I Didn't Want to Become the Emperor of This World

Chapter 69

When Leonardo offered to help with the camp preparations, not only Jereuth who heard it up close, but also the other knights and soldiers were quite—no, very surprised.

It was understandable, as a ‘royal’ had offered to prepare for camping. And not just any royal, but Crown Prince Leonardo, who wielded truly absolute power.

It was not common for knights to prepare for camping with soldiers. Most of the knights on this continent were of noble birth, so they didn't even think of suffering together with the lowly commoner soldiers.

The same went for the knights of the Plank Kingdom. Only the 3rd Knight Order, led by Jereuth, was composed of knights of commoner origin, so only they had suffered through things like preparing for camping with the soldiers.

Therefore, the knights and soldiers working together could be said to be a culture unique to the 3rd Knight Order.

And with that culture, the soldiers respected the knights of the 3rd Knight Order and followed their instructions and commands with their hearts.

Jereuth thought.

‘But that is the culture of our knight order, the 3rd Knight Order, which is composed of commoners. There is absolutely no need for His Highness to do so. After all, His Highness is a royal and we are commoners.’

While serving Leonardo until now, Jereuth knew that he was different from other people in power.

However, for him to physically mingle with the knights and soldiers and ‘work’ was a completely different story.

‘Previously, His Highness said that an authority that can be built with a tent is meaningless. He also said that true authority is when the knights and soldiers follow with their hearts. Considering what he said…… is his intention to prepare the camp together to gain such authority.’

Jereuth’s mind was complicated. He felt his limits trying to fathom the thoughts of his too-great master with his own insufficient wisdom.

‘I shouldn't judge or think on my own, I should just leave it to His Highness. He must have a plan.’

“Of course, Your Highness. If you personally guide us, the knights and soldiers will also be delighted.”

“Haha, it’s not about guiding. It’s just that everyone is working hard, and I felt sorry for being in the carriage alone.”

Leonardo said with a pure smile on a face that could steal the heart of even an angel.

Then he closed the window, got out of the carriage, and added another word.

“What can I help with?”

***

The reason I offered to help the knights and soldiers prepare for camping.

It was because of my personal experience.

‘I felt it in the army. I know how unsightly it is when a commander is just comfortably by himself during training or an operation.’

That’s right. Before coming to this world, that is, when I was in the Republic of Korea.

Like most men, I served in the military. And like most soldiers, I also went through hot season (ranger training), cold season, and first/second half operational plan training.

Anyway.

When I was serving in the military, the battalion commander changed in the middle. So when I was a low-ranking soldier, I was trained under the command of ‘Battalion Commander A,’ and when I was a higher-ranking soldier, I was under the command of ‘Battalion Commander B.’

‘That Battalion Commander A and Battalion Commander B were completely different people.’

Even thinking about it now, Battalion Commander A was a really detestable person. He would do nothing at the training site, just sit in his car with the air conditioning on, playing on his phone, and when we brought him food, he would eat and then throw his tray outside for the soldiers to clean up…… he was that kind of person.

‘He really lived like a king. Battalion Commander A.’

Since the military is a hierarchical society, some might say it was natural for the battalion commander to act that way.

But I was only human, so I couldn't help but see him in a negative light. Not just me, but most of the unit members felt the same.

On the other hand, Battalion Commander B was a truly respectable person. He marched just like the soldiers, pitched tents with them at the training site, and underwent the same training.

He ate after making sure all the soldiers were fed, and he cleaned his own tray. He even shared his cigarettes with soldiers who had run out.

Anyone who has been in the army would know, but such commanders are few and far between. For a battalion commander to suffer with you and even share cigarettes, loyalty that didn't exist before would be born.

So I also trained hard for Battalion Commander B.

Even though I was a pretty high-ranking soldier at the time.

‘Well…… I did run away from the last ranger training with my final leave, though.’

No matter how respectable the battalion commander was, how could a soldier at the end of his service go through ranger training. That was practically illegal.

Anyway.

Because of that experience, I didn't want to become someone like ‘Battalion Commander A.’

If possible, I wanted to become a person respected by the soldiers, like Battalion Commander B.

‘So I said I would help prepare for camping, but…… what should I do?’

I looked around.

