40.Come To Me 【餌は大きく、目立つように】
夜明け前、待たせていた兵士が動かすトロッコでローヌからアロセールまで戻って来た一二三は、待っていたオリガにとりあえず予定通りに進んでいると伝えて眠りについた。
領主が眠る間、アリッサ率いるトオノ領軍は、次の作戦に向けて慌ただしく準備をしていた。一部の兵たちは一般市民の避難を手伝い、家財を積んだ多くの馬車がフォカロルへ向かう街道から外れた農村へと移動する。
移動を命じたのが一二三だったことに、オリガは感動し、カーシャは怪しみ、アリッサは理由を聞かずに了解した。
「ウロウロされたら邪魔だし、巻き込まれて数が減ったら税収が減る」
と、一二三が理由を述べると、オリガは感動し、カーシャは納得し、アリッサは一二三が言うならそうなんだろうと納得した。
半ば強制的な移動だが、兵達の気楽な雰囲気もあり、戦時中だから仕方ないという言い訳でどんどん移動が進んで行く。
アリッサが住民に向かって言った、「明後日には帰ってこれるよ」という言葉には半信半疑ながら、こんな子供が落ち着いていられるくらい余裕なのか、と住民は受け止めていた。
一部の兵たちは、夜通し戦闘の準備をしていたため、まだ夢の中にいる。
交代で準備の続きをしている兵たちは、二車線のレールに数台ずつ並べられたトロッコの最後尾の車両に投槍器を固定している。前にある台車は牽引役兼予備の槍の輸送車となる。
「作戦はわかってる?」
「えっと、見える位置に敵が来たらトロッコで逃げながら槍で攻撃。面倒な魔法兵は伏兵でできるだけ狙い撃ち。フォカロルに着いたら門を閉めてまた槍で攻撃」
あってる? と少しだけ背が高いオリガの顔を見上げるアリッサに、そっと微笑む。
「ええ、問題ないようね。じゃあ、私は一二三様を迎えに行くから、残りの準備をお願いね」
たたたっと駆けていくアリッサを見送るとカーシャは苦笑いしながら呟いた。
「なんだか、戦争前の雰囲気じゃないね」
「負けると言っても“フリ”だけなのよ。フォカロルへ戻る頃には相当数の援軍が王都から到着しているはずだし、最終的にはヴィシー軍だけが数を減らして撤退するという流れは揺るがない」
「信用、してるんだね」
誰のことを、とは言わない。
「当然です」
不機嫌に鼻を鳴らして歩き出すオリガに、カーシャは複雑な表情で続く。
(フリ、ね。何もなければ、アタシもこのままオリガと話し合う時間が取れるけれど......)
今日この日まで、少しずつ話す機会が増えてきたオリガとカーシャ。
相変わらずオリガは素っ気ない態度を取っているが、完全に無視される事は無くなった。
このままゆっくり、元の間柄に戻れたら、いつかまた二人で自由な冒険者に戻れるかもしれないと淡い期待も浮かぶ。
準備万端整った頃、ローヌの方面から馬と人の足音が響いてきた。
ローヌ側の出口で見張りに立っていた領軍の兵が、旗を振って味方に接敵の知らせを送る。フォカロル側の門の上に居た同僚からの了解の合図を確認すると、見張り兵は一目散に逃げて行った。彼はそのまま農村へ行って避難民の護衛をするように言われている。
当然、命懸けで戦う気は全くない。敵と切り結ぶのは領主の役目であり楽しみなので、その機会を奪うことは許されない。
そんな言い訳をしながら見張り兵が街から離れていく頃、投槍器がセットされた二台のトロッコの間で、一二三は仁王立ちで敵を待っていた。
手には鎖鎌。袴は紐を使って裾を簡単に縛って、腰には刀を提げていた。
手持ち無沙汰に分銅を振り回している彼の両脇では、トロッコに乗り込んだ兵士が投槍器を構えて今か今かとそわそわしている。
速度を落として無人の街の中を突き進むヴィシー軍は、一二三の姿を見つけて号令を上げて止まる。
この時点で、ヴィシー軍はローヌでの被害に逃げ出した者や所属する街へとまとめて撤退した集団もあり、9000程へ数を減らしていた。その事も、ブエルの怒りを燻らせる燃料になっている。
先頭には、鎧兜を身につけたブエルが、立派な馬にまたがって一二三を睥睨する。
「なんだ小僧。邪魔をするな。そこをどけ!」
ほんの二言、三言の間に、ブエルは怒り爆発したらしい。最後は怒鳴り声になっている。
ニヤニヤと笑っている一二三は、背筋を伸ばした見事な礼を見せた。
「お初にお目にかかる。オーソングランデの子爵、トオノ領を治める一二三と言う」
「おや、どうやら俺の名はヴィシーでもそれなりに有名になったらしいぞ」
振り向くと、トロッコの上にいるオリガは「当然です」と返した。
領軍兵士たちは笑っている。
「何がおかしい!」
ブエルが大喝するも、一二三の笑顔は崩れない。
「戦争前の訓示で全員に言ったんだよ。“敵の総大将の額にわかりやすい印を入れておいた”ってな」
