Yuuto couldn’t disparage someone like her, who, despite living side-by-side with death, had an attitude so relaxed that she could spare concern for those around her. It was a state of mind he couldn’t yet reach.
“Hm, it seems to have come from over there.” Felicia fixed her gaze upon the origin of the arrows, and Yuuto saw what looked to be the silhouette of a man on a small hill wielding a bow.
The moment she caught sight of him, he seemed to realize he had been discovered, and the figure scampered down the mountain and disappeared into the enemy army.
Yuuto gazed at the hill from which the archer had disappeared, muttering, “By all appearances, he did all that himself from 100 meters away. Even Nasu no Yoichi would be astonished.”
“The only one who could pull off a feat like that, even in a clan as large as the Horn Clan, is Haugspori, wielder of the Ljósálfar. I can think of no one else. He is as masterful as the rumors said.” Felicia spoke with wary respect.
“But it was pretty much you alone that defended against those arrows, Felicia. Geez, it figures that you Einherjar are superhuman.” Yuuto gave a dry smile.
One major difference between the world Yuuto had come from and this world was the existence of Einherjar, the name given to humans chosen by the gods.
These people had mysterious designs called runes located somewhere on their bodies, and those runes would grant their holder various kinds of divine protection. So if that person carried the rune of the Light Elves, Ljósálfar, they might be granted talent with a bow and the ability to read the winds.
People bearing such extraordinary powers were so scarce that they were said to be one-in-ten-thousand, so no matter the clan, they were appointed to important posts.
Felicia, who served as Yuuto’s adjutant, was an Einherjar who possessed the rune of Skírnir, the Expressionless Servant. Being young and female and yet among the clan’s foremost warriors was due to that mysterious power.
“Rún is safe... isn’t she?” Yuuto asked. A look of distress crept onto his face as he thought about another Einherjar of the Wolf Clan, and he shifted his gaze back to the front lines.
Due to his command to charge, the battle there had become even more violent. Indeed, the aforementioned Einherjar should have been fighting there.
The side with the clear advantage was the Wolf Clan, which Yuuto was in charge of. They were gradually scattering the enemy forces and pushing back the front lines. Still, the battlefield was an unpredictable place. Even if they won, that didn’t mean no one would die.
Just like that soldier whose name he didn’t know.
“Tee hee. There is no need to worry,” Felicia said. “She is our Mánagarmr, you know? She should be...”
“Sigrún of the Wolf Clan has seized the sovereign of the Horn Clan!”
Felicia’s voice was drowned out by a victorious cry from the front lines.
The nearby soldiers all beamed with pride, pumping their fists in the air and joining the front lines in cries of victory.
From a distance, Yuuto caught sight of the soldiers of the Horn Clan fleeing in throngs. There even appeared to be those who had cast aside their weapons and surrendered.
Felicia let out a giggle and gave Yuuto a wink. “Just as I expected. It seems Rún has come through for us.”
“Make way! Father! Father—!” A dignified voice unbefitting the battlefield rang out like a bell, and a mounted soldier rushed toward Yuuto, her long silver hair flicking around behind her like a tail, breaking soldiers out of their battle formations as she went.
Other, equally ill-fitting voices rang out throughout the battlefield, sounding as if they were intoxicated.
“Ohh, it’s Elder Sister Sigrún!”
“Lovely as ever!”
It wasn’t like Yuuto himself didn’t understand their feelings of admiration. Even from far away, she was a good-looking girl. Her arms and legs were long and slender, and her long silver hair trailed behind her as she spurred her horse, making her appear like a fantastical character from an ancient myth.
The cries of admiration continued.
“Elder Sister, yet another grand achievement for you!”
“That’s our Mánagarmr! The likes of the Horn Clan could never stand against you!”
“You’re in my way. Move,” Sigrún spat curtly, her cold gaze holding no emotion for the soldiers showering her with flattery and praise.
The soldiers huddled together with an “Eek!” at her sharp glare.
Those icy good looks had only increased in intensity these past two years, and even now, she was cloaked in a sharp, blade-like air that gave the impression that touching her would see one sliced to pieces.
Though her build was so dainty that she might look barely capable of holding a sword, she had earned the title of Mánagarmr or “the Strongest Silver Wolf” by being the most elite of the elite, with no one able to even come close to her abilities. On a closer look, one could see that the soldiers’ eyes showed a mix of awe and fear.
“Ah!” The second she caught sight of Yuuto, her expression completely softened. She slowed her horse to a trot and approached Yuuto’s chariot, where she gently descended from the horse’s back. “Father, you are safe! No injuries, I trust?”
“I wasn’t even on the front lines, so there’s no way I’d get injured,” Yuuto assured her. “Rún, I should actually be asking you, are you hurt?”
“Worry not. Thanks to the divine protection of Angrboða, I am completely safe. There isn’t even a scratch on me.”
“That’s the most important thing. Also, I’m proud of you for capturing the leader of the Horn Clan. Good work.”
“I am unworthy of such praise, Father. I am humbly overjoyed.” Though her speech was formal, a broad and joyful smile spread across Sigrún’s face.
As soon as she realized that, Sigrún stiffened her expression, but she was so happy at being praised by Yuuto that the corners of her mouth couldn’t help but betray a smile.
“Pff, Rún, you are indeed a faithful dog,” Felicia giggled.
“Pff!” Before he had a chance to stop himself, Yuuto also sputtered a laugh at Felicia’s words. It was a cruel thought, but Yuuto couldn’t look at Sigrún right now without the word “sit” coming to mind.
“Father? Have I said something strange?” Sigrún tilted her head. That habit was reminiscent of a dog, too. Once he became aware of it, Yuuto realized he couldn’t see her any other way, and it bothered him.
“N-no, it’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.” Though saying that while covering his mouth and averting his gaze wasn’t very convincing. But of course, he couldn’t say what he was thinking, either.
Knowing that if this conversation went any further he might out himself, Yuuto decided to bring them back on topic.
“What’s more important is your reward. What would you like? Your accomplishment was so great, I’ll give you anything you like.”
“Really? Anything?”
“Anything that I can give you.”
“A-all right! Th-then, will you pat my head?!” Sigrún gazed up at Yuuto, her twinkling eyes overflowing with hope, when in reality, what she had asked for was so trivial.
That aloof, unapproachable air that had surrounded her earlier was nowhere to be found. Now Yuuto really couldn’t help but see her as a dog who had spotted its master and was waiting for a treat.
“U-uh, well, just asking for something so small is a bit...” Yuuto wore a troubled expression, scratching his cheek.
Meting out punishments and rewards was the sovereign’s most important job. Allowing the one who had captured an enemy general to accept such a meager reward was clearly a problem. If rumor got out that her glorious achievement was repaid with a pat on the head, it was a safe bet that no one would want to serve under Yuuto.
“That reward would mean more to me than any other!” Sigrún protested firmly.
It didn’t seem like she was pretending to be altruistic or showing consideration for the Wolf Clan’s financial state. It seemed that this was, from the bottom of her heart, her most sincere wish.
Smiling wryly in resignation, Yuuto gently placed his hand on Sigrún’s head. “You really did well.”
“Was I able to be useful to you, Father?”
“Yes, more than any other. Mm, so I cannot let you get away with requesting only this. Hey, Felicia, you choose something for her at your own discretion later...”
✦ ✦ ✦
