CH 13

In other words! Doesn’t this mean that even the Black Wing Knights, who were never supposed to be ambushed by the wyverns, will also get attacked together with them today

“Iris-……!”

“Eek!”

I walked up to Iris and grabbed him by his shoulders. For some reason, Iris had a slight blush on his cheeks, and the breaths he was emitting had a somewhat sultry feeling to it. 

“Y, you can’t, Takumi…… Ah, no, I mean. I’m totally fine with it personally, but right now we’re about to go into battle, so we don’t have much time…….”

“Iris, can we abandon the mission right now?”

“If we’re going to do it, I’d rather it not be outdoors like this, but indoors… What? A, abandon the mission? Does that mean abandoning the drainflower hunt?”

Iris looked at me with a puzzled look on his elegant face. His expression brought me back to my senses.

–How was I supposed to explain why the mission needed to be abandoned?

Before, I couldn’t even explain the drainflower attack to everyone in the Black Wing Knights. This time, the details are much more unclear. I don’t even know if there really will be a wyvern attack. 

Last time, we were able to determine the general time frame from Felix’s memories, but this time the wyvern attack may not even be today. If the wyvern attack did not happen and the Black Wing Knights suspended the operation – wouldn’t that harm the Black Wing Knights’ reputation?

“Takumi…… what’s wrong all of a sudden?”

“N……no, sorry. It’s nothing.” 

“Something’s definitely up! You look extremely pale, you know?”

I staggered away from Iris and he looked at me with a concerned expression on his face. However, I was at a loss for words, not knowing what to say in response or how to convey what I wanted to say.

…… at this juncture, it is no longer possible to suspend the operation. Besides, the Black Wing Knights also cannot revoke their participation in the hunt. 

If so, now what? What should I do?

If we get attacked by the pack of wyverns, it’d be impossible for me to use the decoy strategy like I did with the previous drainflower attack. I’m very confident that I can die in a few seconds.

But if we go on like this and there really is a wyvern attack, both the Yellow Wing Knights and the Black Wing Knights will undoubtedly suffer a heavy blow.

“…….-”

–Just why? I shared my knowledge about the potions with everyone in order to avoid the future destruction of the Black Wing Knights. While attempting to help everyone, I ended up putting them all in danger.

……Could it be that no matter what I do, I can’t prevent the destruction of the Black Wing Knights? 

If the Black Wing Knights are in trouble because of my actions, then I…… Then maybe everything I do is meaningless……?

“Takumi……? What’s wrong ……?”

Iris called my name timidly. But I couldn’t respond to him.

I wasn’t sure if I was qualified to answer.

SIDE Gazelle, Commander of the Black Wing Knights 

The mission took place about 10 li (5 km) away from the royal capital on a range of green hills, known as the “Lazarte Hills”.

“Lazarte” is a flower that blooms in early summer on these hills, and after the petals fall, it gets covered in pure white wisps of hair. When the wind blows through the hills, the fluff paints the entire area white, like a snowstorm. This is why this area is crowded with tourists when the flowers fall.

However, right now on these Lazarte Hills, a group of knights in suits of armor and shields bearing weapons were gathering. 

The daintiness of the Lazarte flowers blooming in the fields was fascinating, but the sight of the solemn, metallic brilliance shining on the hill was also a sight to behold.

Our attempts to defeat the large number of drainflowers were going well. While the drainflowers’ large numbers and energy absorption skills were a bit of a challenge, the task was well within the expected range.

……But well, there were still some men who dared to take on that challenge alone. 

The battle which had begun in the morning was ending and the sun had risen to high noon.

In fact, what was more time consuming than defeating the drainflowers was collecting the materials. Although we hadn’t reached a hundred, it was still quite a laborious task to retrieve materials from the corpses of the many fallen drainflowers and load them onto the carriages. Some of the group members complained.

After the hunt was over, and the work was reduced to collecting materials, some of the knights began to have time to chat with their peers to distract them from the endless work of retrieving items.

“Still, why were we suddenly working together with the Black Wing Knights again? Wasn’t it because they had meddled in our business, that we now have to go through all this trouble of picking up these materials?”

We had almost finished collecting the materials when a small voice reached my ears as I commanded the overall operation on horseback. Judging from the unfamiliar voice and its content, I could tell that it was not a member of our group, but one of the Yellow Wing Knights.

The existence of the potion and its usefulness is only known to a few members of the Black Wing Knights and Yellow Wing Knights. Therefore, some of the Yellow Wing Knights were not pleased with the sudden involvement of the Black Wing Knights in this mission. 

