Chapter 347

The discovery of a soldier, who had no intention of killing, as a frozen corpse was slightly shocking.

“Miss, is something bothering you? You’ve looked a bit down since we left the castle.”

Leonor noticed my pale complexion.

“…It’s because of the body hanging on the city wall. It was my fault for forgetting to take it down, but I didn’t think no one would have taken it down…”

“Oh, that? I told them not to take it down. Princess Freide agreed too. Since you didn’t say anything, I thought you agreed as well… Guess not.”

“…What?”

It was a shocking confession.

They knew and deliberately left it hanging? That’s not just an execution.

To think Leonor and Freide led such an act…!

“You knew? And you still let him die?”

“Of course. Even after Princess Freide personally ordered him to keep his mouth shut, he blatantly spewed such obscenities and got caught. And it was a mere soldier against an Empire’s Count. It would be strange not to execute him.”

Leonor tilted her head.

Her attitude was so calm, as if it were the most natural thing.

Just by her expression, one might think I was the unreasonable one.

“Even so, there was no need to kill him over such a thing…”

“Such a thing…? Miss, I don’t know about Ka’har, but in the Empire, such matters are not taken lightly.”

Her tone became more serious.

“I see now. I thought you were particularly merciful to your subordinates, but that wasn’t it. You just lack awareness of your status. Miss, do you realize your position in the Empire?”

My position? Well…

“…I’m a prospective Marquis, also a prospective Margrave. Besides that… the Empire’s strongest swordsman?”

“Exactly. Marquis, Margrave. And if you inherit Landenburg, you’ll also become an Elector. Do you know what that means? In this Empire, excluding the royal family, there are only two or three people above you. You’ll be a true grand noble among grand nobles.”

…She’s not wrong. By then, only Duke Pailoon and Duke Bien would be above me.

Being the third in the Empire’s noble hierarchy doesn’t feel real though…

“And for grand nobles, after loyalty to the state, the most important duty is to uphold their own authority. Being merciful is fine. Lacking manners or refinement… well, coming from a foreign land, it’s understandable. But being disrespected by subordinates is unacceptable. The Empire’s social order is built not just on the nobles’ might, but on the reverence of the lower classes.”

Leonor emphasized the word ‘reverence’ as if it were the key.

“Most people welcome those they don’t fear, but they don’t respect them. Being an object of admiration is desirable, but if your generosity prevents you from being feared, you’re just a fancy decoration. Think about it, Miss. If your subordinates don’t fear you at all, would they truly follow your orders?”

…They probably wouldn’t.

I know well that respect and obedience mostly stem from fear.

To send soldiers into a battlefield under heavy artillery fire, preparing a group of executioners to shoot deserters is far more effective than inspiring patriotism.

Not that I did that.

“…So, while you can be merciful to a certain extent, those who cross the line must be executed as an example. Punishing one to control a hundred. That’s the most fundamental way to maintain social order. If you let it slide, everyone would think such rudeness is acceptable, and your authority would gradually erode.”

In this world where class hierarchy based on lineage and status is firmly established, Leonor’s words were indisputably correct.

There was no argument against it.

“Had you punished those who talked nonsense all this time, would that soldier have dared to utter such obscenities? Of course not. Because you didn’t stop the rumors, he felt bold enough to say such things. If the target of his obscenities wasn’t you but Princess Freide, he wouldn’t have dared. If he had, Pailoon’s knights would have torn him apart.”

So, because I stayed silent, he thought I was an easy target for his obscenities.

I can’t really argue with that…

“Princess Freide knew this well, which is why she agreed to execute him. She said she’d step in since you were too indifferent about upholding your own authority.”

Freide said that…?

What should I call it? It’s too brutal to call it an act of friendship, yet too full of goodwill to dismiss as meddling.

And according to Leonor, it was something that had to be done.

In the end, I couldn’t argue further.

—

“Aren’t you also rude, being my escort knight and using informal speech instead of honorifics…?”

“That’s because you allowed it. If you had ordered me to be respectful, I would have followed without question. Besides, I only use informal speech in private. In public, I show proper respect.”

Leonor chuckled.

I couldn’t argue with that.

—

The journey back to the capital was peaceful.

A procession filled with dozens of women. It sounds like something bandits would drool over and attack… but seeing them all armored and on horseback, no idiot would dare. It’s clearly a knight order.

Of course, monsters without the intelligence to deduce this occasionally attacked…

“Haaaah!”

A heavy greatsword fell like a guillotine’s blade.

Now making it his identity, ‘Wingless’ Damien unleashes leap attacks against monsters that can be taken down in ten seconds.

A single slash split the monster’s torso in half.

“He’ll never break that habit.”

“Does it matter now? Last time, he fixed his flaws. You didn’t see it, but it was quite impressive.”

Fixed his flaws? Doesn’t look like it.

His reaction speed and attack power improved, but he’s still defenseless mid-air.

“Flying won’t solve his flaws.”

“He actually flew. I was surprised too. I wondered why he kept asking Sir Ain-gen so many questions, but who knew he’d learn magic? Not proper flight, but he can shift his position in mid-air by creating wind.”

Leonor laughed incredulously.

I felt the same.

He learned magic just for leap attacks? That guy, maybe all his emotions are focused on his desire for leap attacks?

It was absurd enough to make me suspect that.

After slicing the monster in two, Damien wiped the blood and guts off his sword and headed to the carriage.

A private carriage with just him and Milia.

What happens inside… I’d rather not mention.

Thankfully, the high-end carriage has good soundproofing. Though I can still hear.

“Hey Milia? One more time…?”

“You can still go, right? Just one more time. We can use magic to get rid of the sweat and smell.”

…Maybe Milia needs to learn some self-control.

I get that she’s happy her years-long crush finally paid off, but doing it five or six times a day…?

After that, it was an outright symphony of moans, so I shut my ears.

Can’t even smoke properly because of them.

Magic herb smoke sharpens the senses, making the sounds from their carriage even clearer.

—

Instead of passing through lords’ territories or cities, we traveled through forests and camped in clearings at night.

At first, I thought staying in cities would be better, but after the chaos in the first city we visited…

As soon as we entered, crowds gathered to see the rare procession of female knights, and when they found out I was in the carriage, the crowd quintupled.

Thankfully, Leonor, used to such situations, managed the knights and the crowd, or we might not have been able to move at all.

That wasn’t all.

Not long after my arrival was known, the city’s lord personally came to invite me.

He wanted to host a banquet for the Empire’s hero, asking if I could visit.

Since the lord came personally, I couldn’t refuse. At the lord’s castle, he suddenly introduced his son and asked what I thought.

Though his intentions were obvious, since I got a meal out of it, I answered diplomatically. I said his son was a fine young man who would surely find a good match.

He seemed to get the hint, and didn’t make any more uncomfortable proposals.

A fortunate thing. For them, not me.

After that, I avoided cities altogether.

It was clear the same thing would happen again.

—

Ten days later.

Finally, the triple walls of Exra-shapel appeared on the horizon.