Chapter 34: Warrior’s Pride

The Kabachi Plains Battle that broke out in imperial year 202 is generally rated as a victory for the empire side. True, the imperial army drove back the thirty-thousand-strong force led by the famous general Belgarad Phalanx and achieved its strategic goal of “occupying the Arus River coast.” In terms of results it can be called a Tolmakia Empire win. But the man himself was in no mood for celebration.

“Your Highness… I understand your frustration, but please calm down. It affects the troops’ morale.”

The night they drove off Phalanx, Partina Sircury gently scolded Austro Tolmakia, whose face looked like he’d bitten into a bitter bug. Hands clasped behind his back, he paced back and forth inside the command tent and let out a heavy sigh.

“…So, what are our casualties?”

“Combined dead and wounded, just under three thousand. But we took out half of Phalanx’s three thousand. Reports say we even wounded Phalanx himself. It’s fair to call it a victory.”

“Ah, yes. Victory. Definitely victory. But not a great victory… We were supposed to have Phalanx’s head on a pike right here. If not for that cavalry unit!”

“I have a report on that. The Chevalier banners the cavalry flew were all old ones, retired years ago and pulled from storage.”

“So they had no real Paladins and just dragged out worn-out flags? Those women were probably prostitutes from somewhere. Hell, maybe they even dressed men in drag… Damn, what a hateful bunch.”

He twisted his mouth in disgust, then dropped heavily into a chair. Another huge sigh, then a low chuckle.

“…It was brilliant. A hundred riders at most threw our thirty thousand into chaos and snatched Phalanx away without losing a single man. Did we identify the leader?”

“No, still unknown. But he probably wasn’t from Phalanx’s army.”

“Oh? Why?”

“That feint wasn’t for victory. It was to avoid the worst-case scenario—Phalanx’s death. If it had been Phalanx’s order, he wouldn’t have used such a half-measure. If I were him, I’d have charged the whole thirty thousand at the same time as the feint. The fact that he decided to retreat in front of the cannons tells me he had no idea the feint even existed.”

“I see… You’re right.”

Austro nodded and closed his eyes. He felt like a drink.

Kaito’s hundred-man cavalry unit reached the imperial camp three kilometers behind the front. They had ridden day and night; both men and horses were at their limit. Phalanx’s army wasn’t as crushed as expected. It was a defeat, sure, but nine out of ten men were safe and the famous general himself was still standing. Every face said they believed they could turn it around from here.

When the hundred riders entered camp, applause rose naturally. The ex-soldiers wore proud, refreshed expressions. One man walked up to Kaito.

“I’m General Phalanx’s adjutant, Elvin. The general is waiting. This way…”

Kaito and the four Paladin candidates followed Elvin into the command tent. At the back center stood Phalanx, half his face wrapped in bandages, staff officers lined up beside him.

“Hero Chevalier candidate Kaito, along with four Paladin candidates, reporting as ordered.”

The five snapped to attention. Before Phalanx could speak, a giant loomed in front of Kaito. Chevalier Walter Wackenheim stared down with a blank face.

“…Kaito. Clench your teeth.”

The next instant Walter’s fist slammed into Kaito’s face. The tremendous force sent him flying. Then a kick to the gut while he was down. The power was so strong vomit spilled from his mouth.

“What are you doing?!”

The four tried to stop the sudden violence. But before they could, Holy Knight Paladin Gratina Wackenheim stepped forward.

“You four are guilty too.”

Slap. Clean, crisp sounds. All four cheeks were struck. Walter ignored the vomit, grabbed Kaito by the collar.

“Who the hell do you think you are? A mere candidate barging onto the battlefield! If you wanted to die alone that’d be one thing. But you dragged a hundred men into it! Thought you were a general or something?!”

He hurled Kaito away. His back hit hard. Then another kick to the face. Elfina and the others couldn’t move. The Paladin in front of them glared with pure rage. One twitch of help and they’d get the same. They knew it. The sounds of violence continued for several moments. Then Belgarad Phalanx spoke.

“That’s enough. Let them off there.”

Walter stopped. He and Gratina bowed and stepped aside. Bruised all over, Kaito groaned as he stood. Phalanx narrowed his one good eye and smiled.

“Thank those two. Elvin, take them away. They can rest for the night.”

