I Tried To Be Her Loyal Sword

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225th Chapter

“Commander, is it alright to receive this?”

Jonathan asked with a perplexed expression. The soldiers and Hilda looked at me with surprise, while I was staring daggers at the crystal ball.

– It seems you don’t know, but I see your expressions.

“You’re making a face for me to see, so shut up.”

Through Hilda’s crystal ball, Zigmund’s face was not visible, only my own monstrous face could be seen through the transparent surface.

I glanced around.

There were many eyes on us. It was a fact that knowing the leader of the North was connected to us was nothing but a nuisance.

“……I’ll postpone the interrogation.”

I rushed out of the tent.

– How long are you going to keep glaring?

The annoyingly sweet voice contained a hint of amusement. I gripped the desk tightly.

I had dismissed everyone around the tent and was in a strange standoff with Zigmund inside the crystal ball.

“I’m going to execute Hilda Bestow.”

I said it flatly. No response came, but I continued without caring.

“There doesn’t seem to be any signs of yielding information. Looks like she’s been well-trained.”

– ……The Northerners believe that if they resort to cowardice, they won’t be able to go to Yorha later.

“No need to keep something useless alive. I’ll kill her by the end of today.”

I propped my chin on my hand and stared down into the crystal ball. Luckily, my reflection in the transparent orb looked cold and devoid of blood or tears.

Yeah. This is a declaration of war and a threat.

– Haha.

I hadn’t expected him to take this seriously, but a refreshing laugh burst from the crystal ball. I expected he was wearing an unbearably annoying grin.

– You’ve grown, Shushu.

I barely managed to suppress a grimace.

“Is it funny when a subordinate dies?”

– Of course not.

“Then……

– It’s just amusing.

He whispered softly, his tone filled with laughter.

– Can you really kill someone?

The voice tightening around my core felt like a noose.

– Not a bad threat. However, I know you well. Better than anyone.

I clenched my fist tightly until it shook. Even though I didn’t want to, the face I didn’t wish to remember floated in my mind.

– You can’t kill anyone.

His voice was filled with certainty.

“It would be amusing to be backstabbed while believing that.”

– Not the least bit afraid, huh.

“Do you really think I can’t do it?”

I took a deep breath, inhaling and exhaling. The flame embedded inside me made my breath as hot as fire.

– So are you going to kill her? Like Karasho and Gleren?

Zigmund touched the deepest abyss with a casual remark. It felt like he was digging into an open wound, and I glared coldly at the crystal ball.

“If necessary.”

– But I don’t want to.

“Even if I don’t want to, I have to do what I must.”

– If I could avoid killing, I wouldn’t do it.

I fell silent. My lack of words was a silent affirmation.

Deciding to kill didn’t mean I found joy in it. Killing was always my last resort.

– Instead of threats, if you propose a deal, I might be willing to consider it.

The sweet whisper tickled my heavy heart.

I knew that killing Hilda now would be safe. I also understood how dangerous it could be to make an unofficial deal with the enemy’s leader.

It was a transaction based solely on personal trust, which might not even be safeguarded by Zigmund. If it got out that we made such a deal, I could face punishment under military law.

“Then offer your proposal.”

But retreating wasn’t in my nature, and it seemed I could gain something more significant than just killing Hilda for no reason.

“I’ll let Hilda go. In exchange……”

– In exchange?

I pondered. What did I need most right now that could also fluster Zigmund?

It didn’t take long for a smirk to creep onto my face.

“When the Northern army invades Atara next, tell me which regions they will attack.”

It was the most crucial information I needed at this moment, and Zigmund would never leak such significant intel.

– ……What?

“Why? Can’t you afford to say this one thing for Hilda Bestow’s life? You don’t seem like a good leader.”

– Ha….

Zigmund let out a hollow laugh at my mockery.

‘It’s a bit refreshing.’

I leaned back deep in my chair.

I didn’t expect him to answer, anyway.

Zigmund wasn’t a fool, and he wouldn’t reveal the enemy’s future plans just for the life of a single person, so it was more close to a suitable outlet for my frustration.

“The real conditions are something other than this…”

– If you tell me.

“……?”

– Can I trust you?

Trust. A concept that had already crumbled between Zigmund and me.

‘Can I still trust Zigmund?’

While I was at a loss for words, a low voice flowed out from the crystal ball.

Even though I could not see Zigmund’s face beyond it, the image of his lips formed into a deep smile lingered in front of my eyes.

– Our invasion point is……. Zigmund posed a question to me. Can you yet trust me?

♦

“Comm-Commander!”

As I exited the tent after the call, a soldier rushed up to me in a panic. It was one of the soldiers guarding Hilda.

“What’s going on?”

“T-The hostage has escaped!”

“••••••What?”

‘You lost Hilda?’

I frowned. It had been barely ten minutes since I left my post, and yet a wave of despair washed over me.

‘Even if they are second-string troops, I didn’t expect them to be this incompetent.’

When distributing forces between the first and second support units, I had placed primarily knights from the Imperial Palace and high-ranking individuals in the first unit.

Meanwhile, I had deployed fresh recruits in the second unit who had barely completed any proper military training, planning to guard it while I went.

