Going back slightly in time, at the main camp of the royal army.
Crown Prince Richard Aiwood and Knight Commander Marquis Cattleya were speaking together.
"Even so... the rebel army is larger than I imagined."
"As expected... it seems the Gaiselle Empire is indeed pulling strings behind the scenes."
At Richard's words, Marquis Cattleya replied with a face as unyielding as rock.
On the opposite hill, Eiger Marquis and the rest of the rebel army were arraying their troops.
It was becoming clear that the enemy camp was growing frantic, preparing to advance upon them.
According to prior intelligence... the enemy's total numbers should have been less than sixty thousand, even at the high end.
However, the soldiers lining the hill were more numerous than anticipated, and including those in the rear, they likely reached seventy thousand.
"Even conscripting militia and hiring mercenaries, this is too many. It's most likely the Empire providing secret support."
The Gaiselle Empire was the neighboring country to the east of the Kingdom of Aiwood and had been a long-standing ally.
However, in recent years, the internal situation within the Empire had grown unstable, and diplomatic tensions were escalating.
The nominal leader of the rebel army, Rodele, had a mother from the Empire. They must have secretly sent troops.
The royal army held the advantage in manpower... but that wasn't the issue.
Fundamentally, if the goal was merely to win, it wouldn't be such a difficult fight.
No matter how much support they received from the Empire, Eiger Marquis was nothing more than a regional lord.
Dealing with conspiracies behind the scenes was troublesome, but since they had openly started a rebellion, their suppression was possible.
The problem was that they had to achieve victory quickly, with minimal damage.
(Since the Empire is moving behind the scenes, we must end this even sooner. If the civil war drags on and turns into a quagmire, it will be no different from defeat. We cannot afford to create an opening for other nations to exploit.)
The Empire had not yet shown its fangs.
It was merely covertly supporting Marquis Eiger.
However... should the civil war weaken the Kingdom of Aiwood, the faction within the Empire advocating for foreign campaigns would gain momentum.
In the worst case, they might even invade the Kingdom of Aiwood.
And the Empire was not the only threat to be wary of.
The barbarians in the north had also been repeatedly launching raids for the purposes of plunder.
There had been no notable activity from them in recent years... which was precisely what made them so terrifying.
There were concerns that they were stockpiling their forces in order to launch an all-out attack.
*(What we must seek is a crushing victory. A complete and utter rout. We need an overwhelming triumph so decisive that it demonstrates to both domestic and foreign audiences that the Kingdom of Aiwood harbors no weaklings!)* "Your Highness! Lord Knight Commander! The enemy forces have begun to move!"
"I see... so they really did choose this timing to attack."
The enemy making the first move was entirely as expected.
The royal army and the rebel army were facing each other across a basin, each having established their headquarters atop a hill.
In other words... whichever side moved first and descended the hill would end up at a geographical disadvantage.
And yet, the rebel army had no choice but to act. The longer they waited, the more the royal army would recover from the fatigue of their expeditionary march and reach full fighting strength.
"Have Viscount Clover prepare for the opening strike. I'd like to see a blow from him worthy of the one that brought down Sabnock."
Marquis Cattleya said with a slight curl of his lips.
It was Marquis Cattleya who had proposed entrusting Rest Clover with the first strike.
"Even so... was this really the right call, Knight Commander? Entrusting the opening blow to a student like him."
Richard voiced his doubts.
The young crown prince was by no means incompetent, but on the battlefield, he chose to defer to Marquis Cattleya's judgment.
"I don't doubt the claim that he subjugated the magic beast Sabnock. However, at the discussions in the royal palace, the conclusion was reached that Sabnock had been weakened from fighting other monsters. Is his magic really that important?"
The royal palace acknowledged that Rest had defeated Sabnock, but they hadn't taken everything at face value.
It was widely believed that Sabnock had likely been weakened through conflict with other monsters within the demon realm.
Rather than a lack of trust in Rest, it was simply that the magic beast known as Sabnock was feared to that great an extent.
"Even if it was weakened, the fact that he managed to defeat the lord of the demon realm should be given due recognition. By elevating Viscount Clover as a hero, we must divert the people's attention away from their anxiety over the civil war."
That was precisely why Rest had been entrusted with the first strike.
It wasn't necessarily a matter of whether he could change the course of the battle.
What was needed was the fait accompli that a young hero named Rest Clover had taken part in the fight and distinguished himself.
"...I feel sorry for him. He'll have to stand in the line of fire to cover the royal family's disgrace."
Richard's expression darkened with guilt.
Behind the excessive emphasis on Rest's exploits lay the fact that Rodele, the Third Prince and a member of the royal family, had taken part in the rebellion.
It hadn't been publicly announced that Rodele was serving as the figurehead, but sooner or later, that information would surely spread among the populace as well.
To cover up the royal family's scandal even to some degree, Rest— a hero— was being elevated far beyond what was necessary.
"I wonder if the young man can bear such a heavy burden..."
"Well, surely he'll be fine... He is the man Albert chose as his son-in-law."
Compared to Richard, Marquis Cattleya was optimistic.
His expression was stern as stone, yet he almost seemed to be enjoying the situation.
"Albert gave away two daughters, after all. He'll just have to bear that much pressure, or we'll have a problem."
"...You have high hopes for him, don't you? Viscount Clover."
"I do. The rise of a talented young man is an old man's entertainment. It's always a thrill to watch."
"Oh ho, in that case..."
Richard, with a mischievous look, makes a proposal.
"If you're that fond of him, why not have your daughter become his fiancée as well? I believe she's about his age, isn't she..."
"What did you just sayyyy!?"
"Wha—!?"
Marquis Cattleya suddenly let out a bizarre shriek.
Richard flinched back in surprise.
"Ahem... I do apologize. My chronic ailment has come over me..."
"............"
It seemed that the topic of daughters was strictly off-limits for Marquis Cattleya.
"Well then, let us go observe Viscount Clover's heroic form... Whatever result his magic may bring, we will use that as our signal to move the army."
"Yes. I will absolutely win this battle...!"
Marquis Cattleya and Richard nodded to each other and stepped forward toward the front of the encampment to take command.
After that, the two would find themselves witness to a sight beyond anything they could have imagined.