The End is Always Connected to the Beginning
The war is over.
What war, you ask? It’s something most people in the Empire either didn’t know about or had forgotten, but the Empire had been engaged in a protracted and desultory war for 37 years ― in the Northernmost part of the Empire, in the Land of Snow.
In the Northern part of the Empire, there was a vast area that was difficult for people to inhabit due to the cold and harsh geographical features. The land, known as the Land of Snow, was covered in white snow all year round, and even when the snow melted, it was a barren land where not even a blade of grass could survive, let alone farming.
The terrain was rugged, and there were many monsters and ferocious beasts. Although it had been part of the Empire since ancient times, it was a useless land that no one cared about, but there were those who settled there.
They called themselves the Norkan tribe. So barbaric that they couldn’t belong to either beasts or humans, they did not submit to the Empire and frequently raided the borders. The Norkan tribe plundered not only grains and necessities but also women and children, and they were as tenacious and vicious as those who survived in that harsh land.
Following the will of the late Emperor, the current Emperor, upon ascending the throne, declared that he would completely crush and uproot the filthy Norkan tribe. He swore to God that he would tear apart and behead the Norkan tribe, who were worse than beasts and tormented his people, so that they would never open their eyes towards the Empire again.
The army left with applause and blessings, and the barbaric Norkan tribe was easily cut down by the swords of the brave imperial knights. The imperial army fought numerous battles and always won. It was the army of the Emperor who had trampled and burned any country that did not swear loyalty to the name of the Empire.
Naturally, everyone thought it would be a battle that would end soon. Who could possibly withstand the sword of the imperial army? Especially when it was a campaign against barbarians who didn’t even have proper mages. One year. Half a year? Some even bet it would end in a couple of months.
They won easily several times. They kept winning. Every time the imperial army went into battle, they captured and killed the Norkan tribe. They killed 1,000, 404, and 132. Thirty-one, twelve, seven, twenty-three, nine…
They thought they left no trace of the Norkan tribe after each battle, but they kept crawling out. Like cockroaches. ―Annoying, but not a big problem. It’s not a big deal if cockroaches don’t die, is it? ―That’s what they thought. Even after fighting dozens of times, the imperial army rarely lost or lost soldiers.
And so, two months. Half a year. One year. Three years…
Surprisingly, it was the imperial army that first lost the will to fight.
They won almost every battle, but they grew increasingly weary. The situation was better during the season when the sun shone, but the long nights of winter were horrific. More soldiers froze to death than the number of Norkan tribe members they killed in battle.
Even the Norkan tribe, who were born and raised there, found it hard to endure the blizzards, and no matter how robust the imperial soldiers were, they couldn’t withstand it. Good furs, thick winter clothes, hearty meals, and sturdy barracks were of no use. They froze to death in their sleep, and even when awake, they sometimes had to cut off frozen flesh.
Their enemy was not the Norkan tribe. It was the land of snow itself. ―That land was stronger, more ruthless, and more merciless than any enemy the imperial army had ever faced.
The Land of Snow was the territory of the Empire, but it was no one’s home in the imperial army, so the young men who volunteered to serve the Empire and the Emperor grew lonely and fearful as the war dragged on. What if this war never ends? What if, when it ends and they return, they are forgotten by everyone?
As the numbers noticeably dwindled, the battles became more difficult, but no one cared. The Land of Snow was a distant land to everyone. Whether the imperial army won or lost there, the daily lives of the people of the Empire did not change by a minute.
People forgot the army sent to the Land of Snow, and they forgot the declaration of war, and even the fact that the war had not ended.
And 37 years after the declaration of war against the Norkan tribe.
The war that the world had forgotten ended.
It was a young woman who beheaded Knut, the leader of the Norkan tribe, who had held out against the great Empire for 37 years.
She, who overwhelmed the barbarian chieftain twice her size with overwhelming martial prowess, plucked out and chewed the eyes from Knut’s beheaded corpse.
The imperial army, led by her, annihilated not only the Norkan warriors but the entire tribe. They left not a single person with Norkan blood alive, regardless of age or gender.
And half a year after the perfect victory was declared.
A low-ranking official who found a neglected letter delivered the news of victory in this forgotten war to the Emperor.
“What war?”
“The war declared against the Norkan tribe in the land of snow, Your Majesty.”
