Chapter 25: Branch Point

“Ha, serve you right for being so stubborn.”

Werhe spoke with a faintly smug expression on her face.

An urgent telegram from Pipiro: a large horde of infected is crossing the Great Plains, heading towards the Shield Tribe.

I thought things had been quiet lately, but it seems they’ve decided to avoid us after a few defeats and are now targeting weaker areas. 

What a strategic move.

“Werhe, watch your words.”

“Didn’t you hear me? Do you know what kind of humiliation I suffered at the Shield Tribe?”

Why aren’t you taking my side? 

Werhe looked at Frennila with resentful eyes, but Frennila didn’t even seem to notice her friend’s gaze.

In fact, it felt like she was paying attention to me instead.

‘Is she being considerate of me?’

What Duke Velot had told me—that Kenneth’s mother, Agnes, was actually from the Shield Tribe.

It wasn’t necessary, but I was grateful that she was being thoughtful.

However, the tribe’s issues aren’t something I should interfere with. If she chooses to act, I’ll follow, but I have no intention of voicing my own opinion.

“It seems the main force of the infected has fully mobilized. If we’re going to help, we need to decide now. Cavalry alone won’t be enough; we’ll need infantry, and that takes time to mobilize.”

“Why should we shed our blood for those who said they don’t need our help? Just leave them be. They’ll figure it out, whether they live or die.”

“Ehi!”

“Ah, no, Nila, do you owe some secret debt to the Shield Tribe? Why do you keep taking their side?”

“…”

Frennila calmly met Werhe’s gaze. 

She wasn’t unaware of her friend’s pain.

But she couldn’t let personal feelings ruin things. 

With a light sigh, Frennila placed her hand on Werhe’s head and spoke her mind.

“I want to take your side, but I can’t. Right now, we need to unite our strength. If the Shield Tribe is wiped out, the frontlines will become even more difficult.”

“…I understand logically, but my heart isn’t in it.”

“I get it. Normally, I wouldn’t have thought of helping either.”

Frennila’s gaze shifted to a glass bottle placed on the table in the tent.

The liquid, processed from golden jasmine petals, shimmered with a radiant, golden light, captivating everyone’s attention.

“…I have a personal debt. One that seems impossible to repay, no matter how hard I try.”

Yes, this is a personal debt.

Even if I can’t be with the Crown Prince, I need to repay this debt.

I don’t think this will be enough to repay the kindness I received from the Empress, but I want to lighten the burden on my heart, even if just a little.

Frennila’s expression, usually devoid of sadness, darkened slightly, and Werhe’s anger seemed to soften a bit.

“Haah, what kind of debt could make you look like that? Ah, whatever! I was just venting. You’re the one who has to make the decision, so do as you please!”

“Thank you, Ehi.”

“So it’s decided then. Let’s prepare.”

With Werhe, who had been vehemently opposed, now changing her stance, preparations for the battle proceeded swiftly.

*

Frennila, Erka, and Svioha decided to lead the main force to aid the Shield Tribe.

Meanwhile, to protect the camp, the non-combatants—me, Rii, and Werhe—were to stay behind.

“Frennila, be careful and come back safely.”

I gently placed my hand on Frennila’s head and ruffled her hair.

Frennila, who seemed to enjoy the touch like a puppy, suddenly remembered her position as the leader and quickly pulled away, her face red.

“Me too!”

Svioha clung to me, asking for the same treatment.

For a moment, Frennila’s eyes flashed, but Werhe quickly stepped in, preventing any issues, and the troops were able to set out without incident.

The camp, which had been bustling, suddenly felt empty with so many people gone.

But for some reason, even after seeing off the main force, Rii and Werhe stayed by my side.

I glanced at Werhe.

“What are you looking at? It’s annoying.”

“Ah, sorry.”

Her sharp tone made me shrink back. 

It felt like I was dealing with a school bully.

“Wow, it’s been a while since I’ve seen the Crown Prince look so intimidated.”

Rii, who seemed to be at odds with me, was also at odds with Werhe. 

It felt like a natural predator-prey relationship.

“The infected are all heading towards the Shield Tribe, so we shouldn’t be attacked here, but just in case, stick close to me. It’s annoying, but it’s my duty.”

“Ah, …thanks?”

Despite her harsh words, she wasn’t a bad person.

In fact, she was a responsible friend who cared more about others than herself. 

When I smiled and thanked her, she turned her head away and quickly headed to a corner.

“I-it’s a bit hot right now, so I’ll stay in the shade. If you’re going anywhere, let me know first, okay? Definitely!”

Is it hot now? 

It’s summer, but being in the north, it’s more cool than hot.

I guess the standards for temperature differ between imperial citizens and northerners.

This time, I turned my gaze to Rii.

“Crown Prince, I requested reinforcements from the Empire since we’re short on manpower, and it seems they’ve arrived in the northern territory.”

“They’re already here? That was fast.”

“They can’t deliver it here, so we’ll have to go pick it up ourselves. Can you spare some people?”

“Sure, I’ll arrange it right away.”

With the main force gone, we’re short on manpower, but it’s unlikely the infected will attack here.

