CHAPTER 505: IF STORY - THE INITIAL DRAFT (13)

0% “Unfortunately, that’s impossible.”

“What did you just say?”

A few weeks after the Demon King’s declaration of war reached the Empire—

“Did you really just say that?”

Serena, who had been communicating with an increasingly exhausted expression, abruptly stood up.

“We have no choice. Our own situation isn’t exactly stable either.”

“Are you saying you’re going to outright ignore the Oath?”

Her conversation partner was none other than the representative of the Western Continent’s rulers.

“I can’t justify sending that many reinforcements just based on a thousand-year-old, dust-covered Oath.”

“This is a matter of the world’s survival!!”

“You mean the Empire’s survival.”

Serena gritted her teeth at his flat response, pressing further.

“If the Empire falls, do you really think you’ll be safe?”

“To be completely honest, yes.”

“What?”

“Rather than hastily gathering troops and launching a large-scale expedition across the continent just to meet the Empire’s excessive demands, we believe it’s more strategic to let you hold out while we unite and carefully prepare for what’s to come.”

“What kind of—!”

But despite her protests, the representative’s response was merciless.

“This is the collective decision of the Western Continent’s rulers.”

“...Ha.”

“Don’t take it too hard. Just as the Empire has ignored us all this time, now we are simply returning the favor.”

Perhaps aware that his tone had briefly revealed his emotions, the representative quickly returned to a neutral tone to conclude the conversation.

“Well then, do take care.”

“Wait—!”

But before she could say anything more, the connection was abruptly severed.

“Those idiots!!”

Serena, standing motionless in shock for a moment, then hurled the crystal ball to the ground with a furious shout, causing her subordinates to look at her with uneasy expressions.

“Do they really not understand that they’re next!?”

“Lady Serena...”

“...How... how did things end up like this?”

Noticing her subordinates’ concerned gazes, she slumped back into her chair, lowering her head.

“How did it come to this...”

Her voice, leaking with despair, cast a heavy shadow over everyone’s faces.

“Hero...”

Amid the suffocating atmosphere, Serena clenched her eyes shut and murmured softly.

“Where in the world are you...?”

Scattered across her desk were the many letters she had sent, desperately pleading for the Hero’s help.

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“Haa...”

Clana let out a deep sigh as she gazed down at Frey’s diary in her room.

— The Hero has disappeared.

— Why? How? Why now, of all times?

— You promised to save us, Hero...

The diary she had pleaded for before parting with Frey continued to generate new pages.

“...It’s no surprise he wouldn’t show up.”

Muttering absentmindedly, Clana stared at Serena’s freshly written words.

“After all, the Hero is exiled to the frontier.”

Had the citizens of the Empire, who were desperately awaiting the Hero’s return, heard those words, they would have been utterly shocked.

-  Rustle, rustle...

Sighing, Clana flipped through the pages.

“...”

With each turn of a page, her frown deepened.

“...Ugh.”

By the time she reached the last page, she was already scowling, her head lowered as she murmured to herself.

“The reason you gave me this diary... was because you believed the final entry would never change again, didn’t you?”

The last page, clumsily taped back together, was still stained with tears.

“...Foolish Frey.”

Biting her lip hard, Clana shut the diary completely and turned to look out the window.

“I refuse to accept this kind of ending.”

The glaring sunlight reflected in her bloodshot eyes made her squint, forcing her to turn away and refocus on the ancient texts scattered across her desk.

“I will—without fail—save you...”

“Princess!!”

Just as Clana was about to immerse herself once again in her research on ancient magic to rescue Frey—

“...What is it?”

“It’s... it’s terrible news!”

“What happened?”

A maid burst into her room, her face pale as she delivered an urgent report.

“T-The Demon King’s Army just crossed the border!”

“...Ah, I see.”

“This isn’t the time to remain so calm!! Right now, we must... haa...”

Seeing Clana simply scanning her documents as if nothing had happened, the maid stomped her feet in frustration before taking a deep breath.

“...We’ve just received intelligence that every single request for reinforcements from other nations has been rejected. On top of that, the Emperor and his family fled the palace last night and are currently attempting to seek asylum in another country.”

“Tsk.”

At the mention of the Emperor’s escape, Clana’s expression turned ice-cold as she rose from her seat.

The maid, panicked, quickly started packing.

“Princess, you must leave the Empire immediately!

“The only remaining member of the imperial family left in this nation is you. You’ll be a target, whether from within or outside...”

“Fine, let’s go.”

“Yes, yes! The luggage is already packed! So, where shall we go? The Western Continent? No, perhaps heading east would be safer...”

Following closely behind Clana as she walked, the maid rapidly listed potential destinations—

“We’re going to the palace.”

“Understood. Then we should prepare a carriage to—wait, what?”

The maid froze mid-sentence at Clana’s response.

“I’m going to the palace.”

“P-Princess?”

