The Vastness of Magical Destiny

Komer paid no attention to Fran’s comfort, for in his view this skirmish was negligible in terms of losses to their own strength, yet was quite significant in establishing the image of the unbeatable Caucasus Army. However, the disappointing outcome made Komer regret why he had appointed someone with a simple mind like Woodhardt as the chief of the Half-beastman Armaments. Though the man held some prestige among the Half-beastmen, it was clear that he lacked in both command and adaptability.

Truth be told, Komer also acknowledged some oversight on his part, as appointments of high-ranking officers within the Caucasus Army were decided solely by him. At the beginning, Fran had subtly expressed concerns over Woodhardt’s command abilities. Komer, eager to solidly secure control over the five thousand Half-beastmen troops, had only Woodhardt and Dragumo to choose from to maintain a front.

Woodhardt’s loyalty was beyond question, and his personal combat prowess ranked him among the elite within the Half-beastmen. However, leading two thousand Half-beastmen proved to be challenging for him. Compared to Dragumo, he lacked experience and ingenuity. Komer thought that perhaps spending more time with Ilot, Havier, and Bayezid could help improve his weaknesses in these areas.

Changing commanders right before a battle was a major taboo in military strategy, but Komer had no choice but to proceed. Designating his Guard leader Kuroba as the new chief of the Half-beastman Army was the only option. Komer’s decision was supported by Fran. Kuroba might have been a man of few words, but his prestige among the Half-beastmen was now on par with Woodhardt’s, if not superior, and his capabilities were of a completely different level. The fact that he spoke less seemed to embody the inviolable dignity of strength to the Half-beastmen.

Seeing Woodhardt’s face filled with grateful tears of joy, Komer felt incredibly frustrated inside. What was meant to be a punishment had made this man ecstatic, his pockmarked face even glowing red. It made Komer realize that the position of his Guard leader seemed no less prestigious than that of the chief of the Half-beastman Army. In the eyes of the Half-beastmen, the title of "Lord’s Guard leader" seemed even more reverent. It was no wonder that Woodhardt had almost not believed his ears when he first heard the order.

The honor of serving as a bodyguard close to the enigmatic Lord was a tremendous one for any Half-beastman, a sentiment deeply ingrained in every mature Half-beastman from the Caucasus, to the point where even some strong female Half-beastmen privately suggested forming a fully female Half-beastmen Lord’s Guard to share the responsibilities of the original unit. This idea won Puber’s approval but was undoubtedly vetoed by Komer; he wasn’t ready to have his mood spoiled by a bevy of female Half-beastmen constantly surrounding him.

"Fran, it looks like our predictions were not wrong. Philip has acted faster than we thought. The people of Galle have finally joined in, and even the Nirvana Knights have appeared. Is Zellin truly willing to clash with us head-on?" Komer’s countenance turned somber as Woodhardt’s figure disappeared, the gloominess piling upon his face, "With the Galleians here, what about the people of Poznan and the Silesians? What is that fool Maha Gummi doing?"

"Not necessarily, my Lord. I don’t think the people of Galle are necessarily willing to risk their lives for Philip," Fran said, shaking his head, disagreeing with Komer’s view.

"Oh? And why do you think that? Isn’t Zellin’s dispatching of the Nirvana Knights enough to show his determination?" Komer raised his eyebrows and asked.

"Heh, selfishness is the word that lies in the marrow of these nobles. Our Myron Duchy has always been an important bulwark to the west of the Kingdom of Nicosia. Yet when faced with an invasion of the Beastmen, the Kingdom of Nicosia, with its substantial forces, was reluctant to send reinforcements for one reason only: fear that once Mycenae fell, their own forces would suffer significant losses. This hesitation led to missed opportunities and the downfall of our Myron Duchy. As for the people of Galle, it does not matter who controls Homer. Besides, you are not a Barbarian or a Half-beastman; like them, you are a duly crowned noble of the kingdom, which makes it much less of an ethical shock to them. As long as the policies you implement do not harm their interests, I believe Zellin will not easily play his last card."

Fran shook his head again. When talking about the fall of his ancestral land, his face no longer showed the indignation of the past. It appeared especially calm. Time can dilute everything, and the events of the past are slowly being forgotten. Now he is a high-ranking officer of the Caucasus, and he only needs to consider the interests of the Caucasus.