Chapter 203 : Chapter 203

Chapter : 203

It ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍is always the same.

Human ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍greed gives rise to countless problems.

Look. ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Is it not happening again right now?

“The ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Western Nobles’ Alliance is attacking the capital with an army of thirty thousand!”

“The ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Duke of Bourgogne is personally leading his troops toward the royal capital!”

“An ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍army of the Holy Empire Emperor has arrived in the eastern regions of the kingdom! Approximately twenty thousand!”

“The eastern nobles are requesting support. What shall we do, my lord?”

It was absolute chaos.

Just when the kingdom had begun to stabilize, the flames of war flared up once more, plunging everything back into turmoil.

And that was not all.

“Duchess Maceania of Aquitaine has requested support!”

“C-Crown Prince Charles I is marching south with twenty thousand troops toward the Duchy of Aquitaine! The Kingdom of Catalia below has also mobilized five thousand troops. It seems the two have formed an alliance, my lord!”

Charles I, who had been lying low and watching for an opportunity, had moved swiftly.

I had expected him to march on the capital together with the Western Nobles’ Alliance, but that was not the case. Instead, he had chosen the weakest-looking target—his own younger sister, the Duchy of Aquitaine.

And he had done so by joining hands with the external power of the Kingdom of Catalia.

“To think a crown prince of the kingdom would ally with a foreign country and attack his own nation!”

“Meeeh. Cowardly. Mehr.”

“You are right, my lord. That crown prince without honor—no, Charles I—must be punished at once.”

The vassals raged in outrage, venting their fury. Whatever shred of sympathy they had held vanished in an instant.

A man who would sell out his kingdom for his own greed. If that were the case, then as the Duke of Bourgogne claimed, Charles I had likely conspired with Richeléon to assassinate the king.

“Enough. Enough!”

I shouted toward the noisy council chamber.

This was not a marketplace.

The more urgent the situation, the more calmly it had to be handled.

“We cannot fight on multiple fronts at once. Do we not also have to deal with the Holy Empire Emperor’s army invading the eastern regions?”

“B-But are they not within the Duke of Bourgogne’s sphere of influence?”

“The Duke’s sphere of influence?”

At one vassal’s words, I scoffed. It was plainly wrong. The Holy Empire Emperor was moving with considerable cunning.

“They are cleverly attacking nobles outside the Duke of Bourgogne’s territory—neutral nobles. From the Duke’s perspective, already fighting the Western Nobles’ Alliance, he has no capacity to support them as well. If anything, he would try to escape the situation through negotiation.”

“Gasp?”

“Meeeh?”

“Hah…. This is bad.”

Only then did the vassals understand the situation, crying out in alarm. If my assessment was correct, there would be no one to stop the Holy Empire Emperor’s army invading the east.

“Some might say this. That we should not support them either. But if we do that, our most important northern trade network will fall into the hands of a hostile Holy Empire Emperor. That is something I cannot allow.”

We had already provoked the Holy Empire Emperor far too much by joining hands with the Holy See.

It was far too late to laugh together and reconcile. The only path left was to cross blades and force submission through strength.

“Uuugh….”

“Meheeeeh….”

The vassals all let out deflated sighs. It meant we truly faced a situation where we would have to wage war on two fronts.

Against formidable enemies no less—the Holy Empire Emperor and Charles I.

“From this point on, the domain will shift to a wartime footing. All administrators are to remain on emergency standby, and all able-bodied domain residents are to prepare for conscription.”

“Then where do you plan to move the army first, my lord? It will be difficult to support both fronts at once. We should deal with one side first.”

“Oh? Chamberlain Hamil.”

The previously silent Chamberlain Hamil stepped forward. I brightened and spoke.

“I intend to support the eastern regions first. If the Holy Empire Emperor establishes a foothold there, it will not be easy to drive him out later.”

“Hm…. If those seasoned veterans seize the eastern regions and adopt a defensive posture, that would indeed be the case. And have we not already dispatched troops to the Duchy of Aquitaine? If we send the main force east and use a smaller force to harass the central regions, Charles I will not be able to devote his full strength to Aquitaine. My lord.”

As expected of Chamberlain Hamil.

His thinking was well organized, and his advice perfectly suited me. He truly was an experienced and seasoned veteran of war.

“A fine suggestion. I agree. That was my intention as well, Chamberlain Hamil.”

“Ha ha ha. I am glad you think so, my lord.”

After laughing warmly, Chamberlain Hamil asked me another question.

“But you do not intend to provide no additional support to the Duchy of Aquitaine, do you, my lord? Forgive my presumption, but Duchess Maceania alone may find it somewhat overwhelming.”

“Of course not.”

I had no intention of simply sending troops and leaving it at that.

Think about it.

The very fact that Duchess Maceania of Aquitaine had asked me for help meant she still had not fully consolidated control over her own domain.

Granted, it had only been three years since she ascended as duchess. It would have been stranger if she had complete control.

“In addition to reinforcing troops, I intend to send people as well.”

“People? Whom do you have in mind…?”

“For such a task, the right person should be obvious.”

At Chamberlain Hamil’s question, I shrugged.

A man who would advance steadily, unwavering, carrying out orders to the end.

Specifically—

“I intend to send Sir Biden.”

With his extensive combat experience, he would surely play a crucial role in the upcoming defensive battles.

