The last time we had enough time for a proper conversation was on the day we arrived at the camp. 

After spending a night at the camp, we boarded the carriage early in the morning.

“How long until we arrive?”  
“It’ll take a few more days!”  
“Ugh... We need to go faster!”

For the past several days, we had been traveling nearly without rest.

We ate while on the move, and our sleeping time was incredibly short. It felt like they were trying to save every moment of rest, as we continued moving even after sunset, traveling until the path ahead became completely invisible.

To keep up the pace, instead of an ordinary infantry escort, a group of light-armored cavalry surrounded the carriage, protecting us as we moved. They even switched out the horses whenever they got tired, allowing us to press forward without stopping.

All of this urgency stemmed from a single letter delivered by a messenger.

Erika read the letter and, as if someone were chasing us from behind, hastened the entire group. The contents weren’t confidential—she even showed the letter to the skeptical soldiers and coachman, and they reacted in much the same way.

Our destination was Nordenberg. 

Traveling from Zabinsk, the camp we set out from, to Nordenberg, a city at the northernmost point of the Empire, would normally take over a week.

However, thanks to the constant switching of horses and Erika’s relentless urging, we managed to arrive in Nordenberg in just four days. The bumpy ride, which even the craftsmanship of the expensive carriage couldn’t fully suppress, left a noticeable ache in my lower back by the time we got there.

Since Nordenberg was under Joseph Steiner’s jurisdiction, I expected Paul to handle things once we arrived. Considering this was one of the regions where the Noble Faction held the most power, I thought Paul’s influence as a senior noble might even surpass the emperor’s authority here.

“Who are you? Get off the carriage and identify yourselves!”

When the guards at the city gates blocked our path, Erika used an unexpectedly simple method to resolve the situation.

She merely leaned out of the carriage window and called out:

“We are on a mission from His Majesty, the Emperor!”

“Oh, I apologize. Open the gates!”

Her words had an immediate effect.

No one doubted her claim, likely because the imperial crest was emblazoned on the carriage. The mere mention of the emperor’s orders was enough to swiftly persuade them, saving us from the need for any lengthy explanations.

Just like that, we entered Nordenberg’s fortress with ease.

“We’re almost there. They’ve prepared the Phlegethon, so we can head straight to the capital,” Erika said.

I remained silent.

Perhaps due to the conversation we had that night, Erika had been speaking more casually to me ever since. Even when I didn’t respond, she seemed to understand, nodding as if everything made sense. I suppose the late-night talk was worth it.

But the Phlegethon, huh?

Phlegethon is one of the Empire’s unique buildings in the game. It was said to be a legacy left behind by the Red Dragon Vulcanus, who aided in the founding of the Dragonia Empire. The building allowed a small group of people to be transported quickly to any location where a Phlegethon had been constructed.

In most turn-based strategy games, a general can move quickly without troops, but in *The Great War*, even generals had to spend several turns depending on the distance. The Phlegethon system was designed to help the vast Dragonia Empire, which had a large territory and many places to defend, manage its forces more effectively.

The Phlegethon acted like a temporary teleportation portal that connected the imperial palace with certain cities. However, it was often disregarded by gamers, unless for entertainment purposes or gimmicky playthroughs.

The reason was simple: the conditions for using it were dreadful.

Building it alone required an immense amount of resources, enough to keep an elite legion working for a long time. On top of that, activating it consumed a vast amount of wealth and the services of ten wizards, who would be unable to use magic for a significant period afterward.

After using the portal, the wealth used to activate it would disappear, and the ten wizards would need costly repairs to restore their strength.

And what did you get in return?

Only two or three generals could be transported.

No troops could be moved with them, so players preferred to use free tricks like firing and rehiring generals instead of constructing a Phlegethon.

“Hmph…”

A sigh escaped my lips.

It’s true we needed to get to the capital quickly. The letter Erika received likely contained orders to hasten the journey, and it was in my interest to meet Louise before her attention shifted elsewhere.

Still, I couldn’t help but regret the immense amount of resources wasted on this. I knew from the game that the Dragonia Empire’s AI was oddly fond of using the Phlegethon, but seeing it in action made me wonder if it was historical accuracy after all. Maybe the emperor was so obsessed with gathering talent that she built the Phlegethon just to bring me faster.

While it was a shame to think about how many more troops could have been hired with that money, the best course of action now was to make good use of what had already been built.

