Chapter 107 - 9-8
Glen Hilboro, a general of the Eastern Royal Army, had succeeded Sedias Thora as a general of the Royal Army. He intended to be the person responsible for this war, overseeing the Eastern Army and the troops of Saranti. He should have been the commander-in-chief.
Ignoring that, a single army had spontaneously formed in the West.
Hilboro found it unpleasant that the situation was progressing in places beyond his knowledge. It was the humiliation of being disregarded, the feeling of helplessness from being overlooked. However, those were things he could still deal with if he suppressed his emotions and pretended not to see. In fact, General Hilboro, who possessed a refined sense of social conduct, intended to utilize the fact that he had been ignored. By making a fuss and shouting "This is unjust!", he would place himself in a position of superiority.
His goal was not to soothe his wounded dignity.
It was for the order of the military organization.
If something called the Western Army had been created, then so be it. It was to be welcomed. However, they had to be brought under his command. Even if he had to scream and throw a tantrum, he would have them submit to the Royal Army.
Fortunately, Hilboro did not have to resort to such unsightly behavior.
The ships that had departed from the port of Rodevisc in Saranti for the port of Delroy had returned.
—We acknowledge the Western Army, and wish to participate in the operation.
Such a humble letter had been sent.
It seemed the Western Army was willing to uphold Hilboro's position.
They had even expressed that they would leave everything to him.
"This is unlike the Thora family."
Glen Hilboro muttered to himself as he looked at the signature.
He could not read it at once and read it over and over. No matter how he tried to interpret it, it could only be read as "Commander of the Western Army, Luchentin Alish."
"Is this a joke?"
The man who had delivered the letter was named Kashu Coil, a man with a round physique who looked as if he would roll right down if he tripped on a slope. He was from the East and likely did not think well of Hilboro. Because of that, the way he spoke briskly without hesitation toward Hilboro left a good impression.
"I thought it was a joke as well. I am told the Western Army liberated the Euryas Convent and welcomed the princess, who had been inside as a nun, as their commander—"
Or so it seemed.
Princess Lucy was said to be touring the western towns and gathering militia.
As Kashu's story progressed, the name Yugis Necrat appeared. It seemed Yugis was the one drawing the blueprints behind the scenes. It was exactly as Haider Skyner had predicted previously.
—Country bumpkin.
Hilboro felt contempt in his gut.
The Siddim royal family was a sacred entity that represented the value of the people. It was not an existence that a youth from the East, and a traitor's son at that, should lay a hand on.
However, General Hilboro was an adult. While he was appalled by the youth's irreverence, he did not let it show on his face. No, rather,
—Perhaps the parts worthy of evaluation are greater.
He was calm enough to admit that.
This was a national crisis. He could say that now was precisely the time to use the prestige of the royal family.
Moreover, even if it was just in name, if the princess would stand at the head, he could unite all of Siddim. He could define the Eastern Army, the Eastern Royal Army, and the Western Army together as the "Siddim Army."
It was certainly true that cooperation and coordination across the entire national territory were needed now.
"So, the princess—the Western Army Commander—will leave this war to me, then?"
"That is what she stated," Kashu said. "That she has expectations for the experience and ability of General Hilboro-kakka."
"I wonder if people like Laicanel Thora or Necrat are monopolizing the princess."
"I am not sure how to put this. Regarding the Western Army, the princess has left everything to Yugis. The princess is currently only recruiting volunteers."
"What is Necrat's role?"
"The soldiers call him a staff officer, but it seems he has no official post."
That was bad. Within a military organization, he could not allow a man with such an unclear role to act with such arrogance.
"Is Necrat by the princess's side?"
"He seems to be at the frontline operational headquarters."
"Have you not met Necrat?"
Kashu looked down. "No."
He looked as if he would have liked to meet him if possible. Among the children of the Eastern nobility, Yugis Necrat seemed to be trusted.
"Shall we send Necrat back to the East?"
When Hilboro whispered this, Kashu looked up, his eyes gleaming.
"By all means," Kashu's reply held an unconcealable heat. "I believe that is how it should be done."
"No, now wait. That is a conversation for later."
The Kosa Army was not an opponent that could be defeated by ideals. Practical operational execution capability was necessary. The princess did not have that. Someone needed to supplement it.
