Chapter 79: Oath to the sword

The main gate of the fortress is on the east side but there is also a hidden entrance on the west side. Dite-san of the archer corps called it a “back door” though it was said that it was often used except when returning to the fortress with a big announcement to the knights.

Guided by the knights, we entered the fortress through the back door then Dite-san first stopped by the armory on the first floor of the fortress.

“To be able to use this thing in this kind of situation… As Your Highness has predicted, I guess we can say that it’s good that the enemy soldiers came here to do some work. It’s quite ironic, though.”

The situation changed a lot during the night. By using Zirconia’s warship, it became possible to send a large number of soldiers from this side to Zirconia’s side and loading weapons on the warship itself became doable.

There are cannons carried by Zirconia’s craftsmen. Dite-san ordered her subordinates to prepare ammunitions and set of wheels for transport to make it ready for use anytime.

The “fire lance” made from the cannon ammunition seems to have a considerable destructive power as portable firearm but if the cannon itself can be carried and used, it should be a stronger trump card than the “fire lance”…

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Without taking a break, we head to the round table and started the war council.

“We should think that the enemy army still has some sort of trump card. Or did they sent their craftsmen to test their new weapons… In any case, we have to pay attention to the enemy’s firearms.”

“Her Highness’ intuition is also guided by the sacred tree. Perhaps General Alejandro’s troops really have powerful firearms.”

“Cannons… or you mean they may use a gunpowder tube just like what Dite-san has made?”

A fire lance explodes once there’s an impact and it is said to be a weapon that shoots out blazing bullets.

However, I heard from my stepsister that there is a weapon that turns the explosion of gunpowder into propulsion and shoots metal bullets from an iron cylinder thinner than a fire lance –it is known as “iron fire cylinder”. It has the power to penetrate a knight’s armor and even has the potential to significantly change the outcome of the battle.

Fortunately it has not been mass-produced yet. And because it should be a weapon made in the south of our kingdom, it’s unlikely that Zirconia is deploying them in large numbers. There are no knights seen equipped with it in an actual battle and even if the necessary resources are available, it is considered that there is no technology to make an “iron fire cylinder” yet.

“Since gunpowder was used in warfare, I began to think that the knight’s era would end someday. You can clearly see that at first glance, those weapons took the lives of many knights from a long distance. Such weapons will eventually replace swords, spears, and bows. It will be using a lot of mineral resources but if you have a shooting weapon as powerful as an “iron fire cylinder”, you don’t have to make heavy armor to protect yourself.”

Astina-denka is thinking about the “changes in the military”. When the technology of “iron fire cylinder” which can produce a large amount of gunpowder is transmitted to Zirconia, it will be difficult for Isle Rose fortress to repel the Zirconia army if it’s only with the use of traditional weapons.

Now that we can fight with the infantry, knights and archers’ formation, we need to determine the battlefield –we must break Zirconia’s fighting spirit.

“From those who were first interrogated by Grass, it turned out that Zirconia received weapons from our side. They have more troops than we do but not everyone is equipped… With that, I think we should attack from here before they were able to send weapons to Zirconia via other routes. Then we have to defeat General Alejandro…”

“Raquel-ane… I’ll do it. When Alejandro comes out on the front line next time, I’ll rush in and raise the enemy’s decapitated head by all means necessary.”

“Wait a minute Presha. Even if it’s you, I don’t think you’ll be able to handle the attack if you rush to a place where all the Zirconia soldiers are readily available.”

“…I still have to do it because that’s all I can do for everyone who died.”

The danger that Presha-san keeps within herself… I felt it from her until now. Though I’m not certain what it really is before, but at this moment, I clearly understand what it is. It’s the feeling of resignation from seeing the death of many people. She was the same as me whose heart became worn out during the war. She started feeling like she’s willing to sacrifice herself just to end this battle.

“…You can’t save anything by giving up your life. It’s just your pride. If you really think of the remorse of those who died, you have to live.”

I’ve been wondering from the beginning.

Why was Presha-san so indignant when she first took me to the dungeon and witnessed the interrogation?

