Four and a half days since the Crown Prince had gone to the wasteland boundary.
Finally, the 3rd and 4th banners had succeeded in retreating.
As a bonus, the 5th and 6th banners positioned beside them had also entered the patient transport stage,
And it wasn't difficult to predict that rescue would soon reach soldiers belonging to other banners as well.
Of course, the command post fell into confusion at the unexpected rescue news.
Where was there space to accommodate patients in this situation, and how would they care for them?
How could they handle the personnel the 3rd Prince had irresponsibly rescued?
However, it was also the 3rd Prince's advisor and the Supreme Commander's adjutant who calmed such confusion.
-"All soldiers at the command post will prioritize patient accommodation from now on. Guide patients who can move and prepare sleeping places for them."
-"But there's no space to accommodate all of them! We'd need to build new tents outside the command post, and then time would..."
-"Isn't there already space?"
-"What?"
-"I mean the former commanders' tents. Ah, the knights who are currently in self-reflection during the investigation period."
-"Th-the Banneret Knights' tents?"
-"They're not doing any activities anyway, are they? Having just one person occupy an entire tent is inefficient. Since they're much larger than other tents, they'll be useful for the current situation."
-"B-but even so, isn't that a bit..."
-"This is wartime. Resources must be used efficiently. Space is the same. I order as the Supreme Commander's representative. The former commanders and their adjutants will move to the 1st banner commander's tent. The other tents, including the Supreme Commander's tent, will be used to accommodate patients."
-"Will this really be okay? Doing this?"
-"Let's be efficient, efficient."
The former commanders who were forcibly relocated made pig-slaughtering noises saying this couldn't be done to them,
But Dardin only responded with a gentle smile.
It was natural since his mind contained only thoughts like 'So what about it?'
When the woman on the black horse dumped people off once and left,
The soldiers at the command post safely moved patients who were babbling strange things about farms and shops.
Though the patients showed very docile attitudes, they were somewhat strange and gaunt.
Seeing this, the healthy soldiers whispered that there must have surely been strange happenings in the wasteland.
From what they heard, the wasteland demons supposedly sucked out people's souls. Seeing how the patients had become like idiots, that might have been true.
But there was something even more frightening.
Since these people had returned, they didn't know who would be sent to the wasteland boundary next.
The hearts of the soldiers moving patients grew heavy.
And there was a pair of eyes watching them closely.
That late night.
The 3rd Prince and his companions still hadn't returned from the wasteland.
The black horse and its rider continued bringing people,
But since it was late, the frequency was gradually decreasing.
After a full day of hard labor, the command post soldiers gathered around a fire lit outdoors for once.
Since everyone had worked all day, they were tired and words didn't come easily. Then, someone poking the fire casually spat out.
"It's hard work, but it's better than when we served the lords."
'Lords.' A word referring to the former commanders.
Then smiles slowly spread among the soldiers' faces worn by fatigue.
"At least we don't have to grovel on our bellies begging."
"Right, it's better than getting punched for just being nearby."
"We don't have to see them acting all high and mighty either."
"Did they all go into the 1st banner commander's tent together?"
"The Supreme Commander's adjutant told them to."
In a way, the 3rd Prince's adjutant seemed to not think about consequences at all.
Even if he could suppress them on site by invoking military law,
When this battle ended and they returned to the capital, he wouldn't be able to ignore the families the knights belonged to like now.
Yet his manner of boldly giving orders without considering such things was truly wondrous.
From the soldiers' perspective, seeing the noble-born knights in trouble was gratifying,
And since there was justification, it didn't matter.
"Never thought I'd live to see a commander fall into a shit pit."
It was about the former commander of the 3rd and 4th banners.
At those words, scattered laughter erupted with "uhaha."
Right, right. He was still trapped there. Wouldn't he die from shit poisoning? No, noble lords have nastier tempers than shit, so how could he die there? Even if he died, he'd try to die honorably...
Somewhat crude but satisfying gossip continued noisily.
Even when small footsteps crept in among the conversation sounds, the soldiers couldn't stop talking.
"You all look happy. What are you discussing?"
"Hup."
It's the adjutant!
The soldiers all shut their mouths at once. But Dardin sat among them as if unconcerned.
Watching him neatly arrange his long robes, the soldiers rolled their eyes anxiously.
Did he hear all our conversation? Would he try to punish this too for disrupting discipline?
But Dardin pretended not to notice the attention focused on him and placed what he had brought in front of him.
A silver cup and a heavy leather bag.
The cup, which had clearly belonged to some former commander, was filled with liquor flowing from the bag.
Dardin lifted the cup and gave his attention to those present.
"Today was sudden, but thank you all for your hard work. Thanks to you, the cleanup was completed. It wouldn't have been possible without all of you."
Suddenly?
The soldiers blinked in confusion across the crackling campfire. Dardin handed the cup to a soldier beside him.
"It's nothing much, but it's a token of gratitude. Should I call it consolation liquor?"
"I-it looks like an expensive cup. Is it okay for me to put my lips to it?"
"What wouldn't be okay? There's only one cup, but we can share it. Ah, or is it perhaps dirty..."
"No, no! Not at all. I'll drink it gratefully."
The soldier who hurriedly put it to his lips squeezed his eyes shut and drank. A burning sensation swept down his esophagus to his stomach.
He had never tasted such liquor before. Watching the soldier shudder, Dardin smiled faintly and refilled the cup.
One cup, two cups.
The cup that had gone around all the soldiers returned to Dardin,
And he filled it himself and brought it to his lips without reserve.
When he emptied the cup with bold movements that didn't match his delicate appearance, "woaaa" sounds came from among the soldiers.
"Adjutant, do you drink well?"