"Very well. I will prepare a reply by tomorrow. Go and rest for now."
With a "Yes, sir," Kashu Coil left the tent.
Glen Hilboro prepared paper, a quill, and ink, and immediately set to work on the concept of the Siddim Army. Hilboro liked this kind of personnel assignment, and he was good at it.
First, the Commander.
This should be filled by himself, who led the Royal Army. The planning of operations would be carried out by Hilboro. Hilboro thought of a plan to call this the First Army, the Western Army the Second Army, and the Eastern Army the Third Army. He would renew the entire army. However, he also feared that meaning might be found in the numbers one, two, and three. It would be tedious if discussions arose about who was superior or inferior. It was absurd to quarrel over such things at a time like this.
It would be better to keep the current designations of the Western Army and Eastern Army as official, with the Royal Army as the center.
The Western Army would go to Laicanel Thora.
The Eastern Army would be commanded by Aram Danforth, the Eastern Governor.
It did occur to him whether he should appoint the Skyner family, who had risen to become the face of the East, in the East. However, the West had shed blood to pacify the East. No matter how he thought about it, the influence of the Royal Army should remain in the East.
Probably, no great problem would arise. The Skyner family and the Danforth family were in a cooperative relationship.
The Dravar family of Saranti would be incorporated into the Royal Army.
Then there was the crucial Commander-in-Chief.
This could undoubtedly be Princess Luchentin Alish. Above her, His Majesty would be placed as the Supreme Leader. Suddenly, Hilboro stopped his hand.
As he did, he contemplated the nature of an army led by the princess.
As he began to think, he realized. The princess's Western Army did not take a form like, for example, the Royal Army. What Hilboro envisioned at that moment was—
—A people's army.
If one had to put it, that was what it was.
It seemed Princess Lucy had gone out into the fields, calling out to the people in cities and villages to create an army.
The royal family and the people were directly facing each other and communicating their intentions. Without the mediation of nobles or lords in between. It meant that local power was being completely ignored.
Hilboro held his head.
What would happen if the royal family did not trust the lords and spoke directly to the people?
What could be imagined was the decline in the existential value of the landed nobility.
However, what that situation would lead to was more terrifying. The rise in the status of the people.
—We, too, are respectable subjects before the royal family.
The common peasants might suddenly increase their awareness and start acting arrogant.
—We, too, can fight.
If they noticed that, they would awaken. Those who were governed would no longer be governed. The reason nobles were great was that they monopolized armed force and military power. Just as the Roma Church conducted its business by monopolizing the Tenshu, nobles could act haughty because their duty was to fight and they guaranteed safety.
War was a privilege of the nobility.
If that privilege were opened to the people, the significance of the nobility would vanish.
But however,
—With this, we could certainly win.
Hilboro admitted this as well.
Was it a mere whim, such as "If we lost with the previous system, we should reform the military system"? Yugis Necrat, or Lucy Alish, had accomplished something close to an innovation, at least in the West.
With this, the West had acquired an enormous capacity for continued warfare. No matter how many times they lost, they could replenish their soldiers. They could fight forever. Until this country became empty. They had stepped into a hell from which there was no turning back once entered.
They intended to win. They were seriously aiming for a complete victory. For that purpose, they had laid their hands on things that could change this country.
If they clashed in a bloodbath and shaved away the enemy army soldier by soldier, Siddim would one day victory over the Kosa Army.
Because Hilboro was an adult, he thought about what came after.
Would the people not make that victory their own? The royal family could protect themselves. As long as there were the royal family and the people, it would be enough. Would such a reality not be revealed?
When that happened, Hilboro could not imagine what kind of future awaited Siddim.
A single shadow ran vertically across the main gate of Malfa City, which had been like a single wall, and it split in two. The gate opened slowly.
What appeared from within were twenty-some beautifully dressed cavalry, with even the horses armored. They headed this way while guarding a carriage.
During that time, the gate remained wide open. Enemy infantry were lined up densely with spears ready, blocking the entrance. Their military dress was likely formal and beautiful. The armor was polished, and the red of the cloaks was vivid.
Mozu Wolf waited for the arrival of the carriage in front of a specially erected tent.