Mobilizing a few people should be fine. 

I asked Werhe, and she quickly prepared a carriage and people to send to the northern territory.

“Um, then, about a week? No, maybe five days. I’ll be back, okay?”

“I know, so just take a week. But you’ll have to work even harder when you get back.”

Rii’s face stiffened, and she broke out in a cold sweat at my words.

This slacker, who always complained about work, suddenly wanting to work hard? 

She probably just wants to relax and have fun in the northern territory.

Given how much she’s suffered because of her constitution, I thought it would be good to give her a break. 

The timing of the medicine’s arrival was perfect.

“Alright, I’ll be back!”

I waved as Rii boarded the carriage. 

With Frennila gone and the troublemaker Rii away, I finally felt a sense of relief.

“Crown Prince, come here.”

Just as I was starting to enjoy the peace, Werhe suddenly called me.

“What is it?”

“Let’s spar.”

“…Spar? Wouldn’t it be better to find someone else? I’ll be knocked out in one hit.”

I thought I’d finally have some peace, but why is she acting like this?

“That’s exactly why. You need to be able to protect yourself. I’ll train you quickly. There’s nothing better than real combat.”

Werhe was serious.

The Crown Prince protecting himself. 

Of course, the Crown Prince wouldn’t be on the frontlines, so the target wasn’t the infected.

It was her friend, Nila.

After confirming in their last spar that Nila’s strength was beyond what she had thought, Werhe was genuinely worried about the Crown Prince’s safety.

She firmly believed Nila would handle it well, but if Nila even slightly misjudged her strength,

Gulp.

The fragile Crown Prince would at least suffer a fracture. 

She needed to toughen him up to feel at ease.

“Ah, alright.”

The Crown Prince didn’t look too happy, but he eventually agreed and followed her.

‘You think this is for me? It’s all for you.’

Werhe, who always strived to be a refined lady, didn’t realize that in this moment, she was acting like an overbearing elder.

“I’ll start with a light hit. Try to dodge.”

Whoosh!

“Ah, is this what you call light?”

Aaaaah!

For several days, the Crown Prince’s screams echoed along the riverbank.

*

I’ve been training with Werhe for about a week now.

“Haah, haah. I think I’m really going to die.”

“Ugh, stop exaggerating. You won’t die from that. Want to bet? See if you die if you keep rolling?”

“…And how would we confirm the result if I actually die?”

Even though Werhe held back, I thought I was going to die on the first day, but after sweating for a few days, I started to feel refreshed.

Werhe handed me a bucket of cool water, and it tasted like honey as I gulped it down.

“Haah, I feel alive.”

“By the way, I’m surprised. I thought Crown Princes were usually good at fighting. Not the best in the empire, but at least second best.”

“Is this some kind of novel? What country are you talking about?”

They don’t even let me spar much because they’re afraid I’ll get hurt.

“Ah, really?”

Werhe sometimes talked about the Crown Prince as if he were some kind of superhuman.

Like, of course the Crown Prince is rich, powerful, good at fighting, and handsome, right?

How many people like that exist in the world? 

I can’t say for sure, but at least I’m not one of them.

As I caught my breath, Werhe, who seemed bored again, started another conversation.

“By the way, Crown Prince, what do you like about Nila that made you confess?”

“Ah, why are you bringing that up now?”

I thought I was getting used to her random conversations, but this one caught me off guard.

“Well, I’m curious. I went to the kingdom recently, and everyone there was terrible. I heard the empire’s negative perception of us is even worse. I want to know what was so good about her that you were willing to endure all that.”

“Well, you see…”

What should I say?

It’s true that my perception and feelings towards Frennila changed as we journeyed together.

But if you asked me if my feelings for her were love, I could say with certainty: no.

So, what do I feel for her now?

“I just didn’t want Frennila to look so sad anymore. Is that enough of an answer?”

“Hmm.”

I asked what you liked about her, and you’re talking about something else. 

But I’ll give you a passing grade!

Werhe laughed and patted my back, then stood up, saying it was time to wrap up.

All we had to do was carry the training tools back.

As we were about to head back to camp with the equipment, a woman came running towards us in a panic.

“It’s an emergency! Werhe, we’re under attack!”

I recognized her. 

It was Latia, one of Frennila’s maids who had followed her to the empire. 

An attack? 

By the infected? 

That doesn’t make sense.

“Are the infected attacking?”

“Not the infected. Monsters. There aren’t many, but their combat power is beyond imagination. They’ll be here soon.”

Not the infected? 

I don’t understand. 

But this isn’t the time to ponder.

“Werhe, let’s hurry back to camp.”

“…No, I don’t think we can.”

Her expression hardened, and following her gaze, I saw a monster charging towards us.

A tiger’s head, a bear’s body, a snake’s tail, and bird’s legs.

A grotesque chimera, as if stitched together from various animals.

Why is such a monster attacking us?

“…Crown Prince, stay behind me.”

There was no time to think.

The distance was closing fast, and Werhe, gripping a training axe, charged forward to strike first rather than wait for the enemy’s attack.