Elfina and Sofia supported the wobbling Kaito on both sides. They followed Elvin out of the tent.

“W-what the… What the hell?!”

Inside the tent Elsa shouted in anger. The four surrounded the lying Kaito. Elfina pillowed his head on her lap and took a wet cloth from Sasha. Kaito moved his swollen lips and muttered.

“I-it’s fine. I knew this would happen…”

“Kaito! You okay?”

“Once I took a beating from Walter Wackenheim, no further punishment would come. Normally they’d have taken my head. So I asked Sir Walter in advance…”

“Y-you knew this would happen? Why? Why?! You knew you’d get beaten like this and still saved Papa?!”

Elsa’s voice shook as she asked. Kaito laughed in a dry voice.

“He’s your father. Of course I’d save him… It’s fine. Sir Walter held back. Looks bad but no broken bones.”

Elsa cried. She could only cry. The other three silently continued treating the man.

By the next morning the swelling on his face had gone down a lot. Walter’s control had been perfect, and in the middle of the night a healer had secretly come and cast healing magic. Kaito and the four were called before Phalanx again. In front of the great general they bowed their heads and apologized.

“Nfufufu… Well, this time I left punishment to the Hero Chevalier, so I won’t say anything more. Ah, but… as a father I still need to set things straight. My tomboy daughter needs a spanking.”

“Hii…”

Elsa gulped, face going pale. Phalanx’s eye locked onto his daughter.

“Elsa, you’re getting your butt paddled later.”

“Y-yes… Papa…”

Ignoring his depressed daughter, Phalanx turned his one eye back to Kaito. He read the expression and nodded.

“You look like you have something to say. Permission granted.”

“The hundred ex-soldiers who helped us—what will happen to them?”

“They moved their horses and entered the battlefield without permission. Naturally they’ll be punished.”

Kaito’s face changed color. But Phalanx laughed, amused.

“Nfufufu… Just kidding. They were victims you tricked. But in the end they saved me and the whole army. I plan to give every one of them a reward.”

“I see. Good…”

Kaito let out a relieved breath and a smile touched his lips. Things had been hectic, but his business here was done. All that remained was to stop by Marquis Rogueia’s territory, apologize in person, and return to the capital. First head back to Valihart town, eat, then enjoy the four girls’ bodies in the bath. These past few days had left him seriously pent-up.

But the great general in front of him wasn’t that soft. As if he saw right through Kaito’s dirty desires, he dropped a line that made escape impossible.

“Now then… we need to discuss future prospects. Naturally you’ll participate too.”

“Eh? I’m just a candidate… a mere student…”

“By the authority of great general I am conscripting you. Participate as a Hero Chevalier. Don’t worry, just today. The four behind you are fine with that too, right?”

At some point Walter had appeared beside him. A heavy hand gripped his shoulder. The atmosphere left no room for refusal.

A split iron ball sat on the wooden table. Kaito bent at the waist and examined it from the side. As if confirming with the assembled officers, Phalanx gave his own opinion.

“This was cut down by Holy Knight Paladin Gratina Wackenheim. The imperial army used some kind of weapon to fire these into our formation. Unfortunately we don’t know the weapon’s shape. But it probably doesn’t have the mobility of arrows.”

“There was a time gap between the second and third shots. The third also fired many rounds into empty space after the retreat. It seems adjustment of distance and direction takes time, and rapid fire may be impossible.”

Everyone nodded at Walter’s words. Kaito straightened from his half-crouch, hand on his chin, deep in thought. Walter standing beside him asked,

“Kaito, you approached from the left-rear, right? Did you see anything?”

“Unfortunately all I saw was smoke. Thick white smoke. Shape unknown, but I suspect a fire-based weapon.”

Kaito picked up one half of the split ball. Grooves were carved around the sphere. While tracing them he muttered almost to himself.

“Decent weight. If they can fire dozens of these at high speed, any solid formation would collapse. But more than that, it would be perfect for sieges. Catapults and battering rams can be destroyed with fire arrows or falling rocks, but if you can destroy from beyond arrow range one-sidedly, the whole concept of castle attacks changes…”

“Exactly. This tool can attack from a distance where you can’t even see the enemy’s face. I cannot allow it. Only those prepared to kill and be killed have the right to stand on the battlefield. But this thing requires no such resolve. Safe in the rear, attacking one-sidedly, not even checking if the target died… It tramples the bare minimum pride of a warrior.”