Mozu's guards were twenty light cavalry. Since they were not dressed up, they looked somewhat inferior.
The person who stepped down from the carriage was a clergyman of imposing stature. It was Father Sancour, who was handling the preparations for the negotiations. His hair was pure white but thick, and it was neatly groomed along with his beard. He had a face that looked as if a handsome man with a straight nose had simply aged. Solemnity seeped from his expression.
This man was said to have been blessed with psychic abilities since childhood and performed miracles of healing the sick. This was the third time he had met Mozu. Mozu had yet to witness any miracles. He suspected it was probably a lie.
Mozu Wolf invited the Father into the tent. After greeting each other, they sat opposite one another across a crude table. On the table were a copper pitcher, copper cups, and a basket of fruit.
After some small talk about the weather, Mozu urged, "Well then, it is about time."
"The Western Army will not withdraw," Father Sancour said in a husky voice. It was in the Enagamo language.
"They will not comply with withdrawal or repositioning."
"I believe we have allowed sufficient leeway."
"Siddim has tried to persuade the Western Army with every word."
"I am surprised that you have brought that conclusion exactly as it is to me," Mozu sighed. "What is this Western Army? Are they bandits or something? Are they not an army? If you cannot control the Western Army, I wonder if our negotiating partner is indeed one who holds full authority. Is it correct to understand that the so-called Western Army is defying the orders of the King of Siddim?"
"No, it is not His Majesty's order."
"Since Chancellor Gilma is backed by the authority of the King of Siddim, it is the same thing."
"The Western Army has not yet been formally approved."
"Laicanel Thora is the son of the former commander-in-chief, is he not? Do you mean to say that a force of that scale is a private army?"
"Do you know the commander of the Western Army?" Father Sancour's grayish eyes were calm. "It is Her Highness Luchentin Alish."
Mozu Wolf stroked his beard, which had recently begun to mix with white. Then, he slowly took the pitcher and poured water into a cup.
How would the Western Army utilize the princess they had rescued from the convent?
It was not that he hadn't thought about it. He just hadn't thought they would place her as a general.
"Siddim only learned of this fact recently," Father Sancour said.
Mozu suppressed the urge to flare up by drinking the water.
"That will not pass. You are the one who should protest that. I am not asking you to side with Kosa. I wanted you to exert your efforts to end this war. This is what it means to go against faith."
"Does it?"
"It does. The Western Army advanced their troops after we called for peace negotiations. Unless this is reversed, negotiations cannot begin. That is something the Chancellor of Siddim also acknowledged. Moreover, it is said that their true identity is an army of the royalty."
"To be precise, that is not the case," Father Sancour also took the pitcher. "Since the princess left the royal family and entered the convent."
"Then calling her 'princess' would be inappropriate."
"However, the princess has now also departed from her clerical status."
"If that is the case, then who is this 'princess'? No, it doesn't matter. There is no room for objection to the fact that she is acting as a member of the royalty. Any other conclusion is a deception. Surely a nun of the Roma Church is not leading an army."
—Exactly as you say.
The renowned priest nodded and drank water.
"To be precise, she is not a priestess but a nun."
"I do not care."
"Some call her the Daughter of Siddim."
"What is that?"
"She is a mysterious girl told of in the legends of this country. It is said she appears from nowhere when a crisis occurs and saves the people. At times she makes the wheat ripen, at other times she deceives demons and makes them build a levee in a single night. And at other times—"
Mozu raised both hands exaggeratedly. "The princess is that? If you continue this story any further, I will have no choice but to doubt your sincerity. The royalty of this country is double-tongued. Extending a hand with one, while gripping a concealed dagger with the other. Does the Roma Church defend that? Even though it is the Great King who protects the faith of the Roma Catholics in our empire."
"It is just a bit of trivia," Father Sancour smiled.
"You should be mindful of the setting," Mozu replied coldly. "As long as the princess of the royal family shows fighting spirit, I must take it that Siddim has no will for peace. Siddim is insulting this opportunity."
