Two years have pa.s.sed in no time.
I mobilized the knowledge I"d read about in the past, remembered the tactics as much as I could, went to every battle I was ordered to - and won.
When I saw people die before my eyes during my first battle - I vomited until my stomach was empty.
I loathed this world and grieved from the bottom of my heart that they died from my order and that I was burdened by another sin.
I should"ve understood that I have to be resolved to kill people when I became the tactician.
Still, perhaps I didn"t resolve myself enough, because I had nightmares for a long time.

―――― That too eventually calmed down.

Calmly and indifferently I gave orders. Soldiers, dubious at first, when they understood they can win by listening to my orders began actively waiting for them.
We"re at war. It can"t be helped that people die. Then, at least let"s minimize the damage. I came to fight that way.

"Two years have pa.s.sed. You promised. Please release her"

I entered the King"s office, and told him so.
The King who thoroughly pushed me around for these past two years slightly widened his eyes, and nodded his head to agree.

"Very well. I won"t break my promise. I"ll release the beastman according to the contract with you"
"Thank you"

I breathed out with relief. I couldn"t stand another unreasonable challenge forced on me.
Anyway, with this my work is over.
When I tried to leave since my business was over, the King called out to me.

"Well, wait. Don"t be in such a hurry… I think I tried asking you before, but I"ll let you have one of my daughters as a reward. You should settle down in Tarim forever"

I stopped walking on the spot.

"I refuse… The problem lies with me. Not at all with your daughter. The promise should have been for two years from the start. I relinquish the position of the tactician"

He brought up the marriage talks several times in the past six months. I perfectly understand he wants to lock me in by marrying his daughter to me. But, I don"t feel like it.
I only love Sakura.
During those two years I decided. Someday I will return to j.a.pan and spend the rest of my life watching over her grave.
I"ve already obtained hints towards that.
The woman who introduced herself as Meissa on the day I came to this castle.
Afterwards I looked her up, and understood that she seems to be one of the seven witches of this world.
I don"t understand why such a being deliberately met me, but I remember her words.

―――― To Wilhelm.

Perhaps if I go there, I will obtain hints to go back home.
She"s also called the Connecting Witch. It can"t be a meaningless t.i.tle.
Thinking so, I"ve long decided to go to Wilhelm after my contract finishes.

"Makes sense. That"s what the contract said from the beginning. But, I would like you to undertake one final task"
"I won"t. If you approve that it"s over, please let me go as is"

When I objected, the King showed a meaningful, unpleasant smile.

"You wouldn"t want the woman you released from slavery at great pains to immediately fall to slavery again, right? Since you can avoid it if you just undertake one job, isn"t it worth it?"
"… Is this a threat"
"That"s not my intention. Now then, what will you do?"
"… Who do I need to fight?"

When I answered, the King shortly replied.

"Wilhelm. The incursion south this year. You"ll command it"
"…"

Wilhelm. As the name of the country I was just thinking about came up, I carefully contemplated.
I"ve never understood the meaning of gaining total control over Wilhelm.
The jealously over their fertile lands is understandable, but this country lacks the capacity to govern such a large country. Even if they gained total control over it, it"d just leave the continent in chaos. It"s exactly all pain, no gain.
It"d be best if both parties noncommittally fought and went home just as until now. So I thought.
That"s why, I responded carefully.

"… The opponent is Wilhelm. I apologize, but I can"t promise a certain victory. Is that still fine"

I didn"t want to make any promises. Perhaps noticing that, the King raised an eyebrow.

"Hmm. You"re cautious. But well, fine. I believe you don"t compare unfavorably even if the opponent is Wilhelm"
"Your Majesty thinks too highly of me"
"Finish the incursion south before snowfall. I won"t send reinforcements. I don"t mind if you lose or not, when the outcome is decided withdraw"

The King laughed that there"s no problem even if I lose. For some reason I won"t be blamed even if I lose the campaign like every year. It"s the same as usual.
What is this country thinking, having one-battle-only campaign each winter.
Since they"re like this, I"m dubious whether they really intend to defeat Wilhelm.
Still, I shook off those thoughts, since it"s not something for me to think about.

"I understand"
"Hahaha. I"m expecting good news"

―――― Shameless. Even though he doesn"t mean it.
I bowed and left the office.
I feel sick.
When I finished my business, I briskly returned to the mansion granted to me.

