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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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“Go back. The Commander-in-Chief is bathing at the moment.”
“Tch…”
The throng of knights turned away at Taylor’s words.
No knight would dare question the Commander-in-Chief’s desire for a private bath. Especially not when that Commander-in-Chief was a woman.
Having successfully dispersed the knights once more, Taylor crossed his arms and settled back into his chair.
Five minutes after Schlus had entered, Pelaine, the Commander-in-Chief, arrived as planned.
Taylor, of course, made no mention of Schlus’s presence within. He had orchestrated this encounter for one simple reason.
“I wonder if they’ve run into each other yet? Heh heh…”
It was simply for his own amusement. Both seemed like the inexperienced types. He was curious to see their reactions to encountering each other naked in the bath.
Would there be screams?
Perhaps he might even witness the rare sight of the stoic Schlus Hainkel being chased out, bruised and battered.
But something was amiss.
Twenty minutes had passed since Pelaine had entered, and yet, not a single sound, not even a raised voice, had emerged from within.
More time passed, and still no one emerged.
‘Did something happen?’
Had they perhaps been attacked by assassins?
A sense of unease began to creep into Taylor’s thoughts.
He desperately wanted to check on them, but the thought of his wife and daughter waiting for him at home pricked his conscience.
He considered calling out to them, when—
Footsteps echoed from within.
Schlus Hainkel emerged, accompanied by…
“Were you still standing guard? Thank you for your diligence, Vice-Commander.”
“…Yes.”
…Pelaine, the Commander-in-Chief, walking beside him.
But Pelaine’s demeanor was strange. Her usually alert ears were drooped, her posture relaxed.
Her normally sharp gaze, softened, was fixed on Schlus’s face.
It was the face of a smitten woman, not the stern Commander-in-Chief or the pious Saintess.
‘What happened in there?’
Taylor stared at them, dumbfounded, as Schlus approached and whispered in his ear.
“Taylor.”
“Yes?”
“I believe you orchestrated that situation. I wanted to thank you.”
“Ah…yes…”
Taylor managed a sheepish grin.
He had expected gratitude?
He had assumed Schlus was an inexperienced young man, but it seemed he was quite the expert.
Given the opportunity, he could conquer in a mere hour…
Taylor felt a strange sense of awe towards the seemingly innocent Schlus.
“You can let the other knights in now.”
“Ah, of course. I’ll let them in after I change the water.”
“Change the water? Why such an inefficient practice?”
“There are some…enthusiastic individuals who would gladly drink the bathwater the Commander-in-Chief has used.”
Pelaine’s face hardened.
She had learned something she would have preferred not to know.
Just then, Schlus flinched, anticipating an assassin’s attack, as hurried footsteps approached. But it was just a knight of the Imperial Knights.
“Schlus Hainkel! Commander-in-Chief! Are you both here?!”
“What is it?”
“Urgent news! Duke Lorraine has declared unconditional surrender and wishes to parley!”
All three froze, stunned.
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The situation had become urgent.
I had been caught off guard. I had assumed things would remain calm for the day, giving them time to recover from the previous day’s battles and count their losses.
I had expected Lorraine to wait at least a day before making his next move.
He had surprised me yet again. He had declared unconditional surrender without any negotiation.
“Is it a trap?”
“We’re investigating. However, Duke Lorraine himself has arrived at the Fourth Castle and requested that we disarm all his soldiers.”
It seemed unlikely to be a trap.
The approaching column of soldiers, stretched thin and vulnerable, confirmed my suspicions. It was a formation ill-suited for battle, easy prey for our cavalry.
They weren’t coming to fight. They were surrendering.
“Duke Lorraine wishes to parley! Open the main gate!”
A herald’s voice echoed from below.
Pelaine remained silent, staring down at him with a cold gaze. I had to admire her composure.
I would have been ecstatic, eager to accept the surrender. But Pelaine was maintaining the Empire’s dignity, every detail meticulously considered.
“Duke Lorraine wishes to parley! Respond!”
Pelaine’s silence was her answer.
“Enough. Stop this charade.”
Lorraine himself emerged from the column and addressed Pelaine.
“I, Lorraine Philip, former Duke of the Southern Colonies, formally surrender to the suppression force.”
“Open the gate.”
Finally, Pelaine issued the command.
The gates creaked open, and Lorraine, dismounted, entered the Fourth Castle.
His entourage attempted to follow, but were stopped by our knights. Only Lorraine was permitted entry.
“Escort him to the meeting room.”
We proceeded to the meeting room, Pelaine and I leading the way, followed by Kane and the other commanders.
We took our seats, the hierarchy naturally asserting itself.
Two seats remained empty, the head of the table and the one immediately below it.
“What are you waiting for? Sit down.”
“Ah… yes.”
I bypassed the hesitant Pelaine and took the seat below the head of the table.
I couldn’t presume to sit above the Commander-in-Chief, even if I was technically her superior.
My time here was limited, while Pelaine would remain to oversee the post-war affairs. I couldn’t undermine her authority.
After a short wait, footsteps approached, and the door opened, revealing a somber Lorraine.
Why was he in shackles…?
“Are these all the troops under your command?”
“Yes.”
“Have you disbanded the garrisons in the other castles?”
“They remain in place to maintain order.”
“The immediate disbandment of the garrisons will be added to the terms of surrender.”
The disbandment of the garrisons was a crucial point.
The remnants of Lorraine’s loyalists within the city guard had nearly cost Ainz and Erica their lives. We needed to ensure the complete eradication of any remaining resistance.
“Do as you wish…”
“Now, bow your head and beg for forgiveness—”
“Surrender your weapons and sign the document—”
We spoke simultaneously, our words overlapping.
Pelaine and I exchanged glances.
I had misspoken.
Signing a document was a modern custom. Here, bowing and scraping was the norm.
Pelaine closed her eyes and gestured for me to continue.
Now everyone was staring at me. I couldn’t delay any longer.
I sighed and retrieved the prepared documents, spreading them across the table.
They included the newly added clause regarding the disbandment of the garrisons.
“Surrender your weapons, Lorraine.”
“My weapons…?”
“Surrender your personal weapons as a sign of your submission.”
Lorraine lowered his head, his hands moving to his belt.
He unbuckled his sword, still sheathed, and placed it on the table.
I handed him a pen, and he calmly read through the document before signing his name.
I signed next, followed by Pelaine and Kane.
The surrender was official.
“With this, we accept the surrender of the rebel forces led by former Duke Lorraine, and declare an end to all unrest in the Southern region.”
Lorraine remained silent, his head bowed.
Now it was time for the real surrender. We rose and led him outside, back to the main gate.
Surrounded by our knights, Lorraine addressed his troops, ordering them to lay down their arms and surrender.
Clang…
Click…
Thud…
The procession of surrendering soldiers began, discarding their weapons and armor.
It was a breathtaking sight, thousands of soldiers disarming at once. A gleaming mountain of steel rose before us.
The procession continued for hours.
Meanwhile, we dispatched knights to the other castles to ensure there were no ambushes or hidden resistance.
Once we confirmed the complete surrender of all rebel forces, we could proceed.
As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the plains, the Holy Knights and Pelaine prepared to enter the three remaining castles and raise the Imperial banner.
I approached Pelaine with a difficult request.
“Commander-in-Chief.”
“Ah, Schlus. It truly happened as you predicted. I never imagined Duke Lorraine would surrender so quickly… It seems you will be able to return as planned.”
“Pelaine, I have an urgent request.”
“What is it?”
“I wish to entrust you with the execution of Duke Lorraine.”
Pelaine’s jaw dropped slightly.
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