Chapter 21

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter Title: A Super Shy Kid is Looking for Dad 119

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The youngest chief advisor in the Central Strategy Headquarters, Edmund, hardened his expression.

"Starving to death? The dispatched forces are all highly trained knights from the Holy Knight Order, and they're on the brink of starvation?"

His adjutant, Caleb, replied anxiously.

"It seems to be because of the explosion. All the supplies blew up three days ago. They're in a situation with nothing to eat or drink right now."

The northwest border region.

It was an area where a large magic stone and two medium ones had suddenly emerged at once, giving the Holy Knights a real headache.

But this was strange. Starvation, of all things?

"What about the additional supplies from the central battalion?"

"Well..."

Caleb hesitated, staring at Edmund.

"The supply unit was ambushed by monsters on the way to the target point. We just got the report on that attack."

Edmund's brow furrowed.

"So the supply route is completely cut off?"

"That's how it looks. It's mostly due to the heavy snow. It's nearly impossible to traverse that distance even during the day when there are no monsters..."

As Caleb said, the northwest region had been hit with relentless blizzards lately.

As a result, the only supply route was fully blocked.

Edmund anxiously ran a hand through his hair.

If only the magic stones weren't so densely packed.

Areas dense with magic stones disrupted teleportation arrays due to the overwhelming mana.

In the end, it meant they couldn't rescue the isolated knights without recruiting more troops.

"Then call in some mercenaries."

Edmund spoke up.

He fixed Caleb with a deadly serious look.

"We can't mobilize more Holy Knight forces since they need time to regroup, so get mercenaries."

Over the past few months, the empire had seen an unnatural surge in magic stone outbreaks.

The Holy Knights stationed in the capital had been pushed to murderous schedules as a result.

Pulling more of them here would be impossible.

"Check for mercenary groups nearby right now and classify it as a national request. Put in a request to connect with the Frost Association next time. Since it's urgent, offer high pay."

But Caleb answered with a dark expression.

"Sir, His Majesty the Emperor strongly opposed it."

Edmund's eyebrows twitched.

"What?"

"He said we've relied on mercenaries too much lately, and it's damaging the imperial prestige..."

A hollow laugh escaped him.

The Order had indeed placed quite a few national requests with the Frost Association recently.

But still.

With a significant force on the verge of annihilation, worrying about face?

Caleb continued in a subdued voice, looking troubled.

"He said accepting help from mercenaries again would make the Holy Knight Order look weak."

Edmund clenched his fist without realizing it.

"If the capital gets breached, there won't be any prestige left to protect."

His muttered words hung cold in the air, his gaze icing over.

"Fine. I'll take responsibility and muster them. You gonna let those isolated kids starve to death?"

"No, sir. You got disciplined last time for something similar!"

But Caleb was stubborn.

He pleaded earnestly.

"Sir, in these times, another discipline would be disastrous. If even you're gone from Strategy HQ, we're all dead for real."

Edmund was one of the few commanders who conserved troops and used them wisely.

He didn't treat soldiers—or individual Holy Knights—like disposable consumables.

But the other advisors at Central Strategy HQ were different.

"Imagine if you get disciplined like last time, and Sir Mathias or Sir Valteron takes your spot. That battalion's wiped out in under two months, right?"

"..."

"Look into ways to deliver supplies instead. Head back to HQ for now and..."

Finally, a sigh mixed with a groan escaped Edmund's lips.

In truth, he'd just pulled an all-nighter for three days at HQ and barely made it home to his mansion.

But right before stepping inside, Caleb reported.

Troops starving in the northwest—come up with a solution, new orders.

These are the times we live in, so I get not sleeping.

But no solution came to mind for safely delivering supplies to the northwest.

First off, the blizzards crippling mobility.

And the magic stones dominating the area couldn't be ignored—one large, two medium.

They'd dispatched two large battalions anticipating hordes of monsters.

But now, with supplies cut off, that was backfiring.

"If we can just get supplies through, they could pull back quickly..."

Edmund rubbed his temples.

"...Fine. Back to HQ to think it over."

He was just about to brush past Caleb and climb into the carriage again.

"Can't you just send it through the sky?"

Out of nowhere, a curious child's voice piped up from below.

He turned to see a little kid in a black cloak standing there.

Holding something in her hands.

"Can't you put stuff like this in a sky lantern and send it up?"

Edmund's gaze shifted to the object in the child's hands.

It was a broken sky lantern, like one used in last night's festival.

Edmund found himself repeating it.

"...Sky lanterns?"

The child nodded brightly.

"Yup! Hang it here and send it way up high, and the wind'll carry it off like this!"

It was perhaps fortunate that the cart wheel broke on the roadside.

Thanks to that, Basto stopped the cart, and Tiye happened to overhear the conversation.

Of course, the talk between the two sharply dressed adult men was hard to follow.

Troops this, state of affairs that, discipline, strategy—endless unfamiliar words.

But after listening intently, Tiye figured it out.

What these people were agonizing over!

Tiye waved the broken sky lantern piece she'd picked up from the roadside.

"Hang the supplies on this and float 'em over."

The man stared at her in surprise.

Tiye quickly added,

"Big balloons go super far!"

And not just that?

There were movies where houses flew off on balloons.

She'd once seen a hot air balloon festival doc on TV.

Inspired, Tiye had grabbed balloons from the closet and jumped off several times.

But they wouldn't fly, and kind Auntie from 203 explained her deep thoughts to Tiye.

'Your balloons are too small, Tiye. Need much bigger, sturdier ones to float away.'

So,

"Make a huge sky lantern and send it up—wouldn't that deliver the supplies?"

The man said nothing, for some reason.

Just staring at Tiye with a blank face.

As Tiye started fidgeting awkwardly at the reaction,

"Tiye! All fixed!"

Basto called from behind.

She turned to see Basto, wheel fully repaired, looking at her.

"Tiye come quick!"

She waved her hand wildly, glanced at the man,

Shoved the roadside lantern trash firmly into his hand, bowed deeply,

"Bye-bye then!"

Ran to Basto, who gave her a stern look.

"Don't talk to strangers on the street, Tiye."

Tiye glanced at Basto's eyes and quickly replied,

"Okaay!"

"That's not how you answer."

Basto chuckled and lifted her back onto the cart.

As the cart turned and rolled forward, Tiye's mouth fell open in awe.

"Wooow...!"

Crossing the street gave a clearer view of the mansion behind where the two men had stood.

"Uncle Basto, whose house is that?"

Basto narrowed his brow.

"Who knows."

The mansion was at least three times larger and more luxurious than the others on the street.

"Prime minister's, maybe? Or the Grand Commander's place."

Of course, he hadn't expected it to actually be that.