*

　The white light characteristic of magic items illuminates the tunnels and the men who work there.
　The five men are silently wielding a pickaxe.
　Of course, they don't just wield the pickaxe.
　The men do more than just swing a pickaxe; they also remove the earth from the surface and reinforce the tunnels with lumber.
　This is how they are digging the tunnels.
　It's hot," Robert muttered to himself and wiped the sweat off his hands.
　It was hot, humid, smelly, and stifling in the tunnels.
　He used a bellows to keep the air from going sour, but he wasn't sure how effective it was.
　It would be much easier if I could use my divine magic - but I'm not sure.
　A parachute sound is heard and my men stop moving.
　It's the sound of soil falling.
　More sounds are heard--.

"O Mother God of Yellow Earth and Fertility.

　Robert touched the walls of the mine and prayed to God.
　He increased the strength of the mine with divine magic.
　The effect was immediate.
　The sound stopped and his men let out a breath of relief.

'I thought you were going to be buried alive.
Don't worry about that.

　Robert is a divine wizard of the Mother Goddess, the ochre and fertility controller.
　He can not only prevent the mine from collapsing, but he can also take his men with him if he's buried alive.
　As long as they remain conscious, that is.

But it's not a good idea to let the tunnel collapse. I'll reinforce it at shorter intervals.
Well, no, no, I'll go tell the guys out there.

　One of my men comes forward.
　He is a young man with an innocent face.
　In fact, he is the youngest of the five.

''Yes. No, wait.

　Robert nodded and stopped the young man who was about to leave with the leftover dirt.
　He reached for his porch.
　It would be easy to contact the outside world with the magic item for communication - but.

'No, go.'
''- - Oh!　I understand.

　Robert gave permission, and his men headed out with a mindlessly light step.
　Two or three minutes passed--

'Kindly,'
Don't say that. He's the youngest. You have to take care of him, or he'll fall down.
Look out for us, too.
Okay. Let's take a pause until he comes back.
"Heh, thank you very much.

　My men rested their hands.
　They sat there or leaned against a pickaxe and started talking.

'But then again, I wonder if tunnel tactics are really being used.
I know it's not your day job, but it's too hard.
'I thought I could dig a little easier...'
Can't we just use the divine art of digging?

　Robert chuckled as one of his subordinates gave him an expectant look.

''I don't want the Imperial City's Divine Majesty Magician to detect it, you know.
Can a divine warrior go to such lengths?
Of course.

　Robert nodded.
　But no one should be paying attention to him.
　About a week ago, the imperial army used a massive divine threat technique.
　If you are a divine Majesty Artist, you will turn your attention to that.
　However, things are not absolute.
　You should pay as much attention as possible.

''After digging all the way to this point, is this method correct?''
I don't know.

　Robert answered his subordinate's question after a short pause.

'I don't know, Captain Robert,'
I don't blame you.

　His subordinate says in a pathetic voice, and Robert returns it with a bit of miffedness.
　He studied agriculture in the Imperial City's 'Yellow Earth Temple' and has military experience.
　He has also been involved in the management of the territory as a family commander of the Baron Ekron family.
　But...

I've never dug tunnels before.
" " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " "

　Robert muttered, and his men gasped.
　They looked around, looking around with their own eyes.

Yeah, it's okay, right?
She's going in the right direction. She'll figure it out.
'I thought it was weird.

　The subordinate grunted.
　No wonder you think so.
　Every time there's a problem, work is stopped and two tunnels have collapsed.
　This is the only place where it's safe.
　If only someone with more experience had been there to help, the digging would have gone more smoothly," he said.

It's a rather large group, though.
Don't say that.
I know.

　His men chuckled.
　The reason why no one has any experience digging tunnels on the southern frontier is because the Roux were in the Areos Mountains.
　It's not easy, but we can't survey resources in enemy territory.
　But we can't search for resources in enemy territory any more.
　The Areos Mountains are treated as an autonomous region of the Roux, although they are no longer in enemy territory.
　They won't kill you without question, but it's not a place you can casually drop in on.
　Furthermore, the lords of the southern frontier, including Canaan, are too cautious.
　They plan to gradually increase their interactions and eventually conduct a joint resource survey.
　I don't disagree with Robert.
　No, there are times when we feel that our methods are too circuitous.
　But we were at odds with each other.
　With that in mind, there's no such thing as being too careful.

"But it's still barbaric--
Roux.
'Times have changed, haven't they, that we have to care about the Roux?

　Robert corrected him, and his men restated.

