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Madan no Ou to Vanadis - Volume 14 - Chapter 3.2




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“──Your Majesty, I’m greatly obliged for your generous, high evaluation. For the sake of Your Majesty, who kindly refers to someone like me as comrade-in-arms, I shall vow here and now that I will display a fighting style that doesn’t put shame to my name as War Princess. Besides, there exists a deep, fateful connection between me and Muozinel.” (Lyudmila)

For Mila as well as for Regin this was an important scene. Regin demonstrated to her soldiers the value of Zhcted’s troops as comrades-in-arms for Brune and the firmness of the bond between Brune and Zhcted. Mila responded to that while observing decorum.
──The atmosphere has clearly changed…
Mila sensitively perceived that the looks towards her are now different.
Until this morning there were still many soldiers of Brune that regarded her as an outsider, but that has stopped now. Of course it’s possible that it’s a temporary phenomenon, but she was still grateful.
Next Regin calls out to Lim who’s standing next to Mila.

“Limalisha-dono. Eleonora-dono has been relying on you, her representative. As I believe there are many hardships in staying on foreign soil, please frankly tell me if there’s anything worrying you. I consider you a comrade-in-arms as well, after all.” (Regin)

As one would expect, Lim tried to go down on her knees, but that was prevented by Regin. Lim took Regin’s hand while reluctantly standing, and lowered her head deeply.

“Those words are wasted on someone like me. Your Majesty, I shall devote my meager abilities to meet Your Majesty’s expectations and to not damage the name of my mistress.” (Limalisha)

Lim’s tone was one that didn’t feel as dispassionate as usual. It was actually tinged with a faint nervousness.
Regin responded to the soldiers by raising her hand slightly, and walked away with a slow stride after showing herself to those behind the wall ─ inside the castle town. Her departure was accompanied by a cheering filled with the soldiers’ zeal, ruling the area atop the walls.

“I cannot lose to this.” (Lyudmila)

Mila sighs in admiration while pressing her hands against her waist. Once she sees the exaltation of the soldiers, she ends up believing that this capital won’t fall, no matter how much the Muozinel army might attack it. It’s not just Brune’s soldiers whose morale had been boosted. Same can be said for Zhcted’s soldiers, too.

“I’m truly astonished. I certainly can’t believe that all of it had been premeditated, though.” (Limalisha)

Lim absentmindedly stares in the direction Regin had left. Same as Mila, the impression she harbored about Regin was based on the one from two years ago. It seems that she had to greatly revise her perception.
By the way, their conversation can only be heard by the two, seeing as any quiet sounds were drowned out by the soldiers’ frenzy. Mila shrugs her shoulders, and calmly answers,

“It probably amounts to half-half. There’s no doubt that we will need every single soldier. If I had been in her position, I would be dancing in joy if I had heard that two war princesses are going to participate in the war.” (Mila)

“Lyudmila-sama dancing in joy….?” (Limalisha)

Lim knitted her eyebrows, apparently unable to imagine such a scene. Mila smiles wryly and say, “It’s just a figurative speech.”

“Anyway, seeing that I have put up such a scene, I can’t act unsightly. I have to display great efforts befitting someone who’s called War Princess, don’t I?” (Lyudmila)

“I will also assist you. For the sake of Eleonora-sama and also Lord Tigrevurmud.” (Limalisha)

Mila looked at Lim with a puzzled expression upon her words. Just now Lim had lined up the names of Elen and Tigre in a very natural manner, but I wonder whether she knows about their relationship.

“Lyudmila-sama, is there something on my face…?” (Limalisha)

Lim looks bewildered when suddenly being intently stared at. Mila hesitated, but in the end asked with a teasing expression and tone,

“Limalisha. I wonder, what do you think of Tigre?” (Lyudmila)

Mila has promised Tigre and Elen that she won’t disclose to anyone that they were a couple. That’s why this question, but Lim’s reaction was easy to understand for Mila.

