Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Kaya's One-Woman Protest
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"Good heavens. Lady Kaya joining the army? What in the world is going on?!"
"Tell me about it."
"His Excellency the Imperial Count has every reason to be upset. She's only just turned fifteen—why send her to such a brutal place...? She wouldn't last a single day!"
That might not be the case. I tilted my head at Alexei's words.
Alexei doesn't know yet, but I've received a message from the Knight Order Captain too.
⚙ MESSAGE RECEIVED ⚙ [I have been defeated.] I doubted my eyes at first. Was I so tired that I misread it?
But the text beyond the pre-sent video clearly stated the Knight Order Captain's defeat.
In the midst of my bewilderment, his calm demeanor only made it more chilling.
⚙ MESSAGE RECEIVED ⚙ [Young master. Lady Kaya is undoubtedly a heaven-sent martial prodigy. In all my years as a warrior, I've never seen anyone like her.] Our Knight Order Captain isn't stingy with praise, but he's also coldly objective.
For someone like that to send such high acclaim, Kaya must truly be a genius.
Of course, that's one thing. The fact that she's only fifteen hasn't changed.
Even for a boy, sending a fifteen-year-old to the battlefield is something every parent would fight tooth and nail against.
Father has that experience himself, but it was an extraordinarily rare case.
The fact that even he tried to stop Kaya proves it all the more.
Amid all this, there was no mention of Mother trying to dissuade her, which caught me off guard.
Mother dotes on Kaya just as much as Father does, yet there was no word of it.
So I subtly asked about the family situation, and the response was this.
⚙ MESSAGE RECEIVED ⚙ [The Countess seems to have already accepted it.] Ah, I see. Well, that makes sense. Kaya's the type who'd convince Mother first.
She must have figured that if she swayed Mother, Father would follow.
But, little sister? Convincing Mother to convince Father is tough in situations like this!
"The young master's enlistment has already caused enough uproar. Lady Kaya can't go too. We have to stop her, no matter what. Young master."
"I'm not sure if that's possible."
"But she always listens to you, doesn't she?!"
"That's exactly why I think it won't work."
Kaya never showed any interest in enlisting before. Why the sudden change?
With me leaving home for the army, she's probably feeling left out now.
She held back because she was too young before, but now she thinks she can step up.
And with Father's precedent, it's even more likely.
Father thinks Kaya adores her big brother, so I'll be able to talk her out of it.
But from my perspective, it's the opposite. If I try to stop her, she'll dig in her heels even more.
She might even think I'm holding her back because I see her as inadequate.
"Let's head to the War Ministry first. She left a few days ago, so she should have arrived by now."
"His Excellency the Imperial Count has many connections there. It'd be great if they could dissuade or restrain her."
"Who knows."
"Pardon?"
"I have a feeling they'll pretend to relent and accept her."
"No way! She's the noble lady of the Bertier Imperial County! And just a fifteen-year-old girl!"
I let out a sigh at Alexei's cry.
That's precisely why she's perfect propaganda material.
A fifteen-year-old heading to the battlefield, just like the current Imperial Count. And a noble lady, no less.
With overwhelming martial prowess that leaves everyone in awe.
If she debuts properly and shines on the eastern front...?
The War Ministry won't let this opportunity slip away easily.
To be honest, if Kaya weren't my sister?
I'd have thought, "Oh, this is prime propaganda gold!" right then and there.
Think about it—father and daughter enlisting at the same age. Noble blood, no less. Perfect for preaching noblesse oblige.
"Young master! The War Ministry is coming up!"
"Yeah. But, Alexei."
"Yes, young master."
"Isn't that the War Ministry headquarters up ahead?"
"It is."
"Doesn't it seem unusually rowdy for some reason?"
It wasn't my imagination. People were even gathering—what was going on?
Alexei noticed it too and hurriedly drove the carriage toward the ministry.
And the scene we witnessed upon arrival at the headquarters was...
"Come at me! I'll prove I'm a warrior second to none!"
It was Kaya, holding a single spear and staging a one-woman protest in front of the War Ministry.
*
She was furious. Indignant. Kaya felt a surge of such emotions.
She had shown everything she could. Defeating the family knights, the vice captain.
Even triumphing over the pinnacle of excellence, the Knight Order Captain.
On top of that, at the Imperial Count—her father's—suggestion, she had hit her mark with an arrow.
Archery was undoubtedly difficult. Throwing the arrow might have been easier.
But she had succeeded, and even the Imperial Count had given his permission.
Yet when she came to the War Ministry asking to enlist, they said no again.
The battlefield was too harsh. A young girl had no reason to go.
Leave the hell of killing and dying to those who were older.
"I can do it too! I can!"