Father Sancour became formal, as expected. "What are you saying? You must understand the delicate situation where the princess of the royal family is conducting activities to save the country, separate from the will of the kingdom—"
"We have come this far while shedding blood. Meanwhile, the Western Army, upon hearing the call for peace, hurriedly advanced their troops, as if taking advantage of an opening. If we acknowledge this, we of the Kosa Empire will no longer be able to entrust important matters to the Roma Church. Is this not a situation where your impartiality is questioned?"
Father Sancour shook his head. "It is futile to dwell on the Western Army any further."
—So you'll say that.
Mozu saw that it was about time to end this. He did not know the true intentions of the Roma Church. However, one thing had been confirmed. The Church did not desire peace between Kosa and Siddim. They were trying to make the war continue by throwing impossible demands at them.
"We want this achievement, gained after much bloodshed, to be evaluated fairly. To put it simply, the Western Army is cheating."
"It would be sufficient to provide an evaluation without counting the Western Army's advance as an achievement."
"Do not play dumb. The recommendation for surrender should have been possible because we were besieging the royal capital. If I let you leave this tent, it will inevitably become a war again. Moreover, the war will resume in a form unfavorable to us. Our empire will not forget the treatment by the Roma Church."
"It seems it will end in failure."
"Truly regrettable. I had expectations for your miracles."
"Unless there is the will of the Tenshu, no miracles will occur."
Father Sancour left the tent, a flash of that unpleasant arrogance that clergymen occasionally show flickering in his eyes.
While folding the tent and withdrawing to his own lines, Mozu thought. This conclusion was as expected, so he had no complaints. The path of negotiation was severed. Malfa City had no choice but to open its gates and strike out.
What bothered him was the Roma Church.
—Offer even more blood.
It was as if they were saying that. Do not think the Church will kneel with this level of achievement, Mozu interpreted.
In the Roma Church, there was an existence like a church father, called the Archbishop, who reigned in Kindary.
—It would be better to replace that head.
Mozu noted it in his mind as something to be done eventually.
—A fishy smell.
Gilma Rigardie also held an impious impression toward the renowned clergyman Father Sancour.
Gilma had a plan to have Her Highness Luchentin Alish participate in the negotiations. It was dangerous, but under the pretext of "protecting the princess," he could move the Western Army's deployment further. Moreover, if he had Yugis accompany her, he might think of something upon contacting the enemy.
Above all, he could introduce the Western Army to the enemy. He could make them acknowledge that the Western Army had already stepped onto the stage. He should have been able to say that your opponent is still here, you have not yet won.
Father Sancour returned to Malfa and said calmly,
"The negotiations did not succeed. They were terminated."
Upon hearing the details, it seemed he had not even presented the plan to have Princess Lucy participate in the negotiations.
"Mozu Wolf was excited, and it was a state where there was no room to even approach him."
Clergymen generally do not lie. However, Gilma thought this was a lie. It was something he had felt when speaking with the Bishop of Siddim. The Church wanted Siddim and Kosa to fight a war.
—They expect them to perform a death struggle and protect the Roma Church State.
Gilma believed that was the intention.
Despite that, Father Sancour did not side with Siddim. He pretended to be strictly neutral, and whenever a story that would be advantageous to this side was prepared, he carefully nipped it in the bud and handed it to the opponent. The Roma Church was also a gathering of people. Naturally, they thought of the interests of the organization called the Church. Even so, Father Sancour this time was strange. There was an obvious guidance. It was not completely hidden.
—The Church is no good.
The wish of Yugis Necrat to buy time had been sufficiently granted. If they had entered negotiations, they could have taken time until the snow fell. However, nothing could be done through Father Sancour's mediation.
Gilma sent Father Sancour off without saying anything sarcastic or cynical.
Outside the city, the enemy cavalry were waiting. They would escort Father Sancour to the appropriate place. The Father would spend the winter in a safe place and enjoy the outcome of the matter.
Gilma hoped it would be so. He would show Father Sancour, and the Church, what real work looked like.
Meeting with His Majesty the King, Gilma apologized for this breakdown.
"However, Siddim will exert all its strength and prove its existence to the whole world. I, Rigardie, wish to bring this to a conclusion."
"I shall trust you. Continue to strive."
His Majesty stood up lightly. Holding his khakkhara, he gently patted Gilma around the shoulder. Accepting this in a kneeling posture, Gilma trembled. He felt a power more certain than the miraculous techniques Father Sancour was said to possess flow into his body.
