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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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“The suppression force lost Fort Four due to their failure to manage the prisoners, and they suffered heavy losses in the decisive battle due to a strategic blunder. I hereby strip Imperial Knights Commander Kane von Sturmguard of his authority and relieve him of his duties as Commander-in-Chief.”
“Stripped…!”
Startled gazes fell upon Schlus Hainkel. Yet, he didn’t flinch, his eyes fixed solely on the Imperial Knights Commander.
He didn’t retract his words, nor did he try to soften his tone.
He was dead serious.
“Is this an Imperial decree? Did His Imperial Majesty order my dismissal?”
“…”
Schlus Hainkel remained silent, and a faint smile spread across Kane’s lips.
If the Emperor hadn’t directly issued the order, there was still a chance.
“So it wasn’t a direct order. Even a knight under the Emperor’s direct command has no authority over the Commander-in-Chief of the suppression force.”
“You seem to be mistaken, Imperial Knights Commander. For the past forty-four hours, while you were missing, the Holy Knights Commander was the one who led the remaining forces to this fortress and continued to fight. At that point, you had already lost your authority. Do you understand now?”
“So you’re saying I should just hand over my authority!”
“Should we hand it to a defeated general who lost most of the suppression force?”
“I was simply unlucky! I’m willing to take responsibility, but you’re telling me that you’re going to give command to the leader of a private knight order? Are you insane? Are you saying that the prestigious Imperial Knights are inferior to the Holy Knights?!”
“The prestigious Imperial Knights… Are you referring to the twenty or so knights here? If that’s the case, then it seems that they are indeed inferior to a private knight order.”
“Ugh…!”
Kane, looking around the room, slammed his fist on the table in frustration.
The force that once boasted a thousand knights had been reduced to a mere twenty.
And it was all his fault.
He intended to take responsibility. He would regain his authority and lead the suppression force to victory.
But this man was intent on denying him that chance.
“Give up the position of Commander-in-Chief, Kane. I’ll give you the position of Vice-Commander. Help Pelaine rebuild the suppression force.”
“…”
If he put it to a vote, he could easily retain his position. Most of the knights here were, or had been, members of the Imperial Knights.
But that was where the problem lay.
If he did that, the Holy Knights would likely withdraw from the suppression force.
That would mean losing thirty percent of their core fighting strength. Every knight was precious, so he couldn’t afford to do that.
If Kane accepted the position of Vice-Commander and led the remaining twenty knights, they could at least maintain their current strength.
“I… give up…”
“Commander!”
Kane closed his eyes and replied in a low voice.
Fighting the war was more important than his pride.
He had to take responsibility for the defeat, step down, and prevent the suppression force from fracturing.
“Then is there anyone who objects to Pelaine Armstrong’s position as Commander-in-Chief?”
“…”
Silence descended upon the barrack.
With the Imperial Knights Commander stepping down, there was no one left to object.
“Good. I understand that some of you might not be comfortable with the new Commander-in-Chief. Pelaine, please introduce yourself.”
“…”
Clank. Clank.
A fully armored knight stepped forward. A peculiar individual, wearing a helmet even indoors.
“You’re handing over command to a mute and then leading the war council yourself. Why don’t you just become the Commander-in-Chief?”
Kane, his arms crossed, stepped aside and said sarcastically.
“I can’t do that. I have to return to school in a week… and two days.”
“Do you have some urgent business to attend to?”
“I have classes to attend.”
“…”
Kane gaped at him, wondering if he had heard correctly.
The suppression force was in dire straits, and this guy was saying that he had to return to school in a week?
It was beyond his comprehension.
Before he could question Schlus Hainkel further, the barrack erupted in chaos as Pelaine removed her helmet.
“Wha… what…!”
“A woman?”
A beautiful young woman with short, messy hair emerged from beneath the helmet, sweat dripping from her bangs.
The knights stared at her, speechless.
It was certainly an unusual situation. A woman, leading a knight order, as the Commander-in-Chief of a makeshift army…
It was unprecedented, but there was nothing to criticize.
“Huh? Uh…?”
Pelaine’s messy hair rustled, and a pair of fluffy, white-tipped ears emerged, twitching.
They were undeniable proof of her beastman heritage.
