Chapter 168

The communication mirror crackled.

I waited anxiously.

I was still in my maid's uniform.

It was torn, burned, and cut in various places.

There had been no time to erase the traces of battle.

Soon, light swirled in the communication mirror.

It meant a connection had been made.

I quickly shot up from my seat.

It was only natural, considering who was on the other side of the mirror.

A cloying voice soon came through.

[General Nana.]

“……”

[General Nana. Why is there no answer?]

I bit my lip.

It was a familiar voice.

But it was not that of Ferbias Caseptus Cordis, the 50th Emperor. Suppressing my irritation, I spoke.

“Bureau Chief Kentil. Where might His Majesty be……?”

[His Majesty is busy. This Kentil is handling his affairs in his stead.]

“Please connect me to His Majesty. I have a matter to report directly.”

[Report it to me. I have been entrusted by His Majesty.]

“…Didn’t I say it directly?”

[And I told you that I have been entrusted.]

On the other side of the mirror was a man with a goatee.

He was once the dean of the Imperial Academy of Magic but had become the head of the Bureau of Evil-Chasing after becoming Ferbias's confidant.

It was extremely irritating to see him, a man of mediocre skill, wielding power by the Emperor's side.

Bureau Chief Kentil continued speaking with a sly smile.

[Have you heard, General Nana? The Eastern Conquest is in its final stages. His Majesty has many things to attend to.]

“Things are just as urgent on this end!”

[Urgent, indeed. Since problems kept arising, the Calamity had to be moved up by a whole three years.]

Bureau Chief Kentil tugged at his beard.

His face was so clear through the mirror that I ground my teeth.

[His Majesty could not hide his disappointment. He wondered what kind of mistake a person of General Nana's stature could have made for the plan to be thrown off by three years.]

“…There were reasons. There was an obstructionist.”

[Of course there would be obstructionists. Wasn't that a problem from the very beginning?]

“……”

I shut my mouth and clenched my fists.

If Bureau Chief Kentil were in front of me, I wanted to smash his face in right now.

I wished I could hit him just once, no more, no less.

I was confident I could end his life with a single blow.

Whether he was a Four-Star Mage or not, my fist was equal to all.

[General Nana, in truth, it wouldn't be impossible to connect you to His Majesty, but it would be better for you if I didn't.]

“…Why is that?”

[You failed to kill Her Highness Santia, did you not? A report has already reached His Majesty.]

“……!!!”

My eyes flew open.

I had just returned from my battle with Shion.

It had only been two or three hours at most since I had lost Santia.

“How……?”

[The senior intelligence agent, Tectus Tatium, transmitted his own memories just before he died. Isn't that commendable? Unlike some people.]

“……”

[The scene was a bit blurry, but we could see Cornelius flying through the sky with Her Highness Santia, and General Nana being blocked by the people of the West and losing them.]

Damn it.

I spat out a small curse.

Bureau Chief Kentil’s eyebrows twitched upon hearing my curse, but he didn't bother to point it out.

[His Majesty was greatly disappointed, General Nana.]

“…I am sorry.”

[However, His Highness also added this. While it is good to have a justification for war, even a war without justification must not be lost. Reorganize your forces and turn the Bururade Peninsula into a wasteland.]

Bureau Chief Kentil continued.

[You will have to make up for your mistake, General Nana. Do not disappoint His Majesty further.]

“…But Bureau Chief Kentil.”

My eyes sharpened.

I was the Nine Streams General. One of the Ten Great Generals of the Cordis Empire.

No matter if my opponent was the Emperor's confidant, the head of the Bureau of Evil-Chasing, there was absolutely no reason for me to be treated with disrespect.

“You’ve been rude this whole time.”

I ground my teeth.

An aura billowed out, one that would have made Bureau Chief Kentil collapse on the spot if he were in front of me.

It was strong enough to make dozens of fishmen outside the barracks foam at the mouth and faint.

“I am Nana. Nana Nereyades!”

[Of course, I know, Nine Streams General Nana. You’ve known His Majesty Ferbias since your school days.]

It was an aura that would have made him collapse if he were present, but Kentil was not in front of me.

He was looking into a communication mirror from the imperial capital, Lutilium.

Therefore, he calmly tugged his beard and spoke.

[But surely you know that His Majesty strictly separates public and private matters?]

“…You better watch yourself. If I run into you, I’ll rip that beard right off.”

[What classless words. I will pretend I did not hear that. I wish you would act befitting a Ten Great General…….]

Kentil smiled faintly.

[As for the rest of your report, please submit it in writing. There was a word to reduce direct communication with the Imperial Palace for security reasons.]

“…Ah, yes, I will do so……”

[Then, good work, General Nana.]

Click, the communication was cut off.

At the same time, my patience reached its limit.

“That sycophantic bastard……!”

I threw a punch into the air.

The barracks tore apart and a wave rose.

Unable to contain my anger, I threw several more punches, and the waves grew larger and larger.

Dozens of fishmen were swept away, screaming.

“---Ah---!!”

My anger didn't subside even after raging for a long time.

If I had my way, I wanted to overturn everything in sight.

Be it a ship or anything else.

It wasn't an impossible feat for me.

However, the responsibility that came with the name Nine Streams General held me back.

“…Damn it. I have to tell him that Amethus is alive… If I don't tell him directly……”

Emperor Ferbias still hadn't forgotten his old confidant and friend. It was an open secret in the Imperial Palace.

