“Are you already back?”


    Johan looked at Gerdolf in surprise.


    He had gone to the fiefdom with his soldiers, so he would havee back a littleter after enjoying some rest, but he had returned too quickly.


    “Did Sir Inno not treat you well? He has gone too far.”


    “It wasn’t a big deal.”


    “How could you say that? Even if Sir Inno is your father, shouldn’t the other nobles have treated you better?”


    Johan frowned.


    Sir Inno, as the knight was also his own son, he may not have been able to openly express his joy.


    However, what were the other noble families in the area doing? Even if their rtionships were usually not good, when a knight returns sessfully from a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, by courtesy all shoulde out and congratte him.“I should tell the countess.”


    “It’s okay.”


    “No, you’re a little naive, so there are times when you fails to take care of things you should be taking care of.”


    “. . . . . .”


    “. . . . . .”


    The attendants following behind them flinched.


    Who’s naive?


    Gerdolf blushed with shame. It seemed he was considerably embarrassed by the duke’s words. The attendants trembled in fear at his unfamiliar appearance.


    “First, send a message to Countess Abner. Then, ask the scribe to write a letter for the envoy to take. Tell the nearby nobles to properly entertain their guests.”


    “Yes, I understand.”


    The contents of the letter the scribe wrote were a very mild reproach, but the nobles would understand its meaning.


    ━???? ?? ???????????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ?? ???????????????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????? ???????????? ??????????????????????, ???? ?????????? ???? ?? ?????? ?????? ?????????????????????? ??????????, ?????? ????????????’?? ???? ???????????? ???????? ???? ?? ?????????? ?????????????? ???????????


    ━>


    ━?? ???? ????????????????. ???? ?????? ??????’?? ???????? ???? ???? ?????????????? ???? ????????????, ??????????????????????????????, ???? ??????????????????, ?????? ????????????.


    “This should be enough. Send it.”


    “Yes!”


    ????????????


    While the nobles of the western empire were in a state of confusion over the sudden arrival of the letter and exchanging opinions, the next fleet safely arrived at Coolia harbor.


    Jyanina was also on board that fleet.


    ━???????? ???? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ???????????????? ??????????????, ??????’?? ???? ?? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????? ???? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????? ?????? ????????? ???????? ???? ?????????????????? ???????????????


    ━?? ?????? ?????????????? ????????!


    ━???? ???? ???????? ???? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????????????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ????????? ???????? ???? ?????????????????? ???????????????


    ━. . .???????? ????????????????, ????????’?? ?????? ?????????? ?? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ???????


    ━??’?? ??????????. ?? ???????? ???????? ???????????? ???????????? ???? ???????? ????????’?? ??????????????????, ?????? ???? ????’?? ???????? ????????, ????’???? ???????? ???? ?????? ?? ???????????????? ????????.


    ━????’?? ????????. ??’???? ???? ???????? ?????? ???????? ??????????.


    ━?????????? ???????? ???? ???????????????


    ━???? ?????? ????????, ???? ??????’?? ???? ???????? ???????? ?? ?????????? ???? ??????, ???????? ???? ??’?? ????????.


    Jyanina had a reason for saying this.


    Of course, it wasn’t bad to be on the duke’s ship. The ship would be thergest and strongest in the fleet, and the best sailors and captain would be sailing it.


    However, Jyanina’s position there would be, at best, an apprentice wizard or a wizard’s disciple. There were so many high-ranking people.


    Jyanina wanted to be the leader, even if it was a smaller ship. The saying, ‘????’?? ???????????? ???? ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ???? ?? ????????????,’ was true.


    The other wizards also supported Jyanina’s opinion.


    ━???? ?? ????????????, ???? ???????? ???? ?????????????????????????? ???? ?????????? ???????????? ?????????????????? ????????????????????. ???????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? ????????, ????’?? ???????? ?????????? ????’?? ??????????????-????????’?? ????????????. ?????????????? ???????? ???????????? ?????????????? ???? ???????? ????????????????????.