“A b-beastman! She’s a beastman!”
“A beastman was hiding among us!”
The knights pointed at her and shouted, sensing an opportunity. It had been difficult to criticize her for being a woman, but a beastman was a different story.
They could accuse her of being a spy, or simply use her lower social status to force her out.
But their calculated thoughts were overshadowed by a primal revulsion.
“Is there a problem?”
“…”
A low voice echoed through the barrack. A deep voice, but unmistakably female.
The knights gulped, sensing an unspoken pressure in her tone.
“We’re at war with the beastmen. You’re asking us to kill beastmen under the command of a beastman? I refuse to accept that.”
“…”
One of the knights stepped forward and shouted. The others nodded in agreement, looking at Pelaine and Schlus for their reactions.
Schlus, however, seemed amused by the situation, sitting in the corner with his legs crossed, observing.
Pelaine, staring at the outspoken knight, finally spoke. Her expression remained neutral.
“Then what about Sir Sergei von Freist, who led the charge in the war against the Kingdom of Trud? He was a citizen of Trud. The Imperial army killed citizens of Trud under the command of a citizen of Trud. Why can’t you kill beastmen under the command of a beastman?”
“That’s different!”
“How is it different? I demand an explanation.”
“They’re different races! Freya and Trud are simply different nationalities! They’re both humans! But beastmen are… inferior… aren’t they…?”
“…”
The knight’s voice trailed off as he realized his mistake.
But Pelaine, her expression unchanged, continued to stare at him with a blank expression.
As if she was used to it.
As if she was accustomed to scorn and prejudice.
“Then why don’t we have a duel? We’ll see who’s inferior.”
“…!”
Pelaine’s hand moved towards her sword hilt, and the knight instinctively drew his sword, stepping back.
Her expression remained unchanged, but he sensed a murderous intent in her eyes.
“Don’t try to intimidate us with fear. We’ll never trust you unless you prove that you’re not a spy sent by Duke Lorraine.”
“Ugh… Prove that the Commander is not a spy…!”
“Vice-Commander.”
Taylor, unable to hold back any longer, slammed his fist on the table and stood up. It seemed like they had forgotten everything that had happened as soon as they saw Pelaine’s face.
Ignoring Pelaine’s firm attempt to stop him, Taylor decided to speak his mind.
“Who was it that scaled the walls and captured the fortress during the siege of Fort Four, when we were struggling to take down the archers? It was Commander Pelaine! And when we were ambushed and surrounded in the lowlands, who was it that scouted the rear, detected the enemy cavalry charge, and created a path for retreat, allowing us to escape with at least this many men? It was the Holy Knights Order! And you’re accusing her of being a spy? That’s ridiculous! If you’re talking about collaborating with the enemy, then the Imperial Knights Commander, who decimated ninety percent of the suppression force…”
“Taylor, that’s enough.”
“…”
Pelaine, her eyes closed, stopped him before he could say anything that could be considered an insult.
It was enough.
Everyone here knew that Pelaine and the Holy Knights had fought harder than anyone for the suppression force.
She couldn’t be a spy, and there was no reason for her to betray them.
They knew it logically, but their expressions remained unconvinced.
A deeper, primal revulsion lingered within them.
Kane, observing the knights, frowned in displeasure.
He sighed and slammed his fist on the table.
“I can’t give up the position of Commander-in-Chief.”
“Imperial Knights Commander!”
“It’s absurd for a human to be commanded by a beastman. I challenge you to a duel. If you defeat me, I will gladly step down and acknowledge you as my superior.”
“…”
Pelaine, taken aback, looked at Kane’s face.
The Imperial Knights Commander, who valued honor above all else, had gone back on his word?
It seemed incomprehensible, but—
“Heh…”
She quickly understood his true intentions.
Pelaine let out a short laugh and replied,
“Very well. Let’s settle this with a duel, right now.”
“Uoooooo…!”
The knights cheered, excited by the sudden turn of events. This was their chance to remove the beastman from command…
…or so they believed.
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[this is a dick measuring contest frfr]
My man Kane is about to lose said dick measuring contest against a woman jajajjaja
I think he’s trying to help the others accept the new commander by losing in a duel to make it look more fair