Chapter 5 – At the Border Once Again

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Small clouds were sparsely inhabiting the firmament, allowing for the white glazing light to heat up the ground unhindered. The remnants of the rain of several days ago was all but gone, except for the trickle crawling across at the bottom of the Red Sand River.

The arrival of Ludmila Lourie and Olmutz’s army had been welcomed by surprise and cheering by Brune’s army. A single commander of an allied nation had crossed enemy land while being accompanied by just her own troops; many didn’t spare praise for her bravery, decisiveness, and beauty.

Tigre, on the other hand, was being ignored for the most part.

Mila hadn’t entered Brune’s army camp right away. She had dealt with lords, who had come to at least give their greetings if nothing else, and started to ask about the situation of Brune’s army while talking about the state of Zhcted’s army. As she was doing that, the supreme commander Duke Thenardier eventually turned up.

――He’s smiling, but in reality he must be pretty irritated deep down.

Mila indulged in evil thoughts while greeting Thenardier with her diplomatic smile. Thenardier was anything but a fool. He should be well aware of what sort of effect Mila’s arrival here would have on the diplomacy between Brune and Zhcted in the future.

Be that as it may, Thenardier interacted with Mila while smiling on the surface.

“How wonderful to have come all the way out here, Lady Vanadis. Even reinforcements of a million soldiers wouldn’t measure up to the joy I feel from having you with us. I have nothing but words of gratitude for being allowed to share our victory on this soil with you.”

“Thank you very much, Your Excellency. But, that much is natural, seeing our nations are allies.”

Mila grabbed Thenardier’s rough hand with a sweet smile. At the same time, her words were an indirect stab, calling into question his willingness to honor his duty ally.

“Mmh, I shall promise you here and now to reward you and your men as much as I can.”

Thenardier had no choice but to answer like this. Of course, he could protest that he had fulfilled his duties towards his ally by dispatching his oldest son Zion as a messenger. But, if he had claimed that, Mila would have likely pointed out that Zion had landed his flying dragon right next to them while they were on march.

“I am sure that having you say that will greatly cheer up my soldiers as well. As a warrior and commander I shall show you how I achieve deeds of arms that do not fall behind those of Brune’s knights.”

“Those are very promising words. I shall wait with high expectation in light of being allowed to watch your great exploits with my very own eyes, Lady Vanadis.”

“By the way, Your Excellency, there is something I would like to request from you for the battle against Muozinel’s army.”

Mila’s request was permission to act independently during the battle instead of falling under Thenardier’s command.

“Looking at our numbers, I have less than 40 cavalrymen with me. I think I will be able to achieve better results by moving freely on a battlefield, where both armies exceed 10,000 men, than by joining some other unit.”

“But, won’t that expose you to danger?” Thenardier said so with a voice as if he was worried about Mila and her men.

But, Mila knew what he was thinking. She suspected that he wanted to place her under his command so as to limit her actions as much as possible.

“If you like, I will lend you as many of my soldiers as you like. I can prepare around 500 right away.”

Being able to calmly make such a statement was the reason why he counted as high-ranking noble among high-ranking nobility.

――As I thought, you cannot be careless around this man.

Mila calmly gazed at Thenardier. At first glance, it sounded like a welcome proposal. But, if she took him up on this, Olmutz’s cavalry would get buried with the figure of 540 soldiers, and they’d be heavily influenced by the opinion of the one commanding those 500 men. As such, Mila had to avoid such a situation.

“I am grateful for your offer, but that would put you in a bind, right? I am well aware that Brune’s army plays the leading role on this battlefield. Could you possibly lend me the unit of the Vorn family? My men and I have been acting together with them for a while now during our trip here, so it will be easier to match pace for us.”

Upon Mila’s request, Thenardier looked like her was considering her words for a bit. Mila thought that he was likely suspicious of the relationship between Alsace and Olmutz. Yet, he must have completely disregarded someone like Tigre.

Without taking overly long, Thenardier made up his mind and agreed, “Very well, please use them to your heart’s content. Seeing how the Vorn family is a tiny noble house, they might instead stand in your way, so I would like you to just bear that in mind.”

“Thank you for your consideration.”

Of course, their numbers would be quite lacking with just Tigre and his soldiers. Mila decided that it’d be wise to ask Tigre to gather a few more soldiers, but before that, she wanted to find out a bit more about her enemy and ally.

“By the way, how many enemy soldiers are we going to face?”

“According to the scouts, their infantry numbers are around 18,000 to 20,000. In addition, they seem to have 20 war elephants with them. If we consider their distance from us, I think the battle will take place tomorrow morning.”

“…It sounds like it will become a harsh battle,” commented Mila with a grave expression.

She was well aware of the war elephants’ strength. Those beasts had often given Zhcted’s armies a run for their money. But, seeing Thenardier not being overly war of them, she became slightly curious.

‘Maybe it’s because he has one flying dragon left?

“What are the numbers on your side?”

“17,000. He might already know, but we took a hard blow at Eleşkirt. However, we will receive another 2,000 as reinforcements very soon. Together with them, we will have 19,000 men in total. We won’t lose against the Muozinel.”

“How about the flying dragon?” Mila asked boldly.

Thenardier shook his head, “That one has become completely frightened of battle. I would prefer to finish things without having to rely on it.”

As Mila had expected, Thenardier apparently planned to not use his dragon. Putting together what she had heard from Tigre and Zion, the flying dragon didn’t belong to Brune, but Thenardier personally. Mila grasped that he was quite unwilling to take any risks here.

“I take it that you do not wish to release it on the battlefield then. Making dragons obey must be quite a challenge, I suppose.”

At that point, Mila noticed how a subordinate of Thenardier was running their way. He seemed to have something to report. Judging that to be the perfect opportunity, Mila bid farewell from Thenardier.

Just when she was about to head over to her soldiers, she noticed Tigre walking her way. Mila stopped and waited for Tigre to catch up. She deliberately put on a solemn expression.

“Please allow me to accompany you,” Tigre said with a humble attitude.

Mila nodded, resulting in the two walking next to each other.

“How did it go?” Tigre asked with his voice lowered.

Mila answered in kind, “No problem. I’ll stand on the battlefield together with you.”

This was the outcome of them adopting the opinions of Raphinaque and Galyinin that it might become an issue if it looked like the two were too friendly towards each other. Both claimed that it’d be most convenient if Alsace was regarded as obeying in fear of Olmutz’s might.

It was a reasonable approach. If Mila were to show a soft attitude towards Tigre, it’d likely cause for those who believed that they should be allowed to call out intimately to her as well, and those who were jealous of Tigre, to come out of the woodwork.

Suddenly, a commotion occurred in a section of the camp. Tigre and Mila exchanged a look, and then headed towards the scene to take a look at what had happened.

Going by the stories of the lords and soldiers who had gathered, they could tell that the reinforcements had apparently arrived.

Mila muttered, apparently having remembered, “Come to think of it, he mentioned that 2,000 men would arrive as reinforcements.”

Before long, several dozens of knights entered the camp. Most likely the representatives of the reinforcements.

“It’s the Navarre Knight Order,” Tigre exclaimed in surprise.

The Navarre Knight Order was a powerful unit which protected Brune’s western border.

Its knights, who wore full armor and an overcoat to protect themselves from the sun, advanced in one line. Just the knight at the head of the group wore black armor. He carried a large sword on his back. His face looked young, but it was already sullied by an old scar.

“It’s Roland…”

“So that’s the Black Knight, huh…?”

The lords whispered in awe. Roland was so famous that you wouldn’t find a single Brunian who didn’t know about him. After becoming a knight at the tender age of thirteen, he had not once lost in the many battles he had participated in. Nowadays, being in his twenties, he was serving as the leader of the Navarre Knight Order. He was such a great man that the king had entrusted him with Brune’s treasured sword Durandal.

Thenardier appeared in front of the knights and dealt with them in accordance with decorum.

“You have my deepest gratitude for coming, Lord Roland.”

The black knight answered by merely returning a silent bow. This was more than enough for the onlookers around the group to become excited, but Thenardier approved of it with a smile.

――He probably doesn’t want to make things worse in a situation with the battle against Muozinel looming.

Mila assessed, but that wasn’t the only reason. Thenardier’s reverence towards Roland’s strength forgave the Black Knight’s rude behavior. After all, Thenardier was quite lenient towards those he deemed as strong warriors.

†

After finishing the greetings with Thenardier, Roland and his knights quickly entered their own camp. They had come here because of King Faron’s decree, but Roland couldn’t avoid feeling displeased about being dragged into this war.

“In short, we’re cleaning up Thenardier’s mess, aren’t we?” Roland bickered to his vice-captain, Olivier, inside the tent reserved for the order’s captain.

