Having invaded Selva, I stood in formation before the fortress as the supreme commander of Zayin.
The troops I had deployed surrounded the fortress and poured magic into it.
The successive heads watched the whole thing from the Jewel.
I wiped my mouth with my thumb and gave Clara an order.
"Clara, magic is incoming. Enter defensive formation."
"Understood."
Once I confirmed that the enemy had shifted their mages to one side in an attempt to concentrate fire on a single unit, I issued orders to the troops on the opposite flank.
That was where Novem was.
"Novem, the enemy is concentrated on Clara's side. Keep up the attack as is. They've even thinned out their archers — they might try to charge."
The enemy's mages had been shooting down attacks from the siege weapons. Both sides exchanged magic, continuing the offense and defense for as long as their mana held out.
When night fell, both sides would exhaust their strength and rest — the typical scene on a battlefield.
I had considered using the cover of darkness to infiltrate the fortress. But the successive heads wouldn't allow it.
The Fifth Generation's voice came through.
"…Too soft. Sure, this would be a slow grind if we kept it up, but you shouldn't have let them concentrate on one side."
The Fifth Generation offered a harsh critique of the enemy commander's judgment. But the Fourth Generation saw it differently.
"If keeping it up only means we lose, there's nothing wrong with looking for the best option, is there? In truth, the attacks hitting little Clara's side are fewer. Wouldn't you say they wanted to crush her first?"
I turned to a soldier nearby and gave an order.
"I'm sending reinforcements. Can you carry the message?"
"Y-yes!"
The nervous knight received the order and headed out to relay it. It might seem like a roundabout method, but this was also a request from the Successive Heads.
The Seventh Generation spoke.
"Well then, for a first attempt, this should suffice."
The Third Generation said.
"Passing grade, I suppose? Rael's the same, but Zayin and Selva are both sluggish in their movements. Honestly, Selva is fighting desperately, so there's actually a lot to learn from them when it comes to movement."
Surrounded on all sides, the fortress's knights and soldiers of Selva fought well. But our momentum was in a different league entirely.
In my mind, the Fifth Generation's Dimension and the Sixth Generation's Spec let me read the enemy's movements like an open book.
My Skill, Connection, allowed me to issue orders swiftly in response.
The enemy fortress was gradually having its surface chipped away, and since our attacks couldn't reach them, they were growing increasingly desperate.
When attacks concentrated on the unit Clara was in, Eva and the others rushed in and erected a Magic Shield to block them.
Conversely, Novem's unit pressed the offensive harder.
When the enemy couldn't fend off Novem's magic and continued to be worn down without protecting the fortress walls, once again the enemy showed movement.
The Third Generation said.
"Oh my, they're coming out? We're already on the third day, so they must have decided to take the gamble before morale drops further."
Horses were being gathered inside the fortress, and preparations for a charge were underway.
They were already outnumbered, and since we were executing both attacks and defenses with precision, it seemed they simply couldn't hold back any longer and decided to strike out.
The Seventh Generation did not deny that judgment.
"In a situation where no reinforcements are coming, if they're looking for any chance of victory, then this is what it comes to. The state of their supplies, combined with low morale... one can't help but feel sympathetic toward Selva's commander."
Even so, the Successive Heads wouldn't tell him to hold back—they would surely move decisively once they'd made up their minds.
I stood up and delivered the message to the messenger.
"The enemy is going to make a move. Make sure everyone stays on their guard."
As the soldier rushed off, Aria, who had been standing beside me, rose to her feet too. I'd wanted to keep her in reserve rather than throw her into a magic exchange.
Monica and Shannon were stationed in the rear, and May was currently waiting back there as well. Miranda was with the unit I'd positioned on the opposite side, where she was awaiting my orders.
Just then, Crate came over to me on horseback.
"Rael! If the enemy's coming, let me take them on!"
Crate had her knights in tow and was raising her spear, showing her eagerness. The soldiers were lined up with their long spears, waiting for the enemy to arrive, and I'd rather they didn't charge in recklessly.
I crossed my arms.
"Hold your charge until I give the word. Aria, go help out Crate."
When I said that, Aria looked slightly displeased.
"You're not going out there?"
The Fourth Generation spoke up.
"Nah, there's no point in Rael going out when he's already built up such a reputation. Besides, the commander can't very well march to the front lines, can he?"
"The commander shouldn't go to the front" came with a caveat — it meant the commander who could actually win. Without a proven track record, the soldiers wouldn't feel at ease.
In my case, I'd gotten way too famous during the retaking of Zayin.
I didn't even need to show myself — the knights and soldiers already feared me.
"I'm right here because I trust you. And remember, the enemy is fighting just as desperately — don't let your guard down."
