"Although it's nice to use elaborate tactics to take over a kingdom, sometimes a violent conquest and forced suppression are far more thrilling... It's better to say it's more satisfying this way!"
Leon cheerfully looked at the enemy troops before him.
Tens of thousands of soldiers roared as they charged toward Leon.
Some rode on horseback, others ran wildly, and others fired arrows. Even though this was the capital of their kingdom, they didn't care in the slightest about the surrounding streets.
In other words, there was no room for mercy.
They were the last and strongest fighting force of this kingdom.
"The timing is perfect, that's all."
Leon commented with a smile, then infused his sword with magical power and swung it in the blink of an eye.
In the end, the kingdom's strongest army was defeated.
With a single strike, they lost all their fighting power. They were swept away by his sword, and the unluckiest were launched into the sky by the shockwave.
Several soldiers collapsed on top of their comrades' bodies but didn't die immediately—they struggled to raise their heads and look at Leon while murmuring:
"M-monster…"
"Monster? That's such an impolite name—but I'll accept it."
Leon walked nonchalantly over the bodies, step by step, toward the enemy palace. From time to time, he waved at the windows lining the streets, greeting the elderly, women, and children trembling inside.
To the people of this country...
He was a terrifying, dangerous demon—but very polite. He had the power to wipe out their entire army in one strike, yet he didn't harm women or children.
Alongside his handsome face and a smile as radiant as an angel's, it was obvious he was the enemy... and yet, they couldn't truly hate him.
Moreover, before the war began, Leon had asked Dvalin to spread pamphlets throughout the capital, explaining his reasons for invading the country:
[Your foolish king is attacking Palettia.]
[So I came to retaliate and uphold justice.]
[I'm coming from the front. If anyone can stop me, try it. But if you don't want to die, don't oppose me. Otherwise, I will show no mercy.]
They were clearly enemies, but he had acted with courtesy and legitimacy.
Thus, among the citizens of this small kingdom, only a minority cursed the invader in their hearts—while the majority cursed their own king.
"How could I let an opportunity like this go to waste?"
Leon was in an excellent mood.
King Orphans was also in a good mood.
After all, there were many differences among nations. If a large kingdom attacked a smaller one without cause, other countries would band together to boycott it.
But that wasn't the case if a small kingdom attacked a larger one. If it lost, it would owe compensation—but if it won, it would gain reputation and benefits.
Simply put, bullying the weak was unacceptable.
But fighting back against the weak, under the right circumstances, was permissible.
The destruction of a small kingdom by a large one would be condemned by others—unless… a legitimate reason was presented.
"Since you provoked me first, it's understandable that I retaliate. Hehe~~ I really hope there are more enemies like this."
Leon muttered to himself and opened the palace doors with his sword.
That's why he said in the previous chapter: "Before the enemy king surrenders, we must put a sword to his neck!" In this case, if the opponent were to apologize publicly, it would only delay things slightly.
So, don't give the enemy a chance to apologize. Kill the king before he openly admits defeat.
In truth, the enemy troops had not yet received word of the front line's defeat, because Leon's army had moved so swiftly.
…
"So? Isn't it a bit too late to try and run now?"
"Don't come any closer, don't kill me! I was wrong! I shouldn't have joined the coalition! Prince of Palettia, we can talk!!"
"You can't even muster a shred of courage at the end of your life? How can you call yourself a king when you're this cowardly?"
Leon kicked the king aside in disgust.
Just by looking at him, it was clear he was a rotten monarch. His body was obese from overeating, and he looked weary and vain due to his addiction to women. He knelt before the enemy prince without an ounce of dignity, begging for mercy.
When Leon entered the kingdom, he noticed the economy was in shambles, the citizens wore tattered, dirty clothes—but the throne in front of him was made entirely of gold.
And of absolutely terrible taste.
He didn't even want to sit on it when asked.
If Gamma had been there, she would've probably shouted excitedly:
"How could I let my beloved Lord sit on such a tasteless throne?"
"I am willing to pay a large compensation, Prince Leon, as the price for my foolishness. While you're in our kingdom, Your Highness, please ask for whatever you desire! Oh! Yes—how about women?"
He quickly grabbed some women nearby. Even before Leon attacked the royal capital, this man had still been playing around with his concubines and wife.
"This is my queen, and these are my concubines. They're in great shape and very beautiful. Please feel free to enjoy them, Your Highness."
"…."
"What?"
"Stay away from me, Prince!"
Leon couldn't bear to look at the king anymore.
When he saw the queen and the concubines already unbuttoning their clothes and walking toward him, he instinctively lifted his foot and kicked them away.
With a few swings of the magic sword in his hand, the king was dismembered. His hands and feet were severed, and he fell to the ground like a fat, oversized insect, groaning and screaming in agony.
"ARRRRRRGH!"
"You're filthy—but you two are even worse. No restraint, no shame. Ugh, the king and queen of a kingdom… acting like this."
After all, this was supposed to be the mother of a nation.
But to survive, she threw herself into the enemy's arms.
Leon could only say:
"You really expect a filthy woman like this to taint my dignity? Looks like I can't let you die painlessly."
When the king was finally discovered later, he was so far from his original form that even a world-class puzzle master might not be able to piece him back together.
As for the queen and the concubines—Leon beheaded them. Though he usually never killed women, his disgust for their actions didn't allow him to show mercy.
In the end, everything went smoothly.
All the territories of the three small kingdoms were taken.
Esdeath led the army and turned thousands of enemies into ice sculptures.
Asuna and Alice were like blooming flowers on the battlefield, leading their knight orders to capture the enemy capital.
As for Leon, he became even more famous.
He conquered a country by himself.
Destroyed tens of thousands of enemies with a single strike.
The world would remember his name once more.
---
(End of Chapter)
"Hmph. If you really want to be useful, then entertain me, try to throw those pathetic power stones at me. Let's see if even your insolence can amuse a king."