Chapter 266 - Ninth Story: Finis's Advance
As June began, in the northern part of the island, the Finis army continued its unstoppable advance toward the Septanaquila royal capital. It wasn't that they kept winning. It was that there was almost no one to challenge them.
Rumors had already reached the surroundings that they had defeated four thousand soldiers without a scratch, and even those who thought it was a lie had no choice but to believe it when they learned that the fortresses where the defeated forces had holed up fell easily.
Fortresses that received no reinforcements had no choice but to surrender. In addition, they proposed that no harm would come to those who surrendered. And when they did surrender, the nobles who had been holed up in that fortress were released with their property. After requisitioning half of the stored food, they gave half to the commoners who had been holed up, and the soldiers were released to spread rumors to the surrounding fortresses.
This method was the same as the one Medioland had implemented in the invasion of the Kingdom of Gram; it caused the commoners, who had been prepared for looting and massacre, to lose their will to fight, and they either pressured their commanders to surrender or stopped holing up in the fortresses altogether.
"Fumu. Recent battles have no bite to them, do they?"
"Umu. In the past, it was kill or be killed, take or be taken, with blood spraying everywhere. Priestess-dono, is this how it is lately?"
While watching the nobles who quietly surrendered and departed, the ghosts poking their heads out of the jewels tilted their heads at each other.
"It is Jeanne. Apparently, some time ago, the Young Master participated in an investigation of certain ruins incognito, along with Crown Prince James-sama of Medioland and Jeanne. At that time, he was asked why Finis moves south every year."
"Why or whatever, it is decided that those who stole our tribe's land are in the wrong. There are many graves there as well."
"Exactly. Jeanne also needs to study a bit."
The Priestess laughed, "Ho-ho-ho."
"So, the Young Master conveyed our side's argument to Jeanne. Then, Jeanne said she understood."
"Umu. It must be so."
"As expected of Jeanne."
"But, that is Jeanne for you. She said she understood the reason for launching a war, but that people who surrender must be forgiven."
"Fumu. She is kind, after all. But isn't that too soft? One cannot wage war without taking food."
"Yes, so the Young Master consulted with James-sama as well, and they are requisitioning half the food from the fallen fortresses. However, the noble lords are exiled, and the fortresses are destroyed. By doing so, those who are let go lose their commanders and simultaneously lose their base of resistance. Furthermore, food for a siege is obtained. And they spread rumors that if people stay quiet, they will not attack. Taking food from poor people doesn't amount to much anyway. He said if he's going to make it his own territory anyway, he should treasure the commoners and serfs."
As a result, by the disappearance of proper combat, losses were eliminated and, to boot, land was acquired. Of course, the overwhelming victory in the first field battle and the power gap with the small fortresses thereafter were major reasons for the success.
"It is because you all achieved great feats in the first battle. Otherwise, it would not have gone so well."
"Fumu fumu. Then, can we boast to Jeanne a little?"
"No, no, you can boast a great deal."
"Next time you meet her, please do boast. I am sure Jeanne will be happy and thank you all."
With the voices of the rejoicing ghosts behind them, the Finis army continued its rapid advance and finally approached the royal capital in July. It was a god-like power limited to two hours, and if they were challenged to a thorough defensive battle by an enemy possessing military strength, flaws would easily appear, but the Septanaquila side didn't have the slightest inkling that such a weakness existed. They were terrified of the Finis soldiers who charged literally heedless of bows and arrows, and they suffered defeat after defeat easily.
However, as expected of a royal capital, it had a certain population. The King of Septanaquila mobilized everyone who could fight and managed to gather eight thousand soldiers. However, among them, the standing army was only two thousand. Moreover, since they had sent a force to stall the Northern Gram army, there were six thousand temporary conscripts who normally wouldn't even be called up. They wore almost no armor, and their weapons were varied.
Everyone was terrified of the enemy who had easily defeated four thousand regular troops in a field battle and had struck down the commander who had fled into a fortress with that same momentum.
"Hey, did you hear? They say Finis is invincible because they have the protection of their ancestors' spirits."
"Yeah, the soldiers who fled said so. They said when they slashed with a sword, it was easily caught with one hand. More than that, the problem is the way the Northern Gram army is doing things."
"Yeah. After they left the land they lost in the previous war, it's been looting, violence, whatever they want, apparently."
It was only natural. They had done the same thing when they were in service. They were just turning their backs now that they were on the victim's side. Maintaining provisions for a military force is difficult. Looting in enemy territory was efficient, and at the same time, the money taken was a temporary income for the soldiers who went to war. Because they knew that, no one leading the troops stopped them. The only polite army that didn't loot was Sertoria, which was founded after a kind of peasant uprising.
