Rest, who had departed from House Rosemary, arrived again at the Lavender Margrave Domain in the east.
He came alone. The purpose of his visit was not a pleasant one, but thanks to having rested enough, his steps were light.
"Well… it's good that I've arrived, but what should I do now…!?"
Just as he crossed the boundary of the domain, Rest was thinking about his next move when he tensed up at the sudden appearance of someone's presence.
When he looked around in a fluster, a black shadow slid out from a nearby bush.
"We have been waiting for you, our master."
"Whoa!?"
Called out to by the person who appeared suddenly, Rest instinctively tensed up.
What appeared before him was a humanoid figure clad in black clothes. Most of their body was covered in black, but their face was covered with purple cloth.
It was an unidentified figure who had slipped through the sensory network of the Presence Detection magic.
"My apologies for startling you, our master."
"You… could it be, you're the 'Sky Demon'?"
"Sky Demon."
The stealth troops that House Lavender takes pride in.
They make their base in a forbidden forest and are tasked with espionage in enemy countries and repelling spies that infiltrate the country.
He was someone Rest had met when he visited this place with Urla Lavender in the past... though it's unclear if he can call it a meeting, he had encountered him.
"Indeed. This is the first time I've shown myself like this."
"You startled me... just how did you appear?"
Rest didn't know what methods the 'Sky Demon' used, but it appeared unpredictably without being caught by Rest's Presence Detection.
"I cannot reveal that, no matter how much you press me."
"I see..."
It felt different from the stealth techniques Diebl had taught him. What was the principle behind it, really?
"Well, never mind that... So, what do you want from me?"
"I came to inform you of the current battle situation."
"That's helpful... I heard there are skirmishes with the Empire. Has a full-scale war already broken out?"
"We are just one step shy of that. Right now, we are in a standoff across the bridge."
A large river runs along the border with the neighboring country, the Gaiselle Empire, and a single bridge connects the two lands.
The river is wide and has a strong current, making it difficult to cross by swimming or boat. As long as one secures the bridge, it is effectively impossible to cross the border.
"The Gaiselle Empire's soldiers are gathering across the river. Of course, House Lavender knows they must not be allowed to cross the bridge. They are strengthening their defenses on this side of the river, preparing for the enemy's advance."
"I see... So a major battle hasn't broken out yet, right?"
"Yes."
The 'Sky Demon' nodded at Rest's question.
Rest was relieved that a full-scale battle hadn't started yet... but at the same time, he felt a sense of dissonance.
(Wait a minute. Why aren't the enemies attacking right away?)
Rest knew.
He knew the invasion of the foreign tribes in the north was a diversion.
The mysterious figure called the 'Curse Caster' was manipulating the foreign tribes, deliberately making them attack the Kingdom of Aiwood.
(If they attract our attention to the north but don't attack soon, the diversion loses its meaning, doesn't it...?)
If they waste too much time, the army that went north will come back.
Wouldn't the best course of action be to launch an attack before that happens and break through the border?
"Your concern is well-founded."
The Sky Demon spoke as if peering into Rest's brooding thoughts.
"The enemy across the river is eerily quiet. It's as if they are waiting for something."
"So it really is..."
"Then the army across the river is a decoy. They might launch an attack from another direction...?"
Once again, the Sky Demon voiced what Rest was thinking.
If he already understood, that made things easier.
As expected, the Sky Demon was a professional spy. It seemed he had already grasped the very ideas Rest was just contemplating.
"It's obvious the Empire's movements are strange. But even so, the enemy army outnumbers House Lavender's forces. We don't have the luxury to send reinforcements elsewhere. We Sky Demons are currently surveying the banks of the border river, probing the enemy's movements."
"I see... I'm starting to read your mind too."
He had been planning to visit Urla next, but a Sky Demon agent had suddenly appeared before him.
He was beginning to understand why the Sky Demon had come to contact him.
"You want me to help investigate, don't you? You're short on people and came to ask for support, right?"
"Indeed. You truly are my master."
Beneath the purple cloth, Rest felt the Sky Demon smile.
"As a matter of fact… I was planning to go investigate a location where enemy soldiers—likely an ambush—were sighted. Just as I was about to leave, you, my lord, arrived. I took it as a sign of providence and came to report to you."
"…Hah, you're so roundabout."
Was he being tested, perhaps?
He couldn't even see the Sky Demon's face, making it hard to read his thoughts.
He truly was an inscrutable figure.
"I understand... guide me."
"As you wish. Then, please come this way."
The Sky Demon led the way, darting silently ahead.
Rest frowned at the black back pressing through the roadless path, then reinforced his legs with magic and chased after.
—————— Thank you for your support throughout this year as well.
I will continue to write diligently next year as well, so I look forward to your continued support.
I have posted an activity report for the year and a preview of next year in the status note.
If you are interested, please check it out.