Kuro no Senki (LN)

Under the clear blue skies of winter, the voices of the general soldiers echo.

"All right! The empty barrel is this way!

"We're running out of dirt!

"Shields! Shields, gather around!

"A stretcher! Get ready for the stretcher!

A general soldier with a luggage and a shield with materials passes in front of Roy.

From now on, I will destroy obstacles with my life in jeopardy.

Because of that, the general soldiers are in a mood to kill.

Still, I guess I don't get into fights because I'm defending my part.

Reliable.

I honestly think so.

They will build walls and destroy obstacles.

I have that thought.

That's bad, Roy shook his head.

If you're a soldier, if you're just a knight, you're not too optimistic.

I'd be heartbroken if I was pessimistically thinking about things on the battlefield of my life.

Optimistic thinking is necessary.

Unfortunately, the commander is not.

Don't be optimistic about things.

Naturally.

If I fail to think about things optimistically, I can't even see it.

Because the Commander's incompetence will be atoned for by the life of a general.

Roy coughed.

The official person responsible is Archena, but the actual person responsible is Roy.

I'm nervous without a pattern when I think I'm keeping a lot of lives.

It's not even in the pattern, and I laugh bitterly.

I'm always like this.

He succeeds the housekeeper without a pattern, and he doesn't have a pattern. He's the leader of the Kingsguard Knights.

Damn, I have an excuse.

If you really don't think it's a pattern, you should have taken it on.

We should accept more than we have undertaken.

You should be convinced.

With that in mind, Richard stood next to him.

"Finally."

"Oh, yeah"

Though I've tried hammering, I don't know what 'finally' is.

Are you saying the empire will turn backwards?

Are you saying that our turn has turned?

In common sense, it's the former.

Richard is from a military school.

There's no reason for him to make such a statement that lowers his morale.

"... Lord Roy?

"Bad. No, I've been a little nervous."

Richard said as if he was confused, and Roy apologized.

"Even Lord Roy... no, excuse me"

"Even I can be a nervous wreck."

"I understand that."

"Really?

Unexpectedly ask.

I would have flushed it if they'd just said 'I know'.

But Richard's expression had a convincing color.

Image and reality coincide.

That's the vibe.

What the hell do you think of yourself?

Did you convey that feeling?

Richard opened his mouth quietly.

"Lord Roy was... more decent than I thought."

"Take it as a compliment"

Roy scratched his head.

That would be a favorable opinion given what you've done so far.

I have behaved so far away from the ideal military man - nobility.

I wondered what Richard thought of Archena.

Maybe I shouldn't ask...

"... what do you think of Archena?

"Is this the Commander of the Legion?

Richard gave a look as if he was confused.

"Right."

"If it's hard to say, you don't have to. I was just wondering."

"No, let me tell you"

Richard stepped up his tone and said.

"Honestly, I didn't think the Legion Chief was going to talk about it."

"That's spicy."

"I said honestly"

Richard frowned as troubled.

No, I guess I'm actually in trouble.

"Go on."

"The instructions of the Secretary of State for Military Affairs were terrible."

"Sure."

Roy looked back at the instructions entrusted to him by military commissioner Ralph Libra.

It's a waste of time to keep supplies as per that instruction.

"The Commander of the Legion, I hope, is too accommodating"

"Well, yeah."

I don't know why you tried to follow those fucking instructions.

"It's just that the commander of the Legion I spoke to you about earlier...

"The military school didn't do badly. But there's always been a part of me that wasn't accommodating. Well, it wasn't as bad as this one..."

"I understand that. Yeah, all I know is that military school..."

"I know who he is."

"Excuse me."

Was it awkward, Richard coughed up.

"No, you were out of bees during the exercise."

"Can you run out of bees?

"It's not like I'm throwing it out even if I say so. Sometimes I go in pretty."

"I think that's the problem..."

"Right."

Roy looks up at the sky and puts his thoughts to the exercises of his military school days.

Archena was vulnerable to the enemies who scolded him.

No, doesn't that mean he was weak?

The result alone was undefeated.

When the opponent comes up with the next action, he can handle it to some extent.

But when you can't handle it, it gets too expensive and you go into it.

I was surprised when I first saw it, but eventually I got used to it.

"Maybe that was the problem I was able to win."

Roy shrugged smugly.

Without my talent as a samurai, I might have changed my mind if I had applied it to a single defeat.

No, that's now.

"The Legion Chief I spoke to earlier didn't look like that..."

"I wish you'd listened to me that much from time to time."

"You're struggling."

"Well, he's got it. He's got it."

Roy glanced lightly at his shoulder.

