Episode 17: A Secret Plan to Hunt a Stella
I have an idea about the secret of my Magical Power, but I’ve only ever discussed it with my father.
It’s not that I don’t trust Getrude, but I’ll have to change the subject here.
“I see, but I’m troubled to be compared to such a great figure. I want to live in a peaceful world without war as much as possible.”
“You jest, Minashiro-sama. You are the type who shines in times of turmoil. This Getrude believes that if Minashiro-sama were so inclined, you could even take the world!”
What on earth is Getrude talking about?
I just want to live a happy life with a lovely bride by my side, since I was born into a good family.
I have no desire to become a great general, and I couldn’t become one just because I have a lot of Magical Power. I should probably tell Getrude firmly.
“Getrude, I have no interest in the world.”
“Oh?”
Getrude looked at me with interest.
“I just want to live peacefully and happily in the land of Ortenos. If there is anyone who tries to interfere with that, I will crush them thoroughly and make sure they can never defy Ortenos again, but that’s all.”
I said, pointing the pipe at the Barbat army in the midst of chaos.
“I see. So that means you intend to destroy all the countries on the Atra Continent and pacify the entire continent.”
“Huh?”
“Perhaps only Minashiro-sama and my lord have such an accurate understanding of the current situation in Ortenos. As expected, truly exceptional. This Getrude will devote himself to Minashiro-sama’s quest for supremacy until the end of his life!”
Getrude seems to think I’m trying to become the ruler of the continent.
What could this old soldier have misunderstood to come to such a conclusion?
“No, that’s why…”
Just as I was about to protest, a powerful Magical Power Wave struck us.
“…Intimidation, huh?”
“Yes, it’s Intimidation. But before Minashiro-sama’s Maten, it’s like a gentle breeze.”
Barbat probably unleashed Intimidation on us, but as Getrude says, it has little effect on our troops.
(Tch, I’ll have to ignore the other one for now.)
I glanced briefly to the south.
The other Stella-Class I discovered when I first used Detection Magic.
I’ve checked several times from horseback since then, and it’s been following us at a distance of exactly ten kilometers.
If it were an enemy, I’d want to deal with it, but there’s a chance it’s an ally, so I can’t attack, and it’s impossible to neutralize it since it’s a Stella-Class.
I was wondering how to deal with it when Barbat took the initiative, so I had to postpone it.
“Getrude, how does a battle between Stella-Class individuals usually begin?”
“Sometimes it starts suddenly like a surprise attack, and sometimes it starts after giving a preamble. In the case of large armies, it’s a clash of Dust, but when both sides have only a few soldiers left, it’s usually a One-on-One Duel between Stella-Class individuals, and we Satella-Class support them.”
“…I see. Then let’s see what Barbat does first.”
Getrude hesitated for a moment, then gave an evil smile.
“…It pains me greatly to say this to Minashiro-sama, and it may seem presumptuous, but please listen.”
“…What are you going to say?”
“This Getrude has a secret plan to take down Barbat.”
“Oh?”
“My lord may not allow it, but I judged that I could only discuss it with the wise Minashiro-sama.”
Getrude, in a voice as low as the embodiment of darkness, gave me a plan.
It’s a clear weakness of Stella, from which I am probably not an exception.
“…I see, so that’s how you can lure Barbat into complacency.”
“Yes, but this applies not only to Barbat but to the nobility in general, so Minashiro-sama, please be careful.”
“Haha… well, that hits close to home.”
I couldn’t help but let out a dry laugh at the wicked plan that cleverly exploited the obsessions of the nobility.
I had heard that people of Getrude’s generation were hardened with hatred for Naia, but it seems it was more than I expected.
The old man smiling like a kindly grandfather in front of me looked like a devil.
“Stop there!”
A voice amplified by Magical Power echoed from the Kingdom of Naia army.
A man’s voice in his twenties, probably the enemy leader Barbat.
I have no obligation to listen to what Barbat says, but since I was planning to stop anyway, I gave a hand signal to the entire army to stop.
We were marching in a line, and then spread out in a horizontal line centered on me.
We glared at the Kingdom of Naia army for a while until the formation was complete.
The Kingdom of Naia army was a mixed unit of cavalry and infantry, only a thousand strong.
(After all, it was a big deal to crush the nine thousand meat shields with the Intimidation Orb. We have the advantage in the number of cavalry and morale.)
From the center of the Kingdom of Naia army, a stocky man on a white horse, with black armor and the golden hair that is the symbol of the Naia royal family, came forward.
“I am Barbat von Naia! The second prince of the great Kingdom of Naia! You Ortenos rabble, who dare to set foot on our Naia territory! State your name!”
I see, so that’s Barbat.