Chapter 35

The Battle of Les Tourelles was over.

Under normal circumstances, the fierce fighting would have inflicted considerable casualties on the French as well, but the Saint’s incomprehensible weapon had turned the tide.

By seizing the initiative and gaining a tactical advantage at the same time, they had suffered relatively few casualties apart from those killed during the initial clash.

Orléans was no longer isolated.

They would no longer have to risk hundreds of lives just to bring in a single shipment of supplies.

England had also received the news. A handful of survivors who had fled at the very beginning of the Battle of the Tourelles reported how the fortress had fallen.

To think Les Tourelles would fall so easily…

The defeat was a painful one. They had been on the verge of starving Orléans into submission through their siege, but the breach of the Tourelles had thrown all their plans into disarray.

“We will… abandon the Bastille Saint-Laurent.”

They voluntarily dismantled Saint-Laurent, where the largest concentration of troops had been stationed. Now that there was no longer any reason to maintain the siege, remaining there would risk leaving them isolated like the Tourelles.

“We may be withdrawing for now, but this is nothing more than a strategic retreat. We still hold the key Loire strongholds of Jargeau, Janville, Meung, and Beaugency. Once we have regrouped, we can retake Orléans!”

“Exactly. Besides, we now have a much clearer understanding of the French terrain than before, giving us more ways to launch an effective attack. Let us repay this humiliation with an offensive of our own!”

Even as they withdrew, the English had not completely abandoned the siege of Orléans. Some of their generals did not even consider it a defeat.

And they had reason to think so. England’s military strength remained intact, and the current situation was merely a temporary strategic setback.

“It is unfortunate that William Glasdale was killed.”

“Who could have known he would be isolated so quickly?”

“There is one thing that concerns me: the soldiers being swept up in the rumors. Caution is good, but excessive fear can ruin even a war we should win.”

“…The rumors can’t be entirely baseless, so let’s come up with countermeasures.”

There was something that concerned them even more than the retreat.

“France has gone beyond employing a witch and hired an evil wizard! He has abandoned his humanity and made a pact with the devil…! We must lodge a formal protest over this.”

The survivor’s terrified voice had been unmistakably clear.

Rumors were spreading that a wizard who had made a pact with the devil was in the enemy camp.

“Let’s hire clergymen to protect us against magic. Before we march, we can sprinkle holy water over each unit and hold a consecration procession.”

“That sounds good. It should reassure the anxious soldiers as well.”

The commanders treated the rumors about the wizard quite seriously.

“Let’s also conduct intensive marksmanship training. That arrogant witch is supposed to lead from the front, so we’ll turn her into a pincushion and kill her. If we spot the wizard, we’ll kill him the same way.”

“Agreed.”

“Spread the word that there will be a reward for killing the witch.”

“Will that be enough? I’ll also bring in an astrologer with exceptional knowledge. He’ll be ideal for countering the wizard. I’m sure you’ve all heard his name. Roger…”

England united in the face of the crisis.

***

Richemont was a thoroughly calculating man. He cared only about the interests of his homeland, Brittany. The reason he weighed his options between the two warring countries was that he felt no genuine loyalty to either king.

That same Richemont approached the French encampment.

“I am Arthur III of Brittany. I have come to fight alongside you.”

After France’s victory in the siege, he had decided to join the winning side.

The knight Jean Poton de Xaintrailles objected to such opportunistic behavior.

“Lord Richemont, is this all the troops you brought?”

“What’s the problem? I have one hundred elite infantrymen and eighty elite cavalrymen. They’re worth more than hundreds of undisciplined soldiers. Those who fight wars by counting numbers always seem to lose.”

“…I recently won a battle, you know?”

“Then you have no reason to take offense at what I said.”

Despite being the one seeking to join the French, Richemont remained entirely self-assured. He looked like a man who would sooner die than bow his head.

For reference, he had once immediately rebelled and led an insurgent force when the Dauphin grew suspicious of him. He was rebellious by nature.

“I thought you’d gone over to England for good…”

The Duke of Alençon was not pleased with Richemont’s arrival. Regardless of his abilities, Richemont was a difficult man to deal with, even without the Dauphin’s secret orders.

The Duke whispered to Maxime.

“Friend, what should we do with that man? He’s not the sort who’ll take no for an answer! He’ll cling to us like a leech and pretend to be an ally.”

“Let’s at least hear him out. Who knows? He might have some important military intelligence.”

Maxime had no intention of blindly obeying the Dauphin’s secret order to keep Richemont in check.

Of course, if he wanted to earn the king’s trust, he would at least have to pretend to follow orders. With his thoughts pulling him in both directions, he had yet to decide how to handle Richemont.

“If that’s what you say, I’ll make the effort, even if he is difficult to deal with.”

The Duke of Alençon approached Richemont.

Maxime had not particularly intended to dump the task on him, but he was grateful that the Duke had volunteered.

“It’s good to see you. This is the first time we’ve met on a battlefield since the Battle of Verneuil.”

“…John II of Alençon. Congratulations on achieving military success so soon after your return.”

The two continued their conversation while maintaining a suitable degree of decorum. Neither seemed particularly pleased to see the other.

“Are the cavalry outside the men who have just joined us?”

Jeanne d’Arc entered the meeting room. Her arrival gave Richemont, who had found the conversation uncomfortable, an excuse to spring to his feet.

“Is that the rumored Saintess?”

