Ditter for Marriage — Part 2

"Whether we can hold Lartark in check will be the turning point. Don't let him overwhelm you."

Now that my Shield of Schutzaria was complete and I had succeeded in stealing Dunkelfelger's blessing, the second major hurdle would be whether Traugott and Laurentz could together restrain Lartark, the strongest fighter in Dunkelfelger. Matthias had said that Ehrenfest's victory or defeat would likely be decided by how much of the enemy's fighting force they could cut down in the initial phase, while Dunkelfelger still had numbers committed to defending their camp.

"Haaahh!"

Traugott shouted a fierce battle cry as he lunged at Lartark. The sound of clashing blades rang out in rapid succession, and it was clear he was putting everything into his strikes. Laurentz, for his part, seemed to be fighting more in a supporting role to Traugott.

"He's got momentum, but I wonder how long he can keep it up."

For the time being, Traugott and Laurentz were attacking desperately while Lartark parried them deftly without apparent difficulty. Lartark still looked like he had plenty of room to spare.

"...It looks like he's going all out from the start, but won't Traugott be all right?"

Traugott's fighting style was nothing but attack, pure and simple attack, with no regard for his surroundings — and he hadn't seemed to grow at all. It left me feeling anxious. But Leonore smiled reassuringly.

"Lartark is not the kind of opponent you can hold back without giving it your all. Besides, Traugott has recently become able to listen to what those around him are saying. And if Traugott's momentum starts to fade, Matthias will swap in, so it will be fine."

The versatile Matthias was currently directing various skirmishes here and there while providing archery support. However, he was keeping constant watch on Lartark and was ready to swap in for Traugott or Laurentz at any moment.

"I will also go to provide support while giving instructions. Judith, I'm counting on you to handle attacks on the enemy camp."

Having finished issuing her orders and assessed the battlefield, Leonore leaped onto her riding beast and flew out from behind the Shield of Schutzaria.

I leaned out from the Lesser Bus and looked up, but the riding beasts in the sky above moved too fast to see clearly.

...Which one is who?

Their positions kept shifting, and I could hear the clash of weapons, but since everyone was wearing helmets, I couldn't tell who was who. The only ones I could identify were Matthias, who was circling overhead keeping watch and calling out orders, and the pair of Laurentz and Traugott who were ganging up on Lartark.

Perhaps because the Central Knights had tested the shield's durability in front of the royalty, not a single Dunkelfelger knight apprentice was attacking the Shield of Schutzaria. They were completely ignoring it. It seemed they intended to whittle down their own apprentice numbers to some degree before turning their attention our way.

"Judith, here's the next one."

Izigald charged one of the Magical Tools Hartmut had made with Magic Power and handed it to Judith. Judith flew out from behind the Shield of Schutzaria on her riding beast and slung the tool toward the enemy camp with her sling.

"Haah!"

By the time Judith came back behind the shield, explosions and screams were erupting from Dunkelfelger's camp. Hartmut's Magical Tools were proving to be quite effective.

"Still, it's impressive that Hartmut managed to make this many Magical Tools."

As I peered into the box full of Magical Tools inside my solo Lesser Bus, Brünhilde, who was recovering her Magic Power, gave a soft laugh.

"The apprentice civil officials were incapacitated in the synthesis room, you know."

The Magical Tools Hartmut had created came in various types, categorized by level of damage.

The low-level ones included things that produced blinding flashes or loud concussive blasts. There were also ones that released foul odors or rained down unpleasant little insects. These caused relatively little physical harm. Anyone nearby might have their vision or hearing impaired for a while, or have to spend time dealing with the bugs, but that was about it.

The mid-level ones included projectiles that caused uncontrollable tears and runny noses when thrown at Dunkelfelger, as well as powders mixed with paralyzing or sleeping agents. These did cause physical harm, but since they were basically powder-based, you could wash them off with Waschen once you got used to it. If you could Waschen right away, you'd be fine, but if you inhaled or ingested them completely, the effects would linger a bit longer.

And the high-level ones were the somewhat lethal explosives that Ferdinand's reference books indicated he had made extensive use of during his more ruthless operations. They would detonate and send stone fragments flying, or explode in multiple stages like fireworks, apparently. Without a shield, these Magical Tools would cause serious trouble.

