WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS

Translator: Abood

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◈ Friedrich's Battlefield

Chapter 99: The Stirring Invaders (2)

"It has been a long time since we’ve had such a decisive undertaking. I can hardly wait for winter to end, Emmanuel."

Watching Cecilia depart, Childebert turned to his younger brother.

"Indeed, Brother. Based on Countess Fargiere’s excellent plan, we have prepared with the utmost care. Victory is all but certain."

"Yes. And with it, our kingdom’s territory will grow yet again. Once we conquer the Kingdom of Novakia, and then the Kingdom of Edelstein, the whole of the western continent will belong to us. 

Our realm will at last stand equal to the ancient Kingdom of Lutetia… and when that time comes, our next target will be the central lands of the continent."

A feral grin twisted Childebert’s face.

"The Rigald Empire is a formidable foe, but if we ally with the eastern Kingdom of Shival, victory will be within reach. We will seize as much territory as possible to secure the upper hand, and then strike down the Kingdom of Shival as well, bringing it under our control… 

Once we have advanced that far, there will be no nation left to oppose us. The whole of the Ludna Continent will fall into the hands of the royal house of Arelia. I will be the first king to achieve the great feat of unifying the continent."

"…Yes. You, Brother, are the only one on this continent capable of accomplishing such a great feat."

So that the sorrow in his heart would not be noticed, Emmanuel made sure to keep his expression unchanged as he spoke.

"I will keep moving forward. I will continue to win as a strong king. There is no other path… I will inherit the path of conquest that Father began, and go even further than he did. I alone will do this."

His fist clenched tightly atop the round table, Childebert looked down toward his hand. Though in truth, his eyes were fixed on nothing at all. Seeing his brother in such a precarious state, Emmanuel’s face grew ever so slightly tinged with sadness, yet he remained silent.

There was nothing he could say. Nothing he could deny. Nothing he could use to dissuade him. His brother, himself, the royal house of Arelia, they could no longer stop. And it was precisely because Emmanuel knew that, that he held his tongue.

・・・・・・

In a chamber of the royal castle to which he had been summoned, Ivar Velec simply sat and waited.

He had not even been told what he was waiting for. All he knew was that, following the orders of his employer, King Childebert of Arelia, he had come to the castle, been shown to this room by a court official, and taken a seat while remaining silent ever since.

From the fact that another chair sat opposite him across the table, he could guess that this was to be a meeting with someone. But who that someone might be, and what they would discuss, was beyond him.

“…Captain. You don’t think we’re here to be punished, do you?”

The one to speak from behind Ivar was Acht, his young lieutenant. He had brought the boy along as an attendant, both to train him for the day he would inherit Ivar’s position and to broaden his experience. It seemed the oppressive silence of the opulent room was wearing on him.

“That attack on the imperial ambassador’s family ended the way it did. What if His Majesty has had a change of heart and is now going to demand we pay the price for failing…?”

“Don’t talk nonsense. His Majesty is not the kind of man to say such a thing after the fact.”

Ivar brushed aside Acht’s uneasy words with a curt dismissal.

It was not born of loyalty or trust toward Childebert. Ivar did not know his employer well enough to believe in him unconditionally.

It was purely a statement made for self-preservation. This was the royal family’s castle, it would be no surprise if a hidden chamber lay beyond the wall of a reception room. 

Whether the royal house of Arelia would bother going to such lengths for men of their standing was uncertain, but it was entirely possible that someone was concealed beyond the wall, listening to their conversation to gauge their loyalty, or perhaps to catch any remark that might be deemed treasonous.

Ivar was not without the same unease that Acht harbored.

Their mission in the Kingdom of Edelstein had ended in disaster. The raids along the roads and in the villages had failed. 

Even the large-scale pursuit Ivar personally commanded had been thwarted by the enemy’s bizarre tactics, preventing them from achieving their objective, instead ending with heavy losses on their side.

Of the hundred men who had infiltrated enemy territory, only fifty-six had managed to return alive. There had been not only the dead, but many wounded whom they could not bring back. Some had to be left on the battlefield; others succumbed to exhaustion on the journey home.

When they returned to the capital and were granted audience with Childebert, no reprimand came. 

The king had shown little concern for the failure to abduct or kill the imperial ambassador and his family. After all, that had only been a secondary objective. 

In fact, he had even said words that could be taken as praise, claiming that their performance had proven their abilities sufficient.

And yet, after such a blunder, it was hard to believe he truly saw them as valuable pieces to be used. Being summoned again so soon after submitting their report upon return, it was impossible not to imagine the worst.

At that moment, Ivar and Acht’s sharp ears caught the sound of footsteps in the hallway. Both turned toward the door, noting how the steps stopped just outside.

Without so much as a knock, the door opened. But having already sensed the approach, neither man was surprised. Ivar rose to his feet, and Acht straightened his posture once more to greet whoever was entering.

The one who stepped inside was a young female officer. At her side stood a knight who appeared to be her adjutant. From the decorations and insignia on her uniform, it was immediately clear that she held a very high rank within the military.

"You are the leader of the Velec Mercenary Corps?"

"Yes, ma’am. I am Ivar Velec." 

