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Chapter 226
The Duke’s Eldest Son Escaped to the Military

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The Duke’s Eldest son Escaped to the Military (224)

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72. The Great Forest (1)

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News reached the southern and eastern armies that Iron and the Godly Sword family head had returned with great difficulty. The morale of the Empire’s troops that had been at a high since the end of the war with the southern confederation fell rapidly; that was how shocking the news was.

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“It was really that difficult?”

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“Yeah. The news from the Mobile Field Army was brief, but it said that they returned looking really wretched.”

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As the southern command’s soldiers whispered among themselves, a commissioned officer passed by, causing them to fall silent. But the officers themselves did not reprimand them for speaking. No one knew how it spread, but most of the southern command army now knew that Iron and the Godly Sword family head had come back looking beat down and put upon. The same had happened in the eastern command army as well.

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The problem was that even the other-worlders and the adventurers had gotten word of it too.

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“Is the Great Forest really dangerous?”

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“If two of the three strongest people on the continent entered and returned looking like drenched beggars then of course it is.”

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It was Iron and the Godly Sword family head, not some random person. If even the two of them had a hard time in the Great Forest, then it was easy to see just how dangerous the place was. Because of that, the two of them did not hide what they had seen in the Great Forest, even though it could affect the soldiers’ morale.

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Eventually, the commanders of each army shared what the video clip Iron had sent with all the citizens of the Empire.

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“Huh…… it’s not even possible to see the front of your nose in that fog.”

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“Will a surprise operation be difficult to carry out?”

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They watched and admired how Terrion swung his sword by instinct to cut down all the creatures surrounding them in the thick darkness, and how Iron’s divine beasts dispersed the darkness.

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“As expected of the Godly Sword family head.”

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“The hero’s divine beasts are as excellent as I’d heard.”

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It was wondrous to see how the two of them moved forward with overwhelming power despite how difficult the situation was. The dark fog was cleared for a short while by Iron, creating a path in front of them.

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It was only for a very short time, but it was captured clearly on the video.

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“That…….”

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“What……”

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“What’s going on?”

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All those who saw what appeared once the dark fog was lifted began to panic.

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The gigantic figure they had seen in the video was a great tree, the shape that the fallen god had taken in order to dominate the Great Forest.

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“World…… tree?”

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Someone spat out the name that crossed his mind. But no one blamed him for that, as the tree was that large and was also emitting fallen purple mana.

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“That…… that is the fallen god?”

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“Has the World Tree become corrupted?”

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Everyone muttered, their eyes shocked, as they looked at the heinous image of the tree. All kinds of carcasses hung from the tree, and it was surrounded by fallen demons. On top of that, trees with bizarre expressions on them were walking around.

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“Are those…… corrupted Ents?” [1]

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“There are even creatures that have evolved into demons there.”

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The Ents had been completely corrupted by the evil spirits. The poor creatures had been possessed, unlike the Trents that had accepted the corrupt qi of their own volition. It was impossible for most demons to possess an Ent, as Ents were the spirit of nature itself. But these demons did it. And it was one or a dozen, but thousands. [2]

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And now, such powerful demons were flocking around the huge tree.

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As everyone was appalled and discussing the giant tree, Iron and Terrion in the video began parrying the attacks that came at them from all sides and retreating hastily.

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“......”

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Everyone was silent. The picture of a great number of creatures rushing at the two, and them depending on one beam of light to break through was marvelous. That scene was good enough evidence to show that Iron and the Godly Sword family head were two of the strongest on the continent. Because it was them two, they were able to survive, even though they had returned in a poor state. Other masters would have died there.

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The central officials who were watching the video felt a sense of crisis.

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“We will unanimously approve the support plan for the Great Forest and the northeast.”

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Chairman Chevera had beaten Marquis Maldani and Marquis Varesy, both of whom had long histories in the central government, to become the new chairman. Now, he knocked the gavel on the table to pass the support plan.

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It was a rare sight to see in a parliament where the nobles and the revolutionaries were always fighting each other; that showed how important signing the plan was. Both the video of the Great Forest and the footage of the frost giants sent from the northeast were that shocking. Even when hit and injured by mana cannons, the frost giants continued to walk forward slowly; an astonishing sight to behold. The giants were even using cold qi.

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Watching the footage, the central officials realised that the stories of the mythological era had not been exaggerated. In the past, humans sacrificed themselves countless times to fight the frost giants.

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“The central army will support the troops at the Great Forest, and the western command army will go to support the north, leaving the minimum number of troops required to protect the border. We will also provide as much supplies as possible to the forces at the northeast and the Great Forest. Please review the support measures and funds for this in detail.”

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Chevera said before putting the next agenda forward.

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The next item on the agenda concerns the prisoners from the southern confederation. With the Empire currently in crisis, there have been proposals to put them on the battlefield for them to pay for their crimes. The length of time they will serve in the military will be determined by the sentencing given by the court. Raise your hand if you agree with this.

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Upon hearing Chairman Chevera’s words, the members of the parliament began to talk with people who were of the same opinion as them. Unlike the unanimous approval of the support plan for the Great Forest and the northeast, this issue was discussed numerous times, in the midst of political dispute.

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However, this situation was special because it progressed in a different direction than the other quarrels between the nobles’ faction and the revolutionaries. Both the nobles and the revolutionaries agreed on the issue of pardoning them, but their opinions diverged on how the leaders should be handled.

