Side: Prim
Mana, Lydia, Ludia, and I rode in the Order’s Guild beast carriage towards the border of the Estait Baronial territory.
We weren’t worried about Solemnne’s steam battleships attacking from the sea, thanks to the High Hunters like Yamato. However, there was a concern that Reine, the Baron of Valentia’s East, might dispatch troops to seize the Pope of Bacion. We had to be vigilant.
“The Estait Beast Knights are a problem, but the biggest issue is the possibility of the Anti-Beast King Organization appearing,” Mana stated.
“Indeed. It would be best if they didn’t show up, but if Baron Reine has betrayed Valentia and is in league with Solemnne, then contact with the Anti-Beast King Organization would be inevitable. I doubt they’ll send all their beast knights, but they’ll undoubtedly deploy more troops than the Holiner’s Guild,” Lydia added.
As Mana and Lydia said, we were wary of the Estait Beast Knights, who outnumbered the Holiner’s Guild by more than double, and the Anti-Beast King Organization led by Leonas attacking us in force.
The Estait Beast Knights numbered around 500, but we estimated they would deploy at least twice the number from the Holiner’s Guild. As for the Anti-Beast King Organization, we didn’t even know their numbers.
Therefore, both we and the Order anticipated an engagement of at least 500, possibly exceeding 1,000.
Our own forces consisted of 50 soldiers from Torencia’s 3rd squad, 48 from the Royal Order, and our group of six – myself, Mana, Lydia, Ludia, Marisa, and Eos – totaling 104.
However, all of the Royal Order and 12 from the 3rd squad were High Class. Mana and I were Ancient Class. Even if Reine deployed nearly 1,000 soldiers, over 80% of them would likely be Normal Class, so we wouldn’t be completely wiped out.
“Your Highness, I see them. As expected, armed soldiers are approaching from the Estait Baronial territory,” reported Miranda, a High Harpy and leader of the First Order, the Royal Order’s vanguard.
They’re here, just as we expected.
“So it’s true. What’s their number?” I asked.
“We can’t confirm the exact number, but there appear to be around 200 beast knights, and about three times that number clad in hunter-like gear,” Miranda replied.
That would be around 800 people. This meant we were outnumbered about eight to one. However, according to the report, the individuals resembling hunters were wearing low-grade leather armor, suggesting they were Normal Class. High Class fighters, with their significantly higher earning potential, would likely have better equipment.
Of course, this was just a preliminary assessment based on troops heading towards Bacion and didn’t rule out the presence of High Class fighters, or even their absence.
“I see. And Leonas?”
“He hasn’t been sighted yet. Will he show up?” Miranda asked.
“He certainly will. He probably plans to secure the Pope to gain an advantage. If he fails, he’ll be the one in a precarious position. This battle is a major turning point for both the Anti-Beast King Organization and Reine. It’s unthinkable that Leonas, and indeed Reine, wouldn’t appear for such a crucial fight,” Mana stated with certainty.
Mana was absolutely right. By securing the Pope, they likely intended to seal away the Inn of everyone else and gain the upper hand in future wars. However, failure would mean their own Inn being sealed. Even with the Pope’s gentle nature, he wouldn’t stand idly by while his country was threatened by petty ambitions and desires.
Of course, sealing Inn would carry immense risks not only for the sealed but also for the sealer. Sealing a large number of people simultaneously would likely endanger the Pope, so it was more probable that the sealing would be limited to the ringleaders.
“You are correct, Your Highness. I will instruct the lookouts to search for former Prince Leonas and Baron Reine,” Miranda confirmed.
“Yes, please do. However, it’s also fine if they aren’t found. If Prim is here, they’ll likely come out on their own,” I replied.
As Miranda and Mana suggested, my presence here was to draw out Leonas. Leonas had a tendency to pursue women he desired, regardless of whether they were married. If he was still after me, he would surely appear. While I found the thought repulsive, Leonas’s collusion with Solemnne was confirmed, and I wanted to deal with him here and now if possible. That’s why, despite my strong aversion, I was enduring this.