Ivar replied, giving a salute in the western continental style to the officer who had addressed him.

"I am Cecilia Fargiere, head of House Fargiere. His Majesty has entrusted me with command of the current invasion of the Kingdom of Novakia. I look forward to working with you… But for now, let us sit. Make yourself comfortable."

After offering a light return salute, officer Cecilia spoke these words and took her seat. Her adjutant knight remained behind her like a shadow.

Following her lead, Ivar sat down as well, facing her directly.

She struck him as an enigmatic figure. Behind her gentle smile, he could sense a faintly distorted nature.

"I appreciate you coming here today. I was the one who asked His Majesty to have you summoned."

"No, such an apology would be far too much, my lady. I am well aware of the name and distinguished achievements of Countess Fargiere. It is truly an honor to meet you."

Ivar kept his expression carefully neutral, giving a safe and measured reply.

He had only learned Cecilia’s name after coming to the capital. The talk was that she was once a commander from the foreign land of the Loire region, now a brilliant young strategist who had pledged firm loyalty to the royal house of Arelia.

"Haha, I’m glad to hear such words. But I too am honored to meet you like this. I’ve heard of your work in the recent war against the Kingdom of Edelstein."

At that, Ivar’s expression grew slightly grim.

"Oh? You don’t seem too pleased to have that brought up… I suppose you and your men aren’t satisfied with the outcome. I understand the feeling, but there’s no need to dwell on failing to finish off the imperial ambassador’s family. 

The moment your capabilities were confirmed, that operation was already a success. I imagine His Majesty told you the same, and that wasn’t meant as mere comfort. Those words came from his genuine belief."

“......”

Cecilia didn’t seem to be speaking in falsehood or sarcasm, but Ivar hesitated over how to respond. Seeing this, she let out a small, amused breath before continuing.

"Attacking an important figure inside enemy territory is always a mission where luck plays a part. And when the imperial ambassador behaved so erratically, it’s only natural that confusion made it impossible to carry out the plan as intended. That’s not what matters. 

The real point is your skill as jaegers, the ability to cross mountains and forests, infiltrate enemy territory with ease, and operate for days with only minimal equipment. The fact that you proved that is what’s important… Now then, let’s move on to the main matter."

At that moment, Cecilia’s slightly insincere smile shifted into one filled with genuine heat.

"In the spring, a major offensive will be launched against the Kingdom of Novakia. In that battle, I want you and your men to play an important role, one that cannot be accomplished without your particular skills. 

If you feel the outcome of the last campaign was a stain on your honor, then I want you to reclaim that honor through your contribution in the next one. If you do, His Majesty will without doubt see to it that your achievements are rewarded."

"…To be granted such an opportunity is more than we could hope for. We are but mercenaries. If it is the command of our employer, His Majesty Childebert, we will fulfill whatever role is required of us."

Ivar’s reply was solemn.

In truth, it was his genuine feeling. In their current position, without victory there was no future for them. Without military achievements, there was no way to give his people a future worth hoping for. 

The only reason he still lived was to secure that future for the surviving Velec clansmen who had made it this far. Nothing else mattered. To be given another battlefield and the chance to win glory was something to be grateful for.

"Such commendable words. I find them very reassuring… I’m afraid I can’t yet reveal the full details of the offensive, but there is something I want you to begin preparing for little by little this winter. 

I’ll be returning to the border region with Novakia in a few days, when I do, I want you to choose around twenty of your very best men and place them under my charge."

"Understood. Then I will select twenty of our finest and personally lead them in accompanying you, my lady."

Last time, for political reasons, he had entrusted field command to Acht, and the result had been bitter defeat. As a hired soldier, he could not allow himself to fail twice in a row. This time, the mission given to him had to be accomplished without fail.

If he could not achieve it, then there would be no meaning to having left his distant homeland and coming all this way. All the years he had borne the heavy burden of fulfilling the role passed down from the leaders of his tribe would count for nothing.

It was with that resolve that Ivar spoke, prompting Cecilia to raise one eyebrow.

"I see, so you yourself will take the field, Captain. That’s good to hear on our side as well. Then I’ll be counting on you from here on, Ivar Velec."

Ivar answered with a bow, then stood to see her off as Cecilia, accompanied by her adjutant, departed the room.

To the end, she remained an inscrutable figure. And yet, within those crimson eyes burned a fierce will to fight. When she spoke of battle, there was a raw, unmistakable emotion there. A flame red as blood, roiling in her gaze.

He found that he did not dislike it. Between Childebert, Robert, and now Cecilia, this country seemed to have no shortage of interesting commanders.

・・・・・・

“…wait for me, Count Hosenfeld.”

As she walked down the corridors of the royal castle, Cecilia murmured to herself. Even if he heard her voice, knight Celestan at her side said nothing.

“I will bring you down. I will do it with my own strategy. Until then, wait for me.”

With a gentle smile touched by something almost ecstatic, Cecilia thought of the man who had destroyed her family.

The great offensive that would begin in the spring, the conquest of the Kingdom of Novakia. Beyond that, she already had a plan prepared for the invasion of the Kingdom of Edelstein.

The day when Cecilia’s long-cherished wish would be fulfilled was surely not far away.

Footnotes: 

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