The smuggled weapons by the betrayal of the Royal Army may have been used to kill her subordinates and she couldn’t take out her anger at that time.

If I make even a little suspicious movement, she’ll kill me. When she said that, her heart had reached its limit. Still, she had been waving her spear so far.

I wonder why I did nothing in front of her who’s walking with her open wounds. Well this is a proof that I neglected to examine her mind because I was only concerned about physical injuries…

“…Yes. I understand… I’m sorry. Once I think of what will happen if I, an attack captain, charge alone… that action will indeed only endanger my subordinates again.”

“Until now, we were on the defense-only fight. We were not allowed to attack… but now, it’s different. Still, that doesn’t change that Her Highness fights to protect Lezenia.”

There are those who try to convey it to the Capital by twisting it as a “command violation” or rebellion. Vaiseck – that man who insulted Astina-denka and did not even mourn for the victims.

“Your Highness, you said that you are watching Vaiseck. What about his movements…?”

Astina-denka presents us with a report from the spy. When she saw what was written there, Raquel-san closed her eyes then she tightly clenched her fists on the desk.

“…He contacted Hartner Reinfeld, the patriarch of the Reinfeld family in his sickbed. He said that if he worked with Astina-denka to fight against Zirconia, it would be considered as a rebellion… If that is the case, Vaiseck…”

With the guise of following the order from the Capital, he is working to avoid a full-scale war with Zirconia –it’s not something that pleasant for sure.

In order to defeat Astina-denka, he is trying to lose the battle against Zirconia.

“Why is such a thing happening… it’s like…”

Dite-san too already has an idea about it. The reason why Vaiseck behaves with such insolence is because there is a person in power behind him.

Right now, I have to say what I heard from Noin. Who is the person that until now is only known as a “royalty”, the traitor who colluded with Zirconia.

“…Astina-denka. Zirconia is acquainted to Queen Cassandra… and Jorg Frost, a court magician who works with her.”

The second queen wants her child, the prince, to succeed the throne. Even I, a student, knew it from rumors so there’s no way they don’t know that.

However, there’s no conclusive evidence. Even if there is, they will immediately rebel against Astina-denka –it was not a reason to appeal directly to the King and denounce the actions of the Second Queen either. It is true that we are hostile to Zirconia, and since this fortress serves as a shield to protect the people, she’s been focusing only to that and fight continuously.

“…Suppress the enemy’s base and curb further invasions. Let Zirconia agree to a ceasefire. I have to do that. Even if Cassandra is trying to get rid of me, I want to get to the negotiation table once.”

“Why…? His Majesty should have acknowledged Astina-denka’s achievements right? Then with His Majesty not listening at all, it’s something…”

Astina-denka shook her head quietly at Raquel-san’s idea. I can see the gloom that cannot be hidden from the expression of Her Highness who is always composed. She brushes up her golden thread-like hair and it feels like her eyes are looking somewhere far away.

I know that since I am connected to her through the sacred tree. What she feels is loneliness.

She couldn’t be loved by her father or mother and she can’t think of her parents as her allies. And getting spoiled will only weaken her heart that fought as a knight until now –that’s how she strictly controls herself.

“His Majesty wants Cassandra-sama to be someone he can rely on. Well, that is not unreasonable… My mother is in poor health and couldn’t always be with him as a queen. I heard that Cassandra-sama, a child of a family with the same rank as mother’s, was able to relieve his heart a lot. Now, even if I denounce Cassandra-sama, His Majesty will only try to pull me out of the army.”

“Even if the Second Queen is trying to destroy this kingdom? If you allow her to take over, this Western Territory will surely be cut off. Many people will die just to satisfy Queen Cassandra’s personal desire to defeat you Astina-denka.”

“…It will be a thorny path whichever way we choose. If we’re fighting the kingdom, it will affect the morale of the knights because some of them have family in the Capital.”

The course of action for this Knights Order is in dire straits. His Majesty cannot be expected to be on our side –It’s also not strange for Zirconia to attack at any time.

