NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 6 - Refresh
✦ Chapter 6 – Refresh ✦
「Translator – Creator」
𒋝𒋝𒋝𒋝𒋝
When Andrei Komarov shoved Viktor, that thorn in his side, into solitary confinement, he felt great.
The sight of that commoner, swaggering about as Supreme Commander, had been unbearable. The praise heaped upon him, the accolades for his supposed brilliance — it filled Andrei with a burning resentment.
He might never have set foot on a battlefield, but Andrei was convinced that he was a far superior tactician than Viktor.
After all, he consistently dominated the war games he played against the kingdom’s other officers, to the point where they’d started making excuses to avoid facing him. In his mind, Viktor was nothing more than a lucky peasant who’d stumbled into success.
The Empire’s defeat at Viktor’s hands? A mere fluke, a testament to their incompetence. Andrei, had he been in charge, would have routed those Imperial dogs before they even reached the capital.
Belittling Viktor like this, Andrei was infuriated by Viktor’s seemingly nonchalant attitude even as he was dragged away. Viktor’s constant odd questions and his pretense of being kind and compliant irritated Andrei immensely.
Locking Viktor in solitary confinement was a decision driven by Andrei’s seething emotions.
Although Count Sabinkov, the one in charge, had only ordered Viktor to be detained in a suitable place until the delegation arrived, to Andrei, those instructions sounded suspiciously like an open invitation to choose whatever “detention” entailed.
Eager to crush Viktor’s spirit, Andrei threw him into solitary confinement.
A few days in that cramped, dark cell would surely strip away the facade, revealing the true nature of the commoner beneath.
“His meals are reportedly untouched, sir,” the guard stationed outside Viktor’s cell reported.
“Is that so? Let him do as he pleases. We’ll let him out in a few days anyway.”
Andrei didn’t think much of the guard’s report. Missing a meal or two wouldn’t cause any significant issues, and Andrei didn’t want to bother more with Viktor, who seemed to be making unnecessary trouble for himself. He left instructions that no further reports were needed and attended a party hosted by the nobles.
🪦
“General Viktor has been arrested by the Royal Guard!”
The rumor, initially whispered among the soldiers who’d witnessed the event, spread like wildfire, its impact far exceeding the expectations of the kingdom’s nobles.
Since most of the military force was concentrated in the capital city, the news of Viktor being taken by the royal guards quickly spread among the troops.
Although there were also rumors about an impending peace treaty, the fact that both rumors spread simultaneously allowed everyone to easily grasp the causal relationship between them, and it cast a dark cloud over the army’s morale.
Everyone remembered.
The kingdom’s string of defeats before Viktor became the Supreme Commander — they remembered the countless officers replaced, the staggering casualty rates.
In contrast, the 1st Legion, which Viktor had commanded from the beginning, had gained the nickname ‘The Immortal Legion’ because of its notably low casualty rate.
The majority of the army consisted of conscripts, young men yearning to survive and return home. And junior officers, statistically, had a high mortality rate. Viktor, who’d risen through the ranks, understood their plight. He was respected and admired by nearly every soldier, with the exception, perhaps, of the highborn officers who’d benefited from the old system.
The numerous early defeats had made the Imperial Army a terrifying presence, and Viktor, who achieved overwhelming victories against them, became the last hope of the Kingdom of Rus.
Needing a figurehead hero, the kingdom also bolstered his reputation, causing him to be revered almost as a hero by the military and civilians alike.
Now, with their hero imprisoned, whispers of discontent grew into a chorus of outrage. The rumor that he was to be handed over to the Empire as part of the peace treaty only fueled their anger.
When word spread that General Viktor was languishing in the royal dungeons, refusing to eat, the calls for action grew louder. Soldiers, fueled by a mixture of loyalty and desperation, began discussing plans to storm the palace and liberate their Supreme Commander.
Many even approached Anna, widely regarded as Viktor’s chosen successor, and some noble-born officers who were sympathetic to Viktor also made contact with her.
While Anna declared a temporary halt, citing concerns about security and the likelihood of success, those ready to draw their swords began to prepare their forces and check their authority, readying for the events to come.
In their gatherings, the word “rebellion” was mentioned openly, illustrating the gravity of the situation.
The guards carrying out the orders of the nobles were not entirely unaware of these developments. However, because complaints about officer purges and subsequent discontent were common, they didn’t take it seriously.
Ultimately, dissatisfaction was limited to a minority, which historically had been easily suppressed through purges or brute force.
The nobles’ only fear was Viktor outright refusing arrest, but they paid little mind to spreading discontent.
