Where Do You Think You're Going?
While Olivia and Seria were each passing the time in their own ways, a meeting of the Ashtar family head’s closest aides was underway. The topics under discussion were, naturally, the march into the Demon King’s territory and the strike against the Third Legion.
“The Ashtar army may be called elite, but can we truly overpower them in an offensive battle rather than a defensive one?”
“Even if we win, if Berna catches us by the ankle, tens of thousands of troops will end up buried in the Demon King’s lands again.”
The vassals and nobles under the Ashtar banner were deeply skeptical about this war. They had already failed during Eldacrad’s time. They knew the cause of his defeat after learning Berna’s true identity, yet the opponent was still the same woman who had corrupted half the army. Even if they stationed priests to prevent further corruption, there was no guarantee other black magic wouldn’t be involved. They had to consider the possibility of charging in only to be counterattacked. A siege defense and an expedition were two entirely different problems.
“You mentioned dealing with the Third Legion, but what if they’re stronger than we expect? Isn’t it possible Berna is with them?”
The family head understood his vassals’ worries. Yet he still wanted to attempt this expedition.
“Is the existence of the Third Legion confirmed?”
“It’s only an estimate from the mage division, so their exact location isn’t certain. However, there are large-scale life signs near Crad Castle. That said, we detected no particularly strong demonic energy.”
At Kise’s report, the family head glanced at Noel, whom he had half-forced to attend the meeting. So perhaps Noel’s words were correct.
“I see.”
“It does seem certain that an army is present, just as Olivia said.”
An army was definitely there. That meant a surprise attack was possible.
“Ugh. I’m the one who said it while I was with the Hero Party. It hurts if you can’t trust me.”
“Hmm. Like brother, like sister, I suppose.”
That brother of hers, Noah, had been quite skilled. They hadn’t met often, but he had been remarkably knowledgeable. People around him never seemed to realize he was a mage, yet he must have been a mage of considerable power.
“Unlike my brother, I’m the diligent type. I test the ground before crossing. If we take out the Third Legion, I bet Berna’s insides will burn pretty badly, won’t they?”
Noel said this with an awkward laugh.
Damn brother. I didn’t think he’d dump everything on me like this.
Who could have guessed he would screw her over in such a way at a time like this?
“It’s not that I don’t trust you. It’s just that the Hero’s condition makes it difficult. If I offended you, I apologize.”
“Hahaha.”
Anyone who mattered already knew the Hero’s condition was poor. Adding a new female member to that Hero Party was bound to cause worry. No matter that she was Noah’s sister, it didn’t hurt to verify.
“Then, in your opinion, striking Crad isn’t the way?”
At the family head’s question, Noel swallowed hard. She knew nothing about war. Well, she would probably end up participating in one eventually. Just like her brother. But at least for now, she knew absolutely nothing. In that case…
Let’s think like my brother. What would he guess the family head wants to hear in this situation?
Hmm. Nothing came to mind. In times like this, charging straight ahead was the best option. The Ashtar family head was currently burning with vengeance toward Berna, the corrupted saint who had killed his father, Eldacrad. Someone like him would still have his heart set on Crad, not just the Third Legion. In that case…?
“In my opinion, perhaps His Lordship wants to trust in our weapons and strike Crad while handling both fronts at once?”
The family head nodded at Noel’s words. It wasn’t wrong. Even the well-trained Ashtar archer corps alone would be enough to annihilate demons. On top of that, if the Ashtar forces were armed with firearms and cannons, they could inflict considerable damage. As for Berna, if no one else could face her directly, he could step forward himself. He might not reach his father’s level, but he too carried Ashtar blood, and he was the one who had stabilized the family after Eldacrad’s death. It wasn’t impossible.
Conversely, they could attack Crad Castle first and lure out the Third Legion, then split their forces to crush it. Of course, that was only one possibility. He was the head of the Ashtar family and the leader of the noble alliance in the Ashtar region.
“Hmm. If that’s not it, then it’s false. But if we get greedy, everything we’ve built up could collapse.”
How many nights had he spent with a clenched heart, building up power? The tower they had painstakingly constructed might crumble. Since the Imperial Council had already permitted Ashtar an independent expedition, if they were going to do this, they had to do it properly. If they didn’t win, they could lose everything. Moreover, his son Rockton shared the same opinion as Noel.
“I agree with Miss Noel. Shouldn’t we focus solely on the Third Legion for now? Judging by its scale, our army can subdue it with strength to spare.”
Yes. Once the sword was drawn, they had to cut something. They couldn’t drive the Ashtar people to meaningless death in the name of avenging his father.
“Rockton. What about our Ashtar soldiers?”
“The officers are soldiers who survived Grandfather’s march into the Demon King’s territory. Their morale is high because they all want revenge.”
Yes. The die had already been cast. They would give up on Crad. After all, that damned whore had simply built a new castle on the ruins Noah had destroyed. It was far removed from what his father had built. There was no need to obsess over Crad.
“Good. Then we target the Third Legion.”
“What about Olivia?”
At Rockton’s question, the family head fell into brief thought. Olivia. She would certainly be a powerful asset. Having her by their side would help greatly.
“It’s a hit-and-run operation. Do we really need Olivia’s help? She’s a saint, and she already fought Pector once.”
She seemed quite exhausted from that. There was no need to drag her into an expedition as well. Girls her age were usually deepening their bonds with fiancés, receiving bridal training, or chatting with noble daughters from other families every day. Yet Olivia had gone so far as to defeat Pector and had even been appointed Imperial Tutor by the Emperor. He couldn’t burden her any further.