“Lord Tigrevurmud, you ask?” (Limalisha)

Lim fails at trying to create her usual unsocial expression. Her blue eyes are shifting left and right, as if looking for an answer, and she needed a span of around two breaths to give a passable response.

“He’s an important person in a meaning that’s different from Eleonora-sama.” (Limalisha)

“That means, you like him?” (Lyudmila)

Even she herself thought that she asked questions like a town girl, but since she isn’t used talking about such topics, Mila calms herself by persuading herself that it should be alright. After pondering about it for a little bit, Lim smiled tenderly and answered,

“You’re right. I’m aware that I’m holding good will towards him.” (Limalisha)

I guess, Lim’s cheeks appearing to have become red is owed to the crimson sunlight illuminating the western sky.

“It’s been two years since I met him for the first time, and during all this time that man’s situation changed many times. Yet, he’s always treating me with the same attitude. I’m sure he will continue doing so from now on as well.” (Limalisha)

That’s something Mila could relate to very well. Tigre is no one that can be called conceited. No matter whether the other party’s status is lower or higher than his own, he never changes his attitude towards them while keeping a politeness befitting the circumstances at that time.

“Not through his words but his behavior, he shows that sticking to one’s principles is definitely not arrogant. I want to help him as much as I can. I want to honor his intent. That’s what I believe.” (Limalisha)

──If you feel about him this strongly, you might as well just confess to him. After all your position is a lot more flexible than mine or Eleonora’s.
Despite those being her thoughts, Mila didn’t voice them out. It would likely be mean to instigate something like that while being aware of the relationship between Tigre and Elen.
──Besides, if that’s the situation, I don’t think that it’s necessary for me to say anything.
Lim regularly looks at Elen closely. If she possesses this much affection towards Tigre, she will likely notice the relationship between the two sooner or later. The reason why she hasn’t realized yet is because she often acts separately and misses them due to being busy.

“Tigre is really a lucky fellow. For having you think so highly of him.” (Lyudmila)

Mila shrugs her shoulders in an exaggerated manner while having ambitions dwell in her blue eyes.

“I guess I will do my best and protect this place to the end, so that Tigre has a place to come back to.” (Lyudmila)

Lim first slightly and then strongly nodded at the words of the Snow Princess of the Frozen Wave.

 

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆

 


The sun is about to finish its work for that day while dying the sky and ground crimson. The moon, clad in indigo blue like a gown, stood firm in the eastern sky while making its silhouette stand out.
On the ground, the preparations for the night have begun in the camp of Muozinel’s army.
Smoked lamb meat, dried root crops, chickpea soup, and wheat had been provided to the soldiers. This wheat can be kneaded into something like bread, and likewise it can be put into the soup to turn it into gruel. However, drinking alcohol has been prohibited.
In addition, various types of spices and medicinal herbs have been distributed. The spices for the sake of bringing the taste of the soup and smoked lamb close to one resembling their own country, and the medicinal plants to avoid their physical condition to deteriorate. As those herbs are bitter and excessively hard to chew, their reputation among the soldiers is fairly low, however.
Even an order to cook water until it boils was enforced. Given that this went as far as the leaders of each unit going on patrols in shifts, the soldiers had no choice but to obey.
These things had been also repeated during the march. Not one of these rules were something you could fail to observe, if it comes to a campaign in a distant, foreign country.
The supreme commander Kureys is in a good mood inside his tent. He didn’t intend to take Regin lightly, but not only did she show up atop the wall, she also declared her intentions with actions rather than words. That’s something he certainly hadn’t expected. Red Beard enjoyed a refreshed feeling as if having gotten something off his chest.

“It was an unexpectedly good response for a seventeen years old lass. It sure is a waste to kill her.” (Kureys)

Kureys says while eating with his close aides. By the way, their meal is almost no different from that of the soldiers. The only addition is a native wine from Muozinel.
There are also some seasonal goods provided by the cities that had capitulated lining up in front of Kureys, but right now it’s summer. He had to be careful about what he can eat.
One of the aides, who was chewing lamb, leaned forward.

