Chapter 129: The Result of Divine Strike
“Alright… it worked out well.”
Confirming his own achievement, Rest let out a sigh of relief.
The original magic that concentrated sunlight and shot it forth… Amaterasu. He was well aware of its power, capable of even slaying the Master of the Demon Realm, but now that he had successfully fulfilled his mission, he felt a weight lift from his chest.
The beam of light Rest unleashed scorched a portion of the Rebel Army, engulfing their encampment. Given that he was facing an entire army this time, he had intentionally spread the light to cover a wider area. Although the power had diminished due to the dispersion, it still managed to incinerate about ten percent of the enemy forces—around seven thousand soldiers.
(If I had concentrated my full power, they would have been obliterated without a trace… but with this much area covered, this is the output I can achieve.)
While he could easily take down foot soldiers, those with considerable magical power could likely defend against it. Nevertheless, the fact that part of the enemy forces had been scorched and that the attack had reached their main camp sent the Rebel Army into a panic, akin to a disturbed beehive. This chaos was more damaging than the number of casualties. If they deployed their troops now, they could undoubtedly break the enemy’s morale.
The operation was a success. He had fulfilled his role as the vanguard.
“Your Highness, Knight Commander… is this satisfactory?”
“…………”
“…………”
He turned to the two commanders who had been observing from a distance, but Richard and Marquis Cattleya remained unmoving. Their expressions were frozen in shock as they stared directly at the disarray of the enemy forces.
“Um… wasn’t the plan for me to attack and then have the army advance?”
“…………”
“Your Highness? Knight Commander?”
Anxiety began to swell within him as the two remained silent, their expressions unchanging. Could it be… that he had disappointed them? Perhaps they were let down by the lesser-than-expected power of his attack.
“Uh… I-I apologize! Please give me another chance to attack!”
“Wait… no, no, no! Stop!”
In a panic, he prepared to unleash another Amaterasu, but Marquis Cattleya finally moved to stop him.
“That’s enough! Your task is complete!”
“What? Is that alright?”
“Yes. In fact, if you continue to shine too brightly, it may overshadow others… No, never mind that. You’ve expended quite a bit of magical power, so retreat and rest.”
Marquis Cattleya cleared his throat and placed a hand on Richard’s shoulder, who was still frozen in place.
“Crown Prince… please issue the order to charge.”
“Ah… right! Yes, of course!”
Richard hastily raised his hand and commanded the soldiers.
“All troops, charge! Annihilate the disoriented Rebel Army!”
“「「「「「…………」」」」」”
Despite Richard’s shout, the allied forces hesitated to move. Rest couldn’t understand why, but Richard and Marquis Cattleya were as still as stone statues.
“Charge! Take down the enemy!”
Amidst this, one unit broke away from the Kingdom Army and surged into the enemy lines. Leading the charge on horseback was Wilhelm Lübesse, recently elevated to Baron and known as the “Sword Saint Who Dislikes Women.” Following Lübesse were soldiers he had borrowed from his family, the Lübesse House, and mercenaries hired with the reward money granted by the King.
Lübesse was the only one present who had witnessed Rest defeat Subnock from a distance. Thus, he was the first to spring into action.
“Keep going! Charge!”
“Don’t fall behind the young lad! Advance, onward!”
Following Lübesse, knights and soldiers from the Kingdom Army surged forward one after another. They plunged into the still-chaotic enemy territory, cutting down the disoriented Rebel soldiers.
“Oh… impressive. They seem eager to fight.”
“I think it’s you who is truly impressive, to be honest.”
Dibble appeared beside Rest. As Rest’s mentor in magic, he wore an expression of disbelief rather than admiration after witnessing the earlier strike.
“…Rest. It’s no longer just the Rosemary Marquis House; many people will not overlook your talent.”
“What do you mean all of a sudden?”
His sudden statement caught Rest off guard. What was Dibble getting at?
“Your abilities have exceeded our expectations. It seems the King intends to present you as a symbol of a new era… but perhaps, rather than just a figurehead, you truly are at the center of the next age.”
“That’s quite an exaggeration, Professor Dibble.”
Rest chuckled wryly. He believed he had performed admirably, but he hardly felt deserving of being called a hero of the era. There would surely be others, like Lübesse, who would rise to prominence in the future.
“Now then… is it alright for the soldiers of the Rosemary Marquis House to remain here and watch?”
Aside from the reinforcements guarding the main camp, most of the Kingdom Army had surged to the front lines to take advantage of the chaos and strike down the enemy. Meanwhile, the troops of the Rosemary Marquis House, nominally led by Rest, had yet to join the fray.
“Honestly, I think it’s not desired for us to overshadow the others.”
“Is that so?”
“Since Rest has already achieved significant results… while we appreciate the opportunity, I believe we should allow other units to claim the glory.”
“I see… if you say so, Professor Dibble, then I shall heed your advice.”
Rest gazed down at the battlefield from the hill, taking in the scene from a literal high vantage point.
The Kingdom Army numbered one hundred thousand. The Rebel Army, seventy thousand. The battle had begun with the Kingdom at an advantage, but with Rest’s initial strike, the scales of victory had tipped significantly in favor of the Kingdom Army.
About half an hour into the battle, the Rebel Army had already been reduced to half its original strength.