I Won’t Let the Execution Battalion Die, ~Even If the Empire Falls, We Want to Survive~ - Chapter 65: The Knight's Path ②

We were half-surrounded. A group of about forty cavalry. In the Imperial Army, that would be company-scale.

Under the faint moonlight, we couldn’t see each other’s faces clearly.

But from that voice earlier, I knew who had called out.

“Second Lieutenant Makaran. No, have you become a lieutenant?”

“…Yes, that’s correct. Why do you know about the promotion?”

“If you’re leading company-scale cavalry, it’s natural to think you’ve been promoted.”

The young cavalry officer I’d searched for “Yuo Nevilnel” with in Kavaraf region.

Lieutenant Makaran advanced his horse and approached me.

“It’s been a while, Lieutenant Fonkt.”

Though cavalry officers of the same lieutenant rank were technically superior, since I was senior, Lieutenant Makaran used polite language with me. Despite being a noble.

While favorably noting his politeness, I also greeted him.

“I’m happy to see you again, Lieutenant Makaran. Congratulations on your promotion. I apologize for this appearance at such a reunion. I’m on duty.”

“I know.”

“You came to capture me on Yuo’s orders.”

Lieutenant Makaran seemed surprised by my words. Though I couldn’t see his face clearly.

“How do you know that!?”

“Otherwise there’d be no reason to mobilize this many cavalry, and you wouldn’t form a half-encirclement. Don’t underestimate me too much.”

“My apologies!”

Lieutenant Makaran saluted sharply. Seemed like he hadn’t completely shaken his second lieutenant habits. Still the well-bred young master as always.

I wanted to ruffle his blonde hair, but there was some distance, so I restrained myself this time.

“So your family has also been absorbed into the ‘nightingales.'”

“How did you deduce even that…”

“I can’t think of any other reason you’d capture me.”

“That’s certainly true.”

While making casual conversation, I ran my brain at full speed thinking what to do.

I couldn’t beat Lieutenant Makaran in horsemanship or martial arts. Plus this numerical disadvantage.

All his subordinates were excellent horsemen, so if I made any strange moves, they’d cut off my escape route. I’d seen their skill and loyalty in the Kavaraf region.

So a forced breakthrough was impossible. As usual, I’d have to smooth-talk my way out.

“When we last met, you said you pledged loyalty to your own justice. That hasn’t changed, has it?”

“That’s… yes.”

He hesitated slightly. Apparently he felt some guilt.

Then I’d exploit that.

“Since you’re a noble, you can’t oppose your father’s will as head of the family. The cavalry you’re leading are also clan retainers. You can’t act arbitrarily on your own.”

“Yes, that’s right. I was suddenly ordered to return home, then my father explained the circumstances. Our house would proceed together with the ‘nightingales.'”

His honesty was making me anxious instead. He was talking too much.

Though cavalry officers in general seemed poor at maneuvering against humans. Horses weren’t as deceitful as humans.

“You’d better not say such things openly. What would you do if I reported to the battalion commander?”

“That shouldn’t be a problem. Since we’re taking you with us.”

He was solid on that point. Right now he was the overwhelmingly stronger party.

I showed no signs of resistance and responded calmly.

“If that’s your justice, then there’s nothing I can do.”

“Justice…”

As expected, he seemed to feel guilty about his position, and Lieutenant Makaran’s words became vague.

Instead, I smiled at him.

“Standing here talking is pitiful for the horses. Let’s talk while walking. Even if it’s an escort, I can stay mounted, right?”

“Yes, that’s right. Please accompany us.”

We formed up with cavalry surrounding us front, back, left and right, and began retracing our path. Second Lieutenant Crimine looked anxious, but resisting poorly here would get us restrained by the cavalry. Now was the time for patience.

“So the Makaran family was absorbed into the ‘nightingales’ like the Dines family.”

“It seems to have been around the same time. I was told my father didn’t think favorably of His Majesty’s methods and hardly agonized over it.”

The current Emperor was… what was his name again? I’d forgotten, but he had little presence. Despite that, he issued rough imperial edicts, so he probably didn’t have much support from the lords. If he was going to be inconspicuous, he should have avoided unnecessary interference.

Well, that aside, let me try using this as a breakthrough.

“And you became a ‘nightingale’ minion on your father’s orders.”

I tried to say it casually without sarcasm, but Lieutenant Makaran still made a bitter expression.

“It can’t be helped.”

