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

Chapter 72

At Jereuth's command, the soldiers fired their arrows all at once.

Arrows, or more precisely, 'fire arrows'.

Pyooong…!

As if to show that they were well-trained elite soldiers guarding the Crown Prince, the soldiers fired their arrows in unison. They fired so simultaneously that the sound of the arrows flying was unified, as if only one arrow had been shot.

However, in reality, there were tens, hundreds of arrows tipped with fire.

They created beautiful long, red tails in the dawn sky.

Fired from the hill behind the bandits' mountain hideout, the fire arrows did not lose their momentum and struck the bandits' hideout precisely.

―Thwack-thwack-thwack!

As instructed beforehand by Peralta, the soldiers each hit their assigned buildings with fire arrows.

All the buildings in the bandits' mountain hideout began to burn simultaneously, in an instant.

―Ugh, uwaaaah!

―Fire! Fire!!

―Hey, wake everyone up! There's a fire!!

―Where is the fire coming from… F-fire arrows?! There are fire arrows stuck in the roof!!

―What the fuck, what is this!

The bandits had always been the 'attackers'.

Therefore, they did not know how to respond from the position of a 'victim' being attacked.

Jereuth watched the bandits with a cautious gaze and thought.

'Just as expected.'

No matter how skilled in combat those bandits were, they were ultimately thugs who had not received formal training. They seemed to have no idea how to respond when ambushed.

The bandits were in chaos due to the fire arrows. If we attacked them now, we could easily win.

Jereuth knew this better than anyone, but there was a reason he had not yet ordered the charge.

'The plan was to confuse them with fire arrows and have the Demian triplets rescue the hostages in the meantime… I wonder when they'll come. According to the plan, they should be here soon—.'

It was at that moment when Jereuth was thinking.

“Commander, we've rescued them all.”

When the youngest of the Demian triplets reported, pointing behind him, Jereuth looked that way and asked.

“Are those all the people who were kidnapped by the bandits?”

“Yes. Seven women and one girl.”

“A total of eight… I see. Take some soldiers to protect them. We will return together when the operation is over.”

“Understood.”

The people who were rescued after being kidnapped by the bandits were all in poor condition. Even though they had been rescued from the hellish bandit group.

The reason, as mentioned before, was because the bandit group was 'hellish'.

―D-don't touch me… I-I'm sorry! Ju-just don't hit me…….

―Hic, sob… S-stop…….

―No… not again…….

The women were even afraid of the knights and soldiers who had rescued them.

'…It seems they've all been through terrible things.'

The women were out of their minds, fearing everything. They were especially afraid of those holding weapons.

Jereuth had seen such sights often during the war. Especially in areas occupied by bandits or armies without discipline.

'There were many women and children like that during the war with the demon beasts as well. And to be honest… it was humans, not demon beasts, who made humans suffer so much during the war.'

It was a pitiful scene. However, neither Jereuth nor anyone else here could offer them any help right now.

The only thing they could do at the moment was rescue them from the bandits and take them to a safe city or village.

'How will His Highness react when he sees them? …This is not the time for such thoughts.'

Jereuth averted his gaze from the rescued people and shouted loudly.

“Charge!!”

―Clack!

―Hee-hiiing!

With that short shout, Jereuth recklessly spurred his horse and charged down the hill. There was no need for a grand morale-boosting speech. The knights and soldiers followed him in unison.

The horses and soldiers, gaining momentum, charged down the hill.

They were like a single, massive weapon—a 'spear'. Or like a landslide pouring down from a hill.

One of the bandits, who had belatedly noticed their presence, hurriedly tried to say something.

“O-on the hill, knights…?!”

Thwack―!

However, before the bandit could finish his words, he was struck by Jereuth's horse. Unable to withstand the impact, the bandit's body was thrown lightly into the air, his limbs dangling limp before he was flung to the ground.

And then he was trampled to death by the horses of the following knights and soldiers.

The vanguard charges, and the following knights and soldiers trample them to death.

It was the most brutish, yet most certain, method of attack. But it was not a tactic that just anyone could use. It was a tactic that required everyone to trust the knights and soldiers in the lead.

“Leave no one behind! Kill them all!!”

