Episode 74*****************************************************
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* * *
Around that time.
A messenger arrived from the Britannian independence army that had entered the imperial territory to negotiate for Philip’s captivity. And the ‘ransom for Philip’ they offered was by no means a gold-plated commodity.
Food, and weapons. These were military supplies needed to continue the war.
“Oh my, what a pity, Count.”
Upon hearing that fact, Lady Scarlett opened her mouth in mockery. The ransom offered by the Britannian Independence Army for Philip.
Military supplies.
To give in to their demands would be tantamount to losing the war, since it would provide the enemy with the means to continue fighting as their offensive was slowly reaching its end.
However, if we were to sacrifice the scoundrel of the Counts’ house, Philip, here, it would mean that the proud line of the Counts of Brandenburg would be cut off immediately.
Above all, even if he could get his hands on the ‘virgin’, there was no guarantee that the ‘seed of his own’ that he would plant in her would function properly. That was the reason why Philip, even though he was a loser with no talent whatsoever, was still alive. It was not the slight affection that remained between father and son.
However, if we were to protect the Count’s family line by handing over military supplies and getting Philip back… … If we lose the war, the responsibility for it would fall solely on the Holy Swordsman. The entire empire would point fingers at him.
It was the worst dilemma.
“… … .”
The Holy Swordsman clenched his lips so hard that they bled. That was when it happened.
“──Pay the ransom and get Prince Philip back.”
Dale opened his mouth. And at those sudden words, the Holy Swordsman doubted his ears for a moment.
“What did you say?”
“It seems that you are weighing the responsibility for the defeat of the Count’s family against the power of the Count.”
Dale said, as if he was looking into the Holy Sword’s mind. He was right on the mark.
“But there is a way to keep Prince Philip alive and avoid losing this war.”
“What, what did you say… … ?”
The genius of military strategy that Dale had once displayed was something that even the Holy Swordsmen could not doubt.
“Tell me right now.”
That’s why the Holy Inspector asked back.
“Oh, that can’t be.”
But Dale scoffed coldly.
“You put me in a corner to monopolize my major early on.”
“… … !”
“Don’t you think that’s really shameless?”
The expression on the Holy Sword Master’s face froze coldly.
“… …Tell me what you want.”
But now was not the time to choose between the two. Even if he was just a 12-year-old kid, even the greatest swordsman in the world would be powerless against the talent of the ‘Black Prince’.
“Promise me two things.”
“What do you want me to promise?”
“One, in all future battles and operations, you will absolutely obey my orders.”
In other words, officially appointing Dale as the supreme commander of this battle.
“Two, the treatment of all prisoners taken in this battle will be left entirely to my discretion.”
“under!”
At those words, the Holy Swordsman burst into laughter as if he was dumbfounded. How dare he say such reckless nonsense in front of the world’s greatest war hero.
“How dare you, you little brat, not knowing your place… …!”
There is a limit to going too far. Even if the eldest son of the Saxon family was a ‘genius in military strategy’, he could not accept such an absurd humiliation.
“Aren’t you scared?”
But Dale paid no attention and asked back.
“A future where the blood of the Count’s family disappears into history and we are left to bear the blame for the defeat.”
With an expression on his face as if he was looking into the mind of a holy swordsman.
“The nobles are truly a cunning and vile people.”
“… … .”
“Even those who currently hold the Count in high esteem as the Empire’s greatest war hero can turn their praise into ridicule with just a small incident.”
That was the point.
“But don’t worry.”
“What do you mean I don’t have to worry about?”
“If Your Majesty accepts my offer, I will also accept the appropriate ‘price’.”
cost.
“Even if you accept my offer, if this war ends in defeat.”
Even the most skilled swordsman could not laugh off the words that followed.
“I will bet my heart.”
Heart. A cold silence fell for a moment.
“Oh, that’s not all.”
“… … !”
“With my heart, the entire responsibility for defeat in this battle will be mine alone.”
It wasn’t the Holy Swordsman, but he would take responsibility for his own defeat. It was a bet with his heart and honor on the line. Even Lady Scarlett couldn’t laugh at Dale’s words.
“… … .”
For the first time, her smile disappeared in front of Dale.
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“The elders of the White Tower happen to be here.”
“no way…….”
That was exactly it. The contract magic that the White Tower boasts, Gias (binding of the oath).
“How are you?”
If the battle was not won, Dale of Saxony would take responsibility for the defeat and risk ‘his own heart’.
“Why are you doing that?”
“Well, I guess I can win.”
I am confident without any hesitation.
“What do you gain by doing that?”
“You will have all the glory of victory.”
Dale answered.
“It is not a victory for the Count of Brandenburg, but rather a ‘victory for the Black Prince.’”
“… … .”
50% of the truth.
“But whether you win or lose, Your Majesty, you will gain something in your own way.”
Dale continues.
“If we win, we can safely return Prince Philip and be free from the responsibility of defeat.”
Even if he loses, nothing will change. Dale will be the one to safely return the eldest son of the Earl family and take the blame for the ‘defeat’. Unbelievable courage.
“Are you really sure you can win?”
