When I was working as a civil servant, I was found out to be a muscle-brained knight by the princess knight and got sent to the front lines - Episode 210

Episode 210 

The first major battle in what would later be known as the Great Schism, was fought on the plains near the ancient city of Paradis. It ended in victory for the Lorentzi faction led by Seraphina and the 11th Legion of the Tashman Kingdom.

The battle was between 10,000 knights of the Holy Lucius Knights led by Seraphina and 501 soldiers of the Tashman Kingdom’s 11th Legion, versus 10,000 knights of the Holy Levia Knights led by Archbishop Lucius Agrippa. Although the forces were nearly equal in number, making a bloody and protracted conflict seem likely, the battle was concluded in about three hours.

For a conflict of this scale, such a quick resolution was unusual. It underscored the intensity of the air assault by the 11th Legion of the Tashman Kingdom.

Naturally, the damage was markedly uneven. By the time Archbishop Lucius Agrippa and his forces managed to return to the Holy City Sancturia, their numbers had dwindled to just 3,000. They had lost 7,000 soldiers compared to their initial strength. Even more frightening, nearly all of these 7,000 were captured alive.

While there were some deaths, the battle was between Holy Knights, so healing magic was readily available. Additionally, the Tashman Kingdom’s forces had used non-lethal weapons and magic, leading to an unprecedented number of prisoners.

In contrast, the losses for Seraphina’s Holy Lucius Knights amounted to only a few hundred dead and severely wounded, less than one-tenth of the losses suffered by Lucius’s forces. Despite their later arrival, it was a decisive victory.

The 11th Legion of the Tashman Kingdom, astonishingly, suffered no losses at all. Even though they had taken considerable precautions, a zero-loss record was remarkable. When Seraphina first heard this report, she responded with a stunned, “Huh?”

Jez, however, accepted this outcome as expected, and Chief of Staff Cynthia Clark also took it in stride. It seemed that Cynthia was thoroughly Tashman Kingdom through and through.

Nonetheless, there were some severe injuries, particularly among the units led by Edelmar and Lucretia. They had sustained relatively more wounds, possibly due to their heightened dedication to their own country.

The Tashman Kingdom’s three elite hundred-man squads—Al-Faz, Niemi, and Halvorsen—suffered almost no injuries. Although their soldiers were in excellent condition, their weapons and equipment were not as resilient. It may have contributed to their decision not to pursue Lucius Agrippa’s retreat.

The young officers leading the Niemi and Halvorsen squads, who were expected to be the next generation of northern front-line commanders, demonstrated their exceptional base-capturing capabilities. The Al-Faz unit, renowned for its rapid deployment, fully showcased its abilities. They maneuvered across the battlefield, contributing to the division and defeat of enemy forces.

These three elite squads of the 11th Legion achieved significant victories by leveraging their unique characteristics, and their names reverberated across the continent of Azelion.

However, it was the two individuals who stood out even more on the battlefield: the self-proclaimed diplomat who descended from the sky at the start of the battle and conducted ceasefire negotiations while unarmed, and the alchemist who charged into the enemy lines in the final stages of the battle, causing chaos with magical weaponry. Their actions made headlines across the continent. But the details were so bewildering that many countries dismissed them as fabrications or excessive propaganda by the Tashman Kingdom, or even as elaborate falsehoods by the defeated Archbishop Lucius Agrippa.

…This is a classic example of how excessive claims can come across as mere jokes.

・　・　・

That night following their great victory on the plains near Paradis. The entire city was abuzz with celebration, resembling a festival.

The city had been preparing for a siege during the weeks of standoff, with commerce, trade, and economic activities disrupted. However, things were generally returning to normal.

Merchants and travelers who had been stalled or unable to enter the city were now bustling about.

Meanwhile, in the central cathedral of Paradis, Seraphina and her Lorentzi faction, along with members of the 11th Legion of the Tashman Kingdom, were engaged in an official meeting. 

Once again, Jez Norman, the commander of the 11th Legion, presented a letter from Tashman King Ramses to Pope Seraphina XIII.

Among the contents of the letter from King Ramses of the Tashman Kingdom were the official recognition of Seraphina as the new Pope, and the dispatch of the 11th Legion to assist in suppressing unrest within the Divina Papal State.

Upon hearing the details of the new letter from King Ramses, the leaders of the Lorentzi faction erupted in cheers once again.

Additionally, the Fourth Saint, Lucretia Alma, publicly declared her support for Seraphina and her intervention in the internal strife for the first time as a Saint.

With this, Pope Seraphina XIII and the Lorentzi faction successfully bolstered their legitimacy by gaining the official support of international public opinion and the endorsement of a Saint.

The entire city of Paradis was abuzz with celebration, further boosting morale.

That night, after all the formal meetings were concluded, Seraphina was in high spirits. She attempted to reconnect with Jez, Miriam, and Victor.

“Hey, you old hag. Don’t just stand there grinning with that loose face of yours. Shouldn’t you be explaining things to me first?” 

“Oh? Is that you, little brat? It’s been a while, hasn’t it? Your manners are still as bad as ever. Do you need a thorough re-education?”

“…What is this, you two? Can’t you have a conversation without dissing each other?”

Lucretia was visibly irritated and snapped at Seraphina. On the other hand, Seraphina understood the situation and teased back with a grin. Jez looked exasperated as he tried to mediate, while Edelmar smiled and observed the young people’s exchange.