Chapter 210 : Chapter 210

Chapter : 210

News ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍of Crown Prince Charles I’s assault on the capital of the Duchy of Aquitaine reached even me, far away.

“Huh…”

“At ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍last, what was bound to come has come.”

“To ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍move that quickly… what on earth were they doing in the contact region?”

The ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍command tent stirred with unease.

Crown ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Prince Charles I’s movement was far faster than expected—far too fast.

By common sense, there was no precedent for an army of thirty thousand to advance at such speed.

Well, there was.

‘Ah, there was?’

‘Hmph… His Grace did it too, though. Ahem.’

But was that not a special case?

Could it be that Crown Prince Charles I was like our lord—who had received the Goddess’s blessing(?)?!

“…It feels as though all of you are thinking something strange?”

The vassals’ complicated expressions made me uneasy.

What are these fools imagining now?

It worried me deeply.

Whenever they wore those subtle, peculiar faces, I remembered how bizarre rumors had always spread—and I could not simply ignore it.

“A-hem. No, Your Grace.”

“That is right. We were only surprised because Crown Prince Charles I moved so quickly.”

“Reeeally?”

“Yes. Yes. Is it not so?”

“That is right. Hahaha.”

Their awkward laughter only made them more suspicious, but I decided to let it pass.

Because what mattered right now was not that.

“It seems Crown Prince Charles I led his army straight for the capital of the Duchy of Aquitaine. What is the situation there?”

“Fortunately, we are told that Sir Biden has temporarily patched up the internal turmoil and is defending well, Your Grace. I understand they won a major victory in the first battle.”

“Oh?”

“That is a relief.”

At the messenger’s report, the tent stirred again.

It was encouraging news.

“Still, it is too early to relax. There is a difference in numbers, and a difference in quality. With the untrained soldiers of the Duchy of Aquitaine, they will not hold for long. And the internal nobles do not see the Duchess of Aquitaine, Maceania, as the rightful successor, either, which makes it worse.”

“Hm, that is true, Magician Agpiel.”

At Magician Agpiel’s cautious words, I nodded.

In the Elang Kingdom, women did not have succession rights under Salic Law.

Princess Maceania had inherited the Duchy of Aquitaine by using Basque customary law from the Hispenia Peninsula.

So within the duchy, there had been constant murmurs.

That the Duchess of Aquitaine was not the true successor.

It had even reached the point where people openly said Crown Prince Charles I was the rightful heir.

And with the pro-Catalia faction mixed in, the duchy was politically unstable to the core.

“If they stumble even slightly, the subversive elements inside may side with Crown Prince Charles I. It is surprising they have patched things up, but Sir Biden is not the sort who is skilled at political maneuvering.”

Magician Agpiel’s sober advice was not something I could dismiss.

“That is why I attached someone to help him.”

“To help… someone?”

Magician Agpiel tilted his head for a moment, then frowned.

“Do not tell me you mean Azuela.”

“Yes, Magician Agpiel. That is why I sent Lady Azuela.”

“…You have a talent for jokes.”

“Pardon? It is not a joke.”

Then Magician Agpiel cried out, startled.

“What! Then you truly sent Azuela in earnest?”

“Why are you so shocked? Azuela is still a magician. Of course I sent her in earnest.”

“No, even so, that is a bit—!”

“……”

Ah, Magician Azuela.

How low had her score fallen?

I felt a moment of pity for our poor Azuela.

“She is the type who reads the room and is sensitive about self-preservation, so she will detect danger well enough. If she can identify the risks, Sir Biden can handle the rest.”

“Well… that is true, but…”

Magician Agpiel answered with an unsettled look.

“I am not expecting anything beyond that. Surely Azuela is not going to perform some great feat. I only want her to buy as much time as possible before we arrive with reinforcements.”

It was true.

Was Azuela really going to shine?

That halfwit magician?

I only hoped she would use her instincts for survival well.

“Hmph. Fair enough.”

Only then did Magician Agpiel nod, as if it finally made sense.

“But you know as well as I do that it is not a complete safeguard.”

“Of course.”

In the end, the siege in the Duchy of Aquitaine depended on how quickly my army could defeat the Emperor’s forces and rush to support them.

And for that to happen—

“The coming battle will be crucial. Count Steffen is not a fool, so he will try to drag things out…”

How were we supposed to force that battle-hardened fox, Count Steffen—who avoided decisive engagements and only stalled for time—into a clash?

Worry pressed in from every side.

Separate from my worries, Count Steffen’s own situation was not good.

BANG!

“Damn it!”

“P-please calm yourself, Your Excellency.”

“Calm down? Yes, I should calm down. But can I calm down when those damned idiots are trying to lose the war for me?”

At his vassals’ attempts to restrain him, Count Steffen snarled.

It was not without reason.