"In that regard, they say Finis gives half the food the nobles holed up to the people and releases them after the battle is over. Valuable items are taken and fortresses are burned, but that has nothing to do with us."
"I heard, I heard. If we're going to lose anyway, I'd rather lose to Finis."
Showing strength like the Demon Race, neither arrowheads, swords, nor spears worked.
Though they knew it was likely magic, none of the temporary conscripts thought they could fight and win against such fellows.
The King likely didn't trust such unmotivated people either. Important places like the gates were left to the standing army, and the temporary conscripts were lined up on the city walls to form a human wall. They would be the first to die when the siege by the Finis army, which surrounded three sides of the city, began.
While offering prayers to the Goddess, yet not loosening their grip on their weapons, a messenger emerged from the Finis army in front of the main gate. It was a messenger with a surrender recommendation.
The messenger said that Medioland was invading Gram, so no reinforcements would come. If they surrendered early, their lives would not be taken. However, if they did not surrender, they would join with the Northern Gram army and fight thoroughly.
The Northern Gram army, after negotiations broke down, had defeated the Septanaquila King's army in a field battle, and the Crown Prince who led the troops had already been slain. They were expected to arrive in about two weeks at the earliest.
The temporary conscripts were shaken by this recommendation.
There was no way to win in a castle where no reinforcements were coming. Moreover, the Northern Gram army, which was committing all manner of outrages wherever they went, had routed the field army and was heading for the royal capital.
"It's definitely better to surrender immediately!"
"That's right, they're saying Medioland's reinforcements won't come. Until now, reinforcements would have come before the enemy got this far. The King is deceiving us!"
The agitation developed into a commotion. No matter how much the standing army tried to suppress it, they wouldn't listen.
"Are Medioland's reinforcements coming!"
"Th-that is what I have heard."
"Then why is the royal capital surrounded!"
"Th-that is because they are delayed."
"Liar! You guys are being deceived by the King too. Medioland is being led by that hero James. There's no way he'd be late."
"That's right, that's right! The King is a liar."
"H-hey, wait. I'll cut down anyone who doesn't listen!"
While they were engaged in a heated argument, it finally developed into a fight with swords drawn.
"Gwyn-sama. It seems a conflict has broken out inside."
"Umu. Call out for them to open the gate. Promise that no harm will ever come to those who cooperate. If they open the gate, no one will be killed. No harm will be done to those without weapons."
When he sent another messenger to convey Gwyn's words in a loud voice, the residents inside the main gate reacted to the calls of the temporary conscripts who had been stationed together and rose up; the handful of regular troops, who were dispersed and mostly stationed at the royal palace, were overwhelmed and killed.
Finally, the gate opened.
The Finis army shouted loudly to throw away their weapons and come out, and the temporary conscripts came out of the gate as if guiding the residents.
As the temporary conscripts came out timidly, one man emerged from the Finis army.
When he took off his helmet, his hair was shaved off. Come to think of it, I heard the Crown Prince of Finis shaves his hair.
"I am Gwyn, the Crown Prince of Finis. No one who cooperates will be killed. No harm will be done, and no looting will occur. I will not kill the King either. However, since he must be exiled, please come with me to the royal palace."
After saying that, Gwyn passed through the gate followed by about a hundred soldiers.
Everyone had only a single sword at their waist, and no shields. They wore only leather armor.
He set one person he spotted as a guide and, without caring even if he was surrounded by a crowd, walked behind that man.
The people of Septanaquila, whose hearts were stolen by that audacity, were convinced that he was indeed as strong as the Demon Race, and followed behind as if being led.
Leading the ever-increasing crowd all the way to the front of the royal palace, about five hundred Septanaquila soldiers were guarding the main gate.
Gwyn himself offered a surrender recommendation, but they would not surrender so easily.
"Throw away your weapons and surrender quietly. No harm will ever be done. The King will be exiled, but no harm will be done to him either."
He urged surrender again.
"That's right! Surrender! Is it okay if the Northern Gram army comes!"
"That's right! Reinforcements aren't coming!"
Among the crowd behind Gwyn, some even started heckling.
Finally, stone-throwing began.
The Septanaquila soldiers had been turned upon by the very populace they were trying to protect.
Gwyn smirked inwardly, but he knew he couldn't let this continue.
He turned his back to the braced enemy soldiers and raised his voice loudly.
