Hero and Hero
With the eastward expansion of the Luine Kingdom stalled, the Lemberg Empire and the Izrim Magic Kingdom made major moves. As planned, Lemberg began its invasion to the west and the Izrim Magic Kingdom to the east.
In particular, the Izrim Magic Kingdom wants to expand its area of control as much as possible before the Luine Kingdom makes its move. Taking a risk, they deployed a considerable military force in the invasion.
They crossed the border with the neighboring Orthea Kingdom and pushed forward to Bormias, the royal capital. There were several towns along the way, but they had no way to resist the large army of the Izrim Magic Kingdom, and the military fell one after another.
All they had to do was to make Orthea's royal capital fall at once. The camp of the Izrim Magic Kingdom thought so, but they received a strong counteroffensive in the royal capital.
"Raise your shield! Take a defensive posture!"
"What happened to the mage's support! Silence the enemy!"
The shouts of the officers of the Izrim army echoed through the city. While they were doing so, stones larger than a fist were raining down from Orthea's side.
The Izrim army tried to approach the front gate while blocking them, but they were unable to do so. The enemy's attack was so fierce.
Bormias is a city in the middle of a large lake. There are only two ways to approach the city: by following a narrow road that extends from the shore or by crossing a bridge built on the other side of the lake. Bormias, the royal capital of the Orthea Kingdom, was located in a well-defended area.
The forces of the Izrim Magic Kingdom knew this of course, but Izrim, which calls itself a magic kingdom, had absolute confidence in the siege. They thought they could easily defeat the city with their overwhelming magic attacks.
However, when they actually attacked, they found that the walls were so strong that no matter how many times they repeatedly attacked with magic, they could not break them down. If this was the case, they decided to attack in a straightforward manner with the Izrim Knights at the core, only to end up with many casualties from the stones and arrows raining down on them from the royal capital. They were completely unable to attack because of the iron wall that far exceeded their expectations.
The attack, which had already failed for the umpteenth time, was also unsuccessful. The army of the Izrim Magic Kingdom fell far behind, and the day's battle came to an end.
"Has His Majesty the Elected King sent word?"
"No."
"I see."
There was no way he would keep quiet about the fact that a message had arrived. Even so, General Brandon Burks, the leader of the invasion force of the Izrim Magic Kingdom, could not help but ask. That is how impatient he was.
"Will a message from His Majesty the Elected King change the situation?"
Jin's question was also due to impatience. His frustration was evident.
"There is also the option of abandoning Orthea."
"No way?"
"It is strange to say this when we have yet to defeat a single country, but there is no point in having a single country, Orthea, under our control. Our objective is to expand our territory as far east as possible so that the difference with Lemberg Empire was not big."
"I know that."
"If Ortea does not fall soon, we must consider attacking other countries first, which will fall easily."
"...... But we can't move ahead with any peace of mind if we leave Orthea unattended."
"That's right. That is why we need the judgment of His Majesty the Elected King."
In short, it is an evasion of responsibility. He only presents the choices and leaves the decision to the Elected King. Even if he fails, the logic goes, it was not his choice.
"If His Majesty the Elected King says to go ahead, will we go with it?"
"If that's the order."
"If we move forward, Orthea will attack us from behind. Even I know that."
"I know. I'm just saying that if it's His Majesty's order, we have to obey."
"If it is a wrong order, shouldn't we correct it?"
"Are you telling me to defy His Majesty the Elected King?"
"No, I'm not asking you to disobey, it's advising him."
There is no way that someone who came all the way to the battlefield and is thinking of evading responsibility can do such a thing. Even if that is not the case, there is nothing General Burks can do about this. The command of the entire invasion force was not in the hands of General Burks, but in the hands of Leif Tenniel, the head of the Mage Order of the Izrim Magic Kingdom.
It's a common affair in the Izrim Magic Kingdom, which is said to have high magic and low swords.
"I'm not going to talk about it anymore. We have better things to do than talk about such things."
"Haa..."
"The wall that protects the royal capital of Orthea. It's obviously covered in a magic barrier."
"It is the capital, after all."
