A Maiden’s Unwanted Heroic Epic

spool of manure.
At least that's part of the reason I'm here now as a military man.”

Gildanstein looked at Salva suspiciously.

He had thrown away his royal armor, which had been custom-made for him, and was now unreservedly wearing a simple armor of Salva's adjutant

If you call it cowardly, it was cowardly.

If you call it despicable, it was despicable.

The appearance of Gildanstein, who had no pride as a royal family, and was covered in vanity-——but even so, what this man sought was a victory.

There was something about that pureness that appealed to him as a soldier.

“Your Highness, isn’t that so?”

“…Well, I wonder.”

“Well, it doesn't matter either way.
…At least in this place, I've decided to be your shield and sword and live and die together.”

Gildanstein twisted the corners of his mouth in amusement.

“Kuku, I see.
You're a better weapon than I thought….If you don't break after the battle,I will use it for a long time.”

“…
I might point my blade at my master someday, if that's all right.”

“That's what the legendary cursed sword is like.
I longed for it when I was a kid…”

He smiled and looked ahead.

“The enemy has moved the leftmost wing.
What do you think?”

“They are planning to stop the spear and surround it.
In this case, it is safe to assume that the leftmost flank is skilled.
It would be impossible for our rightmost wing to stop it.

“In other words――”

“――we will break through the thick wall in front of us with all our strength.
That is the simplest and best way.
…If His Highness doesn't get through, you'll just die.”

“Hah, you sure say it ――I will go, Salva, just pray that the soldiers will follow in this rain of arrows.”

And then——at the moment of contact, Gildanstein stepped forward.

In front of him was a pikeman.

The wall of spears was a symbol of death for the soldiers on the front line, who could not escape.

More than half of the front line would surely be killed by them.

The dense formation of long spears always demands an enormous amount of blood against the enemy in front of them.

Only a long spear can face a long spear head-on.

Even so, Gildanstein had sword soldiers with large shields in the front ranks.

The skill level of the pikeman was the key to their collective action.

The long spear is a powerful weapon because of its unwavering control.

If they were to clash head-on with a mishmash of untrained soldiers, they would be the ones who would lose, and a clash with pikeman would waste a great deal of time.

This must be avoided.

Time——because everything had to be settled before Colchis finished eating his own son.

Kolkis, the corps commander of the Second Corps, was a solid warrior.

If they went head-to-head, even if they were in perfect condition, even if it wouldn’t be a complete defeat, it wouldn’t be able to be called a victory either.

And once such a battle was fought, it would mean Gildanstein's defeat.

The Third Corps in front of them was an unquestionably formidable foe, and Giildanstein believed that it would be impossible to overtake it without putting everything he had into it.

As a result, this attack was a desperate assault using even the main reserve.

The fact that the center and left wing would be destroyed by Eruga and Kolkis had already been factored in——both were planned to be discarded from the beginning.

If they failed to grab Selene, it would be impossible for them to regain their footing.

That's why it's time.

Gildanstein just had to do everything in his power to achieve his goals.

――In the name of victory.

He passed the soldiers in the front row and danced to the front of the line.

Strangely enough, he stood in front of 10,000 enemies and charged, just like the one-man show Krische did.

“Get out of the way, you miscreants……!”

To show off to his own soldiers behind him.

On the verge of crashing into his foe, he swung his great war ax with all his might.

A heavy ax with a steel core――poised, swung, and fired with all his might.

The deadly weapon, which had left his hands, roared and flew away with the wind in its wake.

“Huh, ah!?”

The storm of steel snaps the long spear, shattering it, and punches a hole in the enemy's line of battle.

The great war ax released all of the energy given to itself for destruction.

Then Gildanstein drew his sword and charged in immediately.

A sword stance that thrusts the great sword high into the sky.

It was the exact image of the kingdom's coat of arms.

He drew a spiral with his body and swung it sideways.

The armor of tanned leather was no different from a naked body in front of Gildanstein's mighty sword.

Wielding, transmitting, and swinging the power of the whole body is the fastest――the King Sword

Using technique to target gaps in the enemy and pierce it, but these are not the essence of the sword.

To overwhelm by force――to overwhelm.

That is Gildanstein.

――It was the blade wielded by a King.

Guildenstein swung his blade as if to widen the entry point, as if to disrupt the enemy's spear wall.

