Yuusha-sama no Oshishou-sama Chapter 46

Wow… it’s almost a month since the last chapter… uhh… sorry?

. Hmm… I wonder if I should keep doing this…

A meeting to discuss the recent campaign, and Petersia's involvement, was held in a room of the palace.

Prince Alfred presided over the meeting. In attendance were ministers in charge of domestic affairs, bureaucrats, officers of General rank and above, and also certain n.o.bles.

They were discussing whether or not to wage war against Petersia.

Open debate was permitted, so there were various discussions all over the room.

Petersia's landma.s.s was no more than two-thirds that of the empire, but unlike the Empire, Petersia did not border the land ruled by the Demon Lord.

Due to that, their military power had not decreased as much by the war against the Demon Lord's army.

In addition to that, a rumor was spreading amongst them.

"Have you also heard the rumours, Sir?"

"I heard that she single-handedly annihilated an army of a thousand."

"Rumor has it that she cut down a hundred men with a single swing of her sword, and blew away a village with a single spell. Her strength must be outrageous."

"But, the Brave's strength is terribly strong. With that power around, how can we ever relax? Rather, couldn't she end up ruling the whole continent?"

The warmongers gradually voiced the rumours louder and louder.

Some of them were hopeful that if the Brave partic.i.p.ated, then they would win the war against Petersia.

'What rubbish.'

Royce berated them in his mind.

Royce attended the Imperial Council as a feudal lord of a territory that bordered Petersia.

They were trying to wield the Brave's power.

He wondered if any of those warmongers realized the significance of that action.

The Brave was immensely powerful.

The rumours had been exaggerated to the point that it was an army of a thousand, but he began to believe that it was actually possible.

In truth, as he returned to the battlefield with his knights as reinforcements, Royce had seen the traces of an existence that far exceeded common sense.

The path had been burned to a crisp.

The burns were the result of a wide-area fire-attribute offensive spell.

Royce had seen the flames rise up to the sky as he retreated.

But despite receiving such an attack, Leticia returned, and not a hair on her head was touched.

Despite that, corpses of knights were strewn all over the path.

Only a few people had survived.[1]

A single girl had caused this result.

He had heard of the Brave's accomplishments during his time on the front lines, but he had never witnessed it in person.

He had believed that there was bound to be some exaggerations and distortions in the rumours.

But Royce couldn't help but shudder at the memory of having witnessed that power firsthand.

When Kelvin left with Wynn and Locke to scout out Doria Village, Royce was left alone with Leticia.

Leticia had transformed.

The face of a youthful maiden that she had worn while with Wynn disappeared, replaced by an icy expression. She gave off an aura of inviolable sanct.i.ty that made her seem unapproachable.

It was exactly like the first time he had met Leticia.

As a Count, Royce had been to many parties and banquets.

He had been acquainted with n.o.bles and royalty from not only the Empire, but also from other countries.

She had transformed into Leticia van Mavis the Brave, clad in the dignified air of a lady of n.o.bility that belied a fierce spirit.

Royce had now seen how much of an influence the Knight Cadet known as Wynn Byrd had on the Brave.

The debate continued as Royce contemplated.

"We should let Mavis the Brave lead our army against Petersia."

"Wait! The Brave did move to support the Empire during the coup and during this battle, but it is not certain that she will lend us her strength."

"If we declare war and the Brave doesn't lend us her strength, what then?"

"Oh? Are you implying that our esteemed Imperial Knights would lose to Petersia without the Brave's help?"

"I didn't mean it like that. Our courageous knights would never lose to the Petersian army."

"Then there is no problem with declaring war. You have said so yourself."

Prince Alfred raised his hands.

The bickering va.s.sals stopped speaking and turned towards Alfred.

"I heard that there are rumours flying around that the Brave was at the battlefield. However, that is not possible. She was at my villa. It's impossible for her to have been on the battlefield."

"But there have been reports that it really was Brave Mavis. Some rumours say that she was seen acting with Count Elstead's militia."

"Are those not mere rumours? Count Elstead. Are these rumours true?"

Royce stood up as Prince Alfred looked towards him.

As he stood up, Royce heard murmurs all around him.

"That deserting coward…"

"Selfishly using the Brave's power doesn't change the fact that he tried to flee."

Royce felt scornful gazes from all around him.

To the other n.o.bles, he was just a former General who had been demoted to the rank of Lieutenant.

