《Hagure Seirei Ino Shinsatsu Kiroku~ Seijo Kishi-dan to Iyashi no Kamiwaza ~》


 1 Prologue Spiritual Selection Ceremony

    Silvana School of Magic. The only school in the kingdom that trains spirit mages.


    I was about to undergo a ceremony that would determine my future destiny at the age of fifteen in my seventh year at the school.


    ''''Glass Weed. We will now conduct your ''Rite of Election''.


    I came to the academy''s ritual room and was told so by the head teacher, Mr. Hendrick.


    Students who have turned fifteen years old are to undergo the ''Election Ceremony'' on the day of their birthday.


    Spirit mages use magic with the help of spirits. The ceremony of selection is to make a contract with the genie, but the student does not know which genie will be chosen until the contract is made.


    The spirits of the four elements, earth, water, fire and wind, are of the highest rank, and those who are able to make a contract with them are considered to be superior.


    However, there are also spirits that reside in matter and other living things, and they are considered to be subordinate and are called "outliers", so to speak.


    A lot of the time, it''s a good idea to be able to have a good idea of what you''re looking for.


    --I''d like to draw a ''hit'' too, if I could.


    If you do that, your dream of becoming a court mage will surely come true. It''s not just a matter of time before you''ll be selected for the position.


    Just like her sister-in-law who became the head of the academy at a young age, she wanted to become a court mage and not be ashamed of being a member of her family.


    ''''Then, I will make a final confirmation of the ''Spiritual Guide Seal''. Glass-kun, have the two of you go over it.


    Yes, sir.


    I take off the shirt I was wearing. In advance, a "Spiritual Guide Mark" is written all over your body before attending the ceremony - this is a mark for the spirit to dwell in a mage''s body, and it will fade and become invisible once the contract is completed.


    Hendrick-sensei has the two female students he brought in as assistants to check the markings on my body. Even though it is necessary, there is something embarrassing about being seen - because one of them is my friend, Leslie.


    He''s three years younger than me, but Leslie has always been comfortable with me. But now, he seems a little nervous - the assistant in the Election Ceremony is by request, so Leslie volunteered to come, but I wasn''t informed, and I can''t think of any reason why Leslie would want to come and observe There was none.


    I''m just trying to keep an eye on my brother Glass as he pulls the plug.


    Leslie whispers in a very quiet voice as she approaches to check the marks on her back. She doesn''t say things very straightforwardly, but that''s always been the case, so I''m not particularly angry with her either.


    After the confirmation, I''m the only one left in the magic circle to perform the contract. Leslie, with her shiny black hair and eyes of the same color, is deeply hooded like the other student, her expression obscured.


    ''''Mr. Glass, which spirit you sign up with will be determined by your natural bloodline, the nature of your magic power that has been brewed over the past fifteen years, and your personality. The academy will not be responsible for what kind of spirit you end up contracting with. If that''s okay with you, I''d like you to put your blood seal on this contract.


    I understand.


    I replied briefly and put the dagger blade shallowly against my thumb and stamped my thumbprint on the contract with the streaked blood. I applied a powdered herb for stopping the bleeding, which was stretched out with oil, and the bleeding stopped immediately. This is a very effective family remedy that has been handed down in my mother''s family for generations.


    Finally, the ritual begins - I close my eyes, take a deep breath and try to calm myself down, believing it will be a good result.


    ''O ruler of all things, or the great one in all things! This one, Glass Weed, calls for a bond with his blood. Follow his guidance and come to him from beyond ......!


    Huh. ......!!!


    --I saw a strange landscape that I had never seen before, but which I felt very nostalgic about.


    It was a deep forest. In the midst of flowers and grasses I''ve never seen before, bathed in sunlight, there is someone waiting for me.


    I felt that this someone was waiting for me.


    A girl in white clothes that shine back the light, so beautiful it''s hard to believe it''s out of this world.


    Beautiful - so beautiful - that I''m cursed to have only such mundane impressions of myself.

 2 Prologue 2 Outlier Spirit

    Mr. Glass, are you all right? Mr. Glass!


    I came to my senses when I heard Dr. Hendrick''s voice and I was being held up and supported by Leslie and the other one on either side of me.


    ''Sorry, I''m fine. I was a little disoriented.


    ''It happens all the time when you make a contract. If you''re safe, you have nothing to apologize to me as a teacher.


    Dr. Hendrick, who was always called a stiff and even ridiculed as a stone-headed person, had changed his attitude from earlier to a somewhat softer one.


    No - it''s not. The teacher looks at me, the emotion in his eyes.


    ''...... one cannot choose a spirit. No matter how much study you put into it, you will not always answer it. It''s not your fault.


    The only thing I understood immediately was how Dr. Hendrick felt about me.


    I''m being pitied. I don''t know why that is - it''s because I''ve pulled the plug.


    ''I know from my homeroom teacher what your old goals are. If that path is, in fact, closed, that doesn''t mean it''s the end of the road. We, as educators, will continue to explore your path together. That''s all.


    The teacher leaves the room. The other student also leaves, and Leslie, who stayed behind, tries to walk past me.


    But she stops beside me and says in a small, powerless voice.


    ...... I may pull the ''outlier'' in three years. At that time, you can scold me as much as you like .......


    Earlier, she said she wanted to see me pull the outlier, but when she actually does, she shrinks so much.


    Watching her like that, I don''t even feel like being depressed.


    Leslie can take a chance. And I''m glad I signed up, even if it''s not quite right. I''m a mage now.


    Leslie looked at me fearfully with slightly reddened eyes. Really, if she was so kind-hearted, she shouldn''t have said anything prank-like - or was it hard to breathe?


    But it was no wonder she was so cautious. I''m trying to act easy, too, but in effect, I''ve gone off the career track as a mage.


    Most of the nearly 1,000 students in the Academy of Magic are chosen by one of the elements of earth, water, fire, and wind, and are certified as ''combat mages'' who can have a role in military and other matters, regardless of the difference between higher and lower level spirits.


    Apparently I wasn''t any of those things, and I seemed to have drawn the outlier among the outliers that would make Dr. Hendrick lose interest on the spot.


    But Leslie was not responsible for anything. He even had to thank her for being present at the ceremony - usually, he would pay to find someone to do it. In fact, the other person, other than Leslie, would have been paid for the part-time work I paid for through the teacher.


    ''Anyway, thanks for being there. I''ll buy you dinner another time.


    ...... I like my brother Glass''s homemade food. He hasn''t fed me much lately.


    It''s such a chancy thing to say when you''ve been depressed. I''m not much of a cook, but I''m reasonably confident that I can make reasonably good food with the ingredients I have available.


    I think I''d be better off eating out, though. If Leslie says so, it''s been a while.


    Really?��I was just trying to say it for good reason. I''m still glad I came to see it.


    Mindful of her eye-length bangs, Leslie left the ceremonial room first, leaving a sly smile on her face.


    ''I didn''t get to show you the ...... coolest part, did I?


    While talking to myself, I suddenly look at my feet.


    The power of the spirits in me spilled over and caused a change in the magic circle. If it''s a spirit of fire, flames will arise, and if it''s a spirit of water, water will spring up - it''s not any of those things.


    Grass is growing along the shape of the magic circle. It''s a stone floor, but where did the grass arise from - undoubtedly, it was brought about by the spirit''s power.


    In other words, my spirit was not the elemental spirit I was hoping for - apparently, it was a spirit related to ''grass''.


    �� �� ��


    Leslie also underwent a ritual three years later, at the age of fifteen, to draw a spirit that was considered an outlier, though of a different lineage than mine.


    She observed my ritual and was told that she could do the opposite - but I was very unlikely to be able to take on the role of confirming the ''spirit guide mark'' drawn on Leslie''s body.


    I suppose the main reason is that she was still innocent when she was twelve years old, but by the time she was fifteen, she had grown beyond my imagination.

 3 Episode 1 Unlucky Elementalors

    At the Silvana School of Magic, all students are required to leave voluntarily to find another job before the age of twenty unless they become an assistant or other staff member of the school.


    The graduation ceremony in other schools does not exist in this school. After the Election Ceremony, the students are getting scouted out and leaving the school, so the opportunity to get together with the whole class has disappeared before you know it.


    From the age of fifteen to the age of twenty, five years have passed since I received the Election Ceremony. The time given was enough for an average student, but a student who drew an outlier spirit would not be able to be scouted and get a job if they did it normally first.


    Users of elemental spirits can be used by the military as an immediate asset, and since the absolute number of mages is small, they are pulled in all directions.


    It is not easy to overturn the assessment of which spirits are superior and which are inferior, which is derived from the two hundred years of history in the academy.


    At first I thought I had signed a contract with a grass spirit, but to be precise, it was a plant spirit. From the time I made the contract, I could hear the voice of the grass and talk to the trees. But hearing voices is a fact of life, and if a flower on the side of the road is about to be stepped on by a person and is calling for help, I can''t leave it alone.


    I''ve been walking around the courtyard of the school today, listening to the voice of the plants.


    I''m sure you''ll be able to find a way to make the most out of your time here. When I get close to it, it shakes its branches slightly and greets me.


    Jichan, you''re more energetic than yesterday. Let me know if there are too many branches, and I''ll give you a haircut.


