A Victory We Cannot Celebrate and a Warm Palm

Rays-sama listened to our report with a stern expression.

Franklurt had already begun his retreat, and several units of the Tenth Knight Order had moved on to assess the situation on the far bank and pursue the fleeing enemy.

Captain Ryuzel and I had not joined the pursuit, as we had to explain the situation to Rays-sama at the command post that had been set up.

The Sixth Knight Order’s envoy had also been sent away with word that their side of the story would be heard later.

He’s angry, isn’t he...

The Sixth Knight Order’s camp had been gloomy even after everyone returned safely, but the pressure Rays-sama gave off was on an entirely different level. It was terrifying.

“So how many failed to return?”

Captain Ryuzel straightened his back and answered.

“Sir! Our unit has only a few wounded. As for the Sixth Knight Order, around fifty of those who took part in the surprise attack and ten of those who joined the rescue operation have not returned.”

The fact that one of them was Laimar-san weighed heavily on my heart.

“There were five hundred soldiers in the surprise attack, including Wickhart, correct?”

“Sir!”

“...I see. You two did well.”

“Yes, sir! However, I am deeply sorry. It was our duty to stop the surprise attack, and we moved troops without seeking Rays-sama’s instructions. I was the one who decided to sortie. I will accept any punishment...”

“Ah, I was the one who asked him! Captain Ryuzel did nothing wrong!”

Rays-sama raised one eyebrow slightly at our words.

“Didn’t you hear me? I said you did well. To be honest, I thought stopping the Sixth Knight Order would be difficult. At worst, they might have challenged the enemy to a decisive battle with their entire army before we even arrived, and lost. Considering that, it is fair to say you got through this with minimal casualties. I will say it again. You did well.”

“...Thank you.” Captain Ryuzel bowed deeply, and I hurriedly followed suit.

Seeing this, Granz-sama judged that the conversation had reached a pause and changed the subject.

“However, we will have to revise our assessment of General Franklurt. To be honest, I had thought of him as a cautious general, but perhaps defeating Naisol-sama gave him confidence. He was remarkably bold. And he withdrew quickly as well.”

“Yes. He is quite troublesome.”

Listening to their conversation, I decided to ask about something that had been bothering me.

“Um, Rays-sama. Does the name Sakuri sound familiar to you?”

“Sakuri? ...No, I don’t think so. Granz? Lapiria?”

After confirming that they had both shaken their heads, he asked, “Who is that?”

I told Rays-sama that I suspected this battle might be connected to the incident at Ellen’s Village the other day. It seemed Rays-sama had been wondering about it as well, for he nodded repeatedly.

“And who is this Sakuri?”

“Actually, that name appears in something like the personal journal of a Golbel noble. It said there was a strategist operating behind the scenes.”

“A Golbel noble’s journal? You even read things like that?” General Rays looked aghast.

“It was just a coincidence. It had made its way to an antique shop, and I read it because the battle records from a noble’s perspective were interesting. Though, since it had ended up in an antique shop, I don’t know whether it was genuine.”

“Do you still have the journal?”

“No. After reading it, I sold it again.”

It wasn’t a lie that I had sold it to an antique shop. I had simply bought it twenty years from now, while wandering around Golbel.

“A strategist who stays out of sight, huh? Sounds suspicious.” Lapiria-sama gave me a dubious look, then said, “If it’s a military strategist, there’s that Rodelight, isn’t there? Hero Rodelight. Couldn’t he have plotted this?”

Among Golbel’s generals, Rodelight was known by various names, including wise commander, champion, and hero.

He was a widely known general, thanks to his spectacular record and flamboyant appearance.

“Well, General Rodelight is... you know, he’s rather forceful about making his opinions known...”

Everyone present, including Lapiria-sama, who had mentioned his name, immediately agreed with me.

Rodelight was the sort of general who desperately wanted to be the one in the spotlight. He would even boast, “I sortied too!” after victories in battles where he hadn’t even shown his face.

For that reason, later generations even came to suspect that most of Rodelight’s military record was fabricated.

“True. If it were Rodelight, he’d probably come here and make a huge commotion. Sakuri, was it? I don’t know whether that person actually exists, but if there is a possibility that someone is pulling the strings from behind the scenes, we should investigate. An unknown strategist is a troublesome opponent.”

That brought the matter to a temporary close. While I was hearing about what would happen next, soldiers who had crossed the river returned with a report.

I had been somewhat prepared for it, but the report also included news that Laimar-san had been killed in action.

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“In any case, it’s a victory! Drink today! Sing!!”

General Rays raised his voice toward the Tenth and Sixth Knight Orders.

Whatever the circumstances, we had repelled the enemy.

A drinking feast after a victory was also an important ritual for the knight orders. As an offering to their fallen comrades, they laughed and made merry no matter how sad they were.

This time, the Sixth Knight Order drank as though they meant to drown themselves in it and made an especially boisterous spectacle.

I had a rough time of it too. As one of the people chiefly responsible for rescuing the Sixth Knight Order, I was constantly urged to drink, slapped around, and jostled about. Time passed without me even knowing where I was or whom I was talking to.

Once everyone had gotten drunk and begun singing terribly out of tune, I quietly left the circle of revelers and headed toward the river.

When I had gone far enough that I could only faintly hear the off-key singing, I sat down in a suitable spot and gazed blankly at the opposite bank.

“What is the hero of the hour doing out here?”

Startled by the sudden voice, I turned around to find Lapiria-sama standing there.

“Why are you here!?”

“That’s my question. I was worried you might fall into the river while drunk, so I followed you. What are you doing?”

“...I just wanted to be alone for a little while...”

Hearing me say that, Lapiria-sama silently sat down beside me. Was she even listening to me?

“You must be brooding over the fact that someone died because of your strategy, aren’t you?”

“‘That’? What do you mean, ‘that’? If I hadn’t said something reckless, Laimar-san would still be alive. It’s as good as if I killed him myself.”

“But more than four hundred soldiers were saved.”

“This isn’t about numbers...”

Without warning, I felt a light impact against both cheeks. Lapiria-sama had gently tapped them while cupping my face between her hands.

She brought her face close to mine. In the darkness, her shapely lips made my heart skip a beat.

“Listen to me, all right?”

Lapiria-sama’s voice was utterly serious.

“That general named Laimar asked you for help. You answered his plea and saved Wickhart-sama. In that battle, he took up the rear guard and died. If I had been in the same position, I wouldn’t have a single complaint. If anything, I would want to thank you.”

“B-but...”

“Just as Rays-sama said, you did well. Now, hold your head high and go back to everyone.”

Her final words carried an exceptionally gentle warmth.