"Lady Kaya, please calm down. This won't do."
"He's right, niece. I understand your feelings, but sending a fifteen-year-old girl to the front—what would the world say about the Empire?!"
Various War Ministry officials had rushed out, desperately trying to dissuade her.
As they said, it was an issue of the Empire's prestige, plus they had received personal requests.
"Please, stop her. If you do, I'll owe you one!"
Unable to stop his daughter himself, the Bertier Imperial Count had sent pleas far and wide as a backup plan.
The Imperial Count had many connections in the military.
They were retired seniors or friends who couldn't refuse his request.
Especially since it was just a girl at the level of their own child or niece trying to enlist—they felt compelled to intervene.
"Come on, Kaya. You can't do this. Okay?"
"The battlefield is nothing like the family training grounds! The knights couldn't come at you with killing intent, but there, they will! If they capture the Imperial Count's daughter, she becomes a bargaining chip—"
But that just happened to strike a nerve in Kaya.
It wasn't meant to dismiss her—it was just a random reason thrown in to dissuade her.
But the moment she heard it, Kaya gripped her spear tightly and started swinging it around.
"Then I'll show you here! Come out! I'll beat you all and prove I deserve to follow my brother... Ah, no! To enlist!"
Everyone gathered burst into laughter at Kaya's bold shout.
Was this really a noble lady? So full of fiery spirit.
"Come at me! I'll prove I'm a warrior second to none!"
This won't do. Something might actually happen. The military officials stepped forward.
But then, one man emerged from the crowd and quietly stood before Kaya.
"Your spirit is admirable. But you need to grasp the terror of the battlefield first."
A man in his mid-thirties. Those who recognized him gasped.
"Roselion?! Wait, why is that guy stepping in?!"
In the Imperial legions, soldiers formed the backbone.
But elite forces were built on knights and mages.
And among those elites were special-grade operatives.
Few in number but mighty. One against a hundred. Immortal survivors of countless battlefields.
Those classified as special-grade always carried such epithets.
And the man named Roselion standing before Kaya was one of them.
"Ugh! That stickler for rules is stepping in after all."
"Hey! Roselion! Go easy on her! She's the Imperial Count's daughter!"
"You'll be in deep trouble if you rough up your senior's kid!"
Those who knew him tried to intervene, but it was no use.
To be precise, Kaya had already charged ahead, blocking their efforts.
"Just beat this uncle, right?"
"Yes. But it won't be easy, little miss."
"It's Kaya."
"Right, Kaya. The battlefield is nothing like you imagine. You might just end up a hindrance..."
He couldn't even finish his sentence. Roselion reflexively gripped the sword at his waist.
He had instinctively sensed danger from the girl right in front of him.
...What is this?
A special-grade operative. A veteran among veterans, seasoned through every ordeal.
Yet here he was, tense. His skin prickled with killing intent.
Calming his mind and looking ahead, he saw a fierce beast growling.
"Don't... talk nonsense."
Gripping her spear, Kaya assumed a stance ready to charge at any moment.
"Me, a hindrance to my brother? You think that's possible?"
The air froze instantly. Those around sensed the unnatural tension.
Just as they moved to separate the girl and the man...
"Kaya!"
A young man's voice rang out from the crowd.
The ferocious aura Kaya had been emanating shifted abruptly.
"Huh?! Brother Kael?!"
"Stop it. Just stop. Okay?"
"Got it! I'll stop!"
Kaya bounced over and hugged Kael. She looked every bit the innocent little girl.
The savage, almost feral intensity from moments ago seemed like a lie!
"...Well, this is something."
Roselion watched the scene, recalling the Bertier Imperial Count's request.
Senior, you asked me to persuade her. But it feels like I've been persuaded instead.
He glanced down at his hand.
It was still trembling faintly, drawing a wry chuckle from him.
*
Meanwhile.
On the eastern front, the commander of the 12th Legion responsible for the Pavilion Pass sector—the Legion Commander.
He couldn't hide his distress at the unexpected news.
"The 7th Legion was defeated?"
"Yes. They faced a fierce enemy counterattack and retreated."
Unbelievable. Had they underestimated the Eastern 3 Kingdoms alliance too much?
They were rivals vying for hegemony with the Empire in the east, after all.
He had assumed the 7th Legion would clear the path, followed by the second wave.
"...We need someone who can turn this situation around."
After a moment's thought, he decided to submit a report to his superiors.
⚙ REPORT SUBMITTED ⚙ [Bertier Imperial County, Request for Kael Clauvitz Relocation] That young genius strategist might have a way to break through the current impasse.
He must. He has to! The guy who swallowed the entire Pavilion sector in one go! Yeah!