kscans

Chapter 99 - 8-13

The bell tower of the Euryas Convent became a watchtower.First-year, second-year, and third-year students each provided personnel, monitoring the besieging army's movements in three shifts, day and night. The bell had been rung wildly at one point to announce an enemy attack, but now it was only rung at the usual times.The first-year students' assignment was from late night to early morning. Carmilla took charge of the watch. Carmilla appointed Meriza, Moi, and Neeshka as her assistants and compiled the reports."No notable movements."It was during lunch in the dining hall. Carmilla spoke with red-rimmed eyes."As for numbers, about three hundred infantry. They all seem to be light infantry. About fifty cavalry. Looks like the cavalry are all light cavalry too."Lucy looked to Yufi for an explanation."Light infantry and light cavalry are infantry and cavalry with light equipment," Yufi said. "Roughly classified, in a head-on collision on the battlefield, the strongest are the heavily armed heavy cavalry. That's Siddim's cavalry. Next is heavy infantry. Third is light cavalry. That's the Kosa cavalry. Last is light infantry. Those are the soldiers surrounding us.""So, they're not very strong soldiers?" Lucy asked."It's not that simple," Amalfi said. "Following Yufi's example, if we ranked them by speed of movement, light cavalry would be overwhelmingly fast. Next, I'd like to say heavy cavalry, but that's not the case if they're accompanied by shield-bearers or attendants. Third is light infantry, and the slowest is heavy infantry.""So in conclusion, they're weak but fast?" Lucy peered into Amalfi's blue eyes."That's not a conclusion," Chloe said in an exasperated voice. "Carmilla, what do you think the conclusion might be?""The enemy is probably just surrounding us. They might not intend to storm us. At least, not for now.""Very well. I'll convey that to Robin."Robin was the third-year representative. Under Robin's guidance, the nuns of Euryas were facing this crisis.After finishing lunch and standing up, Lucy spoke to Carmilla. "I'll take the watch tonight. You should rest.""Well, that's appreciated, but—""Yufi, would you mind accompanying me? I want you to teach me various things.""With pleasure," the chestnut-haired nun smiled."I'll go too," Amalfi said. "I want to deepen my knowledge by actually observing their equipment.""Lucy, listen to me," Carmilla said, running a hand through her short hair and making a face. "As if I'd let myself be worried about by someone like you. I'll come too.""No, you should rest, Carmilla," Moi approached. "Like Sister Lucy says. I'll take the watch tonight."Carmilla glared at Moi, but finally said, "Alright, only answer Lucy's questions, got it? Make Lucy understand by showing her. Don't teach her from the start."Moi nodded.It seemed she was seen as unexpectedly unreliable, Lucy thought, tilting her head at her own assessment.Night fell, and Lucy climbed the bell tower with Yufi, Amalfi, and Moi.The enemy camp was bright."It's so... beautiful. What is this?"Lucy looked back at Moi.Moi said, "Just what you see. The enemy's tents."Things that could be called large lanterns were lit all over the ground. The enemy's tents were glowing faintly. There must be hearths inside the tents. The light of the hearths, dyed red on the tent fabric, made the cylindrical, round, puffy objects lined up and glowing. It was a fantastical landscape. Like glowing mushrooms had sprouted up overnight."They look quite splendid," Lucy said, narrowing her eyes."In the records of Aframa's invasion, there are articles about the Kosa people's tents," Amalfi said. "From what I can see, they haven't changed since Aframa's time. A foldable lattice framework forms a flexible structure. Curved beams are layered on top, and cloth is draped over them."Indeed, the light inside the tents cast the shadows of the diamond-shaped lattice framework onto the cloth."So they're well-made, right?" Lucy asked Amalfi."That can be said. I think because of the flexible structure, they can withstand the weight of snow and the pressure of wind.""Those diamond-shaped shadows," Yufi said, "look almost uniform.""The frame can be folded like a bellows and carried like a rod."After that, no one spoke for a while.It wasn't a war between a civilized nation and barbarians. A people with a civilization and another people with a different civilization were now facing each other. The sight of the tents floating in the dark night was beautiful. The nuns were captivated by the foreign civilization."But we could make the same thing, right?"Intending to lighten the mood a bit, Lucy asked Moi."Of course, this is Siddim, right?" Moi answered, crossing her arms.Lucy learned about military affairs and the Kosa people from Yufi and Amalfi. There seemed to be a manuscript in the library recording the calamity of the Great King Aframa. Yufi, Rosary, Amalfi, and Colette had been holding study sessions with the senior nuns in charge of academics since around the end of winter.From what she heard, the Kosa people gave the impression of being thoroughgoing realists.