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　太陽が沈み、周囲が暗くなっても帝国軍の野営陣地では一般兵が活発に動いていた。
　篝火を焚き、その近くで布を裂く。
　天幕の生地は通常のそれに比べて分厚い。
　裁断は容易ではない。
　うっかり自分の手を切ってしまうこともある。
　それでも、一般兵は手を休めない。
　無言で、淡々と天幕を同サイズに切っていく。
　出来上がった布は野営陣地の外縁部に運ばれる。
　そこでも一般兵が作業に勤しんでいる。
　堀を作るために地面を掘っている。
　そこで出た土を布で包む。
　かなり不格好だが、土嚢の完成だ。
　できれば針と糸を使い、きちんとした袋にしたかった。
　だが、それには時間が足りない。
　軍務局長に連絡を取り、物資を集めるだけでどれほど時間が掛かるだろう。
　すぐに対応してくれたとしても反乱軍別働隊の件もある。
　時間を与えれば皇軍――クロノが再び策を弄するのではないかという不安もある。
　だから、ありもので、早急に対処しなければならない。
　ロイは一般兵の様子を確認しながら野営陣地を歩く。
　大丈夫か？
　頑張ってくれ。
　頼んだぞ。
　そんな言葉を掛けると、一般兵はホッとしたような表情を浮かべる。
　それだけ不安なのだろう。
　当たり前か。
　彼らは所属していた大隊から派遣されてきたのだ。
　リチャードのように疎まれて派遣された者もいるだろう。
　だが、そんな者にだって人間関係というものがある。
　共に訓練に励み、戦い、信頼関係を築いた仲間から引き離されたのだ。
　しかも、派遣先は命懸けの戦場だ。
　誰を信頼して良いのか分からない。
　霧の中を歩いているような状況だ。
　そんな状況ではロイの言葉にさえ縋りたくなる。
　それが分かっても根本的な解決策を示すことができない。
　せめて、勝っていればと思う。
　勝っていれば、先手を打つことができれば今より不安を和らげることができた。
　だというのに現実はどうか。
　反乱軍――クロノの策に嵌まり、一万の傭兵を死傷させ、一般兵にも被害を出した。
　その上、負傷した一般兵を運ぶ際に見逃されている。
　クロノにこちらに負担を掛ける意図があろうとなかろうと同じことだ。
　The soldiers, if not all of them, see it as a margin for rebellion.
　The Empire is losing.
　They are being treated with mercy.
　Such thoughts eat away at their bodies and minds.
　I don't want to say it outright, but Roy felt the same way.
　We're falling behind, and we're falling for their schemes.
　I can't get rid of the fear that this strategy will also fail.
　In a situation like this, would a true nobleman be able to remain calm and self-possessed?
　I'm not going to be able to get my hands on any of them.
　I'm not good enough.
　You are feeling weak.
　This is the thinking of a loser.
　I've got to get out of this thinking somehow - I've got to win for that to happen.
　I have to win to do that.
　I've got to deliver.
　Then we can get out of this weak thinking.

Lord Roy!
...Oh, Richard.

　I looked behind me over my shoulder and saw Richard.
　He slowed his pace a bit.
　Soon, Richard caught up with Roy.
　We walked in silence for a while.

'Lord Roy, thank you for your help.'
I didn't do much.
No, it makes a world of difference if your commanding officer can take it easy.
I hope so.

　I look up at the sky and before I know it, the moon is out.
　I let out a small breath.
　Richard says, so I guess I'm being a little helpful.
　He's more or less in command.
　It makes me feel a little better.
　d*mn, I'm feeling weak, Roy cursed to himself in his mind.
　Where was his usual, do-gooder self?
　He had been called the absolute champion in the arena - and yet - he was the absolute champion.
　Flimsy.
　Your life, the things you relied on, everything feels flimsy.
　Unreliable.
　There is no core.

'How's the progress?'
We can stay on schedule for this amount.
You mean, tomorrow?
Yes,

　Richard replied quietly.

'How are the rebels doing?'
The guys in the field position are the same as usual. I don't think they're going to hit us.

　Richard said in a tone of dismay and confusion.
　Even though they weren't regular soldiers, they still killed and wounded ten thousand mercenaries.
　It's not surprising that they could get worked up.
　Despite this, the rebels are concentrating on defending themselves.
　They are well disciplined.
　They are more experienced.
　It's a tricky one.

