Epilogue
With the match concluded, the audience began filing out of the maneuvering grounds. They were all thinking back on the match held that evening, basking in the afterglow of what they saw. And so, none of them noticed the hooded figure retreating away, after watching over the maneuvering grounds from behind a tree a short distance away.
So those are that man’s soldiers...
Dilphina thought back to the match she had just watched. The courage to face an opponent that is overwhelmingly stronger than yourself unflinchingly. A way of using thaumaturgy that allows one to overcome the gap in skill. And a trust and cooperation between five people.
This match displayed all of these capabilities. As a warrior herself, Dilphina couldn’t help but admire it. But while she wanted to praise the match as a warrior, her status as a chief’s daughter didn’t allow her the leisure to do so freely.
I serve that man on my father’s request, but...
Her father, Nelcius, asked her to serve at Ryoma’s side in order to ascertain his intentions and, should the need call for it, kill him. And Dilphina would never forget Nelcius’s expression when he told her to do so, even if she had to sacrifice her own life for it.
A parent ordering their child to commit murder even at the cost of their own life. One could imagine the sorrow and sadness it must have brought Nelcius. But it was because she knew this that Dilphina refused to betray her father’s expectations.
If things come down to an assassination, I would have to break through a defensive network made up of those kinds of soldiers...
Thankfully, no reason that would force Nelcius to order Ryoma’s assassination had come up, but there was always the chance it might happen. They had stayed in Sirius and gained a great deal of information, but this was the first time Dilphina had seen the soldiers Ryoma raised perform in live combat. She’d heard rumors, but seeing it for herself told a different story from what she’d heard.
Of course, Dilphina herself was the daughter of the infamous Mad Demon Nelcius, and the strongest warrior of her tribe. For two hundred and fifty years, she had fought the monsters infesting the Wortenia Peninsula. And in that regard, Ryoma’s soldiers, with their several months of training, would be no match for her.
But they did have unwavering will and faith. They would no doubt fight to defend Ryoma Mikoshiba even at the cost of their own lives. And it is said that the strongest soldiers in the world are those resolved to lay down their lives. A heart that doesn’t break is the greatest strength of all, and even Dilphina would struggle to break through a frontal assault against such soldiers.
In that case...
If a frontal assault was out of the question, one choice remained.
Thankfully, that man doesn’t seem to be too cautious of me...
When Dilphina returned to Sirius after Ryoma rescued her from the pirates and returned her to the village, Ryoma simply regarded her with a somewhat confused expression but didn’t say anything in particular. And when she asked to escort him on this expedition, he simply warned her to hide her identity as an elf from the others and allowed her to come along.
Dilphina didn’t know what his intentions were, but she did know this man paid close attention to her.
Perhaps I should sleep with him once... I heard humans find our appearance attractive...
In truth, the idea of the filthy humans finding her attractive made her sick to her stomach. Elves were called living jewels and were sold for high prices among humans. And Dilphina was considered incredibly beautiful among the elves. Should she offer her body, no man alive would refuse.
Sharing his bedchambers should allow me to easily assassinate him...
With that thought in mind, Dilphina took off into the dark night, with no one being aware of her sprinting shadow...
And so, Ryoma Mikoshiba, who had arrived as reinforcements from Rhoadseria, prepared to plunge into war with the Empire of O’ltormea alongside Rhoadseria’s knights.
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