I gave Aria a light pat on the back, and she grabbed her helmet in her left hand and ran off toward where her horse was waiting.
It was only a little, but I didn't imagine that she'd looked somewhat happy.
Upon hearing that, the Third Generation said:
"Trust, huh. Well, she's certainly grown a lot, hasn't she, Aria."
Room for Growth
"...There's room for growth too, so maybe I should let her aim to become a female general or something."
I thought the Third Generation was joking, but when I actually imagined it, it seemed like it might suit her after all.
(I'll think it over.)
And then, the Fourth Generation spoke.
"...Laiel, you're the one who drew them all into this. You need to take responsibility."
As I watched Aria from behind—seated on horseback, waiting for the enemy to come—I gripped the Jewel tightly in my hand.
——The fortress gate was lowered, and once it became a bridge, knights on horseback charged across.
Soldiers followed after them, heading toward Laiel's main camp.
Aria gripped the horse's reins in her left hand, and held her spear tucked under her right arm.
Nearby, the knights who had transferred over from the Holy Knights Order and the Sacred Knights Order looked tense as they faced the enemy charge.
They wore their helmets, and the sound of their ragged breathing carried through the air.
Amid all of that, Crate, positioned at the front, surveyed the battlefield from horseback and uttered a single remark.
"Something else, isn't it? I can read their movements as clearly as if they were in my hands..."
Against the charging cavalry, the soldiers had braced themselves with long spears thrust forward. When the two sides collided, several knights were swept from their saddles and spitted on spears, coughing up blood.
But there were a handful of knights who cut through the spears and kept charging.
As the soldiers began fighting fiercely, a signal came from Laiel.
Crate shouted at the top of his lungs!
"Chaaaarge!!"
At the sound of his voice, the knights spurred their horses forward toward the enemy.
Aria urged her horse forward and saw a knight bearing down on her.
(Wounded? But!)
A broken lance was wedged between the segments of his armor. Nevertheless, Aria leveled her own spear from horseback and lunged directly at him.
Her spear, treated with a hardening skill, pierced through both the armor and the man. Yet, coughing blood, he dropped his weapon and grabbed Aria's spear with both hands.
"This guy!"
He must have been trying to stop her from pulling it free, or perhaps he was just putting all his strength into holding on, because he was about to topple from his horse.
Spotting Selva infantrymen approaching nearby, Aria let go of the spear and drew the sword at her waist.
"Guess I'm not used to these."
Dismounting, she cut down the incoming foot soldiers with the blade in one hand. The red gem on her chest glowed, allowing her to use her Skills.
A squad leader among the infantry shouted.
"They've got a Skills user! Surround and take them down!"
He ordered his subordinates, but inside her helmet, Aria smiled slightly.
"Too slow!"
Using her own skill—Quick—her movements became impossible for the enemy to track. She cut down the squad leader and then proceeded to mow down the surrounding infantry.
The cheap sword grew chipped and slick with blood, becoming useless.
It might still work as a bludgeon, but Aria hadn't honed her skills with such weapons.
She picked up a sword from the ground, stabbed the one she'd been using into the earth, and surveyed her surroundings. The Selva soldiers stared back at her with frightened eyes.
Just then, a single mounted knight rode up to Aria.
He had just impaled one of Zayin's knights with his lance. Now, he tossed the weapon aside, drew the sword at his waist, and was about to bring it crashing down on Aria.
Aria parried with her own sword, and the knight leaped from his horse, landed on the ground, and fixed his aim on her.
The ground was overgrown with weeds, the grass reaching up to knee height.
Even in those conditions, her opponent moved freely, clashing swords with Aria without any hindrance.
(He's strong!)
Aria pulled back to create distance, but the opposing knight held his sword at the ready, poised at his waist.
(Here he comes!)
Aria darted sideways in the nick of time as a sweeping cut came flying toward her, scattering the surrounding grass in its wake. Aria could use a similar Skill herself, but seeing one so close yet so different from her own sparked her curiosity.
Behind her helm, Aria was grinning with delight.
"Not bad at all. I don't get to fight Skill users all that often, you know."
Aria moved to close the gap and plunge into the knight's guard, but he advanced toward her at the same time. Her Skill-hardened sword met his blade in a shower of sparks, the edge chipping badly.
But the knight's sword hadn't suffered so much as a nick.
"That's hardly fair. Is that a master-forged blade?"
The knight of Selva answered:
"Heretics like you... fall before this sword!"
After clashing several times with the scavenged sword, Aria realized just how outmatched she was in raw power.
The knight's blade was master-forged. It might even be a Mana Tool. Seeing her own Skill-hardened sword reduced to a battered, useless wreck, she reached that conclusion.
