Chapter: 46. Mobilization
“Cough…! In any case, the plan is arranged like this! We need to pay attention to… uh, pay attention to the speed of our march and achieve victory by surprise. We must block the canyon ahead and intercept the enemy before they arrive! Then… then… tsk, Belis, you should help me say a few words… I’m not good at this…!”
Time rewinds slightly.
Xue Fei stands on a makeshift platform in the snowy area, quietly seeking help from Belis beside her.
Hearing this cute, pitiful request for help, Belis retracts her admiration and responds softly with her hands clasped in front of her.
“No, Your Highness, I believe it’s unnecessary to say anything else.”
“Huh? Isn’t it inappropriate not to say anything? This is a military mobilization speech. Just look at how the commander of the Fifth Legion is handling this.”
“Do you have the right to critique me, Your Highness…?! Hey… I think it’s really unnecessary to say more. Don’t you notice that these soldiers don’t care what you say at all?”
“Are they all looking down on me?”
“Quite the contrary, as long as you’re here, there’s no need for any mobilization.”
“Surely it can’t be… um?!”
Why do I hear someone crying down there?
The scene.
Actually quite magnificent.
Centered around the makeshift wooden platform where the two princesses stand, stretching for miles below are the soldiers of the Second Legion.
The bitter cold is a bully that fears strength; the solitary pine standing independent in the mountain gorge appears desolate. Yet this vast army stretches miles, clad in armor and beating drums, swords shone with brilliance, all in perfect unison, holding torches high, black wings clustered together, making the icy world feel utterly insignificant.
But amidst this expansive sea of soldiers, now and then there are whispers of “no future” sobs.
Xue Fei’s hearing is quite good.
Listening closely, she can clearly discern the words being spoken.
“Your Highness is really here… the Queen didn’t lie to us! She really has returned!”
“Heavens… thank you, Lord, Princess Xue Fei had us go fishing to train at first, and I didn’t understand why… only to find she led the vanguard to fight against Aulus! Even risking herself being surrounded, she didn’t want us to face danger… I appreciate her good intentions, but Your Highness… do you know we are an army, born to die for you!”
“Bastards! I’ll give you a punch! You will not trample on the intentions of Your Highness! Damn the vanguard! If my squad goes with the princess, she definitely won’t be taken by the heroes of the Aulus Kingdom! Damn it… who knows how much suffering she endured in the kingdom… if it weren’t for His Majesty, the Demon King holding us back, we would have flattened damn Aulus a long time ago!”
“The ambush plan is already on the agenda, right?
If His Majesty continues to hold us back, we won’t listen to him anymore! As long as the princess has returned… woo… what a relief! What a relief!”
Ah?
Why do my soldiers seem to care about me more than my own father?
Emotions are contagious.
That post-disaster feeling seems to suggest that it is not Xue Fei who is the captive, but them, returning home after enduring hardships.
Xue Fei turns to look behind her.
Before she arrived, there was a throne built from solidified snow and reinforced with magic.
This is the sentiment of the Second Legion and their way of welcoming their beloved ruler back.
But… but isn’t this chair a bit too grand compared to the Demon King’s throne…?
Xue Fei does not sit down, not because she feels unworthy, but because she has an unsettling feeling that the chair might collapse.
“Do you see… this is the difference about Her Highness. We stand, she stands. We are here, she is here. She will always fight alongside us.”
“Ha… I knew it, even if it were built, she wouldn’t sit on it; we really did this for nothing.”
Xue Fei stands at the front of the snowy platform, blinking in confusion.
As Belis said, she really hasn’t said much at this military mobilization meeting, and the soldiers’ battle enthusiasm has already soared to an extraordinary height.
“Your Highness! Just give the orders directly! We’ve heard about it, they are just the rebel army! Smash them!”
“Right, smash them!”
——Bang bang!
Hmm?
Xue Fei focuses her gaze, startled.
Goodness… they pulled out giant fish frozen into blocks from somewhere and smashed them onto the snow, boosting their morale.
Like a suicide squad, they passionately speak their final words before heading off.
Having discarded their rations, it signifies they are ready for heroic sacrifice, not wanting to let Princess Xue Fei’s reputation down.
