-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Defiant Entrance
-----------------------------------------------------------------
After being tied up again by the Guard Captain's men and dragged out of the underground prison, a group of soldiers approached us.
From their unit insignia, they weren't from the Guard Captain's unit. They seemed to be troops temporarily pulled for palace guard duty during the war.
"We'll take custody."
"Ah, yes."
They gripped their spears in one hand, pressuring the guards with a menacing aura.
Since Andrei had left ahead of us, the guards flinched and handed me over without resisting.
"…Are you alright?"
After the guards fled, a man who seemed to be their leader asked me.
"Yes."
"Ugh."
The soldiers showed strange reactions as they supported me into the palace interior.
"General. We'll always remember you."
"Those dog-like noble bastards…"
"…Thanks."
Whether they knew me from before or not, they kept saying things like this the whole way as we walked together.
They left me in a guest room inside the palace and disappeared.
Was this the soldiers acting on their own?
Or someone higher up?
Before I could even ponder it, several palace maids entered the room shortly after.
"Wow, it's really him!"
"Lord Viktor! I've wanted to meet you!"
They hoisted up my unsteady body and carried me to the bathhouse.
"We'll wash you! No need to answer!"
After entering what was like a large bathtub.
With skilled hands, they stripped off my dust-covered clothes and scrubbed away the grime clinging to my body.
"Oh my, your hair is completely damaged."
"Your skin is so dry and rough. Why on earth were you in prison…"
"Is this okay for us to do?"
Soaking in the warm water made my eyes close on their own, so I couldn't properly hear the maids' conversation.
As palace maids, these women were probably daughters of nobles, but their touches and words were kind, so I accepted it quietly.
"It's done."
"…Thank you."
"If you're grateful, just give us an autograph!"
"…"
After signing what was like a handkerchief, I was led by their moving hands, and before I knew it, I was in a guest room that looked better equipped than my own house.
The maids busily styled my hair and dressed me before leaving the room.
The clothes the maids put on me were a fairly ornate Kingdom officer's uniform.
On the battlefield, I always wore comfortable clothes under armor, so the uniform squeezing various parts of my body felt utterly unfamiliar.
"Have something to eat at least."
A somewhat older-looking maid approached me as I sat dazed in the chair and set down a bowl of soup.
Perhaps because I'd gone so long without food, I wasn't particularly hungry, but the soup smelled good, so I picked up the spoon.
After confirming I was carefully bringing the soup to my mouth, she bowed once and left the room.
"…Hm."
It was treatment I never could have expected.
Even when I'd visited the palace as Commander-in-Chief, I'd never felt this level of hospitality.
Those who'd sold me out wouldn't have prepared something like this.
The nobles were always too busy idling and feasting, and Andrei himself had ordered them to tie me up and lock me away—he'd never said to treat me like this.
It was probably the personal goodwill of the soldiers and maids who'd helped me.
I hoped they wouldn't get in trouble for helping me.
"Phew…"
…Being human, after all.
I was worried, but their help had improved my mood a bit.
I'd gained some confidence.
Confidence that my actions so far hadn't been wrong.
Since they'd mustered their courage, I needed to buck up too.
After emptying the plate clean, I closed my eyes and leaned back into the soft chair.
***
*Knock knock knock!*
I opened my eyes at the sound of knocking on the door.
The sun hadn't set outside the window yet, so not much time had passed, but my body felt refreshed, as if I'd slept a full day.
"Viktor! Are you in there!"
"Haa…"
Without waiting for a reply, Andrei burst in with a frivolous voice, opening the door.
"You were hiding here. Guests are waiting in the hall!"
"…Negotiations."
"They wrapped up ages ago. Ha, finally a day like this comes."
Andrei was incredibly hyped, while the Guard Captain's men, inversely listless, poured into the room en masse.
Were they obsessed with tying me up or something?
Andrei was holding a bundle of rope again this time.
Including him, his subordinates were decked out in gleaming silver armor and ceremonial swords, looking somewhat impressive on the surface.
Their joints and gear placement screamed they hadn't seen real combat, but that probably didn't matter to them or anyone watching.
I pinched my thigh to shake off the sleep completely.
To build the perfect image, I needed to stay sharp from now on.
First impressions were crucial no matter how much you emphasized it, so I needed to decide in advance how I'd appear.
"You probably don't have the strength since you haven't eaten properly. You guys, support him."
The moment I heard Andrei ordering his men, my brain spun furiously.
What image should I show the Empire's side?
Did I have any skeletons in the closet?
Since they'd be from the Emperor Faction, probably not.
Was I really so weak I couldn't stand on my own, as Andrei claimed?
Considering the starvation and sleeplessness, I was in surprisingly good shape.
