The Villain Who Robbed the Heroines
chapter-203

The 32,000 troops marched to their destination, the Eliatta Gorge.

After all, once they pass through that point, they would be able to take the shortest route to the three Kingdoms and the Elmark Empire.

Perhaps the main force led by Empress Gremory was also stationed there and already waiting for them.

‘……Our pace is not bad.’

Even accounting for reinforcements en route, who would slow their march……

Ferzen estimated their arrival by December's end.

‘Probably around Christmas?’

Ferzen chuckled as he remembered that Christmas was a holiday that didn’t exist in this world but remained vivid in Lee Seojin’s memory.

'If……’

An existence called Santa exists in this world,

It would be perfect if he gave him victory in the war as a gift.

However, as he remembered that Santa did not give gifts to children who cried or were naughty, Ferzen just held tightly to the reins of his horse.

Ever since he was young, he had never received anything he wanted as a gift.

He always either achieved the thing that he needed and desperately wanted by himself or robbed it from someone else with his own hands.

And if it was possible for someone else to give success and victory to someone else, how could it be called success and victory?

It would be nothing more than a simple ‘profit’.

So, just like always,

Just like the last 24 years,

8760 days,

210,240 hours.

Using the same path of life that he had always walked,

He would snatch victory from the world that hoped for the villain's death.

* * * * *

December 22nd, two weeks after their departure.

The scenery of Eliatta Gorge was vaguely visible on the horizon beyond.

……From this point on, they would encounter the main force of the Elmark Empire in 5 days at the earliest, or a week at the latest.

The number of troops that would be going into Eliatta Gorge was 35,000.

The other 40,000 troops had already marched in separate directions after being divided into several groups five days ago.

The troops led by Corleone Wayne Baretta Alfred would join the main army of the Roverium Kingdom and head to the Obern Kingdom.

In the meantime, the group that was led by the First Prince and Princess Elizabeth would head to the Cielen Kingdom.

At first glance, it might seem like the downsizing was a bit too much. However, due to the terrain of the canyon, there were limits to the number of men that could be sent to the front lines, whether the army size was 100,000 or 1,000,000.

Especially since it was not a war that was fought simply with spears and swords.

What the soldiers, who were mere pawns, could do was minuscule. It would be more accurate to say that this was not a downsizing but rather a very efficient compression.

In fact, the number of Auror Knights, Elemental Wizards, and Warlocks that were assigned to the main unit was higher when compared to the other units.

"Halt!"

The Second Prince, Raymond, who stood at the front together with his escort, grabbed the reins and stopped his horse.

With winter just around the corner, the length of the day had become noticeably shorter.

Since night was coming soon, it seemed like they would only advance up to here today.

Halt-!!

Halt……!

As if conveying the Prince's command, the same words were repeated over and over again like an echo.

As the grand column ceased its march, elemental wizards adept in earth magic swiftly conjured temporary shelters.

Watching the barren earth rise into walls and roofs was a marvel soldiers never grew accustomed to, no matter the frequency.

“Count. The tent has been completed.”

"Good. Let’s go.”

Even if he had told them to relax, they would still feel like they were sitting on a cushion of thorn while out here.

Therefore, Ferzen led his troops into the tent that had been built for them.

In fact, looking at the exterior of the tent, it would be more correct to call it a hut rather than a tent.

‘……Did they interfere with the atmosphere and blow away the dust?’

The sight of a pile of dirt falling from the ceiling did not happen no matter how long he waited, so Ferzen just entered and walked towards his space when he found some sagging tarp that separated his space from the others.

Only then could he hear the sound of his unit members exhaling, as if they were sitting comfortably and resting.

In response, Ferzen went to the open space behind the tent which was clumsily covered by a tarp, and took out a pack of cigarette.

……Even though the full-scale war hadn't even started yet.

The fatigue accumulated in the process of marching this far was not less than expected, so Fersen slowly relieved his sore body.

When a loud trumpet sound announced that it was time for them to get their ration, Ferzen threw the cigarette to the floor and trampled it with his foot to extinguish it.

* * * * *

Lizzy controlled the corpse under her employ to push her wheelchair as she followed Astel, the leader of her group,

Since the ground was very barren, it was far from the even and well maintained surface of the capital. Because of that, the wheelchair under her was shaking wildly. Every time it happened, Lizzy's body, which was sitting on it, also shook violently.

She would have probably fallen forward if it weren't for the wheelchair's leather belt that was holding her waist.

When she finally arrived in the ration center after enduring the discomfort, Lizzy could feel countless eyes looking at her.

The fact that she clearly stood out coupled with the fact that she was a woman in a wheelchair among troops heading to the battlefield was something that inevitably drew attention to her.

However, the emotion contained in the gaze that was sent to her was not ‘amazement’ or ‘ridicule’.

