Chapter 450 (2/2)

「While that might be fine, would you be able to explain the details to His Majesty? Try repeating your subordinate’s explanation . You’ll be in trouble if you mess up . 」

「Nevermind . 」

Erich sighs .

「Your subordinate’s investigation was well done, but it’s still unconfirmed . It is also too late to send spies into Meldora now . 」

Erich turns to Tristan .

「There are clues in Meldora on how to defeat those things . Are you certain?」

「The possibility is high . The reason is the timing those weapons appeared on the battlefield . If they used such powerful weapons in the first battle, there would have been nothing we could have done . It means they either dug them up recently or discovered them and didn’t know how to use them until finally reading the instruction manual . I can’t imagine they would throw away such a precious manual . 」

Erich mulls over the proposal again .

I also show my support for Tristan .

「Definitive evidence doesn’t exist on the battlefield . If the possibility is high, we should conquer it . 」

The staff officers don’t say anything, simply discussing amongst themselves, and looking slightly concerned .

「I understand…… but I can’t have the entire army change course . That would look like we were routed and invite an unfavorable reaction . 」

「But if we can’t best those weapons, we won’t advance further even if we stay here――」

My objection was interrupted by Erich .

「Therefore, I order Margrave Hardlett to lead a separate detachment to conquer Meldora while the rest of the army remains here!」

The soldiers cheered loudly .

Wait . If the whole army is staying behind, that means I’m left with my own troops .

「Not to worry, you have excellent subordinates . You won’t have any issue with command . 」

「……No, I mean if I didn’t have them, I would be charging into Meldora by myself . 」

Is this a roundabout purge? That can’t be it .

At that time, some of Celia’s hair suddenly points upward in a threatening manner .

One moment later, a rugged hand rests on my shoulder .

「Do not fret, my friend! We are here!!」

The warm breath against my neck gives me the s.h.i.+vers .

I don’t have to turn around .

Erich nods in content .

「Umu, we will push on the main battle front and His Majesty Gildress thinks it’s also time to withdraw . In addition, Meldora is not the main enemy, though there is a risk of them attacking from behind . That’s why we’ll finish off Meldora with the return blade . Hardlett will provide a.s.sistance! ――and report back to His Majesty . 」

Erich mutters the last part again .

「We have a bit of fate with Meldora! It may be an insignificant grudge, but it’s only proper to answer when they picked the fight!! Don’t you think so!?」

「「「Aye!! To Meldora!!」」」

I hear cheers outside from the Aless soldiers .

The council is supposed to be confidential, but Gildress’s voice is too loud .

In other words, I have to act separately from the main army and conduct a campaign with the Aless soldiers?

「I’d prefer if I was alo――」

Before I could finish my sentence, Gildress placed his arm firmly around my shoulder .

「As expected of a real man to want to fight alone!! But Meldora, while weak, is a large Polis . The burden of challenging them on your own is a little heavy to take . 」

This guy really doesn’t listen to anybody .

「But if we go together, there is nothing to fear! I don’t know what kind of new weapon you’re talking about, but nothing the weak have will scare us! The men of Aless will protect you! We will surround you! Isn’t that right!?」

「「「Aye!! No one can stand against true men!!」」」

A loud shout once again answered back from outside .

Erich chuckles as he comments to me .

「I see you are very well-acquainted with them, but dealing with them by yourself may be difficult still . I cannot let go of personnel at commander level, but you can request for anyone else to accompany you . Take someone who won’t influence the command of your subordinates . 」

「We don’t get along well at all . 」

I’ll protest the only part I absolutely can’t accept for now .

As for who I’m taking…… well, I’ll choose freely .

「I will go with you! It smells really bad, but leaving Aegir-sama alone with them doesn’t feel right!」

Celia psychs herself up twice before raising her head .

「Recently he’s been unconsciously saying “nuun” and his face looks oddly similar to that guy when waking up in the morning…… and there’s more . 」

I’ll let that go . No, I’ll pretend I didn’t hear it .

「Alright, let’s go to Meldora!!」

「「「Uooooooh!! To Meldora!! To battle!!」」」

I keep telling you not to shout . People outside can hear you!

South Yugurian spies are skilled and we don’t want information to leak to them…… or perhaps they’ll think the destination being yelled out so obviously outside the council hall is false information .

In any case, we have to make our way there .

I’m getting a strange feeling about this .

It’s not the feeling that only something bad will happen . There’s something else that’s strange about this expedition .

――Night .

I somehow managed to stop Gildress from running off right away and tell him to depart the next morning instead .

I haven’t decided who else would be coming and haven’t prepared food or water supplies either .

When I pointed that lack of preparation out, the Aless idiots claimed they didn’t need anything besides their canteen of water, a stash of dried meat and a spare set of leather pants, so I had to knock them down to get them to listen .

Moreover, Tristan, who felt satisfied after completing the task of presenting in the meeting, slumped his shoulders when I told him to get ready .

He should be crying himself to sleep with Irijina watching over him right now .

「After that, whatever happens happens . 」

A lot of things were decided in a hurry, but it was all necessary .

And although I don’t know what we’ll find, that’s also a part of war .

「Now then . 」

I light the candlestick on the desk, and lay out a pen and a letter .

I wanted to write a letter to Nonna .

The war has been going for a while, keeping me away from home .

Not sending any word to Nonna makes it seem like I forgot her .

Nonna’s especially sensitive about these things .

I wrote about the current events, how Yakov was kicked by Celia, how Leopolt got angry at the other soldiers, how Irijina threw a strange mushroom into a stew, how Celia took down 20 soldiers by herself, how I tried to seduce a girl in town―― no, I shouldn’t mention that last one . What am I doing? ―― I’ll scratch it out with double lines . I’ll choose some pleasant stories to fill the s.p.a.ce .

I’ll briefly gloss over Gido’s injury .

It doesn’t make sense to go into more detail in this letter than the one I sent to his wife .

「Fumu . That should do it . 」

I mutter to myself as I put down my pen and rest my empty gla.s.s on the letter to hold it in place in the middle of the desk .

Then my eyes s.h.i.+fted to the window…… and I pounced .

My left hand opened the window and my right hand stuck out almost simultaneously .

The presence I felt outside the window wasn’t my imagination and my right hand grabbed someone’s neck .

「Who are you?」

I ask my question as I slam the person into the floor .

「Kah! Pleased to meet you . I am a messenger for Her Majesty, Wilhelmina . 」

I stopped myself from breaking her neck once I heard her voice was female .

「What about the guards outside?」

There should be two of them .

「I didn’t think they would allow me to pa.s.s even if I named myself, so I put them to sleep . 」

I take a peek out of the window and find one of them laying face down on the ground and the other collapsed with a piece of cloth over his face .

They’re groaning so they aren’t dead .

「I have nothing to talk to you about now . 」

I could understand if I sent a messenger to Goldonia, but I don’t remember personally sending anybody .

「That depends on what I have to say . 」

「No, I don’t think so . Since you’re a woman and you didn’t kill my soldiers, I’ll let you go . Now go back home . 」

I wave my hand to shoo her away .

「If it’s to let me talk, I can give you a payment in advance . 」

The messenger suddenly strips .

After instantly getting naked, she lays her back on the bed and slowly spreads her legs apart for me to see .

Her large beautiful b.r.e.a.s.t.s, her white thighs, neatly trimmed pubic hair and slightly plump genitals are in plain sight .

The bewitching nature of the woman’s body illuminated by the candle flame flickering in the wind was further enhanced .

「Fine, I’ll only be listening . 」

「Yes . 」

I throw my clothes off and jump into bed .