Chapter 57
──On a road through Imperial territory, heading north──
"The opportunity has finally arrived. Serving that old man all these years has paid off."
The commander of the northern deployment force said this.
His name was Isaac Myura.
He was twenty-four years old and came from the House of Myura, a marquis family.
He was also one of the close aides who had served Minister of Military Affairs Zagran since his teens.
This was the road leading north.
The soldiers marched in formation, led by Unit Commander Isaac.
At the center of the formation was the carriage carrying Princess Sofia Dolgaria.
"This is my chance to rise in the world... I absolutely will not let it slip away."
Isaac tightly gripped the sword hanging at his waist.
Isaac's family was a distinguished one that had produced Ministers of Military Affairs through his grandfather's generation.
That was why his father had always told him,
'Either bring down Zagran and become Minister of Military Affairs, or raise our family's rank.'
And now, an opportunity to earn achievements had arrived.
The High Officials' Council had ordered Isaac to travel with the princess to a border town near the Demon Lord's Territory.
The specific orders were as follows.
・Station in the border town with Princess Sofia and conduct military training regularly.
・Make the Empire's strength known to the Demon Lord's Territory.
──For Isaac, this was a perfect opportunity to earn achievements.
"...If I distinguish myself in this operation, becoming a duke is not beyond my reach. With the Regas family having fallen and the ducal seat left vacant, there is no way I can let this opportunity pass me by."
The order was to conduct regular military training for three years.
But that would not be enough.
To aim for a higher position, he needed more achievements.
Throughout the journey, he had been thinking about ways to earn even greater achievements when──
"Come to think of it, Thor Regas is in the Demon Lord's Territory... I hear he calls himself Thor Kanan there, though..."
He had heard that information from Minister Zagran.
And Isaac had known Thor Regas when he was in the Empire.
Several years earlier, when the nobles' children's Skills were being appraised, Isaac had attended as a military officer. Thor Regas had been there as well.
Isaac remembered him clearly because he had been the only boy without a combat Skill.
At the request of Barga Regas, who had been a duke, Isaac had even fought a mock battle against him.
That Thor Regas was now in the Demon Lord's Territory.
Though he had been sent there as a hostage from the Empire, he apparently had the trust of the Demon Lord and the demonfolk.
Zagran had said, "Be careful of Thor Regas──no, Thor Kanan," but──
"That must mean he doesn't want me to use Thor to earn achievements, I suppose."
Isaac had also heard about the 'Gargalossa Magical Beast Subjugation Battle.'
He had also heard that after the battle, Princess Liana had said she wanted the "wandering alchemist"──"Thor Regas."
And that the Demon Lord had flatly refused.
He had also heard that Thor Regas had declared before the people of the Demon Lord's Territory that he would abandon his family name.
Thor Regas's heart belonged to the Demon Lord's Territory.
It would be difficult to lure him away or turn him into a spy.
"But we have Princess Sofia with us."
Zagran had made the wrong use of Princess Liana.
If he wanted to use Thor Regas, he should have had him speak directly with the princess. He should have separated him from the demonfolk and persuaded him. If he had done that, he might have been able to change Thor's mind.
If Thor Regas had seen the holy sword's invincible power, he would have been frightened, prostrated himself, and remembered his loyalty to the Empire.
But Zagran had been unable to do that.
Princess Liana held a high place in the line of succession to the throne and was an important person to the Empire.
Zagran probably could not leave her alone with Thor Regas.
(What a coward. He's grown old, Zagran.)
Unit Commander Isaac thought to himself.
(I am different. I, Isaac Myura, know exactly how to use a princess. I am not like Zagran, who thinks only of protecting himself.)
──Thinking this, Isaac turned around to look behind him.
A flag had been raised from the princess's carriage.
It was the signal for a break.
A female soldier──Mariela, Zagran's adjutant──stepped down from the carriage.
She approached Isaac at a brisk trot and told him,
"Unit Commander Myura. Considering Her Highness's condition, we will take our scheduled break. Is that all right?"
"Of course. Her Highness is an important person, after all."
"Yes. Though her constitution is frail, she has endured this long journey."
"We will arrive at the border town by evening. I have something to discuss with you there."
Isaac thought for a moment, then made his suggestion.
"I want to send several soldiers ahead to the town. They can inform the townspeople that Her Highness will arrive soon and make preparations. They can arrange a room at the inn, heat the bathwater, and ensure that Her Highness can rest immediately."
"I think that is an excellent idea. It should also accord with Zagran-sama's wishes."
At Adjutant Mariela's words, Isaac's expression stiffened.
Not noticing, Mariela continued.
"Zagran-sama wishes to conduct regular military training while taking Princess Sofia's health into consideration. He also wants to make the Empire's power known to the Demon Lord's Territory."
