Reader’S Regeneration Life [EN]: Chapter 356

356―――――

To the Battlefield of Justice!

“Not defensive support, but an attack?”

As soon as Marquis Volko returned from the royal palace, he was shocked by Zion’s announcement during a meeting. Zion stated that the Hispania Second Army would immediately adopt an offensive formation and advance towards Holy Prussen.

Furthermore, there would be no support from the Nudia army, and the northern warriors would also be heading south, leaving the Hispania Second Army to bear the brunt of the battle alone. Marquis Volko couldn’t hide his bewilderment.

“Sir Zion Claussen, I don’t understand. Our purpose was to help Nudia and stop Holy Prussen, wasn’t it?”

“If the Nudia side were helping, I might understand, but a solo attack with only our forces seems reckless. The enemies are Holy Prussen, who pushed the Nudia army this far, and there are also fairies involved, and above all, the Descendants of Light…”

“Doves.”

Zion interrupted a nobleman, his eyes and voice cold.

“They are neither Descendants of Light nor the Celestial Race. From now on, they are doves—nothing more, nothing less. Those who only chirp and preach about peace and goodwill. If those guys were truly Descendants of Light, then the light we believe in would have immediately judged them.”

At those words, the nobles exchanged glances before nodding. The Hispania soldiers were openly declaring that they would fight for their proud nation rather than for the doctrines of light or the Celestial Race.

To align with this sentiment, the commanders needed to downplay the Celestial Race rather than praising them.

“And you are wrong. We didn’t come to Nudia to help them endure. We are here to win, to triumph, to show those false ones what true light is, what justice is. Yes, we are the very ‘Agents’ they speak of.”

“Agents, you say?”

“Who else but us, who always talk about light and then suddenly change and stab you in the back, embodies light and justice? This is our holy war. It’s not something that will end with a defensive war against invasion. We will drive out those corrupted ones and plant the flag of victory on the land of Holy Prussen.”

Some might think that if we just help Nudia and engage in defensive warfare, the enemy will eventually tire and retreat. That’s how wars have been conducted until now, but this war is different. It has to be different. This is a fight that won’t end until either us or the enemy is completely destroyed.

“Vice Commander Zion Claussen.”

“Yes, Commander.”

“There must be a reason for making that decision. What is it? The reason you think this way.”

Marquis Volko demanded a proper explanation for himself and everyone gathered. As the commander-in-chief, he needed to understand why Zion was advocating for a shift in military authority from himself to Zion.

“The first reason is that the enemy’s forces have significantly decreased. It seems there’s some problem in their rear, which is why the Nudia army, which was gradually being pushed back, is now holding the defense line.”

“There’s also a possibility it’s an enemy trap.”

“Of course, but using tricks when there’s a defense line that can be breached immediately is a waste of time, manpower, and resources. Their goal is to quickly penetrate Nudia, push into Hispania, and judge us with their nonsense, that’s all.”

At the logical rebuttal, Marquis Volko nodded in agreement. Even he wouldn’t do something as foolish as pulling back troops while sacrificing others when a defense line could be breached immediately.

“The second reason: the enemy’s momentum has risen too high. If we don’t break it now, it will be difficult for us. And the best way to break the enemy’s momentum is not to block the offensive but to counterattack and inflict damage. It doesn’t have to be fatal. Anyone who has only been attacking is bound to be flustered when attacked in return.”

“Are you saying we should take back the momentum that has completely shifted to the enemy?”

“That’s right. If we drag this out, we will eventually be dominated by that momentum. If that happens, our casualties will continue to accumulate, and Nudia will be in even worse shape.”

Even in the midst of battle, the influence of momentum is enormous. Even if a well-fighting army suddenly faces a strong headwind, making it slightly difficult to push forward, or if it becomes slightly uncomfortable to open their eyes, the formation can collapse.

It is also common for soldiers on the verge of complete defeat to suddenly transform into heroes, shouting and breaking through enemy lines upon hearing news of an enemy commander’s death.

It didn’t need to be emphasized to those gathered how important it is to seize momentum in a ‘war’ with even greater significance.

“Thirdly, if we also focus on defense, the Nudia army will end up not being of much help.”

“Not helpful?”

This was a very important point. The Hispania Second Army had come expecting to help Nudia and receive help from them, rather than engaging in independent military activities.