This one often makes the cause, but Archena writes it off because she's going to hit me.

I thought you were ready.

Roy put his gaze around.

There are countless barrels lined up and piles of dirt formed.

The shields are also ready to prevent rebel attacks.

And, of course, get ready for the stretcher.

"Can you stay here?

"Yeah, over there..."

Richard stared at the opposite side - the obstacle on the enemy's right wing.

There are materials there to build walls, too, and soldiers.

I'll take care of it.

"Is that military school synchronization?

"No, I've never seen him here before. I think you can trust him."

"It's the first time we've met, but you know it well."

"I mean, the chain of command, we talked about building a network."

Richard grinned bitterly.

Apparently, the general soldiers were moving in places they didn't know.

"Some people are good people just because I didn't realize it."

"I hope so."

Richard said in a smug tone.

Doesn't mean it's good that soldiers who command on the right wing of the enemy are good.

It would mean good if I were good.

I think I'm being too modest, but I guess I'm underestimating myself because I've been eating cold meals.

I can decide what I need and move.

Perfect as a general soldier or as an officer.

I give a lot of orders and leave the job to my men.

I think that's the ideal, but it seems there are many people in the world who don't.

I think it's crap, but I also know how people feel about that.

I am afraid that I will be driven down.

I don't want to lose what I have.

Make an effort not to be driven down.

That is the way to go, but it is also a difficult road.

No matter how hard you try, you won't always be rewarded.

It's more efficient to pull the legs of good men.

Efforts may be wasted, but efforts to pull your men's legs will not be wasted.

I mean, that's the thing.

Richard opened his mouth with a snack.

"All right - ah!

"What?

Rebel attacks, or Roy looked around.

But there are no shadows or shapes of rebels around.

"Sorry"

Richard said in a groaning voice.

Are you ashamed, it's bright red to your ears.

"I thought it would reduce life expectancy."

"I'm sorry. It's okay now."

"No, I'm not okay."

"Sorry"

When Roy said it as he pretended to wipe his sweat, Richard still told him to groan.

"Something bothering you, too?

"No, that's not why..."

Richard is clouding his words.

She says she has no problem, so maybe we should proceed as if nothing had happened.

However, there have been some misunderstandings of the structure of enemy field positions.

At that time, I didn't have to let the mercenaries die in vain if I were to find out who the discomfort was.

You can't repeat a failure.

"Say anything you care about."

"Oh, yes, actually... I remember someone very similar to the Legion Leader"

"You got a guy like that?

The world is wide with people who resemble Archena.

No, is it narrow?

"Well, my personality..."

"Just personality is awesome."

Maybe I should have been embarrassed not to talk about it, but curiosity prevailed over it.

"So, what's he like?"

"He was an emotionally unstable guy. I often fail to do what I can't... and then I get pretty or depressed"

"You don't look much alike."

If Archena was emotionally unstable, she wouldn't have been my friend.

I might have been in a duel.

"If you ask me, yes."

"You know what my background is?

"You're from an old aristocracy, and you didn't get along well with the new aristocracy"

"That's not now."

For a long time - by the time Roy came to his senses, old and new aristocrats weren't close.

Even if they point that out, I can only say now.

"Even you have something to think of in the new nobility, don't you?

"Well, there is. From my father... excuse me"

"I don't mind."

"My dad used to be stupid about the civil unrest. I thought they were cowards until I went to military school."

Richard grinned bitterly.

I guess the thought of the new nobility as a cowardly guy remains a memory of shame.

It may be a memory I want to forget for myself, but shame is important.

"What about now?

"I was stupid. I think so. How was Lord Roy?

"I didn't have it."

Roy glanced lightly at his shoulder.

Richard is a good guy, but there are stories he can't do on the face of it.

If we survive this war, we'll have a chance to talk.

"... it's causal"

"Right."

I was going to talk to myself, but Richard nodded in a smug tone.

Cause and effect - it certainly is.

I am trapped in the cause and effect of my father, or grandfather's time.

There is yet another suffering waiting for us to escape from it.

People are made to suffer.

That's enough to make me think so.

"Well, that's the end of the public discourse"

"Yeah, it's work time."

Richard grinned and stretched his spine.

"Shields! Forward!

"Whoa!"

The shields walk out on Richard's orders.

It's an undisturbed move.

"Shields! Move on!

"Whoa! Whoa!

The shields move together.

shielded to the front, to the side and up. It is called the Turtle Armor Formation.

On the other hand, excellent defense, equal to no manoeuvre.

It really looks like a turtle.

The named parents in this formation must have liked irony so much.

I have taste.

If the afterlife is real and we meet, I want to kick your ass up with love.