“But, it’s a great opportunity to fight the Muozinel. We only got to know Asvarre and Sachstein as enemies thus far. Besides, I heard about this a while ago, but it seems like one of Zhcted’s Vanadis is present in this camp.”

Roland cocked his head suspiciously after hearing Olivier’s remark.

“Didn’t they fail to meet up with Zhcted’s army? At least that’s what I’ve heard.”

“She apparently came all the way here while crossing enemy land. The rumors of Vanadis being peerless warriors on the battlefield might unexpectedly have some truth to it.”

The Navarre Knight Order had only heard about Zhcted’s Vanadis in rumors since they were tasked with protecting the western border. They did have interest in them as fellow warriors, but up until now they hadn’t had the opportunity to witness a Vanadis with their own eyes.

“I guess there was value in us coming all the way out here, if it allows us to watch a Vanadis fight. If she’s truly so outstanding in martial arts as they say, I’d like to have a duel with her.”

“Give it a rest. Your opponent would be a girl who hasn’t even reached twenty years in age.”

Olivier laughed with a shrug of his shoulders. Roland nodded, indicating that he understood as much himself as well.

At this time, neither of them believed that Vanadis were truly powerful fighters.

†

In the evening of that day Tigre had visited Mila in her commander’s tent to have a talk.

“Brune’s army might be in for a tough fight in the upcoming battle,” Mila said while tasting the black tea in her silver cup.

While drinking the same tea after having had her brew him some, Tigre asked her for the reason.

“You mean because the enemy has twenty war elephants?”

“That’s not all. There’s a clear difference in the objective of both armies.”

Being asked by her eyes whether he could tell which objectives, Tigre pondered about it for a while and then nodded. He believed that Brune’s army was intent on getting back at the Muozinel with this one battle. Meanwhile, the Muozinel were planning to deliver a final blow against a fleeing, weakened enemy.

“Brune’s army might become impatient and blunder. That’s what you basically want to say, right?”

Mila smiled in satisfaction, but immediately tightened her expression thereafter.

“I think Duke Thenardier is aware of this as well, but, with 『Red Beard』 being the opponent… We should be careful to not get dragged into things carelessly.”

“Okay. By the way, are you really okay with that number of soldiers?”

While Mila had greeted the lords and knights, who had been in contact with her since before the war, after meeting Thenardier, Tigre had approached several lords. All of them had been assigned to the vanguard, just like the Vorn unit, during the initial battle around a dozen days ago. Tigre had proposed that they enter under the command of Olmutz’s army.

Because of their dislike of obeying Thenardier, they had gone along with Tigre’s offer. As such, Olmutz’s army had teamed up with several units besides the Vorn Unit, resulting in a corps consisting of 300 cavalrymen and 200 infantrymen.

“It is what it is. We don’t have any time, and if we increase the numbers too much, it’ll become difficult to control them, too.”

“Got it. So, I guess I’ll finally be able to fight together with you.”

Tigre drained the tea in one go and then revealed an encouraging smile. It might be possible to say that they fought side-by-side back when they reunited, but the scale back then was completely different. Besides, he himself had told Mila that it’d become a diplomatic advantage for Zhcted if Olmutz’s army fought here. Tomorrow’s battle was essential for this.

Mila replied with a smile of her own, her cheeks blushing.

“I’m expecting a lot of good things of you, but don’t get too impatient and try the impossible, okay?”

Lavias and the black bow were leaning against the tent’s wall as if overlapping.

†

On the next morning the armies of Brune and Muozinel faced off on a vast plain near the Red Sand River, just like around a dozen days ago.

Brune’s army numbered around 19,000. 2,000 knights of Navarre’s Knight Order had joined the 17,000 soldiers who had reached this place after the army’s defeat at Eleşkirt.

On the other hand, Muozinel’s army fielded 20,000, albeit all of them infantrymen. 12,000 of those were combat slaves. They had been told that up to a hundred of them would be freed from their slavery for outstanding deeds of arms on the battlefield, which had naturally boosted their morale. In addition, Muozinel’s army possessed twenty war elephants.

Not a single cloud could be seen in the sky, leading to the sun rays steadily gaining in intensity as the sun rose, but at this point in time, it wasn’t quite as hot yet. Then again, both armies were well aware that this would change within one koku.

Muozinel’s didn’t try to act smart by coming up with overly novel tactics. The center, left, and right wing each consisted of 6,000 soldiers. 2,000 soldiers were kept as reserve, positioned in the left wing’s rear. The war elephants stood behind the central unit.

Brune’s army had gathered 8,000 soldiers in the center while either flank possessed 4,000 men. 3,000 men stood by in the rear as reserves. The cavalry had been concentrated in the right wing and among the reserves. Navarre’s Knight Order bolstered the right wing. Olmutz’s army likewise belonged to the right wing, but they had been mostly placed towards the edge of the wing.

Tigre and Mila were at the forefront, their horses lined up next to each other.

“It’s finally time, huh?”

“Yes, I’m slightly excited here.”

Raphinaque and Galyinin were situated behind the two. Both were in charge of acting as mediators between the units of the various lords. Galyinin was taking care of the cavalry while Raphinaque handled the infantry.

“Two hundred, eh? That’s slightly less people than the population of the village where I grew up,” Raphinaque commented while taking a closer look at the infantrymen.

The Red Horse flags were waved, and Brune’s army advanced. On the Muozinel’s side, the Bahrām flags fluttered while horns touted. A group of archers advanced, closing the distance towards Brune’s army. The central units of both armies proceeded ahead of their flanks, continuously shortening the distance. Muozinel’s army let a hail of arrows rain down while Brune’s army blocked those arrows by holding up shields.

Logically, the central units were first to clash. Sword struck sword, spear crossed spear. Sparks scatter. Spurts of blood hurled. Many people fell with the last words being incomprehensible screams of agony.

Once the battle shifted towards close combat, it seemed as though the Brunian soldiers with their armors would be at advantage. But, Kureys, the supreme commander of the Muozinel army, had taken a countermeasure.

He made every Muozinel soldier carry two weapons. One was a spear, and unlike common spears, this one had a single claw added to its spearhead. The other was a mace. It was a weapon with a spiked, iron ball at its tip. If one was hit with this weapon, the impact would pass through the armor, reaching the body.

From the very start, Brune’s soldiers were forced into an unforeseen hard struggle. Even if they could withstand sword and spear, their movements were stopped by the mace blows. They reeled from the pain and went down on their knees. Moreover, once they got dragged down to the ground after the spear’s claw hooked itself against the armor, they couldn’t get up right away. Other Muozinel soldiers used those opportunities to jump the soldiers on the ground, skewering them with swords and spears.

Of course, Brune’s soldiers didn’t simply yield either. They tore through the Muozinel’s leather armor with their swords, stabbed them with their spears, and at times launched ramming attacks to crush them with the weight of their own armors. If hands covered by iron gauntlets struck shoulder or arm, it was easy to break bones.

As if competing in blood loss and volume of screaming, both armies soaked the ground with blood and corpses as they brandished their swords and thrust their spears. The blood actually started to gradually form puddles, which kept getting wider and deeper.

Kureys tried to lure Brune’s army in by deliberately retreating, but Thenardier held back the soldiers, forbidding them to head out too far. The offenses and defenses between both sides, which seemed like a tug of war, slowly but inevitably continued.

Muozinel’s army had its right wing advance swiftly, trying to break through Brune’s left wing. Pressured by the enemy’s momentum, Brune’s right wing retreated.

“――Release the war elephants,” ordered Kureys as if talking about the weather.

He had already realized that this battle wouldn’t see any dragon entering the stage.

†

Muozinel’s central unit started to move, dividing to the sides. In no time, Brune’s army could hear the shrill roars characteristic to war elephants. Shivers of fear swept across Brune’s soldiers.

As the ground trembled, the huge animals with their gray skin made their appearance. They numbered ten. Kureys had invested half of his stock into this. And throwing them into the fray at this moment and situation was just perfect.

Brune’s central unit stuck out because Muozinel’s central unit had withdrawn. The flock of elephants ferociously charged at them, loudly stomping across the plain.

The Brunian soldiers at the front readied their long-handled sickles spears with curved cross-blades, despite their faces being stiff out of nervousness. They’d attempt to make it impossible for the elephants to stand upright by hurting their legs.

But, the elephants’ charge was a mighty force to reckon with. The soldiers were mowed down by the beasts’ long noses, had their armors kicked by the forelegs, or got simply overrun as if being no more than a small pebble on the road. Brune’s vanguard fell apart in no time.

Some soldiers succeeded in confining elephants thanks to a momentary, hard fighting, but being attacked by other elephants from the sides, they were swept off their feet.

