Chapter 73: Dieeeeeee!
That night, when it was decided we would sally forth, Belfast’s entire army was urgently gathered at Oldol Fort.
The plan was to abandon all ambushes and everything else, and commit everything to the seven thousand soldiers.
It was a very crude strategy: a night-time surprise attack, simply surrounding and attacking.
We couldn’t just send them on a suicide charge with only that, so we’d conduct an attack from the sky.
That said, we didn’t have enough, so we couldn’t use the new-type bombs yet.
The five thousand coming from the north, where there was no fort, were a greater threat.
So, we’d have to rely on magic.
“Your Highness, please be safe…”
“Yeah, you all too.”
And so, I took off.
The troop deployment was already complete. The plan was for them to charge as soon as my attack began.
My target was the enemy’s rearmost flank.
Perhaps wary of bombs, their main camp was very long.
From above, it was obvious they had deliberately spread out.
Still, what I had to do remained the same.
My role was to reduce the enemy’s numbers while driving them towards our allies.
The fort was already half-abandoned, but if this wasn’t a decisive, short battle, the sacrifices made would be meaningless.
It was necessary to drive them towards our own territory.
Hovering in the sky, I gauged the drop points and conjured Storage Magic circles.
I conjured twenty magic circles, spaced several meters apart.
Please let this hit them well…
I activated them, pouring my hopes into it.
From the magic circles emitting a red light, a massive number of Rock Bullets rained down at high speed.
These were the ones enemy soldiers had fired at us, which I’d accumulated back in Fondel.
Because of that, I hadn’t been able to use Storage Magic for these past four days.
Even if I stored something, I’d just be dropping it here, and even if these weren’t needed, I’d only get shredded by the Rock Bullets flying out with the same momentum they had when stored.
The falling boulders made continuous thudding sounds, and the road became buried under upright rocks.
The enemy started moving about in a swarm, and lights, the signals from our allies indicating engagement, rose into the sky from various places.
The Rock Bullets ended, and next, I took out my staff to attack with Firestorm.
I was worried about a fire, but this wasn’t the time to be concerned about that.
At worst, I’d just have to extinguish it as much as possible later. Pushing my control to its limits, I created Firestorm magic circles every twenty meters, burning the entire area centered on the highway to cinders.
Just then, something shot past my shoulder, and a sharp pain ran through me. It was only with that intense pain that I finally realized I’d been attacked.
Even though it was an attack from outside my awareness, I couldn’t even react.
I shuddered, realizing how incredibly fast and strong the attack had been.
Did it completely pierce my Ape leather coat?
As I was blown backward, I tried to disengage using a wind Magic Tool, and I could see the blood I’d shed receding into the distance.
“Ugh… Ah, over there…!!”
I converted the Maso capsule containing an Elixir, which I had hidden in my mouth, back with Magical Power and instantly swallowed it. The pain subsided, my thoughts cleared, and prioritizing escape, I plunged into the forest.
Believing I should have gained some distance, I composed myself, placed another Elixir capsule in my mouth, and was about to observe the enemy army to drive them back again when I saw the figure of someone flying towards me, spear first, like an arrow.
I reflexively enveloped myself in Light Magic, causing light to rise from the ground. In that light, I passed by a man with an incredibly handsome, yet too refined, face, despite his formidable appearance.
Huh? Why is such a pretty boy going out of his way to be on the battlefield?
No, wait, whether he’s handsome or not is irrelevant in the first place.
It’s irrelevant, but… somehow, it’s irritating!
“I’m surprised… To produce such ridiculous power, and you can even dispel Maso?
Without support, I might have to prepare for death…”
“Then retreat! Don’t come invading us!!”
The invader said such things with such a composed face that I snapped and found myself shouting before I knew it.
“Hahaha, you’re absolutely right. But, even if I don’t want to, I can’t retreat. It’s by imperial decree, you see.”
“So because your higher-ups are crap, you push your troubles onto others, outwards and outwards?
Don’t act all handsome when you’re a scoundrel!!”
Swallowing my bitterness, I conjured a Light Magic circle.
This guy is really strong. He’s on the level where he could go one-on-one with Mr. Owen.
