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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: The Betrayed Famous General Betrays
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The last time we had the leisure to even hold a conversation was the day we arrived at the barracks.
After spending one night in the barracks, we boarded the carriage early in the morning.
" How long until we arrive! "
" We still have a few more days! "
" Argh... We need to go faster! "
For the past few days, we had been racing almost without rest.
We ate meals on the move, and sleep time was extremely short.
As if trying to save even that, we kept moving until it was pitch black after sunset, when the road was no longer visible.
To maintain speed, a handful of cavalrymen in light armor escorted the carriage instead of regular infantry guards.
They even swapped out the horses pulling the carriage whenever they tired, pressing on relentlessly.
All of this was triggered by a single letter brought by the messenger.
Erika read the letter and then urged the group on as if someone were chasing us from behind.
Since the contents weren't confidential, she showed it to the suspicious soldiers and coachman, who reacted similarly.
The destination was called Nodenberg.
From the garrison near Zabinsk where we departed to Nodenberg, the northernmost city of the empire, it would normally take over a week.
Thanks to constantly swapping horses and relentless urging.
Feeling the vibrations in my buttocks that even the exquisite craftsmanship of the expensive carriage couldn't fully suppress, our group arrived in Nodenberg in just four days.
***
I figured Paul would handle things once we arrived in Nodenberg, since it was Josef's territory.
It was one of the regions where the Noble Faction held the strongest sway, so I thought Paul's influence as a Noble Faction elder might outweigh an imperial decree.
" Who goes there! Get out of the carriage and state your identity! "
When the gate guards blocked the carriage.
Erika used a surprisingly simple method.
She simply leaned her upper body out the carriage door.
" We are on orders from Her Majesty the Emperor! "
The effect was tremendous.
With the imperial crest adorning the carriage, no one doubted Erika's claim of imperial orders.
No need for lengthy explanations—just the words "imperial orders" were enough to convince them.
We entered Nodenberg Castle with ease.
" We're almost there. They say Phlegethon is ready, so we can go right away. "
" ... "
Perhaps due to our conversation that night, Erika kept speaking to me in a friendly tone.
She even nodded on her own as if understanding my silence, proving it was worth talking to her at dawn.
Phlegethon, though.
Phlegethon was one of the empire's unique buildings in the game.
According to lore, it was a legacy left by Vulcanus, the red dragon who helped found the empire—a structure that could rapidly transport a single-digit number of people to where another Phlegethon was located.
In most turn-based strategy games, generals could move instantly without troops as a game mechanic, but 'Great War,' which oddly emphasized realism, required even lone generals to spend turns based on distance.
Phlegethon was the system designed for the Dragonia Empire, which started with vast territory but had many places to defend.
Like a temporary teleportation portal linking the capital's palace to specific cities, but for gamers, it was something ignored outside of entertainment or gimmick play.
The reason was simple.
In a world view where magic was extremely limited, the usage conditions were horrific.
Construction alone required pouring in enormous resources that could tie up an elite legion for a long time, and even activation consumed vast resources plus ten mages from the departure point.
The ten consumed mages were unavailable for a long time, and the resources simply vanished.
Repairs afterward cost a fortune.
And the result of all that expenditure?
Just transporting two or three generals.
Since you couldn't send troops with them, if you needed to move a general urgently in-game, you'd fire and rehire them for free instead of building a Phlegethon.
" Hoo... "
A sigh escaped me naturally.
We did need to get to the capital quickly.
The letter Erika received probably urged haste, and for me, confronting Luise before her attention shifted elsewhere was advantageous.
It was just that the wasted resources felt too regrettable.
I knew the Dragonia Empire's AI bizarrely favored Phlegethon, but...
Seeing it used right on cue now made it feel historically accurate.
Like the emperor, obsessed with gathering talent, built it just to bring someone a bit faster.
Thinking how many more troops that money could have hired made it sting, but the best use of something already built was to exploit it fully.