    Cutting branches would normally be called pruning, but since I''ve been able to talk to trees, I''ve come to see them as living things. So it''s a ''haircut''.


    ''I''m sorry, Glass. We can''t cut our own branches, so if they become too heavy, we''ll ask you again. This is all I can do to thank you, but I hope you''ll be pleased.


    ''I''m doing this because I want to, so you can thank me by saying no thanks .......


    "Ho-ho-ho, I do it because I want to repay you for the glass.


    Not long ago, the elder had become quite weak because the branches had become too heavy and the trunk was overburdened with the weight of the tree. No one in the academy had come up with the idea that ''the branches were spreading out and the weight of the tree was weakening it.


    I too thought its branches were magnificent and that it was just a matter of life expectancy for it to die. When I was able to talk to the plant spirits, my perceptions changed dramatically - even plants live with many things on their minds, and sometimes they are in good shape and sometimes they get sick.


    The elder is a ''fig tree'' and the fruit has not yet grown this season, but he has accelerated the maturity of two of them for me and dropped them off the branches.


    ''Thank you. Doesn''t it take a toll on your body to produce fruit like that?


    It''s not a big deal. The soil of the Magic Academy contains more magic than other places. It''s just a matter of sucking the power out of the soil again.


    That kind of thing is possible partly because the elder is a long-lived spirit.


    I held up the fruit to show my gratitude once more, and then said I''d be back, and headed to the courtyard resting area nearby.


    Even before the Election Ceremony, I liked the long, tranquil scene from here. Even if that was one of the reasons I was chosen to be a plant spirit, I like to spend time in nature, and I think there''s nothing better than having a meal while looking at the trees. So my heart won''t be broken, no matter how Mr. Hendrick and the other teachers treat me.


    (Though my dreams of being a court mage have been effectively ended. With a proven track record in other professions, it may never be impossible. (I like to think so.)


    I''ve been applying to take the court mage exam for two years now, but I''ve been rejected just because they looked at my spirit lineage. The fact that I can''t take classes with other students means that I have extra time to spend on classroom study, so the average score of the candidates should be above average.


    It doesn''t help that it''s rotten. I sat down on a wooden chair in the rest stop and spread a cloth on the table and put two figs on it.


    ''...... Brother Glass, I knew you were here,''


    Oh, Leslie. The old man gave me some fruit. It looks so good.


    The juice of figs is said to be susceptible to a rash, but the condition of the fruit depends on the relationship with the plant. The closer you get to the fruit, the sweeter the fruit becomes, and the toxic components may disappear or even be intensified, depending on the use.


    The fruit that the elders give us is not an ordinary fig, and the juice does not irritate the skin. When I tell this to someone, they say, ''There''s no way that''s possible,'' and they don''t believe me - to me, even plants that are considered toxic can be eliminated with dialogue.

 4 Second words 伝語

    Whatever the case, I and the people I know are the only ones who can eat the fruit of the elders at this time of year. Even if it doesn''t help us in battle, we''re benefiting enough at this point in our daily lives.


    ''I''m not that fond of figs, but ...... hmmm. They''re delicious when my brother Glass gives them to me.


    Kapu, biting with a small mouthful, Leslie moves her white throat to swallow the pulp.


    She looks healthy today - and the reason she cares about such things is because she sought out another profession while I was failing the court mage exam.


    That is, ''Spirit Doctor''. Among the pathways of spirit mages, very few people choose to be doctors - because the rewards they get from medicine are very low compared to the rewards that a combat mage can get.


    In the Royal Army''s view, attack is the best defense. But I think that the ''spirit doctor'', which is considered a curious profession, is also an important job that is needed in some cases.


    Most importantly, since a court mage is almost required to be a combat mage, becoming a spirit doctor was synonymous with giving up the path to becoming a court mage.


    ''''...... What''s going on?��Did you and Sven get into a fight?


    ''No, not really. Sven''s been running around trying to get a job, though, so it''s been hard to see him.


    "Hmm.


    Leslie says, not looking too impressed. Sven is my roommate, and he''s one of the people who drew an unfortunate spirit, just like the rest of us.


    He draws an unfortunate spirit at a ratio of about five unfortunate spirits per hundred people, but then he can''t participate in the combat drill classes at all. The battle exercises are held on the assumption that they use earth-water, fire and wind spirit magic, so other spirit users can''t participate in them.


    Even now there are mock battles being held at the training grounds, but we can''t get out. That''s why Leslie, who is three years younger than you, is here as a free agent. Normally she would be in her own class, but since there are no other students, she''s on her own to study on her own. Me and Sven are in the same situation, though I can''t speak for others.


    ''''The ''air'' spirit Leslie signed up for, though, looks like it could be used like a wind spirit.


    ''Wind'' is ''wind'' and ''air'' is ''air''. They''re not together.


    I know that Leslie''s magic can be used in battle, if you will. I''m not sure if I''ve ever heard of this before, but I''m sure I''ve heard of it.


    For example, what happens if the oxygen in the air is locally concentrated? On the other hand, if you eliminate the oxygen - that''s a bit of a radical idea, but it should have great potential, but it can''t be evaluated by the academy''s standards.


    That''s also because the teachers at the academy are contracted with one of the Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind Spirits. The other spirits are ''evil'' to the teachers.


    Leslie said something about wanting to see me pull an outlier, but she didn''t seem to be that depressed about the fact that I''d pulled out the outlier too.


    Air spirits are probably a good match for plant spirits. However, saying that would seem to be an invitation to collaborate with her on research, so I''m currently unable to say it.


    Mage co-researchers often marry each other. Users of spirits of the same lineage are said to be compatible - they say that similarities don''t work, but when it comes to spirits, it''s a different story.


    When we had each finished eating the figs, Leslie lent me a handkerchief. I ask her as I wipe my hands.


    ''What did Leslie do today?''


    I was in the dean''s office. Then he told me to get my brother Glass next.


    The dean?��...... Leslie, what did the dean say to you?


    Leslie was about to say something, but she kept her mouth shut. Then she put her index finger to her lips.


    ''So you mean don''t tell anyone now? Okay, I''m going to go anyway.''


    ...... Sorry.


    No need to apologize. If the dean is calling you, it''s probably best to ask him in person.


    The fact that she apologizes like this means that what she''s hearing from the head of the academy isn''t something you can comfortably listen to.


    ''Well, I''ll be off. Leslie, thank you for coming to call me.


    Yeah. Brother Glass, I''ll see you tomorrow.


    I leave Leslie and enter the school building and head to the dean''s office. On the way there, I suddenly realized that I''m not going to be able to see her again before the end of the day.


    It''s not impossible to see each other again before the end of the day, but Leslie said, ''I''ll see you tomorrow. That''s a bit tricky.


    At any rate, it''s something you''ll find out when you talk to the headmaster. The first time I saw the headmaster in a few days, I thought of him, and I quickened my pace.

 5 Episode 3 Royal Order

    On the door of the dean''s office, there is a tag that says ''Millenia Weed is in the room''.


    That''s right - the dean of the school is my sister-in-law, the most talented woman in the school, and the youngest in history to hold her current position.


    It''s a good idea to be able to have a good time with them. I''d like to think that I''m not so dependent on my sister-in-law as to be supervised by her, but in front of her, it''s hard to say, ''I''m an independent adult, so please don''t call me up too often.


    ''What are you doing?''��If you''ve come that far, why don''t you enter the room?


    ...... Sorry, dean. Excuse me.


    In the academy, I don''t call the headmaster my sister. It''s supposed to be such an arrangement, but it seems that this room is outside of the rules, and as soon as I entered the room, I was greeted by my sister-in-law, who was staring at me intently.


    ''''No, no, it was outside the room, for one thing. I''m inside, so I''ll switch it up from here. Let''s see, sister-in-law (nee).


    Hmm ...... I''d like to ask you why you''re bothering, but that''s okay.


    Sunlight shone through the window behind her sister-in-law through the thin curtains, and her long jade-colored hair appeared to glow with light. She used to have chestnut-colored hair, but the fact that she had signed a contract with a higher spirit of the wind system meant that her hair and eyes had changed to a color that symbolized her attributes.


    If this wasn''t my family, I would have been many times more nervous than I am now - there aren''t many women who are this beautiful, even if you look for them.


    My father remarried when I was still very young, and my step-sister came home. I didn''t know how to treat her at first, being the stepdaughter of my father''s remarriage partner, but that seemed to be the same for her, and with my stepmother''s mediation, we were able to gradually open up to each other. Now, she loves me as a brother to the point that I''m more reserved.


    She got up from her seat and walked around the large desk she always used and walked over to me. The light from the window she was backing against was blinding, but eventually my eyes got used to it - my sister-in-law was wearing a black cloak (cloak) over a white shirt, with the front not closed. That''s because it catches the large chest that all of her clothes have to be custom made.


    The cloak is also a sign that she is a court mage. The gold pendant she wears around her neck has a locket on it, and the number ''17'' is engraved on it - the seventeenth mage on the seventeenth rung of the ladder of mages in this country, that''s who she is.


    ''...... What''s up?��Are you depressed because you couldn''t make it to class for another mock battle?


    ''I''m used to it. I''ve made fewer friends since I signed a contract with the genie, but they don''t like it either and are not distancing themselves from me. ...... Does that sound like bullshit to you?


