05. What? There

* * *

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aran finally began the campaign.

 

The reckless operation of capturing the enemy’s capital with only 10,000 cavalry began.

 

 

The soldiers all looked at Aran with distrustful eyes.

To do a siege with cavalry, and not even elite troops.

 

But Aran is a Prince.

Everyone had to follow his orders.

 

 

 

 

“Morale is terrible, Your Highness.”

“Well… I guess so.”

 

Even the knights have a tearful look on their faces.

 

 

Aran was also slightly worried, but he still believed in his power.

 

 

‘I can do it. Ballistae are mana-evaporation type technology anyway. But if I have infinite mana…!’

 

 

If he secured enough time, he would be able to break through the enemy’s shields and destroy the walls.

And once inside the castle, Aran and the knights could run wild, and the cavalry could run amok.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Countess, Your Highness! The enemy has crossed the border!”

 

 

Trua.

It’s a region above Loana and next to Cora.

For Aran, it was a gateway he had to pass.

 

 

Most of the troops were sent to support Persia’s attack on Cora.

That was the situation in all the castles in Trua.

The troops stationed there were at most about 1,000.

 

Most of them were regular soldiers.

 

 

In one of those castles, a soldier rushed up and reported.

 

 

“Enemies? How many are there!”

“It is estimated to be about 10,000!”

“10,000… 10,000…”

 

There were a total of 2,000 troops in this castle. If you combine all the troops from the other castles, it seemed like there would be about 8,000.

 

“Where do you think they’re headed?”

“It seemed like they were heading to the capital.”

“The capital…”

 

 

There are 30,000 troops in the capital under the direct command of the King.

You need at least three times the number of troops to lay siege, but 10,000 is only a third. It would probably be difficult to capture the capital.

 

 

But you can also think differently.

 

 

“If they pretend to go to the capital and then turn to Cora, things will get complicated. Send a messenger to each castle immediately to gather the troops!”

“But, but the enemy’s troops were all knights and cavalry! In a battle on the plains…”

“What? All cavalry?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm…”

 

 

All cavalry.

This makes the situation even more complicated.

 

8,000 infantry against 10,000 cavalry are just obstacles to slow them down.

Even 30,000 infantry would have a hard time stopping 10,000 cavalry.

 

 

She thought deeply.

 

 

If she gathered the troops to stop the enemy, the troops would be annihilated, but if she just let them go, it would hurt whether they went to Cora or the capital.

 

 

“What if we only respond with archers? If we take a hit-and-run tactic as guerrillas, we can slow down their speed.”

 

The adjutant next to her offered an opinion.

 

 

“Aren’t they cavalry? Their location will be easily detected, and if they are the main force of the cavalry, they will be easily caught.”

“But we can’t just stand still!”

 

 

To be so afraid of being attacked by the enemy that they just watch them pass. It’s absurd.

 

 

 

She thought about it over and over again and finally came to a conclusion.

 

 

“Send a messenger to the capital and Cora. Tell them to be careful because 10,000 enemy cavalry may be heading there. We’ll stay in the castle.”

“Your Highness!”

“The enemy is cavalry! Even if all 8,000 troops left in Trua rushed in, they would only be meaninglessly wiped out. But the capital is different. It is impossible to lay siege with only cavalry! Even if we don’t stop them, the capital will not be captured.”

“But, but… how can we as soldiers…”

“Sometimes this kind of choice is necessary. We are already outnumbered, and if 8,000 troops die here, the situation will only get worse.”

“……..”

 

 

It was hard to accept emotionally, but there was some logic to it.

 

“…I understand.”

 

 

In the end, all the castles in Trua locked their doors and did not come out.

 

 

Thanks to this, Aran was excited.

He broke through the Trua region in just one day without any interference.

 

 

 

 

 

 

“That’s why you brought only cavalry! And sent a large army as a feint!”

 

Hancock exclaimed.

 

At first, she didn’t understand what Aran’s intentions were, but after seeing it, she thought she knew.

 

 

“Th..that’s right?”

 

 

Of course, that’s not what Aran was aiming for.

He just chose the cavalry that was fast.

 

 

“If there are 10,000 cavalry, Srodia, which already has a shortage of troops, can’t come out of the castle! Especially if they have sent support to Cora!

That’s why you used 200,000 troops as a feint to force them to send support to Cora!”

“Ha..haha…”

 

It’s easy to be a fool.

 

“Ah, anyway, according to the map, the capital is half a day away. Let’s rest a little since there’s not much left.”

“Finally! The soldiers will be happy.”

“Everyone rest!”

 

 

The soldiers got off their horses with happy faces.

 

“Your Highness, there seems to be a river nearby. How about letting them take turns showering?”

“Shower? But haven’t all the cavalry been given Clean Badges?”

“That’s good too, but it feels different from pouring water directly. If we prepare meals in three shifts, we can probably start the campaign again in about two hours.”

“Hmm…”

 

 

Aran pondered for a moment.