--Reason works with the Kosa people.That was said by Sister Marvel, who had once visited Euryas.--There must be a reason they are surrounding us too.Lucy thought.Soon, the morning sun rose.Prima, the former representative of the Prima group, and Colette, the former deputy representative of the Prima group, who seemed to have finished their prayers, climbed the bell tower."Anything interesting happen?" Prima said."I wish I could have shown you the scene tonight," Lucy replied."Then tonight, we'll—" Prima pointed to a part of the ground lit by the morning sun and raised her voice. "Look, over there."Looking, men were running excitedly about something within the enemy camp.One of the men stopped and drew back his arm.He threw a stone. The stone the man threw stretched a black shadow across the ink-blue sky.To her surprise, it hit a flying bird.The bird fell, scattering feathers.The voices of young men, apparently aiming for the landing point, reached the bell tower."I think that's a brown-eared bulbul," Amalfi interjected with an out-of-place comment. "Probably."Lucy felt she had seen a glimpse of what a warrior was. Even with the difference between men and women, nuns also had similar limbs. Lucy vaguely thought that if they wanted to fight, they probably could. Rather, she thought they had no choice but to fight.There was an overwhelming difference in athletic ability between warriors and nuns.Turning to look at Moi, Moi nodded knowingly.--Combat should be avoided.Moi must be trying to say that.It wasn't just nuns living in the Euryas Convent anymore. Elderly people with weak legs and backs had taken refuge. The old people from Fibryl Village. Most of the people of Fibryl Village had evacuated. Only the elderly who couldn't walk long distances remained.Lucy didn't think they were abandoned old people. She thought it was the result of each family's decision after going through their own conflicts."There are some lively old men too."Before the Kosa siege, Carmilla, passing by in the hallway, had slapped Daphne's bottom and said."Be careful not to get touched, Daphne."Daphne let out a little squeak and laughed.Lucy too had been concerned that such things might happen if men came. But the devoutness of the village elders exceeded the nuns' expectations. The nuns were revered and respected like embodiments of perfect faith. Come to think of it, when Lucy was in the palace, she too thought there were no greater people than the women of the convent.Even after the Kosa siege began, the Euryas Convent did not neglect its primary duty of prayer. The early morning prayer began at three in the morning. Some of the elderly from Fibryl Village participated in that late-night prayer. In fact, their numbers were increasing.Prayers like choral prayer, responsive reading, or hymns involved an exchange of voices and had a somewhat theatrical element. Those things must sound comforting. Lucy herself understood, having been a layperson once.Even if they couldn't evacuate by walking long distances, many of the elderly were still physically active.They, men and women, actively helped with various tasks.Handiwork was their forte. Ropes were quickly made into bundles, several sets of clothes were finished, and daily necessities like buckets were newly supplied.That wasn't all."Hey, Lucy. Take a look at this."Lyudmila, a large woman with orange hair, appeared carrying a bow and arrow. She was even wearing a bracer, a leather guard archers wrap around their wrist."Mr. Halon, you know? He was a hunter when he was young, he says. He made it for me.""Can you draw it?" Lucy asked, eyes wide."Yeah. I can. He says he can make a bow that even a woman can draw. He taught me how to use it too."Lyudmila actually nocked an arrow, aimed upward, and drew the bow. The creaking of the bow was so frightening that Lucy took a step back. When the arrow was released, it made a sound like a crack.The arrow hit the upper part of the dining hall wall, bounced off, and fell.Lucy picked up the fallen arrow and stared at it intently. "There's no arrowhead?""That's the difficulty."The arrow Mr. Halon made only had the tip of the arrow shaft, the arrow's main body, sharpened to a point. The fletching wasn't made of bird feathers either, but of thinly shaved wood inserted."Also, the