Chapter 162
The Rebel
Army's Battle ⑤ - A Barrage of Bad News
Translator : PolterGlast
While his comrades
were fighting desperately in Teigoon, Takuhir still knew nothing of it.
Having won the battle
on the eastern border and successfully completed the post-war cleanup, they, along
with the expeditionary force under Margrave Hamish, had left a portion of their
forces as a garrison and were on their way back to the Royal Capital for a
triumphal return.
Their procession
consisted of:
The Royal Knights
Second Corps (Corps Commander Hoffman)
The Royal Knights
Third Corps (Corps Commander Schultz)
Margrave Hamish (a
portion remained at the border)
Reinforcements from
the Eastern Nobles (a portion remained at the border)
Participants from the
Cadet Knights
Accompanying Royal
Command Mages
In addition to these,
there was Baron Solis's army (selected members of the Frontier Knights Fifth
Corps), his subordinate mages, and the prisoners who had ended up following
them (500 longbowmen from the Istoria Imperial Kingdom).
Leaving five thousand
men at the border fortress, the procession of over twenty thousand advanced
slowly and majestically toward the Royal Capital.
And two days after
their departure, Takuhir, advancing in the center of the army, was to meet with
an express messenger from Teigoon.
※
"Excuse me! Where
might I find Baron Solis? I bring an urgent report from Teigoon!"
It was only with this
messenger's arrival that I learned of the disaster that had befallen Teigoon,
of the plague-infected refugees who had poured in from Viscount Hiyorimi's
domain, and of the desperate struggle of my comrades in response.
"When I departed
Teigoon, the number of refugees was increasing daily, but everyone in the
leadership is making their best effort, taking them in and providing
treatment."
Hearing the
messenger's report, I was filled with both gratitude for everyone's response
and a deep sense of apology.
Upon receiving this
report, to be honest, I wanted to bypass the Royal Capital and rush back to my
domain as quickly as possible.
However, while a
single rider could travel freely, the fastest way for an army to march is via
the main highways. That meant we would have to pass through the Royal Capital.
For that reason, we
decided to push ahead of the main triumphal army and hurry our journey to the
capital.
We were pressing on
with a sense of urgency, and just when I thought we were half a day from the
capital, it happened. The highway ahead of us was blocked by soldiers of the Royal
Knights First Corps.
"By the direct
order of His Excellency, Knight Commander Gouras, we cannot allow Baron Solis
to pass! We sent a messenger to His Excellency several hours ago, so please,
please wait here for a short while!"
The commander of the
knights blockading the road requested this of us apologetically.
"...Um, I don't
understand. If that's the case, I'll go and speak to the Knight Commander
directly, so please let us through first."
To be held back
without reason during our own emergency was utterly unacceptable. I somehow
managed to restrain myself from shouting.
"We do not know
the details ourselves. But please, I beg you, wait here!"
After repeating this
futile exchange several times, I finally reached the end of my patience.
"Get out of the
way! I am in a hurry on urgent business. I understand your duty, but I have my
own circumstances.
You followed your
orders and stopped me. But I didn't listen and forced my way through. That will
suffice, won't it?"
"I have been
listening from the side, and this is not something I can accept either. What
kind of behavior is this towards a hero who has protected the country and is
returning in triumph! Such a disrespectful response to the Baron who is in a
hurry, and for no given reason... what on earth is His Excellency, Gouras,
thinking!"
Next to me was someone
even more furious. It was Corps Commander Hoffman, who had been riding ahead
with us.
And so, we reached a
standoff on the highway, a tense situation.
As the standoff
continued with neither side willing to budge, a rider rushing toward us came
into everyone's view.
"Wait! For a
moment, just wait a moment! Baron Solis, this is a grave matter concerning you!
Please, I implore you, listen to what I have to say!"
Seeing Knight
Commander Gouras himself rushing towards us, the commander of the blockade let
out a sigh of relief.
"What is the
meaning of this? For the Knight Commander himself to come, I surmise this is no
ordinary matter..."
Even after Corps
Commander Schultz's words, the panting Knight Commander was still trying to
catch his breath to reply. Had he rushed here in that much of a hurry?
Realizing this, I was enveloped by an indescribable anxiety.
"Indeed it is!
Baron Solis, you must not go to the Royal Capital now! If you go, you will
surely be detained. This will not take long, so first, you should listen to the
message from Lord Klein."
With that, he invited
me, Corps Commander Hoffman, and Corps Commander Schultz to a nearby gazebo.
"A terrible
situation is unfolding in the Royal Capital. Count Goyoku has issued an urgent
report to His Majesty and the major nobles of the capital.
He claims that the
disgruntled nobles of the southern border have conspired and are plotting a
rebellion, and are trying to bring in the forces of the Griffonia Empire."
"What!"
"How could this
be!"
"Hah..."
While both Corps
Commanders raised their voices in surprise, all I could do was sigh.
More conspiracy
games... And here we are, fighting on the front lines...
"There's more.
Goyoku claims to have
learned of this, and says that because it is a national crisis, an emergency
situation, he has raised his army to avert it, and thereby shows his loyalty to
the kingdom. In his letter, the names of Margrave Hastburg, Viscount Gorman,
Baron Solis, Baron Cornell, and you and your brothers were listed as the
ringleaders of the rebellion.
You may think it's
absurd, but events are already in motion. In the Royal Capital, Lord Klein is
the only one standing on the front lines protecting you, but the majority is
leaning towards the fools in the Restorationist faction, and I must say the
situation is extremely difficult.
