Gasi

Part 3「Isn't this too hasty?」

Baldr suddenly declared that he would go into offense. It couldn't be helped that was the first thing Piaggio said when he opened his mouth.

Baldr's arrival and Gigante's capture had certainly made Mulberry gained momentum.

However the difference in strength with dukedom army was still overwhelmingly disadvantageous for Mulberry.

If by any chance Baldr set out and was defeated, the morale that had finally risen would immediately disperse to the wind. If that happened then internal struggle would occur within the maritime guild once more.

First they had to harden their defense firmly. And then they would recapture the blockaded sea lane and obtained new supplies and reinforcement before going out in counterattack.

Piaggio's thinking was reasonable tactically.

Admiral Barbarino also had the same thinking like Piaggio.

「Our guild's armada wish to borrow the strength of the captured Gigante and crush Federigo's fleet immediately.」

「Of course, I will hand over Gigante to the guild. You can use it as you please. I'll leave it to the maritime guild to arrange the manpower to operate it.」

「──Is that alright?」

「It will only be a waste to leave it in my possession.」

The 400 soldiers that Baldr brought with him were all land troops.

It Urraca's navy that were steering Gigante until here, but they had their own ship and they couldn't be in charge of Gigante forever.

Either way if the maritime guild was accepting their place as Baldr's retainers, then the realistic decision was to leave Gigante to them.

「If our Gigante can hold back the enemy's Gigante, the rest will be decided purely by the ship crews' skill. The enemy is inferior with me at this side!」

Urraca powerfully stated that.

「I'm grateful. There will be nothing more reassuring than this if Tormenta Negra is going to cooperate with us.」

Barbarino highly evaluated the navy of Majorca Kingdom precisely because they were once rival. He also believed in the skill of Urraca who destroyed the superiority of the dukedom's fleet.

Thanks to Urraca beating the dukedom's fleet, the maritime guild was able to obtain the control of the South Seas without much effort.

In that sense, Urraca was also a benefactor of the guild.

「This Mulberry won't fall as long as the sea lane is in good condition. That fact will be even more certain if there is more reinforcement that will come from Antrim.」

They shouldn't make any reckless gamble here.

Baldr nodded at Piaggio's words while laughing a little.

「You're speaking correctly if we're only considering Mulberry's defense. But, I didn't come here just to defend Mulberry.」

「That's...」

It was here that the elders finally noticed that they were only thinking of the war situation based on their convenience.

It was an unsightly blunder for Baldr's retainers. But, even knowing that the risk of Baldr going out into offense right now was too dangerous.

「It's just as your highness say, the kingdom's revival won't come true if we only defend. But time is at our side here!」

If it became a protracted battle, the large army would become a burden for the dukedom instead.

The logistics would be a heavy burden to maintain a large army. The bigger an army was, the faster morale would decrease from lack of supply.

Piaggio was saying that it wouldn't be too late to attack after waiting for that to happen.

「Piaggio's opinion is correct. But I have three reasons why I have to fight immediately.」

Baldr said that while raising three fingers.

「First reason, the dukedom isn't expecting that we will be attacking from our side. No matter the era an army that cannot prepare itself mentally will be brittle.」

Even so, it was impossible to overturn the difference in strength that was nearly five times with just that.

Piaggio and others couldn't hide their unconvinced look even while nodding at Baldr.

「And then the second reason, unfortunately the support I have to inherit Trystovy's throne is small. It's partly caused by the beastman blood flowing inside me but...」

The maritime guild submitted to Baldr because of their special circumstance within Trystovy.

They traded with a lot of countries and on top of that they had the disposition to not hold much stock toward race prejudice. In addition they also highly evaluated the numerous groundbreaking inventions that Baldr invented.

Besides when they investigated Baldr's relationship with Savaran Company and Dowding Company, they learned that Baldr was the ideal lord for merchant.

A lord who wouldn't betray trust and tried to one-sidedly exploit his subjects, a lord who could build win-win relationship was very rare.

Also there were a lot of people who missed the old kingdom over the dukedom because of how Umberto I protected Mulberry in the past.

Of course there was also the realistic situation where it was now very hard for the maritime guild to protect Mulberry with just its strength from the dukedom that was supported by Answerer Kingdom.

Baldr's existence was still obscure among Trystovy people outside Mulberry. Even those who knew about Baldr's existence didn't think nicely about him.

「We also have the choice of gathering a large army, preparing supplies, and wait for the enemy to blunder. However there is no guarantee that the passing of time will only help us. We don't know what kind of approach Answerer Kingdom will take after all.」

If Answerer Kingdom seriously supported the dukedom just like how the maritime guild was supporting Baldr, the difference in strength would widen even more.

It was clear that it would be their side that got pushed into disadvantage.

「That's why it's necessary for me personally to win with a small force in a clear shape that no one can deny. It needs to be something so clear that even Answerer Kingdom will hesitate to interfere. And also so that the people can have hope for this civil war to end. And to make the nobles who are dissatisfied toward the dukedom to waver.」

Setting aside the battle at sea, the maritime guild was always being on the defensive when it came to land battle.

