Chapter 31: Meeting with General Phalanx

When he woke up, the mixed scent of male and female bodies filled the air. The female scent was stronger. He looked to the right. A golden-haired beauty slept using his arm as a pillow. He looked to the left. A blue-haired beauty slept the same way with his other arm as pillow. And on his chest a silver-haired girl breathed softly in sleep. All four were completely naked.

(Ugh, I can’t move…)

The man smiled wryly. From the angle of light leaking through the window curtains it was probably around eight in the morning. Much later than usual. The reason was last night. The lewd banquet with all four tangled together had continued late. He had lost count of how many times he had cum. If the last one had joined, it might have lasted until dawn. Yet when he woke his lower half was rock hard. According to his friend Stefan he had never once woken up in heat. Normal men went soft and calm. He was the complete opposite. He had never once woken up without an erection.

“Nn…”

The silver-haired beauty woke up. She looked at him with a dazed expression. She rubbed her eyes and yawned.

“Morning, Sasha.”

“Nn… morning… nn…”

She seemed to notice the hard thing pressing against her leg immediately.

“Kaito, you’re in heat? Even after cumming that much yesterday…”

“Yeah. It’s fine. It’ll calm down after a while.”

“No. When you’re in heat it has to be taken care of properly. I’ll use my mouth, okay?”

She opened her small mouth wide and stuck out her tongue. Then she wriggled under the blanket. Soon a pleasant sensation spread through his lower body. Looking down the blanket bulged and moved up and down. Having his morning heat taken care of like this felt really good. He could get used to it as a daily habit. While he surrendered to the pleasure there was a loud don don knock on the door and an angry voice.

“Hey, Kaito! What time do you think it is! Are you awake? Open up!”

It sounded like a mother waking her son. The inner bolt was locked so he had to get up to open it.

“Nn… what is it…”

Sofia woke up. Still completely naked she got off the bed and staggered toward the door.

“H-hey, Sofia! Wait a sec…”

With a clack the red-haired beauty burst in. She saw Sofia naked, then looked at the bed.

“Y-y-y-you guys!”

“Nn… what?…”

Elfina sat up groggily. She looked at Elsa and said casually, “Oh, good morning.” Face flushed with anger, Elsa stood beside the bed and looked down at Kaito. Hands on her hips, veins bulging at her temple.

“Morning, Kaito… Looks like you had quite the fun last night, huh? By the way, do you know what day it is today? It’s the day we meet my papa… Great General Phalanx?”

“Ah, yeah… morning, Elsa… Of course I know? We still have time, right?”

“That’s not the point! You’re going to meet Papa smelling like this much sex? Get up right now and take a bath!”

She yanked the blanket off. His lower half was exposed. The silver-haired beauty had his hard cock in her mouth, head bobbing.

“Morning… Ferhya…”

“…………”

With a zuzu sound Sasha greeted her. After a few seconds of stunned silence Elsa clenched her fists and shook with rage.

“E-e-e-enough already!”

Her roar loud enough to pierce the thick walls echoed through the room.

Without eating breakfast Kaito and the others climbed into the carriage waiting in front of the inn. One reason was that they were having lunch with General Phalanx, but the main reason was that they had woken up so late the time was too awkward to call it breakfast. Two soldiers stood straight in front of the carriage.

“We will escort you to the fortress.”

“Thanks. …Seriously, Papa is so overprotective. I’m a Holy Knight, you know? I don’t need escorts…”

“This is the frontline. As the great general’s daughter your value as a hostage is extremely high. If I were the enemy I would use schemes against an opponent I can’t beat on the battlefield. It’s only natural you have escorts.”

“I know that much…”

Once inside the carriage Elsa sat glued to Kaito’s side. Elfina, Sofia, and Sasha sat opposite. She pressed her breasts firmly against his arm. Sofia smiled wryly and scolded her.

“Elsa, you’re sticking too close. What if Kaito goes into heat?”