A battle cry mixed with cheers roared out, crushing everything in its place.

“Go forward!! Victory lies ahead!!”

Raising his voice, Gildanstein laughed.

He sheathed his sword, still covered in blood, and grabbed the great war ax lying on the ground in his hand.

What he had to do was the same.

Once they break through the pikeman and get out, sword soldiers were assigned there.

Soldiers specializing in melee battles with small swords and medium shields.

But they were not Gildansein’s――a King’s match.

Remind those who stand in front of him.
He crushed them.

Made them realize that they were no match for this man, and feared him.
Take control.

The important thing was to become the ruler of the place.

He would pick up one of his emotions or rationalizations and demonstrate his position by law, by word, and by violence.

‘King’ is not something that is simply shaped by political power.

It is always built by power, and it is a word that indicates the possession of such power to take control of everything around them.

His honorable older brother――King Shervarza, was killed by Kreschenta.

But deep in his heart, he did not resent her.

His brother was too kind-hearted and too weak to stand as king.

Being killed is the responsibility of the killed, nothing more.

And Kreschenta moved and acted to become king herself.

She found her pawn, Krische, and, confident of victory, she challenged Gildsnstein to a match.

The formula was simple and clear.

What they have here was such a match.

Which of the two was more fit to be king?

This was a contest between two royal families, a contest for their very existence.

There’s no such thing as deception, trickery, or cowardice.

When challenged to a match, they will act only in pursuit of victory.

Power, emotion, will, and ability – the strength of all of these factors will bring about results and make a ‘King’.

Kreschenta used Bogan and his army.

His pawn, Hilkintos, was easily defeated, and as a result, his side was at a disadvantage.

That one surpassed Gildanstein in terms of ability——but it's not over yet.

The match would continue until one of them no longer able to move

——And the result would not be known until then.

“Adjutant-dono, please stand back! We will pave the way for you…!”

The nameless centurion who had caught up with him shouted.

Adjutant——he must have judged it from the armor that Gildanstein was wearing.

“Time is of the essence.
If you want me to stand back, then go ahead on your own.”

“Yes sir! Did you hear that!? Groups 1 to 7 will move forward, and cut from the right! Group 10 and Group 12 behind!”

He was just a commoner, not a magic possessor.

Even though he was approaching old age, his voice was full of tension and spirit.

He had the air of someone who has devoted decades of his life to the battlefield.

――Quite a good warrior.

“What is your name?”

“I'm Clarias, a centurion who belongs to the 2nd battalion under the direct command of the General, adjutant.”

“I see, don't die Clarias.
If you survive, I'll prepare a reward, enough for you to play around for the rest of your life.”

“Haha, thank you very much for your kind words….But you sure say something difficult!”

He stabs the enemy in front of him with his sword, as if he were to strike him with his entire body.

When he saw that it was impossible to pull out his sword, he pulled out the sword at his opponent's waist.

His skill and judgment are good―― but the enemy is just as good, or close to it.

“I don't think I have time to think about the future in this situation!”

“I see, that's for sure.
――However, your work ends here.”

To the left is the gap created by them charging to the right.

He looked behind him.

There was Salva, and he was seeing the same thing as Gildanstein.

“Yes, sir!”

It was Salva who answered Gildanstein's gaze and charged in.

The base was wide, and the further it went, the sharper and thinner it became.

The center of gravity was in the hand while remaining robust――a longsword suitable for piercing, while still maintaining its sturdiness.

When he stepped forward and swung it, it pierced through a gap in the enemy's armor and took his life.

And following in line with him are the elite of the general's guards.

He looked in that direction, smiled, and told Clarias.

“The general is facing the front.
We will continue on like this and flank the enemy corps commander.”

“To cover the general――”

“It doesn't matter.
The enemy's attention will be drawn that way.
All you have to do is to advance through the disorganized enemy lines in the meantime and greatly disturb them.
I will lead the way, follow me.”

Once past the first wall, the pikeman reappeared at a distance.

Archers danced through the gaps in the line, firing from the flanks without a pause.

It was like attacking a fortress.

If they broke through the pikeman in a hail of arrows, sword soldiers would be waiting for them inside.

In addition, A salvo of archers, albeit few in number, awaits them from the flank.

Terrius Melchikos, Commander of the Third Corps of the Christand Army.

