A Maiden’s Unwanted Heroic Epic

In response to the deteriorating situation, it was decided that Elsleine would join the battle, but they could only muster an army of 60,000, far short of Sail’s 80,000.

Moreover, many of their troops were inexperienced recruits, while the seasoned soldiers were mostly elderly. Compared to the Alberan forces, who had been winning battle after battle, they were clearly inferior in both quantity and quality.

The past invasion by Grabareine.

The land of Elsren was devastated by that war, and many young soldiers returned home.

And the subsequent restrictive policies left the land unable to support soldiers, and military manpower was poor in terms of land and population.

And their limited fighting power was diverted to prepare for invasions from nomads in the south and from the southeast――the eastern part of the continent.

These influences were still strong to this day, and that was the reason why they were forced into a disadvantageous position.

At dusk on the third day――First Prince Sail, commander in chief of the Alberan army, appeared in the center of the battlefield waving a blue flag.

As Elsreine appeared accompanied by Golzarias, he boldly stated.

"No matter how talented you are, there are limits. ... Admit defeat, Elsreine. Mother does not wish to fight you."

The battle began without even a battle ceremony――Elsreine army was on the defensive.

Sail never pushed the army too hard, and continued to exert pressure with numbers, focusing on whittling down their fighting power.

When pushed, he would pull back; when pulled, he would halt.

Without ever showing any intent to target the enemy commanders, it was a battle of attrition between forces.

Though simple, it was a logically sound tactic.

He did not compete with Elsreine, a genius who rivaled his mother, in terms of wisdom or skill as a general, but simply pushed forward with the superior quality and quantity of his soldiers.

Even though, Sail’s managed to reduce Elsreine’s forces by 10,000, they lost 10,000 of their own as well, further widening the gap in power.

Additionally, the difference in morale between the two sides was significant.

Unlike the disciplined Alberan soldiers, the Elsren army was filled with many new recruits. As the number of dead increased day by day, anxiety began to spread among the soldiers of Elsren.

As the number of casualties increased day by day, unrest was spreading among the soldiers of the Elsreine army.

The reason Sail headed straight for Linaria was to gain a strategic advantage.

The soldiers he led had defeated multiple armies and were approaching the enemy\'s base――their morale was high even before the battle, while Elsreine soldiers had been informed of the defeat of the Western Army and were cornered on the brink.

In preparation for this day, Sail has been spreading rumors to stir up fear among the people of Linaria, spreading the word that Grabaraine was a cruel and ruthless being to those who oppose her.

Sail Alberan had cast aside all arrogance for this battle.

Though he has extraordinary talent, he never overestimates himself, and acts with only one goal in mind, using any and all means possible.

That goal was to drag Elsreine here.

To exchange words.

Sail’s goal was simply that.

"It was all a misunderstanding... It wasn\'t Mother who killed Fili. It was Lukazan, who is over there."

"...What――"

"I\'m not sure if it\'s appropriate to bring this up in a place like this, but at least before Fili was killed... Mother would invite her into the room almost every night and spend time with her. I heard that it was an unspoken understanding among the night servants."

"Fili...?"

Sail nodded.

When Elsreine left the country, Seyle went to the royal castle.

His mother wouldn\'t even try to meet him, but something seemed strange and he investigated the situation.

That was the story he heard from one of the servants, who kept their mouths shut like a shell.

A queen addicted to sex.

His mother was known for her lewdness, and Sail had thought the same until Elsreine was born.

Because he knew that she had had such relationships with many nobles.

But that wasn\'t actually the case――after Elsreine was born, those rumors stopped immediately, and she never invited men into her room.

It was clear to anyone who saw how she treated Elsleine that she was different from the rumors.

She looked at her beloved daughter with soft, loving eyes, as if she were gazing at a precious treasure.

Those eyes, somewhere in their inorganic purple, seemed to burn with a heat――an expression Sail and others never received.

Sail and the others, born of that same mother, understood this better than anyone.

