Chapter 618
My Villains Episode 618
72. punitive force(1)
In the dark first dawn, a group of people gathered in a small square in front of the Wisdom Hall, the main building of the Royal University..
It was a yard crowded with hundreds of people under the streetlights casting white light, creating an atmosphere like a crowded morning in a market..
The student punitive force that will be sent out today is less than two hundred people at best, but the number of people who came out to see them off was more than three times that number..
Several non-commissioned officers and attached soldiers were looking around again at the soldiers who would act as assistants - no, auxiliary soldiers - of the student punitive force. They walked around busily, checking weapons and other equipment, inspecting the hooves of the horses assigned to each soldier, and inspecting the supplies distributed to each saddle..
Excluding busy soldiers, most of the leaders were noble students. Since the family's noble master and maid are on their way to go on an adventure, all kinds of subordinates, including old retainers, sturdy knights, well-dressed butlers, and maids in dresses, are busy fixing things from early in the morning..
Of course, that only applied to students with high retardation. Of the 135 ‘young knights’, only about ⅓ were surrounded by authorities and received encouragement..
Although they were nobles, ⅓ of the students did not have a family mansion in the capital, let alone leading subordinates, and the rest were real commoners..
Of course, this distinction would become quite blurred after the expedition. As the head of the newly formed Young Knights decided after discussing with the steering committee, students participating in this subjugation are completely prohibited from being accompanied by personal escorts or servants..
In other words, from the moment they left the royal capital, everyone from the king's nephew and the duke's grandson to the tailor's son and the moneymaker's daughter became members of the crew... … . It remains to be seen whether that will actually happen..
“how is the situation?”
“Is there anything special about it? Well, everyone is crazy and busy. It looks like the preparations for the expedition are almost over, so I think you can leave quickly..”
Despite my gentle encouragement, Princess Eadina, who was sitting by the window, said nothing..
The steering committee chairman's office was on the top floor of the building, so he had a clear view of the scenery in front of Wisdom's pavilion. The princess looked down at the bustling crowd and sighed softly..
“…….”
Due to her slender figure and skin so white that her veins were visible, Eadina was far from having a sturdy appearance, but today she seemed even thinner than usual. The rosy color of her cheeks was slightly less complex, and there was even a faint shadow under her eyes..
“……Princess? Are you uncomfortable in any way??”
“No, it's uncomfortable... … . Let's go down quickly..”
As if shaking her head as if nothing had happened, the princess stumbled slightly as soon as she got up from her seat. Just as I was startled and trying to help her, I heard hurried footsteps and a stern voice from behind at the same time..
“Step aside, sir..”
It was Lord Ogie, who was ‘disguised’ as the princess’s bodyguard. Instead of me, who had stopped abruptly after being stopped, another guard knight waiting at the door quickly rushed over and helped the princess..
“Lord, who shines alone, take pity on the lamb and allow it to be cared for..”
Immediately after Sir Dalton, a knight of the Royal Guard, muttered something quickly like a spell, the two hands that were supporting Eadina radiated white light..
Ugh.
Since the magical power was sealed, the energy was asleep, but just by looking at the colorful patterns created by the sunlight, one could sense that a considerable level of divine power was being exercised..
……I thought he was an ordinary Royal Guard, but maybe he was a cathedral knight. Well, it's natural for a powerful person to have a priest by his side..
“Well, Your Highness? Are you okay??”
“Yes, it's okay now. I was just dizzy for a moment..”
Contrary to what he said, Sir Dalton's powers did not seem to have much effect. The princess gently waved her hand with an expression on her face that had not changed at all..
“Could you please let me go? There's nothing to worry about.”
“It looks like you are quite tired. Why don’t you go back to the palace and rest today?.”
“Sir Dalton. I'm fine.”
When Eadina rebuffed him with a soft yet firm tone, the young cathedral silently bowed his head and returned to his original position..
“Looks like you didn't sleep well..”
“……yes. I had a little trouble sleeping..”
It seemed like the princess had something more to say to me. However, as if Ogier and Dalton were watching, they quietly pursed their lips..
After a short hesitation, she ordered the two guards to step aside for a moment. Ogier winked at Dalton and sent him out of the office, but he himself stood there motionless..
“…….”
Eadina sighed again and came closer to me. When the gap between us narrowed to about a couple of steps, Ogie cleared his throat loudly, and the princess stopped walking. And started whispering in a mosquito-like voice..
“I have news that came in late at night..”
“……please speak.”
“It appears that damage occurred in the regular punitive force that left first..”
“If it's damage.”
“About thirty. They said they received an unexpected surprise attack. They say it won't interfere with the mission, but... … I think the fact that we were ambushed is itself a problem. No, the bigger problem may be that the subjugation could not be completed even after suffering such damage..”
That was correct.
