Soudouki Vol 5 Chapter 1 (Patreon)

Chapter 1 – The Night Before the Start of Battle

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Part 1

Mauricia Kingdom’s Antrim territory achieved an unprecedented  development due to Baldr who was appointed as the new feudal lord there.  The spies of their bitter enemy Haurelia Kingdom who infiltrated there  were all disposed.

However, Sobat Drain(ソバト・ドレーン), one of the spies  were trying to accomplish that mission in exchange of his life.

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Sobat’s comrade, Dario returned home to his birthplace, the territory  of Count Savoie with the corpse of Sobat. He entrusted his son to his  sister-in-law who had gained a lot of weight and became a gutsy mother  in these ten years, then he brought himself to the mansion of the count.

The people who knew about Dario’s existence were limited even among  the spies that Count Savoie employed. Dario was forced to follow the  normal procedure in order to have a meeting with the count.

「The lord count will meet you. Come with me.」

Several hours were needed since Dario met the gate guard and a butler came to guide him to the count.

He was going a thorough check because the matter was extremely important.

Dario followed behind the butler just as he was told.

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「──So you are Dario.」

「Yes my lord.」

Dario was led into a gloomy office that felt cramped for a noble  office. The expression of Count Savoie, Fernando was melancholic.

Dario understood very well the reason for that. The same pain had  been constantly dwelling in his heart during his journey back home.

「I appreciate your efforts. Did Sobat accomplish his mission?」

「Yes. He splendidly brought back the information in exchange of his life.」

「……How regrettable. He was a subordinate who was too good for me.」

In reality, Sobat’s capability was too wonderful for him to simply stop at serving a count house at a remote region.

However at the flipside, it was also because of Fernando’s great  discernment in realizing just how important information was. Sobat had  never thought that he was serving the wrong master.

That was why Sobat was able to throw away his life without any hesitation for the sake of Fernando.

The death of a key retainer who had been serving him continuously  since before he inherited the house was a great loss that couldn’t be  ignored, both for Fernando himself and also for Savoie House.

「……I have also made you went through many difficulties in the enemy territory for so many years.」

「Just those words are already a great honor for me.」

「Then forgive me to cut this short but, can you show me what Sobat had left behind? I mustn’t let his sacrifice go to waste.」

「By your will.」

Dario presented a transparent crystal eye in front of Fernando.

「This is……?」

「It’s Sobat’s artificial eye. It’s possible that the enemy will find  out if we left behind a latter when our corpse is checked, so us spies  will carve truly important information into our body. It can be done by  swallowing the information into our stomach, or we can also carve it  into our bones. Sobat’s trump card was this artificial eye.」

「……I see.」

Fernando couldn’t say anything more in front of the intense resolve of those who lived in the shadow.

Because unlike the knights who were decorated brilliantly at the  battlefield, they who lived in the shadow couldn’t be bestowed with any  honor openly.

「How unworthy I am to be unable to reward my loyal subject.」

「This is the fate of those who live in the shadow.」

Spies couldn’t obtain any position or honor, but they were demanded to be extremely loyal, even more so than knights.

They were pulling the short end of the stick with the duty that was  assigned to them, but their task was also something indispensable that  someone had to carry out. Human who didn’t have the resolve to kill  themselves for the sake of their master and their homeland couldn’t  serve as spy.

By the way, this was the reason why Baldr had given up forming an  organization of spies himself and shifted his effort to gather  information using merchants and analyzed those information.

Seen from this perspective, no one could object even if it was said  that the relationship between master and servant at Haurelia Kingdom was  filled with more loyalty compared to Mauricia Kingdom.

「This artificial eye is a magic tool? Then should I call a magician here?」

「No, even I will be enough for just this much.」

Dario said that and casually pointed his palm at the artificial eye.

The construction of the artificial eye wasn’t that complicated. In  the past Dario had the experiences of operating a magic formula that was  similar with Sobat’s artificial eye several times.

「Project.」

The magic formula activated and a large rectangle projection that was  about two meters in size was projected in front of the two.

What first attracted their attention was the number of soldiers guarding the territory.

This was a very noticeable change for Dario who was living in Antrim.

In his estimation, the number of soldier at Antrim had multiplied by  more than ten times at the least since Baldr became the lord.

Most likely Antrim was maintaining a force that wasn’t that much  inferior even when compared to Cornelius House that was a corner stone  of Mauricia’s border. No doubt about it.

Sure enough, was it really possible for a mere viscount to possess that much financial strength?

At this time Fernando didn’t have any doubt at all that Mauricia’s  king was behind the development of Antrim. Even Dario who knew about  Baldr’s high evaluation at Antrim was agreeing with Fernando at this  matter.

What was projected next was the barbed wire entanglements that were placed along the border.

The two of them were speechless with their mouth hanging open at the  atypical appearance of the barbed wires that they were seeing for the  first time in their life.

Even though those were just wire without any hidden trick, it was  clear from a glance how troublesome they were when used at defense  encampment.

That thing would surely produce a lot of injured people and took a long time to break through.

The existences of wounded people were giving heavier burden than dead people.

The battlefield wasn’t a sanitary person by any means. The number of  medicines and healers were also limited, so the existence of wounded  people needed twice the assistance of healthy people.

In addition, there were the mysterious facilities that looked like  huge lump of stone behind the barbed wire and the moats that were laid  out to connect them.

「……Why are there moats within the encampment?」

「It’s embarrassing but, I also can’t imagine what they are for.」

Normally moats were for obstructing the advance of infantry and  cavalry, so they would be created in front of the encampment. The two of  them didn’t understand the reason why the moats were dug within the  encampment.

The concept of trench line at earth was devised after gun was invented so that infantry could hide while standing and shooting.

It was only natural that such concept couldn’t be understood in this world where gun still hadn’t been invented.

There were also several huge devices that seemed to be ballista for  sieging castle in the projection, but Fernando and Dario were also  puzzled by this.

「Why are they putting ballistas at that kind of place?」

「Please pardon my ignorance……」

Ballista was used for destroying rampart and the like. It was weapon  for the attacking side and wasn’t something that the defender would  prepare.

The more they watched, Antrim’s defensive encampment wasn’t simply solid but also mysterious.

Normally Fernando would just ignore these doubts, but when it came to  Antrim, he couldn’t help but thinking that there was a secret hidden  behind these mysterious arrangements.

There was no way the value of information that Sobat risked his life to obtain was that cheap.

「……And then, this is the last one……」

The last image seemed to be the last moment of Sobat’s life. It was a blurred image that was unclear.

There was something that looked like a large tube at the center of  the image. It was stretching toward a building that was like a grey  rock.

「This is……what?」

「It only look like a tube but……it was something that Sobat focused on. Surely it’s some kind of weapon.」

If it was really a weapon, was it some kind of catapult?

Fernando pondered for a while, but he judged that this was beyond him already.

Above all else, Sobat’s death would become pointless if he didn’t make use of this information effectively.

「Send a messenger to his majesty the king! Inform his majesty King  Louis that this is a matter of utmost importance from Count Savoie.」

Even though the puzzles hadn’t been solved, Fernando’s heart had decided.

Antrim’s defensive structure had to be removed before it was  completed. If not, he had the hunch that Haurelia Kingdom would have to  give up Antrim and even their ambition to conquer Mauricia Kingdom.

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Part 2

「That brat, how impertinent……」

Duke Arnold Beaufort’s face twisted in disgrace when he learned that  his scheme to isolate Baldr as the first step to bring down the royal  authority ended in failure.

