Chapter 14: Demon’s Lair – 17
“What happened on the battlefield today? To be honest, I couldn’t understand it at all. Earthlin, what about you?”
As Marquis Lagantz inquired, his trusted aide, Earthlin, quietly shook his head.
“No, I couldn’t grasp it either. It felt like the Undead were swiftly eradicated, and by the time I realized it, the enemy’s morale had completely shattered…”
“Indeed. It’s unthinkable for a battle to be decided without even a single arrow being loosed.”
We were currently inside the main tent of the marquis’s army. A large table was set up within the spacious tent, surrounded by ten individuals.
Present were the marquis, the young Ryusha, Earthlin, the commanders of various divisions, the captured General Durack, and myself. It felt somewhat odd for me to be here.
The marquis glanced at me before surveying the others present.
“However, thanks to that, General Durack and his thirty thousand troops have joined our side. I believe this is a golden opportunity to take the Royal Capital, but I would like to hear everyone’s opinions.”
“Considering the soldiers’ morale, I think we should advance and settle this quickly,” one of the commanders suggested.
“We lack the supplies to sustain the additional thirty thousand troops for an extended period. Therefore, we should attack the Royal Capital before their own provisions run out,” another added.
“However, a siege will inevitably lead to a prolonged conflict. Even if we can secure our supply lines, it will be challenging to gather enough provisions to satisfy an army exceeding fifty thousand.”
“Then we should rely on other territories as well. We cannot think solely in terms of Lagantz Territory.”
The marquis’s staff began exchanging various opinions.
While this battle had been a defensive one, there had been prior discussions about advancing straight to the Royal Capital if victorious. It seemed that armies from other territories would join us tomorrow, and they were sending troops with that intention.
The issue at hand was that the loyal General Durack had surrendered along with his thirty thousand soldiers. Not only had they surrendered, but they also expressed their willingness to assist in the conquest of the Royal Capital. It was unheard of for an entire dispatched army to defect to the enemy, which only highlighted the lack of respect for King Gizelfa.
By the way, it seemed that the general’s decision to side with the marquis was significantly influenced by the presence of young Ryusha. It was said that the boy had pleaded for help, and the general, in tears, had agreed to follow him. Such tales of loyalty resonate deeply with me, and I find it astonishing that such a world truly exists.
“By the way, Great Hero Soushi, I have something I wish to ask you,” the marquis said, as the discussion reached a lull. I felt that I had indeed overstepped in this matter, but being called “Great Hero” felt a bit excessive.
“What is it?”
“Can you break through the castle walls?”
“If the enemy is fortified behind the walls, I believe it’s possible.”
I probably sounded ridiculous saying that. Earthlin, General Durack, and everyone else stared at me with bewildered expressions, except for young Ryusha, whose eyes sparkled with hope.
“What if the enemy comes out to meet us?”
“Reaching the walls would become a bit troublesome. I would prefer not to blow away the common soldiers if possible.”
Injuring civilians as an adventurer is a serious crime, and such actions are duly recorded on the Adventurer Card. However, in the context of war, it seems to fall under a gray area. Still, since common soldiers are generally good-hearted individuals, my ethical compass hesitates at the thought of causing harm.
“Regardless of how many troops there are, it sounds like you can indeed breach the walls.”
“If the opposing side has multiple A-Rank adventurers, it might be difficult.”
“General Durack, do you know how many adventurers are in the Royal Capital?”
When the marquis asked, the general, shaking off his dazed expression, returned to a serious demeanor and shook his head.
“There are nearly ten A-Rank adventurers if we gather them from the Royal Capital, but they will not participate in the battle. Among the Royal Guard Knights, there are two former A-Rank adventurers, but they would be no match for you, Soushi.”
“I’ve heard that you were once an A-Rank adventurer as well?”
“I still pride myself on being active, but I was treated like a mere child. He is not someone a mere human can contend with.”
“Indeed, he is that formidable.”
With that, the marquis leaned back in his chair and let out a long sigh.
“We have unknowingly made the acquaintance of a terrifyingly reliable individual. If that is the case, we should view this as an unparalleled opportunity.”
“That is undoubtedly the case,” Earthlin replied, and the other aides nodded in agreement.
The marquis nodded, stood up, and turned to face young Ryusha, bowing respectfully.
At this, everyone except the boy rose to their feet, and I found myself standing as well.
“Ryusha-sama, as discussed, starting tomorrow, our army intends to march on the Royal Capital. We seek your permission to strike down Duke Gizelfa, who has unjustly usurped the throne and imposed a regime against the will of the people. We humbly request your command.”
“Very well. I grant you, Marquis Lagantz, permission to campaign against Duke Gizelfa. Act swiftly to resolve this situation and ensure that rightful governance is restored.”
“Yes! I shall fulfill this duty with my very life.”
As the marquis and everyone else bowed, I too lowered my head, only to meet Ryusha’s gaze upon raising it.
The anxiety that had once clouded his eyes at the onset of this war had vanished, replaced by an almost dreamlike quality. With the tide of battle shifting so dramatically in favor of the marquis, it seemed his spirits had lightened.
Well, in any case, it appeared that I would soon be able to reunite with my party in just a few days. The only remaining concern was whether King Gizelfa had any hidden cards left to play… It would be wise to prepare for the worst.