material is different too. Arrow shafts are usually made from hard wood like ash, he says. This one, he apparently just shaved some random lumber. But the bow material is yew, so it's supposedly the real thing... It's usable, right?""It's usable."Struck by a flash of inspiration, Lucy carefully considered her idea."It should be usable," Lucy stared into Lyudmila's eyes. "Let's try shooting an arrow toward the enemy camp.""No, no... right away? Is that okay?""It's fine. We'll see their reaction. I mean—""An arrow letter?"Robin, the third-year representative, showed no expression on her face at Lucy's proposal.She leaned forward with interest while crossing her arms as if to show concern.Lucy told Chloe, Amalfi, and Sheri about her idea of sending an arrow letter to the enemy. Chloe furrowed her well-shaped brows and opposed it until the end. However, she ultimately agreed to Lucy bringing it up at the representative meeting.Though it was called a representative meeting, it was just a standing chat in a corner of the dining hall after breakfast."So, you're sending a letter to the enemy. What's the content?" Robin asked."We can't beg for our lives," Lucy answered. "At the same time, we can't provoke them either.""That's right," Robin said, a glint of amusement flickering in her gray eyes. "And?""In the letter, we first state our beliefs. After that, we ask what their beliefs are. The purpose is threefold."Before being denied, Lucy hurriedly continued."First, to make them understand that we are the same kind of people as them. That we are ordinary people with families and important people. To make them understand that we have personalities. Second, if they reply, we analyze their response to infer the enemy's purpose. Third, to create a foothold for negotiation.""Interesting."Isaberia, the second-year representative, said."So, you're not trying to talk with the enemy to break the current situation?""That's right, we deliberately don't touch on that. In a way, it's small talk. To test the other side.""I'm in favor, I think," Isaberia smiled gracefully with her long eyelashes."I'm opposed," Chloe was stubborn. "They aren't Romite believers. They're different from us. Just as we find them strange, they might find us strange. If that happens, we won't be treated as humans. Forget being recognized as humans. There's even a possibility we'll be thought of as animals, that anything can be done to us.""You're closing off possibilities with an extreme prediction," Lucy appealed to Robin."This isn't a situation where we can act on optimistic predictions," Chloe also said.Robin silently held out her palm. She remained that way for a while, thinking."What language? Which language will you use?""Enagamo, or Siddim language depending on the situation."Lucy answered Robin."Right. Sending a letter means the Euryas Convent is officially issuing a document. That would require the approval of the Euryas representative. I'll leave it to Headmaster Dagsaw's judgment. Do you have a draft?"Lucy answered flusteredly. "No.""Then, there was an outstanding one among the first-years, wasn't there, I recall...""Rosary?" Chloe said."Yes. Have that girl write a draft. Isaberia, have Guinevere supervise Rosary's draft. I'll take it and talk to the Headmaster. Don't hold it against me no matter the outcome. How long will Rosary need?""Well..." Lucy looked at Chloe's profile."By the end of today," Chloe glared back at Lucy."Then, I'll receive the draft tomorrow morning."Robin smiled brightly, turned on her heel, and Isaberia bowed politely before leaving the scene.Lucy and Chloe turned their faces away from each other haughtily and walked off in separate directions.'We ask the people of Kandasyata.We, the people of Roma, act, research, ponder, debate, sometimes fight, sometimes err, but always walk a steady step, advocating that the world should be peaceful. Our parents did so, our grandparents did so, our great-grandparents did the same, rejecting evil and seeking good.We, though young, are those who wish to inherit that will.We ask the people of Kosa.This land is the land of the weak. The land of those whom justice should protect.What do you think, as you ready your vaunted bows?'Headmaster Rene Dagsaw returned Rosary's writing with extensive red ink.'We ask the people of Kandasyata.We seek justice.What does your nation seek?'On a separate sheet that seemed to be a note, it was written, "Faith is insufficient. I order not only the writer but all involved to repent."Rosary didn't make a displeased face at this extensive deletion. On the night the text was returned, Rosary came to Room Nine, where Lucy and Sheri were."I analyzed the Headmaster's corrections with