"Be on your guard.
Of course.
What about the rebel auxiliary forces?
He's looking at you from a distance.

　Bullying, Richard shuddered.

'I beg your pardon,'
No, no, forget it. Go ahead.
They just stare at us. But they won't do anything. But if you try to take one step closer, they will run away.
Did you try to fight it?
...one of the soldiers went ballistic.

　Richard grunted.

'I scolded you, but...'
No, I don't need any more punishment than that.

　Besides, punishment is less meaningful after time has passed.
　Punishment must be meted out promptly.
　Especially on the battlefield.

"Thank you.
Don't worry about it. He's the only one who was pissed off?
There are people who are frustrated and scared, but they'll be fine for a while.
It's been a while.
Yes, it's been a while.

　Well, everything has its limits.
　Turning things around will stretch the limits even further.

What about you?
I don't feel good. I feel like I'm being chased by wolves.
Well, that's a mouthful.

　Roy chuckled.
　He was a little surprised at himself for being able to laugh in this situation.
　The fact that he was laughing meant that he still had room to spare.
　That makes me feel a little better.

...a wolf.
He's a cunning wolf.
It must be.
The rebels the Thirteenth Kingsguard have a lot of experience.

　Richard said in a sincere tone.
　It's true that the Thirteenth Order of the Kingsguard - Crono and the others have a lot of experience in real battles.
　They have been involved in all of the battles that have occurred in recent years.
　The only one with more experience than them is the Second Kingsguard, led by Count Ernat.
　I wish the 2nd Kingsguard were here.
　Unfortunately, the 2nd Kingsguard is fortified at the border.
　Indeed, war is not an easy thing to do.

"Assassins?
I haven't heard anything.

　Roy replied with a sigh.
　He didn't expect to gather any information soon, but the lack of a clue was excruciating.
　It's contradictory, but it's honest.

'It's a good thing I'm not panicking.
Yeah, right.

　Richard was muzzled.
　His expression is dark.
　I know how you feel.
　There's still plenty of time for that now.
　My trust in Roy is keeping my frustration and anxiety at bay.
　But what if this continues?
　The soldiers are bound to panic, or perhaps even hysteria, and start looking for the killer.

'It's tricky,'
Yes, really.

　Roy walks through the camp, accompanied by Richard.
　It's still in order now - but--.
　No, said Roy, shaking his head.
　We should think about the immediate future now,' he said, 'or else we will think about the post-war period - the bleak future.
　Otherwise we'll end up thinking about the post-war period - the bleak future,' he said.

Tomorrow.
Yes, tomorrow.

　Whether he knew how Roy felt or not, Richard said, looking the same as usual.



　As the night grew white, the preparations began.
　Ordinary soldiers carry sandbags on wagons and stack them where the enemy archers' attacks cannot reach them.
　Precisely where they thought the attack would be out of reach.
　Isn't the enemy's range not the limit?
　Such anxiety is bubbling up.
　Roy swallows his anxiety and watches the soldiers with Richard.
　The shield corps is lined up.
　Anxiety and fear color their faces.
　The shield corps suffered a lot of casualties in yesterday's attack.
　It's not bad that they haven't forgotten themselves in anger, but Roy carried his beloved spear.
　It's also a problem to be trapped in anxiety and fear.
　If you're nervous, you're still nervous, but you're anxious and afraid.
　You may not be able to do what you normally do anymore.
　The soldiers who are in charge of rescuing the wounded look tense.
　Compared to the shield corps, they seem to have more time to spare.
　Of course, they will tell you that they don't have the luxury of time.
　They have to help the wounded in case the rebels attack.
　The soldier carrying the sandbags seemed to be relaxed.
　They might think that if they carried them quickly, they would not die.
　Roy turned his attention to an obstacle on the enemy's right wing.
　There, the civilian soldiers were waiting there as well as here.
　The commander raised his hand.
　That's the signal that we are ready.
　Richard, who was next to me, timidly opened his mouth.

"...Mister Roy.
Yeah, go ahead.

　Roy was a little surprised at how smoothly he was able to spin his words.
　He thought he was going to bite off more than he could chew in his nervousness - but he was not.

'The Shield Squad!　Move on!
'Oh!　Ooh!
Oh, oh!　Oh, oh!