But if Vaiseck is left unattended, he will continue to work behind the scenes in the Western Territory –if the people ruled by the powerful families stop cooperating with us, this fortress could come to an end in the form of food shortage.

The queen doesn’t care about the Western Territory, and she won’t mind even if it’s cut off. Even if His Majesty is unaware of Queen Cassandra’s intentions, that is already what’s happening now―if that’s the case then…

“…Rather than being trampled down by Zirconia, we should establish a governing system so that the Western Territory can defend itself while maintaining its ability to continue the war.”

“With our own force… Grass, do you know what that means?”

“The enemy is attacking across the canal. It’s already invading the border. The decree of not fighting back is no longer feasible.”

Queen Cassandra will probably make Astina-denka take the responsibility of allowing the invasion of Zirconia, or order her to die for honor. She knows nothing about Astina-denka’s efforts and sufferings. All she’s doing is piling crimes just to make her child who’s still young into a king someday.

“…To rule over the Western Territory as an independent territory huh. You’re saying that I should do that, right?”

“Yes. That’s the only way to continue to work with the people to maintain the strength of the fortress. It will be irreversible after a series of defectors.”

We will explain to the people that Her Highness will become the Lord in order to fight against Zirconia. We will make necessary arrangements to ward those with influence to disturb or slander it –As for Vaiseck, I think we need to detain him. Well, even if we do that, a replacement for him will surely be sent again…

“Until now, I was only acting on behalf of His Majesty’s orders. As it stands until now, I can’t even restrict Vaiseck’s movements, let alone blame him for his actions.”

“Your Highness possesses His Majesty’s bloodline and you have the right to succeed to the throne. Originally, even if you’re not a knight, you would get a spouse and you would have been a feudal lord.”

“Y-Yes… that’s right. If Astina-denka isn’t a knight…”

“In that case, I would not have received the territory and I would have been used as a material for political tactics to form an alliance with the enemy kingdoms. I am glad that I chose to take the sword. I am still grateful for the permission of His Majesty…but…”

She’ll point her sword at his father –His Majesty, the king. If she declares herself as the ruler of the Western Territory, Queen Cassandra’s faction will always interpret it that way.

From the first time I saw Her Highness, I felt holiness different from humans. I wonder if that is why she can move my emotions visibly–because she’s just too perfect to me.

Her hands tremble. To suppress the trembling, she holds her own body.

Raquel-san’s tears spilled out when she saw that. Presha-sanand Dite-san stood up and wanted to rush over–but before that, Her Highness spoke with her quivering voice.

“Even if I will be scorned as a traitor… Even if His Majesty forsake me… I will definitely protect the people who believe in us. And I want to walk as one country with everyone.”

Presha-san covers her face. Dite-san looked down and she can’t raise her face. Leslie, who had been standing beside me all this time, touched my shoulder. Her hands were trembling and Leslie cried as if she was stifled to death.

The light seems far and it’s not spreading forward. But no matter how narrow or steep the road is, if there is a road –if Her Highness is there, we will never lose hope.

“Whether the people will recognize me or not, it will be decided in the next war. I will defeat『Alejandro』.”

He is not called as “general”. Perhaps it was because Astina-denka formally recognized that she had to defeat him. Presha-san wipes her eyes, with her bright red eyes she stands upright and puts her hand on her chest.

Raquel-san and Dite-san also followed suit. Her Highness unsheathes the gleaming silver sword, put her forehead on the fuller and prayed. Then she presented it forward.

The three person who usually use spear and bow also have sword on their waists. The sword that is the pride of a knight – those four people with it is what I felt the most dazzling thing I’ve ever seen.

I am honoured to be present at this place. At the same time, the anxiety about the difficulties ahead –such emotions spring out from them.

“We pledge to fight together, live together, and die together. In the name of Astina Lezenia, I declare an attack operation against Zirconia.”

Goosebumps wrap all over my body. How much their brave appearance would inspire the hearts of the people –just imagining that shook my heart.

「「「Glory to my Knights! 」」」

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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