Ch.320Chapter 320. Red-Eyed Dragon of the South (8)

“……?”

For a moment, Ginor looked confused, glancing back and forth between Cain and Lunarian with a puzzled expression—

But she spoke in an exceptionally calm tone, looking straight into his eyes.

“My taking the vanguard isn’t simply for maintaining morale.”

“My lord…?”

“I’m merely making the most efficient choice possible. So please reorganize the advance party.”

Ginor slowly studied Lunarian’s expression.

Those weren’t the eyes of someone telling a lie.

Could it be true that Lunarian was indeed the most skilled warrior in the Lunarian army?

He recalled several battles from the rebellion days when she had led from the front.

She had certainly returned safely without any particular difficulty.

Even though a monarch at the front lines should have drawn concentrated attacks from enemies desperate to kill her, she hadn’t received even a scratch.

Since she had always coordinated the battlefield from the rear rather than the front, he had assumed her guards had efficiently protected her when she took the vanguard to boost morale… But was it actually the case that this slender woman was the strongest person in the country?

At that moment.

“My lord. Though you seem to have made up your mind, this old man is concerned about something trivial.”

The voice belonged to Cain.

His sunken eyes were fixed on Lunarian, who kept her lips tightly sealed.

“Seeing you speak so firmly… may I assume you’ve made your resolution?”

“……”

Lunarian remained silent for a moment, then slowly nodded.

“Yes. I am resolved.”

Her voice contained neither hesitation nor trembling.

Her tone conveyed an unwavering determination to march steadily down a single path, sending a shiver through not only Cain but even Ginor, who didn’t fully understand the situation.

“Then it’s fine.”

“Lord Ginor. I ask you once more. Would you please reorganize the roster? We plan to depart within a week.”

Ginor swallowed the questions that threatened to spill from his throat and nodded.

“As you wish, my lord. I will place your name in the vanguard as you desire.”

“Thank you.”

After saying this, Lunarian looked at each of the military officers gathered here—the core talents of the Lunarian army.

“Everyone, please do your best in your respective positions. And Francis and Charlotte, please follow me for a moment. I have something to discuss with you regarding strategy.”

“Ah, yes!”

“Understood.”

* * *

Only after Lunarian had disappeared somewhere with the two, and the members had dispersed—

Ginor was finally able to ask his old friend the question he had been holding back.

“Cain. You know what I want to ask you about.”

“Of course. About our lord, right?”

“You’re quick to understand.”

Cain stroked his beard for a moment, then let out a chuckle.

“Our lord… Lady Lunarian’s martial prowess surpasses anyone I’ve ever met. You know about the legendary spearman of the Al Kaski family, don’t you?”

“Of course I do.”

“Would you believe me if I said she’s equal to the level he showed in his prime?”

“That’s hard to believe. No matter how I look at it, our lord doesn’t fit the image of a warrior.”

Finding his old friend’s serious tone rather amusing, the empty conference room was filled with Cain’s laughter.

“It’s true that she looks like a delicate, ordinary noble maiden. But you know as well as I do that humans are surprisingly influenced by their physical bodies. Even the dimming of wisdom with age can’t be said to have no relation to the weakening of the body. It’s no exaggeration to say that strength of will comes from physical strength.”

“And our lord—Lady Lunarian possesses a stronger will than anyone else. When the country was lost, one might have wondered what would happen, but she ultimately proved herself worthy of being one of the lords.”

So, was he saying she was a strong person in many ways?

“Did you come to serve her because you saw her potential?”

“Haha, potential? If I had an eye for people, the emperor’s crown would be on my head now, not the princess’s. I was just quietly trying to hide myself. I was lucky. I never imagined that as my life’s candle was about to go out, I would serve a ruler who would overturn the world.”

“You still look healthy enough to live another ten years.”

“No. I doubt I’ll last even a year. You still seem robust, Ginor, but as you age, you’ll eventually notice it too. What it feels like to have death’s reaper following behind you. It’s a different sensation from being ill. Food doesn’t go down like it used to, and every time you wake up, you’re overcome with the feeling that you might collapse at any moment.”

“……”

Ginor didn’t add anything.