Arnold was 72 years old this year, but his eyelids were covered with  deep wrinkles as though he was already passed 80. His lips were dry and  rough with many cracks.

The dominating aura of the number 2 of the ten great nobles of  Mauricia Kingdom couldn’t be felt at all from his thin body that was  like a withered tree.

「There are many nobles who are reluctant to openly turn Randolph  House into enemy……there are only five houses including our house that  declared disownment to that bratBaldr.」

The one who said that was Count Hendrick Hastings.

He was making an exaggerated gesture with a tone of voice that was  lamenting how deplorable the situation was. Such performance made Arnold  wanted to spit.

(You useless bastard. A mere five houses won’t bring any political effect at all.)

Arnold was losing patience.

If time simply passed idly like this, King Welkin and Prime Minister Harold would continue enjoy the height of their glory.

He would never accept that the foolish king who stole the life of his  son would leave his name as a wise ruler in the history of Mauricia.

However what was even more dangerous than that was how the authority  of conservatism noble faction including Arnold was getting whittled by  the reorganization of bureaucrats that were centered on Harold.

It was impossible to expect his adorable seventeen years old grandson  to be able to play an active part in opposing the kingdom’s main  faction. Arnold who had been surviving for many years in the royal  palace was fully aware of that.

That was why Arnold wished to whittle down Welkin’s power.

For the sake of that, he wouldn’t even hesitate to join hands with his bitter enemy Haurelia Kingdom.

「……Falkirk-dono whose territory is located at Antrim’s rear is  sympathizing with our ideal. In the end that brat is nothing more than a  rat in a bag.」

「It’s not enough to simply make him a trapped rat. It’s pointless to  destroy Antrim if the royal family’s strength isn’t reduced together  with it. We won’t have any future like this!」

「T-that’s right indeed. If we can skillfully lead Randolph House to dig their own grave……」

Hendricks’s words made Arnold recalled Alford Randolph at his youth.

He was a young nobleman who was popular among women in the palace and  anticipated to become the representative of the ten great nobles in the  future.

Arnold was on guard against him as a man who he couldn’t let his  guard down against as his son’s political opponent, but he couldn’t  understand Alford’s decision to back up Baldr.

(That damn Alford……what is he thinking?)

If it was Alford, then at the very least that man should be able to predict his intention to some degree.

Making Haurelia raised an army by using Antrim as bait, and whittling  Mauricia royalty’s military and financial strength by using war.

Alford making Baldr as his son-in-law was overdoing it even if it was for the sake of preventing their plot.

Or was this Alford saying that Baldr had that much value for him to go that far?

If it was Arnold from several years ago, he would try to win over  Baldr to be his ally or spent more time to gauge Baldr’s capability.

However Arnold had no more time left.

He discovered there was a tumor in his stomach three months ago. He  was feeling his strength leaving him day by day. Even at the longest he  only had one more year to live.

He had to prepare a secure political force for his grandson while he  was still alive. He wouldn’t die until he could accomplish that at all  costs.

「We can’t turn back anymore, even if we have to sell out this country.」

Both Baldr and Alford weren’t aware that Arnold was afflicted by a lethal disease.

The scheme of Duke Beaufort who was acting out of desperation with  his short remaining life on the line was going to greatly betray the  expectation of Baldr and others.

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Part 3

「How are you feeling today?」

「Not bad……it’s also like this with Baldr. I’m troubled because my  child is already a rascal even when they’re still inside the stomach……」

Maggot said that while caressing her largely swelled up stomach with affection.

Savaran Company had introduced a doctor to Cornelius House. She was a  fat woman in her fifty. She was limiting Maggot’s diet and activity  with an uncompromising pressure that even that Maggot couldn’t oppose.

「Don’t keep eating nothing but greasy food when you’re already at this age! What are you gonna do if your kid become round!?」

「How am I going to have energy without eating meat?」

「If you’re a mother than learn self-moderation for the sake of your  kid too! You aren’t young anymore, so it will affect your kid badly if  you don’t take care of your body!」

「Gununu……」

Maggot would hit her already if she wasn’t a doctor, but she desperately endured that impulse.

Setting aside her feeling, Maggot was certainly already quite old for  giving birth again. She had to avoid any bad influence from affecting  her children at any cost.

「A-amazing……that Maggot is completely argued down……」

Ignis didn’t read the mood and felt admiration.

「You too, you should watch over your wife! In my opinion, the delivery of this child will be a bit difficult!」

「What did you say?」

Ignis’s face turned pale at the doctor’s words.

His child who would be born was of course important, but his beloved  wife was an existence that was even more important than his own life.

Furthermore it was Ignis who wished for more children even knowing  that Maggot was already too old for it. There was no way he could keep  his composure after being told by the doctor that Maggot would have a  difficult delivery.

「It’ll be fine……can you imagine me losing?」

「You will always be my invincible goddess……but it’s fine for me to at least worry when you are in a difficult fight isn’t it?」

Ignis and Maggot stared at each other with a sweet atmosphere.

「Save the flirting for later!」

The doctor shrugged as though to say Good grief and laughed.

This pair of husband and wife was strangely heartwarming to watch even though they were at their age already.

Actually Maggot’s exhaustion was greater when compared to a normal pregnancy. The person herself was the most aware of that.

Even so as long as Maggot had the energy to laugh optimistically, she  swore as a doctor that she would take care of the rest somehow. The  doctor watching the two with a gentle gaze without saying her resolve in  words.

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Even so, Maggot’s pregnancy made her unable to be counted on as the  corner stone of Cornelius House’s fighting force. This brought a large  effect toward both ally and enemy.

The saying that 『Silver Light Maggot rivaled a single battalion』  wasn’t an exaggeration at all. And then considering the rule that three  times the attacker were needed to attack a defensive position, losing  Maggot was the same like losing a regiment for Cornelius House.

Now then, it was normal that an enemy’s misfortune was an ally’s  benefit, but there was a slightly troubling circumstance in Haurelia  Kingdom right now.

「Are you telling me to let go of this chance?」

「……Certainly the Silver Light being unable to move because of  pregnancy is a good chance that might not come again. However in order  to move the traitorous nobles that are taking root in Mauricia Kingdom,  we have to conquer Antrim no matter what. I beg for my lord’s  discernment in this matter!」

The loyal retainer of Marquis Andrei Selvi, Dorun was desperately restraining his unruly lord.

Dorun was feeling a heartrending grief. Taking down Ignis was a dear wish that was shared by the whole Selvi House.

But, right now Haurelia Kingdom was attempting to win over the  conservatism nobles within Mauricia Kingdom by using the powder keg  called Antrim as bait. There was too much demerit to invade Antrim  head-on.

「That remote region is just a trivial matter! With our current  difference in military force, everything will be resolved as long as we  can break through Cornelius!」

Andrei yelled with an unbearable anger.

They never expected that their plot to weaken Mauricia Kingdom by  instigating the confrontation between the emerging nobles that were  represented by Baldr and the conservatism nobles would bring about this  kind of backlash.

That woman is truly unpleasant to the extreme! How can she get pregnant at this timing of all time!

Andrei was filled with an unreasonable anger, but as expected it was  impossible to start a war with the arbitrary decision of a single  marquis house.

「It’s regrettable but, we can only depend on his majesty’s royal decision.」

Andrei sat down on a sofa roughly to shake off his reluctance.

Dorun let out a sigh of relief. But he too was biting his lip in frustration because he was sharing his master’s annoyance.

