episode_0208

“Yes, my lord. Lunarian Inian is-”

Vanessa opened her mouth with a trembling voice.

“I know. Everything you talk about and what you worry about.”

Karelia raised her hand to stop Vanessa’s words, then spoke with her green eyes resembling deep green.

“She is an outsider. I know that she is one of the feudal lords who voted to run for office on the continent as the monarch of a country, and that there are quite a few people who specifically follow her within our country. But.”

“For someone who has not yet committed the crime of treason, I do not think it is appropriate to demote someone with ability just because ‘there is a high possibility of that happening.’ ”

“It’s not a question of possibility-”

“Sorry, Vanessa. I have no intention of changing my will, so you know that!”

Vanessa closed her mouth, unable to say anything more.

No matter how much he was trusted by Karelia, it was nearly impossible to break the will of her monarch.

Even if it were possible, the authority of Monarch Karelia could be shaken if he continued to express his opinions in front of so many people.

“I remember the look in the eyes of my enemy, Lord Luna, who was about to take refuge. Those clear eyes contained a feeling of concern for all the people of the empire. Isn’t that feeling no different from the ideals of our Karelia army? As long as we share the same ideals, we are on the same side. If I don’t trust her just because she was a feudal lord and has ambitions, then who in our army will trust her? How lonely would it be if you held the position of castle lord without anyone’s trust?”

To Vanessa, who seemed resigned, Karelia responded in a stern tone.

“Vanessa. Jim respects you. Didn’t they actually hand over all military authority to you before the war? I want to trust everyone who works for me as much as you do. What’s strange about trusting them first in order to get them to trust me? Regardless of their background, if they are shedding sweat for our Karelia army, they are all talented people who should be trusted by me.”

“… … .”

“You don’t have to worry. Lord Luna is an honest person. No matter how much authority he has received, he is not the one to cut us in the back in a cowardly way.”

Karelia, who listened quietly to Cecile’s words, nodded and stood up.

“Then, from now on, I will organize the Ohana invasion force with Lord Lunarien as the commander. How many troops can we prepare?”

“… … Excluding the soldiers stationed on the border with Roland’s army and the minimum number of soldiers to defend the capital, it seems that approximately 120,000 people can be organized.”

120,000 people.

It was a large army that Vanessa had created by scraping together as much as she could through several months of grueling conscription.

“I understand. Cecil, please prepare as much support as possible to move the troops.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“And everyone, please keep quiet so that this matter does not leak out.”

It was impossible to prepare for war in this era anyway without being discovered, but there was bound to be a difference between saying something and not doing it.

Gathered were mid-level or higher military officers working in the capital city. There will be no leaks of information.

“”Yes!!””

And, Karelia was on the spot-

He said, extending the sword that was hanging at his side high.

“It will be our Karelia army that will conquer the southern continent! Please join forces for the people of the continent who are suffering under the incompetent empire that was divided due to the misrule of the Eingart family! We can do it!”

All subjects bow their heads in unison to Karelia’s resolute will –

Now, the Karelian army was about to establish itself on the continent.

*

After the emergency meeting hosted by Karelia, in fact Vanessa, ended.

In the throne room, where everyone had left, Karelia spoke to Vanessa, who lowered her head, in a much more subdued tone than before.

“Lift your head up, Vanessa.”

“… … .”

“Are you still angry at Jim?”

“No problem. I don’t think so, my lord. How dare I… … .”

“Aren’t you still unhappy with my decision?”

“… … .”

Looking at Vanessa who lowered her head without answering anything, Karelia burst out laughing as if it was fun.

“Good to be honest, Vanessa. Because you were always honest with me.”

“… … My lord.”

“Vanessa. As I said before, I know what you’re worried about. However, if I, the monarch, cannot trust Lord Luna, then I have no right to see Lord Luna, who is carrying out a task for our military, right?”

“These are difficult times. It is a time when the value of such personal humanity has died.”

“But isn’t that why I came up here because of its value?”

“… … .”

Just as people of similar determination come together –

Next to Karelia, people similar to Karelia gathered.

People who have warm hearts, care for the people of the territory more than anyone else, and are committed to quickly sorting out the chaos in the world and ushering in a peaceful era again.

