Night fell on the Brissa Plain. The Mercurio Army and the Subjugation Army remained camped side-by-side, but the tension among the soldiers on patrol was palpable; everyone knew a minor skirmish could ignite at any moment.
Under normal circumstances, there were those who argued they should merge into a single camp, but the prevailing opinion was that such a move would be premature. In the end, they maintained separate perimeters. Metal fences, originally intended to keep out monsters and thieves, had been driven into the earth between the two positions—a stark reminder that neither side truly trusted the other.
If anything, many in the Subjugation Army openly declared that they could not forgive the surrender to the Mercurio Army, even if it were only a formality. On the Mercurio Army's side, there were those who believed their victory gave them the right to treat the losers however they pleased. Knowing that a careless confrontation would restart the war, both sides patrolled their camps with extreme vigilance.
"Well, I’m just glad it’s this season," one soldier remarked. "We don't have to be in such a desperate rush to clear the bodies."
"True enough," his companion replied. "If this were summer, we’d be gathering and burning them as fast as we could."
The two Mercurio Army soldiers exchanged these casual words while their eyes remained sharp, scanning their surroundings. They walked through the camp, illuminated by the flickering light of bonfires and the cold glow of moonlight, looking for anything out of the ordinary.
"But at this rate, it’ll be a while before we can head back to the Imperial Capital, won't it? Casualties are high since both sides hit each other head-on."
"Ah... well, yeah. But it wasn't just a head-on clash. Apparently, both sides sent small units on long detours to sneak past enemy lines and charge the main camps."
"...Really? I didn't hear about that."
"Of course you didn't. Both units were elites. Even if the attacks were stopped, the damage must have been severe. Well, since those units are naturally small, there aren't many bodies from those skirmishes. Besides, they probably don't want to parade the corpses of such elites around for everyone to see."
"Why? If we’re the ones doing the cleaning, it’ll be the Subjugation Army's elites who tried to attack us, right? Why should we care?"
"There are plenty of reasons, you idiot."
The soldier let out a heavy sigh at his partner's lack of foresight.
"An 'elite' is the strongest a person can be in an army... no, that's not quite it."
As he sighed, images of Rei and Seto flashed through his mind.
"They are the peak of martial power in the military. If their corpses are put on public display, what do you think the common people will think?"
"...What?"
"Haa... I was a fool to expect a sensible answer from you. Look, to get back to the point, we can't return to the Imperial Capital until the bodies are handled to a certain degree. At least, not us low-ranking grunts."
"Does that mean the high-ups are heading back soon?"
"Yeah. But it's not because they’re avoiding the work. The Bestia Empire's strength took a major hit in this civil strife, and almost all the nobility came to this battlefield—current heads of houses, heirs, all the important figures. If they stay away from their seats of power for too long, more trouble will almost certainly break out. Of course, it’s a different story if we finish clearing the field early."
"...I see. I guess a noble's job is mostly just fighting for power."
The man gave a wry smile and a nod as his partner let out another weary sigh. For a noble, the desire for authority was almost instinctual. He knew this well.
Granted, many of the nobles in the Mercurio Army were those who had strayed from the traditional noble path. After all, those who had sided with the Third Prince—who had been given zero expectations before the civil strife—were naturally an eccentric lot. By comparison, Frizion's camp held a fair number of traditional, typical nobles.
"Still... I suppose we’re doing much better than they are," the man muttered, glancing toward the Subjugation Army's camp.
Many of the nobles of the First Prince Faction who had served Cabajid remained on the field, directing their subordinates and working to keep the Subjugation Army from falling apart. They were strictly obeying Cabajid's Will: the Order to Follow Mercurio.
As for Schuls's camp, however... a significant percentage of his nobles had already deserted the field to flee back to their own territories. Of those who remained, many were attempting to hide behind their noble privileges to evade punishment. It was a predictable outcome. After all, the Second Prince Faction had been formed by nobles who couldn't get into the First Prince Faction and had swarmed around Schuls instead. While there were certainly those who served Schuls with true loyalty, the acts of those fleeing to their own lands were far more conspicuous. Upon learning this, Schuls could only lament that he should have purged more of his useless nobles during the campaign of the First Subjugation Army.
Furthermore, the nobles of the Second Prince Faction who had been taken prisoner by the Mercurio Army in the first battle had also been brought to this battlefield. They had been tossed into the prisoner holding area, but their status had become a point of negotiation between the Mercurio Army and the Subjugation Army. While they couldn't demand the exorbitant ransoms typical during the heat of war, the families of those captured would still have to pay a substantial sum. These negotiations were currently ongoing, ensuring the camps remained busy and loud even deep into the night.
Moreover, many were too wired to sleep, still feeling the lingering adrenaline from the end of the civil strife's largest battle. In normal times, they might have gathered at a tavern or a brothel to carouse, but those elements had already departed from the Mercurio Army. At best, soldiers brought out whatever alcohol they had on hand and talked excitedly. Of course, many were simply exhausted from the day’s combat and were sleeping as soundly as logs.
Amidst this volatile environment, where a single spark could reignite the war, the guards continued their rounds.
"...You want me to join your side? No matter how you look at it, changing masters the moment His Highness Cabajid dies is just too pathetic. I refuse."