After he had sent troops to help them recover from that record-breaking defeat, they were now pushing all responsibility onto him.

They claimed the cause of the defeat was that Count Steffen had pulled away the cavalry he led?

Even though the center had been breached and the commander-in-chief had died, their mouths still ran freely.

And that was not the only problem.

“B-but we fear the new inspector might hear, Your Excellency.”

“Yes, that damned inspector! Yes!”

Upon hearing news of the defeat, the Holy Emperor had hurriedly dispatched an inspector, and he was provoking Count Steffen at every turn.

-Why are you fighting so passively?

-Avoiding battle stains His Majesty’s honor and glory.

Yes, yes.

He understood.

Bureaucrats always wanted quick results.

-You are not harboring other thoughts, are you?

-His Majesty has recently grown deeply concerned by your actions. It would be wise to be careful and give no cause for blame.

But those insolent remarks were impossible to endure.

And even now, that man dared to order him to lead the army out at once and face the Margrave of Bellua.

Count Steffen wanted nothing more than to storm out, seize the inspector by the throat, and shake him until his teeth rattled.

Sensing that fiery state, his vassals hurriedly cried out.

“Even so, you must endure it, Your Excellency! If you fall from His Majesty’s favor now, it is truly the end. Must you not preserve what lands remain?”

They invoked Count Steffen’s own predicament.

“Gngh…”

Only then did Count Steffen swallow his rage and drop heavily into his seat.

How had Count Steffen, of all people, come to this?

It was simply miserable.

At last, he sighed and spoke to his vassals.

“Hah… Fine. We will do as we are told. Send messengers to the entire army. We will fight a decisive battle with the Margrave of Bellua.”

Somehow, it felt as though his power was reaching its end.

BOOM, BOOM, BOOM.

The drums sounded, and the soldiers began to move.

The formation was not much different from the last time.

In truth, in the age of cold steel, formations could only be simple.

The hammer and the anvil.

In the end, that was the fundamental tactic of warfare with cold weapons.

If you lost the contest of strength, you lost.

You had to endure—endure until your main force could finally overwhelm the enemy.

That was why tactics in this era—especially in the era of [Pangea Universalise]—were a question of how boldly and aggressively you met your opponent.

And yet—

“Hm. It is rather defensive.”

“So it is. Hah… It seems Count Steffen has hidden his elite cavalry very carefully. This will not be easy for you.”

The formation of the Holy Emperor’s army under Count Steffen was unmistakably defensive.

Normally, he would have placed his dependable cavalry at the very front, opening with a crushing lance charge.

But this time, he had pulled the cavalry to the rear and concealed them tightly, as though saving them as reserves.

“Asking a noble to fight like this, with honor in mind, cannot have been easy. In many ways, it is impressive. Count Steffen truly is a fox—at least in war.”

“That is true.”

It felt as though the battle would drag on longer than expected, and a sigh escaped me.

It would be better if I could end it quickly.

As I was thinking that, Magician Agpiel suddenly spoke.

“Rather than worrying, why not provoke him?”

“Provoke him?”

“Yes. To make a man move when he has no intention of moving, provocation is best.”

“That is true, but… is there a provocation that will make Count Steffen move?”

“What kind of question is that? Is there not something you do best?”

“Me? What I do best?”

What was he talking about now?

Magician Agpiel opened his mouth, sounding exasperated.

“A duel! A duel!”

“Huh?”

“Now you understand? Tsk…”

Agpiel clicked his tongue, but I did not care in the slightest.

Instead, my eyes widened.

A duel.

A duel!

‘Yes. Nothing is better for forcing a battle than a duel. Heehee.’

A smile spread across my face.

If I rode forward and provoked him, Count Steffen would not be able to endure it.

“Halt! Halt!”

“Maintain the formation.”

Discipline was harsh beyond measure.

Count Steffen might not have wanted this decisive battle, but he had no intention of losing like a fool.

So he was doing everything he could to maintain order.

If nobles charged out on their own and the formation broke, it would become a catastrophe.

And fortunately—

“Very well. If Your Excellency says it so strongly, I will accept this formation. However, you must repay His Majesty with victory.”

Before the march, he had managed to turn the arrogant inspector’s heart with an impassioned appeal.

Now he only had to stall for time and wait for the Margrave of Bellua—pressed by urgency—to make a mistake.

Then Count Steffen’s honor would be restored.

But—

-WAAAAAA!

Before the thought even finished, a tremendous roar erupted from the Margrave of Bellua’s line.

-WOOOOO!!

And at the same time, a thunderous cheer rose from Count Steffen’s own ranks as well.

Because—

“For honor!”

“For His Majesty’s honor, and for my house’s honor, I will prove it with this blade. Take this!!”

Even though he had issued strict orders never to move recklessly, a knight burst out from the front all the same.

“????”

“??????”