The Yellow Wing Knights were basically a knight order made up of beastmen. Most of its members were young men who had come to the royal capital to make a living and had passed the knighthood exams in recognition of their aptitude. Therefore, compared to the Black Wing Knights, many of them tend to be young men. Perhaps that is why Ortolan, the leader of the order, is also the youngest among the knight leaders.

The young knight did not seem to think that his voice could reach us, and he continued to talk with those around him.

One of our group members who was standing beside me asked with his gaze, “Should I stop him?” and I shook my head. If his hands were not as active as his mouth, it would be a problem, but that is not the case. There is no need to criticize them for this level of complaining. 

However, I froze at the topic that followed.

“–Speaking of the Black Wing Knights. I heard that recently our Commander Ortolan has been obsessed with a new member of the Black Wing Knights, right?”

“That’s right. Hey, look over there. Isn’t that black-haired, black-eyed lad right there?” 

“Black hair and black eyes, that’s unusual indeed.”

“Can I say hello to him?”

“I want him to look down on me with those obsidian eyes and step on me with contempt.”

“Hey, hold on a minute there, calm down.” 

Without thinking, I was about to approach the young members of the Yellow Wing Knights when I was stopped by one of our own members, who was standing beside me with a pleading, desperate look on his face that said ‘please don’t’.

Tsk, it can’t be helped.

“Cigluta, jigluta,” P rjlv ab atf wfwyfg ktb tjv ugjyyfv ws jgw jcv aglfv ab rabq wf, mjerlcu tlw ab ifa ub. Ca atja wbwfca, atf sbecu wfwyfgr bo atf Tfiibk Qlcu Bclutar ktb tjv yffc mtjaalcu tjqqlis revvfcis gjlrfv atflg nblmfr. 

“……? Lfs, ktja’r atja?”

“Pr atja j ylgv?”

“Rb, la’r abb ylu ab yf j ylgv.” 

With a commotion, the knights around them looked up at the sky. Regardless of whether they were Black Wing Knights or Yellow Wing Knights, they all pointed at the sky with puzzled faces and began to question each other about what that was.

The sky was clear and sunny, devoid of a single cloud. Beyond the clear sky, an ominous black shadow was beginning to emerge.

The figure was still far off in the distance, looking only like a pea. But if you look closely, you can clearly see what it looks like. 

Wings with bat-like membranes and a long tail similar to that of a lizard. They were flying leisurely across the azure sky in formation. Its course was definitely this way.

It seemed that not only I but also the people around me were gradually becoming aware of what these dark creatures really were.

“A, a pack of wyverns……” 

“Nonsense, why at this time of the year, and so close to the royal capital……!”

“Isn’t the breeding season still far off!?”

“R, report! Scouting magic indicates there are around twenty of them!” 

Lazarte Hills immediately erupted into an uproar.

It was no surprise. No one expected an attack from a pack of wyverns this close to the capital, especially when it was not their breeding season.

I was about to send a messenger to call Ortolan. But before I could do that, he headed towards me with an attendant. 

“Listini, things are not looking good.”

“Yeah. Damn, I didn’t think it would be a pack of wyverns.”

“……do you think they’ll come all the way over here?”

“I’m sure they’ll come. They are heading straight for us. We’ll probably end up colliding with them in about 30 minutes.”

I suppressed my urge to make optimistic predictions and instead gave the worst and most realistic verdict I could come up with. Ortolan responded to my words with a grim, restrained voice, “…….I guess so.” 

Then, a young member of the Yellow Wing Knights who had apparently heard our conversation spoke to Ortolan with a look of growing impatience. It was the guy who had just been grumbling with the others around him, the one who had nearly let out a shriek.

“C, Commander Ortolan! Let’s quickly retreat!” 

“Retreat Don’t be absurd. There is no time to spare until the wyverns reach us! If we retreat now, we’ll be turning our backs on the wyvern pack! That’s just suicide!”

“But, sir, there is no chance for us to win!”

At the frightened shout of the group member, the surrounding members of the Yellow Wing Knights began to become more timid, exclaiming, “Right……”, “Hey, so what are we going to do?”, “I, I don’t know, even if you ask me……”. In addition, I caught out of the corner of my eye a few members of the group who were only a short distance away attempting to leave the formation and disengage on their own. 

Ortolan must have seen this as well, as he raised his voice further and louder in anger. However, the younger members of the group became more demoralized at the sound of his voice.

