“Are you still sleeping?!”
A spinning kick to the back of my head. My eyes and, well, my lower half felt like they were releasing pure white…
“Still energetic in the morning…”. No, my partner is energetic precisely *because* it’s morning. He was piercing Sophia from behind. And bursting in without knocking, that kick was hardly what you’d call appropriate treatment for a hero.
“Ah… is it over already?”
“It’s over, Sophia! This guy has a meeting. You’re healed, right?!”
“I’m so disappointed… The injury is just as you see.”
As you can see, we had a vigorous morning. A refreshing and clear morning. Forgetting I was half-killed, I decided to work hard today. …Then, a second kick separated me and Sophia, sending me flying out of the bed.
“My apologies for the wait.”
I entered the conference room late, keeping the important figures of the Allied Forces waiting. I had expected the meeting to be held around the throne with Queen Anneliese presiding, but Manon informed me that Asht had interfered.
“You’re late, Count Shin!”
My refreshing morning mood plummeted with the angry shout of Marquis Ulysses Fowler, Commander of the Ashtal Expeditionary Force. I wish they’d show me some more appreciation, especially after we reclaimed Klinshberbach.
Two other imposing figures and Marquis Melissa Mallory were seated. From Rothfar came the Third Prince, Markemire Rothfar, and one subordinate. From Keibeck sat my fiancée, Marchioness Meredith McGregor… who was somehow trembling.
From Harm, our beautiful Queen Anneliese, along with Manon and myself… and then one other person, apparently named Yuma.
“Well then, let’s begin. Continuing the damage report…”
Yuma Bashar started things off. Why is your seat between Her Majesty Queen Anneliese and me? Should I kick your ass all the way to Anaheim?!
“Next, regarding the reorganization of each nation’s corps…”
Looking around, the cute Miss Melissa waved at me, but Miss Meredith couldn’t even meet my eyes.
Did Priscilla manage to arrange the annulment of our engagement? It’s fine to cooperate with Keibeck, but there are many who wouldn’t stand by if it led to marriage.
“Regarding supplies, from Lord Manon Guiyu of Hasuhanto…”
Come to think of it, Asht also meddled in this meeting. Is it because Asht doesn’t want Harm to take the lead?
Hasuhanto leans towards Rothfar, Asht wants to take the lead, and Keibeck, having suffered devastating damage, wants to return home. It seems they can’t quite unite.
That’s precisely why a competent man like myself must unite the Allied Forces as the Hero. I’m a Count of the Ashtal Empire, trusted by Queen Anneliese, and I have bonds with Keibeck. Manon from Hasuhanto will help me, and Rothfar… well, I’ll conquer them eventually.
“Lastly, there are calls for the impeachment of Hero Mikael Shin.”
“What?!”
It wasn’t me who exclaimed “What?!”. I wasn’t listening. Lady Annelyse already expressed surprise, so I didn’t have time to vocalize my own shock.
“It is said that when attacking Klinshberbach, Hero Shin did not assault the castle but instead left the front lines with a single woman. There are calls for accountability for failing to take the Demon Lord’s head and causing significant casualties to the Allied Forces.”
Who is it?! Who is trying to block my path to success?! Who is this jealous man trying to tear apart Anneliese and me?!
It’s true that I went to the castle and escaped with Christine. But if I hadn’t taken Christine out, the Annihilation Brigade would have been annihilated. The Demon Army fought desperately because that Demon Lord gave some troublesome final orders, leaving my responsibility about a third, I think…
“Mikael… is it true…”
The story about leaving the front lines with a woman is not a lie, though there was a reason. As for the Demon Lord, I couldn’t take his head because he wasn’t there. If he had been, the White Lily Corps wouldn’t have stood a chance. Even if I explained it all, it would just sound like excuses.
“It is the truth. There is no mistake about leaving the front lines with my subordinates.”
Heh! I have no regrets about that. If they say I should quit being a Hero because of it, I will… once I receive my back pay for the period I’ve worked.
“For a nobleman of Ashtal, such cowardice over a single woman!”
Shut up! If you weigh Christine against the Demon Lord’s head, it’s obvious which is heavier!
“Ashtal is just like that…”
You too, shut up! Rothfar, be prepared; I’ll erase you from the map eventually!