Izigald was handing out low- and mid-level ones quite liberally, so until I saw the explosions, I had no idea what had been thrown. But it was clear enough that Dunkelfelger's camp was also in the dark about what was coming their way, with everyone holding up their shields in a state of nervous alarm.

...The attacks on their camp seem to be going well for now.

No sooner had I reached that conclusion than Alexis, one of Wilfried's guard knights, came crashing into the Shield of Schutzaria at full speed on his riding beast.

"Heal me, please!"

"Alexis!?"

Alexis tumbled off his riding beast, clutching an arm, and glanced behind him. Following his gaze, I saw a Dunkelfelger knight apprentice who had been chasing right on his heels with sword raised — only to be blasted away by the wind that burst from the shield.

The Dunkelfelger apprentice had been knocked off balance by the shield, but since he knew he couldn't enter it, he quickly recovered and flew back toward the battlefield.

Perhaps the sight of his pursuer turning tail and confirmation that the inside of the shield was safe helped him relax, because Alexis let out a sigh of relief and removed his helmet.

"Compared to when we sparred at the beginning of the Academy, Dunkelfelger has gotten significantly stronger. Their individual skills have improved, and I think their battle lines will collapse faster than we anticipated."

"What!?"

It sounded like Alexis had been defeated by someone he thought he could handle on his own. Right now, Leonore and Matthias were providing support to keep the battle lines intact, but Alexis felt they wouldn't last long. Upon hearing his report, Wilfried looked up sharply and gazed at the battlefield above.

I looked up as well. It did seem like Ehrenfest's movements were becoming less fluid.

"I've heard that Dunkelfelger conducts Ditter repeatedly in their dormitory to receive blessings through ceremonies. Their training hours and level of seriousness may be incomparable to previous years."

The difference in training frequency and seriousness was evident from the fact that Ehrenfest's apprentice knights still could not receive blessings on their own, while Dunkelfelger had become capable of receiving them steadily through ceremonies.

"...Ehrenfest has been training quite a lot too, though."

"That means they trained even more than we did. And while Dunkelfelger has a large number of high-ranking knights, Ehrenfest has more medium-ranking knights. Even though we've been working hard on Magic Power compression, there's bound to be a difference in Magic Power levels."

Magic Power compression was fundamentally something each person had to pursue on their own. Even if I taught them the multi-step compression method, it all depended on the individual. Dunkelfelger conducted Ditter constantly across their territory, and whether or not one could participate in inter-duchy battles depended on one's skill level.

Grandfather's intensified training had raised Ehrenfest's overall fighting strength, but when compared to Dunkelfelger, the level of individual dedication was different.

"Alexis, I'll heal you. Get back out there quickly."

I extended the hand bearing my ring out the window and gestured for Alexis to come closer, then cast the healing of Lungschmear. The green light healed his wounds, and Alexis downed a healing potion in one gulp before strapping a new one to the leather belt at his waist.

"I've been hit!"

This time it was Nathalie who flew in. Alexis put on a stern expression, handed the empty bottle to Brünhilde, put on his helmet, and swapped places with Nathalie as he mounted his riding beast and flew back out.

"Nathalie, over here. Let me use Lungschmear's healing on you."

"Thank you very much, Lady Rozemyne."

While I was healing Nathalie, two more knight apprentices flew into the shield. Dunkelfelger was supposed to have been forced to split their numbers for defense, so we should have had a numerical advantage — yet the number of people seeking healing was increasing. If more and more fighters had to retreat to recover, the numbers on the battlefield would balance out, and Ehrenfest would quickly find itself at a disadvantage.

"How is the battle going?"

"Not well. Matthias is fighting in my place, and Leonore is fighting in his."

Looking across the battlefield, the two who had been directing the fight and calling out orders now found themselves forced into the attack.

...Matthias wasn't the backup for Traugott and Laurentz!?

I frantically searched for Ehrenfest's blue-caped fighters, searching for the two who were fighting side by side under a single blue mantle. Traugott, who had been going full force from the start, was now moving sluggishly, with Laurentz taking the forefront while Traugott fought in more of a supporting capacity.

"Traugott, fall back for now!"

