Two months later.

“I am Dominic Smith, the chief firearms artisan of the Anchester Kingdom.”
“Oh, we look forward to working with you.”

Dominic temporarily joined the Empire to assist with the mass production of matchlock muskets.

“Have you ever tried carving grooves inside the barrel?”
“Rifling does improve the accuracy of bullets, but it also requires the bullet to fit tightly, making both the machining and loading process much more difficult.”
“With the Lorenz bullet, wouldn’t those drawbacks be mitigated?”
“…I’ll look into it.”

Since rifling the barrels was technically challenging, I left it as a topic to explore later.

“What do you think of attaching a blade to the front of the barrel?”
“Attaching a blade? What do you mean?”
“Although the rear section with the mechanism is heavy, the front of the gun is sturdy. If we attach a blade to the muzzle, the firearm could function like a spear in close combat. It’s more efficient to carry only a dagger as a sidearm rather than additional weapons.”
“A blade at the end of a gun… Haha.”

I proposed preparing bayonets to significantly improve the close-combat capabilities of infantry. Since tactics involving firearms weren’t yet fully established, even this much would grant an overwhelming advantage.

“First line, prepare to fire!”

Click.

“Fire!”

Bang!

“First line, fall back! Second line, prepare to fire!”

The Red Dragon Legion, equipped with firearms, began formal training in formations, volley fire, reloading drills, and bayonet attachment. Since the Empire and Brotan Kingdom both produced saltpeter, we didn’t need to worry about running out of gunpowder.

Taking into account the training progress of the Red Dragon Legion and the scheduled delivery of additional firearms, I planned the Western campaign to begin three months later. Until then, the Legion would undergo thorough training to ensure combat readiness.

“Commander! General Victor!”

However, during the intensive training of the Red Dragon Legion—

“There’s news from the Kingdom of Rus! Pavel Andreyev led a coup and has declared himself king!”

A messenger brought urgent news to me.

“General Josef Steiner has used the coup as a pretext to advance his forces. He has surrounded Zhavinsk!”
“…”

The shocking report revealed that the generals remaining in the Kingdom of Rus had made a critical misstep.

“I thought the truce was nearing its end, but I didn’t expect it wouldn’t even last until the deadline.”

Anna, standing beside me, remarked calmly upon hearing the news.

And I sank into deep thought.

---

Zhavinsk fell shortly after, and with its capital seized, the Kingdom of Rus officially surrendered.

It took Josef less than a month to mobilize his army and force the Kingdom of Rus to capitulate.

Luise decided to fully annex the Kingdom of Rus.

“What should I do with your homeland? If you have any requests, I am willing to consider them.”
“No. Please proceed as you see fit, Your Majesty.”

Before making her decision, Luise sought my opinion, but I simply told her to do as she wished. She sent me away with a slightly displeased expression.

“Josef Steiner, I appoint you as Governor of the Northern Territories. Show the people who suffered under the Kingdom of Rus’s tyranny the mercy and generosity of the Dragonia Empire.”

During the subsequent reward ceremony, Josef, who had returned triumphantly to the capital, was tasked with overseeing the territories of the Kingdom of Rus.

Since the territory offered little in terms of resources or manpower, Luise, who had retained most of the territories on the Brotan front as crown land, distributed northern lands among those who distinguished themselves in the northern war.

“…”

Standing silently behind Gerhardt, I watched as the lands of the Kingdom of Rus were dismantled one by one under Luise’s declaration.

My thoughts were a tangled mess.

I hadn’t expected to feel much—after all, I had spent months in the Dragonia Empire and had few meaningful memories tied to Kingdom of Rus. Yet seeing the Kingdom of Rus erased from the map left me with a strange feeling.

Perhaps my conflicted emotions showed on my face.

“You seem tired, General. Perhaps you should rest a little earlier tonight?”

On the way back to the camp, Anna spoke to me.

“I’m fine. I won’t work too late, so there’s no need to worry.”
“…Yes, General.”

Even after my reassurances, the concern in Anna’s expression didn’t fade.

Was I still holding on to some lingering attachment to Kingdom of Rus?

Having lived there for so long, it wouldn’t be surprising if some sort of familiarity or even reluctant affection had developed.

But if others could notice my turmoil, I couldn’t let it fester.

Determined to rid myself of the last vestiges of regret, I headed toward the prison holding the prisoners of the Kingdom of Rus.

---

Pavel and Yuri, captured during the siege of Zhavinsk, were transported to Lainessburg.