"Yes. I don\'t know what happened. But I\'m sure Mother decided to accept your beloved Fili. There’s no other reason other than...for Mother to invite someone other than you into her room."

In that cold, desolate room――a reflection of her true self.

The fact that the queen invited and accepted someone there held great significance, something Seil knew more than anyone.

‘No matter how cruel Her Majesty may be, I just hope and believe that in ten, twenty years... or even longer, the world she desires will come into view. If that day comes, for that reason... I will accept anything Her Majesty does. At the very least, I believe... that world will be a more beautiful place than anything else.’

Recalling the color of her eyes, pure and unclouded, Sail felt that it was not surprising.

Reflected in her eyes were the two Reines.

Filled with a madness of certainty and love that could easily discard everything else, she had been accepted into a place beyond the walls that Sail and the others could never overcome.

Jealous, envious.

But before he could feel that, she was lost from her mother\'s side.

"Even now, mother... is spending her time in Fili\'s room looking at your paintings. Believing that one day you will realize the misunderstanding and return."

Elsreine opened her eyes wide and shook her head from side to side as if shaken.

Sail took out a letter.

"... This is Mother\'s letter. I came here simply to give it to you in person."

That was his only purpose.

It was not to defeat her, or for military feats.

The messenger would be discarded. Even if he went in person, she would not meet him face to face.

Sail was here only to convey his mother\'s wish.

He dismounted from his horse and handed the letter to Elsreine, who was clad in armor.

‘...There is a limit to what a person can reach. Even Her Majesty the Queen is no exception. And you can\'t always get what you want even if you sacrifice yourself for it. ...Your Highness should think once again about what it is that you truly desire.’

For the people――that\'s not it.

Everything Sail has done up until now has been for his mother.

He has spent years simply trying to gain the recognition of his beloved mother.

His mother is without a doubt the greatest ruler in history.

All Sail wanted was to support and help his mother.

He didn’t care if she didn’t show her love in the future.

But that didn’t change the fact that Seil loves his mother.

He will continue to move forward, believing that the place his mother desires is the most beautiful place in the world.

Elsreine\'s hands, shaking in confusion, receive the letter from Sail.

――And then, laughter echoed.

"What are you laughing at, fool?"

Golzarias shakes his head, shrugging his shoulders, and smiles.

"No, it\'s a well-written script. It\'s truly wonderful... I thought it was a proposal for a ceasefire, so I never thought I\'d see such a theatrical performance."

"Theatrical performance?"

"It\'s truly a wicked performance plotting against the innocent Lady Elsreine... You\'re doing a good job."

"...That\'s my line, Lukazan. It\'s you who are dividing the country for your own desires and deceiving Elsreine."

Golzarias spread his arms wide.

There\'s no point in talking, Golzarias said, gazing at Elsreine.

"The prince’s business seems to be over. Let us return, Elsreine-sama."

"Lukazan..."

Elsreine looked back and forth between the letter and Golzarias, confused.

"The prince serves Her Majesty the Queen, and I serve Elsreine-sama. ... It is inevitable that words will change depending on what one desires and one\'s position. Words can be embellished as much as one wishes. I have no intention of putting up with such repetition or loudly proclaiming my innocence."

Golzarias spoke, turning his horse around and heading toward his own camp.

Elsreine also hurriedly followed him――Sail called out to her.

"Elsreine! ... This is my one wish in this life, please be sure to read that letter."

Elsreine reacted to the voice for a moment, but returned to her own camp without saying anything.

Seil watched her small back as she left.

He returned to his own camp and ordered his soldiers to camp.

The house assigned to Elsreine was a requisitioned cattle rancher\'s house.

It was slightly elevated on the plains, had a good view, and even had a fireplace inside.

As Golzarias removed Reine\'s armor, he talked not about what he had just said, but about today\'s battle.

Reine nodded, but her eyes were fixed on the letter that was supposed to be from her mother.

The sealing wax on the sword that she had stuck into the ground.

It must really be a letter from her mother.

She had never seen her mother use it on anyone other than Reine.

