Rebirth in a Ruined Nation! The Life of a New Strategist Starting From Now - Chapter 39

Drifting Ship Disturbance (5) – The Most Stubborn Man in the Order

If I had to describe General Zackhart in one word, it would be “upright.”

Even if he was dealing with the King, if he thought it was wrong, he would say so firmly.

The tale of how he yelled at the previous King has become legend.

While we were greeting him, his men lined up on both sides with their hands on their backs and stood motionless, demonstrating how strict Zackhart-sama was.

The disciplined 3rd Division was powerful. I had used more vague language to describe the 3rd Division to the King for my own safety, but I believe the 3rd Division was as strong as the 1st and 10th Divisions.

Zackhart-sama was a general who had served since the reign of the previous king. His wealth of expertise and exceptional ability to devise strategies based on that experience set him apart from the other Knight Commander.

The 3rd Division was entrusted with the Gedland port, one of this kingdom’s most significant locations, because it was led by a general like Zackhart-sama.

There was one more thing. I, personally, have a deep admiration for this person, more than admiration I held for any other generals. In the future I knew, the burning capital was attacked from the east by the Empire and from the west by Gorber.

Rudek Kingdom has pushed Gorber Kingdom back because of a certain incident, while the Empire force has been successfully kept at bay by the Order. But that day, the situation changed drastically.

With the news that the capital was on fire, soldiers from the Lifrea Holy Kingdom attacked from the north, followed by the Empire from the east, and the Gorber from the west. The majority of the Order’s members died as a result of this.

Rudek’s proud knights were defeated without being able to put up a meaningful resistance, with the exception of the 3rd Division. 

Using Gedland as a base, the 3rd Division welcomed the defeated Rudek knights into their ranks and demonstrated tremendous resistance against the enemy despite the vast difference in numbers.

The battle lasted three months. Eventually, the town of Gedland was reduced to ashes.

In fact, after successfully capturing Gedland, the Lifrea Holy Kingdom was forced to create another port town nearby.

By the way, the people of Gedland had already been evacuated by the Navy, so only the knights died in this battle.

The story of Zackhart-sama and the 3rd Division’s tenacious resistance was eventually immortalized as a play that was performed by the traveling troupe, and the tale quickly traveled across the entire continent.

The name of the play was The Last Battle of Rudek.

I hated that play.

I didn’t want to see that play ever again.

“Why are you spacing out?”

Zackhart-sama asked me with a displeased tone and I hastily apologized for my rudeness.

“My apologies. I was feeling moved because I finally have the chance to meet the famous General Zackhart and the 3rd Division so I-”

“Stop with the flattery.” He interrupted me.

“It wasn’t flattery, sir. The 3rd Division, led by the most experienced Knight Commander, was the division deeply trusted by the King. It was truly an honor to meet you. Apart from that, the 3rd Division is the division to which I feel the closest.”

“Closest? But you said you met us for the first time earlier?”

“This is the first time I’ve met the people of the 3rd Division as an adult. I am from the Kuzeru village near Gedland. My father used to take me with him to Gedland to sell fish when I was a child. Many times during that period, I was shown kindness by the knights of the 3rd Division.”

Although the Order’s 3rd Division could be called the most disciplined division, they have been stationed in Gedland for a long time, so they have a close relationship with the citizens of Gedland.

The 3rd Division knights would frequently give sweets secretly to the children playing near the coast. They also gave those sweets to me as a child.

I noticed that Zackhart-sama’s expression softened slightly after hearing my words

“I see, so you’re a child from Kuzeru…”

The general remained silent after that.

…Did I offend him somehow?

Luzel reappeared just as I was going to ask the general if I had made a mistake. What perfect timing.

“I apologize for keeping you waiting. I’ve scheduled a meeting with that person–is there something wrong?”

Probably aware of the unusual atmosphere between us, Luzel asked, confusedly.

“It’s nothing. Go. You should finish your mission. You shouldn’t be wasting time here.”

Zackhart-sama then left, and the atmosphere in the room became slightly more relaxed.

“Roa, what happened?” Luzel inquired, his voice anxious.

“….That’s my question.”

I was also puzzled as to why the general had abruptly changed his demeanor.

***

The Sarshan, who appeared to be the most important person on that drifting ship, was now confined to a single room in the lord’s palace. Well, even if I called it a room, it was more like a separate building. The sight of the 3rd Division knights guarding that building was quite impressive.

The knights let us in easily since Luzel had informed them of our arrival. Luzel did look like an excellent knight…Well, as long as you ignore his crazy obsession with horses.

There were also female knights who guarded the inside. Our guests, on the other hand, remained silent in their room.

I paused for a bit before knocking on the door.

“Come in,” a small voice on the other side of the door said.

A young woman with deep blue hair and red-tinged eyes was sitting gracefully in the room. I gave her a polite smile.

There was also another Sarshan woman standing beside her. She must be the woman’s attendant. That attendant looked at me cautiously.

The woman who sat in the chair widened her eyes when she saw us, likely because of Rufa.

“I never thought I would meet such a young Sarshan girl here.”

“Hello, my name is Rufa. I am here to accompany you on the orders of the Deputy Commander of the 10th Division, Rays-sama. May I ask your name?”

It was a pleasant greeting, which was surprising, given Rufa’s usual bluntness. The attendant’s attitude softened slightly after seeing Rufa.

“You’re a member of the Order? At that age? Well, we can also talk about your story! I am really bored here, you know! We traveled all the way from our kingdom, yet I’m not even allowed to visit the town? That’s too much! Don’t you think so?”

Luluria. That was how this woman, who arrived in the territory of the kingdom that had a hostile relationship with her destination, and who was so calm it was difficult to believe she was currently being confined, introduced herself.

T/N: another small change. Vice commander -> Deputy Commander.

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