*

　In January of the year 431 in the imperial calendar, a legion of 1,000 cavalry, 7,400 infantry, 2,900 archers and 200 Transportation Corps, assembled in the Nouzi Empire, together with Alfort, the bastard son of Ramal V, launched an invasion of the Holy Argo Kingdom.
　The invasion plan, drafted by the Military Service Bureau and the Knights of the Kingsguard, passed through the eastern edge of the Dark Forest and reached the East-West Road connecting the Holy Argo Kingdom and the Free City States, then the 2nd Kingsguard and one battalion blocked the road to prevent a pincer attack, and the 1st and 12th Knights of the Kingsguard and seventh battalions as the main force attacked the city of Markab. The number of troops in the detachment was 150 cavalry, 1,300 infantry, 600 archers, and the main body was 850 cavalry, 6,100 infantry, 2300 archers, and Transportation Corps.
　The number of soldiers in the detachment was 150 cavalry, 1,300 infantry and 600 bowmen.
　However, the actual number was a little higher as some of the nobles had servants and prepared their own provisions and fodder.
　Following the Plan of Attack, the Imperial Army left the outpost at daybreak and reached the eastern edge of the Dark Forest a little after noon that day.



　The Coma Forest is a vast virgin forest with several high mountains, but it is not completely free of human influence.
　Even the Marquis of Erakis, the thickest layer of forest, has traces of wagons that have passed through it, allowing the Holy Argo Kingdom to invade.
　The eastern edge of the Coma Forest is the part with the thinnest layer of forest, and because of this, it has a history of being used as an invasion route by the Holy Argo Kingdom many times.
　The place that the imperial army chose as an invasion route had little grass and was wide enough for wagons to pass through........

"Master Crono, the wheel's caught in the sand.

　The wheels of the cart caught on the roots of the tree and Horus let out a pitiful scream.
　Horus tried to climb over the roots of the tree under his own power, but the cart was too shaky to climb over the tree roots.
　The planners of the operation hadn't even considered whether the invasion route was suitable for carrying the Transportation Department, Crono pondered.
　If they had thought that far, there was no way the cart's wheels would have caught on the roots of a tree repeatedly or fit into a depression in the ground.

'The guards, please!
"Hey." (bumo-bumo)
Let's go! (BUMO!)

　A minotaur in crude leather armor pushed the cart from behind at the call of Horus, and the cart made it safely over the roots of the trees.

'Guards, stay behind the cart until we're through the forest!　Deneb, Aridid, and Leo's troops are on alert for a perimeter!
"Yes!
"Ha!

　Despite their casual tone, Deneb and Alideed gave their subordinates precise instructions, keeping them at a distance from the cart and alerting them to their surroundings.
　The military-like tone of Leo's voice, as if he had decided on a sign, moved his subordinates with just a glance and a gesture.

''General, it's taking longer than I thought. If I hadn't been able to get help from the other battalions, I would have been stuck in the middle of nowhere.

　When Crono finished giving orders, the second-in-command muttered as he re-carried the poleaxe.
　Initially, Crono had assigned ten archers and five infantry as guards against ten carts, but he felt uneasy and borrowed about two hundred large subhumans from other battalions.

I'm sure you're not the only one who is concerned about this. Bumpy?
I paid a gold coin a head for it.

　There was no need to hide it, so Crono easily revealed the subject.

''........General, why did you bring so much money?'' (BMO?)
Just in case.

　Once we have water, I'll give you a priority supply of wine and barley wine (beer), Crono decided secretly as he looked at the sub-human he pulled out.

'You don't ride your horse, general? (More?)
'I'm not very good at riding horses,'

　It's not that we don't have horses, or that we can't ride them, Crono added excusingly.
　Cavalry is the flower of the battlefield, and with a few exceptions, the captain is dressed in sheet metal armor (platemail) and rides a horse.
　Those few exceptions were Count Ernat and his second in command, Crono and his second in command, Mino-san.

''When you graduate from military school, you usually get a knighthood,''
You didn't get the general? (Bum?)
'Which do you think was the reason for your instructor's dislike of you, your lowest overall grade in classroom and practical skills, or the fact that you beat Tilia in the exercises?'
"With that many, you won't get a knighthood.
I think so.