　Richard raised his voice, and the shield corps began to advance in a tortoise shell formation.
　It must be the tension.
　Their voices are not aligned.
　Their footsteps are also disorganized.
　I feel like this is not okay.

''We're not in line!　Stepping on the spot!
'Oh!　Ooh!
Oh, whoa!　Oh, ugh!
'Oh!　Ooh!
Oh, oh!　Ooh!
'Oh!　Ooh!
'Oh!　Ooh!

　Following Richard's orders, the shield squad began to stomp their way to the spot.
　At first they weren't aligned, but eventually their voices came together.
　And the sound of them stomping on the ground.

'Shield Squad!　Move on!
'Oh!　Ooh!

　The shield troops start to move and the enemy archers fire arrows.
　It's the same rain of arrows as yesterday.
　Arrows rain down on the shield unit.
　Arrows protrude from the shields that are held out in front of them.
　The shield unit never stops moving.
　Ooh!　Oh!　And with a vigorous shout, we continued on through the rain of arrows.
　And so they lined up along the obstacle just as they did yesterday.
　Roy let out a breath of relief.
　If they got this far, they would be able to handle it.
　That was the thought.

'Shield Squad!　Open!
Oh!

　Richard's voice was the signal for the shields that had been pointed upwards to rise.
　That's when one of them dropped the shield.
　The sound sound was louder than it needed to be.
　Of course, the soldier who dropped the shield couldn't be safe.
　An arrow pierced his chest and the soldier fell, hindering him.

''Hi, heeeeeeee!''

　The soldier put his hand on his chest and screamed.
　The next moment, an arrow pierced the ground.

''Hee!''

　The soldier let out a short scream and curled up.

'Let's go!'
Oh!

　The soldier in charge of the rescue runs off with a man who appears to be his partner.
　But in the meantime, the attacks continued.
　Although it didn't hit, the soldier screamed every time an arrow pierced the ground.
　At that moment, the soldier who was holding his shield stepped back.
　It was the man who was under the soldier whose arrow had pierced the ground.

''Oh!　Ooh!

　The shield squad moves in and fills the hole.

'Ouch, ouch, mother!
It's all right!
I'll have you cured in no time!

　The rescue officer put the soldier, who was crying like a child, on a stretcher, encouraging him.

'Sandbags!'
Oh!

　The soldiers run out in unison and throw sandbags into the hole.
　I'm anxious to see if I can handle such roughness, but time is running out right now.
　For the time being, we complete the wall - should we call it an earthwork?

''Well I hope we don't get in the way of the enemy.
Let's hope the guards can help.

　Roy muttered, and Richard looked to his right.
　Soldiers were patrolling near the forest.
　He could eliminate them if he wanted to, but that would take time.
　It's stalling for our lives.
　A necessary sacrifice--

We could build a fire.
Fire?
More like fire or smoke.
I see, I see.

　Richard said admiringly, and Roy scratched his head in embarrassment.
　If he'd thought of it beforehand, it would still be the right time.
　It was not a compliment.

'I'll arrange it right away,'
You're on it.

　Richard ran toward a nearby soldier.

*

　Evening--

Sorry, I think the smoke was a mistake.
There's some damage on our side, but I think the damage is more to the enemy.

　I ain't been attacked for sure, Roy said, looking around.
　As luck would have it, the smoke was drifting towards the forest.
　The people who attacked us at night were elves and beastmen, so the effect would be reasonable.
　However, I wonder if it was a mistake since the smoke can drift towards us.
　At the very least, they should have gotten a cloth to cover their mouths.
　The shield squad looks especially hard with their hands full.

''But we'll have to be patient for a while longer.
Yeah, I know.

　Roy nodded and stared ahead.
　There was a fortification built up to cover the obstacle.
　It was lower than his chest in height.
　It was not in good shape.
　If I had to use an unreasonable metaphor, I would say it was an asymmetrical mountain range.
　If it is a mountain range, there is natural beauty, but the fortification in front of you is awkward.
　If it were a military school, we would be reprimanded and asked to redo the job.
　Fortunately, this isn't a military school, and it's Roy who will be grading them.
　That's enough - that's what Roy graded.

Now we just need to get the shield corps--
Elves!

　Someone shouts, interrupting Roy's words.

'Shield Squad!　Hide!
Oh!

