Chapter 64: Townsperson A Asks for Help

I returned to my parents' house still dressed in my military uniform to explain the situation. This was the first time I’d actually told my mother about my relationship with Ana, but her response was entirely unexpected.

"I already knew. It happened around the start of summer vacation, didn't it? Your whole vibe changed—you seemed more grown-up, or perhaps just softer. To be honest, I don't want you going off to war, Allen, but the girl you fell for happens to be a Duke’s daughter. I suppose it can't be helped."

My mother wore a complex expression, a mixture of loneliness and pride.

"Don't worry about me. Just do your best so you can bring Lady Anastasia home. Do you understand? You have to keep your priorities straight. Never get the order of importance mixed up, okay?"

With those words, she sent me on my way.

Don’t get the order wrong. The advice pierced me to the core.

I really can't win against my mother.

But that was exactly why I couldn't bring myself to say it—that the very same Ana had been kidnapped and was currently missing.

Next, I made my way to the Valley of the Flying Dragons.

"Oh? Allen, you're back again," Melissa greeted me. "What’s happened? And where is that girl, your mate, today?"

"Actually..."

I explained the turn of events to Melissa and Jerome.

"What?! That’s unforgivable!" Melissa hissed. "Fine, then I'll just kill this 'Crown Prince' person, right?"

"N-n-n-no, Melissa! We have to kill e-everyone in that place called Auto!" Jerome stammered.

"No, that is absolutely not it."

I felt a slight, dark tug of temptation at the suggestion to "Crown Prince" the guy, but I had to stay focused.

"My family lives in the Royal Capital, so that's a no-go. Besides, if you attack the capital or the prince, there'll be a bounty on your heads. I’d have to fight you myself, and I don't want that. I just want you to find Ana."

"Is that all? Well, I’m not particularly inclined to fight you either," Melissa said, calming down. "So, we just need to find your mate?"

"Yeah. Please. I’m heading off to the front lines now."

Melissa looked at me with genuine exasperation. "Honestly. Normally, wouldn't a person ask to borrow our strength for a war?"

"T-t-t-that’s what makes Allen so g-good!" Jerome added.

"War is for us stupid humans to settle among ourselves."

The self-deprecating comment slipped out naturally, leaving Melissa and Jerome staring at me with puzzled looks.

"Fine. Leave your mate to us. I know her scent well enough. Come, Jerry, let's go!"

"Y-y-y-yeah! Allen, leave it to us! You can rest easy, knowing you're on a s-s-sinking mud boat!"

"Uh... yeah. Right."

What a cliché, I thought. Should I have pointed out that the idiom is supposed to be a "sturdy big ship"?

Before I could decide, Melissa and Jerome took to the sky to fulfill their promise, vanishing into the blue in an instant.

From there, I traveled at full speed to Bruseni. The area was a basin surrounded by mountains on all sides. Despite being a basin, it was vast and fertile, fed by a lake and several winding rivers.

The Sentlaren Kingdom and the Est Empire had been squabbling over this rich land for ages. Before the war broke out, they’d split it down the middle. However, the Est Empire had prepared meticulously, while our kingdom had been caught flat-footed, unable to react to the sudden declaration of war.

One might wonder what the border guards were doing, but honestly, it’s cruel to blame the rank-and-file for this mess.

The enemy had spent a long time preparing—stockpiling provisions, upgrading weapons, and bolstering their numbers—before ever declaring war. Meanwhile, I’d heard from Sebastian that the border units had sent countless warnings and requests for reinforcements to the top brass.

Despite that, the leadership in the Royal Capital did nothing but issue "stern warnings" to the Empire. They didn't permit troop increases or even equipment refreshments.

Essentially, they chose the "adult" response: don't be provoked by petty taunts, ignore the aggression, and resolve everything through proper dialogue.

It felt depressingly similar to the mindset of modern Japan in my previous life. History is littered with examples where that kind of "mature" response does nothing but invite invasion.

Furthermore, war is just another tool of diplomacy. If talking benefits your country's interests, you talk. If fighting benefits those interests, you fight. That’s all there is to it. To operate on the fundamental assumption that you won't be attacked in the first place is a catastrophic failure of logic.

Wait. When I think about it that way, I’m starting to wonder why I’m even bothering with this country.

Well, whatever. For now, I’ll focus everything on making sure I can go get Ana. That means ending this war with a victory and preventing the capital from being wiped out.

Landing near a fort flying the Sentlaren flag, I approached the gates, pulling Vuitol along with a rope.

"The crest of House Ramslett? Who goes there!" the sentry shouted, stopping me.

"I’m Allen. A B-rank adventurer under the protection of House Ramslett," I barked, intentionally using a rougher tone to ensure they didn't look down on me. "By royal decree, I’ve been ordered to drive the Imperial Army out of Bruseni."

I shoved the written order in his face. It contained every demand I’d squeezed out of the King, stamped clearly with the Royal Seal.

"T-this is His Majesty’s seal! Then... House Ramslett hasn't abandoned Sentlaren after all!"

"If the Ramsletts are fighting for us, there’s hope!"

I wasn't actually there on the Duke’s orders, but the relief that swept through them at the mention of his name was palpable.

It made sense. The Ramslett Ducal Territory was the nation's largest producer of wheat and held massive sway over its distribution. If the Duke turned his back on the crown, food would become a luxury. While the big shots in the capital could afford high prices, the commoners and the soldiers on the fringes would be the first to starve.

Thinking back, that might be why the capital fell so easily in the game.

What if those idiots in the government executed the Ramslett family to seize their assets, only to trigger a logistical nightmare that left the army without food?

It was a surprisingly plausible explanation.

Well, it didn't matter now.

"Now then, I’m going to start things off with a bang to boost morale. Tell me which position you want me to take down first."

The sentry’s face simply twitched in response.