Genjitsushugisha no Oukokukaizouki - Volume 18 - Chapter 9.1

Chapter 9: A Heated Battle! The Red Dragon City Front

“It’s finally beginning,” Carl said with a gulp.

The boy looked like he couldn’t be more than twelve or so, but he was doing all he could to stand up in the face of the fear and pressure of war.

As was apparent with Aisha and Naden, the long-lived races’ emotional age was somewhat tied to the age they looked. Born to two dragonewts, who lived even longer than the elven races, Carl’s physical and mental development was slower, and he still appeared as a child.

Regardless, now that he had become the head of the House of Vargas in place of his father and elder sister, he could not act like a scared, panicked little boy. Tolman knew that, so he continued as if he didn’t notice how tense he was.

“Yes. His Majesty’s orders are to defend Red Dragon City to the death. We were able to arrange a suitable environment for raising wyverns here with Lady Tomoe’s advice; it greatly raised the combat potential of the National Air Defense Force. It will be a great loss to the kingdom should this place be taken or destroyed. We also cannot simply allow the enemy to pass by. We must either buy time until His Majesty’s preparations are complete or draw away part of the enemy force.”

“I know that... It’s why His Majesty sent half the Air Force and thirty thousand soldiers here.”

His elder sister, Carla, was a hot-blooded commander like his father, Castor, but Carl took after his serious and quiet mother, Accela. He might have lacked the aura of command his father and sister possessed, but his earnest, straightforward personality was well regarded by Souma, the other elites of the country, and the people of his domain. He had supported the House of Vargas through tough times when a deft hand was needed at the helm. However, open conflict changed things.

This was the first war Carl, who was not fond of violence, would face as the head of the house. It wasn’t just a skirmish either. He was on the front line of a great war that had embroiled the whole world. It was only natural that his insecurity felt like it was crushing him.

Just as he was hanging his head, looking like his heart might break...

“You’re a commander now. Keep your head high, Carl!” a voice shouted.

“Ah—” Carl stood up straight at this rebuke.

Two people strode towards him—with dragon wings, horns, and tails emblematic of dragonewts, and the same red hair as his own.

“Father! Sister!” Carl cried out with glee.

It was Castor and Carla, both of whom were supposed to have been thrown out of the House of Vargas.

The House of Vargas had garnered sympathy as the true reasons for Georg Carmine’s rebellion came to light. Castor’s achievements in the kaiju hunt in the Nine-Headed Dragon Archipelago and Carla’s defense of Souma in the battle with the Seadians had finally made it possible for them to return. However, in order to take proper responsibility for their past actions and because they had both found worthwhile jobs—Castor as the captain of the carrier Hiryuu and Carla as caretaker of the princes and princesses—neither had tried to return before now.

But with both the Kingdom and Red Dragon City in crisis, Souma had ordered them to return to Red Dragon City.

“Sorry, Carl,” Carla said with a smile. “We’ve kept you waiting, huh?”

“Sniff... Yes! I’ve been waiting for you, Sister!” Carl responded energetically, rubbing his eyes with his sleeve.

For Carl, who had been struggling with uncertainty, their return was more reassuring than the arrival of ten thousand soldiers.

Castor went over to talk to Tolman. “I’ve caused a lot of trouble for you too, Tolman. Thank you for looking after Carl.”

“Think nothing of it, Master... No, I suppose I am to call you ‘Captain’ now?”

“Yeah. Carl is the current head of our house.”

“Well then, Captain. Although it might not have felt long to someone as long-lived as you, as far as I’m concerned, we’ve worked together for a long time. As one used to being dragged around by your whims, looking after your earnest son has been no trouble whatsoever.”

“Harsh words right out the gate, huh? I ought to have expected that from my former steward,” Castor said with a wry smile.

“Father,” Carl called out as he approached. “Since you’ve returned, can I leave command of our forces to you?”

Carl sounded hopeful, but Castor shook his head.

“No. Carla and I both came here as combatants. As the head of the house now, you must do your best with Tolman’s support. I’ll support you too, of course.”

“O-Oh, no...”

Carl didn’t know what to say after being rebuffed. Carla clapped her hands down on his shoulders.

“Don’t look like that. No one is asking you to be a perfect commander all on your own. Father and I have both failed. We almost destroyed this house with our hardheadedness.”