Jereuth and Elly were standing behind me, and the knights and soldiers were preparing for camping with tense expressions, watching my reaction.

Some were pitching tents, while others seemed to be preparing a meal, boiling water and preparing ingredients.

‘If I join in pitching the tents, I’ll probably just cause more trouble, so shall I help with preparing the ingredients?’

Using my experience from working as a kitchen assistant in a restaurant, I should at least be able to peel potatoes.

I spoke to Jereuth.

“Commander. I think if I touch the tents, it will only make things worse, so I will help with the meal preparation. I’m not a good cook, but I know how to do things like peel potatoes.”

“Peeling potatoes…… you say?”

“Yes. What those soldiers over there are doing.”

I said, pointing to the soldiers who were washing and peeling potatoes with water drawn from the river. They were quite far away, so they probably couldn't hear me, but seeing me point, they jumped up in surprise.

This time, Elly asked.

“……Do you know how to peel potatoes, Your Highness?”

“Yes, well, a little.”

Although I said ‘a little,’ I was quite confident. The auntie at the restaurant had even raised my hourly wage, saying I was good at peeling potatoes.

***

Normally, preparing for camping is a very tiring, difficult, and boring task. Because ‘camp preparation’ is what you do at the end of a long march from the castle, when you are exhausted.

No matter how well-trained the knights and soldiers were, it couldn't be helped.

However, today there was a special event that caught everyone’s attention.

That event was—.

“How is it? Aren’t I somewhat useful?”

The Crown Prince was preparing a meal with the soldiers. And not just any preparation, but the most tedious ‘ingredient preparation’ done by the lowest-ranking soldiers.

—‘……The Crown Prince is peeling potatoes?’

—‘……What am I seeing right now?’

—‘Why is he better at peeling potatoes than me……?’

At the Crown Prince who was suspiciously good at peeling potatoes, all the knights and soldiers had the same question.

“Haha, but perhaps because I don't have much strength in my hands, my grip hurts a little.”

Looking at him clenching and unclenching the hand that held the kitchen knife after peeling the potatoes, it didn't seem like he had handled a knife much, but apart from that, he peeled the potatoes well.

He had the skill, but not the strength.

Seeing such a Crown Prince, the knights and soldiers were flustered in many ways. How could they not be flustered when the charismatic young tyrant who had declared the ‘war on crime’ was peeling potatoes.

But that didn't mean they doubted Leonardo’s charisma or looked down on his authority.

They hadn't been on the battlefield with the Crown Prince, but seeing him prepare for camping with them, the knights and soldiers felt an indescribable emotion.

It was an emotion slightly different from the loyalty they felt for Jereuth, who had gone to the battlefield and fought alongside them, but no less than it.

As the strange spectacle of the Crown Prince peeling potatoes—the ‘meal preparation’—continued for a long time.

“Um……. Your Highness, I have brought your meal.”

Elly brought the meal cooked with the ingredients she had prepared in advance.

Freshly grilled meat and dried bread, thick cheese, fruits, and vegetables. And a stew with a savory and fragrant aroma that permeated the campsite.

It was a meal that could not be seen at a campsite unless you were the Crown Prince. And a meal personally prepared with care by a cute and pretty maid.

The soldiers knew they shouldn't even dare to look at the meal, but because they were hungry, their attention kept drifting towards the food.

At the same time, everyone thought that Leonardo would stop peeling potatoes and have his meal.

Because the Crown Prince must also be hungry after not eating anything for a long time.

But.

“Elly, I’m sorry, but can I have my meal a little later? After the knights and soldiers finish their meal preparations.”

“……Pardon? You will eat after the knights and soldiers finish their meal preparations?”

“Yes. Everyone worked hard, so it would be a bit much for me to eat alone. I won’t starve to death by eating a little later, so I will wait and eat with everyone.”

First, he peeled potatoes with the soldiers, and now the Crown Prince was saying he would eat with everyone.

At those words, the knights, soldiers, and Elly were quite flustered. Because Leonardo had done a series of things that were out of the ordinary.

But what could they do? The Crown Prince said he would do it.

“Ah…… I understand, Your Highness. Then I will bring your meal again a little later.”

“Yes. Don’t make a new one. It’s fine to eat it even if it’s cold.”

