Chapter 26
Wakako had assumed that Liu Siruo would report her. After all, although she had completed the mission, she had become too close to the Saint, violating the principles of being a mercenary.
If her master or the Queen found out, she would undoubtedly face severe punishment, and she had long prepared herself to accept it.
Surprisingly, her senior sister did not do so.
That morning, the two of them, for once, sat side by side by the stream like ordinary friends.
Liu Siruo had always been brash, with a sharp tongue. She didn’t usually get along well with Wakako, and their relationship could only be described as lukewarm at best.
It was the first time they had opened up to each other and had a heart-to-heart conversation.
“Aren’t you afraid of death?” Liu Siruo was curious. “You almost froze to death on the streets as a child. You fought so hard to survive, yet now you’re willing to risk it all for the Saint…”
She, too, had been an orphan. She had clawed her way up to where she was now and knew better than anyone the hardship involved. This made her even more confused as to why Wakako would be so reckless with her life.
The surface of the water reflected Wakako’s blood-stained cheeks. She scooped up some water and washed away the blood and her disguise.
Her thoughts were the complete opposite of Liu Siruo’s. Calmly, she said, “No, I’m not afraid.”
“Precisely because I’ve suffered so much when I was young, I already know what the worst-case scenario looks like, so I’m not afraid.” Wakako smiled, revealing two round dimples.
“What’s the worst that could happen? I die. I have no family, no ties, nothing to lose.”
Living on the streets, the Kitagawa clan, the Saionji clan, the Eagle Kingdom’s royal palace… She had faced death more times than she could count. Each time, she had prepared herself to die. Eventually, she grew accustomed to it.
Liu Siruo countered, “But don’t you think it’s unfair? If things go wrong, nothing will happen to the Saint, but you’ll take all the blame…”
Wakako calmly said, “There’s nothing unfair about it. This is my own decision.”
“Recognizing the Saint as my master, becoming a mercenary… and many other things, were all choices I made based on my own will. Even if it’s a path to death, I will keep walking it.”
Liu Siruo narrowed her eyes, as if contemplating something. “But you have a better choice. The Queen has already given you a fiancée. Once you stop being a mercenary, you could settle down and live a peaceful life with her. Isn’t that a better option?”
“No, Senior sister.”
Wakako picked up a small stone and gave it to her. They began to skip stones, competing to see who could throw theirs farther.
“That’s not my choice, it’s someone else’s.”
The stream wasn’t wide. Wakako found the right angle, and the stone in her hand easily skipped across the water, landing on the opposite bank.
Liu Siruo’s stone, however, sank halfway.
“I could follow the Queen’s command and marry my fiancée, but that would mean I’m running away from my own decisions because of fear.”
“Would I live a few more years? Maybe. But I’d definitely regret it.”
“I don’t like regrets, Senior Sister,” she said. “Whether as a servant of the Saionji clan, the Saint’s guard, or a mercenary, I don’t want to live with regrets.”
Liu Siruo suddenly realized that she didn’t understand her junior sister at all. She had always thought Wakako was quiet and stubborn, but now she realized that although she was a bit foolish, Wakako possessed immense courage and unwavering resolve.
Wakako’s words also seemed to be a key that slowly unlocked something in her heart.
In the end, should one face their fears, or avoid them and live with regret?
After a long silence, Liu Siruo let out a deep sigh. “Consider yourself lucky, kid.”
She stood up and picked up the bundle containing the heads of the three enemy commanders.
“I’ll cover for you regarding what happened in the camp. As for Saionji Saburo’s departure and the Saint’s arrival at the front lines… I’ll explain it to them.”
“Senior Sister, you don’t have to…”
“Shut up.”
Liu Siruo tossed the bundle to Wakako, using her own words to silence her. “This is my own decision, so don’t interfere.”
With that, her petite figure walked ahead without looking back at Wakako.
Wakako slung the bundle over her shoulder and silently followed.
—Who decided we have to bring back heads? I really want to protest!
—The combined stench of these few heads is really… unbearable. I’m going to be sick.
***
Although the target wasn’t Saionji Saburo as planned, Wakako had brought back three heads, making up for it with quantity. It was considered a successful mission.
That day, the heads of the Eagle Kingdom’s commanders were hung over the gates of Nanling City.
When the townspeople heard that an extraordinary group of mercenaries had come to their aid, their morale soared, and the tense atmosphere relaxed considerably.
Although Wakako didn’t feel any discomfort afterward, the military doctor looked at her with a strange expression after examining her. “Lady Wakako, you…”
With this level of exhaustion, an ordinary person would have fainted on the spot. How did she manage to survive such a grueling battle?
Of course, Wakako didn’t dare show him the marks on her body, or it would have caused a commotion.
The military doctor prescribed some medicine and advised her to rest for a few days, even with her remarkable healing abilities. He stressed the importance of avoiding any strenuous activity during this period.
So she found herself lying in the best inn within the city, taking a brief respite away from the front lines.
However, due to her experience deep within the enemy camp, Wakako was still required to participate in the war council.
Originally, this campaign was to be led by a seasoned general with a record of victories. But now, the commander had been replaced by none other than the ten-year-old Crown Princess, Tsukiyo.
This decision was made by the Queen, and no one had the right to question it. But that didn’t stop people from gossiping behind closed doors.
