War (3)
Hundreds had died.
The barbarians, save for the few who had fled the previous battle, were mostly dead. That meant it would take them quite some time to train more and ready themselves for another fight.
Köln had said as much. Except for this northern sector, the eastern front along the border had seen nothing but victories. They would lack the strength to spare for this place, so all we needed to do was hold it. The war might end soon, he claimed. Until the next battle, they would need time to replenish their forces—and in that time, ours would be reinforced as well.
And yet, why now, all of a sudden?
The outpost we had worked so hard to build was ablaze, and fear welled in the eyes of soldiers whose tears had not yet dried. Rubiru, who had pretended to be lively for over half a year, forced a smile once more and insisted she was worried about me. She said she would stay, said it again and again—but she could not hide her fear, her hands trembling.
"...Ri-Riel—"
"Rubiru, excuse me."
I scooped Rubiru up in one motion. The girl who had once let her brown hair hang loose as she asked me to teach her dagger techniques was even frailer now, more emaciated than before. In the fingertips that held her, I could almost feel her bones.
Even with proper rest and food, recovery would take a long time—and she had spent another month on the battlefield, so of course. Rubiru still looked as if she might die at any moment. Still, still like that.
Looking outside, it was as before: the flames burned, but the barbarians had not yet attacked. With Rubiru in my arms, neither the knights nor the mercenaries asked where I was headed. I ran past the battlefield, the burning outpost, the knights swallowing hard as they waited for the barbarians who had yet to arrive. I went to find Köln.
"...I have a request to make of you."
I found him and bowed my head respectfully. Any lingering resentment over him sending Lediche to the battlefield even after I had saved her had long since faded. After all, I too had once believed that Claudia, Ceria, and Rhea would be happier growing up under a noble's protection, away from my hands.
When I thought about it, there was no need for such feelings. What was done was done. I simply bowed my head to Köln for Rubiru's sake.
"...What request could bring you to me in such haste?"
Köln seemed to have a vague idea of why I had come. His voice was warm. A warm voice that seemed to say anything I spoke would be all right.
"...Rubiru is only sixteen now. She's been weakened by the healing magic, hasn't she? Please... send Rubiru back."
"...Ri-Riel, wh-what are you saying...!"
"I will."
He might have been expected to hesitate, but Köln nodded without a moment's thought. He dismounted, stroked his horse, then took Rubiru from me and set her upon the saddle.
"B-Baron. I-I'm a medic, I-I should stay and use m-magic for Riel and y-you—!"
"There's no need."
"Ri-Riel. Tell him, y-you said we'd go back together. Right? I-I don't want you to die!"
He watched Rubiru, who was tearfully trying to climb down from the horse, then turned his gaze to me.
"How could I let a talent who will bring infinite glory to the kingdom die in a place like this?"
Rubiru's sobs stopped, and I froze as if I had forgotten how to breathe. What did he mean by that? Köln spread his arms and carefully embraced me.
"You must go as well. Are you not the material to become a Sword Master one day?"
Then, with one arm, he hoisted me up onto the horse and placed the reins in my hand.
"...What?"
"...I have not forgotten the debt I owe you. It may not be enough, but think of this as my final repayment. Heh heh. Perhaps it is a shackle as well. It is a selfish request that you survive and protect my daughter, Lediche."
"I don't understand. Why would I abandon my comrades...?"
As I tried to say more, Köln brought a finger to his lips. It was the same expression he always wore when joking with the conscripts, trying to get close to them. He looked at me like that for a moment, then reached out, patted my shoulder, and smiled.
"...Not all nobles are as wicked as Loren. Even though those I brought have died, I am not so weak as to flee. I am simply fulfilling my duty as a noble."
"..."
"Rubiru was Lediche's classmate at the academy. As you know, swordsmen who wield mana and mages who use magic are on a different level from ordinary people. We do not fight to die; we fight to survive, to win, to live with honor... But one never knows what life may bring, does one? Better that you and Rubiru stay by Lediche's side than us old, worthless knights and mercenaries. And besides... someone needs to tell Lediche how bravely her father fought."