Aria dropped her sword and drew the short blade she had stowed at the small of her back. Then, pulling a rod free with her left hand, she locked it directly into the short blade's hilt.
When the knight closed in again, Aria swung her makeshift short spear to keep him at bay, then kicked him away.
The opposing knight—he clearly had experience, but his swordsmanship was textbook. His strength and Skill had likely carried him through every fight up until now.
Glaring at Aria through his helm, the knight snarled:
"You vicious little wretch of a woman!"
At the opponent's words, Aria laughed.
"You're far too well-mannered!"
With that, she lunged forward and activated her Skill. Quick.
The opposing knight caught Aria's shifted attack and countered. He had enough skill to keep up with her movements, so Aria activated her Skill.
Physical enhancement.
Weapon hardening.
And then, she took a wide step forward.
"Slash."
She had first seen it when she went with Rael to subdue the bandits. The bandit leader had stolen Aria's red jewel, and the enemy had used that Skill right before their eyes.
But the Slash Aria wielded now was nothing like what the bandit had employed. Its sharpness and destructive power had been further elevated by Aria's physical capabilities and talent.
The knight's eyes went wide—Aria's short spear had already carved deep into his armor.
The opponent's sword had cut uselessly through empty air, deceived by Aria's feint.
Blood sprayed from beneath the knight's helm. When Aria withdrew her short spear, blood also gushed from his chest. Aria was drenched in his blood.
As the knight collapsed, he spoke to Aria.
"L-Let me at least ask your name."
At those words, Aria—
"Aria Lockword."
When she said that, though she couldn't see his face, the knight seemed to be smiling. And then he seemed to look around.
"...So we've lost. Rather than have it taken...take this for yourself. And, Aria..."
All around them, the ones who had charged in were being cut down and surrendering.
While remaining vigilant of her surroundings, Aria listened to the knight's final words.
"Next time we meet... it'll be hell."
Aria offered a brief prayer to the knight who had drawn his last breath. Then she took the sword from his hands. Removing the sheath and examining it, the blade did indeed appear to be a Mana Tool.
"...I suppose I'll have to use it as a blade. They say if you have Jewel Skills, there's interference and you can't use them."
Now in possession of her spoils, Aria heard the cheers of victory rising around her.
Looking toward the fortress, white flags of surrender had been raised. As Aria gazed at the sight, she gripped the sword and thought.
(Hell, huh... but this sight is hell too.)
All around lay the bodies of Selva's knights and soldiers. And fewer in number, but still present — the corpses of Zayin's knights and soldiers as well.
What Rolfis's camp had learned was the fact that Zayin had taken the border fortress in three days.
Alette received that report as well, and when she obtained the detailed information, she was stunned.
Night.
Inside a tent illuminated by lantern light, Alette clutched documents in both hands. The matter of "a few days" was not the issue.
In truth, Rolfis had also taken several days to break through Selva's fortress.
But what made the report hard to believe was the numbers.
"Less than ten thousand? And on top of that, they took it with effectively four thousand... The enemy forces should have been at least two to three thousand, by the most conservative estimate. They took the fortress with that few troops?"
In general, sieges favor the defenders.
While certain conditions need to be met, even having a slight numerical advantage should not have been enough to change the situation.
In truth, Rolfis had overwhelmed them with sheer numbers.
When Alette read the report, there was a name among them — one she had not recruited herself. Crate.
It was written that he had slain the enemy general and claimed the greatest merit.
But Alette knew.
"...You deliberately gave Crate the credit. Sure, he does shine when you use him like that."
Alette knew Crate's strengths — and his weaknesses too. That was precisely why she hadn't recruited him herself.
Crate excelled at faithfully carrying out orders, but when it came to situations requiring independent judgment, he was mediocre. No — Alette thought he might be worse than mediocre.
And she had evaluated herself as not being the kind of commander who could handle Crate properly.
"He's no ordinary man. A first-rate knight, a first-rate general... The sort you'd call a genius."
Alette, who hadn't imagined Lyle to be this kind of knight, suddenly found herself wondering.
"Why did House Walt cast him out? He doesn't seem to have any particular problems... A woman, perhaps? He made a move on a woman he shouldn't have? That's entirely possible. I should warn Her Highness the Princess as well."
She let out a sigh, neatly folded the report she had been clutching — and then it hit her.
"No, wait! If he's the type to chase women and make moves on ones he shouldn't touch... Her Highness the Princess... Annerine-sama too... If he did that, then Rolfis would —!"
Having realized something, Alette immediately decided to consult her adjutant in order to investigate. She burst out of the tent, and inside the now-empty tent, the report Alette had tossed aside slowly drifted to the ground.