“Now that we’ve reclaimed Klinshberbach, let’s make peace with the Demon Lord and have our wedding in Ashtal.”
Miss Melissa, you lack a sense of urgency… but perhaps that’s alright. Once the war is over, mercenaries will be obsolete. It’s good to plan for my future early.
“Peace is out of the question until Rauenshtein is reclaimed. It would be like giving the Demon Lord a bridgehead.”
Is Rauenshtein more important to you than my marriage, Anneliese darling? Shin is sad…
“Please wait. The calls for impeachment are only from a segment of people, so we can suppress them. For now, Shin is indispensable as the Hero.”
Oh, I didn’t expect Yuma to provide covering fire. “From a segment of people,” and isn’t that segment just you, Yuma?
Besides, was there really a need to go into such detail? Is this some strategy of tearing me down before lifting me up? I’m not indebted to you.
“Indeed, the only ones who reached the castle were the Annihilation Brigade and the White Lily Corps, led by Shin. And it must have been Shin who repelled the two thousand Ogres who attacked the other day.”
You’re praising me quite a bit. Have you had a change of heart? Or perhaps you’ve fallen for me? You’re outside my range, but I might consider using you as a subordinate.
“To clear the Hero’s name, I propose we take Schreiaschwald with the White Lily Corps and the Annihilation Brigade.”
You’ve gone and done it now, Yuma! Why do we have to attack alone?! Let’s share the burden a little, everyone. Don’t push it all onto one person!
“The Ogres the other day were likely reinforcements from Schreiaschwald. It should be easy to take now…”
To head for Rauenshtein, there are two roads from Klinshberbach. One is through the city of Schreiaschwald, which we came through. To the east of it lies the city of Doishunomuharuto.
Schreiaschwald has no castle walls, making it easier for us to attack without siege weapons, but it’s very lonely to go alone. I wish someone would accompany me, but isn’t it becoming a foregone conclusion that we must attack?
“That’s a good idea. Ashtal will head for Doishunomuharuto as soon as our reorganization is complete.”
“Rothfar will do the same. They should have siege weapons over there. …Keibeck?”
“Our corps suffered heavy losses and will take time to reorganize…”
“In that case, Keibeck will defend Klinshberbach. Our Harm forces will head to Schreiaschwald with the Hero…”
“No!”
Trying to separate Anneliese and me, Yuma, your male jealousy is unsightly! We are about to enter the city of Schreia hand in hand.
“Her Majesty must command from Klinshberbach!”
Huh? Isn’t commanding my job? The Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces is Count Mikael Shin. That means me…
“Your Majesty, my White Lily Corps and the Annihilation Brigade will conquer Schreiaschwald. Please await good news from Klinshberbach.”
If I object carelessly now, they might bring up my involvement with women, making things worse. From now on, I need to participate more diligently in meetings and increase my influence, or Yuma will take all the credit.
“That’s the spirit of an Ashtalian man! Well said! Let’s begin preparations immediately.”
I don’t care about the Hero’s position, but I wish they’d treat me a bit more like one. From now on, I’ll reform myself and act like a Hero. First, we’ll take Schreiaschwald!
“Mikael… are you alright…”
In the now-empty conference room, Queen Anneliese worries about me. Leave it to me, Your Majesty. Someday, we’ll have children in our two kingdoms.
“The White Lily Corps is the strongest mercenary group.”
“But… even so, I must send Mikael to his death…”
It’s alright, Anneliese. The Ogres seemed to come from Schreiaschwald, and Yuma Bashar said that because the numbers were low. Maybe he thought it through and suggested it so I could clear my name.
“Your Majesty…”
“When it’s just the two of us, call me Anneliese…”
I didn’t say it lightly, but I once told Anneliese to order her subordinates to their deaths. I did the same to the White Lily Corps and the Annihilation Brigade. The result was many casualties.
I have to make Anneliese do the same thing again. The scar this leaves on my heart will never heal, but I want to overcome it together.
“Anneliese, we are the strongest mercenaries. I, especially, am the Hero. If the Hero dies, then the story ends, right? I won’t die easily.”
“But…”
I placed my hands on her shoulders and drew her close. Anneliese quietly closed her eyes. Then, a comet, Halley’s Comet, fell into the castle courtyard.
