Virgin Knight Who Is the Frontier Lord in the Gender Switched World - Chapter 11

Fools, the lot of them. Faust von Polydoro regarded the Second Princess’s Royal Guard with a disdainful glance.

A refuse heap for misfits, designated by Queen Liesenlotte for the spare.

He had once acknowledged that the Second Princess’s Royal Guard was exactly that kind of group.

He never thought they would be even worse than that.

“Rumors abound! Virendorf’s manhood is colossal! Yes, feels good! Fits well!”

It was a lewd song.

The 15 members of the Second Princess’s Royal Guard, who had been exhausted on the first day of the march, had transformed into an energetic and lively state.

These guys had gotten used to marching in just three days.

Even I was drained and lacked sharpness in my movements during the march in my first battle, feeling weary from leaving my domain for the first time.

But these guys, they had adapted to the march in just three days.

Whether it was just an initial stumble or if their spirits are somehow twisted, I don’t know.

But anyway, as I’ve said, the Second Princess’s Royal Guard had gotten used to marching.

During the Virendorf campaign, when we charged at a knight order of 50 members, all 20 of my veteran domain people followed me without a single one falling behind.

They were matching the pace of the march with us.

That was good.

It was a very good thing, but…

“Everything’s good! The taste is good! Damn good! Good for you! Good for me!”

It was a lewd song sung by all 15 members of the Royal Guard.

I was at a loss for words.

Singing during a march is one thing.

But why a lewd song?

“Sabine, cease that song at once…” 

Lady Valiere implored, her voice laden with profound dismay.

Sabine, the captain of the guard who was singing at the front, turned around and replied to the Second Princess.

“Lady Valiere, with all due respect, singing during a march has been a right granted to soldiers since ancient times.”

She answered with a confident face.

Idiots, these people.

After all, you are different from ordinary soldiers.

Even if you’re the lowest rank of knights, you’re knights by blue blood.

“Before you are soldiers, you are knights. And besides… stop it in front of Faust.”

Lady Valiere sighed as if lamenting, checking my reaction.

The lewd song abruptly stopped.

Did they just now remember that a male knight was present?

“Yet, Faust, you’re not blushing. I was told you had a vulnerability to lascivious jests.”

Valiere-sama muttered while glancing at my complexion.

Indeed, it seems that I am perceived by the public as a pure-hearted man who blushes at Duchess Astarte’s sexual harassment.

In reality, when Duchess Astarte’s intense body touch—specifically, when her busty chest is pressed against me—causes my erection to painfully hit the chastity belt, that’s the only reason my face turns red.

But there’s no reason for my face to turn red over such a vulgar song.

“Rather than calling it sexual harassment, I’m at a loss for words due to the disappointment,” I honestly return the words in my heart.

“I’m truly sorry, really sorry,” ignoring the difference in status as the second princess, Valiere-sama bowed her head towards me.

No, you’re not the one at fault. These fools are to blame. I sigh.

“Lord Polydoro, my apologies. Then, how about a different song… perhaps a song of heroes?” “Let’s not. We’re nearing our destination,” I stop Sabine-dono from starting to sing again. We’re almost at the targeted village.

“The enemy—bandits, have been lurking around the village, attacking traveling performers and merchants. From here on, there’s a possibility we could be attacked. Everyone, be on your guard,” I command everyone to be ready for battle.

We’re expected to arrive at the village in less than two hours. I call over Helga, the captain of my retainers, and instruct Helga and the five retainers to prepare the crossbows.

The five crossbows owned by my territory are of a type widely used in the Kingdom of Anhalt, which uses pulleys to draw the string.

All were seized from the enemy’s possession during military service by those aged 15 to 20.

When used by the enemy, they were a threat, but once in our hands, there’s nothing more convenient. If aimed well, even a knight can be killed in one shot, unless the opponent is a superhuman capable of knocking down arrows with a sword, like Anastasia the First Princess, Duchess Astarte, or the captain of the Reckenber knights, whom I once defeated. And, like myself.

“Once the crossbows are ready, we will resume our march towards the village.”

According to reports, there are about 30 bandits. It’s no different from the usual military service. Chasing the fleeing bandits might be a hassle, but killing them is an easy task. First, we’ll shoot them with crossbows to break their morale, then slay them all. The troublesome part is that we need to give Valiere, the Second Princess on her first battle, and her personal guard under her command a chance to shine.

But, from what I’ve seen of the march, their abilities seem genuine. For mere bandits, we should be able to let them rack up a kill score. Perhaps, we could even let the Second Princess Valiere behead at least one captured bandit.

That was what I was thinking—honestly, I was being complacent.

While we were preparing the crossbows and heading towards the village, Helga, using what is commonly known as binoculars—a magical pair that we had borrowed from the royal family for this first battle—reported to me.

“The village seems to be ravaged. There are several bodies,”

I clicked my tongue, wondering why the villagers, led by a magistrate dispatched from the kingdom and numbering 100, would lose to merely 30 bandits, rough as they might be.

In any case, we must hurry. But let’s not let down our guard.

After informing everyone of Helga’s report, I called for even greater vigilance.

※

At the small magistrate’s residence in the small village, Valiere-sama raised her voice.

“More than 100 bandits? No, they’re not even bandits in the first place! This is completely different from the report!”

“I’m truly, truly sorry,” the magistrate kneeled and apologized while properly introducing herself to Valiere-sama, the Second Princess, who had announced her name and status. The magistrate dispatched from the kingdom to the village was severely injured in the arm. No, why is she even alive in the first place? I voiced my doubt directly.

