Chapter 142: Royal Palace Incident

***Arc 6 One Who Pierced Through, Chapter 142 Royal Palace Incident***

For example, you can't kill the skirmisher with only heavily armed infantry.

They will not be able to catch up with the lightly-armed infantry, and they will be unilaterally swatted to death.

However, skirmishers alone cannot resist cavalry.

They have no armor to protect them when pressed at speed and in hand-to-hand combat.

However, the cavalry cannot kill infantrymen with spears.

Even if they plan to charge using their speed and weight, the tip of their spear will pierce the horse itself.

Each one is in a three-way deadlock, and that's why the army has everything.

Cavalry against enemy skirmishers. Hit the opponent's cavalry with spears, and shoot arrows at spears.

But the Black Flag Special Force was both a horse and a spear. They already have both at a very high level, and if one-sided shooting from a distance was added, there was nothing that could counter them.

Outside the walls of Albenaria.

The Black Flag Special Forces were training at a large-scale training site built there.

The Black Flag Special Forces training site was basically in a corner of the training grounds, on the side of the city walls.

A corner surrounded by trees that can hardly be called a forest was allocated for their training.

In the grove, the spears thrown by the Black Flag Special Force soldiers pierced through the trees and thundered——and the crackling of the bowstrings echoed here and there.

"How are things going, Bald Eagle? How's the training going?"

"No problem. It's going very well. Krische-sama, Gallen-sama."

Gallen, accompanied by Krische, looks at the situation with interest.

They had been on a tour, seeing the corps, and this is the last one.

It was the first time he had seen Black Flag Special Force training, which was basically under Krische's direct control, and everything felt new.

Although it was a training for new recruits, there was no sign of any basic training, such as marching in formation or defending formations.

"It's probably because their names have become known due to their success in the civil war. The recruits sent by the selection team are all full of motivation, saying they were selected as the most elite of the kingdom."

"...Hmmm, that's good. That looks like spear throwing training, but what you have is a little different."

The roar of gouging trees echoed from earlier.

What the Black Flag Special Forces soldiers grabbed and threw at the tree was a dull shiny iron bar——the handle was wrapped in linen, but the whole body seemed to be made of iron.

"It's just a bar of iron. Ordinary spears will break a lot and the expense isn't light, so Krische-sama said she would think about something. Mia."

"Oh, yes"

Mia grabbed the iron rod that was standing around and brought it to Gallen, and presented it to him.

Gallen who received it instantly put his strength and endured it.

It was too heavy for Gallen who didn't handle magic.

"...Are you throwing something this heavy? Magic possessors have physical abilities sure are different. I can't throw it at all."

Gallen returned the iron spear to Mia in amazement.

The girl, who was much smaller and more delicate than Gallen, received it lightly and bowed her head.

It's probably due to the amount of magical power she was born with. Her sword skills aside, Mia was one of the best in the squad.

"Haha, even among us, there are only a handful of people who can throw this properly. Rather than throwing javelin training, it's more apt to say that what we're doing here is mastering body manipulation."

Although slender, the iron was nearly six shaku (~1.8m) long.

It's not something that can be thrown with human strength, and it's not even easy to swing around.

Only by manipulating the body using magical power and stabilizing the body, will this iron spear fly to the target for the first time.

Most of the people training with this iron spear here are new recruits, and the main purpose was to teach them how to use their imaginary muscles and bodies.

Once they learned how to use their bodies without relying on their physical muscles, they could apply it to their actual spear throwing and sword fighting training.

"Since the number of personnel has increased from the century, Krische would like to train them to be able to do various things other than hand-to-hand combat."

"Archers?"

"Yes. Kurofuyo often acts independently, so Krische'd like to be able to coordinate actions in the corps from a distance. Krische heard from Meow Meow that Ojii-sama used to do that."

"...Meow Meow?"

"It's Kolkis."

Gallen's eyes widened at the words, then paused for a moment and laughed merrily.

"Kuku, Kolkis is Meow Meow. I see, it's a very pleasant name if you look at it together with his appearance."

"Ehehe, that's right, Ojii-sama! Krische thinks Meow Meow is a really good nickname."

Hearing the name Meow Meow given to his former subordinate Kolkis, Gallen laughed happily and petted Krische's head.

Gallen had no problem with the terrible, punishment-like name given to Kolkis.

