Chapter 118
"Phlegethon has been activated."
"...I'll go right away."
Roger Fitz, who had been waiting in Jutenbach under Gerhart's orders, hurried towards Phlegethon upon hearing the news of its activation.
"...It's bleak."
"The surroundings will be similar."
"..."
"Are you Viktor, sir?"
"Yes."
Having been tipped off in advance, Roger, who was able to recognize Viktor's party wearing black uniforms, approached them as they looked around.
"I'm Roger Fitz, an infantry officer from the 7th Corps."
"I'm Viktor Steilberg."
Roger, who shook Viktor's outstretched hand, flinched at Viktor's use of his surname, contrary to what he had heard, and,
"Grand Marshal is leading troops in Rento. Ah, Rento is..."
In his confusion, he mentioned the local place name as if explaining to officers who had been serving in the south, but.
"To be pushed back as far as the center of the Este Kingdom, the enemy's momentum must be strong."
"...That's right. Are you also well-acquainted with the south?"
Before he could correct his mistake, Viktor asked as if he had known all along, leaving Roger unable to hide his bewilderment despite having heard about Viktor's competence from Gerhart many times.
"I know to some extent. I'd like you to briefly explain the current situation."
"Ah... Understood. As this isn't a matter to discuss outside, I'll guide you to the tent."
"Yes."
Roger, who had impulsively thrown out the question, came to his senses at Viktor's inquiry and led Viktor's party to the tent.
Shortly after, Roger brought them to his tent, seated them, and took out and spread documents he had stacked next to his desk.
"Currently, the Grand Marshal is commanding the 7th Corps and moving in alliance with the forces of the Este Kingdom and the Ecrini Kingdom. We engaged the enemy in Malacho, but..."
"You said you're in Rento now, so you were pushed back?"
"That's right. The Ecrini Kingdom's forces retreated first, saying it was impossible to defend Malacho, which is close to open ground, and eventually the Este Kingdom's forces also moved to Rento."
"..."
"What do you plan to do, Sir Viktor?"
Viktor, having heard the explanation, closed his eyes as if in thought.
After staying still for a few minutes, he suddenly frowned and,
-Thud.
"I have come here as the proxy of Her Majesty Louise Zainburg, to show her will."
"...!"
He drew the sword of the office he had been wearing at his side and placed it on the desk.
Roger's eyes widened as he recognized the shape similar to the sword Gerhart occasionally showed.
"As I have a duty to resolve the issue as soon as possible, I wish to move to Rento today."
"Ah, understood. We've secured cooperation from the Este Kingdom, so we should be able to move directly to Rento. Then, I'll prepare a carriage..."
"I'll go on my own. There's no need for separate preparations."
"...Pardon?"
Moreover, as Viktor said he would move separately without even receiving guidance, Roger stood up in surprise, but,
"Just a moment..."
"Well then."
With the quick movements of Viktor and his party, Roger's hastily extended hand sliced through the air.
---
Roger persistently followed, saying he would guide them personally.
However, having grasped the suspicious movements of the swarming red dots on the mini-map, if they joined at a normal pace, there was a high possibility that there wouldn't be enough time to sort out the command authority and respond to the enemy's attack.
As it would be difficult for him to move faster than me, who could confirm the positions of the elves and the terrain through the mini-map, I wrote a note stating that I wouldn't hold him responsible even if a threat to my safety arose, and used it to shake him off.
"Is it serious?"
"Five days at the latest, three days at the earliest. Time is short."
Anna, who had been with me for a long time, quickly noticed and moved, but,
"Corps Commander, no, Count, no... uh, uwaah... Sir Viktor!"
"...What's the matter?"
"What do you mean you don't need guidance!"
Erika approached me, showing a lot of confusion.
"..."
"Miss Erika. Please calm down."
"Miss Anna?"
"Regrettably, there's no time for detailed explanations. For now, just follow the General's instructions."
"...?"
As I hesitated for a moment, finding it difficult to explain, Anna stepped forward first and gave Erika an explanation that wasn't really an explanation.
"Has one of you been to the Este Kingdom before?"
"No."
"I, I don't know the geography of the Este Kingdom at all!"
"It's alright. The General will know."
"Really?"
"I don't know either."
"What?"
At Anna's answer, which had no logic at all, Erika's mouth didn't stop, but.