If I have any chance of winning, it’s probably only with a combo of stopping his movement with Light Magic and finishing him with lightning magic. But matching that speed would be extremely difficult.
If only I had support from the vanguard…
If he’s willing to talk, maybe I can try to drag this out a bit longer?
“I apologize. I know this is cruel, but for my wife’s sake… no, for my own peace, please die.”
Tch!? No good, I can’t drag this out. He’s coming!
In times like these, it’s sea urchin time, for now!
A red light appeared from under his boots, and in that instant, his figure vanished.
If it were the first time, he should have been caught off guard and created distance.
And so, as I extended spikes in all directions, he retreated, his Maso’s gaps torn by the spikes.
Huh…? He took that hit, you say?
Ah, could it be he’s using magic to increase his movement speed?
Is that why my kinetic vision can’t keep up…?
“I’m beaten… What is that control of yours…?”
“Hah!! I’m the one who’s beaten here! What’s with that pretty boy power of yours!!”
My tone unintentionally roughened towards the peerlessly handsome man smiling fleetingly.
“Um… thank you?”
“Dieeeeeee!!”
Having been skillfully provoked, I emitted light like a disco ball.
I casually mixed in a rescue signal light and shot it into the sky.
Someone, help me, I thought.
However, my attack seemed to be unexpected. In his evasive maneuver, he plunged into the light himself, and only his Maso was shredded.
“Hahaha, I really wouldn’t want our last exchange to be like this…
Before I’m done in, I’ll be coming for you.”
The gentle-looking man, while reaching for his backpack, instantly re-equipped his Maso and made his feet glow again.
As long as the magic circle remains the same, the trajectory of the light won’t change. He probably intends to dodge and charge in, but since I haven’t deployed my Maso, I can enter the light freely.
Like a moth to a flame, I thought, as I spread a Light Magic circle on the ground and unleashed the light.
As expected, if he’s going to give a speech, his timing is completely obvious. I made it with plenty of time.
However, the moment I saw what he held in his hand, a cold sweat ran down my back.
Yes, he was holding a short, silver-shining dagger. This wasn’t Maso.
I instantly stopped the Light Magic, created a Maso shield, and guarded, but naturally, I was slashed with great force and sent flying.
At that moment, I heard a shout from behind.
“Your Highneeeeess!!!”
The one who instantly jumped in between us was Roosevelt-san.
“You’re a lifesaver. He’s a strong enemy, so please, let’s fight together…”
“M-More importantly than that, are you injured!?”
“I’m fine. I took it with my Maso, so I’m not injured.”
I managed to create the Maso shield in time, so I was just blown away. No problem.
“Hah, if you can solidify your Maso that instantly, it’s like there are no openings at all…
No, wait. Your Highness…?”
The guy pressed his head as if scooping up his hair, striking a pose…
While he was doing such a foolish thing, I decided to analyze him, spreading my Magical Power and focusing it on the soles of his feet.
I believed Roosevelt-san would stop him.
I’ve heard Roosevelt-san possesses strength comparable to a general. He’ll surely be fine.
“Your Highness, please leave this to me and retreat! Everything else is going smoothly for now, so I’ll handle this!!”
“No good. I can’t let you go… If I can just take you down, it’ll all be over!”
As expected, the guy created a magic circle under his feet. It didn’t look like a complex magic circle, but as expected, copying it with my spread-out Magical Power was impossible in one go.
I need a few more tries.
Come on, stop him, Roosevelt-san!
I’ll provide proper support too, I thought, conjuring lightning magic in the sky, but the pretty-boy bastard was in front of me again.
No way, right!?
I haven’t prepared a Light Magic circle this time!
My Ape leather coat was also obliterated by the Light Magic that enveloped me!?
This is seriously bad!!
“Got you!!”
“Like I’d let you do thaaaat!”
Roosevelt-san, who had dived in at high speed from behind him, entered an attack stance, but no matter how you looked at it, the pretty-boy’s attack was faster.
Damn it!!
His movement magic is too fast!!
Moreover, this time too, he considerately used a thrust with the silver dagger as a countermeasure against Light Magic.
I instantly understood that against a thrust from such a strong person, I wouldn’t be able to defend even if I tried to use Maso now.
