episode_0041

Twelve strong-looking soldiers stood around a candle burning alone in the center of the desk.

“I feel embarrassed every time I say this slogan.”

A young man of similar age to me smiled and said in response to the words of a man who looked to be in his forties or fifties.

“Hey, brother! But it feels empty not to do it now.”

“As far as I remember, you were the one who hated this slogan the most.”

“You get used to it, so you find out the good points. Isn’t that right, brothers!”

Everyone nodded as if agreeing with the young man’s words.

“Okay, if you guys like it… ”

The man, who looked to be in his forties or fifties, sighed and slammed the desk lightly.

The bright atmosphere surrounding that action cooled down and a serious atmosphere emerged.

“Now, enough joking, what’s the first thing you want to say?”

“First of all, Sarago’s plan has now begun in earnest.”

“What? It’s already started?”

“Yes, according to the reports from the two teams currently inside the palace, they witnessed eight of the nine guards and the princess being dragged away by the guards last night.”

“…It’s my fault for not expecting it. What’s next? ”

“Here’s what we found: a new soldier to fight alongside us.”

“Are you sure!”

“Yes. There are 50 people in total, most of them men in the western slums.”

“It’s a blessing in disguise. Then, is it the East too?”

Unlike the deputy commander who had a hopeful expression on his face, the expression on the man reporting was dark.

“The East… seems hopeless unless he agrees.”

“Yeah, that means… ”

The man, who understood the meaningful expression on the captain’s face, sighed and lowered his head.

“That’s right. I failed to convince you this time too.”

“Has he already given up on me?”

The young man shouted after hearing the captain’s muttering.

“It’s too early to give up, Captain!”

“That’s right. I can’t give up yet.”

“That’s right! Next time, I’ll go and convince you!”

“Ban, it’s good to be passionate, but calm down for now. In war, the cool-headed always wins.”

“Sorry, I’m sorry.”

The face of the class that had been brimming with spirit quickly lowered its head at the squad leader’s words, showing a look of reflection on its own mistakes.

“No. What’s next for Jansro?”

“I think this is probably the most important agenda item among the ones under discussion right now.”

“Yeah. Is that already done?”

Jans nodded, swallowing dry saliva.

“Okay, listen carefully! This guy could be our friend or our enemy.”

““Okay!””

“Then the last item is the guy named Logs Avance that Ilia brought with her. According to Ilia, he is one of the knights chosen to guard the princess who escaped, and among them, he has the most… ambiguous abilities…”

“That’s it?”

“…Unlike the others, I didn’t have any information on this guy. Sorry.“

“No. You did well enough.”

The captain put his hand on his forehead with a serious expression.

“Is it inevitable to feel anxious when there is no information?”

He stared at the map on his desk for a while, deep in thought. The country drawn on the map was Seoljirik.

The country was larger than it appeared, and the royal palace was the largest on the map.

“Ha… I can’t help it. I think the first thing to do now is to convince that guy. What do you think?”

“… I agree.”

“No objection.”

Most of the soldiers nodded reluctantly, sighing and groaning.

But one person thought differently.

“Captain! Honestly, I disagree! Why do we have to carry out a plan with such a creepy looking guy!”

“Don’t be like that, Ban.”

“But didn’t Ilya say that too! Isn’t the ability that Ilya didn’t understand ‘nothing’?”

“Ban. Didn’t I tell you earlier?”

“… No matter what the lieutenant’s opinion is… this is not right.”

“The majority opinion.”

“Captain! So you can trust that guy?”

“… ”

The deputy commander had a hard time answering. That was natural.

There is no information about the man from the next country. He also escaped the palace alone while all the guards were captured.

This story alone is enough to raise doubts.

And the ‘face’ that takes up the largest portion of that suspicion.

He had a dark, wolf-like face that was utterly unreliable. To put it a little negatively, you could say that he had the face of a money-hungry swindler.

I trust that guy.

That takes a lot of courage, though.

“If you’re not going to answer that, why did you bring me here?”

“… ”

The eyes of the men around the desk all turned to one place. There, Logs Avance was sitting, clicking his tongue.

“When did it happen?”

The deputy commander spoke to me with a solemn attitude.

“Um… Sorry, but it’s been a while.”

“Where did you hear that?”

I hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath and spoke.

