Chapter 136: A Bonus of Humiliation
“Tch… This is it. Time to scram.”
The battle had reached its conclusion. The majority of the Rebel Army was in full retreat, while those who remained faced either surrender or death. Witnessing the inevitable defeat, a man hastily distanced himself from the battlefield. He was clad in cheap leather armor and sported a scruffy beard, his rugged features resembling those of a bandit more than a soldier.
However, only a select few knew the truth: this man was the Captain of Soldiers from the Geisel Empire, an ally of the Aiwood Kingdom. Disguised as a mercenary, he had infiltrated the Aiwood Kingdom and fought alongside the Rebel Army. While there were other soldiers who had similarly defected from the Geisel Empire, they were merely mercenaries hired for gold. This man, however, was the only one receiving direct orders from the Empire’s high command.
(I was told to weaken the Kingdom’s forces as much as possible, but… this is impossible now.)
From the very beginning, the outcome had been decided. An unknown attack launched by the Kingdom Army rendered one-tenth of the Rebel soldiers incapable of fighting. Faced with overwhelming magical assaults, half of the remaining soldiers lost their will to fight, opting for surrender or flight. The man had intended to cling to his loyalty to the Empire and take down at least one enemy commander, but unfortunately, he had not encountered any notable generals. It seemed he would escape after only slaying a few nameless soldiers.
(The foolish prince, Rodel, finally showed some guts at the end, but… it seems he was defeated after all. Serves him right.)
The man snorted in derision. He had accomplished nothing as a puppet or a soldier and had fallen. Whether he would be buried in the annals of history or executed as a rebel, either way, the term “fool” was fitting for that man.
(…Well, at least I’ve gathered some valuable information.)
He had been observing Rodel’s final battle from a distance. In other words, he had witnessed the man who defeated Rodel—Rest.
(That man was using Light Magic… It’s merely a possibility, but he might be the same one who delivered that initial strike. The Kingdom soldiers were calling him “Viscount Clover”… I must bring this information back at all costs.)
Few individuals possessed the ability to wield Light Magic. While anyone could illuminate their surroundings, only a select few could elevate it to the level of offensive magic. Using fire or lightning was far more efficient in terms of magical power consumption versus attack strength.
(There’s a question of whether he can continue fighting the foolish prince after unleashing such a powerful strike without running out of magical power… But that brat will undoubtedly become a demon for the Empire. I may need to consider assassination as an option.)
The man’s lord was the leader of a faction known as the “war hawks” within the Empire. They intended to conquer not only the northern barbarians but also the western Aiwood Kingdom in due time. In the context of war against the Aiwood Kingdom, Rest was clearly a significant obstacle.
(Just bringing back information about Viscount Clover would be a sufficient achievement. I must survive and return to the Empire no matter what…)
“Ha!”
“Wha—!?”
As the man pondered, he suddenly found himself the target of a flying kick. He instinctively ducked, feeling the rush of air as someone soared over his head, landing behind him with a thundering crash that sent dirt flying. Had he not lowered his posture, his skull would have surely been shattered.
“What the hell!?”
“Oh, you dodged it!”
A carefree voice chimed in from behind. A woman clad in light armor, seemingly agile, stood there with a grin. The one who attempted to kick the Captain of Soldiers was none other than Yuri Cattleya, the daughter of the Knight Commander and a friend of Rest.
“You dodged my kick! You’re no ordinary person! Though you’re dressed like a mercenary, I can tell you’re a notable commander!”
Yuri pointed dramatically at the man.
“From now on, you will be my trophy! Surrender and accept your fate!”
“Uh, um…”
The man’s instincts screamed at him that he had encountered someone troublesome. The girl was unarmed, lacking any visible weapons, but that only made her more unsettling.
(I don’t have time to deal with this… I need to get away.)
“Uh, um… this must be a misunderstanding, right? I’m just a humble mercenary.”
He hunched his back, adopting a pitiful expression as he pleaded for his life.
“Back home, my wife and kids are waiting, hungry. Please, I beg you… let me go…”
“Hmm… Is that so? Just a mere soldier?”
“Y-yes, that’s right. I’m just a common mercenary who hasn’t even found a steady employer…”
“I see… I apologize for the misunderstanding. You may go.”
“W-well then, I’ll take my leave…”
(…Is this girl really that naive? She’s too easy to fool.)
Things were going too smoothly, and he began to feel uneasy. Given the unexpected reprieve, he attempted to slip past Yuri and make his escape.
(Whoever she is, if she’s this gullible, she’s the type to be toyed with by men and end up used for her body. It’s a shame about her brain, but her looks and body are quite…!?)
As he stole a glance at Yuri, he suddenly noticed the necklace hanging around her neck, his eyes widening in shock. The necklace spilled out from the gaping neckline of her ill-fitting armor, the silver chain adorned with an emblem of a certain house.
“The Cattleya Marquis Family…!”
The moment he recognized it, his body moved before his mind could catch up. He drew his sword, attempting to strike Yuri in a surprise attack…
“Oh?”
In the next instant, a voice filled with curiosity accompanied a sudden shift in his body. His sword came crashing down, but instead of striking Yuri, his upper body collapsed to the ground. Strangely, his legs remained standing before him.
“A… legs…?”
He murmured as his consciousness faded. In that final moment, he realized that his upper and lower halves had somehow separated, and only his legs stood upright, devoid of a torso. The man, split in two, met his end without ever revealing his identity as the Captain of Soldiers from the Empire.
“Oh, that was surprising. I accidentally kicked you too hard.”
Yuri looked down at the man’s upper body, now severed, and spoke with a hint of concern.
“I’ve been learning ‘Swordsmanship’ at the academy… and after a month of training, I’ve come to realize something.”
“Guh… Ha…”
“It’s stronger to kick than to slash with a sword.”
With a proud puff of her chest, Yuri leaned down to peer into the man’s face, only to blink in surprise and exclaim, “Oh, he’s dead.”
“I promised Rest I’d achieve some merit, but… he’s already mostly escaped. I hope there’s still a general wandering around somewhere…”
With a pout of frustration, Yuri set off with the lightness of a female leopard, dashing across the battlefield.