Vol. 1 - Ch. 15 - Violence that pours down

Before going to sleep in my tent, I took a short walk around the garrison and went up to higher ground. This was to see the battle situation at the Dezel Bridge. Sᴇaʀch* Thᴇ NøᴠᴇlFire.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.Looking down from the high ground into the distance, I saw the bridge over the El Verde River. It was the Dezel Bridge, a huge bridge 25 meters wide and 120 meters long.

On the bridge, illuminated by several bonfires, soldiers from both armies were glaring at each other.

I observed the battlefield for a while. It was the first time I had seen demons, but their appearance was no different from that of humans, except for their brown skin, as I had heard. They fight in the same way as humans, making full use of weapons and magic, and under an established chain of command. It's a good move. I think there is something to see.

But the First Order's moves are more than that. I was amazed at the strangeness of their tactics.

This time, it is the kingdom that wants to hold the other side of the river, and the demons' operational objective is defense. Therefore, they should just blow up the bridge. In fact, I could see that they intended to do so. However, the First Knights were preventing this with their skillful military tactics. It is impossible to blow up the bridge with the remaining soldiers of the demon army on the bridge. Therefore, the First Knights were fighting a battle that did not allow the demon army to leave the bridge.

When the demon army retreated, the First Order pushed up the front line and followed them while maintaining distance and formation. When the demonic forces moved forward, the first would retreat while defending. This was done by rotating the troops on the bridge, making use of the army's resilience, and never losing focus.

Occasionally, they would launch a massive firepower attack aiming to break through the bridge, but this attack was made at the best time when the demonic forces had fully retreated, thus keeping the pressure on the enemy.

Looking at the way they were fighting, it seemed that the First Knights had quite excellent mid-level commanders, including the unit leaders. The demon army will be reminded of the fact that the hardest time to fight is when it is time to retreat.

"The First Order is very good at battles, huh? What are you doing here?" While I was watching the battle, someone called out to me. It was Raquel. Yeld and Sheila were beside her.

<"I was watching the Dezel Bridge.">

"You wanted to see the battle situation with your own eyes, didn't you? You may not be able to understand anything from what you saw, but it is important to keep that in mind."

<"Thank you very much. Are you all going to check the bridge, too?">

"Of course. Unlike you, we have to be aware of the situation at all times."

Then another figure approaches.

"Oh, you are all here together." It was Eric Lindel, commander of the First Order's Owl and Crane Squadron. "I'm sure you must be tired from the march, so perhaps you should go to bed."

"Yes, we will. We just wanted to see a little bit of the battlefield. May Captain Lindel have a good rest tonight." , Yeld said.

"Yes thank you. I just wanted to talk to him before going to sleep."

Lindel said as he looked at me. "Emily was very complimentary about you," he said. 

"She said that you did a great job crossing the Plains of Belisus. That's impressive for someone who graduated as an undergrad."

<"I'm very grateful.">

"You seem to know a lot about military strategy. Where did you learn it?"

<"I am self-taught. I've always loved books.">

"Well, that's very impressive!" Lindel looked surprised.

"But it's not your lucky day to have to come so far away to fight so soon after you joined the group."

<"No, this is my third year.">

"What?"

<"I'm not a man of talent and I have no blessings, so I've been a poor follower until today.">

Sheila explained to Lindel, who had a question mark on his face. "He has not been given the blessings of the Goddess." she said.

"I have heard rumors that there is such a person in the Fifth, but is it true? I see, this is the man."

Lindel's face, through surprise and bewilderment, turned angry. Then he said in a voice filled with anger.

"What is someone dreadful enough to be not blessed by Goddess Yona doing in the knighthood? What do you think knights are?" Lindel lunged at me and grabbed me by the chest.

"Why is a man like you on the battlefield? This is not a game!"

<"I'm not doing this for fun.">

"This is a battle between the holy and the wicked! It is no place for a man forsaken by God!"

<"I don't think so.">

".....! You!"

I was knocked to the ground on my back.

A first-class knight, he has a great deal of physical strength.

Lindel, who was on his horse, grabbed me by the chest with both hands, brought his face close to mine and shouted, "It can't be good! It's not right that someone like you should be by her side!"

