Chapter 234: Clementine’s Delight
In the castle of Presidio, the capital of Linmon Province, Governor General Sardival Gomez, a gorilla-like demon, wore a grimace as though he’d just swallowed a bitter insect while listening to the report.
「Peasants, of all people, have defeated Governor General Gomory and taken the Easter Peninsula?」
「Yes, sir… that is the report.」
「Gomory was given a Blue Dragon, wasn’t he? What became of it?」
「It seems that the Blue Dragon perished along with Governor General Gomory.」
「Seems, seems. All your reports are full of uncertainty, Sir Gibbon.」
The knight commander, Gibbon, who wore a horned helmet, often brought rumors rather than confirmed facts. But that was fine—Gibbon wasn’t tasked with intelligence gathering.
It was Sardival’s job to analyze the information, and sometimes, it was better to hear the straightforward account of a simple man like Gibbon rather than someone trying to overanalyze things. What was certain was that Easter Peninsula had fallen to an unknown enemy.
「The situation is chaotic. There are even rumors of a female brave stronger than Gomory, and soldiers speak of strange tubes that spew fire. It’s hard to believe that such a brave could arise from mere peasants.」
He didn’t dismiss it as nonsense. This was war. If the beasts under the command of the Great Demon King Ifriil could show unexpected power, then it wasn’t beyond belief that their enemies could produce surprising weapons.
Despite his rough and bold appearance, Sardival, the gorilla-like demon, was the head of the renowned Gomez family, known for their cunning.
The Gomez family was among the sixty-six noble demon families that served the first Demon King of Nisrok, and they had held the title of Chief Strategists of Nisrok for generations.
It was no surprise that Sardival had smoothly ascended to the position of Governor General of Linmon Province. The province, with its relatively stable populace, had seemed easy to govern compared to other territories.
Unlike the savage Holy Abysspania Queendom, which sought to slaughter demons as heretics, the Demon Nation enslaved the conquered peoples and worked them as serfs—but not to the point of death.
They controlled the population just enough to prevent rebellions, sometimes promoting the compliant to citizen status to spread out dissatisfaction. Sardival believed his strength lay in governance.
Yet, despite his efforts, a rebellion had occurred in his occupied territory. Unfortunate as it was, Sardival had prepared for unexpected events like this.
「We must take action. Leave a minimum defense and gather the regional demon forces here, at the capital, Presidio.」
「Understood!」
The enemy had defeated both the Blue Dragon and the brave Gomory. If they didn’t consolidate their forces, they risked being picked off one by one. With limited troops in the region, concentrating their power was crucial.
「And summon the demon beast tamer Hydra.」
「That lowborn woman, a mere half-human, to your side? If you wish, I can summon someone better…」
Gibbon, though a lower-ranking demon noble, was expressing his disdain for having such a suspicious commoner woman around. It was deeply irritating. Even for Sardival, the head of the prestigious Gomez family, women who were not pure demons held no appeal.
He only used tools that served their purpose.
Sardival raised his voice in anger.
「Sir Gibbon, I said to summon Hydra.」
「Y-Yes, at once!」
-0-
Before Governor General Sardival stood Hydra, the beast tamer. She was a stunning woman clad in a revealing bondage-like armor, her skin almost bare. In her hand, she held a staff for controlling beasts.
While she might be attractive enough to make Gibbon worry that the Governor General might be seduced, Sardival had no interest in her sensual appearance. His perception of beauty was far removed from that of humans, and he placed no value in it.
「Honorable Governor General Sardival, Supreme Commander of the Demon Army and ruler of Linmon Province!」
「There’s no time for lengthy greetings.」
「Y-Yes, I am here at your command.」
「Hmph. You are aware of the so-called rebel army approaching us, aren’t you? I want you to lead the beast division in my stead. It’s a small force, but you will be its commander.」
Hydra appeared nervous. There was a considerable gap in status between the common-born Hydra and the highest-ranking noble like Sardival. Under normal circumstances, someone of her standing would never have the chance to speak with him directly.
「To be made commander… this is an honor beyond my wildest dreams!」
「Hydra, see to it that you perform your duties to match your rank. Coordinate with Sir Gibbon, the knight commander, and carry out my strategy.」
When told to cooperate with her, Gibbon’s face twisted in displeasure. He looked at Hydra with contempt, as if disgusted by the idea of working with such a lowborn woman. Hydra, a snake-like demon with pale skin, had only a trace of demon blood.