    ''''Your spirits will inevitably be left out of the academy. It''s inevitable to a certain extent that you''ll be close to an opponent you can team up with in a mock battle or otherwise, or you''ll be close to an opponent of the same lineage as you. That''s not unreasonable.


    His toothless manner is rather refreshing. If he couldn''t draw an elemental spirit, he would have to live as a straggler in this academy.


    No matter how good his classroom grades were, he would not be evaluated based on his spirit lineage alone, and his classmates would treat him like a roadside grass. I was so used to my current circumstances that I could mock myself for being treated appropriately for a plant spirit user.


    ''''But ...... if this country wasn''t surrounded on all sides by enemy nations. I believe that not only the strains that could be used for military purposes, but also you, Leslie, and the spirits of Sven might be looked at for research.


    I know that ...... the history of this country is with the war. The graduates of the academy have also been sent to the front lines to make a difference. On the Eastern Front, we''re talking about pushing back the border for the first time in a long time.


    I think he is being sarcastic. There will never be no enemies in this country for the next hundred years - my sister-in-law, who joined the southern front as a member of the military, understands the current situation much better than I do.


    I''ve been told that she has signed a contract with a spirit named Tempest, a high-ranking spirit among the wind spirits, and has the power to halt the armies of a thousand people. I''ve never seen her on the battlefield, but I''ve heard rumors as a saga that even the male knights of the Hundred Warriors were afraid of her and followed her command.


    How was it that she was able to leave the front line and be posted to the Silvana Academy of Magic? It was because of her exploits that led to a ceasefire agreement with the enemy to the south.


    Military mages could turn to the office if they returned alive from the front line. If the ceasefire agreement was broken she would return to the army, but if not, she would not be forced to join the other fronts.


    ''My friend who has gone to the East will be able to come back safely if she keeps going. I was hoping to bring you along as well: .......


    ...... Sister-in-law, what is it that you wanted me here to do?��The way you''re talking now, it sounds like I''m going to be leaving the academy.


    When I say that, I realize that. Most of the scouting to the academy students from the outside is conveyed by the head of the academy.


    If there are gods to discard, there are gods to pick up - it was only for a moment that I expected that, apparently, it wasn''t such a sweet story.


    With a mysterious look on her face, her sister-in-law held out a document on her desk to me.


    It''s not ...... a military summons ...... this is not a military summons. An imperial edict ...... from the royal family?


    Yeah. Congratulations, Glass. You have earned the right to be the youngest mage in the court.


    ''I''m ...... court, mage to ......?''


    It was truly a bolt out of the blue.


    Since Leslie had also been called in, I had expected that she wasn''t just called in to report on recent events as usual - but it was impossible for me, who couldn''t even participate in a mock battle, to be selected as a court mage, no matter what I thought.


    I could tell by looking at Millennia''s sister-in-law''s face that it wasn''t something I could simply rejoice in. Something about it, a sense of sadness, or perhaps it was more serious than ever, and I couldn''t look away from my matching eyes.


    ''''You''ve always been at the top of the list in classroom studies. Magic Theory, Spirit Systematics, Natural Science, Political Science. You''ve attended every possible class for the amount of time you can''t participate in ...... mock battles, and you''ve gotten ''honors'' in almost every subject.


    There are only three types of evaluations at the Academy of Magic: excellent, acceptable, and unacceptable, so even if I say excellent, that''s what happens if you get a decent score, but there certainly won''t be any students who get as many credits in as many subjects as I do.


    However, since there is no place to show the practical skills of spirit magic, the practical skills are treated as zero or no grade. If the practical skills and classroom studies are combined for a hundred points, I''ll only get a fifty point grade no matter how hard I try, and I''ll be ranked below average.


    Therefore, I couldn''t take the court mage exam even if I applied for it. The fact that such a me was exempted from the exam and chosen as a court mage can only be called a miracle.


    --Or perhaps I''m involved in some kind of conspiracy.


    If that was the case, no wonder your sister-in-law didn''t look congratulatory.


    ''''And not only do you have excellent grades, you''ve qualified as a ''spirit doctor'' this year.''''''


    ''Yes. I''m sorry, I''m afraid I''m going to have to give your sister-in-law an after-the-fact consent.


    ''I am aware of your activities at the Institute, to some extent, as reported to me by your secretary. I am rather pleased, I am sure, that you are striving and seeking your way to independence.


    She crosses her arms and her sister-in-law gives me a gentle look that makes me feel ashamed of myself. She''s always been like that, wanting to treat me like a child ever since she met me - even though this one has become so much more than one person that I''m struggling to distract myself from the large breasts on her arms.

 6 Episode 4 Reason for selection

    ''''Does this mean that since I''ve qualified as a spirit doctor, I can become a court mage by exception?''''


    ''No, no. A court mage, in other words, is a mage who reports directly to the royal family. They can only be appointed by His Majesty the King, His Royal Highness, and the Dauphin, who is recognized by the King as his successor. This time, the Second Queen has selected you as a squire with the Third Princess after reviewing the materials of the academy students.


    The third princess is the daughter of the first queen. But the second queen, a member of her side, has chosen a squire - for good reason.


    The first queen has been laid up for a long time and the second queen has increased her influence in the royal household. The Second Queen wants her son, the Second Prince, to succeed her on the throne, and she wants to keep one of the First Queen''s sons, a Prince and three Princesses, away from the court.


    ''''The third princess is the one known as the ''Sword Princess General. Although she is a princess, she has been honing her sword skills since she was a child and has been recognized for her abilities, and now she leads an army to defend the borders. She didn''t incorporate a single mage into her army when she formed her knights. But when it was decided that the Third Princess would be in the front line for a long time, the Second Queen advised His Majesty that mages should be assigned to the front line. That''s why I''ve received an edict from His Majesty to assign you to the front lines.


    ...... Is that because I''m a mage unfit for combat and of no direct military use?


    A mage unfit for combat would be placed under the command of a general on the front lines. Normally, that doesn''t make sense.


    --However, there is no doubt that the Second Queen has a plan for choosing me. Then it''s not impossible to dare to choose a mage who is considered to be ''useless''.


    "...... Have you heard about the rumor that the Second Queen wants her son, the Second Prince, to be king?


    The battle for the throne is a major concern for the people. Even people like me, who don''t care about politics, can hear it.


    ''''If the rumors are true, it''s conceivable that the Second Queen would send me to drag the third princess, who is the heir to the throne, down.


    ''...... Not only that, though. As for the reason for selecting you, the Second Queen says, ''There is a shortage of military doctors on the Western Front. Indeed, that is in keeping with the current situation.


    The qualifications of a spirit doctor that I took to hide out in a quiet land would be noticed in such a place.


    I, who don''t have the power to fight, will go to the front line as a military doctor. Working for the knights led by the third princess--that means you''ll be in mortal danger.


    I can''t say no when it takes the form of an edict from the king. The reason why your sister-in-law has an uncharacteristically mysterious look on her face is probably because of her hesitation.


    ''''...... From here on out, I''ll leave it up to you to choose. If you don''t want to become a military doctor, then .......


    No. I''m going. To serve the royal family, you need the title of court mage. Even if it was for that reason, it was my dream to become a court mage. Even if they don''t expect much from me, I will produce results and be recognized as a court mage in the true sense of the word. I will not be ashamed of my sister-in-law.


    If you ask me if I''m not valued in this academy, will I be valued out there, I don''t think it will be easy.


    However, as a spirit doctor, I can treat the wounded soldiers. By doing so, I might be able to change the perception that my spirits are useless.


    ''...... You''ve given me more answers than I could ever imagine, Glass. That''s exactly the kind of strong spirit that is required of a court mage. The Western Front is stable for now, but there is sporadic fighting on the border. The princess won''t let you accompany her into battle either, and it''s not all that dangerous if you stand your ground carefully. All around you, though, are strong female knights.


    ''What ...... don''t we have male knights too?''


    ''''The Third Princess'' entourage is all women. It was their wish that only women belong to the Western Army. Apparently, having a man in the entourage would upset military discipline.


    That''s not the point; it''s that men and women should work together to protect the country, but that logic doesn''t seem to work.


    It''s not particularly strange that the percentage of women in this country is higher than that of men. Seventy percent of the students at the Academy of Magic are women, too.


    Yes, that''s true, but ......


    If you don''t float around with all the women around you, you''ll get thrown out. "If you don''t float around because you are surrounded by women, you will be expelled. I''m going to visit her when I get some time off. Since I am acquainted with the third princess, I would like to say hello to you in person ...... and wear a tired face. You are leaving for the west tomorrow, how can you do that now?


    Knights have extraordinary fighting ability compared to ordinary people. Any man or woman can be a knight, but I''m not trained in combat, so I''m basically only as physically capable as a normal person.


    (If I don''t get in a good mood with the princesses and knights, I''ll be done ...... if I don''t get around and not be considered incompetent. ...... Can you do ......?


    ''''You''re a little sharp-eyed, objectively speaking, so you should behave in an amiable manner so as not to be too alarmed ....... Even though there are men in the territory, you are the only man in the garrison of the Order. I''m sure they''ll be a little aware of you, and they''ll be prepared for you, too.