If it comes to that,
you will be detained in the Royal Capital until the truth of the matter is
clarified, and you will be unable to go to the aid of your domain. That is why
I cannot let you enter the Royal Capital right now!"
"Absurd!"
My voice and those of
the two Corps Commanders overlapped.
"We know for a
fact that the Baron fought alongside us, risking his life on the eastern
border, and was the greatest contributor to the kingdom's victory!"
"What in the
world are those people in the Royal Capital looking at!"
Corps Commander
Schultz and Corps Commander Hoffman each raised their voices in anger.
"Since it is an
official report made under a family name, a certain response is required. Is
that the situation?"
"Baron Solis, we
share your frustration. And you are correct.
The bastards have
cleverly submitted a personal letter, supposedly sent from you to the Griffonia
Empire, as evidence. The Restorationist faction has seized upon this and is
making a racket.
Of course, we cannot
swallow it as evidence, but it will take time to ascertain its authenticity. In
that time, we will lose precious time..."
So they've gone so far
as to fabricate false evidence to press their case. This is no longer a matter
that can be settled with a simple "it was a mistake."
"I will now
convey the message I received from Lord Klein.
Baron Solis, on your
way back in triumph, you learned of a crisis in your domain, and you hastily
left the army column and disappeared to an unknown location. Unbeknownst to us,
the Royal Knights, or the Margrave.
The Royal Knights
cannot move until the details of the matter are clarified, but the Third Corps,
knowing nothing of the circumstances, has decided to take a little detour
before their triumphal return to conduct marching exercises to the southern
part of the kingdom, just before the territory of Margrave Hastburg, so as not
to forget the lessons learned on the battlefield.
At that time, due to a
mix-up, someone of a different affiliation may have accidentally mixed in with the
knights.
For now, that should
suffice, right?"
I see. So right now,
although my guilt isn't confirmed, I'm essentially a wanted person of interest.
Something like that.
But if I were mixed in
with the Royal Knights, I could pass freely anywhere without raising suspicion.
"Thank you for
your consideration. Please give my regards to Lord Klein for informing me of
this emergency.
I will depart
immediately, but in doing so, I have a request. I would like you to handle the
Cadet Knights and escort them to the Royal Capital. And the Royal Command Mages
not of my house, and the prisoners as well."
"We, the Royal
Knights Second Corps, will take responsibility for them. But wouldn't it be
better to take the prisoners with you? They're quite attached to the young
ladies, and at a time like this, a force of 500 is significant."
I gladly accepted
Corps Commander Hoffman's proposal. Even if they didn't fight, they could be
expected to serve as a bluff, a reserve force.
And there was one more
thing I wanted to do before departing.
"Your Excellency,
Gouras, would it be possible for you to convey a private message to Lord Klein?
I would like to entrust you with the proof that the personal letter I
supposedly sent, which is now being bandied about as evidence, is a
forgery."
"Proof that it is
a forgery?"
"Yes, proof that
anyone can see is a fake. This should silence those fools from the
Restorationist faction who are making a fuss in the Royal Capital."
Saying this, I
revealed a secret only to Knight Commander Gouras.
A secret that had been
built into every official document I had issued since becoming a baron. The
Knight Commander stared at me, his mouth agape.
"You... you've
been preparing so meticulously since that long ago... But if that's the case,
dealing with it will be simple. Lord Klein will surely be wide-eyed with
surprise. Leave the rest to me."
I, too, believe that
this will probably resolve the issue. But what is the reason for fabricating
such a fake and blowing this up into such a big deal?
Could there be some
larger, unknown scheme at play? I renewed my vigilance and decided to be
cautious.
Before departing, I
shared the situation with Margrave Hamish and asked the Cadet Knights for their
cooperation in getting our stories straight. Then, we broke off from the
triumphal army and began our march to the southern border region with the Royal
Knights Third Corps.
Incidentally, among
the Cadet Knights, there were about 300 who insisted on accompanying us.
"We will stay by
Commander Weiss's side! Our hearts are already members of the mercenary company.
We beg of you!"
They said this,
exasperating Knight Commander Gouras, who eventually relented, saying it was
all at their own risk. And there was one more person.
"You lent us your
strength to protect our domain. Now, I want to repay the favor, even if just a
little, so it's alright, isn't it?"
It was Alexis von
Bauner, the second son of a baronial house on the eastern border, and a Royal
Command Mage who wielded wind magic.
And so, to save my
domain, and as a reinforcement unit for our fellow nobles on the southern
border, a force of 1,000 began to move toward Teigoon.
※
Thus, we hurried our
march toward Teigoon, and escorted by the Royal Knights Third Corps, we entered
the territory of Margrave Hastburg.
They who had
accompanied us this far entrusted us with the knights' own supply provisions
(to Bart) and turned back.
And the next day, when
we had advanced to a point half a day from the town of Burg, the capital of
Margrave Hastburg's domain, we were met with the true, and most catastrophic,
news.
"Viscount Hiyorimi
has rebelled!"
Information was
brought that he was leading his army and had marched toward the Estol
territory.
Also, that the domains
of Viscount Gorman and Baron Cornell were each under attack by nobles under
Count Goyoku.
Furthermore, that
Margrave Hastburg's army had advanced north of the city of Burg and was
confronting the rebel army led by Count Goyoku there.
All of this disastrous
news came rushing in at once.
"Is this
history's counterattack! This is going too far!"
I felt the world in
front of me go dark. The flow of history was trying to reclaim all the points
it had lost in one fell swoop.
What should I do...
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