Madan no Ou to Vanadis - Volume 18 - Chapter 1.2

Tigrevurmud Vorn stood in front of his own tent, his body hidden underneath an overcoat. Having heard about Liza’s return, Elen, Lim, Mila, and Olga had assembled in his tent. In response, Titta brewed black tea for everyone after having boiled some water.

As Tigre waited while feeling the cold wintry night air gnawing at his skin, soon the figures of Liza and her retinue melted out of the shadows of the tents, illuminated by many campfires. She immediately noticed him and waved a hand, which he responded to with a wave of his own. This short exchange of gestures resulted in a smile blooming on her face, and she heightened her pace as she strode towards him and his tent.

“I have safely returned. Did anything unusual occur while I was out?”

“It was peaceful. Well, I suppose Elen and Mila had a quarrel, but that’s just proof of the calmness.” Tigre answered with a shrug of his shoulders.

The bad blood between Elen and Mila was so famous that the soldiers even whispered, “They appear to even fight over the different shapes of baked sweets and the ingredients of fish soup,” amongst each other with wry smiles. Neither Tigre or Lim tried to deny those gossips since they were true for the most part anyway. And yet, the relationship of two seemed to have improved by leaps and bounds when compared to the time when they met for the first time, according to Lim.

While Liza entered Tigre’s tent, Tigre himself first guided her men to another tent.

“I’ll have some wine brought over for you guys. Is there anything else you’d like?”

“Allow me to take you up on that offer and request a fish soupukha, if possible. I have seen Leitmeritz’s soldiers eating it on the way here. I would be grateful if it could be so hot that it almost scalds your tongue.” One of Lebus’s knights replied.

Tigre looked at him, unintentionally breaking into a smile. That knight was called Naum. He was the man who had looked after Tigre in various ways during his time of memory loss in Lebus.

“I understand. Please rest up well.”

Tigre called for a soldier, and ordered him to prepare wine and a serving of ukha.

After they had built their camp in this location, Elen and the others had gathered their soldiers and explained Sofy’s disappearance and the withdrawal of Polesia’s army.

“Sofya Obertas got attacked by the enemy and suffered serious injuries. Polesia’s army prioritized the protection of their lord, and thusly, separated from us.”

This was an explanation based on the idea that it’d be meaningless to try hiding the circumstances if Valentina publicly announced the truth. The shock and unrest among the soldiers was undoubtedly not small, but fortunately it didn’t lead to any bigger confusions. Most likely because the four Vanadis around Elen were safe and sound.

Then again, those serving the Vanadis as close aides didn’t feel as calm about this. They decided that someone had to always accompany their respective lord in order to avoid them wandering around by themselves. They even assigned a knight of Lebus to stay at Olga’s side. This was also the reason why Naum and his men had stayed close to Liza even inside the camp.

Tigre returned to his own tent. Once he entered, Elen and the other girls were sitting on a carpet, forming a circle. Several maps and a few figurines had been placed inside that circle. Tigre sat down in the open spot of the circle ─ between Mila and Olga.

The heirloom of the Vorn House, the Black Bow, was leaning against its stand in a corner of the tent. It was an inconspicuous bow with no redeeming features except for its black color which made it look like it had been steeped in darkness, but it was a sacred treasure that exhibited a tremendous might in Tigre’s hands while carrying Tir Na Fal’s wishes. Next to it rested a greatsword with a guard and hilt which had golden decorations ─ Durandal, the treasured sword of Brune which was also known as 『Sword of Invincibility』. After Marquis Greast had stolen it out of Brune’s royal palace, it had wandered into Ganelon’s hands, but Tigre had retrieved it the other day.

Behind Lim, Titta poured black tea in silver cups matching the number of people present in the tent, and placed the cups in front of everyone. Just before she left the tent, Tigre expressed his gratitude with a light wave of his hand.

