Chapter 93: Moving forward

Inside the fort was a facility for capturing and accommodating the deserters and those who had violated the order. The disciplinary cell –unlike the moveable tent, was a hut made of wood and stone. Led by Dite-san, I entered the punishment cell along with Noin. Astina-denka and Knight Captain Raquel were already inside.

Alejandro was chained to a pillar driven deep into the ground. He had been hit by an arrow around his collarbone and he seemed to have lost a lot of blood but he was treated to stop the bleeding and was bandaged after that. His skin was pale and a little blood had drained from his lips. As long as the wound didn’t fester, it wouldn’t be life-threatening.

It is up to Her Highness to decide whether to let Alejandro live as a prisoner of war or to take him out as an enemy general ―well, Her Highness doesn’t seem to have chosen the option of executing the enemy general as she wanted to interrogate him.

Noin gently grabs the hem of my clothes, she is a little agitated at the sight of Alejandro. Since she is standing in front of the person who made her submit, that emotion can be more than one can imagine ―if it calms her a little bit, I don’t mind even if my clothes were stretched.

“Grass… Although it’s in succession, I’ll ask you to do this important task. As you have seen, is Alejandro in a position where he can withstand the interrogation?”

“It will be difficult if it is for a long time. However, I think it’s okay if Your Highness will just ask the necessary questions.”

“Understood. If we can help in anyway, please let us help…”

Dite-san offered. However, with the help of Laune, the interrogation will go smoothly. Speaking of Laune, she should have been held by Noin, but she disappeared before I knew it.

“Uh… L-Laune? I wondered where you went…”

Laune is now hugging Her Highness. There is a considerable difference in their height so she is clinging to her waist.

“…Princess-sama’s scent, it’s so nostalgic. It’s like mother…”

“…I’m sorry, I’m not your mother. I think Yuserish has some relation to you.”

The sacred tree ―an existence that governs all plants. If she is from the spirit world, Arlaune can be said to be like a child of the sacred tree.

“But, this Onee-san also smells good. That Onee-san too.”

“I-Is that so? …I just came from a battle so I don’t think I smell good though…”

“Perhaps… is it because you are attracted to magical power?”

“It’s the same with magical power but I like all those who are friends with Summoner-sama. About Summoner-sama, Raquel-oneesan and Dite-oneesan has about the same… mmmph.”

She was about to say something so I caught Laune and covered her mouth. She’s a spirit, so it’s okay even if she can’t breathe but I did it lightly so that it won’t hurt much.

“Laune, if you suddenly say that, everyone will be startled you know. You have to avoid getting scolded.”

“…mmph”

“N-No, I am not scolding you. But… what did you try to say anyway?”

“Laune is a precocious child huh… I’m glad that Sensei stopped you.”

Laune seems to be dissatisfied. But as she is now quiet, I let go of her. Laune looked up at me and said, “Ii-”, perhaps because it looked cute to Raquel-san and Dite-san, they both laughed.

“…It’s soothing to see Laune. We must not forget that this is an enemy territory though.”

“Grass, though she’s your spirit, you should not bully her too much you know.”

“N-No, I’m not bullying … Ah, hey!…”

Laune hides behind Raquel-san, perhaps because she knows that Raquel-san is on her side ―However, Her Highness approached her and she gently picks up Laune, she then brings her to me.

“Wau～, I’ve been caught. Summoner-sama, it can’t be helped so I’ll listen to you.”

“Haha… I guess this is where I have to say thank you huh.”

Looking at Laune, who remained unperturbed even in front of Alejandro who doesn’t make a slight movement, made me realize that she, as a spirit, is not a really child as she appears to be. Additionaly, Laune is able to communicate with me just by touching Her Highness ―as the shrine maiden of the sacred tree, Her Highness has the power to synchronize with the spirit of plants.

Taken by Her Highness, Laune approaches Alejandro and she holds her hand towards the ground. Shortly after that, a magic circle was born on the ground and a fairy flower, which can be said to be the main body of Laune, sprouted and opened while we are looking at it.

“To think that such a little child has this kind of power… Magic is always a mystery isn’t it?”

While admiring such occurrence, Dite-san keeps an eye on Alejandro’s movements. The same is true for Raquel-san. Although he can’t move now, we can’t just let our guard down because he’s the one who cornered Presha-san.

Eventually, the pollen of the fairy flower floats around Alejandro and it is taken inside his body along with his breathing ―his eyes open slightly.

“…I’ll confirm it again. You’re General Alejandro, right?”

“……That’s right……”

“Now I’ll ask you to answer some questions. Please answer them without hesitation.”

“……Okay……”

After Alejandro replies, Her Highness comes forward. I stand sideways and watch the interrogation while carefully observing Alejandro.

“…Were you trying to take the Isle Rose Fortress through the help of those from Rezeneia?”

Hypnosis does not have a long enough time to ask questions one at a time. It’s just a few minutes until the ego is transformed ―there is no time to make a detour, all questions must be on point.

“…That woman there… the water magician, Noin Flores… someone from the Kingdom of Rezeneia has guided us to utilize her power…”

“Who was the guide…?”

“Those who can give orders to the court magicians of Rezeneia… the number of people who can do that is limited in your kingdom…”

Alejandro only speculates and he doesn’t seem to know the answer ―it was just mentioned that “someone from Rezeneia” guided them to utilize Noin’s power.

It undoubtedly orchestrated by Her Royal Highness Cassandra, the Second Queen of Rezeneia, and the court magician Jorg Frost, who was connected to her. If Alejandro didn’t know that, then the connection between Zirconia and Queen Cassandra was not as close as we had imagined.