　It's not a position to complain about it, since I've fallen so spectacularly that I'm in danger of graduating, but it's also true that I'm not masterful enough to be able to discount it.

''There's no law that says you can't ride a horse without a peerage, but it's shameful to force yourself to fall off the horse, and if you accidentally respond to a single rider and die, you can't even look at it.
"I'd rather get covered in mud than fall off a horse.

　As the deputy pointed out, Crono's boots and pants are stained with mud.
　Well, I don't think it's so bad that you should be bothered by it since my men are just like that.

"If you're dressed like that, you don't look like a nobleman, so the enemy soldiers might overlook you.
I hope so.

　Crono chuckled at his second-in-command's joke.
　Crono wore the same chest armor and chainmail made in Goldie's workshop as his men.
　The weapons are a long sword and a dagger, and the pouch at his waist is filled with medical supplies, thirty bottles of hard bread, and about twenty candy balls.
　I thought morale wouldn't be boosted by just a few candyballs, but surprisingly, my men were overjoyed.
　A child!　However, the market price of sugar is a gold coin for a kilo, and a soldier's salary is two gold coins for a month, it's an amount that makes me a little hesitant to buy it.
　I intend to promote the cultivation of beets and make the production of sugar the main industry of the marquis' territory, but it will take a long time before I can buy candy balls with a child's pocket money like in the world over there.
　Crono reached for the hilt of his long sword, "Be careful not to die by accident.



　In the end, it was only that evening that we made it through the forest. It was fortunate that we found a pond right after we passed through the forest, but from there on out it took us a long time to position the camp.
　When the discussion was about to escalate into a fistfight, Count Ernat interceded and the position of the camp was decided with the knights of the Kingsguard defending the three sides of the tent of Alfort and the eight battalion commanders defending the surrounding area.
　Crono, who was not allowed to participate in the discussion from the beginning to the end, decided to set up an encampment at an appropriate location.
　I was able to get the camp set up by my second-in-command, while Deneb, Arididid, and Leo were responsible for providing security for the Transportation Department.
　Crono's men were good at their craft, as if they had been training on a regular basis.
　They assembled the tent and tent in less than an hour, and even started helping the landlady earlier than Crono could give her instructions.

''Well what's for dinner today?''
I'd like my meal to wait a little longer.

　I was sitting on a rock waiting for the cooking to finish when Leonhardt approached me.

'What can I do for you?'
Our scouts have found an Elvish settlement.

　'Yeah,' Crono nodded.

'I would try to make contact with them to get information about the watering hole, but I'm not sure I have the confidence to establish friendly relations with sub-humans like Lord Crono does.
OK, I'll be gone for a bit. I'll be gone for a bit, and Mino will be home!　Deneb, Arididid, and Rizad, take care of my guards!
I understand. (BUMO!)
I was looking forward to dinner!
Oh, you're such a jerk!
....

　Despite their complaints, Deneb and Aridid moved quickly, and even though they looked slow and sluggish, Rizad's movements were scary fast.

''Since there was an elven settlement up ahead,''
No way. We're under attack?
You're going to have to ask for information.

　Crono replied emphatically as Deneb and Alideed shuddered in fear.

'Soldiers loot and attack women, right?'
He was bleary-eyed and bawling about things.
What's the point of antagonizing people who might become subjects of the Empire?
"Oh!
....
"Hmm, Mister Crono is thinking ahead, isn't he?

　I said it with enough nuance that the fewer enemies the better, but Deneb, Arididid, and Rizad clapped their hands in admiration, and Leonhard muttered in admiration.

'Crono-dono, please take care of me.'
I'll try.

　Crono saluted Leonhardt, and Deneb, Arididid, and Rizad followed suit.
　After being seen off by Leonhardt, Crono, who had left the encampment camp, regretted that he hadn't prepared the lighting before enough time had passed.

''........I should have prepared lighting.''
You can't be seen by the enemy if you do that.
Yeah, the three of us don't have the confidence to protect Lady Crono.

　With Deneb and Alideed leading him by the hand, Crono walked down the road at night with a hefty heart.
　If the moon was out, but Crono's night vision wasn't excellent enough to walk down the road relying on the starlight.