Then, stroking his horse's face with a distant look in his eyes, he bid us farewell.
"Lupus, take them to the retreat point."
Words I could not quite grasp seemed to brush past me. If they died—my squad members had died, my comrades had died. I worried for Rubiru, but the faces of the comrades I had buried with my own hands were vivid before my eyes. Before I knew it, I raised my voice again.
"...I can't do that. I should stay too...!"
But Köln answered instead in a small, calm voice.
"...Don't you have a family waiting for you? Survive somehow until the war ends, and go back to them."
"B-But still—"
"No. Then I will make it an order. Retreat, and protect Lediche when she comes to the battlefield."
Then he patted his horse's neck.
"This is farewell, Lupus. Go."
Köln's horse, Lupus, whinnied and, as if understanding its master's words, turned its head and headed toward the rear. Around that time, the barbarians stormed in. Fleeing through the flames, I looked back.
Figures that looked like the squad leaders I had killed swarmed in throngs. Women and men of slight builds, uncharacteristic of barbarians, radiated an oppressive aura all on their own. Blue flames bloomed upon axes and greatswords, and though smaller, flames kindled upon Köln's sword and those of his knights as well. Swords and greatswords clashed, and from behind, something strangely round and bizarre—something burning—poured down upon Köln and the others.
Köln sliced through the fireballs, using his experience to dodge, thrust, and cut again and again. The knights and mercenaries of House Rueshatia fought desperately, proving they had once been a mercenary family—but the end was clear without needing to ask or watch. With equal numbers they might have prevailed, but Köln's forces were far fewer.
Clang! Clash!
Some of them pursued the knights and mercenaries who were backing away in terror. Then—they spotted us and stretched out their hands. Something like a round crest formed at their fingertips, and soon a red point rose in the center.
Fwoooosh—!
"Hiiiiiing—!"
In an instant, the flying flame pierced through Lupus's torso.
"Kyaaaak—!"
The moment the horse fell and we were thrown, I tightly embraced Rubiru. Lupus rolled on the ground, gasping and crying out, yet still moved its legs as if trying to fulfill its master's command. Even lying on its side, until its last breath—it kept on.
My whole body felt as if it would shatter from the pain. Somewhere I must have struck hard in the fall, for every step sent a throb through me. I stopped looking at Lupus and sought out Rubiru. I ran to her, scooped her up tightly, and ran and ran along the path Lupus had been taking.
"Rubiru, keep your eyes closed. Got it?"
The sounds of those who had been my comrades dying reached me. The sounds of fighting came. Throbbing pain—yet in my arms I felt a warm body heat.
There was no pursuit, for Köln and the knights blocked the way of those who would chase the fleeing—but as if they had found an amusing toy, the barbarians hurled magic at us.
"Rueshatia! Protect the retreating personnel!"
Perhaps because we had not gotten far. Köln's rough shout reached us. As if responding to their lord's voice, the knights overcame their fear, turned back, and charged once more.
"Uwaaaaah—!"
"Fuck, protect the lord—!"
Clang-clang-clang—!
"Those fucking barbarian bastards—!"
"Kellin, Ke-Kellin is dead—!"
Slash—, thrust—. Clash—! The bursting sounds of metal striking metal.
"Guhk—!"
The lifeless groan of someone reaching death. And then—
Sizzle—!
"Grrrrraaagh—!"
The horrifying sound of a fireball I could not block striking my back and burning my flesh. The nauseating stench of searing flesh and the terrible sensation of clothes melting into skin enveloped me.
A searing pain as if my entire back were being branded with a hot iron filled me, so I rolled on the ground still holding Rubiru. It was painful enough that I wanted to scream, and for the first time I experienced my legs giving out from the agony—but somehow I bit my lip and held back the scream. I was afraid Rubiru would worry, and that she might use healing magic on me.
"Riel, y-your wound—"
"I told you to keep your eyes closed!"
