episode_0204

I slowly blinked my eyes as I stared at the forest visible in the distance from the castle wall near the castle gate.

I don’t know why, but thanks to the sudden movement of the knights directly under the royal family called the White Lion Knights, they were able to suppress the rebellion rising from the back alleys of the royal capital early on and use that as an excuse to close the castle gate… … .

My heart was not at peace at all for having prevented the rebellion, despite the words of my friends who helped me out by asking how they knew, and even the words of gratitude from people who said that thanks to them, I had not suffered too much damage.

“Seria, why are you doing this here? Since you’ve done one big thing, you can take a day off today. I’m just waiting for the main character to appear over there.”

“Ugh, I’m fine. Actually, it’s nice to be noisy, but it’s a bit burdensome to be in a place with so many people… … .”

Actually, it’s not that it’s burdensome, it’s just that it reminds me of the banquet Charlotte held… … . There’s no need to bring up that story now.

I said that and smiled slightly. Then he sighed and shrugged his shoulders.

“Well, okay. Everyone has their own likes and dislikes, so don’t force it. so? What were you looking for?”

“Ahaha. I wasn’t looking for anything, I just… … . I was just getting some fresh air and looking at the scenery.”

As I said that, I took my eyes off Lamina and looked ahead.

From the open plains and forests that fill the ridges, to Mount Bneron towering in the direction of the sunrise, and to the mountain ranges that protect its sides.

“Of course, the view from here is amazing.”

As Ramina said, it was a truly beautiful scenery. However, beyond that forest. Or when you think of the rebels that lie beyond… … . The only problem is that this scenery does not look all that beautiful.

As I was looking in the direction of the forest without saying a word, Lamina came next to me and said.

“You were watching because you didn’t know when the rebels would attack.”

I was momentarily speechless at the question that came at me without warning, but I smiled bitterly and nodded at Lamina’s words, which seemed to be certain.

“… … huh. I guess so. Although we suppressed it before anything serious happened in the capital, it did not stop the entire rebel army.”

“But that doesn’t mean you can suffer while dealing with an enemy that may come at any moment. You know that. Too much tension can only have negative effects.”

Looking at Ramina frowning and talking, I smiled mischievously and said something else.

“Are you worried now?”

“You don’t look worried? I haven’t slept for days, I haven’t eaten properly, and I have a mountain of unnecessary worries, so I take headache medication. Is there anyone who wouldn’t be worried about that? You don’t know what you look like right now, do you? You look like you’re about to die, you know that!?”

I thought it would end with a short shout, but as soon as Ramina finished speaking, she took a deep breath and realized at that moment.

Ah, I touched it wrong. But the moment I came to that realization, it was already one step too late.

“What did I say to you? I told him that if he wasn’t going to sleep, he should at least eat something. But what? Do you have no appetite? So, do you take headache medicine on an empty stomach? You’re really making me sick!! Just like you, my father collapsed while working, so I personally carried him to the doctor’s office. Do you know that you are also walking the same path now? Is it because you want to piggyback on me!? Then say yes, don’t protest while crying, you idiot!!”

“Ahaha… … .”

“Don’t just laugh and pass it off, listen straight! From the first time I saw you, I thought you had an easy-going personality. But lately, I’m not sure if he’s really dull or if he’s doing it on purpose――”

The words he threw out were quite strong in tone, but I felt the warmth contained in that strong tone and kept my mouth shut as memories of the past rose up like smoke.

Even when I wasn’t Seria, I had a friend like Ramina. My friend happened to be sharing the same hospital room with me, and he always nagged me whenever he saw me… … .

“I was thinking about something else again!”

―Are you listening correctly!?

I widened my eyes at the sound of my friend’s voice, which I heard only for a moment, and smiled at Lamina’s frowning face.

It was clearly a simple illusion that I heard my friend’s voice. but… … . I decided to think this way.

Even though I’m in another world, you still care about me.

“Thank you. For your concern.”

“… … Do you think I’ll get away with saying that?”

Seeing Lamina looking at me with a stern face, I felt good and smiled and answered.

“I will eat well from now on. I will take my medicine regularly and sleep well at night.”

But this is not the world you belong in. Because it’s not polite to that person or to you to superimpose yourself on top of another person’s image.

