Chapter 33
Chapter 33
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: Chapter 13: Sound the Trumpet First (2)
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"No matter what I say now, I won't be able to shake His Highness the 5th Prince's iron will, will I?"
Marquis Crayer spoke, and Raymond slowly nodded. True to his nature, once he made a decision, he would see it through to the end.
"You know me well."
"His Majesty the Emperor was just as righteous and valiant in his youth as Your Highness is now."
Marquis Crayer's eyes grew distant, lost in reminiscence of the past.
In his younger days, the current Emperor, Ronald Philius, had spent three years defending the empire in the north to gain the military's support.
During those three years, he had met Sand Crayer, then the heir to the marquisate, in the Black Mountains and forged a bond with him.
"You truly resemble him."
A hint of regret and longing colored Marquis Crayer's voice. The valiant Ronald, who had drawn his sword faster than anyone at the sight of injustice, was gone.
All that remained was an aged, ailing emperor stubbornly clinging to a crumbling throne.
"Then you must know what I'll do next."
"I opposed it earlier, and I still feel the same."
The 5th Prince had once been known as a wastrel, but to Marquis Crayer now, he seemed more valiant and righteous than the 1st Prince, dubbed the lord of knights.
When he first heard the rumor that the 5th Prince, Raymond, intended to take the vanguard, he'd simply chuckled and shaken his head. But observing his actions at the border over the past couple of months made it clear this was no jest—and far from impossible.
"Your Highness, must you truly go to the Black Mountains?"
Marquis Crayer asked, and Raymond nodded before replying.
"Of course. I'll repel the heavy cavalry assault brigade from the Free Isirian Kingdom that's dared to provoke the empire and return."
Confidence rang in his voice. It was only natural. The Free Isirian Kingdom's heavy cavalry assault brigade was not invincible.
There was a clear way to crush them, and in the novel, the protagonist Richard had once lured them into a clever trap and annihilated them—a battle described in detail, unlike some that existed only in backstory.
The 'forces' Richard had used back then consisted of Desia Heli, a top-tier mage by those standards, and a hundred infantrymen.
But now, Raymond could muster even greater forces, giving him ample chance of victory.
The differences were that Raymond was an extra, not the protagonist, and he lacked the 'Blessing of Sword and Sorcery.'
'I've got the Soul Sword, so it should be fine.'
Receiving the 'Blessing of Sword and Sorcery' was ideal with no side effects, but the mana sword forming the Soul Sword used only a small amount of mana and primarily drew on soul energy, avoiding fatal clashes with the mana circuits needed for spellcasting.
Thus, it wasn't unusable alongside magic in a pinch.
"Then you must go."
Marquis Crayer said. He'd opposed it at first, but seeing Raymond's demeanor now, he recognized the spirit of the valiant current emperor and realized he couldn't stop him.
The opposition faded quicker than expected. A faint smile tugged at Raymond's lips.
"But we can't send Your Highness alone into the Black Mountains, where even the heavy cavalry has descended."
"Marquis Crayer, what do you mean 'alone'? The Imperial Army and I will stake our lives to protect His Highness the 5th Prince."
Imperial Army commander Cassias reacted sharply. His tone was edged with offense, interpreting the marquis's words as a slight against the Imperial Army's reliability.
"Sir Cassias. May I ask you one thing?"
"I'll answer anything within my power."
"Answer honestly. Do you truly believe a hundred Imperial soldiers can safely protect His Highness from the heavy cavalry assault brigade and the monsters of the Black Mountains?"
Cassias froze at the marquis's pointed question. Objectively, it wasn't enough manpower.
"From what I've heard, hasn't Your Highness survived the Black Mountains so far not because the Imperial Army's shield is sturdy, but because of your own greatness?"
Cassias couldn't reply immediately. It bruised his pride, but the marquis spoke the truth.
If the 5th Prince Raymond had truly been the wastrel of rumor, the moment they entered the Black Mountains, the Imperial Army—and even the Imperial Guard—would have been massacred.
"Imperial Army commander, Sir Cassias."
A tense storm had passed. Now it was time to sheath the whip and offer the carrot.
Marquis Crayer spoke gently, and Cassias, who had been staring at the ground, slowly raised his head.
"I'm not blaming you. The Imperial Army you lead is elite among elites. But the Black Mountains are too perilous for those short on experience."
He spoke as softly as possible. Cassias's expression softened in turn.
Watching this, Raymond chuckled and shook his head. Seeing the steadfast Cassias waver like this showed Marquis Crayer was no ordinary man.
"I agree with that."
"So, I'd like to assign one more escort. Would that be acceptable?"
Marquis Crayer's gaze shifted from Cassias to Raymond. Raymond's eyes sparkled as he met the marquis's, sensing his intent.
Just one person—who would it be? He had suspicions but no certainty.
"Could you all step out for a moment?"
Marquis Crayer raised a hand slightly, and the marquisate's retainers and knights exited the conference room without hesitation, revealing the depth of their loyalty.
"You as well—step out."
Raymond dismissed his own entourage. The marquis's cautious demeanor was fueling Raymond's suspicions into conviction.
'Is it him...?'
He told himself it couldn't be, yet hope stirred. Now, only Raymond and Marquis Crayer remained in the conference room.
Even the guarding knights had withdrawn outside at the marquis's order.
