Rune Troopers: Self-Defense Forces Adventure - Chapter 2: Argentavis (Part 4)

Seyrord, the Royal Capital of the Nation of Marysea; a part of the United Kingdom of the Southern Seas.

This city was a maritime trading city and a castle town filled with vitality.

It had been some time since evening, and the sound of church bells should have been heard by now. It was the sound of the light god driving away evil spirits at the time of meeting, when everything was dyed vermilion.

The bay line of the capital was a large crescent moon, with capes on either side of it. The lower cape was the lighthouse and the higher cape was the Royal Castle.

The Royal Castle had been repeatedly reconstructed over the years. Repeatedly rebuilt over the years by expanding and improving for the sixth time in recorded history, finally settling down to its current appearance. 

The white castle, whose splendor was a sight to behold, had white marble walls that could only be obtained via the Trans-Continental Highway, and its architectural style was similar to that of the early Kwangmo-kyo architecture. 

The five spires that thrust into the sky and the lavish use of gold, pearls, jade, and other precious materials were impressive.

The garrison of Lalona’s troops were located at the foot of a lighthouse overlooking the Royal Castle on the opposite shore.

At the tip of the cape, the duo slipped onto a rough, unimproved auxiliary road and hurried to the quarters without even returning the bird to the ‘Birdhouse’.

On the way, several of her colleagues called out in surprise at the bloodthirsty Lalona as she ran, but she ignored them all.

When she arrived at the sturdy two-story stone building, she pushed aside a young boy who was probably on guard duty and ran into the Commander’s office.

In the room, which looked like a simple office, sat a strangely aged woman with long, rich grass-colored hair.

She was a non-marysean with white skin and wore a sleeveless, breathable, marine-style military uniform.

Her name was Carda.

She was a noblewoman and also had a last name that indicated this.

However, she had never spoken her last name in front of her people.

This was because Marysea was a culture that did not value last names.

As the name “United Kingdom of the South Seas” suggested, the country was part of a Federation of Nations and people from various cultures. The lack of importance of last names was also a result of this consideration.

If someone like Lalona, who did not have a last name wass forced to take it, she would use her mother’s name instead. 

In Marysea, the matrilineal culture of the marysean people was traditionally strong, and even those like Lalona, who came from a mountain tribe and were not familiar with this culture, followed their mother’s name.

“What’s going on? Warrior Lalona!”

Carda asked calmly, facing Lalona, who jumped into the room out of breath.

Her tone was almost cold.

Warrior was a rank used in this country’s Warrior corps. From the bottom, the ranks were Trainee, Trainee Warrior, Warrior, Squadron Leader, and Warrior Commander ……. In other words, Lalona, the second from the bottom, was a soldier of barely with the rank of Warrior.

The United Kingdom Army of the Southern Seas in the Nation of Marysea had three major military districts. The Royal City Guard, the Home Army, and the Island Patrols.

The Royal City Guard, as the name suggested, was the military unit that protected the Royal Capital of Seyrord. It also included the Royal Guards, which protected the Queen personally. Although smaller in size than the other two, they were more important than any of the others.

The Flying Light Armored Warrior Corps, which included Carda and Lalona, also belonged to the Royal City Guard.

This group of Warriors, which used Argentavis, was a unit that specialized in reconnaissance and messenger work, and was therefore treated as a second-tier unit compared to combat units such as the Knights. 

Therefore, they were always ridiculed by the troops on the ground as ‘bird’s-eye’ or ‘poop-droppers’. 

Even so, however, their status was still much higher than that of the Local Argentavis Commandos.

The reason they were looked down upon was not only because they were non-combat troops.

The fact that they were a ‘Warrior Corp’ was another reason.

There existed a big difference between the ‘Warrior Corps’ and the ‘Knight Corps’. Depending on the degree, a unit cannot call itself a ‘Knight Copr’ in Marysea unless more than half of its members consisted of nobles. 

This was not a story limited to this nation, but a customary military formation common to all nations, regardless of differences in standards.

In a feudal society, rank was absolute.

So now Lalona, too, was in awe not only of her rank but also of the nobility, and she dropped to one knee on the floor with her head down.

“Forgive my sudden rudeness! But there is something I must promptly inform you of.”

Carda gently removed the single pair of glasses from over her right eye.

