A Maiden’s Unwanted Heroic Epic

Chapter 219: Marshal

***Arc 9 One Who Sent Off, Chapter 219 Marshal***

The Wiring family was not a famous family, but it was a noble family with a history of about 200 years.

Five generations ago, Ordo-Willing was given a mansion in a first-class city and the position of margrave for his efforts in defeating an enemy general on the battlefield, however, three generations ago, due to a failure, the family was demoted to the rank of baron.

It could be said that they were a typical noble family that has gone through repeated ups and downs.

The previous generation was given the title of earl, and his eldest son, Gertz Wiring, started his career as a centurion.

In the Kingdom's Central Army, where promotions and placements were often based on connections, his work has been solid and stable since he was young, and he achieved success in battle without making any major mistakes, and was promoted smoothly.

Upon the death of the previous generation, he was given the title earl, and then Gildanstein recommended him to become Central General, and accordingly he was given the position of margrave.

On a scale of fine to excellent, he could be called fine.

He's not great, but he's not bad either; he's a general who meets a certain standard.

He was strict with himself and others and was not well received by his subordinates, but he managed his territory well――there was no major development, but the people seemed to like him.

Those were the only special notes worth mentioning, and the rough information that Kreschenta understood.

His punishment for siding with Gildanstein in the civil war was forfeiture of his title of margrave. Stripped of general rank.

Originally, execution would be the appropriate punishment for high treason, but such a mediocre person was by no means worthless.

This was because many of the people who supported the country were people like him, neither good nor bad.

Jobs that require remarkable talents were few.

Most were jobs that could be done by human resources that could be found anywhere, and it was better to have an abundance of such people in order to eliminate the waste of having Krische train new recruits.

So that the highly capable people did not have to shoulder the burden of work that anyone can do.

It was for this reason that Kreschenta gave such soft punishment to someone like them.

However, Gertz was also just a person who could be used for something if there were no problems.

Kreschenta thought his value wasn’t worth it for Selene, the marshal, who went out of her way to visit him many times and granted his demand to meet Krische, that is Alberinea, and the evaluation that this was inefficient and troublesome stemmed from there.

If it was not because she had a lot of time and was able to hold Krische as part of the work as the merit, Kreschenta would have been openly reluctant to do it.

"It's not like I like troublesome things either, good god. I guess your flaw is that you underestimate the relationships between people."

Selene sighed as she faced Kreschenta——sitting beside Elvena.

Her golden hair, tied back, hung loosely in front of her chest.

From head to toe, her graceful appearance had a loose sloppiness to it.

Her beauty as a fully grown young lady had been polished, but her naturally rough temperament could be seen peeking through.

However, perhaps that was also part of her charm.

Her black and gold military uniform, her serious and unapproachable atmosphere——such aspects were balanced by that sloppiness, adding a touch of vividness to her slightly sulking expression..

“People can't get along just based on profit and loss. If a common interest is lost, such a relationship will quickly fall apart, just like a business transaction involving a piece of paper.''

Selene continued with ‘You’re free anyway, don’t complain about it’, and Kreschenta pouted her lips

"I only do work that would take you a week to do, in half a day. It's not that I'm free, it's just that I have time because I'm smart and efficient."

"That's right. Since you're smart and good at dealing things, you're free and stick to Krische, right? If that's the case, then that's fine. Both in the mansion and outside you do things together anyway."

Kreschenta was getting more and more dissatisfied.

She puffed out her cheeks, and Krische asked Selene from behind, pressing Kreschenta cheeks with both hands.

“Hmm, but Krische doesn’t know what would be good to talk about...”

"Just greet him and sit down normally. It doesn't seem like he wants to vent his grudge against you, he's a serious soldier after all."

"Hodefuwane. Fuhanhoohigaihiban...please let me go."

Kreschenta grabbed both of her sister's hands that were playing with her cheeks and put them around her waist.

Then she leaned against Krische’s body, and bent back, rubbing her cheek against her sister's cheek.

When Krische tickled her chin with her fingertips, she narrowed her eyes in happiness.

"...You look like a dog that is poorly trained."

"...I’m not a dog."

Kreschenta glared at Selene.

The way she was being pampered was exactly how an animal being pampered would look like.

Smiling wryly at such Kreschenta, Selene yawned lightly.

The peace was right here.

