Chapter 135
When they arrived at the main camp, what Erich's unit encountered was a chilled atmosphere.
The soldiers from the Empire glanced askance at Erich.
As if trying to figure out which side he was on.
Frederick quickly read the mood and muttered,
"What's this? What's up with this atmosphere?"
"... Something strange has definitely happened."
The reason Erich felt that way was that the forces of the main camp, which should have been larger, were scarcely seen.
It looked as if many, except for the defensive troops, had been dispatched elsewhere.
Then, a familiar face approached.
The commander of the 1st Fortress, Grant.
Unlike his former neat appearance, his beard was untrimmed and dried blood clung here and there, making it look as if he had just come from battle.
Grant glanced beyond the rear of Erich's unit and then spoke up.
"Looks like you didn't manage to capture Albrecht."
"Yes, that's correct. There's much to report, but where is the commander?"
"... Follow me."
Grant started to walk, then paused and spoke to Mikhail, who was standing quietly.
"Mikhail Chief, you should come as well."
"... Hmm?"
Mikhail narrowed his eyes. Did Grant have something to say not only to Erich but to Mikhail as well?
Grant led the two inside. Inside the walls set up by the main camp, a large number of personnel could be seen again. However, most of them were injured.
'Did a battle of this scale really happen? Did even the Barbarian invade?'
But at that moment, Erich recalled Grant's gloomy face. Could it be that the future he tried to avoid had come to pass after all?
Erich knew that the situation now was very different from before his regression. Thus, he thought he had avoided most of the events that should occur... But in the end, was one of his fears realized?
Soon after, as Erich and Mikhail entered the commander's quarters, their eyes widened.
There, August, wrapped tightly in bandages, was gasping for breath. The blood-soaked bandages seemed to be in dire need of changing.
Erich heard the sound of Mikhail gritting his teeth by his side. A burning energy, as if he would explode in rage at any moment, filled the air.
"Commander, what has happened here?"
"The fortress commanders of each stronghold have staged a rebellion. Especially those guarding the outer perimeter became the core."
"... That can't be."
Erich couldn't believe it. True, the rebellion of the fortress commanders was bound to happen eventually. But that was to come much later.
At that time, the reason had been clear. It was because they couldn't stand by and watch the decline of the Watch.
There, commander August had met his death, and as a result, Erich became the commander.
However, the Watch had not yet declined. On the contrary, it was expanding its influence as far as the North.
There were more enlistments than ever, and fresh recruits raised by Konrad from the rear were gathering.
For the fortress commanders to stage a rebellion in front of the Empire's lords simply made no sense.
Especially since Erich had thought Albrecht was behind everything, it was even stranger that such an event occurred now that he had lost his power.
Mikhail spoke.
"Grant, which bastards dared raise a rebellion?"
"The commanders of the 3rd, 4th, 7th, and 8th fortresses joined forces and rebelled."
Erich slowly calculated in his head.
In that case, only Grant's 1st Fortress and perhaps Richter's 6th Fortress would remain in the main camp.
The 2nd Fortress had gone with Erich to capture Albrecht, and Günter's 5th Fortress had shown no movement.
Mikhail immediately asked,
"So what did the Empire's lords in the main camp do then?"
"The commander was resolute in not involving them in our internal strife."
"Damn it."
― Thud.
Mikhail's hand struck the wall. It was a gesture that carried despair, regret, and anger.
Though Erich felt a deep bond with August, the status of the main camp was more urgent.
"Have all the rebels been defeated?"
"We achieved victory, but the enemy remains strong. The commanders of the 3rd and 7th fortresses are dead, but the 4th and 8th are still resisting."
Erich nodded slowly. He shifted his gaze to August, whose life seemed to be fading.
"Will the commander recover?"
"The priests of the Church assisted with healing, but there hasn't been significant improvement. I'm afraid the next day will be critical."
For the cohesion of the Watch to be shattered in a situation like this...
Erich felt this was due to the fortress commanders' resentment toward August.
'He always said the power of the fortress commanders must be weakened.'
Indeed, August had consistently sought to weaken the fortress commanders' authority.
That effort had begun even when he was a fortress commander himself.
August always considered the increasingly militarized fortresses a fundamental harm to the Watch.
Erich also sympathized with this belief.