Humans aged with the passage of time, and everyone eventually faced death.

It wouldn’t be unusual if an elderly person or two suddenly died.

In these times, surviving to old age was itself a miracle.

“We’ve strayed from the topic. Let me get straight to the point. Our lord’s resolution is to stain her hands with blood.”

“Stain her hands with blood?”

“Once war breaks out, killing people is unavoidable. But because of her tender heart, our lord couldn’t completely subdue her enemies despite having such power. Well, I can’t say she never took lives, since leaving enemies bleeding would eventually kill them—but in any case, our lord has been fighting while bearing a self-imposed penalty.”

“That’s hard to believe, and it’s reckless behavior that should never be done on the battlefield, whether as a ruler or a general.”

“Ha ha ha! I think so too. Anyway, she said she’s resolved now. She’s no longer afraid to let her sword taste blood. Probably…”

Cain grinned, tilted his head back, and pointed to the sky with his finger.

“The world will soon learn that the most powerful being on the continent has been hiding its claws all this time.”

* * *

A few days later, the Lunarian army officially dispatched an interception force.

Their marching route was exactly opposite to the route the Rolland army was advancing on.

And finally—they were close enough to see each other’s flags with the naked eye.

“That brown flag…”

“It’s the flag of the Rolland army.”

Charlotte spoke up in response to Lunarian’s words.

“Judging by the fact that they’ve stopped advancing, they seem to have noticed our presence.”

A volatile situation that could erupt at any moment.

“What shall we do? Should we establish a position to the rear?”

Lunarian shook her head without a moment’s hesitation.

“No. We’ll proceed as we are. Charlotte, Francis. Are you ready?”

“Yes!”

“…I will die for my lord on the battlefield if necessary.”

Lunarian smiled slightly at Francis’s words—

“Then, please proceed as I instructed.”

Just as she was about to order the advance.

“…Huh?”

* * *

Rewinding time just slightly—

“My lord! I can see a bright green flag. It’s the flag of the Lunarian army!”

In response to Rolland’s question, the officer standing with him at the vanguard answered.

“What news from the scouts?”

“Yes. It appears that Ruler Lunarian Ineanne herself has taken position at the vanguard! On either side are… young male and female generals, likely Francis von Einhart and Charlotte von Einhart.”

“The flesh and blood left by those imperial dregs who supported that rebel woman.”

Rolland spat on the ground and spoke in an irritated voice.

“They should know their limits in underestimating me. They put green youngsters in the vanguard? When they surely know that I personally came to the front lines?”

“Perhaps they have something they’re confident in?”

“Something they’re confident in?”

“Yes! Perhaps they have another hidden magician… or some kind of mysterious strategy…”

“Those are all ridiculous assumptions, though the very existence of magicians is ridiculous to begin with.”

Our forces had a slight numerical advantage.

Of course, whether we could win was uncertain. The ruler’s reckless appearance was concerning from the start.

“What shall we do?”

“What is there to do? Before engaging in full-scale battle, we should damage the enemy’s morale. Whatever they’re planning, all we can do is fight back, right? Besides, if they really do have another magician, it would be advantageous to fight in a complex, mixed formation.”

“Damage their morale, you say?”

At the officer’s words, Rolland pulled the corner of his mouth up in a smirk.

“I’ll play the role of a life mentor teaching battlefield etiquette to that naive young lady who’s recklessly shown herself.”

“Pardon…?”

Instead of answering the officer, Rolland called out to the scout standing nearby.

“Hey, you!”

“Yes!”

“Go forward and call out to Lunarian Ineanne.”

“Pardon…?”

“Didn’t you hear me? Call out to Lunarian Ineanne. And tell her this.”

Right now—

* * *

“…Huh?”

Lunarian, Charlotte, and Francis saw a soldier wearing armor emblazoned with the enemy’s insignia running toward them.

Judging by his equipment, he wasn’t a combat soldier. His attire was closer to that of a scout.

‘What’s this?’

Their confusion was brief.

Having reached a distance where his voice could be heard if he shouted loudly, he looked at them and called out:

“Lunarian Ineanne! A message from Lord Seta Rolland! He challenges you to a one-on-one duel!”