That night, the chivalric army camped along the Road to Couronne.
December had arrived, and the bitter cold tested even the hardy knights. Despite their valor, many struggled to withstand the freezing temperatures. The army had not brought substantial supplies or logistical support, as the Empire had assured them that all provisions would be handled.
Indeed, Ryan had already received the first batch of supplies at the border. These were organized by Marienburg and delivered by the Empire's border guards. Thanks to Schultz's meticulous inventory list, the Empire's bureaucrats only claimed an 8% "transportation loss," leaving 92% of the supplies intact and delivered to the army.
Veronica, familiar with the Empire's tendencies, quipped that this outcome was only possible because of Ryan's status as the Knight King, the financial backing of Marienburg, and the Empire's eagerness to gain his alliance. "Otherwise," she joked, "those bureaucrats would have siphoned off much more."
Ryan, understanding the inevitability of some logistical losses, did not pursue the matter. After a brief handover and inquiry about new intelligence, he dismissed the Empire's officials.
As they left, Ryan reflected on the Emperor's strategic foresight.
Had the Emperor foreseen Ryan becoming the Knight King? That was uncertain. However, it was undeniable that sending Schultz to this world had been an inspired decision—one that had proven invaluable time and again. Schultz had played a pivotal role in key moments, including Ryan's initial arrival in Marienburg, the Emperor's repeated but futile attempts to reclaim Marienburg, Ryan's ascension to the throne, and now, the thwarting of a Tzeentchian demon's plans.
Ryan often felt as though an invisible hand guided everything, with the Emperor's cold gaze watching over the chessboard. Across from him, the Chaos Gods, Elven deities, Old Ones, and other entities, such as the Infinite Trazyn or the C'tan, were the opposing players. The icy chess game continued, with each move carefully calculated.
For now, Ryan focused on countering the tide of destruction. He patrolled the camp, noting a troll hunting nearby and a few goblins from the Ghent Mines. He considered stepping in but found his guards were quicker. The Old Guard quickly formed ranks, their fire discipline impeccable.
The troll barely had time to react before Bertrand's arrow struck its heart. Despite the creature's regenerative abilities, it collapsed to one knee. A volley of gunfire from the grenadiers finished it off, and a Molotov cocktail reduced it to ashes. The goblins, realizing their plight, fled in panic but were cut down by knight squires.
Ryan watched the efficient execution with a wry smile. "It seems my presence wasn't even needed," he mused. He had faced so many formidable foes that engaging lesser enemies now felt beneath him.
Looking at the troll's charred remains, Ryan recalled a story about the High Elf hero Tyrion and his nemesis, Grom the Paunch. Tyrion had thrown Grom's regenerating body into the magical forge of Tarl-Iris, burning him for five days and nights until only ash remained.
As he reminisced, a soldier called out, "General, come quickly! There's a body on the roadside!"
Captain Hugo of the Old Guard pointed out a corpse nearby. Bertrand, with his keen eyes and the blessings of Taal, quickly assessed the situation and confirmed, "It's a pilgrim, Your Majesty."
Ryan sighed, recognizing the grim reality. "This is the Road to Couronne," he remarked, signaling the group to return to camp.
The Road to Couronne was not only the border between the Empire and Bretonnia but also a pilgrimage route for the Church of Shallya, the Goddess of Mercy.
The Church's headquarters was in Bretonnia's capital, Couronne, while its largest hospice and most patients resided in the Empire's capital, Altdorf. Each year, the church encouraged the sick and infirm to undertake a pilgrimage to Couronne, promising divine blessings and free treatment upon completion.
The journey was grueling, spanning over a thousand kilometers on foot. Most pilgrims fell victim to starvation, disease, or banditry before reaching their destination. Those who survived the pilgrimage received healing but were often left too weak to return home, their plight serving as a sobering testament to the church's practices.
Ryan understood the underlying motives. The church, lacking sufficient resources, used the pilgrimage to "weed out" those entirely reliant on its charity. It was a harsh but pragmatic solution to an unsolvable problem.
On the way back to camp, Ryan remained silent, his thoughts turning to the age-old debate of left-wing versus right-wing approaches to social issues.
Leftists advocated for robust social welfare systems, while rightists emphasized self-reliance and competition. Both had merits and flaws. High welfare demanded high taxes, which could stifle initiative, while low welfare exacerbated inequality. The balance was elusive, and history offered no definitive solutions.
Upon returning to the camp's grand red, blue, and gold tent, Ryan found Veronica, Aurora, and Theresa engaged in a heated debate about the future of the Sorceress Assembly. The argument revolved around the importance of magical theory versus practical experience.
Spotting Ryan, Veronica called out, "Back so soon?"
"Just a quick patrol," Ryan replied, noting Duke Berchmond and Regent Lauen simmering beef stew over a fire. Berchmond grinned mischievously, "Your Majesty, care for a taste? You might need this."
"No thanks," Ryan chuckled, knowing the stew offered no magical benefits. Turning to Lauen, he asked, "Are there always so many pilgrim corpses on this road?"
"This is after several clean-ups," Lauen admitted. "Ever since your agreement with Emperor Karl Franz, our border troops have focused on clearing small bands of greenskins and outlaws—and dealing with these pilgrims."
Ryan nodded, his thoughts already shifting to the impending campaign.
In the camp kitchen, the Fay Enchantress Morgiana hummed a tune as she prepared dinner with her maids. The menu included creamy corn and ham soup, seared foie gras, roasted beef, vegetable salad, and Tillyrean black-pepper chicken pasta. Seeing Ryan enter, she teased, "Dinner isn't ready yet. Be patient."
Ryan smiled, stepping in to help. "What? Men can't cook? Watch this!"
As he stirred the soup, Ryan joked, "How long has it been since you last left Bretonnia, Morgiana?"
"I've never left since becoming the Fay Enchantress," she replied, adjusting her apron.
"Well, the others are lucky to enjoy your cooking," Ryan quipped, savoring the camaraderie.
The Knight King was in high spirits. Thanks to the Empire's logistical support, his army was advancing rapidly. If no battles intervened, they could reach Middenheim within a month.
---
By late December, Ryan received his first emergency dispatch:
- A Chaos force of approximately 130,000 was nearing the Empire's northern border.
- Imperial forces from Nordland, Ostland, and Ostermark had suffered successive defeats in Kislev's southern territories.
- Erengrad still stood firm.
- The capital of Ostermark, Bechafen, faced an assault by Nurgle's forces, with Elector Count Hertwig Wolfram rallying tens of thousands for its defense.
- Reports indicated an additional 100,000 Chaos reinforcements descending from the Wailing Mountains.
The tide of destruction was accelerating. The fate of the Old World hung in the balance.
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