Price of Management

“The crew is holding out better than I thought, by the way. It's much faster than we used to train. ”

Patrick replies, as if it were natural for Balac.

“Of course I have to go faster. ”

“Why? ”

“The first reason is because the enemy is chasing us from behind. It's not a drill, it's a real one. ”

“Is there a second time? ”

“We're heading for the meadow. ”

“Ah……. ”

Patrick blurs.

For nomads, the meadow was their home. The hometown where the nomads were subdued by Emperor Kars, who had defended them to the end in hostility to the Horn Empire...

Everyone was excited even during the exhibition because they could step on land like that again.

“That's why you came to your senses. ”

“This could be your last chance to see the meadow. ”

“It's not like that. ”

Patrick replies with a confident tone. Patrick said to Balac, surprised.

“Peace will return when the war is over. If you are the Lord, you will surely make peace. By then, you'll be able to take a vacation and travel. Or we could escort them up to the top of the Caroc Guild. ”

“You believe peace will come again. ”

“Of course. The Lord will make it. ”

Patrick's belief in the Caroc ligand seems close to faith.

“Peace……. ”

Balac mutters quietly.

“To the clan of our wind, the word 'peace’ is a very strange word. I don't know if the word itself can be realized, or if it's just an imaginary concept. This seems to be the difference between the Horn Empire and the Kingdom of Leaden. ”

“I think so. I'm from the Kingdom of Orion. ”

“Can you be at peace while you're alive? ”

“There is.”

“You answered decisively. Was your life peaceful? ”

“…… Not really. But there will be peace. You can't give up more than that. ”

“You're bright and positive. Justice, idealism, fairness…… but not enough. ”

“ ……? ”

Balac's words, pointing out his shortcomings, were surprising. Balac told surprised Patrick.

“I admire you very much. Because I believe the commander will bring us a great future. That's why I would like to offer you my over-the-topic advice and sincere condolences. ”

“No. Listen if you have something to say. ”

“Thank you. In that case, Commander, let me ask you a question. While I was living in the grasslands, my crew plundered passers-by and raided farming villages. Do you think we're bad? ”

“I like you and your crew. But that attitude in life was definitely a bad thing. ”

“I understand. But the commander still doesn't understand what it means to live. I hope you realize that someday. ”

“You mean it's not a bad thing you had no choice but to live? ”

“I don't mean to be vulgar. It has a much deeper meaning, and I don't know how to describe it. You just have to understand with your heart. ”

“Hard.”

Patrick scratches his head.

Balac laughs at him like that. It is a philosophy of life passed down among the family of the wind for a long time. The only person who was born in the grasslands and lived as a member of the wind couldn't understand the emotions he had in his heart just once.

“Then this could also be an inconvenient choice for the commander. ”

Patrick's words reveal a mystery.

“What will the commander do when he reaches the meadow? ”

“Then we should attack the Horn Empire supply lines. Munitions withdrawn from all parts of the Horn Empire pass through grasslands to the Baden River. In the Baden River, it is said to be shipped to the freighter and sent to the Kingdom of Leaden. ”

“That's what we were meant to do in the beginning, but what if we had a better plan? ”

“I'd love to hear it. ”

“This might be the key to winning this war. ”

Patrick glares at you.

What the hell is he talking about? The key to winning and losing a war. You think a Condol Cavalry can handle that?

“Just so you know, my son Balter came up with this idea last night at dinner. ”

“Your son is very clever. ”

“Thank you."

That's how Balac began to explain.

“From time immemorial, our brethren have always admired the Duke of Crost. Bezalius and Queen Isabella. I still do. But I don't like the Horn Empire. Do you know why that is? ”

“What?”

Patrick asks for Balac's word, rather than just saying what he thinks.

“Duke Bezalius and Queen Isabella's son Sirius were foolish emperors. As the son of two great men who led the nation's heyday, he chose to strengthen security and empire as a way to become a great, bad parent monarch. To strengthen our security and empire, we decided to give up nomadic life and join the Empire people. We gave lands to chiefs and encouraged them to migrate, but in fact, it was stealing grasslands from us. ”

“ ……. ”

“I considered our lifestyle a long time ago to be barbaric to the welfare of the Emperor Sirius. That's what they did to us in the pursuit of Duke Bezalius, leading us to build an empire. That's when the rebellion started. As a result, do you know what happened? ”

“The Kingdom of Orion and the Kingdom of Leaden are free. ”

“That's right. When the Orient Empire and the nobles of the Ledon held hands and rebelled, we did not help the Horn Empire. Emperor Sirius fought them without our help and was defeated. The Kingdom of Orien and the Kingdom of Leaden have been built up to this day. Do you know why I'm telling this story, sir? ”

“I don't know.”

“The biggest force in the Horn Empire is the Wind Clan. If Emperor Kars wants to emulate Duke Bezalius, his strategic base would be a cavalry of warriors of the Wind Clan. So if you shake the warriors of the Wind Clan, you can also shake the Emperor. ”

“ ……. ”

As a horseman of the Horn Empire, you shake the warriors of the Wind Clan.

Patrick only realized what Balac wanted to say. even when he said that it would be an inconvenient choice.

Balac was a horse.

“Their families are here in the meadow, Commander. ”

Patrick's face stiffens.