    ━?? ???????? ?????????? ????’?? ????????????????????. ?????????? ???????? ?????? ???? ???????? ?????????????????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????????????? ???????? ?????? ????????????????????? ???????? ???? ???? ?????? ?????? ?????????????????????? ????????????, ?????????? ?????? ??????’?? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????? ??????’?? ???? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ???? ????????????. . .


    ━. . . . . .


    In fact, Jyanina wanted to show the exotic animals to the nobles and rip them off, rather than the desire to have the mysteries as a wizard.


    When everyone else was carrying the fascinating treasures of the east, how discriminated would she be if she alone carried the animals of the east?


    However, she couldn’t just sit still when the wizards said that. Jyanina nodded vigorously.


    ━????????. . . ???????? ???? ??????????????. ??????’?? ?????????? ?????????????????????? ???????????????? ???????? ?????? ????????????????.


    ━???? ????????????!


    ━??????’?? ???????? ???????????? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????????????? ???? ???????????????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????????? ???? ????????, ?????? ??????’?? ???????? ?????? ???????????????????? ?????????????????? ???? ?? ??????????, ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ??????????????????. ??????’?? ???? ?????????? ???????????????? ???????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ??????. . .


    ━. . . . . .


    Jyanina was upset, but she endured it. Because the other party was the duke.


    And now.


    The fleet escorting Jyanina was anchored in the harbor.


    “Long live His Highness the Duke!! Long live His Highness the Duke!!”


    The people of the city and the lower nobles who had gathered shouted. In the Coolia fiefdom, the duke’s name was already something of a legend.


    His fame reached the heavens even in the empire, so the Coolia fiefdom, which had directly benefited from it, had nothing more to say.


    No wonder the minstrels went around saying, ‘???? ????????????, ???????? ?????????????? ?????????? ???????????? ?????????? ???? ?????????? ??????????????.’


    Coolia was a fiefdom that had be wealthy with the merchant ships and treasuresing in from the East.


    Even without that, everyone flocked to the harbor without being told, since the duke was finally returning after finishing his expedition.


    Just to see the duke in person and receive even a little bit of his divine presence!


    “. . .???”


    “Is that His Highness the Duke?”


    “No, you idiot. It’s a centaur.”


    “Where is he?”


    Of course, there was no way Johan, who wasn’t even there, would disembark. The people of the fiefdom waited in disappointment before dispersing.


    And the one who was the most bewildered was Jyanina. As soon as she disembarked, Jyanina grabbed the scribe by the cor and questioned him.


    “Why isn’t His Highness the Duke here!?”


    “H-How would I know that!?”


    Jyanina sat down in the courtyard in front of the inner pce with a look of despair. She had finallye to collect her share, but her strong backer had disappeared.


    It wasn’t like such arge fleet had sunk in a typhoon. . .


    Did he receive a demon’s curse?


    ‘. . .????, ????, ????. ???????????? ??????.’


    Although the pagans had spread rumors that ‘?????? ???????? ???????? ?? ???????? ???????? ?? ?????????? ?????? ???????????????? ??????????,’ not many people believed it seriously. He was too devout to be considered to have made a pact with a demon.


    However, his power was certainly demonic. Jyanina had also asked Suetlg furtively, ‘?????????? ???? ???? ?? ??-??. . .?’


    She was hit with a bucket of water and chased away. . .


    ‘?????????? ???? ???? ???????? ???? ???????????? ???????? ?????????????? ???? ?? ???????????’


    Not knowing what was going on, the lower nobles in the fiefdom came to Jyanina to ask for her opinion. She was a wizard who had participated in the expedition.


    “When will His Highness the Duke return?”


    “. . .He will probably arrive when the next fleet arrives.”


    “Is that so. . . Did something happen in the battle by any chance?”


    “What nonsense are you talking about. . .?”


    Jyanina was speechless. She realized what the nobles were suspicious of.


