Wortenia Senki (LN) - Volume 21 - Chapter 1.1

Chapter 1: Those Who Wander in Search of Light

A few days had passed since the northern subjugation army returned to the capital, Pireas. They were prepared to win with their two hundred thousand troops compared to the Mikoshiba barony’s less than fifty thousand troops. Even an amateur with no tactical or strategic experience could see the chances were in Queen Lupis’s favor.

As such, the commoners didn’t revolt despite the northern subjugation buying many supplies to be well-stocked for the war, which pressured them financially. Victory seemed assured. The nobles participating in the northern subjugation would split up the Mikoshiba barony's riches among themselves, and the leftovers would reach the hands of the commoners. It was this knowledge that allowed the people to endure.

Expectations were betrayed as the northern subjugation army lost the decisive battle at the Lunoch Plains. Seeing the army return to the capital with its tail between its legs shocked the people.

After all, this wasn’t just a simple defeat because it was a military campaign that mustered many troops and led by the queen herself. The battle that began in the Lunoch Plains was pushed all the way back to the Cannat plains, near Epirus, where the state of the battle could have moved the fighting back and forth between the two areas.

The problem was that the fighting ended in the Cannat Plains, closer to the capital, and that didn’t make it a narrow defeat. Moreover, the Mikoshiba barony army pushed the northern subjugation back and forced it into a pitiful retreat. This was a major defeat that shook up the very foundation of Rhoadseria.

As such, the palace sent out an edict saying that the defeat wasn’t to be publicly discussed. After the army’s return, the number of patrolling troops increased, and if they were to hear anyone speak of this defeat, they would hang that person.

There was no stopping the rumor mill. Even with no one saying it aloud, the very sight of defeated soldiers returning to the capital showed what happened. The rumors that the Mikoshiba barony army was marching on the capital in pursuit filled the people’s hearts with anxiety. This included anger and resentment toward Queen Lupis, who established the northern subjugation and led it to its crushing defeat.