Of course, one might question whether sending such a rigid commander into the complex political environment of the Duchy of Aquitaine was wise.

“And additionally….”

But I had already thought that through as well.

“Send Magician Azuela. She is an excellent mage and will assist Sir Biden in navigating the difficulties.”

“…What?”

“Hmm? Really?”

“Are you serious?”

“Meeeeeeh?!”

The moment I finished speaking, everyone cried out in shock.

“Me? Why me?”

Even Azuela herself, the person named, reacted the same way.

“…….”

---

There was some brief commotion, but the meeting concluded successfully.

The main force of my army would repel the Holy Empire Emperor’s troops invading the eastern regions, while additional forces and personnel would be sent to the Duchy of Aquitaine.

Once this decision was made, the domain moved swiftly to prepare for war.

Troops were mustered, supplies reorganized, and units formed.

The administrative system we had refined over time proved its worth, moving with astonishing speed.

Especially by the standards of the [Pangea Universalise] era.

Just three weeks.

In that short span, all preparations for war were complete.

All except for one person.

“Hohoho. Y-Your Grace. Will I truly be of help?”

Magician Azuela, already busy enough, was wasting precious time. On the eve of her departure for the Duchy of Aquitaine, she came to see me, fidgeting and twisting about as she spoke.

“Why? Can you not do it?”

“No. I have never had that kind of experience, Your Grace. Would it not be better to send the Great Sage instead? He would easily sort out the situation in Aquitaine!”

“…….”

Her display of humility was so excessive that I was left speechless.

It was one thing for others to doubt her, but to speak that way about herself?

She was a mage, after all.

But Azuela was Azuela.

“Think about how important this matter is. If the Duchy of Aquitaine falls, it will be disastrous for you, Your Grace.”

She said it with brazen audacity.

Of course, that did not mean Azuela’s pride was untouched.

Mages were usually treated as advisers wherever they went. But her desire to remain somewhere safe was even stronger.

No matter how one looked at it, the Duchy of Aquitaine seemed far too dangerous.

“You are truly….”

Of course, I was well aware of what Azuela was thinking. That half-baked mage always wore her thoughts on her face.

“Haa…. Azuela.”

I could not even be bothered to add “Sir” anymore.

“Y-Yes? Your Grace?”

“So you do not want to go to the Duchy of Aquitaine with Sir Biden?”

“Oh hoho. It is not that I do not want to go, it is just—”

“You seem to be misunderstanding something. Think carefully. Who am I going to fight right now?”

“Uh. The Holy… Empire Emperor?”

“And you want to follow me? He might even come in person.”

“…What?”

Only then did Magician Azuela grasp the situation.

“Hic—?”

She was so startled she began to hiccup.

Tsk.

“If you truly want to follow me, I will not stop you. But since it is a battlefield, I may not be able to protect you if the Emperor becomes enraged at the sight of you. Do you still not want to go to the Duchy of Aquitaine?”

“N-No! Your Grace! I will go! I will do my best! Eek. I am sorry. Please send me.”

“…Very well. Then I am counting on you.”

Truly… such a troublesome half-baked mage.

---

“Are you sure it will be all right to send Azuela?”

On the road to the eastern regions, Magician Agpiel, riding beside me, asked with a worried expression.

It was understandable. Azuela was not exactly reassuring.

“Azuela will fulfill her role adequately, Magician Agpiel. She is a mage in name, at least. She will give better advice than an ordinary person.”

“Hm. That is true, but… one screw is quite loose on that one. Hohoho.”

Good grief…. What a harsh assessment. If she heard that, she would surely cry.

I chuckled at Magician Agpiel’s words and replied.

“That may well be her strength. Sir Biden is rigid to a fault, so she will provide suitable balance. And her survival instincts are excellent. In dangerous situations, she will find a way to escape.”

“Hoh. Are you planning to abandon the Duchy of Aquitaine?”

“Of course not. But we must consider the worst-case scenario. Still, I trust Sir Biden.”

If Captain Konrad had been an aggressively inclined commander, Sir Biden was thoroughly defensive. Had that difference not been made clear time and again in battle?

The fighting in the Duchy of Aquitaine would surely be mostly defensive. It would be the perfect stage for Sir Biden to demonstrate his true worth.

“Well, now that you put it that way, I suppose you are right.”

Magician Agpiel agreed.

“By the way, who do you think is commanding the Holy Empire Emperor’s army? The Emperor himself? Or Count Steffen?”

“Hmm. It would be difficult for the Emperor to come this far in person. It is likely Count Steffen.”

The Holy Empire Emperor had only recently ended a brief truce and resumed war with the Prince-electors within the Empire.

As Magician Agpiel said, it would be difficult for him to come personally.

“That seems likely.”

“Indeed. Few commanders are as experienced as Count Steffen.”

Riding side by side, we reached that conclusion.

If nothing unexpected occurred, Count Steffen would serve as commander-in-chief. With that in mind, I believed that planning our strategy around his tendencies might make this war manageable.

The problem was—

-Holy Empire forces sighted!

-The banners of Count Steffen, Count Bayern, Bishop Schulz, and Count Josef are visible. Among them, the banner signifying the commander-in-chief is—

-It is not Count Steffen… it is Count Josef!

“…?”

“??????????”

An entirely unexpected noble had emerged out of nowhere.