"...Does it bother you?"

"...Well..."

It wasn\'t her mother who killed Fili, it was Golzarias.

Sail said that.

Seeing the letter that Sail had given her seemed like a betrayal of him.

"Just be honest. You\'re a little shaken, aren\'t you?"

"...Yes."

"It\'s only natural. Elsreine-sama\'s heart is still with Her Majesty the Queen. If you say it\'s that letter, it\'s only natural that you\'d be concerned...it can\'t be helped."

That\'s what it was intended for, Golzarias told her.

"I\'m sure this letter contains the words Elsreine-sama would like. That Her Majesty didn\'t kill Fili, that it was all a misunderstanding, that she still loves Elsreine-sama, and that she wants her back."

"!..."

"There\'s no doubt that Her Majesty loves Elsreine-sama. If she can get Elsreine-sama back, she may be much more considerate of her feelings, never do anything that would make her sad again, and even more willing to grant her wishes than before."

That would be good, said Golzarias.

Raine looked at Golzarias with wide eyes.

"I did not kill Fili. Her Majesty will tell Elsreine-sama that she did not kill Fili. It is easy to say that... you can make excuses and excuses, and therefore it is meaningless. That is why I did not make excuses at that time."

Golzarias looked straight at Reine.

"Who will Elsreine-sama believe, me or Her Majesty... This is not a choice. I believe that the important thing is not the truth, but what Elsreine-sama wants."

"Reine..."

"What I want is the Elsren that Elsreine-sama wants and desires. However, it is not in the form of this country, but a place that will come to this world someday. If you say that you can build that place together with Her Majesty, then you may return to Her Majesty with this letter."

Placing his right palm over his heart.

Golzarias saluted.

"If that is what you truly believe, Elsreine-sama, then I would be happy to die here as a traitor... My life will become the foundation of the Elsren you desire."

"That’s――"

"The letter from Her Majesty, uncharacteristic as it may be—perhaps, now that Lady Elsleine has distanced herself from Her Majesty, the Queen has become aware of the many mistakes she has made thus far. If that is the case, then my decision to rebel alongside Lady Elsleine must have held meaning."

Elsraine\'s eyes wandered and she shook her head.

"If that\'s the case… then, Reina will ask mother. Reine\'ll tell her that Lucazane isn\'t such a bad person… and about the others too――"

"Everything needs to be settled. The evil Lukazan tore the Queen and Princess apart, split the country and tried to seize power... The people won\'t be satisfied unless we at least make it clear that the others were deceived by me and pointed their swords at Your Majesty. If someone must die――"

Golzarias pulled out his sword and had Reine hold the hilt in her hand.

Then he knelt down, gripped the blade and pressed it against his own neck.

"――The best thing I can do is offer up my head. Please, make your decision."

Raine shook her head.

Her high, tied golden hair shook, and her eyes wavered in fear.

Golzarias remained motionless, gripping his blade tightly.

"I am responsible for those who died in this battle. Those who mourn their deaths need someone to direct their hatred towards."

"Lukazan..."

"...My only regret is that I will not be able to see the coming of Elsren with Elsreine-sama. If possible, I would like you to somehow spare the lives of my wife and child."

After a short pause, Raine shook her head and let go of her sword.

She dropped to her knees, looked down, and shook her head.

"...Reine can\'t do that."

"...Is that okay?"

Nodding in response, Golzarias said ‘You are kind’,and sheathed his sword.

"The road ahead will be a tough one. However...that is why, having chosen this path, you will not be allowed to waver like you did today."

Golzarias took the letter from the desk and headed for the fireplace.

"Ah..."

He threw it into the blazing flames.

The wax seal melted in the heat, and the letter disappeared into the flames.

"To build Elsren here with us...Until we achieve that goal, there is no time to waver. Please wait until then before you think about Her Majesty the Queen."

Staring at it in shock, she felt a chill run down her spine.

What her mother wanted to tell Reine――the letter disappeared without her ever finding out.

It felt unbearably sad, and she averted her eyes.

