Chapter 66

As the cherry blossoms danced in the wind, Sven cleared his throat, timing it just right as the soldiers finished their preparations for battle. He then began to speak loudly, smoothing his hair, which had been tousled by Raidor, with his hand.

"There are currently two forces in this town that are hostile to us."

"Von Ulfart and the arsonists, right?"

"Yes, exactly. Of these two forces, the one that poses a threat to us is the arsonists."

While the private soldiers of Von Ulfart were not weak, being border guards, the royal army has Raidor, the wielder of the holy sword.

Raidor's combat abilities are truly heroic. To put it bluntly, it's not impossible for Raidor alone to conquer this town.

"However, if we engage in battle with the viscount's soldiers, the arsonists will set the town on fire. If that happens, even if we manage to subdue the town, it will be no different from a defeat. We will be accused of cruelty, and people will begin to fear Prince Raidor."

The reason the people of the Kingdom of Zain accept the powerful wielder of the holy sword favorably is that they believe Raidor is on their side. No matter how vicious the power, they trust that it will not be directed at them, which is why they praise Raidor as a hero.

If Ulfing is burned to the ground and the blame is pinned on Raidor, people might fear that the power of the holy sword could one day be turned against them, and they might try to eliminate Raidor.

"To prevent that, we need to subdue the House of Ulfart without causing chaos in the town and without anyone, including the arsonists, realizing that a battle has taken place."

"I understand the logic, but... is that even possible?"

The one who voiced this doubt was Daren. Sera, his adjutant, also nodded repeatedly, glancing at her superior's handsome profile.

"It's not impossible... I've been laying the groundwork for this day for a long time."

Sven's face, despite his young age, showed a determined resolve, and there was a clear confidence in his expression. It was intriguing to wonder what had given this young boy such determination, but for now, Raidor decided to set that aside.

"Hmm... Sven's situation is intriguing, but things have been going well following his advice so far. Let's trust him for now."

"Is that so... If Your Highness says so, I have nothing to add. So, how exactly do you plan to subdue the House of Ulfart?"

"Yes... First, we need to plan the assault on the House of Ulfart. I know it's presumptuous of a newcomer, but I would like to take command."

"...Command over the prince and Captain Daren? That's quite disrespectful!"

Sera protested, looking indignant. While it was acceptable for the royal prince Raidor, she was upset that Sven, a mere descendant of a fallen noble, was treating her respected superior with such disregard. Sven glanced at the female knight and nodded in agreement.

"You are right, Lady Sera. I understand that it's too much for someone like me, who has no experience in battle, to command the prince's soldiers. However, both the prince and the commander are too well-known, and the viscount and his soldiers might recognize them."

Upon hearing Sven's explanation, Daren narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.

"...In other words, you plan to infiltrate by pretending to be allies rather than attacking?"

"Exactly. Because my aunt is married to the viscount, I can move around the House of Ulfart with some freedom. It won't be easy to bring soldiers with me, but I'll manage to talk my way through it."

"I see... That way, we can indeed minimize combat."

Daren nodded in agreement, but in contrast, Raidor pouted, looking dissatisfied.

"Then what about me and Daren? It would be a real letdown to come all this way and just sit on the sidelines."

"Of course not! There's a job only you can do, Your Highness!"

Sven waved his hands emphatically. Then, with a mischievous grin, he paused for effect before continuing.

"Your Highness and Commander Daren will be tasked with assaulting a different location. Specifically, the arsonists' hideout."