" We're here. See that huge building over there? "
Looking where Erika pointed, I saw a fortress-like stone structure.
In the game, it was just an icon, so I felt nothing, but seeing it now, it looked decently impressive.
Not enough to change my mind about the wasted money, though.
" I heard it was built, but this is my first time actually using it! "
" In fact, the Phlegethon here has never been used until now. "
" Wow, really? "
That made sense.
Beyond the cost, it crippled the state's scarce tactical asset—mages—so only the emperor would dare use it.
" Her Majesty must be very curious about the negotiation results. "
" Hm. "
As Erika delicately put it, this showed just how much expectation the emperor had for me.
The problem was that expectation didn't always work in my favor.
There was an event called 'Disappointment.'
Linked to 'The Emperor's Employment,' it triggered if the selected person's performance was poor, leading to imperial punishment.
Usually, it ended with salary cuts or equipment reclamation—a handy event for stripping useless hires of cash and gear.
But occasionally, severe disappointment led to outright execution.
Applying that to reality?
High expectations meant high potential disappointment.
In other words, failing to meet her expectations could mean my head rolling at any moment.
The pressure was mounting.
The emperor's expectations were a double-edged sword.
Meet them, and I'd soar; fail, and I'd be cut down in an instant.
" ...What's wrong? "
I shot intense glances at Erika, whom I needed to handle well.
I'd steeled myself, but her help would make it much easier.
-Creak.
As the carriage reached Phlegethon's entrance, the inner doors opened.
Mages clutching staves waited inside for us.
" Let's go! "
We disembarked and entered the building.
Perhaps the outer walls were just for protection.
The structure was large, but inside was only a small room about five pyeong, nothing else.
" General Paul Richter, Lady Erika Bauman, Viktor. Total of three, correct? "
" Yes. "
The lead mage verbally confirmed our identities, then briefly explained how to pass through the dimensional gate.
The gist: it opened for a very short time, so move without hesitation on command.
After the short explanation, the lead mage and surrounding mages entered the central room's door.
Once all the Phlegethon mages were inside, our group followed.
" ...Oh. "
I hadn't expected much, but the interior was stunningly ornate.
" Wow... this is... "
From the room's walls to the central dimensional gate frame, everything sparkled with jewels of various colors.
Each gem was sizable; this room alone probably accounted for most of the construction cost.
" Opening it! You must pass through immediately! Destination is the imperial palace! "
The lead mage drew our attention with a slightly urgent tone.
Tension filled the cramped little room packed with people.
" On three! One, two... three! "
As instructed, we dashed into the gate on "three."
The moment I felt piercing something red, the surroundings changed without warning.
The arrival room was similarly jewel-encrusted but four times wider.
" Kyaa! "
" ...Be careful. "
Hearing Erika and Paul's voices meant everyone crossed without issue.
Moments later, the door ahead opened.
" We've been waiting. "
About a dozen palace maids awaited beyond the door.
---
A lounge prepared for the Dragonia Empire's emperor.
A maid approached Luise, who lounged in a chair awaiting news.
" Your Majesty, Erika Bauman and her group have arrived. "
" Oh? "
Luise's eyes flashed as she shot up.
The maid, utterly unprepared for the reaction, accidentally met Luise's gaze.
" Take Viktor and Paul to their quarters. Erika... "
" Hnng...! "
The maid's legs buckled from the overwhelming pressure of Luise's eyes, which seemed to exude an inexplicable aura.
" I want to see her right now. Go fetch her. "
" Haah, huff. "
Instead of calming, Luise closed her eyes and commanded the maid.
As the pressure eased slightly, the collapsed maid exhaled her held breath and forced herself up.
" Y-Yes, understood! "
Feeling like prey before a predator, the maid hurried away.
" Hmm... "
Luise settled back into her chair, savoring her pounding heart.
Carefully containing her aura, she awaited Erika's arrival.