Chapter 10
Chapter 10
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 10
The 4th Knight Order Captain's Vacation (1)
The capital of the Republic, Capitula. In a place not far from there, a stream of bloody water was flowing down.
The smell of blood mixed with rainwater pierced the tip of the nose, and on top of corpses piled like a mountain, a man was looking up at the thick sky.
"Hmm. It seems I picked the wrong day."
Should I not have come if I knew it would rain like this? The Hero of the Republic, Roser, dusted off his wet cape and sheathed his sword.
His squire received the sword, and knights followed behind him. Everyone there was deeply bowing their heads, capturing that great moment in their eyes.
What is a hero? This scene was practically Roser's answer to that.
"How was it, I don't know if you liked it."
He stopped in front of a woman. Although he spoke like that, confidence was oozing out in his expression. It was natural, as no one who watched his battle doubted his honor.
"..."
However, the girl in front of him did not answer. She was definitely bowing her head like the others, but for some reason, her lips never opened.
At her appearance, Roser smirked inwardly.
Well, chances to witness such honor with one's own eyes in that North wouldn't be common. I heard the warriors of the North eat the raw flesh of enemies. If one witnessed such a scene after being among such barbarians, anyone would be shocked. He looked at the corpses of demons piled behind him with satisfaction.
While he was doing that, Yuria, who was bowing her head, yawned lightly.
"Yaaawn-"
"-I, I watched well! It was truly the paragon of a hero. I think I finally understand why the Republic is so powerful."
"Haha. It's nothing much. Originally, I came thinking there would be ten times more of those things, but this didn't even serve as a warm-up, so it's rather embarrassing."
"It was a great study for us as well. Surely it must be the same for our Lady."
"Hahaha. That is fortunate."
Well, it goes without saying though. Roser glanced at Yuria. If possible, I wanted to hear it directly from those lips. Thanks to her subordinate intervening, he didn't notice the sound of yawning.
In the meantime, having finished yawning, she slowly lifted her head. While Roser was admiring her jewel-like eyes, she already had eyes that lost interest in the opponent in front of her.
The moment she confirmed the skills of this country's hero, she had no more business with this person.
"Let's go back. Barg."
"Yes. Understood. Milady."
Barg immediately prepared her horse. Roser made a flustered expression, but she got on the horse without lingering attachment.
"N-No, why are you leaving already. It's raining like this too, so let's return to our city for now."
"I apologize. Lord Roser. Since our North is always at war. Actually, the Lady also left her seat urgently to come here. Please understand."
"Huh. Still, how can you leave like this. At least greet our council members before going. Just in time, there is a famous restaurant I know, so treating the Grand Duchess..."
Yuria didn't even listen to the end and spurred her horse as she was. As the warriors of the North followed behind, Roser stood there blankly at the experience he was going through for the first time in his life.
Like that, the delegation of the North passed the forest and was leaving the capital of the Republic.
Running in the rain for a long time, Yuria suddenly opened her mouth.
"...Saying they are at war, but telling us to stop by a restaurant, what kind of case is that."
"..."
"I was going to say this but held back. Because then you guys would be troubled again."
At those words, Barg sighed with a smile.
"Haa. Thank you. Still, from next time, please at least pretend to smile a bit. I was terrified thinking the sound of your yawning would be heard."
"Okay."
Saying that, she let go of the reins and raised the corners of her mouth with two fingers. But since her eyes were the same and only her mouth was smiling, seeing that, Barg shook his head and gave up.
"Please don't do that elsewhere."
"Yeah. I'll try."
She looked around while riding the horse. Although it was raining heavily and there was nothing around, she liked this place very much right now.
Here, there is no need to worry about demons' ambushes, nor honor the deaths of subordinates. The experience of someone next to me suddenly leaving one day would probably happen once in a lifetime here.
Thinking that, Yuria envied the people of the Republic. The people of the Empire and the Kingdom were the same. She envied them all.
We also wanted to live in a place like this if possible. Others ridiculing our survival as barbarians, or having to move forward covered in comrades' blood, wasn't what we chose.
Could the people of the North also live in a land like this someday? Even knowing it was an impossible dream, Yuria closed her eyes for a moment and imagined.
