「Big Brother, when will Grandfather come back? 」
「His letter has reached here the week before the last.」
After dinner, Fanny visited my room just as scheduled. When she entered my room, she was surprised by the intense smell of flowers, but her joyful figure as she said 「there are so many flowers in here. It's beautiful! 」 looked very cute.
She had no idea that they were there to remove the after-sex smell. Tesh told me that he asked the gardener for a couple of flowers from the flower bed. I only felt thankful that he'd properly handled the room while I was taking my dinner.
「I wonder where Grandfather is right now.」
Fanny said while looking at the region map that was spread on top of the table.
「Hmm, this time Grandfather advanced all the way to this area, so on his way back, he might be around here. According to his letter, they've completed the operation without any problem. So I think he'll return through the shortest route. Who knows, perhaps he's already at the entrance of Nyuneri City.」
I thought while sliding my finger on the map.
Grandfather was my father's father and the previous head of the house. At present, he'd already handed over the headship, but he hadn't retired yet and was engaging war with other lands.
I somehow had the unified image of a country from my previous world, but that wasn't really the case in this world.
The lords of each territory were governing their own lands as they like, and the strongest among them was the king. That's why most nobles didn't have any loyalty towards the royal family. There were even some nobles who were trying to outsmart the royal family so that they could stand at the top.
If the royal family weakened, the nobles would usually abandon their king and join other countries or start their own together with the other nobles that they have good relations.
Since the royal family didn't have a strong authority towards the lords, it was often the case that some nobles would engage in war with the nobles from other countries.
The closest example would be us, Quordentz. The Quordentz house had been frequently in a war with Jinkaen Empire, an empire located next to Levios Kingdom. Of course, we weren't engaging in war with the whole empire, but only with some of the nobles under it.
Both the Levios Kingdom and the Jinkaen Empire were nothing more than a group of gathered lords. Levious Kingdom was founded around 80 years ago, while Jinkaen Empire only had 55 years of history.
My grandfather, who really hated some of the nobles in the empire, turned over the headship to my father the moment my father became an adult and moved the army that he'd personally trained to provoke a war.
According to the records in the warehouse, our territory had been expanding to the west, taking over the lands from the nobles of the empire. The reason the slavery had been in good shape these past years was also due to Grandfather's actions.
From the perspective of the Levios royal family, they were satisfied and didn't have any issue that my grandfather was stomping the enemy empire. Even during the recent campaign, Grandfather fiercely rampaged around the empire's lands.
「Someday, I want to see the world like Grandfather.」
The world that Grandfather was seeing, I think it was a world filled with blood. If Fanny were to see that kind of world, she'd probably die from shock.
「If you want to go outside, then lets go to the town together in the future.」
「Wow! are we really going?」
「Yes, I also have some business to do in the town so you can come along. I'll talk to father about it.」
Fanny leaned her head on my arms. I patted her head which felt like a silk while saying 'there, there'. Fanny was forbidden to leave the castle, so for her, going to the castle town was a big event. In order to realize my date with my younger sister, I had to do my best to persuade father.
A knocking sound was coming from the door. From the way it was knocked, I guessed that it was Tesh, so I permitted the entrance.
「Young Master, Young Miss, I'm sorry for bothering this late at night.」
I was just about to finish our study and go to sleep. Tesh seldom visited my room at this hour. Only around the center of the room had light, so I activated magic to open a light around the door.
「What's the matter? Since you're coming at this hour, there must be some important matter.」
「Yes. Old master has just returned from his campaign. He said he has something urgent to talk about with Young Master.」
The old master that Tesh mentioned was my grandfather.
「So Grandfather has returned. Did, did he mention anything about me?」
「No, he only said that he has something to talk about with Young Master.」
「I see…」
Softly embracing Fanny who was feeling dejected, I gently caressed her head.
「Fanny, Grandfather is calling at this hour. Something important must've happened. I'm sure Grandfather will see you tomorrow.」
「Young Master, I'm very sorry but may I lead the way?」
It seemed like it was really an urgent matter. It was a pity that I couldn't touch fanny's soft body, but I had to meet my grandfather first.
Led by Tesh, I stepped into the conference room. Sitting in there was my father, Grandfather, and his subordinate knights. I greeted my father who was the head of the Quordentz house first, then my grandfather, the previous head.
「Its been a while, Wilk.」
「I've very glad to see that you're fine, Grandfather. Its been a long time.」
The bearded dandy with a healthy complexion was my grandfather. In this world, people with large magic power were apparently more immune to aging. Although that also had something to do with their constitution. Its just that, no matter how strong a person's magic power, they would reach the limit of their lifespan at around 100 years old.
The knights under my grandfather all greeted. Nobles were very conscious to the differences in status. Immediately after the greetings, I decided to hear out the reason my grandfather called me here.
「Grandfather, did anything happen?」
「I think that the next campaign is perfect for you. Didn't you say that you wanted to stand on the front?」
That reminds me, I think I did say something along the lines that I wanted to try out my new attack magic and have my first experience on the battlefield, and then get my hands on some women from the captured towns and villages.
Honestly, I'd already tested that new magic and I'd also obtained a woman, so I didn't feel like going. Grandfather had just returned, and he was already preparing to attack again. What's the problem with this person?
「It's just the right place to decorate your first campaign. The area around is our territory, and the magic user's from the enemy are no big deal. The only troubling point is their numbers. I wanted to avoid assigning you to a dangerous place, but it wouldn't be good if you become an adult without standing at least once in the battlefield.」
Grandfather calmly explained his point, and then he added:
「If you miss this chance, you might have to go as far as inside the Jinkaen Empire's lands in the next battle. In that case, you'll have to consider their magic users. It's not very suitable for your first battle.」
Putting together my grandfather's explanation, I understood that it would be easier if I experienced my first battle at the upcoming campaign. Since I wouldn't be able to avoid it, joining the easier one was better.
「I understand. Grandfather, I'd like to join the operation to capture the city and have my first campaign.」
I declared as clearly and coolly as possible. Grandfather and father glanced at each other, and their expression became serious.
「Very well. Wilk, I'll entrust you with 5000 soldiers.」
「Yes, sir!」
I took a serious posture. I'd suddenly been given 5000 troops. A Marquis sure was very impressive.
「There's no need to be so tense. I'll arrange a veteran who knows how to lead an army as your adjutant. You can ask for his opinion as a reference. You don't need to do anything reckless.」
Grandfather patted my shoulder, and I noticed that I was feeling nervous. After all, I'd be leading 5000 soldiers. It was reassuring that my veteran Grandfather gave me an assistant that he approved.
Grandfather swept the room with his eyes before speaking in a serious tone.
「Operation Goal: The Capture of Nambonan City. You're to depart immediately at dawn.」
Oh!
A loud shout echoed inside the room. The departure would be tomorrow. I had my armor, but I hadn't done any other preparations. Instead, I really want to make love with Eve or Minith. Going to a battlefield while surrounded by men, give me a break.
Afterward, Tesh rigorously performed the preparations for my departure to the front and finished it before dawn. While he was preparing, I was able to get the gist of the operation this time.
The number of soldiers participating from Quordentz house in this campaign was approximately 60,000. The enemy side was estimated around 120,000.
The attacking side was half the number of the defensive side.
Was this really suited for my first campaign?