“We’re here. Do you see that large building over there?”

Following Erika’s pointing finger, I saw a stone fortress-like structure ahead.

In the game, it had been depicted with a simple icon, so it hadn’t left much of an impression. But seeing it in person, I had to admit it looked rather impressive. Not enough to stop regretting the wasted resources, though.

“I’ve heard about it, but this will be my first time actually using it!”  
“Apparently, this particular Phlegethon has never been used before.”  
“Really?”

I wasn’t surprised. Not only was it outrageously expensive, but using it also rendered some of the nation’s most powerful magical weapons, the wizards, ineffective for a while. Only the emperor herself could have authorized such a reckless use of resources.

“It seems His Majesty was quite eager to see the results of your negotiations,” Erika remarked.

“Hmph.”

Her words, though phrased politely, showed how much expectation the emperor had placed on me.

That expectation was a double-edged sword.

In the game, there was an event called “Disappointment,” tied to the “Emperor’s Recruitment” system. If a recruited individual performed poorly, the emperor would punish them. Usually, it was something relatively mild like a salary reduction or confiscation of equipment, which made it a good event for taking resources from unworthy recruits. 

But occasionally, when the disappointment was severe, the emperor might outright execute the individual.

In reality, this meant that the higher the expectation, the greater the potential for disappointment. And if I didn’t meet those expectations, I could very well lose my head.

The pressure was certainly building. The emperor’s expectation was indeed a double-edged sword. If I exceeded it, I’d rise in her favor. If not, I might be cut down quickly.

“...Why do you seem so tense?”

I shot Erika a pleading glance. I was prepared for what lay ahead, but having her assistance would make things much smoother.

*Creak…*

The carriage came to a stop at the entrance to Phlegethon, and the doors were opened from within. Inside, wizards, holding their staffs, were waiting for us.

“Let’s go!”

We disembarked from the carriage and entered the building.

The outside walls seemed like little more than defensive structures. Despite the building’s large size, the only significant room inside was a small chamber about five pyeong in size (around 16.5 square meters).

“General Paul Richter, Lady Erika Baumann, and Viktor. Just three of you, correct?”  
“Yes.”

The lead wizard verbally confirmed our identities and then gave a brief explanation of how to pass through the dimensional portal.

The portal would remain open for only a very short time, so we would have to move without hesitation when instructed.

Once the explanation was over, the lead wizard and the other wizards entered the chamber in the center of the room. After they had all taken their positions, we followed them inside.

“Oh…”

I hadn’t expected much, but the interior was incredibly lavish.

“Wow... Is this…”

From the walls to the frame of the dimensional portal in the center, everything shimmered with various colors, all made of gemstones. Each gem was enormous, and I had no doubt that constructing this single room had consumed most of the building’s budget.

“I’m opening the portal now! You must pass through immediately! Your destination is the Imperial Palace!”

The lead wizard's voice was urgent, and the tension in the crowded, small room grew palpable.

“When I count to three, run! One, two… three!”

As soon as he said “three,” we dashed into the portal.

The instant I felt something red pass over me, the scenery around us abruptly changed without any warning.

We had arrived in another gemstone-filled room, though this one was at least four times larger than the last.

“Eek!”  
“...Watch your step.”

I heard both Erika and Paul’s voices, which meant that everyone had made it through safely.

Moments later, the door ahead opened.

“We’ve been expecting you.”

Beyond the door, a dozen or so attendants, likely servants of the imperial palace, were waiting for us.

---

In the Dragonia Empire’s royal palace, a resting chamber had been prepared for the emperor.

Louise Zainburg, seated lazily in a chair, awaited news when one of her attendants approached her.

“Your Majesty, Lady Erika Baumann and her companions have arrived.”  
“Is that so?”

Louise’s

 eyes gleamed with anticipation as she rose from her seat. The sudden reaction startled the attendant, who found herself locking eyes with the emperor.

“Move Viktor and Paul to the guest rooms. And as for Erika…”  
“Hngh…!”

The attendant, sensing an intense pressure radiating from Louise’s gaze, felt her legs buckle under the strain.

“I wish to see them immediately. Go, bring them here.”

“Y-yes, Your Majesty!”  

Feeling like prey before a predator, the attendant hurriedly left the room.

“Hmmm…”

Louise sat back in her chair, savoring the thrill in her chest. She waited, her eyes closed, keeping her power carefully in check as she eagerly anticipated Erika’s arrival.