Chapter 7 (2/2)

“What shall we do? With their numbers, we could run them over.”

Said a group member, drawing his face close and speaking into Schera’s ears. She turned her gaze over yonder, trying not to act suspicious, and a force of one hundred was heading her way, possibly to check on the cavalry unit’s situation.

“No other way. Let’s greet them for now. If I give a signal, kill them. Skillfully avoiding conflict would be best however. It would be problematic to attract attention for no reason in this kind of place.”

“Understood!”

Schera and company changed the direction of their horses and approached the platoon.

A man with a scar on his cheek, who was the only one riding a horse and seemed to be the commander, was fiercely glaring at Schera.

The platoon members turned their spears towards them and took combat positions.

They were vigilant, Schera perceived. Or probably, they had been exposed. Schera spoke up, making the first move.

“Well done fulfilling your duty-! We are the Royal Capital Liberation Army’s Cavalry! We are in the middle of a march to clean up the remnants of the defeated army of the Kingdom!”

“I would like to hear your full name and exact affiliation-! This is our duty, so please forgive us!”

He spoke up in a loud voice that would not lose compared to Schera’s. He would not easily be dealt with, Schera felt. He was somewhat different from the idiots up until now it seemed.

“Royal Capital Liberation Army, affiliated with the First Division, I am Second Lieutenant Schera leading the Thirteenth Cavalry Unit. I would like to ask for the same!”

“……Understood. We are the Royal Capital Liberation Army’s reservists, affiliated with the First Division. I am Second Lieutenant Callus. I command a temporarily organized force.”

“Understood. Well then, we are in a hurry to proceed forward, may we leave soon? The enemy will safely get away like this.”

“……I have not received a message saying that a cavalry unit was in pursuit however.”

“Probably a miscommunication. This happens often on a battlefield.”

“Earlier, we were in charge of defense of the food storehouse. Our duty now is to search for the ‘Cavalry Unit’ that had raided the storehouse. It seems that they are lurking around this area.”

Callus gripped the handle of his sword.

Schera was watching the situation calmly. Her scythe was carried on her back.

“I see. So, what of it? Perhaps, do you think us, that Cavalry Unit?”

The corners of Schera’s mouth raised. She poised to grab her large scythe.

“……I will ask for just one more verification. I would like you to show me your identification papers. All Liberation Army officers and men, even to the freshest of recruits, have been given them, as you should be aware. I would like you to immediately show me those. —-Immediately-!”

When Callus gave a signal with his hand, all platoon members took a stance with their spears and pointed the tips at the cavalry members.

“……Ah, that thing. Wait a moment will you? I’m sure it’s in this bag—-”

While reaching out her hand, gesturing for the bag fastened to her horse, she took hold of the large scythe on her back and slashed at Callus.

Callus had been alert and dodged by a paper thin margin.

“I knew you guys were the cavalry unit that started the fire!! Disguising yourselves as our Liberation Army, what a dirty pretense-!!”

“Your intuition is quite good. However, are you a fool I wonder. To think that you could stop us with just those numbers. Do you have a death wish?”

“Silence-! Dismount immediately, throw away your swords, and surrender! Reinforcements will soon be coming! You guys are like a rat in a trap-!”

“We refuse. After all, You’re a dead man.”

“—–!!”

Schera once again slashed with her scythe.

Callus stopped the blow with his long sword shaped like a crescent moon, but the weight of the blow made him unable to counterattack. He did not completely kill the momentum, though normally, he would have deflected the blow.

“Watch out. If you don’t carefully parry, that head will be taken from you!!”

“Th-this guy. She’s strong-!”

Callus frantically swung his sword, but his strike was handled trivially. And yet, Schera’s blows were strong enough to make both his hands numb. Little by little, the speed of his arm movements and the strength to react to the blows fell. His physical strength and willpower were being whittled down.

Schera did not overlook that.

“Die-!”

“Kuh—–”

After mixing in several feints, her cherished blade approached his neck, and the scythe cut in from the side.

After being completely toyed with, Callus took a direct hit and fell from his horse.

—-It was instant death.

“Cavalry, kill everyone!! Absolutely do not let them escape!”

“Ou-!!”

