2-3 Start of Operation

“What the hell are they doing, that is ……?”

Raising a white flag at the question he should have answered himself, Leon ruffled his hair on horseback. The soldiers who followed, while maintaining an orderly formation also screamed as if they couldn’t hide their agitation.

—-in response to the report of the dispatch of the Lurain army which can be regarded as a declaration of war, the Fermina army just recently declared its departure as a legitimate defense measure. Leon was aware of the disadvantage of being the first to take the lead in terms of troops and he had assumed various situations along the way and was in command, but when he saw the scene unfolding on the other side of the border, he couldn’t help but end his statement with a question mark.

“Well, what should I do about this……?”

There was not much of a difference in distance between the two sides’ capitals and the border. There is no particular terrain that makes formation difficult and that is why the Lurain soldiers, who are advantageous in terms of time, are able to build a line of defense ahead of time before the war starts. Leon just thought they were waiting for a perfect system.

How about that?

“Christia. Have they come for a picnic in full gear?”

“It would seem so. Brother, over there.”

A large encampment was being set up on a small hill in the vicinity. Some were taking water, others were building fires and so on, but it was clear that their purpose was no longer to fight. Leon’s gaze drifted to the tips of Chris’s fingers and then he relaxed as if the poison had been drained out of him and he silently put away his sword. Chris, who had given off an unapproachable vibe when she left, was now looking across the border without trying to hide her distracted expression.

“Leon?”

A woman with a strange expression appeared in front of their eyes. Her long, pale chestnut hair was flowing and her dark brown eyes were filled with questions as she looked at the two standing there.

She was probably around twenty years old. She looked younger than Chris, but she’s older than Leon. Her black-and-white military uniform and her tight face, which was still young, harmonized naturally.

No one would have any doubt that this was her formal attire. She, Lefilia, the Commander-in-Chief of the Eastern Army of Lurain, was such a military person.

“If it isn’t Princess Christia. Is this some kind of exercise?”

“…… It’s been a while, Lefilia. It looks like you’re doing well.”

“…… I feel bad about the difference in treatment, General.”

Chris and Leon opened their mouths with caution. Lefilia lifted the corner of her mouth and smiled, as if she couldn’t guess what was in their hearts.

“You’re the one who said “shouldn’t you call me prince?”, aren’t you? Take responsibility for your past words, Prince Leonhard?”

“Alright, alright. So what are you doing here?”

“That’s what I want to hear. It seems to me that you are releasing a little too much energy for a drill. The border guards will be worried.”

“Hmm?”

“Huh?”

A strange silence ensued. There was no hint of suspicion from Lefilia, who tilted her head as she peered at them.

In the first place, even if it was odd, the activity of the Lurain army was too much. Even if it was a defensive strategy, they should have positioned themselves a little further away from the border or invaded our territory to make a clear statement of their intentions. This would be like begging the border guards to report them.

–That means, after all.

“You’re not trying to set things up with us, are you?”

“That’s not a very funny joke for you….. What good does it do us to point a sword at our only ally now?”

A metallic sound interrupted the flexion of Lefilia. Leon, who began to remove his armor, sat down on the grass. He hung his arm loosely on the sword scabbard that stuck out instead of a wand and looks up at Lefilia with a childish smile.

“I’m beat. You and this group of messengers are quite cannibalistic.”.

“…………?”

“You made us feel like you wouldn’t hesitate to restrain the monopoly of the benefits brought by the Holy knight by force. And that was right after Chris came back. I guess your mission was also used as an act of intimidation.”

The messengers hadn’t been carefully monitoring Chris’s movements. It was just a coincidence that Chris’s return coincided with the time of Lefilia’s mission, when they made a statement that hinted at a military conflict.

“……The purpose of sending the messenger in the first place should have been to make it clear that there was no intention of war in this mission……Hmm. I wonder if the purpose was to make us collide head-on and eradicate each other.” (Lefilia)

“What the heck …… what are you going to do if you weaken your people and you don’t have enough strength in case of an emergency?”

“There seems to be someone conspiring to make you think I’m doing something nefarious. They think that if we go to war, we won’t have time to think about anything else. But, what……” (Lefilia)

Lefilia cast a meaningful smile as she crawled her fingertips around her chin.

“Has my credibility fallen low that a war is meant to start with the scent of tricks. Or is it just that you’ve misjudged the situation?” (Lefilia)

Lefilia was absolutely right. Even if he had just understood the situation now that he was confronted with a new and correct argument, it would not eliminate the fault.

She tapped him on the shoulder, as if to comfort him. He turned his head away with his hand on his chin, imitating Lefilia.

“Well, we’re not without blame for the confusion. But there is a procedure for breaking the peace that has been made. We can’t be so barbaric as to turn a blind eye to those rules.” (Lefilia)

“Rules for war? I’d hate to have the opportunity to abide by them.”

“No doubt. By the way, since you’ve lost your target and your hands are free, why don’t you help us with our strategy?”

“Strategy? Speaking of which, what are you trying to do in a place like this?”

With a big smile, Lefilia was called by name and looked back. When she was done with the soldiers who ran up, she turned to Leon again.

“From now on, our army will pump up the water on the border and investigate it.”

“Survey …… of the border?”

“Please stop!”