"After the meal, we have a meeting tomorrow. I will send for the soldiers."

"…Yes."

"Whatever the case, they will be somewhat off guard. We cannot afford to miss this opportunity. There will be no better chance to bring this to an end than tomorrow."

Nodding, Golzarius patted Reine\'s head.

"There’s some time before the meeting. Rest a bit and compose yourself."

‘Yes’, she replied, and Golzarius disappeared outside.

Reina stared blankly at the letter, which was turning to ash in the flames.

――The following morning, before dawn, word came that the enemy was making a move, and Sail jumped out of bed in a hurry.

He immediately roused the soldiers, setting them into formation.

But before they were fully prepared, the light of the sunrise illuminated the approaching Elsrain forces advancing in a column.

Sail ground his teeth and quickly ordered his men to form ranks.

Though they were shaken, there was still time for them to form formations.

Like Elsreine, Sail had set up camp on a small hill, and, as he had done the day before, pushed his forces out to the plain in front of them, and to the foot of the hill.

Giving up the advantage of high ground――there is no point in doing so.

If this had been a defensive battle, it would have been the height of folly, but they were the attacking side.

If they remained on the hill, the enemy could simply wait. And Elsleine was undoubtedly a genius of warfare.

If Sail and his troops remained entrenched defensively, they would lose mobility as an army, and Elsleine would likely pin them down and sever their rear supply lines.

In this area, Elsreine had the geographical advantage.

To Sail, it was enemy territory, but to her, that was not the case.

And since they had attacked her base, Linaria, in a straight line, their lines of communication were at a bare minimum.

If that was off, there is no option.

In order to pin Elsreine down, the mobility of this army must never be given up.

And the army must not be divided in order to stabilize the rear.

It was only because of their superiority in military strength that they had finally been able to drag Elsreine into a war of attrition.

Their current strength ratio was at its bare minimum――if they were to split it, they would undoubtedly be overwhelmed by brute force.

The important thing is to have the initiative.

They must always hold that initiative.

If they let it go for even a moment, they would have no chance of winning.

If it is a question of whether he was ordinary or extraordinary, Sail was the latter.

He knew that he was one of the few born with such talent, and he had honed it through repeated, blood-stained efforts.

But Sail knew better than anyone.

"You can go, Seyle. You did well for your first sandbox training, Reine. But if you had put a little more effort into the battle on the right hand, you might have been able to eliminate all the soldiers.’

‘Hmm, Reine thought it would have been better to take Sail\'s head first...’

‘It\'s a real battle. Considering the future, it\'s important to weaken the enemy\'s military power. If we take them prisoner, we can\'t kill them because of the Holy Spirit Covenant, and taking prisoners is expensive. If we take them out while we\'re fighting, it will be better for the future――’

Seyle knows better than anyone that there were people who could fly over Sail’s path in an instant, as if they were flying.

He could never beat Elsreine.

Therefore, the battle is neither vivid nor beautiful, a muddy war of attrition.

Clinging to it desperately was the only way for a non-talented Sail to defeat a genius like Elsreine.

And Seil exists only for that purpose, to bring her back to his mother.

If she still took up the sword after receiving that letter, he had no choice but to go by force.

No matter how many thousands of bloods are shed here, if it would be the last bloodshed, he was prepared to fight a war of attrition that would force his soldiers to shed more blood than any other battle.

Dawn rose from beyond the horizon.

He narrows his eyes at the dazzling sight, then frowns abnormally.

The column continues to advance, passing the one ri ahead where they thought the battle line would probably be formed.

"A... A column charge! The battle line can be postponed! Gather the troops in the center immediately!!"

At the head of the charge――on horseback, shining the color of dawn.

It was the beautiful princess Elsreine, with her golden hair flowing in a flowing stream.

――The reason an army lines up in a horizontal line is to build a long wall to prevent the enemy from bypassing them.

The battle line was an anvil.

The battle line is like an anvil. While pressing the enemy against it, the real strike, like a hammer, comes from behind.