Elly nodded awkwardly and replied.

“Yes, yes.”

Jereuth watched it all in silence.

With a feeling of pride and admiration for Leonardo, but also with a sense of worry.

***

Chirp, chirp—.

The next morning.

Elly, without the makeup she had been wearing for the past few days, headed towards Leonardo’s tent to wake him up.

Elly’s characteristic fair face, which had been hidden by makeup powder, shone brightly in the natural sunlight.

‘Last night, His Highness was…… truly amazing.’

He prepared for camping with the soldiers, and he delayed his meal to eat with them.

He even gave the snacks he had brought from the royal palace to the soldiers on night watch as a late-night snack.

‘……I worked so hard to make those.’

It would be a lie to say she wasn't disappointed that he gave away the snacks she had worked so hard to make to the soldiers, but Elly didn't show any particular sign of it to Leonardo.

Why, because Elly knew. That Leonardo was that kind of person, that kind of man.

‘He didn’t just talk with the knights and soldiers, but also with the knight squires who joined this march for quite a long time.’

Among those knight squires was ‘Yoanna.’ The cute-looking child who had come to thank Leonardo before.

“Hoo……”

Elly’s heart felt tight for some reason as she recalled last night when Yoanna and Leonardo were talking and laughing.

‘……Let’s not have useless thoughts. I have to go wake His Highness.’

Before long, Elly reached Leonardo’s tent. She carefully pushed aside the tent flap and entered. Since she had come to wake Leonardo, it would be fine to make a little noise, but she was still trying to be polite.

But.

“Hmm? You’re here, Elly?”

Leonardo was already awake, sitting at a simple desk and reading a book. It was a book Leonardo often read, and although she didn't know what kind of book it was, it was one he treated with particular care.

‘He must be tired from riding in the carriage for a long time and preparing for camping with the soldiers…… he woke up early. Should I have come a little earlier.’

“You were awake, Your Highness.”

“Yes. I can’t slack off just because I’m outside the royal castle.”

Leonardo smiled brightly and closed the book, putting it in his backpack.

“You came because it’s about time to depart, right?”

“That’s right. But…… are you not tired? You went to bed quite late last night.”

“I can’t be tired. The soldiers walked all the way here.”

“Well, they are soldiers—.”

“And you, Elly, who worked late helping with the meal cleanup last night, are not showing any signs of fatigue, so I can’t be tired.”

Just a moment ago, when she thought of Yoanna, Elly’s heart had felt tight, but at Leonardo’s one word mentioning her, that tightness in her heart was released.

Drrk—.

Leonardo stood up from his seat and said.

“Shall we get going then?”

***

Time flew by, and before I knew it, four days had passed since I left the royal capital for Misty Port.

Rattle— Rattle—.

I was now quite used to the vibration of the carriage and the hard seat.

Nothing special had happened in the past four days. Like the first day, I traveled in the carriage, and when it was time to camp, I got out of the carriage and helped with the camping.

The knights and soldiers were still restless about me preparing meals, but they seemed to have gotten much more used to it than at first. I also got used to peeling potatoes with these small hands.

As an aside, we continued to march without stopping at any city or village in between. We didn't stop except to camp at night.

So I was worried that the knights and soldiers would be tired, but surprisingly, they didn't seem tired at all.

The journey was progressing smoothly like this, but in fact, I had a worry.

It was because of the ‘attack in the Ateras Gorge’ that I had been concerned about since before leaving the royal capital.

‘The Ateras Gorge is a gorge that passes through the Monster Mountains, but it’s a mysterious gorge where monsters don't appear. But the <Future Diary> said we would be attacked here. Does that mean…… we’ll be attacked by enemies other than monsters?’

Pondering, I decided to take out the <Future Diary> from my backpack and check it again.

Elly was in the carriage, so I tried not to open the <Future Diary> if possible, but since it was an urgent situation now, I couldn't help it.

Chwarak—.

…….

We were attacked. In the Ateras Gorge.

Despite being attacked…… I made it to Misty Port. Many things happened, but at least I wasn't injured, so it wasn't a very big problem. Probably…… that is.

Creak—.

The carriage, damaged in the attack, made a sound. Perhaps because of the gloomy sky, or perhaps because of what happened in the gorge, the sound seemed even more ominous.

