Chapter 549: Those with Obligations

「…My master. I have good news and bad news. Which would you like to hear first? 」

Valerie Brightness, under orders from the Cathedral and the King of the northern Gharast Kingdom, led an army of 60,000 soldiers. Watching her profile as she marched, her adjutant, Dore, came close to Valerie in her horse.

The petite woman, brimming with confidence, awaited her master’s reaction.

「You can start with the bad news. But you know my character, Dore. 」

「That’s true. But it’s been a while since I’ve been your adjutant, so I’m being considerate, you know? 」

Dore’s words weren’t a lie. But it wasn’t just because it had been a while since she last served Valerie.

Although Valerie and Dore were temporarily split into separate armies following the Zebrililith disaster, they were both master and servant, who repeatedly defended Fort Suzif from monster attacks.

Valerie was in charge of the current campaign. Dore was in charge of everything else.

Trust between them could get weaker, but it was impossible for it to fade.

That was why Dore was concerned about the enemy they were about to face.

「The surrounding villages are useless after all. We can’t get any supplies. The enemy commander, Richard Parmillis, doesn’t seem to have any intention of protecting the villagers. The villagers have been evacuated, the grain storehouses have been burned, and the wells have been poisoned. The villagers won’t return. 」

「Hmm, that’s typical of him. 」

Dore deliberately called out the enemy commander’s name to see her master’s reaction. This was the point she was being careful about.

The enemy commander, Richard, was a clear traitor to the Gharast Kingdom. And to make matters worse, he was also the person closest to Valerie.

Dore hadn’t forgotten how her master had quietly become enraged when she heard the news of his defeat by the Great Evil.

So it wasn’t surprising that even Valerie would be somewhat shaken by this name.

Valerie continued speaking with a nonchalant expression despite disappointing Dore’s expectations.

「If that’s the case, then be it. Listen. The biggest drawback of a large army is supplies. It’s not easy to keep feeding a group of 60,000 people. It’s even worse if you lose the supply bases, which are the villages…Besides, even if there are villages, no matter how strict military discipline is, there will always be those who commit atrocities. You could say that evacuating the villagers was a way of protecting them. 」

Valerie sounded nostalgic even though she was talking about the enemy commander.

Her usual coldness had melted away from her voice, and it was somewhat light. In fact, Dore even sensed an air of enjoyment in the current situation.

She distorted her lips without realizing it. Dore didn’t see it as amusing at all.

「…The good news is that there are probably fewer than a few thousand enemy soldiers in the fort. Since their numbers are so small, a surprise attack is possible, but that goes without saying, master, right? 」

Dore then looked ahead and tried to keep her breathing steady. She was aware that her heart was unsettled. It wasn’t the kind of thing she wanted to show to a stranger, especially her master.

But for a superhuman like Valerie Brightness, even the slightest trembling from Dore’s voice would be hard to miss.

「…You and I are close. I can at least tell what you’re thinking. You’re thinking about the Great Demon Zebrililith, right? 」

Dore’s shoulders shook in shock. It wasn’t particularly surprising that she’d been able to guess, but a sense of helplessness still welled up in her heart.

Dore spoke after carefully choosing her words.

「…That’s true. I’ll admit it, master. Well, I never thought I’d be able to keep it a secret from the start. 」

It wasn’t funny at all. Dore’s eyes narrowed in displeasure. Everything about this campaign was extremely unpleasant for Dore.

Why did her master, the honorable Valerie Brightness, have to take such opportunistic advantage? Why had her master accepted this mission so easily?

No, even Dore knew it. The only option that could inflict the most damage on the people calling themselves the New Kingdom was with this large army.

It was efficient and logical. And it would undoubtedly be a blessing for her master to be able to settle things once and for all with the enemy commander Richard, who Valerie still had lingering feelings for.

But the more frustrated she felt the more she saw this realistic side of things. She began to wonder if this was really what she wanted.

Dore was remembering one man. No, she was thinking about him and his fellow soldiers.

…The northernmost tip of the Gharast Kingdom. No final tales remained of Fort Suzif, which fell because of Zebrililith’s attack.

How horrific was the battle they waged. How bravely they fought against that hopeless horde of magical beasts and demons, and how they managed to buy themselves six days of time.

Not a single thing could be passed down. The Great Demon Zebrililith devoured everyone who was there. Even Dore, who remained at the fort until just before it was destroyed, had no way of knowing their final moments.

Only one thing was known. The gentle commander and his soldiers, who declared themselves weak in a timid voice, yet fulfilled their duty. They fulfilled their duty as nobles, as soldiers, and as human beings.

「I think he’s a man worthy of respect, master. That’s why I don’t like the Cathedral. Their duty is supposed to be to destroy demons. But they’re obsessed with fighting over territory. They’re even using Zebrililith’s actions, who’d cost tens of thousands of lives, as a strategic tool. 」

Dore snorted. She acted like a child claiming to be completely uninterested.

「Hmph. How can we preach and spread doctrines like praying and fulfilling one’s duties if we do exactly the opposite? 」

「Dore. 」

Valerie listened quietly to Dore’s complaint. However, Valerie finally spoke up when Dore’s words began to escalate into a rebellion against the doctrine.

In truth, Valerie wasn’t a particularly devout follower of the Great Holy Church. So, no matter how foul-mouthed Dore was about the Great Holy Church, Valerie could at least smile and nod.

But right now, there wasn’t just one person marching…in fact, there were lots of them marching to war….And Valerie knew that saying those exact words could be dangerous.

「Shut up, now. Stop chattering. Close your mouth. 」

Valerie cut Dore off before she continued speaking.

A carriage was approaching Valerie’s position before she knew it. Although it was called a carriage, it wasn’t the kind that could carry passengers. It was roofless, more like a luxurious chair with wheels attached and pulled by a horse.

In a way, it would be easier to understand it as a chariot.

Giluel Hano’s pale hair twitched in the air.

「Valerie, don’t be like that. I’m not here to blame anyone. I’m simply preaching the path to complete happiness. Believe in God, pray to God, love God, obey God, submit to God, be with God, and dedicate yourself to God…」

「…Giluel, do you think I know nothing about it? I know it already, so just leave. 」

Valerie knew that letting her mouth run wild wouldn’t lead to good results.

Valerie spoke with short words while glaring at Giluel with sharp eyes. Giluel stared intently at Valerie with unreadable eyes. There was no hostility, but a stronger feeling of dislike between them.

Suddenly, Valerie looked away.

「…Dore. I have something to ask of you. We’re less than a day away from the fort. Please send a messenger again. Officially. 」

Valerie declared to keep Dore away from Giluel and to finish up some other business. Dore replied quietly, regaining her adjutant facade. There was no trace of dissatisfaction in her voice.

She, too, was capable of separating her emotions from her military duties.

「Master, am I allowed to select the messenger? 」

「Yes. I trust you. I have one goal…make Richard Parmillis surrender. I’ll forgive him if he does so. Tell him that Valerie said these particular words. 」

Valerie spoke with a hint of hostility still covered in her magical armor.

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