Kays Translations

Chapter 15: Miscalculation

　But things weren’t going to go that smoothly.

　The planetarium magic tool I had made was christened “the Starry Sky magic tool” by Rosalia, and it was settled that its splendid starry sky would be put on display in my room every night.

　And then Rosalia would drop off to sleep in my bed with a blissful look on her face.

　Rosalia’s own attendant comes along too, of course. Is it my imagination that these past few days I haven’t been able to shake off my tiredness?

　One day, while I was wondering how I might get her to sleep in her own room, a letter arrived from Father in the royal capital.

　Beyond doubt this was a reply to the letter Lionel had sent with his report the other day. But while my name was on it, Lionel’s wasn’t.

　So this came to me rather than to Lionel?

　I took a paper knife from a servant and cut the seal.

“What’s this? What on earth did Lionel put in that report? ‘Leave the whole matter to Julius’ — what’s that supposed to mean? Does it mean he’s handing me full authority? I’m only seven years old.”

“Big brother, what’s the matter?”

　Rosalia, eating breakfast beside me, asked in a worried voice. I gave her a stroke on the head and made a point of speaking gently.

“It’s nothing. I just got a reply I wasn’t expecting. If I talk it over with Lionel it’ll be sorted out in no time.”

　I couldn’t tell whether she was satisfied or not, but she didn’t ask anything further. It’s a little unnerving how sometimes I can’t tell what my sister is thinking. She has a good memory, and she’s shrewder than I’d realised.

　As soon as breakfast was over, I went to the medicinal herb garden and watered it. While I was there, I told the knights on guard at the garden that I would be paying Lionel a visit.

　I could have gone without sending word, but there was a chance some report had come in from the Adventurers’ Guild. I thought it would help if they had things ready.

　Arriving at the knight order’s barracks, I went straight to the Knight Commander’s office. Assembled in the office were the Knight Commander himself along with the captains and vice-captains of each unit. There were fewer of them than last time, since men were also needed to escort the members of House Heine staying in the royal capital.

“Lord Julius. Has something happened?”

“Mm. This letter came addressed to me today.”

　With that, I set the letter down in front of Lionel. Lionel looked it over.

　He said nothing in particular; he simply stayed silent. If anything, he wore an expression that said, “And what of it?”

“Lionel. What exactly did you write in that letter to Father?”

“I wrote exactly what you told me, Lord Julius, but… framed as your proposal, of course.”

“That’s the problem! Why bring my name into it? It’s put command in my hands! Do you intend to give a seven-year-old command, Lionel?”

“Well, yes… I do think you’re suited to it.”

“Why!”

　Apparently I was the only one who thought otherwise, because every man in that room was cocking his head in puzzlement.

　…Does it really not bother any of you, taking orders from a seven-year-old? However you look at it, shouldn’t Lionel, the Knight Commander, be the one holding command?

　Ah. I see. So the idea is for me to use my authority to appoint Lionel as commander. That way it counts as a member of House Heine having stood at the front and wielded power. And the people of the domain get to say, “The Margrave of Heine is magnificent! He’s a man you can rely on!”

　And if it goes wrong, they pin the blame on Lionel. …Then failure isn’t an option. That said, I can hardly stand at the front and command myself.

“Lionel, I’m appointing you acting commander in the event of an emergency. From this point on, Lionel’s orders are my orders. All of you, act accordingly.”

“Whaaat?! Surely you should just take command yourself, Lord Julius. Every man here would follow you.”

“Ugh…”

　I looked around, and they were all watching me with expectation in their eyes. Stop it. Don’t look at me like that.

“No, no. There’s the back and forth with the Adventurers’ Guild to handle, isn’t there? I need Lionel’s ability to make all that run smoothly. Besides — look — I have the important job of looking after my sister. And I have magic potions to make, don’t I?”

　Through my desperate persuasion, Lionel and the others consented, though reluctantly. Why do you all look at a seven-year-old like that? Is this bullying? Could this be some newfangled form of bullying?

　Having shifted to the new arrangement, I thought I could finally take a breath — but no such luck. Lunch was over and I had just got my sister down for her nap when an urgent summons came from the Knight Commander. A report had apparently arrived from the Adventurers’ Guild.

　I hurried to the Knight Commander’s office.

　There I found the men of the units with grim looks on their faces.

“Lionel, your report.”

　I have nothing but a bad feeling about this, but I have to hear it. And we have to decide on a course of action.

“According to the report from the Adventurers’ Guild, there’s a large goblin settlement at this point in the monster forest. The goblins number three hundred.”

“Th-three hundred?!”

“Yes. And among them the presence of upper-tier goblins has been confirmed. According to the guild master, there may be a Goblin King and Goblin Lords as well.”

　No wonder they’re all looking so grim. The knight order can’t manage this alone. We’ll need to call up troops. Full authority or not, moving soldiers requires formal procedure.

　The kingdom has to be notified, and groundwork needs laying with the neighbouring domains. If the goblin army comes out of the forest before all that’s done, the damage will be appalling.

“What are your orders?”

“We’ll ask the Adventurers’ Guild for reinforcements. The Heine margraviate’s knight order and the Adventurers’ Guild will deal with this jointly. Even if annihilation is out of reach, if we can cut their numbers down we can at least buy time. And if we can do that, we can call up troops in the meanwhile. So long as we manage that, we won’t lose.”

“That would mean using the adventurers as pawns to be thrown away, though…”

“That’s just it, isn’t it. What to do…”

　With a collective groan, everyone present sank into thought.

　If I could just put an annihilation spell into them, that would be the end of it. What to do, though.

Previous chapter | TOC | Next chapter