Crest of the Strongest Knight

Chapter 78 - Briefing

"Sorry, what?"

Just like everyone else in the room, Medrauta stood in a daze after hearing what Eirlys had just said. Somehow, she'd managed to recover first while everyone else just remained still and stared at Eirlys in disbelief and confusion.

"I understand that this is a very dangerous task for students, but all of our forces are concentrated at the northern border. I'm sure that rat Amelia planned this, but there's no time to lament our oversights. We were complacent, and now it's coming back to bite us in the ass."

Before Medrauta could press Eirlys with more questions or ask the senior knight to repeat the ludicrous information she'd just divulged, someone else spoke up.

"...I only have one request, Dame Eirlys."

Eirlys raised an eyebrow, turning to the red-haired knight who stood before her. "Yes, Dame Rosette?"

Much to Medrauta, Leticia, and their ladies' surprise, another pair had joined their meeting. While they recognized Rosette, a rather plain-looking noblewoman stood beside and slightly behind the red-haired knight. It was clear from her manner of dress that she hailed from lower nobility and while that normally wouldn't have been an issue, her nervous demeanor just made her seem out of place.

"I want you to reassign me and Lady Estelle." Rosette stated, her firm tone making it clear that she wasn't negotiating. She knew that her talents were needed by Eirlys and that the senior knight would have no choice but to acquiesce.

"...Where?"

"West. I want to deal with the situation in the Rosenhall duchy instead."

Eirlys sighed. The accommodation itself wasn't difficult to make, but something told her that Rosette had ulterior motives for heading there. Even so, it wasn't as if she had any significant leverage compared to Rosette in this discussion. "Very well. Are you alright with that, Medrauta? Lady Viviane?"

Medrauta turned to Viviane. Personally, she didn't really mind the swap, but Rosette and Estelle had been assigned to deal with the situation that was happening eastward which would be a far more dangerous journey considering what was happening in the Rosenhall duchy.

"Of course, Dame Eirlys." Viviane replied. "Honestly, I'm glad Dame Rosette suggested we switch missions. I wanted to head east and confirm their safety and innocence myself."

Eirlys nodded, satisfied as she made a few changes on the document in front of her. "That settles it, then. In fact, this was the original sortie that I'd envisioned, but I figured it would've been safer to have Medrauta in the west since that's where our biggest problem was last sighted."

"Knowing him, he's probably still there." Medrauta replied. "I'd like to go and give him a good piece of my mind, but it looks like I'll just have to entrust that to you, Dame Rosette."

Rosette nodded. "You can count on it, Dame Medrauta. I'll beat his ass and drag him back here for more."

Eirlys cleared her throat. "Let's save the excitement for later, girls. Now that we've finalized our placements, I'll go over your assignments again. First, Medrauta and Lady Viviane."

Medrauta nodded, giving the senior knight her full attention. Viviane clung onto her knight's arm tightly, and though she normally would've been shaking at the prospect of having to undertake the task that she was about to be briefed on, her grip never loosened for even a second.

"Your task is to journey eastward to the Revelo duchy. Though the war rages on, House Revelo has refrained from providing any military aid in both soldiers and supplies, stating that they are needed in the territory as a result of Duke Revelo becoming bedridden due to poison.