"That's not it. It's a pretty strong barrier. It may even rival the barrier of our royal castle."
"What?"
"How can the Orthea Kingdom possess such skill?"
"Even if you ask me"
"I hope we can get to the barrier and deactivate the magic barrier."
"To get close to that barrier."
"It's the role of the knights to do something about it."
"I say we do something, but first we have to stop that attack."
"Stones and arrows will eventually run out"
"While we're discussing this, they should be out there picking them up."
"...How can you let that happen!?"
"How can we stop them? If we approach them, they will attack us. No, they will escape into the city before that happens."
"It's all about preventing them from picking them up. If they want to escape, let them go."
"Ah, yes"
"How is it possible that you don't understand this kind of thing until one gives you instructions?"
When it comes to becoming a knight in the Magic Kingdom, it is often a matter of being a dropout...... but in General Burks' case, it was before that. He was in his current position because of his connection to the Elected House.
Jin regrets having taken the oath, but there is another regret that is compounded. He regrets that he should have demanded the position of Knight Commander if he was going to make the pledge. Because he has humbly made himself a general of thousand men, he has become a subordinate of such a man.
"We will do our best to attack the royal capital until we receive instructions from His Majesty the Elected King. So, please work hard with that in mind."
"""Ha!"""
The next day, the Izrim Magic Kingdom began a battle to make the most of their numbers. They divided their entire army into three groups and attacked day and night.
This forceful technique was hard on the side of the Orthea Kingdom. Stones and arrows were exhausted, and there was no opportunity to replenish them. The attack from the Royal Capital side lost its momentum in a few days, while on the other hand, the attack from the Izrim Magic Kingdom became more and more intense.
The war situation was completely tilted in favor of the Izrim Magic Kingdom, as it became possible to approach the defensive walls and attack with magic from close range.
The solid magic barrier gradually began to show signs of fraying, and the walls were finally about to fall. The Izrim Magic Kingdom was beginning to think so, but the Orthea Kingdom still showed its determination.
"Don't back down! We'll set up a defensive position!"
"Get back! Quickly!"
The voices of opposite orders echoed across the battlefield. The former is an order to the Knights, the latter to the Mages.
The attacks from within the royal capital had turned sporadic, and the Izrim Magic Kingdom side had begun to launch their magic to the fullest into the defensive walls. When the limits of the magic barrier finally came into view, the gates of the Royal Capital suddenly opened.
About a hundred knights jumped out. Compared to the front-line knights of the Izrim Magic Kingdom, they were only one-fifth, or one-twentieth if you add the soldiers to that number. However, these hundred were incredibly strong. Especially the knight running at the front. Wielding a magic sword that extended like a whip, they slaughtered the surrounding enemies one after another. Furthermore, breaking through Izrim's defenses, their swords were aimed at the mages in the front line.
The front line of the Izrim army was in chaos.
"Thousand General, Jin! Get to the front! Stop that knight!"
"…………"
Despite General Burks' orders, Jin did not move. Black hair growing from under the helmet can be seen from afar. The enemy knight rampaging on the front line is undoubtedly a summoned hero, just like Jin and the others.
"...Nishida."
Akira muttered while glancing at Jin's reaction.
"Nishida!? Teppei Nishida, who was in the same class!?"
"What are you talking about? We were originally all in the same class."
"…………"
It was before they were summoned. They were all in the same class, they were all friends who spent the same time together. And now, as enemies, they are killing each other.
He should have known this would happen. Knowing that, Jin turned away.
"Hurry to the front line! This is an order!"
General Burks became impatient with the unmoving Jin and issued the order again. The word [order] has meaning. Jin and the others were in no position to disobey the order.
"For now, let's go forward."
"……Yeah."
Jin slowly moves his horse forward. Akira followed behind him, and furthermore, the knights and soldiers under Jin's command followed.
The number of them is a thousand. The horses gradually quickened their pace and soon became a full force. Jin left many soldiers behind and let his horse run.
He passed the mages. Beyond that, he can see Nishida riding a horse chasing the fleeing mages.
"Nishida!"