'It was the same for Richter and Günter. Especially Richter—he even became the vanguard of the dead.'
Such things happened because the fortress commanders wielded too much power.
So, when Erich became commander before his regression, he too crushed the rebellion and largely reduced their authority.
But unlike Erich, August was fundamentally a moderate man.
Unable to cut people off decisively, he had maintained a lukewarm relationship of checks with them.
That was probably what led to the current rebellion.
'The timing and the situation are completely different from before...'
At any rate, it was something that was bound to happen someday.
Still, even with that in mind, the rebellion at this point was too radical.
It felt almost as if Albrecht had left a trap behind as he escaped.
Soon Grant spoke again.
"Lord Commander August may be on his deathbed, deputy-commander Erich."
"... But."
Erich tilted his head.
Why was Grant discussing this so seriously with him?
If it was for operational discussion, as per protocol, Grant, the 1st Fortress commander, should be receiving an update from Erich.
Yet Grant was explaining the situation to Erich, and furthermore, he was not asking for a briefing about Albrecht, the pivotal point of the mission.
With the commander gravely ill, Grant, as 1st Fortress commander, should naturally step in as acting commander.
"Why are you telling me this? Without Chief Adjutant Albrecht, aren't you the acting commander now?"
"Normally, yes. However, that applies only when the commander hasn't designated a successor."
"No way..."
"That's exactly it. Erich von Krupp, the lord commander has entrusted his will to you. I don't know the reason myself."
Grant spoke plainly. One could almost expect him to feel resentment for being passed over, yet he strove to convey the commander's wishes.
It showed what an upright person Grant was.
'He could have sided with the rebels if he had wanted to.'
Yet instead, he chose to deliver August's will to Erich. Most likely, it was Grant who held the lines and repelled the enemy when the commander collapsed.
Erich spoke,
"I can't presume to know what's on your mind, 1st Fortress Commander, but even so... there must be many senior officers who outrank me and will be dissatisfied. That's..."
"True. Besides me, Richter and Günter could protest. But Günter isn't here, and Richter has always been favorable toward you, hasn't he?"
"... And what about you, Grant?"
"I can't say I understand why the commander made such a decree. Still, I respect his will. What he saw, I simply have yet to see."
Erich exhaled quietly. He was not at all afraid of becoming commander again; after all, he had led the Watch longer than he hadn't.
But after his regression, Erich had relegated all these matters to the distant future.
Now, to suddenly become commander and once again lead the Watch, he felt a vague sense of unease.
'I had hoped to end this without becoming commander.'
Yet the destined future crept closer each moment. Many things had changed, but among them, there were still things progressing unchanged.
The Lord of the Dead. And the army of the dead.
From the barbarian at Ungrim to August's serious wounds.
Could he have done better? Erich was engulfed by such feelings.
"... What do the others think?"
"Richter will side with you. I don't know about Günter. But most of the chiefs are supportive of you."
In fact, there weren't many who would oppose Erich becoming commander. Most of those with objections had already joined the rebels.
At the very least, it was a much better situation than when Erich became commander before his regression. Erich replied,
"... I am willing to accept the position, but if August awakens, I can return it to him at any time, correct?"
"If he wakes, yes."
Grant stared at the fallen August as he spoke. Mikhail then opened his mouth.
"Perhaps August always intended for you to be his successor. Even before this happened, he's treated you with a truly unusual degree of favor."
"Will you be willing to support me as well, sir Mikhail?"
"I was assigned to your unit when you were just a vice-commander. As long as you promise to wipe out those damned rebels, I have no reason to object."
A murderous intent flickered in Mikhail's eyes.
'Whatever the scheme behind this may be...'
The traitors deserved death. That was the difference between August and Erich.
One could not show mercy in situations like this if one became commander.
When Erich showed no particular reluctance about assuming command, Grant quietly went down on one knee.
"I, Grant von Stern, 1st Fortress Commander of the Watch, will stand as your witness and, honoring Commander August's will, hereby transfer all his authority to you this moment."
Then Grant's hand rose. In his hand was the golden insignia symbolizing the commander—engraved with a dragon emblem.
Given that the symbol of House Krupp was the dragon, there was a certain irony in it.
– Sshh.
Erich quietly accepted the insignia and affixed it where it belonged, as if out of habit.
Once again, Erich became the commander of the Watch.
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
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