Divine Luck: SSS-Rank Battle Maid Harem

"Lahso, Garad," The second imperial prince, Yan, said before glancing to his other side, where a purple-haired woman stood. "Miss Oria."

They listened without tearing their eyes away from the horizon. Yan looked in the same direction.

The barbarian army was kicking up a cloud of dust as they moved toward Mara.

"It looks like the negotiation has officially failed," Yan commented.

He didn't know why, but the Byuwil tribe was more hostile to the Empire than any of the others they had seen so far. They also employed more ruthless tactics. They did not hold back.

If not for Zach managing to establish a ceasefire in two places already, Yan wouldn't have even entertained the thought of a ceasefire with the Byuwil tribe.

Burning several small towns, outposts, and entire caravans and convoys of supplies was too much. They did not take prisoners of war or let the women and children go. They turned every imperial citizen they encountered into a pile of ash and bone.

If Yan hadn't seen and experienced a lot on the battlefield since he separated from Zach, that would have driven him mad with rage. But now he knew that the only way to prevent more people from experiencing the same fate was to end the war.

That was more important than revenge or making the Byuwil tribe pay for their deeds.

However, if the Byuwil tribe wasn't willing to listen to them, there was only one way to end the war.

Yan turned around and looked at the army beneath the city wall. He saw only brave warriors who would help him see through that end. He took a deep breath. It was time to make use of his one talent.

"Men, women—Brave soldiers!" He shouted, his voice spreading across the city. It silenced the clamor of nervously shifting and chatting soldiers. They listened with attention as Yan, the imperial prince—no, the commander, spoke.

"I had not set foot on the battlefield until a few weeks ago. I did not know the horrors of war nor the bravery of the Empire's citizens! I was foolish. I was ignorant. I lived a sheltered life in the safety of the capital. I know now that it was only possible thanks to you and your forefathers who fight and fought for this land.

"I could not have been more different from all of you!

"I am ashamed to say that I would not have given any of you so much as a second look a month ago.

"But today, I am proud to call each and every one of you my brothers and sisters! You all make me proud! And I know you will make me proud again.

"Today, we don't fight for the ones like me. We don't fight for the privileged nobles in the capital who have not seen so much as a drop of blood. We don't fight for the Emperor who refuses to send aid.

"We fight for our friends! Our families! Our lovers!

"Today, we fight for our lives!"

Yan could feel the spirit in the soldiers rise. Their hearts were beating and their blood was boiling. He knew because he knew his own was doing the same.

Unlike the ones down there, he wasn't fighting. He couldn't fight. His life was in their hands. He was fortunate. The soldiers were the most trustworthy people he had ever met.

He wasn't worried about them losing, even if their loss would mean his death.

Victory was theirs. He was convinced. And he was convincing the soldiers of it too.

As he closed his eyes, he could hear the stampeding barbarians from behind. He could feel it in the soles of his feet.

He opened his eyes. They glowed with fervor and white light.

"Open the gates!" He roared. Instantly, the gates were steadily cranked open, and the army spilled out of the city. They lined up.

Several thousand soldiers. Some had fought more times than they could remember. Others were fighting for the first time.

All of them stood shoulder to shoulder, their breaths steaming in the morning air. Some had lumps in their throats, others in their stomachs. A few were just waiting, waiting for the barbarians.

Their armors, shields, and weapons rustled as they breathed or shifted to get rid of the kinks in their posture.

Yan saw it all. He took it all in as he drew a deep breath.

"RAISE YOUR WEAPONS!"

Yan's voice boomed across the battlefield. The soldiers weren't surprised. It was louder than usual, but who could blame him? This was the deciding battle.

The Sesha were surprised but chalked it up to magic. They could just ignore it.

It wasn't magic, at least not ordinary magic.

"Take a look at the men and women by your sides!

"That is who you are fighting for!

"I will see you bring each other back here! I will see you win this war!

"Breathe, my brave soldiers!"

The soldiers, who had been unable to breathe due to tension and nervousness took deep breaths. The air flowed into their bodies and reinvigorated them.

"Jump, my brave soldiers!"

Their legs and bodies, stiff from the chilly morning air and the armor jumped. Their muscles, forced to activate, relaxed.

"My brave soldiers, they say a good laugh prolongs life. And I'll be damned if any of you die before me. My hair is already white, dammit!

"Laugh, my brave soldiers!"

The soldiers chuckled, the last of their nervousness fading due to the warmth in their bellies.

"Good! Now…March!"

At Yan's signal, drums lined up on the wall started beating, signaling the tempo the soldiers had to keep as they moved to meet the barbarians.

But even without the drums, the soldiers moved in perfect sync. When one stepped forward, the others also stepped forward. The soldiers moved as one.

It was what Yan liked to see. He grew even more satisfied as the army gradually split into five divisions.

It was a subtle split with less than two steps between each division, but it was enough for him to see it. The distance between each soldier was less than a single step, after all.

Yan clenched his fights so tight his knuckles whitened.

He had done all he could so far.

He hoped it would be enough.