“Um, wouldn’t that make her even more necessary?”
This time it was Noel.
“Why?”
Was there really a need to make his daughter suffer more?
“Olivia defeated Pector. Just her presence with us will give the soldiers tremendous confidence.”
He wasn’t unaware of that. But wouldn’t Olivia be quite tired? He worried that dragging her along might worsen the injury to her arm.
“For now, your mother will gather the assassination guild members as well. Prepare the army. Our destination is clear. I will not repeat my father’s failure. I will learn from it. We will strike a decisive blow against Berna, who has underestimated us, and then withdraw. Therefore, vassals, follow my orders.”
“““Yes.”””
Yes. There was no need to include Olivia. Besides, they had the Hero Party. The Hero himself was rotten, but his companion Noel seemed fairly skilled. With morale already high, they could sweep away the Third Legion and return triumphant.
That was what he thought, but then Noel raised her hand.
“I believe Lady Olivia’s body has recovered sufficiently.”
“Hmm?”
What did that mean?
“Otherwise, she wouldn’t have personally set up a barrier around the entire mausoleum, would she?”
“That’s true. You have a point.”
Noel’s words made sense. Olivia had grumbled the whole time but still erected a massive barrier over the entire mausoleum. He had no idea when she had learned such techniques, but she hadn’t looked particularly strained. In that case, perhaps they could ask for a little help?
“If it’s really too much, we don’t have to make her fight. Just showing her face would be enough. Lady Olivia already mentioned that beforehand.”
“She said she would help?”
“Yes.”
Noel smiled meaningfully. He didn’t know what that strange smile implied, but receiving Olivia’s help didn’t seem like a bad idea.
“Hmm, I see. Even as a saint, she is still an Ashtar daughter after all.”
In that case, calling for her once wouldn’t hurt. If she refused, there was nothing to be done, but asking wouldn’t be bad.
Where do you think you’re sending me alone? We’re going together, brother. Hehe.
Of course, the Ashtar family head had no way of knowing Noel’s true intentions.
She felt an uneasy premonition. An irritation and discomfort that was almost unnatural. A strong feeling that something incredibly troublesome was about to happen.
“Maybe I should just head back.”
“You’re leaving just like that? When you think about it, isn’t this the place you’re supposed to return to?”
Seria, who had somehow ended up glued to her side, spoke up. Well, for the first generation, this might be the place to return to. But what about the second generation—her? It wasn’t entirely wrong. The residual memories of the first generation had merged into her and become one. Still, from the perspective of the second Olivia, the imperial capital was where she should return. Anyway, her instincts were screaming right now. She shouldn’t stay here.
“Something feels off. It’s like I’m sensing a sign that something as annoying as dealing with the Emperor is about to happen.”
She sensed something incredibly bothersome. If she stayed put like this, it felt like her reputation would take a hit. Fighting would be one thing, but this…
“Hmm. Lady Olivia, your hunches are usually spot on.”
“Can’t be helped.”
It seemed better to escape somehow. Since they were probably going to send her back anyway, maybe she should request to leave. She was thinking of packing her bags to head to the imperial capital when she noticed some useless fools hurriedly loading luggage onto a carriage outside the mansion. They hadn’t shown their faces this whole time—what were they doing now? Were they planning to slip off to the capital by themselves?
“What are those guys up to?”
“That looks like a carriage from the imperial capital, doesn’t it?”
Now that she looked, the carriage bore the imperial crest. So that was it. She didn’t like being sent off like this. A few smacks clearly hadn’t been enough. She needed to give them a little more stimulation. She took Seria and headed outside the mansion.
“Hey, where are you all going?”
They hadn’t shown their faces lately, and now they were trying to sneak away without her. It was so ridiculous that she spoke in a deliberately provocative tone. These people needed to be peeled like onions—layer by layer.
Prince Aslan swallowed hard the moment he saw her, as if he found it difficult to speak.
“O-Olivia? Ah, um, we need to return to the imperial capital.”
“His Majesty the Emperor has summoned us.”
Aslan and Yuria hesitated, speaking in small voices. Then shouldn’t she be going too? Why were they trying to leave by themselves?
“His Majesty? Why didn’t he call for me?”
Why not her, the Imperial Tutor?
“I’m not sure about that.”
The Emperor hadn’t called for her? It seemed he had been in contact with the family head. Surely her father wasn’t thinking of spending some cozy father-daughter time together. No, there was only one possibility. War. That father of hers was trying to push his daughter into battle.
“Then what about Shariel?”
She called out to the elf standing beside the prince.
“I-I’m going to stay with my sister for a while because she called for me. I only came out to see Prince Aslan off.”
Shariel must have already exchanged words with Ella. So the Hero Party had already been informed.
“Hmm.”
Well, it couldn’t be helped. She was an elf, after all.
“Ah, um. I had something to say before I go.”
“What is it?”
“That… about how I acted rudely before. I’ll be careful from now on.”
So that was what he wanted to say. Fine. It was good that he was reflecting. But it still pissed her off a little. What exactly did these bastards like so much that they got to return safely like this? Anyway, she had to give them the stimulation she promised. She would whip them with a very spicy flavor.
“Ah, it’s fine. It’s not like I’m your fiancée or anything, and the matter’s already over. You can act however you want from now on.”
“What do you mean by that?”
It was Yuria who answered in Aslan’s place. Right. It was only proper to give them an answer.
“Next time you act like a brat and cause trouble again, the council will naturally throw its support behind Her Highness the Princess instead.”
“Ugh.”
She no longer cared whether this guy lived or died. As long as it wasn’t in Ashtar territory, it made no difference to her.