The most effective alarm clock was Christine’s heart attack. Making seventy people have a heart attack at once brought the captain joy as he leveled up.
“Why… even me…”
The silent, unsmiling response was terrifying. Her cold eyes seemed to see right through me. One day, I want to say, “To your eyes, I toast…”
“Deploy.”
The White Lily Corps and the seventy members of the brigade headed straight for the camp His Majesty the King had set up. Yuma Bashar and Iris, who were ahead, secured the Chancellor and the Royal Seal, while we were tasked with apprehending Lady Annelyse and the King.
There was still time before dawn. Sophia cast her orbs of light to encompass our formation, and we became a streak of light, charging through the darkness. “Deploy” was my line, so don’t steal it!
“So… what are we doing out on horses in the middle of the night?”
You were with me, weren’t you? You were there when we were talking about appealing directly to the King, even if it meant his removal!
“We are going to negotiate with His Majesty the King. Lady Annelyse will appeal directly to him to have the Harmonia forces retreat to Shidenzach or Denberg-Rheim.”
“That’s not all, is it… Are you serious about replacing the King with Annelyse?”
“…I am serious.”
“For Annelyse’s sake… not really, is it?”
Is my attraction to Lady Annelyse solely due to her “Bewitching Charisma”? Would I have done the same even if she didn’t possess that ability?
“Of course. I believe the current King must abdicate for us to defeat the Demon Army.”
This is my honest opinion. Under this King, Harmonia will perish. One could say it has already begun to perish from the moment they started fleeing. The problem is Annelyse’s involvement.
Her “Bewitching Charisma” might lead my plans in a different direction. I am heading towards an interesting ending desired by the White Lily Corps and the gods, and Annelyse is not part of it. Of course, I brought her along, but neither is Richarda.
…Should I include them? An ending with both of them included? Or will there be more? Is it okay to add more? Like a non-reserved seat on a bullet train?
My pounding heart, shortness of breath, and heart attack were caused by Christine. I clutched my chest and fell from my horse, running at full speed. A sickening sound came from my neck, or rather, my whole body made unpleasant noises, and my right arm pointed in an odd direction.
“…We must not waver.”
If you say it first, I’ll understand! The formation stopped because I fell! Don’t run me over! Stop, Alana!
“I’m okay now… except for my right arm… and my waist.”
“…That won’t do. Sophia, heal him.”
Don’t change the subject, you’re the cause of it all. The pain cleared the clouds in my head. For now, I need to focus on what’s in front of me. Yuma Bashar is holding the Chancellor Himmel and the Royal Seal. I will make Lady Annelyse Queen. The rest… I don’t know.
Despite the thorough healing of my waist, the treatment for my fractured right arm was perfunctory. Well, it’s necessary to give the knights a handicap, after all. I am, after all, the captain of the White Lily Corps. Before we resumed our journey, I squeezed Alana’s breasts—the one who ran me over. If you strike me, I strike back. My broken right arm hurts.
“Your Majesty, Duke Anneliese Flüge requests an audience.”
We split into four groups well before the Harmonia King’s camp. The main force consisted of myself, Richarda, Lady Annelyse, and about forty mercenaries.
The detachment on the right flank of the Harmonia army comprised Rufina and Orietta. On the left flank were Sophia and Alana. In the center were Priscilla and Christine. The remaining mercenaries were distributed among the detachments, but their numbers were small.
“We will use Richarda’s small golem for communication. If instructed, we can make a grand show.”
“Are we going to ‘do’ it…?”
Did you just say “do” it? Both “do” and “kill” are unacceptable! Were you listening to the explanation?
“Sophia, Rufina, launch diversionary attacks from both sides with large, flashy magic. Christine, perform your usual move from the center… No killing! We will demonstrate an overwhelming difference in power to crush the will to fight of both Harmonia and Rothfar. The rest are guards; do not rush forward. If enemies attack, flee.”
“If they come, can we kill them?”
Priscilla, standing before me, was so close her chest brushed mine. When she’s that close, I have to look up at her, so please stop when I’m giving orders and trying to look imposing. Should I have drunk more milk during my growth spurt?
“Priscilla, you can probably manage with the flat of your blade, right? Everyone else too! Minimize killing!”
And then, having split up, we were granted an audience with Lady Annelyse and His Majesty the King. The Harmonia King was advancing his entire army, and Rothfar was also gathering, so combat seemed unavoidable.
I wish the King’s direct subordinate knight order of one thousand men had also advanced. At worst, would I have to protect Lady Annelyse against these thousand men and escape…
“Your Majesty, thank you for granting us an audience.”
“A-Annelyse… You, you have finally understood my intentions…”
First impression: “Sickly.” His face was emaciated, his hair was all dishevelled and frizzy, and he was gnawing on his fingernails while trembling uncontrollably. This is the King of Harmonia?! Why are you obeying such a King…
“No, Your Majesty the King. I have come to advise you to retreat the army. I implore you to reconsider.”
The King’s tent was enormous, but inside were some ten knights and a few apparent civil officials. I don’t recognize Chancellor Himmel’s face, but since no one is by his side, Yuma Bashar must have done his job…
“Who are you… Flüge! Do you defy the King?!”
Honestly… Lady Annelyse is also a handful. Defying His Majesty the King is madness. If His Majesty the King orders an attack on Rothfar, we should just attack… Wait.