In a broader sense, Lunarien could also be said to be of the same type as Karelia.

Vanessa too-

Wouldn’t it be because of Karelia’s will that they serve her?

“… … As I said before, I have no intention of breaking the master’s will… … doesn’t exist. I just follow whatever my lord orders. But, one last thing… … There is something I would like to ask you.”

“What is it?”

“Please reduce the number of troops sent from 120,000 to 90,000. When invading Ohana County, 90,000 troops are considered a very large number.”

“… … You will listen to what I say, but in the end, you don’t trust Luna until the end, Vanessa.”

“No shame.”

“… … .”

Karelia nodded slowly.

“I understand. 90,000 would be enough to be active. We plan to deploy as many officers as possible on this side as well. However, I would like you to know that troops can be increased depending on the situation on the battlefield.”

“It’s okay. The fact that troops are being increased will be clear proof that my worries were unfounded.”

Seeing Karelia laughing heartily upon hearing those words, Vanessa bowed her head again.

Even though the monarch he serves said he would trust Runarien… … Vanessa could never believe it as much as she did.

‘I need to be as quiet as possible and prepare what I can.’

In the end, it will only end up as a struggle, but it is something to prepare in case Lunarien gets into a useless state of mind.

There was only so much Vanessa could do under a monarch who was too strong to survive difficult times.

* * *

A few days later, Tepelo Castle.

“Wow, hehe… … Come on, general. Take a break, cool down… … !”

Slurp.

Francis, a handsome blond man with good looks that will surely make many women cry when he grows up, loses his grip on the spear and kneels down, panting.

and-

Tifa, a red-haired female warrior who was so lively compared to him, snorted and said.

“Are you tired already? I told you so! If you practice while feeling the energy in the air, you will recover quickly!”

“That… … So, I’m sorry… … What is that energy in the air that Master is talking about? … I do not know… … .”

“You don’t know? This overflowing energy? Hey, close your eyes and feel it again. You really don’t know?”

“That… … No matter how many times I try, it’s the same.”

Tifa clicked her tongue as she looked at Francis.

“Tsk. Houtae is fine. it’s okay. Then get some rest. Also, I don’t want Luna to criticize me for being rude. I will still be practicing.”

By the time Francis finished Tifa’s hard training, he was looking up at the sky and cooling off his sweat.

“Brother Francis!”

My sister’s voice came from far away.

This voice… … This is Violet, the youngest.

“What’s going on, Violet?”

“Luna is urgently looking for you. Ah, Tifa. Hello.”

“Luna is looking for you?”

“Yes. Tifa too… … He asked me to gather together at the mansion.”

“What’s going on? Hey Francis. Do you have any guess?”

“Yes? Me?”

“Yeah, dude. you. You live with Luna.”

“No, living together means… … .”

Francis answered with a bright blush on his face.

“Well, it’s just under the same mansion… … I’m not sure if I can directly say that we live together like that, but… … . Luna is always busy with castle lord work, so there are many times when I don’t even see her face… … .”

“Ah, it’s really noisy. Please answer me straight. I know, I don’t know?”

“I don’t know. There is no guessing part.”

“Really?”

Tifa said regretfully, putting her weapon behind her back.

“Just a little more… … Something pot! I thought I could do it, but it’s a shame.”

At some point, Tifa began to vaguely notice that there was something different from usual in the air.

I don’t know what it is exactly… … For some reason, I felt like if I could use this, I could take a step forward as a warrior.

‘If I just complete this, I will definitely be able to take revenge properly.’

Tifa never forgot that moment.

Still, Irene Juliet, a red-haired female knight, unilaterally pushed me, who was always confident that there was no one as strong as me.

From the moment she fell to her knees, Tifa was enduring difficult training with only the thought of getting revenge on her.

‘I guess that’s why he’s stronger than Luna… … ? No, no. I think Luna might be a little stronger… … .’

I was lost in thought for a moment, but then I scratched my head.

“Oh, I don’t know. It’s confusing. Hey Violet. Take the lead.”

“Yes, I understand.”

So, Francis and Tifa followed Violet to their de facto home base, the mansion where Luna was staying.