V6C21 Behind the Scenes of the big operation - Santairiku Eiyuuki

A month had passed since they began traversing the desert. Hercule, Alicia, Scheherazade, and Nia were half-submerged in a small pool about three meters in diameter. Hercule was in a surf-style swimsuit, while the other three donned bikinis. "Ahh, this feels like coming back to life." Hercule stretched expansively in the pool. Then, opening his arms wide, he pulled Alicia and Scheherazade towards him. "Aah..." "E-err, Your Majesty, that’s inappropriate..." Alicia let out a small scream, and Scheherazade voiced her protest, but they didn’t seem entirely displeased as they nestled into Hercule’s embrace. Nestled between Scheherazade's ample bosom and Alicia’s relatively large chest, Hercule wore an expression of contentment. "I feel my fatigue melting away." "Your Majesty! Don’t forget about me!" "Of course not! How could I forget?" Nia clung to Hercule, draping herself over him. The two shared a passionate kiss. "Eek! Y-Your Majesty, not there!!" "Why not? What's the harm?" Hercule casually grabbed Nia’s tail—a cute, heart-shaped black tail. "Your tail is adorable, twitching like that. Look, look." "Ahh... please, not there, really, it's really not okay..." "There? Where exactly? Be specific." "T-the tip, the tip of my tail is..." "Here?" "Aah, nngh, aaah!! No, not there, please, anywhere but there!" Nia’s shoulders trembled, her body turning red with embarrassment, and she slumped against Hercule’s body. Each time Hercule ran his hand over Nia’s tail, her rear, and her back, Nia shivered slightly, letting out sweet sounds. After thoroughly teasing Nia, Hercule wrapped his arm around Scheherazade’s shoulder, who was on his right. He slowly caressed her fair skin. "Scheherazade, your body is as remarkable as ever." "Ahhh... but, Your Majesty, there are others here..." "You were watching Nia's antics so intently just now. Don’t act like it’s suddenly awkward." With those words, Hercule drew Scheherazade closer to him. Instead of directly touching her beautiful, bountiful form, he pressed her against his body. "As always, they're quite sizable. Such marvelous resilience." "Oh... it’s embarrassing..." Despite her words, Scheherazade pressed herself against Hercule, seemingly intoxicated by the pleasure of their bodies rubbing together. "Hyah!" With his left hand, Hercule grabbed Alicia’s unsuspecting rear and pulled her towards him. "Your chest is decent, but your backside is large. Almost like Luna's... no, perhaps on par with Scheherazade’s?" "Ah..." "Hnn..." Hercule caressed Scheherazade’s rear with his right hand and Alicia’s with his left, thoroughly assessing their shapes. "Hmm, they feel about the same. We need to be thorough in checking... Alicia, Scheherazade. It’s an order: strip. You too, Nia." The three flushed bright red and nodded slightly. After indulging themselves, the foursome climbed out of the pool, adorned themselves with loose-fitting clothes, and relaxed. "I feel more exhausted than after a march..." Nia leaned wearily against the sofa. Alicia and Scheherazade, seated on the same sofa, nodded in agreement. "You all had it easy. I had to handle three of you myself!" Hercule remarked while picking out a chilled peach. Of course, the peach was not fresh fruit but a canned, sugared delicacy brought from the Lemurian Empire. "That’s your own fault, isn’t it?" "...Yet you seem rather energetic." Scheherazade remarked with a hint of exasperation, and Alicia flashed a wry smile. Hercule shrugged. "Your Majesty, Your Majesty... I want some of that too!" "Hmm? Oh, I see. That’s what you mean." Using the fork he had, Hercule speared a piece of peach and brought it to Nia’s mouth. She eagerly took a bite. "Mmm, it’s delicious..." "I’m glad to hear that." Hercule petted Nia’s head. Nia snuggled up to him like a cat. "Still, despite everything, we’ve managed to progress quite a bit. I was prepared to lose half our soldiers..." Scheherazade reflected on the grueling march. The Lemurian army had already lost about 3,000 soldiers, yet only 3,000 in such harsh conditions was unusual. "Well, we prepared thoroughly." Hercule grinned. As an initial step, they meticulously researched the route, especially noting the locations of water sources throughout the desert. Heavier items such as armor, arrows, and supplies had been transported in advance