“Is that really true? The village was attacked, many were killed. All the valuables and all the men and boys were taken. In this situation, why are you, who should have been leading the resistance, still alive? That makes you untrustworthy.”

“And you are?”

“Faust von Polydoro.”

“…You’re the Knight of Wrath.”

After a brief introduction, I continued to press with questions from the side.

“Let me ask again. Why are you still alive?”

“Shamefully, I’ll be honest. I was shot in the arm by an enemy crossbow, and after falling from the horse to the ground, I hit my head hard and passed out,” the magistrate confessed her disgrace while blushing. She doesn’t seem to be lying. As I nodded slightly, Valiere-sama started to ask the magistrate to continue the story.

“Why was the initial report different? It stated there were only about 30 bandits. They were loitering around the village, attacking traveling performers and merchants, asking for help.”

“After the situation changed, we sent a villager to report again. At that time—”

“It didn’t reach us. By now, the royal castle must be in an uproar, but we are unaware of the situation. Explain in detail.”

Valiere-sama continued to question while holding her head. Honestly, I also want to hold my head hearing this story.

“At first, there were indeed only about 30 bandits. However, that bandit group was absorbed by another force.”

“Absorbed? Another force?”

“In a nearby town with about 1000 people owned by a local lord, there was a succession dispute. A terrible succession dispute that involved bloodshed among the retainers, servants, and villagers.”

The atmosphere turned grim. I don’t want to hear the rest. Valiere-sama seemed to have the same expression.

“As expected, the eldest daughter won, and the younger daughter lost. However, the eldest daughter was injured, and in the ensuing chaos, there was no time to behead the younger daughter. As a result, the younger daughter, along with her followers and villagers who supported her, took as much as they could from the lord’s mansion and fled the town armed.”

See, it turned into a terrible story. Valiere-sama grimaced deeply.

“Then, the younger daughter and her retainers encountered a bandit group. What exactly happened or what was discussed, I cannot say. But as a result, the bandit group was absorbed, forming a force of 100 men, and they attacked this village.”

“Why do you know so much about the situation?”

“A villager instructed by the local lord’s eldest daughter fled to this village to inform us of the situation, asking us to escape.”

Escape, my foot. If you had properly killed the younger daughter, none of this would have happened. Form a pursuit army and chase them down to kill. First of all, it’s unlikely that villagers of a small village, who would likely end their lives there, could so easily leave their homes, fields, and all their possessions behind. I kept grumbling in my heart.

“By the time we realized it, the force was approaching the village. I tried to resist, gathering the villagers, hiding the men and boys in the magistrate’s residence, and confronting the force, but—”

“And you were defeated.”

The state of the village was dreadful. Fresh corpses of women, not yet emitting the stench of decay, were scattered about, and some heads were rolling on the ground like children’s toys.

“I’m truly, truly sorry.”

The magistrate, tears streaming down her face, had stopped kneeling and was now prostrating on the ground.

It’s hopeless. The blue blood—now, it should be called the collapse of blue blood—educated as a spare to the lord knights, along with armed retainers and likely experienced military villagers. Plus, a bandit group with experience as thieves. And even in numbers, we’re at a disadvantage. No blame should be placed for the defeat. The blame lies with the cause of letting the younger daughter escape, causing this worst-case scenario. The local lord’s eldest daughter is to blame. She will surely be summoned to the royal palace and severely reprimanded by Her Majesty the Queen. Even though it’s a small village, it’s a direct infringement on the royal domain. Perhaps even the position as a local lord is in jeopardy. But aside from that—

“What should we do? What should I do now? Tell me, Faust.”

Valiere-sama looked at me with pleading eyes. My position is as an advisor to the Second Princess. Naturally, I must assist.

Let me conclude.

“We predict the enemy’s next move. This direct domain is close to the border of the enemy country Virendorf.”

“And that means?”

“The enemy, numbering over 100, will attempt to escape abroad before they are defeated within the Kingdom of Anhalt.”

“They plan to flee into that barbaric country!”

Valiere-sama’s teeth grated.

“What do we do? We’re short on troops. Will reinforcements come?”

“Reinforcements will come. They must.”

Duchess Astarte, who currently has her 200 permanent troops stationed within the royal capital, will likely come. Against those powerful permanent troops of Duchess Astarte, even those of noble descent turned bandits wouldn’t stand a chance. However, preparing to march takes time. They are probably in a rush to prepare right now.

“But likely, the reinforcements will not arrive in time. While waiting for reinforcements in this village, those of noble descent turned bandits will have fled into the territory of the barbarians of Virendorf.”

They are transporting men and boys, along with the wealth looted from the lord’s mansion. Their movement is slow. But faster than the reinforcements can arrive. Surely, those of noble descent turned bandits—ah, what a nuisance.

“Magistrate, do you know the name of that younger daughter?”

“It was Caroline, if I remember correctly.”

Caroline, then.

“Caroline and her group fleeing into Virendorf territory will happen faster than the arrival of reinforcements. That’s the reality we face.”

“So, what should I do?”

Valiere-sama looked straight into my eyes. It’s honestly painful to convey this fact.

“The first battle is a failure. It’s impossible for 37 of us—20 villagers, 15 personal guards, plus you and me, Valiere-sama—to defeat over 100 of Caroline’s group of noble descent turned bandits. Please, decide to abandon the pursuit.”

I wouldn’t say there’s no chance of victory if it were just me. But involving our villagers in such an unfavorable battle and risking their lives is unacceptable. It’s likely not Valiere-sama’s intention to lose the lives of her personal guards in such a battle either. Truly, it’s unfortunate.

I conveyed my thoughts coldly and straightforwardly to Valiere-sama.