“It’s time I fulfill my duty as the last remaining royal of the Empire.”

With those words, Clana left the room, leaving the dumbfounded maid standing in place.

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“Even in these difficult times, I thank you all for gathering here.”

A few hours later.

“Now then, let us proceed with the reports on the current situation.”

Seated at the head of the command chamber, Clana issued her orders as she surveyed the gathered officials.

“I shall report on the battle situation.”

The first to stand was someone whose name carried great renown.

“The current state of the war... is truly disastrous.”

Irina, the Flame Witch and former apprentice to the Magic Tower Master, stood with her arm wrapped in bandages as she began her report.

“There were multiple skirmishes with the Demon King’s Army before they breached the border... but we failed to slow their advance.”

“...Are you saying we couldn’t even buy time?”

“The power of the Demon King leading their vanguard was simply overwhelming.”

Irina clenched her eyes shut, her body trembling with barely suppressed rage.

“With a mere wave of her hand, half our forces were wiped out. And with the next, the rest followed.”

“...”

“All I could do in that situation... was resort to a suicidal spell to take down as many as I could.”

Lifting her bandages slightly, she revealed the gruesome state of her arm.

“...I lost my arm and part of my combat ability, but at the very least, I was able to inflict a meaningful wound on the Demon King.”

“The reason they’ve halted at the border must be because of that.”

“Yes, though once she has fully recovered, they will undoubtedly press forward again like an unrelenting tide.”

The gathered officials averted their gazes, lowering their heads as they took in the dire reality.

“For now, at least, we’ve bought ourselves a brief moment.”

“...”

Despite the bleak atmosphere, Irina tried to remain optimistic.

“...Though that’s all we have achieved.”

Her barely audible murmur reached many ears.

“Next, I will report on the Empire’s food and welfare situation.”

As the uneasy silence settled in, Ferloche slowly stood.

“...Honestly, there’s hardly anything left to report.”

She sighed, locking eyes with Clana before continuing.

“A few hours ago, the Pope and the bishops abandoned the Empire.”

“Hah.”

“I’m at a loss for words.”

“Some priests chose to remain and fight alongside us, but compared to before, their numbers are negligible.”

Her hands, trembling from exhaustion, gripped the table.

“It is already beyond our ability to heal our wounded soldiers on our own.”

“...”

“If reinforcements do not arrive—or if someone capable of ending this war does not appear—the death toll will only continue to rise.”

After delivering her short yet heavy report, Ferloche collapsed into her chair.

“I will now report on the state of reinforcements...”

The final figure to rise was none other than Serena.

Her disheveled hair and gaunt expression spoke volumes.

“The lords and warlords across the Empire are all refusing to send troops.”

Her parched lips, dry to the point of cracking, could not even be moistened as she continued.

“Their reasons vary... Resistance to reforms, doubts regarding Princess Clana’s legitimacy and leadership, the belief that this battle is unwinnable, or... some have already defected to the Demon King’s side.”

Serena faltered mid-report, stumbling slightly.

“Lady Serena?”

“...I apologize.”

The once confident and ambitious reformist was gone.

“...It’s as if the entire world has turned its back on us.”

In her place stood a young woman, experiencing the bitter sting of failure for the first time in her life.

“...If I may add a suggestion.”

She steadied herself and, with a trembling voice, continued.

“I believe we should flee this place immediately.”

“Serena...?”

“The Demon King’s army renders all strategies and tactics meaningless. No matter what maneuver we attempt, the sheer difference in power makes them utterly futile.”

The officials, one by one, either bowed their heads or let out bitter sighs.

“B-But that means—“

“Do not misunderstand. I am not saying we should surrender.”

“Then what are you suggesting?”

“...I will remain in the palace.”

As the others hesitated, Serena presented her final desperate plan.

“As long as the princess survives, we still have a chance. I will buy you time here—please, take Her Highness and—“

-  Bang...!!!

“...!?!?”

The sudden sound of the doors bursting open silenced the chamber.

“A—An urgent report!”

A messenger rushed inside, pale-faced, and knelt before them.

“A noble has answered the imperial call for aid!”

“What?”

“A force of at least several thousand soldiers is marching under his banner!”

The claim was absurd—an unknown noble suddenly bringing forth an army of thousands?

“Who... who is this noble?”

Serena asked in disbelief, grasping at even the faintest hope.

“T-That is...”

“Speak. Who is it...?”

And when the name left the messenger’s lips, she froze.

“...F-Frey.”

“Huh?”

“The acting Duke, Frey Raon Starlight.”

The room fell into a long, stunned silence.

“He alone has responded to the Empire’s distress signal... He is leading all of his knights, servants, and soldiers here as we speak.”

“...Ah?”

Serena let out a dazed gasp, unable to process the words.

“Truly, what a foolish man.”

Clana, who had been silently bowing her head, closed her eyes tightly and whispered those words.