一二三の言葉に、ブエルの両脇の侍従が先に「まずい」という顔をした。
次の瞬間、ブエルの雄叫びが上がった。
怒りに任せてブエルが馬を進めようとした瞬間、馬の鼻先に一二三が投げた分銅が軽く当たった。
驚いて暴れる馬を押さえる間に、トロッコが動き出し、一二三が飛び乗ってゆるゆると速度を上げていく。
「追え! 逃がすなぁ!」
ブエルの指示に、侍従を含めた先頭の騎馬集団が馬を走らせようとした瞬間、次々に槍が馬も兵も問わずに突き刺さる。
「適当に打ったら速度をあげろ。しばらく走らせてやれ」
トロッコに座った一二三の指示を、オリガとアリッサが順次兵達に伝達する。
倒れた兵たちを避ける者も踏みつける者、つまづいて転ぶものなど、とにかく追えと言うブエルの声に背中を押されて、ヴィシーの兵たちは必死で前に進む。
軍の前衛は騎馬が多く、後続を顧みないブエルの暴走により、ぐんぐんと距離が開いていく。
懸命に追う前方の集団に釣られて、ヴィシー全軍が駆け足で進みだし、最後尾がアロセールの街を出たところで、街道の両脇から大量の槍が飛んできた。
想定外の奇襲で混乱に陥った後部集団には兵をまとめる者もおらず、次々と貫かれる仲間を打ち捨てて散り散りに逃げ惑う。
最後部に固まっていた魔法兵を集中的に狙う槍が止む頃には、魔法兵はほぼ壊滅しており、ヴィシーの軍は2000程の先行する騎馬兵と、離されながら追いかける5000程の歩兵・弓兵となっており、後部の生き残りは逃げ帰ってしてしまった。
伏兵として街道脇に潜んでいた領兵たちは、ヴィシーの軍が一二三たちを追いかけて行ってしまうのを見送ったあとは、死体の片付けと生き残った敵兵の処理をしてから、農村へと避難させた住民たちを迎えに行くという役目が残っている。
「誰だよ、反対側のこっちまで槍飛ばしたヘタクソは」
「100人は殺ったぜ」
「俺なんか3人まとめて串刺しにしたぞ」
口々に話しながらなれた手つきで死体を片付ける兵たちの顔には、戦争の悲壮感も敗北への恐怖も無い。
「そんじゃ、村に行こうや。あとは領主様がやってくれるだろ」
その場の全員が同意して、列も作らずに歩き始めた。
「村方面もレール敷いてくれてたら良かったのに」
彼らにとって、戦争はもう終わった気分だった。
「そろそろ例の場所を通過します」
オリガの報告に、一二三は頷くだけだった。
後ろを追ってくるヴィシーの集団は、騎馬集団が後続を完全に引き離している。
ガタガタと揺れるトロッコの上で、あぐらをかいて座っている一二三は、背を向けている進行方向をチラリと見やる。
「待て! 正々堂々戦え! 殺してやる!」
馬上で元気に喚きながら追いかけてくるブエル他、ヴィシー軍には待ち受ける物に気づいた様子はない。
断続的に放たれる槍によってヴィシー騎馬兵はみるみる数を減らしていたが、あえてブエルは狙わない。
敵の配置を見極め、攻撃の指示を出していた一二三は、予定の位置を通った事に気づいた。
「全速」
一二三の一言を、オリガは聞き逃さない。
「全員、全力で進めなさい!」
オリガの号令で、トロッコのハンドルを持つ兵たちが声を上げてあらん限りの力を込める。
「僕が軍務長官なのに......」
「一二三様の言葉を聞かないからです」
速度を上げるトロッコにヴィシー騎馬兵の視線が集中したときに、最初の罠にかかったのはブエルの横を走る侍従の一人だった。
馬の前足が街道の地面を踏み抜いた。浅くて小さな落とし穴だが、足を踏み外した馬は簡単に転ぶ。
次々と転倒し後続に踏まれるヴィシー兵たち。
ブエルは慌てて馬の速度を緩めて、後続を率いて街道の脇に出たが、そこにも草に紛れて落とし穴が用意されている。
しばらくは追いかけて来たブエルだが、とうとう馬が倒れて落馬した。
起き上がろうとしているのが一二三にも見えたので、どうやら無事らしい。
「フォカロルで待ってるぞー!」
一二三が声をかけると、何かを言い返してきたようだが、その頃にはトロッコはずっと離れた位置まで進んでいた。
「速度を緩めていい。あとはフォカロルで敵を待つ」
この時点で、ヴィシー軍は歩兵と弓兵は多くが残っているが、馬をかなり消耗した。
後続を待って一旦休息を取る事にしたブエルだが、集まってくる兵が少なくなっている事に腹を立て、周りに当たり散らした。
本来なら、多くの兵力により少数のオーソングランデ兵を蹴散らし、今頃は堂々とフォカロルを目指して進軍しているはずだった。それが、オーソングランデが勝手に設定したローヌの国境を越えてからこっち、何もかもがブエルの神経を逆なでする。
「まともに戦うこともせず、不意打ちに罠に逃走だと......俺をどこまで馬鹿にするつもりだ! あの小僧だけは絶対に殺してやる!」