What his cute grandchild would do——Gallen is strict with himself and others, but he makes an exception for Krische.

Krische, who thought she'd been complimented, snuggled up to Gallen and happily relaxed her cheeks.

She was in a good mood, saying, 'Ojii-sama understands me very well, after all'.

What ensued was a negative spiral.

Seeing her grandfather's reaction, Krische becomes more and more confident that her naming sense was not so bad after all.

With a hopeless naming sense, a mysterious confidence and the power of Alberinea, Krische was like a sudden natural disaster——with increasing threat day by day.

Bald Eagle——Dagra looked at Mia beside him with pity for the new victim, Kolkis, and any future victims.

*swoosh swoosh* Mia shook her head as if to say, 'It's not my fault'.

'It was Kahlua who was at fault, and certainly not me.'

'It's too unreasonable to be blamed for this.'

"...Certainly, there was such a thing. During the withdrawal battle, I gathered the defeated soldiers and created a temporary fire support unit."

It was when he was leading Bogan and his men.

At that time, they lost the battle due to the general's incompetence, were heavily pursued by the enemy, and had no choice but to leave the rest to luck.

'In that case', Gallen thought of avenging the commander of the enemy pursuit force.

For he could see that the enemy was complacent about victory.

Gallen sent Bogan and his men on a run to gather the remnants of the defeated army——thus creating a small force of spear throwers and archers.

If spears and shields create the balance in warfare, ranged weapons create the advantage——an advantage so decisive in a small battle that a one-sided attack can decide the outcome.

Even if the whole army has an advantage of 2,000 more soldiers against 10,000 enemies, nothing will change, but the difference that was bought when just 20 people cut off 100 enemies in front of them, has a tremendous impact on the soldiers of the enemy and allies.

In a battlefield where more than 10,000 lives collide, it was trivial, but the only thing anyone can feel is the superiority and inferiority created by the dozens of people around them.

People with low morale were given spears, and as spear throwers, and they were forbidden to engage hand-to-hand.

Even a poorly thrown javelin, a cavalry that is chasing them is a huge target.

Above all, it was important to have a huge amount of it.

Using themselves as bait, they would stand in front of the enemy and fire a volley of shots at the point where the enemy was lured into a charge.

Cut the advantage in this way, and attack the disturbed enemy――

"While it is a strong shield, it also possesses decisive breakthrough power――I see, and after that, if you have archers who can create an advantage, there will be no gaps."

What Krische was trying to create in the Black Flag Special Forces was a mini army.

Since the Black Flag Special Forces are all magic possessors――they are the best infantry and they also serve as powerful cavalry.

Add in the ability to shoot from a distance to create an even greater advantage, and no enemy will be able to oppose them.

"The problem with Kurofuyo is that they're generally terrible with the sword, so Krische wanted a way to unilaterally defeat an opponent who Kurofuyo lost to purely combat ability; a lot died in the last fight after all."

"... I'm sorry. If I had been a little resourceful, I might have been able to reduce the damage a little more."

"It's not Ojii-sama's fault. Krische heard from Selene that Ojii-sama was doing a great job."

While acting as commander of the whole and bringing the whole to a stalemate, he personally killed five people who were magic possessors――in a sense, Gallen achieved the greatest military results as someone without magical power.

There was no one in the world who could blame the old man.

For Krische, much like Bery, she was a kind grandfather who taught her many things and who always gave her love.

Even if her mouth was torn, she could not blame Gallen, the 'admirable Ojii-sama' she respected――in short, just like her grandfather, his grandchild, who was both moderately strict with herself and others, was very lenient with her grandfather.

"Don't make that face. Krische-sama isn't blaming you."

"......yes"

Dagra smiled as he hit Mia, who was depressed by Krische's words, on the head.

"There was damage. Many died. But even in such a harsh battlefield, it's because you played your part that the squad survived, and now it's being reorganized like this. If you look like that, it's an insult to those who died under your command. It is your role to reflect on your experiences, but not to regret them, and to aim to be an even better commander than you are now. Be proud of yourself."

Dagra said and looked at Krische.

Seeing Mia's despondent face, Krische, who seems to have gotten the message, pondered for a moment and then says,

"Hmm... Krische was a little worried that Mia would wipe out the squad, so the result is still better if you think that way. Mia did her best to the extent that Krische could give a 3 on a 10-point scale, so Krische isn't angry."