The Emperor, who had been bedridden due to recent troublesome political strife, jumped up from his seat.
“What… did we really win the war against the Norkan tribe? Completely?”
It was the first war he declared upon ascending the throne 37 years ago, and the only war he hadn’t seen to the end. While everyone else forgot, it was a burdensome war for the Emperor. He thought it was a war he would never live to see until the end of his death.
“Yes. According to the letter, the army not only killed all members of the Norkan tribe but also the unborn fetuses of Batan women carrying Norkan seeds. In the final battle, they beheaded Knut, the leader of the Norkan tribe, and… chewed his eyeballs. The remaining bones and entrails were chopped up and scattered across the land.”
It was a level of brutality that left both the messenger and the listener speechless. While it seemed more like the actions of the Norkan tribe than the imperial army, they had nonetheless fulfilled the Emperor’s declaration by eradicating even the seeds of the tribe. It was exactly as he had proclaimed – to tear them apart so that even in death, they couldn’t see the empire’s land.
“Who… which family produced such a valiant warrior?”
Any knight of the imperial army he knew paled in comparison. It was a battlefield no one wanted to go to. They ended a forgotten war in a land where breath freezes and blood turns cold. They beheaded the Norkan leader whom many imperial soldiers couldn’t even wound, and ate his eyes. Could there really be someone so brave and loyal in the empire?
“That… the letter doesn’t specify that information.”
“He’s even modest!”
Although it was likely just a mistake in the form, the Emperor praised the unknown person joyfully. He was thoroughly tired of the courtiers who engaged in political strife like common housewives. As if to be heard by the petty men who called a few sword clashes after throwing down a gauntlet a “d uel,” and who used pretentious expressions like “preserving honor” or “killing the soul” over a mere scratch, the emperor laughed loudly and ordered:
“Quickly, call this proud army of mine to the capital! I will personally meet them and bestow great rewards upon them all!”
The Emperor’s order reached the north in just four days.
§ § § § §
Autumn in the Land of Snow was different from other parts of the empire. Instead of cool weather and the scent of rice, autumn there meant the beginning of occasional fierce blizzards.
During this time, one had to be especially careful not to get hands and feet wet. It was easy to be careless and lose fingers and toes. It was also the time to repair shoes with leather patches and wear gloves tightly. As the days became half as short, the cold of the lengthened nights became even more severe.
Theo, the clerk who came to the commander’s office with the autumn budget allocation approval documents, frowned at the empty office.
“Where is the commander?”
“Huh? She went out again today.”
Buzz, the adjutant, spoke as if asking why he even needed to ask.
“She went out again today? Even with the blizzard outside?”
“When has the commander ever cared about such things?”
Of course, their commander was someone who did what needed to be done, rain or shine. Morning training had to happen even if a blizzard made it impossible to see, and scheduled meetings were completed even if the barracks caught fire.
“Still… didn’t you try to stop her?”
“What power do I have to stop the commander? I’ve been playing dead lately, afraid she might ask me to go out and wait with her.”
Buzz waved his hand dismissively. Theo pouted at his cold attitude.
“Then did she at least dress warmly before going out? Don’t tell me she left without gloves and socks again…”
As he worried about the commander, who was as rugged as a wild animal, Theo’s eyes caught sight of a black coat. It was the commander’s only coat, as she was a one-suit lady. As Theo’s gaze sharpened, Buzz made excuses.
“Ah… the commander is less susceptible to cold, you know.”
“She’s not completely immune and losing fingers and toes to frostbite is the same for everyone. Moreover, the commander is a woman!”
As Theo grabbed the commander’s coat and headed out, Buzz hurriedly followed, making excuses.
“Come on, the commander isn’t a child. How can we pack her coat every time? Besides, she goes out so often that it’s hard to even see her face outside of training hours.”
“Isn’t that what an adjutant is for? Even if you don’t pack gloves and socks, you should at least prepare the coat. Why are you even getting paid?”
It was true, but it was a sensitive and sharp response. Although he understood why. Buzz tried to soothe him, watching his mood carefully.
“There’s no need to go that far, right? Everything you say is correct, but in times like these, you’re about the only one who can keep their wits about them. I’m not feeling energetic either. Honestly, aren’t you feeling the same?”
“……”
Of course, Theo was feeling dejected too. Who wouldn’t be losing spirit in this situation?
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