Chapter 245: Van’s Battle

“It is utterly unbelievable, but the crisis has passed.” The military doctor assigned to the Knight Order answered. Hearing his words, everyone in the hall sighed in relief.

“As expected of the Marquis. He possesses vitality, fitting for a man who lives for battle.” Panamera casually murmured this with a snort, but a relieved smile played on her lips. However, she quickly noticed my gaze and twisted her expression into one of displeasure.

“What a missed opportunity, boy. Given the circumstances, if the Marquis had died, we might have gained not just a promotion, but vast lands as well, you know?” She even threw out a spiteful remark.

Smiling wryly at the not-so-honest Panamera, I bowed my head with sincere gratitude.

“Thank you, Viscount Panamera. My father owes his life to you.”

When I said that, the knights present, including Stradale and Talga, all bowed instantly to express their thanks.

“…Well, I just won a gamble. In the end, whether he lives or dies is up to his own luck,” Panamera said, shrugging her shoulders. She turned her back and looked toward Jalpa.

“The emotional change won’t be easy, but the battle continues. We will hold a defense meeting immediately to reorganize our forces. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” Talga saw the moment the tension eased and moved to withdraw. Although the Deputy Commander was leading the charge, he was clearly anxious to return to his duties.

Following suit, Stradale looked up and spoke in a low voice.

“I will repay this debt of gratitude, no matter what.”

Hearing that, Panamera shook her shoulders and laughed.

“Is that earnest knight truly of noble birth? He’s far too straightforward.” Panamera muttered.

“He is a good knight.”

“Hmph.”

After that brief exchange, Panamera turned to me.

“Boy, I am going to the strategy meeting. We are in the middle of a battle right now. I want to give you some time, but I need you to return to the front lines as soon as possible… I know I’m asking for a cruelty, but bear with me.”

Panamera said this, turned on her heel without waiting for my answer, and left the room, with Talga following right behind her.

“…Lord Van.”

Once Panamera left, Arte and Till came to my side and squeezed my hands. Both of them looked at me, their eyes glistening with unshed tears. Feeling their concern warmed my heart.

I smiled back at the two of them and spoke.

“I’m fine. Now, let’s hurry up and organize the defense. We need to make this fortress the strongest defensive base, don’t we?”

After saying that, I looked up at Stradale.

“Stradale, are you able to move? If you feel you can switch gears, I would like your temporary cooperation.”

When I asked, Stradale quietly clenched his fist and exhaled a long, slow breath. Then, he tore his gaze away from the horizontal figure of Jalpa and looked back at me.

“Leave it to me. I am currently entrusted with the Marquis’s Knight Order. Consider every knight under my command to be your hands and feet, Lord Van.” Stradale said this in a low voice.

“Thank you. Then, let’s go together.”

I called out to a soldier waiting outside the hall, and they guided me to where the strategy meeting was being held.

When I knocked and entered, I found armored figures gathered around a large table, arguing with the intensity of shouts. However, the substance of their discussion seemed to be going nowhere.

“That’s why! I’m telling you we cannot defend it if we stay like this! Yet why is the option of not moving even on the table!?”

“But the result of moving is this! If both lead to annihilation, one should choose the one that offers a chance of victory!”

“Are you choosing a way to lose that means being gradually ground down, finger by finger!?”

Wounded middle-aged men shouted heatedly at each other. Panamera glared at them with a visibly irritated expression. Suddenly, Panamera noticed I had entered the room and gave a defiant smile.

“Lord Talga. The Fertio family’s overall commander has arrived.” Panamera said this to the scowling Talga.

Talga looked back at me with a gasp of admiration, “Oh!” Following his gaze, the other knights also turned their faces toward me. Monopolizing everyone’s attention, I walked toward the table.

“Ah, hello, hello… May I join in?”

I spoke slightly reservedly, then stood in front of the table. Since the table was a bit too high, I rested both hands on it and stood on my tiptoes. A map was spread across the table, adorned with black and white stones.

“These are… white stones for the Centena side, and black for the Kingdom of Yelenetta and the Shelvia Confederation?”