to the Balbar tribe’s oasis cities. "It seems there are almost no complaints among the soldiers either. I was worried the Bulgaran soldiers might revolt." Alicia murmured. Historically unruly, the Bulgaran soldiers remained unusually subdued during this march. This was partly because their families back home were held hostage, but more so because Hercule dedicated himself to easing the soldiers' discontent. He arranged for leisure activities at the oasis cities that were rest spots along the way. Prostitutes to satisfy carnal desires, plenty of water for cleansing, and delicious meals using canned goods were provided... These had been prepared in advance. As a result, the soldiers could relax at the oasis cities and did not revolt during the march. "But really... even I was having a tough time. Not being able to embrace a woman during the march was truly harsh. It’s essential to understand the soldiers’ feelings." Hercule nodded as if pondering deeply. His provision of entertainment at destinations was due to personally experiencing the soldiers’ dissatisfaction. It was so harsh he himself could sympathize with wanting to start a revolt or two. Thus, he ensured recreational opportunities at rest areas. "Your Imperial Majesty. How are you enjoying your relaxation?" While the four were lounging in the guest room, the chieftain of the Balbar tribe, Masinissa, appeared. "Oh! Masinissa, yes, thanks for everything. Ah, pardon me, I may have made a mess, and I apologize for that." Hercule stood up immediately. In terms of international standing, Masinissa’s position as a chieftain placed him slightly below that of a king. Thus, even as an emperor, Hercule needed to show due respect. "No, no, I’m glad you enjoyed yourselves." This mansion belonged to Masinissa. The oasis city was essentially the capital of the Barbal tribe's Shuyen clan. The pool Hercule had just used was Masinissa’s property as well. In the desert, having access to water like this was a status symbol. "By the way, Masinissa, have your troops gathered?" "Yes, Your Majesty. We will participate as an allied force with 6,000 cavalry and 12,000 infantry, totaling 18,000 troops." "Hmm… that's more than I expected. Are you sure you’re okay with this?" "Compared to the burden on Your Majesty and the Lemurian Empire, it’s no large matter." Masinissa dismissed Hercule's concerns about the size of the commitment. However, it was a significant burden on the economy and population scale for the Shuyen clan of the Barbal tribe. Masinissa was merely the chieftain of the Shuyen clan, not the king of all the Barbal tribes. While the Shuyen clan, which controlled the Fezzan region and several Barbal clans, was indeed significant among the Barbal tribes, it paled in comparison to the Lemurian Empire or the Kingdom of Cerdia. Unlike the nomadic Bulgaran Kingdom, which controlled lush grasslands, the Shuyen clan's domain was an arid desert where barely any plants grew. The 18,000 troops represented the maximum the Shuyen clan could field. Despite this, Masinissa had committed such a large force because he believed in a victory and wanted to display the Shuyen clan's power to the Lemurian Empire, enhancing their reputation, and serving as a check. "Well, you can never have enough reinforcements. I must thank you for everything. It’s all thanks to your cooperation that we've managed to come this far." The march itself required the guidance of the Shuyen clan. Transporting supplies to the oasis cities wasn’t straightforward. If the Kingdom of Cerdia had noticed any unusual movements, the surprise attack plan would have been compromised. The successful concealment of information was due to the full cooperation of the Shuyen clan. "No, no, it was no trouble. The Fezzan area is not particularly busy with traffic." Trade across the great desert had been going on since ancient times, but it wasn’t as bustling as the trade routes crossing the Lemurian Empire, the Kingdom of Fars, or the Silk Surna Country. Moreover, the oasis cities were surrounded by desert and completely isolated, making it relatively easy for the Shuyen clan to conceal information. Additionally, the Lemurian Empire’s active dissemination of Messianic teachings and Masinissa's policies on the faith contributed to the concealment of information. Initially, there had been transportation of materials like stone