    They were worried that the duke had died in battle in the east or had copsed with serious injuries.


    “Stop talking nonsense! Does that make sense? His Highness the Duke is protected by God!”


    “Ah. I’m sorry.”


    ‘????????’?? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ?? ???????? ?????????????????? ?????????????’


    One of the nobles tilted his head. Wizards were often suspected of being non-religious, and Jyanina had more of those cases because of her usual conduct.


    Thanks to that, the nobles only had more unnecessary thoughts. Jyanina gave a detailed exnation to appease their suspicions.


    “I’ll tell you about the battle that took ce in the Holy Land. Now, listen carefully!”


    “Yes, Wizard.”


    “The number of enemies was two to three times ours. Maybe even four times. . . It was that big of a difference because all the pagans nearby flocked to us.”


    “Despite that, did you win? Were the enemy soldiers all conscripts?”


    “The knights filled the front and there were over a hundred noble gs, so that wasn’t it.”


    “. . . . . .”


    Jyanina was only rying what had actually happened, but a suspicious light gradually began to appear in the nobles’ eyes. Jyanina didn’t notice that and continued her exnation.


    “So how did His Highness the Duke win and reim the Holy Land. . .?”


    With two to three times the number of soldiers and a higher level, there seemed to be no way to win in reality.


    Jyanina nodded as if she had been waiting for that question.


    “The pagan chiefs came to His Highness the Duke at night. It was because they wanted to serve His Highness the Duke.”


    “. . .Why did the pagan chiefs. . .?”


    “Ah. That’s. . . His Highness the Duke had obtained a crown in the forest before. It was a crown that had disappeared from the Holy Land in the past. . .”


    “Didn’t the crown of the Holy Land belong to the guardian of the Holy Land? It’s a crown that has been passed down from generation to generation, so why?”


    “That’s because it was a fake! It was a fake, and in reality, the pagans had taken it, but it was revealed to be a fake. . .”


    “T-That’s right.”


    Their suspicions were gradually rising to a medium level. Jyanina continued to diligently list the events that had happened.


    “The battle became advantageous thanks to the pagan chiefs turning to His Highness the Duke. But the enemies held on tenaciously.”


    “Oh. . . That’s right.”


    “So His Highness the Duke charged into the enemy camp at night.”


    “That’s right.”


    “That’s how he won the battle. Got it?”


    “. . . . . .”


    “. . . . . .”


    The nobles looked at Jyanina with bewilderment and embarrassment. No matter how much of a wizard she was, this was a bit too much to just let go.


    “D-Did you just win? Did the enemies all turn into scarecrows overnight?”


    “No. . .! How stupid! That’s why, when His Highness the Duke went in at night and cut down everything he could reach, the enemies were so scared that they all ran away, and their camp copsed because of it!”


    “What did the enemymander do?”


    “The enemies would also have knights, right?”


    “They wouldn’t go out in person like you guys, but they would have asked questions!”


    When Jyanina got angry, the nobles flinched. There was nothing good about provoking a wizard.


    “I-I’m sorry, Wizard. It’s such a dramatic and ridiculous story. . .”


    “What?”


    “Ah, no! I’m not doubting you. I believe you.”


    One of the nobles opened his mouth to change the atmosphere.


    “How did you defeat the Sultan? I’m curious about that!”


    “Ah. That’s because. . . The army gathered across the river tried to cross it by doing this and that. . .”


    “Yes, I heard.”


    “The Sultan’s fleet sank. . .”


    “I heard that the Elf King was rescued!”


    “Didn’t the Sultan, enraged by that, fill up the river with magic andunch an all-out attack? I heard that His Highness the Duke fought against that!”


    “It wasn’t filled with magic, it was because of the cold.”


    “But I heard that it’s a river that never freezes.”


    “. . .In any case, the Sultan’srge army crossed the frozen river. They were more elite than the pagan army in the Holy Land, and their size must have been three or four times ours. Our expeditionary force also got into formation to match them.”