No matter how talented the Crown Princess might be, she was still far too young and had no experience in military strategy. With such a critical battle at hand, could it really be entrusted to a child?
Tsukiyo was well aware of what the others were thinking. Until they witnessed her capabilities, they wouldn’t truly accept her.
This was the path every heir had to take, and it was the first test she faced.
The map Wakako had personally drawn was hung in the air for everyone to see. In reality, it wasn’t of much use, as the Eagle Kingdom had retreated dozens of miles and re-established their camp after the deaths of their commanders, completely altering the battlefield.
Now, the focus of the discussion was whether or not to pursue the enemy, with varying opinions.
“We should pursue them.” Liu Siruo said bluntly, being the first to speak. She pointed to the northern region of the map.
“They’ve retreated north, and that’s an area with no resources. Right now, they’re low on supplies. Why not strike now and finish them off?”
One of the vice commanders disagreed. “I believe we should take this opportunity to regroup. While the northern region may be barren, it’s closer to the Eagle Kingdom’s territory. What if their reinforcements and supplies are already on their way?”
“Where did you hear that?” Carol frowned. “The closest place to the Eagle Kingdom in the north is Yueqing City. This city was severely damaged earlier and is practically a ghost town, with its people struggling to survive. It’s impossible for them to send aid so quickly.”
“Have you considered that this might be a diversion by the enemy?”
“Are you questioning the reconnaissance capabilities of the mercenaries?”
The vice commander gave a cold smile. “I wouldn’t dare.”
Though they were officially military officers, their relationship remained delicate and tense.
The mercenaries were the Queen’s private soldiers, wielded authority that superseded the regular army. Though they rarely went to the front lines, their habit of “dictating” military tactics made the soldiers feel deeply frustrated.
As the atmosphere grew increasingly tense, General Ebenezer, who had remained silent, took a sip of his tea and calmly said, “Everyone, please calm down. Why don’t we hear what Her Highness the Crown Princess has to say?”
He was the originally appointed commander of this campaign.
Ebenezer was in his early forties and had participated in hundreds of battles, boasting a wealth of experience. Yet he had been abruptly replaced by a ten-year-old child. Though he kept his thoughts to himself, there was undoubtedly a fire smoldering within him.
As soon as he spoke, all eyes turned to Tsukiyo, waiting for the Crown Princess’s opinion.
Under the weight of their stares, she couldn’t help but feel a bit nervous. Her eyes instinctively sought out the most familiar face in the room, and she quickly locked eyes with the woman beside her.
As her teacher, Wakako offered an encouraging wink.
Tsukiyo took a deep breath and confidently expressed her thoughts. “Everyone here has made valid points, but…”
She abruptly stood up and walked to the map, her small hand pointing to the northern wastelands.
“Strike while the iron is hot,” she declared. “Lady Kitagawa launched a night raid on the enemy camp, sustaining injuries just to bring back the heads of three commanders. Now is the time when our morale is high and we should strike. If we sit idly by, wouldn’t we be missing a golden opportunity and wasting Lady Kitagawa’s efforts?”
In front of everyone, Tsukiyo didn’t address Wakako as “Master.”
“Our forces may have suffered some losses in the previous battle, but our foundation remains strong. We don’t need much time to recover. Moreover, the north is our territory. Why should we fear their assistance from Yueqing City? We also have the solid backing of Nanling City!”
Her voice was young, yet firm and resolute.
Despite her young age, the Crown Princess displayed unwavering determination, advocating for a decisive offensive.
Wakako watched her student exhibit her growing leadership and felt a surge of pride.
Although the Crown Princess’s approach to warfare wasn’t something she had taught, their thoughts were perfectly aligned. Perhaps—this was a form of unspoken understanding between teacher and student.
Seeing this, Wakako decided to stoke the fire further.
All eyes were on her as the usually quiet Lady Kitagawa also stood up, her long, slender finger pointing to the far northern edge of the map.
It was the place mentioned earlier, Yueqing City of the Eagle Kingdom, nearly reduced to ruins with its people barely surviving.
“They came a long way to try and conquer Nanling, so why don’t we…”
Wakako’s eyes swept across the room, her expression open and direct.
As soon as these words came out, it set off a huge commotion.
“Why can’t we turn the tables and swallow up Yueqing City?”
***
After half a day of discussion, the pro-war faction ultimately prevailed. Without delay, Crown Princess Tsukiyo immediately began deploying troops, preparing for a night assault.
Of course, this had little to do with Wakako for the time being. She still needed a few days to recuperate.
Moreover, she wasn’t entirely without weaknesses, so she couldn’t appear too frequently among the Eagle Kingdom’s army, or her true identity would eventually be exposed.
The effectiveness of a secret weapon lay precisely in its secrecy.
Among the mercenaries, Liu Siruo and Albert joined the battlefield. One was skilled in reconnaissance and disguise, while the other was a renowned archer with years of experience, capable of ensuring Crown Princess Tsukiyo’s safety.
Carol, on the other hand, suffered a relapse of an old injury and stayed behind, enjoying a moment of respite.
Later that night, there was an unexpected knock on the door of the inn.
Carol got up to answer, exchanged a few words, and then called out, “Wakako? Someone’s here to see you.”
Wakako, who was almost asleep, was startled awake and instinctively got up to dress.
Outside, a graceful figure loomed in the shadows, a bright smile on their face.
“It’s Miki.”
