Chapter 243: Successful Retreat

It had been a long time since I last saw Stradale, and I didn’t know what to say to him. From Stradale’s perspective, he was in the middle of a crushing defeat, and I was the one who had been kicked out of the Marquis’s family. Was a casual greeting like, “Long time no see,” really appropriate?

As I was thinking that, Stradale spoke to me first.

“Lord Van, thank you for coming to our aid.”

“It’s fine, it’s a crisis for the Kingdom, after all. If we didn’t defend Centena, the Fertio County would undoubtedly be devastated… Regardless of the Marquis family, I really love everyone who lives in the Marquis’s domain.”

When I said this with a joke, Stradale wiped the blood and sweat from his forehead with one hand and held his drawn sword to his chest.

“…I will never forget this debt of gratitude throughout my life. If ever Lord Van faces a crisis, I will risk my life to help you.”

“Hahaha, thank you. Well, you don’t have to take it that seriously; just rest inside the carriage. We’ll be heading back to Centena soon.”

I replied with a laugh, but Stradale shook his head without changing his expression.

“No, nothing must happen to Lord Van. I apologize, but please step inside the carriage yourself. I have my horse, so I will guard the carriage’s perimeter.”

“Huh? Aren’t you tired? Are you sure?”

“This is no time to worry about fatigue. We can rest as much as we like later.”

Stradale said this with a terribly serious expression. I couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

“Ahahaha! You sound just like Dee. All right then, I’ll take you up on that offer.”

When I said that, Stradale’s eyes widened in surprise. After a pause that lasted a full second, he offered the first genuine smile I’d ever seen from him.

“I sound like Lord Dee? That is an honor.”

Saying only that, Stradale mounted his horse and charged off. I saw a cavalryman trying to approach—did he go to chase him away?

“…Alright! This spot is dangerous, so let’s head back at full speed! Law, Khamsin! I’m counting on you!”

“Yes, sir!”

I collected myself and gave the instruction, then leaped down from the driver’s seat and moved into the carriage.

When I entered, I saw the huge figure of a man who looked oddly ill-at-ease. Opposite him sat Arte and Panamera. I wondered where Till was, but she was just hidden from view by the sheer size of the large man.

“I was told to swap places with Commander Stradale.”

How uncool, I thought, looking around the carriage as I spoke. There was clearly no way I could sit next to the huge man.

I decided to sit between the beautiful girl and the beautiful woman. It goes without saying that Van, known as a gentleman, had no ulterior motives or hidden desires.

“Well then, allow me to reintroduce myself. I am Van Nei Fertio. I rushed here, hoping to assist in the defense in my small way.”

When I gave my simple introduction, the large man placed his hands on his knees and bowed his head.

“I am grateful… I am Talga Brescia, Commander of the Border Knight Order protecting Centena. I judged that we could not hold out against the fierce assault of the Shelvia Confederation and the Kingdom of Yelenetta in a siege, so I sallied forth for a reversal, but you see the results.”

Talga said this, gesturing toward himself. He looked completely battered. He wasn’t just covered in blood; the armor and other gear he wore were severely damaged and warped. Just by looking at Talga’s appearance, I could tell how intense the battle had been.

“…First, let’s restore Centena to its best possible condition. We’ll reorganize our forces, and then we’ll counterattack.”

When I answered, Talga nodded deeply without a word.

“Arte, can you deal with the rear left?”

“Oh, yes…!”

When I asked, Arte quickly sent two puppets running with her Puppet Magic. As the two puppets charged the enemy forces, the enemy formation was disrupted, and parts of it completely disintegrated.

“Panamera, could I ask you for magic on the rear right?”

“That will cost you.”

When I requested support, Panamera laughed, leaned her upper body out of the carriage window, and fired flaming spears of magic at the enemy forces. The visual effect of the encroaching flames and the deep-seated fear of magic still seemed potent, proving significantly more effective at stopping the enemy’s advance than Arte’s Puppet Magic.

Seeing the magic of the two women, Talga couldn’t hide his surprise.

“…Viscount Panamera’s magic is impressive, of course, but that magic controlling the knights is also astonishing. Lady Arte, was it? Regarding the knights you control with that magic, just how far can you move them?”

“Uh, um… Perhaps one or two kilometers? Any further than that and I start to lose track of whether I’m controlling them…”

Despite being looked down upon by the huge Talga, Arte was actually able to meet his gaze and answer. There were still signs of fear, but for the reserved Arte, she was trying very hard.

Perhaps concerned about Arte’s visible unease, Talga nodded shallowly and turned his attention back to me.

“I heard that Baron Van is a frightening inventor of weapons… but it seems there are other reasons behind Baron Van’s sudden rise.”

“Of course. There’s the Seatoh Knight Order led by Commander Dee, the Espa Knight Order led by the strongest Earth Mage, Esparda. Plus, my ally Viscount Panamera. And Lady Arte’s magic here. It’s thanks to everyone’s cooperation that I’ve managed to survive.”

“…I see.”

Exchanging such dialogue, we successfully retreated to Centena.

“Open the gate! Hurry!”

I heard the Centena knights guarding the walls shout to open the gate. I opened the carriage window and looked out, and it seemed all the knights except for us had already successfully withdrawn into Centena. Checking behind, Stradale was still following.

“…That’s good. At least we managed to prevent a complete annihilation.”

I whispered in relief, passing through the gate and entering Centena. The carriage stopped in the inner courtyard, protected by the walls, and I finally relaxed, knowing we were safe.

To be honest, when I first saw the battlefield, I almost gave up, thinking defense was impossible. After all, most of the casualties in the war were on the Kingdom of Scuderia’s side. The Centena Knight Order and the Fertio Marquis Knight Order attempted a counterattack but were thoroughly repelled and scattered by the subsequent pursuit. Although we hadn’t encountered him, it seemed Marquis Fertio himself had retreated with injuries. If Talga and Stradale had also fallen in battle, we wouldn’t have been able to recover.

Thinking up to that point, I suddenly remembered My Daddy.

“Ah, where is Marquis Jalpa? I’d like to hold a strategy meeting for the defense.”

When I looked up and asked Talga, he groaned with a grim expression.

“…His Excellency sustained quite severe injuries. His condition may be critical.”