21
Chapter 21
When we returned to the Crown Prince's military camp,
we received a grand reward from Dian de Valboa.
As the commanding officer, I received a medal and 100 ducats, and the other soldiers were also rewarded.
This was because we had achieved an overwhelming victory with almost no casualties, despite facing an enemy nearly three times our size.
It was also significant that we reported Grand Duke Kronor of the North's use of scorched earth tactics and the raiding of several villages.
We had completed our reconnaissance mission perfectly and returned after winning the battle.
Dian de Valboa was amazed by my flawless execution.
"Charles, honestly, I didn't think you were capable of this."
"I assume you thought the same during the mock battle."
"Haha, true. I have no idea where your limit lies."
My limit? I was still a long way from reaching it.
"During the mock battle, I thought you were a rough diamond who could become a great strategist if polished. But now, I suspect you might already be a finished gem."
Why all the excessive flattery...
"Would you be interested in working under me permanently, rather than just for this break? As you know, I am the Crown Prince's right hand. Your rise to power would be effortless under my wing."
It was a tempting offer. Working with Dian would certainly make my advancement easier. However, the Crown Prince was a liability. According to the original history, the Crown Prince would lead an army of 35,000 and get utterly crushed by the Northern Grand Duke's force of only 15,000. Therefore...
"I'll think about it and let you know."
I meant that I'd serve her once the Crown Prince stops getting crushed and actually seizes hegemony over the continent.
"I don't know why you're being so cautious."
I had to be. You don't get a second chance at life.
"Well, I understand your position. Regardless, I commend your performance. I'll see that you receive your prize money along with the medal soon."
"Yes, ma'am."
"You'll also receive extra credit for this achievement at the academy."
"Yes, ma'am."
"You've worked hard."
Strangely, those words made me feel slightly redeemed.
"Yes. Thank you."
I bowed to Professor Dian, and she gave my shoulder a satisfied pat before leaving.
Then, Reconnaissance Officer Gabriel, who had been watching from the side, asked in astonishment.
"Are you acquainted with the General?"
"We were teacher and student at the academy."
"T-teacher and student... Please forgive me for all my rudeness until now!!!!!!!"
Gabriel knelt as he spoke.
Then again, the gap between a mere officer and a general is like heaven and earth.
I helped Gabriel up and said,
"You've been very kind to me, Sir Gabriel. You're the first person here who didn't look down on me. I look forward to working with you."
"I shall give you my utmost loyalty!!!!!!!!!"
I mean, give that loyalty to the general, not to a temporary strategist like me.
In any case, with Gabriel's over-the-top reaction, this matter came to an end.
-----
Meanwhile, Northern Grand Duke Karl Kronor was furious upon hearing that his scouts had been soundly defeated.
"You're telling me our scouts were beaten by those weak scouts from the Central?"
"It is a minor matter, Your Highness. Only forty men were lost."
"We had sixty men, and the enemy had twenty."
"..."
"The report stated they were unilaterally slaughtered while retreating."
"T-that is correct."
Grand Duke Kronor let out a deep sigh and spoke to his strategist, Usami.
"Listen carefully, Usami. The North is vast."
At the Grand Duke's sudden remark, the strategist looked puzzled.
"The North is vast! Yet, there is very little arable land. That is the problem with the North. It is wide, but the population is sparse. That is why we've been constantly invaded and pushed back by the Centralers."
Such was their history. The Arcadian Empire had invaded the North several times, and the North had barely managed to hold them off.
"The only reason we maintain our autonomy now is because Northerners possess a resilient nature. Northerners are large. Northerners are strong. Northerners know no fear. That is why Centralers cannot treat them lightly. Do you know why Northerners are so strong?"
"Because Northerners are raised to value honor."
The Grand Duke laughed at the strategist's words.
"Nonsense. Learning honor doesn't make one strong. It is simply because those who weren't strong enough couldn't endure and died!"
It was true. The North was barely habitable. But even in such a place, some people survived. Those were the strong.
"The reason Centralers haven't dared to touch the North easily until now is because Northerners are resilient. Those who weren't resilient all died. Only the strong remained! But by losing the initiative in this opening skirmish, the Centralers will look down on us. They will think Northerners are weak. This will have a negative impact on all future battles!"
"Your Highness, I apologize, but it was merely a small skirmish..."