At that point, the elephant riders changed the direction of their big mounts. Instead of plunging ahead, they were now headed for Brune’s right wing. They planned to deliver a devastating blow against that wing next while leaving the ailing central unit to the Muozinel soldiers.

It was at that moment that Brune’s right wing showed some movement. A single knight spurred his horse forward ―― Captain Roland of the Navarre Knight Order.

“For starters, I’ll take a look at things,” he declared to Olivier, shouldered his greatsword, and carefreely made his horse gallop towards the enemy.

The distance between him and the charging elephants closed in an instant. An elephant raised its snout, before slapping it down on Roland.

In the next instant, something long and thick was whirling through the air ―― the elephant’s nose, to be precise. Roland had brandished his sword and sliced it off.

Not a single person wasn’t struck with admiration while witnessing this sight. Bei it Brunian or Muozinel soldiers, both stared at him while being dumbfounded.

The elephant screamed in pain. It got rid of its rider by thrashing around, and charged at Roland in its blind madness. The black knight gazed at the beast, and kicked the belly of his horse while holding up his sword in both hands. While dodging the elephant’s charge by passing its side, Roland brandished his sword a second time, completely severing the elephant’s left legs. Dark red flesh was visible as blood spilled out in copious amounts.

With its balance destroyed, the war elephant fell over. Cheers arose from the Brunian soldiers while being answered by sorrowful screams by the Muozinel soldiers. Not a single veteran elephant rider had ever encountered a man who could take down a war elephant with merely two attacks, let alone take it on straight from the front.

Unrest traveled among the riders and the pace of the elephants started to become a mess. Roland turned the head of his horse in order to target the next elephant, and charged while accompanied by the cheers of the Brunian soldiers who had recovered some of their spirit.

Just when he had closed the distance to his second target, Roland stopped his horse. A new war elephant was heading his way. Roland dodged its nose, which came at him with a side sweep, by leaning himself on the neck of his horse.

――It’s almost as if being hit by a log which moves just like a whip.

He calmly analyzed. If he took it on directly, even Roland would be hard pressed to defend against it. As such he considered to take some distance by retreating temporarily.

At that moment, an arrow came flying from somewhere and accurately pierced the eye of the elephant in front of Roland. That war elephant shook its huge frame to the left and right while screaming.

――A stray arrow?

Roland frowned doubtfully. But, it was only natural for him to assume so. He knew that there existed archers among Brunian soldiers, albeit only very few, but this shot would have been out of the question with their skill level. After all, it was unthinkable that they’d be able to precisely hit something as small as an eye in a place with a flock of war elephants rampaging around.

But, Roland was immediately forced to correct that thinking. Another arrow came flying, piercing the elephant’s second eye. Now, with both its eyes lost, the elephant toppled sideways while crying sadly.

Roland looked back over his shoulder, quickly scanning the area. His eyes came to a rest on a youth in the distance. Roland assumed him to not have reached the age of twenty yet. He was clasping a black bow in his hand. Just now he was taking out a new arrow, before nocking it on the string.

When both men’s eyes met, the youth smiled faintly.

――No doubt, it was that guy.

Roland was convinced of this. He felt a shiver run across his back while at the same time getting a sense of reliability from that youth. He had never met a person who could shoot his arrows so precisely. Even Asvarre and Sachstein had no such archers amidst their ranks.

――What an outstanding ability. It might be my first time to honestly admire an archer.

Roland revealed a smile that oozed with fighting spirit.

If he had to be brutally honest, this was a battle he couldn’t get motivated for. But, being shown this much of skill, he couldn’t afford to answer in kind by mustering his might as a warrior. Not to mention, that this feat had been performed by an archer, a profession he didn’t care for or admire up until now.

“――For His Majesty!”

Roland firmly grasped the Sword of Invincibility after muttering these words like a prayer, spurred his horse into galloping, resolutely charged into the flock of war elephants. While swinging his sword left and right. He caused the war elephants to reel or defeat them with each blow. And using that momentum, he cut into Muozinel’s army just like that.

A bloody wind swept across the land, his blade having become a whirlwind that seemed to have swooped down on the Muozinel soldiers.

With each slash of his sword, Roland split a head, blew a shoulder away, or bisected a torso alongside its leather armor. His enemy’s spears and sword didn’t reach Roland, or if they did, could only graze the surface of his massive armor.

“Guess now’s not the time to just watch how the situation develops,” Olivier murmured at Brune’s right wing.

Each time Roland advanced, several Muozinel sank in a pool of blood and the same number of soldiers retreated in fear and dread.

Hearing the report, even Kureys couldn’t hide his surprise.

“Taking on war elephants by himself and defeating them, you say…? Bloody hell, Brune sure is a place brimming with monsters in human skin.”

Kureys had already heard rumors of Roland. But he hadn’t expected for the captain of a knight order stationed in Brune’s west to appear in Muozinel. Moreover, he had assumed that his military achievements had been greatly exaggerated.

He suspected that taking down Roland would be as much of a deed of arms as taking down Duke Thenardier. However, Kureys couldn’t come up with a means to achieve that.

“If it was a knight with a certain extent of strength, it might have been possible to overwhelm him by throwing huge amounts of soldiers at him, but…,” Kureys smiled bitterly while stroking his red beard.

He suspected that his soldiers’ morale would break first if they had to face a knight capable of cutting down war elephants.

“Yep, that would be plain stupid.”

Kureys ordered his whole army to retreat. It was just the perfect moment, too. Kureys had no intention of changing his initial idea of luring parts of Brune’s army into heading too deep into enemy lines so as to break their ranks and slowly chip away Brune’s forces.

On the other hand, Roland silently turned the neck of his horse around after witnessing the enemy army’s retreat. It’d be possible for him to push on while brandishing Durandal, but it’d entail the danger of him getting isolated and surrounded deep inside enemy lines. In the past, Sachstein and Asvarre had used the same move on him.

Besides, a part of him also felt that he had accomplished his duty sufficiently. He had scattered the war elephant unit, a valuable combat asset for the Muozinel, and crushed a part of the enemy soldiers. He guessed it’d be fine for him to remain on standby for a while since it looked like some war elephants were still left.

†

At this time, Olmutz’s army had broken away from the right wing and was now outside the battlefield. They had separated around the time when the war elephant unit had been heading for the right wing.

Seeing Tigre come back while spurring on his horse, Mila revealed a smile full of joy.

“Didn’t I tell you yesterday to not force yourself too much?”

Tigre returned a smile of his own. When he saw Roland head out to face the war elephants by himself, Tigre had considered it to be far too reckless and galloped after him. Looking at it from the outcome, you might argue it was unnecessary assistance, but he still wanted to believe that he was at least of a little help.

“I saw how you took down a war elephant with my own eyes,” Mila said and looked back at Galyinin who was behind her without waiting for Tigre to respond.

At that time she had already put on her face as commander.

“We are heading out.”

Olmutz’s army started with its plan. The eyes of many soldiers were pinned on the fight between Roland and the war elephant unit, so only very few paid any attention to the movements of a mere 500 soldiers.

†

The battle had entered a stalemate.

In the center, Brune’s army was pushed by the Muozinel. Although Tigre and Roland had repelled the beasts, the blow they delivered against the central unit before that wasn’t small by any means. Brune’s right wing was overwhelming Muozinel’s left wing, but Brune’s left wing was being pushed back by Muozinel’s right wing.

If you only compared this aspect of the battle, you could judge both sides to be about even, but Kureys steadily whittled down the battle formation of Brune’s left wing while warding off the attacks of Brune’s right wing with clever commanding.

If you compared the numbers of wounded and killed, Brune’s army was slightly worse off.

Currently Kureys was trying to get Roland to make a move. He didn’t plan on taking him down. He simply wanted to surround him with a great number of soldiers to thwart the knight’s movements for some time. If he succeeded in that, he’d be able to deliver another devastating blow against Brune’s army by letting the remaining elephants loose.

At the same time, Kureys guessed that Roland wasn’t moving because he had seen through that intent. Thenardier remaining silent was owed to this as well.

A bloody wind carrying sand and dust ravaged the land between both armies, disconnected arms and legs were scattered between corpses. The scorching sunlight was drying out the pools of blood while mercilessly grilling the soldier’s wounds.

It was at this moment that Kureys received a report about the left wing of Muozinel’s army being under heavy attack. Half a koku had passed since the battle started.

“What are the numbers?”

“Around 300 cavalrymen and 200 infantrymen. And, the report talks about ‘Black Dragon Flag’ (Zirnitra) flying…”

Zirnitra referred to the flag of Zhcted. Kureys nodded calmly.