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The Neutralists argued that only the masters and other high-level leaders should be pardoned, but their voices were buried under the counter-argument that it would breed inequality. They continued to fiercely attack the opposing camps with their arguments, the session dragging on for much longer.

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“Hoo......”

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Chevera slammed the gavel on the sound block as he watched sharply divided parliament.

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Bang! Bang! Bang!

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Everyone looked at Baron Chevera at the loud sound.

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“The Empire is facing a crisis right now. Therefore, in my authority as chairman, I propose a plan of arbitration.”

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As he spoke, Baron Chevera showed the arbitration plan he had in mind on the screen.

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All of the troops of the southern confederation, including the masters and the six other-worlders would be pardoned and enlisted into the army.

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Those in favour of the chairman’s decision cheered in unison. In fact, even those in opposition knew that such a decision was inevitable. When the war with the southern confederation had just ended, they had the upper hand. But with the threat of the Great Forest even more than they had imagined, all hands were needed on deck in the battle. However, as this chairman had said that this was an arbitration plan, he also made a proposal that would satisfy the opposition.

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2. Leaders of the southern confederation that were not soldiers would not be granted amnesty.

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3. Those who were directly involved in the descent of the fallen god would be punished by death regardless of their status.

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4. Those who #2 and #3 applied to were not granted leave to use the bailing system.

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5. The southern confederate soldiers joining the army would be divided across the different (command) armies.

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6. Forced enlistees are subject to grave punishment if they commit a crime.

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Except for the first proposal, the opposition concurred with the arbitration plan. Despite that, the pro members of the parliament were satisfied, as they had gotten the most important thing. The opposition party was disappointed, but because there was no way around it, they agreed.

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Eventually, everyone agreed with Chevera’s plan.

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“Let’s swiftly tackle the remaining items on the agenda.”

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Chevera said, and then went on to state the other items. They were all concerning the north and the south. In the case that the war was prolonged, it was better to have bases in the north and south where strategic materials and necessary supplies could be quickly produced, rather than transporting them from the Centre. The discussion that ensued was focused on such decisions.

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As expected, those proposals were passed very quickly. Those who would have opposed such proposals even in the midst of the Empire’s current crisis had long been purged from the parliament. Even though they had differences in opinion, everyone moved with one mind to counter the threats the Empire was facing. Of course, there were some who tried to make small gains during the process, but no one did anything that was against the plan.

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The moment the decision from the Centre was made, Iron who was in the south waiting for the news smiled.

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“That was faster than I thought.”

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Faulden and the other commanding officers nodded slightly at Iron’s words. When important issues were on the table, it took the parliament more time to deliberate compared to when there was still a monarchy. But detailed issues were decided on much faster. This was only possible because of the large number of smart officials the Centre had selected regardless of status.

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“That’s great.”

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Iron received a report from Karl who had summarised the Centre’s decisions. The first thing was that huge military supplies would be transported from the Capital to the southern command and the headquarters of the Mobile Field Army. Right below that was written a plan for the establishment of a large-scale factory where munitions would be processed and assembled. In addition, the main forces of the central army that used to support the western command army would join the southern army instead. It was also stated that the forces that formerly made up the southern confederation’s army would be redistributed to the different armies.

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Eastern Army - Kim Jungtae

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Southern Army - Hikardu

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Mobile Field Army - Master Muradin, Rovanov

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Central Army - Jaime

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Contrary to expectations that two masters would be sent to them, two masters from the southern confederation were sent to the northeast. It was the decision of the centre’s strategist that the two masters become the core of the war against the frost giants. Iron had no complaints against the decision, as four out of the six other-worlders had been sent to them instead.

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They had the southern army maintaining the frontlines, the main fleet of the eastern army gathered at the basin of the Titica river that crossed the Great Forest, and the central army that was on its way to support them. Four of the seven armies of the Empire had united. In addition, the main families of the south, including the Godly Sword family, had also joined, putting them far ahead of the Northern Great War in scale.

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“Since I have been given so much help, I can’t dawdle, can I?”

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Iron said as he looked at his commanding officers.

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“Mobile Field Army, all soldiers assemble.”

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“Yes, sir!”

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At his command, all the troops of the Mobile Field army that had been scattered around to carry out various duties gathered. Iron had decided to move first, because their opponent would only get stronger if he took his sweet time preparing.

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With the strongest air force in the Empire, the Mobile Field Army took to the air and entered the Great Forest. Right after them, the southern army began to push forward.

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“We are going to burn the entire forest!”

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Iron ordered coldly as he looked at the forest. Then bombs began to fall in unison from hundreds of airships.

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As thousands of bombs imprinted with flame magic fell and burnt the dense forest, some people had regretful looks on their faces. But as soon as they saw the bizarre creatures that were hidden in the forest, that thought was immediately blown away.

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“Kkieeeek!”

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“Kkiaaaa!”

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The demons and bizarre-looking creatures shrieked, uttering terrible screams as their bodies burnt. As numerous monsters screamed in the flames, Iron offered them solace by giving them a quick death.

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Seeing this, some thought that if they continued forward in this way, they could easily occupy the Great Forest. But their thoughts changed soon after.

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“That war begins now.”

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As Iron said that, he looked at the enemy that flocked from the front, like a black swarm.

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Notes:

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[1] Ents: 엔트, a race of creatures found on Middle-earth (Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion).

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[2] Trents: 트렌트; another type of wood creature.

The Duke’s Eldest Son Escaped to the Military