''........sub-humans are amazing.

　Even elves and dwarves have eyesight and hearing far beyond that of humans.

''Humans are more awesome I mean, humans are more frightening and...''
I'm in such a state that I can't walk without having to ask you to back off.
Like how scary it is to be in a group?
To tell you the truth, we're from around here, aren't we?

　Crono couldn't say anything, but he could imagine why the girls said they were afraid of humans, and why they were prejudiced against soldiers.

'Trained elves like us now are strong, but elves are so weak. I used to think that if I could just endure it, I'd be able to save my life.
You know, we were either killed or sold out and we did the dirty work to get to the imperial capital and join the army.

　Deneb and Alideed tightened their grip on Crono's hand.

'Crono-sama is from a world where there's a guy called 'Sekaijin Kensengen', right?
You know, I was expecting... hmm, I think we're here.

　Deneb and Alideed stopped walking, and Crono was relieved to see that they had reached the settlement before they could finish their lines.
　Can we expect Crono-sama to do a 'Sekaijin Kensengen'?　If asked, Crono would not have been able to answer immediately.
　I can promise you that I will take various measures to improve the status of sub-humans.
　I have done so in the past and I will continue to do so in the future.
　I can also promise that I will make sure that the current system of the Marquess of Erakis is passed down to my son's generation and my grandson's generation.
　However, Crono wasn't ready to do 'Sekaijin Kensengen' himself.
　That was equivalent to denying the state system of the Cepheus Empire, and he didn't have the strength to fight the enemies created by it.
　No, he was simply afraid. I'm afraid of dying, and I'm afraid of my men dying for the ideals I stand for.

''Master Crono, we're here.
Hmm, there's no light.

　Removing his hand from Deneb and Ariddead, Crono narrowed his eyes.
　The settlement, Leonhard had said, was just a dozen leaning shacks.
　Crono pulled out a gold ring with an intricate pattern from the pouch a magic item with an interpreter's magic imparted to it and placed it on his middle finger.

''Master Crono, the Holy Argo Kingdom speaks the language, and...''
Say it first.

　Crono took the initiative to step into the settlement.

'Well, I'm sorry to disturb you!　My name is Crono, a battalion commander in the Imperial Army of Cepheus, and I am here to speak with the representative of this settlement!　I have no intention of harming you all!

　As he speaks loudly, several elves emerge from their dugouts.
　However, the moment they met eyes with Crono, they quickly hid.

''Crono-sama, shouldn't you speak in a more aggressive manner?''
'We mustn't scare him. 'My name is Crono, I'm a battalion commander of the Cepheus Imperial Army, and I'm here to talk to the representative of this settlement!　I have no intention of harming you all!

　The representative of the village came out of the hut when Crono's voice was snatched.
　The representative of the village was a ship-eyed elf a man about twenty years old.
　His body, wrapped in tattered clothes, was thin and malnourished, his bare arms had old wounds that seemed to have been caused by a blade, there was a burn mark on his chest, and his left ear was cut off from halfway through.
　Despite his condition, the light in his remaining left eye is strong.
　No, if this man was experiencing something like Deneb and Alideed, it was only natural for him to look at Crono, a military man, with hatred in his eyes.

''........What do the soldiers of the Empire want?''
'I'm going to march near here,' he said. Of course, I have no intention of harming you, nor will I have my men ordered to harm you. I'm going to make sure the other soldiers are thorough but I'm going to ask you to stay hidden because there will always be people who will do something stupid at any time.

　Gritted the man gritted his teeth and looked down in frustration.

'All right. There's no way we're going to be able to fight the soldiers anyway.
'The other is information to the city of Markab. Can you tell me where the watering hole is?
''Well the Holy Argo Kingdom is a lot of wetlands. I don't even want to know how many soldiers there are, but we shouldn't have any problems with water, at least not in the water.

　Crono nodded, wondering if the military bureau's investigation hadn't been wrong.
　He couldn't deny that the man's words could be a lie, but it shouldn't take much effort to transport the water from the pond that was near the camp's camp.

'Thank you,'
So get the hell out of here.
Well, I guess I should thank you for that.

