At The Western Bridge

View of Rakian-Yuro, Lumoria Kingdom Baron Officer Responsible for Defending the Western Bridge

“To think I’d end up with the job of staring at a bridge on the edge of the battlefield…”

“…”

When I voiced my dissatisfaction, my adjutant, for some reason, shot me a cold look.

“…”

“…No, wait, it’s not some punny thing, all right? I’m just complaining about where I was assigned, that’s all.”

“I see… so you’ve built up frustrations and ended up blurting out something stupid.”

“I’m telling you it’s not that, right? I said it just happened to sound like that, right?”

“Understood. It’s fine. I understand. I won’t tell anyone.”

“Yeah, you don’t understand, do you? You really don’t, do you?”

At my words, the adjutant stared off into the distance.

“…”

“For now, could you look over here? Is there a vassal who doesn’t listen properly to his lord? I’m saying something pretty important right now, you know?”

“…”

The adjutant exhaled sharply through his nose… This man had served House Yuro since I was a child, but for some reason he’d always had a habit of teasing me.

Probably because he knew this and that from my childhood, he treated me less like a master to be served and more like family, letting sentiment take priority.

Honestly… hopeless.

But we were on duty, and more than that, this was a battlefield. The soldiers were watching, and a moment’s carelessness could invite death… I had to put my foot down as his lord.

Put my foot down!

“Could you start actually listening to me? Hm? Listen, if you don’t, then on the next payday, something unbelievable is going to happen, you know? Hm? Well? You scared?”

At my words, the adjutant narrowed his eyes without even looking at me.

“…H-hey, making an angry face won’t work! I-I’ve decided! From next time on, I’m paying your salary entirely in copper coins! Tremble under the weight of money until your pockets tear!”

“Lord Rakian, this is no time to say stupid things. The enemy is approaching.”

While insulting me as an afterthought, he said something I couldn’t ignore.

“W-what!? N-no—how many!?”

“Two hundred… yes. This spot has a clearer view than the main camp, so even if that number crosses this bridge, it won’t be a surprise attack, but…”

“We can’t let them through. Our objective is to defend this bridge… but that army’s movement… it doesn’t look like a ragtag bunch of civilians at all…”

Watching them march with terrifyingly uniform motion, not only I but even the adjutant widened our eyes.

“That’s not movement conscripted civilians can manage. Their training is extraordinary.”

“…Is this their main force? This is bad… They don’t look like an opponent we can beat with equal numbers…”

We had two hundred men deployed on this side of the bridge—by coincidence, the same number—so even in raw numbers we had no advantage. And as for quality… judging by the presence of the troops lined up on the far side… they looked like hardened veterans, nothing like weak soldiers.

Meanwhile, our force… those around me were House Yuro’s private soldiers, and the rest were all Lumoria’s national army… but calling them elite would be a stretch.

To begin with, the national army had almost no real combat experience. There was no way they’d be elite. Of course, House Yuro’s private soldiers were the same.

“They’re not crossing.”

Watching the enemy stop on the far side of the bridge, I muttered.

“It seems so. Perhaps, like us, they’re a unit meant to prevent the other side from crossing the bridge.”

“Then we won’t clash…?”

“They don’t appear to have bows… so there’s a fair chance it’ll just become a standoff like this.”

“…We can’t let our guard down, but… for now, can we breathe?”

Relieved that the enemy wasn’t attacking, I let out a quiet breath.

“Oh? Weren’t you dissatisfied with merely staring at the bridge?”

Even with a tense look, my adjutant still threw sarcasm at me, and I returned a smile.

I wasn’t confident it looked like a proper smile.

“Right now I mean, from the bottom of my heart, that I want that army to not cross over here.”

“I’m so proud to have such a spineless master. If they start moving to come over here… could you go report it to the main camp, Lord Rakian?”

“…As someone entrusted with the rank of baron, I cannot be the very first to turn my back on the enemy.”

“Even so, please. We likely cannot delay that army. As the head of House Yuro, I want you to withdraw—for our sake as well.”

Spoken with a serious expression by the adjutant, who usually did nothing but mock me the moment he opened his mouth… it was hard to accept, and yet I still felt glad for his loyalty.

“Let’s pray their aim is simply to watch this bridge. Fortunately, we are currently carrying out our assigned duty perfectly. There’s no need for us to make the first move… Order the men strictly not to nock arrows.”

“Understood.”

It was pathetic, but… if it meant fighting an army like that, I’d rather drop the bridge and retreat from here. That was how much their presence was swallowing me.

If nothing happened like this… On a battlefield, wishes like that could never come true—I knew that much even as a petty noble with no land to defend.

Still, I couldn’t help but pray… Even if I was called a coward, I didn’t want to fight that army.

However… my wish was in vain, and the enemy—who had done nothing but glare at us for a while—finally moved.

“Lord Rakian… the enemy is moving… Is that… that unit’s commander?”

“Probably their commander.”

“…”

“…”

“…”

“Say something.”

“I’ve always suspected it, but now I’m sure.”

“What?”

“This master… his head is finished.”

“Isn’t that cruel?”

“…”

“Hey.”

“Ah, could you not talk to me? I’m busy.”

“…”

“Well…”

“…”

“In this situation, I’m impressed by how much composure you have.”

“I feel the same.”

Trading our usual banter with small smiles, I made my resolve.

“If their commander is approaching alone, then I have no choice but to go.”

“Allow me to accompany—”

“No. I must go alone… It could become the trigger that starts the battle.”

