Volume 6 Chapter 72 at First, We’re Just Seeing How Things Go, Right？
Waldner, guarding the north of the kingdom.
The strongest of all the previous heads, Rolf von Waldner, known as the "North Wall".
Only Bruno Lance, the kingdom's Knight Captain, and the empire's strongest general, called the "Lion of Dawn" Lionel Aureus, are said to rival him.
And Waldner's pride isn't just the North Wall.
Waldner Knights, led by Rolf's daughter Airen and her brother Irvin, are full of tough fighters.
Without a doubt, they are the best force in the kingdom.
Even the Kingdom Knights, who defend the center, can't match the Waldner Knights.
So...
"Even our Waldner can be underestimated,"
Rolf, with a face like he just chewed on a bitter bug, and Airen nodded, "That's right."
The empire's flags seen beyond the plain are countless, but the banner of the elite first unit led by Lionel is missing.
In other words, the empire decided it doesn't need Lionel to fight Waldner.
"I want to tear them apart right now."
Seeing Airen's fierce face, Rolf hesitated and nodded, "Y-yeah..."
Rolf made a small hand gesture toward his son Irvin, who was nearby, tense with killing intent.
"...Is your mood okay?"
"...It seems Arthur's letter just arrived again."
Rolf, with a wry smile, looked up at the sky and made a subtle face, saying "Yeah."
There was no need to disturb his daughter's heart at such an important time.
Thinking that, he could even get angry, but he mostly let out a big sigh, thinking wasting energy on it was foolish.
"Maybe if Wayne were here, it would be different."
Irvin also made a wry face, but Wayne had already left more than a week ago, just in time for the school's opening ceremony.
Rolf and the others had never planned to let their children join, but he sometimes thought it wouldn't hurt if they were in the town or on the street...
"...It might be good to ride on Airen's momentum."
Rolf let out a heavy sigh; he couldn't move his army, for the enemy had yet to emerge from the imperial territory.
They were at a standstill, facing the imperial army across the river, merely staring each other down.
"Stalling... or is keeping Waldner here the real goal?"
If troops gather near the border, they can't move from this spot.
Waldner can't leave here, not with the risk of the imperial army entering the kingdom by another route.
This only fueled Airen's frustration further.
"Don't be so weak."
Airen, looking ready to bite, exchanged glances with Rolf and Irvin.
"Even if they're just pawns, we can't afford to ignore them."
It wasn't interesting, but it was going according to plan, perhaps.
With a small sigh, Rolf ordered, "Replace the surveillance unit and take a break," readying his next move for the long battle ahead.
* * *
At the same time, near the harbor guarded by Hartfield and Gardner, imperial battleships had appeared.
"They've shown up on the northern route..."
"Well, it's going according to plan, I suppose."
Knight Conrad peered through his telescope, while Luke next to him glared at the sea.
For now, it was a staring contest between Gardner's navy and the imperial battleships on the water, but it was clear that the empire had more ships.
Yet, the empire couldn't start a reckless naval battle, not when they were up against Gardner, who knew these waters inside out.
The tide's flow and the location of reefs.
The empire might have that information too, through traders and such, but knowing it and being able to use it were 2 different things.
"It'll just be a staring contest for a while, I bet."
"The real action will be tonight, won't it?"
As the two murmured, there was no sign of the empire making a move yet.
To guard against a scattered landing under the cover of darkness, Conrad and Luke began to strengthen their defenses.
Gardner and the empire.
Luke and Conrad weren't the only ones watching their standoff.
"Ah, they really came..."
A short distance away, seated on a cliff they had once visited to explore the [Cave of Saint], was the second [Sword Saint] Livia and her guardian Julius.
"...You're from the Imperial Army, right?"
Livia made a "hmmm" sound and thought, looking at Julius with a puzzled face.
It was true, just as Julius said, Livia was from the Imperial Army, part of the unit directly under First Prince Ragnar.
Normally, she shouldn't be leisurely sightseeing in a place like this...
"I was just told to protect Julius, that's all."
Julius, who was sitting on the cliff with his legs dangling, muttered, "I see," and sat down on the cliff just like her.
"If... if I were to fight the Imperial Army, what would Livia do?"
Livia made a "hmmm" sound again, staring straight at the sea, or rather, at the Imperial warship in the distance.
"I don't know. But... Julius, do you want to fight?"
"Of course not."
Even though the reasons were unfair, Livia wasn't the only one who knew people in the Imperial Army.
They were also just fighting because they were ordered to.
"But... since I couldn't stop my brothers' plans, I have to fulfill my responsibilities as a prince."
Livia tilted her head, seeing Julius clench his fist, and asked, "Even though you were, like, before?"
"Even though I was before, yes."
Livia made a puzzled smile at Julius, who nodded strongly, saying, "I don't really get it."
"I don't get it, but if Julius fights, Livia will fight too!"
Julius stood up, showing Livia her muscles, and said, "Then, shall we join up with Lucas and the others?"
Even though it was a neighboring territory, with their skills, they could run down this cliff and reach the battlefield by evening.
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