　When Crono tossed the gold ring, the man grabbed it with one hand.

'What do you think you're doing?'
'It's a thank you, thank you. I don't mean to be venerable, but it's a gold ring with an interpreter's magic attached to it I don't know the price, but it's a decent amount of money. You can either redeem it and use it as a fund to get through the winter, or you can use it to escape from the Holy Argo Kingdom. If you're fleeing the Holy Argo Kingdom, come to the Marquis of Erakis and I'll take care of all sorts of things for you.

　The man looked at the gold ring and Crono in turn.

''Are you going to ... abuse me as a slave?''
'I'm going to say that I'll receive you as a lord of the Marquis of Erakis.

　Having said what he wanted to say, Crono turned his back on the man.
　He asked Deneb and Alideed to back off, just as he had come.

''Do you think that man will come to the Marquess of Erakis?''
I'm afraid it won't be easy to do right away.

　On the way home, Crono was asked that question, and he spoke his honest opinion.

'But you'd be jittery if you stayed here.
I'm running with a chance to get away with it.
'You don't seem to trust humans, and you can't be irresponsible on behalf of the settlement.

　The reason Deneb and Alideed could say that was because they knew the reality of the Marquess of Erakis, and for him, it must be the great gamble of a lifetime.
　When we returned to the encampment, Leonhardt greeted us.
　Apparently, he hadn't even taken a meal and was waiting for us.
　When Crono saluted, Leonhardt returned the salute with a refreshing smile.

'The information on the waterfront was in agreement with the War Office that there was a lot of wetlands.
I see, so that's why you've been on friendly terms with him?
'Well, at least they weren't hostile, I guess. But I can't rule out the possibility that we'll do something stupid, so I've warned you.

　'Hmm,' said Leonhardt, resting a hand to his chin thoughtfully.

'Since a futile conflict is not where I want to be either. Let's make it known that we, as the Imperial Army, will behave unashamedly.'
Yeah, nice to meet you.

　After leaving Leonhardt and returning to his camp, Crono left Deneb, Arididid and Rizad and entered his tent.
　He took off his armor and lay down on a bed made of a combination of wooden boxes.

''I'll have to give you some wine and barley wine (beer) and...''

　Crono went outside, saying that what could be done today should be done today.

'Mino-san~!
What's the matter, chief?

　The second-in-command seemed to be making his rounds and walked up to Crono along with some beastmen.

''I think I'm going to go and thank the soldiers who helped me out in the daytime.
I've done that. A bottle of wine and barley wine, and a little bit of dried meat.
You're very clever, Mr. Minot.
"Just because I thought that's what the general would do.

　The deputy scratched his head in embarrassment.
　After hearing the number of drinks and dried meat he had offered as a thank you, Crono went back to his tent and lay down on his bed.

'I brought you a meal...'
Thank you, landlady.

　It was too much trouble to move to the desk, so Crono sat down on the bed and accepted a wooden tray from the landlady.
　On the tray was a large piece of bread, bean soup, and a few slices of dried meat - the same meal as his subordinates.

I thought a battalion commander was supposed to be the only one who ate good food.
Wouldn't it be too much trouble to make one for me?
Should I be thankful I have a good husband to work for?

　Crono poured the pea soup down his stomach and flattened the bread.

'You can't be proud of ... can you?'
If Crono-sama was my age, I could be proud of him. He is ten years older than me. If you seduce a naive nobleman's boy, he'll be considered a bad girl.
Bad girl.

　There were some pretty bad girls out there, Crono said, chewing on some dried meat.
　Finished eating, Crono lay down on the bed.



　Joseph had joined the army to escape poverty, as all soldiers did.
　He had grown up in a rather unsafe area, so he took pride in his skill, and he was a reasonably good soldier in his battalion.
　Like most soldiers, Joseph spent most of his paycheck on booze, gambling, and buying prostitutes.
　In addition, he resented being sent off to war, as most soldiers were, and he resented being ordered around by a knight in arms who he had just met.
　When he heard that there was an elf settlement just ahead, the first thing he remembered was the elf whore and then the defeat of the bandits.
　Joseph had slipped out of the encampment, despite orders from his battalion commander not to harm the elves.
　When he found the elf brat in the forest, Josef thanked an unbelieving god and grabbed the elf brat by the scruff of the neck and slammed him into a tree.

