Torn Asunder by War, A Sword Saint for Tomorrow X The Knight Wizards!! – Chapter 109

Chapter 109: Though There Be Friendship, Consideration for National Interest Is Natural
  “Hmm, you don’t understand at all, as usual! When we return to the royal capital, I’ll report to Izana-sama… no, to Sariel-san.”
  
  “‘Tch, that’s something I can’t just ignore.'”
  
  Because I don’t have the hobby of deliberately angering the one-eyed magician and being abducted to an empty room in the castle, I hurriedly interrupted, even though I was in a sudden predicament.
  
  Seeing my agitation as an opportunity, Revia drew closer and smiled cheerfully, as if to say, “Oh well.”
  
  “It’ll be a pain if it’s misunderstood, so I’ll accompany you ♪”
  “…That is what I mean. Do you mind?”
  
  “Fufu, I’ll convey your conditional agreement. If there seems to be a problem, I’ll come back to you again.”
  
  After bowing respectfully, the maid-like military uniformed attendant turned on her heel.
  
  I watched the girl’s black hair disappear among the trees for about ten seconds, and considering the impromptu private conversation with Nina that had been set up, I decided to head to my sleeping quarters to get some sleep.
  
  I walked in step with the red-haired mage who had followed me and slipped into the tent that the maintenance crew had just finished setting up.
  
  I glanced around the interior, found a bag filled with clothes that had been pushed to the side, and lay down using it as a pillow. Then, I heard the sound of bare skin being patted near my right ear.
  
  “My thighs are soft.”
  “I intend to sleep for at least half an hour, is that alright?”
  
  “Ugh… I-it’s okay, I’ll switch with the bag when I get tired.”
  “Ah, don’t push yourself too hard.”
  
  I rolled over and buried my face in Revia’s lap as she sat on the mat with her favorite cushion tucked under her.
  Unable to resist the warmth of her skin and the pleasant sensation of her fingers combing through my hair, my consciousness quickly faded.
  
  ‘Someone I can be around without needing to be on guard, someone I can show my vulnerability to…is precious…’
  
  As I offered my gratitude in my drowsiness, there was a stir, followed by the sound of a can of EOE-type canned food, said to have been developed by a Rare Human die-casting engineer, being opened. A faint citrus scent wafted through the air. I smiled wryly to myself, hoping she wouldn’t spill any juice on my face, and drifted into a light sleep.
  
  In the end, I managed to avoid the juice disaster… but when Lloyd and the others came looking for me at dinner time because I hadn’t shown up, they woke us both up. When they did, her saliva had stained my collar as she had fallen asleep with her head on mine. Let’s just say that was within the realm of endearing.
  
  
  Taking advantage of the opportunity that had arisen, I discussed the disclosure of the strategy I had already decided upon with the Captain and Vice-Captain, and then, accompanied by my escorts, I headed to the neighboring Zephyrus Domain army’s encampment.
  
  As soon as I stepped into the camp, which was larger than the Knight Kingdom’s expeditionary force, I was guided by the familiar Knight Captain Aynst to a tent near the border with our own camp. When I lifted the hanging cloth and entered, I found a simple table and chairs prepared, and the tabletop was lined with snacks like walnuts and dried cod, as well as alcoholic beverages.
  
  “Welcome, both of you.”
  “Since we were invited, we’ll make ourselves at home.”
  
  “I’ll join you as well, Nina-sama.”
  “Yes, I heard from my attendant.”
  
  The territorial lord’s daughter, who had been drinking a little beforehand, took the tongs as we sat down and transferred some magically-created ice from a casually placed ice pail into glasses, making us a highball of distilled liquor with a pleasant herbal aroma.
  Revia, who was a bit nervous, was also offered a fruit wine made from raspberries, as she was over the age of fifteen, which is considered an adult in her country.
  
  After responding to a toast with a slight raise of our glasses and downing the amber liquid, the lady, who is treated as a vixen, gave me a slightly suspicious look, prefacing her words with, “I hate beating around the bush, so I’ll ask you directly.”
  
  “What are the Imperial Faction’s demands?”
  “That’s abrupt. Why did you come to that conclusion?”
  
  “Shortly after the battle near the small city, my spies reported that a group from the Imperial Faction passed through Rigsia’s core city and headed towards Zephyrus… but no one came.”
  
  She sulked and gulped down her herbal liquor, implying her displeasure that their destination was the Knight Kingdom’s side without saying a word.
  
  Since Fine had told me about various circumstances, I nodded before Revia, who is bad at lying, could let anything slip. I gave a brief summary of my conversation with the old man, and Nina’s face suddenly clouded over.
  
  “Senate President Aldabert, huh? Another troublesome gentleman…”
  “It seems difficult to find a place to land that swung fist.”
  
  “Lord Heisel no longer has a concentrated Clawsolas force, but there’s a possibility of getting entangled in urban warfare in Leipzig, his home turf. I don’t want to think about the number of casualties among the regular troops.”
  
  I felt bad for the melancholic Nina, but in order to avoid getting caught up in a quagmire and having the corpses of the soldiers who followed me exposed in a foreign land, I had kept the expeditionary force’s personnel for interpersonal combat to a minimum.
  
  We would only lend a hand in battles involving giant knights. Even with individuals I had formed personal friendships with, I would not easily waver from the line I had drawn between public and private matters.
  
  Perhaps my thoughts were showing on my face, as Lady White Fox, gazing at me with seductive eyes while emphasizing the décolletage of her dress, questioned me.
  
  “How far will you accompany me, Claude-dono?”
  “Yes, that’s enough! No seduction tactics, absolutely!!”
  Revia, who had been silent during the serious exchange, was provoked and snapped, but her target, who was simply teasing, smiled knowingly and dispelled the bewitching atmosphere.