The Bitter Aftertaste of a Deserted Knight
Such a fellow is not worth my attention.
“Tsk. So, you missed him after all?”
“I’m sorry… General Neto. I searched the surroundings thoroughly after that, but… I couldn’t find him.”
Olivier, the deputy, answered in a dark voice.
Having led her subordinates to capture the deserter Cromwell, but returning empty-handed, General Neto said in a cold voice.
“What a pathetic fellow. You should have captured him when you had the chance. Even though the opponent was Cromwell, with tens of men, you couldn’t even handle one Paladin? And there were even some mages and warriors among them?”
“I… have no face left. At that moment, I was momentarily… no, I was suppressed by Cromwell’s holy power… I will accept the punishment for failing to complete the mission.”
Olivier spoke in a voice devoid of any emotion, as if she had received a severe shock.
Her voice sounded as if she had half given up on life rather than just being scolded.
Seeing her like this, General Neto clicked his tongue lightly and issued orders with a rough gesture.
“I don’t want to see your face, so go do your work. I will handle the responsibility for this matter after the battle is over.”
“…Yes, General.”
After bowing her head once more to General Neto’s command, Olivier, the deputy, left the tent.
Watching her walk with difficulty, staggering as if she had received a severe shock, General Neto slowly shook his head and sat down.
Such a pathetic fellow, failing to do even one thing properly and hesitating.
Olivier seemed to have lost her spirit despite the battle being imminent.
Seeing the unsatisfactory state of the person she had been working with, General Neto lit the cigarette he was holding.
That’s aside… This has become a bit troublesome. Cromwell defecting to the rebels. If that happens, it means a lot of information about our army has also defected.
Edward Cromwell was a person who had been in the military for a considerable time as the second knight commander of the Empire. If such a person defected to the rebels, it meant that quite a bit of military secrets had also defected.
And among them, the detailed internal situations of the Empire army under General Neto stationed here would also be included.
Secrets that couldn’t be known through simple espionage.
The army’s exact size, detailed organization, locations of military supplies, and whether there were support forces, important information that couldn’t be overlooked.
Since these could become weapons bigger than troops depending on the situation, General Neto couldn’t help but feel quite irritated about this.
However.
Separate from this uneasy feeling.
He had concluded that this was merely in the realm of emotions and would not affect the outcome of the impending war.
At best, it’s just one Paladin leaving. His knight unit is still here intact, and more importantly, even with information, the power gap is overwhelming, so what can he do with just intel?
No matter how good the information, if there’s no military power to execute it, it’s useless.
Moreover, even the small number of troops they have, the rebels would hardly move just because they heard about Cromwell, who is just a deserter.
Of course, if the guy lives and contacts the rebel main force, it would really be a headache, but if they conquer the fortress and cut off his head before that, it’s over.
So, at that time, General Neto was treating this incident as just an annoying thing that happened.
-“What’s the matter? Suddenly like this…”
-“I don’t have time to explain! Make me meet General Neto right now!”
“Huh?”
Suddenly, a noisy voice.
Feeling annoyed, General Neto raised his voice.
“What’s all the commotion?”
-“Ah.. General. That is… Ah!”
The next moment, the familiar face entering through the tent guard, forcibly passing the soldier.
Richard, a high-ranking warrior and the person recently newly appointed as general, stood in front of General Neto with a desperate expression.
“General Richard, what is this? Why did you come in bypassing the guard so urgently?”
“I.. I’m sorry, forgive my rudeness, General, but it’s a very important matter…”
“Important matter? Could it be about Cromwell?”
Richard momentarily flinched at General Neto’s words.
But soon, she spoke in a serious voice, hiding any such sign.
“…You already know, don’t you? Yes, that’s right. I came to tell you about Cromwell, the knight commander.”
“If it’s that story, there’s no need to say it.”
“Huh?”
General Neto’s attitude felt vexed.
Feeling a bit puzzled, Richard began to feel perplexed, and General Neto, facing her, rubbed the cigarette in his mouth against the table to extinguish it, then looked at the documents in front of him and said in a tired voice.
“After all, that guy is now a traitor. Since he has confirmed to have defected to the rebels, just cut off his head without exception in this battle and it’s over.”
“General, this is not something to take lightly. That Cromwell…”
“That guy knows quite a lot of our secrets. I know that too. But no matter how much information, if there’s no military power to use it, it’s useless.”
“That… that’s certainly true. But…”
“Moreover, although he’s quite strong, at best Cromwell is a Paladin. Unlike mages, he has clear limits to the physical power he can use, and he no longer has a powerful knight unit to back him up. Why would you be so worried?”
“It’s not like that! As I said before, if you look at Cromwell, the captain, as just a Paladin, it’s problematic! If you’re wrong, it could lead to unforeseen results…”
“General Richard?”
General Neto showed a cold attitude for a moment towards Richard speaking urgently.
Richard had no choice but to have her words cut off for a moment, and looking at her, General Neto said in a cold voice.
“I know that you highly evaluate that Cromwell. It’s natural since you’re the person who made you what you are now. But, I don’t like seeing you still clinging to him in this way.”
“G.. General. This is not that…”
“Don’t do obvious tricks. I know you’re trying to somehow save him even like this. That guy is a traitor. If you show support for him any more, I can’t just watch anymore.”
“…”
His words carried a calm warning.
Richard had no choice but to stay silent.
“Get out. If you have time to worry about such a traitor, thoroughly prepare for the upcoming battle.”
With that, Richard left without continuing to speak, walking out.
Watching her, General Neto felt the deep traces of Cromwell left in various places of his army and a surge of intense irritation began to rise again.
That lowly commoner’s dirty name has been lingering for a long time… After this battle ends, I’ll stick his head on a spear and firmly warn him. I won’t forgive anyone who mentions the name of such a traitor.
*
“Cluck…”
Richard left the tent, biting her lips until they bled.
The attempt to convey Cromwell’s danger had failed.
In her heart, a growing sense of anxiety was clearly felt.
Everyone doesn’t know… Not even William, let alone General Neto. They are thinking too lightly about the danger of that Cromwell.
Cromwell was known only as a Paladin who roamed the battlefield leading a strong knight unit.
His bravery and command of mounted knights were admirable, but Richard knew better than anyone that the guy’s scary point was not just that.
Richard had worked with Cromwell longer than Clara, his fiancé, and could know that fact.
Because of that, although she couldn’t overcome her personal desires and cooperated with General Neto’s work, she couldn’t help but have a deep anxiety in her heart.
If the situation went wrong and safely eliminating him failed,
There was a fear that this man’s terrifying blade might turn towards her.
And at this moment,
As the worst scenario she feared was about to happen.
She felt a deep regret for the past events starting to arise as her body trembled.
“Damn it!”
Exclaiming in frustration, Richard tried to push away these emotions.
Then, still trying to ignore the lingering anxiety, she moved towards the location of her subordinate unit.
…No… Even if I regret now, what’s the use? And... originally, the rebel guys wouldn’t listen to a deserter’s words. It’s fine… It’ll be fine. It’ll definitely end well without any issues…
Chiding herself, Richard started moving forward.
At this moment, without realizing that her steps were accelerating too much...
*
With a cold expression, Franklin, the general, was staring straight at my face.
Facing her, I asked again in a voice with a bit of confusion.
“U.. um… What did you just say?”
“As I said. I will fully accept what I said just now.”
“…”
Seeing her decide so refreshingly despite the stiff atmosphere, I showed a dazed expression for a moment.