Shadowfall Kingdom

  The Road Back to Vincent

  Week 2 of 3

  The three girls ride in the carriage behind us. Lord Kaijuu and I spend the morning discussing our next steps regarding the war.

  “Three months.”

  “Three months?”

  “I need three months, King Raymond. After that, name me the general of your entire army.”

  “And what will you do in those three months?”

  “I will train Roka, Felmina, and myself. I will also begin research and development. I will require a massive laboratory. In addition, I’ll need continuous intelligence from both the East Empire and the Shadowfall Kingdom—troop numbers, unit specializations, profiles on commanders, and any and all information related to the coming war.”

  “Understood. But what will the kingdom do during those three months?”

  “King Raymond, have you ever heard the expression ‘survival of the fittest’?”

  “Yes. Roka’s mother used to say it. A phrase from your old world, is it not?”

  “Before I continue, let me ask you something. According to you—or Management—do you require me merely to repel the East Empire’s forces, or are we to conquer them entirely?”

  “According to Management, only one of us may remain at the end. So yes. Total conquest.”

  “I see. Then a few things must be put in place. Please tell me if I overstep my authority.”

  “Go on, Lord Kaijuu.”

  “For the next three months, you will begin mass recruitment. All existing soldiers will undergo continuous physical conditioning: running, push-ups, sit-ups, flutter kicks, and eight-count bodybuilders, every day from 06:00 until 18:00, for three weeks straight. Anyone who drops out is to be dismissed—especially among the new recruits—unless they display exceptional talent in archery or magic.

  “After this, they will proceed to combat training in parallel with physical conditioning: hand-to-hand combat, swordsmanship for infantry, spellcasting drills for mages, and so on.

  “At the end of the three months, I will challenge each of your current commanders in single combat. Once they are defeated, they will formally acknowledge me as general.

  “The entire kingdom is going to war. Begin stockpiling food immediately. Nine months before battle, place the kingdom on reduced rations: three-quarters for civilians, one and a half portions for enlisted soldiers.

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  “Once I am general, I will take full responsibility for training and tactics.”

  Who the hell is this man?

  I thought I had grown accustomed to his surprises, but this…

  This is insanity.

  And yet, for the first time, I feel as though we might actually win.

  “Very well, Lord Kaijuu. Your dedication is… formidable. Is there anything else?”

  “Yes. Do you have any executions scheduled?”

  “I already know the answer, but why do you ask?”

  “Roka, Felmina, and I need to grow accustomed to killing. I would like to prepare us for what lies ahead.”

  “Denied. By order of Management.”

  “Management? May I ask why?”

  “They stated that if you are forced to kill during the war, it will be accepted. But killing purely for preparation is dangerous to your future. Monsters are one thing. People are another.”

  I fell silent. He understood.

  We made camp that evening and continued our journey the next day.

  “Lord Kaijuu,” I said, “would you explain your first three months in more detail?”

  “Which part?”

  “The physical training.”

  “I believe endurance will decide this war. If our soldiers can fight longer than the enemy, we will prevail. As for the food—”

  I stopped him. “An army marches on its stomach.”

  “Yes. I am glad we agree.”

  “And what exactly will you be researching?”

  “I cannot say. If I succeed, the result will be a very dangerous technology.”

  “I see. Then I will not pry.”

  The conversation faded, and my thoughts turned once more to Management.

  It began two years and six months ago, when a literal filing cabinet appeared above my desk and fell into existence.

  The crash nearly gave me a heart attack. I tumbled from my chair. Thankfully, I was alone.

  Inside the cabinet were three drawers. A key lay on my desk alongside a note from Management. Every morning, I was to open the appropriate folder marked with the date. I was warned never to look ahead.

  My first order instructed me to take eight knights into the Shadowfall Forest and slay an orc of level 120 to 130. The knights were listed by name. Shanon was to guard the carriage while the remaining seven accompanied me.

  At the time, I was level 65. The knights ranged from 55 to 75. All were greenhorns—except Shanon.

  It was a death sentence.

  In desperation, I tried to disobey. I opened the next day’s folder.

  It was blank.

  When I touched the page, my entire hand crystallized into salt.

  I woke in the infirmary missing that hand. An HP potion restored it overnight.

  That was the last time I ever disobeyed.

  Management never mentioned the incident.

  Did they even care?

  And yet, when it came to Lord Kaijuu, they interfered constantly.

  First, I was ordered to send Rebecca away for seven months.

  Then, on the morning of the first ceremony, I was instructed to present my daughters for marriage. If he refused, I was to force at least one wife upon him.

  That was when he met Roka.

  “The more, the better,” Management said. When Felmina showed interest, I did nothing to stop it.

  I was ordered to send Roka the documents regarding the seal and convince her to accept it. Felmina was sent to summon her—and I was told exactly what Felmina would do beneath the table, and to allow her to overhear. I was then to swear her to secrecy and bind her to the plan as well.

  Next, I was tasked with preparing Sir Kaijuu to inherit the Moonlight District.

  Management’s timing was flawless. Divine.

  When Sir Kaijuu fell into his coma, I was ordered to force the marriage and stage a spectacle for the kingdom. I was told precisely when to use the Force Awake Stone. Not a moment sooner.

  By then, the first drawer was empty.

  Six weeks ago, the key to the second drawer appeared.

  New instructions. New dates.

  Recall the armies. Prepare the capital. Personally retrieve Lord Kaijuu for the coming war.

  I was given names, supplies, lies to tell, truths to conceal, and scripts to follow. A skeletal defense plan—and a final order:

  Entrust the kingdom to Lord Kaijuu as general.

  When I return to the palace, I will open the drawer once more.

  My relationship with Management has protected my family and my reign.

  I do not believe that will change in the eight years I have left.