Plain Girl Hero of Darkness
Autonomous Cavalry Regiment - (5)

“Alright, this sister will now hand out a nice cake for everyone. It's free, if you understand, then make a line in front of it— "

Even before Ashton was finished, the children marched like trained soldiers. Ashton smiled wryly at this scene, and pointed at Olivia with his eyes. Olivia handed out the cake to the children with a stiff smile.

After he gave the final piece, his hands seemed to tremble. Ashton decided to just look at it.

“You are very gentle.”

As Ashton notices the interaction between Olivia and the children, he suddenly hears a clear voice from behind. He turned around, and looked at Claudia whose smile was as warm as the sun during the spring.

Ashton was timidly scratching his nose.

“Well, this is all we can do for them now. We can only pray for the Canary city to recover soon. ”

"-That's right."

Claudia answered briefly.

The two of them looked forward, where Olivia smiled innocently as the children surrounded her.

the next morning.

Olivia and her colleagues were eating at their temporary residence, when the local platoon commander visited with a sour face.

"Is there a problem? We plan to leave after breakfast. "

When he heard Claudia say that, the platoon commander scratched his cheek restlessly:

“I'm sorry for interrupting your eating. Actually-"

"Please! Please, please save Lieutenant General Sara!”

A man suddenly ran out from behind the platoon commander and pleaded with his hands at Olivia's feet. He was covered in dust, but the purple six-star emblem was still visible on his shoulders. He seemed to be an envoy from the Sixth Army.

"Why are there envoys from the Sixth Army here ... I remember the Sixth Army escorting the Peshita Fort."

In response to Ashton's question, the man nodded repeatedly.

After the Sixth Army lost to Full Metal Knights on the Southern battlefield, they managed to escape annihilation. Currently, they must be assigned to Fort Peshita and assigned to defend the western part of the central zone.

“You're Berhard, right? Release the Major's leg. We'll talk after that."

Claudia slowly got up from her chair, and pressed Berherd with her gaze from above.

"P-Excuse me."

Berhard let go of Olivia's legs in panic, and kowtowed with a forehead to the ground. Claudia sat back down while snorting. Olivia was not at all bothered, and asked politely:

"So what happened? I heard you asked us to save Lieutenant General Sara or something. "

“Y-Yes Mdm! Our troops have been surrounded by the Swaran Army! Please save us! "

******

[Peshita Fort Royal Army]

“It looks like this was in vain.”

Sara said as she looked at the Swaran Army from the corner of the fortress. Senior Colonel Roland then withdrew his arm with a gasp of breath.

“Your Majesty Sara! Please do not observe the battle from a place like this! What if a stray arrow hits you !?”

“The worst thing that can happen is that I will die from that arrow?”

Lieutenant General Sara Sem Livia is a beautiful 21-year-old woman with delicate features, and the only female General Officer in the Kingdom.

besides, he has another title.

Fourth Princess of the Kingdom of Farnesse. He was a means to convey to the commoners that the nobles also fought on the front lines. That was the background of how Sara who was less able than the other Generals ended up leading the Sixth Army.

In other words, because of the Fourth Princess' political standing, and her admiration for the Knights who encouraged her to learn swordsmanship, it made her the perfect propaganda tool for the Royal family of Farnesse.

“Because you understand, please stay away from the wall! If the enemy kills you, then the Sixth Army will run out!"

Roland sighed heavily, then lectured the team of bodyguards who arrived one step later, ordering to protect Sara carefully. During this time, the soldiers from Swaran Kingdom were still attacking with siege ladders. The defenders retaliated with spears, dropping stones and pouring boiling water.

The Swaran Kingdom, a vassal state of the Empire, invaded Peshita Fort one week ago. Due to the huge difference in numbers, Sara chose to fight in the defensive fort, but their very important food supply to defend the fort was lacking. Even the elite troops were unable to win the battle on an empty stomach, and the Sixth Army was simply not an elite army.

"Has reinforcements come?"

Sara was forced by her subordinates to sit on a chair, and muttered leisurely while hugging her knees. He did not explain that he asked Roland, but Roland still replied:

"I sent an envoy to seek help from the Seventh Army ..."

Roland stopped in the middle of the sentence, and Sara understood what he meant. He did ask for help, but they already knew that the Seventh Army had been sent to fight the Imperial forces in the north who were destroying the Third and Fourth Armies. Their request for help was just a gamble.

Will the Seventh Army be willing to help them—?

“From our estimates, reinforcements will need at least a week to get here. I don't think this fortress can last that long."

Sara sighed deeply, then smiled at Roland.

“…………”

Roland remained silent, but his face became even more gloomy. This proves that what Sara said was true.

The Peshita Fort was built in haste during the later stages of the war era, and was by no means a solid fortress. With each blow from the battering ram to the main gate, the wooden supports would groan. The defenders did all they could, but they could not win against the superior number of enemies, who could easily strengthen their numbers and continue their attacks to the gate.

They managed to retreat after their defeat of Full Metal Knights, but the situation was different here. There is no way to escape the siege.

(We can just give up when all hope is lost. If I offered my head, they might forgive my people. I may be at the tail end of succession rights, but the head of a Princess still has a certain value.)

As the battle raged, Sara made her determination calmly.

*******

After the Autonomous Cavalry Regiment finished resting and supplying, a group of children saw them leaving the Canary city with cheers. Olivia waved goodbye to the children, but as she left the entrance, she pulled out of control and looked towards the forest.

"Major, is there a problem?"

Seeing Olivia's face turning serious, Claudia remained vigilant and asked. However, Olivia's answer was puzzling.

"I just thought a gutter rat was running around here."

“... Hah, sewer rat, yes.”

Claudia felt strength come out of her shoulder. What kind of ditch rat made Olivia stop her horse? Claudia looked around curiously, but did not see any signs of mice. After all, gutter rats are unlikely to roam around in broad daylight.

He tried scanning the area with the strength of his eyes (Olivia nicknamed them 'Heavenly Eyes'), but the result was the same.

...****************...

...To Be Continue's...