息巻いているブエルだったが、今この時にも、魔法兵が逃げ去ったり馬を失ったりした事に危機感を感じた者たちが、次々と離脱、逃走していた。
その事が、さらにブエルを怒らせる。
このまま成果を上げられずに帰国すれば、まともに戦う事なく味方をまとめ切れずに逃げ出した将として、二度と表舞台に立つことはないだろう。一生を僻地の農村で警備部隊として過ごす羽目になりかねない。
大きな戦いに参加する機会は無かったものの、連戦連勝して武力により地位を築いてきた自負を持つブエルにとって、戦いすらできずに撤退など考えられない。
慌ただしく食事をして一時間の休息を終えると、今度は整然と進軍する。
「敵の援軍が到着する前に、フォカロルを落とす! 進軍開始!」
時折兵達の足を取る小さな落とし穴に苛立ちながらも、ブエルは他の者の馬を借り、顔を赤くしながら復讐に燃えていた。
パジョーたち第三騎士隊が率いる援軍は、まるで待ち構えていたかのような早さで編成を終え、早朝に3000名の兵たちが王城を出る。
英雄の危機を救うために向かう兵たちを、民衆は熱烈に応援していた。
何も知らない兵たちは、多くの歓声を嬉しそうに聞いて歩みを進めていたが、兵を率いて馬を駆る第三騎士隊の面々は表情を消している。もし“狙い通りに行けばあの男と戦うことになる”という矛盾した任務を抱えては、笑顔など浮かびようもない。
今回の援軍の長は、一二三と近しくしていたという理由により、パジョーが選ばれたという事になっている。
先頭を進むパジョーの表情も硬い。
「少し急ぎます」
「あまり急ぐと兵が置いていかれる。元々国境に近くて防備が固いフォカロルが直ぐに落ちるわけもない。あまり焦るな」
すぐ後ろを進むミダスの声に、ため息をついて無理に笑うパジョーの顔は、ミダスにしてみれば痛々しくて見ていられない。
「そんな顔をするくらいなら、こんな策を進言しなければいいだろう」
「今更ね。これはイメラリア様の復讐でもあるし、この国が泥沼の闘いに引きずり込まれるのを止める為の作戦なのよ」
「わかったから、少し肩の力を抜け。フォカロルに着く前に疲れてしまうぞ」
「......そうね」
少しだけ速度を緩めて、パジョーはまた前を向いて黙った。
鎧を着たその背中を見ながら、ミダスはこの戦いの行き先が見えないと感じていた。事実、サブナクはこの援軍に誘われていたが辞退している。秘密を守ることは約束したが、どうしても一二三と敵対する理由が納得できなかったというのが理由だった。
彼は若いから、突出した力を持った者がいることの危険性よりもその英雄的な一面の方が眩しく見えるのだろう、と言い訳をしても、自分も今ひとつ納得ができていないのが本音でもある。
若々しい、だからこそ眩しく見えるが危うい正義感に踊らされているのは、サブナクではなくパジョーとイメラリア王女ではないだろうか。確かに一二三は王を殺したが、王に非がなかったわけではない。この国で戦争を起こしたが、結果は利益を齎している。
フォカロルにて、一二三は待っていた。
抜き見の刀を見つめて、期待に胸を弾ませながら。
Chapter 40: Come To Me
Before dawn Hifumi, who came back with the soldiers using the rail car from Rhone to Arosel, told Origa, who had been waiting for him, to advance at once as planned and fell asleep.
In the time the feudal lord was sleeping, Alyssa, commanding the Toono territorial army, was busy preparing with the goal of executing the next military operation.
As the move was something Hifumi had ordered, Origa was deeply moved emotionally, Kasha was full of doubts, and Alyssa agreed without having heard the reason.
"They will be a hindrance if they loiter around. If a number of them is swallowed up by the battle, the tax yields will decrease." (Hifumi)