Enemy archers unleashed arrows as the Shields passed by the side of the obstacle.

"Whoa! Whoa!

The shield advanced as he raised his voice, where an arrow poured down like rain.

On the shield facing the front, an arrow stands on the shield protecting the head.

They overlap and tremble the atmosphere.

Similar to the sound of a horseshoe.

Tremors stir fear.

Will the Shields proceed?

Can you prevent arrows with that shield before then?

Roy swallows his spit and watches.

No, I can only watch.

"It's okay."

Richard said in a mild tone that the tension had been transmitted.

"Well, I know it's okay."

"The shield is doubled. Sure, the bow used by enemy archers has unparalleled performance compared to ours, but I don't see it as performing enough to break through a double shield. Besides, the Shields are veterans. Just a little soft--"

"Hey, Richard."

Block Richard's words from rolling up.

"It's okay, you calm down."

"And I beg your pardon"

I wonder how embarrassed I was.

Richard apologized with a bright red face.

So, Roy calmed down just a little too.

Turn your gaze on the Shields again.

The sound sounds.

It's the sound of an arrow standing on a shield.

I hear voices sewing between them.

It's the Shields' voice.

"Whoa! Whoa!

Little by little, but the Shields were moving on.

It's a slow walk.

But what a magnificent figure.

My whole body gets hot.

Roy clenched his fist and cheered in his heart to work hard.

"Whoa! Whoa!

"Whoa! Whoa!

"Whoa! Whoa!

"Whoa! Whoa!

"Whoa! Whoa!

"Whoa! Whoa!

How much time has passed.

As the arrow rained, the Shields finally succeeded in lining up along the obstacle.

But I can't afford the work space with this.

That's when Richard screamed.

"Shields! Open it!"

"Whoa! Whoa!

The shield that was protecting overhead on Richard's orders rises.

By arranging shields up and down, they're building walls and trying to secure working space.

Will it be okay, I get anxiety.

Shields are doubled to prevent rebel arrows.

It weighs twice as much as usual.

It should also be severely depleted.

"Whoa! Whoa!

The shield squad's voice sounded and the shield finally rose.

Roy stroked his chest down.

This ensured the path and work space for transporting materials.

All you have to do is line up the empty barrels and put the dirt in them.

"Team Barrel! Move on!

"Oops!

When Richard screamed, men of stature rushed out in the barrel that the large sub-people were also Kaya.

No matter, attacks continue in the meantime.

But the men who were stopped by the shield and held the barrel - you can't hurt the barrel squad.

Really dependable.

Watching this sight makes me feel like an idiot that I was worried about.

Roy looked at the other side and stroked his chest down again.

Just like this one, the Shields are guarding the arrows of the enemy archers.

Apparently, the right-wing side of the enemy was able to secure a path and an oxygen base that would carry the material well.

Richard exhaled.

It leans forward as if just after a full walk of disease.

"Thank you."

"Thank you"

That said, Richard wiped the sweat off his forehead.

I guess the sweat came out of the tension.

Well, Roy's got his palm wet with sweat, too...

"This is the first step."

"Yeah, I still don't condone the prediction..."

Richard replied with a strange face, but seems to have some leeway.

I hope the work stays safe.

I couldn't help but pray so.

The general soldier in charge of the bag runs down the road to carry the materials.

The general soldier puts the contents of the bag - the soil - in the barrel when he reaches the destination.

When the bag is empty, it returns to its original path and carries the soil again.

Of course, I'm not alone.

Several soldiers are carrying dirt.

"You don't know what's good for you."

"Right."

Richard agrees with Roy's words.

The dirt I dug back to build the moat is helping to secure the barrel.

You're going too well and you're disgusting.

"How soon is it going to be done?"

"Right."

Richard narrowed his eyes and stared at the barrels lined up in a row.

"So you can tell?

"I don't know."

But go on.

"Seems to be going well"

"I know that."

Roy glanced lightly at his shoulder.

The next moment, the sound of a dong sounded.

Make haste to circle your gaze.

It doesn't seem to be a rebel attack...

"Lord Roy! Look at that one!

"- Huh!"

Richard pointed to the source of the sound, and Roy took a small breath.

The source of the sound was the barrel.

A number of barrels were buried on the ground.

"What happened -"

"Once, back off!

Roy raised his voice.

I don't know what happened, but I found out that it was the rebels - Krono's fault.

And that this can't be over.

Arrows flying from nowhere pierce the ground.

"Shit!

Roy screamed briefly.

It was behind the Shields that the arrows pierced.

Besides, the arrows are wrapped in green light.

Engraving.

"Run - Huh!