“That’s correct. Each stone is equivalent to one thousand knights. Even myself and Viscount Panamera are counted as one stone each.” Talga explained, pointing at the stones on the map in sequence.

Listening to him, I counted the stones on the map.

“Five white stones… and thirty black stones?”

When I said that, the faces of the men surrounding the table darkened. Talga, acting as their representative, looked at the black stones on the map and replied.

“Yes. Even this is a considerable reduction in the number of black stones. Initially, it was around ten white stones to forty black stones…”

“And one of those diminished white stones is Marquis Fertio,” I said casually. Talga’s face became somber, and he fell silent. I heard a sound like gritting teeth and turned back to see Stradale glaring at the map with a severe expression. Anger was visible in Stradale’s eyes, but I couldn’t tell if it was directed at the enemy or at himself for failing to protect his master.

“…Yes. It is shameful that this happened despite my Centena Border Knight Order being here.” Talga mumbled regretfully. I shook both hands with a wry smile.

“Ah, my apologies. I’m not blaming you, just stating a fact… Anyway, let’s talk about the next steps.”

I said this, then picked up ten white stones from the side and placed them on the map. The knights who had been glaring at the map blinked in surprise.

“…Baron Van. What is this?” Talga asked, articulating the confusion of the knights.

I puffed out my chest and replied.

“One of the white stones is Viscount Panamera. Another is Lady Arte here. And the rest are from my Seatoh Knight Order. Oh, and the Panamera Knight Order, too.”

After adding that last line, I hastily added one more white stone.

“Hmph. Don’t be thoughtful in such a strange way,” Panamera said, snorting at my actions. Although I was trembling inwardly, I managed to pull myself together and pointed at the map.

“Normally, with this difference in strength, a siege would last a month. However, this time the enemy has black metal, cannons, and even dragons and Wyverns. We managed to take down one dragon and two Wyverns earlier, but it’s best to assume there are more. If that’s the case, I don’t think this fortress can hold out for many days.”

I articulated my own analysis, arranging the stones neatly on the map. Seizing on the end of my statement, the knight who had previously advocated sallying forth spoke up.

“Indeed, you are correct! If that is the case, we have no choice but to launch a decisive attack for a comeback!” he roared vigorously.

However, I shook my head in response to his words.

“No, no. If we launch an attack, annihilation is a certainty. Those mountains on both sides are too dangerous, and if we fight a field battle, our small numbers are at a significant disadvantage. We could have Panamera burn down all the mountains, but the area is far too vast, and that would cause tremendous problems.”

When I explicitly rejected the knight’s suggestion, the invigorated knight nearly stumbled forward. He’s a person with quite good reactions. I should remember him.

“Th-then, should we stick to a siege after all…? Is there a possibility of massive reinforcements?” The knight who had advocated for a siege now frowned and asked. I shook my head once more in response.

“Wh-what do you mean?! If we neither sally forth nor hold a siege, then all that’s left is to abandon the fort and retreat…” Another knight cried out, agitated. At his words, everyone’s eyes were clouded with anxiety. If the commanders decide to retreat, all the knights would have no choice but to obey. There is no point in some remaining. However, abandoning such a crucial strategic point would certainly lead to a court trial later. And the probability of a guilty verdict is extremely high. I immediately realized those were their concerns.

But of course, we would not retreat. No, to be more accurate, I want to retreat, but I can’t this time.

“We will not retreat.”

When I said that simply, some knights looked relieved, while others had a disappointed, complex expression. But Talga and Panamera’s expressions became even more severe.

“…What do you mean?” Panamera muttered in a low voice. Although it was a quiet voice, the air in the room seemed to freeze instantly. Did my big sister Panamera, despite her aptitude for fire magic, perhaps learn ice magic too…? No, this wasn’t the time for such jokes, even if my mouth were sealed shut.

“Well, to be precise, we will both sally forth and hold a siege. I intend to defend without leaning too much toward either option.”

When I answered, Panamera and Talga’s eyes glazed over in confusion. Seeing they didn’t understand, I placed five new white stones on the map.

“We don’t have time. First, let’s prepare these five white stones as additional fighting strength. While we prepare, I will explain the details of the operation.”