No matter how large the army’s scale, its strength would gradually be reduced due to continuous battles, and it could even be completely defeated. Therefore, cooperation with the Nudia army was not an option but a necessity.

However, when Zion said that the Nudia army might not be helpful, it was natural for the command staff to react that way.

The reason is simple: Zion had more experience with the Nudia army than anyone else present. Therefore, he could immediately grasp whether they were helpful or just useless burdens.

“Vice Commander, if the Nudia army is not helpful, isn’t that a big problem?”

“If the defense line is breached, it will take only two days to reach Nudia Royal Castle, let alone provide support. After that, it’s a direct route to western Nudia, which could endanger Hispania as well.”

“Should we retreat?”

Various opinions arose from the statement that the Nudia army might not be helpful—that it was a big problem, that Hispania was worried, that they should retreat and focus on defense, and so on.

Zion stared at them for a moment, then his eyes met Marquis Volko’s. He looked at Zion, closed his eyes, and let out a light sigh, saying this. He must have anticipated this situation, so why did he bother saying such things?

‘Of course, I have to—to fuel the competitiveness and vanity of these brilliant people.’

Basically, those who are above others try to climb even higher. And what those who want to climb so high in this world need is, of course, to achieve merit. In particular, war exploits are more valuable than any other achievement, so everyone recognizes the danger but is eager to seize them if possible.

“Everyone, what if our Hispania could teach that Nudia army?”

“…Excuse me?”

“Vice Commander?”

“What are you saying…”

“Who are we? We are the proud warriors of Hispania. We are the ones who can fulfill the kingdom’s earnest wishes, punish those who claimed to be light but actually defiled it, plant the flag of true victory in that sanctuary, and proclaim that we have finally driven out the ugly and dirty from this world.”

Within Hispania, the doctrines of light are no longer even mentioned. The kingdom’s people are voluntarily stepping forward to erase all traces of the doctrines of light, clamoring that all traces of these corrupt and ugly beings must be erased.

Naturally, the nobles gathered here had to show fierce opposition to the doctrines of light to avoid facing a backlash later.

Zion was planning to exploit that one hundred percent, no, a thousand percent.

“Unfortunately, Nudia is in a more pitiful situation than us. They have already been exposed to too much harmful light and cannot escape from it. They cannot trust themselves, and even though they have revealed themselves that they are not light, they cannot accept it.

“They have the courage to fight, the will to protect their lives, their families, their homeland, and their country, but they lack conviction. ‘Do I really have the right to point my sword at them? Are they really not light?’ Such questions plague them.”

After saying that, Zion subtly nodded. Immediately, a nobleman who had been pre-arranged with Zion shouted.

“How foolish! Even though those ugly beings are burning Nudia’s land and harming people, they are still saying such absurd things? It’s pathetic! I feel ashamed of myself for having fought alongside such beings!”

“…Come to think of it, that’s right. The situation isn’t the beginning of the war, and they’ve fought enough and suffered enough, but they’re still wandering around? Nudia’s level has fallen quite a bit.”

“It seems they’ve completely lost their minds after being defeated by our Hispania so many times.”

Regardless of East or West, there is no time as enjoyable as boosting one’s own pride while criticizing others, and there is no case where everyone is as united, especially if that other was a rival who had been fighting fiercely until recently!

“There are those who need to give those people conviction—those who, although human, can call out injustice when they see it, can call evil evil, and can boldly reveal that those who are not light are not light. We will stand at the forefront of that. We will guide the soldiers of Nudia, who are still wandering around.”

“If you mean guide?”

“We will show them the fact that those so-called divinities will eventually be defeated, that prayers no longer work for the false ones, and the blessings of light no longer work. And we will ask them: ‘Even though you, who fought against our Hispania, have fallen to this level, and your country is suffering so much, will you stand behind us and watch? Is it okay for us to take all the exploits and honor in this land?'”

These are nobles and soldiers who have gained confidence by crushing Nudia several times. Now, Zion whispered to go beyond that and show their brilliant and glorious 모습 [appearance] to the foolish people of Nudia.

You want to show off, you want to receive their admiration and praise from those who were once enemies, once rivals, once threatened Hispania. You want to hear them say that Hispania is one step above them!

