“Haaaa… although we’ve done it so many times it’s become routine, maybe this isn’t the right course for this particular situation. Although nobody wants the Empire to fight for real, if they’re really going to attack, then it would be better for us and our morale if we just got it over with.”
Gazef could sense the unease from the Kingdom’s army. As he tried to determine the cause, he furrowed his eyebrows.
“…I see. When you think about it, this might be an Imperial stratagem; get us worried enough for them to make their move. It’s difficult to coordinate and control so many soldiers, so even the slightest flinch in any unit could be magnified into a rout if it went on long enough. Massed troops are difficult to attack, but once they break and run, they’ll be easily hunted down and killed. That is the same principle animals use for hunting.”
A surprised Raeven followed Gazef’s line of sight to the worried-looking troops on the left flank, and then approval glowed on his face.
“That… it looks like they’re rotating the troops on the inside to the front line.”
“If only it was just a reorganization of the formation…”
“That’s Marquis Bowlrob’s flag. Looks like the left wing’s commander-in-chief is moving to the front.”
The Kingdom placed the nobles of the noble faction on both wings, while those of the royal faction were concentrated in the middle.
King Ranpossa III was the overall commander of the central column, while Marquis Bowlrob commanded the left wing.
“That’s strange, moving one’s command to the head of the formation. Do you see, Gazef-dono? The Marquis is using elite troops directly loyal to himself. His plan is to distinguish himself in combat against Imperial knights, under the eyes of the gathered nobles. That way he’ll make a reputation for himself as the lord of the strongest unit in the Kingdom.”
Raeven cast a challenging look to Gazef. Will you let someone else gain greater glory than your beloved warrior band, it seemed to say.
Gazef did not take the bait.
“The warrior band’s duty is to protect the King. We won’t move without the King’s direct command, even if the Empire sounds the charge. There is no greater duty for us than ensuring the safe return of the King to the capital.”
Gazef tapped the sword at his waist.
“Or perhaps, I should fend off the enemy’s attack by myself.”
“Is that… one of the four heirlooms of the Kingdom, Razor Edge… ah, I see.”
Marquis Raeven stepped back, and studied Gazef from top to bottom.
Gauntlets of Vitality, which negated fatigue. The Amulet of Immortal, which let him regenerate his wounds. Armor crafted of adamantite, the hardest metal known to man, and enchanted with magic that would deflect lethal blows. And finally, Razor Edge, a magic sword crafted with absolute sharpness in mind, which could carve enchanted metal like butter.
“Perhaps the greatest treasure of the Kingdom is yourself, fully equipped with the other treasures. I heard once that the Kingdom actually had five treasures, but it seems they had all been gathered from the start.”
Gazef blushed as he was praised as a treasure, even though he knew it was just pleasantry.
“Ah, give me a break, Marquis. The King is far greater than I am. His Majesty entrusted me, a commoner, with these items, even though he knew what that meant.”
“That’s a reasonable opinion. Frankly speaking, I felt it was a foolish move to grant the treasures to you, a commoner. All it would have done was to make more people abandon the Royal faction.
However, now that we’re fighting together, I can’t help but think that it might actually be a masterstroke on the King’s part, but that’s just wishful thinking.”
“If only I could live up to your expectations…”
Gazef looked out at the serried ranks of the Imperial knights.
There was nobody he recognized as a strong adversary in the Empire, besides the Triple Magic Caster, Fluder Paradyne. Fully equipped like this, he might even be able to defeat Fluder, he thought grimly.
On the other hand, he did not feel like he had any chance at all of defeating Ainz Ooal Gown.
He could not even imagine the possibility.
No matter how hard he tried to be optimistic, to think of how he might triumph, the only thought that came to mind was of himself being instantly annihilated by the mysterious magic caster.
“What’s wrong?”
“No-nothing…”
He knew he was the greatest warrior in the Kingdom. Allowing himself to appear weak would only lower the army’s morale.
“Ah, no… I was just thinking about poor Prince Barbro…”
“Poor Prince… could it be… I see. Is that so? Gazef-dono also feels… I see.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“I mean, don’t tell me Gazef-dono feels that the King sent the prince to Carne Village so he could not distinguish himself…?”
“Is that not the case?”
Raeven smiled thinly.
“Mhm, well, I disagree. I feel that his Majesty has truly placed his trust in Gazef-dono.”
Marquis Raeven decided to explain when he saw Gazef’s completely clueless face.
“The King has acknowledged the power of Ainz Ooal Gown, the opponent that his most trusted vassal, the Warrior-Captain, is wary of. Rather than risk his beloved son in battle with an unknown quantity like that, he instead sent him to a safer place where he could accomplish something in relative safety… Although, to be honest, the old me would have been upset by the way one man his his son in a safe place while everyone else was sending their offspring to the battlefield.”
Raeven smiled in a fatherly manner.
“Of course, now I understand why he would do such a thing. I’d have done the same to ensure my son’s well-being.”
“Ah, Marquis. That’s a very fatherly thing to say.”
Raeven smiled. It was a smile that was equal parts gentle, happy and proud, a smile that Gazef felt was quite uncharacteristic of the man.
“Well, I am a father, after all. I promised my son that, after this battle’s over, I’m going to play with him as much as he wants, like a normal father. Ah — we’ve gone off topic. Let’s leave things at that. Although… it seems Prince Barbro doesn’t quite understand the King’s point of view. It feels a little sad how the father can’t get his feelings across to his son.”
Gazef agonized about how to answer him. It was hard for him, who had no children of his own, to put himself into that mindset.
“Right, right. By the way, is it possible that they might launch a sneak attack on E-Rantel with a separate force? Although it would be frowned upon, we can’t rule that possibility out.”
Gazef felt the topic change was incredibly forced from the moment he spoke, but to his surprise, Raeven ran with it.
“It’s not an easy matter to attack E-Rantel, defended as it is by its three layers of curtain walls. Even if the remaining two armies of the Empire mobilized in full, it would be a difficult task for them. My strategist says it’s not possible.”