　Richard shouted, and the shield corps flipped in unison.
　It was terrifyingly fast, even if it was a critical situation.
　Or had they been practicing?
　The shield corps ran up the battlements and hid behind them.
　Slightly later, an arrow pierced the place where the shield squad was.
　It was an arrow wrapped in red light.
　The red light immediately explodes.
　At that moment, Roy remembered the sight of the shield squad being blown away.
　However, the berms had prevented the impact.
　There was no damage to the shield corps.

'Shield Corps!　Ready!

　Richard shouted, and the shield squad scrambled up the battlements, where they held their shields.
　But they bent over and hid behind their shields.
　Roy looked at the enemy right flank.
　Even on the enemy's right flank, a shield team was holding up a shield on top of a bastion.
　Apparently, they had succeeded over there as well.
　There was no sound, so there must have been no attack.
　Maybe they were forcing themselves to attack.
　When I think about it, I feel depressed.

Well, let's go now.
Ha!

　Roy accompanied Richard to the inside of the berms.
　It was dark inside the berms, probably due to the fact that the shield squad was holding their shields.

''That's pretty steep.''
Would you like more sandbags and a more gradual slope?
Please.
Ha!

　Roy knelt near the obstacle - a prop.
　There was a thorny object entwined with a reasonably thick prop.
　Metal thorns.
　Some of them have small blades attached to them, but apart from that, they look like wire.

''.......at least this much.''

　Roy stood up and swung his beloved spear at the metal thorns.
　There was a crunching sound and the metal thorns shook.
　It shook, but that was it.

'Lord Roy!'
I'm just trying to have a go.

　Roy apologized to Richard and knelt down again.
　He looks at the area where the tip of the spear hit him.
　It's scarred, but it's far from cut in both directions.
　Perhaps the deflection of the thorns would allow the impact to escape.
　I see, it's impossible to destroy and break through with this.

'Lucas's husband would be surprised.

　He strokes his chin as he remembers his now-deceased colleague's portly figure.

'What do you want me to do?'
We can't just solve them one by one, can we?

　I don't know where the end is, and it could be held in place by a clasp.

Saw it from the base--
Lord Roy!
What?
Look at this.
f*ck, no way.

　When Roy stood up, Richard was looking directly up at the prop.
　I don't have a good feeling about the quarry.
　When I looked into the same thing, I saw that the pillar had been split in two after it had been split in two.
　It looks like it's glued together with something--''

''d*mn!　I've got a bad feeling about this!

　He pulled the dagger from his waist and thrust it into the glue marks.
　When he pried, the prop cracked easily.
　What was there was--.

'It's iron, isn't it?'
Seriously?

　Roy covered his face with his hands.
　He wondered if he would go this far, but Crono would do it.
　After all, he was the kind of guy who would bury a jar in the ground.
　And in a situation where he didn't know if it would be useful.

“--!

　Suddenly, Richard ran out and thrust his dagger against the post.
　He checked one after another and let out a sigh no more deeply than this.

'All of them?'
Yes,
He's just being thorough.

　Roy spat.

'What do you want to do?'
We're going to have to dig him up and pull him out.
Yes.

　Richard grunted.

*

　Richard put a hand to his throat.
　No wonder. They've been burning wood since daylight.
　He's careful not to breathe in the smoke, and he clears his throat frequently, but it still affects him.

''........And yet.......''

　How deep is it?" said Richard, looking into the hole.
　It was a hole dug along the pillars of the obstacle.
　It must have been dug two meters deep, but there was still no end in sight.
　I want to finish it tomorrow morning - by the time the night turns white.
　That's my honest opinion.
　If we give it time, the rebels will do something about it.
　No. I don't mind that they're going to make a move.
　I don't care if they do. That's what fighting is all about.
　The problem is morale.
　The ordinary soldiers here, myself included, were dispatched by my battalion.
　That's why they lacked a sense of solidarity.
　At the very least, they should have been trained.
　The sense of solidarity would have been enhanced if they were sweating and shouting in the same way.
　I don't know the exact reasoning behind it, but it is so.
　And this sense of solidarity makes a soldier stronger.
　Conversely, soldiers without a sense of solidarity are weak.
　Or perhaps I should say, as an army, they are weak.
　Right now - the soldiers here are a bunch of crows.
　Moreover, they are soldiers who have desperately suppressed their fear.
　And if the insurgency comes at us on top of this...
　考えただけで恐ろしい。
　さらに恐ろしいのは軍団長とその補佐が先陣を切ることだ。
　軍団長は自分が先陣を切らなければ兵士が動けないかも知れないと考えたのだろう。
　動けないかも知れない。
　あくまで予想だ。
　実際に試してみれば何とかなるかも知れない。
　もちろん、どうにもならない可能性はある。
　はぁ、とリチャードは溜息を吐いた。
　二人とも死んでしまったらおしまいだ。
　帝国軍は瓦解する。
　何とかしてロイだけでも助けたい。
　ロイが生きていれば軍としての体裁を保てる。
　そんな人には見えなかったんだけどな、とリチャードは夜空を見上げた。
　噂とは当てにならないもので、実際のロイは話せる人物だった。
　言動はともかく、感性はまともだ。
　目に掛けて貰っている点を差し引いてもそうだ。
　そんな人物が無謀な突撃に参加する。
　どうにも納得できない。
　イメージと合致しないのだ。