    At Jyanina’s words, the nobles made expectant expressions again.


    “The left wing was made up of the feudal lords nearby, so they copsed quickly. They ran away not long after the battle started.”


    “Hmph. . .!”


    “How could that be. . .!”


    “So His Highness the Duke charged.”


    The nobles nodded in sympathy.


    The heroic charge of a knight always inspired his allies.


    Surely there would have been an honorable duel between the knights, and the fleeing feudal lords would have returned, feeling ashamed.


    “Did the enemy knightse out and face His Highness the Duke?”


    “Ah. That was before the left wing ran away. He didn’t have any more duels after that.”


    “Then?”


    “His Highness the Duke just charged in, kept pushing forward, reached the Sultan’s tent, cut off his head,pletely broke through the center, and split it apart. . .”


    Jyanina also began to notice the nobles’ expressions. Even as she spoke, it sounded a bit too exaggerated.


    ‘. . .?????? ?? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ??????????????. . .?’


    She could say she heard the voice of God or that an earthquake urred. . .


    “And so the battle was over.”


    “. . . . . .”


    “. . . . . .”


    The nobles just blinked at each other and said nothing. They thanked Jyanina and walked out the door with slumped shoulders.


    After everyone had left, Jyanina quickly went up to the window and listened.


    “Waaah. . .! Something must have happened to the Duke!”


    “Oh,e on. . .! How could that be! He must be recuperating from his injuries. He’ll be back soon!”


    “If it was a minor injury, why would she tell such ridiculous lies! Waaahhhh!”


    “. . . . . .”


    Fortunately, not long after, a messenger came running from the west. It was a message saying that the duke hadnded in the west. Jyanina let out a sigh of relief.


    “Wait. . .could it be that the wizard made a fake letter? She’s a snakekin afterall. . .”


    “And I heard she also worked in the emperor’s court so. . .”


    “. . . . . .”,


    “Are you already back?”


    Johan looked at Gerdolf in surprise.


    He had gone to the fiefdom with his soldiers, so he would havee back a littleter after enjoying some rest, but he had returned too quickly.


    “Did Sir Inno not treat you well? He has gone too far.”


    “It wasn’t a big deal.”


    “How could you say that? Even if Sir Inno is your father, shouldn’t the other nobles have treated you better?”


    Johan frowned.


    Sir Inno, as the knight was also his own son, he may not have been able to openly express his joy.


    However, what were the other noble families in the area doing? Even if their rtionships were usually not good, when a knight returns sessfully from a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, by courtesy all shoulde out and congratte him.


    “I should tell the countess.”


    “It’s okay.”


    “No, you’re a little naive, so there are times when you fails to take care of things you should be taking care of.”


    “. . . . . .”


    “. . . . . .”


    The attendants following behind them flinched.


    Who’s naive?


    Gerdolf blushed with shame. It seemed he was considerably embarrassed by the duke’s words. The attendants trembled in fear at his unfamiliar appearance.


    “First, send a message to Countess Abner. Then, ask the scribe to write a letter for the envoy to take. Tell the nearby nobles to properly entertain their guests.”


    “Yes, I understand.”


    The contents of the letter the scribe wrote were a very mild reproach, but the nobles would understand its meaning.


    ━???? ?? ???????????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ?? ???????????????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????? ???????????? ??????????????????????, ???? ?????????? ???? ?? ?????? ?????? ?????????????????????? ??????????, ?????? ????????????’?? ???? ???????????? ???????? ???? ?? ?????????? ?????????????? ???????????


    ━>


    ━?? ???? ????????????????. ???? ?????? ??????’?? ???????? ???? ???? ?????????????? ???? ????????????, ??????????????????????????????, ???? ??????????????????, ?????? ????????????.


    “This should be enough. Send it.”


    “Yes!”


    ????????????