"...I see."
"I am pleased that Unit Commander Myura understands Zagran-sama's intentions."
Adjutant Mariela bowed once and returned to the carriage.
She had been assigned by Zagran to keep watch over Isaac.
However, while they were traveling, she could not leave Princess Sofia's side. Isaac should make his move now.
Isaac immediately called over his direct subordinates.
From among them, he selected lightly equipped cavalrymen who were quick on their feet.
"I have an order to give."
The plan had already been decided.
In the Imperial capital, Isaac had been unable to act freely under Minister Zagran's watch.
But he had had time to prepare without being noticed.
"Go ahead to the border town and prepare to welcome Princess Sofia. Her Highness is exhausted, so arrange an inn and anything else necessary to ensure that she can rest immediately. I am giving you the necessary funds. You understand what they're for, don't you?"
Isaac handed a pouch of gold coins to his direct subordinate.
There was also a sheet of parchment inside the pouch.
It should have said the following:
'Distribute money in the border town and make allies.
Find anyone with connections to the Demon Lord's Territory.
Gather information about magical beasts.
There is a rumor that a dormant magical beast is near the border.
Confirm it and find its location.
Now that Her Highness can use magic, this is the perfect opportunity to subjugate it.'
"──Understood!!"
The subordinates mounted their horses and rode off northward.
They were men Isaac had trained for many years.
He was sure they would win over the residents of the border town and make them his allies.
"Minister of Military Affairs Zagran-dono. The reason you hold your current position is that you have Princess Liana in your grasp. You have advanced your own career by supporting the princess who wields the holy sword."
Unit Commander Isaac muttered quietly.
"Then you won't object if I do the same, will you?"
Before long, the break ended and the formation began moving again.
As Isaac rode at the head of the formation, the town's walls came into view.
They were tall walls surrounding the border town.
"Wait for me, all of you in House Myura. I shall return with great achievements."
His assignment at the border was for three years, but he had no intention of waiting that long.
He would achieve results within a year at the longest—or in a few months if possible—and return to the Imperial capital.
Then──if possible, he would become the next Minister of Military Affairs after Zagran.
If that proved difficult, he would elevate his family to a ducal house.
At the very least, he would become a general entrusted with command of an army.
"I will use my combat Skill and magic power for that purpose. 'When it's an important battle, don't spare anything in your Storage Box. Change the world without holding back'──those are the words the Hero left behind. Isaac Myura, commander of the northern deployment force, will follow them."
Fortunately, there was a princess who excelled at Light-Attribute magic, just like the Hero.
He would make full use of her.
In return, Isaac would serve and assist her.
He would ensure that she earned enough achievements for the sake of the Empire.
Princess Sofia was also a princess of the Empire, which revered the Hero.
She would understand Isaac's way of thinking.
The boy Thor Regas in the Demon Lord's Territory was no different.
For him, returning triumphantly to the Imperial capital under Isaac's command would surely be the greatest honor.
For that reason, he too would leave the Demon Lord's Territory.
"I am grateful that you entrusted me with this assignment, Minister of Military Affairs Zagran-dono. Therefore──"
(──With respect and reverence in my heart, I shall have the honor of dragging you down from the position of Minister of Military Affairs.)
Isaac muttered silently once more.
The Demon Lord's Territory should not yet have noticed their movements.
There were openings aplenty. And opportunities for advancement as well──
──Thinking this, Unit Commander Isaac continued riding forward.
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"...What is that?"
Looking out through the carriage window, Princess Sofia suddenly murmured.
"Your Highness, it would be better to close the window."
"Mariela, was there someone outside just now?"
Hearing Sofia's voice, Military Officer Mariela leaned toward the window.
Then she shook her head and said,
"There is no one there. Neither beasts nor magical beasts would approach our elite unit. Please rest assured."
"No, that isn't what I meant..."
Sofia turned her gaze toward the window again.
"I thought I saw someone flying between the trees."
"You must be tired. Please get some rest."
As she said this, Mariela slammed the window shut.
"We will arrive at the border town by evening. Once the journey is over, you will be able to relax. Please put your mind at ease and think about the mission ahead as well."
"...I understand."
Sofia leaned back against her seat and closed her eyes.
She was tired. She had a fever. She knew it herself.
She was far from the Imperial capital and would not be able to see her younger sister Liana for some time.
Perhaps that anxiety and exhaustion had made her see something strange.
(...There is no way there could be a Pixie in a place like this.)
And so Sofia fell into a short sleep.
She felt as though she had dreamed of playing with a Pixie.
Just as in the legends, she threw off all her clothes──and was free.
Several hours later, the force led by Unit Commander Isaac entered the border town.
The force then began an inspection of the training grounds while waiting for Princess Sofia to recover.