At Jereuth's cry, the real battle began.

―Who, who are you… Keuk!

―The one with the bushy beard is the boss! Capture him alive!

―Don't you dare drop your shield just because the enemy is weak! I will not tolerate even a minor injury!

―The enemy is fleeing! Scatter! Chase them in groups of three!

―No prisoners are needed! There is no mercy for those who dared to mock the royal flag!!

―Kill them! Kill them again! Kill them all!!!

The knights commanded fiercely. The soldiers followed their commands, swinging their shields and swords at the bandits.

It was like an orchestra for outlaws.

This was no longer an ambush or an attack. It was closer to the implementation of justice, or a massacre, and an execution.

It was such an overwhelming battle that the knights didn't even need to step forward and cut down the bandits themselves.

The bandits had long since lost their will to fight and had begun to flee.

The battle was as good as over as soon as it began.

Jereuth looked around, his helmet ringing.

'Where is that bastard?'

The 'bastard' Jereuth was thinking of.

It was, of course, the bandit boss who had made a cape out of the royal flag and wore it while stark naked.

'None of the bandits must be allowed to escape, but the boss, especially, must not get away. Absolutely not!'

Jereuth could not forgive that man.

Just then.

'That bastard…!'

In Jereuth's line of sight, he saw a man wearing only pants fleeing into the darkness. It was the bandit boss with the bushy beard.

“Halt!”

“Hic… Hiiik!!”

Jereuth immediately gave chase. The boss, startled, disappeared into the darkness.

“How dare you… think you can escape from me! Hiyah!”

Worried he might lose the bastard right before his eyes, Jereuth immediately steered his horse into the darkness where the man had hidden.

But then, a thought crossed his mind. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ novel⚑fire.net

Jereuth recalled the advice Leonardo had given him in a worried voice.

「”But do not overdo it. If something were to happen to you, Commander, I think I would be very sad…. The same goes for the other knights and soldiers.”

“……”

“And one more thing, never chase an enemy into a dark place.”」

'Do not chase the enemy into a dark place… he had said.'

If he hadn't heard those words, Jereuth would have already entered that darkness. In pursuit of the bandit boss.

However, because of Leonardo's words, Jereuth could not do so.

'If I were to chase him in there and get injured… I would have no face to show not only His Highness but also the other knights and soldiers.'

Jereuth was not afraid of getting injured or dying. He was also confident that he would not lose to the likes of a bandit boss.

However, he was afraid that if by some chance he did get hurt, Leonardo would be disappointed in him.

'…It can't be helped. I will kill him with my own hands someday.'

Jereuth bit his lip and turned the reins of his horse. His face was heavy with regret.

But Jereuth did not know.

That in the dark space Jereuth was about to chase into, the bandit boss was waiting for an opportunity.

That a sharp arrow, its tip coated with a purple poison, had glinted in the moonlight.

***

Chirp, chirp―.

The sound of birds chirping from somewhere. With that sound, dawn broke.

I was reading the <Future Diary>, borrowing the light of the sun that came through the carriage window, heralding a new day.

…….

By the time the sun had fully risen, Jereuth returned, leading the knights and soldiers.

Jereuth reported that they had annihilated the bandit group without a single knight or soldier being injured.

That was certainly a great achievement. However, Jereuth blamed himself for letting the bandit boss escape and requested that I punish him.

To ask for punishment after completely annihilating the bandit group without anyone getting hurt or dying.

'That's just like Jereuth.'

I had no intention of punishing Jereuth, who had achieved such a great feat. So I lightly skimmed over the content.

…….

Three days after annihilating the bandits in Ateras Gorge.

Passing through the gorge, we arrived at Misty Port.

This was the content of the newly written <Future Diary>.

For the diary to suddenly jump to arriving at Misty Port three days later… since it said 'arrived without any trouble', there probably wouldn't be any major problems, but it felt like a lot of the content had been condensed.

'Well… it should be fine. Just as they say no news is good news, it might be better to have only simple content about the future.'

Thud―.

Closing the <Future Diary>, I leaned my head against the carriage.

Hooo―.

'Somehow, everything worked out well.'

From the future where Elly gets hit by an arrow to the future where Jereuth gets hit by an arrow.