'Don't expose the little foul thing,'
You're messing with the kids.

　An icy feeling on his neck, and immediately Joseph understood that he had a knife to his neck.
　If he was a new recruit with no real combat experience, he would have pissed his pants, but Joseph was an experienced soldier.
　In fact, he had only taken down bandits twice, but Joseph believed that he was the kind of person who could get out of trouble.

''........I see!

　Josef didn't miss the moment the knife left him and swung his fist as if to turn around.
　But Joseph's fist cut through the air, and in return, a cold sensation passed his nose.
　Hot, blood poured out of the wound and Josef held his face and screamed.

'Don't peep and cry like a woman,'
Really, he's just a little guy with a little nuts.

　'd*mn it, why, how could you do this?' cried Joseph, glaring at the two elves, who looked exactly like him in the mirror.

'You're an elf, dumbass, remember that!
"Flame dance!

　Bright crimson flames filled his vision, and Josef ran away, dripping piss.
　The elves, the elves, they don't think they can be forgiven!
　Joseph fled to the encampment and cried to the battalion commander.



　The next morning, Crono's sleep was broken by the second-in-command's exclamation.

'General!　It's a big deal! Buh-buh-buh!
What's going on?
"Just come on down! (BUMO!)

　When I arrived at the egregious swordsman's deputy, I found Deneb and Alideed tied behind his back and seated in the middle of the encampment ... near Alfort's tent.

'What happened?'
Things got a little awkward.

　Crono asked, and Leonhardt raised his eyebrows uncomfortably as he said.

'The elf there cut up my man's face.
....

　I looked at the direction of the voice and saw a battalion commander, about thirty years old, standing with a soldier with a bandage on his face.
　It's one-sided, Crono was about to open his mouth when a boy...Alfort came out of the tent, his eyes busily moving as if he was frightened.
　He looked to be in his mid-teens or even younger than that.
　Alfort seemed to have trained his body better than Crono three years ago, but from the way he was behaving, his mental level was probably on the same level.

''Alfort-sama, please take a seat.''
Oh, thank you, Count Piske.

　Alfort sat shallowly in the chair Count Piske had prepared and looked down at Deneb and Ariddead.

'Pi, Count Piske?'
These elves attacked Joseph, who was patrolling the encampment, and cut his face off. This must be dealt with with severe punishment.

　When Alfort stared upward, Count Piske stroked his thin kaisel beard as he replied.
　It was as if it had been decided from the beginning.......no, it was decided from the beginning.
　Perhaps they are aiming to tighten it up by punishing the offenders.
　In other words, this is a farce with a plot and an ending prepared.
　If it turns out to be so, the game can be reversed.
　It's an ill-advised bet, no doubt.

"...oh, please wait!　Mr. Alfort!

　Pushing down his fears, Crono rolled out to cover Deneb and Alideed.
　He went down on both knees and looked up at Alfort.

'These two, Deneb and Alideed, are my most important men.
Hmm, I see why the upstarts love the elves.

　Count Piske said mockingly, but Crono thanked him for his words.
　At least he tolerated Crono's statement.

'Ah, a sub-human,'
''It is true that they are elves, but they have properly acquired their citizenship. But to punish them severely without listening to what they have to say is a violation of the spirit of the Empire.

　When Crono wound up, Alfort turned his gaze to Count Piske as if clinging to him.
　Count Piske turned his gaze to Leonhardt, Count Alcor, and the soldiers who had been gathered for some time, and coughed awkwardly.
　I can do it, Crono clenched his fists tightly.
　

''Let me allow you to speak.

　Deneb and Alideed looked at each other and hesitantly spun the words.

''Well we only stopped that guy because he was about to rape an elf child, and...''
He told me not to harm the elves.

　Count Piske frowned and looked at Alfort as if asking.

''Oh, come on, don't be silly!

　The man with the carved face let out a violent scream and Crono gritted his teeth.
　Crono had only thought that he could save Deneb and Alideed if he attacked them reasonably.
　But the man with his face carved into the ground was not blocked from speaking.
　And Alfort, who had only the same level of spirit as Crono three years ago, could easily succumb to violence.

