Chapter 4
Chapter 4
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 4
Ilene (2)
It was shortly after Carmil received the title of 'Hero'.
As usual, after finishing her training, Ilene asked her Master.
"Master. What kind of person is the 4th Knight Order Captain?"
She had some interaction with other Knight Order Captains, but for some reason, she never had a chance to run into the 4th Knight Order Captain. She remembered meeting him a few times, but she was too young then, so even his impression was blurry now. Suddenly, she became curious about him, who received the title of 'Hero'.
On the other hand, her Master, the 1st Knight Order Captain, was perplexed by that question.
"Captain Carmil, you say. Hmm."
The man who received the title of 'Hero' overtaking himself, who was called the Kingdom's Best Sword. That title was a glory permitted to only one person in each country.
If it weren't the Princess asking, he wouldn't have even answered that question.
"I haven't met him often either, but according to the knights who went to war with him, they say he has never lost on the battlefield."
"Is that true? Not even once?"
"From what I've heard. However, just because he received the title of Hero doesn't mean he is the best in the Kingdom. In reality, his swordsmanship skills likely fall short of mine."
He regretted saying that immediately after speaking. He was afraid she might have caught on to the inferiority complex he wasn't even aware of himself.
Fortunately, she didn't notice as she was seriously pondering about the 'Hero'.
"Of course. Isn't that why I am here? If you are with me, you will surely be able to receive it."
At the Knight Order Captain's words, Ilene felt good.
She imagined herself roaming the battlefield wearing the title of Hero. The sight of people looking up to her and all the knights following behind her was truly honor and glory. It was the very chivalry she dreamed of.
Therefore, she wanted to talk to him, who held the title of Hero before her.
"Master. Can't you arrange a meeting with Captain Carmil?"
"Pardon? Why suddenly..."
"I thought I might be able to get some advice. It would be even better if he could spar with me."
At those words, he hesitated for a moment. Because there was a request from His Majesty never to let him encounter the Princesses.
Of course, that was just an excuse; for some reason, he didn't want to let Carmil meet her.
"That isn't difficult, but he is always on the battlefield. Besides, unlike us, he is a guy lacking in honor or chivalry, so meeting him won't be of any benefit."
"What? But he received the title of Hero."
"Just as not all knights are honorable, there is no rule that all heroes must be. Rather, Carmil is more infamous compared to heroes of other countries, so being with him will surely tarnish the Princess's reputation."
"Is that so..."
Although she didn't quite accept it, she nodded for now. Since her Master said it, it wouldn't be wrong.
However, despite that, she thought it would be nice if she could meet him someday.
Early morning with warm sunshine pouring down. The front of the castle gate of Caldion, the Kingdom's capital, was noisier than ever.
Unlike usual, a huge crowd had gathered for the 4th Knight Order's departure. However, they were all people who came to see Princess Ilene's first departure, not for the War Hero.
They sent praise to her, who was riding a horse and wearing a sword gallantly.
"Princess. You look cooler than anyone else waving that cape!"
"Please come back safely! Defeat all those wicked villains and bring peace back to the Kingdom."
"Fufu, thank you, everyone."
"Waaaaah! Long live the Princess!!"
When she waved her hand in return, cheers erupted from here and there. Ilene, who had always dreamed of this scenery, enjoyed this happiness.
Finally coming out of the castle, a pleasant breeze welcomed her.
"Fufu. It's the path I always traveled, but it's a world of difference from when I rode a carriage."
She looked at the sparkling sunlight with an overwhelmed voice. It felt as if even the Goddess was blessing her day.
She approached Carmil, who was at the very front, wanting to share this joy.
"Really. It's good weather to swing a sword."
"Is that so."
"Yes. I feel like I could win against anyone right now."
She looked at her treasured sword at her waist. Looking at the sword embedded with jewels here and there and plated with gold, her hands were itching to draw it right away.
To calm her down, Carmil changed the subject.
"By the way, you are skilled at riding a horse."
"I learned from Master in advance for a day like this. Fufut, it seems I suit this better than a carriage, unlike other young ladies."
