Virgin Knight Who Is the Frontier Lord in the Gender Switched World - Chapter 196

“I thought so hard about it. To think that my perfect plan would be ignored because of political circumstances…”

Sabine von Wesperman lamented bitterly, “I meticulously planned to obliterate the cathedral with gunpowder and then pick off any survivors like sitting ducks. I even secured the kills fairly, ensuring numerous clerics would die, advancing my rise to power. There’s no doubt this would appeal to the warrior spirit. It was such a great idea. There couldn’t possibly be a better one.”

“Don’t you think so, my beloved Faust?”

As the conversation turned to him, Faust momentarily paused his maintenance of his beloved great sword. He was currently in the training grounds, working on weapons alongside Princess Valiere-dono’s personal guard.

Decisions had already been made. Our faith, the pride of my precious territories and people, had been insulted. That fact came first, and the conclusion was inevitable. It was about how the offended would rage and utterly destroy those who insulted them, teaching the pope a lesson he wouldn’t forget. That was all there was to it; the method was secondary.

But, however…

“If Cardinal Keirn insists it does not align with his intentions, then we must sheathe our weapons for now.”

I, too, did not think Sabine’s idea was particularly bad.

In essence, if we simply slaughter all enemy forces indiscriminately, they won’t be able to say anything. Dead men tell no tales. There’s no simpler solution to a problem than that. But if we literally silence them, we won’t be able to hear the pope’s true intentions, as His Eminence the Cardinal said. I understand that need for comprehension.

“There’s nothing we can do about it.”

According to the education I received and the common sense I’ve lived by as a knight, Princess Anastasia is absolutely correct. My mother, Marianne, used to say before she passed, “If they belittle you, kill them.” But Duke Temeraire has a broader perspective than I do. She thought of usurping the emperor’s throne to confront the Mongols and had been contemplating the pope’s assassination long before even Faust von Polydoro was aware of the Mongols.

Thus, I cannot lightly disregard the teachings of our predecessors. She, more than anyone, could foresee the situation the empire was in.

“…”

Now is the time to wait obediently. So, like a dog, I’ll lay my belly on the ground and wait quietly. I don’t think it’s good to be someone who just waits for instructions, but without them, it’s not the time to act. I can’t just storm into the cathedral and snatch the pope’s head to present before Cardinal Keirn.

“Please, Faust. Just don’t go berserk. If you storm the cathedral alone, it’s clear you’d die. Even the mightiest superhuman can’t handle what will definitely arise there.”

“Even I can’t handle it?”

“You’d surely die. Thinking that clerics can’t fight is a huge misconception.”

Storming the cathedral was a bad idea. That should be avoided. That was what Sabine had been proposing all along.

I had considered solo assassination missions based on her meticulously planned schemes. But she had explicitly denied them. “You’ll definitely die, so stop.”

“Using gunpowder to blow up the place and sending in expendable troops to massacre the monks isn’t a game. Do you have any idea how many times clerics have killed each other, how many popes have been murdered? Churches being burned down and priests hanging from their necks inside aren’t uncommon. To think anyone engrossed in status, honor, or power turns into nothing but a fat pig is a huge misunderstanding.”

There are those who become even hungrier wolves. At the conclave, numerous clerics were ousted from their lands, bribed, or robbed. Sacred relics moved about. It wouldn’t be strange to find someone cold and dead in their bed, the same name claimed by a completely different person who had replaced a priest at some church. The real one, cold and dead somewhere underground—it’s not all that rare.

Clerics have long engaged in a dark struggle, as Sabine pointed out.

“With the pope’s own troops, excellent mercenaries hired, and even a team of assassins kept, killing the pope isn’t easy. That’s why even the old boar, Duchess Temeraire, hasn’t managed to kill him yet. The situation has changed, though. If the three electors publicly declare their honor tarnished and attack without regard, even the emperor would be helpless. We could’ve handled it this time too.

“But it’s just not possible.”

“If Cardinal Keirn doesn’t approve, then there’s nothing I can do; I can’t control the situation,” Sabine von Wesperman said, expressing the need to be as adaptive as flowing water in the moment.

I nodded quietly, signaling that I understood.

“What’s the status of our organization then?”

If it’s going to be an organized conflict rather than a solo endeavor, clear command and control must be established to avoid chaos when it counts.