"Then, are you not coming?"
"Ugh... I'm coming!"
As I had no intention of stopping and kept walking with my mouth shut, instead of asking more, she finally followed behind us.
While preparing for the move by filling water bottles and backpacks,
"..."
Roger, with an expression full of anxiety, approached and silently watched us prepare.
Judging by his gaze towards the sword of office at my waist, he seemed to have given up on stopping us, but he couldn't shake off his uneasiness until the end.
"Don't worry too much. Ah, it would be good if you could lend us one flag."
"...Yes."
To make it a bit more certain, I asked him for a 7th Corps flag and packed it,
"Let's depart."
After everyone finished preparations, we set out towards Rento where Gerhart would be waiting for me.
***
Rento could be called the center of the Este Kingdom, but.
"Hmm... Do you see the palisade ahead?"
"Yes, I see it. Have we arrived?"
"It seems so."
"..."
As it wasn't far from the empire's border, we were able to arrive before sunrise even while avoiding the elves roaming around.
"...How did you really do it?"
"It would be easier for you to get used to it. Originally, the General is this kind of person."
"Is it some kind of magic? Really..."
"Something similar."
"..."
While I was fumbling to prepare the 7th Corps flag, Erika was conversing with Anna behind me.
Glancing at her face, she seemed to have a blank expression, not understanding at all.
"Let's prepare for contact."
"Understood."
"Miss Erika."
"Hup... Yes."
"You need to follow closely behind me."
"Yes."
I raised the 7th Corps flag high and,
"Soldiers of the 7th Corps!"
Coming out of the forest, I shouted loudly towards the guards.
"What...!"
"Lower your weapons! I am Viktor Steilberg, who has come here with the will of Her Majesty Louise Zainburg!"
"...Please wait a moment."
"Viktor...? Hey, go quickly and inform!"
As I showed the sword of office along with the flag, some soldiers hurriedly ran inside the palisade.
Maintaining distance from the soldiers who were maintaining a vigilant posture, I waited for someone to come out from inside.
-Creak.
Shortly after, as the palisade opened, Gerhart and imperial army officers appeared.
"!"
As soon as Gerhart confirmed my face, he strode towards me.
"You've come, finally you've come!"
"Hello, Grand Marshal."
Although his voice and gestures were full of strength, his face, seen up close, showed clear traces of fatigue and stress.
I dismounted and shook hands with him.
"Hmm. Viktor Steilberg... Count?"
"That's right."
"Hahaha!"
As befitting the one who wrote the recommendation letter, Gerhart, who had slightly tested me, laughed heartily instead of being surprised at my affirmation.
"Good. You came so quickly, even though it hasn't been long since I requested. I'm truly grateful."
"Isn't it because Her Majesty recognized the seriousness of the situation and spared no support?"
"Yes, I'm not ungrateful for Her Majesty's grace, but..."
He approached me a little closer and,
"At least for now, I'm more glad to see you than Her Majesty."
"Haha..."
He whispered a small word full of goodwill.
"Your adjutant and... Hmm. Erika of the Bauman family, was it?"
"That's correct, Your Excellency."
"To come all the way to a place like this, you've worked hard. Come, let's go inside."
"Understood."
I walked inside the palisade with him.
"...I've heard about the war situation."
"Have you?"
As I casually spoke to Gerhart while walking together, he looked at me with a faint smile.
"Then, do you also know what role I'm hoping for from you?"
As he seemed to have grasped the situation well, I nodded to him asking what I was going to do next.
"Her Majesty always strives for the national interest of the empire, so I merely follow her will."
"Hmm... And?"
However, as he seemed to want a more direct answer,
"Her Majesty ordered me, 'Show the overwhelming power of the empire to the insolent Labria Republic.'"
"Hmm."
"Moreover, she said she's entrusting me with full authority, but didn't mention the Este Kingdom and Ecrini Kingdom separately. Isn't this also Her Majesty's will?"
"Oh..."
As I expressed my ambition to make good use of the nearly hopeless allied forces on my own,
"That's exactly what I wanted."
Gerhart smiled brightly as if satisfied and was about to pat my back, but,
"...I'm counting on you."
He lowered his hand and offered a handshake again.
"Leave it to me."
As I shook his hand, he nodded his head with a smile.