The Peaceful Life Of A Maid Who Hides Her Power And Enjoys It - Chapter 201

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 6

* * *

Late at night after sunset, a new topic was being presented inside the barracks of the Allied Forces Command Headquarters.

Count Rosebel, standing before the tactical map with the most pleasant complexion he’d shown in recent days, pointed his command baton toward the eastern region of the Pen Rota Empire.

It was near the area where red lines representing Mephistopheles’ army were drawn lengthwise from north to south.

“The problem is the route the enemy forces have taken southward over the past month or so. They appear to be heading further south rather than toward the archipelago. Seeing as all the cities near the collapsed front lines are peaceful, it doesn’t seem their purpose is encirclement either.”

“Hmm. The major cities positioned in a straight line are… Fulhender, Scatia, Rezel…”

The commanders’ gazes lingered on Rezel, the city at the southern tip of the continent. Count Rosebel’s command baton did the same.

However, my gaze inevitably fell to the Southern Archipelago located half a span below that.

Queen Island, which governs the southernmost tip of the Empire’s Southern Archipelago—my hometown. Coincidentally, it lies precisely at the end of the direction the demons are heading south.

“Isn’t there a possibility they’re heading toward the Southern Archipelago?”

“While the evidence is somewhat lacking, we cannot completely rule it out. This war did begin with the invasion incident of the Southern Archipelago.”

Count Rosebel’s gaze, which had briefly rested on me, soon settled on the mage belonging to the North Loqwe Church.

An hour ago, reinforcements from the Northern Continent Allied Church States had arrived at headquarters. Except for some medical personnel, they were all combat mages belonging to the North Loqwe Church, and had been one of the Allied Forces’ greatest assets during the eight-year Magical War.

“It’s difficult for us to deduce as well.”

The new commander of the reinforcements gazed at the tactical map with sunken eyes.

“As you all know, all demons are under the control of the demon legion commander. They don’t move south in a straight line by instinct, but move systematically according to commands with clear intent. Since Mephistopheles is honest about his desires, if we observe a little longer, we should be able to discern his purpose.”

“Spouting obvious nonsense.”

“We’ve been stuck at headquarters for an extra week waiting for North Loqwe’s support. You arrive late after dragging your feet, and the best you can say is what? Let’s wait and see a little longer?”

“Viscount Lagwhirten. Watch your language.”

Despite Count Rosebel’s warning, Viscount Lagwhirten’s rough breathing showed no signs of calming.

“…Our North Loqwe Church is cooperating with the Allied Forces’ requests to the best of our ability.”

“Bullshit. Didn’t your cult leader claim to be superior to that damned demon bastard? That great person who’s supposedly a demigod won’t even step forward personally but just watches from the sidelines, and you call that your best effort? Damn it!”

“The Cult Leader does not involve himself in worldly affairs. Even so, he has commanded us to spare no resources in supporting the Allied Forces, and this is the greatest goodwill he can show from his position.”

“Ha. Tens of thousands of innocent people have been sacrificed, hundreds of perfectly fine villages have become seas of fire, and you still spout such garbage! Disgusting hypocrites! Can’t you see Mephistopheles’ massacre has continued for nearly 10 years? That cult leader or whatever is no different from a demon…”

At that moment, Count Rosebel shouted with a flushed face.

“Viscount Lagwhirten, don’t you understand the current situation? I don’t know how long I have to tolerate your reckless attitude!”

A heavy silence briefly settled over the area.

Viscount Lagwhirten, who had roughly clenched and unclenched his fist, apologized in a low voice.

“…I apologize. I’ll go cool my head and return.”

After he left the barracks, Count Rosebel, who had slumped into his chair with a sigh, spoke on behalf of Viscount Lagwhirten’s anger with a much more subdued attitude.

“I’m sorry… Viscount Lagwhirten lost his brother a month ago. His mind and body are in a weakened state, so please understand.”

The silver-haired commander who had crossed from the Northern Continent showed a rather bitter smile.

