724 Episode 0724



On that day, Schles finished his meeting with the nobles negotiating ransom, and lay down at midnight when almost everything else he had to do as a prince was asleep... or, given the fact that the eastern sky was already brightening, it could be described as early in the morning.
 People in the Imperial family are naturally envious of me, but do you know I have to do this troublesome work every day? I manage to turn it around because I have a deputy, Amare, but I think like that, and I am about to surrender myself to the drowsiness that came upon me...
 The constant pounding of the door reverberates through the bedroom, quickly bringing back the consciousness of Schulz, who was about to fall asleep.

"What!"

 I had my sleep disturbed. It's no use crying out of Schles' mouth.
 The grumpy voice that ordinary people would have to wither is not something to wither with from an early age.

"Your Highness Schles, the cavalry which had been accompanied by the punitive force has returned. I must report to your Highness as soon as possible."
"...what?"

 Amale's voice, heard through the door, momentarily suspects that he is still asleep and that this is a dream.
 Because the expeditionary force left today -- the day has already changed, so to be exact, yesterday.
 But I could say that it was only natural for Schulz to wonder why he had already come back.

"I haven't heard the details yet, but the punitive force was destroyed."
"...what?"

 Once again, Schles' voice wonders if there is something wrong with Amale, who has been reporting this.
 It is true that for some time we have been busy, with talks to be more precise about negotiating ransomware.
 As Schles thinks about it, he hears another voice through the door, as if he had seen through it.

"I have nothing particular to do, Prince Schles," They were encamped when they were attacked by rebels at night and literally destroyed."

 I guess I'm actually seeing through, not as if I've seen through.
 Schles was born and raised with Amale, because he was also born and raised with him.
 This is why Schles understands that Amale is not half asleep or joking, but that the punitive force is seriously destroyed.
 After hearing that, Schulz's brain also forces the rest of the sleepiness in his head to return to normal.
 Rise up from the top of the bed and open the door.
 The outfit is a nightgown, but that's not the point for Schles now. It's important that we were attacked tonight.

"That is to say... that all the rebels are marching to the imperial capital!"

 When I opened the door screaming, I saw Amare dressed to the fullest extent, even though the morning sun had not yet risen.
 Amare's appearance left him wondering for a moment when he was sleeping, but now he has no time to pursue it.
 Amare, too, spoke out of his bedroom, in a dressing-gown.

"No, according to a report from the cavalry sent to the punitive force, only one person attacked at night."
"...what?"

 You, madness? I almost asked him that, but he knew best that the woman in front of him was not the kind of woman to act so madly.
 That's why I encourage you to look at the conversation without saying anything.

"The man who attacked me was Ray, the crimson one." The method of attack was the use of a tornado of flames, as was the case with the Spring War. However, unlike before, the upcoming tornado of fire moved freely. I think the movement was completely controlled, considering that they didn't leave the position that the punitive force had built."
"Oh, he curses me a lot,"

 I had already heard from the prime minister that Ray might be cooperating with the rebels.
 Originally, even the expeditionary force sent by Schles was intended to determine whether Ray was on the side of the rebels.

"It didn't come out at our time, it came out this time. Now, what is the reason for that? Wasn't he still in the rebel group at the time of the last battle? If that's the case, I can only say that Kabazid say it's bad luck."

 The dispatch of the punitive force this time must have been partly because it was found that there was no Ray over there who was good at wide-area annihilation.
 It was troublesome for a man called crimson, who had the fighting power to deal with the first army, and was highly mobile because of his subservience to the Gryphon.
 But as a result... it's an unusual blunder for a covert to do everything perfectly.
 I can't help but smile at my brother's blunder. Is there anything that even that perfect brother can't see through?

"Well, there is information that Sobul, who was also known as Prince Kabazid's sword, was killed on the way out... or taken prisoner."
"...what is the accuracy of that information?"

 Amale immediately answers to a serious question, erasing his smile a few seconds ago.

"It's a report from the cavalry that we sent, so there's no doubt about it."
"Well, it was more painful to my brother than the loss of the punitive force. And what is the damage on my part?"
"All the cavalry sent back safely. Some people have suffered minor burns, minor lacerations and bruises, but they are within the range of minor injuries. If I take a few days off, I wonder if I can come back soon."
"Well, that's the best thing. Please take a good rest and tell him to heal his tiredness."
"Yes,"

 After a brief conversation, Schles waits for Amale to return to his bedroom and change his clothes.
 Schles, who is also a soldier, is not impossible to change without the help of a maid, as is the case with a regular member of the royal family.
 Quickly change into the clothes the maid had prepared and leave the bedroom to join Amare and head to her office.
 On the way, Schulz doesn't say a word, but thinks about something and walks down the corridor.
 Amale follows him out of the way because he understands that his lord, Schles, is thinking when he is behaving like he is now.
 He walked on to his office, and instead of his desk... he sat on a sofa for guests in his room.
 When Amale sees it, he uses the tools in his room to make tea.
 When the smell of tea spreads through the office and the cup of tea is placed on a table near the sofa where Schulz sits, Schulz reaches for the cup and opens his mouth.