That was why the people in general didn't even consider something like the maritime guild uniting the country. They thought that the best the maritime guild could do was only to maintain their autonomy at Mulberry.

That thinking wasn't actually wrong.

It was the truth that maintaining the status quo was the priority of the elders including Piaggio.

In such situation, even if they obtained reinforcement and prepared a battle strength that equaled the enemy, it would be impossible for the populace to have hope for the end of the civil war.

Looking objectively, Baldr who only had 400 troops was clearly just a figurehead that the maritime guild elevated.

The general opinion of the society was that this just a method of the maritime guild to obtain justification and support from other countries.

That wasn't the case, it was the maritime guild that was under Baldr's control.

To make that fact became known, the most effective way was for Baldr to directly lead the army and won.

「And then the last reason, it's a really simple reason.」

Baldr looked around at Piaggio and others and grinned boldly.

「──We will win easily if we fight. There is no army in this world that can defend against King's Gate owner when they never fought one before.」

.

As expected they had to spend some time to explain about the King's Gate.

It was an ability that was last owned by the beast king. The story about this ability was only passed down in the beast god shrine as a legend.

Actually Europa religion also knew about this ability, but the maritime guild's elders didn't know at all about it, which was only natural.

「I still can't agree to it! Please don't act rashly.」

Even so Admiral Barbarino openly spoke words of objection.

He was the one with the most military disposition among the elders. He considered the risk was extremely great for Baldr to go into attack with just a few number.

The fate of the maritime guild would also end if something happen to Baldr by any chance.

He was completely unable to turn a blind eye to such rash gamble.

「So you won't be convinced with just verbal explanation like this. Then can you assemble some people with skill?」

Baldr spoke with a wry smile. Barbarino replied to him dubiously.

「I don't think that the dukedom will attack right away, so it's possible if I'm allowed the time. But what does your highness plan to do with that?」

「I'm thinking to have you ascertain it with your own eyes if you can't be convinced with just words.」

.

A runner from the maritime guild immediately went to Mulberry's land battle commander Gustiniani with a message after that.

「──A bout? Our morale has finally risen up like this. I don't want it to crash down again.」

Gustiniani said that with his face grimacing in displeasure.

He had confidence on his own experience and ability. He really didn't want to be ordered to do some phony match to make the opponent looked good.

「They said that there is no need to hold back. If possible they want you to beat up the opponent.」

「Aaa? Obviously I can beat them.」

He didn't know how skilled this Margrave Antrim was, but Gustiniani was someone with the achievement of protecting this Mulberry until now.

It was the common knowledge that three times the number of the defender was needed to take down a castle, but as long as he was here, he could protect this city completely even if the enemy's number was ten times his force.

He was also receiving salary that wasn't cheap by any means, and that was because he possessed the strength that was worth that much money. He had such confidence.

「Oi adjutantLuigi, I'll leave the command to you for a while. It looks like they need me to babysit a spoiled boy over there.」

Trying to revive the kingdom was nice and all, but it would be a great mistake if that brat thought that war would goes just like what he imagined in his childish mind.

The number of mercenary who lost their life because of the adventurous tactic of a young ruler couldn't be measured.

Gustiniani silently resolved that he wasn't going to let this Mulberry that he had protected all this time with his sweat and tear to be messed around by Baldr.

.

「I brought 200 energetic guys with me. And, how are we going to do this?」

Like this Gustiniani met Baldr for the first time.

He looked like a lady-killer with good upbringing, but he also seemed like a nice youth without any conceit.

Gustiniani couldn't feel any arrogance of a noble who tended to start attacking recklessly from Baldr. It was surprising to him.

But even that impression only lasted until the next words that Baldr said.

「I'll take all of you alone, so do you want to bed how long you all will last?」

*Snap*, vein pulsed on Gustiniani's forehead.

He wanted to praise himself from not punching Baldr right away. If it was him from ten years ago then there was no doubt his fist would already fly.

「By that do you mean it's a bet of how long you're going to stay standing boy?」

His speech turned a little rough but he paid it no mind.

「No, it's a bet of how long it will take until all of you become unable to stay on your feet.」

「You have guts. You don't need us holding anything back right?」

There would be no need for mercy if he looked down on their strength like that. He would beat him up until he was crawling on the ground crying. If he got fired because of that then he would walk out of here himself.

Piaggio and Barbarino got nervous seeing that Gustiniani had made his decision.

Regardless of everything, the two of them knew that it would be difficult to protect Mulberry until now without Gustiniani's skill.

「Boys, you listening? It's gonna be the start of a fun class. I don't know how they are doing shit at the sophisticated army, but it'll be over for us if we get underestimated, you all get that?」

「Yeah of course.」

「──You're pretty vigorous over there, Big Shield Gusti.」

That voice seemed familiar.

He reeled the string of his memory to remember whose voice was it. He needed nearly three seconds until he recalled.