Even though they had not faced the main force of the Elmark Empire yet, the gaze that passed over her body contained blatant hostility.

The fact that she had tried to tell the Empire about the rebellion in advance was of little importance to them.

Because in the end, they were on the verge of war at this very moment due to Roer the traitor.

So how could they not feel anger and hatred towards those who bear the same bloodline as him?

Creak-!!

Unlike the ration line for regular soldiers, the line for Auror Knights and Wizards gradually decreased.

Lizzie moved her wheelchair, and when her turn came, she grabbed the food tray and pushed it forward with difficulty.

Since she was sitting, she had to look up and face the eyes of the soldiers in charge of serving the food.

Unconsciously, her slim shoulders tensed.

Their eyes seethed with animosity.

Why must she absorb these men's scorn?

Though resigned to her fate, Lizzy's lip quivered as a surge of bitterness breached her stoic facade.

However, when the soldier that was in charge of serving soup deliberately poured some of the soup onto her finger, which was sitting on the plate, while pretending it was nothing but a mistake...…

“Ah……!”

Lizzy couldn’t help but let out a hiss and dropped the plate to the floor.

Even if she wanted to be patient,

Lizzy couldn't help but cry because of the pain that her burned thumb was giving her.

But there was no one around who sympathized with her.

'Ha……’

Meanwhile, Astel, the commander of tens who was standing behind her, cussed out inwardly.

His anger wasn't for Lizzy's sake but at the soldier's audacity.

Not out of concern for her, but annoyance at being left to deal with the mess.

His pride stung, knowing his unit was slighted by a mere foot soldier.

No matter the captain's stature—be it an Apollyon-class warlock, an Empire's pillar, or of Brutein’s lineage,

He stood amidst an inescapable quagmire.

"You……!”

After forcefully trying to control his emotions, Astel was about to call the soldier who had just served the soup.

However,

Touch-!!

Startled, Astel turned at the heavy hand on his shoulder.

"Y-your Excellency..."

Ferzen, having already collected his rations, approached.

Astel bowed, stepping aside for Ferzen.

'Foolish cur...'

Did that soldier relish his petty revenge, fancying himself a hero among 35,000 for striking at traitorous blood?

However, it was the Second Prince, Raymond, who held the overall command of the soldiers.

Which means, on the surface, this current situation looked like nothing more than encouraging conflict between the Imperial Family and the Bruteins.

“What is your name?”

"T-that…… I……”

“I have no intention of blaming you.”

Ferzen glanced down at the trembling Lizzy, grabbed the food plate lying pitifully on the floor, and put it aside.

“M-my name is…… Rayman."

“Rayman.”

"Ye-yes!"

“Do you have any children?”

“I-I have a son.”

“Then, if your son commits a grave crime that warrants him to get a death penalty, would you be able to report it?”

“……”

“Can I take your silence as denial?”

Even though Ferzen was speaking in a quiet voice, Rayman and the soldiers could feel an enormous pressure weighing them down.

“It’s only natural to shield family members.”

“……”

“This woman has broken that norm and sought to tell others about her family’s rebellion. Do you think you can insult her loyalty to the Empire?”

“I-I apologize.”

“It’s not just this woman that you owe an apology to.”

Ferzen, who was staring at the soldier in front of him, Rayman, turned around.

He then moved his gaze towards numerous soldiers who were receiving their rations and slightly raised his voice to make them listen.

“Gentlemen.”

“……”

"Consider this a warning for your sake."

Blind fury and hate won't reunite you with your kin.

Instead, you'll lose direction in war, succumbing to the enemy's blades as a devil's lure.

"Please, don't court death lightly."

Post Ferzen's words, Astel, easing his constricted throat, stepped up.

"... I'll ensure the soldier faces discipline. Though not harsh, fasting is plausible."

“Forget it.”

“……”

“He’s a soldier that’s about to go to war. What are you hoping to achieve by starving him?”

"I-I apologize. I was too short-sighted……”

“Astel.”

"Yes."

“What I just said also applies to you.”

“……I will keep that in mind.”

“If you don’t hate me, don’t make me a leader who buries the bodies of my subordinates.”

"Yes……!”

Seeing Astel replying loudly, Ferzen ordered Rimbel to fetch Lizzy's share of the meal again before pushing her wheelchair himself.

Meanwhile, Lizzy let out a pitiful laugh as she watched Ferzen use her tragedy to cover his ugly sides.

Even if the Ernes Empire wins the war, will this country have any hope?

35,000 soldiers, all of them……

They were such stupid and clueless people.

Those people who praised the covered ugliness were nothing more than dogs and pigs.

The people who were revered by them were also nothing more than beasts who wore human clothing.

How can such an Ernes Empire be called a country where the sun never sets?

That place is just……

Without a single doubt, an Empire of beasts.