The men nodded at Phalanx’s words. Kaito’s mind was racing.

( Tools advance. Right now they fire huge bullets, but someday they might become small enough to carry in a pocket. If this spreads, Paladins will become unnecessary. At the very least their importance will drop…)

He turned to the four behind him. He pictured his Paladins charging on horseback. Then hundreds of balls raining down at blinding speed. Paladins running between dirt pillars. But their swords never reach. One-sided long-range attacks— one after another they fall…

Grind.

Kaito unconsciously clenched his teeth. Unforgivable. As Paladins they might get hurt in battle. He could accept wounds from Paladin-versus-Paladin fights. He could accept spears and arrows in the chaos of melee. But this kind of one-sided “slaughter” he would never accept.

(This tool is dangerous. If it spreads, the star of the battlefield will no longer be people but tools. The power to kill humans so easily will accelerate tool evolution. And that power may one day destroy humanity itself…)

They had to defeat this tool. With human wisdom and strength they had to overcome it. For that, they first needed to know more about it.

“General Phalanx, I have a suggestion. How about launching a night raid tonight?”

“Nf.”

The famous general smiled happily at Kaito’s words.

Austro Tolmakia and the imperial officers were not complacent. Even though they occupied the central Kabachi Plains, building a proper bridgehead required transporting materials from home, so they had to hold a solid formation until then. Austro especially feared a night raid. Cannons were powerful but useless in the dark when targets couldn’t be seen. That night too they lit bright bonfires and stayed on guard.

“Report! Enemy cavalry approaching! Roughly three thousand!”

Austro jumped up from shallow sleep and left the tent at once. The enemy came in squads launching waves of fire arrows.

“Stay calm! The enemy is few. Focus on preventing spread!”

The wave attacks continued for a while, then withdrew before dawn. Arrows were exchanged but casualties were minimal.

“Staying fully alert instead of getting drunk on victory paid off. They shot and ran.”

Austro nodded at his chief of staff’s words. Exhaustion must have built up; sleepiness nearly knocked him out.

“Probably no more tonight, but stay vigilant. And treat the wounded…”

“Your Highness, please rest a little. From cannon preparation until today you’ve barely stopped. You look tired.”

“Ah…”

He entered his tent and lay down. Consciousness cut off instantly.

The cannon’s inventor, Lizalith Prada, woke at sunrise. She splashed water on her face and went to check the damage from last night’s raid. Not to check wounded soldiers—she wanted to make sure the cannons themselves and the powder barrels were safe. She had woken during the raid but was told they were just shooting arrows from outside so she could sleep, and she had dozed right off. She slept soundly, but the soldiers looked sleepy.

The cannons were placed at the rear of camp. Each one covered with cloth and carefully stored. Guards should have been on duty, but because of the raid none were there. Then one soldier walked between the neatly arranged cannons. He seemed to be lifting cloths and checking something.

“What are you doing?”

When she called from behind, the soldier jumped, turned, and put distance between them. A young soldier, younger than her. Lizalith laughed brightly.

“Sorry sorry. I was so focused I just called out. Interested in the cannons?”

“…Cannons? Is that what you call them?”

“Hmm. You don’t seem to be artillery.”

“Artillery… Y-yes. This is my first battle. I was curious about the loud thing and wanted to know more. Sorry.”

He really did look apologetic. Lizalith laughed and waved her hand.

“It’s fine, it’s fine~ So what do you want to know? Big sis will teach you?”

The young soldier looked relieved and started asking questions. How does the firing principle work? What material is it made of? What’s the range? How do you transport it? The talkative Lizalith happily chattered away. The young soldier nodded with a gentle smile on his lips, but his eyes were sharp. Lizalith, who cared more about things than people, never noticed.

A short nap revitalized his tired brain. Austro vaguely thought that in his dream. Then a sense of wrongness surged up fast. He sprang up like leaping out of water.

“Strange. A famous general like Phalanx should have seen through our preparations. So why launch such a half-hearted night raid?”

If he were in Phalanx’s position, what would he do? Austro thought for a moment and reached the answer.

“I would… send someone to infiltrate. To investigate the unknown weapon!”

He hurried out of the tent. Holy Knight Paladin Aisis Elenskaya was waiting. She noticed his serious expression.