    While the nobles of the western empire were in a state of confusion over the sudden arrival of the letter and exchanging opinions, the next fleet safely arrived at Coolia harbor.


    Jyanina was also on board that fleet.


    ━???????? ???? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ???????????????? ??????????????, ??????’?? ???? ?? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????? ???? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????? ?????? ????????? ???????? ???? ?????????????????? ???????????????


    ━?? ?????? ?????????????? ????????!


    ━???? ???? ???????? ???? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????????????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ????????? ???????? ???? ?????????????????? ???????????????


    ━. . .???????? ????????????????, ????????’?? ?????? ?????????? ?? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ???????


    ━??’?? ??????????. ?? ???????? ???????? ???????????? ???????????? ???? ???????? ????????’?? ??????????????????, ?????? ???? ????’?? ???????? ????????, ????’???? ???????? ???? ?????? ?? ???????????????? ????????.


    ━????’?? ????????. ??’???? ???? ???????? ?????? ???????? ??????????.


    ━?????????? ???????? ???? ???????????????


    ━???? ?????? ????????, ???? ??????’?? ???? ???????? ???????? ?? ?????????? ???? ??????, ???????? ???? ??’?? ????????.


    Jyanina had a reason for saying this.


    Of course, it wasn’t bad to be on the duke’s ship. The ship would be thergest and strongest in the fleet, and the best sailors and captain would be sailing it.


    However, Jyanina’s position there would be, at best, an apprentice wizard or a wizard’s disciple. There were so many high-ranking people.


    Jyanina wanted to be the leader, even if it was a smaller ship. The saying, ‘????’?? ???????????? ???? ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ???? ?? ????????????,’ was true.


    The other wizards also supported Jyanina’s opinion.


    ━???? ?? ????????????, ???? ???????? ???? ?????????????????????????? ???? ?????????? ???????????? ?????????????????? ????????????????????. ???????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? ????????, ????’?? ???????? ?????????? ????’?? ??????????????-????????’?? ????????????. ?????????????? ???????? ???????????? ?????????????? ???? ???????? ????????????????????.


    ━?? ???????? ?????????? ????’?? ????????????????????. ?????????? ???????? ?????? ???? ???????? ?????????????????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????????????? ???????? ?????? ????????????????????? ???????? ???? ???? ?????? ?????? ?????????????????????? ????????????, ?????????? ?????? ??????’?? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????? ??????’?? ???? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ???? ????????????. . .


    ━. . . . . .


    In fact, Jyanina wanted to show the exotic animals to the nobles and rip them off, rather than the desire to have the mysteries as a wizard.


    When everyone else was carrying the fascinating treasures of the east, how discriminated would she be if she alone carried the animals of the east?


    However, she couldn’t just sit still when the wizards said that. Jyanina nodded vigorously.


    ━????????. . . ???????? ???? ??????????????. ??????’?? ?????????? ?????????????????????? ???????????????? ???????? ?????? ????????????????.


    ━???? ????????????!


    ━??????’?? ???????? ???????????? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????????????? ???? ???????????????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????????? ???? ????????, ?????? ??????’?? ???????? ?????? ???????????????????? ?????????????????? ???? ?? ??????????, ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ??????????????????. ??????’?? ???? ?????????? ???????????????? ???????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ??????. . .


    ━. . . . . .


    Jyanina was upset, but she endured it. Because the other party was the duke.


    And now.


    The fleet escorting Jyanina was anchored in the harbor.


    “Long live His Highness the Duke!! Long live His Highness the Duke!!”


    The people of the city and the lower nobles who had gathered shouted. In the Coolia fiefdom, the duke’s name was already something of a legend.


    His fame reached the heavens even in the empire, so the Coolia fiefdom, which had directly benefited from it, had nothing more to say.


    No wonder the minstrels went around saying, ‘???? ????????????, ???????? ?????????????? ?????????? ???????????? ?????????? ???? ?????????? ??????????????.’


