Episode 13 : The Battle of Nosferus (2) - Part 2

 It was not only the soldiers, of course, but also the headquarters, whose interest in the identity of the enemy was increasing.

"I think we underestimated the Semites a little too much - I have to admit that. ..."

 The commander-in-chief, Princess Amneris, Count Mars, Ilm, Tanguard, Astorias, Gayus, Vron, Rindt, and other leaders were gathered in the tent, their heads gathered under the light of a single small candle, and they had been indulging in military discussions since a while ago.

"But now that this has happened, we must change our minds. For now, we must change our objective from the original search for Gul-nur to the extermination of the Semites. We may search for Gul-noo and build the fortress of Mongol there after the Shem are annihilated-- what do you think, all?"

"Thank you for--"

"I will do as Your Highness wishes."

"I think it would be better if--"

 The proud captains of the Knights of Mongol were quiet and unconcerned.

 Aside from the defeat, the loss of young Regan, the beloved son of the Earl of Rickard, Lord of Alvon, was the most distressing and saddening of all.

"Even so, it seems we've been beaten by that leopard-headed warrior alone.

 Amneris, seeing the despondency of his men, no longer displayed the fury and hostility he had previously displayed towards Guin.

 Her lips ceased to wag when she spoke Guin's name, and the calm, unfeeling feeling that had earned her the nickname of the Lady of the Ice returned. She told herself to give up her rashness and to look the enemy in the eye, and she seemed to have succeeded in changing her mood - although, as one of the generals present, Amneris did not show his true fear. However, none of the generals present knew that Amneris would only show her true fear when she had regained control of the ice, much more than she had of the flames.

"is ..."

 The Lord of Twolead replies gravely. With unfathomable green eyes, Amneris loosely looks around at the generals who surround him.

"From the beginning, the Semites must have been barbarians, ill-equipped and unskilled in warfare, who knew nothing but to ask for help in numbers. I believe.

 However, ever since they crossed the Kes River and entered Nosferus, Shem has been playing all sorts of tricks, taking advantage of our ignorance of the terrain of Nosferus, or using the id, or splitting into two groups and using one army as bait. They used an army as bait. It was a dizzying sight. Since Shem's ape tribe can't possibly have mastered Augustine's art of war and Alexander's book of warfare in a single morning, I think this is more a trick of the monster Guin than Shem's handiwork, but what do you think?

"Gyoi."

"That is correct, sir."

"I wonder if this is all part of that monster's plan. ..."

"We didn't know it, and we thought it was the same thing as the Shemites, and we were wrong."

"..."

 Amneris nodded a few times, deeply.

"However, in view of this, our immediate enemy rather than Shem must be that Leopard who led Shem's army. Looking closely at the way he has fought, commanded, and pulled up the troops, we do not think that he is a mercenary or a ruffian. Eventually, if he takes off that leopard's head, his true identity must be that of a famous warlord--I wonder."

"Gyoi."

"He is a king of a country, a lord of a castle, and a warrior who is known throughout the world as a hero.

"And because of that, he may be wearing such a mask for fear of being seen and his true identity not being known."

"So it could be, or at worst, it could be something from Gora."

 Tanguard's insolence caused a stir among the Mongol conductors.

"Thangard. Do not speak of such things, even idly."

 Old Count Mars frowns his long white eyebrows.

"No, I was asking if you were working for Kumu or Yulaniya, old man. As you know, in the current situation, it is not inconceivable that one of the two Grand Dukes would join forces with one of Mongol's enemies to provoke him and jeopardize his position."

 Tanguard, with his reddish-brown beard, said.

"Besides, Kumu, Yulaniya has many famous warriors, such as the martial artist Gandal and Yulaniya's hero, O-Lan the Blue Bearded."

"All I can say for certain is that he cannot be the traitor of Mongol."

 There was something cynical in Amneris' voice.

"For I do not recall any warrior in Mongol, at least not to my knowledge, who could do so much with a single rider."

 There was a pang of subtlety in the air.

 It was only for a moment, or one might not even have noticed it. But Count Mars's face tightened, and he looked at the princess with a twisted expression of concern. He must have thought that the young lady should not have said what she said.

 But Amneris seemed oblivious to the cold, white air that drifted over her a moment later. She looked back at Gayus, who was ducking diagonally behind her.

"Gayus."

"is."

"What do you think? As far as you know, there's a warrior and a brave general who can rival that leopard head, a brave warrior, a hero, a royal who's identity could be hidden under that leopard mask."

"Is--"

 Gayus thought as he finally sank down behind his heavy black hood.

 Eventually, a dull voice begins to slowly leak out from behind the hood.

