Kays Translations

2-2 The Start of War

I’ve always liked the word “departure”.

The excitement of breaking through uncharted territory, the relief of visiting a familiar place and the fresh discoveries and impressions that one encounters in the course of such a journey.

Having spent my childhood confined to the glamorous but limited world of the royal palace, everything in the ceiling-less landscape seemed brighter than any glittering ornaments.

So I was able to look forward to the new stimuli that would surely make me forget the vague fear that something bad might happen to me someday.

And now, as I bite my lip and go about my preparations, I find this time to be irresistibly painful, which probably means that I wasn’t prepared enough.

“…………”

My close advisors always smiled at me when they saw me and my close guards supported me from the shadows as I flew around the continent like a rootless weed. The people who used to treat me like family are no longer there and everyone is simply repeating their own tasks in a clerical manner.

There was no energy. There was no laughter. Everyone knew that when the work in front of them was finished, it would begin.

I left the terribly unchallenging preparations early and went to the terrace of my room. I thought it would distract me a little, but the pre-afternoon sun was too bright and the wind at my back was too lukewarm, so I ended up throwing myself on the bed and staring at the high ceiling.

Suddenly, I took off the dagger I wore and ran my fingers over the tanned leather sheath.

“Sage-sama, please give me strength. I will not be defeated by anyone until I return this sword…”

The weak words were followed by the sound of a fierce trumpet and Chris sat up and looked out the window.

–About a month ago, a delegation from the neighboring country of Lurain visited the royal capital of Chris’s country, Fermina. Until then, their diplomacy had been mostly a calm exchange of information, although there had been some confidential matters. Therefore, even the newcomers who did not know the color of blood on the battlefield gasped at the deadly spirit emanating from the stern full-body armor of the delegation that came this time, and anxiously watched their backs as they extended their way to the royal palace.

“The holy knight, Christia Fermina, has gone to “the land of the dead” and brought unjustified benefits to Fermina, her homeland, which have gone outside the framework of the benefits gained in reporting to other nations.”

This is how the messenger put it, in a nutshell.

The greatest privilege allowed only to those with the title of “holy knight” is to cross the boundary line and traverse the uncharted land known as “the land of the dead”. Because of this special achievement, found objects belong to the owner, or the state to which the holy knight belongs, but this is not the case for information obtained. This information should be shared widely, regardless of borders, to prepare for threats in the land…

“Although it’s always gone well, this time you were here back so early.”

It was the first prince, Leonhard, who was present at the audience, who said that as the messengers walked away with their backs to the palace. Like the second princess Chris, Leon was a young man with bright blond hair that shone in the wind and amber eyes that were slightly darker than Chris’. With a bitter look in his eyes, Leon ordered Chris to be summoned and opened his mouth as if he was muttering to himself.

“Well, what’s the matter?”

The word “unjustified benefit” that Chris had brought after her triumphant return probably meant the sword she was holding in her hand. When he heard that she had borrowed it from Sage, he was indeed surprised, but he guessed it was not only a replacement for her lost weapon, but also a report of his survival.

However, if that assumption was correct, another problem arose. If Lurain knew not only Chris’s movements but also her belongings, they could conclude that they were not only conducting a thorough investigation but also receiving secret messages.

In the same way, Fermina has also sent a secret messenger to Lurain. According to the messenger, he had heard that Lurain’s regular army was actively training and that the army was recruiting mercenaries, and that there was an unusual atmosphere in the air. The Lurain emissaries did not speak directly, but their actions of acting with military force more than necessary had a meaning that was worthy of inference in this situation.

“I guess by the way they were acting, they must have been waiting for an excuse and holding back. Sooner or later.”

“Well, shall we at least make arrangements to go to war?”

Frowning at Leon’s words, the king slowly rose from the throne.

“Hmm… I’ll take care of it myself…… By the way, Leon, what do you think about the divine legends that have been passed down through the continent of Altia?”

“Is it that if we incur the wrath of Gods through conflict, the continent will be destroyed?”

His tone and demeanor preceded his words as he replied to the king’s sudden question.

“it’s a modern day full of unconventional power, but I think it’s still chaotic. It’s no use wishing for something that will be convenient for all of  us, or that no one would be disadvantaged.”

“Hmm… But I’m sure not every single soldier has a unified opinion.”

“Yes. But I’m sure it’s the same for that country.”

“That’s why I want to avoid an all-out conflict…..”

There’s no need for those who are not willing to fight to risk their lives for the sake of a few people who are only blessed with status. Above all, it’s short-sighted and contradictory for the other side to say that they will follow us by force at the risk of disturbing the peace.

Chris, who had heard the words from both sides, was first shocked and then indignant when she heard Leon’s words.

“I’ve never heard of any obligation to share information about “His land”.”

“No, there is no such agreement, it’s just a made up rule for the convenience of that side.”

“…… So you’re saying I’m being treated like a bad person just for convenience?”

“Well, don’t be like that.”

If we’re in a situation where there’s a possibility of war, you can’t just say, “Don’t worry about it”. When the possibility of war was hinted, Chris, who was worried about the consequences for her soldiers, agreed to make the appropriate arrangements and left them.

As a holy knight, Chris’s main duty was to explore “His land”, of course, but she was also a knight in the human world. She is a knight among knights who stands at the top of the world and paves the way for other knights to follow. This was also the role that the title “Holy Knight” had unintentionally given to her.

Leon, too, left the audience hall to make arrangements for his unstated departure. As he walked along, gazing down at the long, wide, red carpet that was empty of people, his footsteps came to a halt.

“I wonder if she’s okay…….”

As the chief of the operations staff and the head of the court magicians, Leon was able to grasp the domestic situation. As for the situation outside the country, he could anticipate the situation to a certain extent by not neglecting to gather all kinds of information.

Chris may look modest, but she’s quite stubborn and bold. In this case as well, once the war starts, she won’t hesitate to cut into the enemy lines like an arrow fired.

The only thing he couldn’t guess was the feelings of his old friend, whom Chris had happily reported as being in good health.

“Sage would be depressed if he knew that the sword he lent was the trigger for a fight. ……”

At this moment, Leon’s thoughts were not yet focused on the impending war with the neighboring country. He was sure that the purpose of the neighboring country was not to invade, but then he received a report from a secret messenger just three days later that the neighboring country had dispatched troops, he ordered troops to the frontline while still in shock.

Thus, the armies of the two countries, which had maintained peace for a long time, came face to face in the hills that stretched across the territories of both sides.

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