“Okay, let’s start then.” Liza took a look at everyone present, and then told everyone what she had heard from Lecheneaut’s mayor. “I was told that His Highness Ruslan hasn’t recovered yet and that the capital is being ruled by the First Prince Aide Valentina and Grand Chamberlain Miron. Droves of noble lords have been visiting the palace to declare their will to cooperate with those two.”

Of course, this didn’t mean that all noble lords were in favor of obeying Valentina and Miron. For example, the forces opposing Ruslan still existed, and they were naturally hostile towards Valentina who was supporting Ruslan. However, it seemed undeniable that Valentina was steadily reinforcing her own position.

In the past, she had told Tigre that she wanted to change the current standings of the Vanadis. Her new policy would put two Vanadis next to the king as his aides while placing the remaining five Vanadis below. If Valentina continued to bolster her influence at court, her desire could possibly come true in the near future.

“Did he know anything about Lord Eugene?” Elen asked while leaning forward.

She spontaneously poured strength into her hands, clenching her fists tightly. Liza shook her head with an apologetic look.

“I tried to ask about him, but the mayor told me that he didn’t know anything about it. You might as well regard it as positive news since it’d mean nothing has changed.”

“I see…” Elen hung her head, grinding her teeth in mortification.

Eugene Shevarin, the lord of Pardu, could be described as a teacher for Elen and Lim. He took over the governmental work as acting ruler after Prince Ruslan collapsed, but he was soon imprisoned by Miron over suspicions that he might have colluded with Muozinel.

“That should mean that Lord Eugene still remains safe, Lady Eleonora.” Lim added.

Her tone betrayed that she was rather persuading herself than cheering up her mistress, but it caused Elen to look startled, before nodding several times in agreement. Eugen had been designated as next by King Viktor, and was deeply trusted by Ruslan. Not a few among the civil officials serving in the palace looked up to him. If something had happened to him, rumors would immediately make their rounds.

“Let me go on then.” Liza spoke up after confirming that Elen had recovered.

When they heard that the unusual phenomenons, which had brought fear and chaos to the continent, stopped occurring on the day when Ganelon perished, Tigre and the others breathed out in relief. Those phenomenons were a byproduct of Ganelon trying to make Tir Na Fal descend on the surface. After they had departed Zagan, their group hadn’t encountered any such phenomenons. They didn’t catch sight of fairies or ghosts either. As if these things hadn’t existed from the very start.

For this reason, they had expected that the phenomenons might have disappeared all over the continent, but now that they had heard a confirmation out of someone else’s mouth, it hit them as reality all over again.

Tigre remembered David and Lena, the father and daughter he had met on his way to Zagan. The serious expression of David as he worried over his daughter and the bright smile of Lena had carved themselves deeply into his memory and vividly revived every now and then to this very day. Those two wouldn’t come back to life anymore, but at least the survivors of their village wouldn’t be tormented by the same tragedy anymore.

Eventually, Liza finished her speech.

“Valentina must have had a blast.” Mila commented with sarcasm oozing out of her voice.

She didn’t just mean Sofy either. Even Mila wasn’t very amused about being treated like a game piece on a board and felt unhappy about Valentina maneuvering behind the scenes while they were fighting Ganelon.

“I’d like to hear your opinion on this, Tigre.” Olga looked up to him from her seat next to him.

The other four remained silent, staring at the youth.

The reason why Tigre let them momentarily wait for his answer didn’t stem from him having to collect his thoughts, but him asking himself once more for what reason he was fighting. But, the answer appeared to him in no time, without any hesitation to be found there.

“I’ll fight against Valentina.” Tigre openly declared, a calm determination gleaming in his eyes. “There are two reasons for it. One is Sofy.”

Elen and the other four nodded.

“The other,” Tigre continued, “is her leaving Ganelon at large despite knowing what he was up to.”

Unusual phenomenona had occurred all over the continent. Even Tigre’s territory, Alsace, had most likely been no exception to that. The same applied for other Brunian lands like Mashas Rodant and Hughes Augre’s territories, and the capital Nice where Princess Regin resided. As such he couldn’t think of the tragedy that befell David and Lena’s village as someone else’s problem.

