The Second Son of The Marquis Runs Away from Home ~ Lacking Talent, He Abandons Everything and Becomes an Adventurer ~ - 49

Chapter 49: To Sheathe the Spear

“Finally, we can speak on equal terms.”

“Speak?”

Shion looked puzzled at my words. Without lowering our guard, I continued.

“I want to negotiate. If you agree, Setsura… let’s stop the demon’s combat actions.”

“Negotiate?”

“I will provide information on why the Empire is assisting Gomon, the cost of the Yomi Curses used by Ozuma… and the potential disasters that could arise from it.

I want you to decide whether to resume fighting or come to an agreement after that.”

“Do you think we will agree?”

“If you agree, there are soldiers who will be saved now.”

Shion fell silent for a moment at my words. Then he exhaled, lifted his face, and spoke.

“Zen, immediately notify the entire army to cease combat.”

“…Understood.”

The man in the robes used his magic to convey the order to the entire army. The surrounding soldiers also sheathed their weapons.

(If I can persuade this man…)

We could shift the tide of battle drastically. With this thought, we also sheathed our weapons.

—

Facing Shion and his side, we stood divided into two armies.

Here, Aria, Raigou, and Iruma were stationed behind us, while Zen, Hiruko, and Fudou stood behind Shion as negotiations began.

“I see.”

Shion nodded after listening to my story, then voiced his own opinion.

“Berg, your account matches what we’ve been investigating for some time. In other words, this battle falls within Mudou’s expectations.”

“Then…”

“However, we must still settle this battle.”

Shion declared, his killing intent directed at me.

“We have spilled too much blood, taken too many lives… We have reached a stage where neither of us can sheathe our spears without one of us losing our life.”

Therefore, Shion continued.

“Let’s settle this with a one-on-one duel. The condition will be that the losing army must follow the winning side.”

Shion’s proposal shocked not only me but also the generals who were standing by. I hesitated briefly before asking.

“…Is there really no way to come to an agreement?”

“I have let many soldiers die in this battle. If the result is a reversal of what we have believed until now, the soldiers will not accept it.”

Shion spoke while looking at me, as if to admonish.

“Remember this well. A general must never make the deaths of their soldiers meaningless. It is the responsibility of a general to uphold that even if it costs their own life, and it is from fulfilling that responsibility that soldiers fight.”

Touching the twin blades at his waist, Shion radiated intense fighting spirit from his entire body.

“A general must respond to the resolve of risking their life with their own life.”

“…Understood.”

I said this and instructed Aria and the others not to intervene, then withdrew. Shion also informed Zen and the others of the conditions and had them withdraw.

We drew our daggers and hand axes, and Shion also drew his twin blades and readied himself.

Only the sound of the wind on the battlefield echoed. Our gazes crossed, and we moved.

The clash of black and white blades drowned out the sound of the wind.