Day 176 of the Otherworldly Summoning [Decisive Battle] Part 3:.

　Finally, the sun rose on the seventh day of the promise he had made to Princess Lupis.
　Ryoma and the others stood on the shore of the Thebes River and turned their gaze to the tip of the spear shimmering on the other side of the river.
　Out of the corner of their eye, they could see the first group led by Elena, almost crossing the Thebes River.

''There wasn't anything...''

''Oh. I thought there was going to be a night raid... I don't know what Gerhardt was going to do when he didn't attack us...

　To Saara's question, Ryoma answered while tilting his head.
　The plan was that the main army led by Duke Gerhardt would attack after repelling Cale's forces.
　However, the enemy's main force never showed its appearance, and the reinforcements led by Princess Lupis had arrived on the day they were scheduled to arrive.
　Last night, the last day of the deadline, we were on high alert for the possibility of a night attack by the enemy main force, but we came up empty.

''Maybe the rumors that Ryojin-sama spread had an effect?

It's true that those things are effective, but they don't reduce the number of enemy soldiers to zero. If we can cut down 30% of the enemy's soldiers, that's a good estimate.

　As Saara pointed out, the rumors spread by Ryoma were indeed upsetting to the peasants.
　But no matter how much, it is impossible that Gerhardt was unable to conscript the peasants at all.
　Threaten them with force.
　Fishing with money.
　If he used these forces after giving the order, the peasants would respond to the draft, even if they were unwilling to do so.
　Of course, their numbers would be reduced, but it couldn't be that there was zero at all and no one had gathered.
　Ryoma didn't doubt the effectiveness of his ploy, but at the same time, he wasn't overconfident.

''No movement in Iraklion yet?''

Yes, sir, we have a reconnaissance team on the ground. If there is any movement in the enemy, we should be notified immediately.

If they're going to attack us on the way across the river, we should be out of Iraklion by now, or we won't be able to get out of there in time...

　At Saara's answer, Ryoma nodded his head.

''If that's the case ... wouldn't the enemy want a decisive battle on the plains?

The battle...?

　Between Ryoshin and his men camped on the banks of the Thebes River and Heraklion, the headquarters of the Duke of Gerhardt, there is a wooded area and a plain between them.
　The plains, in particular, cover a considerable area, and are home to granaries that draw in tributaries of the Thebes River to produce wheat and other crops.
　Iraklion is one of the richest fiefdoms in the Kingdom of Rosalia.
　However, once it becomes a battlefield, all of that wealthy land will be reduced to ashes.
　And yet, if we analyze the current situation, Duke Gerhardt's aim is a decisive battle.
　If he misses the perfect opportunity to attack, midway through the river crossing, Gerhardt has no other plan.
　It's not a foolish plan because the plains are perfect for commanding a large army, but from the point of view of running the Roserian kingdom from now on, it will cause a great deal of damage.
　As for Ryoma, this is a story that feels quite uncomfortable.
(How does it smell?　(I mean, I get the sense that it's a bit of a chippy feeling... as if someone is manipulating this battle behind the scenes...)
　Ryoma felt the artifice of someone as he sorted out the situation.
(But ... it doesn't feel like they're trying to make Gerhardt win ... no, on the contrary, it feels like they're trying to make him lose ... what does that mean?

Ryoma-sama?

　Saara called out as she looked into Ryouma's face.

''Oh I'm sorry, I was just thinking...''

No, I'm sorry, if I'm interrupting, will you excuse me?



　As if to distract from Saara's words, Ryoma changed the topic.
(There's no need to think about that right now.......... If it doesn't put us at a disadvantage, it's better to leave it alone...)
Hiding the fact that such a loss is working in his chest, Ryoma asks Saara.

'A siege battle? ...I think there's very little chance of that happening.

　Ryoma couldn't help but smile when he heard Saara's answer.
　By the way, Ryoma hadn't considered the possibility of Gerhardt holing up in Iraklion at all.
　This is because, considering the size of the city of Iraklion, he saw that it didn't have enough troops to sustain tens of thousands of troops in addition to its citizens.
　In other words, even if they gathered an army, they didn't have the strength to sustain it.
　Ryoma saw that half a month is probably a good time to have it.

''With just the troops we have, it would be difficult to prevent Princess Lupis's army even if we holed up in Iraklion, and if we put a defensible number of troops in Iraklion, we can see that we will run out of food in just over a month.

　After all, you are short on belt and long on fire.

