146 – Chapter 45. Sandstorm – 1
– 147 –
The season has come when winter has receded and the energy of spring is in the buds and raising your head.
In the garden of the Duke Cruel’s house, the small winter flowers that had bloomed during the winter had fallen, and fresh springtime plants began to grow.
Since graduating at the end of last year, I have been living in the duke’s house.
Armion was still working at the military academy, so now that winter break is over, he is living at the school.
All he was doing these days was playing with his cousin Cress, who had just turned the age of a senior in elementary school.
I can feel that guy is avoiding me little by little. I’ve already reached puberty, and I’ve done one inside and one out, but that’s not the case again.
It turns out that I was quite shocked by my identity announced earlier this year.
I feel a little sorry.
“Erif. This is an invitation from Erif-sama this week.”
I was warming up in the drawing room after a short outing, and the user brought a basket full of letters and hot tea.
“Thank you.”
The user bowed his head without saying a word and stepped back.
From an unknown adopted child who suddenly appeared to the
Duke, he became a more honorable foodie than the king, but the users treated him well without any change in attitude.
The duke must have carefully taught me, or he must have known who I was in the first place.
I liked it either way.
After my identity was revealed, invitations came from all over the place, and I was sober.
At first, I thought about going to visit the major dignitaries recommended by the Duke, but it was not fun, so I gave up quickly and went only to the places I wanted to go.
To be honest, I was wondering if I could have this kind of leisure in a situation where I didn’t know when the war would actually start in earnest, but after the war, I can’t even if I want to do it.
I should enjoy it at times like this.
It’s a fact I didn’t know, but I was the type of person who secretly enjoyed things like parties.
There weren’t too many people talking to me tiredly than I thought, and I can eat delicious things to my heart’s content.
Occasionally, there were people who stuck with me to get a connection, but when I glanced at it, they all started crawling on their own.
Such people were terrified in front of soldiers who had been through a real war.
“This time, there are a lot of them.”
As the war drew near, the nobles and the rich were throwing a party like they thought this was the last time.
Even the thrifty dukes of Cruel held simple parties a couple of times a month, so those who were originally extravagant would be terrified.
I spilled the contents of the basket on the table, skimmed it, and pulled out just three sheets.
They were familiar names.
The Royal Family of Selmeier, Count Seine, Romanos Top.
“It must be a meeting with the royal family, and Chermiane must have been crazy, but she invited me. And even twins.”
Fortunately, the dates did not overlap.
It was a problem if it was 3 days in a row starting from tomorrow.
“I have to prepare what I will wear tomorrow.”
I am the royal-top-country in order, so I have to spend two days in the capital after attending meetings and parties, and then spending a day in Stilon.
Should I pack my luggage in advance?
The number of dresses the Duchess bought was a little too much for her to wear, so she was going to wear an officer’s uniform prepared by the military.
“… ….”
“Ugh.”
As she was packing up her letters and leaving the parlor, she saw the Duchess leaning against the door and looking at me with a sad expression.
She nodded her head at her pricking heart and walked past her as she grabbed my arm.
“I have never seen Miss Erif wear the dress I bought. Do you not like it?”
“Yes? No, that’s…….”
Rolling her eyes to and fro, contemplating an excuse, she was forced to answer.
“I will wear it this time.”
She watched the Duchess’ face brightening in an instant, and she secretly sighed.
And the next day, I became a change-up doll and changed dozens of dresses under the hands of the Duchess and her maids.
“Erif looks great in anything she wears.”
“How about this?”
“It’s refreshing and nice. Can you find a corsage similar to the color of your clothes?”
“Yes!”
Except for me, all the women in the house were excited and busy.
But why do you think I’m the most tired when I’m still?
“By the way, today is a meeting, not a party, shouldn’t we wear military uniforms?”
– I tried, but it was rejected, saying, ‘If you are a woman of a noble family, you must wear a dress to a party or a meeting’.
In the end, I was barely released when the meeting time was running out.
I got into the duke’s car wearing a pale yellow pastel-tone semi-dress like a forsythia and a dress hat.
“Good luck!”
I put my exhausted body on a chair as I was seen off by the Duchess and her servants.
“Whoa.”
The meeting hasn’t even started, but it’s already snowing.
I couldn’t lie down or lean on my back for fear that my clothes would get wrinkled, so I sat down and fell asleep before arriving at the royal palace.
“Welcome back, Erif-sama.”
Leaving the driver with a particularly bright smile behind him, he headed for the building where the meeting was held.
“The bottom line is that the resistance forces of Kanbal turned to the rest of Ireland for help. In particular, they want direct military action from Selmeier and the Holy Kingdom, who are facing the border.”