The mansion that was granted to me two years ago is close to the Royal Palace.
The mansion that was befitting a duke doesn"t feel like my house no matter how much time pa.s.ses.
It must be because soldiers dispatched from the Royal Palace are stationed at the entrance, keeping a watchful eye on me so I don"t escape.
I alighted from the carriage, and with soldiers lowering their heads entered the mansion alone.

"Welcome home, Lord Sion"

It was the beastman girl, Rena, who came to greet me.
When I accepted the position of the tactician, I negotiated with the King to have her come here.
I was told to choose as many high grade slaves as I want to take care of me, so when I said that just her is fine the King for some reason made an intrigued face.

"… She would only be tormented. Besides, I can do most things alone. Do not worry about it"
"If this is what Mister Tactician of our country wishes for, I shall grant it"

Thanks to such an exchange, even after two years have pa.s.sed there are no servants or slaves other than Rena in the mansion.
I felt sorry to force the burden on her, and suggested getting more helpers if she wished so, but it was rejected by none other than herself.

"… I know I"m being selfish. But, if possible I want to take care of Lord Sion same as until now"

If she stubbornly declares that, I can only respond with I see.
Besides, even alone she proved herself to be unexpectedly excellent.
She only dropped stuff before because she was being kicked and beaten.

"Lord Sion… Soldiers came from the castle now… This…"

While I was reminiscing, Rena touched her ankle with a face that was about to cry. When I followed after with my gaze, I understood the uncouth iron ring was removed. A painful to look at trace remains, but still, with this she"s been released from slavery.
Relieved from the bottom of my heart that my promise was fulfilled, I smiled at her.

"Isn"t it great. With this you are free"
"As I thought… It was Lord Sion… Why did you do this?"
"I did what I wanted, so please don"t worry about it. It"s mere self-satisfaction… Aah, excuse me. I will seclude myself in the library for a while, so I"d be grateful if you could leave me alone for a while"
"Lord Sion, umm!"

Strangely not wanting to be thanked, I cut off the talk.
Leaving Rena behind, I briskly headed for the library inside the mansion.
Saying it"s for the incursion south into Tarim, I"ve borrowed the latest book about Wilhelm from the Royal Palace earlier.
I wanted to read it slowly.
I sat down on a sofa in the cool library. The content of the first publication about Wilhelm in several years was astounding.

"… Daif.u.ku? Curry? What is this?"

It was written that since a while ago curry rice has become a popular food in the Royal Capital of Wilhelm.
And that daif.u.ku has become a food that"s all the rage among Wilhelm n.o.bles… At a glance an unbelievable story was written there.

"… Perhaps there"s somebody similar to me in Wilhelm?"

This another world is a strange mix of Middle Ages and the modern culture of Earth, but food is mostly European, there should be hardly anything like j.a.panese or Chinese food.
And suddenly daif.u.ku and carry rice appeared? That can"t be a coincidence.

"Is this what Mistress Meissa meant when she told me to go to Wilhelm. Does she want me to return to j.a.pan together with the person who made these"

If so, I"m grateful.
There"s a limit to what one can do alone. If comrades in the same situation trust each other and work together, it should be possible.
A person with the same ambition, in the same situation might be in Wilhelm. That felt very rea.s.suring to me.

"I have to… find out more about Wilhelm…"

I want more information about the person who made daif.u.ku and curry.
I wonder if that person really transferred same as me.
Supposing they did, I wonder if they were spirited away like me. It"d be nice if the period we had lived in was close.
And what weights on my mind is whether it"s multiple persons.
Daif.u.ku and curry. If they were made by different persons, I have to investigate both. I fixed upon them being j.a.panese, but they might be foreigners.
I want to go to Wilhelm quickly. I only feel impatient.
That day, I didn"t leave the library until late at night.

Morning several days later, I got my soldier"s equipment ready and informed Rena.

"Got it, Rena. As soon as I leave the mansion, get away from here"
"Eh… Lord Sion?"

I nodded to the dumbfounded Rena, and slipped a bag with gold coins into her hand.

"This is travelling money. This much will be enough for you to go back home, right. It took time, but you"re no longer a slave, it"s alright now… You can meet your fellows"
"Lord Sion… Why"

With a bag forced onto her, Rena stared at me. Tears welled up in her eyes.
While stroking her hair, I said.

