Chapter 29
The final decision on the Mios side was to launch a full-scale siege.
General Ebenezer, the originally appointed commander, offered his advice. “Before their reinforcements arrive, we must either take the city in one fell swoop or retreat while we’re ahead. We absolutely cannot prolong this any further.”
Although he had previously disagreed with the Crown Princess and had even argued with her, in war, results were all that mattered. Since the Crown Princess had won the battle, he would no longer say anything and would focus on assisting her.
Logically, the Eagle Kingdom’s reinforcements should have arrived by now. However, a heavy snowfall two days ago had coated the roads in ice, making travel nearly impossible. Even the horses struggled for footing on the slippery paths, causing significant delays.
Today, the snow had begun to thaw, and time was running out.
And then there was…
“The Saint,” General Ebenezer sighed with frustration. “With her around, they fight as though they’ve been blessed by God.”
Although Tsukiyo had not yet witnessed the Saint’s power firsthand, she had already experienced her abilities during their confrontations.
At first, she hadn’t taken the Saint seriously. No matter how revered she was, the Saint was still just a frail Omega — someone who couldn’t wield weapons or carry burdens. What place could she possibly have on the battlefield?
But Tsukiyo soon realized how wrong she was.
The enemy had lost their main and vice commanders, leaving them leaderless. That night, Wakako had also killed many of their soldiers. They should have been scattered and easily defeated.
Yet, under the command of someone unknown, they had rallied with unprecedented strength, launching a counterattack that caught them completely off guard.
According to the intelligence gathered by Liu Siruo, it was the Saint.
Her tactics were precise, her strategies cunning. If it weren’t for the significant disparity in their forces and the presence of several mercenaries, Tsukiyo wouldn’t have been so confident in her victory.
Legend had it that the Saint possessed an acute perception, allowing her to make the most accurate judgments in moments of crisis and turn the tide of battle.
Tsukiyo had initially been skeptical, but seeing was believing, and now she had no choice but to accept it.
She called Wakako into her tent for a private conversation, looking troubled. “Master.”
The importance of this campaign went without saying, but victory and defeat were commonplace in war. No one could be absolutely certain of winning.
Moreover, the Crown Princess was ultimately just a ten-year-old child. This was not only a crucial battle for Mios, but also the Crown Princess’s first military expedition. The outcome would undoubtedly impact her standing as the heir in the eyes of the people.
She desired victory more than anyone else, and the weight of that responsibility was heavy on her shoulders.
“Master, are you familiar with the Saint’s military strategies?” Tsukiyo asked.
Officially, Wakako’s background was tied to the Kitagawa clan, her history carefully crafted to distance her from the Saionji clan’s betrayal. Only a few people—Tsukiyo and a handful of trusted companions—knew that Wakako had once served as the Saint’s personal guard. This discussion had to remain private.
Here, apart from the Crown Princess and a few squad mates, no one knew that she had once served as the Saint’s guard. Therefore, this matter could only be discussed privately.
Wakako slowly nodded. “I am.”
Hope flickered in Crown Princess Tsukiyo’s eyes. “Could you tell me about them?”
“…” Wakako wanted to say something, but in the end, she could only manage a helpless, wry smile. “It’s useless.”
At times, Wakako felt that God was unfair in how they divided the world, sorting people into categories of high and low, noble and common. Some lived through endless suffering, while others were born with everything they could ever need.
But sometimes, she also felt that perhaps God was somewhat just. What they took from one person, they would bestow upon another.
Like Miki, whose body was incredibly frail, like a flower that could be easily broken, who would become exhausted after just a few steps.
Yet, in other ways, she far surpassed the average person. From a young age, she had devoured all kinds of knowledge, able to recall anything she had read with perfect memory.
No matter how difficult the subject, the Saint could grasp it after her teachers explained it just once – music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, prose, military strategy, mathematics, and even subjects typically reserved for rulers or heirs. She excelled in everything, and no one could deny her exceptional intelligence.
Moreover, the Saint possessed an acute perception, allowing her to make the most accurate judgments in moments of crisis. Wakako knew this better than anyone.