'I was just making my rounds, and those elves cut my face off!　A sub-human who is merely a slave to a human being can't be allowed to hurt a human being!　You can't keep order if you do that!　Right!

　Yes, that's right, and the guys who seem to be his friends agree with the man's call.
　They stare at him with bloodshot eyes, and Alfort stiffens for a moment.

''Count Piske!''
"As you wish.

　When Alfort ordered him to get away from the pressure, Count Piske even drew his sword and released it.
　For a moment, his mind went blank.
　Something, anything, Crono opened and closed his mouth like a fish washed up on a hill.

''Are you trying to disobey the Commander-in-Chief's orders, Marquis Erakis?''
.....

　Count Piske held his blade against him, and Crono found himself standing there, defending Deneb and Alideed.

'Retreat and I will not question you.

　Gagging and shaking at the knees, Crono looked like he was about to defecate.
　Wha, why?
　Because I work for you, right?
　Shit, I don't want to die, I don't want to die!

I can't...

　What am I?
　I'm, I'm?

"...I love the Empire.

　Huh?　Crono thought.
　Count Piske, Leonhardt....maybe no one here must have understood Crono's true intentions.
　That's obvious. Even Crono doesn't understand the meaning of his words.
　Crono spoke earnestly about how much he loved the empire and how deeply grateful he was to Lamar V.
　It was a lie that was so grateful that Count Piske was taken aback, and it was a lie that made him want to wrap his head around it.

''Well I love the Empire. So, that's why I sacrificed my right eye and three hundred and fifty men to stop the invasion of the Holy Argo Kingdom.

　In the midst of all the lies, Crono was under the illusion that his words were the truth.
　He was in a complete panic, so much so that he could even get away with the remote task of crying and laughing.

'None of these men could have done more for the Empire than me, or even us!　What about the man down there!　He plays falsehoods, puts the guilt on my men, the patriots, and lashes out at Lord Alfort, the next emperor!　If you say this is the empire I love then come on, kill me before I kill Deneb and Alideed!

　Crono took off his jacket and walked up to Count Piske himself.
　Zubu and the cutting edge pierced and blood flowed.
　Count Piske looked around in confusion and drew his sword.

''Hey, that's not true........!

　Silver light flashed and a sword pierced the throat of the man whose face was carved.
　Count Piske threw the sword into the air.
　Count Piske drew his sword from the convulsing man on his back and knelt down to Alfort.

'Master Alfort, I have dealt with the fool who spoke out against you.
Thank you.

　Count Piske hung his head, and Alfort gave a twitching smile.

*

　Crono sat back down as he returned to his tent, accompanied by Deneb and Alideed.

Jesus, I thought he was gonna kill me.
"Well, Mister Crono?

　When they glared at each other, Deneb and Alideed tensed up, as if they thought they were going to be hit.
　Crono hugged the two of them.

　Oh, they're alive.

　Feeling their body heat, Crono let out a breath of relief.

''Um, Crono-sama I have to march now and...''
But maybe a little.
What are you confused about?

　Crono lightly pushed him away, and they poked him in the ass.

''Not much!''

　Crono scratched his hump, and this time he let out a sigh.

'Don't be reckless, either of you,'
But I couldn't leave it alone.
'Yes, but you know what? Make sure you report, communicate, and discuss things properly so it doesn't happen like this time.
Yes?

　Deneb and Alideed gave a stilted reply.
　In fact, if they had received the report, they could have discussed it with Leonhardt and taken steps.

''But now I understand where the sub-humans stand on this matter, and the danger of the Legion.

　As commander-in-chief, Alfort is not strong enough to lead the army.
　In addition, he is a general soldier with low morale and low norms.
　If not tied up in fear, the mish-mash army will collapse in no time.

''Ehehe, Master Crono,''

　Deneb and Alideed laughed like children and rubbed up against Crono.

'We're going to march now, okay?'
I just want to be pampered.
Yeah, it's the first time I've had a human cover for me.

　Stroking their pointed ears, Deneb and Alideed narrowed their eyes in comfort.

''We'll protect you, Crono-sama,''

　Deneb and Alideed whispered in Crono's ear.