Chapter 72

War always begins for the most trivial and foolish of reasons.

The Wailing River that divides the border between Kairos and the Valerian Empire. The border fortresses on both sides of the river had been gripped by a tension as thin as ice for weeks. Under the emergency alert issued by the Emperors of both nations, the soldiers wore their armor even while sleeping, and the hatred for one another swelled like a powder keg that could explode at any moment.

That dawn, a thick fog covered the river. A young soldier on watch at the Kairos outpost swallowed dryly from the tension and stared across the river. Then he saw a faint shadow moving within the fog.

“Th-the enemy! An enemy raid!”

His terrified shout became the signal flare. In fact, it was nothing more than an old fisherman from the border area returning from an all-night fishing trip. But to soldiers consumed by the madness of war, it looked like a Valerian special forces unit crossing the river.

The fortress alarm bell rang like mad, and soldiers roused from sleep reflexively drew their bowstrings. Dozens of fire-arrows pierced the fog and flew across the river.

“The Kairos bastards launched a pre-emptive strike! Everyone prepare for battle!”

The Valerian fortress also launched an immediate response. Their counterattack was far larger and more organized. A Magic cannon installed on the fortress wall belched fire and demolished part of the Kairos fortress wall with a thunderous roar.

The spark ignited by a small misunderstanding and fear became an uncontrollable blaze that began to consume the two empires.

At that time, the Shadow Forge in the Aster estate.

Rian was watching the entire situation at the border in real time through the gigantic mana crystal orb, the “Abyssal Eye.” In his pupils, the trajectories of the fire-arrows, the blast radii of the Magic cannon, and the chaotic movements of the soldiers were being fed like data.

“It’s begun.”

There was no emotion in his low voice. He was calm and composed, like an audience member watching the opening scene of a well-scripted play.

“Master, an urgent transmission from Kaion of the capital.”

Kael reported in a hurried voice. Rian hesitated for a moment, then stood before the communication Magic device. Kaion’s anxious, urgent face appeared in the crystal orb.

“Rian! Did you hear? At the border… war has broken out! Father and I tried to dissuade His Highness the Crown Prince and His Majesty, but it’s already too late. A full mobilization has been ordered for the 1st and 3rd corps!”

“…I see, brother.”

Rian’s voice was unnaturally calm.

“Don’t worry too much. Wars always happen. You just focus on keeping the Crown Prince safe at your side. The defenses of the capital are the strongest in the Empire, so you and Father will be safe.”

“But…!”

“Brother.”

Rian cut Kaion off. For a brief moment, his eyes trembled with deep sorrow and fraternal love.

“I’m fine. The estate will be fine. So you do what you must in your place, in the world of light. I’ll do what I must here, in the world of shadows. We… will protect the family in our own ways.”

The transmission ended. The human emotion that had briefly crossed Rian’s face vanished, and the cold lord of the abyss reappeared.

He summoned Meister Gideon and the new commanders of the Shadow Blade.

“Gideon, begin mass production of the Aura Rifle and the mana bombs you’ve been preparing. Run the forge day and night. We’ll soon need a great many guests.”

“Understood, young master!”

“And you lot.”

Rian looked around at the commanders of Shadow Blade.

“War is opportunity. While the two empires weaken each other with spilled blood, we will grow atop those piles of corpses. Through Argos, collect all information on the major noble commanders of both nations, the army supply lines, and strategic strongpoints.”

Rian began placing red and black pieces on the giant war map.

“We do not aid Kairos. We do not aid the Valerian side either. We will only make this war our play. If one side grows too strong, secretly support the other to maintain balance. Commanders who are deadly to both sides will be eliminated on the battlefield, disguised as ‘accidents.’ The longer the war drags on and the more blood is spilled, the stronger our power will become.”

His words were like the whispers of a devil. He intended to turn the war between the two empires into a vast hunting ground to grow his forces, eliminate future enemies, and reshape the continent’s balance of power.

“When this war is over, the victor will be neither Kairos nor Valerian.”

Rian placed a blue piece representing the Aster family on the map.

“Only us.”