Leon’s reaction was plain to Lefilia, who proudly said she couldn’t hear it. Instead, Chris, who had been watching the exchange from a step behind, stepped forward to stop her from continuing.

“That’s forbidden. It’s a form of magic beyond human comprehension, sitting on the skin of nature.”

“I know, I’m here knowing the power of the border and the horror it brings.”

“I know the horror of the border better than anyone here.”

Both of them stopped talking, as if they had lost the will to say more. With the silence that fell, the air in the place became cold and tense. Leon, who had been left out of the conversation, opened his mouth as the sparks from their gazes threatened to turn into a sword fight.

“Isn’t it fine, Christia?”

Both of their eyes pierced Leon’s. Contrary to Lefilia’s shining eyes, Chris glared at her own brother without even trying to hide her dissatisfaction.

“This is near the border. If she fails, Fermina will be affected.”

Do you understand? Chris’s gaze flashed as if to fill in the missing words.

“It’s not a cheap decision or idea, because it wasn’t long before we were supposed to investigate the border of the Scarlet Country”

The moment the word “Scarlet Country” came out of Leon’s mouth, Chris, who was about to open her mouth, stopped moving. Leon grabbed the sword sheath and stood up, as if sewing through the gap that was born.

“And it’s not good for our soldiers to be fighting each other right now. Let’s give enough time to listen to each other.”

Aside from Lurain’s soldiers, who were already engaged in operational activities, Fermina’s march this time was for a battle to stop a large-scale invasion.

In the depths of Lefilia’s gaze, Fermina’s soldiers stood patiently awaiting orders, with a murderous spirit in the air. If either of them took decisive action here and now, the surface fissure would radiate out and the peace of this place would be a thing of the past in the blink of an eye.

At the same time, Leon nodded his head in his mind. Indeed, Lurain’s messenger must have read this far and thought of using Lefilia’s strategy.

It was clearer than day that Fermina would repel them if she were to report this operation to the messenger. In the worst case scenario, the operation itself might be aborted. On the other hand, if the details of the operation were vaguely reported, that would be fine too. As soon as the Fermina army that went on the expedition understood that Lurain’s plan had no other intentions, no real harm would come to the Lurain army.

If Fermina were to declare war without question, it would be their side that would be in violation of the regulations. On the other hand, if they show their cooperation, they can spread the damage caused by the failure of the operation between the two countries. As long as they listened and cooperated, they can’t ask Lurain to take the blame. In fact, things are progressing in that direction.

–That doesn’t mean that it’s correct to remain silent. At a later date, something should be done to the messenger’s plan.

“…… I understand. If it’s brother’s decision, I have no further objection.”

Chris put down the sword she was holding and bowed her head to Lefilia, her lips pursed.

“I’m sorry, Lefilia. I got emotional.”

“No problem. That spirit is due to a misunderstanding that originated in this operation. I apologize for the lack of explanation on my part.”

Furthermore, while excluding Leon from the target, Lefilia apologized, following Chris’s example.

“So, what are you going to do?”

“Oh. First of all, I need you to hold this.”

Lefilia took out a stick-shaped object from the bag on her waist and handed it to Chris.

“……will it explode again?”

“No, it won’t, because I put a different amount of effort into it than I did the other day.”

Chris, who had been watching intently, silently deployed her protective magic. Lefilia coughed proudly and held up her palm.

“Luna Walt.”

A blinding sound of water tickled their hearing. A clear blue ball of water floated by Lefilia’s palm, its outline shimmering in an irregular pattern.

“Well, it’s just water. My magic is keeping it afloat right now, but what happens when I stop supplying it with magic?”

“……It falls to the ground.”

“Your expensive shoes are going to get soaked.”

It goes without saying which is which.

“That’s what happens if you don’t do anything. Now, hold up what I handed you.”

Chris looked at the stick-shaped object she had received quizzically, but obeyed.

The answer was given by action. Chris looked up and saw Lefilia’s arm swinging down and the water splashing away from her hand.

“Oh …….”

Before she knew it, Leon, who had sat down again, let out a cry of admiration.

“…… I see, is this the basis for your confidence?”

The water that had once scattered in the air was now holding a beautiful spherical shape at the tip of the stick-like tool Chris held up. As they looked at the scene curiously, Lefilia turned her chest.

“Hmm… how’s it? It’s a magic tool that fixes fluids and consumes as little magic power as possible.”

“You hit the bull’s-eye this time. Your prestigious name will cry.”

“What prestigious name, ……?”

“In some circles, it’s known as ” Water City’s Ponkotsu (Unreliable) Toy Box.”

Leon’s mouth closed and Lefilia’s silent face turned bright red to her ears.

“Yoou! You’re always like this!　Why do you always have to…?”

The words that followed could not be called language. Lefilia, who has her hair turned upside down and Leon, who laughs at it with a bitter smile, are like cats and their owners who are in a bad mood.

“Rather than that, give me an overview of the operation quickly. I’m not going to stay here for no reason, my army doesn’t have time for that.”

“…………”

The barren exchange, which Is far from terrible, ended for the time being with a single word of the cause. While Leon was trying to take control of the conversation with a clever but nasty trick, Chris was poking at the magic tool and the water that was still absorbed in it with interest.

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