Allen finished his business in Heavy User Island, so he sent most of the party to go help Kurena and Haku Level Up, while he went to Latash with Kiel and Cecile.
He still had to see what Princess Leirana wanted from him.
Since he knew nothing, he decided it was best to take those two with him, as they were nobles.
They went to see Duke Grandvelle first, who sent a servant to notify Princess Leirana.
(I believe spring break is about to end for her, so she'll be back to school soon.)
March was nearing its end, and Leirana was the same age as Mash.
She was following the same schedule Allen had in the academy, so she was on break.
The servant returned, saying the princess wanted them to visit her in her room.
Allen was surprised by how little wait there was, and they headed there together with Duke Grandvelle and Knight Commander Zenov.
The servant knocked on the door and they were told to enter.
Princess Leirana was sitting at a table waiting for them there.
Allen sat in front of her, while the duke and the rest of the party sat next to him.
Zenov stood behind them.
"Thank you for taking the time to come see me."
"You asked for us, so we came."
Allen replied with a polite voice. Even though he had become the leader of a large army, that did not give him a reason to act haughty in front of royalty.
"I actually have a bit of a request, that's why I called for you."
"What do you need?"
"Allen's Army is fighting the Demon King's Army, correct?"
"Yes, that is correct."
"I'd like you to take Ryback and his men from me, let them join your army."
(Who's Ryback?)
Duke Grandvelle reacted to that name.
"Ryback?"
"Yes, he's been waiting too. Could someone bring Ryback here?"
Princess Leirana spoke to a servant waiting next to the door.
"Ryback used to be the commander of the royal knights, now he's the princess' bodyguard."
"The former commander of the royal knights?"
The duke noticed Allen's confusion and explained who Ryback was, but then looked at the princess.
"Don't worry about me, you can explain further."
The princess told him to not mince words and keep going.
"If you'll excuse me then, Princess Leirana."
The duke continued talking after that.
Ryback had been on the frontlines fighting the Demon King's Army for 10 years, after which the previous king instated him as a royal knight.
His loyalty, and the respect he garnered from his peers, made him become the commander.
When the current king ascended to the throne, he was removed from his position and made a deputy. Then he was assigned as the princess' bodyguard and instructor for many years.
(So he was stripped of his position when the faction controlling the throne changed. But I don't really care about that.)
Allen did not care which faction he was aligned to, or what his previous work was.
He was only interested in his experience fighting at the frontlines for a decade.
"Could I ask what his Talent is? Does he fight with a sword or a spear, if he's a bodyguard now?"
Allen wanted to know that before letting him join his army. Cecile was about to ask him if he would agree, but she already knew Allen's personality so she remained silent and watched.
"Ahh, his Talent? Well, he…and his men…"
Knock knock
"I've brought Ryback."
Before the duke could finish his sentence, the servant knocked on the door.
"Please enter."
Ryback and some of his men entered the room. They were on duty, so they all wore armor.
He was around 40 years old, held a large shield, and his blonde hair was cut short.
"Just a…shield?"
Allen voiced his first impression of seeing Ryback for the first time.
He had been at the palace many times, but as Ryback was no longer a commander they had never met.
Ryback did not have any weapons. It would be strange for him to be ready to attack while meeting the princess, but his belt was empty.
Allen kept looking at him, up and down, trying to find a weapon somewhere.
"Ryback uses a shield. He's undergone a Talent Change so he's a Shield Saint now."
That was a 3 Star Talent.
"It's a pleasure meeting you, Allen. Thank you for listening to my request."
He said with a stern expression.
"Your request?"
It seemed like Ryback had asked the princess to arrange the meeting.
"Yes, me and my shield exist to protect this kingdom. I'd like to lessen the sting of battle for them."
He slightly raised his shield.
"So you want to be there before the princess goes to battle?"
"Yes."
(So he's still loyal even after being demoted from his position.)
Ryback loved his country and was extremely loyal.
Princess Leirana was nearing her second year at school, so she would have to fight as well.
"Could you do that for us then?"
The princess also asked Allen to let them join his army.
"Well, we don't have any other shield users… Actually, how many men are coming with you?"
It was not just Ryback joining, but also those serving under him.
"We are 500 shield users, and around 500 knights with swords and spears."
That was 1000 men. Everyone looked at Allen, awaiting his decision.
(I almost forgot that was a line of Talents as well.)
Allen went through his memories. There were characters that only used shields.
They would not fight directly and mainly protected their friends.
They did not exist in the games he played as a child, but started appearing when he got older.
"I don't mind you joining Allen's Army's ranks, but please understand the war with the Demon King's Army will be fierce. We'll welcome you as long as you're prepared to lay down your life in battle."
Allen knew that more variety in Talents would lead to better strategies.
"I'm well aware of that fact. Thank you."
"Also, we have members from all races and countries, so please don't harbor any ill thoughts against those different from you."
They would be the first human troops to join Allen's Army, and Allen wanted them to get along.
"Of course. I'll make sure my men stay in line as well."
"I'm glad things worked out. He was really insistent in joining ever since he heard about you."
(He spent a decade on the frontlines but still wants to fight, huh.)
"You have my gratitude. And princess, I promise I'll clear the battlefields before your arrival."
"Thank you."
Ryback bowed deeply to the princess, and the knights that waited by the door entered.
"We're going to the battlefield too then?"
One of them said with excitement, he was one of Ryback's men.
"Yes, we're all under Commandant Allen's orders now. Everyone prepare to head to war!"
"Yessir!"
"..."
The knight bowed respectfully, and they all excused themselves out of the princess' room.
Zenov watched that in silence, behind the duke.
The princess looked relieved seeing them leave.
She was glad she was able to fulfill Ryback's desire.
"Alright…err…I'll arrange things to move then…"
Ryback and his men still had to pack up, but before he could leave Zenov spoke up.
"...Milord, may I return to the battlefield as well?"
"Hm? What?"
That was the first time he mentioned that.
It was like thoughts he had suppressed for a long time were pouring out.
He had also fought for a decade on the frontlines, defending a fortification from the Demon King's Army. But in the end the fortification fell, and he was allowed to return to Grandvelle and become a knight for the house of Grandvelle.
"I can still fight. So if you would allow it…"
Zenov also wanted to forego his safe position and fight on the frontlines again.
(Maybe his desire to fight also increased when the Baron became a Duke.)
Maybe he could not allow himself to remain living like a noble when so many of his comrades had been killed in the frontlines before. Many people preferred fighting to living in luxury.
"I'd say you've fought plenty for a lifetime."
"I'm really sorry, Milord… I still haven't finished mourning my brethren."
The duke sighed hearing that.
"I'm sorry Allen, do you mind taking him as well?"
"Of course. I'm sure I can find him a good spot in the army."
"Thank you."
The duke decided to fulfill Zenov's wish.
"Err, Ryback, how long will it take for you to be ready to move?"
Ryback had to oversee his 1000 men and make sure they were ready.
"Not too long. We should be ready to head to the battlefield tomorrow."
All of them had already undergone Talent Changes, so they were pretty much ready to go.
"Thank you. I'm planning on storming the Demon King's Army's stronghold in half a month, so I'll be looking forward to your assistance with that."
(Now that I think about it, I'm glad Basque stopped my first attempt. The divine realm is just at hands' reach now!)
Allen told them they could take it a bit easy with preparing until then.
He was already planning ahead of the fight with Megadeth.
"Huh? In half a month?"
But the princess was shocked hearing that.
"We're going to war, Zenov, Ryback. Your help will be greatly appreciated in my army."
Allen began telling them about the strategy he was planning.