“Sister...”

“Look at the battle with your own eyes. If you find your own abilities lacking, learn from others. If you can’t fight yourself, encourage the troops and be with them in your heart. If you do your best, someone will see that and support you.”

“Yeah. I’m sure you’ll make a better lord than I was,” Castor said, to which Carla nodded.

“‘The longer you walk, the more hands there will be to support you,’” she said, quoting a lullaby from this world.

It was the same one that Juna sang to Souma during his first year when he was about to be crushed under all the exhaustion and pressure.

Carl raised his head. “Yes! I’ll do my best!”

His still-childlike face was full of determination. Castor, Carla, and Tolman all nodded with satisfaction.

“Oh, my. You all look like you’re having fun,” said a voice.

Someone new strode over to join them. This woman also had the traits of a dragonewt, with a single horn on her forehead, dragon wings on her back, and a tail, but her hair and scales were blue. She donned a marine uniform similar to Juna’s, with a rapier on her hip.

Before them stood Accela, the child of Excel and her (now deceased) partner, Castor’s wife, and the mother of Carla and Carl.

“Wait, Accela?! What are you doing dressed like that?!” Castor asked, eyes wide with surprise.

She had a comely face that resembled Excel’s but was known for being a quiet beauty, not conniving like her mother. And yet, here she was in full combat uniform. Carla, Carl, and Tolman were speechless.

“W-Wait... You’re not going to fight, are you?!” Castor asked.

“Oh, my.” Accela smiled. “Have you forgotten just whose daughter I am?”

“Duchess Walter’s, obviously.”

“Yes. And I led the Marines under her command before I married you.”

This was the point where Castor finally remembered. Half a century had passed since they were wed, so he’d forgotten until just now, but Accela had been a commander of the Marines like Juna. After getting married, she told Castor, “I want to spend some time away from the battlefield to be with our children as a mother,” and had been living the life of a fine lady ever since, but she had originally been a soldier. Perhaps Carla’s bloodthirsty personality (which had largely been tamed through Serina’s training) wasn’t entirely Castor’s fault.

Accela spun around and showed off for them. “It’s been a while since I’ve put this on. I’m relieved it still fits.”

“Of course it does. Your figure hasn’t changed in the last fifty years...”

“What do you think, Carla, Carl? Does it suit me?”

When she asked the children their thoughts...

“Don’t ask questions we don’t want to answer! It’s embarrassing!”

“M-Motheeer...”

Carla and Carl were both as awkward as they’d be listening to the story of how their parents first met. Tolman, meanwhile, was averting his eyes and trying to avoid getting caught up in it. Despite all this, Castor somehow managed to recover and turned to Accela with a stern expression.

“I’ll ask once more. Are you planning to fight?”

“Yes, Castor. I won’t let you leave me out of it any longer,” she said, smiling. But her eyes told a different story. “Back then, I went to my mother’s side, hoping to at least protect Carl, but what I really wanted was to fight by your side. I never want to be put in a position where I have to watch from a distance as my husband and daughter fight for their lives again. This time, I will protect the house and my family.”

“Accela...”

Her words were full of conviction. Carl was almost moved by them, but then...Accela grinned and clapped her hands.

“I had my mother send a whole load of cannons and cannonballs for such an occasion. I’ve made a bunch of other preparations too, so let’s all put them to good use.”

Accela said this with the same tone as someone saying, “My folks back home sent us some apples, so let’s all eat them together.” Everyone was made aware that this woman was unquestionably Excel’s daughter.

“Uh, our liege said that we don’t have to push things,” Castor advised, “we can just play for time...”

“Now that the whole family’s together, we should celebrate that with a bang!”

“Don’t say dangerous things so casually! Are you enjoying this?! You are, aren’t you?!”

Accela was acting playful—as playful as explosives can be, that is—while Castor was being dragged around at her whim.

As Carla and Carl watched their parents carry on like this, Carl said, “Sister... Their blood runs in my veins, doesn’t it?”

“Yeah... Just like it runs in mine.”

“Mm-hmm... I’m starting to feel like I can give it my all.”

“That’s exactly how a man of the House of Vargas should be...is what I ought to say, I guess?”

They both had incredibly awkward looks on their faces.