“What? You three were stuck to him all night so this much is fine, right?”

The three girls gave exasperated looks while Kaito sighed. The four were comrades and would eventually become family. But there was no hierarchy. Elfina was the nominal leader but basically everyone was equal. Jealousy and clashes like this would probably happen.

(I have to keep it together or we’ll fall apart.)

Thinking that, he looked outside. Fortress city Valihart was lively even in the morning. People walked the streets, merchants called out, horses galloped past…

“…Something’s off. Horses galloping through town. Soldiers moving hurriedly. Did something happen?”

Kaito moved away from Elsa and asked the knight riding parallel to the carriage.

“Well… we haven’t heard anything?”

Kaito nodded and told the driver to hurry. He remembered Sasha’s words when they left the capital.

“Don’t tell me the Empire has moved?”

With wheels rattling the carriage carrying Kaito and the others hurried toward the fortress.

They crossed the bridge over the moat between the town and the fortress. Kaito stuck his head out of the carriage and looked up at its majesty. A huge wall over thirty meters high stretched several kilometers east to west. On the south side stood the castle where the general lived. Inside lived the staff officers and officers under the general, ready to respond immediately in case of emergency.

“I see. Truly an impregnable fortress.”

Horses galloped past them. They seemed to be fast messengers heading to the capital. Kaito pulled his head back and told the four.

“Change of plans. The faces of the soldiers galloping south looked tense. Probably the Imperial Army has attacked. We’ll end up eating alone.”

The four beauties who had been in a vacation mood instantly tightened their expressions.

As Kaito predicted the inside of the fortress was filled with soldiers running about in a hurry. Great General Belgarad Phalanx of the northern guard had gathered his staff officers and officers and was holding a meeting.

“Reports say the Imperial Army numbers thirty thousand, commanded by Crown Prince Austro Tolmakia!”

Oohs leaked from the staff officers. Austro Tolmakia had been leading since his debut two years ago and had fought the Phalanx army to a draw. He had blocked the Kingdom’s advance but had not been defeated. Despite being just over twenty he had become an opponent that could not be ignored. Stroking his chin beard, Phalanx laughed pleasantly.

“Nfufu… We had information they were gathering troops, but I never expected the Crown Prince himself to take the field. So, how many Holy Knights is he bringing?”

“That’s the thing—only one Hero flag. The red ground with golden threads, the Glory Flag Herlichkeit, only Austro Tolmakia General’s Hero flag.”

Phalanx’s eyebrow twitched. The staff officers exchanged glances.

“Are you certain? Only one flag?”

They double-checked but the report seemed accurate.

“What the hell are they thinking? They just got crushed by twenty-five Holy Knights the other day. Do they really think they can win with thirty thousand troops and one Holy Knight? Are they looking down on us!”

“Calm down. The supreme commander himself is a Hero Chevalier. It’s entirely possible the other Hero Chevaliers are refraining from raising their flags out of deference.”

“But until now other Hero flags have been raised. Why not this time?”

Hero Chevaliers and Holy Knight Paladins were military personnel but their status was extremely special. Heroes had the same speaking rights as generals so they were allowed to raise their own flags. Of course if necessary they could lower them and hide their presence, but most heroes proudly asserted their existence.

“How large is the enemy logistics train? After the last battle, roughly how many logistics units entered Grantberg Fortress? Estimate is fine.”

Not long after, the logistics information reached Phalanx.

“Over one thousand large wagons… quite a lot for thirty thousand troops.”

“They must be planning a long war. After the previous battle they learned their lesson and intend to repeat the basic strategy of guerrilla warfare across the plains?”

“Even so the number of Holy Knights is too low. They should have brought at least five.”

“It might be a ploy to confuse us. We can’t judge by flag count alone. It’s dangerous to blindly assume only one.”

Discussions flew back and forth but with limited information no conclusion was reached. Phalanx clapped his hands to stop the debate.