――It’s probably the Brunian army pretending to be soldiers from Zhcted, and not Zhcted itself. They must be aiming at lowering our morale by insinuating that their allies have come running all the way here from far away.

And although Kureys thought all this, he couldn’t afford to disregard this attacks. As such, he ordered a counterattack.

At this moment 『Red Beard』 grimaced for no apparent reason. Of course it didn’t stem from the enemy having had a unit circumvent the battlefield to attack from another direction. For some reason, he felt upset about the enemy only consisting of a measly 500 soldiers. Even though the attack of a detached unit wasn’t anything aggravating in and by itself.

†

It went without saying, but naturally the enemy unit of five hundred referred to Olmutz’s army.

Currently they were thundering across the ground, approaching the flank of Muozinel’s left wing. But, since they had infantry with them, it wasn’t as though they were moving at a crazy speed.

A few dozens of arrows were shot at them by Muozinel’s army. But, those projectiles never reached Tigre’s group. With one swing of Lavias, the arrows quickly lost their momentum before falling to the ground. As he was riding next to Mila, Tigre widened his eyes.

“What did you do?”

“I froze them,” answered Mila nonchalantly.

Tigre sighed. He thought he had finally been able to become her equal, but he was apparently still far behind. But, they didn’t have any further time to spend on conversation. Muozinel’s army was right in front of their eyes by now. The Muozinel appeared baffled by the arrows crashing to the ground in a mysterious way, but they immediately pulled themselves together and readied their spears.

“Leave this part to me.”

Mila readied Lavias and galloped slightly ahead. Tigre suppressed his desire to shoot arrows and followed her. Stabbing out her spear, she killed three Muozinel soldiers in one go. Anone unable to follow her movements must have seen this as some sort of flash being released from Mila’s hand.

Brune and Olmutz’s soldiers cheered while a stir ran throughout the Muozinel’s ranks.

The Vanadis’s movements didn’t end at that. She pulled out the bloodied spear, rotated it in her hand, and took down an enemy soldier who had come attacking from the side. The Muozinel soldier had his forehead cracked open, followed by him collapsing while releasing a spray of blood.

Next Mila repelled a spear attacking her from the opposite side and blew away the enemy soldier with one blow of Lavias’s butt end.

Several Muozinel faltered after witnessing this display of might and fell back. Mila didn’t miss that and advanced her horse in the slight opening caused by the retreat. The cavalry and infantry belonging to Olmutz’s army pushed into that opening, brandishing swords and spears.

It was only then that Tigre readied his bow. While being protected by Mila, Tigre observed the movement of the Muozinel soldiers. But not just of those in front of him, but also the movements of enemies twenty or thirty alsin away.

――Found you.

Tigre released his arrow. The projectile flew around thirty alsin, just to pierce a Muozinel soldier under his nose. That soldier collapsed with a bewildered look, vanishing from sight. The soldiers who stood around him started to panic, but at that time Tigre had already nocked a new arrow while searching for the next target. Seemingly having become used to it after the first time, he found the next target in no time. Once again, he took down the soldier by shooting him to death. Afterwards, it took him less than ten breaths to take out the third.

“I’m done.”

Once Tigre spoke to her back, Mila pushed back the Muozinel soldiers by swiping Lavias from right to left. Raising her spear overhead, Mila looked back towards her soldiers, and yelled, “Pull out!”

The soldiers bellowed. While restraining the Muozinel soldiers by brandishing their spears, they turned their horses around in succession. Mila also turned her back on the enemy and spurred her horse.

The Muozinel soldiers’ movements, on the other hand, were so slow that it was strange and since their pursuit stopped at a sporadic few, Mila’s unit managed to withdraw from Muozinel’s army without a hitch.

“Lady Ludmila’s might sure is terrifying,” Raphinaque exhaled while tightly grasping his bloodstained spear.

His arms and legs were injured ,but all of the cuts were shallow. They’d pose no obstacle to him continuing to fight. But, as might be expected, he didn’t seem to have the leeway to drop his usual, sarcastic comments.

“That is reassuring to hear,” Galyinin revealed a smile while skillfully handling his horse.

Raphinaque was about to say something but swallowed his words. His lord had said that he was trying to measure up to Mila. And as his adjutant, he should adopt a certain attitude, he believed.

“It definitely reassuring…”

Ahead of their eyes Mila was directing a smile at Tigre while panting.

“――That went better than expected.”

Her blue eyes were twinkling with joy and astonishment. It was paramount to pay attention to the possibility of getting counter-attacked when retreating after attacking an enemy’s flank. Many commanders failed at retreating during the chance when the opponent was faltering. Instead, they ended up pushing further into the enemy ranks, trying to deliver a crippling blow, just to end up sustaining heavy losses. The other alternative was the attackers only inflicting light damage to the enemy as they didn’t put much force behind their charge out of fear of such counter-attack.

However, the option of having Tigre kill the commanders yielded better results than expected, just as Mila had said. Having lost their commanding officers, the movements of the enemy unit became dull, confused, and incapable of counterattacking. It’d be one thing if the damage was limited to only that, but the headless unit would obstruct the movements of other units by getting in their way or running into allies.

“Tigre, can you still go on?”

Asked by Mila, the youth nodded, “Of course. Let me ask instead, aren’t you forcing yourself too much?”

“I’m fine,” Mila answered with a laugh. “As long as I have you by my side, I can fight forever.”

The soldiers finished reorganizing their ranks. Because they’d been able to retreat with almost no counterattacks by the enemy, they were able to reorganize much faster than anticipated.

Mila observed the movements of Muozinel’s army, and once she spotted the place they should attack, she held up Lavias.

“――CHARGE!”

The soldiers answered with cheers.

†

Kureys noticed the abnormality amidst the left wing of his army around the time when Tigre and Mila had finished their third attack on the enemy flanks. You could say he realized it at a rather early rather than late stage.

Tigre’s arrows were precisely aimed at the officers who had been commanding fifty soldiers. Basically, they were too far down the ranks that their deaths would be reported right away.

However, the death of each such officer would incapacitate fifty soldiers in one swoop. Moreover, it wasn’t enough to only look at it as them becoming useless as soldiers. Those fifty soldiers would impede their allies by adhering to the last order or stopping on the spot.

Of course, an adjutant or close aide would serve as deputy in the case a commanding officer were to fall, but the number of people capable of quickly shifting into action upon learning about the death of their superior were few.

As such, Tigre’s selected killing gradually paralyzed the entire left wing.

At the time when Kureys noticed that something was amiss, up to 30% of the left wing had already become unable to take coordinated actions. The number of soldiers, who had lost their officers, amounted to around 10% of the whole, but they bogged down their fellow soldiers.

And Brune’s army used that opening to assault.

Unable to meet the enemy charge in orderly fashion, the Muozinel soldiers took Brune’s furious attack straight from the front. The sunlight was reflected as it shone upon swords and spears. Meanwhile, Muozinel blood was increasingly dyeing the soil as they got killed successively.

Kureys ordered without a sliver of hesitation, “Retreat. Have the entire army fall back.”

He had realized that another terrifying enemy besides Roland was lurking within Brunian ranks. Of course he didn’t even dream of it being an archer, but a man’s imagination has its limits.

“I guess this much should do.”

After getting the ranks back in order, Kureys ordered a further withdrawal in a way that invited Brune’s army to follow suit. NAturally he fully intended to defeat any Brunian soldiers charging at his army.

However, Thenardier had strictly forbidden his men to pursue. Defeating the war elephants and delivering a devastating blow to the enemy’s left wing had turned this into something that could be declared as victory. At least it wouldn’t become something absurdly disadvantageous in future diplomatic relations, he assessed.

And thus, the battle ended with Muozinel’s retreat around the time when the sun had passed its zenith.

The casualties for Muozinel’s side amounted to approximately 1,500 while the casualties on Brune’s side remained below 1,000. Hence it was reasonable to call this battle as won by Brune. However, it wasn’t that much of a great victory that it’d offset the defeat of Eleşkirt. And Brune’s army was forced to turn its back on Muozinel and fall back into Brune.

Kureys had pulled his own soldiers back because he had seen through that fact. From the very start, this hadn’t been a battle Muozinel’s army had to win at all costs.

The abandoned battle flags weakly fluttered in the sand-laden breeze.

†

After confirming that the Muozinel army had ceased all hostile activities and retreated, Duke Thenardier showed up at the location of the Navarre Knight Order. Of course, he wasn’t alone. His adjutant Steed, his eldest son Zion, and about a dozen soldiers accompanied him.

“Lord Roland, I can only express my deepest admiration for your brave manner of fighting as commander of this army.”

“I wield my sword to display the valor of Brune and to protect its people as their knight. His Majesty the King has commanded me to do so and thus I oblige.”