Neither was a future I could take lightly, but now that it said we would arrive safely at Misty Port, I was relieved.

'Meeting the pirates on the coast of Misty Port and persuading them is up to my abilities, so as long as I do well, it should be fine. It would have been nice if the <Future Diary> had some information about the pirates… let's wait a bit. New content might be added to the diary over time.'

Just as I was trying to relax.

“Your Highness, Commander Jereuth has returned.”

One of the knights waiting near the carriage said through the window. It was a knight Jereuth had left behind to guard me.

Drrk―.

I opened the window completely and looked outside. It was just about when the sun had fully risen.

With the light of the slowly rising sun at their backs, the army was emerging from the gorge. At the head, I could see Jereuth.

'But who are they?'

Next to Jereuth, a group of people was walking listlessly. They were not properly dressed, covering their bodies with shabby pieces of cloth.

When they had approached the carriage to some extent, Jereuth dismounted and walked to the front of the carriage to speak.

“…Your Highness, I have returned after subjugating the bandit group. As you commanded, not a single knight or soldier was injured or killed.”

Subjugating the bandit group without anyone dying.

It was just as it had been in the <Future Diary>, and it was certainly a great report of victory. However, Jereuth's voice was somewhat gloomy and heavy.

'The reason Jereuth's voice is like that is probably because he's blaming himself for letting the bandit boss escape, just like in the diary.'

I thought it would be better for me to make the first move before Jereuth could ask for punishment himself.

Otherwise, the argument between me, who wouldn't give punishment, and Jereuth, who wanted to receive it, would likely drag on.

“You have worked hard. As expected of you, Commander.”

“Not at all, Your Highness. I—.”

“Did you let the bandit boss escape?”

When I cut in and spoke, Jereuth looked at me with surprised eyes.

“…How did you know that?”

***

Jereuth was quite surprised that Leonardo already knew he had let the bandit boss escape. How could he not be surprised?

However, Leonardo himself spoke as if it were no big deal.

“I thought that might be the case because your voice sounded down, Commander.”

“…My voice, you say?”

“Yes. You subjugated the bandits without anyone dying or getting hurt as I requested, so the only reason for your voice to sound so down would be because you let one of the bandits escape.”

“……”

“But you wouldn't be so dejected over letting a common grunt escape, so it must have been someone of a fairly high rank among the bandits… and if they were able to escape from you, Commander, they must have been the boss.”

Leonardo continued to speak in a calm voice.

“And considering your personality, Commander, you would probably say you'll accept punishment for letting him escape. Thinking that letting the boss escape was a great fault.”

“……You are correct, Your Highness. Therefore, please give me my punish—.”

“No.”

The Crown Prince cut off Jereuth's words and continued with his own.

“I have no intention of giving any punishment. What I asked of you, Commander, was to 'subjugate the bandit group without anyone getting hurt or dying.' I did not say to kill or capture every single bandit without exception.”

“Your Highness, but the one I let escape was the one who—your flag.”

“Let's end this conversation here. I am not disappointed in you in the slightest, Commander. If you keep this up, I might become disappointed, you know?”

Leonardo spoke playfully, as if it was alright, with a light smile.

At that smile, Jereuth could no longer bring himself to blame himself further.

'Yes, if His Highness says so, then I have done my duty.'

But that didn't mean Jereuth had completely let go of the burden in his heart.

'That bastard who mocked His Highness' flag, I will definitely catch and kill him with my own hands someday. …Definitely.'

While Jereuth was burning with determination, Leonardo pointed to the people behind Jereuth and asked.

“Who are those people? They don't look well.”

“They are those who were kidnapped by the bandit group. And the reason they are in that state is… they have been subjected to 'terrible things' by the bandits for a long time and have become afraid of everything. It is actually a common situation in war, but when innocent civilians are kidnapped by bandits or armies, most of them end up like that. Especially the women.”

“Terrible things… Ah.”

“That is correct.”

As he was a brilliant Crown Prince, it seemed that a more detailed explanation could be omitted.

Leonardo's expression, which had been smiling brightly until a moment ago, hardened again. He made the peculiar expression he made when he was in deep, serious thought.

Jereuth and the other knights did not know what that expression of Leonardo's meant.