“Only ruins remain where war has passed. I understand his rage.”

“Thank you for saying that.”

The naturally flowing meeting was interrupted once again by an unexpected intruder.

“I apologize for rudely barging in. There’s an urgent matter to convey…”

The man who had politely bowed his head looked at Natasha and continued.

“Princess Natasha Milliorg, an imperial edict from His Majesty the Emperor has arrived.”

“…From His Majesty?”

Natasha left the barracks with a stiffly hardened expression. Amid low murmuring, Count Rosebel made eye contact with the Weatherwax Baroness.

“Since the atmosphere has become unsettled, how about we take a brief break, Your Grace?”

“Let’s do that.”

The Weatherwax Baroness was the first to leave, followed by Raphael who tapped my shoulder and pointed outside.

As I followed him outside, the midwinter night wind touched my skin. Deshero, who had lit Raphael’s cigarette, turned his head with a complicated expression.

“An imperial edict from His Majesty the Emperor… How timely.”

Count Abrihem, who had been following somewhat awkwardly, asked in rather clumsy Imperial language.

“Timely, what do you mean by that?”

“Three years since the succession ceremony is quite a long time, isn’t it? Natasha will soon return to the capital. They can’t keep sending such a precious heir to the throne to the battlefield.”

“Ah! That’s right. She was the Emperor’s daughter. I remember now. What a remarkable woman.”

The Allied Forces were an anti-Mephistopheles army formed by various nations. There were many obstacles to overcome before people of different races, with different languages and even minor cultural differences, could come together and achieve their goals.

Perhaps because they had endured these obstacles for a full eight years? Some foreign commanders who couldn’t even contribute a single short word when interpreters were absent could now speak Imperial language with considerable proficiency.

Through the acrid cigarette smoke, I quietly voiced my opinion.

“I… would bet on ‘Natasha will not return to the capital.'”

At that, Raphael, who had been quiet, chuckled softly. White smoke like breath rose into the black sky.

“So then. If she really doesn’t return?”

“What choice would there be? We’d have to knock her unconscious and send her away.”

“…The forces that came down from North Loqwe this time are considerable. They’d be more than enough to fill Natasha’s absence. It would be right to send her back this time.”

Before we knew it, several young knights had gathered around us and began exchanging opinions in small groups. Among them, the youngest knight asked Raphael with a reddened nose tip.

“But… this person called the Cult Leader of the North Loqwe Church. Is he really a ‘god’?”

“So they say. More precisely, a demigod.”

“Come on. How can a human become a god? Isn’t that just a rumor? I don’t believe in the North Loqwe Church’s demigod. If such a great person’s face isn’t known to the world, is that reasonable or nonsense?”

The young knight who had snorted loudly looked around with a triumphant expression.

“It must be a type of political propaganda meant to deify the cult leader. If he’s such a great person that he’s called a demigod, there’d be no reason for him to hide during such a critical time.”

“No, the demigod does exist.”

“…Pardon?”

No answer came to the bewildered question. This was because Raphael’s gaze was fixed on a figure in the distance, rapidly approaching through the darkness.

“Did she already finish and return?”

Natasha, with a thoroughly crumpled expression, smiled faintly under the night sky.

“Well, yes. I plan to continue our discussion after the meeting ends. …But I hurried back only to find everyone slacking off.”

When Natasha waved her hand with a displeased expression, the knights who had been leisurely smoking hastily extinguished their cigarettes.

Meanwhile, Deshero, who had been sitting leisurely, gestured toward the young knight and said.

“Natasha, this friend here says the Northern Continent’s demigod is nothing but political propaganda. Do you think so too?”

“Huh? That can’t be.”

Natasha, who had stood beside me with an expression asking what kind of absurd statement that was, stared at the young knight.

“Young man. Do you truly not know Kalerpa, the Cult Leader of North Loqwe, and Spolia, the Chief Consul of the Contaninos Republic?”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————