The nobles believed that once the initial fervor died down, they could easily eliminate Viktor’s supporters, starting with Anna. With their leader gone and his inner circle dismantled, the problem would simply vanish. Very few truly grasped the gravity of the situation brewing beneath the surface.
Satisfied with having removed the troublesome Viktor, they enjoyed the relief it brought.
They even held parties in the palace with the young puppet king, and rumors that the nobles were throwing parties after selling out General Viktor only fueled the soldiers’ anger.
The war might be over, but the capital city of Rus was a powder keg, waiting for a spark.
🪦
[Heroic Victory!]
[Imperial Forces: 1500 Troops
Imperial Forces Casualties: 724
Kingdom of Rus Forces: 6200 Troops
Kingdom of Rus Forces Casualties: 5882]
“Hah.”
It had been a grueling battle.
The scenario had been defending the city against the Kingdom of Rus’ counterattack using only the city guards, and with the difficulty set to maximum, the enemy Kingdom of Rus forces were far stronger than their actual counterparts.
In reality, in the early days of the war, the Kingdom of Rus forces had a tendency to flee, even in the midst of victory unless they were constantly encouraged. They scattered like startled rabbits at the mere sight of an Imperial knight
It was only because their cavalry and ranged units were weak and spread out that I managed to defeat them with a desperate strategy of engaging them piecemeal.
As the battle ended and the tension released, I was overwhelmed by an intense hunger, feeling as though I hadn’t eaten for days.
“I guess I really did fast for a long time.”
I had taken care of necessities like drinking water and using the bathroom in between, but I had skimped on meals, filling my stomach with water to save time.
I also hadn’t slept at all, which is why I felt so tired.
It had been a long time since I had immersed myself in a game this comfortably.
In fact, that was how I used to be.
Before coming to this world, I would skip meals and sleep during long holidays, sitting in front of the computer for days, and now those memories came flooding back.
Opening my eyes and removing the cloth I had been using as a blindfold, I saw the bright midday sunlight streaming through the window.
Since the moment the sun had forced me to open my eyes, I had covered my eyes with clothes, making it impossible to tell how much time had actually passed.
“…No idea how long it’s been.”
Just knowing that it was daytime gave me no clue as to which day it was.
I couldn’t rely on the in-game timeline to track the passage of time. I’d run far too many simulations to keep count.
Though, how many days had passed wasn’t that crucial.
I trusted Andrei’s twitching reaction when I mentioned three days.
If he had been mistaken, it might be a small issue, but I could just enjoy a few more simulations.
Judging by the bread crumbs scattered on the floor, they were still feeding me properly, making this time more comfortable compared to my days as a commander.
The sight of the uneaten food did stir up my appetite, but I pushed it aside. The last thing I needed was food coma slowing down my strategic thinking.
“Just a little more, just a little longer.”
When I eventually go to the Empire, I’ll be extraordinarily busy.
I’ll need to work hard to secure my position and to pursue my long-postponed dream of world conquest.
Not knowing when I’d get another chance to enjoy myself without risking lives, I drank some water to slightly ease my hunger and lay back down on the bed.
I covered my eyes with my makeshift blindfold and was about to launch another simulation when –
*Clank. Clank. Screech.*
I heard the sound of someone unlocking the door. I sat up, pulling off the blindfold just as the heavy stone door swung open.
“Damn it, you’re stubborn, aren’t you? What did you do with the ropes—? Never mind.”
A now familiar silhouette walked through the open doorway.
“Andrei.”
“They tell me you haven’t touched your food. What’s the matter? Some kind of protest?”
Andrei, scanning the solitary cell with a somewhat exasperated expression, looked at me.
The guards standing behind him glanced at me curiously, as if I were some intriguing spectacle.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“They say you’ve been lying there for three days straight, just drinking water. Is this some kind of power play?”
Three days already? Come to think of it, I was feeling rather exhausted.
“Really?”
“…Let’s go. Get him out of here.”
Maybe I had enjoyed my stress-free simulation life a bit too much.
I felt a pang of disappointment at the thought of leaving the solitary cell.
“Actually, I wouldn’t mind staying a bit longer.”
“…You’re out of your mind. Hurry and tie him up.”
“Right away, sir.”
Two guards stepped forward, flanking me on either side, their hands gripping my arms.
“Oh… I’m disappointed, disappointed.”
“…Excuse me?”
I let out a sigh, suppressing the urge to request a few more hours of simulation time. Reluctantly, I allowed the guards to lead me out of my solitary sanctuary, into the unknown.
↤ END OF CHAPTER ↦
⚘ ⚘ ⚘
If you have liked the novel, don’t forget to rate and review the novel on ⊱• NOVEL UPDATES •̩̩͙⊰ It really helps!!!