Maybe that soup had something special in it.
What about my previously known image?
From investigations, what had spread to the Empire was mainly my achievements; personal details about me were scarce.
The Empire's negotiation team probably saw me as just a capable Ruth Kingdom general.
The image I showed from now on would shape who I was.
I imagined what image would be advantageous and decided quickly.
From now on, I was a steadfast general loyal to the nation and the king.
No matter how unfavorable the situation, always proud and unyielding.
In reality, my own will hadn't factored into the decisions, and I'd never harbored any loyalty, but that didn't matter.
If the Empire—and especially the Emperor—thought that way, it became truth.
"Got i…"
"No."
Before the guards could approach, I stood up from the chair first.
---
As Viktor abruptly rose from his seat, the surrounding guards hesitated and stepped back.
His fierce gaze and the aura he exuded didn't seem like someone who'd starved for three days straight. Already intimidated by the name Viktor alone, the guards couldn't easily approach him.
"I'll walk myself."
"What the…"
Andrei, who harbored a grudge from being cowed during the arrest, got angry at his men just standing around watching and tried to issue another order,
"I'll."
"Wh-what…"
Viktor advanced toward Andrei step by step, slowly.
Andrei couldn't comprehend the situation to begin with.
The Guard Captain's men he'd sent to tie him up properly had come back saying some weird soldiers snatched Viktor away. Only after searching hundreds of palace guest rooms did he find the missing Viktor.
And now, Viktor—who even looked freshly bathed—was glaring at him in full uniform.
Faced with Viktor approaching while muttering low like he wanted to devour him, Andrei could only twitch his mouth.
Even the guards, not directly facing Viktor, felt an inexplicable pressure from his low voice and terrifyingly sunken eyes.
"Myself."
"Uh, uh…"
Though as well-fed and trained noble sons, none were shorter or smaller than Viktor, the guards—who had little experience under pressure—could only step back hesitantly or avert their gazes.
"I'm going."
Viktor stopped right in front of Andrei and declared it like a verdict.
"A-alright! I got it!"
In the end, Andrei screamed like he was shrieking and stepped aside.
Viktor walked straight toward the still-open door.
Andrei and his men froze for a moment before following behind the advancing Viktor.
If he'd taken a wrong turn midway, Andrei would've said something, but Viktor strode confidently and directly toward the palace's main hall.
"Show's over? Scram!"
"…"
Ashamed of following behind the man he'd arrested because his momentum was crushed, Andrei yelled at passing guards or maids instead of Viktor.
Seeing Andrei sneak peeks at Viktor's expression, even those getting chewed out barely held back laughs as they scurried away.
Andrei could only stamp his feet, with no outlet for his mounting anger.
A short while later.
Viktor stopped before a massive door adorned with gold and jewels.
It was the door blocking the palace's main hall where the negotiations had taken place.
"This it?"
"Yeah. Wait a mo—hey!"
Andrei tried to tie Viktor up here at least, as ordered, but Viktor opened the door himself before the guarding soldiers could even approach.
With the door already open, Andrei couldn't easily pounce and bind him.
"…Sent the Guard Captain's men, so soon… Huh?"
"Ah, that guy's…"
The main hall grew rowdy from Viktor suddenly bursting in.
The Ruth Kingdom nobles gathered to the left of the throne were flustered that Viktor—who should have been dragged in tied up—was walking on his own two feet, fully uniformed. The Empire's negotiation team observed him with intrigued eyes.
Andrei and the Guard Captain's men, thinking they couldn't cause a scene in front of everyone, quietly followed Viktor into the hall.
Viktor ignored the gazes pouring onto him and headed straight for the king.
Count Vladimir Savinkov, standing right beside the king, spotted Andrei slinking in behind Viktor and let out a sigh laden with multiple meanings.
"Ruth Kingdom Army Commander-in-Chief, Viktor. Reporting in."
Stopping before the throne, Viktor gave a polite greeting, knelt on one knee, and bowed his head.
The king on the throne rolled his eyes desperately at the scene unfolding, completely different from what the nobles had briefed him on.
In the atmosphere where he couldn't easily instruct the king, Vladimir couldn't respond to the king's pleading gaze.
"…Rise."
"Yes."
After dozens of seconds of awkward silence, the king finally recalled what he was supposed to say.
Viktor, who had paid respects with the poise of someone never arrested, scanned the room.
Seeing Viktor—who'd endured solitary confinement—glaring at them full of vigor, most nobles bowed their heads or turned away to avoid his gaze.
With one motion, he'd seized control of the room's atmosphere.
He began gravely.
"Your Majesty. As Commander-in-Chief of the Kingdom's army, I have something to say regarding this war."