Chapter 102: Duke Berlant
I began filling in the conditions for accepting the request on the form I received from Lord Eugene.
I will take instructions from Count Arclight, but I will refuse orders.
I will not accept instructions or orders from anyone else, even someone of higher rank.
The scouting/reconnaissance range will extend only up to the three towns on the Holtland Kingdom’s side.
If the Sutherland Kingdom’s army advances any farther into Holtland, the request will be considered void.
If I judge that scouting is no longer necessary, the request will be considered complete at the moment I notify Count Arclight.
The reply is to be delivered to Count Arclight’s residence in Lynas and to him in Brange.
After finishing the letter and sealing it, I handed it to Lord Eugene, stating that once it was sent, I would head toward the town of Brange.
“Please send this urgently to Prime Minister Brighton. The reply should arrive both at this manor and at Count Arclight’s location in Brange. When I return to the manor, please arrange it so I can receive the reply immediately.”
“Understood.”
His attitude completely changed the moment he saw the royal banner.
After putting the royal banner back in my magic pouch and letting the adventurers’ guild send it off, I headed home since no one from my group was there.
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I told my mother and the others that I would be going to Blange for a job, then left home and met up with Mintz and the others at the west gate like usual, heading toward the plains.
On the way, I told them I would be going to Count Arclight in Blange.
I explained that the request came because I could fly, but no one believed me—maybe Scott believed it a little.
But after he said, “If you can fly, prove it,” I moved a bit away from them, created a Perforated Balloon, then rode an Uplifting Breeze upward. Their shouts of shock and amazement mixed together.
Waving goodbye to the noisy group, I floated away.
“Seriously… he just went up into the sky.”
“Good grief. I knew his magic wasn’t normal, but flying?”
“I had a feeling he might, but still…”
“As expected of Leon. He’s on a different level.”
“I’ve always thought so, but Leon is… not normal.”
“That’s beyond ‘not normal.’”
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Flying west along the Blange highway from Linus, I could see Southernrook, Huberly, and beyond them Elvira.
The destination—Blange—was seven towns away, a three-and-a-half-day trip by wagon. I could reach it by today easily, but earlier is better.
Passing Danies, Glenka, and Volkan, I spotted a noble army encampment before Blange, so I shifted away from the road and lowered altitude.
I assumed the largest camp belonged to Count Arclight, but something felt off.
There should’ve been three viscounts’ forces plus Arclight’s—four armies total—but there were more than twice as many camps.
Even the smaller camps had around 250–300 men, and the larger ones seemed to have more than 500.
Flying at about 20 meters, I was completely visible, and people below pointed and shouted.
A group rushed out of a tent—they looked like mages.
Uh-oh.
A fireball shot upward, passing under me as I quickly climbed. Bursts exploded behind me—Bang! Bang!—and the uproar grew worse.
Remembering what was written in the request letter, I understood why they entrusted the royal banner to me.
I quickly pulled out the banner from my magic pouch.
It was about 1.6 by 1.7 meters, and including the pole, not even three meters long. Holding the lower part of the banner, I circled widely, slowed my speed, and zig-zagged toward the largest camp.
The moment the banner caught their eyes, I saw someone frantically shouting to cease fire.
A particularly large encampment displayed a crest—a red wolf, roaring, like the royal banner, but outlined in black.
I’d seen that in Kreis before—Duke Berlant’s crest.
A man rushed out waving, and behind him stood a noble-looking man with guards.
I’d heard rumors that noble forces had moved west after the forced mobilization ended. Apparently Duke Berlant—higher ranking than Count Arclight—had come as well.
If I ignored the duke and went straight to Arclight, they might cause trouble later. I should at least greet him.
I descended slowly at a jogging pace and landed, scattering sand. I used a gentle breeze to blow the dust aside, then approached the waving man.
“Halt! Who comes flying from the sky bearing the royal banner!?”
“I came under request from Prime Minister Clave Brighton, seeking Count Brian Arclight. However, I saw Duke Griffen Berlant’s crest and came to greet him. I was told Count Arclight was the commander here—is that not the case?”
“The duke now commands the entire army.”
So the noble army arrived before the royal message did.
“Then I shall present the royal banner to Duke Berlant and, following the Prime Minister’s request, ask for instructions.”
“Bring him here.”
The man with the duke’s crest on his chest stiffened to attention, then guided me forward.
At the duke’s front, he faced me.
“The banner.”
I handed it over and also took out the letter from the Prime Minister.
As soon as the man receiving the banner stepped back, a shout rang out—
“You stand before His Grace Duke Griffen Berlant! Kneel!”
As expected. A pain, but I had my own schedule. I knelt silently.
Another man snatched the letter from my hand—rather rude.
After several moments of reading:
“It says you accepted the scouting request. How far can you fly?”
…Am I allowed to answer directly? No attendant to relay for me.
“Answer him!”
Annoying.
I raised my head.
“I have accepted the request, but I placed conditions, and I have not yet received a reply.
Under those conditions, I will scout up to the three towns past Blange.”
“Then scout the situation around Madras and Emilia, across the border.”
“That is within the request, so I will do it. However, I informed Prime Minister Brighton that if my conditions are rejected, I may abandon the mission midway.”
“You insolent brat! Mind your tongue before His Grace!”
Ever since handing over the banner, their attitude changed.
“Your name is written as Leon. Are you the one who caused the uproar at the Warrens Company in Kreis?”
“I did use magic there due to matters involving the Warrens Company…”
“What were these conditions you gave the Prime Minister?”
“I was to take instructions only from Count Arclight and refuse orders. I would accept nothing from anyone else, no matter how high their rank. But since circumstances have changed, I came here to the duke’s camp. If these requirements aren’t accepted, I will forfeit the request.”
He nodded silently, so I stated the rest:
Scouting range: three towns into Holtland.
If the Sutherland army advances farther, the request ends.
The request ends when either I deem scouting unnecessary or the duke declares it complete.
“That is troublesome. On paper I command the forces, but His Highness is also here.”
“I do not know your internal affairs, but please make the chain of command singular. Conflicting instructions cost lives—including mine. I will not follow reckless orders.”
“You! How dare—!”
“This is what I mean. People shouting from the side only cause confusion. Worst case, the enemy learns everything.”
“Then you don’t mind the enemy knowing you can fly?”
This man… sharp.
“I want them to know. It deters them. Since no battle has started yet, realizing that their layout is visible from the air will make them hesitate.”
“Even if we win, it lessens our gains.”
“That has nothing to do with me. Battles only trouble adventurers and townsfolk.”
Whether they win or lose, they’ll squeeze taxes. And if they lose, life in Linus will suffer.
“…Very well. I accept your terms. Report directly to this camp. I will order the others not to interfere with you.”
“Understood. I will report here tomorrow morning. Now then, excuse me.”
Not wanting to cover them in dust, I stepped back, created a Perforated Balloon, rose slowly with a gentle Uplifting Breeze, and flew toward a distant forest.
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“He is quite an interesting man.”
“Your Highness—you were watching?”
“I heard rumors of a man who could fly. What kind of magic is that?”
“To my knowledge, he should only be able to use wind magic.”
“To your knowledge? You knew of him before?”
“The fall of the Fleming marquis family began with him. I cannot say more here.”