and timber for building churches, ostensibly imported from the Lemurian Empire, disguising a large supply of goods sent to the oasis cities. All supplies were stored underground at the churches. Many in the Shuyen clan were unaware of these supplies, making it impossible for the Kingdom of Cerdia to realize their presence. "By the way, you’ve fought the Kingdom of Cerdia several times, haven’t you? We've conducted some investigations, but is there any enemy commander we should be wary of?" When Hercule inquired, Masinissa nodded. "Yes. The enemy generals most renowned are, of course, General Carmine and General Iason." "I’ve heard of them." Even during the civil war, Hercule had continued gathering intelligence on the Kingdom of Cerdia, where these two were frequently cited as leading generals for the royalist faction. "However… personally, I find the 'Red Wolf Princess' the most fearsome." "The Red Wolf Princess?" "Yes. The Red Wolf Princess, Sonia Lupus Geiserya. Among those she commands, the proportion of enemies slain is highest. Her 'Red Wolf Brigade' is known as the most ferocious and ruthless unit in the Kingdom of Cerdia." Masinissa spoke at length about the threat posed by the 'Red Wolf Princess.’ Hercule pondered for a while, then nodded. "Got it. I’ll inform my subordinates as well." Hercule nodded. He then reached out a hand to Masinissa, who grasped it firmly in a handshake. "Well, then... I’m counting on you to carry out the plan." "Understood." Masinissa nodded and smiled wryly. "For the prosperity of the Lemurian Empire and the Shuyen clan." "Indeed. Let’s show those heretics, the western branch Messians, the glory of the divine." "My soldiers, you have persevered through a long march of over a month!" Hercule addressed the soldiers. Under the blazing sun in the middle of the desert, the soldiers of the Lemurian Empire looked intently at Hercule. "There have been considerable sacrifices to get here." The Lemurian Empire's army had lost about 3,000 soldiers during the march. The original force of 43,200 had dwindled to 40,200. However, morale had not declined. In fact, the soldiers were highly motivated. They were finally nearing the end of this hellish march. Soon, they would be able to unleash their accumulated frustrations against the Kingdom of Cerdia's forces. "In just an hour's march, we’ll reach the city. It’s the front line between the territory of the Kingdom of Cerdia and the Barbal tribe. We’ll break through here and push straight into the heart of the Kingdom of Cerdia, into the city of Terripolis!" Hercule declared, swirling his cloak as he turned to face north, towards the Kingdom of Cerdia. He raised his voice forcefully. "Jebe! Your three battalions will be at the forefront. Use your cavalry's mobility to breach the Kingdom of Cerdia's defenses!" "Yes, Your Majesty!" Jebe nodded. "Next, Alicia! You'll lead the Bulgaran troops alongside the medium cavalry cataphracts directly under my command. Brave warriors of the grasslands, I expect great feats from you. Lemuria’s medium cavalry cataphracts, don’t lag behind the Bulgaran! Show them the strength of the long-eared elves, show them Lemuria’s might!" "Yes, Your Majesty. I’ll surely meet your expectations." Alicia nodded. Following her lead, the Bulgaran cavalry and medium cavalry cataphracts raised their voices in enthusiasm. "Following that, Oscar Armon! Your infantry corps will follow. Don’t lag behind the cavalry, stay right behind them!" "Yes, Your Majesty!" Oscar and his infantry corps roared in unison. "Lastly, Nia Loukarios! I entrust our rear to you. Guard our backs!" "Yes! I swear it!!" Nia replied, gripping her horse's reins tightly. Finally, Hercule issued a command to the entire army once more. "Now, my comrades! We are going to push into enemy territory at once. Do not stop, do not falter! Show the barbaric hordes and heretics the might of Lemuria!" He then shouted loudly. "God is with us!" In succession, Scheherazade, Alicia, Nia, and Oscar echoed his cry. "God is with us!!" The entire army then followed suit. "God is with us!!!" Hercule raised his sword high above his head, pointing north towards the Kingdom of Cerdia. "All units!! Commence the advance!!!!!!" [Note: The term "Red" refers to being bathed in enemy blood. Also, when Masinissa says "be wary," it's closer in nuance to "beware (because she's dangerous)."