On the other side, at the Royal Guard camp Hulbert and Kaede were lining up next to each other having dinner. The menu was the [Instant Zelring Udon] Soma invented. It was something made by boiling Zelring udon and giving it strong flavoring, then drying it with hot air, and when it’s time to eat, soaking it in hot water and waiting for one minute⁴, becoming a complete meal. The convenience of being able to be eaten anywhere so long as one has hot water and a cup made it very popular among the Royal Guard to whom it was distributed.
⁴ It seems to soak more water than instant ramen
“Being able to eat it while camping is …. *sssslurrrrrp* … great isn’t it?”
“His Highness said … *slurp slurp slurp* … [I wanted to fry it but it dissolves in oil! Even though I like the fragrance of fried noodles better than the non-fried raw ones!] nodesu”
“I don’t really get it … *sssssslurrrrrrp* … must be some obsession”
After finishing their food while having a conversation, Kaede leaned herself on Hulbert’s shoulder. Feeling the scent of Kaede’s hair right nearby threw Hulbert into a panic.
“O, oi, Kaede. What are you doing?”
“Fufufu. Hal, I’m really happy right now nodesuyo”
“Huh!? Happy why!?”
“Because Hal’s here by my side desuyo”
Said Kaede. She giggled.
“I’m glad Hal came over to the Royal Guard nodesu. If you stayed in the Army might have been frenemies nodesu. You might not even be here nodesu”
“But I’m surrounded by forty thousand Army members because of that though”
“It’ll be decided in one or two days nodesuyo. If we could stand our ground …”
“If we could stand our ground … ?”
“If we could stand our ground then everything will go swimmingly, that would be great, right”
“Don’t just mix in your hopes in the end! If you said that much then you should just say everything!”
“So, you’ll protect me, right, Hal?”
“Aaah, sheesh, fine! I’ll just have to protect Kaede from anything and everything!”
“You’re so reliable Hal”
Within the fort, right in the middle of the battlefield, the two cuddled together and smiled to each other.
~ Day 2 – Randell Environs ~
Dawn broke and the Army once again began its offensive.
However, unlike yesterday, there were only sporadic attacks from all directions. Arrows and magic did come flying, but there were no forces making excessive attacks. Hulbert tilted his head in doubt at this half-hearted way of fighting that was unlike the day before.
“The enemy’s attacks have gone tepid, huh”
“I don’t see Zemish mercenaries anywhere. The enemy might be switching to attrition tactics”
Kaede analyzed while watching the enemy army’s movements.
Hulbert turned his shoulders around.
“Then we could take it easy for a little while”
“Hal, you have to be on guard in a battle nodesuyo. You’ll get the rug pulled from under you nodesu”
“…. All right”
Then the Army’s sporadic offensive continued. When the sun was approaching its zenith, the soldier at the watchtower shouted in a loud voice.
“Large number of flying dragon troops in the eastern sky!! It’s the Air Force!!”
When Hulbert and Kaede looked to the east, tense from the words of the scout, they saw thousands of flying dragons flying their way in formation. Hulbert reflexively hugged Kaede. She laid her hand on his hands wrapped around her shoulders and gently smiled “it’ll be fine, Hal”.
“Our bet has paid off”
The flying dragons passed by the fort where Halbert and Kaede were and flew towards Randell.