Chapter 250: Without Any Cost (14)

The text wasn’t clearly legible. It was so faint it blended into the background, like a mirage. If I hadn’t been distracted by the strange tension between Karin and Isaac and blankly staring into space, I probably wouldn’t have noticed it.

What exactly is being evaluated?

I recalled the times when a scenario message had appeared before. The first was when Rubia raised me from the dead. The second was when I considered accepting Rena as a companion out of a sense of need.

[Conditions not met.]

[Scenario activation not possible.]

I’d seen this message once during that bizarre encounter with Gith-Za-Rai, when she kidnapped me out of a one-sided obsession. The same message had appeared, stating that the conditions hadn't been met.

So is this scenario automatically evaluated with every person I meet?

That couldn’t be. Since returning to the past, only a handful of encounters had triggered the scenario system. Therefore, someone or something was evaluating the importance or necessity of these people.

However, Isaac had been with me for a long time, and no such window had ever popped up.

Who is behind this? What kind of will is embedded in the scenario system or the status window?

After a moment’s thought, I decided to focus on what I could actually do. Finding Rubia wasn’t just because of the scenario message, after all.

"How arrogant..."

Isaac muttered with dry contempt.

If he was this rattled, it was paradoxically a sign of the woman’s capability. Unlike those who gave off the air of never having accomplished anything, this woman exuded conviction, a thorough, unshakable belief in her own destiny.

She had the kind of presence that made me feel like simply taking her hand would tie my fate to hers. Rather than some carefully staged performance, most people would probably call it charisma. Yet, that familiar hollowness found a way to settle in my chest.

Even if I helped in the war against the Empire, it wouldn’t matter. Once the Demon Kings descended, everything would be ground into paste anyway. I imagined this elegant woman now, face soaked in blood, hanging lifelessly in the air. In the end, she was just someone I could extract something from for now.

After receiving a brief update from Louis Claude, the black-haired woman continued, "I won’t ask for your identity or your reasons. If you wish for the annihilation of the Empire’s forces, then join us. We’ll support you with everything we have."

Karin was clear and direct. She must have gauged my mindset from what she’d observed thus far. There was no reason to hesitate.

"Fine. First, I want all the Lurium you have. Every last drop. How much is there?"

"The magical engineering liquid, yes? If we pool all our supplies, perhaps two vials’ worth."

Louis cut in sharply. "It’s just short of two vials."

"That’s it?"

I’d suspected as much from her earlier reactions, but hearing it aloud was still disappointing. Most of that was likely tied up in their elite forces already.

"Then never mind. Instead, if you recover any Lurium while capturing imperial cities, I want it. All of it."

"Of course."

"Heh... they agreed so quickly. Clearly, they have no idea what’s coming."

Isaac was right. If we pushed all the way to the capital and reached the royal vaults, two vials wouldn’t even scratch the surface. Even Naneow’s plan was only aimed at retrieving a portion of the Lurium hidden in the royal reserves.

Once we occupied the capital, we’d conduct a thorough search. Even if the Empire had smuggled some out or used up a portion, a massive amount would remain. This wasn’t about scraping together bits from augmented soldiers.

"And one more thing."

"Yes, go on."

"There’s a girl... I want you to take good care of her."

"A girl?"

Karin's expression shifted immediately. Of course, I couldn’t be sure whether Rubia could even be rescued from the tower, or what state she’d be in if I did. I had no idea what kind of treatment she might need.

Still, I wanted to prepare a plan for the aftermath. I didn’t know how the battle with Embermere would end, but if my intervention altered history and the Confederation won, then this woman would hold immense influence. Even if peace didn’t last, at the very least, Rubia could live comfortably in the human world for a while.

I didn’t want her to live in the shadows alongside me. If the Demon Kings descended, I could extract her again when the time came.

"Not a problem. Where is she now? I’ll bring her immediately."

Karin looked ready to rush off that very moment. However, even knowing Rubia's location wouldn’t help. No one could just stroll into that place.

"Not yet. I’ll introduce you when the time is right."

"No matter what happens, I swear on my honor that she’ll be protected."

Karin's tone held a subtle warmth that was different from before.

What exactly is going through her mind?

Suddenly, Isaac cut in abruptly.

"Is this some romantic novel now? Just say the most important part and finish already."

"What do you want me to ask for?"

"It’s..."

What he whispered next left me stunned.

Is he serious? What could I possibly hope to gain from that?

"Just do it. If you want to reach your goal in the shortest time possible, this is the best way."

I coughed. "

Ahem

."

"Please, go on. We’re prepared to meet any condition."

I casually scanned the strategic map on the table and answered, "Hand over full command of your army to me."

The first to react was Louis Claude. She turned to me with a shocked expression, one hand moving instinctively to her sword hilt. I could feel the chill in the air. If I so much as blinked wrong, that blade would fly.

"What are you saying?!" Louis exclaimed.

"May I ask you to explain a little more?" Karin calmly asked.

"You don’t even have the basics down. If the Empire weren’t incompetent, your forces would have already been wiped out."

Following Isaac’s commentary, I pointed out flaws in their camp layout and listed improvements. Since I lacked a background in military strategy, most of it didn’t mean much to me. However, to someone who’d spent two years as a commander, it clearly did.

Soon, the senator chimed in with questions. When I responded smoothly, her eyes lit up. Karin Krexar looked at me with admiration and respect.

"There are so many things I hadn’t thought of, and none of my staff members pointed them out either."

