Merchant Noble is out (1/4 chapters for today)
Casablanca Invasion (2)
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The plain continues, and beyond it, the mountain range faintly comes into view.
“Casablanca-sama. The great mountain range of Mikanda has come into view.” (Fran)
“At last.” (Casablanca)
Casablanca, bringing First Unit Fran and Third Unit Lily, was marching on the path to Mikanda, leading five thousand soldiers.
The other day, from Second Unit Jeanne and Sixth Unit Sanya, who were fighting Tyr in Kali, they had just received the report of the success of the operation and the destruction of Tyr’s army. If they also defeated Arc and the others in Mikanda like this, in name and reality, she would become the absolute ruler of Laplace. Currently, Casablanca was filled with motivation and was riding high.
“It’s nostalgic. I wonder if it’s been about five years since I came here.” (Casablanca)
Casablanca narrowed her eyes while gazing at the surrounding scenery.
The mountain range visible in the distance, the grassland where grass grows abundantly, the ruined hut visible beyond. Since the area around Mikanda had not been caught up in war, peaceful time flowed here exactly as it had five years ago. If one were to lie down in the grassland and take a nap while basking in the sun, it would surely feel pleasant.
“It was around the time when Casablanca-sama escaped from Leo’s hands, so it would be about that long ago.” (Lily)
At that time, to escape the continued tyranny of Leo’s hands, Casablanca’s group fled the royal capital without any plan. The ones who extended a hand to them when they were about to be stranded were the Warden Household. They sheltered Casablanca in Mikanda, fully prepared for Leo’s attack, standing by her when she raised her army, and offering strong support. However, the Warden Household did not act out of goodwill but sought to take in the royal family for their own gain.
“With Arc joining, this kingdom has changed greatly.” (Casablanca)
“Now, Casablanca-sama has become the queen.” (Lily)
“That’s right. And as long as Arc exists, the kingdom will continue to change.” (Casablanca)
The economic power, military power, and human connections they possessed far surpassed those of Casablanca, who was of royal blood, and were at a level that could not be overlooked.
“But I do not wish for any further change. Because I have now stood at the pinnacle of this kingdom.” (Casablanca)
Casablanca, who relied on the Warden Household to reform the kingdom, which was dominated by the nobility, had now obtained the highest-class power and status in the kingdom and had completely become a conservative figure.
“Even so, it’s quiet.” (Casablanca)
The mountain range that had been faintly visible earlier at the boundary with Mikanda was now right before their eyes. However, the surroundings were eerily silent, showing no signs of people.
“They would never dream that Casablanca-sama would attack them. All personnel, dismount. Prepare for mountain climbing.” (Lily)
Lily, with a composed expression, agreed and gave the order to the soldiers.
Since they could not climb the mountain on horseback, they intended to leave them at the mountain’s base.
“Arc. Your fate ends here.” (Casablanca)
Casablanca, without dismounting from her horse, looked up at the mountain triumphantly.
“Alright, all troops…,” (Casablanca)
“Wait.” (Fran)
Just as Lily was about to give the attack order to the soldiers, Fran stopped her.
“Fran? What’s wrong?” (Lily)
Lily, with a puzzled face, questioned Fran, but Fran felt an ominous premonition.
“Something is strange. It is too quiet. Not even the sound of birds can be heard.” (Fran)
Since earlier, neither beasts nor even birds had shown themselves. Contrary to the peaceful scenery, an abnormal silence, completely devoid of life, hung in the air.
“Could it be…?” (Lily)
*Don Don Don Don Don Don*
At the same time as Lily murmured, from somewhere, many drum sounds echoed.
“Eh?” (Soldiers)
The soldiers were bewildered. Right before their eyes, on the very mountain they were about to climb, a massive number of flags unfurled.
“Ah… that is…!” (Soldiers)
A vast number of flags fluttered, covering not only the ground of the mountain but even the trees entirely. All of those flags bore what seemed to be the crest of the Warden Household.
“Enemy! Enemy!” (Soldiers)
“They were lying in wait!” (Soldiers)
Casablanca’s soldiers instantly fell into panic.
Some tumbled from their horses, some were kicked by rampaging horses, and others turned their backs and fled. In no time, they began to fall into disarray. Even Casablanca was no exception to the chaos.
“Ah.” (Casablanca)
Surprised by the sudden appearance of the Warden army, Casablanca pulled the reins of her horse too strongly.
Hihiin!!
The horse, yanked forcefully, neighed in distress and reared almost vertically. It was such a sudden moment that Casablanca had no chance to cling to the horse’s body and was thrown onto the ground.
“Casablanca-sama!” (Fran)
“Her Majesty the Queen!!” (Lily)
Fran, Lily, and the soldiers, their faces turning pale, rushed to the fallen Casablanca.
