Torn Asunder by War, A Sword Saint for Tomorrow X The Knight Wizards!! – Chapter 110

Chapter 110: A Plan Gone Awry? A Cunning Scheme
  “That little animal is quite cute, isn’t she? What I said earlier was half a joke. If the decisive Knight King were to be swayed by sentiment and prioritize me over his country’s interests, I might consider offering my body for the sake of his territory.”
  
  “Ugh~, that nonchalant attitude is infuriating.”
  
  The red-haired mage, her attack effortlessly deflected by Nina, let out a small groan. Under the invisible table, she tugged at my sleeve, silently requesting my support.
  
  However, when I reflexively glanced at her, I saw her nibbling on a walnut she happened to be holding with a frustrated look, just like a squirrel. I couldn’t help but chuckle, unable to retort.
  
  “Unfortunately… I have no intention of indulging in my own desires and causing unnecessary bloodshed for everyone. Wouldn’t it only lead to self-destruction if I sided with those who are swayed by temptation?”
  
  “Hmm, that certainly sounds troublesome. Anyway, the question itself has a certain meaning, so could you tell me within the bounds of what’s permissible?”
  
  Lady White Fox, enjoying the herbal liquor poured into a highly transparent glass, urged me to respond.
  
  Regarding the extent to which we “should coordinate with the Zephyrus Domain forces,” we had already reached a conclusion during dinner with the Tsukigase siblings and Dino’s group. It would be appropriate to be honest here.
  
  “Currently, it’s until the Rigsia matter is settled. That’s sufficient as compensation for the technical transfer regarding domestically produced Clawsolas. It would be excessive interference in domestic affairs to march all the way to the Imperial Capital.”
  
  “…Understood. I’ll remove Lord Heisel from the public eye and bring the matter to a close.”
  “With that settled, our job is done, isn’t it? ♪”
  
  Unlike Revia, who was already starting to get tipsy and cheerfully trying to conclude the conversation because she wasn’t very strong with alcohol, Lady White Fox, who seemed to have some ulterior motive, ate a piece of dried cod elegantly, swallowed it, and then began to talk about a cunning scheme that she had planned to carry out depending on the situation.
  
  “There are some elements of gambling involved, so I was hesitant to involve everyone…”
  
  The content of her story, prefaced with a somewhat dangerous remark, was essentially a coup d’état involving military force.
  
  The plan was to seize Leipzig, a core city of the enemy, and hold it, feigning a willingness to negotiate with the Imperial Faction to make them lower their guard, and then target the Imperial Capital, Beril, which was not that far away.
  
  They would launch a surprise attack with thirty-odd highly mobile giant knights, destroying the four main gates in the east, west, north, and south. They would then try to lure out as many of the forces within the castle walls as possible, including the Gladius units, and engage them in a sparsely populated area to minimize casualties.
  
  “And in the midst of that chaos, we’ll vertically descend the airship ‘Count Zeppelin,’ which will be hidden among the clouds, and send in the elite light infantry using fast ropes.”
  
  “…Is the target the young Emperor?”
  “Yes, to deprive the Imperial Faction of its legitimacy.”
  
  Apparently, she had already reached an agreement with the three western lords and some of the neutral faction regarding the aftermath, and had also made arrangements to secure more than half of the domestic military forces. However, the various risks involved could not be ignored.
  
  “It doesn’t seem like there’s much merit for the Knight Kingdom to get involved in a political upheaval.”
  
  “Of course, I’ve thought about that. If things go well, I intend to ask the Knight King, who has a distinguished military reputation, to become the Emperor’s swordsmanship instructor. You’ll effectively become his guardian.”
  
  “Um, is it okay for me to be hearing this?”
  
  The conversation was interrupted by Revia’s slightly apprehensive question. As I averted my gaze from Lady White Fox, who was trying to entice me, and sighed, she chuckled once again.
  
  She had been sipping the herbal liquor throughout our conversation, so I wondered if she was drunk, but the rationality in her eyes hadn’t diminished.
  
  “It’s all just idle talk at a banquet, so don’t worry about it. The Imperial Capital assault was a secondary plan in case there was no room to compromise with the Imperial Faction. I don’t want a war either.”
  
  “Yeah, love is more important than war, you need a lot of love! I can’t enjoy peace built on someone else’s sacrifice, it’s too guilt-ridden.”
  
  When I faced the red-haired mage, who had asserted herself vigorously, it seemed that she was gradually becoming intoxicated, as her body was swaying slightly from side to side.
  
  Since it would be dangerous if she fell out of her chair, I watched over her with a wry smile, along with Nina, picking at the appetizers and responding to her rambling talk of universal love until she started to nod off.
  
  “You can use that makeshift bed over there, if you like.”
  
  “Ah, I’ll borrow it for a bit.”
  “Mmm, hmm, nn…”
  
  The moment I put my arms around her slender waist and the back of her knees to carry her horizontally, Revia wriggled and, for some reason, started nibbling on my neck.
  
  While feeling exasperated by Lady White Fox, who was giving me a warm gaze, I quickly laid Revia down on the wooden bed and returned to the banquet.
  
  “Fufu, she’s quite attached to you.”
  “That’s precisely why I don’t want to get involved in unnecessary conflicts.”
  
  “I like people who can draw those kinds of family-first lines, I’m the same. Even though we’re not gods or Buddhas, but mere humans, if we make a wrong judgment, people will die, starting with the close ones who trust and follow us.”
  I couldn’t help but empathize with the territorial lord’s daughter, who had somehow propped her cheek on her hand and leaned languidly on the table, sighing. I leaned forward slightly and gently stroked her glossy dark brown hair.
  
  Nina, who had looked at me in surprise for a moment, soon smiled and turned up the corners of her mouth.
  “Even though I look young, considering the subjective time I spent in the dimensional gap, I’m mentally older, but are you looking after me?”
  
  “I can understand your feelings to some extent.”
  “Thank you. You must still want to drink more, right?”
  
  Since the ice in the ice bucket had mostly melted, she offered me wine that could be enjoyed at room temperature, and I accepted a spare glass. However, considering the circumstances of the guards I had stationed outside the tent, I felt hesitant to stay any longer.
  
  After listening to her complaints for a while, I decided to call it a night. I carried the soundly sleeping Revia under my arm and took her back to our camp’s sleeping quarters so as not to cause any trouble.