7DP 186.2
186. The Pride of the Kingdom
TL: Cnine
ED/PF:
R1: [1–2], R2: [3–4]
Part 3
Ossimayer Jr spoke with renewed force, as if to say, “This is no time for tears.”
Yet, when he looked up at the king—his father—the older man’s strong gaze made him straighten his back instinctively.
「…Deploy the Royal Guard. The brave warriors of Niburn Fortress, who fought to defend the capital, must be safely evacuated.」
「Yes! Leave it to m――」
「No need. Let the captain of the Royal Guard take command.」
The king declared it in a tone of absolute resolve.
「――As of this moment, I relinquish the throne.」
He declared it to his retainers.
「I name my son, Ossimayer XIV, as my successor. Given the kingdom’s peril, the formal succession ceremony will be omitted in accordance with royal protocol.」
Following that, the king—rather, the former king—looked intently at the forest elf and the dwarf.
「I would like both of you to act as witnesses, as allies of our kingdom.」
「... Yes.」
「Very well, your words have been duly noted.」
The two long-lived races rose from their seats and bowed respectfully.
「Ossimayer XIV」
「... Yes.」
Ossimayer Jr, still half-dazed, straightened into a rigid stance of attention.
The former king, gazing at his son, narrowed his eyes with a faint smile touched by both affection and sorrow.
「――Reorganise our forces. Once the Royal Guard returns from Niburn Fortress, they shall form the core of the army tasked with breaking out of the capital.」
「That's...」
“Abandon Evaloti.” Thus had the former king declared.
「The fall of the capital is now inevitable. However, we will not surrender meekly—Employ every possible means and deliver crushing blows to the Demon King’s army until the very end.」
But... he paused for a beat.
「... We must not involve youths who still have their futures ahead of them. The heirs of every noble house remaining in the royal capital are to be forcibly evacuated. Additionally, regardless of nationality, all children under twelve are to be evacuated—one parent may accompany each of them. Soldiers and militiamen with children shall be given priority in the evacuation contingent and allowed to rest until tomorrow morning.」
「In short, escape is...」
「At dawn tomorrow, once the demon warriors have withdrawn, the operation will begin. Supplies are to be stockpiled at the training grounds, the eastern gate shall be left open, and the encirclement broken in a single push along the main boulevard to escape eastward. The forces defending the royal capital will support this with all their strength.」
As Ossimayer XIII spoke the words “Royal Capital Defence Army,” the exhaustion that had weighed on him only moments before seemed a lie. He now radiated a fierce vitality, as though a dead man had returned from the underworld.
「Ossimayer XIV. As the fourteenth king of the illustrious Defteros Kingdom, it is your duty to guide your people.」
「... Yes.」
「Evaloti may fall, but the Defteros Kingdom will live on. You will be the one to revive it. No matter how bitter the trial, hold fast and live through it. Then, let the royal banner rise once again over this land—over Evaloti.――」
As Ossimayer XIII spoke with burning fervour, he was seized by a fit of coughing and sank, drained of strength, into the backrest.
「This is... my last wish.」
「... Yes! I'll do it, or die trying!」
「I told you to live, didn’t I?」
The former king retorted his son’s overly formal salute, and the retainers chuckled, the atmosphere easing just a little.
「…My apologies, but I would have you remain here with this decrepit old fool.」
The former king looked around at the dignitaries seated in the conference room.
The retainers smiled wryly, even jesting: “We meant to stay from the start,” and, “I couldn’t run even if I tried—my back is already killing me.”
――They were not mere ordinary folk. As nobles, their magical power surpassed that of commoners; though not the equal of professional soldiers, they still formed a force in their own right.
Especially in the case of a siege—
They were bound to distinguish themselves in a manner worthy of their noble status.
「And to our allies of the Great Sacred Tree Union and the Dwarf Union, I entreat you to lend your support to Ossimayer XIV.」
The former king, his expression shifting, entreated them: to flee the capital alongside the evacuation army and to go on protecting the people.
The forest elf gave a quiet, wordless nod, while the dwarf’s face twisted as though he had bitten into something bitter.
――The dwarves were always treated this way: cherished as blacksmiths at the rear, yet when the enemy pressed in, they were the first to be evacuated. To be valued was, of course, appreciated, but the truth was that many dwarves were not only smiths but warriors as well.
The warrior bands, clad in 『Masterpieces』 handed down through generations, unleash fearsome strength in siege and defensive battles.
Nevertheless――things invariably follow this course. Of what value are axes never used, hammers never swung, armour that remains a mere ornament on its rack? The longer a dwarf lives, the more times he will have endured such scenes—compelled to retreat while comrades and friends are left at the frontlines to fend off their invaders. And each time, he will have known the same gnawing resentment――
However...
「Understood—I obey.」
Providing cover for the retreating army was also a vital duty.
After all, dwarves are slow of foot. It was up to them to cover the rear, the dwarf resolved in his heart.
「Well then, gentlemen. We’ve much to do. We must rescue the forces of Niburn Fortress, set everything in order before daybreak, and make it through the night.」
「A grave matter indeed. I wouldn’t lift a finger without a reward.」
One of the ministers spoke in jest, his words light-hearted.
「I keep a prized vintage in my private chamber.」
Ossimayer XIII smiled as he gave his reply, his fingers interlaced upon his lap.
「――Let us drink together in a toast tomorrow morning, all of us.」
†††
Soon after, a force led by the heavily armoured Royal Guard sallied forth from the castle and clashed with the Demon King’s army besieging Niburn Fortress.
Clad in enchanted armour, the Royal Guard swept aside beastfolk, ogres, and even the devil soldiers, securing the retreat route. Though the counterattack cost them dearly, they brought back the fortress’s champions, not leaving even a single wounded soldier behind.
At the same time, the radiant giant tree of Niburn Fortress was gone—erased without a trace.
In the late afternoon, when the sun had just begun to descend toward the western sky, a giant tree of light soared above the royal castle, unleashing a formidable protective field.
A beautiful veil of light, shimmering like an aurora, wavered across the crimson-tinged sky—
Yet, as though to press it down, the curtain of night descended.
Someone once remarked, “No night will last forever.”
But perhaps it should have been phrased like this:
――The night will come without fail.