2
From the very start, Zikr had found this deployment suspicious.
The army held annual exercises in the Badheim Jungle, located in the eastern part of the empire, but this year, they were being conducted earlier than usual. Moreover, the objective—shared only with Zikr and a select few other high-ranking officers—was negotiations with the Shudrak nation. These factors only deepened his doubts.
“The Shudrak, deep in the Badheim Jungle…”
The Shudrak were an indigenous tribe with a long history, known for rarely leaving the jungle. Though Zikr had never encountered one himself, he had long been intrigued by them, especially knowing that they were a matriarchal society.
And yet…
“Negotiate their complete submission or destroy them… What is the capital thinking?”
That was the secret order given to Zikr just before his departure.
Lupghana’s true objective was to either pacify or eliminate the Shudrak. Seeking confirmation, Zikr had questioned the order, but the capital had not changed it, leaving him no choice but to comply.
Still, he had heard rumors of unrest in Lupghana, and he suspected that this deployment was somehow connected to it. The secrecy surrounding his orders—to be kept hidden from his subordinates—only reinforced his suspicions.
Zikr could not even begin to guess what His Imperial Highness was thinking.
“Not that anyone can tell what he is thinking.”
Vincent Volakia, the seventy-seventh emperor of the Holy Volakian Empire.
The man who sat atop the empire, known as the most cunning mind of his generation, was said to oversee the entire nation from the crystal palace in Lupghana.
The empire thrived under a brutal principle: The strong devoured the weak, climbing ever higher in their greed. Across the land, uprisings and tribal conflicts were commonplace, and the sparks of revolution were ignited daily. Yet Vincent quashed every problem before it could flare into an uncontrollable inferno.
In the eight years of his reign, Volakia had experienced an unprecedented level of stability. Blood still flowed, flames still flickered, and lives were still lost—but compared to the past, this was an era of relative peace.
That was why this drastic approach toward the Shudrak puzzled Zikr.
Despite being a child of war, the emperor had avoided conflict whenever possible. Though Zikr had no proof, he believed it wasn’t because Vincent feared war, but because he saw it as meaningless.
Perhaps the reason Zikr felt uneasy was that this mission seemed to betray that belief.
“—No, that’s not it at all, sir. I can understand where you’re coming from. Even a simple grunt like me has his own thoughts on the matter.”
A low-ranking soldier had been listening to him with a friendly smile.
It was a random evening in Guaral, the walled city serving as headquarters for this deployment.
On nights when he couldn’t spend time with women, Zikr enjoyed drinking with his subordinates. He particularly preferred the company of enlisted men like this one over the general staff and officers in his retinue.
Of course, most soldiers would rather not drink with their superiors, but Zikr had his reasons. This informal ritual—repeated every deployment—helped him understand his men’s thoughts and personalities.
—However, tonight he had likely spoken too much.
This particular soldier was an exceptional conversationalist, naturally talkative. Even as he drank, he kept scanning his surroundings with a curious gaze. When Zikr had asked him what he was thinking, the man had joked about what would happen if the bar were suddenly attacked.
His constant readiness for battle, his lack of hesitation in speaking with a superior—Zikr admired these traits as the embodiment of the Imperial Way. Combined with his natural charisma, they had loosened Zikr’s tongue more than usual.
While he hadn’t explicitly disclosed the secret order regarding the Shudrak, it felt as though the soldier had skillfully led the conversation to uncover much of it indirectly.
Had this man been a spy for another country, Zikr’s blunder would have warranted the death penalty. But…
“You don’t have to worry about me, sir. I’m heading to the front lines tomorrow on your orders… I’m sure the higher-ups have their reasons, but that’s none of my business.”
As the buzz faded and Zikr regained his senses, the soldier reassured him.
And just as he had said, the next day, the man was sent to the forward camp—right on the edge of the jungle.
After confirming this, Zikr once again faced the bitter taste in his mouth.
The empire’s unyielding stance against the Shudrak, Lupghana’s ultimatum of submission or death—if possible, he hoped to persuade both sides.
That was Zikr’s hope—and a sign of his near-religious faith in the emperor.
However…
“The camp was burned down in a Shudrak attack?”
Zikr was stunned by the unexpected report he received at the city hall.
Until the night before, he had been formulating an accommodationist policy toward the Shudrak, hoping to win them over without bloodshed. But now the camp at the western edge of the Badheim Jungle had been attacked by multiple Shudrak warriors. The soldiers stationed there had been routed, suffering heavy casualties without managing to mount any counterattack.
“Absurd…”
He couldn’t tell whether he was referring to his own misjudgment, the Shudrak’s actions, or simply the harsh reality before him. Either way, his plans for negotiation had collapsed. The Shudrak nation had made itself an enemy of the imperial army—no, enemies of His Royal Highness himself.
“It is a shame, but we will await reinforcements from the capital and then crush the Badheim rebels.”
That was the decision Zikr made after taking in the surviving soldiers and reorganizing his expedition. He could have chosen to immediately march into the jungle and retaliate, but that would have been suicide. The jungle was the Shudrak’s domain, and any minor numerical advantage the imperial army had would be meaningless there.
A decisive victory would require not just a slight edge in numbers, but overwhelming superiority.
“Foolish though they may be, they have rejected the hand of peace. In response, we must deliver the iron fist of His Imperial Highness.”
With this self-admonition, the last traces of kindness vanished from Zikr Osman, the skirt chaser. Even if the Shudrak were a matriarchal society, he would wipe out every last one of them to ensure that the empire never again had to concern itself with such rebels.
For that purpose…
“Secure the gates. The Shudrak are skilled with bows, but they cannot overcome the city walls. Do not leave them any openings to break through.”
After questioning the returning soldiers and analyzing the attack on the camp—apparently carried out by a small, elite force—Zikr decided on a purely defensive strategy.
From what was known about the Shudrak, they likely lacked large numbers. To stand against the imperial army, they would have to rely on tactics such as night raids, exploiting any opportunity to inflict disproportionate losses.
But such tactics only worked against an opponent that let its guard down.
“Seal every opening! The city walls are not solid cliff faces. Given the Shudrak’s long history in this region, it is entirely possible they have ways to breach the city without using the main gate. Do not overlook any hidden passages!”
“A report on that, sir. A unit of surviving soldiers from the burned camp is already searching for and securing any back passages in preparation for an attack.”
“I see. It is reassuring to have soldiers in the rank and file who can anticipate what lies ahead. Depending on how this unfolds, I may consider them for a promotion. However, for now…”
“Yes, sir. We will focus entirely on defense until reinforcements arrive.”
Acknowledging Zikr’s orders, the general third-class bowed deeply.
Most generals would have scoffed at such a passive strategy. In fact, Zikr had endured such ridicule in the past. But he had already suffered a stinging blow from the Shudrak, and he knew he would face some form of punishment upon his return to the capital.
With his back against the wall, there was no reason not to play the most optimal hand.
His subordinates understood this as well. That was why none of them criticized his decision.
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