    ''Can''t you just be a ...... female military doctor?��When you think about the physical examinations, the medical examinations, the treatments, you know, I think it''s definitely better to have a woman.


    ''You didn''t listen to me. A ''mage'' who reports directly to the princess is in demand, and you were chosen because you are also a ''spirit doctor''. I''m proud of you as a sister that you''re qualified as a spirit doctor.


    Even though she''s sending me to a dangerous battlefield, in the end, as a sister-in-law, she seems to be happy and proud that I''ve become a court mage, even if it''s due to the Second Queen''s intentions.


    However, what is it like to show so much maternal or pampering attitude to me, especially when I don''t have a baby face? I''m sure you''ll be able to find a way to make the most out of your time with this one.


    ''...... I said I''m proud of you, didn''t I?''


    I say, folding my arms and moving my index finger with a thump. When your sister-in-law does that, it''s when she''s frustrated that things aren''t going the way she wants them to. You don''t have to be a certified genie doctor to see this much.


    ''I''m a good adult myself, so you can''t expect me to respond to those words and be moved by them or anything like that: ......


    ''''d*mn ...... when did you get so twisted? When you just met me, you used to adore me as your big sister every time you returned home from the institute a few times a year.


    There''s no such fact, though ...... has changed the way it''s called.


    My sister-in-law looks at me with resentment - to be honest, I still don''t feel that much that this person was storming the battlefield and was feared by both allies and enemies alike.


    ''...... Well, that''s fine. I''d like to give you one of those hugs here and send you off, but I''ll save that for when you get back safely.


    No, wait, doesn''t that mean you don''t have to ask questions when you get back?


    ''''What you should be thinking about now is to survive at all costs. Even an army doctor might be involved in a battle, and the knights are also sweeping up demons to protect their territory. It''s not just humans who are the enemy.


    To make sure that I don''t get caught up in the battle, I''ll manage the physical condition of the knights and have them be in perfect condition--I feel awkward using them as some kind of shield, but I guess that''s the role I''m expected to play.


    When I get time, my sister-in-law will visit me, but at that time, this time it''s called an emotional reunion, and I''ll have to jump into her chest where the front of this robe can''t be closed--for the reason that it''s too luxurious as a reward for surviving. I''d like to decline somehow.


    I''m not sure if she knew about my inner feelings or not, but her sister-in-law suddenly looked into the distance and said to herself.


    I''m sure you''ll be able to find out what''s going on in the world, and I''m sure you''ll be able to find out what''s going on in the world, and I''m sure you''ll be able to find out what''s going on in the world. How can I be responsible for ...... when it comes to ......?


    I don''t think any man can be put in that kind of environment. ......


    ...... If you''re also a qualified doctor, you know enough to know that the instinctual part of a woman''s body becomes very strong in her thirties, right?


    Well, that''s a generalization that doesn''t take a doctor to figure out, and I think the knights are probably very clean and honest: ......


    Your sister-in-law is twenty-one years old this year, so she''s still far from thirty, but if I were to ask her why she has so much desire, I don''t think I''d be able to leave this room in one piece.


    In any case, I must go to the west and serve His Highness Astina.


    If I''m not a combat mage, if I''m a military doctor, will I be valued - no, I must be recognized.


    That will lead to survival and not making the title of court mage just a decoration. In order to do so, I must do whatever it takes to make an achievement that will convince the people around me.


    However, one thing remains to bother me. Before me, my sister-in-law had called Leslie.


    ''By the way, sister-in-law, what did you and Leslie talk about?


    ''I can''t tell you anything about it. I think it will be a thorny issue for Leslie, but she still wanted ''something'' to happen. I just accepted it.


    Leslie didn''t get called out, she visited the dean''s office on her own - so I''m more and more curious about what she told him.


    ''She''s an adult now, don''t be too overprotective ...... and if I tell you to tell her, she''ll just give it back to you.


    ...... No, to be honest, I''m grateful for your sister-in-law. I don''t even think she''s overprotective. I feel like it''s a situation where the lion drops my child into a thousand pieces or something.


    ''I''m not your parent, I''m your sister. I''d like to correct you on that one.


    I used to get patted on the head at times like this, but my sister-in-law stopped her hand to restrain herself in the middle.


    She''s expecting me to do the same. If I could live up to those expectations, I felt like I could accept my sister-in-law''s kindness more naturally than I do now.

 7 Episode 5: Secretary of the Spirit Doctor

    Even though there was some uncertainty as to what the Second Queen had in mind when she selected me as a court mage, the paperwork to show that I was recognized as a court mage was real.


    My rank as a court mage is one hundred and eighty-eight. But that doesn''t mean that I would instantly be respected as the hundred and eighteenth mage in the kingdom, rather, it would make people wonder what kind of moves I used to obtain that position.


    In fact, there are many students who blatantly harass or look down on students who have drawn an unfortunate spirit. It''s not all of them, but if they are excellent, the quality is also poor, and I''ve been made to lick their lips many times.


    But it''s a painful story. I''m not ready to leave this world behind.


    My roommate, Sven, was back in the room before me. When I told him that I was going to the West tomorrow, he rolled his eyes in surprise at first, but soon congratulated me.


    Sven has made a contract with the Spirit of the Stone, and his hair is gray from the effects of it. He laments that he''s often mistaken for an old man, but he''s still one year older than me, at nineteen.


    Since we became roommates three years ago, me and Sven have gotten along well with each other without any particular quarrel. We were close to each other as we both drew the same unfortunate spirit, but we were never humble and convinced of the reputation of the people around us.


    It''s a label created by a bunch of hard-headed people. It''s not something that I, as a stone user, would say.


    Well, Sven is a stone head. Really, he''s so good at fighting, and people are blind to it.


    ''It''s considered a mage''s job to blow them away without getting close, so I don''t blame them. I suppose I need to defend as well as attack, though.


    Sven''s tone seems to have aged, but he is sometimes dented when Leslie calls him ''like an old man''. That''s another reason why he looks older than his age.


    ''...... Sven, when I leave, take care of Leslie for me.''


    "No.


    "Huh ......, what''s that? Maybe it''s a clich��, but I''m serious about .......


    Me, Sven, and Leslie. The three of us did a lot of things together, and I''m sure Leslie, who was shy, would see Sven as a friend.


    But Sven shrugs his shoulders and sucks on a homemade cigar I made, then lights it with an experimental match and smokes it. Even though it looks like this, it''s a medicinal cigar used to reduce inflammation in the lungs and circulatory system, so it''s not harmful to your health.


    ''Glass, you''ll have to be angry on Leslie''s behalf for that manner of speaking. I can''t replace Glass, and vice versa. Besides, you can go to ......


    ...... and?


    ''No, it''s nothing. For that matter, Glass, like you, I''m going to get some kind of certification and continue to look for a job in the future. Since I''ll be in this dormitory for the time being, I''ll keep this room in case I ever return to the institute, even temporarily.


    ''Oh, that helps. Well, I suppose I shouldn''t come back, but there''s no reason why I shouldn''t come back to the Academy for business.


    If I were to come back, it would be after I was recognized by His Highness Astina. It would be when you''ve achieved something, established your position, and received a leave of absence.


    Or maybe he would complete his role in the West. Either way, it will take a few years, or maybe a decade.


    ''Well, I think I''ll go to town for a drink, at least for today. Let''s celebrate and wish our best friend well.


    ''''Glorious or ...... I hope that''s the case. First of all, we still need to make sure that they don''t tell us we can''t use it and revoke our court mage authorization.


    Sven drapes his jacket over the wall and I follow suit. We didn''t have that much free money, and unlike other students, our entertainment was limited to modest things.


    Still, I''ll never forget the taste of the cheap liquor I drank with Sven that day, even if I go west.


    �����


    The next morning, a carriage was coming to pick me up at the main gate of the Academy of Magic, so I carried my bags and came out front with my formal long coat on over my uniform.


    It was chilly, even though it was early spring, and sometimes there was even a morning frost. It''s relatively warm today, but I wonder what the west is like - I''m hoping it''s easier to adapt than that, as the northern border area is said to be plagued by low temperatures and snow at high altitude.


    ''Are you at Glass and ...... Mr Glass Weed?''


    ...... This is such a surprise. What can I do for you?


    While I was waiting for the carriage, I was approached. I wouldn''t be too surprised if that were the case, but the unusual appearance of the person who called out to me caught me off guard and I was unintentionally unnerved.


    The man - though his voice is rather high - is wearing a coat over his black butler-like clothing. He''s small, but he gains his height by wearing slightly thick-soled leather shoes, and his eye level is not that different from mine.


    But just facing him face to face, I was surprised because he had his coat collar up to hide his mouth, his hat on, and he also wore dark-colored glasses that only a few teachers use at the Academy of Magic.


    (What a stinky outfit ...... No, everyone has their own situation. Maybe it''s because he has a high voice and looks like a boy, so he doesn''t show his face.)


    I managed to come to terms with myself and accepted the strange demeanor of the man who had approached me.


    ''''Congratulations on being selected as a court mage. My name is Le ...... Lendl. I have been entrusted with the role of squire to the court mage, Master Glass. For this reason, I will now accompany you to the west.


    ''Lendl: ...... That''s a name I''ve never heard of in a student. Or maybe I just don''t know.


