39 – It’s tough when friends fall out

“I-I’m here by Lord Omonel’s o-orders, to s-save you…” 

I managed to bluff my way through to avoid blowing my cover. The burrow was surprisingly large, and inside were about forty or fifty villagers—the entire community that had fled there for safety.

One elderly man stepped forward on behalf of the villagers, bowing deeply.

“Lord Omonel, you say? He’s the right hand of Prince Brad himself!”

I guess he meant to say “most trusted confidant,” but the way he phrased it, it almost sounded like he was referring to a lover’s right hand… kind of crude.

The elder gave a signal to the younger villagers, who brought forth a small pouch. He handed it to me, and all the villagers watched the pouch intently, before averting their eyes, stifling their sobs.

“A-Ah, it’s not much, but…”

I tried to refuse it, but Brad, who was still pretending to be me, snatched the pouch away from the elder with a sneer. After checking its contents—no gold coins, just a few silver and copper coins, likely all they had left after fleeing for their lives—he said cruelly,

“Hmph, I have no need for such paltry coin.”

Such heartless words, considering how little they had. But I’d anticipated something like this, so with the speed of my well-trained muscles, I discreetly slipped all of my own gold coins into the pouch before anyone could notice. Luckily, the villagers were too downtrodden to look at me after that harsh remark.

“Soon the disaster will pass! Thanks to the loyal servant of Prince Brad… Lord Omonel’s man, Brando!”

I tossed the pouch back to the elder, ready to leave. But as I did, he fumbled, and the bag fell to the ground, spilling the coins.

“What!? I’ve heard rumors that Lord Omonel demands bribes and always collects tolls when passing through the territory, but…”

“Look at this! How could a mere servant carry such a fortune? Who are you, really?”

“I also heard Prince Brad was a man of all sorts of harassment—abuse of power, emotional abuse, sexual harassment, all of it… Yet here he is, sending his men to save lowly people like us. This doesn’t match what we’ve heard at all…”

Uh-oh…

I’ve overdone it.

“I don’t know anything! Complain to Omonel if you have to! Farewell!”

“Wait!”

“Please, hold on!”

Ignoring the villagers’ calls, I bolted, heading back to Billet Plateau.

Once I returned, I quietly resumed my muscle training. Soon after, Omonel and the others entered the area. Not wanting to arouse suspicion, I pretended to lounge casually on the makeshift bed, propping myself up on my elbow, acting like I’d been resting the whole time.

“As expected of Prince Brad!” 

“This is proof of his trust in us, isn’t it, boffuu.”

“Hmph, spare me the flattery.”

“No, no, this is something not easily done.”

“Seems like it’s not completely settled yet, though.”

“My deepest apologies! To annihilate the enemy with minimal damage is…”

“The enemy is not to be underestimated… boffu.”

“Hmph, well, it’s fine. At least you’re starting to understand.”

“‘Your Highness?’”

“You’ve gone out of your way to set the stage for my grand entrance, haven’t you?”

“Y-Yes, exactly!”

“As expected, Your Highness! Boffu!”

I know Kobiwul is a heavy sweater, but even Omonel was mopping his brow with a handkerchief. You guys definitely didn’t plan any ‘grand entrance’ for me.

Well, as long as no one gets hurt and we all make it back safely, that’s enough for me.

I picked up the Murofushi and headed for the front lines. But then, something unthinkable happened.

“Prince Brad is heading to the front lines!?”

“This is the same as a command to oversee! Retreat means certain death!”

The soldiers’ faces turned pale for a moment, whispering among themselves, but Kobiwul quickly added a few words, and the situation was resolved.

“His Highness has said that those who distinguish themselves will be rewarded! Offer your lives for His Highness!”

Kobiwul, ready to give up his own wealth, took out some of the gold coins he brought and scattered them around, showing them off.

“Wooooaaaaahhhhhh!!!”

――Half a day later.

“To think it would all be over in half a day… unbelievable, boffuu,” said Omonel, rubbing his hands together as he praised me. 

Kobiwul joined in with the compliments, though I felt like telling him, you’re not even fat anymore, so you don’t need to keep wheezing ‘boffu’ every time you talk.

“Oh, by the way, where’s Sontak?”

“That rascal must have anticipated Your Highness’s victory. Knowing that he would be assigned a reconnaissance mission, he’s already gone ahead to the Braginor Plateau.”

Wow! He’s really fast at taking action.

“As expected of Your Highness. To have secretly given orders to Sontak without informing us… You are indeed on a different level than us ordinary men!”

Wait, what? I didn’t give any orders at all…

“Boffuu… if only I could borrow even a little of that wisdom!”

“Kobiwul is absolutely right! Hahaha!”

No, no, I didn’t do anything at all…

“That’s right! Are you all amazed by my brilliance and cunning, always staying one step ahead with my schemes?”

What am I even saying!?

These three are the ones who overthought things and did all the work, yet here I am, pretending it was all my idea. Honestly, if anyone’s skilled in scheming, it’s them, not me. Blood’s always so petty.

—

Three days later.

While overseeing the reconstruction of the villages on the Castel Plateau and the withdrawal of our forces, a loud voice echoed.

“Prince Braaadhhh! I have returnedddd!!”

“Good work!”

Sontak, who had been out on reconnaissance, had returned. He came back quite early, so I wondered if maybe he had failed. But then, he started his report.

“They rushed their advance and ended up trapped in a poisonous swamp!”

Pfftt!

Is this some kind of “try not to laugh” challenge?

I couldn’t hold back my laughter at the ridiculousness of Sontak’s report. Such a mistake was too absurd to be real. When I laughed, the other three joined in as well.

“I knew Prince Brad would want to keep them alive, so I gave them herbal medicine to save them.”

“Good, that’s fine.”

Thank goodness.

Surprisingly, Sontak had some sense in him after all.

“But—knowing that Siegfried, who dares to have feelings for your fiancée, Lady Freesia, would feel devastated to see the two of you together—Prince Brad would want him to suffer greatly, so I kept him alive.”

I take back my previous praise.

That’s so cruel!

“Now, if you’ll allow me, I shall detail the full extent of their internal strife, Your Highness!”

Sontak raised his hand in a grand, almost ceremonial manner, as if swearing an oath. Omonel and Kobiwul applauded enthusiastically, as though they had been eagerly anticipating this moment.

Sontak clapped his hands, and a wagon with a cage attached was brought forth.

“What!?”

Inside the cage were not only Siegfried, Alex, and Leon—whose skin had turned purple—but also…

M-Maximilian!?

And there was a girl in there I didn’t recognize. Apparently, Sontak had apprehended a few suspicious individuals on his way back.

You’re way too competent!

“Siegfried is to blame for everything!”

“Huh!? Why is it all my fault!?”

“Why am I stuck in here with this guy!?”

“Th-That’s what I’d like to know too…”

Um, is it just me, or does Maximilian sound a little… like an older sister?

There’s so much happening right now—it’s overwhelming. Too many things to think about!