At the same time a shudder ran through Gustiniani's back as though there was an icicle pushed into there.

「Silver Light...Maggot?」

「It's nice to see that both of us are still alive even now. Especially because you were always at the opposite side before this.」

Cold greasy sweat immediately drenched Gustiniani's whole body.

When Gustiniani was still just a simple mercenary, Maggot was famous as a disaster that couldn't be touched.

Maggot always appeared at the battlefield area with fierce fighting. He didn't know how many of his acquaintances had been killed by her hand.

Don't think of that woman as human. Think of her as a battalion of heavy armor knights.

When he learned that Maggot was participating in the battle, Gustiniani would repeatedly warn all his colleagues like that.

To think that he would be reunited with her in this kind of place.

Could it be that the reason of Baldr's confidence was because of her existence?

Certainly if Maggot assisted him, the 300 soldiers in this place wouldn't be of any use.

Let's run if she is also fighting, Gustiniani made that decision without any care of his reputation or appearance.

「Long time no see. Are you this young master's bodyguard?」

「Unfortunately he is my son. So be as rough as you can with him.」

「Y-you are joking right?」

Baldr Antrim Cornelius was the heir to the throne who inherited the blood of Trystovy's royal family.

That meant, Silver Light Maggot was also a princess. No, rather than that Baldr was her son. For someone like her to send him out with a smile....

「C-could it be you...train him?」

「Of course I trained him a lot. Aren't you glad? If you can defeat Baldr, you can proudly claim to be a man who defeated the Silver Light Maggot you know?」

「Stronger than Silver Light Maggot? You're joking right? Tell me that it's a joke!」

Gustiniani turned toward Piaggio with a pale face. His expression was ghastly.

However Piaggio heartlessly shook his head.

For his whole life Gustiniani never regretted his own choice as much as now.

「Sorry but let's just treat it that this talk never happen...」

「Do it thoroughly! You get it right?」

「I'll put forth every effort! Okaa-sama!」

「NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!」

Thirty minutes later Baldr's attack was acknowledged unanimously.

.

Part 4「As I thought there isn't any sign of Olten.」

Ramillies who boarded the transport ship along with the 400 elites of Antrim landed on Mulberry slightly later than Baldr. And then he looked down at the dukedom army from above the rampart.

The number was amazing, but the organization of the troops was rough.

Even so that rough organization didn't become a fatal mistake because of the experience that the troops had accumulated from the long war.

The number of mercenary was fewer than expected, but perhaps the dukedom too didn't have much budget for military affair.

「I don't think he is a guy who will quietly retire though...」

The Olten that Ramillies knew was a man who was the very picture of resolute determination.

He wasn't a man who would let his hands got tied and only waited until the enemy broke down from inside. For him to not be here, that meant he wasn't in a position that could interfere with the command of the dukedom army.

The current commander-in-chief of the dukedom army should be the man called Cesare.

Ramillies closed his eyes and followed the memory of his youth, but he had no memory of the man called Cesare among his subordinates.

Although there wasn't any need to fear him if he was someone who didn't have any further plan just because Gastone's betrayal failed.

「Where are you Olten? You definitely must be somewhere in this battlefield. You won't be my friend Olten if not.」

Ramillies doubted his ears when he heard that Olten rebelled against the royal family.

It was Olten's pride of a lifetime to be the sword of his lord.

For someone like him to change lord, Ramillies couldn't imagine just how much anger and despair that was needed for Olten to make such decision.

But, there was just one thing that Ramillies understood from observing Olten's action after that.

Olten wouldn't betray the dukedom. He wouldn't change lord anymore.

Olten built the dukedom by throwing his pride as a knight and piled up a mountain of corpses of his former comrades. The dukedom was his master and also an existence that surpassed even his own biological son.

Most of all, as someone who killed his lord and betrayed his comrades, Olten had the duty to raise the dukedom to be an ideal homeland. If it was Olten then he was surely thinking like that.

Exactly because of that, there was no way that Olten would relax in his retirement just because he had grown old.

「Now then, it's the long-cherished desire of a knight to settle things with a long time rival, but it will be a little bone-breaking to have you as enemy, Olten.」

His old friend who was a reliable ally in the past was now a powerful enemy that couldn't be underestimated.

As expected it was difficult to fight his fellow knight who he ran around in the battlefield together with while entrusting their back to each other.

It was especially problematic that both of them knew each other personality and habit very well.

Most likely the majority of his thinking was being discerned by Olten.

「...But, I have something that you don't have. Perhaps you too have something that I don't have, but it won't be enough to fill the gap that exist between the lords we serve.」

Ramillies's heart returned to that time when he was just a knight serving Viktor.

He had an absolute lord who he could offer his life for without any hesitation.

In contrast Olten undoubtedly lost himself after changing his lord and shouldered a lot of things on his back.

As a knight and as an old friend, he couldn't help but feeling pity to Olten's current situation. Although he didn't have any intention to be merciful because of that.

「At least I'll send you off to that world with my own hand.」