"I will go on the incursion south into Wilhelm from now… I have no intention of coming back here afterwards. I can"t leave you alone in such a place. That"s why, please return to your homeland"

Even if I resign from being the tactician, this country surely won"t let me go. I learned too many military secrets of this country in those past two years. In the worst case, I could be killed. If I"m to leave the country, this is the only opportunity.

"P, please take me with you! I beg you! You released me from slavery… I cannot not return such a great favor!"
"You don"t need to do that. Return to your country and meet your family. That"s my wish"
"Lord Sion!"
"You can"t. I"ll be going to war now. This is farewell. Listen, Rena. Make sure to go back home"

Ignoring Rena who was hot on my heels, I got inside the carriage that came to pick me up.
From here I will join up with army and take command of the incursion south into Wilhelm. The expedition is a little earlier than normally. As for my plan, it"s to minimize damage while skillfully losing. That"s the most I can do to keep the damage on both sides to minimum. Afterwards I"ll skillfully mix into the remnants of the defeated army and head straight south.

"… I thought it couldn"t be true, but that was beyond my expectations"

Once the battle with Wilhelm finished as planned, I skillfully mixed with the remnants of the defeated army, pretended to get lost and went off alone. On the way I threw off the military attire and changed into traveler clothes prepared in advance.
While confirming the position of the sun in the sky, I headed for Wilhelm.
What remains in my mind is the supreme commander of the Wilhelm reinforcements, Crown Prince Friedrich.

The beautiful prince with blond hair and blue eyes, just as I"d heard, immediately upon his arrival confidently stood at the frontline.
Generally commanders are in the very rear of the army. It"s the safest place to give commands.
Despite this, the still young prince brandished his sword at the forefront, inspiring his allies.
Although he"s still young, he must be used to war. The sword technique of the beautiful prince who mounted a white warhorse and wore a black military uniform was amazing.
The orders full of confidence seized hearts of the frontline soldiers and didn"t let go of them.
All the soldiers obeyed that Crown Prince from the bottom of their hearts, even looking from distance I understood they entrusted their lives to him.
Being shown such a thing, there was nothing I could do.
… It was like we lost before fighting.
The active efforts on the frontline by the person with intense charisma only broke our side"s spirit. The morale was too different.
In addition, that magic――――.
As the battle for the headquarters began, the Crown Prince released a bluish-white flame that engulfed most of our soldiers in an instant. It was completely beyond my calculations.

"The flawless Crown Prince… was it"

I took it with a grain of salt when I heard it, but it was exactly as I"d heard.
I heard that the current armistice with Sahaja was also mostly thanks to that Crown Prince alone. Certainly, that thing is not something you want to be struck by more than once.
When it comes to war, defeat is inevitable.
To do anything, you have to aim directly at the Crown Prince before war.
Thinking about that much, I shook my head. It"s no longer related to me.
Thinking it might be useful during withdrawal I taught them Parthian Shot, but it didn"t have much meaning.
Perhaps it was the Crown Prince"s sharp intuition that he ordered accompanying magician division to form a barrier, so the other side took no damage. I was nothing but astonished by his precise instructions.
Seeing the Crown Prince standing dignified at the front after the fighting ended, I felt I saw a part of what makes Wilhelm extolled as the strongest nation. The problem was, it seems Parthian shot alerted the other side of my existence. Because a magical eye was sent here, to not get noticed I used reflection magic to blow off the magical art in another direction. The place it flew off didn"t matter, the other side won"t know what happened anyway. They should only think it failed.
I have nothing to do with Tarim anymore. I want to be spared from having my face revealed this late.

"Phew…"

Having completely left the war zone, I caught a breath.

Finally, at long last.
Two years after I came to this world.
Finally I can start working for the sake of returning to j.a.pan. First of all, as Mistress Meissa said, I"m going to Wilhelm.
I"ll search for those who made daif.u.ku and curry rice, and if they are in the same situation as me, ask for their cooperation.

"Sakura, I love you… Please wait. I will surely return to you"

I closed my eyes and placed a hand over my heart.

―― Even if I die, I will only fall to h.e.l.l. I won"t meet Sakura.
Because, I killed too many people.
I understand that plenty enough without needing it pointed out.

But, that"s exactly why, no matter what it takes I will return to j.a.pan, live, and continue praying for her soul.