Even while in front of a leading, high-ranking noble like Duke Thenardier, Roland didn’t think of dismounting and limited his greeting to a nod. Zion reacted much stronger to Roland’s attitude than Thenardier did.

“How dare you! Just because you’re His Majesty’s favorite――”

“Zion,” interrupted Thenardier his son’s outburst with a calm voice. “Stay out of this.”

Zion reluctantly held his tongue. He respected his father, but likewise he also feared him.

“Forgive my son for his rash words,” Thenardier said and bowed towards Roland. “We align in serving His Majesty the King. I would be pleased to be granted permission to rely on your valor in the future as well.”

Later on Roland would call this shameless and brazen in front of his vice-captain Olivier. Anyone knowing a bit about Brune’s royal palace knew that Thenardier frequently acted in ways that went against King Faron’s wishes. Thenardier possessed that much authority.

Roland tightly clenched his fist, but couldn’t do anything beyond that. Thenardier had been observing etiquette, and if he snapped here and hurled insult after insult at the duke, Roland’s standing would be the only thing suffering from this.

“As far as I’m concerned, I wasn’t overly keen to leave the compounds of the Navarre fortress for this endeavor. Showing an opening to Sachstein and Asvarre shouldn’t be in your interest either.”

“Of course I’m well aware of this. If you need anything, I won’t mind providing it to you, no matter the costs.”

“For now, we’re set, but I shall accept that consideration.”

Roland nodded once more, hurled an order at his knights, and departed. After seeing him off, Thenardier whirled around. Next he had to head to Mila’s place.

――She also did something troublesome.

Mila had scraped Brunian soldiers together and attacked the left wing of the Muozinel army. It’d be one thing if this had been all she achieved, but she somehow managed to also impede the movements of the entire left wing.

If she had pulled this off while only relying on the power of Olmutz’s army, Thenardier could still come to terms with it. However, the Brunians, who had helped her with this, were all people whom Thenardier disliked or shunned as harmful. Moreover, it had also resulted in him now owing Zhcted. As such, it was annoying to him in several ways.

While walking, he told Steed, “We will withdraw by today. Got it?”

His voice was oozing with uncontainable rage.

Moreover, he had no one he could award the Laciole. Roland had refused it firmly since he already received that medal from King Faron for defending the western border. And Thenardier didn’t judge anyone else worthy of receiving it.

†

When Tigre and Mila were talking, a single knight spurred his horse in their direction. Seeing who it was, Tigre unconsciously blinked in astonishment. Even Tigre had heard about the tales of bravery surrounding Black Knight Roland. However, it was his first time to day to have seen him.

“Tigrevurmud Vorn would be you, Sir?”

Being personally addressed by a hero of such a might that he had been entrusted with Brune’s national treasure, Tigre’s entire body froze. Yet, he somehow managed to nod.

Roland’s expression softened faintly, “I was rescued by you during the battle against the war elephants. You have my gratitude.”

“I feel obliged. Though I must admit that I worried I might have meddled unnecessarily,” Tigre answered while somehow managing to pretend calmness after bowing.

His remark was not flattery, but his true thoughts, too. Tigre believed that someone of Roland’s caliber would have been easily able to cut his way through, even when confronted by two war elephants at the same time.

Revealing a gentle smile, Roland shook his head.

“No, you never know what might happen on a battlefield. You were a big help,” suddenly Roland put on a serious expression and further asked, “you seem to excel at archery, but where did you learn that?”

“In my hometown. I was taught by the hunters in our fief and afterwards I refined it through hunting by myself.”

Tigre believed that he had given an honest answer here, but for some reason Roland knitted his eyebrows.

“I have never seen such outstanding skill in archery. I thought you might have studied under a fairly famous master archer, and yet you say you learned it through self-study?”

“His words are true. I can guarantee that,” Mila said while stepping forward.

With her blue hair fluttering in the wind, she bowed at Roland.

“My name is Ludmila Lourie, a Vanadis of Zhcted. I have been friends with Lord Tigrevurmud for quite some time now, so I can vouch for him having trained his archery skills in Alsace’s mountains.”

Roland stared at Mila, unable to hide his surprise. He had already guessed that Tigre and Mila were close after seeing them from a distance, but he hadn’t expected their relationship to be that close.

“Allow me to apologize if I have offended you in any way, Lady Vanadis. I didn’t doubt Lord Tigrevurmud’s words. I simply thought that it’s a waste.”

This time it was Mila’s turn to knit her eyebrows.

“What do you mean by that?”

“He drove a war elephant into becoming completely helpless with merely two arrows. That in itself is a marvelous feat. Yet, I doubt that Lord Tigrevurmud’s deed of arms will be recognized as such.”

Archers were the target of scorn and ridicule in Brune. Roland’s voice as he said this was flat and dispassionate, but it was clear that he was valuing and sympathizing with Tigre’s talent.

Tigre replied with a smile, “But, it was recognized by you. That is more than enough for me right now.”

“I might be going beyond my station here, but you are not intending to defect to another country? I don’t want to have a young man like you as an enemy, but that method might allow you to get proper acknowledgement for your efforts.”

“I love the land of Alsace where I grew up, and its people. Besides――” changing the smile on his lips into something daring, Tigre continued, “――don’t you think it would be amazing if I could achieve deeds of arms in Brune in spite of this sort of adversity?”

Rolan stared at Tigre with a dumbstruck expression for an instant, then he broke into a broad smile.

“Certainly, it is as you say. It sounds like my suggestion has been uncalled-for.”

Apparently having finished his business here, Roland turned the neck of his horse around. While spurring his steed into moving away from the two, he looked back just once.

“The next time we meet, let me hear the stories of your homeland over a bottle of wine.”

“G-Gladly.” Being told something so unexpected, Tigre’s voice unintentionally came out a bit shriller than intended. “Please let me hear about your countless heroic tales at that time.”

Instead of answering, Roland raised his right hand as he left. Mila and Tigre silently gazed at his retreating figure, but before long Mila muttered, “That was the Black Knight, huh? It was my first time seeing him.”

“I was surprised. I had never anticipated that he’d call out to me from his side.”

Tigre sighed while suppressing his nervousness and excitement by placing a hand on his chest. And once he had regained some of his composure by doing this, he smiled at Mila.

“Thank you for earlier, Mila.”

“No need to mention it. This much is normal, right?”

Mila pursed her lips and averted her face. In order to make sure that Tigre wouldn’t see her cheeks going red.

Just like that, she asked him, “But, are you sure it was good to say such things?”

“Such things?”

Tigre tilted his head, wondering whether he’d said something bad.

“Saying that you’d make a name for yourself by achieving meritorious deeds in Brune… Wouldn’t it be fine to do that in Zhcted? If you did it like that, I could support you as a friend.”

“That is definitely an invitation I would love to accept,” Tigre said with a laugh, but then he immediately tightened his expression, ” I want you.”

With her face still averted, Mila couldn’t answer anything.

Tigre continued, “I will need great achievements for the sake of marrying you. So great that Brunians and Zhcted won’t have any choice but to accept it. Besides, I don’t want to be regarded as someone who sponged off your good will by the surroundings.”

If Tigre were to abandon his homeland, leave Brune, and go to Mila’s place, she might be able to actively support him, as she said herself. It’d also allow him to come much closer to his own desire in a big leap.

But, Tigre feared that Mila would be criticized for bringing her personal feelings into public matters because of that. Seeing how rulers were humans too, it was impossible for them to completely detach themselves from all human emotions. However, there was no doubt that some people would label this as an excessive manner of favoring, if a foreigner were to marry Mila after gaining achievements on the battlefield with her support. In such a case, he still preferred to struggle in Brune to obtain some grand achievements. Of course, the contempt towards himself triggered by achieving his dream only with Mila’s help and the wish to triumph over the Brunians, who had sneered at him, also played into this.

†

Roland shared a bottle of wine with his vice-captain Olivier inside the knight order’s captain tent.

“How were the war elephants?”

“Hmm, I think my having encountered them for the first time also plays into my assessment, but they were quite interesting beasts,” answered Roland carefreely to Olivier, who had chatted him up with the intent to have some idle talk. “I’ve never seen such big living beings. Their noses also seem like cudgels or whips. Their skin was fairly tough, making the feel at the time of cutting them rather different.”

“It sounds like the battle against them has turned into a nice experience for you,” Olivier laughed lightly.

“Nice experience, huh? Certainly, you got a point there. But, besides the war elephants, I was also able to meet a valuable man.”

“Tigrevurmud Vorn, was it?”

“Yes. If it’s possible to pull off such feats with archery, I feel like learning it myself, even if it might be only now.”