Traugott was clearly in need of recovery. Laurentz's voice rang out. But Traugott shouted, "I can't!"

"I have been ordered to hold Lartark in check together with you! I cannot leave this position until a replacement arrives or I receive a different order! I will endure!"

His words showed that he recognized he couldn't move — not because he simply wanted to keep fighting, but because the situation demanded he stay put. Laurentz responded with a shout of acknowledgment.

Traugott and Laurentz's coordination seemed to be working well for now, but with Matthias filling in for the wounded, he couldn't swap in for Traugott either. If both of them grew fatigued, there would be no one left who could hold Lartark.

...The original battle plan was starting to fall apart.

The battle lines were becoming disorganized, and on top of that, I was in the middle of recovering my own Magic Power while casting healing after healing, so my Magic Power wasn't replenishing.

...This is a problem.

But right now, making sure the apprentice knights could keep fighting was what mattered most.

As I felt Dunkelfelger slowly pressing in on us and cast healing after healing on the returning apprentice knights, Restlaute's voice rang out.

"Their battle lines are in disarray! Our defense is solid! Now's our chance — crush Ehrenfest in one fell swoop!"

Seeing an opportunity for victory, Dunkelfelger had reduced their camp's defenders and launched an all-out attack. Ehrenfest's apprentice knights, already stretched to the limit, couldn't possibly hold out.

"Rozemyne, do you think it would be acceptable for me to go?"

Wilfried turned his deep green eyes toward the box containing the Sword of Evierviebe.

"We should first heal everyone and reform our battle lines. We need to buy time."

"I agree. We will provide full support on this end, so please, whatever you do, do not allow the ceremony to be interrupted."

"Very well."

Keeping Wilfried reaching for the Sword of Evierviebe at the edge of my vision, I surveyed everyone inside the shield.

"Brünhilde, go with Judith. And have her use the high-level Magical Tools two or three times in succession. Dunkelfelger has only been hit with low- and mid-level ones so far, so this should deal them significant damage. It might even force them to divert more fighters to defense and recovery."

"Understood."

Brünhilde took the high-level Magical Tools and headed over to Judith. Judith accepted the tools with a tense expression and drove her riding beast forward.

"Haah!"

Just as the apprentice knights who had been defending the camp flew out — precisely when the enemy camp was understaffed — Judith launched the Magical Tools at them.

Up until now, the attacks had been noise, light, powder, and the like, causing relatively minor damage, so they had probably let their guard down. A tremendous explosion erupted with a thunderous boom, sending smoke and flames skyward. Hannelore's scream pierced the air. Not only the apprentice knights who had just departed the camp, but also those who had been pressing Ehrenfest spun around in a panic.

"The damage is different this time! Fall back! Another one's coming!"

A knight apprentice saw Judith preparing to launch a second volley and shouted the warning. Those still in the camp raised their shields and took defensive positions. An instant later, stone fragments burst out along with the explosion.

Witnessing the screaming enemy camp and the Dunkelfelger apprentice knights hesitating in confusion at the explosions of a completely different scale, Wilfried took the Sword of Evierviebe and marched out of the Shield of Schutzaria.

"All healed knights, escort Brother Wilfried at once. Defend him with everything you have so the ceremony cannot be interrupted!"

"Yes, sir!"

The Sword of Evierviebe could not be used from inside the Shield of Schutzaria. If activated within, the shield would vanish.

Wilfried had already filled the Sword of Evierviebe with Magic Power, but just as the Spear of Reindshaft had needed more than full Magic Power to cloak itself in blue lightning, the Sword of Evierviebe would require even more to unleash its full power as a divine instrument.

"Izigald, prepare for retrieval."

"Understood."

Using the Sword of Evierviebe would consume nearly all of one's Magic Power, leaving the wielder unable to move afterward. A retrieval specialist was essential whenever it was deployed. That was the role of Izigald, Wilfried's Attendant and a man — not something Brünhilde could be expected to handle.

"He's planning something! Stop him!"

"We won't let you!"

The knights protecting Wilfried as he channeled Magic Power into the Sword of Evierviebe threw capture nets and hurled Hartmut's Magical Tools to keep the approaching Dunkelfelger apprentice knights at bay.

