed.”
The rebel army is stunned, but even if they bring out such cannons now, any Ancient Class can easily intercept them. A slight headwind generated by wind magic would be enough to offset their momentum.
“Is that all? I know those cannons are one of Solemne Army’s secret weapons, but they can’t even scratch an Ancient Class, can they?”
“Ancient Class?! No way… are you telling me that… even in that group?!”
“Yes, all eleven are Ancient Classes. As I stated initially, a single Ancient Class could defeat that many soldiers. However, as I also mentioned, we require you to serve as sacrifices. If rebellions are to occur time and time again, we would have to deal with them individually each time. Unlike you, we are busy people.”
Truly, this is rare for Lady Hilde, no, it’s unlike anything I’ve ever heard from her. It just goes to show how much pent-up frustration she has towards Solemne, but it is a bit surprising.
“Re-retreat! Withdraw!”
“Do you truly believe I would allow such a thing? Having already launched an attack, there is nothing left but to carry out your sentence. Lord Delfina.”
“Yes!”
Lord Delfina stepped forward at Lady Hilde’s call and created a colossal sword using elemental magic. As Delfina swung the greatsword horizontally, nearly a hundred soldiers were bisected.
“Oops. I almost caught the ringleaders.”
“That would have been acceptable, but truly, you are a skilled Lord Delfina.”
“I am honored. However, as His Majesty said, the ringleaders should be publicly executed in Deseo. I have already memorized their faces, and with the Wing Crest’s cooperation, we will not let them escape.”
“Naturally. Though I suppose some collateral damage might occur.”
“If they aren’t dead, I’ll heal them.”
I understand the need for public execution of the ringleaders. However, what is about to begin is a one-sided annihilation by overwhelming force, and there’s a possibility of them being caught in the crossfire. Mako-san says she’ll heal them if they aren’t dead, but that’s a problem in itself, and wouldn’t they normally die if caught in such an attack?
“I suppose that’s a point, but I will use my Telekinetic Magic to move them upwards, so that should be fine.”
However, Lord Delfina’s Telekinetic Magic will safely evacuate the ringleaders to higher ground. If we keep an eye on the sky, we should be able to avoid involving them.
“Well then, please excuse us and do so.”
“Ah. There are three ringleaders, and I am more than capable of handling that alone.”
As he said, Delfina’s Telekinetic Magic captured the three noble ringleaders and constrained them at a height of about 20 meters above the ground. The ringleaders, surprised that their bodies were suddenly floating, are struggling, but escape is impossible. Even if they could escape the Telekinetic Magic, without Inn Magic, they would simply fall to the ground, resulting in severe injuries at best, and death at worst.
“Alright, Venus deployment it is. Now they can’t escape. You can proceed whenever you’re ready.”
“Thank you, Mako-san. Then, let us proceed.”
The wind Engraving Magic called Venus, deployed by Mako-san, formed a barrier, trapping the rebel army. At this signal, Lady Hilde ordered the advance, and the annihilation battle commenced.
“H-help…!”
“Before the fight, they had lewd expressions, and now that they know they can’t win, they’re running. And when they realize they can’t run, they beg for their lives?”
“What was the point of joining the rebel army then?”
“No principles, no demands, just satisfying their own greed. I intended for them to be exemplified, but it seems it won’t end there.”
“They’ve probably laid hands on the people in the slums, whom they treat as outcasts, just for kicks too.”
Mana-sama and Prim are advancing on the fleeing rebel soldiers with displeasure. Exactly as they say, many participated in the rebellion not out of any noble intentions to save the country or for the people, but with the aim of their one-sided oppression of the weak. Indeed, there may be those who genuinely wished to save the country of Solemne, and if they can be identified, we intend to spare them. The Amister-Philias Federation Heavenly Empire, with Amister at its core, will make it clear even to such people how irredeemably rogue nation Solemne truly was.
“Wh wh-what kind of… what are these people?!”
“Monsters… Gyaaaahhh!!”
“Even if we can’t win, our deaths will bring this country…!”
Just in front of me stands someone fighting for this country. Well then, as planned, I shall toss them into the air. That way, someone with Telekinetic Magic will secure them, like Lord Delfina.
The battle took longer than expected because it involved sorting through individuals. Nevertheless, the rebel army was annihilated in less than 30 minutes. The survivors… there aren’t even 50 of them. Out of an army of over 2,000, there were fewer than 50 people who genuinely stood up for their country. As expected, the country of Solemne is truly hopeless.
“Im-impossible… 2,000 soldiers, unable to even lay a hand on them against just eleven people…?”
“This is… what Ancient Class power looks like…?!”
After the battle, the nobles we brought along were pale-faced and astonished.
“Those who are being secured in the sky, excluding the ringleaders, are those who genuinely wanted to save this country and rose up. It took time due to that selection process, but I never imagined there would be so few.”
“Selection, you say!?”
“Th-then… if no selection had been made… would you have been able to annihilate them more quickly?”
“Naturally.”
Upon hearing Delfina’s explanation, their complexions worsened further.
“Do you understand now? With the Unique Magic Lord Delfina used initially, annihilating an army of that scale would be easy for even one person. However, to prevent someone from thinking that by dealing with just one person, a weakness might be created, we deliberately gathered Ancient Classes. Eleven individuals who can rival ten thousand soldiers. If we wished to mobilize more, we could prepare double that number. If you still intend to cause trouble, so be it, but you will then share the same fate as them?”
It’s a complete threat, but Lady Hilde is correct. The purpose of this suppression operation is to deter future rebellions by nobles. While raising an army of 1,000 might be difficult given the remaining forces of the Solemne Army, they could potentially raise such a force by forcibly conscripting civilians and slum dwellers. However, from our side, even if they are forcibly conscripted, they become targets for punishment once they join the rebellion, and if we face them on the battlefield, we have no choice but to defeat them. Therefore, we would prefer to avoid that.
“W-we would never dare! I swear my loyalty to His Majesty, no, to the new Celestial Emperor who rules the Philia Continent!”
“I-I too!”
“I fully intend to serve His Celestial Majesty with all my might!”
The nobles kneel before Lady Hilde, but well, this is the expected outcome.
“Thank you. You must be tired today, so I shall entertain you at the Emperor’s Castle. However, from tomorrow onwards, I will have you thoroughly implement the policies I have laid out in your respective territories. Do you understand?”
“!!!”
Even so, they may appear obedient now, but we don’t know what they’re thinking in their hearts, so we must remain vigilant for a while. For the time being, we are fully occupied with Deseo, but soon we will be able to inspect other cities. At that time, I will thoroughly check whether the policies are being implemented or, if not, to what extent they are being executed.