If even a few of them were allowed to leave the group at this point, the place would be filled with others who would follow suit. If that happens, the Yellow Wing Knights will fall apart even before the battle.

……Good grief. This ain’t my thing. 

“–Don’t you dare run away!”

At my angry voice, the young lad from the Yellow Wing Knights, who had been trying to escape, let out a small cry and his shoulders shook with fear. 

But he wasn’t the only one who stopped moving when I raised my voice. Well, it was only natural. If someone yelled that loudly, there’s no way anyone would fail to notice unless they had a really good reason not to.

“Listini……”

That Ortolan fella looked at me, wondering what I was going to say. His hair, which looked like avian feathers, stood up slightly, as if in alarm and surprise.

I looked over and saw that not only Ortolan, but also the Yellow Wing Knights and our group were all staring at me with bated breath.

It was a sudden situation that I could not have foreseen. In such a situation, most people stop thinking. Either that, or they are swept away by optimistic thoughts that are comfortable for them. Even if they think they are calm, they are usually unable to make a good decision.

It is the Commander’s job to hold the reins at such times. 

I took a deep breath and addressed all the members of the Black Wing Knights and Yellow Wing Knights, who were scattered all over the hill.

“–Hmph. The young lad from the Yellow Wing Knights is right. We are no match for a pack of wyverns in our current condition.”

“Th, then……!” At my words, the young man from the Yellow Wing Knights shouted as if he was grasping at straws.

“But even if we have no chances at winning, we have to fight here and now. Because behind us are citizens who don’t even know how to fight!”

At my words, everyone’s expression suddenly changed.

The city of Litzheim, the royal capital, will be fine because of the city walls and the magic barriers deployed by the Silver Wing Knights…… While not as many live outside the walls of the royal capital, there are still some who live in the farming villages we passed before coming to this hill, as well as the merchants who are traveling along the roads.

If we retreat, they will be the first ones to fall prey to the wyvern pack.

“If we pull out now, what do you think will come next? Are we going to carry the trauma of watching the weak and helpless getting tormented to death with us for the rest of our lives If you have the slightest ounce of pride in your heart as a knight, do something that won’t bring shame to that pride!”

Before I knew it, there was silence on the hills.

Not a single person opened their mouth. Only the clinking of armor, the rustling of garments, and the sound of breathing filled the hills like ripples. 

……I glanced at the young lad from the Yellow Wing Knights from earlier. His cheeks were red from shame, but his feet were firmly on the ground. There was no sign of the agitation he had shown a moment ago. At this point, he is probably no longer thinking of doing anything idiotic like leaving.

After all, what’s the point of leaving in this situation? Even if he was lucky enough to return to Litzheim alone, he would be called a “coward who abandoned his friends and ran back alone”, and he would be ostracized. The beastmen, who have a stronger sense of kinship than we humans do, are much more harsh in this regard. In the worst case scenario, he might even be disowned by his family members.

Turning my back to everyone momentarily, I turned my gaze back to Ortolan. Then I saw a figure running toward me calling out my name, “Gazelle!”

Even without looking in that direction, I knew who the voice belonged to. In my group, there were only two people who called me by my name without using honorifics. 

“Oh, it’s just Iris.”

“What’s with that “oh”? So I sent someone swift out on horseback to the royal capital to expedite a request for reinforcements.”

“As expected of you. Now the only problem is that I don’t have any equipment for aerial combat……But well, I’m gonna have to make do with the resources I’ve got.”

When it comes to airborne monsters such as wyverns, the conventional strategy is to attack them from afar with long-distance magic, catapults, ballistas, and arrows as the rear unit, while the vanguard unit defends them. However, since the objective this time was to deal with the mass outbreak of drainflowers, we only brought ground combat equipment.

Therefore, only the mages from the Black Wing Knights and Yellow Wing Knights would be the main force of the battle. Even if the vanguard units protect them in the fight, if the number of wyverns is 20, it will be……

Shit, no matter how I try to minimize the number of wyverns, we don’t have enough manpower for the battle. Even if we can stall for time and hold out until reinforcements arrive from the royal capital, the estimated number of victims will be 30%–or even 40%……

“Oh, we have aerial combat gear. Ballistas, catapults, and archery gear.”

“……what?”

However, Iris’s reply was unexpected. 

I looked at him intently, but his expression showed no indication that he was lying.

“Iris…… Is this true?”

“It’s totally true. I’m a wonderfully capable lady you see!”

If this were really true, you’d practically be my savior right in this moment! No, but you’re not really joking, are you? You’re telling the truth right?” 

