How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom: Volume 16 by Dojyomaru

Author:Dojyomaru [Dojyomaru]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: J-Novel Club
Published: 2022-06-07T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7: Falling Flowers, Flowing Water

Weeks before the capital was surrounded...

“Oh, why, Your Majesty!” Krahe Laval, the commander of the Empire’s main air force, the griffon squadrons, lamented.

With Fuuga’s forces on the verge of attacking, Krahe, who venerated Maria as a saint, had been in high spirits. He thought the time had finally come for him to fight invaders for his liege. However, Maria’s orders to him were to join the knights and nobles of the north to intercept Fuuga’s forces. The former vassals in the Kingdom of Meltonia and the Frakt Federation were being used to invade the Empire itself.

The Empire’s prediction was that the main force would attack from the Lunarian Orthodox Papal State and Mercenary State Zem, so the forces in the north were merely a diversion. This meant Krahe had been excluded from the decisive battle. He felt betrayed.

“Oh, Your Majesty! Why will you not let me fight for you?! General Gunther and half of our griffon squadrons are fighting in the decisive battle, and yet I am not granted the same honor?! I, who would throw my very life away for you without hesitation!”

Krahe shed tears as he repeatedly punched the table. He might have been hitting it too hard, because his knuckles were bleeding.

Someone silently approached Krahe from behind.

“Ah— Who’s there?!”

Krahe drew his rapier faster than the eye could see, leveling it at the person who was behind him. With the tip of his blade at the person’s throat, they calmly raised both hands.

“It’s me, Sir Krahe.”

“Madam Lumiere...? I apologize.”

After realizing who it was, Krahe sheathed his rapier. Before him was Lumiere, the Empire’s top bureaucrat. She had a domain in the north and was a former military officer, so she had joined Krahe’s forces with her personal troops.

Lumiere shook her head. “No, I shouldn’t have crept up on you. You seemed tormented by something, so I thought a little surprise might help you to loosen up...”

“Thank you for your concern...” Krahe thanked her then looked away.

“I understand how you must feel...” Lumiere whispered to him. “You’re afraid, aren’t you?”

“Ah! What are you talking about, Madam Lumiere?!” Krahe sounded wounded by the accusation. “I am the sword of Saint Maria! No matter what opponents I face, no matter how great their numbers, I will show no fear! I shall slay them and offer my victory to Lady Maria!”

“That’s just it,” Lumiere said in a quiet voice. “I’m sure that you fear no enemy. What you’re afraid of is something different. Something close to the root of your pride. In other words...” Lumiere pointed her index finger at Krahe. “Maria becoming an ordinary person.”

“Wha?!”

Krahe was speechless. He mulled over what Lumiere had meant, trying to come up with a response. But he came up empty-handed and said nothing.

Lumiere looked at Krahe as she continued.

“It’s true that you’re Her Majesty’s loyal knight. You would rise against any enemy for her, even cast your own life aside. However, that is because she is a saint, respected by the people, and you take pride in protecting that saint.

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