Chapter 2
I'm home.
When Scholz opened the door to his home, two small monsters leaped into his arms.
Welcome home!
Welcome home!
Ah, I'm home. Rebecca, Junos, have you been good?
As Scholz picked up the two children, his wife, Oren, greeted him as well. "Welcome home."
I'm home, Oren. Did anything happen?
Nothing. It's peaceful today, too.
I see. That's good to hear. Now, Rebecca, Junos, down you go. Let's have dinner.
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...Do you think Rudek might attack us after all?
After the children had gone to sleep, Oren voiced her concern while she and Scholz were talking alone.
The defeat at Rudek was already common knowledge among the citizens. People were quietly whispering that Rudek might attack us instead. It was only natural: we were the ones who betrayed them, only to be soundly beaten in return.
Then came the announcement of the three-nation alliance. Even Scholz had been shocked by that.
Golbel was not entirely surprising, at least. Rudek had recently achieved a major victory, after all.
Given the circumstances, he had expected some sort of deal—perhaps a truce in exchange for returning some territory. But he had never imagined that the Empire and Rudek would form an alliance.
With the three-nation alliance, Lifrea had suddenly found itself in dire straits. Rudek had the moral high ground, and the momentum as well.
Lifrea's leaders were not fools, so they must have been seeking cooperation with Tsanadefol or Lubral as a countermeasure. How much either could be trusted remained unclear, though.
The situation was grim. Even so, Scholz answered Oren in as bright a voice as possible.
Well, Rudek is certainly looking at us with hostility. But don't worry. They won't come all the way to the Holy Capital. At most, there'll be fighting near the border.
But won't you be sent to the front as well?
Yes... That will be up to the higher-ups, but there's a good chance I'll be sent to the front.
How did it come to this...?
Her words were probably not merely those of a worried wife. The issue was not only the recent defeat. Rudek had publicized both the three-nation alliance and its declaration of war far and wide. No matter how tightly the higher-ups controlled information, there were limits.
To the ordinary people of Lifrea, it was probably impossible to understand how things had come to this.
Scholz did not have the full picture either. Very little information reached the Knights. What was clear amid all that was that the higher-ups—or, more precisely, the Orthodox Council—had regarded Rudek as an enemy and sought to destroy it.
The central figures behind the plan were Nero Bradia, who led the Orthodox Council, and his younger brother, Sakri Bradia. However, Nero shunned Sakri. Anyone living in Lifrea would see Sakri's appearance and immediately think, "Ah, I see."
Sakri had threatened Rudek by maneuvering other countries into action—Lifrea's specialty—and then sent in the Holy Knights as the final stroke.
———But they lost———
Until then, Lifrea had been at peace. Most people had probably never even imagined that the land where they lived might be exposed to the flames of war.
Dear...
Ah, sorry. I was just lost in thought.
Oren looked at Scholz with concern. Scholz spoke in a bright voice.
No need to worry. We Holy Knights are strong. We'll drive Rudek back at the border.
Even as he said that, the faint unease in his chest remained.
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Later, Sakri summoned the leading members of the Holy Knights.
Scholz and the others took their seats with grave expressions, certain that war was finally at hand. Sakri's announcement was somewhat unexpected.
Rudek will not attack immediately. We will use this time to establish a defensive line.
Not attack? Are you certain? On what grounds?
His colleague Eldward's question was on everyone's mind.
I'll explain.
Sakri then calmly explained why Rudek would not attack.
...So the main reason is a shortage of troops... I suppose that was predictable enough, but...
Eldward folded his arms, groaned, and fell into thought. Sakri's reasoning was logical, and Scholz found much of it convincing. So that was why he continued to be entrusted with important duties despite being so disliked.
So, we intend to block Rudek at the entrance.
You mean Femas, perhaps?
Sakri raised one eyebrow at Scholz's words. "Oh?"
Lord Scholz is correct. We will turn the entire land of Femas into a fortress. And buy time.
What will happen if we buy time?
Eldward asked again.
As I said, Rudek has no troops to spare. Even if they rebuild their forces, there is only so much they can do. Rudek will want to bring the war to an end as quickly as possible. Otherwise, another country might seize the opportunity to bite into its vulnerable flank.
Sakri let out a dark chuckle.
With the tripartite alliance in place, Lubral would be the likely country to strike at Rudek's flank. Did that mean Sakri had already made a secret pact with Lubral?
Regardless, time is on our side. We must hurry to fortify Femas in the meantime.
As he said this, he spread out the plans.
The plan was absurdly ambitious; if completed without incident, it would be enough to make one feel sorry for the Rudek soldiers who would have to attack.