With Hifumi stating this as reason, Origa was impressed, Kasha was able to consent, and Alyssa grasped it by saying "I guess if that's what Hifumi says, then it has to be correct."
Although it was partly a forced migration, with even the soldiers having an easygoing mood and having explained to the residents that it was inevitable due to the war, the move steadily made progress.
Facing the residents, Alyssa said [You will be able to come back the day after tomorrow.]  While they were only half-convinced by such words, the residents came to grips with it thinking
The portion of soldiers, who stayed up all night to prepare for the battle, were still within their dreams.
The soldiers, continuing by taking shifts, lined up several vehicles on each of the two rail tracks and installed spear throwers on the rear wagon of the rail cars.
"Do you understand the strategy?" (Origa)
"Etto, once the enemy approaches a visible location, escape with the rail cars while attacking with the spears throwers. As much as possible ambush and snipe at the troublesome magic soldiers. Once we arrive at Fokalore, we close the gate and once again attack with the spear throwers." (Alyssa)
"Did I get it right?" as Alyssa looked up to the face of the only slightly taller Origa, she was gently smiling.
"Yes, there seems to be no problem. Well then, after I go to join up with Hifumi-sama, please take care of the remaining preparations." (Origa)
Kasha smiled bitterly following Alyssa, who ran off at a fast pace, with her sight until she was out of view while murmuring,
"Somehow there isn't the mood as if it was before a war." (Kasha)
"Although one might say that we are inferior to them, it is just a 'handicap.' There should be a considerable number of reinforcements from the capital arriving at the time we return to Fokalore. At last, the course of events will lead to nothing but the Vichy army withdrawing after having their numbers diminished." (Origa)
"I will put my trust into them." (Kasha)
She didn't say into whom though.