“Then let’s revise our plan and give a strict order to seize Princess Regin alive.”

Kureys shook his head while drinking wine from a silver cup heavily decorated with gems.

“Unnecessary. Going by their state, it doesn’t seems as if they’re going to capitulate in around ten days. Let’s consider it anew after we’ve driven them into a corner and slowly tired them out by attacking viciously.” (Kureys)

“I wonder how long it’s going to take for Nice to surrender?”

Another aide asks while sipping wheat gruel. Kureys dons a deeply serious expression, and looks at his own face reflected by the wine inside the cup.

“Let’s see. If nothing happens, 40…no, 45 days, I’d say?” (Kureys)

Half the aides are surprised. Kureys looks at them and laughs.

“That’s only natural. That’s no mountain castle, but the capital of a country blessed with abundant land.” (Kureys)

After the meal, Kureys summoned Ekrem, and ordered him to take the vanguard in the battle starting on the next day.
Ekrem humbly accepted his official appointment.

 

 

Ekrem is a commoner by birth and will turn 26 years old this year. He has the smallest build among the generals following Kureys and he’s regarded as being far too young age-wise, which is a cause of annoyance for him.
He even let a beard grow out, but when he was seriously asked by his colleague Yargash whether it’s a false mustache after around three months had passed, he shaved it off since he thought that it doesn’t suit him anyway.
Before accompanying Kureys, he served as attendant of the royal palace’s guard commander.
But then again, he became an attendant after his predecessor recommended Ekrem, a distant relative of his, when he was about to retire due to old age. It’s not like he was picked for having some outstanding talent, rather, his abilities were evaluated to be average.
The moment when Kureys learned of his existence was when he visited the room of the guard commander. That room, which was always the very definition of chaos, had been completely tidied up and put in order to a surprising degree.

“Were you able to find a woman that likes cleanliness?” (Kureys)

The guard commander introduced Ekrem to Kureys who asked in admiration. Upon inquiring further, Kureyes learned that he’s a young man who likes miscellaneous, plain tasks.
Later Kureys borrowed Ekrem from the guard commander, and took him along to the battlefield. Once he ordered him to set up a tent, Ekrem showed that he could finish it then and there with no wasted movements and precisely as ordered.

“No matter what you do, there’s a predetermined sequence. I’m just following that.” (Ekrem)

Ekrem, who had been praised by Kureys, answered while averting his face in embarrassment. This was the moment when he decided to obey Red Beard.
Afterwards, Ekrem went on many battlefields, continuing to refine his abilities as commanding officer. His abilities as soldier were truly average, but that’s not what Kureys was expecting of him. Both, Red Beard and Ekrem, knew that a battlefield required people other than soldiers.

 

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆

 

Ekrem, who had been ordered to lead the attack on the capital, woke up when the eastern sky started to become bright.
He leaves the camp together with several subordinates, and rides once around the capital while spending close to one koku, surveying the moat.
The Brune and Zhcted soldiers atop the wall noticed their existence, but with Ekrem’s group being less than ten people and the sky still being dim, they didn’t attack even though they were vigilant. They judged that throwing stones would be mostly pointless in this situation.
Having returned to the camp, Ekrem hurried finished his breakfast, assembled his main commanding officers, and curtly announced,

“We will bury the southern and eastern moats.” (Ekrem)

They are going to attack the capital that had firmly closed its gates and was surrounded by a sturdy wall with wide moats. Even Kureys would have likely limited it to this one order for the day.
Ekrem had been given 10,000 infantry soldiers and 30,000 battle slaves by Kureys, but he left 4,000 infantry soldiers nearby, and assigned the work to the remaining 36,000 soldiers by splitting them in three groups.
One group carried the soil over from a distant place, and another group tossed that soil into the moat. Meanwhile the remaining group took a rest. Ekrem ordered them to alternate the tasks at fixed intervals to have them constantly bring in soil for burying the moats.
There was no way for the soldiers of the Moonlight to silently ignore them going at it. They vigorously threw stones at the Muozinel soldiers that got close to the moat.
However, there were always soldiers carrying big shields at the side of the soldiers tossing soil into the moat. As the shields’ size was just big enough to cover for two people, the thrown stones were mostly repelled.
Even so, the circumstance of stones continuously dropping down from above was terrifying for the Muozinel soldiers, and clearly made their movements dull. However, Ekrem didn’t hurry the work.