“There’s no point worrying any further. Let’s first see how the enemy moves. Now, we skipped lunch for this discussion. It’s a bit late but go eat. They say you can’t fight on an empty stomach. I also have someone waiting. Let’s adjourn for now.”

Phalanx stood and left the room. Once the great general was gone a relaxed atmosphere finally drifted through the room.

The moment they entered the room Kaito felt pressured by an unknown presence. A large red-haired man with some white mixed in stood with his back turned. The four Holy Knight candidates lined up behind Kaito seemed to feel the same.

“Nfufu… No need to be so tense, you know?”

The large man turned. A middle-aged man with hawk-like sharp eyes and a mustache looked down at Kaito. Kaito stepped forward with a tension he had never felt before.

“It is an honor to meet you. I am Kaito, first-year Hero Chevalier candidate at the Royal Knight Academy. I am in a relationship with your daughter, Lady Elsa.”

“I am Belgarad Phalanx. Welcome. I was looking forward to seeing what kind of hero would want to take my tomboy daughter as his Holy Knight.”

“She is indeed a tomboy, but that is also Lady Elsa’s charm. I’m sure she will become a wonderful Holy Knight.”

“Nfufu… You have a smooth tongue. Moving Holy Knight Paladins is the duty of the Hero Chevalier. But honestly I don’t trust heroes very much. Most heroes just work as the Holy Knights’ ‘housekeepers’ and move exactly as told. What about you?”

Before Kaito could answer Elsa stepped forward.

“Papa… Kaito is not some third-rate hero. He’s the hero I chose? He’ll definitely become the greatest Hero Chevalier in history.”

But Phalanx shot his own daughter a sharp glare. That alone made Elsa freeze. Apparently even for Elsa her father was a terrifying presence.

“Well, that’s fine. Your authenticity will be revealed eventually. Now, we were supposed to eat together but unfortunately something urgent came up. I’m sorry but I must ask you to leave the fortress.”

“Wh… no way…”

Elsa tried to protest but Kaito stopped her. He moved her behind him and stood before Phalanx.

“The Imperial Army has attacked, hasn’t it? A large force?”

“Oh? Why do you think so?”

“On the way here horses were galloping south in a hurry and soldiers were rushing about. I heard the general is strict with military discipline, yet the atmosphere was frantic. Something unexpected happened… the only possibility is an Imperial invasion.”

Phalanx silently looked down at Kaito. After a few moments he laughed quietly.

“Nfufu… Quite the quick tongue. I’ll keep you company a little longer. Indeed, the Imperial Army has moved. Thirty thousand troops commanded by Crown Prince Austro Tolmakia.”

“Austro Tolmakia? He became a general because he’s a Hero Chevalier and the Crown Prince… the Crown Prince himself came out?”

“Not only that. I heard he’s already built achievements as a general at just over twenty.”

Sofia and Sasha whispered together. Ignoring them Kaito put a hand to his chin and thought.

“How many Holy Knights is he bringing, and what is the scale of the logistics train?”

“One Holy Knight, over one thousand wagons in the logistics train. Now, what do you think?”

Kaito closed his eyes for a few moments and began muttering to organize his thoughts.

“First we must consider whether the enemy intends a long war or a short decisive battle. For a long war they would deploy guerrilla warfare across the plains. The number of Holy Knights raises questions, but looking only at the logistics scale a long war is more likely. In that case there is no need for excessive caution. It will end with the usual small skirmishes in various places on the plains.”

“That seems right. It will be a boring fight but good training for the new recruits.”

“Therefore we must consider the case where the enemy intends a short decisive battle. In that case there are three possible reasons they mobilized troops.”

“Oh?”

“First, Austro Tolmakia is an utter fool of a general who genuinely believes he can beat the great general with thirty thousand troops and one Holy Knight. Second, internal Empire affairs. In the previous battle the Second Prince Noias took a painful blow. There are various circumstances inside the Empire—frankly, power struggles and such. To maintain balance they send the Crown Prince and prove he cannot beat General Phalanx. To prevent the Second Prince’s downfall.”

