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Esdeath's voice carried loud and clear.
When the soldiers heard their next mission, a wave of unease rippled through the camp.
After all, they'd been fighting on the borders for the Empire for as long as they could remember. Rumors even said their general, Esdeath, was on friendly terms with Minister Honest behind the scenes.
So who would've guessed that right after crushing the northern tribes, instead of marching back to the capital for their reward, their new mission was… to execute Minister Honest himself?
Confusion and shock spread quickly.
But it didn't last long.
Because as far as these soldiers were concerned, if Esdeath gave the order, they'd carry it out—no matter what it was.
And once the surprise faded, most of them weren't worried at all. They were fired up.
Many of Esdeath's troops came from humble roots—commoners, even beggars. Fighting under her banner meant full bellies and warm clothes, and she treated them with a rare kind of fairness.
Whenever the emperor rewarded her victories, she shared those spoils with her men. And if a soldier fell in battle, Esdeath made sure their family received enough compensation to live the rest of their lives in comfort.
In times like these, such treatment forged absolute loyalty. Her soldiers were more than just troops. They were willing to be her diehards.
So after a brief hush, weapons slammed against shields, and the men roared Esdeath's name into the snowy sky.
As for Minister Honest—he'd had it coming for a long time.
Even the child emperor meant nothing to them. And none feared clashing with other Imperial armies. As long as General Esdeath was with them, they'd never lose.
In the blizzard, the army's cries thundered across the frozen plains, unstoppable and fierce.
"An hour to pack your gear," Esdeath declared. "Then we march on the capital at double time."
With that, she turned back into her tent.
Her gaze settled on Rosen. "I said it the way you asked. What comes next will be a grand battle. If I move against Honest, General Budo will come for me. His standing in the army is no weaker than mine. A lot of people are going to die."
Her tone was calm, not regretful—just stating facts.
Killing Honest might rally the troops, but it also meant civil war: soldiers killing their own countrymen. If there were another way, Esdeath wouldn't choose this.
"Trying to make me feel guilty?" Rosen asked with a small smile. "Revolutions are written in blood, Miss Esdeath. Just keep the promises you made us. My companions and I will handle the rest."
Esdeath sighed. "I don't know what you've been through."
"Nothing special," he replied easily. "I just see things clearly. I know exactly what I have to do."
His eyes carried no confusion, no guilt. Compared to her sigh, Rosen's composure was unsettlingly normal.
"One more thing," Esdeath said after a pause. "Why did you tell the soldiers our fight was a draw?"
"You're already their war goddess, unbeatable in their eyes," Rosen said. "Even Budo, who's your equal, can't take that place from you. If they heard you actually lost to someone like me—an unknown nobody—their morale would crack. And the last thing you need right now is division.
"Keep that story between the guild members. Nowhere else."
He chuckled as he finished.
"You're a strange one," Esdeath muttered, exhaling a long breath. "But a loss is still a loss. If you won't take credit, I'll repay you another way."
"No need," Rosen waved it off. "We're guildmates. Don't make it weird."
"I don't break my word," she cut in coldly. "If you refuse, it's the same as insulting me. And if that's the case, I won't cooperate with you in what comes next."
Her tone was icy and unyielding. And knowing her nature, Rosen understood she meant every word.
"…Fine," he relented. "Repay me however you like."
He didn't press the matter further, instead glancing at the Tree of Life's reaction. Earlier it had been quiet, but now it stirred. That meant Esdeath had met the conditions to become his contracted partner.
Still, there was no rush. He could deal with that once the capital's chaos was behind them.
Though he couldn't help but wonder: Esdeath was already this strong. What would contracting with her add on top?
...
Guild Chat
[I Don't Wanna Eat Monsters]: "Lord Rosen looked so damn cool just now. To stay that sharp in a moment like that…"
[Blizzard from Hell]: "Yeah, gave Esdeath plenty of face. If it were me, I doubt I could've thought to put it that way."
[Old Mage]: "That's just Rosen. Always more thoughtful than most. Same when he was teaching me how to drive."
[Shepherd]: "Don't remind me of that! You ditched me mid-ride, remember? We were going a hundred miles an hour! You know what that feels like from the passenger seat?!"
[Shut-in Angel]: "LMAO! That was our first time crossing worlds, right? Classic Old Biden move."
[Old Mage]: "Rosen, I believe in you. And if Shepherd's still mad, next time I'll pat your head to cheer you up."
[Shut-in Angel]: "No need to wait for next time. Let's go join them now!"
[Shut-in Angel]: "We're off! Dog-dog-dog, let's roll!"
[Blizzard from Hell]: "How many of us are heading over this time? I can't decide."
[I Don't Wanna Eat Monsters]: "…If I come along, I'll probably just drag everyone down."
[Saeko]: "If even you're saying that, then I—"
[Ice Witch]: "If you're worried about safety, I can send protection."
[I Don't Wanna Eat Monsters]: "You turning sweet all of a sudden… I'm not used to it."
[Shepherd]: "Don't sweat it. With your current strength, you can handle most Teigu users. Worst case, just stick close to me when we get there."
[Saeko]: "Understood, Lord Rosen."
[I Don't Wanna Eat Monsters]: "Okay, but I should tell Farin first!"
[Shut-in Angel]: "@Blizzard from Hell—stop overthinking and just come party with us!"
"..."
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