“If it’s an obstruction at this level, there’s no need to pay any attention to it. In Brune that looks down on archery, even stones are precious weapons, I’m sure. Have them waste those pointlessly as much as possible.” (Ekrem)

However, the soldiers of the Moonlight Knights apparently noticed that as well. At the time when around half a toki had passed, they ceased throwing further stones.
The first day of the battle over the capital greeted its end in the shape of the Muozinel soldiers steadily burying the moat, and the Moonlight Knights soldiers looking down on that in irritation.
After the Muozinel army had pulled back into its camp once the sun sank beyond the horizon, Mashas and Mila stared at the bottom of the moat while standing on the wall next to each other. Mashas had put on helmet and armor. Mila was wearing a silver breastplate while shouldering her dragonic tool. As he made his armor clatter, the elderly Earl asked,

“What do you think, Lyudmila-dono?” (Mashas)

“Well… Won’t they reach a point where the moat will be filled enough to allow walking atop of it in seven or eight days, if they keep filling the moat at today’s pace?” (Lyudmila)

“True, I guess it will take them around that much time.” (Mashas)

A sigh escapes Mashas’ mouth. There’s no need to bury the moat all over. It will be fine as long as they can secure a path for the soldiers to take hold of the wall.
He knows how precious those seven days will be, but he, as the one commanding all soldiers in the capital, wanted to delay the battle even further. Mila smiles at him in consolation.

“If you consider that we will be able to gain seven days in such a battle, it’s a good performance. Besides, even if we say that they will create a path, something like rushing with a large army still won’t be possible for several days. With a moat of this width, it probably won’t be possible to use siege ladders as substitutes for bridges either.” (Lyudmila)

“Yeah. I suppose that’s how one must consider this. Sorry, I showed you something shameful.” (Mashas)

Mashas forced a smile while stroking his gray beard roughly.

“I certainly knew about you excelling in defensive battles from before, but you’re truly admirable for your age. I just wonder how we shall compensate you for your cooperation.” (Mashas)

“Don’t worry about it. I will have Tigre pay it all back in one go.” (Lyudmila)

Mila says in a tone as if it’s of no concern and laughs. Due to the reply that was beyond expectation, Mashas stared at the war princess with a dumbfounded expression.

“Ti-…Tigre?” (Mashas)

“Yes. It was different before, but now Tigre is controlling Brune’s entire army. Even His Majesty the King of our country values him highly. I have been thinking that it might be fine to have him soon pay back all the current debts while adding a little extra. Is there anything wrong with that?” (Lyudmila)

Mila closes one eye while explaining with an expression full of charm. The white ribbon bound at the back of her head fluttered in the wind.

“T-That makes sense. You have helped out Tigre many times, after all.” (Mashas)

Once he recovers from his surprise after taking a short pause, Mashas nods seriously. In his mind he felt relieved. What the old Earl remembered is his exchange with Tigre more than ten days ago. The young man confessed that there’s another girl he loves besides Titta.
──Another one very likely means that it’s Eleonora-dono. That damn Badouin has said that Princess Regin likes Tigre, too. I certainly don’t think so, but if the numbers increase any further, he won’t be able to hold his own anymore.
Because he was distracted by Mila’s joke, Mashas didn’t notice the feelings harbored by the blue-eyed war princess. But then again, even if he had noticed them, he would have likely pretended not to. The problems of young people should be resolved by young people.





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