"Thr-3 out of 10..."

"The usual Mia is about 1.5 points, so considering that it's enough."

Krische nodded. Mia was even more shocked.

"I-I'll do my best..."

Gallen, who was listening, chuckled and patted Krische on the head.

"Krische sure is though... But from what I've seen, it was a good command. Just like Dagra said, be proud of yourself. There is no such thing as a battle without reflection. Learn from the experience one by one and connect it to the next. You still have a long way to go."

"Yes, thank you, Gallen-sama."

Mia bowed her head happily.

After finishing the conversation in a lighthearted manner, the next step was to go to archery training.

Originally used for hand-to-hand spears, the bow made of hard and sticky Argana wood was 4 shaku (1.2 m)――compared to the 8 (2.4 m) shaku longbow commonly used in the military, it was relatively short, and good maneuverability was prioritized over range.

Even among the archers, the bows were from a special unit, and they were provided on a loan basis.

About 50 of the soldiers were training here――

"...What are you doing? Kalua"

There was Kahlua crouching down, holding her right breast.

"Ah, no, she said she wanted to try it, so I lent her a bow, but it seems the string hit her in the chest..."

A soldier from the archery battalion next to Kalua answered Krische's question.

The cause was probably that she was holding a longbow, as opposed to a short bow with a short drawstring.

Kalua, who had been crouching, stood up with tears streaming down her eyes.

"Uh... it hurts, it's not a normal pain..."

"...idiot."

"Uwaa... uncool..."

Kalua frowned as Mia continued after Krische showing her agreement.

"...unlike Mia, I have breasts after all."

"... I think it's really rude to say that."

"Ah, I wouldn't have felt this pain if I had a chopping board with a flat chest like Mia's..."

"This, this...!"

"Certainly, even if Mia failed, it doesn't seem like it will hit her chest."

"Uuuu..."

Krische nodded, comparing Kalua's ample chest to Mia's lanky bosom.

The other soldiers also looked at Mia's chest and agreed.

Mia's face turned bright red and she glared at the soldiers.

Gallen smiled wryly and stroked his chin.

"Well, that's one of the reasons we don't have female hunters. It would be a hindrance to drawing a bow. Once you get used to it, it won't be a problem but..."

Bows and breasts were not a good match.

While ample breasts were often favored as nurturing good children, they were only a hindrance when it comes to the hunter.

In particular, female apprentice hunters, who learn from their masters from an early age, are often unable to draw a bow as a result of physical growth, just like the division of labor that gradually took place in the village of Kalka.

Although it was possible by shooting a bow in the correct stance, it was not always possible to do so.

Especially on the hunting grounds or battlefield, it is not always possible.

In archery, which requires concentration, breasts were not a benefit.

"However, a breast hit is a matter of stance and skill...show me your stance."

"Eh...y-yes"

Kahlua felt like she never wanted to touch a bow again, but it was Gallen, the general's adjutant, who told her directly.

She held the bow and arrow in her hand and lightly pulled the string.

"Don't try to pull it with your arms. Open your shoulders and be conscious of using your back. It's a bow that even this old man can pull."

"Yes...l-like this?"

"Well, you have always had good posture, so just be natural. If you try to pull with your arms because you have the strength, it will collapse and your stance will shake, and as a result the string will move unexpectedly."

Gallen manually fine-tuned Kalua's arms and shoulders, and although the soldiers who were looking at him enviously, Kalua couldn't afford to worry about that in front of Gallen's serious face.

Only Mia was giving the soldiers a look of disdain.

"Turn your body as it is. That's the basic posture of the upper body――without moving it."

"...yes."

Kalua let go of the string and it was as if the target, which was made of a simple piece of wood, sucked the arrow――not, but it was thrust near the center of the target.

Kalua, who was a little nervous, let out a voice of admiration, as if surprised herself.

Gallen smiled happily and patted her on the head.

"That's good. Don't forget the feeling."

"Y-yes, thank you very much..."

Kalua looked up at Gallen, a little embarrassed wondering how long it's been since she's been hit on the head like this.

With roughly stretched gray hair――Even though he was old, his face was masculine, and he had a calm charm.

She nodded her head, evaluating that he must have been very popular in his younger days.

"Ehehe, this is what Krische wanted my Ojii-sama to see. Krische had Gaines' archer battalion come to see but, Krische was wondering if Ojii-sama could give out some good advice... Krische could teach them, but Krische is not very good at teaching other people so..."