She said, “If the Saint truly intends to fight us to the death, we will undoubtedly lose.”
Tsukiyo’s face tensed, her anxiety growing as she paced back and forth. “If that’s the case, then why did Master advise me to attack Yueqing City in the first place?”
Wakako hesitated for a moment. “Because…”
Because she had begun to sense something peculiar about the Saint’s intentions.
On the surface, the Saint appeared to be allied with the Eagle Kingdom, even fighting on their behalf. However, her true attitude remained ambiguous and difficult to read.
If Miki had wanted to, she could have easily killed Wakako with her pheromones during the Hyman family wedding. Yet, she not only spared Wakako but also Liu Siruo.
The same could be said for the mission to assassinate Saionji Saburo. Miki had protected Wakako when the Eagle Kingdom’s forces searched the camp and hadn’t even stopped her from killing those generals.
While a large part of this was undoubtedly due to the personal connection between Wakako and Miki, it was also clear that Miki’s loyalty to the Eagle Kingdom was not absolute.
Before this, the outcome of the war was a contest between two sides. But now, with the Saint’s presence on the front lines, the final result ultimately rested on Miki’s will.
Which side did she want to win? And how did she want them to win?
Although Miki had personally admitted to actively shaping public opinion in favor of the Eagle Kingdom as the Saint, Wakako suspected that her motivations were far more complicated.
However, in Crown Princess Tsukiyo’s eyes, Wakako and Miki were merely a former master and servant. Certain things naturally couldn’t be mentioned.
Wakako only shared part of her thoughts, saying, “I suspect the Saint’s is not fully committed to the Eagle Kingdom.”
Tsukiyo looked confused. “Master, do you think… the Saint is being coerced?”
This was their original hypothesis, though they lacked any solid evidence to prove it.
Wakako hesitated for a moment before answering, “Perhaps.”
Suddenly, her mind wandered back to Saionji Saburou, the target she had been assigned to assassinate, who had conveniently left the day before her attempt.
He was also the traitor responsible for the Jinxin Raid five years ago.
During her time with the Saionji clan, Wakako hadn’t paid much attention to him. She only remembered Saburo as a quiet young master, a few years older than herself, who had presented into an Omega early on and generally kept a low profile within the estate.
There was one time, though, when Wakako had found him in poor health and ran to get help. Saburou had been so weak, drenched in sweat, that he could barely walk, and it was only with the support of Kyouka-mama that he had made it back.
Could such a seemingly gentle and harmless person commit such a treacherous act? An act that had ultimately led to the demise of the entire Saionji clan?
And now, was he somehow holding sway over the Saint?
If Wakako ever got the chance to meet Saburou again, the first thing she would do was demand answers to all these questions.
The second thing she would do was kill him, as quickly and cleanly as possible—preferably with a single strike through the heart.
The third thing would be to bring Kyuoka-mama’s favorite snacks and Saburo’s head to the graves of those nameless individuals, branded as “traitors,” who could not be properly mourned.
Everyone had their own way of waging war. Just as Saionji Saburo’s schemes were cruel and ruthless, setting fire to mountains without regard for other living beings, Miki’s tactics were unpredictable and ever-changing, making it impossible to anticipate her next move.
As for Wakako, her way of fighting, much like her blade, could be summed up in two words:
Swift and ruthless.
“Tsukiyo,” Wakako said, leaning over the wooden table, her eyes locking onto the Crown Princess’s, “if we’re going to take the city, we can’t wait any longer. Are you willing to take a risk?”
***
At the break of dawn, a few snowflakes drifted down, but they were light and delicate, melting into the ground as soon as they touched it.
Slaughter never announced its arrival. It only lurked silently in the shadows, waiting for the right moment.
Life in Yueqing City was harsh, and even the city bell had grown old and rusty. The bell ringer often slacked off, and it wasn’t until well after morning prayers that the first chime would ring.
Today, he had overslept again, yet the first bell rang promptly.
