Day 174 of the Otherworld Summoning [Decisive Battle] Part 1:

''Ryoma-sama are you sure you can trust me?''

Oh? ...Are you talking about Gen'o and the others?

Saying that, Ryoma draws the sword in his hand and releases it.

''How's that?'' It has a nice glow to it, don't you think?

Ryoma didn't answer Laura's question, but watched the sword glow.

''Ryoma-sama!''

'What? Are you that unhappy?

Ryoma could only ask while he was fed up with Laura's swordplay.

''Yes ... they are assassins who came to assassinate Ryouma-sama, right? When will I betray you....

You knew I was going to do this, didn't you? I was going to make you swim from the beginning and well, my plans got screwed up.

'Don't say that! Is it really your sword?

Laura's eyes lifted and stabbed at the sword Gen'o had offered to Ryojin.

'Ma! It's not irrelevant! Sure.

Ryouma admitted without taking offense.
It's a topic that can't be faked.

'Besides, those guys came back on time neatly, right?

If you say so, even as Laura, I can't say it any stronger than that.
It's a very good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

It's a very good thing that you can't get away from the fact that you can't get away from the fact that you can't get away from the fact that you can't get away with it.
Not only Laura Saara, but also Rionne and Volz protested vehemently, but Ryoma didn't listen to them.
It's not clear if they really want to work for you or not, but at least they don't think there's any chance that they'll flee somewhere else.
It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you want to do with it, because it's a good idea to stay with your target, Ryoma.

''That's true, but........''

Laura's face still had a hint of frustration on it even after hearing Ryoma's words.
Perhaps it was inevitable.
The Malfist sisters have become more loyal to Ryojin through the nearly half a year of working with him.
It's not simply a matter of blind obedience to Ryojin.
They think and act by their own will.
They respect Ryojin's will and will not do anything that would harm him, but the sisters are willing to offer admonitions and advice.
This is because they understand that the person named Mikoshiba Ryoma, even though he is a strong and wise man, is not an invincible hero.
(I don't care if he hates me.
Yes, they are imposing this on themselves.
And Ryoma also understands their hearts.
That's why Ryoma trusts them.

I understand Laura's concerns, and I think that's right. But in a pure sense the only hand-piece I can trust is you guys........you understand that, don't you?

I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this.
It's not a good idea to be able to be optimistic about your own situation, Laura and Saara are fully aware that the situation they are in is not an optimistic one.

''But........if you say you can't trust them, aren't they the same as those guys?''

The knights entrusted by Princess Lupis and the assassin who came to kill her.
In Laura's eyes, the knights entrusted by Princess Lupis still seemed to be more trustworthy.
That was the same opinion as Saara, who was showing Sakuya and Geno inside the camp.
It was the same as being untrustworthy, but the knights wouldn't try to harm Ryojin if it weren't for Princess Lupis' orders.
But their own master, Ryojin, seemed to have the exact opposite concerns as Laura.
They are just saying that Gen Ou and his friends are more trustworthy than the knights.

'Same, just Laura you have one misunderstanding... well, that's okay. I'll make it a homework assignment and come back to me when you find out.

Homework...?

'Oh, you should think about it with Saara and Rionne and... oh! No bolts. That one looks like it knows what it means.

Ryoma recently started saying this to make Laura and the others think.
Since there are only a few pawns, the only way to get them to think is to raise the power of each one of them.
Making students think about the reasons for Ryoma's actions was a way to kill two birds with one stone that would not only teach them to think, but would also help them to understand the person that was Mikoshiba Ryoma.
And as you might expect from a man with long experience in life, Boltz has a lot of wisdom.
I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work for you.

The first thing that comes to mind is the fact that it's really not because of that sword?

Laura's eyes linger on Ryoma's hand again.

'Huh you don't trust me that much? I........I'm not so simple as to trust you just because you got a single sword like this one, you know?

Ryoma shakes his head, oh dear.
But Laura's chase doesn't stop.
Laura's sarcasm explodes when she sees the spear propped up in the corner of the tent.

''As I recall, wasn't that spear also offered by those people?

It's not just a matter of time before you'll be able to get a good idea of what you're looking for.
The spears commonly used in the western continent are mostly straight-tipped, like the blade of a sword.
There is also a weapon that looks like an axe blade attached to the side of the spearhead called the halberd, the spearhead.
But I've never seen a spear with hooks on both sides of the blade.
If you look closely, it looks like there is some kind of iron tube covering the handle.