Still, is she really going to give me command?

Karin Krexar nodded easily, as if it were nothing out of the ordinary. "Very well."

Her lack of hesitation felt almost suspicious.

Had she anticipated this request?

Louis looked genuinely flustered. "Senator... are you serious?"

"Of course I am. I may not know tactics, but I do know how to recognize talent. Putting the right person in the right place is the essence of leadership, isn’t it?"

Karin smiled at me. It was the kind of smile that could make most people pledge their undying loyalty. For someone so full of confidence, she couldn’t even tell I wasn’t human.

"Then, by when do you need it?" Karin asked.

"By the time we strike the imperial capital."

"I’m not going to be fighting on the front lines, right?"

This wasn’t a joke. Even with the Masquerade skill, there was a hard limit.

Now I’m supposed to command troops without even showing my face?

"Obviously. She already understands that."

"How many units can you influence nearby?"

"Well... let’s see." Karin Krexar slowly traced the map. "The 31st regiment, and the 14th..."

***

After we wrapped up the details and left the command tent, I walked through the camp in stealth, surveying everything.

"What’s going through your head?"

"Can’t I have a little fun while I’m at it?"

"Fun?"

"Spells are my specialty, but tactics are my hobby. Let me show you the art of war."

"..."

This was my first time seeing the Confederation army. Until now, I’d only ever experienced the imperial side. The mechanical devices deployed throughout the camp caught my eye. Some were fascinating.

"How do senators even hold military command?"

"Because the military eats money. A ton of it. It’s a necessary evil that produces nothing. Whoever controls the budget can easily plant their people in the ranks. The Krexar family that the senator belongs to? They hold enormous influence over budget decisions. They’re basically the ones paying the officers. You could say that they've semi-privatized the army."

The command center had handed me the following unit list: 28 iron men, 4,000 infantry, 100 mechanized infantry, and 300 cavalry. In essence, the iron men were the backbone of the battle. The cavalry only served for scouting. Infantry existed to support the rest.

"What exactly are mechanized infantry?"

"They’re soldiers with mechanical augmentations built into their bodies, specifically power systems and control units."

"Why list them separately?"

"It’s because they’re too strong to be considered regular foot soldiers."

Isaac continued explaining. These weren’t just rich people who decided to swap out body parts. They were survivors of missions so dangerous, they crossed the line of death multiple times, even during peacetime. Their battle instincts and experience were in a completely different class from ordinary soldiers.

"The money is from the Kraxon family."

The cost of converting them into mechanized infantry was funded by the state, specifically, the Confederation’s budget committee. In other words, I looked at the figures emitting a faint, cold glow from various parts of their bodies.

Five of them stood loosely assembled in a wide clearing. Each had different body augmentations, likely replacements from battle damage. Some had iron plates for arms. Others had buzz saws instead of hands. Where bone and flesh should be, they wore sharp steel made to tear enemies apart.

They looked unfit for normal life, but I had a feeling their idea of normal was far from that of ordinary humans.

"So they’re the ones most loyal to Karin Krexar?"

Isaac shook his head.

"No. Only to the Krexar title. Don’t you remember the ones who tried to kill you? Those are the most dangerous ones. Of course, if the other family heirs were removed, they’d pledge loyalty to Karin..."

Then he sharply clicked his beak and added,

"But if you prove yourself, who knows?"

***

"There’s too much loot... We can’t even pick it all up!"

Standing atop a hill, I overlooked another hard-won victory. Behind the bloodstained mechanized infantry shouting at the top of their lungs, imperial prisoners of war were being dragged in, tied up with rope.

Perhaps because our side had suffered few casualties, the Confederation troops weren’t overly harsh toward the prisoners. Some even seemed to pity them, especially the imperials who hadn’t fought any real battles and were defeated like they were possessed by ghosts.

In any case, the captives were too valuable to abuse. Isaac had made it clear that they were potential goldmines of information.

"Hmm..."

Two months passed under Isaac’s command. Karin Krexar now held overwhelming influence over 4 divisions, 16 brigades, and 110,000 troops in imperial territory. Thanks to absurdly effective results, the senators were unwilling to appear incompetent before their staff, and they continued to rely on tactical advice.

The outcome was victory after victory across the entire front.

"Truly remarkable."

There was no denying it. The aftermath always took longer than the battle itself, since soldiers spent hours stripping corpses of loot. Karin used all her connections and power to secure as much Lurium as she could, as quickly as possible.

She was probably afraid I’d back out. Yet, the true architect of these victories, Isaac, wore a subdued expression.

"This is too easy... There’s barely any resistance."

"You sure that’s not just you being good at this?"

It wasn’t like we were catching soldiers completely off guard or forcing surrender without a fight. I’d seen many of them struggle fiercely, even knowing they couldn’t win. However, Isaac always created scenarios where they had no chance.

Still, he shook his head. "No. It feels like the enemy has been abandoned. Even when we interrogate their officers, it’s clear the top brass isn’t giving proper orders."

"Really?"

"It’s like they’re saying, if you think you can reach us, try it. What the hell is that emperor thinking?"

"Any word from Ember?"

"Doesn’t look like we can even get into that place right now."

Whatever’s happening elsewhere...

"We move forward."

Even at a relaxed pace, it would take just three more days for the Confederation’s 110,000 troops to reach the imperial capital. We were already more than halfway there. At this rate, rescuing Rubia felt like something within my grasp.

I calmed the excitement slowly bubbling up. After all, I was already two years too late.