Chapter 6: Protagonist Supplement Plan (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 6: Protagonist Supplement Plan (3)
My brother and I followed behind Father as he led the march, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Without uttering a single word, Father perfectly controlled the seven hundred soldiers with nothing but slight hand gestures. We simply watched the display in silence.
The moment the main force of seven hundred stepped into the city streets—
“Waaaah!”
“It’s the Lord!”
The people lining both sides of the street erupted in cheers, scattering flower petals into the air.
As if finally realizing what was happening, my brother looked at me with a weary expression.
‘I wondered why we were passing through the city instead of heading straight to the objective…’
‘You just figured it out?’
To put it simply, this monster subjugation operation wasn't just a military maneuver to Father. It was a military review to display the majesty of the Lord and his army to the people of the territory, and an act to engrave the image of the next successor into their minds.
“Watch and learn, Brother.”
“I’m still…”
“I’m not saying you should become exactly like Father. I mean you should become a better Lord than him.”
“…”
My brother and I turned our gazes forward again.
To our surprise, we saw Father smiling for the first time in our lives.
“Long live the Lord!”
“Long live the Konstanz family!”
Father was lightly waving his hand to the people with a broad smile on his face. He even happily accepted bouquets of flowers brought by children.
Thanks to that, my brother’s exhausted face turned toward me again.
“Did you see that? Wow…”
“You should wave too, Brother. Don’t just stand there like an idiot.”
“Me? Why?”
“Father is setting an example for you to do exactly that. Honestly, it might even be fun.”
However, my brother seemed a bit embarrassed and was hesitating.
Sigh. I guess the superior younger brother has to step up again.
I ostentatiously waved toward the crowd, specifically targeting the area where the most women were gathered.
“Waaaaah!”
“The Young Master is so handsome~!”
“The Young Master smiled at me!”
“Shut up, you wench! He smiled at me!”
Unfortunately, you girls are a bit too young to catch my eye. My gaze was actually directed at the demure lady smiling shyly behind you.
Now then, if I take the lead like this, he can’t just stay still as the older brother, right…?
“Kyaaaah! The Young Master waved!”
“Young Master, please take me!”
“Oh, Young Master…!”
For some reason, the moment my brother started waving, I saw a woman actually faint. What is he, Michael Jackson or something?
“Hahaha.”
Perhaps getting into the spirit of it, my brother began waving here and there with a goofy grin. Every time he did, piercing screams and the sounds of people swooning echoed from all directions.
…I’m not exactly lacking in the looks department myself, but I really can’t beat a protagonist.
“I’m glad to see you’re enjoying yourself, Young Master.”
“Hahaha, what’s with that weird way of speaking?”
“Not at all~ Please pay me no mind and continue to enjoy yourself~”
Since Father isn't saying anything, it seems that was his intention all along.
‘Then I should probably stay quiet…’
One must always look before they leap. Since I have no desire to occupy the seat of the next Lord, I quietly gripped my horse’s reins. Of course, I didn't forget to give a charming eye-smile to the women I saw here and there.
‘I’d say that’s about half of them done…’
*
Leaving the cheers and applause behind, the main force of seven hundred exited the city.
The moment the view opened up, Father gave a thunderous command to the entire army.
“Increase marching speed! Knights and cavalry, move ahead and secure the objective!”
“Yes, sir!”
In an instant, the left and right wings were organized into units of fifty each, galloping away in a cloud of dust. At the same time, Father spurred his horse, and all the soldiers following behind began to run at a steady pace.
Including my brother and me, of course.
“Looks like it’s finally starting.”
“I-it’ll be okay, right?”
“Don’t worry. Unless a dragon suddenly appears, there’s no way Father and his army will lose.”
“Whew…”
The reason our family is one of the top five most powerful families in the Empire is simple: we possess a military strong enough to be responsible for defending the frontier.
While a horde of nearly three hundred orcs, goblins, and ogres is certainly a major threat, it means little in the face of state power.
“So don’t be so nervous. It’ll be over before you know it.”
