Frizione and her faction’s group continued their march along the road.
Even including the supply troops, with only 500 or so people, their speed was much faster than that of a large army.
Their numbers had to be kept small, so the only ones who had been selected were all elites.
As the First Princess’ faction followed the road towards the rebel camp, enemies, lined up as if waiting for them, soon came into view.
……No, it wasn’t as if they were waiting, they were definitely waiting for them.
The First Princess’ faction soon stopped as two people went forward as messengers.
Angela and Rei. Both of them were outstanding members of Frizione’s army……although Rei was technically not part of her army, but an escort sent by Mercurio.
「……I see. Looking at them from here, it’s true that there are quite a few of them hiding in the forest. However, they are hiding their presence quite well, making efforts to avoid being found, so I wouldn’t have known if you hadn’t told me.」
Angela muttered as she walked towards the soldiers waiting for them.
Although she was looking straight in the direction they were heading, she was still paying attention to the trees along the road.
「Normally, with enemies placed in such clear sight, it would be hard to notice anything else. Obviously, distraction is a true and tried tactic, it’s been used so many times, but ultimately it’s because it’s still effective. ……From what I can see though, it doesn’t look like they plan to make a decisive move here.」
While talking to Angela, Rei surveyed the troops lined up before him.
The enemy front line was comprised of heavy infantry wearing full plate armour and wielding spears and infantry with shields, with archers and cavalry in formation behind them.
However, their expressions were tense.
This was probably because they were going up against the First Princess, Frizione.
Frizione boasted overwhelming popularity among the people, and naturally, many of the soldiers waiting here admired her.
It was only natural for them to feel depressed about having to go against her.
There was also the matter of Angela, one of the two people approaching them.
The White Rose Knights were a knight order made up of only female knights, and as a result, many people thought of it as some sort of secret garden.
And, Angela in particular was the one who ruled over the secret garden. Although people did have some thoughts about her age, there were still many who admired her.
And above all else……there was the person riding on the back of Set, a Griffon, with the 2m long Death Scythe on his shoulder.
Anyone involved in the Bestir Empire’s military……everyone here, undoubtedly knew who this person was.
Rei, the B rank adventurer titled Crimson.
Even in front of the large number of soldiers, Rei approached without feeling any sort of intimidation, inevitably intimidating the soldiers in return.
Angela was similarly not afraid, but in terms of impact, Rei’s was superior.
Still, as the people who had been lying in wait, they couldn’t just wait for Angela and Rei to go over to them.
Eventually, as Rei and Angela reached the mid point between the two forces, two people from the opposing army arrived.
Rei’s eyes widened involuntarily when he saw who it was.
Of the two people, Rei didn’t recognise the one leading the way, but the other was familiar to him.
「Rhodes……」
Rhodes seemed to have heard Rei call his name as he turned his gaze towards Rei.
But……
(What?)
Even when Rhodes turned to look at Rei upon hearing his name, his expression barely changed.
Normally, he would have shown some kind of reaction by now.
Instead, it was the person walking in front of Rhodes who directed an intense gaze towards Rei.
「……So, you’re Crimson. This is the first time I’ve seen you from up close, let alone from afar.」
Sensing the hatred hidden in their voice, Rei tightened his grip on the Death Scythe he was carrying on his shoulder.
Just so he could respond immediately if the other party made any sort of move.
「It seems like you’re particularly resentful of me. There are many reasons for people to hate me in this country though, so it’s no surprise.」
「Yes, I hate you greatly. I’ve been looking forward to the day I could get my revenge.」
It was rare for someone to hate Rei so much, was this really the first time they’ve met? Rei pondered, but he didn’t recognise the face of the person in front of him.
Who could it be? Rei didn’t know, the man didn’t say himself, nor did Rhodes.
「Bratta, can you let us through?」
「Angela, is it? Right now, I’m more interested in Crimson than you.」
Bratta glanced at Angela for a moment before turning back to Rei, as if he had no interest in her.
Angela felt a little uneasy at that.
Of course, Angela belonged to the First Princess’ faction and Bratta belonged to the First Prince’s faction. As part of opposing factions, they weren’t necessarily on good terms.
Still, they were acquainted with each other and would chat if they happened to meet.
And, they were about to face off against each other now, so Angela didn’t understand why he was so hung up on Rei.
But, her doubts disappeared the next moment.
Bratta glared at Rei before speaking with what seemed to be a genuine smile.
「As I said, I was looking forward to meeting you. To teach you about the hatred……the hatred of being trampled on without being able to do anything in response.」
Angela immediately knew what Bratta was talking about.
It must be about the punitive force that was annihilated.
Rei seemed to realise as well. He responded with a smile that rivaled Bratta’s.
「Now that I think of it, there were a few people who ran away with their tails between their legs during that battle. You must be one of those survivors.」
「Yeah, that’s right. I ran away disgracefully. I really did abandon my comrades.」
「Comrades……oh, Sobble.」
As Rei recalled the fact of the person held captive in the rebel camp, Bratta expression turned to one of anger for a moment before calming down.
