Chapter 108
The news of the retreat reached Golbel's royal capital two days after the conclusion of the fighting at Kitzar Fortress.
"What?!! This isn't what we agreed on! Hey! Call the strategist at once!!"
The messenger wore an extremely troubled expression as the Golbel king flew into a rage.
"Why are you just standing there?! I said to call the strategist!!"
"Your Majesty... the thing is, Sakri-sama is nowhere to be found."
"Gone? What do you mean, gone?"
"Y-yes, Your Majesty. Thinking you would summon him, I sent someone to fetch him, but they said his room was completely empty."
"What do you mean, completely empty? That makes it sound as if he prepared to flee and then disappeared!"
"...Yes, Your Majesty."
"Don't just say 'Yes, Your Majesty'! Arrange a pursuit immediately!! Bring him back even if you have to cut off all four limbs!!"
The Golbel king's furious voice echoed through the audience chamber.
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"Munar, I expect they've noticed by now?"
"One would hope so, unless the king is a complete fool."
Sakri and Munar had slowed their horses far from the royal capital. By the time the battle on the Zetta Plain began, they were already staying in a town near Heath Fortress, the stronghold closest to the front line.
After confirming on the fourth day that Zegabain's army had collapsed, they left the town and headed away from the capital.
"How can anyone lose so disgracefully in a battle they should have won with ordinary tactics?" Sakri spat.
"As expected, this had to do with the Tenth Knight Order again."
"That utterly loathsome man, Raiz=Stein! Still, I left a little \"parting gift\" behind. I hope they'll appreciate it."
Sakri continued on without hesitation, chuckling darkly.
"How will you explain this to that person?"
"I can only say that the time had come. I thought we could buy a little more time, but with so many fools gathered there... that country won't last long."
The border of the Reflair Holy Nation was visible just ahead.
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After returning from the battle on the Zetta Plain, I did nothing but lounge around. This time, I was utterly exhausted, both mentally and physically.
Right after I got back, I heard Ryuzel say, "Since we have the chance, I'd like to teach the Frein Unit about Nieshock-sama's tactics as a review." It really drove home the vast gulf between military and civilian officials.
This battle had inflicted a fair number of casualties on the Tenth Knight Order, though not as many as in the future I knew. Apparently, because the fortress in the south was smaller, the fighting there turned into field battles several times.
The Tenth Knight Order suffered about 2,000 casualties this time, including the wounded. The dead made up one-tenth of that number. The Fourth Knight Order, meanwhile, suffered nearly 5,000 casualties out of its 8,000 soldiers, including those stationed at Ellen Fortress, so our situation was considerably better by comparison.
Given the Fourth Knight Order's condition, we wanted to replace it with another knight order as soon as possible. However, among the orders in the west, the Sixth Knight Order was being rebuilt, while the Seventh Knight Order had taken over the Haksha front in its place, so there was no order available to move right away.
In the end, since Golbel had also withdrawn after suffering considerable losses, we judged that they would not attack again anytime soon. For the time being, the Second Knight Order would enter the fortress and hold the line alongside the Fourth Knight Order.
It was also decided to conduct an emergency recruitment drive to fill the vacancies in the Fourth, Sixth, and Tenth Knight Orders.
As far as I knew, there shouldn't be any major battles with Golbel for a while. I hoped the Fourth Knight Order could take its time recovering.
The Tenth Knight Order had just finished a major operation and had been told that, unless something extraordinary happened, it would not be deployed again this year. A somewhat relaxed atmosphere had settled over the place.
In recognition of my contributions this time, I was assigned quarters as part of the Roa Unit.
My room was in complete chaos, with Rufa, Prince Zeland, Zackhart-sama, and the Yuimei twins making a huge racket. If someone unfamiliar walked in, they'd probably turn around and run.
Zackhart-sama had heard about Rufa's exploits and, worried about her, had been unable to sit still, so he came galloping over. Apparently, he had taken proper leave to come around the end of the year.
Prince Zeland had already begun coming to visit every day as though it were the most natural thing in the world. He had properly finished his studies and obtained King Zeurasia's permission, so I left him to it.
As for the twins, they had come to the capital to make a report on behalf of the Fourth Knight Order. I couldn't understand why they had moved into this room instead of going home, though.
When I asked, "Isn't the Fourth Knight Order in trouble? Shouldn't you go back?"
"We were told to take it easy."
"There's absolutely no problem."
That's what they said. The twins had worked hard too, so I figured this was probably a reward from Boldras-sama. But then Wickhart told me, "Those two immediately start getting into mischief..." That made it seem more likely they'd been kept away so they wouldn't interfere with the rebuilding effort.
Rufa was the one having a hard time.
The tug-of-war over Rufa had begun two days earlier between Zackhart-sama, Prince Zeland, and the Yuimei twins.
By rank, Prince Zeland came first, followed by Zackhart-sama and then the Yuimei twins. But Zackhart-sama yelled even at the king, and the twins basically went their own way, so none of them showed the slightest regard for the others' status.
If Wickhart were here, he would probably calm them down and suggest a compromise, but today I had him managing the provisions inventory with Dick and Nelfia.
Sazaby, who had just poked his head in, took one look at the scene and fled. That rascal.
"I've told you, she's my daughter! I came all this way despite being busy! Give way!"
"We worked hard."
"We're the ones who need Rufa's healing more than anyone, so you should give way."
"Um... I was very worried about Rufa too..."
"You want to fight?!"
"Bring it on!"
"I'll turn you into rust for my morningstar!"
"Wait! Violence is...!"
The situation was finally reaching a boiling point, and I was vaguely watching, thinking I really ought to stop them, when Rufa snapped.
"That's enough! Why are you fighting?! All of you, sit in seiza over there!"
"But..."
"Seiza!!!"
"Yes."
As I watched the prince of this country, a senior knight commander, and the Fourth Knight Order's hidden ace all sitting in seiza before a young girl, I let out a single yawn: "Fwaa."