    ''I am not a student, sir, I have been appointed by the Dean of the College on a timely basis and sent by the Society of Stewards.


    When you become a court mage, will you have a secretary just like your sister-in-law? Your sister-in-law has a few female secretaries, but I hear that I will have a male butler.


    ''''Do you mean you''re going to be a butler, or rather, my secretary?''''


    ''Yes, sir. Being a military doctor is a very busy job. Please let me know if you need help with anything, such as maintaining the medical records of the Order''s members. I will be happy to act as your assistant during your treatment.


    I must confess I''m suspicious of the look of it, but it''s very reassuring to have someone to come with me rather than go to a strange place alone.


    ''''I understand, I don''t know if I''ll be able to start working as a military doctor as soon as I go over there, but I''ll do all I can. I look forward to working with you in the future.


    It''s nice to meet you too, Mr. Glass. ......


    When I held out my right hand, Rendle-san discreetly gripped it back. Even with the gloves on, he''s still only small, and his hands are about a size smaller than mine.


    ...... Huh?


    Can I help you? ......?


    ''No, I''m sorry, I just thought of my friend for some reason. I hope she''s well too.


    Leslie didn''t come to see me off, but I''m going to write to him when I arrive safely in the west. As a matter of fact, I already wrote it down last night - I''m going to the front line, so anything can happen at any time.


    ''This is a letter to a friend. Can Mr. Rendle keep it in case something happens? I know it''s a heavy thing to ask for at first.


    ...... No, no, it''s not heavy. Sure, I''ll take it.


    Thank you.


    I leave the letter to Mr. Rendle. He tucked it into the inside pocket of his coat - something about his chest plate looks thicker than his small frame.


    ''Do you do any martial arts, Mr. Rendle?��The thickness of the chest plate is amazing.


    ''''Gee...... no. This is kind of ...... embarrassing, but I''m pigeon-breasted, so I''m wrapping my bare chest around it.


    Oh, ...... Really? Sorry, I didn''t mean to ask you that.


    No, don''t worry about it. And I''m a secretary, so you don''t need to use honorific language.


    ''I understand. Well, feel free to go to ...... Mr. Rendle, the carriage is here, let''s go.


    Since you are a man of your own age, I hope you can establish a relationship with Mr. Rendle as a friend as well.


    I climbed into the passenger seat of the covered carriage, and Mr. Rendle came in after me. He doesn''t take off his hat when he gets into the carriage - well, some people are like that, so I didn''t pursue him in depth.


    I''m looking forward to seeing what it''s like, as I''m new to ...... western lands myself.


    Thanks to Mr. Rendle talking to me like that, I didn''t have to be alone with my thoughts and anxiety until I reached the west.

 8 Episode 6 In the mountains

    We were rocked by the carriage for about thirty minutes, occasionally looking out the window of the carriage to see the scenery outside, but although the public road to the western territory was well maintained, it was easily ravaged by beasts, probably because it was surrounded by mountains on all sides, and every time we approached the bumpy road, we could feel a great shaking.


    You can feel the tremors as you approach the bumpy road.��It''s going to be tight sitting there.


    ...... A little bit, the shakes are a little bit of ...... It''s been a long time since I''ve been in a carriage .......


    As expected, this swaying would make me drunk no matter how good my trigonometry is. As for me, I took anti-sickness medicine before I got on the carriage, so I didn''t mind the shaking.


    ''You''d better take some anti-sickness medicine. It can make you a little sleepy, but it should help a lot.


    ...... Yes, thank you.


    Mr. Lendl looks wobbly and quite uncomfortable, but for some reason I''m hesitant to rub his back or anything like that when I see him.


    (It''s hard to tell because of his coat''s puffy shoulders, but his frame isn''t ...... very taut. It''s hard to tell because he''s wearing a hat, but his head is also neutral or ...... that kind of constitutional structure, but it''s rare).


    I can''t ask him to take off his coat, as I don''t want him to suspect me of being a manly man, either. But I couldn''t help but notice the way she put her hands on her knees when she sat down. At first it''s a subtle inward thigh, but when he realizes I''m paying attention, his knees open up a little bit - and this is like he''s observing me.


    I handed him a vial of drunken pills, and Mr. Rendle turned his back to me, pulled down the collar that was hiding his mouth, and swallowed the pills in one breath.


    ''Hmmm. ......''


    "ugh. ......


    There''s something oddly s*xy about even the way my throat rumbles. It''s decidedly not, I don''t have that kind of taste. It''s said that some aristocrats have a fondness for masculine colors, but as a commoner born, this is a culture I have no connection with.


    ...... I''ve been huffing and puffing. Was this potion made by Master Glass?


    Oh, oh, ...... I made a mixture of fruit vinegar and tea extracts and stuff. It''s the hackberry oil that makes my stomach feel better.


    ''It''s amazing ...... something, it''s like an ingredient for food. I can''t believe you make medicine out of it.


    Since the basic idea is to make medicine out of things that people can put in their mouths, all kinds of ingredients, such as herbs and fruits, can be used as ingredients for medicine.


    In my case, as long as it''s ''plant material'', I can determine what effect it has on the human body if I put it in my mouth. Even if you touch it, you can tell if it''s poisonous, so you won''t be hit by the poison of a wildflower or mushroom.


    Even if you do get hit by a poison, you can find a plant that has the ingredients needed to detoxify it. Although it was useful in the pharmacology class, it was still not enough to be recognized as a single art due to the nature of the academy.


    ''How can I help you, Mr. ...... Glass?''


    ''No, I''m glad the sobriety drugs are working. Because for some people, it doesn''t always work so well.


    I am so glad that the medicine you made for me, Mr. Glass, is working. If I ever catch a cold, I''m sure Mr. Glass will be able to help me.


    ''''There are a lot of things that go into a cold, but it''s best to prevent it so that you don''t get it. If it looks like it''s going to be prevalent in the Order, I''ll let you know in advance what preventive measures we can take.


    After talking with Mr. Lendl, I think there''s a lot more I need to do than I thought. The most important thing to remember is that I''m still a newly minted genie doctor, and my skills are probably still inexperienced as a doctor.


    ''I heard you used fruit vinegar for sobriety ......, perhaps you used figs?''


    Yeah, that''s right. Well understood, Mr. Rendle. Do you like figs?


    No, no, I''m familiar with the flavor. I just happened to be right.


    The figs I got from the elders were quite useful in developing a medicine. However, the plants in the academy and within my reach couldn''t cure every disease.


    I had to leave the academy and look for unknown plants - that way, there would be more injuries and diseases that could be cured. I had that thought, but I was hesitant to leave the elders as they were.


    But this morning, when I greeted the elders, they told me to go. Thanks to my care, you''ll live another fifteen years. He said he would be happy to come back in the meantime.


    And the two fruits that were given to me as a parting gift are wrapped in paper and in my bag. He asked me to take the other plants with me, so I brought a bottle of grasses that could be used for wounds, cooling fevers, and detoxification. There are also bulbs and seeds to be grown in the west.


    ''I do have some dry bread and dried meat for lunch, though. I like figs too, and this is how I bring them.


    A friend of mine told me that when you take the fruit, there is less of a nutritional bias .......


    ''Yeah, you''re right. Vegetables and fruits, plant-based products are basically good for you. Meats and grains are important, too, but other than that we tend to be deficient.


    I can diagnose which nutrients I''m deficient in when I touch an organism. The plants I need to take to make up for it will pop into my head.


    Sometimes the plants that come to mind are unknown plants that cannot be found nearby. There are some plants that have a demonic appearance, and I thought that I had made a contract with a good or bad spirit.


    --but I still haven''t even gotten a clue as to the mysterious sight I saw when I made the contract and what that woman was. I think it''s okay to dream about it for once.


    ''Then it''s time to get some food: ......


    ''No, ...... give me a minute. There''s something about ...... that smells funny.


    "Huh ...... Mr. Glass, this is ......!


    The smell of something burning. Like wood burning - it''s faintly coming in through the window.


    The carriage, which had been advancing out of the mountain road and onto a hillside with tall grasses, suddenly stops.


    ''''Sir, it looks like there''s something big going on up ahead....... Whoa, that''s a demon....... And that''s such a huge swarm.......!


    I went outside to see what was going on. Then I see black smoke rising from the farmhouse on the hill beyond.


    Something like an earth-shaking sound could be heard from further away - even the cries of a high-pitched creature. And then several fireballs flew into the cloudless blue sky, thrusting one after another into the cabin, spreading the fire.


    (That was ...... near the capital, though I''d never seen one. Goblins......!)


    A dozen or so brown-skinned kobolds, each with a body the size of a human child, are attacking the ranch in droves.


    "d*mn you, you demons never learn your lesson!��You will not take my sheep!


    A man jumps out of the hut and shoots an arrow at the goblins - but the goblins, as well as the goblins, flick the arrow with their iron helmets to see where they''ve taken it from.


    ''''Geeeeeeeeeee!''''


    The goblin at the tail end of the line was the one riding - it was a boar, one size larger than the goblin. It was kicking away at the fence and rushing forward, knocking down obstacles without breaking a sweat.


    While pushing forward with a cloud of dust, the goblin deftly guards an arrow in its bow and fires it at the man - it''s no longer in a situation where it can continue to stand on the sidelines.