Amalfi, Yufi, and Colette.""I'm grateful. And?""It seems the Headmaster is wary of exchanging unnecessary information. She doesn't want to teach the other side about us. Indeed, if we're probing their reaction, this concise is better. A long, drawn-out letter might have its words twisted.""The Headmaster has given permission to shoot the arrow letter, right? I've been thinking for a while, but—"--Is it really okay to leave that much to mere nuns?Euryas, while strict with discipline, also oddly allows a lot of freedom.Rosary smiled. Despite the situation, Rosary's expression was less rigid than before. She smiled more often."The Euryas representative is a future candidate for convent headmaster. They will eventually run a convent. Headmaster Dagsaw wants the nuns to have all kinds of experiences. Because that is her duty. Even holding that big fuss to elect the representative was to foster independence and let them experience autonomous management.""I see."Smiling cheerfully, Rosary said goodnight and left the room. Watching her go, Lucy turned to Sheri."Sheri, I want to make Chloe and Rosary reconcile.""No good, Lucy," Sheri said hurriedly. "Everyone thinks the same, but they're enduring and watching.""Really?""It's better to leave them alone. Those two, their bond isn't broken. I think they'll find a good relationship themselves in time. Let's watch over them until then?""Okay."If Sheri said so, it must be so. Lucy placed complete trust in Sheri regarding matters like this.A few days later, early morning, after prayers.With their cheeks glowing in the morning sun shining from the direction of Malfa City, Lucy and Chloe stood in the bell tower. Lyudmila, carrying a bow and arrow, was with them too. Carmilla, on watch, greeted the three.Robin and Isaberia climbed the bell tower following Lucy and the others.Robin stared at the large Lyudmila. "Been well?""Yes."Lyudmila stood ramrod straight, as if she had swallowed a pole.Looking, Carmilla was in the same posture."What's this?"Lucy asked in a low voice."She's a senior from the Delacoon Sisterhood," Carmilla said rapidly. "She was terrifyingly scary."The Delacoon Sisterhood was infamous as a breeding ground for delinquent nuns. It was thought of as a den of rough nuns. To have been feared in that Delacoon and risen to representative in Euryas—--Robin is a reliable person.Lucy couldn't help but think."Carmilla," Robin said by the window overlooking the enemy formation. "Come here and explain.""Yes." Carmilla moved to the window with a motion like sliding in headfirst.--Since yesterday, there have been irregularities in the enemy's movements.Carmilla explained. At a fixed time in the morning, the enemy performed formation drills. Lucy had seen this too. Carmilla called the formation drills "men's dancing" and didn't consider them important. She had seen through them as mere demonstrations for the benefit of the watchers."So they've stopped dancing?"Robin looked at Carmilla. Knowing the Delacoon hierarchy now, it could seem intimidating."Yes. Since yesterday morning."According to Carmilla, it was also confirmed that about four tents had been moved to the rear."Understood well," Robin turned her eyes to Lucy. "Lucy, I'll take responsibility. Go ahead and do as you like.""Thank you very much.""Chloe, support Lucy.""I am aware," Chloe said with a composed face."Isaberia.""Yeees."Isaberia had brought a small red flag.She leaned out the window and waved the flag. "Hey, heeey."She called out in a voice too soft for the enemy camp to hear, and eventually, Isaberia turned back to Robin."The enemy soldiers have noticed us.""Very well."Robin crossed her arms and moved a little away from the window. "Lyudmila.""Yes.""You don't have to make them laugh, okay?""Leave it to me. I'll nail it in one shot."Thus, the first arrow letter was released, flying high over the boundary of Euryas.The captain of the company besieging the Euryas Convent was named Jilkito.Despite being from the Kutai tribe, and furthermore from the Tamaisa clan, which had a master-servant relationship with the Wolf clan, he wasn't allowed to participate in the main operations.A man who had fallen from grace for love.Jilkito thought of himself that way.Jilkito knew Geraha Wolf from childhood. They grew up in the same area. Geraha was as ugly as one of the worst creatures in the world. Thinking that thing could speak human language filled Jilkito's young, delicate nerves with something like despair.Still, Jilkito tried to think of Geraha like a spider, a caterpillar, or a snake.Disgusting if you saw it, but you wouldn't go out of your way to step on it. He tried to think he just had to not get close. If it came close, he could curse and drive it away. Even as a child, Jilkito was terrified of Geraha's poisonous ugliness.Among the children sharing the pasture was a stunningly beautiful girl named Kohal.Her mother was a foreign beauty, and her father was also a handsome man. She was their daughter.All the boys were in love with Kohal.That beautiful girl was oddly attentive to Geraha.'Hey, Geraha. Hit me. Come on.' Kohal presented her round cheek to Geraha. 