“As Alsace’s lord, I cannot forgive Valentina.”

Whether Valentina might try to exercise power as Ruslan’s representative or change the ways of the Vanadis, both would be domestic issues of Zhcted. Tigre as Brunian wouldn’t be qualified to get involved in this. Of course that didn’t mean he wouldn’t do anything, seeing how it’d worsen the position of Elen and the others, but he’d likely avoid a direct confrontation.

However, Valentina had exposed Alsace to danger. This was more than enough a reason for Tigre to fight against her.

“It’s decided then.” Elen said complacently after folding her arms.

It wasn’t just her either. Lim, Mila, Olga, and Liza also looked at Tigre with smiles decorating their faces. They had accepted his response which went beyond their expectations.

Representing the five, Elen said, “Tigre, your feelings are the ropes tying us together. We pledge to you here and now that we’ll bring victory to you. Please accept those feelings of ours.”

Tigre was taken aback by her unexpected words, but he immediately noticed that everyone’s expression was serious. Having this much trust shown, he couldn’t afford to react in a silly manner.

“Thanks, everyone.” Tigre bowed his head deeply.

He felt five gazes pinned on the back of his head, yet all of them overflowed with warmth and affection. After wiping the inner corners of his eyes which had become hot, he lifted his head and asked something that had been on his mind.

“Of course I’m happy about you saying that you’re going to fight for my sake, but…could you maybe tell me if there’s some reason for doing so?”

All of them, except for Lim, were Vanadis who reigned over a principality. While it might be true that they had feelings for Tigre, it was unthinkable that they’d decide to fight for him based on that alone.

“We talked amongst each other about what Valentina’s next moves might be.” Mila explained after draining down the remaining tea in her cup, “We came to the conclusion that she’s either going to try assaulting one of us by surprise like she did with Sofy or that she’s going to try breaking us apart by sowing discord.”

“Both sound likely as options.” Tigre groaned.

Valentina could get in contact with one Vanadis and offer her a compromise. Whether it worked out or not, she wouldn’t mind either way. The fact of the Vanadis having met with Valentina would cause the others to doubt her, creating a rift between them. Once the Vanadis started to take independent actions because of their suspicions, Valentina would be easily able to pick a good moment to crush them one by one.

“As for surprise attacks, we can handle those by solidifying our defenses as much as possible, but her schemes to sow discord would be a problem. We must consider the benefits of Zhcted and the principalities we govern. Valentina should be aware of that, and thus she would approach us with offers that are hard to refuse. If the other Vanadis heard about it, they would end up doubting whether their fellow Vanadis agreed to Valentina’s terms.”

“Accordingly we’ve made a contract on which all of those present here can rely, allowing them to refuse any offers Valentina might make without any worries whatsoever.” Liza cheerfully followed up on Mila.

Tigre cocked his head in puzzlement, not understanding the meaning. Tilting her body to lean herself against Tigre’s arm, Olga explained, “Cooperating with you would result in the best outcome for our principalities. And of course for Zhcted as well.”

Tigre almost cried out in reflex.

“So that’s why…”

“We’re going to get the future king of Brune indebted to us. The soldiers are going to agree as well once they hear of this.” Mila laughed with tease coloring her voice.

Tigre shrugged his shoulders, indicating that he surrendered himself to his fate.

◇◆◇

Calling for a short break, Tigre had Titta prepare another serving of tea for everyone. Then the war council resumed.

“──Valentina Glinka Estes is a treacherous Vanadis who plots to rule over Zhcted with Prince Ruslan as puppet. Sofya Obertas, who was trusted by the late King Viktor, was hated by her. Us four are going to bring down Valentina as loyal subjects of the kingdom. Brune’s Tigrevurmud Vorn is also supporting our cause…” Lim read out lout the text she had finished writing down on a parchment.

It was a legitimation of their just cause in fighting Valentina.