 9 Chapter Seven Rescue

    ''Mr. Rendle, just wait a minute. If you don''t do something like that, he''s going to be killed. ...... I''m just one of the mages. I can''t just stand by and do nothing.


    I''m coming with you. Despite what it may look like, I''m here to protect Master Glass, and I''m well versed in guarding him.


    Mr. Lendl says, carrying a small sword. Your man doesn''t know what to do, and is only disconcerted - this is not good.


    ''Take cover by the side of the road, with the carriage, please!��If you can, it would be helpful if you could go back to the barrier and call for help!


    "Huh ......Oh, sir, ......!


    I know it sounds reckless, but we are not entirely without a chance. But this one is not completely without a chance of victory.


    Where the grass is this big, even I can fight some of it.


    The goblins are rushing to the man who is fighting to protect the sheep - the goblins who hit the boar into the hut and jumped off, are now running on the ground.


    Yes - on the ''tall grass'' that responds to me, the plant spirit user, to my words.


    ''O green grass that covers the earth! Thwart and hinder my enemies ...... ''Foot-tangle (trap snare)''!


    He held his hand over the grass at his feet and chanted - no one would tell him, so he modified the basic chanting phrase of spirit magic and improved it until it was practical.


    It can''t even come close to the destructive power of elemental magic. However, it''s not entirely unfightable: ......!


    "Geez!


    ''Geez!��Gee, Gigi: ......!


    A goblin tries to pounce on him with a machete-like weapon at the ready - the grass under his feet gets tangled the moment he steps off the ground.


    If they even fall down, they''ll be able to follow it up further. It''s the first time I''ve used magic in a battle in a row, but I can''t be naive.


    ''O green grass that covers the earth ...... of binding and warning my enemies ......


    "Dear Mr. Glass, ......!


    Stranding over a dozen goblins at the same time. With no real battle experience, I didn''t understand how draining that was.


    My vision wobbled and wavered. The restraints of the ''Snare'' are weak, and the goblin who was the first to break free, holds his bow towards me - but.


    ''''--Haah!


    Mr. Rendle interrupts in front of me and holds his hand forward - I don''t know if he used some kind of magic or not, but the arrow that flew at me is flicked and sticks to the ground.


    ''You will never let me hurt you ...... I''m here for that ......!


    One after another, the goblins escape their restraints. At this rate, neither the people on the ranch nor us will be able to survive.


    Even if we couldn''t participate in the mock battle, we should have voluntarily trained for the battle against the demons.


    -- but that doesn''t mean my spirit magic didn''t get through to the goblins. My body was only somewhat wobbly, even if I drained my magic power further, I would only have to go into a coma for a few days.


    As long as I don''t die, that''s fine. If I can keep Lendl-san, who was trying to protect me, and those who are trying to protect what is important to me, alive, then that''s fine.


    ''''Huh ...... Master Glass, you mustn''t!��Enough is enough, any more than that: ......!


    I utter a chant. Magic that blows enemies away from a distance is considered useful, Sven''s words come to mind.


    (Isn''t the power to protect ...... people not enough to heal them? Nothing, protect is ......)


    --then the sound of a high-pitched horn echoed across the plains.


    Along with the flute, three knights appeared from the western direction - three knights gallantly riding their horses.


    The three knights were a female knight with beautiful hair that fluttered like white gold, and a spear knight and an archer knight following on either side of her.


    We won''t let a single demon that hurts the people escape. ''''Overrun it, Raquel, Deite.''''


    Ha!


    The knights who have ridden their horses furiously and rushed past, kicking away the goblins who have risen without a care in the world. As I watched it in a daze, I thought to myself


    I''m not sure if the person known as the Swordswoman General is this beautiful and strong enough to be admired.

 10 Episode 8: Women

    Even the grasses being trodden are awed by the charge. Like a thunderclap roaring in the clear blue sky, a spear knight wearing heavy armor runs with the giant horse.


    ''''--Seiyaa!


    It was a spirited voice that said, "Even the spirit of sound is not the same. You can''t see his expression because he wears a helmet that covers his face, but his voice was dignified enough to inspire even us.


    The goblins were only halfway through trying to intercept with their weapons at the ready, and the goblins couldn''t bear the spear knight''s spirit and tried to flee - but it was already too late.


    With a spear on a horse that was reamed away with a gale, three goblins are launched high into the air before they can scream. The remaining goblins are trampled and blown away by the giant horse, and finally the spear knight pulls on the reins of his horse, slows down his rush and turns.


    ''''It''s awesome ...... like a siege weapon ......


    A normal horse would not be able to destroy the enemy with a single charge.


    But that spear knight did just that. The one big goblin that was behind him felt that there was no point in choosing to run away and tried to throw the spear he was holding - but.


    ''''Gaggle ...... gaggle!��Giggles!


    As he held his spear, an arrow pierced the goblin''s forehead. It wasn''t enough, the arrows pierced one after another through the shoulder and chest, and finally the goblin dropped his spear and fell on his back.


    ''''Shame on you ...... for throwing a dirty spear at Captain Raquel, you fool.


    The female knight who released her bow is lighter than the spear knight called Raquel, and she doesn''t wear a helmet that covers her face. She slowly approaches slowly to check on the goblin she has defeated, but instead of saying extreme words, she has a smile on her face.


    If the spear knight was a genuine warrior, the other one looked like an extension of a nobleman''s falconry as a bow cavalryman, and that was the impression I got. He had smooth red hair that grew to his shoulders, and his lips were drawn in red, highlighting his elegant beauty.


    ''Oh, ...... sorry, I''m sorry I showed you my bad mouth,''


    Oh ...... no, no. Thank you for your help, too.


    ''...... Dite, Lady Astina is waiting for you. We need to get back to reporting.


    ...... captain, even though he doesn''t like magic, he did his best in his own way. It''s not a pity that he hates it too much?


    He''s aware that I''ve used my magic to stall the goblins - and you can see from my clothing that I''m a mage.


    On my formal coat, I wear a golden insignia that indicates that I am a court mage. It''s not that prominent, but it should be obvious to anyone who sees it.


    ''It looked like he was fighting to help the ...... lords. For that, I thank you. But I don''t trust this thing called magic. I''m sorry.


    At the Academy of Magic, magic is our raison d''etre, and good magic is respected. However, it''s a different story outside. I''ve heard that it''s not uncommon for people to shun and discriminate against mages, and in fact, when I was walking the streets in the capital city, I was even falsely accused of being a student of the Academy of Magic.


    But Raquel-san apologized to me for that. If you say you''re not good at magic for some reason, you can''t unreservedly ask me to understand.


    ''''Glass-sama, the man from the ranch seems to be injured. Earlier, by a goblin arrow. ......


    Yeah, we need to get you patched up right away.


    ''The allowance ......?��Since the wound is so shallow, why not just wash it with water and bandage it?


    That would only work if the goblin''s arrow hadn''t been coated with anything. If he was injured by that arrow earlier, he needs to be examined.


    I lean against the ranch fence and approach the man who is nodding off.


    ''N ...... ah ...... I''ll be fine. I got hit in the shoulder by an arrow, but it''s not that deep a wound ......


    --you could tell just by getting closer, the man''s face had turned an earthy color.


    The arrow had been coated with poison. There is a faint purple stain on the torn part of his clothing, where the arrow had struck him.


    I''m sorry, sir, but the arrow seems to have been poisoned. Will you allow me to treat it?


    ...... Who are you?��It does seem to be coated with poison, but if that''s the case, you''ll either survive the poison or die: ......


    ''Not at all. I''m a doctor, and if you''d rather take a gamble or two without a procedure, would you rather let me handle it?


    A genie doctor is a doctor who can use a genie as part of his treatment, regardless of what genie he is contracted to do.


    The poison used by the goblins is a neurotoxin, which is a type of serpentine family. When it enters the bloodstream, it circulates throughout the body and gradually paralyzes the muscles - if the poison is not broken down by the metabolic function, it can lead to death after a few hours.


    But if I can interfere with plants, I can deliver the antidote ''extracted from the plant'' to the exact part of the bloodstream where the poison is flowing.

 11 Episode 9: Healing of spirits

    This kind of poison is a foolproof way to detoxify the body. I have some kind of antidote on me at all times.


    "...... really ...... that drug, poisoned by that drug.


    Yes, I can turn it off. I would never lie to a patient.


    The man''s body is feverish - I ask Mr. Lendl to arrange for water and a cloth. Excessive heat can leave a negative effect on the body''s tissues, so we must take care to regulate the body''s temperature.


    After seeing the instructions, the man finally nodded towards me.


    ''Please ...... me, my daughter ...... and when I''m gone, he alone .......''


    Don''t worry, you''ll be fine. Just trust me.


    I''ll take what I learned as a doctor and apply it here. The knights helped me in the battle, but there''s something I can do too - that''s medicine.


    I rinse the swollen wound with the water Rendle-san brought and apply the medicine to the wound. Then I focus my nerves on my fingertips to make sure that no foreign object ever enters the body - the poison in the body is also extracted from the plant.


    The antidote and the poison. As the two work well together to detoxify the body, I begin to chant.


    "Blood Antidote [Blood Antidote] ......!