Wait? Uh, what? Why is Lady Annelyse defying His Majesty the King? His Majesty’s orders are absolute. It’s unthinkable to defy them. I came here to have Lady Annelyse join His Majesty’s forces…
“Baron Shin, please say something too. The Ashtal Empire is moving to help Harmonia, isn’t it?”
What is she saying? My Emperor doesn’t care who he fights as long as there’s an opponent. He is by no means moving his army solely for Harmonia.
“Lady Annelyse, it is true that the Ashtal Empire is attempting to cross the Rothfar border. However, if His Majesty the King orders an attack on Rothfar, we will simply annihilate them.”
“M-Mikael… What are you saying…”
What are *you* saying? Whether it’s Rothfar or Ashtal, we will annihilate everything at the command of His Majesty the King of Harmonia. We, the White Lily Corps, dedicate ourselves to His Majesty the King of Harmonia.
“L-Lady Annelyse… Defying His Majesty the King…”
Something is wrong, something is strange. Why is Lady Annelyse defying His Majesty? Defying… What did I come to see His Majesty the King for? Why isn’t Lady Annelyse obeying His Majesty…
“Mikael, get a grip!”
I’m not the one acting strangely, you’re the one who needs to get a grip. This is wartime; we need to unite under His Majesty the King to win. …We can’t win, not under this King…
“Enough of this pathetic display!”
The King of Harmonia threw his scepter with all his might at Annelyse. The scepter rolled on the ground, a small amount of blood staining it. It’s because she defies His Majesty the King, that foolish woman…
“M-Mikael…”
Blood seeped from her hand, which she used to press her forehead as she knelt. Yet, she still tried to appeal to me, the foolish woman… My woman!
“Lady Annelyse!”
What was I doing?! Had I been standing by and watching my woman get covered in blood?! I was the fool!
“You damn old man!”
Such disrespectful words towards His Majesty the King are punishable by beheading. I should have known from the start, what was I doing? She deserves a thousand deaths for scarring Lady Annelyse’s face. I picked up the fallen scepter and handed it to Lady Annelyse. Next, the crown and the Royal Seal. The crown belongs on the King’s head. I wanted to lop off his head and take it.
However, actually killing him is not allowed. In the strategy with Yuma Bashar, we planned to capture the King alive and imprison him. If I kill him, we can’t escape with him as a hostage. I placed my hand on my sword.
“Hold! What business do you have as a mere mercenary?!”
Are you an idiot! Don’t be so cheerful, old man! And then I knelt. Why? I intended to use Godspeed to knock off the crown, point my sword at the King’s neck, declare Lady Annelyse the new Queen, and take her hostage…
“Y-You…”
Godspeed, Mode Two. There are only a handful of people I can’t cut down with this, but right now, my kneeling legs can barely support me as I stand up. Why?! For some reason, I feel compelled to obey.
“Enough. Kill her.”
W-Wait a moment, my body won’t move! I drew my sword and stood trembling as the approaching knights closed in. My body felt heavy, my movements sluggish. My diet wasn’t enough.
Godspeed, Mode Four!
Zebra and Godspeed Mode Four destroyed the swords of the attacking knights. However, I could only destroy the swords of the three knights who came from the front. One Buster Sword that thrust from behind me went from my back to my stomach.
“Gah!”
Looking down, I saw a blood-covered Buster Sword protruding from my stomach. I severed the arms of two knights behind me, cutting them down. One of them stabbed my buttock, why? If Lady Annelyse hadn’t acted as a shield, I would have been skewered from front to back… Thinking about it makes me tremble.
“Annelyse! Are you still protecting him?!”
If she hadn’t protected me, I would have looked like an old toy, a pirate skewered and stuck out. But I was stabbed, so I’ll burst out. Determination Mode Three!
While still impaled by the sword, I sprang forward to the King of Harmonia, cutting the crown from his head and sending it flying towards Lady Annelyse. I really wanted to cut off his head, at least shave the top of his head into a tonsure.
“Annelyse! Pick up the crown and claim to be the new King of Harmonia!”
I should have considered this possibility. If Lady Annelyse could do it, it wouldn’t be strange for the King of Harmonia, her blood relative, to also be able to use it.
Bewitching Charisma… The King of Harmonia’s charisma is much stronger. It could be called “Mad Charisma,” capable of making people obey just by speaking. Without it, no one would follow him into such a reckless war against Rothfar.
“All of you are useless! Annelyse! Don’t think you can become ‘King’ just by snatching a crown. Kill them all!”
I can’t anymore. My determination has run out… I knelt on both knees, and the triumphant face of the King of Harmonia was hateful. I should have shaved the top of his head after all.
“Hahaha! I am the King of Harmonia… Gulp!”
He’s definitely, definitely, definitely waiting for me to be killed! Too slow, Yuma Bashar!
“Your Majesty, rest assured. Lady Annelyse will properly unite the future Harmonia.”
Yuma Bashar’s sword, which had pierced the King of Harmonia’s heart from behind, extended its tip right before my eyes. Isn’t he planning to kill me too?
“Y-You…”
The last word being “You…” I need to think about my words too. I’m already in pretty bad shape. My only hope is Lady Annelyse’s healing magic.