<"I see.">

It seems that behind his anger, in addition to his feelings of me being without blessings, there is also his obsession with Emily. As could be seen from his post-military meeting attitude, he had an extraordinary interest in Emily because of her "white light" and beautiful appearance, as well as the fact that she was also the commander of the Owl and Crane unit. He must have approached Emily to find out if she was interested in me because she had mentioned my name to him. And yet, the man she mentioned was, of all people, unprovoked. That was unacceptable for him.

<"I'm just a squire, I am nothing more than that to Miss Emily.">

"Of course ! Don't you dare to say something so obvious!"

Lindel's anger seemed to have gone beyond its limits. He slammed his fists repeatedly into my face as he rode on his horse. His fists even have a murderous intent. I defended with both arms, but I couldn't block it, and Lindel's fists were stained with my blood.

"You! Someone like you!"

Like his approach to Emily, Lindel seemed to be passionate about everything.

"I'm not at all happy about this."

"Oh, hey! You're killing him!" Yeld interrupts.

"A man like this should not exist! There's nothing wrong with killing him here!"

"Don't be absurd! He's a member of our group! Just get away from him!"

Lindel is pulled away by Yeld. He is breathing hard and staring at me.

"A man like you...you can't be here...!"

<"Even if you say so, I can't just say yes, sorry, and disappear.">

I stood up, wiping the blood from my cut lip with the back of my hand.

Eventually he calmed down a bit, and the fury faded from Lindel's eyes. Then he looked around at us and said, "...I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused you. Excuse me."

He was addressing all three of us except for me.

Lindel turned on his heel and left. We watched his back silently.

<"Yeld-sama, Thank you very much.">

I thanked him honestly. If I had fought back, Lindel would have become even more enraged, and we would have lost control of the situation.

"I didn't stop for your sake." With that, Yeld also left.

"He was a great guy, wasn't he? Well, it doesn't matter. I'm going to sleep now.".

"Squire, you should put some medicine on your face so that it won't be a problem tomorrow."

Raquel and Sheila also returned to the tent. Sheila did not come up with the idea of using recovery magic to heal my injuries, but she did show enough concern to mention the treatment of my injuries.

It would be better to wash the wound and apply medicine to it. It would be a problem if my eye swelled up. I looked at the bridge again, then headed for the medical team's tent.

◆ ◆

"What happened to your face, Rolf?"

The next morning.

Emily's reaction was as expected.

<"I fell.">

"How can you be like that if you just fell?"

<"I know, right? I thought so too.">

I had anticipated Emily's reaction, but had not thought of a response.

At this point before the operation, I don't want to give Emily any information that could lead to her distrust of the First Knights, but even if I don't tell her, she will know if she asks Yeldo and the others. I had no choice. There seemed to be no point in hiding it.

<"I've displeased Captain Lindel of the First Order.">

"Mr. Eric? Why?"

<"Because I have no blessings.">

"Just because!"

I don't want to say that he lost control of his emotions as a result of his adoration for you, and this happened. If I say it, Emily will think that I am partly to blame.

However, I seem to have begun to understand the subtleties of love and romance, as I read from Lindel's behavior that he was in love with Emily and noticed the reaction of emotions caused by jealousy. It's a sign that people grow up.

If I had grown up a little earlier, I wonder if I would have been able to say beautiful things to Emily while we were still engaged. In any case, I wasn't able to do anything like a fiancé, so I have a feeling of mourning.

"I am not sure what I should do."

I had to stop Emily from protesting against the First Order.

<" It is not a good idea to get into a fight with the First Order now. We must work with them and win.">

"I know, but I can't keep quiet about this!"

<"We can do this after everything is over. Now just think about the fight.">

"・・・・・・"

<"Emily.">

".......alright."

Emily reluctantly agrees.

It was time for the knights to put their lives on the line for the mission that would decide the outcome of the battle. This is not the time to be arguing about who got hit and by whom. Emily was well aware of this.

In the center of the garrison, Commander Tisserius is explaining to everyone about the river crossing operation.

The operation to put an end to the battle that had been going on for more than a month in the El Verde River valley was about to begin.