Episode 126: The Eastern General - The Saga of Lioncourt

As we marched toward Pussan Castle, I was instructing my vassals on how to act 'terrifyingly.' Now, it was Simon's turn along with the vassals: Coo, Nels, and Bruno. "Uh, is it something like this?" In front of me, Nels was licking a knife. "No! Make more noise! Unfocus your eyes!" Nels responded rather disinterestedly with a "Yes, yes," as he noisily licked the knife. "Well, it's something like that. Coo! Your laughter is all wrong, it should be more like 'kyahaha.'" "Kyahaha, you say...?" Beside Nels, Coo was practicing his laugh while fiddling with a chain. "Bruno, you're doing quite well. There's a certain atmosphere about you." "...I am deeply grateful." Bruno, Simon's father-in-law, tilted a goat horn cup filled with wine meaningfully. As a cleric, Bruno wore clerical robes over his hardened leather armor, which lent him a wonderfully villainous appearance. "Coo, you're no good! Didn't I tell you to be sharper, like a knife?!" "A-ah, like a knife...? How about this?" Coo wore a perplexed expression, though I didn't think it was bad. Thanks to my guidance, they were starting to look quite intimidating. Feeling satisfied, I nodded in approval. "...Hey, how long are we going to keep doing this?" "Probably until he gets bored." Simon and Rolo were making some snide remarks, but this was necessary. It was crucial to make the rebels in the County of Darmont think, "Lioncourt is terrifying." Incidentally, I was planning to roll my eyes and speak in broken phrases. "When we reach the next village, intimidate the villagers with what you've learned. Keep it up until it becomes a habit." When I ordered that, the three responded in their individual ways with, "Eh?," "Are we really doing this?," and "...Yes." "Alright, next! Bring Pierre and Roger here." Upon my command, Simon grumbled about continuing and drifted away. "I guess Pierre can be the flamboyant one. Maybe have him say something like, 'I want to use your blood as makeup.' What about Roger... maybe spikes on his shoulders? As for Rolo, perhaps he could gnaw on some raw meat?" "Hmm? I'll think about it. Over there, that should be Pussan Castle." As Rolo pointed ahead, I saw a quaint little castle. Though small in scale, it appeared to have stone walls. "It's a good castle. It's too small to station troops but seems well-fortified." "Yes, if it were Jiro, he'd repel a force ten times its size with 300... no, maybe 200 men." Now that he mentioned it, the defense of the castle was Lioncourt's responsibility. Rolo had subtly reminded me. This castle served as the entry point to Lioncourt and a communication hub for both armies. It was also a refuge in times of crisis. Neglecting it was not an option. Then I heard a distinct clicking sound. I couldn't see it, but it was likely a magpie. "A magpie... Come to think of it, Pussan Castle is an unusual name. Could it mean 'magpie's chick'?" "Who knows? But would someone really base it on magpies?" Rolo replied quite tersely. He disliked magpies indeed. In Japan, magpies are associated with romantic legends like Tanabata, but in Amoros, they are derogatorily referred to as 'thief birds.' This reputation likely stems from their tendency to nest near human settlements and their omnivorous diet, which leads them to sneak bites of human food. Moreover, their intelligence makes them difficult to catch when attempting to exact revenge, which only adds to the frustration. ...If you went east, you'd be a messenger of love, you know... huh? Does Japan even exist in this world? Is this magpie the same bird as the one I know? My mind started to feel tangled. Lately, whenever I recall the past, it becomes a mess. The memories of Tanaka are so hazy, almost like recalling something from a dream. ...Well, I suppose it can’t be helped if I forget about Japan and Tanaka... I'm over 30 now... These days, I can't even remember the voices of my brother Robert or my master Albert. How fleeting human memory is. Without photography in Amoros, preserving memories is surprisingly challenging. Overhead, the magpie clicked away. For some reason, it felt like I was being teased. ………… Pussan Castle, Courtyard The army was assembled, and Count of Darmont and I were having a final briefing. "Then, we'll head east. If anything arises, we'll send a fast horse to