Since more than 500 troops rushed in and about 30 people were killed or injured, it may not have seemed like a big deal. But this wasn't war. It was nothing more than a greenskin subjugation taking place within a stone's throw of the royal capital..
In addition, the elites of the mounted patrol and hunting office are combatants whose skills are incomparable to those of hard-working conscripts. It is not a situation to look down on just because there are 30 people..
“This is generally true of greenskins, but they seem to be a tribe particularly familiar with mountainous areas. There may also be some special entities such as priests and magicians mixed in..”
Eadina, who had been speaking a bit incoherently, lowered her whispering voice even further. Now it was almost a whisper, so I had to lower my posture and prick up my ears..
“Several ministers, including Lieutenant General Krauss and Director Gedo, submitted their opinions to His Majesty. They say we need to stop the student punitive force from going out..”
“yes? then-”
“For now, things will go as planned. Because I almost insisted, the punitive force was protected. but…….”
“If an accident occurs, the princess will be in trouble..”
“that's right. It's going to be very difficult..”
The princess wet her dry lips with a dark look..
“Perhaps, as the ministers say, it might be better to stop now. But that… … It would degrade not only the Royal University but also the prestige of the Royal Family. It's like my plan. Of course it's over, and you'll end up wearing a scarf right away..”
“…….”
“It is difficult to send a punitive force with peace of mind. If there is a victim, I-”
When the plan was first drawn up, few people thought that the wandering greenskins that had wandered into the vicinity of the capital would pose a major threat..
It was the same with Eadina. It seems that only now has she realized that students may be sacrificed because of what she did. The way his eyes were shaking so violently made me feel distraught..
In the end, I cut off her rambling..
“I apologize, Her Royal Highness. Those students didn't raise their swords for the princess..”
“Ludo, but.”
“Slaying monsters is always good and just, but how many people actually pick up a sword just for that reason? Most of them went out for their own honor, to gain practical experience, and to avoid the stigma of being cowards. It's not like you're being pushed away by the princess..”
“…….”
“Even if an accident really occurs and someone dies miserably, it is they who are to blame, not the princess..”
Of course it's bullshit. If any of the students going out this time really died, there was a high probability that they would curse Princess Eadina at the last moment..
Of course, she is the one who created a certain atmosphere among the students. Those who did not apply to the Young Knights and the punitive force would be treated as cowards. Also, I also responded to Eadina's wishes and went around saying that only through actual combat experience can one's skills improve..
No, wasn't the student punitive force itself the work of Princess Eadina from beginning to end? Even taking into account the fact that the princess does not directly participate in the subjugation, it can be seen that she is at least half responsible if the subjugation force fails..
“…….”
Eadina was not a fool, so she would have known all about such circumstances. The proof was that his face was still dark despite my soothing words..
……Ugh, fuck. I just hate this kind of thing. I can't help it.
“I don't know if you'll find any comfort in saying this..”
The princess's sunken gaze turned to me. Even though she had drunk the shrinking elixir and was in a very low posture, she had to look up at me for a while..
“At least no one will die as far as I can see..”
“…….”
“I promise you.”
Eadina stared at me and nodded slightly..
“……Thanks, Ludo.”
I don't know if my words were helpful or if she was just trying to act, but the princess walked down to the first floor at a light pace..
She puffed out her chest, took a couple of deep breaths, and left the Wisdom Pavilion. Perhaps it was because of his relaxed smile, but his slightly pale face seemed to shine brightly..
Wow!
A loud noise instantly filled the early morning street. Students, soldiers, and noble family officials all cheered at the sight of the princess coming down the stairs to the square..
“Her Royal Highness!”
“Princess Eadina has arrived!”
“O Zeore, worthy of praise, may you lead us to the light.!”
Unlike me, who quickly joined the ranks, Eadina walked to the front of the crowd with a graceful step that was neither too fast nor too slow. And a 60-centimeter-long scepter symbolizing the leader of the Young Knights was given to Os, who was at the head of the arrayed punitive force..
“Show off the majesty of the knights on my behalf. I trust you, Count Orth..”
Oss bowed his head politely. As the princess stood on the stairs leading to the Pavilion of Wisdom again, Osu, who was on his horse, glanced at the punitive force lined up behind him and then reined in the reins. The punitive force entered the inner castle while the princess with a faint smile looked down on the ranks..
As an advisor, I was following behind and driving the horse, and suddenly I looked back. I made eye contact with Princess Eadina standing in the distance..
“…….”
I did something pointless. Even though the magic power was sealed, the girl's eyes were strangely bright, and the girl's sad expression was clearly visible..
……Well, I guess I'll have to use some strength to get to this point. If the princess's position is diminished because of this, it will be difficult to receive help..
I have no intention of being a babysitter for the kids, but if I just paid a little more attention, no student would get hurt by orcs or goblins..
……It was on the third day of the campaign that this thought broke down..
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