She was rumored to be half-human, a commoner who couldn’t even use demon magic. Moreover, being a woman in the Demon Army meant she was treated poorly. While there were exceptions, the demon nation still clung to the traditional belief that women should stay at home and bear children.
But Sardival, a rationalist with a flexible mindset, wasn’t bound by rank, race, or gender. The beasts created by the Great Demon King Ifriil were usually controlled through the scales they were given, but for now, they were forcibly subdued by powerful demon nobles like Sardival and Gomory.
These beasts lacked intelligence, making it difficult to give them detailed orders. Yet, this Hydra woman had shown greater skill in controlling the beasts than Sardival himself.
Though not fully verified, it seemed that some women possessed a natural talent for handling beasts. Hydra was a valuable asset for Sardival, who wanted to utilize the beasts without putting himself in danger on the front lines.
Hydra, with her ambitious, upstart nature, could be easily managed. If she succeeded, Sardival could dangle the possibility of nobility before her and use her as needed.
「Everything shall be as you command, Governor General Sardival!」
「Very well, I leave it in your hands.」
With the frontlines in his subordinates’ care, Sardival turned his attention to the bigger picture. Governor General Gomory, who had been killed, was given five thousand soldiers because the Easter Peninsula bordered enemy territory—Antil Island.
Sardival suspected this might not be a mere peasant rebellion but perhaps a revolt instigated by former soldiers of Abysspania. However, the demon army should have already begun its invasion of Antil Island. Could it really be possible for a rebel force to emerge from there?
「Damn it. What are they doing… that Damons.」
The conquest of Antil Island was led by the former navy of Times, now the Demon Army of Times Province. If the enemy forces had escaped from Antil and were now wreaking havoc here, it was a failure on their part.
The fragmented command structures between regions were one of the more frustrating aspects of the Demon Army. Sardival wished he could send an envoy to scold the Antil invasion force for their incompetence, but there was no time for that.
Such actions could expose his own failures to the Great Demon King Ifriil. Sardival, despite his gorilla-like appearance, was also the Chief Strategist of the Demon Army. He possessed enough wisdom not to act recklessly in anger and provoke unnecessary complications.
「Governor General Sardival, shouldn’t we inform the Great Demon King of this situation? There is a possibility that this could be a counterattack by Abysspania. Perhaps we should request reinforcements, just in case.」
「Sir Gibbon! Are you suggesting that I, Sardival, should crawl back to the homeland and beg for assistance like some coward?」
Sardival’s anger flared not because of the news that the Easter Peninsula had been seized by the enemy, but at the very notion of asking for help. Sardival was a man who valued self-preservation.
Only now did Gibbon realize that, if this situation led to Sardival being reprimanded, his own life would be in danger. He threw himself to the ground in a groveling bow, almost pressing his head against the floor.
「M-My deepest apologies! It was thoughtless of me!」
「Sir Gibbon, your only concern should be following my orders.」
「Understood!」
「This rebellion must be dealt with by our hands alone. Do you understand?」
After forcing Gibbon into submission once more, Sardival finally calmed his heavy breathing. The idea of his failures reaching the capital of Laurentite was out of the question.
Although Sardival kept the loyal but dim-witted Gibbon around, even he found the knight’s stupidity exhausting. To think he hadn’t considered the consequences of reporting failure to the homeland—how foolish could one be?
The Great Demon King Ifriil was generous, easily bestowing his subordinates with mighty beasts and allowing them to work freely. But he was just as quick to discard those who failed him.
If Sardival were to report losing his territory to a mere peasant revolt, reinforcements would indeed be sent—but they would come with a new Governor General. While Sardival might avoid execution, he would be stripped of his position and rendered powerless.
Once removed from his role as Governor General, he would never be trusted with significant authority again. As the head of the Gomez family, which served as the Chief Strategists of the Demon Army, Sardival could not afford such a disgrace.
That said, Sardival was not underestimating the enemy. Whoever had defeated Gomory, the famed brave of Presidio, and routed his five thousand soldiers at Fort Orlando had to be a formidable foe.
War is a matter of numbers. Sardival knew he needed to gather as much force as possible while he had the chance.