'Hit me. Punch me. Come on.''I won't hit you.'Geraha, back then, was gentle for his size and afraid of hurting anyone.Kohal persistently clung to Geraha.'Fine, you won't hit me. Then I'm hitting you, no complaints, right?'Kohal beat and kicked Geraha to her heart's content. It was merciless, cruel beating.Jilkito often joined in the beating. He abandoned his policy of not getting near Geraha. He liked Kohal and wanted to catch her attention.Whether Geraha had thick skin or strong bones, he seemed to feel no pain or discomfort from the children's violence. He lay face down on the ground with a face that looked like it might yawn at any moment. It was clearly felt that he just wanted it to end quickly.When tired from the assault, Kohal, her sweat glistening, with a refreshed face, would always hug Geraha or lean on him. With a satisfied expression, as if they had finished some act together, she would cling to Geraha, breathing heavily.--I'm jealous.Jealousy, hatred for Geraha, and the stirrings of unknown sexuality mixed together, tormenting the boy. Jilkito began to bully Geraha even when Kohal wasn't around. Geraha was docile and took it. Jilkito didn't understand Geraha, and Kohal's contradictory actions were completely baffling.Now he understands.Kohal just wanted an excuse to make contact with Geraha. She must have been excited by the pleasurable sensation that ran like electricity when touching the opposite sex, even with a child's body. The beautiful girl's figure, her face flushed as if melting, enveloped in Geraha's body odor, the girl surrendering herself to that ugly, poisonous creature-like being, touched Jilkito's sensitive nerves and was seared into them.Now, Jilkito's sexual impulses were darkly and inseparably linked with violence.When the arrow letter from the convent was delivered, Jilkito first filled his nostrils with the scent of women soaked into the paper, becoming intoxicated. Saliva drooled from his chin in a thread. The white naked bodies of the young women supposedly confined in the building before him intertwined and danced wildly in his head, smiling at Jilkito.Jilkito liked women of a girlish age.He intended to bloody the enemy nation's girls with his fists and ravish them thoroughly.The once delicate boy was nowhere to be found; Jilkito had grown into a beast-like man, hairy for a Kosa, with lump-like bulging muscles at every joint. He believed he was being cold-shouldered by Geraha because of his childhood mischief.Jilkito said to a man named Kuwalshi, who had brought the arrow letter."You can write, can't you?""Yes."Kuwalshi was a young man from the Ishma tribe who served the Kosa army with his intellect alone.He was probably a military inspector assigned by Geraha, sent from the main force."Reply to the letter and draw out a pretext for us to attack.""The Great King said just surrounding them and applying pressure is enough.""I've known the Great King since childhood," Jilkito said, wiping drool with his hand. "That person doesn't get angry with me. Don't worry, just surrounding them is unoriginal. Just a little mischief, testing them. The Great King is not one to get angry over mischief. He won't say anything, nothing. He hasn't since we were kids.""--But Captain, the Great King--""The point is, don't kill them. As long as we avoid a situation where we carelessly kill a nun and the numbers don't add up. As long as the nuns are alive, there's no problem no matter what we do.""--Then, how about negotiating for them to open the gates? Attacking would still be disobeying orders.""That's fine too, but they won't open the gates," Jilkito licked his lips. "We'll have to force them open by brute strength."Unexpectedly realizing his own words contained a clever metaphor, Jilkito let out a smile.'There are many people of Roma in Kandasyata.It is an undeniable fact that the Great King Geraha of the Kosa Empire is their protector.The Great King has sent us to protect you.We know of the many instances of nuns being violated by Siddim soldiers.'The Kosa people pointed out in their letter that the Siddim knights, during territorial disputes, had attacked convents and ravished the nuns to their hearts' content. Even if it was from an old era, unfortunately, it was true. The Church keeps detailed records of such incidents.