I’ll do better so you don’t have to worry. therefore… … . You don’t have to worry about me anymore.

-fool… … .

I smiled faintly as I watched my friend’s figure, which was visible over the lamina, disappear like a ghost.

“Ha. Since you seem to be reflecting, I’ll just look at you for today.”

“Ehehe, thank you.”

“If you’re thankful, go and eat. Or go to sleep. Don’t lie down right after eating. If you already take stomach medicine and lie down right after eating it――”

“Ah, okay! Well then, I’m going to take a nap!”

I said that and ran towards the stairs leading down to the castle wall, but strangely, I couldn’t hear any footsteps following me.

I stopped for a moment and looked back, and Lamina was standing in place instead of following me.

“Didn’t you come to pick me up?”

“Go first. I’ll just go and see the scenery.”

Lamina waved her hand and said, and I looked at her for a moment, smiled a little, and went down the castle wall.

* * *

As time passes, people gather together. As time goes by, the siege weapons are being completed.

As time passed, the unresolved anger and desire for revenge grew uncontrollable.

Feeling that my nerves were getting sharper as the days passed, I went alone to a deserted place and waited for the day when I could advance to the royal capital.

It was not for the sake of his colleagues, out of consideration, or such trivial reasons, but because he did not want this anger to diminish or become dull by taking out these feelings on non-nobles.

Four days have passed since I started spending time like that.

“… … .”

I sat down on a high rock and blinked as I looked down at the siege engines being finished and the rebels moving around.

As I was looking down and reflecting on the memories of that day, I felt someone from behind me.

“Captain.”

The voice calling me was very familiar. Because it was the voice of a self-proclaimed chief of staff that I had heard every day for the past few weeks.

I turned my head to the side for a moment, then looked forward again and opened my mouth.

“Lauren… … . Was it.”

“Huh, you don’t call me Chief of Staff anymore?”

“Why should I call myself a staff member when I see a guy who calls himself a staff member but can’t come up with a proper plan?”

“Hahaha, it’s quite heartbreaking, but it’s not wrong, so I have nothing to say. Umm… … . Well, I guess it’s okay since I at least remembered the name.”

I grabbed the knife I had put down and stood up.

“If you came here to talk nonsense, go back. Because I have no intention of hanging out.”

“It’s such a useless thing to say. I haven’t even started yet.”

At those words, I closed my mouth and glared at her, and she scratched her cheek and shrugged her shoulders.

“Okay. Sorry, this is a serious story, so don’t glare at me like that. Getting nervous is.”

“Just tell the main point.”

“Marquis Trewen’s troops, who were last to join, lost contact.”

“Is it possible that it was caused by a decrease in magical power?”

She shook her head.

“That’s probably not true. I couldn’t hear it properly because there was interference, but judging by the sound of screaming and the word “mud” in the last communication. I don’t think the loss of contact was due to a magic problem. Maybe a natural disaster… … . Or maybe it was due to an enemy water attack and was swept away by a mudflow.”

“There is only a lake near Marquis Triwen. No matter how much you dig into the ground to create a waterway, you cannot draw enough water to do water work. Above all, if we had such troops, we would have suppressed the rebels a long time ago. And those guys lost contact while they were joining.”

“But the word mud came out.”

“That area is a wide plain area. There was no landslide. If it happened on the way here, it should have rained, but it hasn’t rained recently.”

“If it’s not a natural disaster or an accident, why on earth… … .”

At those words, I shook my head.

“I don’t know. But since they were the ones who started the rebellion, there is no way they would have betrayed them. If something happened on the way here, I’d probably join you later after it’s over.”

“… … is it. Ha, whatever. Since there are close to 500,000 people, it will be processed and arrived quickly.”

Just as I finished speaking, I heard cheers coming from below, and I turned my back and looked down.

Hundreds of technicians and 100,000 personnel were cheering in front of dozens of siege weapons.

“Looks like it’s completed.”

“… … .”

Now it’s time to go. The time has come to release what has been coiled up in my stomach and eating away at me.

I gripped the sheath of the sword I was holding so tightly that it made a sound, and I quietly turned my back.

“Are you going to start? I’ve been working for four days without a single day of rest, so why don’t I let it rest a little?”

“I’ve already delayed too long.”

We are going to the royal road.