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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: A Lifeline from the Heavens
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The orphan teen Viktor, who had nothing to his name, couldn't flee to the Empire.
It wasn't just a lack of the luggage, money, and stamina needed for the journey. More than anything, he had no means to escape the clutches of the bandits and thieves waiting outside the city.
Even with the help of his Minimap, he lacked the confidence to outrun grown men chasing him with swords.
After enrolling in the Royal Military Academy, even bringing up anything positive about the Empire became impossible.
The Dragonia Empire and the Ruth Kingdom had a bad relationship even before I fell into this world.
To be precise, it was the Ruth Kingdom's nobles who unilaterally hated the Empire, and the academy was full of noble offspring.
Mentioning the Empire could have led to far worse harassment, and it wouldn't have been surprising.
Once assigned as a soldier, he completely lost any chance to escape.
Desertion was a grave crime, common knowledge in any army.
As his achievements piled up, more and more Empire generals eyed him with burning intent to capture him, so surrendering outright might just get his head chopped off first.
And so.
The offer to hand him over to the Empire felt like a lifeline descending from the heavens.
"Heh."
"Are you really insane? Laughing in this situation?"
"Hahaha..."
Andrei's clumsy insults meant nothing to him.
All the obstacles blocking his path were being resolved in one fell swoop.
For starters, he could glean plenty of clues from Andrei's actions.
Just bringing rope meant they needed him alive, and the fact that he was only chattering away without violence suggested orders from above not to use force.
If there'd been no such mention, Andrei would've punched him in the face the moment he thought him fully bound.
"You have no idea what'll happen to you once you're dragged away..."
Andrei kept freely providing information.
According to his babbling, the Ruth Kingdom had proposed the truce first.
The Empire's Emperor had specifically named Viktor and demanded his person, and the kingdom had accepted.
The key point here was that the Emperor himself had mentioned him.
As the saying goes, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. The Emperor had no reason to harbor special ill will toward him, who had greatly weakened the Noble Faction's power.
On the contrary, the current Emperor of the Empire was dead serious about talent acquisition, to the point of having dedicated events to persuade and hire enemy generals or staff. The chances were high he'd demanded Viktor to put him to use.
In that case, his task was simple.
"Let's go, Andrei."
"...Ha."
He just had to let himself be taken.
Things seemed to be flowing exactly as he wanted.
---
He lay his weary body on the now-familiar field bed.
"Hoo..."
It had been a year and a half already since becoming General Viktor's dedicated adjutant.
At first, he'd thought it was a demotion.
In an army tightly gripped by high nobles, being appointed as secretary to a commoner-born officer wasn't a good sign.
On top of that, his own suspicions were great since he wasn't noble-born either.
He'd experienced the nobles' peculiar class divisions—commoners should stick together—multiple times at the academy.
Moreover, at the time, he was a green junior officer who'd graduated from the academy just four years prior, so there was needless worry about getting dragged into his mad antics and dying.
The ambition unique to new officers...
He never wanted to experience it again.
Viktor was different.
Some saw him as incompetent for repeating retreats despite victories in battle, while more perceptive commanders admired his strategies and tactics in successful retreats and counterattacks.
But in his view, both assessments missed the core.
Of course, he did keep retreating steadily, and his strategies and tactics were indeed brilliant.
But the heart of it was his charisma in leading soldiers.
You had to experience his command to understand.
No matter how far apart, his orders sank into your head, and your body moved to the right spots as if entranced.
Once you'd tasted that kind of command, it was hard to be satisfied with the slow, dull orders from ordinary commanders.
From the early days handling dozens or hundreds of soldiers, to now moving thousands or tens of thousands, there were no gaps in his command.
Unlike others who treated soldiers as mere numbers and shoved them into the meat grinder, under his delicate command, casualties were extremely low.
Just hearing General Viktor was in command made soldiers' morale visibly soar.
General Viktor had risen through the ranks at an astonishing speed.
Anyone with any knowledge knew the war dragged on thanks to him, so it was no surprise at all.
Proving his abilities afterward, he'd prolonged what seemed like a hopeless war by two years.
Lately, he was boosting morale by saying the time for counterattack was near.
Even from afar, one could tell the Empire's forces were in poor shape, so plenty of soldiers were excitedly chattering about actually winning.
He had much to thank him for.
For keeping him and the soldiers alive amid despairing news of other units being massacred.
For telling him to rest first while the lamp in the command tent burned until dawn.
That was why, even collapsing into sleep every day, he never resented him.
Without him, he'd have died eternally under some incompetent commander.
...Maybe because the end was starting to come into view.
Lately, before sleep, he fantasized about spending time alone with him after the war.
Imagining what the male Viktor—not the iron man General Viktor—would be like.
He always woke up when the mood heated up, but just going through the process wasn't bad.
He drifted off like that, only to bolt upright at a shout and the ensuing clamor.
"By order of His Majesty the King!"
Still in his uniform as always, he slipped on his boots, grabbed his weapon, and rushed out of the tent.
"...What the hell."
A group of unfamiliar soldiers had surrounded General Viktor's tent right next to his.
They wore leather armor without helmets, armed oddly with ropes, and bore the royal emblem of the red trident emblazoned on their chests.
"The Guard?"
Our soldiers nearby milled about, unable to approach the tent.
Unable to comprehend the situation, he tried to enter the general's tent alone, but those guarding the perimeter immediately reached out to block him.
"Don't come closer."
"I'm Anna, General Viktor's adjutant."
"The captain is currently executing His Majesty the King's order. No one can interfere."
"...The Guard Captain?"
"You'd best watch your words."
They spoke to him with firm resolve and a hint of mockery.
Why on earth would the Guard Captain personally lead soldiers to a general's tent in the middle of the night during wartime?
Unknowable.
But it was suspicious enough, so he pulled the whistle from his pocket.
–Preeeeeeeee!
"What the—"
Blowing the emergency whistle, the panicking soldiers snapped to attention and began forming ranks to surround the general's tent.
Those realizing the general was in danger glared fiercely at the Guard members.
As all the torches flared up and fully armed soldiers approached, the Guard members visibly panicked.
"What do you think you're doing!"
"I have to see for myself since I can't trust you lot."
"Talking back? Who do you think you—"
No sounds came from inside even after getting quite close, making his heart grow urgent.
If these guys harmed General Viktor...
–Pree!
At the short whistle blast, the soldiers advanced one step.
"You mad bastards! Dare to defy His Majesty the King's order!"
"Defy? Where's the proof of this order?"
"Our captain..."
"That's why I need to see for myself!"
As he debated blowing the whistle once more upon seeing them trembling yet holding a hardline stance.
–Flutter.
"What's all this commotion?"
"Captain!"
The tent flap opened, and a man holding rope stepped out.
It was Andrei, the Royal Guard Captain the Guard members had mentioned.
And trailing him, General Viktor emerged, his entire body bound with rope.
"...General?"
The general kept his head down, saying nothing.
No visible wounds, but being tied up was bad enough.
"Th-this wench just now, she dared to—!"
"Hoh."
The Guard member, who had been utterly terrified, rushed to Andrei the moment he appeared and whined about what had just happened.
Their demeanor resembled spoiled kids tattling to parents more than soldiers, making him doubt if they were truly elite Royal Guard.
"They resisted the royal order, you say."
"..."
Regardless, if it was truly a royal order, he might be in danger now too.
Refusing the king's command—especially as a soldier—could mean execution for treason.
"One more to arrest..."
The moment Andrei pointed a finger at him.
"Hahahahaha!"
Boisterous laughter echoed through the camp.