The first hour of the meeting.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs glanced at me while talking about the Kanbal Resistance, the reason for the meeting today.
“That’s right.”
The Crown Prince, the organizer of the meeting, also replied sternly and glanced at this side.
“Uh-huh.”
I couldn’t stand it, and when I cleared my throat, everyone was startled and started pretending to be skeptical.
As I sat like a flower in a desolate conference room where senior officials and generals were gathered, it felt like my mentality was being ripped off in many ways.
I’ll just sneak in the officer’s uniform and change into it.
“Well, then, what did the resistance forces of Kanbal say they could give in return? You never know when a war with the demons will break out, so he will have to spare his troops.”
After the Minister of Home Affairs said, the staff began to explain.
“They are promoting ‘information’ and ‘backward stability’. From what we had negotiated beforehand, that information was quite important.”
“Ummm. What kind of information was it?”
The staff thought for a moment, then lowered her voice and answered.
“It was information about the demon bases in the continent of Ireland. It is said that not only in the Kanbal Kingdom, but in other countries as well.”
The conference room started buzzing like I had just come in.
It was a slightly different reaction from back then.
“Other countries? Is our Selmeier included?”
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People were satisfied with my question.
Everyone seemed to like the word ‘our Selmeier’.
It’s hard to go anywhere else because I’m stuck here anyway.
“Yes. I’m guessing that’s probably the case.”
The conference room became noisy once more.
You wouldn’t be able to tolerate the fact that there are enemy’s secret bases in our country.
However, like the last time the demons terrorized, in the countryside or in the mountains where it is difficult to get news, they will be able to secretly build a base.
The Kanbal Resistance must have stolen information from within the Kingdom Army.
The demons will cause terrorism within each country and cooperate with the Kanbal Kingdom forces.
In that sense, the ‘rear stability’ advocated by the resistance forces of Kanbal was very important.
The inside must be stable to fight the outside.
“I have no choice but to accept it.”
The Crown Prince lowered his voice and concluded with a low voice.
The Minister of National Defense accepted his words, but he did not forget to consider various things.
“Of course. However, the size of the dispatch is an issue. Considering the last war with the Kanbal Kingdom, it is by no means an easy opponent. Besides, there must be demons.”
“It is difficult to deal with enemies in the north now. The Confederacy’s leadership will not allow too many troop withdrawals. In addition, we must prepare for internal terrorism.”
“Well. I think we should discuss the size of the dispatch with the Holy Kingdom.”
It seems that it is difficult to dispatch large-scale troops.
But the resistance will still be pushed back at this time.
I heard that the Resistance has been fighting the Kingdom Army for several years, and those who endure this long despite a large power difference will surely be of great help in the war against the demons.
“Then what if I go?”
Everyone’s eyes turned to me again.
Embarrassed glances passed, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who was quite knowledgeable with me, hesitated to talk.
“Unlike a while ago, Erif is now a symbolic person who protects our country. You’d better save your strength until there’s an all-out war with the demons…….”
“Can’t this be seen as one of the wars with demons? The Kanbal Kingdom Army can be said to be the subordinate of the demons, and you can also get information about the demon bases inside the continent.”
“But-“
“Okay. Mr. Erif. Then, please take care of me in this case.”
When the elderly middle-aged crown prince bowed his head to me, his ministers and generals opened his mouth wide in amazement.
The Crown Prince, who had met Arumanan and Master Chromanium and felt their influence, treated me more graciously than the servants who were not yet familiar with
Human spirits.
“Of course. Generals, prepare your troops and supplies. I will make contact with the Kanbal resistance in four days.”
“I see.”
The meeting ended with the generals saluting me.
I don’t have a position yet, but the word ‘Great Marshal’ was often used.
So, no matter how high-ranked generals were, they would salute me when they saw me, so it was quite burdensome at first.
I’ve already gotten used to it in a few months.
“Then are you going again?”
“Yes. This time, Kanbal.”
A large building in the capital city of Ekarta with twin tops.
The twin brothers and sisters, who have grown up all of a sudden, were still showing off their dazzling beauty.
“It’s almost the first time I’ve seen Erif in a dress.”
“It’s a sacred shoe to wear bottoms in the house.”
Rian chuckled and laughed.
Even though she was a woman, she was as tall as a man of any height, leading me as an escort and walking around the party hall with me.
In the distance, I saw Sian, one of the twins, surrounded by people.
“Cian. Long time no see.”
“Oh. Come on, Erif. Four months?”
“Yeah, didn’t you see me on graduation day?”
“We saw you.”
“That’s right. It was impressive to see the headmaster crouch.”
“Because it is the center of future power.”