Gertz was currently living in a small house that couldn’t be called an estate, not in a first-class city, but in a castle town.

Inside the outer wall of the royal capital.

It was not cheap, but it was not expensive either.

A small two-story building suitable for a slightly skilled craftsman.

He sold his mansion after the civil war and did not have a single servant.

The amount of space was probably good enough for living alone.

The inside of the room was well-maintained, with military-related manuscripts neatly lined up on the shelves.

Kirik and the others, who were accompanying them as bodyguards, split up between the main street and the alley to keep an eye on the surrounding area, and after the safety of the surrounding area was ensured, the four of them went inside.

An elegant sword and scabbard pointing downward, the sun and crescent moon illuminating it.

The flags and decorations indicating that the carriage belonged to the royal family, the people around were looking at the carriage, surprised at what was happening, and there was a murmur.

It was quite unusual for the Queen to visit a house in the castle town.

Even like this, as the Queen's escort, it was a modest one――it was inevitable that it would be a little ostentatious.

“…To think even Her Majesty the Queen would come too.”

Compared to before, his body was a little thinner.

Although he was old, right now he looked noticeably older

"Selene-sama seemed to be very concerned about you. So I stopped by while I was running some errands."

Kreschenta said as she played with her long hair with her fingertips and looked down at the kneeling Gertz.

"There's no need for formality. Please don't worry about me. The main guest is Onee-sama, and I'm just a bystander. You can just pretend that I'm not here. ...Could you please prepare some tea for me?"

Turning her gaze to Elvena, Elvena nodded and took out the pot and tea utensils from her hand basket.

Even in a carriage, it was always prepared so that she could drink tea anytime, and it was also convenient for times like this.

"Thank you”, Gertz stood up and presented chaira.

A simple desk and wooden chair――no money was probably spent on the furniture either.

She didn't like cheap chairs because they hurt her butt, but Kreschenta kept her complaints to herself.

Selene was on Gertz's right, and opposite Gertz was Krische and Kreschenta.

The splendor of the three people was a sight that did not suit this single house.

Elvena was brewing tea and watching from the side.

"It's been a long time, Wiring-san. Uhh... Krische is glad you're doing well."

“...Yes”

Just like when she used the soldiers' lives as a threat to force Gertz to surrender.

"Krische heard from Selene that you wanted to talk to Krische..."

There was no feeling of guilt or pity.

As if meeting an acquaintance from some party in the past.

Two people facing each other with swords on the battlefield――not a hint of that atmosphere could be felt.

"Indeed. Right, first of all, congratulations on your tremendous feat in this great war. Even though we fought each other once, Alberinea's accomplishments were thrilling to me as a warrior. ”

"Haa...thank you...?"

She replied while tilting her head, and Gertz asked her while looking at her intently.

"If you don't mind, I'd like to hear your story from that battlefield."

“A story about the battlefield…?”

"yes"

Krische looked at Selene in confusion.

Selene nodded silently.

She understood most of Gertz's intentions.

"Hmm...Krische thinks there are various stories about the battlefield, but are you talking about tactics and strategy?"

"Yes. Including the progress of the battle."

Krische once again looked at Selene again with an obviously hateful look on her face.

Generally, when a General goes to war, they leave records of the battlefield.

Basically, when a general goes to war, he leaves records of the battlefield.

Naturally, Krische also left that, but what resulted was Selene's angry outburst.

The overly simple Krische’s report was not bad, but it was a record that would go down in the history of using Jarea Gashea on the battlefield.

There was no doubt that it would become an important historical document in the future, and it took three full days to record the three battles.

In the end, Selene wrote it down while asking questions to Krische, but Krische was tired of having to explain the battlefield story endlessly.

It was something she didn't want to talk about again if possible.

Selene nodded as expected, prompting Krishe with her gaze.

‘Uuu’, Krische groaned, already regretting visiting here.

"U-um... then, starting from the battle with Gulshan..."

"……thank you"

At the very least, Gertz was an excellent listener.

Questions about tactics and strategy――rather, the questions were often about why Krische made the choices and decisions she made.

Probably because he had heard about detailed numbers and war trends from before, which she had explained to Selene to the point that she hated it.

It was something that Selene and Kreschenta already knew.

Gertz listened without saying anything in particular, just seriously.

Elvena's face turned slightly pale as she heard about the horrific battlefield for the first time.

Krische remembered every number, and every human face.

