The Sorrow of Those at the Bottom

Dean nodded calmly.

Then he followed Chen Cheng out of the tent and into the camp holding the prisoners.

They had planned for this and set aside plenty of space for a prisoner camp. Dozens of mages skilled in healing magic were waiting there, ready to treat the wounded prisoners as soon as they arrived.

Fortunately, this was a world with magic. Given their injuries, most of these people would probably have died if left to conventional treatment under the current conditions.

The wounded prisoners had never imagined that the Imperial Remnants they had come to attack would save them.

They had not actually fought the Black Armor Guards, either. For some of the gravely wounded, the treatment stirred a sense of gratitude.

Human nature was strange that way. First, they had thought Magic Beasts would kill them. Then they had been captured and expected to be tortured to death, so all they had felt was hatred.

Now they were not going to die, and their captors were treating their wounds. The hostility they had felt moments ago turned at once into the gratitude of survivors.

When Chen Cheng arrived at the prisoner camp, the Black Armor Guards on watch snapped to attention and saluted.

"This is a military camp. There's no need for so much ceremony."

He then looked toward the prisoners.

"Do you all recognize me?"

Chen Cheng pointed to himself as he asked.

How could they fail to recognize a face that stared out from wanted notices posted across every street and alley?

Before seeing Chen Cheng, they had entertained all kinds of guesses. The moment he appeared, any thought that this was an army from an enemy nation vanished.

These were the Imperial Remnants, led by His Imperial Majesty himself.

Most of the prisoners came from