“Yes, that’s why I came to ask you where to put the catapults and ballistas. Although, it’s not actually my handiwork.”

Iris sticks out his tongue. When I raised my eyebrows at his mischievous expression, he smiled in a coquettish way. He continued speaking in a hushed voice so that no one around him could hear.

“It’s Takumi. Before departing, he asked me to prepare some equipment for aerial combat. Also, he asked the alchemist young miss for help and brought along some prototype potions too.”

“……Takumi did that……? Wait a minute. I never got a report of any of this and I don’t remember giving permission for the equipment to be transported.”

“I don’t remember getting any permission either, so you must be right.”

“Hey.” 

“Because Takumi really insisted on it……you know~? When he begged me while looking up to me like that, I just couldn’t say no.”

“Hey.”

“Actually, I’ll tell you the truth. The truth is, Takumi was also somewhat skeptical of his own advice, or rather…… he didn’t seem to feel very confident in himself. So, if he got Gazelle’s permission without any justification or anything, it would be bad for Takumi’s credibility if nothing had happened, right? That’s why I made the arrangements secretly.”

“……I don’t buy that line of reasoning but you did a good job! For once, I’m going to let you off the hook!” 

“Oh my, that’s it? No bonus or anything?”

“Don’t be ridiculous, you’re lucky I don’t charge you with embezzlement!”

Iris shrugs at my words and smiles charmingly. I also smile back at him. 

If we have aerial combat equipment, the story changes drastically. This was the very definition of hope.

I give Iris instructions to arrange the aerial combat equipment in conjunction with the Yellow Wing Knights. We would have to quickly arrange and assemble the catapults and ballistas in each of their positions. There was also the question of where to station the mages. Time was short, but there was much work to be done.

“……Listini.” 

While Iris and I were talking, Ortolan, the leader of the Yellow Wing Knights, approached me.

He stared at me with a serious expression.

“Listini. The speech you just gave…… was brilliant. I couldn’t have done that myself. I appreciate it.”

“That was no big deal. I was really surprised though. I came here thinking we were going to hunt drainflowers, but I never thought we’d end up hunting wyverns.”

“……Pft, that’s true.”

At my joke, Ortolan chuckled, albeit awkwardly. He then shifted his gaze to Iris. 

“……Pardon me for taking up some of your time. May our deputy commander from the Yellow Wing Knights have a word with your military strategist?”

“Sure. Let’s get right into it. We need to decide on the positioning of the catapults, ballistas and other equipment.”

“You have catapults and ballistas…… Well, I appreciate them under these circumstances, but why did you bring them for the drainflower hunt? Were you intending to eradicate the drainflowers?” 

“We also brought about thirty bottles of potions, though they’re just prototypes! That saves us the trouble of having to do trials and experiments!”

Seeing Iris giving a wink, Ortolan seemed bewildered. However, there were no signs of anxiety in their faces about the battle that loomed ahead.

……Good grief. Just how much more does he need to influence his surroundings before he becomes satisfied?

Or rather, maybe this was part of his intentions?

I sent them off and told the messenger of the Black Wing Knights to have Takumi come to me. Although Iris had said that earlier, there was something I had to ask that guy.

……No. This was definitely just an excuse. 

Honestly, I don’t know if I’m going to come out of this battle unscathed. In case this might be my last moment, I wanted to see his face at least one more time.

Takumi, who was summoned by me, was still looking calm as ever.

There was no sign of impatience or bloodlust, even though there was only a short time left before we would be confronted by a pack of wyverns. He was extremely composed.

Still, in spite of this nonchalant demeanor, he likes to suddenly lunge at the monster without a second thought, which is frightening. Normally, he is one of the quieter and more reserved members of the group, but when it is time to fight, his personality changes drastically. How strange. 

“Sorry Takumi. I’ll make this quick.”

“No problem.”

I said a few words to the knights around me and took Takumi behind the tent that was set up on the hill. While not completely out of sight, no one is likely to come peeking around under these circumstances. Unless we raise our voices, it’s unlikely that anyone will hear us at this place.

“I heard from Iris a little while ago. That Takumi gave him some advice.”

“……Yeah.” 

“Thanks, buddy. Without that, the situation would’ve been hopeless.”

Takumi, who had been downcast since we arrived here, looked up at my words with a surprised look on his face.

“Gazelle doesn’t blame me?” 

“Blame?”

“If I had noticed…… the wyvern attack much earlier, the situation would have been better. I should have noticed it sooner.”

