Chapter 15
I teleported to where Leo was.
Teleportation aimed at an individual is imprecise, however, so I couldn't arrive at an exact point.
I landed a little off target and chased after a group racing across the ground, kicking up clouds of dust.
They were already on the move by then. As expected of Leo.
Leo was making for Kiel, charging at full speed with his knights.
I landed in Leo's path and waited for him to arrive.
Before long, Leo noticed me and reined in his horse.
"...Silver?"
"Indeed. It is an honor to meet you, Prince Leonart."
"There is no time for leisurely greetings. Since you've come at a time like this, may I assume you're here as reinforcements?"
"Yes, that's my intention. But you shouldn't go on as you are."
"What do you mean?"
Leo asked in an unusually angry tone.
Now that the tsunami had occurred, he must have wanted to reach Kiel even one second sooner. That was precisely why I had appeared here.
I couldn't let Leo charge into a horde of monsters with only a handful of knights.
"No matter that we're Imperial Guard Knights, these numbers are of little use against so many monsters attacking Kiel."
"We won't know unless we go! There might be even one life we can save!"
"You have noble intentions, but if good intentions alone could save people, it would be easy. The knights around you understand that much, don't they?"
Leo looked around at his knights.
Seeing their grave expressions, Leo seemed slightly shaken.
I pressed the point.
"Now that a tsunami has occurred, an army is needed to stop it."
"And where is this army? Are you telling me to sit back and watch because it cannot be stopped? My father and sister, as well as the people I must protect, are in Kiel! If I abandon them, I won't be able to forgive myself!"
"Sigh... I never told you to abandon them. I only said we should go after assembling enough forces."
"...?"
Leo had grown heated, but my roundabout explanation seemed to gradually calm him down.
That was when I finally got to the point.
"Prince Leonart, the only knights in the East are not the Imperial Guard Knights around you."
"...You want me to use the knights of the surrounding lords?"
"What sort of ridiculous suggestion is that?! Using a lord's knights would be a flagrant abuse of authority, even for a prince! Even if we overlook that, mobilizing knights who aren't aware of the situation could take days!"
The Captain of the Imperial Guard Knights spoke irritably.
It must have seemed like an unrealistic proposal. And of course it did. It would take days just to move them.
Gathering the knights was out of the question. But I could turn the impossible into reality.
"Leave the method to me. The question is whether you're willing to do it, Prince. You may be reprimanded once all this is over. Can you accept that possibility? How serious are you when you say you want to save your family and the people?"
"If it will save them, I don't care about my status as a member of the royal family. I have no objection to mobilizing knights in my name. Explain your method."
"Your Highness?!"
"This is an emergency. And if I'm acting to protect His Majesty, I can justify it any number of ways. It will be fine. Now, Silver, tell me how."
"I respect that resolve. Admirable. The method is simple. I'll open a teleportation gate on a hill near Kiel. Speak through it and direct the knights who don't know what's happening to it."
It was an outrageous plan.
Without showing a single thing to prove he was a prince, Leo would use nothing but his voice to tell confused knights to jump into suspicious magic.
Their direct liege was the lord of their domain. If even one lord ordered them not to go, it would be over.
Everything would depend on Leo's speech.
If only a few knights gathered, I would be wasting precious time and mana.
But it was worth it. The festival was still ongoing.
Carlos, who was in first place, would probably be disqualified, and I, in second, would be disqualified as well. Gordon and Leo were tied for third. If Leo rallied the knights here and defeated the monsters, he would probably win, while deploying a sizable force of knights could resolve this chaotic situation all at once.
My only concern was whether Kiel could hold out, but that was why I had sent Elna there. It should be fine. If even Elna couldn't handle the situation, then I certainly couldn't send Leo charging in with only a small force.
"What will you do? Are you lacking confidence?"
"That's right... I'm not confident. But I'll do it. My brother would probably tell me to give it a try."
"I can't imagine the Dull Prince saying something like that."
