Episode 624. Those who run the battlefield (2)

“Then, where should I call you?”

He immediately called the person in charge.

It's Swen.

After his return, Maltenel deliberately did not assign additional missions.

It wasn't like he needed it any more.

More than anything else, it just happens to be annoying.

‘Wouldn't it have been better to provide the equipment to him as well?'

No matter how much it was, I didn't give it to Swen because other humans' eyes were a problem for me to give it to Swen.

It seems that it was a kind consideration.

After waiting for a while, Swen, who was called, came right in.

“... ... Is there a problem?”

“ah? It's nothing. You must have already received the report, right? The fact that the Kingdom of Ernesia withdrew.”

“yes. It looks like they will join the fort in the rear.”

He replied as if he knew.

“Yes, the guy who reported it said that too.”

“... ... Would you like to take a look?”

It is to say whether the intention of asking is not to verify information for fear of omission.

“No, you don’t have to.”

“What does that mean?”

“They don’t even have the heart to properly defend themselves, do they? is not it?”

“Do you know Lord Swen? There's no way you wouldn't know if you were a knight in your own right. Is that the attitude of someone with a heart to fight?

No matter how you look at it.”

“You mean a trap? Then consider detouring the marching route afterwards...”

“No, you don't have to. If you're not going to fight, you have to make me want to fight.”

“I don’t understand.”

Are you going to shout at the retreating enemy to come back?

But Swen soon heard what he had to say and doubted her own ears.

“Send troops this way.”

He placed some pieces on the map spread out on the table and pushed them into the corresponding spots.

A point that has nothing to do with the fortress here.

It is a nearby village.

I have already sent familiars to confirm that there are humans who have not yet evacuated.

“Ignore the fort and send them here.”

“... ... I don't know what your intentions are.”

“Isn’t it obvious? A war or two?”

Raising a malicious smile, he deliberately pointed out the order to be given outright.

“Wipe out this town without a trace.”

“If you’re going to talk about conscience, get rid of it. It's not uncommon for a village or two to be swept away by chance during a war. Am I wrong?”

I can't deny it.

“Isn’t that your favorite war?”

Swen tried to avoid the current order as much as possible with a firm expression.

“... ... Regardless of the intent of the order, it is impossible to send troops here ignoring the fort.”

Why is there a fort?

Because if you don't go through here, you can't pass through the sea.

Even there, the terrain is rough and even has a river.

It's not about going over the wall next door.

Sending large armies is impossible.

“Impossible? then you can make it possible do not worry. We will provide you with sufficient means.”

“... ... but.”

“What are you complaining about? criticism? Is that any good? I'm thinking of ending it with your victory anyway. Then there's no one to blame. And even if you do, it won't be your role to listen to it.”

A knight just has to fight.

After all, it is the job of those who manage him to negotiate or have complicated conversations.

He mocks and warns Swen.

Stop making presumptuous remarks and move as instructed.

“Sir Swen. What is the answer?”

“... ... All right.”

Swen relaxed her shoulders as if she had finally resigned herself.

And he, too, pulled out his sword flexibly and swiftly to the point of admiration.

Most knights would have been unable to react and would have had their throats pierced and cut off.

“If I had polished my swordsmanship a bit more, I might have reached it a little bit. It's such a shame and stupid.”

Does thinking at best mean stealth?

Have you already failed once?

Well, where does the idea of a knightly man go?

Maltenel laughed heartily.

I can't.

Now that this has happened, he has no choice but to control and use it.

If you use berserk equipment, you will be able to use it more powerfully than other soldiers.

“Take it easy. I'll leave today's ugliness aside. That great honor will never disappear.”

When this war is over, I'll let you be admired as a knight who has killed more enemies than anyone else.

Of course, it's an ex that he didn't want.

Please don't let me know the pain

However, for some reason, Swen only deploys her aura as if rebelling against the power that gripped her neck, but does not say anything else.

At least not even screaming?

Or did you give up?

Or else... ... .

“Did you say swordsmanship was a waste?”

Instead, as if reflecting on Maltenel's words, he calmly opened his mouth.

“... ... Then I guess I'll have to ask someone who has mastered swordsmanship a bit more.”

“this??????

At that moment, before he could realize his true intentions and react, the wall behind him shattered and a sharp and violent sword pierced through.

The swordsman's sword passed between him and Swen.

As the restraining force weakened from rushing away, Swen shook off Maltenel's power and fell to the floor.

“You did something arrogant.”

It's a pity to miss it, but it can't be helped.

If I had tried to block it without avoiding it, I might have been prepared for some damage.

“Did you even bother me?”

After confirming who threw the sword, he glared at the two as if they were annoyed.

The one who flew the sword was Kania Ernesia.

How long have you been hiding?

During the conversation or earlier?

Anyway, it would be impossible for Kania to be here without Swen's cooperation.

If you look there, the signs are increasing.

It must be that she wasn't the only one hiding.

Now that this has happened, there is no longer any room for doubt.

The timing is probably the last battle.

There was plenty of time to offer cooperation.

“Are you losing face as a knight? How dare you attract a knight from an enemy country!”

“In a war without justification or cause, what are the articles of the enemy country? I think it would be wise to stop.”

At Maltenel's accusation, Swen rather laughed and retorted.

“... ... Isn't that wrong?”

There is awareness.

But that and this are different.

“If you do something like this, you won't be able to guarantee Lord Shiwen's place in the duchy in the future, right?”

Even if it was crazy, it was his master who ordered it.

If you stop in this way, can you avoid further prosecution?

In the worst case, you may have to give him his head.

“It doesn’t matter, just.”

“You don’t mind?”

“Are you going to tell me about today without lies? If it's a responsibility, I'm thinking of accepting it.”

“... ... Foolish. It's a really young idea.”

Maltenel shook his head and lamented the foolishness of those who aimed their swords at him.

Even if he just obediently closed his eyes and cooperated, it would have given him enough victory.

To kick them out just for the reason that they are stabbed by conscience, and that it is not a just war.

can never admit

“I don't really want to hear anything stupid.”

“... ... It's a little bit strange to hear that you're young or something from someone who isn't even that old before that.”

Kania, who was listening to the conversation between the two, was dumbfounded and aimed her sword.

She didn't know everything either.

It's just that that man is one of those who instigated the current war.

And it's just that working with Swen to expel the author is the best option.