--We are protecting you from that danger.That was the Kosa people's claim."Lucy," Chloe said, reading the enemy's arrow letter. "I want to write this reply.""Well, of course, that's fine, but... how should I say it--"Chloe's eyes sharpened. "Shut up, Lucy. You want to say the person in charge of writing the letter is Rosary, right? I'll get along with her properly."A long reply arrived at the Kosa camp.What happened to the women and children of Siddim during Aframa's invasion. The details of the Kosa soldiers' atrocities were written at length. The previous letter was in Siddim, but this one, perhaps matching our reply, was in Enagamo.Jilkito, rubbing his crotch over his riding trousers, enjoyed the exploits of his predecessors, colored with rape and torture. At the end, it was written: 'The claim of protecting us should be laughed off.'"We've been laughed off. Can we attack now?""No, wait a little longer."Kuwalshi said, prostrating himself.A reply came to the letter that Chloe and Rosary had written, showing their first good teamwork in a while.'To the question of what we seek, we merely answered that we too seek justice. There are no Siddim knights around you, who should need protection. Therefore, we will bear that responsibility.'--Isn't it us who are protecting you from being drawn into war? Admit that first.Lucy thought the enemy was trying to say that.Rosary's point of view was different. At the representative meeting held in the library, Rosary said."The word 'protect' has appeared again. I think the enemy doesn't want to abandon the pretense of protecting us. In other words--""They want to look good, or something?" Isaberia interjected."Exactly," Rosary continued. "They want to look good, precisely towards Kindary, the headquarters of the Roma Church.""What do you mean?" Robin asked."I think the enemy wants the Roma Church to act as a mediator for peace."In the north and west, the Roma Church could be said to be the highest authority. The Kosa people must have analyzed that securing this was crucial. Conversely, Siddim was merely chosen as a stepping stone to negotiate with the Roma Church.Everyone murmured in admiration and looked at Rosary."I see," Robin crossed her arms. "They're trying to curry favor with Kindary to gain an advantage in negotiations."Rosary nodded. "I think they are considering that as one path. However, the possibility of an enemy attack remains high. To the enemy, we are just one of countless hostages. Destroying one or two convents wouldn't matter to them. They could just surround the next convent and threaten Kindary.""So they might abandon the 'good student' path and switch to the 'hostage-taking robber' path of making demands," Isaberia said."Exactly," Rosary said. "If it comes to a massacre of church officials, even Kindary might yield to the Kosa Empire.""Understood well. Lucy, what's next?""Based on Rosary's analysis, I'll try to see if we can deter an enemy attack," Lucy answered Robin. "Once the hostage-taking robber path is chosen, there's no turning back. If it incurs the wrath of His Holiness the Archbishop and 'total resistance' is instructed to each nation, the war will drag on. The enemy should want to maintain the peaceful 'good student' path and keep their options open for later.""So, you're going to guide the enemy onto the 'good student' path?"Chloe answered Robin's question. "Of course, we don't completely trust the enemy. But there are clearly people in the enemy army who understand reason.""Very well. I'll bet on it."Robin uncrossed her arms and looked around at the nuns at the table.However, this bet was a loss for the nuns. No one knew that the enemy could be moved by sexual emotions, a dimension different from the representatives' predictions.On the morning when the draft of the reply to be sent to the enemy, carefully crafted over two nights, was finally about to be shot into the enemy camp, an arrow letter came from the enemy.Tied to the arrow was not just a letter. A bloodstained cloth was bound with thread. Wrapped in the cloth was a severed ear.'Deadline for reply, expired. Ears to hear your words, no more.'It was terrible Enagamo. Yet, what it was trying to say was clearer than ever.A spear stood near the bell tower, which had become a watchtower. Impaled on the spearhead, stuck upright in the ground, was a severed head.Lucy thought that the man who had been responding to the negotiations must be the one whose head that was.Those who place the pleasure of sex as the focus of their lives often adopt an ascetic attitude, anticipating the desires to be released later. But Jilkito's patience was at its limit. If he was feeling this way, the