Saying that, Ilene stroked the horse. Doing this made her feel good for no reason, as if she were communing with the horse.
Like that, when they ran with the horses until the castle was no longer visible, Ilene asked him.
"It seems it takes about a day to reach the bandits' stronghold. How about we go straight to the enemy camp and subjugate them?"
"That would be good too, but there is a goblin den on the way. Let's stop by there first."
"Really? Well. No matter how urgent the mission is, the citizens' safety comes first."
Ilene nodded at his proposal. Her Master said he was a man who didn't know honor, but it seems he wasn't to that extent. Not turning away from even such small matters, that could be called a true knight.
Passing halfway into the forest, a cave appeared on a side path as reported. Arriving at the goblin den, she immediately got off her horse and entered the cave.
And without a moment to stop her, she slashed the neck of a goblin on patrol.
"Kiek!!"
"Haa."
Carmil's sigh and the goblin's scream were heard overlapping. Of course, she didn't hear that sigh and went deeper inside.
"Dirty monsters harming the peace of the Kingdom. This Knight Ilene will deal with you."
With her triumphant proclamation, goblins rushed out all at once. Seeing that, Carmil gestured to his subordinates.
"You guys cover the Princess, and you guys check if there are traps. And the rest, prepare for an ambush with me."
"Yes!"
Although a goblin's physical ability was below that of an adult male, their numbers and survival abilities could not be underestimated.
Not only the endlessly swarming goblins, but as expected, traps were installed here and there. Crude spikes placed on the floor or paralysis powder in the goblins' pouches. Even some goblins hiding in holes were looking for a chance at her ankles.
Carmil immediately thrust his sword into that hole.
"I knew it."
"Kiek!?"
Besides that, goblins who knew how to handle bows were hiding too, but even they were all taken care of by the subordinates who received Carmil's instructions. Not long after, the inside of the cave became full of goblin corpses and the smell of blood.
"Haa, haa..."
Ilene exhaled roughly and looked around. It was certain that she had dealt with at least half of the ones here, and she immersed herself in the afterglow while looking at her treasured sword stained with goblin blood.
There was no room for doubt that it was a great performance from the very first real battle.
Meanwhile, Carmil confirmed the kills on the corpses and checked the condition of his subordinates.
"Is there anyone injured or cut by a goblin's attack?"
"None."
Confirming that no one was injured, he immediately approached the Princess and asked.
"Princess. Were you perhaps injured or touched by a goblin's weapon?"
"No way. Did I look like someone who would be beaten by guys like these to our Captain?"
"No. Thanks to the Princess, we were able to achieve a great victory. You are magnificent."
"Really? Hearing the War Hero evaluate me like that, I guess I really did perform well."
"Yes. However, since goblins are so cunning and roll their heads well, approach after looking around a little more..."
Carmil stopped speaking. Because she was already drunk on her achievement and letting his words flow half in one ear and out the other.
Eventually, he gave up on the advice and asked her to wait outside the cave with other subordinates.
"We will clean up here and come out."
"I-Is that so? If you, the Captain, say so, it can't be helped."
At Carmil's words, she was relieved inwardly. The stench inside the cave was bad enough, and she didn't want to lay her hands on those dirty corpses.
After she left, Carmil ordered his subordinates as he always did.
"Collect the goblin blood and put it in this barrel."
"Yes. Captain."
There was no need to ask why to collect it or where to use it. His orders had always led them to victory. The knights filled two barrels with goblin blood and then came out of the cave just like that.
Ilene, who was waiting outside, pointed at the barrels and asked.
"Hmm? What is that?"
"It is loot."
At that answer, she tilted her head. Was there anything worth taking as loot from a goblin?
'Well, whatever.'
Since she was already drunk on victory, she didn't think deeply and got on her horse.
And that night, having run for a long time, they decided to camp in a forest close to the river. Usually, she would hate sleeping outside, but just for today, immersed in the afterglow of victory, she couldn't do that.