"Silence! I will hear no more excuses."
The room froze at the Grand Duke's word. Then, he called the strategist's name.
"Usami!"
"Yes, Your Highness!"
"Hang the stragglers who were defeated in yesterday's battle and display them at the camp gates. Let them see what happens to those who flee without fighting. And bring me Emilia."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Before long, a striking woman wearing an Arcadia Academy uniform appeared outside the barracks. She was so beautiful that one might have thought the Goddess of Beauty herself had descended.
Despite her beauty, the retainers' eyes were filled with fear. This was because Grand Duke Karl von Kronor had once gouged out the eyes of a retainer who had looked at his daughter with lewd intent.
"You've arrived,"
"Grand Duke."
Though they were father and daughter, their voices felt distant. Then, the Grand Duke spoke.
"Emilia, I have a question for you."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Who is the most skilled knight in the North?"
At those words, Emilia von Kronor thought for a moment before answering.
"It is I."
At her calm reply, the Grand Duke rose from his seat and walked steadily toward her.
Emilia von Kronor stood at 170 centimeters, a height that didn't pale in comparison to most men, but her father, Karl von Kronor, was a giant over two meters tall. With a height difference of over thirty centimeters, the two standing together looked like a beauty before a massive beast. And then...
-Slap!!!
Grand Duke Kronor struck Emilia across the cheek with all his might.
"I told you not to let a bit of talent make you arrogant. Once again, you ignore my words and overestimate your abilities."
"I was merely stating the truth."
"Ha! If that's the case, I'll give you a chance to prove it. I am handing the command of the reconnaissance unit over to you. Use your 'talent' to lead the honorable Northerners and show those Centralers the gap in our status."
"Your Highness! It is far too dangerous to send the heir of the Kronor family to such a place..."
The strategist tried to intervene hurriedly, but...
-Swish
Emilia immediately dropped to one knee before the Grand Duke.
"I accept."
Emilia Kronor, daughter of Grand Duke Kronor, enters the fray.
-----
Usami Akra, the Grand Duke's strategist, called out to Emilia.
"Lady Emilia!"
Instead of answering, Emilia came to a halt. Usami Akra rushed toward her and spoke.
"Why on earth would you accept such a mission! The Reconnaissance Unit handles the most dangerous tasks. You could die! Please, tell them you won't do it, even now."
"The Grand Duke would be furious."
Usami was exhausted by this father-daughter relationship. Since childhood, the Grand Duke had treated Emilia with a cruelty bordering on abuse, and in return, Emilia always addressed him as the Grand Duke, never as her father. Usami vowed that he would never let his own daughter have such a relationship.
"Lady Emilia, it's true that the Grand Duke will be enraged if you quit now. Knowing his temper, he might lock you up and beat you for days on end. But think about it. Being beaten for a few days might be better than dying."
"..."
Emilia remained silent for a while, staring off into the distance. Usami followed her gaze.
"Usami, there is always someone whispering in my head."
"What? What do you mean by..."
"A presence that whispers in my mind. At first, I thought a demon was tempting me. But recently, it's changed."
Emilia drew her sword and raised it toward the sky. A pure white Aura Blade shimmered around the blade. Usami was struck with shock. The Aura Blade was the symbol of a Sword Master. He had believed there was only one Sword Master in the entire world, but with Emilia, a second had been born! At this point, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call her the strongest in the North, just as she had claimed.
"Lady Emilia, when did you achieve such a feat..."
"Last month, while I was at the academy."
Emilia's expression began to fill with joy. She blushed as if the mere thought of it was ecstatic.
"The Goddess of War came to me. It was the greatest day of my life. And my sword became stronger than ever before."
"How..."
Usami was bewildered. Was he supposed to take this literally? Or should he point out that this was merely Emilia's delusion?
What was certain was that Emilia had become stronger than anyone before, and she was filled with conviction.
'Is it useless to try and stop her...'
Emilia von Kronor. While she looked nothing like her father, her stubbornness was exactly the same.
Usami could only watch her walk away, hoping that the Goddess of War truly looked after her.
One week later.
"Messenger!!! Messenger!!! Lady Emilia has returned!"
A messenger shouted at Grand Duke Kronor's barracks.
And in the wagon Emilia brought back, hundreds of enemy heads were piled high.