But Elly, who had watched Leonardo from a close distance for a long time, could tell.

Elly thought as she looked at Leonardo's expression.

'That expression of His Highness… that's the face he makes when he is truly angry.'

A long time ago, when the nobles had whipped the gardeners to death in the storehouse.

At that time, Leonardo had made that exact expression.

'After looking at the nobles with that expression, he carried out the purge of the nobles not long after…'

With the thought that Leonardo might be planning something big again, Elly also became worried.

She was worried that Leonardo, who had fainted and been revived just a short while ago, might overexert himself again.

While Elly was briefly lost in past memories and worry, Leonardo spoke to Jereuth.

“Commander. We will take them to Misty Port as well.”

“Understood, Your Highness.”

“But from the looks of it, it will be too much for them to keep walking, so I will have them ride in my carriage.”

Not just Jereuth, but everyone thought they had misheard.

Have them ride in the royal carriage? Commoners? No, beyond not being commoners, these people whose identities weren't even certain, who had been forced to endure all sorts of terrible things by bandits?

At the Crown Prince's absurd words, Jereuth forgot his etiquette and asked blankly.

“…Pardon?”

“I said I will have them ride in the carriage. The other baggage carts are almost full, aren't they?”

“Th-that is true, but. Your Highness, no matter what, having them ride in the royal carriage is—.”

“Those people were originally people the king should have protected from the bandits. My father. But because he failed to protect them, they suffered a terrible ordeal, so I want to do at least this much. It's about taking the minimum responsibility.”

“……”

Jereuth had complex thoughts.

'He told me not to blame myself for letting the bandit boss escape, yet he himself says he will take responsibility for his own father's misdeeds….'

Like Jereuth, the knights and soldiers also felt complicated emotions.

A complex mix of being moved and feeling loyalty.

“I will not let my people fend for themselves. I will not let them starve to death, nor will I let bandits plunder people as they please.”

“……”

“Because that is the duty of those at the top. That is what I think.”

That voice was not that of a twelve-year-old boy. It was more certainly the voice of an adult, but one full of passion, and at the same time, one holding much frustration.

But more than anything, Leonardo's voice was the voice of a ruler, coldly enraged.

'The target of that anger… is probably the bandits.'

In the past, even before the purge of the nobles, Leonardo had mentioned the bandits. He had called them a plague that sucked the blood of the people, just like the nobles and thugs.

'And of that 'plague,' the nobles and thugs were erased from this kingdom without a trace by His Highness. Does that mean next… are the bandits.'

Perhaps he was getting ahead of himself.

But looking at that young Crown Prince, he felt that he might make another tremendous decision.

'If His Highness intends to subjugate the bandits as I think… will His Highness go to the battlefield, or will he remain in the rear like this time.'

Jereuth thought Leonardo would go to the battlefield with the knights and soldiers. Leonardo, who had cherished the knights and soldiers as if they were his own body on the way here, was more than capable of doing so.

Even if Leonardo did come to the battlefield, Jereuth intended to keep him in the safe rear at all costs.

'But on the battlefield, you never know what might happen.'

Therefore—

'…Should I teach His Highness the sword? For his minimum safety, at least.'

***

The next afternoon.

I gave my carriage to the people rescued from the bandits and walked through the gorge on foot.

It would be a lie to say it wasn't hard, but thanks to consistently exercising until now, I had enough stamina to walk through the gorge.

If it had been my old, frail body—though it's still frail now—I would have had to be carried by someone or get back in the carriage.

Hooo―!

As I wiped my sweat and caught my breath, Jereuth smiled as if he was proud.

“To pass through Ateras Gorge on foot. Your Highness, your stamina has certainly improved.”

“It's thanks to you, Commander. It feels refreshing to sweat after a long time. Now that we're out of the gorge, this is Misty Port's territory, right?”

“That is correct. But Your Highness, are you alright to walk further? You walked quite a lot in the gorge.”

“Yes, I think I'm still okay.”

“Hmm… if you're okay after walking enough to pass through the gorge—.”

Something felt uneasy.

“It may be that Your Highness now has the stamina to learn the sword.”

As expected, uneasy premonitions are never wrong.

“…The sword?”