Chapter Sixty-Two: Steadfast (Christmas Bonus Chapter)

After several forced marches, the opposing army had already reached its limit, holding together only by the authority and martial prowess of Count Artesber, barely staving off total collapse. Yet it was merely a prolonging of the inevitable—the armies of the various lords were hopelessly intermingled, resisting in scattered clusters under their respective leaders, the battle devolving into chaos.

At this juncture, Aetis led his forces forward once more. Under a barrage unleashed by more than a hundred priests, the enemy ranks were shattered beyond recognition.

In the end, when their commander, Count Artesber, was personally slain by Aetis on the battlefield, the enemy’s formation utterly disintegrated.

Each lord struggled to lead their men in a desperate flight, fleeing madly as Nadir, Carter, and others pressed the pursuit with their troops.

“Kill them!”

“For the God of Nature!”

Echoes of these cries rose and fell across the battlefield. Among the combatants, certain figures stood out starkly.

Most of these were men whom Aetis had specially taken note of in the past. Thanks to his deliberate promotion, many now held positions as squad leaders, making them particularly conspicuous amid the fray.

Aetis’s gaze sharpened. One after another, golden life forces blazed brilliantly under the army’s collective might, their fates burning upward. Among them, a faint azure light was especially striking.

“Decurion Bazel!” a shout rang out.

In an open expanse, a lean young man with a resolute expression fought at the fore. His bloodied body, lashed by rain, dripped crimson, inspiring awe in those nearby.

Amid the fierce fighting, the pale blue life force above his head suddenly quivered, burning bit by bit, resonating with the spirit of the army.

“Kill!” he roared, cutting down an opponent before him, a native ferocity in his every move.

Seeing this, Aetis nodded slightly, then turned to the priest at his side. “It’s about time. Offer them terms of surrender.”

The priest understood at once and went to deliver the order.

“Surrender and you will not be killed!”

As the messengers relayed the command, this proclamation echoed across the blood-soaked field.

Ahead, countless despairing soldiers heard the words, their steps faltering. One by one, they dropped their weapons and let themselves be taken into custody.

Behind Aetis, the nobles who had been coerced into joining his campaign watched the scene with complex, uncomfortable expressions.

Yet neither Aetis nor his priestly officers paid them any heed. As dusk drew near and the fighting tapered off, the day’s outcome became clear.

“My lord, this time we routed five thousand of their men, killed nearly a thousand on the spot, and captured almost three thousand!” Nadir, standing beside Aetis, reported with glee. The wounds on his body had been completely healed by divine magic, though a faint scent of blood still lingered.

Aetis nodded. “And our losses?”

“We lost about five hundred, mostly during the enemy knights’ desperate counterattacks,” Bill quietly added.

“Compile a list of the fallen, and when we return to Cecil, ensure their families receive the promised compensation.”

At this, Aetis turned to Bill. “What of the wounded?”

“With the priests’ healing, most have recovered,” Bill replied. After a pause, he hesitated, “However, a few were so gravely injured that, even after healing, they’ll be left disabled and unfit for further battle. What arrangements should we make for them?”

“Distribute the compensation as stipulated, and we’ll make further plans for them once we’re back in the city-state.”

“Yes, my lord,” Bill replied.

A hush fell over the scene. Gazing at the heavy rain outside, Aetis remarked, “It looks like this downpour will last a while longer.”

“In that case, let’s use the spoils taken from the enemy to hold a banquet. We can also take the opportunity to confirm your rewards.”

He looked at Nadir and the others, a rare smile lighting his striking features.

Nadir and his companions exchanged glances but said nothing.

And so, that evening, a modest banquet was held in a tent. Officers who had distinguished themselves in battle sat in attendance. Though conversations flowed, a sense of gravity filled the air.

Aetis smiled slightly, then began to recognize and reward the officers who had earned merit in combat.

Among them was Bazel.

He had fought valiantly in this battle, achieving a solid—if not spectacular—feat.

Aetis’s gaze lingered on him. The fate above Bazel’s head flickered, clearly beginning to stir.

He smiled, “Bazel?”

“Yes, my lord.” Bazel appeared nervous, his weathered face stiff and expressionless—clearly not a man of words.

Aetis smiled. “You performed well. Is there anything you desire as your reward?”

Bazel hesitated, then quickly replied, “I leave it to Your Majesty’s discretion.”

“Very well…” Aetis pondered for a moment. “In addition to your original reward, I’ll grant you another fifty acres of land. How does that sound?”

Bazel’s face lit up with joy. “Yes, my lord!”

Seeing his reaction, Aetis was momentarily taken aback, then shook his head with a faint smile.

“Stay by my side as my guard captain.”

Bazel accepted the appointment with delight, and Aetis turned to the others.

“Nadir, Carter, your fiefs will each be enlarged by fifty hectares.”

Under the envious gaze of those around them, Nadir and Carter accepted their rewards with composed expressions.

Fifty hectares—five hundred mu—was enough to establish another fine estate.

“It’s time to return,” Aetis murmured, gazing back the way they had come.

The next day, as the rain gradually ceased, Aetis set out at midday, retracing the path home with his troops.

This time, however, progress was slow, encumbered by three thousand prisoners. It was a full month before the distant outline of Cecil City finally appeared.

At the city gates, a welcoming party awaited them.

At their head stood an elderly man in a black formal suit, his expression grave—it was Barton, Aetis’s former steward.

“Your Majesty, congratulations on your victorious return.” He addressed Aetis with solemn formality.

Aetis dismounted, smiling and nodding. “How have things fared in Cecil during my absence?”

“It has been somewhat complicated, but since you left the High Priest behind and took the heads of the noble houses with you, the nobility within the city have behaved themselves, and order has largely been maintained.”

“In addition, since most efforts have been focused on registering the population and resources, there has been little progress in other areas.”

Aetis nodded in understanding. “How many people live within our domain now?”

“Within Cecil’s bounds, our subjects number just over seven hundred thousand, with nearly two hundred thousand followers of the God of Nature.”

Aetis frowned. “So few?”

The territory of Cecil was at least half the size of a small province in his previous life. Though much of it lay desolate, the population was barely equal to a single county back then.

He shook his head, glancing behind him. “Escort these people into the city. The prisoners will be detained for now; in time, they can be set to repairing the surrounding roads.”

Returning to Cecil, Aetis surveyed the city’s condition.

Compared to before, order had clearly been restored. People once more filled the streets, and the city’s vitality was returning. Most of the previous debris had been cleared away. A grand cathedral stood in the center, where priests prayed for the citizens passing by.

“Barton, you’ve done well,” Aetis said, nodding approvingly.

“I was only doing my duty,” Barton replied, his face as stern as ever.

Aetis took no offense, merely glancing toward the south.

Now, as news of Aetis’s victory over the Kingdom of Balo spread, messengers traveled between the city-states. The city-states that had once eyed the north hungrily abandoned their ambitions upon hearing the news.

In Aetis’s mind’s eye, the faint black haze that had drifted up from the south slowly dissipated. Somewhere in the unseen, a slender pillar of heaven linked the stars, growing ever more solid.