Chapter 20
“I was thinking of leaving one or two of my men behind and having them follow later, but I didn’t expect you to be able to handle a horse so well, Roa. I’m a little surprised.”
Captain Ryuzel, commander of the Tenth Knight Order’s cavalry, spoke to me admiringly, but I was in no state to answer. I was barely keeping up, replying with something that even I couldn’t tell was “yes,” a huff, or a wheeze.
Pushed to my limit, I thanked Frain.
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“Until you get used to riding, we’ll do this every day for now.”
Frain had made that declaration about riding, and he really did accompany me every day. He was one of only ten unit commanders in the Knight Order, so it wasn’t as if he had time to spare, but he still came every day.
Sometimes it was before dawn, sometimes the middle of the night, but he joined my riding practice with my old retainer, Bickhilt-san.
One night, I asked him why he was taking such care of me.
Frain stared at me as if he had never imagined being asked such a question. After thinking for a moment, he said bashfully, “Because you didn’t let them die.”
“You mean... you didn’t let them die?”
“Exactly what I said. Your strategy kept people from dying. I care about the men who look up to a young punk like me. I don’t want them to die. That’s why your strategy at Ellen’s Village was good.”
“It was just luck. I won’t necessarily be able to do the same in the future. For all I know, my strategies might not even be adopted again.”
“But you’re Rays-sama’s aide. Rays-sama has never once asked for an aide. The idea that a strategy of yours wouldn’t be adopted... Well... I suppose it could happen.”
“Isn’t this where you’re supposed to say, ‘Impossible’?”
“That depends on you, doesn’t it? If Rays-sama likes your strategy, he’ll adopt it. If he doesn’t...”
“Well, that’s true, but...”
“But if your strategy is adopted, the plans you propose will keep deaths to a minimum, won’t they?”
That much, I thought, I could promise. I had returned to the past to save everyone—to save this country. Whether that was a misunderstanding or a delusion didn’t matter. If I was going to devise a strategy, I wanted to devise one that would save as many people in this country as possible.
“...Yeah. That much I can promise.”
“Then good. You may be a candidate for military strategist, but frankly, you’re completely hopeless in combat. At least learn to ride properly, so you can escape when the time comes.”
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Thanks to Frain’s strict but much-appreciated training, I somehow managed to keep up with Captain Ryuzel’s unit for three whole days. Honestly, I threw up the moment I dismounted on the first day, but I still somehow reached the Haksha Plains.
Fortunately, fighting had not yet begun, and the two armies remained locked in a standoff.
I followed Captain Ryuzel into the Sixth Knight Order’s main camp.
“Ah, you must be Captain Ryuzel. Thank you for the reinforcements.”
The young general seated in the center of the camp was the one who had addressed us so casually. So this was General Wickhart.
“Wickhart-sama, it’s been a while. Rays-sama is currently seeking the king’s permission to deploy. That is why our unit came on ahead.”
“I know the valor of Ryuzel’s unit well. It’s reassuring.”
“You’re too kind.”
Once the greetings were over, General Wickhart’s gaze settled on me.
“And you? Forgive me, but you don’t look like a cavalryman...”
“My name is Roa. I’ve come as Rays-sama’s representative.”
“Representative? You? No offense, but...” As General Wickhart searched for the right words, Captain Ryuzel came to my rescue.
“It is true that Roa is Rays-sama’s representative. Have you heard about the incident at Ellen’s Village the other day?”
“Yes, I’ve heard. Apparently, the soldiers holed up in the abandoned mine were Golbel’s troops. I was impressed that Rays-sama noticed it.”
“It was Roa who pointed out that the men holed up in the abandoned mine were not mere bandits. Moreover, he was the one who advised Rays-sama to dispatch a large army.”
“What? But I’ve never heard of a commander named Roa. Are you a soldier of the Tenth Knight Order?”
“No. Until recently, I was a civil official.”
“A civil official proposing strategies to Rays-sama? I can’t make heads or tails of this...”
I suppose not. I felt the same way. But it would be a problem if he grew suspicious and refused to hear me out, so I pulled a dagger from inside my coat and showed it to General Wickhart.
“It’s only natural that you should doubt me, but King Zeulacia granted me an audience and bestowed this upon me for my achievement at Ellen’s Village. Please examine it.”
“What!? King Zeulacia himself? ...Let me see it. ...Indeed, the Three-Eyed Eagle crest. Then it really is genuine. Lord Roa, I apologize for my rudeness.”
“No, it’s fine. I’m relieved you believe me.”
“Then, Lord Roa, Captain Ryuzel, take your seats as well. We were just holding a strategy meeting. I’d like you to join us.”
After taking our seats, I looked around. There were five younger officers and five seasoned warriors, an even split. The younger group seemed to be from about the same generation as General Wickhart, so perhaps the veterans were long-serving unit commanders, while the younger ones had been appointed when he became a general.
We exchanged polite nods and got straight to the main issue.
“Now, forgive me for getting straight to business, but how many troops have you brought, Lord Ryuzel?”
“For now, 700 cavalry. The main force, about 5,000 strong, should be on its way here.”
“That’s reassuring. Including your unit, we have roughly 6,000 at present. Once Rays-sama arrives, 11,000?”
So the Sixth Knight Order had around 5,000 soldiers.
“How many troops does the enemy have? And who is their commander?” A veteran seated closest to General Wickhart answered Captain Ryuzel’s question.
“We’ve received reports of roughly 7,000. However, it seems only about 5,000 are across the river.”
“What about the other 2,000?”
“I’ll explain that shortly, but there are some circumstances involved. As for their commander, he bears the banners of Thousand-Hand Grass and the Bull.”
Just as I thought—Franklurt-Drew.
“That is Franklurt-Drew’s banner. You know the feud between Franklurt and us, I assume.”
Captain Ryuzel must have seen an opportunity, because he took up General Wickhart’s words and made his recommendation with a stern expression.
“We are fully aware of the feud between General Wickhart and Franklurt. With that in mind, I have a message from my lord.”
“If you’re about to tell me to exercise restraint, don’t bother.”
Before Captain Ryuzel could deliver his message, General Wickhart declared firmly.