　If you don't gather the maximum number of troops, it is difficult to siege the city.
　But if he did, he wouldn't have enough food to feed his troops.
　In the end, the only choice Gerhardt had was to throw the maximum number of troops at the Princess Lupis in a short period of time.
　Of course, this is the same for Princess Lupis.
　Ryoma nodded deeply at Saara's answer.
　It can be said that the Malfist sisters' tactical skills have improved over the past few months.
　That was a very pleasing thing for Ryouma.
　It would increase his chances of survival.

''Ryoma-sama!　Lady Elena and 3,000 other knights have crossed the river.

All right. Elena, you'll be escorted to my tent and the rest of you will be assigned a tent to rest in.　

　After giving instructions to the knight who came to report, Ryoma returns to his own tent, accompanied by Saara.
　It's all going to happen now.




　Elena spoke admiringly to Ryoma.

'It won't be much,'

'Isn't humility a sarcastic thing sometimes?　At least I can't build it. His Royal Highness would be surprised.

　To Ryoma, who shrugged his shoulders and replied humbly, Elena showered praise on him mercilessly.

''As for me, I'm afraid I'm going to be reprimanded...''

　Hearing Ryouma's words, Elena makes a strange face.
　As far as Elena could see, there was no room for reprimand in Ryouma's achievements.
　But Ryoma was concerned about something.
　About Mikhail Bannash.

　Ryoma reported everything to Elena without hiding anything.
　It was because he thought that if he hid anything from her, he would be suspected.

''Yes ... Mikhail ...''

We haven't been able to confirm whether or not he was killed in action, but at least no one has seen him after the reconnaissance mission. Including his corpse... well, it's clear that he's disregarding orders, but Mikhail is a close associate of Princess Lupis...

　A sigh that cannot be described as either dismay or sadness escapes from Elena's mouth.

　The fact that Ryoma hadn't hidden it from her and reported on Mikhail's affairs meant that she knew exactly what Ryoma's concerns were.

　Mikhail was Ryojin's subordinate, but at the same time, he was a chaperone.
　This is a role that is desperately needed when entrusting an important role to a newcomer like Ryojin.
　You can't afford to betray the Princess of Lupis, who is in charge of your troops.
　That's why I had Mikhail, the second most loyal of Princess Lupis' vassals, after Mertina.
　That's how much Princess Lupis trusted Mikhail.
　Even though it was a self-inflicted wound for ignoring orders, he died under Ryoma's command.
　I don't know if he's alive or dead, but from what I've heard, he's not alive at all.
　So, from Princess Lupis' point of view, her own loyal vassal died because of Ryojin's fault.
　And that's better if they understand that they still died in the middle of the war.
　At worst, she might even think that Liang-jin had gotten behind the scenes and killed him.

''Do you think I'm overthinking it?''

　Elena was stuck for an answer to Ryouma's question.
　It would be easy to laugh it off as overthinking it.
　But realistically speaking, Ryouma's concern was never overthinking it.

'No but we can't not report it, can we?

'That's true... well, that's why I told Elena-san in the first place.

　If Liang Zhen set up Mikhail in a trap, the 1500 knights here would never accept Liang Zhen's command.
　To Elena, the fact that Ryojin built a bridgehead and held out until reinforcements arrived is in itself proof of Ryojin's innocence.
　But whether or not Princess Lupis would be satisfied with that is a gamble.
　Both Ryoma and Elena hadn't known Princess Lupis for very long.
　Moreover, they are both vassals of the princess.
　They have no contact with each other other other other than to sit in on meetings.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make the most out of your time with us.

The only thing you can do is to report back to me.

　Elena decided to subject herself to it.
　No matter how much you pretend to be righteous, if the party involved said it, it would sound like a lie.
　But if Elena explained the situation, even Princess Lupis wouldn't make an emotional decision.

''I'm sorry, Elena-san. Please.

　Ryoma quickly takes in Elena's intentions and leaves everything to her.

You can't just go ahead and reorganize your team.

　Elena assigned the task to Ryoma.
　It was a reason for Ryoma not to report directly to Princess Lupis.
　I'm not a fan of the fact that he was a general in the Roserian kingdom for many years.

I understand.........

　Elena sighs deeply as she watches Ryoma's back as he bows his head and leaves the tent.

''Well... how do I report this... no, rather than going directly to Princess Lupis, I'll give Mertina a once over...''

　Although it has nothing directly to do with the war, if we make a mistake in handling it here and Princess Lupis has a strange distrust of us, it could affect Ryojin's command.

