← Previous Chapter | Chapter Index | Next Chapter →

The Tale of the Wizrain Kingdom

What Is Brought Forth

Translated by: S3

Treat me to a Ko-Fi to give me more motivation!!!

*****

The sunlight grew stronger by the day, and even though they were on horseback, the march was draining their physical strength. When Cross let out a quiet sigh, a nearby general asked, 「Would you like to take a short break?」 Cross replied with a brief 「No,」 without looking over. Every action and word from Cross directly affected the morale of his troops.

「There is no need to worry about me. However, report the movements of the soldiers to me in detail. They must be getting exhausted by now.」

「Yes, sir!」

The sound of horse hooves receded. This time, Cross didn't let his expression change, but the apricot hair color of a certain girl suddenly flickered in his memory.

(I wonder how things are going over there...)

He had sent a messenger to relay the current situation, but on foot, they wouldn't have arrived yet. On the other hand, if he were to use message magic and the enemy had pre-emptively cast a magical net, there was a risk they would immediately pinpoint his location. While useful, it was a magic best avoided during a march unless necessary.

While an overflowing anxiety swirled in his chest, he felt a strangely calm sensation as well. Anxiety and peace of mind. Or perhaps "trust" was the better word. Cross was surprised to learn for the first time that these contradictory feelings could exist simultaneously.

(I suppose I’ll discover countless things I don't know from here on out.)

In the life he would lead with Elna, there would surely be plenty of them.

If that was the case, he first had to escape the threat of the Empire. Just as Cross fixed his gaze on the trees ahead, a thicket rustled. Suspecting an animal, the horses were halted, and several soldiers immediately stepped forward to shield Cross.

「Wait.」

As the soldiers readied their weapons, Cross called out a command to stop. The soldiers froze instantly as something drew closer. Then, a man tumbled out. He was one of the scouts Cross had sent ahead; upon identifying Cross, he dropped to one knee and bowed deeply.

「I am deeply sorry for being late...!」

「It doesn't matter. In fact, I'm glad you've returned. More importantly, what of the Empire's movements?」

「They are retreating!」

The scout shouted in an excited tone. The soldiers were shaken by those words, and the shock seemed to spread to the horses as whinnies and voices trying to settle them broke out everywhere. Only Cross remained calm as he looked down at the soldier.

「Continue.」

「Yes! The Imperial Army appeared to be continuing their march past the borders of the Kingdom of Wizrain, but they suddenly began a retreat just a short while ago!」

「...What does this mean?」

The one who questioned Cross was the Duke of Halburn. He had been the first to answer the summons and had immediately joined Cross on the campaign. He was supposed to be stationed with the rear guard, but he must have galloped forward upon hearing the commotion.

The Duke’s lion-mane beard bristled as usual. 「I cannot imagine a reason for them to retreat...」 he said, furrowing his brow.

「The troops of the Kingdom of Myuberta must have moved. ...It seems we made it in time.」

「The Kingdom of Myuberta? Isn't that the country where your elder sister... Lady Oriana, was married?」

Faced with the wide-eyed Duke, Cross nodded with a grin.

「Exactly. That is why I made a point to leave the royal capital so conspicuously. It would have been a problem if they hadn't moved. Even the Empire, when faced with a pincer attack from our country and Myuberta, would have no choice but to flee in a panic.」

Cross had detected the Empire’s movements in advance and had already finished his preparations for war. That was why he was able to set out at a speed that surprised the Empire. At that time, he intentionally raised a battle cry while riding through the flame-engulfed capital to ensure the word reached the Imperial spies—and the Myuberta spies hidden within Wizrain.

The culprits who set fire to the capital—the people of the Empire—must have been quite shocked to see Cross leading the departure.

「Well, they might have been in the middle of escaping the capital themselves... either way, the news of Wizrain's departure must have reached King Rigoberto of the Albalu Empire quite smoothly.」

Cross had treated his own presence as part of the performance up to this point. Of course, if Myuberta’s movements had been even a little slower, he would have had to engage the enemy directly, so his cold excitement had yet to subside.

(I managed to settle things somehow without hurting either friend or foe...)

He felt a strange sense of relief. This emotion, too, was surely influenced by Elna.

(If it were Elna, she’d probably say as long as they aren't dead, a few scratches don't matter.)

The corner of his mouth quirked into a slight smile. Despite being a coward regarding human death, her haphazardness in other areas was typical of a dragon’s reincarnation.

「...It should be coming close now.」

「Hmm?」

Cross let out a sharp whistle, and as expected, a single bird wove through the trees and landed on his arm as a perch. Cross acted as if it were perfectly normal that it wasn't a pigeon, but the Duke let out a cry of admiration while pulling his horse's reins. 「Oh, what a magnificent hawk!」

「It’s a message magic hawk from my sister regarding this matter. She must have sent it guessing that I would be near here.」

The black hawk flapped its wings and quietly transformed into a single letter. Cross slowly picked it up and scanned the contents. Perhaps because he had slipped in a subtle complaint previously, the writing wasn't teasing him—he moved his eyes over the text with a wry smile, then suddenly stopped.

「This isn't from my sister.」

「...Then, from whom?」

—With this, the debt is repaid.

When the complex code was deciphered, that was the only sentence that emerged.

「It’s a note from the King of Myuberta—my brother-in-law. He says he's repaying a debt.」

「Now, was there a debt so large that it required repayment from that country...?」

「Who knows.」

He tossed the letter away, and it was immediately incinerated by magic. While giving a vague reply, laughter welled up within him.

(It seems the rumors had captured the truth.)

To prepare for any contingency, Wizrain does not maintain an overtly close relationship with Myuberta. Given the current situation of being sandwiched between the Empire and the Holy Kingdom, one should keep as many cards hidden as possible.

That was why their only connection to Myuberta was the marriage of Cross’s sister, Oriana, as the primary queen.

Oriana must have established a firm position within Myuberta to the point of considering it a debt, and she likely provided powerful assistance regarding this deployment.

(Talk about following through on your word...)

—Listen? I am not going out of this country just to be a hostage. I am setting out to be loved. I will surely win the love of my husband, the King.

His sister’s words from the past flashed through Cross’s mind.

「Now, Your Majesty, what shall we do next?」

「Let’s see... while the news of the retreat is likely accurate, we will continue the march for now. I need to see it with my own eyes. Also, the surrounding villages must be the ones most terrified right now. We will conduct inspections and station some soldiers there if necessary.」

「The villagers will be overjoyed if Your Majesty visits them directly.」

「It will still be a while before we can return to the capital. ...Hm, also, I need to use message magic for about two urgent matters.」

「Ho ho. A love letter, perhaps?」

「Don't tease me. One is to the King of Myuberta, and the other—well. I suppose it’s something similar.」

Seeing Cross lightly shrug his shoulders, the Duke blinked. After doing so, he let out a jolly 「Ho ho ho!」 while stroking his red, bushy beard with one hand.

***

「It’s a pigeon...!」

Under the blue sky, Feliol waved one hand vigorously as if to say, "Over here!"

「A white... pigeon...」

Before she knew it, Elna was murmuring too.

「It’s Brother’s message magic, I'm sure of it!」

Pointing at the white speck that was growing larger and larger, Feliol called out to Elna with a bright, happy smile. Elna nodded vigorously again and again. It had to be. There was no doubt.

「Over here!」

She shouted, "Come here." Quickly, come this way. Hurry, hurry.

I’m waiting for you.