"I agree. I have no desire to change masters so easily. What about you, Sobul?"
Blatta and Pelfeel each immediately rejected Theoreme's recruitment offer. Pelfeel then turned to Sobul, the last of their trio, to prompt his answer.
Both expected him to refuse instantly. To their surprise, however, they were met with silence.
"Hey, Sobul. You didn't have something done to you while you were a prisoner, did you?" Blatta asked, narrowing his eyes.
If Sobul intended to forget his debt to Cabajid and wag his tail for a new master, Blatta was ready to punch him back to his senses. Despite the accusation, Sobul's voice remained as calm and composed as ever.
"I have no intention of abandoning my loyalty to His Highness Cabajid so easily, either. But His Highness Cabajid is already gone, isn't he? Since that is the reality, we must decide our next steps. Do you really think His Highness Cabajid would be pleased to see us stubbornly refusing to cooperate with His Highness Mercurio?"
"That's..."
For better or worse, Cabajid was a man who prioritized efficiency and results. One needed only to look at his decision to appoint a man like Blatta as a retainer to see that. Of course, his focus on results didn't mean he would tolerate truly atrocious acts, but he was pragmatic.
It would be a disservice to Cabajid if their stubborn loyalty resulted in a delay to the Restoration of the Bestia Empire. When Sobul framed it that way, neither Blatta nor Pelfeel could find the words to argue.
Even so, when asked if they could immediately serve the person who killed their lord—or more precisely, the person who had caused his death—they couldn't bring themselves to agree just yet. Their minds understood the logic, but their hearts refused to accept it.
"...I'm sorry. Even if it constitutes Disloyalty to His Highness Cabajid, I don't believe I can work under His Highness Mercurio right away."
"Same here. Actually, in my case, I have no intention of working for anyone other than His Highness Cabajid. Besides, I have people I need to take down. Two of them, in fact."
Theoreme immediately understood who Blatta meant. He knew who Blatta had lost to when he was captured, and by whose hand he had been defeated in a previous engagement without even getting the chance to draw his weapon.
"Just so you're aware, Rei is returning to the Kingdom of Mireana once the Triumphal Parade is over. Count Obrisin will likely return to his own territory."
Theoreme said this, though he knew that in Gurgast's case, the man might find the Triumphal Parade itself a bother and refuse to attend. Knowing Gurgast’s personality, Theoreme had halfway given up on him; the man would ultimately do as he pleased regardless of what anyone said. He intended to ask Vihera or Tilleul to convince Gurgast to participate, but even then, the odds were fifty-fifty.
"What!? Both of them!?"
"Yes. Rei was hired specifically to side with us for this civil strife. Now that it’s over, he has no intention of remaining in the Bestia Empire any longer. Though, if I'm being honest, I would be delighted if a person of Rei's caliber would stay."
"...I'm sure. He possesses incredible strength. If that power could be harnessed for the Bestia Empire, it would be a formidable asset."
As Pelfeel muttered this, she recalled her own battle. She had always been confident in her skills, yet she had been unilaterally overwhelmed... and even then, he had clearly been holding back. She had been proud of her strength. She didn't think she was the strongest in the world, but she had took pride in knowing she was among the elite of the Bestia Empire.
But that confidence, that pride, and even her strength itself had been shattered to pieces after a single exchange of blows. He had struck her only once, but in that moment, she understood that no matter how much she struggled, she could never defeat him. And it was a simple truth that having such a powerhouse on your country's side would be incredibly reassuring.
(Perhaps he would even spar with me... Is it a betrayal of His Highness Cabajid to think that way? No. If His Highness Cabajid were still alive, I suspect he would actively encourage it, knowing it would ultimately benefit us.)
Pelfeel felt a sense of admiration bordering on longing for Rei, whose strength far exceeded her own. His youth? His status as an adventurer of unknown origin? His height? None of it mattered to her. To Pelfeel, who prioritized self-improvement above all else, only one thing was important: he was stronger than her.
"It is a pity, however, that I have only seen his individual power. I have not seen his Strength as a Commander leading subordinates."
This was likely where Pelfeel differed from the likes of Gurgast or Vihera, who focused on personal martial prowess. She required not just individual strength, but the ability to lead a unit.
Theoreme, however, shook his head at Pelfeel's remark.
"As you likely know, Rei was an adventurer first, not a soldier. While he can coordinate with a few companions, he is not used to leading subordinates... or so I believe. At the very least, I have never seen Rei lead men in battle in the traditional sense."
In fact, while the Mobile Unit was technically under Rei's direct command, Paelnix—one of Theoreme's subordinates—had actually handled the leadership duties. When the Mobile Unit acted alongside Rei, such as during the night raid against the Second Subjugation Army led by Blatta and Sobul, Rei and Seto had acted as a pair to create a Firestorm while the Mobile Unit simply used their bows and arrows to pick off those who tried to escape the flames.
To the Mobile Unit, Rei was more of a symbol than a commander. Granted, it was also true that because that symbol was so terrifyingly powerful, the Mobile Unit had come to be viewed as far more formidable than their actual capabilities suggested.
"I... would like some time to think."
Pelfeel gave her final answer, leaving Sobul as the only one present to clearly state his intention to follow Mercurio.