    Coolia was a fiefdom that had be wealthy with the merchant ships and treasuresing in from the East.


    Even without that, everyone flocked to the harbor without being told, since the duke was finally returning after finishing his expedition.


    Just to see the duke in person and receive even a little bit of his divine presence!


    “. . .???”


    “Is that His Highness the Duke?”


    “No, you idiot. It’s a centaur.”


    “Where is he?”


    Of course, there was no way Johan, who wasn’t even there, would disembark. The people of the fiefdom waited in disappointment before dispersing.


    And the one who was the most bewildered was Jyanina. As soon as she disembarked, Jyanina grabbed the scribe by the cor and questioned him.


    “Why isn’t His Highness the Duke here!?”


    “H-How would I know that!?”


    Jyanina sat down in the courtyard in front of the inner pce with a look of despair. She had finallye to collect her share, but her strong backer had disappeared.


    It wasn’t like such arge fleet had sunk in a typhoon. . .


    Did he receive a demon’s curse?


    ‘. . .????, ????, ????. ???????????? ??????.’


    Although the pagans had spread rumors that ‘?????? ???????? ???????? ?? ???????? ???????? ?? ?????????? ?????? ???????????????? ??????????,’ not many people believed it seriously. He was too devout to be considered to have made a pact with a demon.


    However, his power was certainly demonic. Jyanina had also asked Suetlg furtively, ‘?????????? ???? ???? ?? ??-??. . .?’


    She was hit with a bucket of water and chased away. . .


    ‘?????????? ???? ???? ???????? ???? ???????????? ???????? ?????????????? ???? ?? ???????????’


    Not knowing what was going on, the lower nobles in the fiefdom came to Jyanina to ask for her opinion. She was a wizard who had participated in the expedition.


    “When will His Highness the Duke return?”


    “. . .He will probably arrive when the next fleet arrives.”


    “Is that so. . . Did something happen in the battle by any chance?”


    “What nonsense are you talking about. . .?”


    Jyanina was speechless. She realized what the nobles were suspicious of.


    They were worried that the duke had died in battle in the east or had copsed with serious injuries.


    “Stop talking nonsense! Does that make sense? His Highness the Duke is protected by God!”


    “Ah. I’m sorry.”


    ‘????????’?? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ?? ???????? ?????????????????? ?????????????’


    One of the nobles tilted his head. Wizards were often suspected of being non-religious, and Jyanina had more of those cases because of her usual conduct.


    Thanks to that, the nobles only had more unnecessary thoughts. Jyanina gave a detailed exnation to appease their suspicions.


    “I’ll tell you about the battle that took ce in the Holy Land. Now, listen carefully!”


    “Yes, Wizard.”


    “The number of enemies was two to three times ours. Maybe even four times. . . It was that big of a difference because all the pagans nearby flocked to us.”


    “Despite that, did you win? Were the enemy soldiers all conscripts?”


    “The knights filled the front and there were over a hundred noble gs, so that wasn’t it.”


    “. . . . . .”


    Jyanina was only rying what had actually happened, but a suspicious light gradually began to appear in the nobles’ eyes. Jyanina didn’t notice that and continued her exnation.


    “So how did His Highness the Duke win and reim the Holy Land. . .?”


    With two to three times the number of soldiers and a higher level, there seemed to be no way to win in reality.


    Jyanina nodded as if she had been waiting for that question.


    “The pagan chiefs came to His Highness the Duke at night. It was because they wanted to serve His Highness the Duke.”


    “. . .Why did the pagan chiefs. . .?”


    “Ah. That’s. . . His Highness the Duke had obtained a crown in the forest before. It was a crown that had disappeared from the Holy Land in the past. . .”


    “Didn’t the crown of the Holy Land belong to the guardian of the Holy Land? It’s a crown that has been passed down from generation to generation, so why?”


    “That’s because it was a fake! It was a fake, and in reality, the pagans had taken it, but it was revealed to be a fake. . .”


