A Maiden’s Unwanted Heroic Epic

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“Haha, that's why I told you to keep playing with women in moderation.
It's karma.”

“…Bastard.
Saying whatever you like.”

“I don't mind if you punish me if I'm disrespectful.
Look, here's the neck.”

Takirus sighed as Alba make a chopping motion on his neck with his hand.

“I must be the most unfortunate battalion commander in the world.
To die with a centurion like you.”

“If I had to say, that's my line.
I wish I would die in battle with a better battalion commander overflowing with honors.”

“I heard that your dream is to die in your bed.”

“Now, did I say something like that?”

With a wry smile, Takirus glanced at the scenery below him.
Countless archers on fences that's built over and over again.
There were more than enough arrows.
There were originally 10,000 arrows in this area.
It would be no problem to continue shooting for several weeks.

Many of the enemy soldiers could be seen making noise and resting in camps a short distance away.
They took turns attacking day and night.
They rested as if on purpose to show it, even though daytime in the middle of a battle.

The soldiers approaching them also did not seem very enthusiastic.
They were only advancing steadily, moving forward with their arrow shields in front of them.
The height of the screen gradually increased—-

“…
Alba, it's strange.”

“Strange?”

“That screen doesn't look like it's meant for our attack.
Hasn't it gotten a lot taller?”

A screen that unfolded at the bottom of the mountain.
Especially the lower part is quite tall for an arrow shield.
If anything, it looks like a blindfold——it seemed like it took a lot of effort for just a screen.

The trees cut down on Bernaichwere carried to the lower screen and processed there.
He assumed it was used as a new material for the screen, but it was strange.
You don't have to put into that kind of trouble, you can just carry the finished screen.

What's the point of going out of your way to process the screen over there?

And there was still something strange.
There will always be surplus materials that cannot be used if it was processed there.
However, there was no sign of them being transported anywhere, which would have been an obstacle to the work.

Are they being transported somewhere during the night?
If so, why?

Takirus wrinkled his brow and pondered.

“It's true, it's a little strange…
but it doesn't seem like a bad idea to use that place as a workshop.
In short, it's the same as the mole hole in siege warfare, and it's more efficient to put the workshop in front.
If you know that we have no intention of counterattacking, it is not that strange of an idea.”

“…we should have installed a catapult.”

“We used too much power constructing the fort.”

North side——he heard that the Christand army was using four catapults.
They probably deem it effective on Mirskronia, which had become a bald mountain.
It's range was up to halfway up the mountain, and the situation was said to be worse than here.

It takes time to prepare in advance at the workshop, disassemble it, transport it, and assemble it on site, then adjust it.
Because the catapult requires a large number of skilled workers, it was put on the back burner.

“…and it can't be helped in that situation.
Everyone was frightened.”

The disturbances in Bernaich by Krische Christand.
The effect had lingered.
As a result, the rebuilding of the fortress in Bernaich was temporarily suspended, and it was just last week that it was decided to focus on the fortress of Mirskronia.
The fact that the workers hated working at Bernaich was also a big factor.
After a week of persistent disturbance, everyone was afraid to go up the mountain.

The work was hurried but difficult, and the fort was only recently finished in its present form.
If they were to build a fort in Mirskronia, the wood would have to be cut from Bernaich, not from Mirskronia, which had been burned down.
Soldiers and workmen alike feared the head-hunters of Bernaich——Krische and her Black Century.
The sight of the brave men, who had gone mad or turned into mute corpses, had instilled more fear in them than the number of dead.
They did not have enough time or mental space.

With this much better visibility, the catapult can fully demonstrate its power.
A wide field of fire and range, could have forced the enemy to bleed a lot.
But it's hard to expect that under those circumstances.
It was too late.

“Cursed Child, huh…what a monster.”

“I'm just thankful that, that thing was headed toward General Hilkintos and not this way.
I almost died myself.”

Alba also went up to Bernaich once.
On the last day of the raid, the ascent was made with four Century in a tight formation.
It was the century opposite Alba's group that was targeted.

It was a coincidence that he survived.
If it was the other side, he would have died.
Before they even had time to counterattack, the enemy had cleanly withdrawn, and what was left behind were frightened people who could hardly be called soldiers.

“Arond, Rausel…
what a shame.”

“…
yeah, truly”

“I have no choice but to pray that General Hilkintos will take revenge.”

This time, the attacks continue day and night, and the state of fatigue continued.
If that symbol of terror, Krische Christand, was here——that's something he didn't even want to think about.

“That said…it's still work.
I'll report up to the corps commander in the meantime.
Messenger!”

“Yes sir!”

The messenger, who had been standing by a short distance away, immediately ran up and saluted.

“To the corps commander.
And ask for confirmation.
The enemy at the foot of the mountain——“

—-At that point, a heavy metal sound resounded.
It was the sounds of gongs being struck that even shook Takiru's steel armor.
An assault, at this timing.
Takirus immediately Looked at the bottom of the mountain——at the plain.

However, what was there was not the figure of an enemy soldier roaring and charging.
It was something unexpected.
And the appearance of what he had feared.

Her silver hair, tied in two, swayed in the wind.
Wearing a black cloak.
And behind her were men in black armor.
In the girl's hand was a stained and torn flag——Hilkintos' crest, showing a two-headed lion.
The black-clad soldiers were accompanied by a one-armed man bound with rope and gagged.
The girl stepped forward boldly with them.
While at a blood-drenched battlefield, she walked through like it was a town street.

And on the flags lined up behind them was an unfamiliar drawing.
On the black-painted banner was a crescent moon sharp as a sickle and a skull.
As if symbolizing a neck cut by a blade——it was their unit banner.

Even those who were raining arrows stopped moving for a moment.