    The nerves that the poison tries to invade. Even if the medication is normally taken internally, it takes time to act - the only way to detoxify the patient''s body in a matter of minutes is to get the blood flowing faster and deliver the detoxifying ingredients directly to the patient, while supplementing their strength.


    ...... Mr. Glass: "......


    Mr. Lendl takes care of me and wipes the sweat from my forehead with his handkerchief. Thanks to him, I''m able to finish the procedure, which requires precision and keeps me focused, in a short time.


    The needle was heated with a match to disinfect and then the wound was sutured. I used a homemade ointment I''ve always relied on for hemostasis and pain relief. This would prevent adhesions and leave no major wounds. Ironically, the goblin arrows were sharply polished, which allowed the wound to draw a simple straight line and finish the procedure with minimal stitches.


    ''...... Even though my body was ...... gradually becoming numb, gradually. The numbness was ...... out and ...... out of the numbness.


    You''ll be fine. All you have to do now is take this medicine morning and night for a couple of days. It will help the wound heal faster and restore your resistance.


    When you are poisoned, your immune system can become exhausted and temporarily incapacitated in order to resist the poison. It''s not enough to detoxify it, but it''s important to recover after the fact - if the resistance is weakened and you get another disease, you''re out of luck.


    Thank you ....... Thank you ...... doctor, you, what''s your name ......?


    My name is Glass Weed. I''m a genie doctor from the Academy of Magic.


    When he said his name and looked up. A knight named Raquel had come with a knight with golden hair and a girl who looked like a ranch girl.


    ''''Dad, it was ...... good ......''''


    ...... This doctor helped me out. You''re going to be okay now, ...... and you''ll be back on your feet in a while.


    ''No, you should go to the clinic as well, just to be sure. There''s one in this neighborhood: .......


    ''There are no doctors in the villages near here. We must go out to a town a little farther away ...... and I''ll have the Knights of the Order send you there.


    Oh, you can go to ......, Lady Astina. ......!


    The man exclaimed in surprise. The daughter, who was happy for her father''s safety, also stood up as if she were being played and bowed her head repeatedly.


    After all, this woman was His Highness Astina. She was dressed in white and silver armor that was differently made from the other knights, and wore a white cloak with gold threads woven into the edges. His golden hair was braided when viewed up close, and his long back hair was braided in a braid.


    In the sunlight, his appearance could only be described as divine. It was not surprising that the lord''s people would adopt a worshipful attitude.


    ''Thank you for healing my people,'' Glass Weed ...... You seem to be a better doctor than I thought you were.


    "Ha ......, I''m honored to be here. But I''m not ......, I''m .......


    I can''t help but squirm. This is the dignity that the third princess has - I also felt the elegance of the bow knight named Deite, but the quality is different from that.


    She already has the air of a ruler. It''s a good thing that you''re able to have a good time with your friends.


    ...... I was going to do the best I could as a spirit doctor, and I intended to come to your highness'' aid. I acted in accordance with that belief.


    That decision, however, is accepted. However, if you don''t mind me saying, my Order has a no-male policy: ...... It has been decided that your position will be discussed with our officers at our home base, the Isle Rose Fortress.


    As a doctor, I''ve shown a certain amount of skill - apparently that''s not enough to make them trust me immediately.


    Raquel-san seems to be an executive as well, but I get the feeling that she is wary of me because of her dislike of magic. I''m not so sure about the woman named Deite, but she wouldn''t dare to put her shoulder to my newcomer.


    ''''The carriage you have been riding in is being protected by my men. I''m sure you''ll be able to find out what''s going on. We''ll see you later.


    "Thank you, Your Highness, Astina.


    The three knights walk their horses and head for the public road. They say they will return to the fortress first.


    ''''Master Glass ...... is fine. Your Royal Highness will surely approve of it.


    ...... I hope so. You two, then I''ll go with you to town.


    ''Yes, Master Glass. The Knights of the Order will be patrolling the area for some time to come. Thanks for everything, you guys. ...... Thank you so, so much for everything. ......!


    When her father told her to run away, the daughter was on her way to call for help in town when she happened to meet His Highness Astina''s party and asked for help.


    --why was the princess in this area? That bothered her a bit, but she put it to the back of her mind for now and headed for the carriage with the father and son.

 12 Episode 10: Shepherds Daughter

    An hour''s drive from the pasture brought us to the town, where we left the shepherd and his son.


    We arrived in the town of Portoro, where I gave the doctor at the clinic a brief recap of the treatment I''d given him, but his condition was stable, so there was nothing to worry about. His condition was stable, though, so there was nothing to worry about. That''s where I, as a doctor, should be responsible for my work.


    I may be a sheepherder, but I''m in business around here, so I''m well acquainted with the merchants. If there''s anything I can do to thank you, just let me know.


    Thank you. But the best thing to do now is to cure yourself.


    He asked me to shake his hand and I squeezed it back. It was a tough hand, and for someone like me who had only studied, I felt a thickness that couldn''t be imitated.


    ''Oh ...... excuse me sir, my daughter also wants to thank you again. Normally she''s very reserved and says she''s not very good with men.


    Father, don''t tell Master Glass what to do.


    "There''s no such thing as a ''sama,'' it''s just a normal thing for doctors to treat their patients. ...... No, no, what are you smiling about, dad?


    You''re here with your stepfather, ....... No matter how much you like him, you don''t want to get in trouble for that, do you?


    My father - and my uncle - laughs vigorously. He seems to be feeling better, but too much energy is a bit of a problem.


    ...... Mr. Glass, it''s time for you to go?


    ''Oh ...... I''m sorry, Mr. Rendle. I have to go.


    Mr. Lendl, who has been standing off to the side for a long time, seems to be tense in some way - was there anything wrong with the current exchange?


    ''...... and ...... stupid ......''


    ''Eh, ...... Le, Mr. Lendl. Didn''t you just call me an ''idiot''?


    I never said that, sir.


    Lendl-san said sardonically and turned away. I knew I was in a bad mood, so I''ll have to follow up later.


    Uncle was called into the building by the doctor at the infirmary, and his daughter was left behind. Once again, she is a simple but charming girl with her hair tied back into a pigtail.


    ''Oh, um, ...... Dr. Glass, I''m sorry to be late, but my name is Meena. ......


    ''Oh, yeah. I''ll remember: ...... So take care of both of you, then.


    Meena''s nervousness unintentionally infects me, making me subtly upset. Lendl''s mouth is pulled into a knot and he looks delicately unhappy, so I decide to prioritize my friendship with my secretary.


    ''...... You''re a lovely person, Meena,''


    ''Or, give me a break ...... Okay, I''m sorry. Your sister-in-law nailed me for not floating around just because there are too many women in the house.


    ...... No, no. There''s nothing wrong with being adored and ...... I''m the one who''s sorry, I''m the one who doesn''t know how to behave as a secretary and behave badly ......


    Lendl-san has had second thoughts and apologizes to me. However, from what I see now, he was still in a bad mood because he had a thought about Meena''s condition.


    (I mean, Lendl-san has a possessive thing about me ...... Well, not in a weird way, but he wants me to brace myself. (We''re both men, right?)


    Despite my struggles, Mr. Rendle has calmed down a bit as we walk and speaks to me in a small voice.


    ''...... Master Glass, that was an excellent treatment. I see you have a variety of medicines for me.


    ''Yeah, I''ll explain to Mr. Rendle when things settle down. And you were very helpful in wiping the sweat off my face earlier. Thank you.


    No, it''s my duty. I''d be honored to help you as an assistant.


    Putting his hand on his chest, Rendle-san says. As I look at him, I think - although it wasn''t pointed out to me earlier, since two men are going to the men''s forbidden knights, there should be an explanation for one more man.


    For now, we have to get back to the carriage before we''re left behind. We raised our hands lightly to Meena, who was seeing us off in front of the infirmary, and then we were back on the road again.

 13 Chapter 11: Fortress

    The fort is built inside the canal that serves as the borderline and is surrounded by walls - that''s the Isle Rose Fort.


    There is a moat around the fort and water is drawn from the canal. On the top of the ramparts inside the moat, a number of archer''s windows are built on top of the walls, and if the enemy soldiers try to cross the moat, they will be sent a rain of arrows, you can imagine such a scene.


    (This is the front line, ...... and that, once again, is a reminder.)


    The bridge across the moat could only be crossed through the main gate on the east side. Our party was seen by the soldiers of the fort, and a gate made of logs was raised to greet us, and a drawbridge was given to us.


    Across the bridge, there is a courtyard where the carriages are parked. When we dismounted, His Highness received his fare and walked out again.


    His Highness Astina and the others also get off their horses and go into the fort. There, for the first time, Raquel takes off the iron helmet that covers her face - the greenish brunette hair that was housed inside spreads out.


    Her appearance gives the impression of being quiet and ladylike, which is unimaginable from the way she drives that huge horse and handles a spear. The lines are much thinner than you might imagine.


    (I see. ...... Normally, she would not be able to wear such heavy armor and wield a spear taller than her own height. She''s a ''demon warrior'')


    A person who has a talent for magic, but has not learned magic and uses their magical powers to enhance their physical abilities is called a demon warrior.


    Once a person becomes a mage warrior, they cannot switch to the path of a mage. Likewise, a mage cannot become a mage warrior - I imagine that Raquel-san didn''t dare to learn magic to become a mage warrior.