A change began to manifest in the Sword of Evierviebe gripped in Wilfried's hand. The blade, made of white magic stones, began to glow white and emanated cold air. As he continued pouring Magic Power into it, the wavering cold intensified and gradually transformed into ice and snow.

"Life God who governs rebirth and death, Evierviebe, and the twelve gods who serve at your side—"

Holding the sword straight in front of his chest with the tip pointed upward, Wilfried lightly closed his eyes and began to chant the prayer. His voice echoed across the arena, and when the Dunkelfelger apprentice knights heard the name of a god, their faces went pale and they rushed toward Wilfried.

"Don't let him finish the prayer!"

"Stop him!"

Though startled that the knights who had been locked in combat suddenly changed direction, the Ehrenfest apprentice knights desperately gave chase.

"Protect him!"

"Don't let them get close!"

Arrows rained down from the Dunkelfelger apprentice knights, all trying to interrupt Wilfried's prayer. The knights around him desperately knocked them aside, but one or two still reached Wilfried. However, they were deflected by Ferdinand's protective charm, and a magical counterattack struck the archers.

"Hear my prayer and bestow upon me sacred power. Grant me the strength to protect Gedulhirich from those who would seize it—"

A wind mixed with ice and snow began to swirl around Wilfried. Sensing the power of Evierviebe and wary of what was about to happen, the Dunkelfelger apprentice knights tried to maintain some distance.

"To you I offer my indomitable will, and sing praises of the highest devotion. Grant me the blessing of unyielding fortitude. Give me your power, that no enemy may draw near—"

Wilfried's eyes snapped open and he raised the sword into a combat stance.

"Ehrenfest, fall back!"

"Yes, sir!"

The Ehrenfest apprentice knights, who knew what was coming, immediately retreated behind the Shield of Schutzaria. I poured more and more Magic Power into the shield and expanded it slightly, but I was reaching the limit of what I could sustain.

The Shield of Schutzaria and the Sword of Evierviebe could not be used simultaneously. Having the Sword of Evierviebe activated nearby was enormously taxing on the Magic Power needed to maintain the shield.

"RAAAAAH!"

Wilfried put his full force into a horizontal sweep of the Sword of Evierviebe. At the same time, approximately twenty winter familiars — creatures of snow and ice — took form. And at that same moment, Wilfried collapsed to the ground as though his strings had been cut.

"What the—!? What is this!?"

"Fight them! Don't flinch! These are magical beasts!"

The winter familiars descended upon the Dunkelfelger apprentice knights, upon their camp. The familiars' strength varied depending on the Magic Power of their caster — this was a technique that consumed nearly all of one's Magic Power in a single swing.

Izigald, who had been waiting at the very edge of the shield, burst out, retrieved Wilfried, and immediately flew back inside. He then had Wilfried drink a healing potion infused with gentleness.

"Did we... manage to buy some time?"

"Yes. Thanks to Brother Wilfried, it looks like everyone will be able to recover. Judith, once you've healed up, get ready. We're going to press the attack."

Once the winter familiars were defeated, Dunkelfelger would also need to return to their camp to recover. That was the opening we needed.

"We'll hit them while they're recovering with our most powerful Magical Tools in rapid succession. Ideally, we'd use something that could destroy their healing supplies..."

Right now, Dunkelfelger's healing potions were probably packed securely in a chest guarded by knights in full armor, but as more fighters needed them, they'd be forced to open it. I wanted to throw Magical Tools in there and, if possible, destroy the healing supplies.

"So we're targeting the recovery potions next. I recall Uncle's notes saying that cutting off their recovery and supplies was necessary."

As he packed away the Sword of Evierviebe, now wrapped in cloth, Wilfried murmured, "I understand, and it's a necessary strategy, but I suppose being called ruthless is only natural."

"Yes. Ehrenfest's offensive power is clearly inferior to Dunkelfelger's. If their treasure were a magical beast, we could finish things in one blow, but since it's Lady Hannelore, that's not an option. The safest approach is a war of attrition, grinding them down over a long battle. For that, their healing supplies are in the way."

In last year's battle between Ferdinand and Heisshitze, the treasure — Hannelore — had never left the camp on her own. You'd have to lure her out by getting within range of the Stab's band of light; she would never come out voluntarily.

"Just a little more! Finish them off quickly!"