Jarea Gashea Unit 1 killed a total of 384 people, Unit 2 303 people, Unit 3 453 people――What did the 78th man that Krische killed this time look like?

When he asked her a question, she answered it plainly and with ease.

She had no pity for the soldiers she had killed, nor was she proud of her accomplishments.

This part as expected, but there were improvements that could have been made in this part, and if they had done this damage could have been reduced a little more.

It would probably have shortened the battle time.

All that came out was dissatisfaction with the results.

After finishing talking, Krische took a sip of tea, and Gertz did the same.

Then he pauses, as if thinking for a moment, and looks up.

"...It's like listening to the results of a military chess exercise."

“military chess exercise…well, guess it’s something similar?”

Tactical game on the top of a board.

Krische’s explanation was similar to that.

Use pieces as numbers, then look at the results and consider them.

There were no emotions there.

It was just a result of seeking efficiency.

"...It would be great if wars could be decided through military chess exercises."

“…That won’t be possible huh.”

For the first time, Gertz felt something slightly soft come to his lips.

"That's probably the difference between me and you... no, you and everyone else. Or perhaps Her Majesty."

And he said that.

Kreschenta reacted with a start and looked at Gertz.

“The reason I served His Highness the Royal Prince was out of obligation to the person who recommended me as a general――but after I served for some reason, I thought there was some truth to his words. After we were defeated, I believed it out of hatred, but guess that’s just one side of it."

People only see what they want, Goertz continued.

“Forgive my rudeness but, I still don't know which side was right. Both His Royal Highness and Her Majesty had their reason. Therefore, I said that I will give up my position as a noble."

Gertz offered to do so after the war.

Kreschenta putting it on hold was also influenced by Serene's hopes.

“......If we speak in terms of results, this Alberan made by Her Majesty the Queen is a better country, full of light, than the Alberan made by His Majesty. Nevertheless,...... ah, I am at a loss for words."

Gertz smiled bitterly and looked at Krische and Kreschenta

"...Now, where is this country headed?"

Krische also turned her gaze to Kreschenta.

This question was clearly Kreschenta's domain.

Kreschenta thought for a moment, tracing her lips with her fingertips.

“I could give you nice-sounding words like I want the people to live happily, but… right”

Kreschenta looked at her sister and took her hand.

“If I, Onee-sama, and Selene-sama had to choose the word that we all agree on...the safest and most secure (‘relax’) country in the world.”

“Secure...”

"Yes, that's all. Build an elementary school, an arsenal, a research institute, and a military school... all for the sake of stability for the next few decades or centuries. If the bottom is prosper and stable, the top will naturally be safe as well. Isn't this simple and easy to understand? ”

The charming princess's mask was removed, revealing the face of a queen who found it bothersome

Her butt was sore from the hard wooden chair, and the long conversation they had just had pushed her to her limit.

"Neither my sister nor I like pointless work. Apart from that, with no other aspirations, we have only one destination in mind… and the conversation here is whether you will cooperate for the sake of that future or not——that's all."

Gertz seemed a little taken aback.

Kreschenta remained as she was and looked at Selene, telling her to do something about it.

Selene said while looking back at her exasperated.

“...Both Her Majesty the Queen and Krische are like this. Is this enough?”

"Yes… enough."

"In a relationship where swords were crossed, grievances are only mutual, I believe. I can't forget about Otou-sama, and I'm sure you have similar circumstances."

she said, lowering her gaze to the surface of the cup and closing her eyes.

“If it weren’t for you there, I’m sure your father would still be alive.”

He was not as terrifying as Gildanstein.

However, it was this old general who laid the foundation for Gildanstein to move freely.

Gorgeousness was not the only value of a general.

The reason why she couldn't break through until Krische came was there.

“Otou-sama said that you were a very solid general.… I have a feeling that you will continue to do nothing and fade away as you get older.”

Gertz's eyes widened slightly as if he was surprised.

Then, as if confirming his words, he lowered his eyes.

"...The civil war is over. Winter and storms have passed, and I think it's about time to sow the seeds."

Selene said standing up.

“This is the end, I won’t be coming here anymore.”

"……Yes"

Gertz looked up and saw her elegant golden hair swaying in his eyes.

"I'm looking forward to hearing from you. Preferably, as Instructor Wiring of the military school."

There was a young marshal with a soft smile on her face.