"Everyone, listen well. This royal palace has not fallen yet. I am happy for everyone's help, but your King is still the King of Septanaquila. Throwing stones at the soldiers guarding that King is treason. If possible, I do not want to create traitors. I just want you to watch the turn of events in silence."
At these words, the crowd was dumbfounded. It was different from the rumors of the Finis army they had heard until now.
The Finis army they had heard of in rumors was a group of bandits who, because they were poor people from the north, launched wars and repeated looting to compensate for that poverty. They would stain their blue-painted faces with splattered blood and carry out looting and violence while laughing. Yet, he was telling the populace who sided with him not to interfere.
While everyone was looking at each other's faces, Gwyn drew his sword and charged into the five hundred soldiers alone.
He was surrounded in an instant. One would think he'd be hacked to pieces, but he fought heedless of the tips of the enemy soldiers' spears and cut down over a dozen men in an instant.
Spears don't work...
The soldiers backed away.
The watching commoners stirred.
The rumors were true.
"I have certainly seen your loyalty to your King. I say again. I will not kill the King. I will only exile him to Morandine. For now, no troops are stationed at the back gate. I will give you two hours. Tell him to depart promptly."
The soldiers all threw away their spears.
One soldier ran toward the King.
When the soldier went to the King, the King was already making preparations to flee.
Seeing that, the soldier realized that, as the Finis army said, no reinforcements were coming.
He was angry, but the opponent was the King.
"Your Majesty. The Finis army says they will leave the back gate open for two hours from now. Please flee with the royal family."
"U-umu. I am sorry. I will surely make a comeback and recapture this land."
"Yes. We will be waiting."
"I am sorry, but to use as funds for restoration, I will take what I can take. What I cannot take, I will leave and hand over to Gwyn. The stored food as well. So, tell them not to harm you or the people."
"I have understood."
"You have worked hard."
"Your words are more than I deserve. Then, Your Majesty. May you be in good health."
The soldier returned and conveyed the King's words to Gwyn.
"I see. He will depart. Understood."
After replying, he looked at the people watching from behind.
"The King of Septanaquila says he will surrender the castle on the condition that no harm is done to you all. I intend to accept that offer."
Sighs of relief escaped from everyone.
Their own country had been destroyed. As expected, no one raised a cheer. They were happy, but some were shedding tears.
"After the King departs, our army will requisition half of the stored food. The other half will be distributed to everyone. Our army will requisition all the expensive items left in the royal palace. However, in exchange, we will lower this year's tax rate. Since the distribution of food will take place from tomorrow onward, everyone should go home in peace."
Next, he said to the Septanaquila soldiers.
"Since the King is departing, I shall allow you to guard him to the border. Do not cross the border under any circumstances. It will be regarded as an invasion by the other country. You should go south, pass through Medioland, and go to Morandine. I do not recommend going east."
The Northern Gram army was coming from the east.
The King would surely be killed, and the funds for restoration would be stolen.
The soldier thought so. Of course, it was a wild delusion, and Gwyn had guided him that way.
The soldier hurriedly gathered his subordinates and ran toward the back gate.
Having obtained a two-hour grace period, the King put as much wealth as he could load and the royal family, starting with the Queen, into carriages, and departed the castle through the back gate on horseback along with ten attendants he had selected beforehand. While being protected by eight hundred guarding soldiers, he aimed for Medioland via the southern highway.
He mocked himself for being taken in by the smooth talk of the people in black robes and was terrified of the Finis army, which had acquired demon-like strength. The King had seen Gwyn fighting the soldiers in front of the royal palace.
"I never thought they would become such a group of monsters..."
He looked back and gazed at the castle that had been his.
The Finis flag was already flying.
No confusion seemed to be occurring, as no clamor could be heard.
Gwyn, as promised, and as he had actually done on this advance route, did not seem to be harming the people.
The one he had tried to place a curse on was definitely not supposed to be the Water Dragon, the guardian deity of the land.
And yet, those people went and cursed the Water Dragon on their own. I hear the Water Dragon has a priestess who serves it. To boot, it seems there are priestesses who use some kind of suspicious arts in northern Finis. Surely, they must have been retaliated against for cursing the Water Dragon.
Those people of the Ruined Town. When the restoration is achieved, I will surely attack and kill them all.
At most, saying that to comfort himself was the best he could do.
In the middle of June of the Sertoria Kingdom calendar, the Kingdom of Septanaquila disappeared from the map of the island and was occupied by Finis and Northern Gram.