Jin immediately called Nishida. His voice should have reached him, but Nishida's movements didn't stop.
"Nishida! Stop!"
He shouts again. Nishida finally stopped his horse and turned his face to Jin. The distance between the two gradually gets closer and closer.
"Nishida"
No need to shout anymore. His face peeking out from his helmet is clearly recognizable.
"Please put the sword away."
"……I refuse."
"I don't want to kill you!"
"Don't joke around! You attacked us one-sidedly, killed my comrades for no reason, and you don't want to kill me!? Who the hell do you think you are!"
Jin's words, intended with the best of intentions, only made Nishida angrier.
"I, that's..."
"Do you understand? Izrim has not declared war. No, before that, Izrim has no cause to attack this country!"
There is in fact no such thing. The purpose of the Izrim is to conquer the continent, and even if they can't do that, they still want to maintain their unchanged and solid position on the continent. They are simply invading unilaterally for their own reasons.
"You guys are invaders! Don't you dare to order people around like that!"
"I……"
"Tch, reinforcements. We're pulling out for today. Next time we'll kill each other."
Seeing the Izrim reinforcements following behind him, Nishida returned to the royal capital. Other Orthea knights followed Nishida and were sucked into the gate. Their numbers were about half of what they had been when they set out.
"Did you speak to him?"
Akira catches up and calls out to Jin. He deliberately delayed the followers to give them time.
"...We were called an invader."
"I see. No wonder they call us that."
"What are we fighting for?"
"It's decided, isn't it? It's for the sake of our country."
"But, the country."
"It doesn't matter if the country is right or wrong. We serve the country. We work for the country we serve. That's all there is to it."
"......How can you make such a distinction?"
Akira answers Jin's question without hesitation. Jin couldn't understand that.
"If you don't, you'll die. Do you understand? Next time you see Nishida, you have to kill him, you know?"
"Killing my comrade..."
"Former comrade. Your current comrades are behind you."
"But……"
Jin is not the only one in distress. He is not aware of such an obvious thing. He does not see anything. He is not trying to see.
Akira made up his mind a long time ago to face reality. He was saddened and troubled by it, and finally arrived at his current state of mind. Jin doesn't know that either.
◇◇◇
Nishida's sortie indicates that Orthea's defense is reaching its limits. Losing all hope, they are simply launching a desperate attack.
The first sortie, which started out with a hundred men, lost more numbers each time it went out. Once they were close to being decimated, but still they would come back in numbers on the next sortie. But the quality was clearly inferior. Nishida's solitary struggle, such is the state of affairs.
Nishida had become much stronger than when he was at Church Academy. Akira was no match for him. Even when facing Jin, they were evenly matched. Even if Jin had some hesitation to fight, the difference was nothing compared to before.
Even with Nishida's strength, they were still outnumbered. The main gate was breached, and the soldiers of the Izrim Magic Kingdom avalanche into the royal capital of Bormias.
The Orthea Kingdom could no longer mount an offensive. It was decided to make a last stand by gathering the remaining forces into the royal castle. It was a resistance that would only extend the final hours of the war.
Nishida, too, was fighting hard to extend that small window of time, even for a second.
"Lilia-sama, please! Please run away!"
A room in a secluded part of the castle. Nishida, his entire body stained red with blood, was trying his best to persuade Princess Lilia of the Orthea Kingdom.
"Don't come any closer!"
"Lilia-sama! Over here! You can still escape now!"
"How can I, the princess, escape while my people are suffering?"
But no matter what he said, Princess Lilia would not escape. Nishida continues to try to persuade her. Princess Lilia has a lit candle in her hand, and the smell of oil is in the air. It is clear what Princess Lilia is thinking.
"It would be foolish to share your fate with your country! If you live, you might be able to restore the Orthea Kingdom again!"
"That's my brother's role. Teppei-sama, please support my brother."
"I will do it! So, Lilia-sama, come with us!"
"I... don't want to be a princess anymore."
"Why?"
"If I wasn't a princess... being a princess is painful in many ways."
Princess Lilia tried to say something, but she never said it. Still, Nishida knew what she was trying to say.
