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Volume 7 Chapter 4 Part 7

Theo smiled bitterly. As Siluca looked at him, she saw that with every passing moment his eyes were becoming more and more vigilant.

Normally Theo could be described as a pretty easygoing person, but now he was paying full attention to his surroundings, indicating that he was perfectly aware of the current situation on the battlefield.

Siluca didn’t know if that was something that he was born with, or was it an ability that he developed as a result of living in such a harsh and unforgiving environment like Sistina governed by the Rossini family for most of his life, but of one thing she was absolutely sure: that this ability of his is incredibly useful on the battlefield.

「And what about our soldiers? How many of them do we have at our disposal right now? 」

「We should still have around 20,000 of them left. 」

Initially, the numbers of Theo’s army reached between 40,000 and 50,000, but when the siege of the Castle Unicorn began to drag out, Theo ordered some of them to return to their homes to make sure that the prolonged campaign is not going to have any sort of a negative impact on them. He also made sure that everyone who returned received a proper payment for their service to him. People who were also immediately sent back home even if they wanted to help included women, elderly, and children.

Normally something like that would be unthinkable, but since Dartanian army was holed up inside of the castle for so long without showing even the slightest intention of leaving it, Theo was not all that worried about it and thought that he could afford it.

「Have everyone who’s not a trained soldier leave the camp immediately 」

Theo said naturally.

「Eh? 」

Siluca let out a surprised voice.

「So… are we going to start making preparations for the confrontation with Milza now? In that case, wouldn’t it be better to have as many troops at our disposal as possible? 」

「The reason why we gathered so many soldiers was because we wanted Milza to remain confined within Castle Unicorn for as long as possible, right? And since he now left the castle in order to confront me, the I’d say that their purpose has already been fulfilled. Even with the numbers advantage on our side, Milza is still an incredibly dangerous opponent, and I’m sure that many of our soldiers would still die while battling him and the Dartanian army. That’s why from now on, I want only Lords and regular soldiers to remain on the battlefield. 」

「Understood. 」

Siluca nodded her head in agreement with Theo’s words.

It is precisely because he was such a dangerous opponent why Siluca wanted to have as many soldiers to fight him as possible, but she could definitely see where Theo was coming from with his line of reasoning.

When they were fighting against the Rossini family, many people did end up dying for the cause that Theo was fighting for. Theo knew more than anyone else that it was the people’s duty to rise up and defeat a Lord who was imposing nothing but tyrannical reigns on his subjects, but that doesn’t mean that he was okay with that many people losing their lives in the process.

Siluca then went and gathered the soldiers who were willing to stay and fight together with Theo, and she told the rest just like Theo instructed her to: to tell the rest to go and leave the camp immediately.

However, those who were told to leave still had something to say before that.

「With all due respect… 」

One of the subordinate Lords of Baron Eugen Niklae, who continued to fight against Dartania even after Baron Eugen’s death at the hands of Milza timidly raised his voice.

「This isn’t Lord Theo’s battle against Dartania. This is the battle between us, the residents of Artuk, and Dartania. For generations we’ve fought against various threats, be it the Lords from other countries or the invasions of monstrosities from another worlds, and if there’s anything that we have inherited from our forefathers, it is the will to protect this land, which is our homeland. No matter who the enemy was and how many of them there were, people of Artuk always stood together with their Lords to push their threat back. That is why we will recognize no outsiders who are not willing to embrace this land’s culture and take care of it as if it was their own home as our new Lord. As he is now, Lord Theo Cornero does not meet those requirements. We want the old Lords to come back and rule over us again, and that is why we’re cooperating with him. 」

One by one, more and more representatives began to voice their support for these words.

Seeing this, Theo gazed at Siluca with the look as if he was asking her for help in his eyes. The reason why he did such a face just now was probably because he felt that what that man just said were the true feelings of the residents of Artuk.

「Please lead us into battle. Give us the courage to fight with that rumored Banner of yours! 」

Someone else said.

「Lord Theo… 」

Siluca looked back at him and silently nodded her head.

「Understood. 」

Theo let out a sigh and looked determined. Looks like he made his peace with them being prepared to die in defense of his country.

「If you have something you really want to protect… 」

Theo turned to his volunteers and raised his right hand into the air. Many of the people became surprised at the sight of Theo’s Crest forming, but then they became captivated by the sight of all the light threads forming the complex patterns on Theo’s hand and in the air in front of him.
It was the same with Siluca. No matter how may times she saw it, she was always mesmerized by this sight.

Theo then brought up the 「Patriot」Banner in front of the soldiers who requested it.

「… then please accept the power of this Banner. 」

The representatives excitedly took hold of the pattern of light as it descended upon them. That should probably be enough to encourage all of the soldiers who still had doubts in their minds to stand and fight.

「The strategy is as I have explained so far. You are all going to be hunters in this battle. Hide yourself in trenches and grassy areas, and when the Dartania’s army approaches, take them out when they still won’t see it coming. When the enemy approaches, move the fences and trenches wisely. Even if you manage to capture some of the enemy soldiers alive, you are to not inflict any sort of harm upon them. You have to remember that the people of the desert did not come to this land because they wanted it, but because they were forced to do so. 」

「Understood! 」

Those who received the power of the 「Patriot」Banner returned to their friends and comrades with bright faces.

「Thank you. You wanted me to give you courage with the power of my Banner, but the truth is that you’re the ones who gave me the courage by accepting it. 」

Theo’s expression was also bright and cheerful. He must have lost all his doubts now.

* * *
It was some time later that the Dartanian army invaded Theo’s camp. With Milza in the lead, they charged directly into the positions where the camp was located. The horse that the Viceroy of Dartania was riding easily jumped over the reinforced fence and pushed back the spear-wielding soldiers who were standing on the other side of it, crushing the defenders with its hooves.

As for the rest of Milza’s soldiers, it didn’t matter to them whether or not the fence would be passable for them as well or if they’ll barely be able to jump over it or if it’s going to be too high for them after all. Thanks to the power of Milza’s Crest, all that the warriors of Dartania cared about right now was following after their leader, no matter where he’d be taking them.

However, after galloping through the battlefield for so long, both the riders and their horses were exhausted, and there were some of them who didn’t manage to jump through the fence after all.

Some horses crashed into sharp-edged stakes and died, while others got their legs caught and fell. The soldiers of Theo’s army swarmed towards the soldiers that have fallen from their horses, pierced them up with their spears, and cut them into pieces with their swords.

(Siluca Meletes… you Witch!)

Terius couldn’t help it but curse Siluca in his mind. He also felt hatred and murderous intent towards her.