“It’s rather conventional, but it gets the message across, I’d say. I think it’s fine with us to go with this for now.” Mila evaluated the text while Elen, Liza, and Olga didn’t raise any objections in particular.

The key point here was that they regarded Valentina as their enemy, not Ruslan or Miron. It was for that sake that they brought up Sofy. It’d pose no problem for them if it was regarded as a power struggle, but they couldn’t afford to be misunderstood as aiming for a removal of Ruslan.

With the declaration set, the six shifted to the next issue.

“The military forces we have at hand amount to roughly 4,500 soldiers. 3,900 infantry and 600 cavalry.” Elen confirmed while looking at the map.

It approximated to Leitmeritz, Olmutz, and Lebus each fielding around 1,500 soldiers. But then again, the breakdown of infantry and cavalry was all over the place. In contrast to Leitmeritz, which had 1,000 infantry and 500 cavalry, Olmutz’s army had less than 100 cavalry at its disposal whereas Lebus’s army consisted of infantry only.

“The number of Osterode’s soldiers, who are protecting the capital, is approximately 5,000.” Mila sighed while placing a responding amount of figurines in Lecheneaut and Silesia on the map.

“We didn’t plan to attack the capital to begin with, but no matter how you look at it, it’d be impossible either way.”

A great number of soldiers and siege weapons would be required to attack the capital with its sturdy wall. Since they’d be fighting their own countrymen, they’d require a just cause that wouldn’t turn the capital’s residents into their enemies. Tigre’s group possessed neither.

“In that case, all points to this place, huh?” Elen pointed at an area northwest of the capital.

It was Valentina’s principality, Osterode. They’d attack her stronghold instead of Silesia. And if Valentina left the capital in order to prevent that, they’d drag her into a field battle. If not, they’d place Osterode under their control which would likely result in Valentina’s reputation plummeting back home.

They could choose two routes to travel from Lecheneaut to Osterode. The northern route where they’d be crossing Zhcted’s northern parts, or the southern route where they’d advance through Zhcted’s south as if drawing an arc to eventually attack Osterode from the south. Lim traced both ways with a finger on the map.

“If we go north, we will arrive in Osterode after 12 or 13 days at the pace of our infantry. If we go south, it will require twice that, I think.”

“But, going south has advantages too. If we proceed while making sure to advance through Leitmeritz, Olmutz, Polesia, and Brest, we’ll be able to increase the number of our soldiers and the procurement of the necessary goods won’t be a problem. It’ll also be possible for us to call out to the noble lords while we march.” Mila advocated passionately, earning herself a nod from Olga.

Elen refuted, “You make it sound like it’s all nice and shiny, but the longer we take, the more time Valentina will get to spend on battle preparations. Being able to rely on His Highness Ruslan’s authority while based in the capital might increase the other side’s advantage in proportion.”

Mila asked for Liza’s opinion with her eyes. Liza shook her red hair, seemingly dissatisfied.

“I think we should go north. Going south has its charm, but it’ll give Valentina time and there’s also the worry that our weak point will be found out in the meantime.”

Their draconic tools had lost their powers. If this fact were to be exposed, the predominance of having four Vanadis on their side would crumble apart in no time.

“Considering the matter with Sofy, it’s possible that she’s already noticed it, though.” Elen twisted her expression in irritation.

Mila shook her head, “I think she’s still not completely certain of it. Otherwise, she’d have attacked us a lot more aggressively.”

After they discussed the matter for a while longer, Elen and the other Vanadis agreed on taking the northern route. They had decided to prioritize speed based on the judgment that more lords would join Valentina’s side under the current circumstances.

Tigre had carefully listened in silence up until that point, but then he looked with a serious expression at Elen and the other girls, “Everyone, please make sure to be as careful as possible. Unfortunately, it’s about the only thing I can tell you though…”

“That’s our line.” Elen grimaced.