“I hope so… I just don’t want to see anyone get hurt.”
“Me neither. And Father feels the same way.”
“…Father does?”
“Yeah. That’s what a Lord is for in the first place.”
A phrase everyone knew in my past life: Noblesse Oblige.
It means that wealth and power carry responsibilities and duties, and that social leaders like lords, counts, or kings have an obligation to set an example befitting their status and authority. To put it another way, a noble who cannot set an example is no noble at all.
‘The people can live without nobles, but nobles cannot live without the people.’
That might be my personal philosophy, but it’s a bit too dry and rigid for Luan. So, I used words intended to guide him toward that kind of romantic and idealistic thinking…
“A Lord is someone who protects…”
By the looks of it, it worked well.
Now then, shall the superior younger brother add a few more words?
“To us, he is our only father, but we aren't his only children.”
“What do you mean?”
“The people we just saw on the street—they are all Father’s children. Well… I suppose we’re his most cherished ones, though.”
“…And?”
“That’s why he had no choice but to give up being human. To protect the smiles of all his people.”
My brother’s gaze returned to Father’s back as he rode ahead.
Giving orders silently with hand gestures, and sometimes with his sword, Father’s back… well… looked broader to me than ever before.
Looking at my brother, who was silently staring at that back, I left him with one last remark.
“I still don’t think you’re wrong, Brother. But I’m not trying to say Father is wrong either.”
“…Right.”
“Father only wants one thing from you. Well… to be honest, there’s the matter of continuing the lineage, and he probably wants you to pay attention during your lessons…”
“Just get to the point.”
“Father wants you to become a better person than he is. And he believes you can.”
To be perfectly honest… Father probably thinks of my brother as little more than a blood relative to carry on the line…
But it’s best for my brother to think, ‘He doesn’t see me that way; I’m being relied upon.’ That’s why I’m wearing this uncharacteristic armor and riding this horse.
Seriously, the army is not a place you want to visit twice.
‘Anyway, it looks like the plan was a success.’
My brother’s eyes were burning with intensity, as if he wouldn't miss a single one of Father’s movements. It was so effective that I almost let the words “Just as planned…” slip out like some manga protagonist.
In any case, we soon arrived at the objective.
A faint scent of blood drifted on the wind, and from ahead, the distant sounds of monster screams and clashing weapons could be heard.
“All troops, prepare for battle! Upon encountering the enemy, establish a perimeter immediately and annihilate them without exception!”
“Yes, sir!”
“Charge!”
Following Father’s command, my brother and I also charged forward.
Riding Father’s horses, wearing Father’s armor, and wielding Father’s swords, we chased after his back.
‘There aren't many days left where I can spend time like this…’
A strange sense of bittersweetness mixed with excitement for the future I would carve out for myself. Those were all the emotions I felt on the first battlefield I had ever faced.
Mainly because the opponents were just monsters, not humans.
*
The battle between the Margrave’s army and the monster horde was so dull that the cheers and applause from the people on the street felt more intense by comparison.
The monsters were lured into an open field with nowhere to hide. The knights’ charge and the mages’ spells disrupted the enemy lines, and the perfectly trained infantry finished off the confused monsters. The troublesome ogres perished after struggling against the relentless long-range fire from the archers and mages.
The battle report I wrote consisted of exactly those three lines.
“Though I’m not sure why I was the one who had to write it.”
—Clack!
Under the setting sun, the wooden sword I swung was blocked by Helena’s. Now blocking my sword with both hands, Helena replied to me.
“The Lord is your father, so isn't it only natural that he would be curious about his sons’ thoughts?”
“Well, I suppose so. I wrote the report with that in mind. In a very business-like tone that Father is quite used to.”
“Hehe, so as not to stand out more than Young Master Luan?”
“Yeeees~ It’s actually quite exhausting~”
“You are doing wonderfully. If I may be so bold, I believe your noble character and conduct are the greatest blessings of the Konstanz family.”