“We are in this ruined…!”

“Enough. So you heard everything from the beginning?”

“Yes.”

“You bastard!”

“… Are you half?”

“I don’t want to be called by my name by someone like you.”

“Excuse me.”

“I can’t forgive that rude attitude!”

“Then what are you going to do?”

“… !”

I got up from my seat and approached him.

“I heard it all too. You guys are in danger right now?”

“I don’t like you either.”

“I’m sorry about that.”

“Half and… ”

“You can call me Rose.”

“Thank you. So I hope Logs will do the same. As you know, we are short-staffed. We can’t have casualties here.”

“I was not considerate.”

I raised both hands and got away from the van. I bowed my head to the command of the commander of the vanguard who had shown me his will to live. Of course, his anger toward me remained.

‘I can’t help it.’

Because my situation is not good either.

Right now, I have to gain the upper hand even if it means threatening. I know it’s selfish and trashy.

I feel sorry for them. I really do.

But my friends are being held captive over there. I know they aren’t the type of people who would die or give up easily.

They are still academy cadets. It’s inevitable to be worried.

If we just go on like this, there is a risk that they will not cooperate.

Still, the chances of that happening are low.

They know this situation better than I, who just listened to the story and understood it, so they can’t abandon the number of famous academy cadets. Most of them will probably listen if they just cooperate.

And this thought was confirmed when he saw the look on the captain’s face.

dripping.

There was a knock on the door, followed by someone’s voice.

“Captain.”

“Come in.”

A shabby man opened the door and came in to answer his question.

“The prince has returned with his troops.”

“Yeah, tell him that the man just woke up.”

“Okay.”

After hearing the answer, the man quickly disappeared somewhere. Faster than expected?

“Logs.”

“Yes.”

“It is up to the prince, not me, to decide whether to accept you.’

“… Yes?”

Wait a minute. This isn’t what I expected. I already voted earlier!

“You may not understand, but the vote we just took was just to see how many people were in favor.”

‘What are you doing, confusing people!’

Ah, it’s all ruined!!

I cried out in despair and frustration.

Thud thud.

“I see you’re here.”

Squeak…

A rather old and young looking man opened the door to the room.

At the same time.

chuck!

All the soldiers present stood at attention and looked at the prince.

“Are you back, Prince?”

“Okay. Since we don’t have much time, let’s get straight to the point.”

“Okay.”

He stood right in front of me.

“So, is this the guy you were talking about?”

“Yes.”

At the captain’s words, the prince began to observe me. Then he let out a deep sigh.

“… Looks very dangerous.”

‘Please think about that to yourself.’

“I think I heard the story from the deputy commander.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Then let me ask you this straight away. Are you really going to cooperate with us?”

“I’m willing to do it as long as you meet my conditions.”

“Then what can you do for us if we grant that request?”

“… Anything you ask me to do that I can do.”

“So you can defeat the palace guards?”

“I don’t know.”

The prince kept asking me questions, pressuring me. The king and I continued our bickering.

This was the most important point to make in the story.

‘Are you strong?’

I understand.

Right now I have no weapon, no skills, and no privileges.

Of course, in the prince’s eyes, I will just look like a weakling.

The prince was radiating an aura on par with that of the captain.

“Okay, I’ll trust you. So what do you want?”

“If I were to invade the palace, I would want to find my valuables first.”

“… What?”

“Looking for valuables…!”

“No, I understand. But you’re taking troops just to find valuables?”

“Yes.”

“… I’m sorry, but I can’t give you that. But I’ll help you if you capture our target, the king, first.”

“That won’t do.”

“What?”

The prince’s expression distorted. Even I think it is an absurd request.

It might be better to ask them to save your friends instead. But.

If I say that, my request will most likely be granted first. And if my request is rejected and the prince’s plan is carried out first,

It’s uncertain whether I can survive there without any equipment.

The prince and I are still on equal footing.

First of all, you can’t show your weaknesses. That’s why I said it’s a valuable item.

I spoke confidently, with words and actions that said I had nothing to lose.

“Your friends are being held captive, but you still think of your valuables.”

“Friend? What, what’s the big deal about that?”

“… You are the most evil person I’ve ever seen.”

“Ah, there is one thing the prince doesn’t know.”

I approached the king with a smile.

“I’m a famous loser.”