Chapter 138: Regional Noble’s Rebellion
Volume 4: Noble Rebellion
The construction of the black cedar warship materials has finally reached a milestone. In the harbor of Pervert, the construction of galleon ships is progressing, and the relief efforts for food transport to the autonomous city of Aslo, led by the Silesien Fleet, seem to be going smoothly.
While Silesie and Transylvania were originally abundant in food production, they have now decided to utilize the meat of defeated monsters as preserved food, providing inexpensive sustenance to Aslo. It is essential to educate them that even the lowest-ranked goblin meat can be consumed without issue when properly dried and prepared using innovative cooking methods.
The monster hides, when layered, can serve as cold-weather gear, and in emergencies, they can even substitute for ship sails. For adventurers, monsters are an inexhaustible resource.
The citizens of the autonomous city may appear weakened due to the advancement of civilization. However, during emergencies, even monster meat should be appreciated as a natural blessing.
Well, the luxury of slowly managing internal affairs cannot last forever.
At that moment, Lyle-sensei rushed into the inner palace with a bloodthirsty look on her face.
「Wait, is it your turn today?」
「This is no time for casual remarks. The southern local nobles have finally rebelled.」
Indeed, the local nobles who had been displaying unsettling behavior have now formed a coalition and raised a rebel armyh. The Burgund and Aquitaine families, the two major families in the south, lead this army of local nobles. They demand the abdication of Queen Silhouette and seek to transfer the throne to the current head of the Blanc family, Baron Bonjour Issoire Blanc, who claims legitimacy as a descendant of the founding King Renz. 「Is the baron the banner of this rebellion? Seems rather lackluster.」
Bonjour is quite a cheerful name. Being from the Blanc family, he’s probably a carefree fellow.
「Indeed, the heart of the rebellion lies with Count Pippin and Countess Agnès. As for the head of House Blanc, Baron Bonjour, he is but a twelve-year-old noble. The prestigious Blanc family has no other surviving heirs. Regardless, he is a mere puppet, and the true power rests with Count Pippin.」
「I see, a young shaved eyebrow.」
I can’t imagine what he’s like.
「You don’t seem to be surprised.」
Well, we had received reports from our scouts about suspicious movements among the southern nobles. It seems that what was expected has finally arrived. Given that the blood of Silesian citizens flows through their veins, it’s natural, though undesirable.
「Now, what about our situation? Fist Slave Emperor Dyson’s forces have invaded both the fortress city of Damburg, which has risen against him, and the rebellious village of Leutz. They seem to be aiming directly for the city of Lanct.」
「What?!」
「In the southeast of Silesia, the fishing village of Galée has been attacked by Castilian fleets. With no navy and inadequate coastal defenses, we are defenseless. We don’t even know where the Castilian troops will land.」
「Whaaatttt?!」
Lyle-sensei spread out a homemade strategic map on the silk bed.
「It’s a three-pronged simultaneous attack. Most likely, Slave Fist Emperor Dyson, the Castilian navy, and the southern regional nobles have formed an alliance. It’s the Siege of Silesie.」
「What in the world!」
That was unexpected. Ah, so I’ve somehow become like Oda Nobunaga. I’ve been careless lately because of the peace. In this dire situation, Lyle-sensei’s calm demeanor is our only solace.
「Now, as for our allies, the Britannian navy, our last hope, is still recovering from their previous defeat. Meanwhile, the Roland Kingdom is busy stabilizing the territories they absorbed from the Germania Empire. So, they can only serve as a deterrent.」
「We’re in dire straits, aren’t we?」
「Indeed.」
Sensei said so while smiling happily.
Very reliable indeed.
「Dire straits means there are no viable options. First, we must decide how much of our national forces and volunteer soldiers to allocate.」
「But sending the entire army for relief is challenging, especially with enemies closing in from three sides.」
「That’s exactly it, Takeru-dono.I believe this entire attack might be a diversion.」
「A diversion? Even the siege itself is a diversion?」
I see, I guess this surprise attack from three sides was designed to divide our forces. As expected of sensei, she noticed it in an instant.
The Empire, ravaged by the previous war, lacked personnel. But Castilia had its share of high-level magicians and strategists.
「Castilia attacks from the sea, the Fist Slave Imperial Army charges straight ahead, and the local nobles try to lure us southward… Their target is only one place: the royal capital of Silesie.」
「Hmm.」
「By dispersing troops to the provinces, they’ve weakened Silesie. Their plan? To capture the capital. After all, if you take the capital, it’s as good as beheading the kingdom.」
「Within the royal capital reside the Queen of Silesie and the Germania Empire’s Emperor and his granddaughter.」
「You forgot yourself, oh King General. Your presence is what binds Transylvania and Lanct. Silesie itself stands on your reputation as a hero.」
「I’ll keep that in mind.」
Sensei lightly tapped my chest.
「Remember it well. In a full-scale war, we can’t afford you wandering off. You were contemplating some rescue mission, weren’t you?」
「Truly impressive, sensei.」
Had she read my thoughts?
Sensei leaned in, her eyes sharp, and began explaining our countermeasures.
「To counter the Castilian forces on the southern coast, we’ll send 500 artillerymen and 500 volunteers led by Ginny. The primary strategy is to bombard the fleet from the opposite shore. If an enemy landing is confirmed, the Fourth and Fifth Corps from the Royal Capital will respond.」
「That sounds reasonable.」
「To deter the southern nobles, we’ll send 500 artillerymen and 2,000 volunteers. Since they were already stationed in the area, I believe deployment will be swift.」
「What about defending the national border?」
Sensei pointed to the map. The southern nobles were on the other side of the Ye Mountains. This side of the mountains consisted of Count Est’s Est Territory, ruled by Marquis Danavan, and the Royal Territory. It would be disastrous if the Est Territory, the heart of Silesia, were invaded, not to mention the Royal Territory.