「……はぁ～」

　どうすれば良いのか、とリチャードは深々と溜息を吐いた。

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　翌朝、ロイが完全武装で野営陣地から出ると、両翼の障害物は撤去されていた。
　土塁の傾斜も心なしか緩やかになっているようだ。
　恐らく、新たに土嚢を積んだのだろう。
　これで突撃しやすくなった。
　ロイは敵左翼――いつも監督している方だ――に向かった。
　撤去された障害物を見て、軽く目を見開く。
　と言うのも支柱の長さが五メートルを超えていたからだ。
　どうすればこんなものを地面に打ち込めるのか。
　疑問が湧き上がる。

「……どうとでもできるか」

　ロイは小さく呟いた。
　反乱軍――クロノ達には時間があった。
　他ならぬ帝国が時間を与えてしまった。
　それを考えれば五メートルもある支柱を打ち込むくらいできるような気がした。
　視線を巡らせる。
　だが、リチャードの姿はない。
　部下に引き継ぎして休憩を取っているのだろうか。
　有り得る話だ。
　リチャードは働き詰めだ。
　If you don't take a break at these times, you'll be crushed.

What are you doing?
You're the one.

　I turned around when I was approached from behind and saw Argena standing there.
　She was not wearing any armor.
　She is wearing a white military uniform that is the proof of the Kingsguard.
　Her appearance overwhelmed me with a clean look.
　I thought it was beautiful.
　I didn't think a man who was prepared could be as beautiful as this.
　Did determination change Arjena?
　If so, why am I in this state?
　Is it because of the way I was born and raised?

'It's a beautiful day.'
Well yes.

　Roy looked up at the sky.
　It was the same blue, wintery sky as yesterday.

'I asked you to take care of the rest,'
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Are you going alone?
...Yeah, that's right.

　Argena smiled a small smile.
　It was as if--

.

　Arjena hid behind a bastion and waited for the moment.
　No, is it strange to say wait?
　Because it's up to you to decide which time to charge in.
　I can hear the rough breathing behind me.
　It belongs to my men.
　Behind them are the Third Kingsguard, the Fourth Kingsguard, including Roy, and ten thousand ordinary soldiers.
　On the other side - on the enemy's right flank, ten thousand ordinary soldiers are waiting.
　I'm sorry, I think.
　Especially for the members of the Third Kingsguard.
　On the other hand, I'm proud to have such a subordinate.
　Looking back, I wasn't a good commander.
　I wasn't even a good nobleman.
　I was inflexible and narrow-minded in my values.
　I wish I could have been proud that that was me.
　That way, at least I would be saved.
　But the pathetic thing was that Argena didn't like herself.
　Gho, someone coughed.
　It was probably because of that as they were burning trees to block the enemy's view.
　It's time to get up, Arjena said, and she raised her body--.

Charge!

　Algena shouted and ran off.

'Oh!'
Gah!
Gag!

　Some of his men ran out with a yell, but some fell with a short scream.
　Rebel arrows flew through the smoke.

'Advance!
Whoa!