Lim and Liza directed worried looks at him. Tigre would act independently starting tomorrow. His task was to infiltrate the capital and rescue Eugene. The reason why they hadn’t mentioned him with a single word in their declaration was to avoid having Valentina focus on Eugene.

If they managed to spring Eugene, the knights and lords following him would likely join their side. Alleviating the fear of him being used by Valentina for her own devices would be a big boon, too. Moreover, Tigre liked Eugene’s personality which bore the wish in him to rescue Eugene, even while disregarding the political advantage it’d bring.

“Have you decided on who is going to accompany you? I’ve already heard about Lord Gaspal and Damad, but what about the rest?” Mila asked.

Tigre ransacked his hair and then shook his head, “Not yet. Right now I’m having Rurick search for more men, but…”

Tigre had requested Rurick to look for “Zhcted who are knowledgeable of the capital’s geography.” However, most of the Leitmeritz soldiers here had never visited the capital before. If Rurick were to expand his search to the commanding officers leading hundreds of soldiers, there would be some among them meeting Tigre’s condition, but it’d affect the stability of Leitmeritz’s army if they were to pull out those men from their current positions. Rurick was certainly racking his brain over the same issue right now.

“In that case, take Naum with you.” Liza offered readily.

Tigre stared at her with a look full of surprise.

“Naum has visited the capital together with me and my predecessor on many occasions. I’m sure he’ll be of good use to you. While he’s not here, I’ll have that girl over there do her best.” Liza shifted her blue and gold eyes to Olga.

Olga nodded expressionlessly. She had already proven her ability to command with the victory against Egol Kazakov. Even if she wouldn’t be fit to replace Liza, working as the commander of a detached force should be well within her capability.

“Thanks. That’s a huge help.”

Impatience vanished from Tigre’s heart, replaced by a sense of relief. After all, he was now able to believe that things would definitely work out.

“Which reminds me, what are we going to do about the name of this army?”

Elen asked around the time they had finished checking all details and were about to call this war council off.

Everyone present exchanged looks, and while tilting her head to the side in confusion, Liza said, “Wouldn’t Allied Forces of Three Principalities or Four Vanadis Alliance be alright?”

“It lacks impact as it’s just a line-up of words. Do you think that such a name would rouse the morale of the soldiers?”

“It’s easy to understand, but rather dull.”

Not just Elen, but even Mila turned those suggestions down, resulting in Liza looking sullen.

“Could we hear your name suggestions then, you two?”

“Let’s see. Reviving the name of 『Silver Meteor Army』──”

“──is a no.” Mila coldly interrupted Elen who was in the middle of declaring her idea with a triumphant expression.

“The silver part of the name was taken from your army, wasn’t it? This here is going to be our army.”

Elen was about to fly into a rage, but Mila’s argument was quite sound.

“Okay, then let us hear your idea. Of course you won’t include ice or spear, right?”

“That’s only natural. Snow’s──”

Having spoken up to this point, Mila abruptly held her tongue. Elen stared at her with eyes brimming with scorn and ridicule.

“Snow’s? Hoh, that sure sounds like a stirring name. Go ahead and give us the rest.”

Mila glared at Elen with her fists clenched. Tigre and Lim sighed at that. As might be expected, Liza didn’t feel like mediating either, only staring at the two with a fed-up expression. Olga ignored the two, looking up to Tigre.

“What do you think, Tigre?”

Tigre pondered while letting his eyes wander across the ceiling. He came up with a single name, and asked Lim, “How would you say Army of the Black Dragon Flag in Zhcted?”

“Hmm…『Arma Zirnitra』, I think.”

Elen and Mila, who had continued to scowl at each other up until this point, looked towards Lim.

“Arma Zirnitra? Isn’t that quite decent?”

“It means defenders of the black dragon flag, the national symbol of Zhcted, which perfectly applies to us, and not Valentina. Not bad.” Mila smiled with a tinge of irony and her eyes twinkling.

As Olga and Liza also agreed with the name, it was set.

◎

————— End of Part 2 —————