    “T-That’s right.”


    Their suspicions were gradually rising to a medium level. Jyanina continued to diligently list the events that had happened.


    “The battle became advantageous thanks to the pagan chiefs turning to His Highness the Duke. But the enemies held on tenaciously.”


    “Oh. . . That’s right.”


    “So His Highness the Duke charged into the enemy camp at night.”


    “That’s right.”


    “That’s how he won the battle. Got it?”


    “. . . . . .”


    “. . . . . .”


    The nobles looked at Jyanina with bewilderment and embarrassment. No matter how much of a wizard she was, this was a bit too much to just let go.


    “D-Did you just win? Did the enemies all turn into scarecrows overnight?”


    “No. . .! How stupid! That’s why, when His Highness the Duke went in at night and cut down everything he could reach, the enemies were so scared that they all ran away, and their camp copsed because of it!”


    “What did the enemymander do?”


    “The enemies would also have knights, right?”


    “They wouldn’t go out in person like you guys, but they would have asked questions!”


    When Jyanina got angry, the nobles flinched. There was nothing good about provoking a wizard.


    “I-I’m sorry, Wizard. It’s such a dramatic and ridiculous story. . .”


    “What?”


    “Ah, no! I’m not doubting you. I believe you.”


    One of the nobles opened his mouth to change the atmosphere.


    “How did you defeat the Sultan? I’m curious about that!”


    “Ah. That’s because. . . The army gathered across the river tried to cross it by doing this and that. . .”


    “Yes, I heard.”


    “The Sultan’s fleet sank. . .”


    “I heard that the Elf King was rescued!”


    “Didn’t the Sultan, enraged by that, fill up the river with magic andunch an all-out attack? I heard that His Highness the Duke fought against that!”


    “It wasn’t filled with magic, it was because of the cold.”


    “But I heard that it’s a river that never freezes.”


    “. . .In any case, the Sultan’srge army crossed the frozen river. They were more elite than the pagan army in the Holy Land, and their size must have been three or four times ours. Our expeditionary force also got into formation to match them.”


    At Jyanina’s words, the nobles made expectant expressions again.


    “The left wing was made up of the feudal lords nearby, so they copsed quickly. They ran away not long after the battle started.”


    “Hmph. . .!”


    “How could that be. . .!”


    “So His Highness the Duke charged.”


    The nobles nodded in sympathy.


    The heroic charge of a knight always inspired his allies.


    Surely there would have been an honorable duel between the knights, and the fleeing feudal lords would have returned, feeling ashamed.


    “Did the enemy knightse out and face His Highness the Duke?”


    “Ah. That was before the left wing ran away. He didn’t have any more duels after that.”


    “Then?”


    “His Highness the Duke just charged in, kept pushing forward, reached the Sultan’s tent, cut off his head,pletely broke through the center, and split it apart. . .”


    Jyanina also began to notice the nobles’ expressions. Even as she spoke, it sounded a bit too exaggerated.


    ‘. . .?????? ?? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ??????????????. . .?’


    She could say she heard the voice of God or that an earthquake urred. . .


    “And so the battle was over.”


    “. . . . . .”


    “. . . . . .”


    The nobles just blinked at each other and said nothing. They thanked Jyanina and walked out the door with slumped shoulders.


    After everyone had left, Jyanina quickly went up to the window and listened.


    “Waaah. . .! Something must have happened to the Duke!”


    “Oh,e on. . .! How could that be! He must be recuperating from his injuries. He’ll be back soon!”


    “If it was a minor injury, why would she tell such ridiculous lies! Waaahhhh!”


    “. . . . . .”


    Fortunately, not long after, a messenger came running from the west. It was a message saying that the duke hadnded in the west. Jyanina let out a sigh of relief.


    “Wait. . .could it be that the wizard made a fake letter? She’s a snakekin afterall. . .”


    “And I heard she also worked in the emperor’s court so. . .”


    “. . . . . .”