"That's only natural." (Origa)
As Origa started to walk with a displeased snort, Kasha continued to display an expression full of mixed feelings.
(Handicap, huh? If nothing is done, my time to talk with Origa will disappear, but ...)
Up until this day, today, the chances for Kasha to speak with Origa had increased little by little.
Although Origa still displayed the same cold attitude towards her, it wasn't like she completely ignored her.
At the current rate they might return to their original relationship slowly. She also held onto the fleeting hope of them both possibly going back to their free adventuring days once again someday.magic
Around the time all preparations were in order, the ground shook with the sounds of feet from people and hooves from horses coming from the direction of Rhone.
The soldiers of the territorial army standing watch at the exit towards Rhone warned their allies of the nearing enemy by waving a flag.
Because crossing swords with the enemy was the Lord's duty and enjoyment, they wouldn't be forgiven if they stole that opportunity.
Around the time when the soldiers on watch left the city with such an excuse, Hifumi waited for the enemy in a daunting pose between two rail cars with installed spear throwers.
The hem of the hakama was tied by using a simple string. The katana hung at his waist.
While he was bored and thus swung the counterweights on both sides around, the soldiers, who had boarded the rail cars, set up the spear throwers and waited impatiently and nervously.
The Vichy army plunging forward had to drop the speed within the uninhabited city. As they discovered Hifumi's figure, the order to halt was given.
At this point of time, the Vichy army had decreased to an amount of around 9000 due to the people, who ran away from the damage in Rhone, and those who went to round up the evacuating masses affiliated with the city in one place.
Being the vanguard, Buer, wearing an armored helmet, straddled his splendid horse and glared at Hifumi.
"What is it youngster? Don't be a nuisance. Get away from there!" (Buer)
After merely saying two words, during the third word, Buer's fury erupted.
Hifumi, who was grinning broadly and laughing, straightened his back and performed a beautiful bow.
"I am honoured to meet you for the first time. I am a viscount of Orsongrande governing the territory of Toono, my name is Hifumi." (Hifumi)
"Oya, for some reason it seems my name has become famous even over there in Vichy." (Hifumi)
Looking over his shoulders, Origa returned a [That's only natural!]  on top of the rail car.
The members of the territorial armed forces laughed.
"What's so funny!" (Buer)
Even as Buer shouted in a thundering voice, Hifumi's smile didn't falter.
"Before the war I instructed all of them 'I've put an easily recognizable mark on the forehead of the enemy's supreme commander.'" (Hifumi)
Due to Hifumi's words, the chamberlains on both sides of Buer made a face displaying [Oh no!] 
The next moment Buer raised a roar.
Within a second Buer let the anger guide him and dashed forward with his horse. Hifumi lightly hit the tip of the horse's nose by throwing the counterweight.
While holding down the horse, which acted violently due to the surprise, the rail cars started to move. Hifumi leisurely jumped on top of it and the speed increased.
"After them! Don't let them escape!" (Buer)
Upon Buer's instruction the group of horse-riders in the vanguard, including the chamberlains, spurred their horses into gallop. But they were pierced by spears, regardless whether it was soldier or horse, one by one, within a moment.
"Raise the speed after properly hitting them. We will have them run for a while." (Hifumi)
Origa and Alyssa conveyed the instructions of Hifumi, who was sitting on top the rail cars, to the soldiers sequentially.
Urged on by the voice of Buer telling those, who were stumbling, falling over or such, to avoid the fallen soldiers or even tread on them, but no matter what to chase them, Vichy's soldiers frantically advanced forward.
There was a lot of cavalry in the vanguard troops. Even with Buer running wildly without concerning himself with those trailing behind, the distance spread steadily.
Lured by the group that was eagerly pursuing at the front, the entire army of Vichy started to advance by running fast. At the time the end of the line left the city of Arosel, they were assaulted by a large quantity of spears hurled at them from both sides of the highway.