　Arjena gripped her spear and ran.
　Her body is light.
　It feels like she's shaved off something unnecessary.
　Arrows fly through the smoke.
　Stones, too.
　The screams of his men echo, but Arjena moves his feet.
　She doesn't think about whether her men are following her.
　She moves her legs, her feet anyway.
　Suddenly, she remembered her father - Maisan Dios.
　An exemplary aristocrat.
　That was what her father used to say, but Arjena didn't know what an exemplary nobleman was.
　Her father, who said so, was far from an exemplary nobleman.
　His father was hysterical, violent, and had the same narrow-minded values as himself.
　Among other things, he hated to have the rules broken.
　The rules weren't explicitly stated.
　They are my rules.
　In short, moods.
　My father was a pathological moody person.
　It's extremely difficult to keep from breaking what you can't even see.
　In fact, Algena was beaten by her father on more than one occasion.
　She had once admired the knights in the stories, but even that had touched her father's wrath.
　It wasn't until she was ten years old that she understood that her father disliked the new nobility.
　Perhaps something had happened on the battlefield.
　I didn't want to know why.
　It was more important for me to learn how to behave in a manner that would prevent me from being violated.
　Seeing a servant killed in front of him would make anyone desperate.
　I knew I would never be like my father.
　But what a mess.
　The next thing I knew, I was just like my father.
　I had become hysterical, violent, and narrow-minded in my values.
　I see my father's face in my words and actions.
　That alone was enough to make my heart creak.

Forward!　Forward!

　Algena runs, screaming.
　Before she knew it, arrows were flying in front of her.
　Her shoulders were hot, her throat was hot.
　Her whole body was hot.
　She even wondered how she had gotten to this point.
　But I feel fine.
　It's a contradiction in terms, but that's just me.
　I longed with disgust for those who broke the rules.
　I envied them for their unbridled lifestyle.
　Of course, the person in question would say it's not a way of life to be envied.
　It's a want of something that isn't there.
　And that's fine.
　It's all right.
　And then--
　The smoke broke, and in front of me was the figure of a beastman holding a crossbow.
　The beastman fires an arrow while keeping his eyes on us.



　The smoke cleared.
　Falling there were countless - the corpses of the Third Konoe Guard.
　Argena was dead.
　They were at a distance of almost reaching the enemy field position.
　Roy watched it in a daze.
　The flying arrows pierced the ground.

''........Why?''

　Roy muttered in dismay.
　Algena and the Third Konoe Guard charged in, followed by themselves.
　He ran frantically to avoid being left behind.
　He moved his feet frantically.

'Why is Argena dead and I'm standing here, standing here?

　Roy shouted.
　Unbelievable.
　It's not possible.
　This can't be happening.
　I was going to die.
　I was going to die with Algena.
　I loved Argena.
　I liked him when he snapped and went charging in.
　I loved that heat of Argena's when she was fighting to avenge her mother's death.
　I thought I could feel the heat again with Arjena.

Yeah.

　That heat, Roy grunted.
　I know.
　He knew.
　He knew he couldn't touch that heat.
　I was my calm self, even when I was driven by emotions.
　The calm me is screaming.
　It's dangerous, he said.
　We should retreat here, he said.
　Decide the game before the irregularities happen, he said.
　That's what made him the absolute champion of the arena.
　That's my weapon.
　The moment the enemy archers attacked me, I knew that the assault would not be successful.
　I knew I wouldn't be able to respond to an attack from two sides.

''Lord Roy!''
Why would Argena...
Let's get out of here!　The assault has failed!

　Roy pointed to Algena's body, but Richard didn't take it up.

'Let's go!'
Let go.

　Richard grabbed me by the arm and tried to shake me loose.
　But I couldn't.
　It wasn't because he was too strong.
　His arm was not strong enough.
　Besides - reason was telling me that I shouldn't put him, or his men, in danger.

''Okay.''
Thank you. Let's get out of here.
All you have to do is hurry and you won't get me killed.

　Roy turns on his heel and walks away.
　Despite the smoke clearing, the arrow doesn't hit him.
　It just sticks to the ground.

'...d*mn.

　Roy spat.
　He could see through it.
　He could see through me that I didn't go into it with my emotions.
　He was kept alive on that.
　When. When did she see through me?
　When we first met, or in the arena, or when we talked.
　Crono must know.
　And that Roy was thinking of giving a statement of retreat - and that he was going to do it.