“Ah, it can’t be helped. For a noble, following the head of the family is natural. There’s nothing to be ashamed of. But…”

When I deliberately paused, Lieutenant Makaran showed an unsettled expression. Attacks from this direction were effective. I’d keep hammering away.

“You’re ignoring the military chain of command and moving troops privately. You understand this insubordination is worthy of punishment?”

“Yes. I’m prepared for it.”

He didn’t look very prepared though.

But I nodded as if convinced.

“Then this choice doesn’t go against your justice?”

Lieutenant Makaran was silent. This felt like breaking through the castle gates. Now we’d charge into close combat.

“What’s wrong, Lieutenant Makaran?”

“Let’s stop this conversation. There’s no point in arguing about it.”

Honest Lieutenant Makaran showed resistance. Close combat began.

“This isn’t an argument. If you regret this choice in the future, I’ll sleep poorly. That day, I showed you a bad example.”

Ignoring imperial edicts and faking executions—if discovered, I wouldn’t get off lightly. It was far more dangerous than what Lieutenant Makaran was doing now.

Lieutenant Makaran shook his head.

“I don’t think it was a bad example. Besides, this insubordination is just prioritizing my position as a noble over being a soldier.”

Such a sheltered boy. His guard was down.

“So this action really didn’t come from your own justice?”

“That’s…”

This was as good as admitting it himself. Like removing his helmet and offering his neck.

Since I had no room either, I’d exploit it with everything I had. Here I spoke a bit louder so the other cavalry could hear too.

“That time, I revealed my disobedience to imperial orders only to you. That’s because I recognized you as a real man who, like me, pledged loyalty only to his own justice. Have you changed?”

The cavalry turned in surprise at my words. A soldier who disobeyed imperial orders couldn’t be a part of the pro-imperial faction. Meaning they’d detained an anti-imperial faction officer.

“That’s not true!”

Lieutenant Makaran shouted even louder than me. Still the same man who got heated easily.

“Abandoning noble duties goes against my justice!”

“Then what about your duties as an Imperial soldier? Where’s your pride as a guardian protecting the Empire’s prosperity and peace?”

I cleverly glossed over the fact that this country’s military was nothing but the Emperor’s lap dogs. I’d become a cunning adult.

Lieutenant Makaran shouted back:

“Because you’re a commoner, you can say such carefree things! I’m…”

Lieutenant Makaran froze as if struck by realization, and I gazed at him quietly.

“Are you trying to say ‘I’m a noble, so I’m different from carefree commoners like you’?”

“That’s not…”

The cavalry’s march had stopped at some point.

In the silence, I asked:

“Have you ever dug up poisonous bulbs to eat?”

“Wh-what are you suddenly talking about?”

To the confused Lieutenant Makaran, I said:

“Soaking them in water removes the poison, making small amounts safe to eat without dying. But if you misjudge the quantity, you die. Commoners eat them risking their lives. When there’s nothing else to eat.”

Famine relief crops like spider lilies existed in this world too—normally not eaten, but used to sustain life during famines. After all, taxes had to be paid even during crop failures.

“It may look carefree to nobles, but commoners bear commoner struggles. If it were really carefree, I wouldn’t have become a soldier, Lieutenant Makaran.”

Most of the cavalry Lieutenant Makaran led were probably commoners too. Mostly second and third sons of farming families. Everyone knew their families were struggling.

Their gazes turned toward Lieutenant Makaran.

Conscious of those gazes, I quietly told Lieutenant Makaran:

“Your father, as head of the family, undoubtedly seriously considers the clan’s welfare. But we commoners aren’t included in that welfare. At least commoners from other domains aren’t worth considering.”

A noble called a wise lord might consider his subjects’ happiness, but no one thought about residents of other domains. Anyone who did would be a saint.

In short, everyone moved only for their own convenience.

“Tell me, Makaran. Is your justice protecting the clan’s welfare?”

To Lieutenant Makaran, who was at a loss for words, I smiled sadly.

“If so, I misjudged you. Perhaps nobles and commoners really can’t understand each other.”

I’d cleanly shifted the argument to noble-commoner conflict. Refreshingly sophistic.

Under the cavalry’s gaze, Lieutenant Makaran shook his head painfully.

“No… no! I didn’t dedicate my sword to such things!”

While inwardly wearing an evil smile, I maintained a serious attitude and asked:

“Then tell me, friend. What are you fighting for?”