"Start recovering in order!"

The magical beasts had been created from Wilfried's Magic Power alone. Once the Dunkelfelger apprentice knights attacked en masse, it would take time but wouldn't be particularly difficult to deal with them. They began defeating the winter familiars while starting to heal.

"Judith!"

Leonore and Judith, having received the Magical Tools from Brünhilde, flew out and launched high-level Magical Tools in rapid succession. They exploded over Dunkelfelger's camp, and those in the middle of recovery screamed.

"My healing potions—!"

"Which ones are still intact!?"

"Another one coming! Shields! Block it!"

"Close the chest first!"

The devastation in Dunkelfelger's camp was clearly immense. Restlaute's voice boomed with fury.

"Rozemyne, no matter how you slice it, this is vicious! Despicable and malicious! Are you even a Saint!?"

I had never claimed to be a Saint, and according to Ferdinand's guidance, it was the person who let their guard down who was at fault. Either Dunkelfelger for letting their guard down, or Ferdinand for writing such a guidebook. In other words, it wasn't my fault.

"Target the archer launching the Magical Tools. Make sure she can't throw anything else — aim for a decisive strike."

Up until now, Judith had basically stayed inside the shield, darting out only briefly to throw Magical Tools that didn't cause much physical harm — so they had prioritized targeting the other apprentice knights over her. But with the damage from the Magical Tools becoming devastating, that was apparently no longer the case.

"That archer always comes out from behind the shield when she throws. It must be because the Shield of Schutzaria registers her attacks. She'll definitely come out from behind the shield when she attacks us. Don't miss that moment!"

"Yes, sir!"

At Restlaute's words, Judith flinched. Perhaps it was because Restlaute wasn't actually out fighting but was observing the battle from the camp — his assessment was sharp. And he was exactly right.

Restlaute added, "Also, target Rozemyne."

"Rozemyne performed ceremonies in rapid succession from the start, maintained the shield the entire time, and kept casting healing magic even while the apprentice knights rested — her Magic Power should not have recovered much. Let's give her no chance to recover and attack with everything we have to break that shield. I will use Arne."

Restlaute said this while citing the example of how I had taken a massive barrage from the Central Knights during the dedication ceremony and then taken medicine to recover before the ceremony.

"Lady Rozemyne, is that true?"

I nodded at Leonore's question. I had performed ceremonies in rapid succession at the start, cast healing continuously before fully recovering, and used considerable Magic Power to maintain the shield against the Sword of Evierviebe's pressure. I had put off my own recovery, reasoning that I could heal once everyone else went on the attack.

"I still have Magic Power remaining to maintain the shield and my riding beast, so if only a small number of attackers come, I should be able to hold out. But if Dunkelfelger launches a full assault, I'm not so sure."

When the Central Knights had tested the shield's durability, they had also drained a significant amount of my Magic Power. Looking at how Dunkelfelger fought today, we couldn't afford to let our guard down just because they were apprentices.

"Lady Rozemyne's Magic Power is uncertain...?"

The apprentice knights inside the Shield of Schutzaria all looked anxious at once. I understood their unease about losing their guaranteed safe zone, but Dunkelfelger didn't have the Shield of Schutzaria either — they were defending with nothing but individual shields.

"There's no need to look so worried. We simply need to reduce the number of Dunkelfelger's apprentice knights as much as possible, all together."

Wilfried stood up and spoke.

"Both I and all of you have already been healed by Rozemyne's magic, have we not? Ehrenfest will protect Rozemyne together. All we need to do is buy time until Rozemyne's Magic Power recovers. It's not so difficult. Am I wrong?"

"Yes, sir!"

We had just been overwhelmed and had our lines broken in the blink of an eye. Everyone knew that reducing Dunkelfelger's apprentice knight count was no simple matter. And yet, the apprentice knights rallied as though it were the easiest thing in the world.

"Protect Ehrenfest's Saint! Don't let Dunkelfelger anywhere near the Shield of Schutzaria!"

In a direct clash between knights, Ehrenfest was overwhelmingly disadvantaged.

Wilfried had managed to buy some time, but Rozemyne's Magic Power was running dangerously low.

And Dunkelfelger was about to launch a full-scale assault.

Next time — Part 3.