If it’s just 2 hours, it’s not a big problem, but if it’s 2 hours from now, it will be night. Then we have to camp, and if information goes to the capital in the meantime, they might notice that it’s a feint.

 

 

“Ho ho. I know what Your Highness is worried about.”

“Really? Then what should I do?”

“It’s simple.”

“Simple?”

 

 

Hancock was confident for some reason.

 

 

“Your Highness is a Prince. Just push forward with confidence.”

“Countess…”

“No one will ever be able to find fault with Your Highness.”

 

To believe in him like this.

Aran was newly moved.

 

 

“Thank you, Countess. I believe in…”

“Above all, if you could catch his eye and become a Princess Consort, it would be a blessing.”

“…Huh?”

“Huh?”

“?”

“?”

 

Their question marks crossed.

 

 

“…I’m just asking, but what kind of worries do you think I have, Countess?”

“Well… you want to see the fresh, green, and shapely soldiers showering, but as a Prince, you’re worried about your reputation, so you’re wondering how to enjoy it without damaging your reputation, right?”

“….”

 

 

She was convinced.

 

 

Yeah. Who should I trust?

The woman in front of me is a perverted idiot.

 

 

Aran shook his head.

 

 

“What do you think of me, Countess?”

“Well…”

“No, don’t say it. I can roughly guess what you’re going to say.”

“Demon…”

“I told you not to say it.”

“…Then what are you worried about?”

 

She asked as if it was unexpected.

 

 

“If it’s 2 hours from now, it’s night. When it’s night,”

“Ah!”

 

A look as if she understood.

 

 

“Did you understand?”

“Yes. I understand. There’s no problem with that.”

“Why?”

“I’m a professional in that area.”

“?”

“Wow. Your Highness is really amazing. You can truly be called the representative of men. Even most women can’t imagine it.”

“…What are you thinking?”

 

If you’ve learned the basics, you can think about it enough.

 

“You’re worried that it will be night in 2 hours, and if it’s night, you’ll have to spend time here, right?”

“Oh… that’s right. What’s wrong with you?”

“Ho ho. I’m a chaste woman.”

 

She proudly stuck out her chest.

The beautifully made cleavage came into view.

 

 

“Originally, you have to go back when you’re in a hurry. Don’t worry about that and get some rest. Wouldn’t it be good for the soldiers to rest to improve their combat power? Some of them will have a hard time, though.”

“Hmm… I guess so? We’ve been running until now… the capital is right in front of us anyway.”

“Then I’ll give the order!”

 

Hancock gestured to the knight to give the order, and when the order was delivered, the soldiers were noticeably happy.

 

 

“Your Highness, would you like to take a shower too?”

“Hmm… should I?”

“I’ll try my best to peep.”

“Don’t do it.”

“I guess Your Highness hates me. That’s a very fortunate… no, unfortunate thing.”

 

Hancock hurries away.

She still seemed to be thinking about that incident.

 

 

Aran was a little taken aback by her unpredictable character, but soon went to the river, thinking that’s just how she is.

 

 

 

.

.

.

 

 

 

 

“Did you call, Countess, Your Highness?”

“Good. Is everyone here?”

“Yes. I’ve gathered 10 people out of a total of 100 knights and brought them here.”

 

 

Behind her, who raised a salute, were knights with nervous expressions.

The number is 10.

 

“So including you, there are 11. Good. That should be enough.”

 

Hancock made a serious and heavy expression.

 

 

“As you know, we’ve had a hard march. We’ve been riding horses for a whole day, so the fatigue must be immense.”

“No! We’re not tired!”

“No. You’re tired.”

“…Yes. We’re tired.”

 

When she cut it off like a sweet potato, the knights reluctantly agreed.

It was actually hard.

 

 

“If we women are this tired, how much more tired must His Highness be? Despite being a man, he burned his body for the operation.”

 

The knights had hot eyes.

The battlefield is a forbidden area for men, but Aran has already made achievements and showed his passion.

 

 

 

“Now, knights must also relieve the fatigue of their lord. If the lord is a woman, it would be very difficult, but fortunately, His Highness is not a woman. It would be a simple task for a chaste woman.”

“…Yes?”

“Think about it. In two hours, it will be night. When it’s night, we have to build a military camp and camp. Right?”

“Th…that’s right.”

“And His Highness is a man. Men can never have a comfortable night without a woman! That’s why His Highness was very worried.”

“Ah!”

“Although it’s temporary, he is our lord! As knights and nobles, we must relieve our lord’s fatigue and worries!”

“That’s right!”

“That’s right! With the spirit of chivalry and the spirit of noblesse oblige, we must serve His Highness tonight!”

 

 

It was like the revival of a new religion.

A strange heat came from them.

 

 

“So, the 11 of us will serve His Highness?”

“That’s right. And I’ll also help. From 11 meters away.”

“…Why 11 meters away?”

 

Hancock looked at the distant mountains.

 

“Because his level is so high that a woman like me can never get close to him.”

“…Yes?”

“Anyway, gather here again in 2 hours. Clean yourselves from head to toe in the meantime!”

“Yes!”