Xue Fei clenches her fists.
Her six wings tremble slightly behind her.
Pointing at the scattered giant fish on the ground, she suddenly raises her head and scolds!
“Pick up your fish!”
“Your Highness… but!”
“Damn it! You might still be able to live! I haven’t said anything yet! What are you doing giving up without my permission? I don’t remember telling you to have such an idea! Now, pick up the fish!”
You might still be able to live.
——Referring to the giant fish frozen into blocks.
“…Boys! Do you see? This is our merciful princess! Who says going to battle means facing certain death? If the princess says to pick it up, then pick it up! The battle hasn’t started yet, don’t make up your minds that you are doomed; listen to the princess, you all have to survive, damn it, it should be those traitors!”
Some veterans who have followed Xue Fei for ten years silently picked up the fish still alive within the ice blocks.
Holding the giant fish close.
That feeling could almost melt the frost.
“Your Highness.”
“Hmm?”
“Your Second Legion seems to have become stronger again.”
“Really?”
“Hey… the concentration of your magic is too high; you can’t feel it. But from my perspective… this progress is quite astonishing.”
It’s normal that the princess can’t sense it.
Given her magical reserves, from her perspective, it might just seem like a few drops of water in a vast lake, not worth mentioning.
But if Belis were to sense it…
One cup of water, with an extra third, is impossible to miss.
If previously the average strength of the Second Legion was between two and three wings.
Then now the average strength has likely reached between three and four wings.
This average has completely surpassed the three wings average of the First Legion.
Spending years fishing in the icy lakes has led to increasing results from the training.
Among the Second Legion, there are actually quite a few familiar faces known to Xue Fei.
For example, several young soldiers pushing to the front row, Xue Fei immediately spots a few lively characters!
“Ah… you all came, and it’s good you’re still alive, big guy! And… uh… Two Hundred Million!”
Just then, the sound of weapons hitting the ground resounded.
A few young men exchanged glances, their eyes surprisingly filling with tears.
The soldiers now show a few more years on their faces, no longer the young and naive they once were.
He stared blankly at the three black feathers he had finally trained beside him.
“Does Your Highness still remember when I was two wings…? I thought I was insignificant in Your Highness’s eyes… I didn’t hold back the Second Legion… does Your Highness even know this!”
“That’s not surprising.” The big guy beside him crossed his arms in front of him, showing an understanding chuckle, seemingly mocking the three-winged youth for still being too young, “Your Highness pays equal attention to every soldier. Do you think the Second Legion respects her so much because she is a princess? No, it’s just because she is our queen. You, kid, have a long road ahead, don’t let down Your Highness’s expectations.”
Hmm? What are you all talking about?
Xue Fei remembers that young man.
——Because he joined the army from the richest family in Campbell.
It is said that his family fortune amounts to two hundred million copper coins of the Demon Territory.
Then there’s nothing more to say.
The army needs new fishing rods, if you have the capability, contribute more; two hundred million copper coins, you can’t even finish it yourself!
This young man is quite generous, representing his family to donate to the army, solving many financial issues.
So Xue Fei remembers him.
He is Two Hundred Million, a philanthropist.
Seeing his moved expression, perhaps he is about to donate again; truly a great benefactor.
“Take a good look, Your Highness, at these loyal soldiers of yours.”
“I’m watching.”
“Hmm, take a good look, and then… later, please don’t be merciful; order them. This is Your Highness’s power and duty. Of course, if you can’t bear it, I will do it on your behalf. Many of them will die; there won’t be any battle without casualties, Your Highness… you should understand this better than I.”
“I understand, but… as for casualties, that may not be the case.”
“Huh?”
Upon hearing this, Belis abruptly turns her head.
Her silver hair dances with the falling snow.
Xue Fei’s purple eyes shine like the suspended moon in the sky.
Once her silver hair falls on her shoulders, the insignia of the Second Legion glimmers.
That smile is filled with a gentleness, confidence, and playfulness that the cold moon lacks.
“I can’t say much about other things~ but as long as I’m here, nobody is going to die in today’s operation, okay?”
