Chapter 66

Chapter 66: Ambitose Kingdom's Response

Due to the rampage of Spelviard, the Rottcha region and the Ambitose Kingdom found themselves in a state of war.

I don't want a war. Rottcha region has just begun to rebuild, and the Empire has massive debts, so unnecessary expenses are out of the question.

However, when there's an opposing party involved, it's not something we can unilaterally stop.

To inquire whether Ambitose Kingdom is still willing to continue this war, I decided to release some of the Ambitose Kingdom soldiers we captured, not just the two I personally caught, but also those captured in battles near our camp.

The location for negotiations was in the process of being converted from a battlefield to a camp. Personnel inside were being replaced from civilians to soldiers.

In that place, I watched as Famiris and I bid farewell to the prisoners we had sent as envoys.

"I didn't expect Famiris to attach a letter written in the name of the Knightly Kingdom to the letter I handed over to the prisoners."

"In this matter, it's the fault of Ambitose Kingdom for not detecting Prince Spelviard's rampage. As a Holy Knightly Kingdom that upholds righteousness, we must speak up about it."

Famiris's reply seemed somewhat teasing towards me.

"Could it be that you're still upset about riding on Nerotiora? You did thank them properly and offered sweets as an apology, right?"

"Yes, yes. I received their apology, enjoyed delicious sweets, and as a token of gratitude for lending me Nerotiora, Princess Parvela and Prince Milimos promised to host a tea party. These are the facts."

Famiris seemed to say it with irritation, but I couldn't figure out what she could be upset about right now.

"Is it just the sweets and apologies that bother you? Then, why don't you tell me your wish, Famiris? If it's something I can grant, I'll do it."

Reluctantly making the offer, Famiris grinned like a predator who had spotted its prey.

"Well then, once matters with Ambitose Kingdom are settled, can I have a day of your time?"

"Why are you using such formal language all of a sudden? And that smile, it's giving me a bad feeling. Fine, I understand! I promise to make time for you for a day!"

"It's a promise. Oh, how I'm looking forward to it already. That day."

Famiris's mood improved, but I had a feeling I had just entered into a dangerous contract.

I couldn't break the promise now, so I would pray that the day I spent with Famiris would be peaceful.

The response from Ambitose Kingdom arrived less than ten days after sending the prisoners as envoys.

Considering the distance, it was a remarkably swift response.

However, a swift response didn't guarantee the answer I desired.

"Ambitose Kingdom conveys a reply from King Vazots: You will pay for the life of your beloved son. The incompetent soldiers who failed to protect him are equally guilty. Both shall descend into the abyss of the netherworld!"

The Ambitose Kingdom envoy finished speaking and gestured. One of his attendants untied a bundle they had been carrying and casually tossed it towards me in my chair.

I thought it might be explosives at first, but it was something worse – a human head.

"You killed the soldiers we sent as envoys..."

Stunned by this unexpected response, the Ambitose Kingdom envoy and his attendants drew short blades and lunged at us.

"Foul traitor, Milimos Nonette! Your life—"

Before they could finish their words, my guards thrust their spears forward, impaling the envoy and his attendant.

"Ugh... Unforgivable."

"Prince Spelviard... I shall accompany... to the netherworld..."

With the lifeless bodies before me, I buried my face in my hands.

"If even the envoy resorts to assassination out of emotion, negotiations with Ambitose Kingdom have utterly failed."

I had half-expected it, but that didn't make it any less unwelcome.

"If they've decided to make us their enemies, then so be it. We have the moral high ground! We'll abandon the idea of a one-on-one duel and prepare for an invasion of Ambitose Kingdom. At the same time, we'll discuss our strategy for the attack!"

In response to my command, the soldiers began to move. The corpses of the slain Ambitose Kingdom envoys were also carried away.

With the space cleared, the commanders gathered around me. Among them was General Durlba, whom I had summoned just in case.

"Prince Milimos, it seems another war is upon us."

"Don't blame it on me. If Spelviard hadn't tried to capture Princess Solerina, we wouldn't be in this situation."

I sighed, shifting my focus to the impending war.

"Summer is upon us, and if we linger in the desert, we'll wither away. Therefore, we need a swift invasion and conquest."

"Do we have the necessary information for the invasion?"

"I've obtained information from the captured soldiers. We've extracted detailed desert maps in exchange for not harming their home villages during our advance. We've integrated individual pieces of information to create a high-precision map."

I unfolded the map on a corner of the tent.

The commanders frowned as they examined it. General Durlba, speaking for the group, muttered, "This is quite... a confusing map."

His assessment was accurate.

After all, the desert was a land dominated by sand and rocks, with few landmarks. Moreover, there were no established roads to follow. Therefore, the nearly blank desert map contained descriptions like "rock resembling a face" or "stone tower like a pointed finger," which only locals would understand.