“As a result of a thorough investigation, and after gathering information from the Nudia royal family, the enemy’s main force suddenly turned and moved to the rear. It seems there’s some problem in the back, but since they were beings riddled with false doctrines and ugly lies from the start, it’s only natural.”

In addition to that, the most worrying part—the enemy’s momentum has decreased a lot, and their power has been divided, creating a situation where it’s worth trying a fight.

From before the departure, morale was groomed to maintain the highest state, and hearts were filled with animosity towards the enemies. In addition, they were given the sweet words that they could become the very saviors of Nudia, who was once an enemy.

With this much, the nobles and soldiers are likely to be tempted enough. Instead of simply giving a sense of duty, it is constantly emphasized how great you can be now and how advantageous the situation is.

“Us helping Nudia to defend the defense line—of course, that’s the safest way, but we cannot end this war by doing so. Furthermore, the Nudia army will wander around as if trapped in a fog forever, and they may not even be able to stand on their own without our Hispania.

“Let us tell those who have lost everything due to repeated defeats that this is how victory is achieved, that this is how you fight if you want to reclaim your land. Follow our Hispania and participate in this glorious war in its true meaning! Let us step onto the battlefield of justice to prove ourselves!”

The battlefield is simpler than the political arena. If you can win, if you must win, that is enough. If you show the glory that will shine for eternity, it will be the icing on the cake.

“There’s no choice! We must show Nudia what true battle is!”

“Those who have become cowards after only losing! Let us show them properly!”

The atmosphere heats up as even the vanity of the nobles is stimulated—a position as a commander of soldiers who are already determined to fight the enemies, the desire to achieve merit, coupled with the hope that the probability of winning is very high.

Furthermore, the stability added by the man named Zion Claussen, a war hero. Saying ‘Even so, isn’t it dangerous to fight because it’s dangerous?’ here is no different from dropping one’s own stock to the bottom.

‘I’ve already taken measures to ensure that words are circulating among the soldiers that we must properly show the Nudia cowards Hispania’s determination and the power resulting from it. If the nobles watch that reaction and try to protect themselves, they are likely to receive collective backlash from the soldiers. Furthermore, almost all the knights have crossed over. All that remains for a noble who has lost his honor is the ridicule he receives from other nobles, so he has to shout it out even if he hates it.’

Would Zion be crazy enough to do this only in front of the nobles? He had already bribed some soldiers with good speaking skills and instructed them to roughly release the stories circulating in the conference room in a similar way.

If we only block, we will just fight a war of attrition and die with Nudia. Rather, how about fighting to drive out the enemies and becoming great victors ourselves? We become the judges they speak of, we become the agents, and we become the ones who start the holy war.

‘We will execute justice! Ah, what a word that vibrates the heart of a man!’

The enemies have gone mad with light and started a great war. To fight against that, we must also be mad, of course. We refute their logic and shout that we are more valid, and we use their so-called corruption in reverse to frame them, saying that the betrayers and the corrupted are you yourselves.

‘The moment you started the war, you became public enemies. You can insist that you are justice as long as you keep winning, but the moment you lose and the light you speak of is pushed back by the sinners you speak of, that light is no longer light.’

So we must not miss this golden opportunity even more—this timing when most of the Celestial Race and fairies have left for the rear to catch the demons. Even if a sluggish stalemate continues after one victory, even if we are counterattacked by angry enemies.

“Let’s goooo!”

“To the battlefield to prove ourselves! To the battlefield of justice!”

Thus, the brilliance that no one in Nudia had ever shown, the Hispania Second Army rushes to the battlefield, showing it to the soldiers of Nudia.

You cowards, just become dogs that guard the house. We will run with the light that they betrayed in our hands and become the true descendants of light who execute the true meaning of justice, not the false justice they speak of!

“…”

“…”

Watching that 모습 [appearance], the soldiers of Nudia felt something strange that they could not express in words. Something was bubbling inside, and a slight anger was rising.

What are they 믿고 [believing in] so confident, why are they shining so brightly? Clearly, we have been fighting until now, and this land is our country, so naturally we should have that confident 모습 [appearance], but why are you—Hispania of all places!

Why are you, who were an ordinary neighboring country that our Nudia could overtake at any time!

Pajijik!

The moment the oil of competitiveness was poured into the dying flame.

―――――――Afterword―――――――

I uploaded 3 chapters, 코 sseuk― [sound effect].