If Queen Cassandra was connected to the other generals, or even to the vicinity of Emperor Zirconia, it would be difficult to reach a truce with Zirconia through discussion alone. We know that there were other secret spies besides Alejandro but I’d like to think that they are not involved in the Capital of Zirconia.

“There are some from our territory who were secretly distributing weapons to Zirconia. Did you know that?”

“…The link was in the fort in the west… a facility built as a base for warships… a man named Baile was in charge of it… I asked Baile to replenish supplies. Then I ordered him to use a warship to work with our army… but that man…”

Why did he try to use Noin to seduce Baile? That’s because Baile used his position to bargain with Alejandro. If Baile doesn’t move, he can’t take the strategy of landing from two distant points and attack the Isle Rose Fortress.

Apart from the fact that Noin was sent to Zirconia, there was a movement to divert weapons from Rezeneia to Zirconia, which unexpectedly caused the division of the Zirconia army.

“…It’s no wonder that they use such strategy, they don’t have confidence so it’s inevitable.”

“Aiming at the shipyard in the west is the right choice after all… Alejandro was out of options because we took Baile as a prisoner and we also rescued Noin.”

Well, that’s true ―I’ve heard that even a single court magician can change the output of the battlefield. However, I think Noin embodies that as well. Alejandro would have been an excellent commander without a magician, but I can imagine that he became dependent on Noin when he learned about her power.

“…It’s all thanks to Grass-sama. If I hadn’t met Grass-sama at that time, I might have returned to this man again.”

“A man trying to use a woman on the battlefield….I’ve seen it many times but still, it’s unforgivable!”

Raquel-san turns her anger at Alejandro, but Her Highness hold her back.

I’ve seen, Presha-san’s past and among them, it was clearly shown that some of the men in the military think of atrocious things. Not everyone though. Some people had their minds worn out while they are on the battlefield and they become trapped in their deep rooted delusion for power.

I have to do what I have to do so that even after this war, everyone can smile and go back to their usual lives. Now, I think that being here as a military doctor is my destiny.

“…Summoner-sama, this guy has a strong resistance to hypnosis… uh, one more question and after that, it looks like he’ll be released from hypnosis.”

“Yeah, I understand. Your Highness …”

“No. Noin… Is there anything you want to say to Alejandro?”

“Uh… Y-Your Highness… giving someone like me such an important opportunity…”

“I think you have the right to do that. Even if you’re going to work for our Knights Order from now on, it’s going to be painful if you don’t get rid of those shackles.”

Just being released from that dark spirit is not the end. Even after seeing the fallen Alejandro, she is still not really free.

“…I …I’m no longer tied to you. Your orders will no longer reach me.”

“…Wrong… Noin… You are my…”

As Laune had said, Alejandro resisted the hypnosis –his obsession with Noin is very strong. I don’t know if it’s right for me to try to help here. Maybe she has to overcome this by herself. But still, I placed my hand on her shoulder to help Noin move forward.

“…Grass-sama…”

Noin puts her hand on my hand. The magical powers of “water” and “plant” are compatible with each other –as they are so compatible, I can calm Noin’s mental turmoil even without using magic.

“…I don’t have to listen to your answer. If you can still hear me, just engrave my words… you’ve lost. Led by Her Highness Astina, you were defeated by the Knights of Isle Rose.”

“―!!”

Alejandro eyes widen ―just as he is about to become enraged, Laune wraps Alejandro in a pollen that has a sleeping effect.

“uh…Ga… a…”

As the concentration of hypnotic pollen increases, Alejandro quickly loses consciousness. Looking at Alejandro, who droops his head, Noin hits his chest with her hand―it must have taken a lot of courage.

“…Pardon me, Your Highness. In front of Your Highness, I’d like to relieve my resentment…”

“No. Alejandro used a measure that would sacrifice the lives of his subordinates… but he had no regrets, those who died according to his orders would not be rewarded.”

“People who aren’t aware of defeat are particularly bad at giving up. It’s a good idea to keep one in mind.”

“Your Highness, as for Alejandro and Baile, as important prisoners of war, they will be a bargaining chip with Zirconia. However, if we bring them back to the Isle Rose Fortress, it is likely that Vaiseck will interfere again… I think we should proceed with one more piece of the puzzle at this point but, what do you think?”

When Raquel-san asked that, for a moment, Her Highness’ eyes changed. Her gaze looks like she’s seeing something other than what is here –it’s a future vision through the power of the sacred tree.

“…Raquel, I’ll leave this fort to you. Please wait here for a few days with Bridget and Chloe.”

“Yes… I understand. What will Your Highness do?”

“I will lead back the others to Isle Rose at once. It is likely that our invasion of Zirconia is foreseen in the Capital… We have to avoid having the Isle Rose Fortress, our foundation, from being seized.”

“…That man… that’s what Vaiseck would think. Your Highness, may I and Presha accompany you as well?”

“Yes. Grass, I’ll leave the arrangement of the two magicians to you.”

“Your Highness, you may leave the defense of this fort to me. I have some knowledge of the surrounding terrain during my stay.”

Noin offers herself –if she remains, even if this fort is attacked, she can actively contribute to the defense.

Leslie and I will follow His Royal Highness and return to the Isle Rose Fortress. Even if the worries about Zirconia disappear, there is still a possibility that our original allies, the Rezeneia army, will be framed for treason.

This is the crucial point –in order for Her Highness to become a ruler and create an independent territory, she must eliminate the anxieties about the future.

I ride on Her Highness’s horse, and Leslie rides on Presha-san’s horse, we run through the plain where rain and dew still remain as we head to the south where the fortress was.

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

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