Chapter 72: The Awakening of the Prince

The Kingdom Knights’ unstoppable charge.
It was the final brilliance signaling the end of an old era of warfare.
They had long abandoned formations and tactics.
Driven solely by the instincts and pride of knights, they surged headlong at the enemy before them.

Yet what might have seemed a reckless charge carried the greatest destructive power on the perfectly prepared stage that Zenon had set.
The Imperial central units, completely isolated and demoralized, collapsed helplessly under the onslaught of these berserk warriors.

“…Truly magnificent,”

Zenon murmured quietly from the hill at the rear, observing the scene.

“…Even emotion—a seemingly irrational energy—can produce this level of destructive power if applied correctly… Fascinating data.”

Next to him, Saint Liliana clasped her hands tightly over her chest in prayer.

To her, this horrific scene also reflected the depth of Zenon’s mercy.

(…He deliberately gave the Knights a final stage, didn’t he? To preserve their pride… Zenon-sama, your consideration runs far deeper than I could have imagined…)

But then, an irregularity occurred—something Zenon’s flawless scenario had not accounted for.

Marshal Gaius, the overall commander of the Imperial Army, tried to break through a point in the encirclement with several hundred of his personal guards.

It was exactly where the Kingdom troops were thin.

“Marshal! There! If we break through there, we can escape!”

“Understood! Everyone, follow me! We’ll return to the Empire alive!”

The old commander’s last act of defiance.
With the fierceness of a demon, they charged at a section of the Kingdom forces.

Defending that point was an inexperienced unit led by a young noble.
They quickly fell into confusion before the desperate assault of the Empire’s elite.

“D-Don’t falter! Form up!”

The young commander shouted desperately, but the soldiers were paralyzed with fear.
If the encirclement was breached, the battle could once again turn in the enemy’s favor.

The person who first recognized this critical situation was Prince Alphonse, observing from the rear of the main camp.
He had long felt frustrated at having no role assigned to him.
But now, his comrades were in danger.
And this was a dangerous flaw that could shake the entire battlefield.

(…What should I do?)
Alphonse struggled.
Zenon had ordered him not to move.
Acting on his own would violate military regulations.
Yet as a knight, he could not abandon comrades in peril.

At that moment, Zenon’s voice echoed in his mind.

“Pride alone cannot protect a nation. A commander’s true ability is to achieve the greatest results with the least sacrifice.”

(…I see.)
Something in Alphonse snapped.
What must be done now?
To protect knightly pride?
No.
To preserve the prince’s prestige?
No.
The most rational choice—
Seal the gap in the battle with minimal cost and secure overall victory.

He acted without hesitation.
He did not draw his sword.
Instead, he snatched the magic communication device from a nearby aide.

“Can you hear me!? This is Alphonse!”

His firm voice directly reached the head of the panicking young unit.

“W-Who…!? Your Highness!?”

“Listen carefully!”

Alphonse commanded calmly, but with unmistakable authority.

“Cease combat immediately! All units, retreat! Draw the enemy past us!”

“Wha…! You mean we should turn our backs on the enemy!?”

“Yes! Your role is not to annihilate the enemy! It is to stop them and buy time!”

Alphonse scanned the battlefield.

He could not see everything as Zenon did, but he had his own tactical insight.

“If you retreat, the enemy will surely pursue! There, from the left and right, General Gustav and Sir Hector’s units will execute a perfect pincer attack! Understood, General Gustav?”

Alphonse switched the communication channel to a nearby commander and issued his orders.
It was not based on Zenon’s flawless calculations.
Yet it was a sharp, adaptive decision, reading the flow of battle and responding instantly.

“…Understood!”

“We’ll handle it!”

Though startled by the sudden orders from the prince, General Gustav and Hector responded immediately.

They recognized the accuracy of Alphonse’s judgment.

Following Alphonse’s plan, the young unit retreated, drawing in the Imperial guards.
And as soon as the enemy was fully exposed, elite units from the Kingdom and Arkwright Army struck from both sides at precisely the right moment.
A classic pincer maneuver.
Simple, fundamental, and devastatingly effective.

Marshal Gaius’s last hope was extinguished.
His guards were annihilated under crossfire.
The Marshal himself fell to his knees before General Gustav’s sword.

All of this was quietly observed by Zenon on the hill.
An irregularity in his perfect scenario…
And Prince Alphonse handling it flawlessly.

“…Hmm.”

For the first time, a hint of genuine interest appeared on Zenon’s face at this unpredictable data.

“…The idealist has learned a little. He abandoned pride and made the most rational choice… Interesting. He may still be a usable piece.”

Alphonse had no idea that the cold commander had just reassessed him as a “usable piece.”
He had simply done what needed to be done.
Not to preserve knightly pride, not to assert the prince’s prestige.
He saved his comrades and secured victory as a commander.
For the first time, he felt a quiet satisfaction he had never known.

His long struggle had ended.
On this battlefield, he was reborn.
Shedding old ideals and embracing a new reality, he had become a true leader.
The awakening of Prince Alphonse.