* * *

Kuaang!

Duke Romfeld and Basque clashed first.

“Huff!”

Basque was surprised.

It's because his whole body was floating in the air at the moment of impact and he had a rare experience flying backwards.

Rick's jab continues on the left, with a slight time gap. Duke Rompel takes a step back and swings Battle Axe across the street. Axe and Blade seem to collide.

But just before the collision, Rick retrieves the Long Sword. It was a judgment that nothing good would come of colliding with the great Duke Rompel of Power.

But at that moment, Rick gleams.

I'll show you!

I decided to demonstrate a skill that I had polished.

Rick takes a step back and takes another step back.

Pa!

Stepping forward with a slight hint of error with your rear foot.

Rick moves behind Duke Rompel's back like an arrow fired from a recoil. Stab him!

Ka 'ang!

Duke Romfel hurriedly turns back and blocks Battle Axe's day.

Basque, who was pushed out, joined.

It was under attack from the front and from the back.

“Hoho?”

In a word, Duke Rompel moves to the right.

It's the same incredible speed as Rick was just now. Suddenly, Rick and Basque lose their target and stop moving.

“No…? ”

Rick is baffled.

Error walk.

This is a quick step toward gaining momentum by launching an error on a stepping foot, a skill that Rick honed in preparation for the battle against the Grand Duke Rompel. No, actually, to win the battle with my father Basque.

The key point is to release only a very small amount to avoid wasting errors.

But then Duke Romfel reproduced it the same way.

Duke Rompel told Rick, who was dumbfounded.

“You don't think I know how to do this? ”

“Oh my... ”

“I'm 110 years old and I don't think I've ever had this idea in my life? But I must commend you for accomplishing what I did in my 40s. It must have been difficult to control the amount of error we're launching. ”

“You damn monster! ”

“Khahaha, what a compliment to hear! ”

It was time for Duke Romfel to laugh.

“Shut up!”

Basque lunges at Grand Duke Romfel, screaming as if it were a joke in the middle of a fight.

“Come!”

Duke Rompel swings the Battle Axe vertically, as if it had been his wish. It was definitely a loss for Basque if it collided as it is. It is because Duke Romfel's power has surpassed common sense.

Basque chose to lose power.

At the moment of impact, you retrieve the long sword without resisting and swing it back the other way around. A basque long sword that shifts the direction of its attacks from time to time and provides a dazzling number.

The pattern of attack was chosen because the long sword had the advantage over the heavy battle ax.

But the opponent is always the Duke of Rompel.

You swing the Battle Axe with one hand and stop all attacks from spreading. in a steady, unbroken position with one center of gravity.

It's a basque blocked by an iron wall, but it doesn't give up and relentlessly stops attacking.

Rick joins us.

A swift floundering of orewalks, stabbing Duke Romfel in the forehead.

Duke Romfeld, likewise, took on his errand and escaped the joint of the two. This was the moment Basque was aiming for.

"Now!"

Basque swings as hard as he can with the blade. Blade can't reach Duke Rompel to swing it from afar.

But something amazing happened.

Orr Blade flies to Duke Romfel.

He sent the blade to strike at a distance.

This was a Basque skill. It's a must have against Rick's error walk.

The smile of the Grand Duke of Rompel grows darker.

Duke Rompel also swings Axe's Battle Axe to come.

... and Axe left the battle ax to come out.

Kuaang!

The two energies clash, making a loud explosion.

The thick foliage surrounding the area shakes like a mad thunderstorm.

Leaves pouring out.

A basque that opens its eyes with Rick's mouth full of surprises.

Duke Romfel asked with a cheerful voice.

“This is what I did in my mid-50s. How old are you this year? ”

“... You really are a monster. ”

Basque mutters.

“I see.”

Rick insists.

The two wealthy men stare blankly at Duke Rompel.

One question came to mind. When they're 110, can they become monsters like that?

* * *

Temple of Knight, now occupied by the Horn Empire.

There are still three men walking through the hallways of the building with the battle scars.

It's overwhelming.

The sound of footsteps echoes through the dark hallway.

A young, wild-looking young man with a pale complexion and an expressionless face. And after that, a man who looked like an old man followed him like a shadow.

The other middle-aged man followed behind them quietly.

Soon the three of them came to a closed door in a room.

The knights of the Black Cross who were guarding the gate saw three men and knelt in haste.

“To see the Emperor! ”

Emperor Kars gestures lightly. It means "get out of the way." The Black Cross hurries out from side to side.

Earl Halstein opens the door.

The emperor stepped inside.

“Welcome, Emperor. ”

The great lord rises on his bed and bows down before the emperor Kars.

Emperor Kars gestures lightly. It meant to get up.

When he stood up, King Kars finally opened his mouth.

“How are you feeling? ”

“It does not interfere with your faith. ”

“In combat?”

“It's still a distraction. because the crack in the hall didn't heal completely. ”

“How long will it take? ”

“A full day is enough. ”

“Focus on recovery. The tactics I devised need you, too. ”

“It's an honor to have you in need. But, Your Majesty, I have a question. ”

“What the hell.”

“Is it really possible? ”

The words of the Marquis of Great Gen continue.

“The legendary tactic that Duke Bezalius once wrote. ”

― Continued in book 19