"...In that case, you should stop being a princess."
"Eh?"
"Run away with me! Go somewhere far away with me! Live just a woman!"
"…………"
Princess Lilia's eyes opened wide.
"I beg you! Please come with me!"
"You… don’t hold a grudge against me?"
Princess Lilia spoke as if she was squeezing out her words, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Why would I hate Princess Lilia?"
"I deceived Teppei-sama and brought you to this country."
"I was happy even if I was deceived. A man like me was able to get close to a beautiful person like Princess Lilia. I'm happy."
"...Thank you. I'm glad I finally heard those words."
"Lilia-sama!"
"I can't go. I didn't want to be born into royalty. I believe that, but I am the princess of this country. I must take responsibility for the misery I have caused this country."
"Why you!? It's Izrim who's at fault!"
"I am glad to have met you, Teppei-sama. But if I could, I would have met you as a woman, not as a princess. By your side......"
The candle spills out of Princess Lilia's hand. As soon as the candle fell to the floor, flames rose at once, creating a wall between them.
"Lilia-sama! Lilia-sama!!"
Nishida tries to head for Princess Lilia, but the force of the fire is so fierce that she can no longer be seen. The fire, which was about to reach the ceiling, was spreading all over the floor, and it was becoming difficult to breathe.
"Lilia-sama!! Lilia! Don't die! Don't die!!!"
The cry of a wish that has no one to answer echoes hollowly. Nishida knelt down and stared into the blazing fire.
"Are you going to die like this?"
He did not even turn his head to look at the man's voice that was unexpectedly called from behind his back.
"Did you understand my master's feelings a little?"
"…………"
"It seems that my master's precious person also died in front of his eyes like this. I heard that she was burned by magic, cut into pieces, and still protected the children."
"……That's?"
At that point, Nishida finally looked back. A man dressed in black was standing there with his arms crossed.
"Could it be that you are a party to that? If so, that would make you one of my Lord's opponents, wouldn't it?"
"Lord... Ren?"
"That's right. My master is Nord Emperor Kaiser Ren Breitkreuz."
"Why is Ren's subordinate here?"
"Oi, oi. Who do you think has helped you withstand the magic attacks of the Izrim so far?"
"...I see. Is that magic barrier a Nord's work?"
"That's right."
"But why?"
"It's not for the sake of this country. We just wanted to get in the way of Izrim."
"Interfering with Izrim. Has he already reached out to the whole continent?"
"So what are you going to do?"
"What I'm going to do?"
"My master chose revenge. Will you choose to die like this?"
"Revenge……"
"If you feel like it, can you hurry up? The prince is tired of waiting."
"Prince? His Royal Highness Prince Richard?"
"Yes. To take revenge on a country, you need a country, right? And a country needs a flag. Well, you can make as many as you want."
"Will the Nords support us?"
"We don't need gratitude. This is for my master's revenge. I don't know if it will succeed."
"I don't thank people who are just trying to take advantage of me."
"Ah, that's fine. So what are you going to do? Are you not going to use this?"
"A relationship of mutual use?"
"That's right. The Lord will never trust you. He'll just use you and be done with it."
"Then I'll just use him too and be done with it."
"Is that so? Hurry up. If you won't go any further, you won't get away."
"Yeah."
The fire in Princess Lilia's room quickly spread to the other rooms, and then to the entire upper levels of the castle. There was no way to contain the fire, nor was there any intention to do so in the Izrim Magic kingdom. The fire soon spread throughout the castle and consumed everything.
On this day, Izrim unilaterally declared that the Orthea Kingdom was destroyed and became the territory of the Izrim Magic Kingdom. No one appeared to resist.
After confirming this and the arrival of the post-occupation security forces, the invading army of the Izrim Magic Kingdom moved further east. They left behind a great grudge in the land of Orthea――.
A short time later, the invasion force of the Izrim Magic Kingdom turned back. It was not the end of the invasion. On the contrary, the invasion of the neighboring country had not been completed.
A return order from the home country. The detailed reason was not given. The upheaval on the continent took on a new dimension. Finally, a war involving the entire continent is about to begin.
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