“The overall command has been transferred from the three electors to the old boar. The boar has been given authority to command, but it can be revoked as soon as they change their minds? She was grumbling about what a joke that is. Well, she’ll handle it properly, I suppose.”

Of course, if everything is pushed forward based on Duchess Temeraire’s statements, it’s inevitable that she’ll face difficulties. It’s not that I don’t feel sorry for her.

“Duchess Temeraire is skilled in handling covert operations. She’s ensured reliable intelligence by embedding a dozen spies among the mercenaries and soldiers, who are absolutely loyal. If she were my mother, I wouldn’t have run away from home,” Sabine remarked.

To Sabine, Duchess Temeraire seems to be a person worth respecting.

That aside, stop calling her ‘old boar.’ If I recall correctly, she mentioned she’s still just 28 years old.

From my personal point of view, not only is she within my defensive range, but she also strikes directly at my heart. It’s different in this world, though.

“Well, anyway, she’s the commander. But for you, Faust, who might end up in the assassination squad, there isn’t much need to worry about that. As for the command of the assassination squad, it falls to me, Sabine von Wesperman. Follow my lead, Faust.”

I have no complaints about my superior. I respect both Duchess Temeraire and Sabine’s abilities.

Though this foolish head of mine may not fully grasp the extent of their capabilities.

“As for the assassination squad, it includes Duchess Temeraire’s superhuman unit, ‘The Mad Boar Knights,’ and Yue-dono from Vilendorf. If it were a straightforward assault, we wouldn’t even be called. Or maybe we’ll storm the cathedral together.”

“Are there enough members in the assassination squad?”

With six members from “The Mad Boar Knights,” Sabine, Yue-dono, and me, that makes nine. Perhaps I have no right to speak, having considered solo infiltration, but doesn’t that seem a bit too few?

“…It’s not enough. Not nearly enough. Well, it’s reassuring that aside from Sabine, the other eight are physically superhuman. But I’d like more hands experienced in infiltration and assassination. I’ve even begged Duchess Astarte, but since it might turn into a frontal assault, she can’t spare anyone. If we grow tired of tricks, Princess Anastasia might lead a full assault with all of the First Princess’s personal guards.”

I would have liked someone like Alexandra-dono around.

But there’s no one else to lead the First Princess’s personal guards, so it’s impossible.

“So what do we do? Should we invite people like Lady Berlichingen through the network of knights under Princess Valiere-dono? She wouldn’t refuse.”

Sabine shook her head quietly.

“She wouldn’t refuse if we asked, but that’s not possible. I’ve entrusted Lady Berlichingen with assisting Princess Valiere in my absence. She’s leading a mercenary band we brought on the journey to the imperial capital and managing all the trade negotiations for the goods brought by the Ingritt Trading Company. She’s too busy to join this plan.”

That needs consideration.

Well, if Sabine is to command the assassination squad, the only person who seems capable of assisting Princess Valiere in her stead would be Lady Berlichingen.

“Should we try recruiting from the mercenary band brought by Princess Valiere or the lords and knights who came with her?”

“We could promise rewards, and many would volunteer, but they lack the necessary skills for assassination and infiltration, and they don’t possess monstrous combat abilities like Lord Polydoro and his men. Then they’re not needed. For the same reason, no one else from Princess Valiere’s personal guard can join but me.”

That’s also not possible.

Gathering inexperienced people would only be a hindrance.

Well, their time to shine is likely only in battles where numbers are needed.

What Sabine is saying is entirely correct.

“I can’t ask any more of Princess Anastasia or Katarina. We’re in a situation where Princess Valiere’s resources are depleted. So, what are you planning to do?”

I asked.

What are we going to do now? I’m not asking because I don’t understand and want to think it through together.

Sabine’s mind is already racing, likely having figured out a solution.

This much is understandable, even to this rough knight.

So, I’m just asking for an answer, knowing Sabine already has a solution ready.

“…This is an unpleasant method, but…”

She truly seemed resentful, not bothering to hide her frustration.

It seemed like we were just a bit away from crushing it, she seemed to say.

Sabine closed her eyes, murmuring resignedly.

“I’ll have to borrow the power of my family. I’ll ask my sister, Marina von Wesperman, to send personnel. I’ll have her spit out all the prized assassins. Even Princess Anastasia has refused to participate in this operation, so it’s time to wring out all the Wesperman family has, now completely abandoned by everyone but Marina.”

If we get through this, I truly could have crushed that damned family home.

She spat out resentfully, truly reluctant.