Across the moat, Mios’ catapults stood poised beneath the city walls. Soldiers expertly operated them, launching a massive boulder towards Yueqing City’s watchtower.
Thud.
A direct hit.
Boulders of various sizes rained down, one after another, falling like a storm. The bodies that were struck down were buried beneath the rubble, and soon, a large breach appeared in the city walls.
On the other side, scaling ladders had been silently erected, spanning the wide moat and resting firmly against the top of the wall.
The Eagle Kingdom’s soldiers charged forward, attempting to push the ladders down, but they fell one after another, pinned by the arrows that whistled through the air.
Mios’s soldiers quickly climbed the ladder, facing no resistance.
Wakako calmly lowered her bow and relaxed her arm. “When the distance is far, you need to aim like this,” she instructed the Crown Princess softly. “Pay attention to your posture…”
She had just fired five arrows, each finding its mark with deadly accuracy, yet her expression remained calm, as if it were nothing to be proud of.
An arrow whizzed past her cheek, stirring a breeze that ruffled her tightly bound hair.
“Master, you’re incredible,” Tsukiyo said with admiration. “I wish I could become like you sooner.”
Her eyes was innocent and pure.
Wakako’s heart softened with affection as she gently patted the Crown Princess’s head. “You will, in time.”
Yueqing City quickly responded, deploying their own catapults and crossbows, retaliating in kind. The roar of the battle grew louder as they returned fire, sending projectiles crashing toward the enemy.
Seeing this, Wakako ushered Tsukiyo back to safety, shielding her from the falling arrows and stones.
The Crown Princess showed no fear on her face, only a hint of confusion as she looked up.
“Master…” she said hesitantly, “Isn’t the noise too loud?”
The two armies clashed fiercely, the sounds of swords clashing and soldiers yelling ringing incessantly, almost painfully loud.
But at that moment, as Tsukiyo spoke, Wakako also realized something was wrong.
Beneath the clamor of battle, another low rumble could be heard. It seemed distant at first, but it rapidly grew closer, and the tremors beneath their feet became increasingly pronounced…
Her expression changed, and she quickly ushered the Crown Princess back. “Something’s wrong!”
But it was too late.
From seemingly nowhere, a herd of over a hundred massive wild elephants charged towards them, seemingly filled with fury. Their heavy hooves pounded the ground, sending dust and snow swirling into the air.
Elephants were known to travel in herds, but even a group of a few dozen was considered large. Even seasoned hunters who spent their lives in the wilderness had never witnessed such a terrifying sight.
“Saionji Saburo set fire to the mountains last time,” Wakako, familiar with the habits of these creatures from her missions in the wild, instantly understood. “They’ve come for revenge.”
All living things possessed a spirit. Even animals, whom humans considered unintelligent, knew who had destroyed their home.
The destructive power of wild elephants was undeniable. A single stomp could crush a person to death. And with their thick, tough hides, ordinary weapons were useless against them. Human strength was no match for them.
The safety of the Crown Princess was the top priority—they had to retreat immediately!
There were other mercenaries nearby. Following the established hierarchy, Albert, the most senior member, took command, forming a small square formation around the Crown Princess.
“Siruo and I will provide reinforcements. Miki and Lois will protect the Crown Princess from the flanks,” he said, then looked at Wakako. “Wakako, will you cover our retreat?”
Wakako grabbed the reins of her horse and moved to the back of the formation.
But as she turned back, she suddenly saw a familiar figure in white standing on the wall of Yueqing City, a solitary figure amidst the swirling snow.
It was Miki.
Miki was always like this—no matter how far away she was, even as just a small white dot in the distance, she always stood out from the world around her, otherworldly and distinct.
The wild elephants’ target was the Eagle Kingdom, so they charged towards Yueqing City, attacking relentlessly as if they intended to tear it down.
And that white figure wavered dangerously on the wall, as if about to be swept away.
For a brief moment, Wakako stood frozen in place.
She didn’t notice that, just ahead of her, Miki had also turned her head, quietly observing Wakako’s reaction, taking in every detail of her unusual behavior.