This basic strategy is simple but highly effective, the first thing to guard against in group combat.

Even those with basic tactical knowledge instinctively choose this formation, it’s a stable and fundamental approach.

If troops were to charge here in a column, the impact would be lost due to the archers\' fire, and it would usually be a bad move.

In a column charge, the archers could not return fire, so they would be bombarded with arrows one-sidedly, and it was easy to narrow down the target, allowing the enemy to concentrate their archers\' fire on the front of the line.

Charging in a column against a perfectly lined battle line was like dripping water on a hot iron plate, and was the worst possible strategy.

However, this was only possible if the perfect column formation was in place.

A surprise attack at dawn――if it was carried out while the enemy\'s battle lines were in order, a column charge would not expose its weakness and the anvil would become a butter.

A frenzied concentration of forces allows for a frontal breakthrough aimed only at the enemy general.

The brilliance of the sun rising from the east blocks the enemy archers\' vision.

The dawn burns their eyes from the long darkness of the night, and the surprise attack causes confusion and disorganization.

The excellent archer commander barely manages to start firing, but most of the arrows rain down in the wrong direction, and Reine’s column is unscathed.

"Lukazan, Natrias. Reine will take the lead and leave the flanks to you."

"Ha!"

"Understood! I\'m excited to be at the front of a column charge!!"

Golzarias Lukazan and Orlos Natrias.

Reine leads on either side were the two most valiant warriors in Elsren.

In a column charge, speed was everything.

If they stop even for a moment, they will be caught in between and crushed to death in the battle line.

For this reason, the leading group was extremely powerful.

Whether they were soldiers or commanders, they were made up of warriors with outstanding martial prowess, and many of them possessed magical powers.

Momentum was enough, and control was unnecessary.

They simply charged straight into the enemy lines――all they needed was a centurion to directly command the soldiers, and there was no need for units like corps or battalions.

And if Reine and the others at the front cut deep into the enemy ranks, even the most demoralized soldiers would follow.

They had the troops with high morale in front and the ones with low morale in the rear, and they were lined up with an extreme emphasis on the initial movement.

Kyrias Livasrebe was in command at the rear, and it was arranged to suppress any enemy that tried to cut off their column――but that would never be necessary.

The battle would end with this initial move.

Everyone in the front group who could ride was on horseback.

To those with magical powers, horses were nothing more than legs, and it was better to fight on foot.

However, if it were only about charging into the battle line, horses were extremely useful.

With a mass more than ten times that of a human body――the force of the impact on the ‘anvil of soft flesh’ that was the battle line was overwhelmingly more powerful than a simple charge by magic possessors.

In front of them was a long spear, but their face looked confused.

The ranks were still in disarray, and countless instructions were being sent out to them as they approached.

Ready your spear, or arrange your ranks――on the battlefield, soldiers were brainless pawns.

Only with clear instructions were they allowed to act.

Confused instructions brought out thoughts and emotions that were supposed to be sealed away from them as pawns, and they began to harbor emotions as separate people rather than as part of a group.

The soldier, astonished, shaken, and frightened, was no longer a soldier, but a signal to his horse.

"Hi――!?"

It slammed its violent mass into the sparse pile of needles.

The dull sound of bones and flesh crunching, combined with screams, filled the surroundings.

The carelessly swung spear, piercing rational soldiers or even breaking their necks.

Once a crack was created in the battle line, it was extremely weak.

If the situation was right, it would be able to repair itself, but if it was pierced before it had fully reassembled, it would be even worse.

Far from stopping the movement of the horses on which Reine and the others were riding, they backed away to avoid being thrown back by it, and avoided facing it head-on.

Naturally, the frightened soldiers did not have the strength to deflect the horse\'s mass, and the following mounted troops pushed the path wide to the left and right.

She stabbed the magical possessor who had leapt forward――the battalion commander, and then let go of the spear.

She looked at her face and extracted information from its memory, allowing it to deduce who the corps commander of this post was.

It must be Darkos, an experienced army commander who excels at commanding heavy infantry.