"You don't know him. My brother's decisiveness when it matters is extraordinary. Even now, he must be making his decision faster than anyone else."
I widened my eyes behind my mask at what Leo thought of me.
I never expected him to think that highly of me.
I didn't mind hearing that.
"I see... Then you should give it a try."
As I spoke, I brought my hands together. This wasn't personal teleportation magic. It was magic that created a passage large enough for many people to travel through.
Before long, a passage leading to a hill had formed. It was large enough for about ten people to pass through together.
The passage twisted and warped, and it wasn't exactly inviting. I went through first.
Leo followed without hesitation.
My vision distorted for an instant, but I soon found myself standing on a hill near Kiel.
"So this is teleportation magic..."
"The real thing starts now."
I said it as if reminding myself, then created identical passages at each of the seven major cities around Kiel.
All that remained was Leo's speech.
"I've used amplification magic. Begin."
"Knights of the East who can hear me, please lend me your ears. I am Leonart Lakes Adler, the Eighth Prince of the Empire."
Leo addressed them slowly.
He must have known that failure was not an option. Rather than rush through his words, he prioritized making sure he was heard.
He was calm. This might work.
"A tsunami has struck the East, and Kiel lies in its path, placing it in grave danger. I am now seeking knights who will go there with me. If you can hear my voice, please come to me through the teleportation passages that have appeared nearby. You need not ask your lords' permission. Join the battle on your own judgment. I will take full responsibility."
Just as it seemed the speech was over, Leo drew in a slow breath and unsheathed the sword at his waist.
Then he declared in a voice louder and more spirited than ever before.
"I will protect the people of Kiel!! Knights with hearts! Knights with courage! Those who believe they have what it takes, gather at my side!! I await your decision!"
Leo's closing words made him look just like Father when he went off to war.
The nearby Imperial Guard Knights must have felt the same. They stared at Leo in surprise.
But Leo alone was staring grimly at the passages.
No one came right away.
Just as I was beginning to think it had failed, a young man appeared from one of the passages.
The young man was startled by his first experience with teleportation, but when he saw Leo, he hurriedly dismounted and bowed his head.
"Knight of Hessen! My name is Hans! I've come to join the battle under Prince Leonart!"
"I'm glad you came, Hans. Thank you."
"No! I should be the one thanking you! Ever since I heard that Prince Leonart had visited villages throughout the region, I have wanted to fight under your command!! I am not the only knight who feels that way! More knights will be coming one after another! Please wait a little longer!"
A person who naturally draws people in and gathers them around is called a charismatic leader.
By that definition, Leo was charisma incarnate.
More and more knights gathered through the passages.
And in the end...
"I am Volker, Lord of Ulm! I have brought five hundred knights to join Your Highness in battle!"
The man who appeared on horseback was unmistakably elderly.
He must have been over sixty. He was broad-shouldered and well-built, but his white hair made me wonder whether he was really up to this.
"Volker, I'm grateful that you've joined us, but are you sure you can handle this?"
"I have a heart and courage! Do you have a problem with that?!"
"...No. If you're up to it, that's all that matters. Thank you for joining us. I want you to charge alongside me. I'm counting on you."
Seeing the strength in Volker's eyes, Leo said that with a smile.
Volker must have been prepared to be turned away. His eyes widened in surprise, and then he answered in a loud voice.
"Y-Yes! I will show you my martial prowess!"
"I look forward to it."
By the end, more than three thousand knights from the East had gathered. They were a disorganized rabble, to be sure, but because they had chosen to join the battle of their own accord rather than on someone's orders, their morale was astonishingly high.
Seeing them, I was relieved.
This should do.
"Silver. Thank you for your assistance."
"I only acted for the people as an adventurer. And it's too soon to thank me. Save your thanks until after we've saved Kiel. I'll go on ahead."
With that, I teleported toward Kiel.
Then, high above Kiel, I witnessed an unbelievable sight.