「Well, this is fine. You guys want to pass through here. We can’t let you pass through here. You understand that, right? We’ll just end up fighting each other. Do you have any objections?」
「……You really can’t let us through no matter what? I don’t think there’s any need to waste our strength fighting here.」
「It’s better than letting you join up with the rebels and increasing their strength.」
Even with Rei here……no, the fact that they had laid an ambush here already made their intentions clear enough, but when it was spoken so decisively, it was hard for Angela to respond.
Rather, even if she were to say anything, she didn’t think the other side would back down.
「More importantly, my acquaintance over there seems to be acting strangely……what’s going on?」
「Hm? Oh, Rhodes. A lot has happened for him to get stronger. That’s right, he was willing to throw everything away to defeat you.」
「……Rhodes, is that true?」
Rei wondered to himself as he asked Rhodes.
Rhodes certainly had a competitive attitude towards him.
That much was clear from his attitude during the tournament, but looking at him now, Rhodes seemed so calm in comparison, like he was an entirely different person.
(No, rather than calm……his expression seems still?)
As Rei thought to himself, Rhodes didn’t respond and just looked back at him in silence.
「Rhodes, answer me.」
「It’s useless. I told you, right? He threw away everything to defeat you. Including his emotion.」
「……What did you do?」
「What. Did you think I’d tell you all about it? And, why are you worried about him? He betrayed you and joined us……he’s a traitor, so to speak. I don’t think there’s any need for you to worry about him.」
Rei was at a loss for words as Bratta spoke with a smile on his face, but quickly continued speaking.
「Even if he is a traitor, he is the son of an adventurer who helped me. What can I do to change Rhodes back to normal?」
「Hm, is that so? Well, unfortunately, it was his wish that he ended up like this. I don’t know what can be done. ……Ah, but you see. Maybe……if you grant his wish, he might go back to normal? Yes, the wish to kill you.」
「……」
Rei silently gave Bratta a sharp look.
Next to him, Angela looked at Bratta with a similarly sharp gaze.
「You’ve changed, haven’t you? You used to be so absorbed with fighting, but you never strayed from the path.」
「Yeah. I think so too. But it’s only natural that an experience that would change one or two aspects of your personality. So, what are you going to do? Will you surrender or not? Of course, I’d prefer it if you didn’t surrender.」
「Of course. Frizione-sama has already made up her mind. If there is anyone who stands in her way and blocks her path, we, Frizione’s swords, will destroy them.」
Angela spoke with firm resolve and Bratta smiled as he replied.
「Well said. That’s the way it is. Then, there’s nothing more for us to discuss here, is there? ……All that remains is for us to follow our own wills with our own strength. Let’s go, Rhodes.」
With those words, Bratta returned to his army with Rhodes, whose expression was still as still as before.
Rei stared at their backs, but when he noticed Set looking at him worriedly, he patted his head to reassure him that he was fine.
「Guru~……」
Set still gave a concerned cry.
From Set’s perspective, Rhodes wasn’t someone he liked, given his first impression of him.
To be honest, Set didn’t care about what had happened to Rhodes.
But, to Rei, Rhodes was the son of Elk and Min, both of which were close to him.
As an adventurer, everything you did was your own responsibility and it was Rhodes who had thought of and carried out the infiltration of the First Prince’s faction in the first place.
If that was the case, Rhodes had to take responsibility for his own actions.
「Rei, are you okay?」
「Yeah. ……To be honest, I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t anticipated this possibility at all.」
Rei quietly but firmly answered Angela’s question as he thought to himself.
(If he’s been brainwashed by some means, we just need to undo it. I don’t have that kind of skill or magic, so it’s probably impossible for me, but Elk might be able to do something with his connections as an A rank adventurer.)
Realising that it might be a simple matter, Rei nodded slightly towards Angela before speaking.
「Let’s go. Frizione should be able to see what was going on here, if we stay too long, they’ll be the ones taking the initiative. We’re already outnumbered, so we can’t let them do that.」
「……Are you really okay?」
Angela asked worriedly as Rei lightly tapped Set on the neck to return to Frizione’s location.
Angela’s horse moved alongside, but seemed a little unsettled, maybe because it perceived Set as a threat.
Angela stroked her horse’s neck to calm it down as she spoke.
「As for those two, it’s probably best to leave them to you.」
「That’s what I’d like for Rhodes, regardless of that Bratta guy…… Well, it doesn’t seem like Bratta will give up on me either.」
「Hehe, popular guys are different.」
「This isn’t popularity I’m happy about though.」
As they talked, Angela seemed to sense that Rei had calmed back down. She continued on with a sense of relief and they returned to Frizione’s carriage before long.
「I’m sorry, Your Highness Frizione. I couldn’t make them retreat. We’ll have to face them head-on.」
「……I see. It’s unfortunate, but I don’t think they’ll retreat so easily. I understand, I’ve asked Marquis Lognos to take care of our rear, so there’s no need to worry. I’ll leave it to Angela to deal with the enemies in front. As for the ambush in the forest……Rei, can I leave that to you?」
Nodding at Frizione’s words, and seeing the army in ambush begin to move, Angela quickly gave her orders……and so the curtains rose on the first battle that Frizione’s army would face in the civil war.