When she saw the line of archers preparing to attack a little ahead, she leapt from the horse.

She cuts through the soldiers in front of her horse with the sword at her waist, then leaves the group first and takes out the archer commander.

She quickly kills several of them, and they scream and lose their will to fight.

Meanwhile, the cavalry following behind her leaves the line, swings their swords over their heads, and they also abandon their horses and go on foot.

The horse\'s role ends when the initial impact force is lost.

She lightly strokes her own horse as it approaches, and moves forward.

"Princess, we will handle this."

Orlos spoke, and Gorzalias nodded in agreement.

Orlos wielded a great battle axe, and Gorzalias a steel spear――both suitable for killing large numbers of enemies.

Without waiting for a reply, the two move forward, and the other men do the same, devouring the collapsed enemy.

It was an advantage of being in a column.

The others conserve their strength, and if the leader becomes tired they will take his place and cut a path.

Even if the leader dies, the others have an almost endless supply of energy unless they were cut off.

Looking at the frenzied enemy soldiers behind her, there was no way they could be cut off from here.

Screams and blood smoke can be heard up ahead――Orlos and Golzarias are swinging their blades like wild beasts.

Looking at the corpses scattered all around, she narrowed her eyes blankly.

‘Someday, when I grow up, I want to go out onto the battlefield and fight for Elsreine-sama...’

Somehow, Neil\'s face comes to mind, and she pushes it out of her mind.

She hoped that by the time Neil and the others grow up, the world would be one without such battles.

This was a world where everyone died too easily.

As she killed emotionlessly, she thought of Fili\'s paradise.

Neither her sword nor her armor was rusty.

It would probably be covered in fresh blood and stained, and then wiped clean after the battle.

The sword was sharpened, regaining its sharpness, and the armor shines with blood.

"Your, Highness..."

She slashed away at the commander, stabbed him through the general\'s armor with the stolen spear, and let him go.

She looked at his dead face, satisfied that she\'d killed him without any waste.

He\'s the one who taught her how to ride a horse, as he was good at it.

She remembered him providing her with a cushion when she complained that her butt was hurting, and he was very kind to her in many ways.

‘You\'ve really gotten good at it. I hope I was able to be of some help to Your Highness, even if only a little.’

‘Yes. Um... thank you very much. Reine learned a lot from you too.

‘Ha. Horses have strong personalities, so it may be a little difficult... but they get attached to owners who pay close attention to what they like and dislike. Haha, well, this isn\'t limited to horses...’

‘... it\'s difficult, but I\'ll try my best. I hope you are well... and that your child is born healthy too.’

\'Thank you. If I have the opportunity, I would like to greet you together.\'

The child appears to have been born safely, but there was no chance to see it.

They would never be able to greet each other again. After all, she had just killed him.

She wondered what he was thinking when he died.

She pushed it to the back of her mind and ran in the lead again.

Every time she takes a short rest, all sorts of things cross my mind, so I try not to think too much.

She refused to understand, swung her sword and stabbed with her spear.

――The desire to understand others is the seed of a better society.

She was doing the opposite of what Fili said.

She killed them routinely by slashing them to death.

Her opponent to the rear right raised a sword; she struck his throat with the butt of her spear. She drove the spearhead into the face of the one in front on the left, then slashed the next opponent’s throat with her sword, crushed the throat of the one approaching from the left with her gauntlet, leaped forward to strike from behind, and again with the spear, discarded the spear after overusing it, grabbed a new one, and killed another, and another, with sword or spear――

"!..."

A feeling of discomfort welled up in her chest, she swallowed it and swung her sword again.

Golzarias and Oros were a little behind her――they were killing enemies with their teeth bared like beasts.

They looked like they were having fun for some reason, but she didn\'t care and went forward.

He said he had to smile for the subordinates.

Reine didn\'t feel like laughing much, so she mindlessly slashed away at the enemy.

She didn\'t want to think about anything else.

"Why, Elsreine!!"