“Casablanca-sama!” (Fran)
Casablanca, held in Fran’s arms, had a pained expression on her face, but her consciousness was clear.
“Oww… I hit my body hard. It doesn’t seem like any bones are broken, though…” (Casablanca)
Fortunately, the area was a grassland where lush green grass grew thickly. If this had been a rocky area, her life would have been in danger. They were ambushed by the enemy. Top of FormThis fact, for even those who have a little experience as soldiers, would be understood as an extremely hopeless situation. Lily’s judgment was fast.
“Casablanca-sama, our advance has been detected by the enemy. With this, the success of the operation is hopeless. Please give the order to retreat.” (Lily)
“Wait.” (Casablanca)
The one who halted Lily, who was recommending retreat, was once again Fran. Fran, while holding up Casablanca, appealed at close range.
“According to the spy who is infiltrating Mikanda, the current number of soldiers the Warden Household possesses is only a few hundred. Those countless flags are just a bluff.” (Fran)
According to the information Fran had obtained, most of Warden’s soldiers were accompanying Tyr. It was hard to think that soldiers in the number matching the flags spread out before them were still in Mikanda.
“Fran. The ambush troops are lying in wait like this! To attack from here is too dangerous.” (Lily)
“Lily. I’ll ask the opposite, but if they were truly ambush troops, don’t you think they would attack us not here, but after we entered Mikanda?” (Fran)
“…” (Lily)
What if they were truly ambush troops? This kind of concern from Lily, Fran crushed in an instant. And then, she once again turned to Casablanca.
“Casablanca-sama, please wait here. If you lend me 3000 soldiers, I will charge in.” (Fran)
“…” (Casablanca)
Casablanca, still being held by Fran, says nothing. Her eyes were nailed to the emblem of the Warden Household spreading out before her.
“Casablanca-sama! The information that the enemy is only a few hundred…” (Fran)
“Then what are these hundreds of flags spreading out before our eyes!?” (Casablanca)
Casablanca hysterically shouts at Fran, who kept persuading her. Then, her face turning pale, she mutters as if in delirium.
“That Arc. For him, manipulating the information we obtain is surely something trivial. We were fed false information. Now that we have come like this, they surely intend to turn the tables on us and wipe us out completely.” (Casablanca)
Not long ago, it had just been discovered that the Seventh Unit Soldier Hannah was a spy from the Warden Household. The suspicion and doubt toward Arc within Casablanca knew no bounds, expanding continuously and reaching the realm of fear. Within her, Arc had become an overwhelmingly larger existence.
Fran also understood her heart as if she could grasp it in her hand. Desperately continuing her persuasion, she tried to somehow make her decide, despite her excessive fear of Arc binding her in place.
“Casablanca-sama. Please, believe in me. The Warden army spreading across the mountain below is an illusion. There is no risk of putting Casablanca-sama in danger. I will charge with 3000 soldiers. If my thinking is wrong, I alone will die. Please, grant me permission!” (Fran)
“Fran…” (Casablanca)
Hearing Fran’s desperate resolve, Casablanca’s heart also began to calm.
Perhaps, as Fran said, the massive army before her eyes was an illusion. Most of the military officers should be in Kali with Tyr. Then, if she were to trust Fran just this once…
*Waaaahhhhh*
Suddenly, the mountain began to roar. The flags shook violently, and the earth trembled.
“What is that!?” (Soldiers)
The soldiers, who had begun to calm, once again fell into panic.
“If you won’t attack, then we’ll come at you!”
The war cries from the mountain seemed to be saying exactly that.
Casablanca’s heart collapsed.
“Retreat! Retreat——!” (Casablanca)
Overcome with fear, Casablanca screams with an unsteady voice.
“If we don’t act now, it will be too late. Retreat! Anyone who defies the retreat order will be cut down!” (Casablanca)
Breaking free from Fran’s arms, Casablanca hastily mounted her horse and desperately whipped its body. Seeing their queen in such a state, the soldiers, infected by fear, also flee in a mad rush.
The queen’s army, without even fighting, was in total collapse. Everyone ran away at full speed.
“Right now, Mikanda’s military officers are completely absent. The Laplace Kingdom has lost a once-in-a-lifetime chance to eliminate the entire Warden Household. I just hope that there won’t come a day when Her Majesty regrets today’s retreat…” (Fran)
Fran, unable to bear her frustration, threw her sword into the ground. Then, glaring at the mountain with resentment, she reluctantly mounted her horse and chases after the fleeing soldiers.
“Fran. Mikanda is vast land. Even if the enemy numbers are few, with only an army of several thousand, there is nothing we can do. Since our surprise attack was anticipated, this invasion was a failure from the start. It can’t be helped. This time, we were just unlucky.” (Lily)
Matching strides with the weeping Fran as they retreated, Lily continued to comfort her.
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