This man is a master of field fortifications, and even in mere field battles, he uses human flesh to build fortifications in places where there was nothing.

He would break the enemy's hearts and minds by making them run in a path called gap, creating a killing zone, and then rounding up the fiercest of the fighters who slipped through.

His skill in building a two-tiered or three-tiered defense wall while leaning heavily in an oblique line formation was so impressive that most enemies will lose their will to fight when they break through pikeman and then face pikeman again――and arrow from the flanks.

There was not a single incompetent person among the Christand army commanders.

That's why Christand had become known as the strongest in the kingdom――a matchless army led by a hero.

More than ten years have passed since Bogan was appointed as a general.

Gildanstein had heard many times at the royal palace about the successes of Bogan and the army he led.

Over and over again.

Maybe if he had been a mere noble instead of royalty――would he have been able to think nothing of it and just be like a sword?

――For example, like Bogan.

“Get out of my way!!”

With his great war axe, he cuts down both long spears in front of him.

Shattering and snapping the spear, he disrupts it and moves forward.

Feeding on the flesh and blood of the frightened enemy.

At least for now, he could go on without thinking.

“Adjutant-dono, you are being reckless!”

“I'm in a good mood.
I'm really enjoying myself.”

“Haha, I didn't know there was such a brave person among General Caldera's adjutants…
I didn't study enough.
What's your name?”

“It’s Gildanstein, Clarius.”

“Huh――?”

There was no longer any distance to escape.

There is no need to hide it.

“I'll give you the honor of fighting beside the king.
I'll leave my back to you.”

The centurion stiffened for a moment and immediately understood the situation.

The Royal Prince Gildanstein―― the black lion wielded a great battle ax.

Everyone knows that much.

“Yes sir! Understood!!”

He shattered the long spear and flipped off the heavily armed infantry behind him.

Salva was already confronting Terrius.

――And so, Gildanstein caught the Commander of the Third Corps at a distance.

“――I can't say I was surprised.
It wouldn’t be strange if you were able to break through, right?”

A sculpture that resembled a fortress.

Wearing shining, polished armor, Terrius dismounted, drew his twin swords, said that to Salva, who appeared in front of him.

His breathing was heavy, blood staining the polished, uncarved plate mail.

But certainly, there he stood, confronting Terrius.

Two layers of pikeman and three layers of heavy infantry.

By creating a space between them and interlocking the archers, they lure in the enemies who have broken through and destroy them.

Like a fortress that narrows the road, forces the enemy to run, and kills them with a hail of arrows and traps, the fortress of flesh that Terrius builds――not many people can break through it.

However, Salva divided his squad into two squads and used one as a decoy to hinder the interlocking of the archers.

Amazingly, he had pulled through the triple barrier and arrived here.

Terius praised him honestly.

Salva, who had been an adjutant by his side for a long time.

Considering the fact that he was going up against it, he had adjusted the details of the formation.

Salva wouldn’t be able to break through――they wouldn’t confront each other like this.

However, that judgment was probably a result of his own conceit.

Salva was a calm——a rather passive person.

He is not the type of person who would take the initiative and split the ranks.

Surprisingly, he also felt happy about it.

Somewhere in his heart, he also wanted Salva to appear in front of him like this.

“Now that I think about it, it's been a long relationship——but this is the end, Salva.
Are you prepared?”

Sensing that the enemy were breaking through, Terius immediately gathered an army.

To kill Salva, who had just rushed in.

At most 500 were with Salva.
While he had 1000 here.

Salva and his men were exhausted.
This was the end.

“I will not forget the years I fought as your adjutant.”

“It's you who threw it away, it's a pity….Archer!”

Salva, having broken through――a salvo of archers greeted him.

But――

“Corps Commander, the enemy…!?”

Just before that, another great war ax appeared.

A decoy――because it was a small unit of around 100 people that he thought so.

“Everyone, forward! Corps Commander Terius Melchikos's head is right in front of us!”

When Salva shouted, the archers fired.

However, the enemy, who had appeared from the left flank, was completely out of position.

Terrius quickly turned to face it and realized what was happening.

“…
Your Highness!”

“It's been a long time, Melchikos.
I'm sorry, but I'm going to have you die.”

He carried a great war ax and laughed under his helmet.

Gildanstein narrowed his eyes.

“――I'll kill you myself.”