In a World of Reversed Chastity, I Strive to Become an Honorable Male Knight, but Lustful Women Keep Targeting My Body - 296

Chapter 296: The Kukkoro Male Knight and the Breakfast

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What awaited me when I arrived at the grand tent set up for breakfast was a massive cauldron filled with army stew. …Lately, it felt like I had been eating this every single day. I personally didn’t mind it much, but the soldiers had to be getting sick of it by now, right? Idly stirring the steaming contents in my wooden bowl with a spoon, I found myself thinking that.

It wasn’t as if the logistics crew were cutting corners by making army stew every day. Quite simply, the variety of ingredients was far too limited. After all, the Michael Collins wasn’t a particularly large ship, so the amount of supplies it could carry was limited. Ingredients that didn’t take up much space and could also keep for a long time were not that numerous.

“Delicious! Delicious!”

“To be able to eat until I’m full every day, this is paradise!”

That said, the elves and birdfolk seemed completely free of any such boredom. With big smiles, they shoveled the stew into their mouths at a rapid pace. Despite their rather hearty eating habits, they somehow still looked refined, probably because elves were a race blessed with a fairy-like beauty. They were truly a people with an extreme gap between appearance and inner nature.

“Now, I know you would all prefer to relax at least during a meal, but…”

As I looked around at the distinguished figures dining beneath the grand tent, I began to speak.

Those gathered here were the leaders of each faction. On our Liseben side, there were myself, Sonia, Bishop Fiorenza, several knights, and the marine captain. Then for the “New,” there were Lady Dalaiya, Uru, as well as the elders and clan heads. Lastly, the “Legitimate” faction consisted of Lady Orphan and her close associates.

Since we had this many people gathered, we might as well make good use of it. Time was limited, and there was no telling when the Vanka faction might launch another attack. Although we still held the advantage in terms of military strength, seeing the results of last night’s battle made it impossible to grow complacent. If they stuck to hit-and-run harassment tactics, it would become quite troublesome. “There’s no way I’m staying in a forest crawling with these damn savages! I’m going back to my territory!” was my honest feeling.

“I’d like to discuss what we should do moving forward. Is that alright?”

“Mm, mm. I agree. We can’t just keep going like this forever.”

The first to voice support was Lady Dalaiya. She glanced back and forth between her subordinates and the members of the “Legitimate” faction. An indescribable tension hung in the air between the two groups.

Well, that was only natural. The “Legitimate” elves had nearly set Runga City ablaze with their elf fire, and not a small number of soldiers had been killed or wounded in their infighting… there was absolutely no reason for them to get along. If we weren’t wedged between them, they would have started killing each other already. What a terrible “best of both worlds” this was. Someone, please take my place…

“I’ve got no objections either. I’ll follow Albert-dono’s instructions.”

With his arms crossed, Lady Orphan nodded. Her chest was flat.

“What are you acting like a loyal retainer for, you mad dog! You’re nothing but parasites clinging to the young lord!”

“Not only yourselves, you’ve even caused trouble for the young lord! Don’t you feel even a shred of shame!?”

Shouts of abuse immediately came from the “New” side. As usual, they kept calling me “young lord.” Well, to elves, I was nothing but a youngster anyway…

“You slow fools who only decided where to stand at the last moment dare to bark! Outsiders should keep quiet!”

“You’re the ones causing trouble for the young lord! I heard you lot were running around Liseben committing banditry until just recently!”

The “Legitimate” elves fired back instantly. Seeing Sonia, seated beside me, clench her fist tightly, a cold sweat ran down my forehead. This aide of mine was about to silence them with her fists.

“Hold it, hold it. This isn’t the time to waste on pointless insults.”

Clapping my hands together, I said that, and both sides of the Elfenia factions reluctantly lowered their weapons.

“If the young lord says so…”

“If Albert-dono says so…”

…Why were they so obedient? It was almost unsettling. I had expected at least a “Don’t butt in, outsider.” What was with them, seriously…?

As I tilted my head in confusion, Lady Dalaiya looked at me with a smug grin, as if to say “just as planned.” 

You damn scheming loli hag… pushing all the trouble onto me. Don’t think you’ll get away with this for free. Once things settle down, I’ll work you to the bone as a public servant…!

Letting out a sigh, I brought a spoonful of army stew to my mouth. Beans, onions, and a token bit of bacon… yeah, same as always. When things got truly dire, we’d be stuck eating nothing but biscuits and dried beans, so just having a hot meal was something to be grateful for.

“Anyway, the first thing we need to decide is how we’re going to proceed from here. …We, the Liseben forces, will withdraw to Carrera City for now. It’s too dangerous to remain in Runga City for an extended period. We need to regroup.”

After clearing my throat, I stated my position. After all, this expedition had been intended purely for negotiations and supply transport. We hadn’t prepared for full-scale combat. While we had some leeway in food supplies, our other military resources were only at the bare minimum. Ammunition shortage, in particular, was critical. We already had limited supplies, and it had even rained before dawn today. That might have dampened the gunpowder. If we had modern metal cartridges, it wouldn’t be much of a concern, but the cartridges we used were made of paper.

The main material was oiled paper, so getting slightly wet in the rain wouldn’t completely ruin them… but they were far from fully waterproof. Misfire rates would definitely increase. I had no desire to fight elves with unreliable ammunition like that.

“Of course, we’ll be coming along with you.”

As if it were obvious, Lady Orphan said so. …Well, she had brought all her followers, including non-combatants, all the way to Runga City. There was no way she could just return to her base at Mount Rana now.

“Yeah, that’s fine. …The issue is with the ‘New’ faction.”

At my words, the elders of the “New” faction exchanged glances. Now that the “New” had split into the Dalaiya faction and the Vanka faction, they could no longer continue as they had before. They no longer had the strength to overwhelm the “Legitimate,” and rejoining the Vanka faction now would be difficult.

They had two choices. Maintain independence and enter a three-way conflict, or make a temporary peace with the “Legitimate” and come under our umbrella… As someone who wanted stability for Liseben, I hoped they would choose the latter.

“…If possible, I’d like you to come to Liseben as well.”

“You’re saying we should move together with those traitors?”

One of the elders raised her eyebrows as she shot back. The others began to murmur as well. …Well, of course. Being suddenly presented with such a proposal, it would be strange not to be taken aback.

“To put it bluntly, yes.”

I nodded and gave her a grin. Now then, this was where the real work began. The elves, who were on the brink of extinction, would never let go of their men. If we wanted to reclaim them, we would have no choice but to bring the elves themselves into Liseben as well. It was a troublesome negotiation, but I supposed I would give it my best shot.

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