“Aahaha, you sound like a true Romalian!”
With a scowl, Saito crossed his arms.
“No, it’s not because of love for a woman, but because my inner feeling tells me so.”
“Please teach me that meaning if you can.”
Saito looked straight up ahead and said.
“I cannot, putting it to words is already a lie. Words can always lie. Only my feelings cannot let me lie about it.”
Julio made a funny gesture with his finger.
“Am I saying such strange things?”
“You are not a noble, just like me, right?”
“Yes.”
“Yet you think just like a noble.”
“Are you trying to get under my skin?”
Saito took the reins in his hands, gripped them tightly, and kicked the horse’s sides.
And rode towards the darkening road.
Watching his back, Julio smiled and muttered softly,
“You are very clumsy, Gandálfr.”
Chapter Ten: The Place of Courage
On a little hill drawn on a map… The dawn brought forth light to the darkness.
The view slowly expanded, and the grassland below grew larger and larger.
It was as shown on the map, a rural area approximately 150 leagues southwest of the city of Saxe-Gotha. Saito had finally arrived there after a whole night of riding.
A light excitement embraced him. Although he had been riding all night, his fighting spirit and fatigue were restored by the morning light.
Through the morning fog, slowly; slowly and accompanied with the shaking of the earth, a great army appeared.
Saito stood up and slammed his palm against the horse he had been riding. The beast, which had been chewing grass idly, was suddenly startled and fled back in the direction where they had come from.
“You are not going to use the horse?” Derflinger asked over the shoulder.
“That guy has a life too; it is not just some tool.”
“You have such a good heart, partner.”
Saito asked Derflinger, “Didn’t you say before that Gandálfr was able to stand against a thousand foes alone? 70,000 shouldn’t be a problem right?”
“That is what they say, but it is only a legend, so people tend to exaggerate. Don’t get too hopeful, in reality, it was probably less than a thousand.”
“…Why are you like this? Lying to me like that. If you lied, don’t tell me the truth. We are already as good as dead, so at least lie to the very end.”
On the horizon of the grassland they could see the advancing army. Although it was an army of 70,000, due the fact they were not marching abreast, it did not appear to be as large. But in reality, all 70,000 were there.
Soldiers wielding weapons, Mages armed with spells, cannons, demi-humans like orcs and trolls, dragon knights… Knights riding phantom beasts.
None were missing, all 70,000 were there.
Saito asked with a fear shaken voice.
“Ah, why must I risk my life to charge into that mob?”
“Why are you asking the obvious? Because our ships have to retreat, so we have to buy time.”
“No… I am not talking about that… But, forget it.” Saito let out a sigh. “Last time I was saved by Guiche’s mole, but this time there is no way we can escape.”
“No, we cannot. No matter what, just charge in. In a situation like this, no matter which direction, charging is the same. Aim for the commanding officer, strike down the head, and the body will fall into chaos. You can probably buy them a day or so.”
Saito nodded, holding Derflinger tightly. The runes on his left hand began to glow.
“Let me tell you something, Derflinger.”
“What is it?”
“Can I tell you a story from my childhood?”
“Sure.”
“I once saw an old lady being harassed by some punk near a train station, something about the old lady bumping into them. But at that time I was just a little kid, I couldn't stop them even if I wanted to, so I only stood by and watched. That time I thought, if only I were a little stronger, but at the same time, I also sighed in relief. Because even if I were stronger, it would not guarantee that I would have won.”
“True.”
“No mistake, I am stronger now, there cannot be any excuses. That time I had no strength, so I had an excuse not to do anything. I was not strong enough, so I didn’t help. But now, I've lost that excuse. Because I am now very, very strong. No matter what, I am Gandálfr, right?”
Deflinger murmured lowly, “Um hum.”
“But… all that strength is only external, I am not really any stronger inside. Yet there is nothing I can do about it, although I am the legendary familiar Gandálfr, my body is shaking, I really don’t have any mental preparation. This type of situation is really not for me. Protecting everyone’s honor, I really don’t like it! I'm shaking with fear. I do not want to die.”
“Partner, you are really someone truly brave!”
“This kind of personality will only lead to trouble, fast.” Saito thought about it.
Courage, isn’t this what it is all about?
“Hey, Partner.”
“What?”
“Am I going to die?”
“Probably.”
The boy became silent. Derflinger decided to raise his spirits, “If it is going to be like this, then go out like a hero!”
“Why?”
“Because otherwise it would be a waste.”
Four hundred meters in front of them, they could see Albion’s forward assault force.
Suddenly his body began to move by itself; they would never know if this was the power of Gandálfr, or Saito’s own bravery, or something else…
Saito charged toward the army of 70,000.
The first group of Albion soldiers who found the charging hero was not frontal cavalry, but the owl familiar belonging to an artillery commander. Because he didn’t believe the infantries, he decided to personally investigative the matter.
After he verified the situation through his owl, he immediately ordered the firearm squadrons to prepare to fire, as during the course of a march, firearm troops do not normally keep their weapons loaded.
“What? Only one person?”
He was surprised when he found out there was only one person, but he became shocked once he saw the boy’s speed.
It was not a speed that could be achieved by a human on foot.
The frontal cavalry also made the same mistake as well.
Because of a mistake with the estimation of speed, the opposition charged right past them just as they were stopping. Before the cavalry could even draw their weapons, they were knocked off their steeds.
The only thing the fallen cavalry men could do was hear the sound of the enemy’s footsteps, the speed was so great that they could not even see their foe’s image.
Before the soldiers finished loading their weapons, the enemy was already in front of their leader.
It was a person armed with a large sword.
The commander, in reflex, tried to pull out his wand, but was sent flying by the sword. Something hit him hard on the side of his head and he instantly lost consciousness.
The next moment, mage knights approached from the sky. They used magic and familiars to track Saito’s movement and then released a barrage of spells.
Wind blades, ice spears, and fireballs flew in waves toward Saito, but were instantly absorbed by the sword. Though the knights were taken by surprise, they did not stop their magical assault.
The knight commander ordered his men to scatter; in the instant he made that order, a gust of wind blew next to him, where the wind struck, his wand was snapped in half and a foot slammed into his stomach. Ribs shattered, the pain was so strong the officer could not cry and soon fainted.
Derflinger asked Saito, “Why didn’t you kill them?”