My heart feels heavy.

The content was unchanged. The diary clearly stated that we would be attacked in the Ateras Gorge.

I still hadn’t told Jereuth this important fact. Why, because I couldn't provide any evidence that there would be an attack in the Ateras Gorge.

I couldn’t just say, 「”Actually, I have something called the <Future Diary>, and it says we’ll be attacked!”」

‘It would be great if I could think of a plausible excuse……. If I can’t think of a suitable one, I’ll just tell Jereuth that I have an uneasy feeling. I have to warn him somehow.’

Just as I was thinking that.

—Knock, knock.

—Your Highness, it is Jereuth. May I open the window for a moment?

Jereuth knocked on the carriage window, and instead of answering him, I opened it.

Drrk—!

As I opened the window, Jereuth, on his horse, held the reins with his right hand and pointed forward with his left, saying.

“Your Highness, we have arrived at the Ateras Gorge. Thanks to you, the morale of the knights and soldiers is high, and we have arrived much earlier than expected.”

Jereuth spoke with a smile, as if it were a great achievement, and as if that achievement were thanks to me.

Arriving earlier than planned was certainly a good thing.

But I couldn’t smile happily. Updates are released by novel fire.net

Why, because we had arrived at the ‘Ateras Gorge.’

‘A gorge that passes through the Monster Mountains, yet a safe and mysterious gorge where monsters do not appear. But…… according to the <Future Diary>, I was supposed to be attacked in the gorge.’

Contrary to my heavy thoughts, Jereuth continued to speak with a pleasant smile.

“Please take a look outside. The Ateras Gorge is a sight our Plank Kingdom can be proud of.”

“Ah…… yes.”

I tried my best not to show that I was worried and nervous about the attack. Instead, I stuck my head out the window and looked in the direction Jereuth was pointing.

And what I saw was—.

“Ah……!”

Huge cliffs stood tall, and mysterious trees with silver leaves lined the path.

Mist rising from somewhere enveloped the ground, and a small, stream-like waterfall reflected an ethereal light as it fell into the long stream below the gorge.

Even the way the sunlight split between the pointed rocks and cliffs that soared high as if to pierce the sky was so ‘amazing.’ The scenery, that is.

It was indeed worth Jereuth’s recommendation to look.

‘……It’s awe-inspiring.’

That thought came to me. The thought of it being ‘magnificent’ also came.

To be honest, I didn't know the exact meaning of those two expressions, but I couldn't describe this sight with anything else.

‘Here…… I’m going to be attacked?’

I didn't get that feeling at all. This gorge, what should I say, it felt not just mysterious but even sacred. It felt like not only monsters but even humans shouldn't dare to enter.

Perhaps because it was the first time I had seen such an amazing sight, I felt like I was in a daze myself.

Faced with this natural masterpiece, a combination of the grandeur of nature and the mystery of magic, I couldn't think of anything.

“Haha, how is it, Your Highness? Isn’t it beautiful?”

“Yes…… it really is.”

“It’s even more amazing inside the gorge. You can really look forward to it.”

“Ah…… yes.”

Jereuth continued to smile, perhaps satisfied that I was amazed by the grandeur of the Ateras Gorge.

I couldn't take my eyes off the gorge, as if I were bewitched by something.

‘Am I really going to be attacked in this gorge……?’

It didn’t feel like it. I felt that much of a mysterious aura. I wasn’t a shaman or a fortune teller with spiritual powers, but I really felt that way.

But.

‘The <Future Diary> is never wrong. So…… let’s check again. If we are really going to be attacked.’

Elly was inside the carriage, but given the situation, I took out the <Future Diary> from my backpack and opened it.

I opened the part closest to the present.

New content was written.

But it wasn't positive content. That additionally written future was serious from the very first sentence.

…….

—A-ambush!

—Arrows! Arrows!!

The urgent shout of a knight was heard from outside the carriage.

—Crack!

An arrow flew from somewhere, pierced the carriage window, and came inside.

It flew straight towards me.

The arrow flew at a high speed, but that fleeting moment strangely appeared in slow motion.

But then.

“……Your Highness!”

Elly took that arrow for me.

「Elly took that arrow for me.」

……That sentence was particularly vivid.