After saying all that, Takumi clenched his fists and lowered his head again. It was unusual for him to refuse to make eye contact with me, as if he was avoiding me. 

“Besides, wasn’t the Black Wing Knights not supposed to be here in the first place? I was the one who instigated the joint operation with the Yellow Wing Knights. Because of what I did, the Black Wing Knights were put in danger……”

“—-Just what are you talking about?”

I flick Takumi’s downcast forehead with my index finger. That reminds me, this has happened before.

He made a small sound and looked at me with his eyes wide while holding his forehead.

“……-! What was that for, Gazelle?” 

“I should be asking you that. What are you talking about? Iris told me that you were feeling alert of the incoming wyvern attack before we left. That’s how we were able to get the aerial combat equipment. What’s there to blame Takumi for?”

“But…… if I had realized it earlier, we could have arranged for better equipment.”

“So let’s say you told me five days ago that “we are going to be attacked by wyverns during the upcoming joint operation with the Yellow Wing Knights”. And if I asked, “What’s the basis for that?” What would you have said?”

At my question, Takumi lowered his gaze awkwardly.

This guy can sometimes detect monster attacks and stuff. But he had previously explained that he didn’t have a good reasoning for this, and that he couldn’t anticipate all monster attacks.

Although Takumi has studied knowledge and ecology about monsters in his previous environment and seems to be aware of the habits of some monsters to some extent, he said he still finds it difficult to predict them entirely.

“…… It’s true that I can’t explain the reasoning. But……” 

“Right? Then, aside from us, none of the other knights, the nobles, the king, or anyone else would have taken you seriously.”

“But, but…… My proposal made this joint operation possible, didn’t it? If I hadn’t said something unnecessary, the Black Wing Knights wouldn’t have been attacked this time……”

“And what’s wrong with that? It’s even better when we’re the ones in the line of fire.”

“Wha-……!” 

Takumi widened his eyes in surprise at my words.

I’m the one who should be surprised. Jeez…… And I was wondering what he was worried about with that gloomy face of his. How unusual of him.

……No, rather, it might actually be quite typical of Takumi. 

That’s what that guy Ortolan had said the other day. Felix told me what Ortolan had said to Takumi when they met at the perfume shop recently.

For a knight, Takumi is too kind.

……I only heard about it second hand from Felix, but apparently Ortolan had declared to Takumi that “he was not suitable to be a knight”.

Though, I could certainly nod my head at some of the things he said. Takumi was a man who was too kind to live in this world, let alone as a knight. 

“Takumi, I’ve told you already, didn’t I? Behind us are people who don’t have the means to fight. It is our role as Knights to protect them.”

“That may be so, but……”

“And besides, if the Yellow Wing Knights had been the only ones operating here as originally planned and had been sieged, they would have been attacked unarmed and unprepared for aerial combat, wouldn’t they? So isn’t it all the more great that we’re here?” 

“But, um……”

Takumi’s face was still clouded over.

I gently slid my fingers across Takumi’s cheeks. When I was around this age, I used to get scratched up all the time, but Takumi’s skin was very smooth, without a single blemish. 

“Takumi. To be a shield for the vulnerable, that is a knight’s true duty. So there ain’t nothing for you to be concerned about. If anything, this is a great honor.”

Ortolan had said that he was too kind to be a knight. 

Hash:

「ちょっと待て、最後のお前はちょっと待て」 

“Hey, hold on a minute there, calm down.”

I took liberties with this, if translated literally it would be like “Wait a minute, hold up on that last part you [said]”.

Last chapter I didn’t really think much and just chose a word but this chapter I realized 

I should probably stick to one word. Pack? Horde? Flock? Just how should a wyvern be classified… It’s carnivorous, it has wings, and it can be large… So all three? Though I just went with “pack” as it seemed most general. Wyverns kind of remind me of wolves too.

Iris called himself a woman in italics this chapter. I translated it as lady to highlight the “italics” part. This led me to doubt their pronoun. Iris uses katakana (which is like italics in English) to say woman オンナ when usually you would use kanji 女 or sometimes hiragana おんな. So it implies an okama/onee character.

The original text doesn’t have pronouns usually and I don’t recall it ever using female pronouns. In the first chapter Takumi introduced Iris as a man 男性 so I went with he. I’m not sure if okama/onee characters are usually called he or she. Maybe the audience might call them “she” while the characters might not? I’ll just leave it for now I guess. 

Hi, sorry for going mia again, someone reached out saying they wanted to take over. There might be a new translator or I might just continue with the updates.