The twins chatted and made fun of me.
After all, my friends don’t have much respect for me.
So I like it.
After the party was over, I met the twins’ father for a while and had a brief conversation.
We talked about a simple international situation, and it was immediately clear that he was a very resourceful person.
“Tomorrow, Chermiane is going to play. Maybe the last party.”
“We wanted to go too, but we couldn’t go because we were busy with work in the capital.”
“Yes. I’ll give you my regards.”
After the twins party was over, I headed to Stilon without a break.
“Oh, Erif-sama. Welcome.”
“Excuse me, Countess.”
I arrived in the middle of the night, but Count Seine prepared a room for me to make sure I had been informed in advance.
“Cermia will come tomorrow afternoon for the union meeting. Until then, rest well.”
“Thank you.”
As soon as I unpacked, washed, and laid down on the soft bed, I fell asleep.
The next afternoon, the Count’s Party Hall.
“I went! Oh? Erif?”
She entered her mansion in the Union uniform, and when she saw me in a dress, she covered her mouth in astonishment.
“Rachel! Do you have a dress that Erif wears similar to hers?”
“I have already prepared it, lady.”
“As expected, Rachel!”
Chermia, who gave her thumbs up to her handmaiden, Jean, shook her head and headed to her dressing room to change her clothes.
The woman’s preparation time was unusually long, but Chermia finished her preparations in less than 10 minutes and she came out.
She wore very little makeup, but she was so good at the original version that Chermia, who appeared in her innocent look, put her arms around me.
“Erif. It’s so pretty because she’s wearing a dress.”
“Cermia is pretty too. Now I can get married.”
“He’s really good too.”
Chermia’s face went red and she fanned her with the palm of her hand.
She probably has Shane’s face in her mind.
“What about Shane?”
“I left to practice. Has she not been contacted?”
“Yes. He doesn’t want to be suspicious of you, so he doesn’t contact me personally. But is it practice?”
“As a warrior, as a warrior, as a pilot, this and that? I’m going to go together from tomorrow too. But was Shane really like that? Do I look suspicious of you?”
“Well. Shane is very careful.”
Chermia had an unfair expression on her face, but what if she had been a different girl instead of me.
She struggled to ignore the creepy creeps, and she enjoyed partying with Cermia.
The day I leave for Kanbal after all my schedules are over.
After saying goodbye to Chermia at Count Seine, she took her helicopter and headed east, east.
The province of Stylon was located to the southwest of Selmeyer and was one of the border areas bordering Khanbal.
However, the place of contact with the resistance army had to go a little east and go near the border with the Holy Kingdom.
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Perhaps the Resistance was holding out near the border.
It must have been difficult for the Kanbal Kingdom Army to conduct military activities at the border.
We crossed vast meadows, mountain ranges, forests and rivers and finally came to the border of the three countries where a huge desert was visible at the edge of the southern horizon.
“Oh. It seems there.”
Behind the forest close to the Kanbal border, the Selmeier-Sacred Kingdom allied military base was visible.
There are not many weapons that can be activated in the desert.
The characteristic sandstorm causes a physical error, and the water spirits lose their spirits.
However, the energy of wind, earth and fire was stronger than anywhere else, so it was also a place where my power, the spirit of wind and fire, was maximized.
Most helicopters are like that, too, so there were quite a few helicopters in the contingent unit.
When I went down to the garrison, I saw familiar and welcoming faces.
“Erif!”
Cionel Salaña.
She has been friends with a girl since first grade.
“I’m glad you came.”
Roy Sherluin.
A model student who served as the class president for three years.
In addition, there were a few pilot class friends who had been together for at least two years.
“W. Long time no see.”
“Were you there too?”
And finally, Royman Styrion.
He was born with the talent of a wizard.
He has a similar name, but a cheeky guy with a completely different personality from Roy.
Because I paid off debt in freshman year, he was gentle with me.
“But you weren’t in the pilot class, were you?”
“Yes. I was in the command team. I came here as an operational staff member of the 3rd Corps.”
“Hmm.”
With a suspicious look, Royman contorted his eyes.
“Well, high-ranking people seem to have a hard time with you, but I have the privilege of being a motive. I will make full use of it.”
“Do whatever you want. Just to put the lives of the soldiers first.”
“Of course. Preserving troops is a commander’s skill.”
As he was greeting his friends, he received a call from Royman’s communicator announcing an operational meeting.
“Erif Cruel. Are you going to the meeting?”
“Okay. Come with me.”
I headed to the barracks where the meeting was held with my new staff, Royman.
And there,
“Ah, welcome!”
“Ireana?”
The saint greeted us while sitting at her head.