Chapter 64 : Chapter 64
Chapter 64. An Unexpected Variable, Gathering Prisoners
Kroll II stood atop a high platform, gazing at the distant tide of fleeing Kadiya soldiers and barbarians. The tension that had stiffened his back for more than a week finally eased slightly.
He raised a hand and pressed his throbbing temple. His eyes were bloodshot. During these past days, he had barely slept at all, forcing himself to endure with potions whenever exhaustion overtook him.
Now that the scales of victory had completely tipped, the massive weight pressing on his chest finally lifted.
“Prince Tanley.”
His voice carried deep fatigue, though a trace of relief could not be hidden.
“The First and Second Monster Legions of the Kroll Kingdom, along with the Knight Orders, will continue the pursuit and occupy Despair Fortress. As for Dragon’s forces, they only need to deploy Dragon Riders and Knight Orders to guard the southern side and prevent the Kadiya Kingdom from launching a counterattack.”
He paused and looked out at the corpses scattered across the plains.
“Let the ordinary soldiers of both nations rest. Pass down the order—have them gather prisoners along the way and clean up the battlefield.”
Prince Tanley pondered for a moment before nodding.
“Your Majesty has considered this well. Even the strongest bowstring must be loosened from time to time, otherwise it will snap.”
The order quickly spread through the signalmen. Complex flag signals fluttered rapidly in the wind.
When the legion commanders passed the command down to the soldiers, many of them collapsed directly onto the cold piles of corpses, gasping for breath.
Days of high-intensity fighting had kept their nerves constantly stretched tight. Their adrenaline had long since been exhausted.
Now that the tension suddenly vanished, even standing became difficult. Some soldiers simply lay face-down in the blood-soaked ground, muffled sobs escaping from their throats.
The legion commanders left a few knights behind to watch over these nearly exhausted soldiers, while they themselves led the remaining knights to continue the pursuit.
Hooves pounded across the frozen earth, kicking up snow dust mixed with the smell of blood.
Their objective was clear.
Capture as many prisoners as possible—especially Kadiya nobles and officers.
At the edge of the battlefield, several soldiers leaned against broken spears, half asleep, only to be kicked awake by a passing knight.
“Get up! Do you want to die here?”
The knight’s roar carried sharp authority.
“You can sleep in a pile of corpses? Aren’t you afraid you’ll freeze to death and be buried with them?”
The soldiers shuddered and struggled to sit up, rubbing their stiff, frozen faces.
After resting for a long while, they finally helped each other to their feet, picked up their weapons, and silently began cleaning the battlefield.
Dragging corpses. Collecting scattered weapons. Identifying the bodies of their fallen comrades.
Their movements were mechanical, yet heavy with the weight of surviving disaster.
On the high platform, Kroll II watched everything and slowly exhaled a cloud of white breath.
The taste of victory was mixed with too much blood and sacrifice. It was far less sweet than he had imagined.
Kroll II turned toward Prince Tanley, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.
“In half a month, once the army has recovered, we will march south and take Meteorfall Fortress in the Kadiya Southern Frontier.”
He paused, his tone filled with unquestionable certainty.
“As agreed previously with the Dragon Kingdom, once Meteorfall Fortress is captured, we will formally present the engagement document. The marriage between the Sixth Princess and my Fourth Son will be finalized.”
Prince Tanley bowed slightly.
“Your Majesty can rest assured. The Dragon Kingdom has not forgotten this matter.”
“Once the fortress is taken, the engagement between the two nations will proceed according to proper protocol.”
Kroll II nodded.
Days of exhaustion had left dark circles beneath his eyes. He waved his hand without speaking further and turned toward the temporary command tent, his steps revealing unmistakable weariness.
Prince Tanley remained where he stood, watching Kroll II’s figure gradually disappear into the distance.
The respect on his face slowly faded, replaced by a complicated and difficult-to-read expression.
His brows furrowed slightly. His gaze flickered in the wind, as though he were contemplating something—or perhaps wary of something.
The scent of blood from the battlefield still seemed to linger in the air. Prince Tanley slowly raised his hand and rested it on the hilt of his sword, his knuckles faintly whitening.
The attack planned for half a month later appeared to be a natural continuation of their victory.
Yet Meteorfall Fortress was easy to defend and difficult to attack. Kadiya would undoubtedly defend it with everything they had.
This battle would certainly not be as easy as it seemed on the surface.
Prince Tanley looked toward the battlefield that had yet to be fully cleared and frowned deeply.
The unease in his heart grew clearer.
Within the Dragon Kingdom, many already opposed the Sixth Princess marrying far away. After all, a Dragon Tamer capable of commanding dragons was an extremely rare existence—nothing less than a national treasure.
If they were to break the agreement after capturing Meteorfall Fortress in order to keep such power within their kingdom…
He shook his head and forced himself to stop thinking further.
At this point, the only choice was to take things one step at a time.
Looking at the chaotic plains, he sighed softly before turning and entering the main tent.
Across the Kroll Kingdom, the atmosphere of celebration spread like a rising tide. From the Royal Capital to the border towns, bells and songs echoed endlessly.
But in the military camp on the Ice and Snow Plains, the scene was entirely different.
Inside the tents, thunderous snores rolled continuously, as if the entire camp had fallen into a deep dream.
Many soldiers had been sleeping like this for an entire day and night. They had not even removed their armor before collapsing onto straw-covered beds, their faces still stained with dried tears and blood.
Days of brutal combat had drained every last bit of their strength.
Now that victory had brought relaxation, exhaustion crashed over them like a tidal wave.
When the legion commanders inspected the camp, they deliberately softened their footsteps. No one disturbed them.
These soldiers were simply too tired.
In contrast, the knights were even more exhausted.
With the support of unlimited potions, they set out every morning at dawn under the command of the legion commanders, riding their warhorses across the plains to patrol and hunt down fugitives.
Now that Despair Fortress had been firmly secured by the Kroll Kingdom, it had become an iron cage trapping the remnants of the enemy.
Those barbarians and soldiers who had failed to escape south with the main Kadiya army were like turtles trapped in a jar.
They hid among ruins and forests, but they could not escape the knights’ relentless search.
“There’s movement over here!”
Hoofbeats thundered across the frozen ground. The shouts of knights and the ringing sound of swords leaving their scabbards echoed again and again.
Soon, a group of ragged and gaunt prisoners were escorted back.
They were tied together with coarse hemp ropes like livestock and driven toward a temporary holding area behind the camp.
Large numbers of such prisoners were brought into the camp every day.
Some were Kadiya soldiers. Some were scattered barbarians. Others were Kadiya nobles who had failed to escape in time.
They were gathered together and guarded while awaiting classification.
The strong would be turned into slaves.
The elderly, the weak, and the wounded would simply be left to fend for themselves.
Outside the fence of the holding area, the soldiers responsible for guarding them watched everything with expressionless faces.
Beneath the glory of victory, there were always such corners devoid of humanity—places where the despair of the defeated accumulated.
As the sun set, the knights escorted the final group of prisoners back.
The snoring in the camp gradually lessened.
Some soldiers rubbed their eyes and walked out of the tents. When they saw the densely packed figures behind the fences, there was no expression on their faces.
They all understood.
These prisoners would become the “resources” used to rebuild the kingdom after the war.
Night fell once again. Scattered bonfires rose within the camp, faintly echoing the celebratory lights of the distant Royal Capital.
Yet when the flames reflected in the hollow eyes of the prisoners, all that remained was endless cold.