It's a good thing that you have a jumonji tube spear as well, but I don't trust you just because you gave me something. Is it true?　

It's a good thing that you can't get away with it.
The more excuses you make for yourself, the more you'll be in a ditch.

'Well, that's fine. If this is a decision you've thought about, Ryoma-sama, we have no objection to it.

After saying that, Laura bowed to Ryoma and left the tent.

There are no more words that Laura should say to Ryoma.
Even if the worst happens and Ryoma is tricked, Laura and the others are already prepared for it.
They are already prepared to defend themselves, even if it means using themselves as a shield to protect Ryoma.


''Did I offend you?''

Ryoma, who was left alone in the tent, muttered.
Lately, I've noticed that Laura and Saara are somehow similar to my cousin Asuka.
They are just like Ryouma when he expresses his opinions.

''Look........it's true that I'm fascinated by the things you gave me.......''

In fact, the sword that Gen'o presented to me was even better than I expected.
The sword is thicker than usual, and it's long enough to be used on the battlefield.
It's the right length for use in battle.
What makes me even happier than the gift is that Ryouma took care of the sword in his daily life and sharpened it after use.
Ryouma himself does not have the skills to sharpen and resharpen the blade to fill in the missing pieces, let alone daily maintenance.
And he needed a specialist to sharpen the blade.
If you use a blade, the blade will be chipped, and if you cut someone, the oil and blood will reduce the sharpness of the blade.
The handle of a sword is wrapped with a thread called hilt thread to prevent it from slipping, but if you cut a person, blood will drip down to the hilt thread.
The blood rots the hilt.
I don't care about the beauty of the blade print or the workmanship of the sword's flange, but I can't go into battle with a sword that has lost its sharpness.
It is not important what the beauty of the blade print or the workmanship of the sword is, but it is impossible to go into battle with a sword that has lost its sharpness.
It's not just a matter of time before you'll be able to get your hands on a new one.

It's not just a matter of time before you find yourself in the middle of the night.

When I heard Gen-O's wish, Ryoma offered this sword as a condition of exchange.
It was an idea that came to him when he saw the sword that Sakuya had, but he offered something even more superior than he had imagined.

''Ma! That doesn't mean I believed it, though...

I'm grateful to him for offering me a sword and spear in itself.
The art of warfare that Ryoushin learned from his grandfather uses swords and spears.
It's not impossible to apply it with the spears and swords from the earth world, but it's still easier to fight with the swords and jumji tube spears that you are familiar with.
However, Ryojin is not so naive as to trust Geno just because he gave you something.
(Well, now we just have to pray that they don't do anything unnecessary until the end of the battle with Duke Gerhardt............The question is how well that strategy works. (Princess Lupis's arrival is in two days and the battle will be fought soon....

Ryoma didn't believe in God.
But right now, he wanted to pray for something.
For victory in the upcoming battle with Duke Gerhardt.
The sunset of this day was slowly sinking into the horizon.


''Have you finished organizing!

His angry voice echoed in Lord Gerhardt's office today.
After Cale's heavy defeat, Lord Gerhardt had issued a mobilization order to all of the noble factions.
In addition to the 30,000 or so originally gathered in Iraklion, he had sent a notice to the aristocrats who were preparing to go to war in his territory, and he was going to gather them.
The deadline for his strict order was two days.
But the gathering of the aristocrats was worse than expected.
No, the problem was not only with the nobles.

''No. That was taking longer than expected...''

The second-in-command at the side reports that Gerhardt's anger is ready to rain down on his head.

'Nonsense! What the hell are you doing? It's already been three days since you gave the order. I don't care if you threaten the highborn! Tell them to pack up their troops and get them into Iraklion by the end of tomorrow!

''Well it's not just the noblemen who are in trouble...''

The second-in-command was desperate to bite back.
If he couldn't take orders halfway and carry them out, he would have to take responsibility for himself.
If he didn't tell the Lord that he couldn't do what he couldn't do, his own head could fly off.

'What do you mean! What's the matter with you!

At Gerhardt's words, the second-in-command explained the problem in a fearful way.
It was a far more serious problem than Gerhardt had expected.