Therefore, I didn’t expect much of their capabilities, but I could never imagine them losing a hostage right before my eyes.

“Are you kidding me? How careless were you to let that happen?”

As I pressed, the soldier broke into a cold sweat. Carefully gauging my mood, he cautiously began to speak.

“W-We tried our best to keep watch, but……”

“I’m sorry. It’s my mistake.”

Step, step.

I heard familiar footsteps crossing the snowy ground and recognized the voice. As I confirmed the target, I narrowed my eyes.

“Sir Jonathan Earmery.”

“I thought I could guard alone so I let the exhausted soldiers rest, but in that meantime, Hilda Bestow overpowered me after escaping constraints.”

“Without my permission.”

“……I’m sorry.”

I stared intently at Jonathan.

He seemed to accept his guilt, remaining quiet without offering excuses, and kept his gaze fixed on the ground, his pale face dotted with several injuries, possibly from a scuffle.

I swallowed my questions. Many doubts raced through my mind, but my instinct told me now wasn’t the time.

I took a short breath to suppress my anger and focused on Jonathan.

“Are you the last one to see her?”

“Yes.”

“Write a report. Given the situation, I’ll postpone punishment for now, but don’t think for a moment I’ll let this slide. I’ll ensure military law addresses the offense of overstepping your authority. Reflect on this.”

“Yes. I’m sorry.”

His tone was respectful and polite yet flat. I pushed aside the swirling thoughts in my head and strode past Jonathan.

“Commander! Shouldn’t we send soldiers to recapture the hostage?”

A soldier who had been gauging my mood between Jonathan and me shouted from behind. I hesitated but continued walking.

“Enough. Rather than wasting manpower and time on that, we should head to Atara as soon as possible.”

It was somewhat true that I would have to stay indefinitely in this snowy expanse while attempting to bring Hilda back. However, if I took action, capturing Hilda would be a matter of time.

Nevertheless, the main reason I half-intentionally allowed Hilda to escape was something entirely different.

‘I kept the deal, Zigmund Hight. Letting Hilda go was part of the condition of our transaction.’

I looked up at the sky. The overcast sky seemed dismal just by looking at it.

It had been quite an eventful day.

After that day, there were no major incidents. Although our arrival was delayed by two days due to the time needed to recover from the Northern invasion, this wasn’t much of a problem.

How many more days would we spend busy shifting back and forth between teleportation and marching?

“This is Atara.”

Finally, I could set foot on Atara’s land.

Since the primary setting of the novel “Night of the Fairies” is the Solarit Empire, there wasn’t much information about Atara. However, piecing together the sparse information presented in it with what I had learned while living in this world, I organized what I knew about Atara.

The Moon Kingdom, Atara, is rich in underground resources like gemstones and magical stones.

As a result, it was wealthy, and the magical engineering using magical stones had developed. However, it bordered the North in many areas, frequently facing invasions from monsters and Northerners. Nonetheless, it still maintained a remarkable military strength.

“Wow……”

One soldier exclaimed in admiration. Though his demeanor resembled being on a leisurely tour rather than in a war, nobody scolded him.

Everyone was silently astonished, sharing the awe without uttering a word.

Atara’s capital, Tempra, was indeed a prosperous city, worthy of being the capital.

We advanced toward the Atara Royal Palace. Given that our route passed through the city, we drew the attention of the Atara citizens, who, initially gripped by the terror of war, brightened as they saw us passing.

“Thank you sincerely for coming. You must have had a hard time on the way.”

Finally, when we reached the palace, an elderly attendant bowed deeply to greet us.

“Welcome. I am Kashmir Crisis, commander of the support troops.”

I dismounted and bowed to the attendant. Other attendants came and took care of my horse, and I was finally able to walk.

“Please rest well tonight. A banquet for the support troops will be held tomorrow.”

The attendant explained the situation and began leading us into the palace. I looked up at the building, struck by its magnificence.

Though not as large as the Solarit Imperial Palace, it was just as splendid. The palace, adorned with various precious gems, sparkled dazzlingly.

“This is where the common soldiers will be staying. And this way is…..”

“The King is coming!”

Suddenly, the attendant’s explanation was interrupted by a booming voice.

“……Right now? You said today was for resting……”

The attendant also seemed flustered, evidently not knowing about the situation. While admiring the garden filled with floral gems, I quickly turned my head at the announcement.

Thud

The cold late autumn breeze made my white hair flutter.

Thud

His stride was large and confident, a characteristic of his.

Thud

The transparent glass filled with absinthe and eyes with the same hue as light poured swiftly through the hall, locking onto me.

Thud

Finally, he stopped right in front of me.

I stared intently at him. It was the first time I had seen someone revealing their identity with splendid robes rather than hiding it under a cloak.

Dressed impeccably in a navy blue uniform with half his bangs brushed aside, he looked regal to the point that no one could deny his status as a ruler.

“Shushu.”

In a low voice, he called my name. The whisper was so soft that only I could hear it. The aroma of lemons deepened and tickled the tip of my nose, causing me to chuckle softly.

“I’ve been waiting patiently.”

With a subtle tilt of his head, the white hair fluttered around him.

“Would you be angry if I hug you now?”

His red lips curled slightly.

Leo.

He was Alexandros Atara, the King of Atara.