As Count, he had some influence, but to them, his demotion was proof that he was on the losing side of a power struggle.

Since he couldn't take part in the Council through his military rank, he had to force his way in as a lord of the affected area. They only saw him as somebody who was desperately trying to regain his power in vain.

He himself didn't deny those accusations.

Moreover, his bulging belly and outward appearance lent even more credence to those rumours.

Royce did not say anything about the rumours surrounding him.

If he were to be dismissed from the Imperial Court due to those rumours, he would consider it a blessing.

'I have to look after my subordinates. I can't just get framed and hole up in my territory.'

Royce sighed discretely.

"I was tasked with sheltering the commoners at the rear of the army. I would not have had the honour to work with the Brave."

"You weren't escorting commoners, you were deserting, were you not?"

Royce glanced at the source of the voice, and saw Marquis Welt van Cliffdorf.

"There were reports that you had used your militia to drive off an enemy force stationed at some village, but there were also reports that you had actually stole the Brave's accomplishments."

"Oh? I am very interested in where you heard those reports, Marquis. I was ordered to escort the commoners by the late General Feyl. Somebody must have greatly misunderstood, if they thought I had fled. As for the enemies in that village, I had summoned my militia to drive them off so that I could protect the commoners. I am, after all, a coward. I prepared for every possible outcome. I was just blessed with the fact that I came across an enemy force while retreating. Also, the 'some village' you were talking about, happens to be a village in your territory, Doria Village. I do believe some thanks are in order for driving out an enemy force that was terrorizing your precious subjects."

"Tch… I am deeply thankful."

Welt clicked his tongue in annoyance.

"We will leave it at that, Count Elstead, Marquis Cliffdorf. There truly was an order signed by General Feyl ordering Count Elstead to retreat. He did not desert. Furthermore, the Brave stayed at the Royal Villa."

Alfred looked towards the n.o.bles who had claimed that the Brave was at the battlefield.

"Do you have anything to add? Will you claim that I am lying?"

"No, I wouldn't presume to… "

"With all due respect, Your Highness. Even if she's the Brave, she is still a full-fledged n.o.ble of the Empire, with royal blood in her veins. If Your Highness were to order it, would she not have no alternative but to obey?"

"That should be the case. However, she has been consecrated by the G.o.ddess Anastasia. We cannot force her to do anything. Duke Mavis, am I right?"

Alfred then turned to face Leticia's father, Duke Lecter van Mavis. Duke Mavis wore a sour expression.

"I am afraid so. Your Highness does not have a higher blessing than her."

"As I thought."

"If I may, Your Highness."

Welt once again spoke up.

"Even if the Brave will not proactively lend us her power, it does not make sense to not consider her as part of our military strength. If her country is in a crisis, she will still move to save it. That possibility can still act as a deterrence to other countries."

"I also have one more thing to say. The army also has the Knight Cadet known as the Master of the Brave. He cannot disobey an order from the leaders of the Knight Order. We could always consider the possibility of ordering him to ask the Brave to lend us her power."

"Ah, that is true."

"I see. It is true that he cannot go against an order. And as his disciple, she cannot disobey her Master."

Some of the n.o.bles murmured in approval.

"At Your Highness's command, I will immediately order that Knight Cadet to ask the Brave to lend us her power against Petersia. We shall show those Petersian dogs h.e.l.l. Shall we?"

Welt gloated at Royce as he said that.

As a n.o.ble, he could also express his opinion, despite Welt's higher rank.

However, as according to military ranks, he was a mere Lieutenant, while Welt was a Commander.[2]

He couldn't object, nor speak up. He could only comply.

"Only Marquis Cliffdorf could think of that action."

"I can already imagine those Petersian whelps turning tail and fleeing upon seeing the Brave at the head of our Imperial Knight Order!"

Welt nodded in satisfaction at that exclamation of flattery, raising his hand in the air.

"Your Highness, at your command, I will lead the army with the Brave, and the Empire's flag shall fly over Peterisa's palace. Will it, and it shall be done!"

"Ah, about that, Marquis Cliffdorf."

Believing that everything was decided, Welt smiled at Alfred.

"I am sorry, but Knight Cadet Wynn Byrd has been rea.s.signed."

"Huh?"

"There's a good reason behind this."

After a stunned silence, the conference hall broke into an uproar.