It was because they were already obtaining information that the palace was leaning toward Antrim’s subjugation.

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Part 4

Several days before that event where both master and servant of Selvi House were gnashing their teeth in anger.

Haurelia’s king, Louis was holding his breath seeing the image from the magic tool that was sent to him from Count Savoie.

「You are saying that this is the image of that Antrim……?」

In Louis’s knowledge, Antrim should be an idyllic remote countryside.

Furthermore it was also a land that was contested between Haurelia  and Mauricia. It had been enveloped in the flame of war several times  and large industry couldn’t be developed there. It was a barren land  that no one would even glance at if not because of its geopolitically  critical location that could threaten the center of Haurelia Kingdom.

And yet at the center of the image that was projected before his  eyes, there were defensive encampment that was obviously solid in a  glance and reserve soldiers in number that surpassed their expectation  by several times over.

Only half a year had passed since a new viscount was assigned to  Antrim. Louis thought that this was an impossible change no matter how  much of a genius politician Baldr was.

「……This is an alarming situation.」

The one who whispered that with a small voice that was squeezed out  of his throat was the prime minister, Duke Montespan(モンテスパン).

He was a young prime minister who became 34 years old this year. He  was a central personage who pushed for the subjugation of Mauricia  Kingdom together with Louis.

The fortification of Antrim was a problem that couldn’t be overlooked  because they were aware that the war against Mauricia Kingdom would be a  race against time.

「Hmph, they are greatly mistaken if they think that they will be able to stop my army with just this much.」

The one who snorted in disinterest was the military minister, Duke Ryuvini(リュビニー).

「I shall acknowledge that they have prepared some defenses. But if  they think that they will be able to defend against us with just this  much, it make me want to tell them that there is a limit even in being  overconfident.」

The barbed wires and trenches that he had only seen for the first time certainly looked troublesome.

However the soldiers that would invade Antrim would number in more than ten times of Antrim’s entire force.

Duke Ryuvini thought that just barbed wires and trenches wouldn’t mean anything when trying to oppose the violence of number.

「Losing too much troops for Antrim will result in impediment for our  next strategy. Our country doesn’t have the leeway to waste thousands of  soldiers for the like of Antrim you know?」

Montespan emphasized his opinion. Louis also added further.

「I won’t accept it if our army have a difficult battle at Antrim.  After all those fence-sitters won’t move unless we give an overwhelming  show of force.」

Not even a single one of the ministers gathered here was doubting that their army would be able to bring down Antrim.

The problem was simply how much time and soldiers would be consumed to do that.

The national strategy of Haurelia was no different than in the past.  It was to make use of the difference in military force between them and  Mauricia to win a decisive battle of brief duration.

Currently Mauricia was superior in economic strength, agricultural  production, and industrial production. Haurelia had no chance of victory  other than using their population number and military force to defeat  Mauricia.

「This strengthening of Antrim……what is your opinion about it prime minister?」

Montespan answered Louis’s enquiry hesitatingly with a bewildered expression.

「In case a war break out between our country and Mauricia Kingdom,  Antrim is a land that will always get attacked first so……there is no  doubt that they’re fortifying that place to buy time. However, it’s just  too inefficient to do it in this way.」

Antrim was surrounded by Haurelia Kingdom from three directions, like  a rat in a bag. Investing a great sum of money to protect this place  was a very inefficient investment.

「What do you think, military minister?」

「It certainly doesn’t make sense. However at the very least there is  no doubt that Viscount Antrim is the one giving the direction for this.」

「You are saying this isn’t Welkin’s doing?」

「He might be providing money, but looking at the defensive encampment, I can’t feel the style of Mauricia army from it at all.」

As might be expected from two countries that had been hostile to each  other for a long time, both sides had seen through each other’s cards  to a certain degree.

Duke Ryuvini sensed that the strategy thought of Antrim was somewhat different in nature.

Although he only considered that his opponent was simply amateurish.

「Then I’ll ask. How long do we need to take down Antrim?」

「If we don’t care about the damage then one day. And if we want to be careful then we will need three days at least.」

「Can I take it that those words of yours aren’t a lie?」

Duke Ryuvini’s eyes widened as though to say that it was upsetting for the king to doubt him like that.

「I hope that your majesty will put your faith at the trained soldiers of our country.」

Unlike Mauricia Kingdom that had grown foolish from peace, Haurelia  Kingdom’s army that was constantly in war readiness was overwhelmingly  superior to Mauricia in regard to the soldiers’ training.

Duke Ryuvini had an absolute confidence at their military strength.  He believed that there was no way such trifling tricks could protect  Antrim from them.

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Part 5

The report that Haurelia Kingdom was mobilizing its army was immediately heard by King Welkin.

No matter the country, the number of knights that could be maintained  to always stand ready was limited. The number of those knights might be  enough for a limited conflict, but in genuine war the country would  have to conscript a lot of their populace to be soldiers.

Haurelia Kingdom was an agricultural country with low population density. They had to conscript soldiers extensively there.

「──Should I say here that it’s within expectation?」

Welkin made a villainous smile. Harold sighed and shook his head.

「No, this is more than we expected. Most likely the disease in our country has taken root even deeper than we thought.」

Welkin’s plot was to use Baldr as a bait to reel up the anti-king  faction. He had been monitoring the chain of events that was started by  Mileton House since the beginning.

The nobles who sympathized with Mileton House and tried to boycott  Viscount Antrim were already noted and secret investigation were carried  out toward them.

However, seeing Haurelia Kingdom’s blatant reaction, the possibility that there was a lot more traitors was high.

「What is Duke Beaufort doing?」

Welkin asked about the reaction of the old man who was an elder among  the ten great nobles and also the number one noble in the past.

If one of the ten great nobles that had a great influence in the  kingdom was rising in revolt, the effect from that would be  immeasurable.

Welkin’s plan would also greatly change depending on how bold was the  mastermind behind the conservatism faction that was criticizing him.

「It seems that he is making a frequent contact with Count Hastings  and his followers but……at the very least there doesn’t seem to be any  military movement from them.」

Harold believed that the possibility of that duke standing up at the forefront of uprising against the throne was low.

They were the conservatism faction that couldn’t keep up with the  kingdom’s development because they were from having the guts to face  such risk.

「Most likely they’re planning to watch the situation of the battle  before deciding what action they will take. It will be dangerous if we  lose at the opening battle.」

Both Welkin and Harold already learned from the previous war that  those nobles didn’t have any proper loyalty toward Mauricia Kingdom.

Harold was unable to forget how the nobles ran wild so disorderly at that time.

He had worked out many plans since then so that he would never taste  the humiliation of his younger day for the second time, but he wondered  how effective all his efforts actually was.

Harold couldn’t help but asking himself such question in front of the sound of the approaching army boots.

「There is no way to change a country without any danger. You don’t  need to be so worried like that. This won’t be a repeat of that war.」

「……Can I hear the basis of your majesty’s confidence?」

Although this king was skilled in scheming up a plot, he was a naïve  dreamer at the inside. It was necessary for him to ask as the prime  minister.

「Haurelia’s first move will be to attack Antrim without a doubt.  Think about it, will that Antrim brat get harassed so easily by  Haurelia? What’s more although he has a lot of enemy, he also has a lot  of ally, am I right?」

The previous Viscount Antrim was destroyed along with his whole  family and followers at the past war. He was a noble who treasured his  subject, but he was incompetent as a commander.