“…But…”

Stopping the adjutant, who understood yet still couldn’t accept it, I left the unit alone and started walking toward the bridge.

I was tense… my mouth was already dry as dust.

If the commander stepped forward alone, they must be seeking dialogue… If it turned into a duel, that would be very bad. I had no confidence in my swordsmanship… Please, let them want talk.

Step by step, praying with each stride, I reached the near end of the bridge.

The enemy commander didn’t step onto the bridge. She remained before it, cradling a spear, arms crossed, observing me.

Before the bridge, I took one deep breath, then removed the sword at my waist—still in its scabbard—and tried to plant it into the ground… but the earth was harder than expected, and the sword didn’t stick. It flopped over with the scabbard still on.

…Can I go home now?

Overwhelmed by embarrassment, I slowly picked up the fallen sword… leaned it against the bridge’s railing, then returned to the center. Just for this moment, I truly wished I’d been wearing that annoying full-face helmet.

I wanted to crawl into a hole… no, should I just sink into the river in front of me?

As I was thinking that, the commander who had been watching from the far side moved and drove her spear into the ground.

I watched the spear for a while, but it didn’t fall… and I resigned myself and stepped onto the bridge.

The enemy commander crossed at the same pace as me, and we met right at the bridge’s center.

And… only now that I was close did I realize it: this commander… was a woman.

Short green hair cut so that her ears were visible, a small build… her face gave an energetic impression, and she looked about seventeen or eighteen.

She didn’t look like a woman who belonged on a battlefield… Was she a conscripted civilian after all?

No… even so, her movements were far too decisive. Her spear hadn’t fallen, either…

“I am Rakian-Yuro, a baron of the Lumoria Kingdom!”

“I am Saria of Einheria! I hold no post, but I have been granted the title of Spear Saint!”

As she said that, she bent her right arm and made a pose, holding her palm diagonally near her right eye. It looked practiced… but I had no idea what it meant.

Still, there was nothing underhanded in her crisp tone, and I relaxed my shoulders just a little as I spoke.

“Are you the commander on your side?”

“That is correct! I have been entrusted with this unit by Lord Fels! By the way, should I address you as Baron Yuro!?”

“That will do.”

Lady Saria—an extremely brisk woman in both movement and speech—continued.

“Then, Baron Yuro! I have already delivered the same message to your main force, but you likely have not heard it, so I will issue the same warning!”

“A warning…?”

That “warning” sure sounded condescending… It was arrogant for an envoy, but—no, this girl wasn’t a formal envoy. Was it just a turn of phrase?

“You have failed to know your place and have set foot upon the territory of Einheria! However, since no formal proclamation was issued, it is not unreasonable that you mistakenly believe this is still your own land! Therefore, only this once, I shall forgive your foolish conduct! If you turn back at once and flee with your tail between your legs, I promise I will not strike your backs! But if, in your ignorance, you remain and raise weapons against Einheria, prepare yourselves to be cut down to the last! I will say it again! If you regret your stupidity and withdraw, you will be forgiven! This is mercy!”

“…Lady Saria. You gave that warning to our army?”

“Yes! Ah, it was not I who composed it… I relayed, word for word, the warning delivered by Lynferia-san!”

“…”

She was provoking us like crazy… Though even if they heard that, surely the main force wouldn’t cross the river and charge… I’m just a minor baron, I can’t attend the war council… I don’t know how they took it…

They probably won’t take the bait… No, there’s no point worrying about the main force. More importantly, I needed to pull more information from this girl.

“Lady Saria, thank you for conveying the warning.”

“You’re welcome!”

“And if I may, there are a few more things I’d like to ask.”

“That is fine! Lord Fels told me to intercept any army that tries to cross this bridge, but beyond that, I have been given full discretion!”

“Forgive me—this ‘Lord Fels’ you speak of…”

“Lord Fels is the absolute sovereign of Einheria! Very wise, very kind, and very strong… It pains me that someone of my level cannot fully convey his charms, but… in any case, he is a truly wonderful person!”

“I see…”

Einheria and Fels…? I had heard neither name before. Weren’t the enemy supposed to be a bandit rabble and forcibly gathered civilians?

“It seems there is a major discrepancy between what we know and what you are saying. Even in the middle of battle… may we speak in a bit more detail? I have comrades I must protect, and I cannot let their lives be thrown away for nothing.”

“Of course there is no problem! Ah, but if you try to cross the bridge, I will show no mercy!”

The instant she said it, an overwhelming killing intent burst forth!

At that moment… I wanted to praise myself for not falling onto my backside in front of this monster wearing a girl’s shape.

And yet that killing intent dispersed in the blink of an eye, and the girl before me kept looking at me with a bright, energetic smile.

“U-understood. I swear I will not cross any farther. Also, would it be all right if I brought more listeners to hear Lady Saria’s account? Of course, I will have them remove all weapons.”

“No problem! Lord Fels has given strict orders that if dialogue is requested, we must always respond!”

“My thanks.”

I gave Lady Saria a respectful nod and returned to my unit. Since her warning had been shouted loudly, they must have heard it too.

The faces that welcomed me were filled with resolve.

Of course… If I returned, they would assume the battle would begin. That was only natural.

Looking at their faces, I showed a small smile and told them this.

“I’m going to begin negotiations. I don’t think there’s danger, but do not neglect your vigilance.”

At my declaration that I would begin negotiations in the middle of battle, both my household retainers and the kingdom’s soldiers looked at me with puzzled expressions.