“Kill the rebels-!!”

The cavalry unit surpassed them in numbers in the first place. Within not even a few minutes, they succeeded in killing everyone.

Above all else, Schera had taken the initiative, swinging her large scythe and freely slaughtering the pawns of the Liberation Army. There had been several casualties among the cavalry unit. They had also not been seen by the approaching reinforcement forces.

If they were going to cross, now was the time.

“—-Alright, start the river crossing. Afterward, we run with everything we’ve got. Sound good?”

“Sir-! We will accompany Vice Commander Schera until the end!”

“When we get back, let us eat together. It will be my treat. In exchange, teach me more about delicious foods.”

“Sir-! Leave it to me!!”

“We’ve already been discovered, so there’s no need for the act. This is filthy with blood anyway.”

After wiping the sweat from her brow, she pointed out the armor that had been smeared with the blood of their victims.

“Yes. To think that the Liberation Army pretense would have lasted up until now.”

“Will we return to being glorious soldiers of the Kingdom?”

“Alright, raise the Kingdom’s flag! Break and throw away the Rebel Army Flag!! It’s an eyesore, so make sure to trample it!”

“Sir-!

“—-Schera’s Cavalry Unit, will now make their return!”

“Ou!!”

After crossing Alucia River, Schera’s cavalry unit had been attacked several times. It seemed as if they were discovered by scouts from the engagement earlier. The cavalry acting as the main shaft of the pursuit force had appeared.

However, everyone had been crushingly defeated by Schera as the vanguard, and she succeeded in taking the decapitated head of a commander.

The routed Liberation Army pursuit force numbered 4,000. 1,000 of them died in action, which was a tremendous military gain, unthinkable for a unit in the middle of a retreat.

When Schera’s Cavalry finally reached Berta Castle, their numbers had decreased to 2,000. However, the soldiers’ faces were overflowing with fighting spirit, and they did not seem like they had just retreated. Naturally at first, since they were wearing the armor of the Liberation Army, they were being watched over.

But, because they were triumphantly hoisting the flag of the Kingdom, they did not seem to be here for a raid. When they were ushered in the opened gates, they were wholeheartedly welcomed by the guards. Morale which had fallen in Belta Castle quickly flared up, and the will to fight was more or less recovered successfully

The one most delighted at the repatriation of the cavalry unit that was thought to have been annihilated was probably General Yalder. Upon hearing the news, Yalder had let out a strange voice, had stood up from his chair, and his body had been trembling in delight. He immediately headed to where the cavalry unit was, and with tears running down his flushed face, he took the hands of everyone there.

Yalder was quick to anger, but deeply emotional, and his heart had been struck by the figure of young Schera not giving up and repatriating.

When he treated Schera as the hero of the Third Army, he was rejected in a flat voice, saying that it was too great of a reward.

—-The Kingdom’s Third Army had changed course for Belta Castle and worked to maintain their sphere of influence around the border.

They numbered 40,000 including the guards and repatriated cavalry.

General Yalder, feeling responsible for their defeat, had decided to commit suicide, but he was hindered by the hands of his attendants. From the Royal Capital came a reprimanding edict, saying to wipe out their shame next time, and it was decided that Yalder would continue to lead the Third Army. There was also the consideration that even if he was dismissed, there was no one capable to succeed his duty.

Second Lieutenant Schera. She had taken over command from her superior officer who had died in battle and succeeded in setting fire to the enemy food storehouse. This was a big hindrance stopping the growing Liberation Army. Furthermore, she had broken through the enemy’s encirclement and fought bravely, killing many enemy officers and men. In the end, she had allowed 2,000 cavalry to safely return to Belta Castle. This was an achievement that could not be belittled. With this meritorious deed, and the killing of Voleur earlier, and further adding on General Yalder’s backing, Schera was promoted at an unprecedented speed.

Three months after being promoted to Captain, she was further given the rank of Major. At the same time, she was formally entrusted with directing the cavalry unit whose commander had died in battle.

—-A promotion to a field officer at the age of 18 was an event not seen even in the history of the Kingdom.

Schera herself feasted to her heart’s content, and she seemed happy. The only unfortunate thing was that she could not savor the feeling of a full stomach for some reason.