“Please spare me from that. It’ll become a terrible hassle,” Olivier stopped his close friend in all seriousness.

Olivier couldn’t fathom just how much backlash it’d cause if the King’s deeply-trusted 『Black Knight』 suddenly started to use bows.

“Hmm, I see your point. I suppose I’ll give it a rest for now…”

For now, Roland obeyed Olivier’s request. But, some uncertainty about it staying like that nested in Olivier’s heart.

†

Just around the time when the battle at the Red Sand River was heading towards its end, another battle was about to conclude at Ardahan, a region close to the border between Zhcted and Muozinel.

Zhcted’s army of 10,000 soldiers led by Vanadis Eleonora Viltaria had clashed with 15,000 Muozinel soldiers led by General Yargaç. Yargaç was one of Kureys’s trusted commanders.

This battle ended in a one-sided outcome. Muozinel’s army was torn apart.

In the first place, Eleonora was supposed to protect Zhcted’s border. But, with Earl Barshei, the commander of the lords’ army, being led around by the nose by Muozinel’s army, and the other commander, Mila, having headed over to Brune’s army, Eleonora had crossed the border with merely 2,000 men.

Just as Mila possessed the alias 『Snow Princess of Frozen RipplesMichelia』, Eleonora also possessed an alias, namely 『Wind Princess of Silver FlashSilvfrau』, and true to her name, she dashed across Muozinel soil like a gale.

As soon as she joined up with Barshei’s army and Olmutz’s army, which Mila had ordered to standby, they devastated Yargaç’s army in a single battle.

The strategy employed by Eleonora was simple. She spread rumors about the morale of Zhcted’s army having hit rock bottom after learning of Brune’s defeat. On top of that, she actually had a part of the lords’ army return to Zhcted.

Yargaç bought into the rumors circulated by Eleonora. He ordered his soldiers to charge as soon as the archer battle came to an end, being filled with the drive to bring this battle to a close within the day. Consequently he completely fell for the trap laid out by Eleonora.

Seeing the enemy charge, Eleonora ordered her soldiers to retreat, succeeding in stretching the battle line of Muozinel’s army vertically. Moreover, by having both flanks of Zhcted’s army move cleverly, she managed to half-encircle Muozinel’s advanced units, just to immediately order a counterattack.

Muozinel’s leading units faced furious attacks from the front and sides, resulting in them being scattered before reinforcements could arrive from the rear.

Feeling confident about having gained the initiative on the battlefield, Eleonora delegated the command to her adjutant, and led the next attack in person. Her imposing appearance as she plunged into enemy ranks while brandishing her viralt, a longsword, caused many Muozinel to suffer nightmares and death.

In addition to her abilities as commander, Eleonora also excelled in her capabilities as a warrior. Each time she swung her sword to the right and left with her silver hair fluttering in the wind, Muozinel soldiers collapsed in their own blood.

The Muozinel challenged her from all directions in groups of three or four, but none of them were granted victory. Even when trying to snipe her with arrows from afar, the wind didn’t allow for any to reach her for some odd reason. The same happened when they poured down a barrage of arrows while even taking friendly fire into account.

Full of fear and terror, the Muozinel soldiers retreated, but Eleonora matched them, advancing for as much as they withdrew. All while brandishing her sword. Where she stood, the area beneath her turned into a sea of Muozinel blood.

In addition, Leitmeritz’s forces, which had been led by her, followed in her wake, widening the breach Eleonora cut open with their numbers. Inspired by the fighting spirit of Leitmeritz’s army, the lords’ army and Olmutz’s army also took heart, leading to Muozinel’s army continuously retreating while being fully on the defensive.

“This isn’t much of a battle anymore,” Yargaç spat out around half a koku after the battle had started.

He had realized that the number of soldiers he had at hand wouldn’t be anywhere enough to stop Eleonora. Yet, he didn’t simply turn around and fled. Making a unit, which he had kept in reserve, go around the battlefield, he had them attack the rear of Zhcted’s army.

Zhcted’s soldier had been passionately advancing while following Eleonora, but now they slowed down as they had ice cold water poured on their overheating feeling of exaltation. This caused Eleonora to become the only one standing far ahead of Zhcted’s battlefront, but Yargaç didn’t even think of trying to take down the Vanadis.

“We’re withdrawing. This is how far we will go this time.”

The surprise attack with a detached unit didn’t aim at a recovery from their current inferior situation, but merely served as means to prepare a complete withdrawal. And even while being pursued, Yargaç calmly and determinedly stuck to his plan.

Having seen the movements of Muozinel’s army, Eleonora ordered her men to fall back. She had also judged that they had done enough damage with this. Furthermore, she had achieved her goal of demonstrating their fighting style to the Muozinel. As such, it wasn’t necessary to continue the fight any longer, spilling more blood.

†

After making sure of Brune’s retreat, Kureys was haunted by the postwar dealings.

“A lot more than expected died out there.”

Inside his luxurious commander’s tent, Kureys sighed deeply, which was quite unusual for him. He was just in the process of checking the documents summarizing the casualties and damages his army suffered in the previous battle. The part hurting him the most was the loss of twenty war elephants across two battles.

Given that elephants didn’t inhabit Muozinel naturally, they had to buy them from other countries. On top of that, they weren’t battle-ready the second you bought them either. They had to first be acclimated to Muozinel’s climate. Then they were given combat training, before finally becoming usable for combat.

“I guess we’ll have to refrain from using war elephants during battles for a while. I think it’ll also become a great training for my commanding officers.”

The losses of soldiers were big as well, but they weren’t as critical as the loss of the war elephants. You could even call it a cheap price to pay, if you considered Muozinel’s ability to learn the true power of Brune’s Black Knight and Zhcted’s Vanadis.

‘The deaths of many squad leaders is quite annoying to be very blunt here. And, it’s also scary. It goes without saying, but a commanding officer is always the core of a unit. Once they lose their officer, even fifty elites will turn into fifty useless roadblocks. I must come up with some sort of countermeasure.

“Your Excellency, Lord Harkim has come visiting,” an aide informed Kureys from outside the tent.

Kureys frowned, but then told the aide to let Harkim inside.

Without delay, a man and a woman entered. The man was in his mid-thirties. His face was round, just like his torso. He was clad in loose, white silken clothes, but that emphasized his protruding belly all the more instead. His skin was darker than that of an average Muozinel, and his black beard at the chin was divided in three. His name was Harkim and he was one of Muozinel’s royals.

“Nothing less of you, Your Grace. Your ability to repel the allied forces of Brune and Zhcted, which amounted to more than 30,000 soldiers in total, was truly outstanding. This will bring even more glory and prestige to your fame as 『Red Beard』.”

Harkim spread his arms, apparently demonstrating his joy, and praised Kureys with a strong, carrying voice. However, Kureys’s concern didn’t rest with Harkim, but the woman standing next to him. She wore a black mask that covered her entire head. A dragon had been drawn on the left half of her mask, and the only openings were narrow slits for her eyes and mouth. The mouth was shaped after a crescent moon with the sickles pointing upwards, making it seem as if she was laughing. Long, black hair reached down all the way to the waist from the backside of her mask.

She wore an attire that seemed to highlight her body line, but she covered most of it with a overcoat. If her voluptuous chest and narrow waist hadn’t been visible, Kureys wouldn’t have been able to determine her gender.

“Lord Harkim, who might that be?”

Ignoring the flattery, Kureys only asked about what interested him. Harkim raised an eyebrow in discontent, but immediately pulled himself together and introduced her.

“This woman is called Aži Dahāka. As wandering fortune teller――”

“That’s a fake name, right? What’s your real name?” Kureys asked the woman directly, interrupting Harkim’s explanation.

Aži Dahāka was the name of an evil dragon appearing in Muozinel’s legends.

“I understand that you seem to be a fortune teller, but I doubt it’s a fitting name for someone chirping good fortune.”

“Our clan avoids disaster by carrying the names of those feared or abhorred,” Aži Dahāka answered Kureys calmly without flinching away from his eyes staring at her.

Next to her, Harkim rattled on while constantly throwing exaggerated gestures into the mix, “Your Grace, I have told you so before as well, but Aži Dahāka has predicted that Brune’s army would employ dragons and she also succeeded in foreseeing the landslide at Zafaran. I think she will definitely prove to be useful, if you allow her to stay at your side.”

“Yeah, I remember having received reports about that,” Kureys’s lips distorted beneath his red beard, “I see. So you say she’s an excellent fortune teller. But, at present I have no need for her. Though I’m grateful of your kind consideration, Lord Harkim.”