There was no one left to put the soldiers in order as the rear group fell into chaos due to the unforeseen surprise attack. One by one they abandoned their pierced comrades and scattered in all directions trying to to escape.
At the time the spear attacks, which concentrated their aim on the magic soldiers gathered in the last division, ceased, the magic soldiers were almost completely annihilated. In the end, of the Vichy army, around 2000 cavalary went ahead, around 5000 infantry alongside the archers chased after them while being separated and the survivors of the rear scurried home.
The territorial soldiers lurking close to the highway in order to ambush the enemy, after letting the troops from Vichy, who were chasing after Hifumi's group, pass, they cleared away the corpses and dealt with the surviving enemy soldiers. From thereon the last remaining task was for them to meet up with the citizens taking refuge in the farm villages.
"Who was the clumsy fellow, who hurled the spear until the opposite side of here?"
"100 people were done in."
"I skewered 3 people or something like that all at once!"
In the faces of the soldiers, who were clearing away the corpses by using their hands while severally talking, there wasn't any fear of losing nor any tragic feeling about the war.
"Now that it's done, let's go to the village. I think we can let the Lord deal with the rest."
Everyone agreed on the spot and began to walk without even forming a line.
"Even though it would be nice if the rails were even laid out in the direction of the village."
For them it was a feeling of the war having already ended.
"We will soon pass the aforementioned place." (Origa)
Hifumi only nodded to Origa's report.
The mass of Vichy soldiers pursuing in the back were completely separated from the cavalry group following.
On top of the rail car which was shaking and rattling, Hifumi was sitting cross-legged having turned his back to the direction of movement staring at them with a fleeting glance.
"Wait! Fight me fair and square! I will kill you!" (Buer)
Besides Buer, who was chasing after them while shouting energetically on top of the horseback, the other Vichy forces didn't appear to have notice what was awaiting them.
Although the number of Vichy's cavalry had decreased fast due to the intermittent firing of spears, they deliberately didn't aim at Buer.
Ascertaining the deployment of the enemy, Hifumi gave directions on the attacks. Then he noticed them passing through the scheduled location.
"Full speed ahead." (Hifumi)
Origa didn't miss Hifumi's brief instruction.
"All members, go forward with full power!" (Origa)
With Origa's command, the soldiers, holding the handle of the rail car, raised their voices and poured all their strength into it.
"Despite me being the military affairs director ..." (Alyssa)
"This is because you didn't listen to Hifumi-sama's words." (Origa)
At the time the Vichy cavalry focused their eyes on the sped-up rail cars, it was one of the chamberlains galloping next to Buer, who fell for the first trap.
It was a small and shallow pitfall, but the horse, missing its footing, quickly fell over.
In succession Vichy soldiers following tumbled and were stepped on.
Even though Buer eased up the speed of the rushing horse and ordered the following soldiers to get off the highway, pitfalls, almost indistinguishable from the grass, were prepared there as well.
For a while Buer continued the pursuit, but at last he fell off the horse as it collapsed.
Since Hifumi also saw him trying to get up, Buer was apparently safe one way or the other.
"I will wait for you in Fokalore!" (Hifumi)
Although his enemy tried to retort something to Hifumi's call, the rail car was already in a far distance at that time moving away from that location.
"You may lower the speed. We will wait for the enemy at Fokalore afterwards." (Hifumi)
There still remained many archers and infantry within the Vichy army at this time, but the horses were pretty much wasted.
Buer decided to take a temporary rest waiting for those following, but losing his temper due to the lessened number of soldiers gathered, he found fault with everybody in the vicinity.
Frankly speaking, their large military force was kicked around by a few Orsongrande soldiers. He had expected to grandly march towards Fokalore about now.
"Without fighting directly, it is just surprise attacks, traps and escaping ... To what extent do you plan to make fun of me! Only that youngster, I will definitely kill myself!" (Buer)
While Buer was getting worked up, even at that time, those, sensing the impeding crisis after the magic soldiers disappeared and the horses were lost, broke away one by one and deserted.