The next moment Roy opened his mouth, the green light burst.

The shield is blown up and the ground is submerged around the arrow.

Lost stability barrels fall one after another.

Some of them were swallowed up on the ground where they were submerged.

"Gahhhhh!"

Screaming.

Staring reflectively at the enemy's right wing, I saw a red light.

Is that engraving too?

No, and Roy shook his head.

I don't have time to think about it.

We need to instruct you to retreat now...

"Gah!"

"Ggah!"

"Hih!

A short scream sounds intermittent.

An enemy archer fired an arrow at a shield who lost his ability to defend himself.

The rain of arrows pours down and the general soldier falls to boredom.

There is a dense smell of blood and a groan.

After a while...

"Wait! I'll be there in a minute!

The general soldiers in charge of the stretcher ran out.

I didn't even have time to stop it.

Roy visioned the sight of an arrow pouring down on a general soldier heading for rescue.

But surprisingly, the arrows didn't pour.

"Are you all right?

I'll help you in a minute.

"A minor injury. It'll heal soon."

The general soldier speaks up and carries the wounded on a stretcher.

Nor do arrows come down during that time.

"Why?

"... probably"

Roy stared at Richard.

"Aren't you trying to strain us by letting the wounded rescue us?

"Oh, if it's Chrono, we can't do it."

Chip, and Roy pounded his tongue.

On the other hand, I'd appreciate it, and there's anger.

But this is war.

This is the fight.

Wherever the thoughts of Chrono are, we should now swallow our anger and rescue the wounded.

"Always rescue the wounded! We won't abandon our people!

"Ha!

When Roy raised his voice, the general responded briefly.

As Roy took the wounded back to the night camp position, Archena approached us.

"The operation seems to have failed."

"Disgusting."

It's just a status check.

I'm frustrated, but I manage to restrain myself.

"I'm sorry."

I don't mind.

When Roy apologized, Archena replied Eagle Deep.

"Is the operation a failure?

"Oh, as you can see"

Answer in a fed up, no, pitiful mood.

I want to hit myself with optimism.

"What happened?

"They used engraving. All of a sudden the light burst and the ground fell."

"What color?

"Green and red."

Hmm, Archena covered her mouth as she thought.

"A force that acts on the earth should be yellow..."

"I don't know, I fell into it."

"Right. Perhaps…"

Archena is whining about bumps and something.

It's the first time I've seen it.

Maybe something changed in Archena in preparation for death.

No, maybe this is the real Archena.

"Lord Roy!

Looking back, Richard was about to rush over.

"Take this..."

Roy received something from Richard - something like a piece of pottery.

"What's this?

"It's a fragment of what was buried on the ground."

"Perhaps it's a fragment of the kame?

"Huh?"

Roy shrugged at the parrot.

"Why is that stuff buried on the ground?

"Have you forgotten the contents of your lecture?

Well, okay, Archena takes a fragment of the jaw from Roy's hand.

"It's about a time when siege warfare used to take place."

"Just the gist, just the gist"

"I used to bury pots and jars to stop the siege and other progressions."

Archena said in a slightly murky tone.

"In short, you mean a pit?

It's not a mistake.

"Did Chrono predict we were going to destroy the obstacle?

Chills crawl up my spine.

Because I felt like I was being rolled over my palm.

Since when, exactly, has Chrono been working as he sees fit?

"It won't be"

"Really?

"It was embedded in one of the measures the rebels had in place. That's all we're talking about."

"Right."

Roy stroked his inner chest down.

If you think about it, the rebels were given time to prepare to intercept us.

The Imperial Army fell into one of the pitfalls dug by the rebels.

That's all.

I can fight this.

Because they are the same person.

"… but what can I do"

I told him like Richard was on his way.

"It doesn't change what you do. Build walls and destroy obstacles"

"Maybe you're saying the ground has fallen?

"Yes, it is"

Fill back the hole while being protected by the Shields and line up the barrels again.

How long will it take?

"You can throw in the ear sac"

"But from now on, when it's a dirt sac..."

"Use the mercenaries' tents."

"Oh!"

Richard opened his eyes to his surprise.

He would have noticed right away, but I guess the earlier failures had narrowed his horizons.

No, is that Roy with you?

What a pity.

"... Archena"

"What?"

It's better that way.

"I think this one is easier..."

Archena told him to exhale.

"It's not aristocratic"

"What's aristocratic?

"Come on, man."

Archena laughed small.

I don't see that while I say it's not aristocratic.

I'm kidding.

"Be disciplined and serve as other exemplars. I guess that's nobility."

You know what I mean.

"Well, what do you think?

Archena grinned bitterly and turned back her heel.