I immediately prepared Light Magic below me while also getting ready to crush the Elixir-filled capsule.
As soon as I was ready, I activated the Light Magic at top speed, but as expected, I didn’t make it in time.
The moment my chest was pierced, I unleashed the light, but since it wasn’t Maso, it was meaningless. It was meant to make him wary and retreat.
That’s what I thought, but conveniently, the moment the Light Magic was interrupted by the pain, Roosevelt-san’s attack landed, and the pretty boy went tumbling, spurting blood.
“Your Highneeeeess!!!”
“I’m fine…” I replied, even as blood trickled, kopori, from my mouth.
I drew my sword and tried to activate the Elixir capsule with Magical Power, but my body was trying to cough up blood, and I couldn’t swallow. Having no choice, I tilted my head back, opened my throat, and tried to force it down.
The pain in my chest subsided immediately, but I continued to vomit.
I coughed up all the blood, and it finally stopped, but I felt absolutely terrible…
To him, who looked pale and on the verge of tears, I somehow managed to reply, “I drank the Elixir. More importantly, the enemy.” I turned my gaze to the enemy, but he was also clearly on the verge of death.
That made sense. After all, I’d slashed him right after stripping away his Maso along with his Magical Power using Light Magic.
When someone unfamiliar with it gets hit by this magic, they panic and try to defend with Magical Power, so a large amount gets taken away.
Even if he had some Magical Power left, it probably wouldn’t have been dense enough to use for defense.
Approaching him in that state, I asked, “Your name?”
Roosevelt-san shouted, “He’s dangerous!” and tried to cut him down, but I stopped him.
If he’s a renowned general, he can be used in negotiations with the Empire.
Even I know that much, and I understand its importance.
“I am… Schpelten Berg Ignat. Head of a marquis house…”
“Even your name is cool, huh… I’m Louis von Belfast.
I’m taking you into custody as a prisoner of war. You don’t mind, do you?”
“Haha… With these wounds, wouldn’t that be difficult?
I can’t use Magical Power or anything… huff huff…”
He’s truly on his last breath. The cut is too deep.
Should I use an Elixir or Healing Magic?
No, more importantly, is he even worth saving?
“You, those five thousand from the north, can you make them retreat? If you can, I’ll save you, but…”
“You… see right through everything, huh… If this place ends in our defeat, then yes.
If I betray the Empire, my wife… dying here would be a better outcome…”
Saying that, he lost consciousness.
Having no choice, I dripped a little Elixir onto him, just enough to prolong his life.
I don’t know if this will definitely save him, though…
“I still have work to do. Can I leave this guy to you?”
“But, in your condition…”
“You’re being persistent. I told you I drank an Elixir…”
I certainly feel sick, but since I’ve eliminated the root cause, it should heal once my body and mind calm down.
Well, I guess he’s worried because my face is pale.
“Hah! Please, be safe…” he said, then hoisted the prisoner onto his shoulder and left.
I immediately ascended into the sky and began to assess the battle situation.
I could hear the sounds of fighting against enemy soldiers scattered throughout the forest.
There were hardly any in the front. The Knights guarding the main road kept looking around, wondering if they should also rush to provide support.
Thinking I needed to get them moving, I flew along the main road and called out to the eighty High Knights guarding the Belfast side of the fort.
“Leave twenty here, and the rest of you, use your own judgment to go support the areas that look like they’re in trouble.
The remaining soldiers, if any number of enemies come, fire a rescue signal immediately.”
“Y-Your Highness!? Your injuries!?”
“They’re already healed. Hurry and go help your comrades. Quickly!”
Thinking, I have to go too… I leaped into the air. As I looked around, I saw a rescue signal had gone up.
In that case, I’ll head there, I thought, and flew swiftly towards it.
Lowering my altitude, I descended, branches snapping against me with sharp cracks, and found the bodies of soldiers scattered about.
Judging by the uniforms, most were Daltone and Imperial soldiers, but there were a few of ours mixed in as well.
I wanted to try and resurrect them, but if I did that, the soldiers still standing would also die.
Annihilation first, I thought. Using Lightning Magic, I targeted only those engaged with our soldiers and struck them down at high speed.
And so, to support my allies, I pressed deeper and deeper into the forest.