But Baldr was someone who was far-removed from being such mediocrity.

There was no doubt that he would at least give Haurelia Kingdom’s army a real scare.

Welkin didn’t know the particulars, but it wasn’t hard to imagine  that the defense expansion that was going on in Antrim was something  that was one or two steps off from common sense.

「One mustn’t have an excessive expectation. With Antrim’s military  force, it will be hard for them to win against Haurelia’s elites even if  they can put up a good fight.」

「You’re a boring fellow like usual. The brat might beat up an army ten times greater than his own and win.」

「Our duty is to plan in case that he doesn’t win and not let a  capable retainer die a pointless death. Please have your fun after we  win.」

Harold didn’t forget to give a warning with a cold voice to the king  who shrugged in a way that couldn’t be seen whether he was just acting  or he was actually serious.

Although they believed that they had laid out the groundwork for the  sake of victory, it seemed that the battle would start earlier than what  they assumed.

Would the entrance of the unexpected element that was Baldr end up as good fortune or bad luck?

The duty of the king’s right hand man was to win because they had decided to fight.

It seemed the sleepless night of Harold would continue.

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Part 6

Seven knight orders existed in Haurelia Kingdom.

Mauricia Kingdom only possessed four knight orders. These seven  knight orders were elites that boasted almost twice the number of their  enemy. They were the trump card that was trained for the sake of  invasion to Mauricia.

One of them, the Blue Dragon knight order was commanded by Borodino  Dampierre(ボロディノ・ダンピエール), the son of General Soyuz who died in the  previous war.

He possessed an extraordinary eye for tactic like his father and  overwhelming charisma that made his subordinates admired and devoted to  him. He gathered expectations on him as one of the people who would  shoulder the military of Haurelia Kingdom at the future.

However he was the head of Dampierre House that was a noted military  family and the heir of the famous general Soyuz. Considering his status,  his current position could only be said as too low for him.

Knight order commander was a bottom tactical officer that was two ranks lower than the position of general.

Even though his father was someone who almost reached the top  position of the military as a candidate for the next military minister,  his son was falling into straitened circumstances like this instead.

Borodino’s blood was boiling with anger when he considered his current circumstance.

Until that fateful day, before Soyus’s head was cut down by the  Cornelius couple, the most dangerous pair in the world, he was a famous  commander who obtained as much fame as he wished because of the  succession of victories that he brought.

Borodine was proud to have such father and wished to become a  splendid general just like him. But then he heard the report of his  father’s death at the barrack where he was training right after he  enlisted.

「You lie!」

He couldn’t believe it. He even prayed that it was just a slander to his father.

However it was undoubtedly a fact that Soyuz was taken down in the middle of melee and his troops received a crushing damage.

His father who gathered praise and respect as the central figure of  their victory instantly became an incompetent commander who got  defeated.

The people who were following his father around to pander to him  turned around as easily as turning their palm and started criticizing  Borodino. They said that Soyuz invoked the anger of the war god because  he dirtied his hand with a method that was unworthy for a military  general like assassination.

Later on, Borodino heard that his father schemed to assassinate  Silver Light Maggot. He thought that such plan was really rational as  befitting his father. His father must be trying that method because he  didn’t want his allies to die pointless death.

His father led his army with nothing but rationality till the very  end without trying out any unproven original tactic. His father also  always endeavored to not fight any losing battle. Borodino had never  seen any commander greater than his father even now.

His father’s failure was simply because that Silver Light and Ignis Cornelius were too abnormal.

Borodino believed that the day finally came where he could clean the  dishonor of his father and settled this destiny with his father’s hated  enemies.

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「I can’t wait to put our skill to the test already, isn’t that right commander?」

His vice commander Morris knew about Borodino’s silent fighting spirit better than anyone.

From the start he was an old subordinate who had served Dampierre House since Soyuz’s generation.

While many people had abandoned the waning Dampierre House, he was  one of the few loyal subjects who continued to devote himself.

「It’s unfortunate that our opponent is only their sonBaldr, ……but if we’re going to do this then we will win overwhelmingly and show him the difference between us.」

Borodino declared with a fierce tone. He wasn’t being overconfident by any means.

The quantity and quality of the army of Haurelia Kingdom that  prioritized the rebuilding of their military power was clearly  surpassing Mauricia Kingdom that was prioritizing to rebuild their  economy.

The difference between both kingdoms’ armies not only appeared in  troop number, height of morale, or training, but also even in things  like horse or equipment quality.

「I’ll teach them that you can’t do war simply basing on abacus calculation.」

In general, Haurelia army’s soldiers gave low evaluation to Mauricia  Kingdom that reduced their military budget and allocated their budget to  invest for economic development instead.

Economic development was an important indicator to gauge a country’s  national power, but economic power that wasn’t backed by military power  would only become a bait for enemy. That was the general common sense.

It would be pointless to work hard to grow a delicious fruit if in the end it would only got snatched by enemy country instead.

「Your excellency Commander Dampierre, there is a message from General Flandre.」

A young squire who was still a teenage conveyed the order from the superior who was in command of Borodino.

Borodino’s superior──General Flandre turned 48 years old this year.  He was a veteran who worked his way up to be a combat general. He was  also the vice commander of Borodino’s father, Soyuz.

General Flandre was selected to be the general of the invading army  to Antrim. He would be leading two newly formed divisions in addition to  three knight orders. As to be expected from someone who was leading  such army, he was someone with established reputation for his leadership  and boldness.

「I’ll head there immediately.」

For Borodino who was aiming for the restoration of his house, his  fellow knight order commanders were rivals with whom he competed to  obtain achievements. First he had to obtain General Flandre’s attention  at the war council and secured the honor to be the vanguard.

.

Haurelia Kingdom’s ministry of military was located three kilometers to the north of the capital.

The majesty that was emitted by the huge building that was  constructed with a lot of massive marbles might even surpass the palace  depending on the person seeing it.

When Borodino arrived, the main members of the expeditionary force  were already gathered inside the conference room within the military  ministry.

General Flandre sat at the middle with his first staff officer  Barnaud sitting at his right. Then at both sides of the two were sitting  the commander of the White Dragon Knight Order and the commander of the  Black Dragon Knight Order.

The war council’s atmosphere was already bloodthirsty even before  Borodino’s arrival. He was puzzled inside his mind seeing General  Frandole showing an even graver expression than he expected.

General Frandole was originally a jovial and aggressive commander.

In this kind of war council, he would usually take initiative to  recommend a proactive and mobile battle. Borodino knew that from his  time serving as Flandre’s subordinate in the past. However──.

「About the vanguard of the battle this time……we will have to leave it to the militia.」

「How can that be!? I can’t accept that, general!」

The one who angrily yelled in protest was the commander of the White Dragon Knight Order, Massena Lampard(マッセナ・ランパード).

It was the big moment when the war finally started again after so  long. There was no way the knight order would accept getting left in the  dust of mere militias.

Borodino was also completely in agreement with his rival in regard to this point.

「The foundation of conquering Antrim should be with a quick battle  for a quick victory. If we don’t quickly breakthrough the enemy line,  they will block the valley that act as the entrance to enter deeper into  Mauricia!」

It wasn’t difficult at all to conquer Antrim.

Both Borodino and Massena didn’t hold the slightest doubt in regard to that.

The problem was that if the bottleneck at the valley ahead of Antrim  got blocked. If that happened, it would become far more difficult to  advance through there.

The valley was the territory of Baronet Falkirk, but right behind it  there was the territory of Viscount Bradford who was known as a powerful  adversary.