「Twenty thousand… No, twenty-five thousand. I’ll even call upon the militia from the capital. We can muster thirty thousand in total across Linmon Province.」
「However, the human soldiers we’ve conscripted in Linmon Province are unreliable.」
「Humans are a greedy lot. If you can’t trust them, bait them with titles or gold. And if that fails, push them forward with overseers. Grind them down, use them up—if we reduce the enemy’s numbers, that’s all that matters.」
「Then I will make the necessary arrangements. All will be done according to your will, Governor General!」
Fortunately, Presidio was a fortified city, once the capital of the Holy Abysspania Queendom. It was surrounded by three layers of city walls, making it a near-impenetrable stronghold. The city also boasted its own navy, with control over its own port.
Sardival ruled this city himself. Its defenses were prepared for attacks from both land and sea. As long as Presidio stood, the enemy would be unable to push beyond the Easter Peninsula.
「Let them come. I’ll be ready, and I’ll send them fleeing.」
He was still concerned about the rumors of strange fire-spewing weapons, but he had his beasts on his side. If this city could be taken so easily, then the Demon Army would surely be doomed. With this thought, Sardival, ever cautious to the point of paranoia, finally felt some reassurance.
The rebellious forces’ momentum would not last forever. Sardival intended to lure them into a trap. If the enemy proved weaker than expected, he would crush them with overwhelming force. And if they were stronger, he would hold the line at Presidio and strike back when the time was right.
The Demon Kingdom’s vast territory made communication and coordination across regions difficult, a significant weakness in the Demon Army. Adding human conscripts to the mix only underscored the need for simple and clear strategies.
「Alright!」
Sardival nodded to himself, pleased with the plan he had devised, and gave his subordinates their orders. As the Governor General of Linmon Province, Sardival would marshal the entirety of the Linmon forces to meet the oncoming rebellion.
※※※
「With that said, we should attack immediately!」
「Yes, let’s do it!」
Berenice and Clementine had arrived at the Abysspanian front-line encampment. These two, sent by the Silesie Royal Guard, delivered Takeru’s message: ‘You don’t need to hold back anymore.’
In fact, they relayed, Takeru had suggested pushing forward and conquering the provincial capital of Presidio in one bold stroke. Upon hearing this, Louise and Barland exchanged glances.
There was no formal order from their strategist, Lyle, and such a proposal seemed out of character for the usually cautious Takeru. They suspected the two might be exaggerating his message.
「We’ll continue the guerrilla warfare. And we’ll keep recruiting and training volunteer forces.」
「Indeed. Targeting the capital at this stage is unrealistic.」
「What do you mean? Sir Barland, don’t you want to reclaim the capital?」
Barland sighed and responded,
「Of course, I want to take back Abysspania City. But if we engage in reckless fighting within the capital, many civilians will be caught in the crossfire.」
His face showed the strain of making this difficult decision, one motivated by his desire to avoid unnecessary civilian casualties.
Berenice, usually a squad leader charged with protecting the royal capital, and Clementine, a noblewoman, had no counterargument. Their silence showed that they, too, understood the responsibility of protecting their people.
No knight or noble wanted their city to become a battlefield. It was an ethical standard ingrained in those charged with the welfare of others.
「For now, we should focus on encircling the well-fortified capital while strengthening our forces through volunteer recruitment in the surrounding areas. If this drags out long enough, the enemy may grow impatient and expose a weakness we can exploit.」
Barland nodded at Louise’s suggestion. Though Berenice and Clementine agreed, it was clear from their faces that they were dissatisfied.
Louise sighed, recognizing their restlessness. The two young women were eager to prove themselves, and Louise understood that feeling all too well. She had once been just like them—driven by ambition, charging forward without much regard for anything else.
Ironically, it wasn’t until she had fallen from grace as a knight and become an adventurer that her perspective began to change. Or rather, it changed when she met Takeru.
A faint smile tugged at Louise’s lips. Perhaps, in time, Berenice and Clementine might also evolve beyond their rigid ideas of knightly honor if they spent enough time alongside Takeru.
「Don’t be so discouraged. As the commander of the army, I’ll give you plenty of opportunities to distinguish yourselves.」
「Yes, Louise-sama! We will do our best」「I swear it in the name of our Mancine family and the holy lance!」
Luckily, Berenice was already a squad leader, and Clementine, though still young, had experience as a deputy commander. Both showed great promise.
While it was common for someone of noble birth, like Clementine, to hold such a position, Louise was particularly impressed by Berenice. Despite being of common birth, she had risen to the rank of squad leader, a testament to her skill and determination.
Though neither had yet mastered the intricacies of modern warfare, many of the foot soldiers lacked firearms, making these two ideal candidates for leading conventional troops.