“Hello.
And long time no see to some of you.
I'm Krische Christand.”

A voice that has been augmented by magic resounded everywhere.
The girl said in a young voice——but emotionless.
Then she threw down the Hilkintos flag in her hand.

“Here is the former general of the Kingdom, Margrave Aurugorn Hilkintos…
and the treasonous sinner who pointed his sword at the First Princess, Kreschenta Fana Vera Alberan.”

In front of Krische, Hilkintos' body was held by his sides.
He is then made to kneel over his crest.

“As many of you know, the law of the kingdom states that any person who points his sword at royalty is guilty of high treason and must be put to death without any excuse.
The crime of pointing the blade at the rightful heir to the throne, Her Royal Highness Princess Kreschenta, will never be forgiven.
…Therefore, Krische took this opportunity to state that I, Krische, will carry out the execution in the name of Her Royal Highness Princess Kreschenta.”

Why, how.
General Hilkintos have been defeated?
Such puzzlement filled the minds of the Mirskronia soldiers.

“The usual way of punishing the high treason is to tear a man's body apart, but since this will be an informal execution, Krische will personally tear him limb from limb.
A crime must be properly punished.
Krische swears by this name that Krische will not forgive a traitor who has committed high treason against the royal family while being given the title of margrave and the position of general.
Please rest assured.”

Some of those with magical powers noticed that Krische was smiling.
A mad Cursed Child——and the tragedy at Bernaich.
Those who knew it instantly shuddered.

“Umm, as for why is Krische ripping off the limbs according to formal etiquette when it's informal? As you can see, this is an example.”

Krische raised her finger and said.

“As for Krische, Krische doesn't want all of you to shed unnecessary blood as fellow citizens of the Kingdom.
You probably don't know that your actions are high treason, and you are tempted by the evil General Gertz Wiring to fight here.”

'So Krische wanted to make it known', she continued.

“I want you to know what the sin of high treason is, and as for Krische, Krische wants you to realize your mistakes here and surrender.
Of course, Krische promises we won't treat you badly.
However, if you continue to resist, that means you have acted out of your own will.
There are no more excuses, and Krische will not hold back.”

——Krische will do her utmost to make the sinner pay for their crime.
Perhaps it was a signal, as the girl said that, she was handed a large curved sword by one of the women.
She then cut the rope that bound the kneeling man's body

The man——Aurugorn Hilkintos tried to escape at that moment, then one of his legs was cut off by Krische who easily chased her from behind.
A spine-chilling scream could be heard through the gag.

Krische grabbed the man by the neck as she moved, dragged him, and threw him onto his banner.
Aurugorn screamed in pain, but Krische didn't show any mercy.
She stomped him on the back.

“You cursed child! How dare you speak out against a general who surrendered peacefully with such a one-sided plea, do you know not about the Holy Spirit Covenant!”

Takirus raised his voice.
An angry voice extended with magical power——followed by several other voices.
Krische nodded repeatedly as she listened to the voices.

“Isn't it too outrageous? Some people may think so.
It's much to cruel treatment for a general who had surrendered.
Isn't it a violation of the Holy Spirit Covenant? However, the figure that this man showed earlier, did you see it?”

Krische stepped on Aurugorn and place the sword on his shoulder.

“This man is a disgrace to noble.”

Blood was dripping from the blade.

“The other day, this man pretended to surrender and tricked us, he had planned to escape from the beginning just like a moment ago.
As a result, the lives of soldiers who should have survived unharmed were meaninglessly taken away.
…The offensive behavior disguised as surrender is a clear violation of the Holy Spirit Covenant.
That was done by a Kingdom's noble, a general of the army.”

“Fuguu!!? Ugh…
Ah!!”

Then he swung down the sword and cut off his arm.
The screams muffled by the gag were as ugly as they could be.
This was not the appearance of a general who had commanded tens of thousands.

“The reason Krische is showing this is also to prevent the same tragedy from happening again.
As you said, there are rules in war.
Even in the midst of slaughter, there are rules to be upheld.
There is a discipline to protect the honor and the cause of those who fight——there are rules to protect such aesthetics.”

She twirled the great curved sword, which was clearly too heavy even when looked at from a distance.

'Krische will always respond to those who adhere to it in accordance with the favorable interpretation.
If ……
you do not, then——“

——She swung down and severed a leg.
There was a scream.
Some of the soldiers were shaking from fright, and others were crouching down, covering their ears.

“…Like this Krische does not have any mercy for you.
Violation of the Covenant is a grave sin, close to high treason, but in reality, it is a vague rule that leaves a great deal of room for interpretation.
Remember, it is left largely to the conscience of the one who complies.
If Krische wanted to, Krische could kill every soldier in this room with legitimate reason without violating the Holy Spirit Covenant.”

The battlefield came to a halt while Aurugorn had both his limbs chopped off.
What had been a glorious kingdom general convulsed on the ground, looking like a caterpillar.
——Krische stepped through his neck as if to show it off, and after completely ending his life, she turned to the mountain again and announced.

“Krische is not good at talking, but if many people can understand by actually showing it like this, that's the best thing for Krische.
I hope that you will understand what Krische just said and make the right decision.”

She returned the sword in her hand to the woman and continued.

“Also, Krische will bother you tonight.
…The battle will probably be over by tomorrow morning.
To avoid needless bloodshed, please make your decision early.”

After saying that, she lowered her head deeply, and the silver girl returned to the camp.
She was cutting off people's arms and legs, but she was still calm.

All that was left was the cold air, awakening from the heat and madness of the battlefield.
And a general who was brutally killed.
The will to fight was completely consumed by fear of the girl.
Takirus, who looked on in a daze, sensed the inevitable defeat that day ——he slammed his fist into the wall of the watchtower.