We have already lost 50% of our troops to Philip. Even if the Empire possesses ‘out-of-standard strongmen’ like the Holy Swordsman and Lady Scarlett.
The opponent was no exception to having a strength outside of such standards.
The virgin Aurelia. And the powerful men of the old Britannian kingdom who followed her. Because these very powerful men refused to remain silent in the face of the Empire’s tyranny and followed the independent army.
Thomas Becket, Archbishop of the Isle of Britannia and a senior elder of the Seven Circles of the White Tower, was one of them.
In that situation, if we return Philip and provide a large amount of military supplies, even the best swordsman in the world would not be able to guarantee victory.
“Do you really… … think you can win in this situation?”
“There’s no way we can’t win.”
In that very situation, Dale offered up ‘his own heart’ and all responsibility for the defeat as a sacrifice to Geass, confident of victory without even a shred of doubt.
The one who will later become the greatest threat to the empire. That very being is risking his heart.
And that too with the confidence of a victory that was close to impossible.
As Dale said, it was a deal where there was something to be gained whether you won or lost.
“I do not accept the offer.”
It was an offer that the Count of Brandenburg had no reason to refuse.
If Dale were to achieve this near-impossible victory, in other words, if the glory of victory were to go to the ‘Black Prince’ alone.
Trying to turn my head away from the repercussions of that act.
* * *
Immediately after that.
In order to get the captive Count Philip back and pay the ransom, the ‘new commander-in-chief’ of the Imperial Army went to the negotiation table for prisoners presented by the independence army.
Into the heart of the enemy, where the savior, the virgin Aurelia, awaits.
* * *
“His Royal Highness Prince Dale of Saxony.”
She was a noble and dignified knight.
On his pure white armor, his blond hair flutters without a speck of dust. On his sword belt, he holds a sword in a sheath embroidered with gold and is tied diagonally.
She was so beautiful and elegant that it was hard to believe she was the daughter of a serf, and even the daughter of a noble family could not describe her elegance and formality. A princess of a country? A crown princess? No, no.
There was only one word that could describe her.
“La Pucelle… … .”
Dale muttered softly. But, overwhelmed by her appearance, the illusion of walking in a dream was fleeting.
Dale lowered his head, his mind quickly cooling down.
“Meet the Virgin Aurelia.”
“A man of the empire calls me a ‘virgin.’”
The virgin Aurelia answered as if she was surprised.
“This is truly unexpected.”
“Because this is a war to prove Lady Aurelia’s claim.”
Dale answered coldly.
“Until it is decided who will ultimately shed blood, there is no reason to deny that claim.”
The blood shed on this island is entirely her responsibility.
“… … .”
For a moment, the virgin Aurelia remained silent.
“Are you ready to meet our demands?”
“Are you planning to advance all the way to Rheims like this?”
Dale asked back.
“Unfortunately, I cannot answer your question, Confucius.”
“Recover Rheims and crown Charles VII as king there… … .”
Dale continues.
“What do you plan to do after that?”
Unilaterally dominating the topic of conversation.
“It depends entirely on His Majesty the King’s will.”
Aurelia answered.
“I am merely a servant carrying out the revelations of the Sistine Sisters.”
“You said you received a revelation from God. I have a question for you.”
“Please speak.”
Dale tilts his head as if he doesn’t understand.
“Why does the Almighty Goddess in the sky care so much about the strife between mere worldly nations?”
“… … .”
“The sister goddess… … even when the goddess’ country was destroyed, she remained silent.”
After a moment of hesitation, he continued speaking calmly.
“Is there any reason to regard it as anything special just because it is the Kingdom of Britannia?”
Aurelia’s expression froze coldly.
“Isn’t the empire just one of the countless countries that are born and disappear?”
But the sacredness that Dale was profaning was not Aurelia’s faith alone. It was a dangerous statement that denied Aurelia’s faith, the faith of the Empire, and the sacredness of both powers.
“Lady Aurelia, after completing the coronation of Charles VII according to the will of the goddess, whose orders will you follow?”
Dale continues speaking blandly.
“Will you uphold the orders of Charles VII, King of the new Kingdom of Britannia, as if they were a ‘revelation from the goddess’?”
“… … It is not my role to think.”
As someone who simply calls himself the sword of the goddess and the standard-bearer of the nation, it seems as if his virtue lies only in execution.
“No, Lady Aurelia, you will have to think about it.”
“Saddam, that’s all.”
Aurelia coldly interrupted Dale. After all, this was a place for negotiations to pay the ransom for ‘Prince Philip’. It was as if she could not get caught up in the other party’s tricks.
“Oh, of course the ransom has been prepared.”
Dale smiles as if he knew this would happen.
“It’s just a trivial story now.”
“What is trivial?”
To Aurelia’s question, Dale answered.
“The capital of the old kingdom of Britannia, where the royal line has been crowned for generations… … .”
Rangs. The ultimate goal of the Britannian Independence Army. Dale smiled as he mentioned the name of the city.
“I intend to dedicate that very Lance to the Virgin Aurelia.”
“… … !”
Leaving behind ‘Gias’, who was engraved in his heart and from whom he could never be free from the responsibility for defeat.