The commander of the Western Army, whom Mozu Wolf had suspected as "bandits," had a slender ceremonial sword gifted from Bolsa City tucked into his waist and was sitting with legs crossed over a chair. Like a mountain bandit, she was tilting a cup of beer, creating a foam mustache, and looking at a map while gorging on meat dishes with her bare hands. It was Lucy Alish.
Hume Razor was at the same table.
The reply from General Hilboro had arrived.
"A dividing encirclement, you see," Hume was explaining to Lucy. "It is when two or more units enter between the main force and the rear. It is a strategy to rip out the enemy's guts."
"I see."
Hume, who had served as Lucy's guard, had taken on the role of providing basic training to new recruits and sending them to the main force. Lucy's guard was being served by skilled individuals Hume had scouted.
However, even Hume had been having too much free time these past few days.
Since the news arrived that peace negotiations would begin, Lucy had suspended her recruitment speeches. The joining of new recruits had stopped.
According to Dash, the Kosa Army did not seriously desire peace. However, Lucy did not want to buy unnecessary antipathy. With the matter of Slay City in mind, she restrained herself from moving flashily. Lucy's party was resting their wings in a certain village within the Delroy territory. The two of them were in a room of the mansion of the knight who ruled this village.
The overall operational policy shown by Glen Hilboro was mostly understood thanks to Hume Razor. However, it was hard to evaluate. He had no idea whether it was a well-made plan or not.
"What do you think?"
After washing the grease of the meat dishes from her fingers in a washbasin, Lucy asked Hume.
"First of all, it's first-class, I suppose," Hume answered. "It's not a safe strategy. General Hilboro is trying to be bold. However, it doesn't have enough unexpectedness to be called a surprise attack. If it were Yugis, he might propose a different plan. That fellow is enamored with the Kosa Army's way of war."
"Do you have an opinion regarding the treatment of that Yugis Necrat?"
In the letter, Hilboro had also proposed military personnel assignments.
According to that, Lucy would become the Commander-in-Chief of the "Siddim Army." Hilboro seemed unable to decide only on Yugis's placement. It was written, "Regarding Yugis Necrat, I leave it to the discretion of the Commander-in-Chief."
"Just make him the princess's lieutenant. Otherwise, make him a private. It's one or the other."
"I cannot make him a private."
"I suppose so. Among those I know, Yugis is the only one who can say from the bottom of his heart that we can win against the Kosa Army. Oh, there was Ness de Syllabus. But that fellow—"
"I am here as well."
"Then there are surprisingly many."
"In any case, it is necessary for Yugis to be in a position where he can take responsibility for those statements."
Lucy suddenly looked at Hume's cup. Beer remained brimming, scattering foam.
"Is your physical condition poor?"
"Me? No way," Hume noticed Lucy's gaze. "No, this is..."
The swordsman, whose sideburns had turned white, threw the contents of the cup onto the floor.
Lucy did not reprimand that rudeness. "Are you abstaining from alcohol?"
"Since the war is finally beginning."
"How admirable. I thought you would fight while drunk."
Hume looked aside. Just as she thought he had taken offense, he suddenly turned back and became formal. "Princess, please give up being the Commander-in-Chief."
"...Why?"
"I am not a knight, just a man. Even so, I know that you should not proceed further. You cannot go beyond this. The princess has sufficiently fulfilled her duty."
"My duty is until we win."
"I don't know how to put it... I can hear a growl. The growl of Siddim. The parts you touched, the parts of this country you touched wherever you went, are awakening and crying out. Can you not hear the precursor that something ferocious is about to awaken?"
"That growl sounds reliable to me."
"That thing is something no one can handle."
"I am happy that someone like you, who says such things, is close to me. Come to think of it, I am a lucky person. In the royal palace, there was Krisina, and in the convent, there was the nun Sheri, who was my roommate. If Sheri saw me now, she would worry. Sheri would soothe me, who swore to fight for them, saying that you are merely fighting for yourself."
Lucy drained her cup, emptying the contents.