Unlike Antoine of the Brotan Kingdom and the hostages, who were at least outwardly treated with respect, these two were imprisoned as an example, following Luise’s decision to fully annex the Kingdom of Rus.

“…So, this is the result of decisive action? Trapped in a damp prison, eating nothing but hard bread?”

Pavel tore into the rationed bread, grumbling at Yuri, who was confined with him.

“I told you to send a letter to the Empire immediately! If you hadn’t wasted time hosting banquets to celebrate—”
“And didn’t you agree back then? Said it would help ease tensions, if I recall correctly?”
“This mess happened because you failed to negotiate properly with the Empire! Now you’re blaming me for it?”

Yuri raised his voice in response, their argument echoing through the prison.

As they furiously debated who was to blame—

Creak.

“…!”

The sound of the prison door opening made them fall silent instinctively.

“…Who could that…”
“…”

Hearing the voice of the jailer conversing with someone, they sat upright, a flicker of hope lighting their expressions.

Moments later—

“This way.”
“Hmm, thank you.”

The door to their cell opened, revealing a man in a black Imperial officer’s uniform.

Pavel squinted in the dim light of the cell, and recognition dawned on his face.

“…Victor?”

Even in the faint glow, he could make out the man’s features.

“Victor, is it? That—”

Yuri, face reddening with anger, nearly lunged at Victor but stopped himself, noticing the jailer watching from beyond the bars.

“A proper Imperial officer now, are you? Did you come here just to mock us?”

Pavel sneered at the Imperial insignia emblazoned on Victor’s uniform.

“Hmm… You could say that.”

Victor nodded slightly, a faint smile on his lips.

“Ha! A man who betrayed his country has the gall to mock us? Do commoners have no loyalty to their nation? Then again, I suppose that’s why they’re commoners.”
“Typical of commoners—ungrateful by nature. So, when will you betray the Empire?”

They could have begged for better treatment, but flattery toward Victor, someone they had always disliked, was beneath their pride. Instead, they united in their scorn, using it as their final shield of dignity.

In the face of their insults, Victor’s expression darkened.

“…Hmm.”

He fixed his gaze on Yuri.

“Do you see me as a traitor?”
“Of course! You handed over all our forces to the Empire! If that’s not betrayal, then what is?”

Pavel, sensing something ominous, chose to remain silent, but Yuri pressed on.

“Ha! Even I think so,” Victor said, surprising Yuri by agreeing.

“Which makes you traitors as well, doesn’t it?”

Victor’s lips curled into a sly grin.

“What?”
“Not a single noble refused the proposal to sell me out. Surely you’re not unaware of what I did for Kingdom of Rus, are you?”
“That…”
“Do you really not understand what it meant to hand me over to the Empire for a one-year truce? Or did you pretend not to understand?”

Victor leaned forward, locking eyes with Yuri.

“Were you trying to flee? Gathering your wealth and running away, just like Nikolai?”
“…”

Victor’s tone was mocking as he confronted Yuri, but then, as if flipping a switch, his face hardened.

“Well, it doesn’t matter. If nothing else, your actions gave me clarity.”

Yuri felt a chill run up his arms as he watched Victor’s expression shift so rapidly.

“I will become a hero. There are those who want me to, so why not oblige? I’ll unite this continent and bring peace to these turbulent times. It’s paradoxical to call it a war for peace, but isn’t that the best way to describe our current reality?”
“…You’re mad.”

Pavel muttered under his breath, prompting Victor to tilt his head slightly toward him.

“‘Mad,’ you say? Perhaps. But looking at you—those who betrayed me for their own ambitions and brought ruin upon their own country—you seem far more insane.”
“That’s—”
“No need to explain. I already know. It’s always the same excuses—things didn’t go as planned, or unforeseen circumstances, isn’t it?”

Victor raised a hand, silencing Pavel before he could continue.

“But for what it’s worth, I should thank you. If I had stayed in Kingdom of Rus, I’d still be trapped in the northern wastelands, suffocating under your interference.”

Leaving those words, Victor turned away, his expression lighter as though he had finally let go of a burden.

“Thanks to you, I can now discard any lingering regrets. As repayment, I’ll speak to Her Majesty to ensure your end is quick and painless.”
“…What?”
“Wait, what does that—”

Thud.

Victor left the cell with lighter steps than when he had entered, and the prison door slammed shut behind him.

Pavel and Yuri exchanged glances, realization dawning on them.

“You just had to provoke him, didn’t you? Satisfied now?”
“…Must you always put the blame on me?”

As always, they resumed their bickering, this time trying to drown out the oppressive cold and dampness of their cell.