「You will get tripped up if you think that Antrim is still the same like before. Look at this.」

General Flandre said that and tossed on the table the data about  Antrim that was given to him before this from the military minister.

Borodino and others held their breath seeing the clear image from the magic tool.

「T-this is……」

「Since when……」

Even though this was their first time seeing it, the two of them  weren’t so foolish of a commander that they were unable to understand  the threat of Antrim’s defensive encampment.

「……It might be next to impossible to break through that in a short time.」

The one who said those words was the commander of Black Dragon Knight  Order who was the oldest one among the knight orders, Lannes  Bernard(ランヌ・ベルナール).

He rarely talked, but he was a man who had obtained great trust even  among the knight orders because of his devoted and persistent tactic  that would accomplish any kind of mission no matter how difficult it was  without any complaint.

「I believe that you sirs are also aware that a war against Mauricia  Kingdom will be a race against time. If we are forced into a hard battle  against the like of Antrim that is already isolated in the middle of  enemy, Mauricia’s morale will rise and they will obtain the time to  gather their strength. We have to occupy Antrim with an overwhelming  victory, no matter what kind of solid defense the enemy has prepared.」

The role as vanguard that they thought as a glorious honor was actually a thorny path that was extremely hard to traverse.

From Flandre’s perspective, this felt like they had gotten cheated although he knew that was an unreasonable thinking.

Borodino was able to understand Flandre’s trouble. It was like what  happened with his father Soyuz. What was waiting for a commander who was  defeated even though he was expected to win easily would be a storm of  humiliation and criticism.

It wouldn’t be enough to simply win. Haurelia army had to win in a  short time and in an overwhelming manner. Because of that it was  Haurelia army that was cornered here despite being the side with the  superior force.

「We can only push forward using the number of the militias. From the  image, it seems that their number has been doubled from the past at the  very least. There might be around a thousand troops there.」

Antrim that was surrounded by enemy was still tentatively counted as  the territory of a viscount, but in reality its income was lower than  even a baron territory. And yet there were this many soldiers mobilized  there. It was obvious that there was some kind of meaning to it.

「It’s also possible that it’s a trap. However if we continue to do  nothing but standing and watching like this, Antrim will continued to be  fortified and our tactic against Mauricia will be overturned from its  foundation. Depending on the situation, it might become impossible to  even go to war against Mauricia. There won’t be any other chance than  this.」

Perhaps because of his nature that was cultivated as a military  officer, even Flandre didn’t even consider the choice of not going to  war and formed a friendship with Mauricia.

Winning the war against Mauricia no matter what.

That was the reason why Haurelia army existed right now. There was no way they could give up.

「……However we won’t be able to make light of the damage to the militias……」

Massena muttered with a pained expression.

Unlike the knight order, the conscripted militia had low proficiency  in battle. It would be easy to replenish their number even if they lost  them.

However the militias came from the populace. If they received great  damage, it would directly influence the populace’s public sentiment.

Even a feudalistic nation like Haurelia Kingdom couldn’t underestimate the influence of the public sentiment.

「We can only focus on doing feints. We’ll have to look for opening  and attempt to break through a single point with a very small unit.」

The staff officer Barnaud gave an advice with a bitter expression.  From his tone it was clear that he himself wasn’t satisfied with that  plan.

「What if we gather a lot of magicians to do saturation attack that  can overwhelm the enemy’s Cancel? They won’t have that many magicians  even if they can gather soldiers.」

Flandre nodded deeply at Borodino’s proposal.

「I see, even if we rely on number, we will be able to reduce the  casualty if we can make a good use of magic. I’ll also request each unit  to donate their magician to us.」

Mana could be recovered by simply sleeping for a night.

Flandre sighed in relieve because they finally managed to find a strategy with some good prospect.

「Your excellency. My Blue Dragon Knight Order is a unit with many  magicians even among all the knight orders. So please allow us to  accompany the militia in standing at the forefront of the battle.」

It was a splendid negotiation technique. Flandre grinned fiercely at Borodino.

Flandre who was Soyuz’s vice commander was painfully aware of why  Borodino dearly wished to obtain achievements. At the same time  Borodino’s high fighting spirit was also extremely easy for him to use.

「Very well. I expect a splendid achievement from you.」

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Part 7

Since Baldr was appointed to Antrim, an unprecedented wave of  prosperity also reached the Falkirk territory that was neighboring it.

Its feudal lord Alan who wasn’t thinking well of Baldr at first also changed his opinion.

With the growth of Antrim’s population and various products  circulating there, merchants were also inevitably passing through  Falkirk territory. It resulted in a lot of money also flowing into  Falkirk territory.

With the increase of revenue and the fattening of his wallet, Alan  even forgot the hostility that he harbored toward Baldr and he ended up  trying to put some distance from Hastings and other conservatism nobles.

Alan even refused when a messenger demanded him to announce  disownment toward Baldr when he got engaged with Agatha the other day.  Furthermore it wasn’t only his lifehood that was getting wealthier, he  also became able to obtain precious items that were hard to obtain even  in the capital.

If things kept going in this way, Alan might be able to move up  toward the central government even without relying on the conservatism  nobles.

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「──Is that true!?」

Alan yelled with uncontrollable anger.

His subordinate reported to him that Haurelia army was entering war  preparation. It felt like he could hear the sound of his dream crumbling  even though it was finally progressing smoothly.

「There is almost no doubt that their target is Antrim. The youths  from the villages near the border are already getting conscripted and an  army is being organized at their capital.」

This wasn’t a joke.

No matter how prosperous Antrim had become, the difference in military strength with Haurelia Kingdom was too despairing.

Antrim would surely be trampled instantly and then the enemy would attack this Falkirk territory.

「Just a bit more……if only there is at least two more years, my longstanding desire will come true!」

War was also a harmful pest that gnawed at one’s money.

Food, equipment, lodging expense of soldiers. Alan felt dizzy just from thinking all of that.

The battle would be a defensive battle with their side at  disadvantage. It was clear that he would need to pay for a lot of war  expenditures without being able to expect any benefit at all for it.

He would have to save up money for his campaign fund at the capital  from zero again. Alan was seriously considering that he had to give up  his dream when he imagined the time and effort that he would need.

「My lord, there is a letter from Hastings House……」

「What? Show me right away!」

A servant appeared fearfully. Alan snatched the letter from him violently and read the words of the letter greedily.

『Antrim’s military personnel is less than a thousand, while Haurelia  army number ten thousand. The result of the battle is clear to see.  Haurelia army that is buoyed by victory will surely move to trample  Falkirk territory next without any delay. Even if Bradford House manage  to hold back their advance, the expense for supporting the war front  that is at stalemate will undoubtedly destroy Falkirk House’s finance  from its root.』

The letter was spelling a prediction that was exactly like what Alan was thinking.

Alan nodded in agreement at Count Hastings prediction that was matching his.

『Then it will be better instead to collapse the valley to prevent  Haurelia from invading. There is no other way than this if Falkirk House  wish to distance itself from the frontier.』

The letter further concluded with this at the end.

『Entrust the future of Falkirk House to the rightful place.』

Any noble would be able to guess that this rightful place must be referring to Duke Beaufort.

「──This is for the sake of protecting our country. It can’t be helped.」

Alan leaped at the hand that was reaching out from the edge of despair without any hesitation.

Although Antrim had been bringing benefit to him until now, it was impossible for Alan to put himself at risk for Antrim’s sake.

