Chapter 65

Chapter 65: The Nature of the Desert People

Now, it might seem a bit rash in hindsight to have killed Spelviard with such fervor, but let's consider it necessary to protect Solerina's happiness.

"Avenger of Spelviard-sama!"

About ten remaining Camel Bird riders were approaching.

If they come to us, the battle would be simple. After all, we don't have to engage in the intense mounted combat on Nerotheora.

"Nerotheora, don't mind the saddle."

With that disclaimer, I jumped while keeping my divine arts active in my legs. I headed straight for one of the Camel Bird riders who probably didn't expect me to jump and was surprised.

"Teeya!"

I kicked the rider's face with a shout and, in the recoil from breaking the rider's neck, leaped onto another rider.

However, being Spelviard's guards and riders of valuable Camel Birds, they were skilled, and their recovery from the initial chaos was swift.

"Don't underestimate us!"

The rider who jumped towards me thrust his spear. Since I was in mid-air, there was no way to dodge it.

I couldn't allow myself to be impaled like this. I had anticipated the possibility of the opponent counterattacking. I deactivated my divine arts in my arms, transferred magic to my magic sword, and manifested magic on the blade.

"Let's go."

I cut the spearhead approaching me with my magic sword, smoothly turning my body to go with the motion without resisting it. The path of the sword traced a circular orbit, completing a full rotation, then struck the head of the rider who had attacked with the spear, diagonally bisecting him.

I kicked the decapitated rider's torso to stop its spinning, then leaped while stepping on the Camel Bird to attack the next target.

My continuous attacks with leaps left the Camel Bird unit in disarray.

"Maintain distance! Don't let them stay in the air for too long!"

"Damn it! The Monkey Prince of Nonette, they said? I thought that was a joke, but this fighting style is the reason..."

I've gotten used to being called a monkey, but who's the one behaving like a monkey here?

If they want to give a cool name to this tactic of leaping from one opponent to the next, they should call it "The Return of Minamoto no Yoshitsune and his Eight Boat Leap." Well, I understand that people in this world wouldn't know who Yoshitsune is, so I'll forgive them for using similar terms.

With a sigh and a sense of frustration, I continued to defeat the Camel Bird unit one after another with kicks and slashes.

Eventually, when only two riders were left, they dropped their weapons and raised both hands in surrender just as I was about to jump at them.

Since they took action just before I attacked, I landed on the ground and pointed my sword at the two of them.

"Is surrender acceptable?"

"We surrender! Our newborn child is waiting at home. We don't want to die in such a dishonorable battle!"

"We followed Spelviard-sama until his death. We've done our duty!"

Hmm, it seems there were even people among Ambitos' soldiers who couldn't agree with Spelviard's rampage.

But surrendering after their comrades had died, which could be seen as betraying them, wasn't something I could accept easily.

Thinking that, I shook my head.

Nobody wants to die, that's a common sentiment. Expecting people in this world to have the same values as samurai or knights, who willingly accompany their lord and comrades on a journey of death, is unrealistic.

"Understood. I'll accept your surrender. But you two will have to come with me to Rocha's camp. You'll need to testify that Spelviard went berserk and that's what led to the hostilities."

I ordered them to dismount from their Camel Birds while shaking my sword, and one of the riders wore a complex expression.

"That... It can't be helped, but even if we testify about it to Ambitos, I doubt it'll make any difference."

"Why do you say that?"

"I don't know about your country, but in our desert nation, family bonds are strong. When a family member is killed, they almost always resort to revenge. While soldiers who die on the battlefield are often considered a result of war, I don't think the same can be said for the royal family."

I turned to the other rider to corroborate the credibility of their testimony.

"Even though it's clear that Spelviard was in the wrong this time, are they still choosing revenge?"

"Have you seen Spelviard-sama's thoughtless behavior? The nobility is known for being lenient toward their own family members, especially considering the bad reputation they've earned for it. They'll likely use any excuse to seek revenge on you, even if it's under the pretext of a holy war or something."

So, the Ambitos royal family had a tendency to pursue wars based on emotions rather than reason.

I see. I had known that the desert people had a strong attachment to their weapons, meticulously ordering them and forming strong bonds with them. It wasn't surprising that they might have even stronger attachments to their own family members.

Although I felt a pang of regret for killing Spelviard, I reaffirmed that he was someone who needed to die for Solerina's happiness, recalling his words and actions.

"I understand that they might seek revenge. If it comes to that, I'll try to persuade them to settle it through a one-on-one duel. Mentioning Famiris—the name of the knight of Rocha—might convince them to accept."

As I shrugged my shoulders at the impending trouble, the two Camel Bird riders blinked.

"…Are you really considering our soldiers' well-being?"

"If you're serious, we'll assist in arranging a one-on-one duel."

"How can we assist in that?"

"Just because we have strong family bonds doesn't mean we don't value lives outside of our family."

"The bonds between soldiers are strong too. We fight against desert creatures with our lives on the line, after all."

I understood their point, but had one more question.

"Despite valuing bonds, you two surrendered willingly because you value your own lives?"

"…Could you not touch on that subject?"

"Compared to family bonds, our bonds outside of the family are weaker. However, that actually works in our favor when it comes to winning people over."

"How so?"

"In battles where there's no need for a life-and-death struggle, putting your life on the line for the sake of family can be seen as excessive. People don't expect the royal family to be that obedient."

So, despite valuing bonds, the desert people had a pragmatic and calculating side to them.

It couldn't be helped. Living in such a harsh place as the desert required people to cooperate. However, it wasn't a place where you could live peacefully just by depending on others. There was a daily struggle with problems like the depletion of rivers and oasis, sudden sandstorms, scorching heat during the day and cold at night, and the intrusion of scorpions and snakes into sleeping quarters. People had lost their lives to these threats, and I couldn't blame them for valuing their own lives more than others.

In other words, the people who lived in the desert couldn't be easily categorized

with a simple description of their nature.

While lamenting the troublesome nature of this confrontation with a tribe with peculiar traits, I gathered the two Camel Bird riders who surrendered and the remaining Camel Birds that hadn't fled and decided to return to Nonette's camp with Nerotheora.