Ch. 3001I Refuse to Be a Valkyrie!
Key Plot Points and Events
- Esdeath refuses to let her subordinates fight Durandal, halting the Three Beasts' attack.
- Durandal takes Esdeath captive and orders the Empire's army to return to their posts.
- The Empire's army, having quelled the foreign tribes' rebellion, prepares to return to the capital with tens of thousands of captives.
- The Empire orders the execution of all fifty thousand prisoners on the spot.
Character Developments
- Esdeath shows reluctance to let her subordinates die but still follows the Minister's orders for brutal treatment of foreign tribes.
- Najeta's disgust and loss of faith in the Empire grow due to the Minister's faction's actions and the Empire's order to execute prisoners.
- Durandal remains neutral, not interfering with the Empire's order but also not supporting it.
Significant Themes
- The Empire's ruthless and brutal methods to maintain control and instill fear.
- The moral conflict and disillusionment among the Empire's generals, particularly Najeta.
- The power dynamics within the Empire's military, with Durandal as the most powerful figure.
Character Interactions
- Esdeath and Durandal's tense interaction, with Esdeath showing deference to Durandal's power.
- Najeta's growing disdain for Esdeath and her faction, and her reliance on Durandal's presence.
- The Empire's generals gathered, discussing the order to execute prisoners, with Durandal presenting the directive and Najeta expressing her disapproval.