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Volume 1 Chapter 5 Part 11

In order to reach their current position, they had to travel over the rocky mountains and down steep valleys, a feat that only trained people could achieve. Now that the Waldrind’s heavy knights have retreated back to their main unit after the west gate has been breached, there was no one who could help him break through Captain Grak who has become a literal wall of steel, completely blocking the only path through which the King of Selvis could have escaped to safety.

Blocked both in front and the back, the army of the King of Selvis was stranded on a narrow ridge. Having lost many of his vassals in the previous battle, King of Selvis had enough trouble leading his army as it was, and now on top that many of his soldiers became disoriented and started panicking and many of them slid off the ridge to their deaths while the others have chosen to flee. It was then that Lassic challenged the King of Selvis to a one-on-one duel and defeated him. It was a perfect win, but for Moreno this entire plan still felt as if it was incomplete, and it certainly was not fun

A perfect win. However, for Moreno, his plan was still incomplete, even more so since Siluca was instantly able to see through his

「Splendidly done. 」

Theo smiled and hugged Lassic.

「I was able to defeat King of Selvis thanks to Captain Grak and others cutting off his escape route. If it was not for them, things might not have worked out so nicely. That is also why I want to dedicate the Crest that I have taken from the King of Selvis upon his defeat to you, Lord Theo.」

Lassic offered King of Selvis’s Crest to Theo.

「No, I want you to have that Crest. 」

「Why though? 」

Lassic had a surprised expression when he heard that Theo did not want to take the offered Crest for himself.

「By defeating the King of Selvis, in a way, we have won this battle. Waldrind’s army is going to attack in earnest the next time Savis, so the next thing we should focus on is how can we do everything in our power to lose in the best way possible. 」

Siluca answered instead of Theo, to which Lassic nodded his head.

「Indeed. This battle began at the request of the King Selvis, and Waldrind was only supposed to act as his support. But now that he is dead, there is nothing stopping them from launching a full-scale assault, and when that happens, we are definitely going to lose to them. 」

「Then, what are we supposed to do to lose in the best way possible? Because right now, it is either going to be a choice between Lord Theo’s death or losing everything you have worked so hard to achieve all this time. 」

Siluca explained slowly.

「Lord Theo should surrender his lands while leaving the minimum amount of peerage possible for himself. All of the Lords of Selvis should become directly subordinated to Waldrind. As for you, Lord Lassic, I would like you to become independent and become the new ruler of Selvis, and one day, when Lord Theo regains the position that he had lost, I would like you to lend us your aid once more. 」

「And by one day, you mean when it is finally going to be the time for him to take back Sistina from Viscount Rossini? 」

「That’s right. 」

Siluca smiled and nodded.

「I don’t know when it will be. But we are not in a hurry anymore. Even if it is going to take a little detour, I am sure that Lord Theo will be able to make his dream come true. And as long as I live, I will stay by your side to witness that with my own eyes. 」

「That is… 」

Lassic had a very confused look on his face.

「… certainly not a bad piece of news for me, but if I am to be honest, that is not how I imagined becoming a ruler of an entire country. 」

「You are the one who killed the King of Selvis, Lord Lassic. And Lord Theo will be defeated by Waldrind’s forces, and so he is going to leave these lands. 」

Siluca smiled.

「I have asked the independent Lords who came to help us to leave the castle early tomorrow at the latest, since they have refused to submit to the King of Selvis, so now that he is dead they should have no reason to fight anymore. Similarly, the troops made form the people living in the villages controlled by Lord Theo will also be asked to leave the castle. You should abandon all the other gates and forts and fight by protecting the main gate to the castle alone. I think we will have to endure Waldrind’s attacks for about a day or so, but only so that we could let everyone involved in this battle know that Lord Theo has no choice but to surrender since he was defeated militarily. However, if the castle falls before that time, it is going to be a complete defeat for us, so we must prevent that outcome at all costs. 」

「But if he is going to throw everything away now, then what is Lord Theo going to be left with?! 」

「His fame will remain! 」

Siluca tightened her voice.

「His story would definitely be the one to remember. A young wandering Lord who suddenly appeared on the political scene of the continent, became a Knight, then a Baron and then a Viscount made a name for himself through sheer hard work and effort, was adored by all of the people who lived in the territories that he was controlling, and he even fought against the famous heavy knights of Waldrind…only to then disappear as if he was never there. With this level of fame, a comeback is always going to be possible. 」

「But that is not the only thing that is going to remain after me. 」

Theo continued from where Siluca left off with a smile.

「Not everything that will remain? What do you mean? 」

Siluca thought for a moment, but could not think of anything that would fit such a specific description, and so she asked Theo.

「You are going to remain. The witch who promised that she will make my dreams come true. 」

Siluca blushed all the way to the tips of her ears in reaction to Theo’s words.

「I-It is because I have made a contract with Lord Theo, so that kind of thing should only be expected! 」

Siluca tried to calm herself down, but the more she tried the hoarser her voice was becoming. She also never thought that such words would make her feel so happy. If Moreno had said the same words to her, she would have assumed that he was making fun of her, but for some reason, when Theo said them, they found a way right into her heart.

「I will accompany you as well! 」

Nobody knows how long ago it was, but Priscilla came forward with a determined expression and made a declaration as well. Siluca wanted to ban her from going with them, but now she has a debt of gratitude with her for saving Aishela.

(I can’t help but think that I got an excellent healer for free.)

Siluca told herself so, but for some reason she still felt uneasy.

*          *          *

Then came the next day.

On that day, no conditions were set for a cease-fire, but the forces of the independent Lords and the villager’s militia that had come to help were allowed to leave the castle, and after surrendering to Waldrind, they returned to their respective territories. Independent Lords lamented the loss of Theo, and it is said that some of them were even willing to give up their titles for him to be spared.

King of Selvis was killed in action, but although they no longer had a reason to fight, Waldrind was determined to fight for its honor. The entire army approaches the main castle through three castle gates. Theo’s army, which had been reduced to about 1,000 men, only put up a token resistance at each fort, and immediately withdrew and barricaded themselves in the main castle. The heavy knights dismounted and, aided by soldiers, climbed the mountain pass and surrounded the castle, after which they proceeded to attack.

A thousand men were enough to defend the castle. The stone-throwing machine installed on the defensive tower roared, and a heavy crossbow was fired from between them. Soldiers approaching the walls were sniped with bows and doused with flammable or boiling oil.

A fierce battle lasted all day, with heavy casualties on both sides.