Summoned Slaughterer

Vol 5 - Chapter 39 - Roll On

Along the road illuminated by the morning sun runs a handcar at neck-breaking speed.
Two soldiers are silently pumping the car down the rail, drenched in sweat.
Since leaving Arosel they have gone non-stop towards Folkalore, and though are much exhausted they do not stop; their duty to their lord motivates them to return even a second sooner.
And upon reaching their destination, the hand car passed beyond the end of the rail, crashing and sending the soldiers into a mountain of straw, which was there to break their fall.
Even so, one of them fainted from the impact, while the other hurried out from the straw.
「Blegh... it's rotten, isn't it」
He said, spitting out straw from his mouth. Soldiers from the gate run up to him,
「Who goes there?!」
「Ah, I am a messenger from the scout division. I can no longer run, so pass my words to Lord Hifumi... Vichy troops have been spotted approaching Rhone. A host of about 13,000 men. 500 of them may be magic casters.」
「So they have come!」
「Alright, I'm heading off to the castle!」
More than tension the soldiers felt exhilaration, and this atmosphere spread through the army. They spoke with the scout for but a brief moment, but had already understood the crux of the report.
The passed out soldier was awoken with a bucket of water, and the soldiers who were otherwise unoccupied went around telling the others the news.
This day began with the lightest mood the soldiers have felt since Vichy began preparing their forces,

Origa knocked on the door to the lord's office, and waited to be permitted to enter.
Upon entering, she saw Hifumi with his legs crossed on the table, pondering something. Kasha was nowhere to be seen.
「You have called for me, how can I be of service?」
「Origa? A messenger reported incoming Vichy force」
「So it's finally time?」
「In the end, they completely ignored the matter with Beirevra」
Origa gently shook her head.
「I am grateful for the concern, but the fault lies with Vichy for stepping on the tiger's tail. The matter of Beirevra can be solved when Vichy is no more」
「Is that so...」
Hifumi said whilst holding onto the paper in his hand.
「What has been on your mind, my lord?」
「Since a while back, I've been told to settle on a formal Family name for my domain. I hadn't thought to do it until the next expedition, though」
He didn't want to think about it, so he used to write "Tohno" on the documents. He wasn't particularly attached to the name, but couldn't think of anything else.
And since then, the region was known as Vagenti's Domain no longer. It was now Tohno's Domain.
「Alright. Just as we planned, have the garrison forces return. Have the prototypes prepared as well」
「Understood. I will pass the order along to Alyssa. I am honored to be allowed to assist you my lord on your path towards victory」
「That's wrong」
「I apologize. We shall show Hifumi-sama how we wonderfully crush the enemy」Currently the plan was to empty Rhone, set traps, and decrease the number of enemies that way. Hifumi, however, would move on his own.
Origa saw is inappropriate to allow Hifumi's image to deteriorate because of a loss, and thus rejected this kind of tactic, but because Hifumi himself did not care much for victory, she didn't object too strongly.
After all, he started the war to kill a lot of people; if he won, he would have to plan another battle, and devise schemes to win the next one. Victory itself mattered little to Hifumi.
｢I hear that Vichy has invaded!｣
The door opened with a bang, and Kasha ran in.
｢Yes｣
｢Why are you so relaxed! We have to prepare｣
｢Calm down. You have a task you must carry out. There's no use shouting around in our Lord's room. Prepare for Hifumi-sama's departure.｣
｢Y-yes, but... Origa is also going to fight?｣
Kasha's face was dyed in worry, while Origa carried a cool expression.
｢What are you saying now? You have your mission, I have mine｣
｢Hifumi-san, surely you can't possibly let Origa out onto the front lines?!｣
Obstinately, Kasha directed the conversation at Hifumi, but his cool response crushed her hopes.
｢Not really. She should do as she will. She is not my slave, you see｣
｢I will fight together with Hifumi-sama｣
Seeing that no further words could convince either of them, Kasha's shoulders dropped and,
｢... I will make preparations｣
She turned around and left.
｢Would that be fine?｣
｢She is a part of the larger play. She's necessary to set the stage as I will it｣
Hifumi wore his katana on his hip, and left.
｢Kasha is just a fool, after all...｣
A whisper that no one could have heard.