Indeed, it was a map that could lead one astray, but that wasn't a problem.

Well, perhaps it would be more accurate to say that it was no longer a problem.

"We've secured a promise from the prisoners to guide us. The King of Ambitose Kingdom killed the soldiers we sent as envoys and sent their severed heads as proof. Once we show that evidence, the prisoners who were reluctant to help will assist us."

"They also sent a message that if we can't protect Prince Spelviard, they'll kill us too. So, they'll likely guide us to avoid any harm."

The commanders nodded, indicating their agreement, so I decided that the route wouldn't pose a problem.

Next, I presented my plan for a swift invasion.

"To move quickly, we can't have our soldiers in full armor. They'll have to travel with minimal armor and provisions."

"What about using wagons?"

"The prisoners mentioned that the desert's sand and rocks would damage the wagon wheels. It's better to carry our supplies on 'Lacdacios'; it seems we can move faster that way."

"Lacda—what is that?"

By the way, I didn't officially know the name of that bird.

"Well, it's that big desert bird people can ride."

"Oh, you mean the 'Kamyuhohoo'? In the Nonette Kingdom, they call it the Camelbird."

"No, no. I just came up with that name, playing on a similar animal. There are no birds like that in the Nonette Kingdom."

"Kamyuhohoo is a desert bird. Wasn't it in the mountainous Nonette Kingdom?"

"Anyway, the Camelbirds, or rather the Kamyuhohoo, loaded up with supplies, we need to hurry up and move. Considering that the messenger arrived in ten days, we should reach the capital of Ambitose in less than five."

"Wait. There's a limit to how many Kamyuhohoo we can take. We can't take all the soldiers gathered here."

That observation was correct.

We had captured about twenty Kamyuhohoo in total. Even with them fully loaded, it would be a maximum of a hundred soldiers we could take.

"Our limit for taking them along—advancing swiftly with a hundred men for a surprise attack on Ambitose is the only way."

"...Are you serious?"

"The desert is Ambitose's strong suit in warfare. We're at a disadvantage. That's why we have to strike before the enemy gets organized. Besides, a small force has the advantage of lower costs."

"Prince Milimos, this isn't a joke. Aren't those hundred people a suicide squad?"

"I'm not joking. After all, I'm going with those hundred people."

When I said that with a smile, the commanding officers were speechless. In the midst of it all, Famiris quietly watched, chuckling.

"Hahaha, my apologies. I couldn't help but think that Prince Milimos was on our side."

I wondered what she meant by "our side," but I didn't want to poke the hornet's nest, so I decided to ignore it and ask a different question.

"This battle is entirely Ambitose's fault. Will the Knight Kingdom, which should right wrongs, send reinforcements for our fight?"

"Of course. However, we wouldn't want a large force to be expected to deal with such a minor wrongdoing. At most, I will participate in combat. By the way, for knights of the Holy Knight Kingdom to support another country, approval from the royal family is required."

Famiris insisted on maintaining her role as a sword. I turned my gaze to Princess Parvela, her master. I waited for a moment, but she didn't seem inclined to give her approval voluntarily.

In fact, Princess Parvela was looking at me with an expectant expression. It seemed she was waiting for me to "ask" her.

"Um, Princess Parvela, may we borrow the strength of Knight Famiris to assist our army?"

"No, you can't, Milimos-kun."

Denied! I was surprised by the unexpected turn of events. Princess Parvela continued speaking.

"We are friends, after all. Please ask in your usual way, not with formal language."

In order to request the assistance of Famiris, a tactical-level force, I had deliberately used formal language, but it seemed Princess Parvela didn't like it.

Well, depending on the perspective, a polite attitude could be seen as a servile one. So, what Princess Parvela wanted to convey was probably that since Roche's side wasn't at fault in this matter, we should request assistance openly.

Alright, I gathered my determination and decided to make my request to Princess Parvela in my usual manner.

"Princess Parvela, lend us Famiris."

"Why would you want that?"

"To win this war—"

As I was about to utter those words, I reconsidered the reason for requesting Knight Famiris as reinforcement.

"No, it's for me. To prove that my actions, which I took for the sake of Sister Solerina, were not wrong!"

With that, I struck a confident pose and boldly declared. In response, Princess Parvela blushed with a delighted expression, releasing a breath that seemed to expel heat from within her.

"Yes. For Milimos-kun's sake, I will lend you Famiris. Please make full use of her. I'll be waiting for your return at this camp."

I couldn't quite understand why Princess Parvela was making that expression, but now it was confirmed that Famiris would join the battle as reinforcements.

Famiris herself, after a shocked expression while watching Princess Parvela, glared at me with hostility, but I decided not to mind and proceeded to prepare for the march.