“Good morning, Your Highness… Something wrong?”

“Hurry, gather the troops! Someone has infiltrated. Target is the cannons. And confirm Lizalith Prada’s safety!”

The Paladin ran off in a panic.

“This is gunpowder. Ah, be careful. Bring fire near it and it explodes.”

“I see. Fascinating. So it’s made from saltpeter mined in the empire’s northern mountains.”

“Right. But low production and weakness to water are the problems. Making it usable even in rain is the next goal.”

“Miss Lizalith, you’re a genius.”

The two had completely hit it off. The powder storage was originally top secret. The two guarding soldiers let the young soldier inside because the inventor Lizalith was with him.

“Lady Lizalith?”

A young woman’s voice. It was Holy Knight Paladin Aisis Elenskaya. Lizalith turned and introduced the man to Aisis.

“Hey, Miss Aisis. I was just teaching the cannon to a promising young man. Wow, he’s sharp. I’d love to make him my assistant.”

Lizalith smiled, but Aisis’s eyes were hard. Hand on the hilt at her waist, she stood in front of the man.

“…State your unit and name.”

“…Ah, Prince Austro?”

The man looked behind Aisis with a surprised face. Both Aisis and Lizalith instinctively turned. But no one was there. The next instant Aisis was grabbed from behind in a full nelson and pinned. The man tied her arms with rope and pressed a short sword to her throat.

“Y-you bastard!”

“H-hey! That’s rough…”

“Lady Lizalith. Thank you for the extremely valuable information. Well then, farewell…”

The man twisted his mouth and laughed. He gagged Aisis with a cloth, took her hostage, and left the powder storage. Lizalith stared blankly after his back.

Men surrounded the hostage Aisis. But her arms were bound and a short sword pressed to her throat. When Austro learned his own Paladin was taken hostage he flew into a rage.

“Shit! Right now Aisis can’t use her Paladin power. She’s just a female knight. He went for that weakness!”

What Austro saw when he arrived was his precious Paladin gagged and bound, turned into a hostage in the man’s arms.

“Don’t come closer! Stay more than ten steps back!”

“Everyone, do exactly what he says!”

Austro roared. The soldiers kept their distance while surrounding. Austro stepped forward to the absolute limit of ten steps and faced the man.

“My name is Austro Tolmakia. May I ask yours?”

“…My name is Kaito. So you’re Austro.”

“…You’re the man who led that cavalry unit?”

He hadn’t seen the face, so Austro had no certainty. But the lead rider of that cavalry and the man before him overlapped perfectly. Kaito provocatively kneaded Aisis’s bound breasts. Austro’s face twisted.

“Austro Tolmakia. Your taste in women matches mine. She’s good.”

“…What do you want? You think you can escape after pulling this?!”

“Whoa, stay back. I don’t want to kill a woman this fine either. Two demands. First, prepare a horse. Second, promise to let me go safely. On your honor.”

“What? Where’s the guarantee you’ll release Aisis then?”

“None. But I’ll swear on my own honor too. Let me go safely and I’ll release the woman.”

“…”

Austro looked bitterly frustrated. A soldier ran up and whispered something. Austro nodded after hearing it.

“You didn’t kill Lizalith Prada?”

“Killing her wouldn’t make the cannons disappear. Besides, I don’t want to kill women if I can help it.”

“…Soft.”

Austro gave a short laugh. At the same time he suddenly felt it would be a shame to lose the man before him.

“How about it, Kaito? Why not join my staff as is? Your scheme to deceive us with few troops, your boldness charging in alone—magnificent. I’ll guarantee you a better life than in the kingdom?”

“Sorry, but I hate this cannon weapon. Plus my women are waiting. I’ll pass.”

Austro sighed. He snorted and gave orders to the soldiers.

“…Everyone, lower your weapons. Prepare a horse. Let him go.”

“Your Highness!”

Everyone panicked. But Austro repeated the strict order. Kaito dragged Aisis all the way to the camp exit. A horse waited. He met Austro’s eyes.

“…I’ll keep the promise. Later.”

He shoved Aisis away. Quickly mounted and galloped off. Soldiers nocked arrows in unison. But Austro stopped them.

“Hold. That man is too valuable to kill with an arrow…”

He narrowed his eyes and watched the retreating back until it vanished.