Alan didn’t feel any pang of conscience at all with his decision to abandon Baldr.

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Part 8

*Hyun*, the sound of the air being slashed through was accompanied  with the glint of blade dancing through the air. The leaf that was  carried by the wind was slashed to small pieces and scattered without  leaving any of its original trace behind.

For her, such result wasn’t even a tenth, no, not even a hundredth of what she could originally do.

Maggot put her hand on her greatly inflated stomach. Although her  expression softened somewhat with affection, for her who had cut open  her path in life with her martial art until now, she was feeling  hopelessly vexed at her own powerlessness.

「For the Silver Light of all people to be in this state when a battle is approaching……」

Even at Cornelius, no, exactly because it was at Cornelius that the  information about the approaching rematch with Haurelia was quickly  spreading everywhere.

That also included the information that Haurelia’s first target was Antrim.

If Maggot’s physical condition was flawless, she would head to Antrim immediately.

Maggot wasn’t so ignorant of war strategy that she didn’t understand  the severity of the situation where her beloved son was placed in.

The situation where Baldr was placed in right now was even more  severe than that time when Cornelius was just a step away from falling.  Maggot was sure of it.

He was her only son that she raised in hardship.

Maggot never forgot for even a moment of the deep emotion that  pierced through her heart when she held Baldr who was just born in her  arms.

Her instinct certainly felt the connection of blood between them.

She thought that she would simply die in battle alone. Yet at that moment she felt that she was a parent for real.

She also felt a relief for being able to have a child with her beloved Ignis──.

「Baldr……」

It wasn’t that she didn’t believe in her son’s strength.

From what Maggot knew, Baldr had grown to become a capable commander  that she wouldn’t want to turn into enemy in the battlefield the most.

The problem was how lacking Baldr’s experience was and the quality  and quantity of the soldiers who would became his arms and legs in  battlefield.

Brooks and Nelso who were acting as Baldr’s staff officer were also  lacking in experience. The loyalty of the former mercenaries that were  led by Zirco were also still in doubt despite their abundant experience.  Especially now that Haurelia army would be invading with an  overwhelming difference in strength, there was no guarantee that they  wouldn’t desert.

Maggot had killed countless soldiers, assassins, and mercenaries as  she pleased until now……their miserable figure in death now led her  thought toward Baldr’s death in her mind.

If she was at her normal state, even if it was impossible to bring  Antrim to victory, she would at least be able to escape while bringing  Baldr with her to safety but…….

「I’m a worthless mother……to be unable to do anything while my son is in the greatest danger of his life.」

Maggot swung her sword in blind anger while she was heaving, but then strong arms hugged her from behind.

「……Are you satisfied now?」

「There is no way I’m satisfied! Is this really alright Ignis? That child might die you know!?」

For a moment Ignis thought that the possibility of Baldr dying was  higher when he was going through Maggot’s training, but he wisely kept  his mouth shut and kept hugging his beloved wife.

「The night wind isn’t good for the child in your stomach……leave everything to me for now.」

Maggot bit her lip in frustration. Ignis kissed her as though to lick her tongue and smiled.

Of course Ignis too wasn’t planning to abandon Baldr without doing anything.

However if Antrim fell, Cornelius would definitely became the next  battlefield. He couldn’t just cut corner with Cornelius’s protection.

Even though Cornelius territory’s financial situation had changed for  the better, preparation for war still needed vast amount of money and  manpower.

Here Ignis was relying on his best friend Mattis.

Mattis’s Bradford territory was not far from Antrim. It was easy for him to send reinforcement.

Also as his comrade-in-arms at the past, Ignis held a deep trust to Mattis’s excellent tactical skill.

Furthermore Mattis was greatly indebted to Baldr for pushing up his  daughter Teresa to become the wife of the crown prince of Sanjuan  Kingdom. He was surely starting the preparation to send reinforcement  happily instead.

「Right now is the time for me to repay Baldr-dono!」

At Bradford territory, Mattis looked like he became ten years younger when he yelled that.

「Mattis is promising to gather all the troops within his territory as  reinforcement. And it seems Mattis’s little brother, Baron Guise is  also going to help. Haurelia too won’t have any leeway to send their  whole army to Antrim alone.」

For Haurelia, Antrim would only be the prelude. It was a battle where it would only be natural for them to win.

Only after they suppressed Antrim that could possibly become a base  for counter invasion, they could put their whole effort into conquering  Cornelius. That was Haurelia’s basic policy, so there was no reason why  they would send too many troops to Antrim.

At this time Ignis didn’t know that Haurelia was greatly vigilant  toward Antrim’s defensive readiness. He was thinking that Baldr would  have enough chance of victory if several thousand reinforcement from  Mattis and the surrounding nobles came under Baldr’s command.

「Naive──you’re naïve Ignis.」

Maggot shook her head powerlessly.

Ignis couldn’t hide his bewilderment seeing his wife’s expression that was like a frail girl for the first time.

Maggot was someone who always cut open her own path with her own power until now.

There was a part of her personality that was adorable like a maiden, but at her core she was undoubtedly a warrior.

That Maggot was now crying full of grief like a powerless girl.

「I can feel it……the center of this war will be Antrim without a  doubt. In the worst case, they won’t even pay any attention to  Cornelius. I cannot feel the spirit of their army at all even though I  felt it so fiercely at the previous war.」

Maggot had fought for many years as mercenary at the frontline of  many wars. She had the ability to sense the invisible spirit of the army  although she herself didn’t understand the logic behind it.

At the previous war, Cornelius was surrounded with a ferocious army  spirit as though there was a southern cyclone raging around. However  right now she was only feeling a calm atmosphere like the mild late  autumn weather.

In contrast Maggot sensed that a malicious army spirit was whirling around Antrim like a giant tornado.

(Baldr……forgive your powerless mother……)

The clear pulsation of life that Maggot felt in her stomach was also her beloved child.

Maggot clung on Ignis’s chest and wailed in heartrending grief.

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Part 9

「Enough already!」

It was rare for Baldr to raise his voice like that.

However his voice felt somewhat lacking in spirit. A kind of impatience could be felt from it.

「We aren’t gonna leave Antrim no matter what ya said! This is the  only thing that we won’t back off from even if it’s ya Baldr asking us!」

「I also agree with Selina.」

Selina and Seyruun wouldn’t stop disobeying. Baldr hit the table in irritation at them.

「This Antrim will become a battlefield soon! That’s why I’m telling  you two to evacuate to the capital temporarily! This is an order!」

Baldr had made countermeasures for Antrim’s defense, even so he  couldn’t make the possibility of something unforeseen happened to the  non-combatants zero.

Baldr’s wish to evacuate the two from Antrim was his expression of love toward them in his own way.

「It doesn’t matter what ya said, I’m not gonna listen to somethin’  like that. It’s impossible for us to run away to a safe place just by  ourselves.」

「It’s useless even if you try to send us away forcefully. Don’t look down on the cooperation between women.」

Seyruun’s words implied that there were those who would secretly help  them stayed here. Baldr scratched his head roughly with a grimace  hearing that.

Antrim that was preparing for war was lacking in manpower so much that they even wanted cats to help out if possible.

Even if Baldr was able to make them evacuate, he also couldn’t just  send them off alone by themselves. Furthermore if the two of them were  resisting, he would have to send some soldiers to accompany them.

「Please give up my lord. You’re only wasting time with them refusing like this.」

Agatha kept her aloof expression even when Baldr glared at her like she was his parent’s killer.