“Please, come in.”
The door to the VIP room assigned to us was knocked upon. Was it another report?
“Excuse me. It’s not confirmed yet, but we believe we’ve identified Baron Reine among the beast knights,” the Royal Order soldier reported as he entered. We could only exchange knowing glances.
“We will be in contact soon, and further reconnaissance is deemed impossible. The scouts have returned. I apologize, but please prepare yourselves.”
“Understood.”
Contact. As expected, Reine had appeared, so Leonas must be here too. I had no intention of showing mercy to those plotting the abduction and imprisonment of the Grand Priests Master and Pope of the Bacion Theocracy. However, I needed to convey Amister’s intentions and was also curious about Reine’s motives. She would likely offer some flimsy excuse about coming to our aid.
Side: Mana
The archers took their positions in the observation deck, and the High Class fighters disembarked from the beast carriage. The Normal Class members waited on the deck or behind the carriage. The total number of our forces was only 104. Facing us were over 800 beast knights and members of the Anti-Beast King Organization, formed in ranks. By normal standards, this was a desperate military imbalance. However, with two Ancient Class fighters like myself and Prim among us, overcoming such a disparity would not be difficult. Let us begin.
“I am Manalease Reina Amister Amisuter, the Second Princess of the Amister Kingdom. If you have no hostile intentions, please state your affiliation,” I announced.
After marrying Yamato, I adopted the name Manalease A. Mikami. The ‘A’ in my middle name stands for Amister, so in situations like this, it’s better to state it in full rather than abbreviate.
“Your Highness Manalease, it has been a long time,” one of the beast knights responded, removing his helmet. The face revealed was that of a female Ulfy with ambitious eyes. She was here, as expected.
“I am Reine Estait, Baroness of the United Kingdoms of Valentia. I did not expect to find Your Highness here, but we are in a hurry. If you could be brief, I would appreciate it.”
“We also have no intention of wasting time. So, let me ask you directly: why are you leading beast knights towards Bacion?”
“We received a request for reinforcements from the Pope of Bacion and are here to repel Solemnne.”
“Incorrect. I have already provided the Pope with proof of Reine’s collusion with Solemnne, so there is absolutely no chance the Pope would request reinforcements from Reine. Furthermore, if they were seeking reinforcements from Valentia, they would normally turn to Amister first. This leads me to conclude that the request for reinforcements is a lie,” I declared.
There was an even more direct reason to dismiss her claim. “If that’s the case, then we cannot let you proceed further.”
“That is a preposterous statement. Does Princess Manalease believe it is acceptable for Bacion to be destroyed by Solemnne?” Reine retorted.
“Leading a large army without sending a herald beforehand shows a severe lack of common courtesy. Moreover, in Esperanza, Bacion’s capital, Order and Hunters dispatched from Amister have already sunk Solemnne’s new vessels,” I countered.
When responding to a request for reinforcements, a large number of knights and soldiers would be welcomed into the country, and a herald would always be dispatched to avoid unnecessary confusion. However, no herald had been sent this time, and more importantly, no troop request had been issued by the Pope. Therefore, it was understandable to consider Reine, leading such a force, as an enemy rather than an ally.
Whether Solemnne’s battleships had been sunk or not, I hadn’t confirmed, but it wasn’t necessary. Even if there were some injuries, once they got close, things could be managed. Most importantly, with Yamato and Mako present, defeat was impossible.
“W-what did you say!?” Reine exclaimed.
“You cannot possibly be unaware of who I married, can you?”
“N-no way! Even with an O-rank Order, steam battleships won’t last long! We must provide aid immediately!”
“Why is it that you know about steam battleships?” I inquired.
“Of course, because I received a letter from His Majesty the Beast King.”
“Regarding that letter from His Majesty the Beast King, it originated from the King of Amister. While it details the specifics of Solemnne’s new weapons, it makes no mention of a vessel called a ‘steam battleship.’ So, how is it that you know Solemnne’s new weapon by that name?”
