Chapter 63: Midnight Meeting, Just the Guys
[space_man][space_man]I gave a wry smile at my senses, which had become remarkably sharper through actual combat and training in this parallel world compared to when I was living on the original Earth, and crawled out of bed. As I lit the magic lamp, the door to my room was gently knocked three times.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Your Majesty… I apologize for the late hour.”
[space_man][space_man]”It’s fine, please wait a moment.”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]I spoke briefly to Ms. Miranda, who was as expected, put on a white shirt over my underwear that was placed on the provided round table, and quickly groomed myself.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]The knight’s military uniform is quite troublesome… but with practiced hands, I tightened my black tie, put on the open-collared military jacket with a sword belt, and finally, I put the cursed forged blade “Shiranui” at my side.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”No problem… Come in.”
[space_man][space_man]”Then, excuse me.”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]After glancing at myself in the mirror and calling out to her, Miranda politely opened the door, bowed, and walked into the room.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Actually, His Excellency the Archduke has come incognito… and he requests a meeting with you, though it will be brief.”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”The Archduke of Lichtea?”
[space_man][space_man]”Yes, would you be willing to meet him?”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]In addition to feeling bad about asking him to come all the way to the royal castle since I’m in a position of requesting reinforcements, it seems he also intends to quickly join up with the Principality army without taking any extra trouble.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Since I had visited the capital of the Principality, I felt the need to meet him face-to-face, so I nodded silently and followed her as she led me to the Knight Captain’s office, which is on the top floor.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Two strong knights were standing guard in front of the room we reached. When I quietly approached, they silently moved aside.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Your Excellency, I have brought the guest.”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]In response to Miranda’s announcement, which was the same as before, a young voice, about the same age as me, replied briefly from inside the room.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Thank you, show him in.”
[space_man][space_man]”Yes, excuse me.”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]She apologized through the door, slowly opened it, and followed her inside after she bowed in a gesture of respect. I faced a slender, intelligent-looking young man sitting deep in the chair at the desk.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”I’ve heard your name, but this is the first time we’ve met face-to-face, Claude-dono.”
[space_man][space_man]”I’ve also heard from my senior officials that Berwatos-dono is a wise king.”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”That would have been fine in peacetime.”
[space_man][space_man]”You’re too modest…”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Although it’s not ideal that he’s letting the Aberrations pass through without actively intercepting them as they infiltrate the Empire and the Knight Kingdom through the border areas, it’s a masterful feat that he’s holding back a part of the “Hour of Ruin.”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]After exchanging greetings with a renewed sense of determination, I walked over to the oval table placed in the center of the room as I was invited and sat down on one of the uniformly designed chairs.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”First of all, let me thank you for responding to our request.”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”As I told Miranda-dono, it’s also in our own interest, so don’t worry too much about it… More importantly, will the reinforcements from Bardia be coming?”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]His country is also in a position to support the Lichtea Principality in times of emergency, but their territory borders the southwestern part of the former Francia Kingdom, which is now under the control of the Aberrations, so depending on the immediate situation, they might refuse to send reinforcements.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”We received a message from the resident officer that they will send a squad of four knights from the capital, Mirad.”
[space_man][space_man]”I guess they’re allocating reserve forces…”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]The reason the Knight Kingdom was able to deploy its main Clawsolas units was that, although they are close to the enemy territory, they don’t directly share a border. From that perspective, I hope the Principality will do its best.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”For the future, may I ask about the detailed battle situation?”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Of course, Miranda, I’ll leave the explanation to you.”
[space_man][space_man]”Understood, Your Excellency.”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Ms. Miranda, who had moved to the left side of the desk at some point, nodded. She began to calmly explain the fall of the defensive city Dior, the loss of Clawsolas units during the retreat, and the human losses in the infantry, including the death of the First Regiment Commander.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]In addition, there was a report a while ago that the Aberrations based in the Bourgogne region of the former Francia Kingdom had become active. Knight Commander Adley, who had been inspecting the northwestern fortress, is now pinned down with his forces to hold back the enemy forces that are coordinating with the invasion from the central-western region.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”The southwestern fortress is in a similar situation, so the only force we can move is the First Regiment.”
[space_man][space_man]”We’ve been receiving troubling reports one after another, so I swallowed my pride and immediately sent out a request for reinforcements.”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”I’ve heard some rather unpleasant news…”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]If we add the reinforcements from Bardia and Lizel to the Principality’s remaining Clawsolas units, we’ll have twenty-six giant knights. However, it seems the number of large-type Aberrations in the enemy forces is more than double that, so it will be a very tough battle.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Fortunately, the medium and small-type Aberrations are on par with the forces of other military branches, including the magician unit, so we can focus on the large-type Aberrations without worrying too much about them.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Honestly, I’m very grateful that the reinforcements from His Majesty the Knight King are more substantial than I expected.”
[space_man][space_man]”There were some Clawsolas units I’ve never seen before, are they your own?”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Yes, some of the units are domestically produced.”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]I nodded to Berwatos, who had asked the question, and talked about some harmless topics for a while. Then, taking advantage of a silence that arose in the conversation, I expressed my intention to leave and had the midnight meeting end at an appropriate time.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”One last thing, if you don’t mind, Claude-dono?”
[space_man][space_man]”Tell me.”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”In the unlikely event that the capital Vern falls and descends into chaos, I would like you to accept the citizens who have nowhere to go into your country.”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]It’s not something I can easily agree to, such as a sudden request for refugee protection, and I have no intention of putting on a good face and deceiving him. So, I reply with words that are a little cold but don’t hide anything.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”I can’t make any promises, but I’ll do my best.”
[space_man][space_man]”… I see, thank you very much.”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]I stood up while listening to the Archduke’s light sigh, walked out into the hallway, closed the door, and then I also let out a sigh.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]If the Principality falls due to the Aberration invasion, the Knight Kingdom will also have no leeway and will have to focus on fighting the enemy. Even if we can receive support from our allies located to the rear, we probably won’t have the resources to take care of the refugees who have infiltrated.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]’After all, the easiest solution is victory…’
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]I’m disgusted with my own simple-mindedness for not being able to come up with any other solution, but there’s no point in standing still. I return to the borrowed lodging, change into some rough clothes, and slip into bed.