soldiers' arousal must be considerable too, Jilkito thought.After beheading Kuwalshi and displaying his head, Jilkito gathered his soldiers.The light that rising sexual desire lights in the brain is too dazzling. Jilkito's voice, perhaps in its shadow, was quite dark."Bring the nuns to me first. You can do as you like with women other than nuns, but you must kill them. Anyone who kills a nun should consider themselves dead as well. Of course,"Jilkito flared his nostrils."I'll let you all have your fun too."Among the newcomers who had joined for the siege operation, some wore puzzled expressions.But the veterans broke into smiles.I want to give them a good time, Jilkito thought. If he gave them a good time, the soldiers would follow him. He couldn't get too familiar with the soldiers, but Jilkito considered them comrades. More or less, this was what a battlefield was like.A man concerned about the Euryas Convent was in the field of Brazm.Pusiteto.Waiting for an opportunity to defeat the deployed Siddim royal army, he kept his small eyes sharp.An unexpected person visited Pusiteto's tent."Long time no see, Pusiteto."With an unpretentious face, Mozu Wolf appeared abruptly. He had always been thin, but he must have been through hardships; he had become skeletal. Shocked, Pusiteto crawled on his knees to Mozu and took his hand."I swear by the Great Bird God. My, oh my..."He was speechless.Mozu was laughing. "It seems the Great King has headed for Malfa. As fast as ever.""Lord Mozu, you escaped. Good, truly.""There was a woman who rescued me. Pusiteto, I have something to discuss with you. Come in."Soundlessly, a figure slipped in through the curtain. A beautiful woman with short, yellowish hair. She wore enemy army clothes. The woman prostrated herself like a Kosa."She is Kohal, a collateral branch of the Wolf clan. She abandoned her name for the Roma teachings and now calls herself Marvel."Mozu recounted Marvel's history. Though thin, Mozu's voice was vigorous.The achievements of Marvel being recounted were so immense that Pusiteto couldn't believe them immediately. However, he couldn't think they were lies either."I see. In Attaik, we thought Prince Sitris's sudden death was a godsend," Pusiteto muttered in his naturally quiet voice. "Come to think of it, I recently heard the name of the man who kicked the head of Kushitante, the king of Tawaru, in Attaik.""Yugis Necrat. That man is dead.""What."Mozu turned back and exchanged a smile with Marvel."Pusiteto, this woman threw herself into danger solely out of a desire to be useful to the Great King. I want to let her meet the Great King.""I will help. The Great King was concerned about Lord Mozu. I don't know how happy he will be to see Lord Mozu. Even regarding Sinkuk's daughter, if he hears she abandoned her name, the Great King will not dwell on it.""Actually, Pusiteto. There's one more thing," Mozu lowered his voice. "According to Marvel--"--The princess of this country is within reach.She is in a place called the Euryas Convent.Luchentin Alish.Hearing that name, Pusiteto shuddered. His whole body broke out in goosebumps. Uncharacteristically, an ambition to share in this splendid achievement stirred within him.Why, because it was the name of the woman the Great King had said he wanted "as his wife."The core of this country, Siddim, was, after all, the royal family. Conquering the Alish royal family was the key to conquering the north and the west. The Great King intends to marry this girl, Luchentin, and open a new royal house in this country. The completion of the empire depends on that girl. The Kosa army was already besieging a living, breathing political focal point made of flesh and blood."If that story is true, that's incredible."Pusiteto looked at Marvel."There is no mistake," the woman said, speaking for the first time while keeping her head bowed. "If it is a credit, I would like Lord Mozu and Lord Pusiteto to share it."Pusiteto and Mozu looked at each other and nodded.That aside, something nagged at Pusiteto's heart."The one surrounding Euryas is a man named Jilkito--"Marvel raised her face, as if the name was familiar.Jilkito was a man with a bloody aura. His eyes were dark, not refreshing.Pusiteto felt a sense of foreboding."Anyway, let's send a messenger. Kijimute would be good."Pusiteto immediately took up his pen.Soon, Kijimute, the reconnaissance captain of Tawaru, departed from Brazm. Relay stations were already being set up. Kijimute would likely arrive in Malfa City in no more than two days.Great King Geraha would come to see the following letter written by Pusiteto.'Lord Mozu Wolf has returned. He carries a secret. The kingdom's daughter, Luchentin Alish, is in Euryas.'