I snapped at Rubiru for no good reason as I endured the pain—then once more took her in my arms and ran toward the rear.
The occasional magic and arrows no longer appeared. My legs trembled from how far I had run, and my whole body was soaked in sweat.
Yet neither the kingdom's forces nor the retreat point was in sight. Looking around, we were in a dense forest, and darkness was gradually settling in.
I set Rubiru down, and we walked together in search of a place to rest for a while. But no matter how we searched, there was nowhere to hide but among the trees. So we found the largest tree and settled between its roots as if concealing ourselves.
I could not lean my back against the tree. The searing pain still lingered, a sensation as if my skin were being torn away.
We could not light a campfire either. If the barbarian forces were pursuing us, it would be no different from announcing our location.
The only light was a little moonlight filtering through the leaves. In the forest filled with a chilling cold, Rubiru and I held each other tightly to survive. Leaning on one another, sharing a warmth that seemed about to break, we held our breath.
Rustle—, the leaves shook in the wind. Through them, the moonlight showed.
I was holding on somehow, but I worried for Rubiru. I felt guilt for abandoning Köln, for leaving the battlefield without even avenging my comrades. On the other hand, imagining that Rhea, Ceria, and Claudia were doing well brought a faint smile to my lips. And yet, I paid no mind to the back of my shoulders, where the burns still oozed fluid.
I didn't even know what I wanted. A dry laugh escaped me.
...This isn't normal.
I knew well enough that I was not in a normal state. But perhaps what was even less normal was my fate itself.
Born and raised in the slums, the sister who had become family to me was assaulted by Loren. In trying to stop Rhea from being assaulted, I had been dragged to the battlefield. And now, even Rubiru, the only friend I had made on the battlefield, was in critical condition.
Gazing at the moonlight swaying through the leaves, I closed my eyes. Always, I had offered prayers only for Sister Flora. I had earnestly begged for everyone to be made happy.
In my most vulnerable moment, like others, I too sought out a god. It might be greedy, but if it was you who brought me the memories of my past life....
Please, just once, show me some mercy as well. At least you, know how hard I have tried.
Not courage or anything like that—give me the power to change something. If I was a knight in my past life, let me have even a fragment of that—.
I closed my eyes and prayed. Prayed, and prayed again.
But no answer came. The moonlight still cast its cold blue light, and the leaves only rustled and swayed. Even the past-life memories I had become aware of while praying felt like nothing but lies.
Crunch—!
I heard signs of people. Rubiru was sound asleep in my arms.
"...The footprints are small?"
Several voices reached me. They must be looking for us. Certain of it, I carefully laid Rubiru down and rose.
Not a single part of me was uninjured, but I still had to do it. Instead of a sword that would make large movements, I gripped a dagger tightly.
Crunch—, crunch—, crunch—. The moment the footsteps drew near—
Whoosh—!
I swung the dagger as is, screaming as I tried to kill the man who had approached beside the old tree.
"A-Ambush—!"
But my body was too broken; my speed was slow, and the attack missed. Unable to control myself, I tumbled ungracefully to the ground, and with a sharp metallic sound, a cold blade pointed at my throat. Beyond the lantern light that stabbed at my eyes, wary pupils looked down at me.
"...Rueshatia?"
A soldier who confirmed the crest engraved on my clothes withdrew his sword and muttered in puzzlement. Fortunately, they seemed to be kingdom soldiers, not barbarians. The kingdom soldier holding the lantern recognized the family crest on my clothes—no, on the armor Baron Köln had given me—and spoke shortly.
"...Whew, good. Let's head back. Better to ask directly than scout a place that's already been occupied."
Under the protection of the kingdom army, we headed to the outpost at the retreat point, and there I saw Lediche. Instead of asking me anything, she chewed her lip and held back her tears. Now she would have to inherit the role of a noble that her father had borne.
Like this, it had been six months since leaving the church. All the conscripts I had gotten to know had fallen in battle, and Baron Rueshatia who had taken me in, along with the family's private soldiers, had all perished as well. Only Rubiru, Lediche, and I remained.