'When we were kids, we were disciplined that the bad boys would be kidnapped by the Roux.
""Oh,"

　When one of his men said this, the other faces raised their voices.
　It would be a reaction that only someone from the southern frontier could have.
　Robert remembers it too.

'And yet I never thought I'd see the day when I'd fall in love with you.
Infatuation?
He's one of Lord Gaul's men.

　Robert parroted, and his man said in a disgusted tone.

'Normally he's a twat, but when it's just the two of us, he spoils me, or he's having a baby, or, well, you know. Totally, why do I have to listen to him talk about his love life?

　The last part of his tone was a blur.
　He was not happy, but his men seemed to be doing well.

'I can't wait to get married too,'
I thought they'd cackle at me when I became a soldier.
Fool, he can see right through you.
I don't care who you are, as long as you like me.

　Everyone seems to have a surprisingly strong desire to get married.
　Speaking of surprising--

There's a lot of socializing going on here.
No Captain Robert?
"I have a certain amount of contact with Lord Gaul, but...

　Robert slurred his words.
　As someone who knows his suffering, I simply don't envy him.
　Frankly, I can't encourage my men to marry a Roux man, either.
　I want to help them as much as I can, but I can see the hardships they will face.

'It would have been better if the times were a little more peaceful.
Well yes.

　A subordinate muttered and Robert agreed.
　Gaul is trying to use this battle to carve out a future for his children.
　Will it be the right thing to do?
　I don't know.
　But I do hope that his determination will be rewarded.

''We'll have to work hard.
Yes, because I'm sick and tired of hearing love stories again.

　Robert muttered, and his men gave a small smile.

'Report. There's movement in the Imperial supply corps.''

　A muffled voice echoed in the mine.
　It's the voice of a subordinate who is monitoring the movements of the Imperial Guard.
　Robert pulls a communication magic item from his pouch and holds it close to his mouth.

'This is Robert. What are your movements?
"The vast majority of them are dead bodies.
A body?
Yes, a wounded soldier who was brought in yesterday.

　A spiteful voice rang out.
　Robert felt the same way.
　Even though he was discharged many years ago, he was an Imperial soldier.
　I can't say it, but I have my own thoughts about it.

''Also, five cavalrymen have headed west.
Okay.

　Robert responded briefly and coughed lightly.

'Report from Robert. Five cavalrymen, headed west. Captain Kane and Gaul, please respond.
"This is Kane. You're a cavalryman, you're a nobleman.
'I can't say for sure, but it's very likely. I'd like to take him prisoner if possible.
I'd like to say yes, but if you're going to make me a prisoner of war, I'll just let you walk by on your way out. We want to have a good distance between us so that we can't escape easily, and there may not be only five scouts.
I see, indeed.

　Robert gave a small nod.

'I mean, Lord Gaul will intercept you.
'Well, I suppose so. So, how's Gaul's husband?
"I don't care if we intercept them, but I don't want my men to be uncomfortable.
"Wherever possible...
"Limit wear and tear is a priority.

　Princess Tilia interrupted Robert's words.
　I freaked out.
　I didn't expect her to interrupt the conversation.
　But come to think of it, Princess Tilia can hear the conversation too.
　It's strange to think that she doesn't barge in.

''I recommend surrender, and if you still resist, I will kill you.''
That's fine.
"Thank you.

　Gaul speaks a word of thanks.

'....Robert.'
Ha!

　When Tilia called his name, Robert reflexively straightened up.

'I'm sorry to interrupt you,'
No, you've been very helpful.

　It was honest.
　The chain of command in the Southern Frontier Army is vague in places.
　The hierarchical relationship is still difficult to establish, but the horizontal relationship is difficult.

''It would be nice to hear that. Then I'll return to my role as a listener. I'm sorry to impose various roles on you, but I'm counting on you.
'Ha!　Leave it to me!

　Robert raised his voice.

'Then take care of both of you.
I'm on it.
Yeah, I'm on it.

　Kane responds lightly and Gaul replies in a low voice.
　Robert tucked the communication magic item into his pouch.

