Episode 139: The Majestic Mount Shishiku - The Saga of Lioncourt

The army departs from the fortress city of Portu and heads towards Bachelard Castle. The movement of Lioncourt's forces was swift, nearly twice the speed of any other army. This was due to the abandonment of traditional carts in favor of using handcarts and backpacks to transport supplies. Traditional carts, with their wheels interconnected, could only be turned by physically forcing one side, which slowed down progress. Handcarts, on the other hand, had independently moving wheels, making them easier to maneuver and reducing the burden on soldiers, thereby increasing the army's travel speed. And then there were the backpacks. By having soldiers carry their own food, the transportation burden was reduced, allowing for fewer handcarts. Fewer handcarts meant more people available to pull them, which further reduced the overall burden. As a result, the entire army naturally moved faster. The quantity of transported supplies was reduced, but food was primarily procured locally. This strategy suited me just fine. Local procurement: take from where it's available when hungry. It's a basic principle. Moving like a locust swarm through enemy territory, consuming food and materials... this strategy weakened the enemy on two fronts. With the army's speed dramatically increased, the caravans and clergy trailing behind us seemed to struggle, but... that itself wasn't something I could manage. I could only silently cheer them on from my heart. The army received supplies at Bachelard Castle and immediately set out for the western fortress. At the western fortress, where Poncero once bravely held out in a siege, Jose de Benuro welcomed us. He was responsible for logistics and rear command here. Jose had suddenly become a rear echelon specialist, but he understood its importance and seemed not to mind. "Jose, provide the troops with a meal. Also, inform us of the current situation." I entrusted my beloved horse, Noir, to the stable boy while addressing Jose. He promptly instructed his subordinates to prepare the soldiers' meals and, after a brief pause, bowed his head to me, saying, "Thank you for waiting." When I waved my hand in front of my face, saying, "Not at all," Jose deftly replied, "I'm honored." His war attire was remarkable, clad in a dazzling suit of chainmail and a brilliantly dyed red cloak, a sight that left a lasting impression. Standing beside me, in my fearsome armor aimed at intimidation, he resembled a righteous hero to my evil emperor. His demeanor was elegant, distinct from the rough warriors of Lioncourt, both in appearance and conduct. "Currently, Viscount Casta is conquering Boza Castle and proceeding to pacify the Boza Knight’s Territories. The conquest seems smooth, and it might even be complete by now." Jose's report was quite exciting. A 16-year-old warrior had gathered forces, repeatedly defeated the enemy's army, and successfully captured their main castle—all within a mere month and a half. Simon's martial talent was extraordinary. "Ah... though I'm glad, it's complicated. This makes the clash with the Amoros Kingdom inevitable." "Heh, it might rather be an opportunity. The Amoros Kingdom is already at odds with Duke Castella to the north and the joint forces of Vable and Fourier to the south. We've added another front to their misfortunes." When I lamented in jest, Jose smoothly joined in and provided an accurate analysis of the situation. He seemed to regard the scenario with a level head. Indeed, it's the Amoros Kingdom that finds itself in a difficult position. From their perspective, they were blindsided by Lioncourt while facing threats on both sides. "That's right. From their standpoint, it's our attack... so they'd want to end the war quickly too. If we want to end the war soon, there are ways to go about it." "Indeed, in such a case, consideration must be given to Viscount Casta, who independently secured the Boza Territory." I frowned at Jose's words. Certainly, Simon had recruited reinforcements based on his own resourcefulness and captured the Boza Territory (albeit capitalizing on his standing as my son). In Lioncourt, the spoils go to the victor, be it money, women, or... land. Ordering him to "return it to the enemy" would pose various problems. How we handle the Boza Territory would have to be left to Simon. It means we'd need to win to the extent of making the opponent concede the territory... and it dawned on me. ...Was this planned from the start!? Simon was aiming to seize the territory while leaving the troubling matter of dealing with the main adversary, the Amoros Kingdom, to me... The timing of this, as the Amoros Kingdom is caught between enemies, is undoubtedly intentional. "Who drafted this plan? It seems too cunning to be Simon." When I glared at him, Jose averted his eyes, avoiding my gaze. Perhaps he was hiding something. When I demanded, "Come clean," Jose, still staring at the floor, firmly stated, "Without certainty, further words would be slander. Please forgive me." His tone was steady, a clear indication he intended to say no more... he showed admirable composure in front of me. "Hmph, so diligent," I muttered sarcastically, organizing the situation in my mind. ...While the border conflict might've been incidental, Simon's actions certainly escalated it... The first to provide support to Simon... "It's Gey, isn't it?" When I muttered this, Jose silently confirmed it by not denying it. "That brat! If we let this slide, he'll do it again!!" As I seethed angrily, Roro calmly reminded me, "There are others around, my lord. Please, restrain yourself." Indeed, we had guards and Jose’s retainers present. It wasn't wise to cause a ruckus based on speculation. "Currently, Sir Poncero has joined them, so they should refrain from further recklessness." Jose wore a complicated expression. His eldest son was Robert's friend. He was also deployed as Robert’s squire. Jose, with foresight, must have been frustrated by Simon's conduct. ...If Jose was silently enduring, I couldn't afford to lose my temper... Baron Gey might be young, but he's a noble. It's not wise to raise a fuss over mere conjecture. "But if we stay silent, they'll think they're forgiven and repeat it. Kids are like that. As a parent, I need to teach the misbehaving ones a lesson..." Suddenly, discomfort welled up within my chest. It was painful. I lightly hunched over, clutching the source of the pain. The depth of my chest was throbbing. "Varian, what troubles you?" Roro peered in worryingly, but words escaped me. Attempting to speak would likely result in a groan of pain. ...This isn’t good... Roro and Jose tactfully refrained from making a commotion. They simply stood in a manner shielding me from prying eyes, as if nothing had transpired. Sweat beaded upon my brow, but enduring patiently allowed the pain to subside eventually. Though a lingering discomfort persisted, no pain remained. "Nothing of consequence." Managing to utter just enough, I lifted my head and Jose guided me to a small room with the phrase, "This way." To be honest, I was grateful for it. Right now, I really just wanted to sit and rest for a while. ... The next day, the army set out for the Boza territory. The target was Boza Castle, located on the western side of Simon's Casta territory. To my left, the Shishiku Mountain, still bearing a considerable amount of snow, glowed brilliantly white. "It's beautiful. I wish to climb that mountain someday." Shishiku Mountain stands imposingly on the plains, a majestic peak. ...I wonder what the scenery looks like from up there... Normally, I'm not interested in mountain climbing, but today, Shishiku Mountain struck me as peculiarly beautiful, capturing my heart strongly. Roro seemed to want to say something, but he appeared hesitant. Perhaps, he wanted to inquire about my condition. "...I'm fine. Nothing's wrong." I murmured, as if to reassure myself. Yes, that pain had vanished as if it had never existed. Right now, I'm completely fine. Right now, that is. I pointed to Shishiku Mountain and asked Roro, "Don't you think it's beautiful?" Reflecting on it, I realized I had seen nothing of the land of Amoros. That beautiful Shishiku Mountain was nothing more than part of the "scenery" to my eyes. Everything felt precious. There were so many things I could have done, so much more I could have seen. "I want to climb it. I want to see Lioncourt from that mountain." I muttered once again. Roro remained silent throughout.