Just this scenery, I never get tired of seeing it no matter how many times. She smiled inwardly and was satisfied.
"By the way, how was it? The skills of the Republic's Hero."
At that time, Barg asked Yuria.
Thanks to that, she woke up from the dream and returned to reality again.
"Yeah. It was amazing. Are all heroes originally that strong?"
"No. Heroes of other countries probably aren't to that extent either. At most, maybe the Empire? Well, since both countries are overflowing with talent."
"Really? I see..."
If there are so many people who fight well, it would be good if they helped a little. Actually, the real goal of this Northern delegation was to borrow troops.
Recently, the momentum of the swarming demons was unusual, so support was desperate, but the result was below expectations.
The Republic didn't support even a knight order, let alone the Hero Roser. At most, fifty soldiers and minimal supplies were all. Since they came to this distant foreign country leaving even the war aside, they had no choice but to be discouraged.
Of course, in that background, was the fact that Yuria refused a secret meeting with a Republic council member.
"Anyway, it is surprising. Probably with that level of skill, only the Great Warlord in our North could face him."
At those words, Yuria nodded. In the battle Roser showed a while ago, there was no room for doubt regarding swordsmanship alone.
However, apart from that skill, his battlefield was truly boring. It was flashy but lacked substance, and every time he swung his sword, he was busy showing off his existence. Especially when he didn't cut the back of the fleeing enemy, she doubted her eyes.
Originally, if needed, she intended to borrow Roser even if she had to kneel, but seeing that, her heart cooled down.
In the North, one has to kill one more enemy in the time spent caring for honor. Otherwise, that enemy will kill the comrade next to you next time.
Above all, five villages of the Republic were massacred until those demons came here. How can one trust a person with such a heavy butt [slow to act] and entrust their back to him?
"Milady. Since we still have time, how about stopping by one more place?"
"Where do you think would be good?"
When Yuria asked, he unfolded a map and answered.
"The place relatively close from here is the Kingdom. However, although we have to go a bit further for the Empire, this side might be better to borrow troops."
"The Kingdom and the Empire..."
Which way should we go. Her worry wasn't that long.
As she made a decision, the sound of horseshoes echoed across that plain without hesitation.
Early afternoon, a small commotion occurred once in the Kingdom's capital.
Originally, it should have been noisy with the triumph of the returned Ilene, but now that wasn't the issue.
The clash between the 1st Knight Order and the 4th Knight Order. Furthermore, because the news that I used force against the 1st Knight Order was spreading.
Of course, actually, I never drew my sword and fought. Just striking the scabbard on the ground was all. Nevertheless, the rumors spreading in the city currently were different from the truth. Probably the work of the 1st Knight Order's faction.
Thanks to that, summoning the 4th Knight Order to the Royal Palace was also postponed, but it wasn't particularly good news either. Rather, adding to what happened today, they say they plan to reprimand us sooner or later. Until then, all members of the 4th Knight Order became unable to go out of the city.
And now, I was also resting in the quarters. Maybe I was a little tired from the fact that the subordinates' triumph ceremony didn't happen in the end.
"Although it's something I experience every time, this time is a bit burdensome."
I thought I got used to it now, but it seems that wasn't the case. The backs of the members returning without receiving cheers were harder to endure than being stabbed by a sword.
After that commotion, other knight orders intervened, and eventually, an order fell for us to be under house arrest for the time being. Ilene was also forcibly returned to the Royal Palace.
Of course, just because of that, what I have to do doesn't change.
As long as I am a War Hero, the place I will be is none other than the battlefield in the future too.
To do that, I needed to lift this house arrest first.
"Well. If needed, I should go find the King myself."
At least he is the person who appointed me as a 'Hero'. He would listen if I speak well about the things that happened this time too.
"Until then, let's think of it as a vacation for a while."
Come to think of it, it seems it's time to inspect the armor too.
First, after washing and eating, I should take a walk to repair equipment as well.
"Hut. Since I'm going out, it would be fine to buy some ingredients and share them with the members."
Like that, believing I could stand on the battlefield again, I wiped off the blood stained on my body.