Buer got even more enraged about this matter.
As it was now, he would have to return to his country without earning any accomplishments. Generals, who escaped without being able to gather their allies and to decently fight without accidents, never reappeared on the public stage a second time.
As far as Buer was concerned, he held a pride of having build up his status by successive victories and his military power, although he never had the chance to participate in a large battle. It was unthinkable for him to do something like retreating without doing anything as long as he was able to fight.
Taking a hurried meal and resting for about an hour, they now advanced orderly.
"We will conquer Fokalore before the enemy's reinforcements arrive! Start marching!" (Buer)
While the soldiers were sometimes irritated by having their feet sink into the small pitfalls, Buer borrowed a horse from another person. His face was red while burning with the desire for revenge.
Pajou's Third Knight Unit led the reinforcements. Quickly finishing the formation of the troops, it was almost as if they were laying in wait. In the early morning 3000 soldiers departed from the royal castle.
The soldiers, heading out for the sake of rescuing the hero from his crisis, were passionately cheered on by the populace.
Although the soldiers, who didn't find it strange, were joyfully listening to the shouts of joy while advancing forward by walking, all of the Third Knight Unit, leading the troops while riding on horses, erased their facial expressions.
As a result of her close relationship to Hifumi, Pajou was elected as leader of the current reinforcements.
Leading the advance, Pajou's expression was stiff, too.
"Let's hurry up a bit." (Pajou)
"If we rush too much, we will leave the soldiers behind. In the first place, it is unthinkable for Fokalore, which has a firm defense being close to the border, to fall easily. Don't get too impatient." (Midas)
Towards the voice of Midas, who was moving right behind her, Pajou sighed with a forced smile on her face. She didn't want to be seen as pathetic in Midas' eyes.
"Rather than having to show such a face, it would have been fine to not propose such a plan, I think." (Midas)
"Saying this now? This is also for the sake of Imeraria's revenge. It is a strategy to stop having this country being dragged into the quagmire of war." (Pajou)
"Since you understand, get a bit more relaxed. You will end up being worn out before we arrive at Fokalore." (Midas)
"... Oh well" (Pajou)
Easing up just slightly on the speed, Pajou faced towards the front again and was silent.
While watching that back wearing an armor, Midas felt that he couldn't foresee where this battle was headed to.
I guess, since he is still young, he only sees that dazzling heroic appearance of Hifumi rather than him being someone holding a protruding strength. But even with such an excuse, he still isn't quite able to comprehend the real intention himself either.
Being young, he is manipulated by a perilous sense of justice due to looking at that radiant appearance. Though I wonder if it isn't only Sabnak but also Pajou and Princess Imeraria being affected by this?
Hifumi was waiting at Fokalore.
Staring at the view of the drawn katana, his heart was leaping in anticipation.
Summoned Slaughterer
呼び出された殺戮者
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/summoned-slaughterer/
Action Adventure Fantasy Martial Arts Mature Psychological Romance Shounen
Adapted to Manga Aristocracy Arrogant Characters Average-looking Protagonist Beastkin Beautiful Female Lead Betrayal Calm Protagonist Clever Protagonist Cunning Protagonist Dark Demi-Humans Demons Determined Protagonist Different Social Status Dwarfs Elemental Magic Elves Enemies Become Allies Enemies Become Lovers Evil Protagonist Fantasy Creatures Fantasy World Fearless Protagonist God-human Relationship Gods Kingdom Building Kingdoms Knights Love Interest Falls in Love First Magic Beasts Magical Space Male Protagonist Marriage Monsters Nobles Obsessive Love Overpowered Protagonist Politics Power Struggle Protagonist Strong from the Start R-15 Royalty Ruthless Protagonist Samurai Schemes And Conspiracies S*aves Strong Love Interests Strong to Stronger Summoning Magic Sword And Magic Sword Wielder Transported to Another World Underestimated Protagonist Unique Weapon User Unique Weapons Wars Yandere
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n4399ci/
井戸正善／ido