I could not deliver the news that the jade-eyed Amethus was alive in the West through Bureau Chief Kentil. I didn't trust Kentil at all.

“Right, Amethus, Senior Amethus……”

I bit my lip hard.

Amethus had acted as if he were seeing me for the first time, even though it had been a long time.

The sense of betrayal was deep.

Why was he in the West?

Hadn't we promised to serve Emperor Ferbias for our entire lives?

“If only you hadn't betrayed him… His Majesty would never have kept a scoundrel like Kentil by his side.”

Hatred welled up.

It all seemed to be Amethus's fault.

In fact, to some extent, it was true.

Ferbias, who had always had an arrogant and impatient side, became even more callous after losing Amethus.

Old memories surfaced.

Those beautiful school days.

Sdea Academy, the four students who always hung around together.

Ferbias and Amethus, Bukenos and… Nana.

A time when we gathered, laughed, and talked without a care in the world.

Why did it feel so sad when it had been so beautiful?

It was because it had passed.

It was so beautiful, so beautiful that I yearned desperately for it to return, but I knew all too well that it could never happen.

I covered my face with my hands.

“…General Nana.”

“What is it?”

My adjutant whispered cautiously.

“…A communication from the 11th Legion.”

***

[Reporting, General.]

It was a wizened voice.

[Niko Nereyades, Commander of the Cordis 11th Legion and 14th Legion, has sortied.]

“How long will it take?”

[I expect ten days.]

Niko's voice was polite.

He was the commander of the 11th Legion, and I was the Nine Streams General.

Between the old man and the young girl, the girl was of higher rank.

Whether they were grandparent and grandchild or not, the military law of the Cordis Empire was strict.

“Are you aware of the situation here, Commander Niko?”

[Yes. I have confirmed it.]

“I would like you to hurry.”

[I will do my utmost.]

An awkward silence fell for a moment.

They shared the same surname.

The blood flowing in their veins must have been somewhat similar.

But once the official talk was over, there was nothing more to say.

No, there were things to say, but they couldn't be said.

Niko Nereyades, the Whale of Hobel Bay, chose his words very carefully.

Unlike a fisherman who carried an oversized oar and strode across the sea, he was endlessly cautious.

[…General Nana.]

“Speak.”

[…Perhaps you could have been a little more prudent.]

Niko's voice was thick with concern.

The assassination of Santia was an important mission that would bring a justification for war.

No matter how much of a Ten Great General I was, having failed in such a task, my position was bound to be difficult.

I did not hide my displeasure.

“I have no reason to hear such words from Commander Niko.”

[Nana, I understand how you feel, but…….]

“Nana?”

The girl’s eyes blazed.

She let out a roar like an active volcano.

“-Who dares to use a superior officer’s name so carelessly!”

A wave rose with her anger.

She was on the sea.

When she thrust her fist out with emotion, a house-sized wave crashed over the surroundings.

The menacing aura was transmitted even to Niko on the other side of the communication mirror.

The Whale of Hobel Bay bowed his head with surprising ease.

[…My apologies, General.]

“Listen carefully, Commander Niko. No matter how much you like fishing, you are a soldier, not a fisherman. And I am your direct superior!”

[Yes, I will keep that in mind.]

My anger resembled a child's tantrum.

A rage disproportionate to its cause was poured out on Niko.

Niko simply accepted it in silence. His life had always been that way.

He was almost glad that he could be the one to accept my anger.

[Since I'm being reprimanded anyway, may I finish what I have to say?]

“…Do as you please.”

I couldn't bring myself to be angrier.

Of course, I knew I was acting like a child.

Niko Nereyades, the Whale of Hobel Bay, was a veteran who had been active since the time of the Great Emperor Continua.

His advice was worth listening to even if it cost a thousand gold pieces.

No matter how much I didn't want to hear it, there was a reason to listen.

[…You used the Ancient Weapon, didn't you?]

“Yes. How did you know?”

[Because you weren't usually this angry.]

Niko spoke calmly.

I, too, suddenly wondered why I was getting so angry.

My emotions were fluctuating strangely.

Even if I got angry, I wouldn't have expressed it outwardly, but now, wasn't I swinging my fists around like a mad person?

The 9th seat of the Ten Great Generals was once Niko's position.

This meant that the Ancient Weapon, the ‘Sinew of the Great Sea’, was once his cherished weapon.

He knew the ‘Sinew of the Great Sea’ better than I did. Its power, and the darkness hidden within.

[Ancient Weapons are dangerous, very dangerous things. The remains of a god神 are never a simple matter.]

“……”

[It is just an old man's worry. Please, be careful when you use it…….]

“…I will take this advice to heart.”

[I am glad to have been of help.]

Beyond the communication mirror, Niko bowed his head.

His build was so immense that even with his head bowed, he was still much larger than me.

He showed no sign of wounded pride even as he bowed to me.

[I will see you in ten days, General.]

Niko's communication ended.

I collected my breath.

Still, talking to Niko seemed to have cleared some of the fog in my head.

Though I hated to admit it.

“It has become a war without justification… but as His Majesty Ferbias said, we cannot afford to lose.”

I gestured to my adjutant with my chin.

“Reorganize the battle lines.”

Outside, there were twenty-two thousand fishmen.

The elites of my 9th Legion were with them and in ten days, the 11th and 14th Legions would also arrive.

It was enough power to overturn any failure.

I finally smiled.

“As soon as the reinforcements arrive, we will turn the Bururade Peninsula into a wasteland in one fell swoop.”