After Retirement, Living a Stud Life in Another World - 58
Chapter 58: Childhood Friend Becomes a Valkyrie
A mass of light taking the form of a young girl effortlessly tears through the dense formation of the Principality’s heavy infantry, the core of their army.
“Haaah!”
With a short shout of determination, wielding a long greatsword that doesn’t quite match her petite frame with both hands, she effortlessly slices through the steel-plated armor worn by the Principality’s soldiers as if it were butter. She cuts through the spearheads thrust at her with her own sword, and with brute force, she takes down a man who came charging at her from head to tail.
Gretel, who usually practices karate or at most wields a medium-sized sword, seemed to have decided that a flashy massacre was necessary this time. After witnessing a scene where bl00d simultaneously spurted out from the bodies of four to five enemy soldiers with a single swing, she seemed almost like a demoness. I mean, even enemies beyond her sword’s reach were collapsing. It’s hard to believe what humans can achieve.
And as she creates openings in the Principality’s army with her reckless brute force, the male infantrymen desperately following behind her widen those openings, attempting to gradually divide the elite heavy infantry unit of the enemy. In terms of raw combat ability, they shouldn’t stand a chance, but the Principality’s army, confused by Gretel’s rampage, keeps retreating.
Our army, with Gretel at the apex, takes a triangular formation, with men forming the sides, magic-wielding women occupying the interior, and providing support for the flesh walls fighting on the outer perimeter.
To be honest, this formation was my suggestion. I was unexpectedly invited to the military council and asked for my opinion, so I casually threw it out there, but I was surprised when Beatrice immediately adopted it.
Many military personnel gossiped behind my back, saying it was presumptuous for a useless son-in-law who was only good for breeding to speak up at a military council… but since Beatrice adamantly refused to entertain any objections, everyone reluctantly went along with it. Well, this tactic requires someone standing at the apex of the triangle to exhibit near invincible strength… and only I, Beatrice, and Liese knew that Gretel’s combat prowess had reached that level.
As someone born in Showa Japan, I feel somewhat hesitant about suggesting placing a girl… especially one I care about, in the most dangerous position. But Gretel’s reaction when I consulted her beforehand was completely different.
“This tactic is amazing! I’m so happy that Lutz trusts my abilities! I love it!”
She shouted that and hugged me tightly, making it hard to breathe. In this world, where women wield significantly greater power thanks to magic, my proposal seems to be interpreted not as “an act of cruelty by putting a beloved woman in danger” but as “an act of love and respect, trusting and valuing the abilities of a partner to the fullest.”
As a result, my request for Gretel to “break through the enemy lines as the vanguard” seems to have greatly boosted her morale. Despite having already single-handedly defeated hundreds of enemy soldiers, she shows no signs of fatigue and continues to advance relentlessly, swinging her enormous sword. There is no enemy capable of stopping her. Radiating an aura of light from her entire body, with her strawberry blonde hair braided into a single large ponytail, her appearance is almost divine… even her sweat seems to sparkle.
As I marvel at her, wondering what I’m doing, I’m simply carrying a basket filled with rocks, making sure not to fall behind Gretel. In this full-fledged battle, as someone who hasn’t received military training, I can’t even become a flesh wall. But as the one who put Gretel in the most dangerous position, I can’t just sit back and watch from the rear… So, that’s why I volunteered for a job that anyone with stamina and determination could do: carrying the rubble that the Baroness throws with magic incessantly at enemies attempting to ambush Gretel from her blind spot, reducing the rocks in the basket by about forty percent.
“Boy, you’re falling behind!”
“Yes, sorry!”
The basket full of rocks is so damn heavy that even though I’ve been consciously training my body since coming to this world, I’m starting to feel out of breath. If it weren’t for the Baroness constantly shooting magic at enemies trying to attack Gretel’s blind spot, reducing about forty percent of the rocks in the basket, I might have been falling behind by now.
“But I must say, I’ve gained a newfound respect for you.”
“Huh?”
“I thought high-ranking nobles like you only performed in bed. Even though you’re promised the position of king consort, coming out to the front lines to protect your childhood friend… it’s enough to bring tears to my eyes. Even if all you can do is carry rocks.”
As she said that, the old lady swiftly knocked out two enemy soldiers who were trying to thrust their spears at Gretel from the side, using her stone projectiles, and grinned.
“I’m aware that I’m not very useful.”
“No, I’m not making fun of you. By being right behind her, you double, even triple, the power of that battle-crazy young lady. You’re contributing to the fight, so hold your head high.”
Is that so? Watching the dignified and strong Gretel, I can’t help but feel inadequate, but… with the rough yet kind words of the old lady, I feel a bit better. Yeah, I’ll try a little harder for the sake of my lively and radiant childhood friend.