In many ways, Louise, with her traditional views, found herself aligned with the ideals of the two royal guards. Even in an era dominated by guns and cannons, chivalry still had its place. And Louise was determined to ensure that Berenice and Clementine would embody the spirit of knighthood as they led their forces into battle.
※※
Near the provincial capital of Presidio, 2,000 volunteers from the Abysspanian Liberation Army faced off against 2,000 cavalry from the Demon Kingdom’s subjugation force. Though their numbers were equal, the volunteer soldiers were an untrained, ragtag bunch, while the Demon Army was composed entirely of elite demon knights.
It was obvious that the enemy’s purely cavalry-based force intended to lure the volunteers into a trap, likely surrounding them with superior mobility. The enemy Governor General, Sardival, known as a cunning strategist, seemed to be weaving his web, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
However, Louise and her forces were far too savvy to fall into such an obvious ploy. Suzanne and Claudia had been strictly ordered not to overextend themselves on the battlefield, yet…
「Oneesamas, be careful not to get too carried away!」
「Yes, really! Just because it’s been a while since our last battle doesn’t mean you can forget your roles and responsibilities. We can’t afford any reckless charges.」
Suzanne and Claudia couldn’t help teasing the two royal guards, Berenice and Clementine, who were clearly itching for action. It wasn’t just their competitive nature—there was always a friendly rivalry between the volunteer cavalry and the royal knights.
「Don’t underestimate us, you brats! We’ve fought in the capital’s defense and endure rigorous training every day!」
「Now, now, Clementine. Let’s show them what royal knights are really capable of.」
Suzanne and Claudia’s caution was not without reason. Each of the young commanders had been entrusted with roughly 500 volunteer soldiers, but there was a stark contrast between their respective troops.
Suzanne and Claudia’s units were equipped with muskets and cannons, albeit awkwardly handled, while Berenice and Clementine’s forces wielded only long spears. Some even clutched pitchforks and other improvised weapons in place of proper military arms.
Without the shock power of muskets and artillery, Berenice and Clementine’s forces were little more than under-trained peasant levies. The plan was simple: Suzanne and Claudia’s riflemen would cripple the enemy’s momentum with gunfire and cannon blasts, allowing Berenice and Clementine’s spear infantry to sweep in and finish off the disoriented enemy.
There was no need for haste. Louise and her commanders had been steadily raising volunteer forces from the nearby villages, growing their numbers in preparation for the larger conflict to come.
As long as they could buy time, the Abysspanian Liberation Army would eventually gain the upper hand. As always, the battle began with the thunderous crack of gunfire and the roar of cannons.
「Suzanne!」
「Yes!」
This wasn’t their usual enemy. In the past, most enemies would have turned tail the moment they were hit with a volley of musket fire and cannon blasts.
Yet, even as the knights at the front fell, the Demon Army’s cavalry pressed forward, undeterred. Suzanne and Claudia could feel it in their bones—this was an entirely different kind of foe.
If musket fire and cannonades couldn’t stop their charge, untrained peasant riflemen would surely be scattered by the cavalry’s advance. Just as this fear took hold, Clementine’s clear and beautiful voice rang out over the battlefield.
「Everyone, this is a war of liberation! The Goddess Asama is watching over us! Justice is on our side! The brave who reclaim our homeland shall be rewarded with honor and rank!」
「Uooooooh!」
Even the untrained peasants rallied under her call, brandishing their long spears with newfound determination. Though poorly equipped, these volunteers knew that a well-formed pike wall could stand strong against cavalry.
Clementine’s vanguard held firm against the cavalry’s charge, a feat that left Suzanne and the others astonished. Berenice, overseeing her own spear infantry, couldn’t help but shout in triumph.
「How do you like that? This is the power of the royal knights!」
With Clementine’s forces pushing forward and Berenice’s unit moving to support them from the flanks, their phalanx of spears advanced steadily. Remarkably, the formation held firm against the demonic cavalry, not breaking as one might expect from such hastily-trained farmers.
Perhaps there was something to the idea that a beautiful female knight leading the charge could raise morale. The flamboyant, almost absurdly decorated armor of the royal knights, which might have seemed like an easy target for the enemy, now seemed to be more than just vanity.
It was a symbol—a rallying point for the volunteers to rise above themselves and fight for something greater.
「Ah, so it seems our esteemed oneesans aren’t just all talk.」
「Hurry and reload while you can! Prepare for the second volley!」
Suzanne barked the order, and as the muskets and cannons fired again, the blast struck the Demon Army, forcing the two thousand cavalrymen to slowly retreat. Leading the charge was Clementine, her golden hair streaming behind her as she rode atop a brilliant white horse, cutting a figure like a heroine from a chivalric romance.