(What the hell is going on here!) Why don't these peasants want to fight? (Even though I've promised to take all the equipment of the enemy I've defeated!
After being briefed on the situation by his second-in-command, Gerhardt dismissed them all and sat down deep in his chair in the office.
(No........I know what caused it. It's that man's fault.......)

Mikoshiba Ryoma's name comes to Gerhardt's mind.
The explanation he received from his second in command was this.

Gerhardt's total army was 60,000 as Cale had caused 5,000 losses.
This is the number of peasants conscripted from all of Gerhardt's direct fiefdoms and the aristocracy of which he is an ally.
The problem here is that Heraklion doesn't have the production capacity to sustain 60,000 troops.
No, probably no city can permanently stake out an army of 60,000 men.
Well, a country as large as the Oltmere Empire is different, but at least within the cities of Rosellia, it's impossible.
In other words, they can only use all of their 60,000 troops for a limited amount of time.
And now, Gerhardt issued a general mobilization order to attack Liangzhen with a mere 2,000 troops.
The reason for this is because he believes that Princess Lupis will use Liangzhen's bridgehead protection system to attack him.
If you are going to engage in a full-scale battle with Princess Lupis, it is natural that you would want to crush the annoying Ryoujin in front of you first.
I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work.
The reason for this is because of the rumors that have been circulating among the farmers.
It had spread to the surrounding rural and noble lands, with Iraklion at the center.

(Fool of Cale! (You're interrupting me here too!

Gerhardt was poisoned in his mind.
If he was in front of you, you could cut him down with his hands.
That's how angry he was.

As many as five thousand of the seven thousand people who had been killed in the flood that Ryōshin had concocted had disappeared.
This fact was exaggerated and swept through Iraqi Kurilion.

Hey! You know what? Master Cale says he lost!

Yeah. Whatever it is, you're talking about being outnumbered by nearly four times as many as the enemy, right?

'I know! I've heard that most of the troops you commanded have been killed.

Oh, oh, boy...

Hey? Do you know the name of the enemy's commander?

'Oh! It seems that whatever it is, it's called Mikoshiba Ryoma, a bloodless demon!

What's that? A demon? It's ridiculous!

'Idiot! Don't give me that bullshit! I'll tell you what, he drowned his men by flooding the Thebes!

'Really? ...what would be the point of using magic if you used it? What's that? No. Can a human do that?

That's why it's the devil!

Such rootless rumors spread irresponsibly.
The rumors that Ryojin would laugh at if he heard them, but the peasants couldn't laugh at them, because the devil was their enemy.
The reason being that the devil was their enemy.

''Hey ... isn't that a bad idea?

Yeah. They say they have no mercy for their enemies...

Did you hear about all those prisoners being killed?

Facts and lies become a single false image, changing Ryojin's image into a demon.
This is a mobilization order in the midst of such rumors.
Unless they were so deadly, no one would volunteer to be a soldier on their own.
As a result, the number gathered under Gerhardt was about 30,000 despite the order to mobilize all of them.


''d*mn!''

Words of resentment came out of Gerhardt's mouth.
The situation was getting worse than Gerhardt had expected.
He strictly ordered his second in command to send knights to the rural areas to forcibly scrounge up troops, but the planned figure of 60,000 would not be very collected.



If they were to be forced, they might abandon the village and run away.
That's how widespread the fear of the name Mikoshiba Ryoma was.
In terms of the quality of their troops, they are far from being a match for the Knights led by Princess Lupis.
The only way to beat them is by sheer numbers.
You can't get that many soldiers.

"Don't tell me...this isn't all the enemy's plan...is it?

An ominous assumption comes to Gerhardt's mind.
The fact that Cale lost is in itself an abomination, but it's true.
But why are such details being spread among the citizens?
The situation is too unfavorable for Gerhardt.
If it was a coincidence, he would want to strangle God.
But what if it's inevitable?
What if they had applied a larger perspective to the plan than just blocking 7,000 men?
What if it wasn't simply about drowning enemy soldiers in water?
And what if the person who started this rumor was Mikoshiba Ryoma?

'No it can't be ... it's not ... it's not possible ... it's not going to happen! ........Then it's like a real demon with clairvoyance!

Gerhardt desperately shook off the fear that came to his mind.
But his heart was definitely filled with fear of the person named Mikoshiba Ryoma.
And that would later change Mikoshiba Ryoma's fate.