Harkim didn’t pull back at once. He praised the usefulness of Aži Dahāka as divine to the moon, but he couldn’t persuade Kureys. The royal prince had already perceived that Harkim was harboring ill-will towards him. The possibility of Aži Dahāka trying to assassinate him after getting secretly ordered to do so by Harkim wasn’t negligible at all. Moreover, Kureys had trouble getting used to the abnormal atmosphere surrounding Aži Dahāka. Let alone placing her next to him, he felt it’d be dangerous to even allow her to get anywhere close to him.

Of course, if one said this was just an emotional issue, he’d find it hard to object, but Kureys always obeyed his own intuition during such times.

After getting repeatedly rejected by Kureys, Harkim dropped his shoulders, sighing deeply.

“I understand… I shall pull back for now. If I should find another person who appears like they would be of use to you, I shall bring them in front of you again.”

“Uh-huh, because I have people like you supporting me, I have less to worry. I’m counting on you in the future.” And then Kureys casually asked Aži Dahāka, “Do you happen to have any knowledge of martial arts?”

This question stemmed from him sensing something like that from the way she was moving. Aži Dahāka calmly replied, “I can use the spear a bit.”

“Hoh, you might be more suited as a warrior than a fortune teller then.”

“――I assume you must be teasing me.”

Aži Dahāka bowed elegantly.

After the two left, Kureys revealed a nasty smile, once more all by himself inside his tent. He was curious as to how Harkim was managing her.

――I don’t know who that woman is, but I doubt that Harkim will be able to handle her.

After erasing his smile, Kureys switched his thinking and tried to resume his paperwork.

†

At that point, Kureys’s aide announced a visit by Damad and Ayşe.

“Oh, Ayşe came as well? Let them in.”

Kureys pulled a surprised face. Leaving aside Damad, it was rare for Ayşe to visit together with him.

Entering the tent, Damad’s clothes were stained with mud while his body was covered in scars all over. Deep exhaustion had dug into his face. Ayşe’s clothes were dirty too, but her stains were clearly originating from her having wiped her hands to get rid of grease and other food stains. It made clear what sort of lifestyle she usually embraced.

First, Damad knelt down on the sport and gave his report. He mentioned how he chased the Brunian archer, got captured instead, and came back without having achieved anything after being taken round before getting released by his captors in the end. Damad bowed very deeply.

Next Ayşe spoke up.

“Lord Kureys, it is certainly true that Damad has failed in achieving his task, but it was me who sent him out all by himself in the name of reconnaissance. This blunder isn’t to be found with just Damad.”

“That statement completely lacks any impact if you still have food scraps clinging to your mouth, though,” said Kureys in an appalled tone.

But, everyone knowing him a bit better would be able to see from his face that he was looking at her quite kindly. Ayşe wiped her mouth with a sleeve in a hurry.

“Damad, about that archer…,” Damad’s body trembled with a start when Kureys addressed him, “…was that guy truly able to shoot an arrow over a distance of 250 alsin?”

That was the crucial information as far fas Kureys was concerned. If Brune’s army had such a man in its rank, he’d become a threat at the same level as the Black Knight.

Damad squeezed out, “Yes. Very likely that man can shoot his arrows over a range of up to 300 alsin. On top of that, his shots will accurately hit their targets.”

Kureys unintentionally widened his eyes. Even he had never heard about someone shooting arrows over a distance of 300 alsin. He thought that maybe Damad was exaggerating the abilities of his enemy to cover up for his own mistake, but even 250 alsin were plenty weird. Kureys doubted that Damad would gain anything out of exaggerating that figure even further.

“Did you learn the name of that man?”

“He seems to be called Tigrevurmud Vorn. He acted together with two of Zhcted’s Vanadis, Ludmila Lourie and Militsa.”

A strange silence engulfed the tent.

“…Lift your face, Damad.”

Damad did as told. Scrutinizing his expression, Kureys grimaced.

――That’s not the face of a liar. However, if he’s speaking the truth, it’d mean the man called Tigrevurmud Vorn not only possesses a fearsome skill in archery, despite being a Brunian, but he’s also close to some Vanadis of Brune’s neighbor.

Kureys should have heard a rumor or two about a man of such caliber, and yet he didn’t remember having heard that name before.

――In the first place, the name Tigrevurmud doesn’t sound Brunian. Maybe he’s a Zhcted. Brune and Zhcted share many things such as the gods they worship and many terms.

“You haven’t reported about this to anyone other than me, have you?”

“…No,” Damad confirmed once more after a short break. “I have not.”

Kureys immediately perceived from the tone in his voice that this had to be a lie. Damad was trying to hide something. But, at the same time, Kureys could sense his strong feelings of loyalty towards himself.

“You weren’t given any instructions as conditions for your release?”

“No, they did not tell me anything.”

Kureys tried to confront the younger man with a nasty question, but Damad answered right away, making it obvious that this wasn’t the issue.

After adding several more questions, Kureys told Damad and Ayşe that he’d forgive them.

――You can definitely count this as failure, but if I consider the abilities of the opponent, it’d have been very possible for Damad not to come back alive. In such a case, I wouldn’t have been able to hear his report right now. This is a big plus.

――Tigrevurmud Vorn. I should have him investigated.

He had obtained valuable intelligence about the existence of an outstanding warrior in one of the neighboring countries. In reality this much already justified rewarding Damad more than amply, but Kureys decided to postpone that.

――After all, Damad will likely seek an opportunity to clear his name once his wounds are healed. Besides, I must also honor Ayşe’s consideration for her subordinate.

“Take a good rest.”

Kureys order both to leave. At that moment, Damad spoke up, looking kind of hesitant.

“Your Excellency… Just who was that masked woman who left this tent before us?”

This was an unexpected question. Kureys reflexively smiled into his beard.

“You feel bothered by her?”

Damad nodded with a serious look.

“She said she’s a fortune teller called Aži Dahāka. Harkim tried to aggressively sell her to me. But, she wasn’t quite to my liking, and thus I turned down his offer.”

Damad breathed out in relief upon hearing Kureys joking about it. Ayşe looked at his face in a confused manner.

†

After leaving Kureys’s tent, Damad instinctively sighed. He felt exhaustion weighing down on his whole body. Audiences with Kureys always caused Damad to expand a lot of his mental power, but this time the drain was extraordinarily bad. Especially because there were many things he had to hide from Kureys.

――Ain’t no way I can tell him about us having fought a monster…even if it might be the truth. It’d still be fine if I was just seen as a nutcase. But, it I was deemed useless, I’d lose my current standing and everything else. That’s something I must avoid by all means.

In addition to those worries, he still hadn’t sorted things in his head in regards to the monster. He even felt a wish to meet Tigre once more, as someone who had experienced the same.

“――Damad.”

Damad came to his senses when he felt his clothes being pulled. Ayşe was closely staring up at him.

“Did it tire you out? Let’s hurry and get back to our tent to rest.”

“No…I have caused you trouble, Your Highness,” Damad lowered his head.

Although he went through such a chain of incidents, it still remained true that he failed at his duty. He could only thank Ayşe for having come along to report to Kureys and covered for him on top of that.

“You’re awfully modest. That’s gross.”

Damad pulled a face as if had bitten a bitter bug. Seeing that reaction, Ayşe smiled a bit.

“You making such a face is still much better, in my eyes. What, His Excellency has evaluated you properly. It seemed like he also harbored a fair amount of interest in that Vorn fellow.”

“Well, you have a point there.”

A superior archer with close ties to Vanadis; it was only natural for Kureys to have a keen interest in such a man.

“By the way, Aži Dahāka, was it? Did that woman bug you so much? Sure, I also considered her to be creepy, but even her name…”

At those words, Damad stopped and stared down at Ayşe with a serious expression.

“Listen well, Lady Ayşe, even if you should ever spot that woman in the future, please stay away from her, no matter what you do. How should I describe it…? Right, that woman is very dangerous.”

Damad’s words were rather abstract, but his voice could only be described as being full of desperation. Ayşe blinked her eyes in surprise, before getting swallowed up by his verve, nodding many times over.

The two groups around Damad and Aži Dahāka had passed each other in front of Kureys’s tent for just an instant. Damad had glanced at her, but she had taken no notice of Damad. Back then, Damad had felt the same from her as he had sensed from Rusalka. An abnormal aura and a pressure as it could likely only be exuded by something non-human.

――It’s not said that she’s a monster. But, as long as her true nature doesn’t become clear, we shouldn’t get close to her.

Ayşe and him walked towards their own unit.

Suddenly Ayşe said, “Damad, I have stiff shoulders.”

“Okay, I got it. I just need to massage them, right?” Damad answered with a voice completely devoid of any passion.

This was part of their usual exchange. But, discovering that he felt a peace of mind due to this mundane custom of theirs, the black-haired youth could only release a deep sigh.