"Amare, perhaps... not many people took part in this night's attack." Even if I put crimson on it, it's seventy... or maybe I'm under fifty."
"...Really? There were as many as 6,000 punitive troops, and it seems insane to challenge them with less than 100 soldiers."

 Sitting on the sofa across from Schles, Amale's hand stopped moving as he stretched it out to his cup of tea and asked back.
 six thousand to seventy or fifty Generally speaking, it seems like a suicide.
 But Schles shakes his head at Amale's words, as if he were certain of something.

What is needed for a night attack is more skill than number of people. Quality is better than quantity. Of course, it's better to have both, but if you can only have one, quality is more important."
"I understand what you' But to carry out a night attack with less than a hundred men --"
"Don't forget. Only crimson has practically attacked the enemy. The others were only killing those burned out of their positions outside. ...and the night raids took place a day from the imperial capital... at the slow marching speed of the army. It would be strange not to be able to find out if there were hundreds or more people moving to such a place. If we can't get past our search, we'll have to have a small number."

 It would be impossible for a large number of people to come near the imperial capital, especially so that they would not be able to find it.
 Even Amale had to agree with Schles' explanation.

"How do you think things will go from now.
"I've come here in the order of brother Kabazid," sister Fritzione will send out a punitive force, if you think it safe... well, I don't know. Originally, Fritzione's elder sister has little military power, and above all, Fritzione herself has a personality that she doesn't want to fight.""Certainly,"

 Amale, who grew up with Schles, naturally came into contact with Schles' sister, Fritzione.
 Judging from his experience at the time, Fritzione would have to turn his head if he were to organize a punitive force in this situation.
 Most importantly, not to mention the punitive force sent by Shurus to kill those who could not use it, even the punitive force sent by Kabazid in earnest was destroyed without any means of doing anything.
 Needless to say, this kind of trick can't be passed over and over again. If you know you're going to launch a night attack like this, it won't be difficult to come up with any countermeasures. But... let alone this night's attack, now that we know that the rebels already have crimson, we have to deal with it as well as with the rebels from the next battle.
 That's essentially the same as having to deal with two armies at the same time.
 Fritzione, who already had less power than Kabazide and Schles, never thought he could fight against such a rebel.

"I have negotiated ransom, Cabad's brother restored his strength, and sister Fritzione's lack of strength. Will this be in a state of stagnation for some time?"
"If you think about it rightly,
"...but the more time we have here, the more advantageous it is to Mercurio. It's true that we should do something about it, but..."

 Over a cup of tea, Schles was once again absorbed in his thoughts.





 At the same time that Schles was contacted, naturally Kabazid had also received reports from Bratta.
 Schles was going to bed early in the morning, but Kabazid was still reading and signing papers in his office. That's when Bratta came straight back from the battlefield.

"... I see,"

 a prince with gentle features and apparent tenderness That's the impression that people who see Kabazide will feel.
 It's true, but it's rare for people to show that inner and outward appearance are not proportional. People who associate closely with Kabazide are clever... many people think so when they know Kabazide's personality, which can even be described as cruel.
 Hearing the report from Bratta, Kabazeed breathes a little.
 Even in Kabazide, they probably didn't expect their punitive force to be so easily destroyed.

"I'm glad you've come back safe, Bratta,"
"Your Highness... but I can't defend the Soble, and even one of the few Dragon Knights..."

 He muttered vexingly, and a few drops of tears fell from Bratta's face.
 Bratta stands in front of his office desk, but tears fall from his face down to the carpet create stains.
 If anyone knew the price of the carpet, it would have been a very unacceptable act, but Kabazide would not blame Blatta, but would stand up from his chair and put his hand on Blatta's shoulder and open his mouth.

"It is true that those who were lost in this battle are disappointed. But the survival of Bratta is the least relief. If you had challenged crimson and lost... I couldn't understand why the punitive force had lost."
"That's... that Soble should let you know..."
"Oh, because you and Sobble were there, we were able to get information this time. Besides... there is a high possibility that Soble has been taken prisoner without being killed."

 When Kabazid says so, Bratta looks up from her face.

"Really!"
"I can't say for sure," Wasn't it about the end of the night-attack that you succeeded in escaping?"
"Yes, most of them are already by the rebels..."
"Then it'll be all right," I'm sure they'd like to get this information. Then, at the end of the battle, I was fit to be taken prisoner by chance... and I was given the famous Sobble as my sword. Whether you pull out the information or negotiate with me, I don't think you'll miss it."
"Sobble..."

 The crimson night attack could have been described as the worst nightmare night.
 Bratta feels positive about the only bright prediction she could get from doing so.

"Well, to-morrow... no, to-day." Anyway, I'm going to be busy with a lot of things from today. Let Bratta rest a little, too."
"... I see. And this."

 muttered Bratta, a map given by Kabazid before the expedition left.
 I would manage to bring it out when the night attack occurred.
 When Kabazid receives the map, he nods a little, says a word or two to Bratta, and leaves his office to rest himself.
 Cabazide, looking at Bratta's back, watched her back with a thin smile around her mouth.