If you keep your body straight like this, if you release it with your body like this, it will fly straight――Krische's explanation was very intuitive.

Naturally, it was unpopular with the soldiers.

"I see. If it is a bow, then surely there is something I can teach you. I'll think about it."

There was no way he could refuse a request from his adorable grandchild.

Gallen responded with a friendly old man's face.

Krische happily took Gallen's arm, and Kalua, who was watching such a situation, suddenly looked up at the sky.

The sun was already slightly tilted.

Normally, Krische would have been happily returning to the estate.

"Even so, it sure is rare for Usa-chan to show up at this time of the day."

"Because Bery has been with Kreschenta all this time, dinner is a little late."

"Ah, the conference huh..."

"Yes, it seems that everyone will finally return tomorrow."

The conference itself is over, but not all the people who came here have returned to their countries.

By setting up a place for private discussions and having dinner, naturally Kreschenta needs to show up here and there as a companion.

As expected, Kreschenta asked her not to put Anne in such a situation, so Bery was always present as her attendant.

Elvena can't help because she's busy with Krische's errands.

The lack of servants was a problem in such a situation, even if it was not a problem in everyday life.

"I see, it seems like I've heard some good news."

A youthful voice.

The two men who emerged from the bushes were an old, one-armed soldier and a beautiful young man.

Aleha Sarchenka approached Krische, sword in hand, and smiled.

Krische did the exact opposite, taking a step back from him and looking away from him.

"I heard Krische-sama was coming, and I was wondering if Krische'd be willing to join me for a spar but...I'm glad it seems Krische-sama has some time today."

"...Uuuh"

Since then, Aleha has been earnestly wishing for a match at every opportunity.

To Krische it was bothersome and she had escaped using one reason or another, but today she had said it

Krische told him while her eyes were swimming.

"Ku-Krische, seems like I have something to do today... Ah, B-Bery might be back soon and Krische'll need to prepare the food..."

"I see. But it's a rare opportunity for me as well... it's okay, it won't take much time. Please, can I ask you to join me for a spar?"

Krische made excuses, but the enemy was no different.

Aleha, who already understood Krische's character, boldly pushed.

She was a person who found things to be troublesome, but he knew that she was basically incapable of refusing requests from others.

"In order to improve the skills of these unskilled subordinates――I would like to receive guidance from Krische-sama."

"...G-guidance."

It was the killing sentence.

He was saying that a subordinate under her direct control wanted to ask for guidance from her.

Krische, a self-proclaimed serious and hardworking person, could not easily refuse the request.

"Th-that... uh, just one time, okay? Twice or three times is no good, okay?"

"Yes. I promise you, at the very least, until the sun goes down."

"... Huh? Um, just one time..."

"Now, come on. Please prepare yourself."

He made no promises, but she couldn't ask any more questions with his sword at the ready.

Krische turns to him, still feeling unconvinced.

――It was a time like that when they were having such a silly exchange.

"――Krische-sama!"

Running toward them was a man with one arm and a prosthetic hand――Nagar of the crafts team.

Krische frowned and put her hands on her hips.

"...... Nagar, Krische told you not to wear the prosthetic arm outside yet, right?

"I'm sorry, it's urgent."

"...urgent?"

"Please go back immediately. Bery-sama――"

"Haa, the boring discussion is finally over."

"Fufu, thank you for your hard work."

Bery smiled at Kreschenta who pricked her lips as she walked through the corridors of the royal castle.

In fact, Kreschenta was so busy with personal meetings with dignitaries from various countries that she had no time to catch her breath, so it seemed inevitable that she was fed up with it.

In his spare time, he read and signed various documents――one of the reasons why she was so busy was that she wanted to spend the night with Krische, but the schedule until the sun went down was so busy that it would not be strange for her to collapse.

The reason why she can do it was probably because she had a genius brain that could easily find solutions to any difficult problem.

Her diligence in government affairs, coupled with her insistence on perfection, made her look like a great ruler, and Bery was more than happy to see that.

If the people are impoverished, it would affect the country's finances and development.

Therefore, she wanted to provide a better life and livelihood for her people.

Her logic was always based on numbers, not good intentions or conscience.

However, she hates luxuries as waste, and in some cases, selling royal treasures for the people and giving alms to them is something that should be called her a wise ruler, and at least Bery was proud of that figure.