†

It was a room that seemed to have completely melted within darkness. The air filling the rather small space was not only cold, but carried a weird oppressiveness. A single woman was standing in the middle of the room ― Aži Dahāka.

“――Rusalka perished, huh?” Aži Dahāka muttered after a while.

She was the one who had awakened the monster sealed in Oltu’s temple of Anāhitā. Aži Dahāka herself was no human either. She was a being belonging to the same world as Rusalka. Therefore she could tell Rusalka’s perishing and leaving without having to witness it with her own two eyes.

“I felt it’d already be great for me if she could kill those pesky dragons of Drekavac for me, but she allowed me to enjoy myself even further by causing landslides as well as floods and fogs.”

Aži Dahāka sounded more like she was talking to someone rather than a monologue.

“However, I have absolutely no idea who has destroyed Rusalka. Was it the Spear Maiden, the Scythe Maiden…or someone else altogether?”

Silence lowered itself on the room like a blanket. After an unknown amount of time Aži Dahāka suddenly closed her eyes and solemnly muttered, “――All for the sake of Tir Na Fal.”

Tir Na Fal was the goddess ruling over night, darkness, and death. It was Aži Dahāka’s objective to allow that goddess to descend on the surface.

†

When they entered Brune’s territory, Tigre and Mila bid farewell to each other. Tigre would go back to Alsace together with his soldiers. Mila would cross the Vosges Mountains with Galyinin and his knights, heading back to Olmutz. But then again, Mila would need to immediately head over to Zhcted’s capital to give her war report.

“I’d have loved to guide you around Alsace, if only you had some free time,” Tigre said with a wry smile.

Brune would be greeting summer from now on. Of course, this also applied to Alsace. Galloping across the mountains and fields would allow one to not only spot violets and daisies, but also roses and thistles. He wanted to show the lush plains, which woke one’s urge to keep running across them forever, and the mountains with their magnificent outlook to her. And even Mila wanted to take a look at the land where her beloved grew up.

But, Mila had a duty to fulfill as commander and Vanadis. Besides, she had used her duty as reason to quickly wrap up her farewell with Duke Thenardier. If she now gave Tigre special treatment, it’d likely bring him trouble instead.

The two took a final rest on top of a certain, small hill. If you headed north from that hill, you’d eventually reach Alsace, and if you headed East, you’d run into the Vosges. Given that Raphinaque and Galyinin were taking care of the soldiers for them, the two were all alone right now.

Sitting back to back on the ground, they stared up to the transparent-looking sky. They felt comforted by each other’s warmth, but the wind was quite chilly. This feeling probably didn’t just stem from them having returned from the 『Kingdom of Eternal Summer』.

“All kinds of things happened, huh?”

Mila giggled at Tigre’s comment. She casually placed her hand on his as he rested it on the ground.

“Indeed. A lot has happened, indeed.”

However, events that would shorten the physical distance between them any more than now didn’t quite come to be. And even if they told others about the events with the demon, most would likely disregard their words as dreams.

Neither of the two could tell how many years it’d take for them to meet each other next.

Turning his hand over, Tigre grasped Mila’s.

“I’ll definitely stand next to you.”

Mila didn’t answer him with words, but she squeezed back his hand.

At the very least, I’ve acquired the qualification to stand next to her during the battle against the demon. This much is still not enough for my arrow to reach the Sizurite. But, there’s no doubt that I’ve shortened the distance. I’ll continue to pile up one achievement after the other.

Without it being clear who was first, both stood up and faced each other.

“Well then, let us meet again, Tigre.”

“Yeah, until next time.”

They used Zhcted for these words alone, before shaking hands. And then, the instant their hands separated, Tigre leaned himself forward. He hugged Mila and overlapped her faint lips with his own. It lasted but a short moment.

Tigre swiftly pulled away from Mila, turned around, and ran downhill. After all, it’d have been embarrassing for her to see his burning red face.

Mila, on the other hand, stood stock still, completely dumbfounded and her cheeks flushing. Her looking up to the sky for no particular reason was likely owed the same reason as her lover’s dash ― embarrassment. She mumbled something or other, but most of her noises didn’t turn into words, nor did they reach her ears.

This was how the two parted with each other.

†

On the fourth day after crossing the Vosges Mountains, Mila’s group arrived at Olmutz’s official residence.

“It is a great pleasure to see you having returned safely, Lady Vanadis.”

The one greeting them was a beautiful woman with long, black hair ― Svetlana, Mila’s mother and the previous Vanadis of Olmutz. She had worked as Mila’s representative in the official residence during her daughter’s absence.

Mila dismounted, walked straight ahead, and planted herself in front of her mother.

“Thanks for all your work. Did anything happen during my absence?” Mila asked as Vanadis and lord of this land.

Lana shook her head, “No. There were some smaller incidents, but nothing serious or big.”

Mila thanked her soldiers and had them break up. Once mother and daughter were alone, Lana gently hugged Mila.

“Good work, Mila.”

She likely knew of the hardships from her time as Vanadis. It was a kindness her mother usually wouldn’t exhibit at all.

“It’s a bit sudden, but Leitmeritz’s Eleonora visited two days ago. She is waiting for you in the guest room.”

Mila’s face grimaced very visibly, but she immediately pulled herself together. She owed a big debt to Eleonora from this time’s war. She definitely hated that woman, but this was still no reason to not thank where gratitude was due.

Mila headed over to the guest room by herself. After announcing herself and waiting for the answer, she entered the door.

A beauty with silver hair was standing at the window. She wore a blue military uniform and a longsword dangled at her waist. Her still holding onto that weapon was owed to this sword being her viralt.

“You’re back, Ludmila?”

“Yes. I must give you my thanks, Eleonora.”

Mila called her Eleonora. According to Sofy who’s close to Eleonora as well, Elen appears to be the silver-haired Vanadis’s pet name, but it was highly unlikely for Mila to ever use that pet name.

“You won’t take a seat? I will at least treat you to some black tea,” Mila offered the other woman to sit down on the sofa, but Eleonora shook her head.

“I’m fine like this. Let’s limit our conversation to what’s necessary.”

Eleonora’s red eyes clearly revealed her belief that they didn’t share such a close relationship. Mila took the hint and didn’t offer it any further, but she didn’t sit down on the sofa either.

“Thank you for having led my soldiers all the way here,” she bowed to Eleonora.

Her words about this came from the heart. Eleonora placed a hand on her hip and stared at Mila. After remaining silent for a short while, she spoke up.

“Why did you go to Brune’s army?”

A stinging sharpness was exuded from her look and voice.

Mila explained her own actions during the earlier battles in detail. However, she omitted the part about the demon. It’d have digressed from the main topic, and she didn’t expect Eleonora to believe her anyway. After listening to the end, Eleonora nodded lightly.

“I got the gist of it. It’s a hindsight-based opinion, but being able to get Brune to owe us one is welcome for me as well. But, aren’t you supporting Brune…no, Alsace a bit too much? ――Or have you found a guy you like over there?”

Going by the teasing tone and ridiculing expression, that last line was obviously a provocation.

“Yes, it is as you say. I cannot sleep at night without my face burning up by just thinking of him,” Mila answered indifferently, her voice lacking any intonation.

Even if it had just been a stopgap measure, Mila’s heart wouldn’t forgive her to deny her feelings. Putting her reply like this, Mila expected Elen to quickly get bored of it.

――Yep, I’ve found a man I love. I’m different from you who will remain unrelated to any such man for the rest of her life.

Sure enough Eleonora pulled a bored expression, so Mila quickly shifted to a businesslike conversation. It revolved about the Olmutz’s reward for Leitmeritz thanks for their effort in this war. Eleonora didn’t have any interest in dragging this out any longer either and thus they concluded their talk quickly.

“By the way, can that Vorn of Alsace or whatever he’s called really hit a target with an arrow over a distance of 250 alsin?” Eleonora asked casually, appearing to be suddenly curious about this.

Mila curtly answered, “Yes, my subordinates and I saw it with our own eyes.”

“Hmm, I guess I’d like to meet him myself once.”

“No go,” Mila blurted out reflexively.

At the time she thought, ‘Oh damn it’, the milk had already been spilled. Eleonora revealed a faint smile on her expression that looked like that of a child who discovered a toy of great interest.

“I see, I see. If I remember correctly, Alsace is quite close to my Leitmeritz as well. Okay, got it. Out of kindness towards you, I’ll disregard meeting him.”

It was a line so obviously a lie that it was ridiculous. However, Mila couldn’t do anything but glare at Eleonora with a deeply bitter face. If she had said something on this occasion, it’d just serve as further fuel for Eleonora’s amusement.

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