Chapter 31

"Ah, I apologize, Your Highness. It seems that Colonel Safaris is not very good with Your Highness, and there's nothing I can do about it..."

"Huh!?"

Safaris couldn't help but shout in response to Bazen's sudden shifting of responsibility. Seria nodded, saying "I see," and pouted.

"Come on! Get used to it, Colonel Safaris! I've heard that you don't like women, but we're comrades who will fight together. You can't go on like this in battle!"

"...I am deeply sorry, Your Highness."

Safaris bowed to Seria while glaring resentfully at his superior officer next to him.

"Colonel, you're not getting any younger. You should overcome your dislike of women and find a spouse. Your eyes may be stern, but you're not unattractive. If you put your mind to it, you'll find a good match in no time!"

"......I will take care of it. I am grateful for your concern."

Safaris, who had a sour look on his face, bowed his head to hide his expression.

Bazen then patted Safaris on the shoulder and interjected.

"I will have a stern talk with this one, so please forgive him. More importantly, we were discussing the war. I would like to hear Your Highness's opinion as well!"

"Sure, of course! I wanted to talk about the war with Grandpa too!"

"Hehehe, that's great!"

Bazen smiled foolishly at the innocent Seria who approached him.

Safaris, looking at his superior officer out of the corner of his eye, sighed ostentatiously.

(Here we go again...)

Safaris was not good with Seria, the princess and the wielder of the holy sword, Seria von Arsline. The main reason for this was the superior officer standing next to him.

Garakos Bazen, the old general, was a hero renowned throughout the empire.

His strategic prowess, sometimes cautious and sometimes bold, was nothing short of remarkable, and he was called a demon by the enemy and a military god by his allies.

Safaris had long admired Bazen, who was strict yet compassionate, and when he was chosen as Bazen's deputy a few years ago following the retirement of his predecessor, he was so happy that he even shed tears.

(But to see the hero I've long admired behave like this when it comes to the princess... Ah, it's truly lamentable.)

Bazen, who was usually a formidable general, became a pitiful old man when he was with Princess Seria, much like a doting grandfather.

Every time Safaris saw Bazen in this state, he felt a deep sense of pity.

"So, Grandpa, what were you talking about with the colonel?"

"We were discussing how to take down the Brain Fortress."

Seria tilted her head innocently and asked. Bazen, as usual, didn't hesitate to answer.

"The Brain Fortress is even more fortified than the Varmes Fortress on the border, and it is well-supplied with water and provisions. It will take some time to capture it."

"Moreover, it is guarded by General Bazel Gurst. It won't be easy."

"Hmm, he's that impressive, huh? The enemy general?"

Bazen explained, and Safaris added from the side. Seria nodded in amazement.

"Of course. General Gurst has been guarding the border for twenty years. He is a seasoned and fierce general, a guardian deity for the Kingdom of Zain."

"Wow, is he even better than you, Grandpa?"

"Of course not! I'm definitely better!"

Bazen answered indignantly to Seria's innocent question.

"However fierce he may be, he's still a young upstart, twenty years younger than me. His abilities, while commendable, are within the context of a weak country like Zain. He is no match for us!"

"Is that so? I see, just as I expected, Grandpa!"

"Indeed, indeed!"

Bazen puffed out his chest at the princess's praise. Safaris, looking at his superior officer with a wry expression, interjected.

"However, it is a fact that the empire's path to dominance has been hindered by this guardian of a weak country. This battle will not be easy."

"Hmm, then should I go and take his head?"

Seria said nonchalantly.

"I can enter the fortress alone and defeat him, can't I? Then we would win this war, right?"

"Absolutely not! Your Highness must not take such a dangerous action!"

Bazen shouted, his shoulders tensing. His usually gentle face turned stern.

"Your Highness, please don't do anything reckless like you did at the Varmes Fortress! I thought my heart would stop that time!"

In fact, the reason the imperial army was able to capture the Varmes Fortress on the border in a short period of time was largely due to Seria's efforts.

The princess, who was the wielder of the holy sword, had entered the fortress without permission, using her incredible physical abilities to leap over the walls and wreak havoc inside.

Her actions caused chaos among the enemy, and the weakened defenses allowed Bazen's forces to break through. Her heroic performance was fitting for a wielder of the holy sword, but it was a nightmare for Bazen, who doted on her.

"Your Highness, please promise me! No more reckless battles like that, and don't make this old man worry again!"

"Um, well, that..."

Seria, intimidated by Bazen's stern demeanor, fidgeted and avoided a direct answer. From her hesitation, it was clear that she had intended to do something similar for the Brain Fortress.

"Y-Your H-Highness!"

"Ah..."

Seria, with tears in her eyes, faced the furious old general.

Safaris, looking at the two of them with a heavy heart, interjected to help.

"Your Highness, your bravery in the last battle was truly remarkable. However, if only you shine, many officers, including myself, will lose the opportunity to distinguish themselves. Some soldiers are aiming for promotion by achieving glory in this battle. It would be greatly appreciated if you could let us have the glory?"

"Hmm... If that's the case... Okay."

After a long pause, Seria nodded, somewhat reluctantly.

The princess, though brave, did not want to steal the glory from her subordinates. Mentioning the other soldiers always made her understand.

Safaris, who found her difficult to deal with, also understood her integrity and compassion.

"In return, when your strength is needed, we will certainly seek your assistance. Please bear with us until then."

"Okay, I understand. I'll look forward to it!"

"Indeed, indeed. That's the spirit, Your Highness. A ruler must care for their subordinates. That is the mark of a true leader!"

Seria, who agreed sincerely, was gently patted on the head by Bazen, who then nodded at Safaris in gratitude.

"......"

Safaris shrugged and silently acknowledged his superior officer, then turned his gaze away from the two of them and toward the direction of the fortress.

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