"But ultimately, it is neither for Sheri nor for myself. It is unrelated. In the face of the fact that if the Kosa people were not here, they would not have died. I happened to be the one who made it turn out this way. There is no way I can run away here. If it is a monster I awakened, I will take care of it until the end."
"Princess, are you drunk?"
"If this isn't water, then I suppose so."
"How troublesome."
Hume stood up, took Lucy's cup, and tried to clear it away along with the beer pitcher. However, that movement stopped.
"Forget it, this is ridiculous," Hume returned to the table. "To abstain from alcohol when given the opportunity to drink with a peerless beauty is wrong. Princess, let us drink our fill."
"Very well. If you say so."
Lucy accepted the alcohol Hume poured.
"I must stand on the battlefield. That is the contract with the people who responded to my voice."
"Then it can't be helped. I shall protect the princess. Even so..." the swordsman said with a poignant face. "That a filthy man like me should have such an honor—"
"Dirt on a person," Lucy interrupted. "Can become the past after one night. Or by taking a bath."
"What a spirited princess."
"You are too; you are spirited as well. I am not His Majesty, so I have no land to give. Therefore, I will praise you."
"I am grateful. I shall offer a piece of advice. Princess, give up on Yugis Necrat. He is a good guy, but he is not a man who makes women happy."
"He is a lonely man," Lucy said in a good mood. "I want to unravel his obsession. The only ones who can do that are probably me, or perhaps Geraha Wolf. Why did he start this alone?"
"Yugis? He's not alone, he has comrades."
"It is precisely because he has comrades that he looks lonely. Why does he not try to live his own life?"
"Why, because he's fallen in love with the princess, I imagine."
"Ah, I see."
Although she didn't understand the logic, Lucy nodded as it strangely made sense.
Around this time, Nona, Kiara, and Dash arrived. The youth named Kashu Coil, who had brought Hilboro's reply from Delroy port, was also with them.
"You all drink as well," Lucy ordered. "Tomorrow, we depart for the front. Dash, I always put you to trouble, but someone is needed to precede us."
"Heh. In that case, I'll do it." Dash did not seem to mind.
"Your hard work will be known by Yugis along with me. Also, I will write a letter to General Hilboro, but Kashu, you entrust that letter to someone trustworthy and come with me. You will convey General Hilboro's words directly to Yugis."
"Understood," the fat youth said, briskly dropping to one knee.
"I have expectations for your work. Nona, Kiara—"
"We shall also accompany you."
"Please leave the matters of your personal care to us."
The maids spoke one after another.
Lucy shook her head. "I must apologize for dragging you this far for the sake of someone like me, who is not even a princess."
"That is too much, Princess," Kiara said.
"If we weren't here, you wouldn't even be able to change your clothes properly, would you?" Nona said.
The maids sat at the table flanking Lucy and poured alcohol into Lucy's cup.
—Her Highness raised her voice in the plaza where everyone passed by.
—But Her Highness's voice reached, to Siddim, to the people of Siddim.
—We also wish to respond to Her Highness's voice.
As she drank two, three cups, Lucy's voice became tearful. "Thank you, both of you. Thank you."
Lucy stood up intending to thank everyone present, and wanting to go to a higher place, she climbed onto a chair. Since the footing was unstable, she tried to stand on the table, and suddenly remembered.
It was that time. In the great hall, Lucy had once climbed onto a table. She had wanted to soar higher, even higher. She had been forcibly dragged down. Before she knew it, Lucy was inside dark, feverish, black eyes.
The arms that had held Lucy then were no longer there.
However, she was now on a table supported by people. It was as if Yugis had provided the table to apologize for what happened in that hall.
Lucy thought with her drunken head. That might be it; she hadn't known what she wanted to do. She felt that her former self, who was nothing more than a girl, knew the answer.
In the end, like the incomprehensible behavior occasionally shown by those who are dead drunk, Lucy silently stepped down from the chair.
"Tonight, Siddim has become one. I shall not fear that. Those who agree, raise your cups!"
—Cheers!
Everyone present responded.
While drinking, Lucy looked down at the map on the table that had not been cleared away.
Mixed with General Hilboro's letter was a sketch of a beautiful woman's face. She thought she had seen it somewhere, but at that time, Lucy did not think deeply about it.