She had heard rumors that her eye had once been injured during a blood-soaked ordeal.

Carda’s every movement was refined. As expected of an aristocrat, Larona thought.

The Black Spearman Officer’s summer cloak that Carda wore over her military uniform would have looked like the religious garb of a worshiper if it did not have the unicorn’s crest on it.

Although she had heard that it was a cloak for protection from the sun, Lalona could not help but see it as a mourning garment. Was the rumor true that she had lost a lover in the past?

While waiting for the Warrior Commander’s reply, Lalona caught her slitted twin eyes.

The light in Carda’s eyes shone like the purple crystal that signified nobility.

“Good. Be brief.”

Lalona looked up with a start and quickly recounted what she had seen during the day.

The appearance of something emerging from the Sea of Mermaids was in itself a major event. Moreover, what emerged were five huge iron ships, like castles of unknown nationality.

Carda, who usually had a dignified and calm expression on her face, heard the report and her forehead was slightly sweating.

“No way, the Filborg Empire?”

She did not mention the arrogant title of ‘Succession’ in the enemy’s name just like a marysean aristocrat.

Carda named the nation she now regarded as the most problematic. She knew well that the occupation of the Holy Prominion Empire was not a distant concern.

“No, not as far as I can see. ……”

Lalona replied, somewhat brusquely.

(It was as if the ship had come from another world.) She came up with such a ridiculous expression.

Lalona almost laughed inadvertently, but remembered that she was in front of an aristocrat and held back.

Then, Carda sighed heavily.

For a moment, she was afraid that the Warrior Commander had noticed her intention to laugh, but she didn’t seem to have noticed.

She sighed heavily, “I have orders from above to bring up to the Castle any news, no matter how small.”

Carda rose from her chair and looked out the window at the setting sun.

“Warrior Commander?”

“Trainee Warrior, what do you think is going on in this world right now?”

Lalona could see the anguish on Carda’s beautiful face.

A deep, somber look. It was a look she would never show in front of her subordinates.

Something was wrong. Lalona sensed this.

“The iron ship and the foreigners of unknown nationality…… are nothing more than a bunch of nonsense, but I’m sure Her Majesty will hear about it.”

Carda patted the spear in the corner of the room.

“Today, an ultimatum was delivered to our country.”

Lalona took a moment to understand what she meant.

Then she realized that what Carda had uttered was a national secret that had not yet been made public.

Lalona felt a startle as if her heart had been grabbed by the devil.

She gulped dryly.

The superior officer continued.

“The Filborg Empire has declared war on our country. They have even recommended an immediate surrender on terms that are unacceptable to us. Therefore, tomorrow, our forces will be ready for battle.”

Carda looked at Lalona, who was stiffening, with her wise eyes.

“Are you afraid of ……? This time this nation will be the battlefield.”

She said as if testing her.

“No eh!”

But Lalona shook her head and looked determinedly at Carda.

“I am ready to fight! I am a soldier working for the Nation of Marysea! I will not let another war like the one that happened ten years ago happen again! I will crush the imperial soldiers!”

Carda narrowed her eyes.

“You are from the mountains along the border, aren’t you, ……?

“Yes, sir!”

“I see…….”

Carda was convinced by the strong expression on the face of her bloodthirsty subordinate.

Ten years ago, resources were discovered in the mountainous areas that formed the borderline, and neighboring nations invaded to take control over them, resulting in a border dispute. 

At that time, many villages were involved in the fighting and were burned to the ground.

Lalona probably lost her family and hometown there. 

When Carda sensed this, she turned her head slightly. Then, in a small voice that Lalona could not hear, he muttered, “I won’t let it happen again.”

Carda felt a little envious of the purity of the red-haired girl in front of her.

The passion that she didn’t have as a cold-hearted person. It was nostalgic.

However, as if to shake off such thoughts, she ordered Lalona.

“I will go to the castle first thing tomorrow to report to you. You are to accompany me as my valet.”

Lalona’s eyes rolled back in confusion at this unexpected order.

“What? I’m a commoner, so I can’t easily go up to the castle.”

“It’s an emergency. If you stay by my side no one would care and I may not be able to explain that story of yours to Her Majesty.” 

Carda looked out the window.

The sun was about to set beyond the horizon. Despite the terrible things that were about to happen, it was a beautiful sight.