*

　Gaul hides in the shadows of the grass and has the Imperial cavalry.
　No, let's wait for them to come back, exactly.
　The imperial cavalry has already passed by Gaul and the others.
　I didn't feel alive at that time.
　Just remembering it makes me break out in a nasty sweat.
　This is not a fight for me.
　I told myself that this was a battle to carve out a future, and I managed to endure it.
　But if the imperial cavalry approached me - I probably wouldn't have been able to withstand it.
　I must have been in an emotional outburst and attacked them, spear in hand.
　I am acutely aware of my own inexperience - and by extension, my father's greatness.
　My father has the two names of 'Iron Wall'.
　He was so called because he defeated the Holy Argo Kingdom's army on numerous occasions.
　To be honest, I didn't like my father's two names.
　A knight - a nobleman is one who defeats his enemies.
　And yet, it is shameful to be skilled in surpassing your enemies.
　I've felt that way since I was fighting for my father, or even before that.
　How foolish I was.
　Gaul carried fifty lives on his back, horribly drained after waiting just a few hours.
　My father had twenty times as many lives, or perhaps hundreds or even thousands if you included the surrounding territory.
　He has carried countless lives on his back and has been fighting for decades.
　I can understand that feat now, and I can understand why it was so hard on me.
　Really, I hate it.
　I always find myself understanding what's important to me later on.

"...Captain Gaul.
What?

　Gaul turned his gaze to his subordinate next to him.
　His face was smeared with mud, and only his eyes glowed.

「戻ってきませんね」
「前回の襲撃で糧秣を失ったからな。遠くまで見回っているのだろう」
「ああ、なる――」
「伏せろ」

　ガウルは部下の言葉を遮り、部下の頭に軽く触れた。
　そのまま地面に伏せる。
　帝国軍の騎兵が戻ってきたのだ。
　徐々にスピードを緩める。
　街道に石がばらまかれているためだ。
　通信用マジックアイテムを口元に近づける。

「まず、俺が仕掛ける。俺が仕掛けたら退路を塞いで囲め。降伏するのであれば捕虜にしろ、抵抗する素振りを見せたら殺せ。繰り返す、降伏するのであれば捕虜として扱え。抵抗する素振りを見せたら殺せ」
『『『……了解』』』

　低く押し殺したような声が返ってくる。
　前回と同じようにガウルは隊を四班に分けた。
　やがて、騎兵が完全に動きを止める。

「……ガウル隊長」
「まだだ。まだ早い」

　騎兵は石をどけるために馬から下りるはずだ。
　自分ならばそうするが、このまま進む可能性もゼロではない。
　石の密度は大丈夫だっただろうかと不安が湧き上がる。
　大丈夫なはずだ。
　何度も確認した。
　だが、不安は膨れ上がる一方だ。
　攻めるべきか、待つべきか。
　選択肢は二つしかないのにいざ選ぶとなると難しい。
　いっそのこと走り去ってくれればとさえ思う。
　その時だ。
　騎兵が馬から下りた。
　ただし、一騎だけだ。
　他の四騎は周囲を警戒している。

「ガウルた――」

　部下は最後まで言い切ることができなかった。
　ガウルがすでに立ち上がり、槍を投擲する姿勢を取っていたからだ。
　気付けないほどスムーズな動きだったのだろう。
　正直にいえばガウルも驚いていた。
　これほどスムーズに動けるとは自分でも思っていなかったのだ。
　これならばアルヘナやロイ――近衛騎士団長と互角以上に戦えるはずだ。
　体が動く。
　槍は一直線に進み、騎兵の首を貫いた。
　一、二、三、四――十秒が経過し、首を貫かれた騎兵が頽れる。
　いや、頽れかけたというべきか。
　槍が支えになり、中腰のような姿勢で動きを止めていたのだから。
　さらに五秒が経過し、四騎の騎兵が馬首を巡らせる。

「二班、三ぱ――ッ！」

　ガウルは最後まで指示を出せなかった。
　二班と三班は驚くほど迅速に騎兵の背後に回り込み、槍衾を形成してみせたのだ。
　かつて所属していた第二近衛騎士団に勝るとも劣らない早業だった。
　勝ち目がないと悟ったのだろう。
　四騎の騎兵は完全に動きを止めている。
　ガウルは四騎の騎兵に歩み寄った。
　もちろん、油断はしない。
　隙を見せれば襲い掛かってくるに違いない。
　街道に出て、身を曝す。
　近づきすぎただろうか。
　いや、弱腰では舐められる。
　こちらが圧倒的に優位に立っていると理解させなければならない。
　胸を張り、騎兵を見据える。

「俺の名はガウル！　第二近衛騎士団団長タウル・エルナト伯爵の息子だッ！　偽帝アルフォートを討つため、帝国の未来のためこの戦いに参加している！」

　ガウルが声を張り上げると、四騎の騎兵は目配せし合った。

「諸君らに降伏を勧告する！　馬から下り、武装を解除せよッ！　降伏するのであれば捕虜として扱う！　抵抗するのであれば……斬るッ！」

　ガウルは剣を抜き放ち、地面に切っ先を突き立てた。

「返答や――」

　またしてもガウルは最後まで言い切れなかった。
　四人の一人が剣を地面に落としたのだ。
　驚きのあまり目を見開く。

「分かった。降伏する」

　Dropping his sword, the horseman dismounted from his horse and raised his hands.
　The three remaining men followed suit.
　They dropped their swords and got off their horses.
　I thought it was a trap, but apparently it wasn't.

