Chapter 90
Chapter 90: Dishonesty and Loyalty
Valianne’s eyes flickered and she rushed forward towards the battlefield . The barbaric voices of the enemies were intertwined with the voices of her soldiers . Amidst this chaos, the silver light of her sword clashed directly with the purple hue of the enemy’s blade . The clash of weapons made a strong roaring sound . Unexpectedly, the pressure held upon her arms was rather strong .
This wasn’t the first time that Valianne had faced the hero of the green clothes called Lugis . However, this was the first time she exchanged swords with him . For Valianne, he was a man that expressed conflicting yet mysterious emotions .
Valianne knew that he was the only one who understood the Princess’ hatred . Valianne thanked him deeply for opening the Princess’ heart and giving her courage . She felt this sincerely . However, when she thought carefully about it, Valianne realized that she never expressed this gratitude through the formal exchange of words .
Valianne wielded her silver sword with both hands in order to regain space and strike Lugis’ flank . Yet, the purple sword blocked her attack . She quickly returned to her position by moving her wrist to slash Lugis with a different angle . None of her attacks were tremendously successful, since the purple sword always managed to deflect her movements . However, it was just a matter of time before she would strike him down .
Valianne could see the quivers on Lugis’ shoulders . She knew what was going on after noticing the irregular movement of his knees . Lugis didn’t have enough physical strength to keep on fighting . At best, he could only achieve a few more movements before collapsing .
Depending on the attacks, this fight was about to end shortly . Valianne’s intuition as a warrior told her this much .
Every time she exchanged swords with Lugis, she could see the core of his eyes . The eyes of a human being . In other words, the gaze of a human who was driven by emotions .
For Valianne, it was difficult to understand other people’s emotions except her own . She faced many battles before, and she saw many eyes of the people she fought with . But, she never really understood what her adversaries felt through their eyes . Could they feel intimated, disrespected, or even feel hatred? She didn’t know exactly . Yet, with Lugis, it was different . The eyes of the human being in front of her were different . That was, the color of eyes that saw a traitor .
Even so, it was natural for her to be regarded as a traitor . She didn’t care much about what others thought of her . She was someone who had the power to change a story with just a movement of her pen . For her, she could write as many evil lines as she wanted . Yes, it was all right . Valianne sharpened her lips, as if she accepted the real enigma of her role .
Furthermore, one more step to go . Despite the slight quivers on Lugis’ shoulders, he forced himself to a sideways attack to knock out the opponent’s weapon . Valianne saw how his knees flattered, while he stared at her with eyes wide opened…
…Valianne’s forces were initially ordered to stand by in case of an emergency . However, the information about the battlefield was unknown, and the messengers didn’t return back . That’s why she was called to the front lines .
Only two scenarios could have happened on the battlefield . Lagias’ side was about to collapse, or the Princess’ flag had lost its color and was falling down . The stigma of defeat was not the only result that came from war . Lives were equally lost in the process .
Valianne was not very smart to a whole aspect of a war . However, she clearly understood what her role was . She knew what part of the battlefield she could “transform” . Her knowledge about her own capacities allowed her to see further and better than regular soldiers . That’s why she began to meditate about what she could do in this situation .
“How effective would it be if my troops and I betrayed “them”? How would they feel if we thrust our fangs into their internal organs?” Valianne began to debate about what to do . Her decision was relevant . If she chose a disadvantageous situation, it would lose all the meaning . A bad decision would be the worst of all . Something that would be irreversible . That was the worst situation she could possibly imagine .
“Even so . I had to find a better option . This indecision won’t change anything . Am I worthy of saving the Princess? But, at the same time, I have to behave as a loyal retainer, even if my limbs get ripen apart . ”
Valianne began to lose her balance . On this very moment, a voice of help descended from the heavens and whispered on Valianne’s ears .
This voice belonged to “that” person . The person who hunted down the Princess .
「Valianne…I know that you have a great amount of loyalty in the depths of your heart . 」
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Those words were directed towards Valianne, and no one else .