Before she knew it, Sail was in front of her.

Finally, the main camp, finally the end.

It hadn\'t been that long, but I was very tired.

"It\'s not Mother! You\'re just being deceived by that man!"

With those words She remembered the letter that burned and wondered what it said.

Just like the general she killed earlier, she would never find out.

She felt sick, and didn\'t want to think too much about it right now.

As she stepped in, Seil tried to block it with her sword, but Reine just cut Seil\'s right arm in half.

She went behind him, took his left arm, and pushed him face down.

Then she told the adjutant.

"... The battle has been decided. Surrender immediately."

"..."

"Reine doesn\'t want any more unnecessary deaths.... If we treat him now, Seil will be saved."

"...Els, Reine..."

The two soon caught up with her and frowned at the situation.

"...Elsreine. Your mercy will leave a seed of trouble in the future."

She lowered her eyes at Golzarias\' words.

He sighed and spoke to the Sail adjutant.

"This is Elsreine-sama\'s kindness. In these circumstances, we cannot give you any more time. If you refuse to comply, we will have no choice but to continue the battle immediately. Do you wish to see how long an army can hold out without its general?"

After some hesitation, the adjutant threw the sword on his belt to the ground.

Then, with shaking shoulders, he ordered the flag-bearer to lower the flag.

Seeing this, the guards also removed their swords from their belts.

"Very well. The duel between Sail Albelan, the Supreme Commander of the Kingdom of Albelan, and Elslreine-sama, the Supreme Commander of the Republic of Elsrene, has concluded with a resounding victory for Elslreine-sama! Soldiers of the Kingdom of Albelan, lay down your swords immediately, show your submission, and our comrades, the soldiers of the Republic, are hereby forbidden from harming any who no longer wish to fight! This battle is now over, and victory belongs to the Republic of Elsren!!"

Gorzarius repeated these words loudly, shaking the heavens and the earth.

The screams and the sounds of clashing swords around them gradually faded away.

The sun had not yet fully risen.

The grasslands were dyed a crimson red, as if burning with blood and the dawn.

After dismounting from the unconscious Sail, Elslayne\'s deputy immediately attended to him. Elsreine then addressed Gorzarius and Orlos.

"... I\'m sorry."

"If that\'s Lady Elsrayne\'s decision, then I\'ll follow it. Natrias-dono?"

Looking at Sail with a somewhat sullen look on his face, he sighed and nodded.

"Given the situation, there\'s no other choice. For now, let\'s clean up. With so many prisoners, we must deal with them quickly, or we risk a rebellion."

"…Yes."

Elsreine gazed at her blood-stained armor and sword, then lowered her eyes.

They should seize this opportunity to swiftly recover lost territories.

This opinion was strong among the nobles on the battlefield, and Gorzarius and the others shared it.

Elsreine led the army westward, eliminating the remaining organized forces and liberating the towns under enemy control.

The people there praised Elslayne’s bravery and welcomed her, but many villages did not.

Some villages were destroyed, and some villages had children throwing stones at them.

Even if that wasn\'t the case, there were many places where she was not welcomed.

If Reine had not created Elsren in this way, they would never have been involved.

These villages were simply incorporated into Elsren automatically, and as enemy territory, they became targets for plunder and destruction by lawless soldiers and suffered damage.

They were not at fault, and that was Reine\'s responsibility.

She silenced those who called for punishment, and kept this information in her mind for the sake of future reconstruction.

Linaria was excited by Rayne\'s triumphant return.

However, watching this, Rayne\'s heart was heavy and her chest ached.

Contrary to Rayne\'s thoughts of wanting to focus on reconstruction, the nobles, who were elated by their victory, spoke of the nomads to the south, saying that they should take this opportunity to put an end to any worries.

This was because they had been rampaging in the south, taking advantage of the war between Alberan and Elsren.

Leaving the council and the west to Golzarias and the others, Reine returned to the battlefield.

Paving the way for the future with blood and corpses――yet ‘Elsren’ still remains a distant, hazy vision."

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