Reine’s face betrayed her realization of the blunder, but it was far too late. “Amister has already discovered your collusion with Solemnne. Your advance on Bacion is not for rescue, but to abduct the Pope, isn’t it? That is why not only the beast knights, but also the Anti-Beast King Organization is involved.”
Reine, the Baron of the East, had initially cooperated with the Anti-Beast King Organization. However, after Prim’s survival was revealed, she severed ties and sought refuge in Amister as proof. The fact that she now appeared with the Anti-Beast King Organization indicated that even the protection she sought from Amister was a falsehood.
“W-what evidence do you have for such a fabrication…?”
“Evidence? You only need to look at the man standing there to know. Isn’t that right, former Prince Leonas?” I stated. The reason I identified them as the Anti-Beast King Organization was Leonas’s presence. He was a Dragonewt half-High Tigari, possessing the strengths of both Dragonewts and Tigaris. His level was 47 when I last knew, but with Dragonewt-level magical power and Tigari’s physical strength, he was a G-rank Hunter with abilities exceeding his level. Or rather, since Valentia had not yet implemented the new rank system, he was still S-rank.
“Hmph, as expected of Mana. Or rather, does it mean you want to be embraced by me?” Leonas sneered, licking his lips with a vulgar expression. I felt genuine disgust.
“I would choose death over being embraced by you. Your fate, however, ends here.”
With that, I gestured to the woman beside me to remove her hood. As she did, pure white wings unfurled, and she glared at Leonas and Reine with hatred.
“It’s been a while, Leonas. And Reine.”
“P-Primrose Hydrangea…!?”
“Oh, it’s Prim. Does your presence here mean you’ve finally decided to be embraced by me?”
Reine was visibly shaken, but Leonas was projecting his own delusions. If such a man had become the Beast King of Valentia, the country would surely have been destroyed. In this regard, I was truly grateful to His Majesty Gumnos.
“Leonas, didn’t I tell you before? It’s impossible for me to offer myself to someone weaker than me.”
“Then, if I win here, that’s all there is to it. Isn’t that right?” Leonas challenged.
“I don’t mind. If someone like you can win, that is.”
Leonas was not Prim’s enemy in the traditional sense, but he was a traitor who drove Valentia to ruin. Therefore, Prim intended to finish him off here. Although he should ideally be captured alive, Leonas was a High Class fighter, and keeping him alive would only cause harm. My brother had also given his consent for his execution if necessary.
“But don’t you think it’s unfair if only I put my body on the line?” Prim asked.
“Oh? What do you desire?”
“Your life.”
“Very well. If you win, then take my life.”
However, it was strange. Why was Prim, an Ancient Foxy, so confident against Leonas, who was a High Class fighter, albeit a Dragonewt and Tigari half-breed, and not even level 50? The difference in strength was obvious, and there was no logical reason for Leonas to win.
“Prim, he’s plotting something nefarious,” Ludia whispered.
“I’m aware of that. He’ll do anything to get a woman,” Prim replied.
Even so, everyone present probably knew that much.
“I don’t know if he knows I’m an Ancient Foxy, but I can guess what he might be thinking,” Prim continued.
“In fact, that’s the only thing he could be thinking,” Ludia added.
Indeed.
“Well then, I’m going.”
“I’m not worried, but be careful,” I said. With that, Prim took out her Scarlet Wing from storage and stepped forward. Leonas, who had also stepped forward, seemed ready, holding his sword and shield. His grip on the shield seemed a bit odd, though.
“I’ll let you make the first move,” Leonas said with a lecherous grin. But Prim didn’t reply. Instead, she sprang forward and thrust her Scarlet Wing at Leonas.
“Just as I thought! That’s your habit!” Leonas cheerfully deflected Prim’s Scarlet Wing with his sword. With his left hand, he pressed a small metal rod he had concealed against Prim’s body.
She was right; he had the subjugation magic tool.