“I see, so he sees everything and understands everything about me . My body dances in the palms of Lagias’ hands” . Valianne felt bitter that she almost bit her own tongue . How refreshing it would have been if she could cut the throat of this Fin right now .
However, she couldn’t do it at the moment . She was in the middle of a battlefield . The clashing sound of swords falling backwards and forwards echoed in her ears . If she moved away from this spot, her neck would fly from her torso quite instantly .
「Being loyal is very important . But, the road to honor and fame is narrow . 」
Initially, Valianne couldn’t grasp the meaning of these words, which the old elf spilled from his mouth . What did he want to convey? If he wanted to dispose of Valianne as a traitor, then he should have done it immediately .
Valianne hardened her cheeks upon hearing his words .
「I know what you are capable of, Valianne . How about you sell one your traits to me? In fact, is your soul even available?」
Words that suggested betrayal . To put it simply, these words undervalued Valianne’s loyalty .
However, Valianne remained calm after hearing this conversation . Her lips opened, and she spoke without hesitation .
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「Fin Lagias . Words have the power to persuade non-talented people . However, I’m not weak . My loyalty to the Princess remains the same even with or without the blessing of the spirits . I’ll give you my life if you desire that much . But, I won’t give you my traits nor my soul . 」
Valianne spoke without kneeling . Her eyes showed determination . “I don’t mind if these were the last words of my life . Loyalty, yes, my loyalty . ”
It was unthinkable for Valianne to lose this loyalty . “I’ve lived my entire life with just loyalty in my heart . Ever since, I remember . Ever since my childhood . That’s the only thing that I owed with my body . I didn’t know anything else in life except loyalty . ”
Nonetheless, Lagias’ reaction to her words was quite different from what Valianne had thought . He was neither furious nor discouraged . In fact, he accepted her resolution quietly and told her the following words .
「It doesn’t matter to me . That’s what I truly think . But you see, loyalty is not the only way to save the life of the one you swore to protect . 」
Valianne felt the sound of her heart bouncing fast in her chest . She felt as if she finally understood what the old elf was trying to impose on her .
「As I said, the road to honor and fame is narrow, and deep . Sometimes you have to cover yourself with mud in order to protect the one you swore your allegiance . Come on now, Valianne . If you play an active part in the front lines, I promise you that I’ll spare the Princess’ life . 」
These words were like icicles that pierced Valianne’s soul . They were like thorns that hurt her and damaged her inner self…
…Furthermore, one more step to go . Did he have some strength left? Lugis’ body swayed as if he was a broken piece, but he grasped the purple light tightly in order to protect his body .
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However, no matter what he did to protect himself, this was the end for him .
Valianne believed that hesitation would be the key to her downfall . She had to finish off the enemy standing in front of her . And yet, this man called Lugis wielded his sword from the top to prevent a fatal blow from Valianne’s silver sword . He continued to protect his life from being cut off . Valianne repeated her assaults with the silvery sword .
“People may call me a traitor . Others may call me dishonest . Still, I have no other choice but to show my loyalty now . ” Valianne’s eyes glittered and twinkled for a moment .
*strong metallic sound*
The purple blade, which had been blocking Valianne’s sword as a shield, could not withstand the powerful strike . Lugis’ sword was thrown away as a result . Nothing could protect this man now .
If Valianne’s troops carried out the entire assault, that meant that the enemy’s soldiers on the narrowly passageway wouldn’t be able to withstand the additional force . If Lugis died here and now, the front-line soldiers of the enemy’s battalion would fall apart, and the battle would be finally over .
“What will the Princess say about my actions?” That was the only thing that preoccupied Valianne in her heart . However, on this very moment, Valianne heard a loud voice in her ears . And for a short moment, her reaction got delayed .
「Shoot! 」
It was right when Valianne’s sword glittered in the sky that she heard a voice that cut through the wind from the rear of the battlefield .
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