That region was a hub for gun and cannon production, housed our hometown of Losgow Village, and was home to Sarah-chan.
「Baron Dot’s territory is right on the border, isn’t it?」
「I think I’ve heard that before.」
On the other side of the Ye Mountains, there was the Burgund Territory, ruled by Count Pipin Nant Burgund, the leader of the rebellious nobles, and right in the middle was a small barony.
So, this was the border?
「Dot… Ah, could this be the territory that used to belong to Gale?」
「Yes, it is currently ruled by Baron Zawa Haruto, the commander of the Third Corps.」
I’ve heard of him too.
「Zawa Haruto is the commander who holed up in the bandit fort during the battle against Gale’s coup d’état army, right?」
「Ah, that fence-sitter of Sekigahara?」
It felt like ages ago.
Zawa Haruto was unsure whether to side with the Silhouette’s royal army or Gale’s coup d’état army, so he holed up in the Eagle Bandit’s fort. I forced him into an alliance by bombarding the fort.
「Is Baron Zawa Haruto holding the casting vote again?」
「It seems so. Dot Castle, where the Third Corps is stationed, was heavily fortified by the competent Gale, making it an important strategic point as well.」
I have no recollection of Zawa Haruto’s face. In fact, I may not have even met him in person, considering I only bombarded his fortress.
It seems I’m always assigned these roles.
「If he betray us, I’ll bombard him again.」
「Please don’t go. We have two thousand volunteers ready to defend Marquis Est’s territory, and more are gathering from all over the kingdom. We have ample supplies of guns, cannons, and ammunition, so we can easily reinforce our forces. Even if Baron Zawa Haruto betrays us and the Third Corps join the enemy, they won’t fall immediately.」
「So, the southern nobles are trying to lure me out as bait, and you’re telling me not to go?」
「You understand perfectly.」
「But you know, Sarah-chan is the deputy of Losgow Village.」 I
「That’s why we can quickly deploy volunteers there. It’s safe. She’s a clever girl, and she’ll handle any unexpected situations well.」
「That’s not what I’m worried about. Remember at the Battle of Silesie? She showed up uninvited and became the commander of the Royal Capital’s regiment. What if she goes on a rampage again and becomes a general, leading an attack on the local nobles?」
「Hahaha, surely you’re overthinking it.」
You think so? But she did take down the enemy general in the previous battle.
I think sensei is underestimating the success of her pedagogy.
After all, the kingdom’s leaders and the upper echelons of the volunteer corps are all acquaintances of Sarah-chan’s.
I think her connections and her decisiveness in using them shouldn’t be underestimated.
「Well, whatever happens, it’s not like we’ll be in immediate danger.」
「Speaking of which, about the relief effort for the Lanct Duchy…」
Just then, Louise, clad in full armor, entered the room, her footsteps echoing with the clanking of her greaves.
「Oh, Louise has finally joined my harem!」
My long-awaited dream has finally come true.
And you know what? I’m not kidding.
「I apologize for the intrusion, but this is urgent.」
The gleaming ‘Orichalcon Armor’. The gauntlets were the only parts that Dyson had stolen, so they were made of black cedar that shone darkly, but I felt that it somehow added to Louise’s dashing appearance as her fiery red hair fluttered in the wind.
Louise quickly knelt before me and presented her report.
「I will lead my cavalry of 200 and Marina’s 500 Royal Knights to the rescue of the Lanct Duchy. I will also bring Suzanne and Claudia, so please take care of yourself, my lord. I will leave Jill behind, but he is the Queen’s personal guard.」
「Well, if Louise is going, I could not ask for more.」
「Horses are fast, so we should make it in time. I’ve heard about the Fist Slave Emperor Dyson, and I’ve been itching to cross swords with him.」
「Well, there’s also our ally ‘Iron Wall’ Herman on the Lanct frontline. With Louise, the strongest sword, and Herman, the strongest shield, even Dyson, the strongest gladiator, won’t be able to win.」
「Yes, I will fight a battle that is not shameful as my lord’s sword.」
Louise stood up as soon as she finished speaking, and with a resounding thud of her fist on the hilt of her sword at her waist, she showed her high spirits before leaving the harem with a flourish.
I wish she would stay a little longer.
As if my wish had been granted, Louise stopped, turned back slightly, and looked at me.
「What’s wrong, Louise?」
Is she going to stay after all?
I’d even let her sleep in the bed.
「No, it’s just that I have a bad feeling about this war. I hope I’m just being paranoid.」
「Hmm, I was just talking to sensei about that. It could be a trap to lure us out.」
「I have a feeling Sarah is going to do something reckless again, so please keep an eye on her. Since we got her involved in the war, I would feel terrible to the Rod family if something happened to her.」
「Is that all you care about?! Louise, I already told you about Sarah-chan!」
Louise said nothing more and ran off.
Louise, the ‘Ten Thousand Swords’, clad in her strongest armor and wielding her greatsword, will now head straight to the Lanct Duchy, where she will cut down the enemies.
I wonder why, but whenever I’m told to keep an eye on Sarah-chan, I can’t help but worry.
It’s definitely a flag.