A little peace, a little happiness.

What this girl wished for was the same thing that Bery loves from the bottom of her heart――something purer than anyone else in this world.

Berry's face breaks into a smile, knowing that if it's like this it would be all right.

The whole discussion is over. Tomorrow, all the messengers from other countries will now return to their countries.

The little queen has done her job, and Bery's job is to give this girl some peace.

"I'll go ahead and prepare tea in the room."

"I'd like to have some cookies, too."

"Yes, of course."

Kreschenta had some business to attend to, but it did not require Bery.

In such cases, Bery always prepared the room ahead of time.

She prepares milk, boils water, lights the fireplace in the room, and examines today's tea leaves.

More than anything else Bery loved the time and effort of doing this for someone else.

With a joyful smile on her face, she grabbed some milk from the kitchen of the royal castle and headed for the office,

"Intruder. After him!"

――However, when she approached Kreschenta's office, that voice resounded.

The guards that should always be there in front of the office weren't there, and Bery frowned at the odd situation.

The voice that echoed was a long way ahead——at least not in this area, but listening to the footsteps, they were probably chasing someone.

There was a flurry of noise coming from the end of the corridor.

Perhaps the guards had also followed the intruder——in any case, it was not a good situation.

She tried to hide herself in the office for the time being, but

"Ah..."

There was a visitor.

She was a female servant who she remembered seeing several times in the royal castle.

"Did she escape on the spur of the moment, just as I did——even so it's strange."

The inner lock was not locked, and she was somehow by the tea set.

The moment she saw Berry, she looked frightened and separated from the tea set.

"I-I'm sorry... when I saw a strange man running, I rushed to Her Majesty's room..."

Was it something she thought of on the spur of the moment——it was unnatural.

There was always a guard standing in front of the office.

If a suspicious person came running in front of the office, they would surely be there.

Usually, you won't bother to hide yourself in the office, but behind them.

She saw the guards disappear from in front of the office and went inside.

It made more sense to think so.

A slight disturbance in the placed tea utensils――Bery didn't overlook it.

She took out the magic crystal given to her by Krische from her chest and brought it closer.

A tingling sensation of numbness was conveyed from the faintly emitting magic crystal.

"Yes. Krische gathered the poison that exists around here and made Poison Piririn that reacts to poison. It's easy to use. Just bring it closer and let the magic flow, then it will sound piripiri."

Bery sighed and told the bewildered woman.

"...If you are willing to turn yourself in now, I will petition Her Majesty the Queen to spare the lives of you and your relatives. From your appearance, I don't think this is something you did willingly."

"!"

The woman paled at those words and shuddered.

To attempt the life of royalty, the death penalty of dismemberment is handed down.

Even relatives are implicated and hanged——the most severe punishment imaginable.

A servant who has worked in the royal castle for many years——there's no way she's a person working behind the scenes.

And it's not like she didn't understand the weight of their sins.

She probably did this because someone threatened her.

"Therefore, please turn yourself in."

"I-I'm not."

"...I swear to this name what I just said. Her Majesty the Queen is a kind person, so I'm sure she will understand."

Surely this woman would be dismembered if she did not plead for her life.

Kreschenta's innocence makes her the most ruthless girl ——yet she believed that if she asked sincerely, she would be granted her wish.

The woman trembles with fear, her tears covering her face.

Berry approached her slowly so as not to frighten her.

"It's all right, please calm down. The one who should be punished is the one who made you do it--now sit over there."

She knew there is malice in the world.

However, Bery did not doubt that everything was so, rather she was a person who believed in human's goodness.

That's precisely why it could be said that what it invited was a tragedy.

She believed that the other party would believe her words.

"Ah..."

She didn't.

She realized that after the blade pierced her abdomen.

"T-there's no way I'll be forgiven!"

Clutching the blood-soaked knife, with her face stiffened with fear, the woman screamed and turned her body.

"T-there's no way that Cursed Child will let me liv――"

Bery reacted to the words she heard and grabbed her arm as her face contorted in her pain.

"――Hi!?"

And slam the woman's body into her floor, knocking her unconscious, but until there.

She fell down on top of the unconscious woman and squats down holding her stomach regretting her carelessness.

"...Krische...sama."

The only thing that came to her in her hazy mind was the face of her beloved girl.