''It's better to report to Mertina after all.......''

With that said, Elena headed to the pier to pick up Mertina, who was scheduled to arrive in the second group.


''Ummm........''

　A voice that was neither a sigh nor a lament escaped Mertina's mouth.

''So, it's not that I'm saying it was a mistake on your part, Ryoma.

'No, I understand that I just.....

It's just what?

　Elena's speech becomes stronger as well at Mertina's simmering reply.

''No, Mikhail is someone who has served as the princess's guardian knight since childhood... and to be honest, he has a deeper connection to the princess than I do...''

　Elena's complexion changes at Mertina's words.
　It's because it's just as Ryoma feared.

''Do you still suspect Ryoma-kun?''

No, I don't think so... if I explain the situation, Princess Lupis will not take her anger out on Mikoshiba, even if she is sad...

　Mertina immediately dismissed Elena's concerns.
　Even Mertina couldn't afford to let her distrust of Princess Lupis grow stronger now.
　It was all due to Mikoshiba Ryoma's trickery.

"Then would it be better to leave it to you to report to the princess, rather than me?

Yes, Your Highness. I will turn this matter over to Your Highness.

　Mertina nodded in response to Elena's question.

　
　It was late in the night, and all 23,000 troops led by Princess Lupis had finished crossing the Thebes River.
　The tent of the camp was added by Ryoshin's command and is receiving the new inhabitants.
　Princess Lupis was in one of those newly added tents.

''........Mikhail......''

　Mikhail's name escapes her mouth as she sits down on the crummy bed where the royals sleep.

'Mikhail you weren't supposed to protect me for any length of time...'

　When Princess Lupis heard from Mertina that Mikhail was no longer alive, memories of her childhood with Mikhail flashed through her mind.
　Princess Lupis had tears like pearls running down her eyes.

　After receiving the report from Mertina, Princess Lupis desperately suppressed her outpouring of emotions.
　Her responsibilities as a princess refused to blame Ryojin.
　In fairness as a king, there was nothing wrong with Ryojin's command.
　The person to blame is Mikhail, who disregarded orders and caused five hundred losses.
　I understand that.
　In my head.
　But a part of me, as a human being, rejects such rational judgment.
　As a result, Princess Lupis ended up leaving dinner early and hiding in her tent.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make the most out of your time in the event that you're unable to do so.

''Ah........Mikhail.......you said you would take me as your wife.......''

　A mere knight cannot marry the royal Princess Lupis, and she herself did not really want to do so.
　It's a verbal promise that is close to a childhood play.
　But the memories that are usually relegated to a corner of your mind and never remembered, but in a situation like this, they come up one after another.

'You said you would always protect me...'

　To Princess Lupis, along with Mertina, Mikhail is the most loyal and trusted vassal.
　It was he who advised her to stand up to the tyranny of General Hodram.
　If the same woman, Mertina, was a sister, Mikhail was like an elder brother or father to Princess Lupis.
　The grief of losing her may be deeper than when her own parents, King Falst II, died.
　It's not that they were estranged, but because they were king and princess before they were father and daughter, they were unable to develop an affectionate relationship with their flesh and blood.

'Huh. I'm sure you are quite sad as I thought. ''Your Highness Lupis.''

　Suddenly, a man's voice came from behind Princess Lupis.

''Who!　Assassins? ...there's no one there! Somebody!

　Princess Lupis screams out in a split-second decision.
　It's unclear how she got into the tent, but there should be guardian knights around.
　If they heard her scream, they should have jumped in immediately.
　But no matter how long you wait, there is no sign of the guardian knight jumping in from the entrance of the tent.

''It's useless, your highness. I have used my legal skills to get you all to sleep for a bit.

　Hearing the man's words, Princess Lupis' brain begins to comprehend the situation.
　She pulled out the sword that was propped up on the bed and released it.

''You're not an assassin ... what do you want?''

　It may seem like a prickly thing to say and do, but Princess Lupis was serious.
　No assassin would ever put words to her like this.
　But that doesn't mean he won't harm her.
　She wasn't going to relax her guard until the man's purpose was clear.

''Objective........well.

　Hearing the man's words, Princess Lupis' nerves relaxed.

'What do you mean? Who the hell are you anyway? How did you get here?

　The man reveals his hooded face in response to Princess Lupis' question.

　''I'm sorry for my mistake. My name is Sudo, Sudo Akitake.

　Sudo bowed his head as he said that.
　It was a sign of no hostility.