ISEKAI: I Reincarnated as the Poorest King in the World – VOL III

  Interlude

  Storm clouds loomed beyond the horizon. The hostilities between the Kingdom of Apollo and the Demonic Reich were already visible even in Etrica.

  Heralds proclaimed an era of war and difficult times. And yet, King Vlad sent no orders nor levies to his vassal kingdom. He knew perfectly well that arming Etrica’s peasantry would be a terrible idea—they might seize the opportunity to rebel against him.

  The northern border, governed by Duke Sigfrido, held deep personal resentment over the constant raids and attacks against his people. In a way, Vlad II himself was responsible for this disorder. He had failed to restrain his rampaging nobles and allowed them to assault civilians without consequence.

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  At first, this worked as a method of controlling Etrica’s population. But as the years passed, the policy brought more negative consequences—consequences that did not end even with the execution of Lutero León, Ulric’s father.

  Vlad II had allies within Ulric’s court, but his focus could not remain there. He had long planned the Kaiser’s downfall, and now—so close to achieving his objective—he could not afford to be distracted by a situation that, in his mind, he would deal with once his full attention was available.

  Apollo’s armies did not hesitate to pillage the lands of the Reich.

  And naturally, the Reich did not remain idle.

  As in any conventional war, the Kaiser’s forces also plundered small villages and ambushed supply wagons headed toward Apollo’s fertile lands.

  It became a war of attrition, slowly wearing down social stability on both sides.

  On one hand, the demi-humans (or demons) who followed the Reich saw themselves as the ones under attack, and thus they launched a fiercely defensive campaign.

  Motivated to protect their homes and loved ones, their militia forces showed far greater determination in battle.

  The same could not be said for Apollo’s regular troops. They had little interest in invading a neighboring nation. For that reason, Vlad turned to various second-rate mercenary companies.

  They might not have been as reliable as the enemy militias—but they had something the militias did not:

  Equipment and training.

  While all of this unfolded, King Ulric was planning his next move—one that could turn the board upside down.

  Where will this grand chess game lead?

  End of interlude.