"Can you tell me now?"
"Of course."
At Raymond's question, Marquis Crayer nodded with a faint smile. He looked up at the ceiling and spoke.
"You may reveal yourself, Sir Jace."
Raymond barely concealed his inner surprise as the marquis called the name. Thanks to the author's setting notes, he knew who 'Jace' was.
The Crayer Marquisate had many candidates for a 'one-man army,' but he hadn't expected the name of their strongest.
"A retired Royal Guard..."
"Oh? It seems Your Highness has heard of me."
Raymond muttered the man's identity aloud upon seeing the red-masked figure descend lightly from the ceiling—a slip-up that piqued Jace's curiosity.
"You knew of me, Sir Jace?"
Of course, from the author's setting notes. Though brief, Jace's entry existed.
Retired Royal Guard.
The current Emperor, Ronald Philius, had assigned Jace as Marquis Crayer's escort out of respect for their shared defense of the north in youth. Attaching a retired Royal Guard was the highest honor an emperor could bestow.
Lending such a profound symbol of friendship revealed how highly Marquis Crayer regarded Raymond.
That aside, such assignments were usually secret, so Raymond needed an excuse for knowing about Jace now.
"I heard by chance."
Nothing better came to mind, so he brushed it off vaguely, leaving room to evade a direct answer.
"I won't pry further."
Sensing Raymond's reluctance, Marquis Crayer bowed and backed off astutely.
Jace looked curious still, but with the marquis yielding, he couldn't press a royal.
Raymond had averted a barrage of questions. With a faint smile, he spoke.
"So, you're lending me Sir Jace as a temporary escort?"
"Yes, Your Highness. I believe Sir Jace won't object."
"The chance to once more serve as the shield of the imperial family, even briefly, is an honor. I shall give my all, Your Highness."
Jace stepped forward and bowed deeply.
Though retired and under Marquis Crayer, he was still a proud Royal Guard, shield of the imperial family.
He wouldn't refuse the honor of serving royalty.
He'd guarded the marquis since retirement, but mostly as chief of castle security, never accompanying him even during a kidnapping.
The prospect of fresh air excited him.
"With the shield of the imperial family as escort, I feel secure."
Raymond spoke with deep trust. Knowing of his retirement, he still used the honorable title 'shield of the imperial family' to boost Jace's loyalty and pride. It worked instantly.
"The spears of the Free Isirian Kingdom may be sharp, but they shall not pierce the shield of the imperial family! As a former member of the honorable Royal Guard, I solemnly swear here and now to crush every threat to Your Highness in the Black Mountains!"
Jace clenched his fist, thumping it against his chest. A clear smile spread across Raymond's face.
The command conference ended, and Raymond gained a temporary escort in the retired Royal Guard, Jace. By appealing to his loyalty and pride, Jace proved eager.
He'd be plenty useful, possible only because Raymond was a Philius imperial and Jace a Royal Guard steeped in devotion to the throne.
Even under Marquis Crayer's orders, Jace wouldn't have been this enthusiastic for anyone else.
"Your Highness. Have you concluded?"
The Crimson Tower Lord approached with Gestain, bowing politely to Raymond and Jace emerging from the conference room.
Notably absent were the Azure Tower Lord, Desia, and Cassias. Raymond asked the Crimson Tower Lord their whereabouts.
"Sir Cassias headed to the training grounds, saying he needed more practice. I don't know where the Azure Tower Lord and Sir Desia went."
"Summon the Azure Tower Lord and Desia. We have urgent matters to discuss."
"And Sir Cassias?"
Gestain asked cautiously. The taciturn man had grown close enough to check on him personally.
"Can't disturb him mid-training. But send someone so he doesn't feel left out."
"I'll dispatch an Imperial Guard to relay the message."
Leaving Gestain's response behind, Raymond hurried to the reception room beside his quarters.
The Azure Tower Lord and Desia, summoned by the Crimson Tower Lord, had arrived first and bowed slightly as Raymond entered.
"Old man, you're late."
"Pardon? We arrived before Your Highness..."
"You should have escorted me from the conference room."
"Yes, my mistake."
The brief exchange ended with Azure Tower Lord Risefield Dior raising the white flag first.
No matter how he racked his brains, he lacked confidence in out-talking the 5th Prince. Experience had taught him to concede quickly.
"Sit, everyone."
Raymond pulled out a chair and sat first.
"I'll stand guard outside."
Jace offered to act as doorman, thinking he had no place in this group yet and intending to withdraw.
"You stay here too. I don't see the shield of the imperial family as mere lightweight."
I trust you, sir.
The indirect words conveyed Raymond's meaning clearly, moving Jace.
"Your Highness..."
"Blind faith is unwise, but the shield of the imperial family is the exception."
It wasn't a secret too deep for a retired Royal Guard.
But no need to explain it to Jace—that would dilute the sentiment.
"The shield harbors no foolish tongue to spread rumors."
Raymond nodded contentedly at Jace's reply. He then alternated glances between the two tower lords before speaking.
"Doesn't it seem the heavy cavalry assault brigade descended faster than expected?"
A loaded statement. Their footsteps were as heavy as their plate armor—they wouldn't move lightly.
"Something feels off, doesn't it?"
The two tower lords swallowed dryly. Desia twisted her lips and parted her red ones.
"Smells like a conspiracy to me."