Unlike Seyruun and Selina, it was already decided that Agatha was going to stay in Antrim as Baldr’s head secretary.

A part of it was because Agatha’s skill was necessary to maintain  Antrim’s government working, but it was also because she was a bait to  drag out reinforcement from Randolph House.

There would be no excuse for Randolph House to send reinforcement if Agatha returned to them.

.

Meanwhile, Seyruun and Selina were also aware that they were acting selfishly.

They recalled the scene when they were almost kidnapped by Torus at Cornelius territory.

They couldn’t forget how they were a burden for Baldr at that day.

Even so their hearts refused to leave Baldr’s side.

It could be called as their woman instinct.

There was a reason why they mustn’t left Baldr’s side──.

But it was only a feeling of conviction that they couldn’t explain, so they couldn’t say it to Baldr.

「Even if we haven’t hold the ceremony we are still yer wife at heart. We’re gonna protect our husband’s place to return.」

「……Yes.」

The man was gradually turning powerless before the teamwork of the women.

Even Baldr who was feared by Haurelia was helpless before the teamwork of his three wives and their female subordinates.

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Part 10

Dorun had finished the mobilization of the soldiers and urged them to  be in high spirit for the coming battle. He was drunk with exaltation  at the chance for revenge that arrived faster than what he thought.

The number of soldiers that Selvi House mobilized was more than 3000.

Furthermore all of them consisted of elites who had continued  training for many years so that their skill wouldn’t turn rusty. It  could be said that their strength was standing out even among the troops  of other nobles in Haurelia Kingdom.

Regretfully they didn’t have a stock of supply that would allow them  to fight a protracted battle, but that wasn’t something unique to Selvi  House alone. It was a weak point that was shared by the whole Haurelia  army.

That was why Haurelia’s strategy aimed to have decisive battle of  brief duration. They prioritized expanding the military and endured the  hardship after the previous war for that.

「……This day finally arrive.」

The corps commander of Selvi House, Omal was standing side by side with Dorun while looking fondly at the soldiers.

The white in his hair was starting to stand out, but he still boasted an imposing body built that hadn’t declined.

In the past he was a knight who was known as someone distinguished in  Haurelia, but he returned to his birthplace after his big brother died  and the army of Selvi House was entrusted to him for all these years.

Dorun and Emal had known each other for long, but there was a bitter  feeling shared between the two of them for a certain matter.

「……I want to show this sight to Torus too.」

At the surface Torus was reported as dying in accident in the middle  of training. These two were the two who evaluated him higher than anyone  else.

「We will return that debt with this.」

Selvi House was in control of the nobles army at the eastern border  of Cornelius. It was estimated that they would lead seven thousands of  troops. The troops of nobles at the south of Selvi House were already  gathering one after another.

They would wait for the main force of Haurelia Kingdom to conquer  Antrim and arrived in position, then they would attack Cornelius at the  same time from the north and south. That was the strategy this time.

Against their force, the army that was led by their hated enemy Ignis  was only around 2000. They had also heard from their spy that Ignis was  unable to expect much reinforcement from the nobles around his  territory.

Silver Light Maggot who was the biggest threat was powerless now  because of her pregnancy. There was nothing for them to fear anymore.

「Foolish Ignis. You shall receive your just dessert now.」

Ignis was the buffoon who stole the victory that was promised to  Haurelia by making use of the rare opportunity that was brought about by  a single mercenaryMaggot’s suicide attack.

He was also war idiot who then married that mercenary and disgraced the honor of nobility without a care in the world.

That bastard should receive his just dessert together with the dishonor of defeat.

Dorun had stopped trying to hide his resentment toward Ignis that he  couldn’t forget for even a moment since Ignis sent Torus’s corpse back.

「The nobles army and the main force will be 27000 soldiers in total. Just try to defend against this if you can.」

Dorun was assured of victory with this difference of strength that far surpassed even the previous war.

It would still take a while until Dorun was shocked by how that essential main force ended up.

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Part 11

There were three routes to Antrim.

The northern route was a natural fortress due to the steep Morgan mountain range. It prevented a large army from invading.

The eastern part of Antrim was where it was the easiest for a large army to be deployed.

Because there was a wide plain there without any terrain that could  be a hindrance, Haurelia’s regular army that reached a total of 20000  took full advantage of their number to invade from this eastern route.

Even so it would be strategically stupid to just ignore the south route.

An army of 1200 soldiers from Viscount Savoie and his surrounding nobles would invade from the south route as diversion.

Potomac River was acting as a natural border at this south route. Its plentiful water was protecting Antrim from invasion.

There wouldn’t be much problem for Antrim if the bridge was destroyed  at the start of battle and some soldiers were placed there as lookout.

Although, even a mere 1200 soldiers from Count Savoie were already a  large army for Antrim. Assigning some soldiers to respond to that was a  problem that brought a painful headache to Baldr.

「Was the water gate’s construction all right?」

「We somehow made it in time. Please give some praise to the foremen later.」

Tyros gave an immediate reply to Baldr’s words. He was the one who  was single-handedly taking care of Antrim’s construction works right  now.

Tyros was Baldr’s oldest close aide. He was also his retainer that had deeply studied Baldr’s out of the norm knowledge.

「The project is divided into ten sections, in addition each section has its own team with five locals assigned to each team.」

It wasn’t particularly unusual to form teams depending on the place.

However by gathering the people from the same place together and  making them competing with each other, the work pace would be improved  dramatically.

「Every eight days, the team with the best progress will be rewarded.  In addition, I will arrange so that those who does their work  wonderfully can become the direct retainer of Viscount Antrim.」

There was no way the spirit of the workers wouldn’t rise with that.

「The reward this time will be ours!」

「Dream on! We aren’t raised at Morgan’s mountain just for show!」

The work was progressing with astonishing pace, but there was a precedent that became the model of this method.

Gamou clan where Oka Sanai who was sleeping inside Baldr was serving  had received a strong influence from Oda Nobunaga because the clan head,  Ujisato once was his son-in-law. After Nobunaga died a tragic death at  Honnoji, Ujisato became a core existence that supported Hashiba  Hideyoshi and took lesson from his methods. It wouldn’t be wrong to call  him a daimyo who was modeled after those two big names.

Stimulating human’s desire with money and making workmen competing  with each other were methods that Hideyoshi specialized in. Sanai  himself was also familiar with those methods.

Baldr’s previous life Oka Masaharu also knew things like Prussia’s  Kantonssystem and old Japan military’s division system where soldiers  were organized based on their birthplace to nurture feeling of  solidarity and instigating feeling of rivalry.

Tyros had absorbed Sanai and Masaharu’s knowledge through Baldr and  made use of it splendidly. He succeeded in making Antrim’s defensive net  took shape somehow.

Most likely Tyros was the one who could understand Baldr’s intention the most among all his subordinates.

He was inferior in martial art compared to Brooks and Nelson. He was  also inferior in literary arts compared to Agatha and Baldr. But perhaps  it was Tyros who was able to serve as Baldr’s right hand man in its  truest meaning.

「──What about the storage of that?」

「With the amount we need……it might only be enough for a single battle.」

「There is no use asking for what we don’t have huh.」

Baldr let out a tired sigh. It felt like he aged by ten years during these several days.

「Hurry with the evacuation of the workers except for the important places. We don’t have much more time for doing work.」

「Please leave it to me.」

The invasion from Haurelia was going to arrive soon.

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Part 12

The authorities of Haurelia in both bureaucracy and military were arrayed at the throne room.