"I'm going to hold you until we can be sure you are not carrying a concealed weapon. No offense.
It's inevitable. It's what we do.

　As Gaul gave him a look, four groups of soldiers stepped up and tied up the cavalrymen.
　It's a faltering motion.
　It would have taken longer if the opponents hadn't been cooperative.

'Surprising?'
Well, yeah.

　The cavalryman said mischievously, and Gaul replied, slightly miffed.
　We were able to take the four men prisoner without sacrificing anything.
　It was the best we could do.
　─ The captain is going to kill me.

The captain told us to surrender if we were about to be killed.
Do you have the right to blabber?
He wants me to surrender. I've already told you that I can talk to you.

　The cavalryman lightly cowered his shoulders.
　What about this attitude after his companion was killed?
　I have a feeling that it would be better to cut them down.
　But he just declared that if you don't resist, he'll treat you as a prisoner of war.
　If I cut down with this, it would be a badge of honor.
　It's a good thing that he's speaking incessantly.
　I'm sure you'll find some useful information.

This time the shipment was for shovels and tools.
Are you still a nobleman?
You're the third boy. Honestly, I just don't want to be tortured to death with a bunch of bullshit.

　I see, Gaul almost nodded.
　If that's the kind of situation, he would speak in a berating manner.

I've cooperated with you, so I want two meals a day. You'll be able to sunbathe and bathe in the hot water, even if it's supervised.
All right. I'll do what I can.
Please.

　Gaul let out a sigh and scanned his men.

'Groups three and four, take the prisoners away.
Ha!

　The captains of the three and four groups straightened up and replied, and then the four cavalrymen - the prisoners - were taken away.
　Gaul looked away from the prisoners in dismay.
　He killed one of them, but he feels that he didn't have to.

'Captain Gaul, well, I think we should report...'
"-Oh!

　A subordinate called out to me and I came to myself.
　I was stunned by what was happening, but we were still on a mission.
　Besides, the real mission is the supply team.
　I take out my communication magic item and hold it close to my mouth.

"This is Gaul. "This is Gaul, I have killed one of the scouts and taken four prisoners.
It's Tyria. Gaul, what happened?
No damage.
"Well, good job.

　I suppose I should be impressed, but I'm not impressed at all now.

'What's wrong?'
No damage was done to us, but it appears that we have been instructed to surrender.
"...what do you mean?

　Princess Tilia answered after a short pause.
　Her confusion was palpable.

''It's Kane. You're deliberately trying to overload the logistics by becoming a prisoner of war, aren't you?''
"Oh, I see.

　Tilia said in a convincing tone.

''What are you going to do, Princess?''
"It's no fun to play along with the enemy. Got any more information?
The supply party will be carrying shovels and tools.
....

　Princess Tilia fell silent.

''Aside from the strengthening of the enemy's camp, it hurts to be used to attack the imperial camp.''
"Please conclude.

　Caine rushes Princess Tyria.

'Attack in moderation and retreat.
Do I need to be the judge of that?
"Of course.
Copy that. We will attack to avoid playing into the hands of the enemy.
I'm counting on you.
I'm on it.

　Kane undertakes a light tone.
　I wanted to tell him to take it a little more seriously, but Kane is Crono's man.
　He had no authority to complain.
　Besides, Crono had allowed this kind of attitude to happen.
　There must be some thoughts that Gaul doesn't understand.

'Gaul's husband can go back to his base, man.
Don't be a fool. I'll fight you.
"If we take the prisoners, we'll have 30 or 40 men, right?　It's hard to hold them back with just a few men, and if they try too hard, they'll surrender to you and ask you to take them prisoner.
Okay.

　After thinking for a while, Gaul decided to accept Kane's proposal.
　It's true that the number of troops was reduced because of bringing in the prisoners, and we can't stand in the way of Kane and the others.
　Moreover, our own objectives still lie ahead.

'You'll be saved.'
It's nothing to thank.

　Gaul tucked the magic item for communication into his pouch.
　He laid the dead cavalryman down beside him and pulled out his spear.

'What do we do with the body?'
Leave it. If there's a body here, they'll hurry it up. Team one, team two, we're going back to the base!

　As Gaul started to walk away, his men followed somewhat later.