"You seem to drink better than us. How could you drink that all at once?"
"This guy was sipping like a bird earlier!"
"Hey, be quiet! The adjutant can hear everything!"
Sharing liquor together.
The meaning of this act was that Dardin, the 3rd Prince's adjutant and an outsider, was volunteering to become a member of the command post soldiers.
No one logically grasped this now. But psychological changes were definitely occurring.
He was someone who had shared a cup. They could form community bonds. They were on the same side.
Dardin smiled quietly and set the cup on the ground.
"You all would drink better. What good does it do for me to drink well? I don't have much time to drink anyway."
"Is it because the adjutant is... the 3rd Prince's, I mean the Supreme Commander's aide?"
"I'm quite busy. Just recently I was putting effort into bandit suppression at the border."
"Bandits! His Highness the 3rd Prince personally? All the way there? Were you there too, adjutant?"
"Yes, that's right. He's such a busy person. Of course, even being so busy, he doesn't get proper recognition."
He mentioned the 3rd Prince's virtues but didn't emphasize them.
Rather, when he stepped back slightly and took a cool attitude, those with goodwill would surely...
"That's ridiculous! Even if we don't know anything, we know how far the border and capital are."
"Why doesn't he get recognition for going there personally? Even if we don't know well, it surely helps the kingdom's citizens, doesn't it?"
"And how fair the adjutant and 3rd Prince are. It's better than always being tormented by bandits and thieves and having just two soldiers shuffle around and leave when you report it!"
"Right! Right! That's right. The 3rd Prince is trying to rescue all these people, right? Isn't he in the wasteland right now? How urgent must it have been for him to rush off without dealing with the bandits."
"Adjutant, don't be upset! In our eyes, the 3rd Prince is the best."
...They defended him like this.
This was all because many things had changed since the 3rd Prince came to the command post.
First, he had drastically reduced the number of people above them,
Improved treatment through ample supplies,
And made efforts to rescue people who would have been abandoned under the existing military system.
The soldiers would also welcome the current situation more than being kicked around by nobles armed with pride and useless vanity and pretension.
An environment where they could be full, build familiarity through human interaction with generous superiors.
Dardin smiled somewhat pitifully.
"It gives me strength to hear you say that. Actually, the Supreme Commander worried a great deal too. Whether it was right to drive out all the former commanders."
"Ahh..."
"But seeing their improper behavior, we couldn't just let it pass. We had to be prepared too. But now I can only think that choice was right. Setting everything else aside, the most important thing to consider is people."
Warmth flickered before the campfire. The soldiers seemed somewhat moved.
Several nodded with hardened lips. They were probably holding back from getting choked up.
Dardin paused briefly before continuing.
"So we're going to make that kind of choice again this time. For you all, for people."
"Adjutant, what do you mean by that...?"
"I already told the soldier in charge of supply transport, but you'll all be withdrawing from the front lines soon."
But such methods certainly had limits.
This 'kind' treatment approach lacked the control power to dominate everyone.
Someone would surely use familiarity as a foothold to cross lines that shouldn't be crossed.
Once they started questioning things, everything would become complicated.
So, before that.
By stimulating the fear they held and making them feel relieved...
"The wasteland is far too dangerous. When we heard the tragic news of the main force at the boundary, the Supreme Commander made a decision."
"Adjutant!"
"We can no longer waste lives like this. You are citizens of Aquilonia, and the Supreme Commander, as His Highness the 3rd Prince, is in a position to protect you all."
Well, that made sense. Withdrawing all the soldiers. The eyes of the murmuring soldiers contained only worry and confusion.
Someone asked.
"But if there are no soldiers, won't the wasteland demons invade the east?"
"R-right. Adjutant. Then all of Aquilonia would be in danger."
A question within the expected range.
Dardin shook his head.
"No. You may not know, but recently a great mage visited Aquilonia's royal family."
"A mage?"
"Someone completely different from ordinary mages. He foresaw the demons' appearance in the eastern wasteland and gave us a prophecy."
"What prophecy..."
"A prophecy that His Highness the 3rd Prince would be able to defeat those demons."
Amazement spread.
To hear such royal secrets like this.
Moreover, they learned for the first time that mages could make prophecies, and he had foreseen the eastern demons' appearance?
And only the 3rd Prince could defeat them?
Then was the 3rd Prince's coming here all according to the prophecy? Moreover, according to the adjutant's earlier words, the 3rd Prince was...
"-So the Supreme Commander thought the prophecy would be fulfilled with just him there. That's why he thought we shouldn't create any more meaningless casualties. That means you all."
Dardin briefly closed and opened his eyes with a sorrowful, or rather accepting tone. Everything was intentional, but no one knew this fact.
"I also think the Supreme Commander's judgment is correct. So please think that you'll all be leaving soon with the transport wagons when the next supplies arrive."
Silence settled around the campfire.
Everyone was overwhelmed by prophecies and such things.
After a long while, someone barely muttered.
"The 3rd Prince..."
He's a sage king. He'll become a sage king.
While everyone was caught up in gratitude and relief due to the 3rd Prince's unexpected character,
Only Dardin was sneering at the Queen sitting in the royal castle.
* * *
At that time, in Aquilonia's royal castle.
In the Queen's greenhouse where no one but the 3rd Prince could enter, there was an unfamiliar visitor.
-Sizzle.
A fragrant smell spread into the air from a table prepared in the greenhouse's deepest part.
The Queen who had personally poured and pushed tea across said.
"Weren't you stifled at the 3rd Prince's palace? ...How has the teacher of Eibon been faring?"
Before her.
A figure with face covered by a black veil nodded.
Long red hair flowed down from beneath the veil.
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