I’m sure. Succession disputes happen behind the scenes in every family. That’s why a young master like me—who goes around saying, “I have no interest in that~” from early on and whose actions perfectly match his words—is quite rare.
“Hah!”
“Tei!”
I exchanged about ten more clashes with Helena. When I was younger, I couldn't make Helena budge even when she held her sword in only her left hand… but now that I’m fifteen, the situation has changed significantly. I’ve reached the point where I can hold my own in a spar against Helena even when she uses both hands.
Of course, due to the inevitable difference in experience, I still lose nine out of ten matches if we go to the end… but that also means I win one out of ten.
“Phew… Shall we call it a day, Young Master?”
“Yes, Teacher.”
Seeing Helena’s forehead drenched in sweat and glowing in the sunset, and hearing her heavy breathing, a thought occurred to me.
Should I start increasing that 10% win rate from today?
And I am a man whose actions match his thoughts.
I immediately straightened my clothes and approached Helena, who was wiping the sweat from her brow.
“Shall I give you a massage today, Teacher?”
“No, it’s quite alright. You must be much more tired than I am, having just returned from the battlefield.”
“I’m fine! We were back before sundown anyway, so I’m not tired at all.”
Just like in the old days, I want to make you happy, Teacher.
I sent Helena a sparkling look that said exactly that.
On the surface, and in most cases, Helena is a strict and upright maid and instructor, but…
“That… haaa, Young Master…”
“Teacher~”
“…Understood. Then… I will ask for your help again today.”
As always, Helena couldn't refuse my request.
And as always, I started by placing my hands on Helena’s shoulders. Just like in the past, Helena’s shoulders were bearing the weight of immense responsibility.
—Knead, knead.
“Mmm… haaa…”
“Hehe, doing this reminds me of the first time I gave you a massage.”
“Ah… yes… it does… hehe… your hands were so small back then… I didn't realize they had grown so much…”
Mhm, she’s feeling my growth through her body. And she’s interpreting it in a positive way. Good flow.
Now then… taking advantage of this momentum, shall I cautiously take one more step?
“Y-Young Master?”
“Yes? What’s wrong?”
“Th-there…”
The area I was touching was the midpoint between her shoulder and chest. It was hard to call it the shoulder, but it was also ambiguous to call it the chest—the area just below the collarbone. This is also a legitimate massage area where muscles and ligaments exist.
Therefore, I looked at Helena confidently.
“I asked a medical officer, and he said this is an area where fatigue easily accumulates. Especially for women.”
“Is… is that so…?”
“Yes. How does it feel?”
“Hng…”
The pleasure of fatigue being released and a strange stimulation felt in a completely unexpected place. Perhaps due to that indescribable feeling, a subtle sigh escaped Helena’s lips instead of words.
‘Now then… I should move to a different spot about now.’
I’d love to keep the momentum going and massage other parts, but that might upset her. So, I moved back up.
“Oh, come to think of it, I heard it’s good to massage here too.”
“I-is that so?”
This time, I moved my hands to her neck—specifically, the area between the head and the neck, the spot people usually refer to when they say they have a stiff neck.
I gently wrapped my left arm around Helena’s neck and pressed the back of her head firmly with my right hand. From the front, it would look exactly like a back hug.
Being in that position, I naturally whispered into Helena’s ear. Of course, in the same innocent voice I had used all along.
“How is it, Teacher?”
“It… it feels good…”
“Hehe, I’m glad you like it.”
I unwound my arm from Helena’s neck. As if unintentionally, I naturally and gently stroked the nape of her neck.
“Then, thank you for today as well, Teacher.”
“…Ah, yes. Thank you. And… I am glad you returned safely, Young Master. If you’ll excuse me, I shall take my leave first.”
“Yes, Teacher. See you tomorrow!”
“Yes, Young Master…”
Mmm, was stroking the nape of her neck at the end a bit too much?
The thought crossed my mind for a moment, but more than that, I had a good feeling that was close to a certainty. It felt like my 10% win rate had risen to about 15%.
‘Four more years…!’