The king Louis Ferdinand was sitting calmly on the throne at the  center that was extravagantly decorated. He was looking down on a single  man.

The man──Flandre was wearing armor all over his body and bowing with a  beautiful posture that was flowing smoothly. He stated his oath of his  departure to the frontline before his king with a sonorous voice.

「Your majesty’s servant, Flandre Gustin(フランドル・ガスティン) will offer my whole body and soul to bring back victory.」

「Umu, I pray that you don’t betray mine expectation.」

「By your will.」

Louis slowly stood up and drew out the sword on his waist. He made it touched Flandre’s shoulder.

「Under my name I appoint you, Flandre Gustin to be the  commander-in-chief of the expeditionary force to Mmauricia as well as  the great general of the kingdom.」

「It’s a great honor.」

Great general was lower ranked than the military minister, but it was  a rank for the commander-in-chief who controlled the army at the actual  battle. The person with this rank was the nearest to being the highest  authority of the military when the country was in the middle of war.

Flandre who had worked his way up from the battlefield until this position was trembling in happiness from the honor.

For Flandre who wasn’t interested with the politics of the palace, the position of great general was his greatest wish.

At the same time, with this position he also wouldn’t be able to  escape responsibility no matter what if he failed in the expedition.

「Great general-dono, I hope that you won’t make the same mistake like Soyuz.」

Richelieu(リシュリュー) who was appointed to be the prime minister that  replaced Duke Maurice after his downfall at the previous war shook  Flandre’s hand with a gentle smile.

More than ten years ago, the previous prime minister lost his  standing due to the war ending in a draw that wasn’t any different from  defeat. For him, Flandre’s result would also affect him greatly.

The king couldn’t possibly be asked to take responsibility publicly,  so it was something very natural for the prime minister to be forced to  bear the responsibility and resign in this kind of international battle.

However that wasn’t the only worry in Richelieu’s mind.

After the last war ended, Haurelia Kingdom sacrificed a lot of things because of their priority to reorganize the military.

Because of that decision, Haurelia Kingdom boasted military power and  proficiency that were twice their nemesis Mauricia Kingdom, but if they  were defeated by any chance, it would be impossible to force the  country to keep making the same sacrifice for ten more years.

Considering the state of the country would be in dozens of years from  now, this would be their last chance to invade Mauricia Kingdom.

「I will bring back a report of victory without fail.」

「Ou, how very reliable you are, supreme commander Flandre!」

The one who praised Flandre with good mood was Marquis Selvi, Andrei who had a wide smile on his face.

Andrei had tasted countless hardships for the sake of this day’s arrival.

In order to clear the disgrace he tasted more than ten years ago,  Andrei restored the military force within his territory, heightened the  tendency within the country for resuming the war, and obsessively  devoted himself to gather information from the enemy country that he  even lost his precious retainer.

There was no one in Haurelia’s palace who didn’t know of the depth of his obsession.

Although he had lost his two biological sons, he still had some  illegitimate children. And yet he adopted a child from Duke Karolinger  who had strong influence within the kingdom to be his heir. It was truly  a desperate political move.

It went without saying that after that Marquis Selvi was seen with  both fear and also scorn for his burning obsession to revenge that made  him didn’t hesitate to even allow his bloodline to be cut off.

「……I hope that you will win, for the sake of our country too.」

In contrast with Andre who was in high spirits, Duke Jean Monfort spat out those words with displeasure.

Jean was already past 65 years old. He was stricken his grief with  his powerlessness to stop this war. He looked like he had grown older by  ten years.

(How mortifying……there will be nothing but grudge remaining behind  without any benefit even if we are controlled by vengeful spirit to go  to war like this.)

Jean was an unusual existence in a military country like Haurelia  Kingdom. He focused on encouraging new industry and he also displayed  his ability in reducing the pointless waste of military spending.

If the royal family was excluded, he could be said as the man with most assets in the kingdom.

Jean though that war was a hindrance for economic activity instead.

Of course it would be possible to obtain immense benefits if they  could win the war, but they would need a very one-sided victory in order  to obtain benefit that would balance the war expenses.

In Jean’s estimation, the possibility of victory was quite high, but  it was unknown whether the return would balance the expenses. And above  all else the risk was too high.

「Everyone! Raise your cup! Victory is in our hand! Cheers!」

The king proclaimed loudly. The chief vassals participating in this event also cheered loudly in unison.

「Cheers!」

In the end, would there really be a chance for them to get drunk with the delicious alcohol of victory?

Jean poured the finest quality of wine into his throat while inside  his mind he was starting to draw the plan for the aftermath in case  Haurelia Kingdom failed to grasp victory.

After all in case they were defeated, there was no doubt that from  there it would be Jean and his anti-war faction who would grasp the  leadership of Haurelia Kingdom.

.

Part 13

Randolph House was gathering soldiers to reinforce Alford’s son-in-law Baldr just the other day.

Silk’s irritation was flaring up because of how slow going the troops were mobilizing.

She wanted to rush off alone if it was possible. She was holding down that impulse with the strength of her will forcefully.

What was necessary for Antrim right now wasn’t Silk personally, but the power of Randolph House’s troops.

「Don’t die, Baldr.」

It was a love that she planned to give up.

It was a love that couldn’t possibly come true. She had been  postponing giving it up by thinking if only there was time, if only she  had the resolve, on and on.

However, when she heard that Baldr might not even see tomorrow with  Haurelia army approaching Antrim with overwhelming force, she became  unable to hold back the lovesickness that she had been suppressing with  her logic from overflowing.

The door of Silk’s room was knocked. Then Alford appeared with a forced smile pasted on his face.

「S-say Silk. As expected, shouldn’t you reconsider? I think there is no need for you to expressly go there yourself……」

Arnold’s voice had no energy in it because he had failed many times to persuade her until now.

「Otou-sama is also going to personally sally out, so why is it not alright for me to come along too!?」

「B-but you see. You are the only child of Randolph House. It will be problematic if you go to battlefield together with me.」

「It’s exactly because I’m the only child! I need to obtain deeds of  arms exactly because I’m going to shoulder this Randolph House in the  future!」

Silk had no intention to stay behind no matter what Alford said.

She didn’t want to experience it anymore, having an important fate  being settled in a faraway place where she couldn’t do anything about  it.

She wanted to become of help for Baldr no matter how small it was  rather than staying still while being tormented by her feeling of  powerlessness.

If Alford forcefully left her behind, then she intended to run away and rush off alone toward Antrim.

Alford seemed to realize her determination and grimaced as though she had bitten a sour grape.

「──We are going to support that brat, but we aren’t heading to Antrim you know?」

「What!?」

Silk was taken aback by Alford’s completely unexpected words.

Where were they going to go if not Antrim?

In the first place, Randolph House’s dignity would fall into mud if they abandoned Baldr who was Alford’s son-in-law.

Silk didn’t think that her father would make such a stupid mistake.

「Are you still going to come along even then?」

Silk hesitated slightly, but her decision hadn’t changed.

Silk’s pride didn’t allow her to simply be resigned to fate and stayed home while fiddling her hand doing nothing.

「……Yes.」

「You must never tell anyone about what I’m going to tell you.」

This was a top secret that was entrusted to Alford from King Welkin.

Even though he knew that there wasn’t any spy around them, he unconsciously lowered his volume and whispered.

「We’re going to rush south at full speed toward Sanjuan Kingdom.」

Silk doubted her ears when she heard that.