Pussan Castle." "Sir, can you cross the River Coude without a boat?" The Count casually mentioned crossing the river, but an army is not just soldiers. There are innumerable things one does not want to get wet. Perhaps I was over-worrying, but I found myself asking. "Yes, we're familiar with the area. There’s a ford suitable for crossing northeast of this castle." "Ah, I see. You really do know the lay of the land well." Now that he mentioned it, when I faced the Count of Darmont before, he had skillfully used the terrain to his advantage. He might be well-versed in such knowledge. "The garrison is ready, young master. Everything's prepared." Jiro and Guy came to report at that moment. Somehow, Guy seemed like Jiro's apprentice, but they seemed to have fostered a good relationship. Jiro particularly seemed to care for Guy as if he were the son he lost early in life. ...They both look quintessentially Lioncourts, almost like father and son... Watching them warmed my heart, and I couldn’t help but smile. "Thank you, Jiro. Please train Guy well. Someday, I hope he'll succeed you and become the castellan of Portu." "Hehe, you got it. He's worth training, after all." Hearing my conversation with Jiro, Guy flustered, "No, that's...," only to have Jiro pat him on the back, encouraging him to stay steadfast. "Oh, so that's the famed warrior Jiro. Though he's a commoner, if he serves me, I'll give him a castle and make him a knight. How about it?" The Count of Darmont, listening nearby, openly headhunted. With his lack of expression, it was hard to tell if he was serious or joking. "Gahaha, even if I got half of Darmont, no thanks." Jiro seemed to take it as a joke. Though the answer was obvious, I couldn’t help but feel relieved. "Ah, what a pity." The Count of Darmont, as usual, kept his expression unchanged... I really find him a bit hard to deal with. "Wow, Jiro, you're famous." To lighten the mood, I jokingly remarked, and the Count raised an eyebrow as if curious. "You don't know your own retainer? He's called one of Lioncourt's eight generals and the Seven Stars of the East, renowned for his undefeated record." "Huh," I replied, impressed. Now that he mentioned it, I think I heard somewhere that Rolo was renowned. Being in the remote area of Lioncourt, we surprisingly don't hear much about our own reputation. ...The Eight Generals and the Seven Stars of the East, huh? That's quite the impression. I wonder who they might be. Due to the influence of the Holy Celestial Church, distinguished individuals in Amoros are often likened to stars or the moon. The "Evening Star of Berger" is an example of that. I tally on my fingers: My uncle, Jiro, Rolo, Jean, Andre, Tanquerey, Ponselo, Decos, Maurice, Enzo, Pierre, Roger, Jose, Daumier... and yet, I quickly surpass seven or eight names. Each one supports me in a different capacity, making it surprisingly challenging to narrow it down. "Especially after King Lioncourt was poisoned, General Jiro's defense of the castle has become legendary. It’s said, 'As long as General Jiro stands guard, the Lioncourt gate at Portu cannot be opened, even by ten thousand soldiers.'" "Wow, that's impressive... I've relied on Jiro a lot myself. He truly is the cornerstone of Lioncourt." When we praised him, the hero known for his unmatched prowess squirmed with embarrassment, saying "Oh, shucks"... It was a bit unsettling. However, young Guy seemed greatly inspired, turning a gaze of deep admiration towards Jiro. "Hmm, I see the master has even groomed a disciple. What a waste," the Count of Darmont remarked with a chuckle, adding, "I’ll welcome the disciple too if you join," aiming to recruit Guy as well. It was still hard to discern his true intentions. Regardless, here is where the army splits into two to head toward their respective targets. We are headed to find the Count’s brother, Clement, and the knight Auger... though we have no idea where they might be. We’ll have to take it one stronghold at a time. First, we set our sights on a castle just north of Pussan Castle, with the Lioncourt army advancing. According to the agreement with the Count of Darmont, we’re free to pillage the castles. I could feel the troops' spirits lift, and with a warm feeling of camaraderie, I urged my horse forward. The venue for our joyous war party is just around the corner.