She kept fiddling with her treasured sword even while eating. What happened earlier in the day kept coming to mind, and she wanted to enjoy that feeling a little more. She looked at the knights who finished eating and proposed.
"It's a bit of a shame to sleep like this; is there anyone who wants to spar with me?"
"Pardon?"
"Fufu, no need to be so tense. Right now, I am just a knight same as you, not a Princess. It doesn't matter if you come at me with full force."
"..."
At those words, the knights couldn't react at all. No, precisely, they couldn't understand her words, so eventually, Carmil stepped forward and mediated.
"Princess. Excuse me, but we refrain from sparring or high-intensity training as much as possible during an expedition."
"Hmm? What does that mean. I heard other Knight Orders rather spar to not lose the sense of the sword ahead of actual combat with the enemy."
Actually, that was a story she heard directly from her Master and other Knight Order Captains. So she thought the 4th Knight Order would be the same, but he shook his head lightly.
"Certainly, one could raise the soldiers' morale in that way, but we do not do that wary of injuries during sparring or enemy raids due to the sound of swords."
"T-Then what do you guys do at this time instead of training? Don't tell me you just rest like this and sleep?"
"No. Usually, at this time, we install traps nearby or review the battle that happened today."
Hearing those words, she couldn't hide her disappointment. She wanted to cross swords even if it meant getting hurt, but he didn't allow it in the end.
Eventually, she spent time maintaining her sword with a regretful heart, and looking up at the night sky, moonlight was settling down quietly before she knew it.
"Come to think of it, who stands guard when sleeping? Don't tell me you don't do this either?"
"No. We will stand night watch, so the Princess may sleep comfortably."
At that answer, she dusted off her bottom and stood up.
"No. I can't do that. Since I entered this Knight Order, I hope you treat me exactly the same as other subordinates."
"Is that so..."
At those words, Carmil looked troubled for the first time, and seeing that, she felt a slight sense of gratification.
"Understood. Then please stand the first watch together with the subordinates over there."
"...Huh?"
"And you can wake us up in two hours."
Hearing those words, she froze on the spot.
No, she definitely said she would stand night watch, but she thought he would still be considerate and tell her to sleep first. She never imagined he would assign her the first shift.
But having volunteered first, it became awkward to argue now, so she stood there blankly.
"Then we will go to sleep first. You worked hard today."
"Uh, huh? Ah. Yes..."
Saying that, Carmil and the knights lay down in their sleeping places first. Watching the knights who were even snoring, she was flustered.
Of course, since she had never stood night watch before, there was no way she would know this kindness of Carmil.
Just like that, she spent time counting how many times the knights snored for two hours.
The next morning, the 4th Knight Order, having woken up from sleep, ran straight to the bandits' stronghold as soon as they got up.
After tying their horses nearby, they hid among the bushes in front of the stronghold. The scout who came back from patrolling around the stronghold soon reported to Carmil.
[Scout Report]
"Captain. The enemy number is 82. Five archers, three mages. The rest are all holding axes or swords. And as expected, there was a cave nearby."
"Good, then the variable?"
"The one called the boss used to be active as a famous adventurer, so we should just be careful of that."
"Understood. Everyone wait for a moment."
And Ilene couldn't understand their appearance.
Why do knights have to crouch in a place like this? Wouldn't it be fine to just go out confidently and request a duel?
Surely if someone saw this, they would definitely ridicule it. Thinking that, her face flushed for no reason.
Eventually, unable to watch anymore, she complained to Carmil.
"Captain Carmil. The bandits are over there, so why do we have to hide like this? What would other people think if they saw this disgraceful behavior."
"I understand what you mean. But for now, please follow my orders."
"Haa..."
She sighed without realizing it. Nevertheless, Carmil didn't budge and waited for something, and that appearance was just frustrating.
Should I just run out alone and deal with them like yesterday? With that number, if the knights just support me, it seems we can win with plenty to spare.
While she was worrying about that, just in time, two knights who were at the very back came holding two barrels.
Seeing the knights carrying the barrels on their backs, Carmil finally gave orders to his subordinates.
"Everyone to your positions."