“I see. Certainly there is a possibility the emperor made that judgment as a result of internal power struggles. And the third possibility?”

“The first two possibilities do not require much caution. I… no, we should be wary of the third possibility. In other words, the possibility that they have a plan to defeat General Phalanx.”

“…How is that different from the first?”

“The first is blind faith without basis. Only the person himself is convinced he can win. But the third is that they have a plan, thorough preparations, and absolute confidence when they set out. Meaning not only the commander but the staff and others are convinced they can win.”

“Hmm… and what is that plan?”

“I don’t know. That’s exactly why I say we should be cautious. First we must determine whether the enemy intends a long war or a short decisive battle. If the enemy marches out in full force we can judge they intend a short decisive battle.”

Phalanx silently looked down at Kaito and nodded once slowly. Kaito could not tell what he was thinking, but he did not seem displeased.

“Quite an interesting talk. I don’t think you’re being overly cautious, but…”

“Courage and recklessness are different, just as caution and cowardice are different. In battle one should consider every possibility and prepare countermeasures… that is what my master taught me.”

Phalanx smiled slightly.

“I will permit you to remain in this fortress. You may leave if you wish, but why not stay and see the outcome of your own prediction? Of course I cannot allow you to join the battle. You are still candidates, after all.”

Without needing to check behind him Kaito nodded.

After the children left the room Phalanx poured wine into his cup. Holding it he stood by the window. While looking outside he remembered the one hero who had once pierced his solid line.

…I am a coward, so I cannot rest until I gather enough information and lay enough schemes to feel safe. My opponent this time was not a heavy infantry unit but the general himself. I had a hard time figuring out how to blind the general’s eyes…

“Nfufu… I thought I would never meet another Hero Chevalier like that again, but…”

Great General Belgarad Phalanx laughed pleasantly and drained his cup.

“Sorry. I changed the plans on my own.”

“It’s fine. I sent a message to Father. Watching General Phalanx fight is not something you get to experience normally. It’s natural you’d be interested.”

In the guest room Kaito and the others sat relaxed in their chairs. Originally they had planned to head to the Rogueia marquis territory in a few days, but Kaito had changed that on his own judgment. He hurriedly wrote an apology letter and gave it to a messenger.

“Still, what was that overwhelming presence…”

“Yeah. I thought I was going to be crushed. Now I understand why Elsa didn’t want to come here.”

“U… Papa is kind when he comes home, but he completely changes before battle… Well, I rarely see his kind face anyway.”

“The Kingdom’s greatest famous general, great general of the northern guard… that majesty comes from the achievements and experience he has piled up. I was overwhelmed but at the same time I felt reassured. I can’t imagine General Phalanx losing.”

The four nodded. But only Kaito remained deep in thought.

(The victories up to yesterday do not guarantee tomorrow’s victory. If the Empire has a secret plan for victory…)

“…It might be presumptuous, but we should prepare for the worst case.”

“Kaito?”

Kaito stood and faced the four.

“Where is Lord Walter Wackenheim? There is something I want to discuss.”

Two days later the Imperial Army of thirty thousand troops and a massive logistics train departed from Grantberg Fortress. The news reached Valihart Grand Fortress immediately, and thirty-five thousand troops under Great General Belgarad Phalanx advanced toward the center of the Kabachi Plains. War clouds suddenly gathered over the border between Kingdom and Empire.

“…Kaito, are you really going to do this? If we’re caught it won’t end well.”

“It’s for the worst case. If I decide it’s unnecessary I’ll turn back immediately.”

Ignoring Elfina’s worry Kaito began moving on his own judgment. Austro Tolmakia was twenty-one at this time, Kaito sixteen. The first encounter between the two who would later clash staking their ideals was about to begin…