*

　Night--Ralph signed the papers and let out a sigh.
　It was excruciating to be both the Director of Military Affairs and the Director of Finance.
　I'm getting old.
　I'm getting older, he thinks, especially these days.
　I just need a little more patience, he says, reaching for his cup.
　He sips his fragrant tea and frowns.
　It was completely cold.
　I was the one who neglected it, but I feel like I'm missing out.
　Should I re-brew it, or should I just go to bed?
　Just as I sat up to re-brew, there was a knock on the door.
　There must have been trouble.
　And it's big.
　It was an impatient banging that made it feel that way.
　Ralph sat down in his chair and straightened his residence.

'Enter!'
'Ha!　Excuse me!

　Just as he was about to say it or not, his second-in-command walked in.
　He straightened his back and saluted, but he was so crumbling that it was hard to believe he was from a military school.

'I have received a letter from the Assistant Commander of the Roy Corps!
Give me that.
Ha!

　The deputy walked up quickly and placed the letter on the desk.
　Ralph took the letter in his trembling hands.
　What in the world had happened?
　It wouldn't be a report on the defeat of the rebels.
　I have a bad feeling about this.
　A feeling I had experienced many times during the civil war.
　I'm no longer near certain.
　Still, he unfolds the letter, hoping for a little more.
　You read the letter with a sense of frustration.

"My God.

　Ralph grunted.
　His second-in-command hadn't heard anything.
　'That's probably because he's hearing it from the messenger soldiers.

'My God,'

　He muttered again.
　The letter said that the commander of the Algena Legion had been killed in action.
　It said that he had charged into the enemy field position and died in a fierce battle.

''........Why?''

　Why do you swallow the word "disobeyed the order" so quickly?
　I didn't order Arjena to die.
　That's a common soldier's job.
　I couldn't understand why he did such a nonsensical thing.
　What I didn't understand even more was Roy's suggestion.
　It's not a request for soldiers or supplies.
　We should retreat - that's what it boils down to.
　I'm hot.
　It's like fire.
　No, even fire is not enough.
　Once again, the new nobles have done us in again.
　Besides, Roy Akbens wants to retreat, leaving more than 20,000 men behind.
　What a cowardly thing to do.
　Normally, he is a big man, but when push comes to shove, this is what he does.
　Don't the old noblemen have the willpower?
　Don't you have any desire to repay the new aristocracy?
　Doesn't he want to turn on the new nobility?
　If I had known this would happen, I wouldn't have made you my assistant.
　You are useless!　You are useless!　And cursing in my mind.
　Roy Akbens has ruined it for me.
　He calls me incompetent and shady again.
　You know, this guy should have died with Arjena.
　No, maybe he killed Arjena to escape.
　It's important for a legion leader to die.
　This is the first time since the current military system was in place.
　Therefore, he may have thought that it could be a reason to recommend a retreat.
　When we finish this battle, we must investigate thoroughly--.
　Ralph leaned back and exhaled.
　Then his deputy held out a handkerchief to him.

'What is it?'
Your lips are cut, sir.

　He traces his lips with his finger at his deputy's words and sniffs the smell.
　The smell of iron.
　Apparently, I had bitten off my lip without even knowing it.
　When I pressed my mouth, my handkerchief was stained with blood.
　I had no idea the wound was so deep.

''If you don't mind, I'll get some medicine for you?
No need.

　Ralph picked up a quill and wrote on the parchment.
　He said to wait until instructed to do so.
　This would have to be obeyed.
　When it is dry, I roll it up into a tube and tie it up with a piece of string.
　And sealing wax, of course.

Bring this to the assistant legionnaire Roy.
Now?

　When Ralph held out the letter, the deputy looked as if he was puzzled.
　It's a disgusted expression.
　It's similar to the expression on the face of the nobles when they refuse orders during a civil war.
　At such times, they say it's dangerous and that they don't understand the scene.
　I know that, so I take the initiative and open my mouth.

It's now.
I understand.

　The deputy took the letter and walked out of the office.
　He looked like he wanted to say something, but he must have meant to say he couldn't.

''Well then...''

　An iron-smelling taste spreads in my mouth.
　My lips seem to be cut off again.
　Abomination, he spits, holding his mouth with his handkerchief.
　It's a shame, he says, biting his lip harder.
　Once again, the new nobleman has done me in.
　The humiliation of the past, the humiliation that was about to befall me burned my body from the inside out.

''But.........''

　We are not defeated.
　We're not defeated yet.
　We have to win.
　And there are still trump cards left in this hand.