“Yes. She carries out God’s will. She always leads us from the front.”

“Hah.”

Richemont strode toward Jeanne. She looked up at him.

“I’m not sure a woman belongs in the vanguard. Support me, and I’ll take your place at the front.”

“…So you’re the commander of the cavalry outside.”

“That’s right. I am the Justiciar. Even if you are a saint, I do not fear you. If you are a witch, I fear you even less. Once my cavalry rides through, you’ll be just another corpse.”

Richemont spoke with an intimidating force, but Jeanne did not so much as blink.

“You have no need to be wary of me. If you fight for France, there will be no reason for us to come into conflict.”

“—Huh?”

Maxime signaled to Gilles de Rais with his eyes.

“Don’t attack him. Just intimidate him.”

“Yes, sir!”

Gilles immediately put on the Knight Buster and rushed toward Richemont. Richemont had no idea what kind of weapon the Knight Buster was, so he simply watched, unconcerned by its approach.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Maxime Blanche.”

Maxime stepped between Jeanne and Richemont.

“…Are you a newly appointed knight? Who is your father?”

“I’m not a knight. If anything, I’m someone who kills knights.”

Richemont gave a derisive chuckle at the claim.

“Are you letting swindlers into the meeting room when I’m not around?”

“I’d say I’m more respectable than someone who came running here because he was in a desperate situation.”

“…I’ll crush your skull!”

Now that he knew Maxime was not a noble, Richemont saw no reason to restrain himself. He immediately reached for his weapon. Maxime nodded to Gilles de Rais behind him.

“Just bring him to his knees.”

His arm moved like lightning. He twisted Richemont’s arm and struck the wrist of the hand drawing the sword. Metal clattered against the floor.

Even Jeanne d’Arc joined in, striking Richemont’s leg.

When Gilles de Rais pressed down on his shoulder, Richemont’s knees hit the stone floor, drawing a short groan from him.

“I only brought him to his knees, as ordered!”

Caught off guard, Richemont was subdued with humiliating ease. He had never imagined that a nobleman would actually be obeying a commoner.

“You little…”

“Duke of Alençon, why don’t we decide what to do with Richemont later? The enemy has withdrawn, and we need reinforcements and rest ourselves. I don’t think this is a matter we need to settle immediately.”

“If that is my friend’s wish, I won’t object.”

A nobleman kneeling before a commoner was something that simply could not happen. This incident had occurred only because it was unclear whether Richemont’s forces were allies.

Had his attitude been even slightly more accommodating, none of this would have happened.

“We’ll see you next time, my lord.”

“…I’ll remember your face.”

***

“Orléans is liberated!”

A modest celebration began, led by the townspeople.

“We don’t have to be afraid anymore. God’s will is with us.”

“The markets that were closed will open again, right? There are so many things I want to eat.”

“Let’s all sing together!”

Beginning with the clergy, people took to the streets to sing hymns. The choruses echoing throughout the city filled everyone with the exhilaration of victory.

The soldiers were also allowed to enjoy the festivities to boost their morale.

Me and Jeanne d’Arc rode through the city together at a leisurely pace. Thanks to Jeanne’s lessons, I had long since grown accustomed to riding.

“They’ve returned! Our saviors who liberated us!”

Everywhere we passed, people made the sign of the cross. With the atmosphere like this, even those who had been lukewarm toward the Saintess became believers in the prophecy, at least for today.

Some women became so caught up in the excitement that they went further than the others.

“Eeeek! Please marry me!”

“Couldn’t you spend just one night with me? I’m begging you, blessed one.”

Creaaak…!

A chilling sound reached my ears. When I turned, I saw that the reins Jeanne had been holding had torn apart.

“Jeanne?”

“The reins were worn out. More importantly, you must be happy to be so popular.”

She smiled as she complimented me. It was definitely a smile, but there was something strangely cold about it. Instinctively, I answered with caution.

“They must have gotten caught up in the excitement. I don’t pay attention to people who are carried away by the atmosphere. It’s the same as being drunk. What wouldn’t someone say in that state? A person’s true nature comes out when they’re in their right mind.”

In truth, some people revealed their true nature when they were drunk, but this was not a situation where facts mattered.

“Yes, yes. That’s right. That’s absolutely true. That’s how you should judge a person’s true nature.”

Her smile disappeared. At the same time, I felt an inexplicable warmth.

Now in a better mood, Jeanne began singing along with the hymns the townspeople were singing.

I feel like I’ve become more wary of women lately.

If a virgin Saintess was someone to be protected, a virgin man was closer to prey. I had noticed it before, but quite a few people seemed to regard me as a stud horse.

Come to think of it, it’s been a long time since I heard Jeanne sing.

Her voice was soft and soothing to the ears. As she had grown older, she had spent more time praying alone and had stopped singing hymns.

Jeanne sang for quite a while before suddenly whispering at an unexpected moment.

“Actually, I like spending time with you more than enjoying festivals like this, Maxime.”

…Ah.

“…I-I just got caught up in the atmosphere. Forget I said that…!”

She shook the reins and urged her horse forward. I couldn’t see her face, but the tips of her ears were red.

I did not realize that my own face had turned red as well.

***

The Duke of Alençon summoned us.

“Maxime, Jeanne, His Majesty is staying in Tours. Let us go there and report our victory at Orléans.”

It was time to meet the Dauphin.