But she wasn’t just a beauty. Clementine was renowned as the strongest knight in the royal guard, her prowess unmatched. Every time her straight-edged saber cut through the air, it sent the heads of enemy knights flying. Normally, the saber wasn’t a weapon designed for such clean cuts, but Clementine’s sheer strength twisted the blade through her foes with terrifying ease.
She was beautiful in appearance, but her methods of killing were anything but delicate. However, caught up in her momentum, Clementine found herself pushing too far ahead. Before she knew it, she was separated from her spear infantry and surrounded by enemy knights.
A black knight with a horned helm appeared before her, wielding a massive, black halberd from atop his horse.
「Haha! You’ve overextended yourself, blondie!」
「And you are?」
「If you must know before you die, I am Gibbon Crupan, the knight commander of the new Presidio Knights!」
「So, you command the two thousand cavalry of the Demon Army. Very well, then. You are a worthy opponent. Clementine Mancine shall face you in battle!」
Despite being surrounded, Clementine bravely charged at Gibbon with her saber, but with a sharp crack, her blade snapped. The prolonged fighting had worn down its durability, and it couldn’t withstand the force of the black halberd’s strike.
「You fought well, but this is the end for you, Clementine!」
Gibbon roared, raising his halberd to deliver the final blow.
「Not yet!」
Clementine yelled as she recklessly threw herself forward, grabbing the halberd’s shaft and halting its descent with her own body.
「Impressive resolve, female knight!」
「I will not lose… Not with the pride of the Mancini name on the line!」
Clementine shouted as she grappled with him, attempting to wrest the halberd from his grasp. The two clashed in a fierce struggle atop their horses, golden hair entangled with blackened steel as they wrestled for control.
「Gibbon-sama, we’re coming to assist you!」
One of Gibbon’s men shouted as they flanked Clementine, wielding whip-like weapons with long chains. With coordinated strikes, they entangled Clementine, binding her movements.
「Cowards!」
Clementine spat, struggling against the chains.
「We never agreed to a duel. As much as I’d like to finish you off myself, Governor General Sardival has ordered us to capture you alive.」
Gibbon taunted. Bound by the chains, Clementine seemed on the verge of defeat, until a sudden breakthrough came from the side.
Berenice and her spear troops smashed through the enemy lines, charging toward Clementine’s position.
「Release Clementine!」
「Urgh!」 「Guh!」
Berenice shouted, her voice carrying over the battlefield. Then, Berenice unsheathed a pair of daggers and, with expert precision, hurled them at the enemies holding Clementine. The daggers found their marks, plunging into the throats of the two knights, killing them instantly. Her skill in throwing knives was as deadly as any thief’s.
「What the—?!」
Gibbon’s momentary distraction gave Clementine the opening she needed. With a swift motion, she wrested the halberd from his grip.
「Take this!」
「Guhaa」
Clementine swung the weapon with all her might, slamming the butt end of the halberd into Gibbon’s chest. Though his armor protected him from a fatal blow, the force was enough to knock him from his horse.
Gibbon’s men rushed to his aid, but they were cut down in moments by Clementine, who now wielded the black halberd with terrifying skill, carving a path through the enemy like a whirlwind of death.
「Protect Gibbon-sama!」
「Uaaagh!」
More soldiers rushed forward, sacrificing themselves to give Gibbon enough time to recover. Finally steadying himself, Gibbon drew the black sword at his waist.
「To think I’d be knocked to the ground… But I will never lose to a mere woman!」
「A man who knows nothing of chivalry!」
Gibbon’s misfortune was that the halberd Clementine now wielded was imbued with powerful magic. With a mighty swing of the enchanted weapon, the sharp axe blade cleaved through Gibbon’s black sword and crushed his horned helm in one devastating blow. Gibbon’s body crumpled to the ground, lifeless.
「You did it, Clementine!」
Berenice cheered, thrusting her fist into the air in triumph.
「The enemy’s knight-commander has fallen! Clementine Mancine has slain him!」
Berenice shouted triumphantly.
Clementine, her chest heaving from the intensity of battle, flushed with pride as she gazed upon the fallen enemy. Taking down the enemy’s commander in such a grand duel was something she had dreamed of since childhood. Now, that dream had become a glorious reality, and her once-pale cheeks flushed with the warmth of victory.