"As far as I know, there are few men of such stature and such skill with the sword, who have won the fame of heroes throughout the world, and who can not only fight well for themselves but also use their troops well. Tarrant, the Thousand Dragon General, the Thousand Tiger General, Gorham, ... Adoran, Marquis of Karavia--

 Bratuk Prinskar, Black Prince of Argos. Andanus the Fearless, Chancellor of the Free Trade City of Rygor and a great merchant. Guy Dolfus, Count of Thalia, and in the North, Orwyn Longhorn of the House of Longhorn, and Sigurd, King of the Vikings of Talyan, all of whom I have heard are great men of extraordinary stature and valour."

"In Paro, who's there?"

 Amneris cut in.

"In Paro--"

 The mage hesitates a moment,

"Dalkan, Marquis of the Holy Knights, renowned as the Saint of Swords, was wounded in the Battle of the Black Dragon and has lain ill all his life. Or Bek, the valiant lord, who was absent during the war to visit Princess Emma, who happened to be married to Argos. That must have been a bitter blow to him. Also, Lord Aldo Narris of the Crystal, cousin to the Holy King of Aldross, was rumored to have been wounded or blinded during the battle, but he managed to flee to one side or another, with a large bounty on his head, His whereabouts are still unknown. However, Lord Crystal was said to be the most handsome man in Crystal Palace, and the best singer, and his body does not match that of that big man.

 Or, again--"

"No, you're not."

 Amneris's piercing voice interrupted Gayus's nonchalant continuation.

 They all turn their heads.

"No, it isn't. That's different."

 Amneris's tone was fierce, but his eyes were smoky, as if he were looking into the distance. She held her lashes loosely and spoke as if she did not want anyone to see into her heart.

"I mentioned Paro's name because, as the guardian of Paro's twins and a follower of the Gora, I thought it prudent to seek the identity of the monster in Paro first, rather than in the faraway lands of Raigor or Tarruan. However, all of the points that Gayus has just made seem to be reasonable, but in fact they are not.

 Did you not notice that that Leopard is no mere ruffian, no hero or general who has given up his sword for someone else? I recognized him at first sight. He is a king-at least, he was born into a family that leads, follows, and commands, and there is no higher rank than that of the gods, and there is some sign of such a thing."

"..."

"I've heard of Lord Bek, Lord Crystal. But he's not--"

"Or again."

 Gayus spoke without hesitation, as if he had never been interrupted before.

"This is only a rumor, but there is a theory..."

"..."

"There is a theory that says as follows. That is to say, at the time of the Battle of the Black Dragon, during the siege of Paro, our army gave noble signs of the King and Queen of Paro, but they were actually nothing more than shadow warriors, and the true Saint Aldross III escaped secretly and is still alive and well. ..."

 Without a word, the captain and his men gasped.

 Amneris is sure to turn and glare at the mage.

"That Leopard-head is the undisputed king of parrots!"

"I've only heard rumors, Your Highness."

"If I hear such a rumor spread among the troops, I will take you for your enemy and strike your head off."

"As you wish."

 Gayus nods and mutters.

"What else!"

"No matter how wide the world, true heroes and great men are as few as the stars in a rainy night. And I have not heard that the Black Prince of Argos, Bratwurst, left his country immediately in response to the plight of his kinsman Paro. In the northern part of the world, further north beyond Asgarn, there are several mysterious northern countries, such as Quinsland and Mizgard, with Tarruan as their southernmost point. There are several mysterious northern nations with their own unique cultures. Among them is the nation of Vanheim, whose king, the hero Baldor, is said to be a master of rare valor and swordsmanship. ..."

"Bardol the Hero King of Vanheim: ..."

"The southern countries are mostly black, while the eastern countries are inhabited by yellow people. The reddish-bronze skin of the leopard man is unmistakably that of the Central Plains or the North. It's just that--"

"Just?"

"I have just remembered something. As you travel down the Middle Plains toward the River Loth, you will come to the Sea of Lent... and further along the Sea of Lent, into the Sea of Corsair, you will find the mysterious island nation of Simhara. It is said that for generations the king of the island has worn a mask of a beast's head studded with strange jewels and has a tradition of never revealing his true face. But it would be premature to immediately connect that with the leopard head.

"Simhara--"

 Amneris muttered.

"It's an island nation in the ... legend of having a labyrinth."

"is ..."

"Gayus."

"is."

 Amneris's eyes suddenly widened, as if he had been startled by something.

"Simhara means - lion country, doesn't it?"

"Is--"

 The people waited for the lady's next words.

 But then she seemed to have sunk into thought. The night suddenly grew deeper and heavier, and fell upon these wayward people.

 Asturias's dark eyes were fixed on the Lady of Mongol, with sorrow and adoration.