    If that''s the case, it makes sense that she would wield the power of a stiff and brave warrior without losing her femininity rather than a muscular and well-trained body - no, she is trained, but her muscles are not enlarged and her neck muscles are slender.


    Raquel-san leaves her spear with her subordinate and walks over to me. He didn''t have any business with me - he continued and greeted the troops who entered the castle gate.


    The one who came in was a knight - carrying a trident and riding a beautiful ash-haired horse.


    He has short bluish hair with a bowl of gold and is very brave, but there is still some childishness in his face and gestures - he''s probably no older than the meena I met earlier.


    I''m back, Captain Raquel. Is that the new doctor you''re talking about?


    Yeah. You mustn''t scare them too much.


    What are you talking about? It''s good to have a doctor here, it makes my job easier.


    I will tell Lady Astina about the meeting with Glass ...... that doctor in the evening. Presha, bring her safely in, or I will punish you.


    I know. I mean, if this job is right for you, we''ll be friends for a long time.


    The woman called Presha turns to me. She has a friendly smile on her face, but something about her feels more powerful than the woman named Deite, or even Captain Raquel.


    ''I''m Presha, I''m the attack commander here. I''ve been working apart from Captain Raquel today to maintain security in the territory, but the crooks we''ve captured are very tight-lipped ....... From now on, we have to get him to reveal information.


    "My name is Glass Weed, and I''m the guy who''s gonna make you spit out ...... information, which is .......


    Presha smiles, as if to say she doesn''t need to hear it. But his eyes are not smiling.


    ''Yes, torture. I thought it would be helpful to have a doctor with you so you wouldn''t overdo it and lose your ability to speak. It''s a heavy first job, but you''ll do it.


    It wasn''t a question, it was an order. His Highness Astina, Captain Raquel, and Mr. Deite - all of them tacitly approved of Presha''s actions.


    ''...... Lord Glass, for such an order, .......''


    Mr. Lendl also finds the current atmosphere bizarre and cares for me.


    He called the military doctor to witness the torture. I was going to make him do this job from the beginning - a job that no one would want, a job that torments and hounds people.


    But that''s what she has to do, and so does Ms. Presha. In fact, if she''s been in charge of torture all this time, I even respect her for taking on a necessary evil. We, the people of the kingdom, have been protected without exception by the knights who have fought on the borders and protected our security.


    ...... This is another important job for the Order. I will be there.


    ''Yeah ...... sounds pretty ballsy. I don''t mind the boney ones.


    Ms. Presha''s men carried the prisoners into the fort. Then she walked off, urging me to follow her.


    ''Don''t worry, Mr. Rendle, don''t worry. I''m not just following orders, either.


    ...... yes. If you say so, Mr. Glass, you can go to .......


    I don''t know how torture is always practiced in the Order - if you''re going to have me, a military doctor, in attendance to keep prisoners from dying, I''m going to suggest my own method.


    There is no need for horrific torture if it''s only to get information out of you. I hope that Mr. Presha will understand that - even if I, a newcomer, will have to be prepared to die for my opinion of the attack commander.

 14 Chapter 12 Inquiry

    As we descended from the ground floor of the fort to the basement, we could hear the sound of rushing water. The damp, cold air flowing through the basement of the fort was due to an irrigation canal running through the basement of the fort.


    The sewage must also be routed through a different pathway, not that it was filthy, but this cold air would be unbearable for a prisoner in prison.


    -- Before I can go any further, I hear the sound of sticks ripping through the sky and anguish from the passage along the channel.


    Mr. Lendl is following a little behind me, but his body is tensed up with tension. I turn around and ask him with my eyes if he''s okay, and he nods back at me.


    As I approached the prison where I could hear the sounds, a strong female knight appeared from inside. She seems to be two years older than Presha-san, but she bows her head as she comes out.


    ''''Presha-sama, I''ve been waiting for you. The prisoner we captured the other day has not yet spoken ......


    Yeah, well, I''ll take care of it. I''ll push him one more time and if he still isn''t talking, I''ll have this doctor fix him.


    ''''Haha, ......, that man, the other day the Knight-in-Chief Raquel mentioned .......''''


    ''Yes, it''s called glass weed,'' he said. I''m a young man, but don''t look at me like I''m biting you like that.


    Presha-san says with a wry smile, but the strong-eyed, sharp-eyed - middle-aged female knight with a strong face - glances at me and blushes.


    You''re not a baby, but you''re young and you''re not bad-looking. If you''re not that useful as a doctor, then I''ll let you be useful to me. I don''t mind men, but I''m not as hungry as you are.


    ''Yes, no, I''m not here to do that ......''


    That''s why people treat you differently if you''re useful. I can talk my way through those scary girls, too. Hang in there, honors student.


    Honors students were never mentioned in the academy. I guess I take it as sarcasm because I''m too used to an environment where I''m not appreciated.


    Presha-san goes into the prison first - with a trident spear in her hand. As she passes a middle-aged female knight, she puts her hand to her chest to hold back her agitation.


    ''...... An all-female cage with bony meat ...... Dean Millennia said so. It seems a little different.


    I didn''t know how to respond to Lendl-san''s whisper - the lack of men means that many knights are not immune to men. Not all of them would bite right back just because a man came along.


    But right now, it''s more about what Mr. Presha is going to do to his captives.


    (Depending on what reason the POWs were captured for, they could be guilty of death. ...... Then, depending on what reason they were captured, they could be given any kind of condemnation.)


    Haha ...... haha ......


    There were two men in the cell, and one woman in ragged clothes. The woman was sitting on the floor, still breathing heavily, as if she had been whipped before.


    The two men remained motionless, slumped on the floor. It wasn''t just that they were whipped - it was like they were waterboarded as well, using the waterway we had been in, that water. My whole body was wet, deprived of body heat, and the blood drained from my skin.


    ''Tsk ...... you always pass out from the man. If you think you can get comfortable without throwing up anything, you''re wrong. Come on, get up. If you don''t get up, she''ll be the only one who''ll hear about it.


    The men did not reply. They''re not fainting - I could see that they were holding their breath and not moving.


    They are already pushing their bodies and minds to the limit with torture. Still, they can''t talk about anything, and now they are determined to sacrifice their fellow women in the hopes of avoiding further blame.


    A metal platform placed in the prison - it was prepared for further torture. Mr. Presha places the woman''s hand on the platform with a look of bitterness on his face.


    You have betrayed our country," she said, "and now you have access to our enemies. You have betrayed our country and gained access to our enemies, crossing the canal in a boat in the dark of night and doing things on the other side. That much is already outlined. Trying to fool them isn''t going to get us there.


    "...... kill ...... nothing to say from me ......


    How many times had I repeated that reply - it was clear from Presha''s fiery response.


    ''I don''t even want to do this ...... I don''t want to do this either!��How could Lady Astina mimic betraying herself with impunity next to all the knights fighting to defend their country!��Who''s backing out, say it!��If you don''t tell me, you''ll have to go to ......!


    Ms. Presha is enraged - but the woman doesn''t move, even though she screams and blasts her voice. Her eyes underneath her matted brown hair look up at Ms. Presha with no effort, and she moves her lips once more, "Kill me," she says.


    ''Enough ...... okay. You don''t have to treat me anymore ...... as you wish.


    Preciousha''s hand holding the trident spear goes into tension. With resignation, the captive woman closes her eyes.


    --Then we have lost sight of our purpose. If we can''t extract the information through torture, we''ll have to use other methods.


    ''Mr. Presha, please wait.''


    "...... You can shut your mouth. You don''t have to tell me what to do. Just enough to keep both of your men alive and out of harm''s way, and you''ll still have your source.


    ''No, ...... that will still have to wait. Those two men are trying to leave this man to die. And I don''t think I''m going to forgive this man for being complicit in betraying his country and not talking ...... about it, either. But if you kill him, that''s where it ends.


    "Don''t be silly: ......, if these guys leak information to the enemy and they try to invade our borders, my people will be in danger. That''s why I can''t let them get away with this: ......!


    But if you kill them, you won''t know anything. There''s no way to know for sure if the two men will confess to the information.


    So I''m going to give all three men an equal chance. I don''t agree that the person who was left to die first is the first to die - it''s not for the sake of justice or anything like that, it just feels unreasonable.

 15 Chapter 13 Summon

    "Dear Mr. Glass, .......


    Mr. Rendle, you''ll be fine.


    Mr. Lendl tries to step forward - he''s trying to protect me. I won him over, and I spoke to Mr. Presha, cautiously.


    ''If you don''t have to use any means, I can make them talk.


    ''Do you have any drugs that can be used for that ......?��It''s like being a black market doctor.


    ''You can say that if you like. I''ve found my own method ...... that can''t be propagated too widely, because that''s the ''dark method''.


    I tried to speak calmly, but my heart was pulsing like it was about to burst - the killing spirit of Presha-san with her spear was such that if I made one mistake, I could be killed in an instant.


    However, after she looked at me as if trying to figure out my true intentions - she lowered the spear she was holding up. Mr. Rendle, who was about to step in front of me, lets out a shaky breath. I almost made him move.


    ''I can always kill you. All you need is the information ...... glass, and if you think you can do something, I''ll be right here watching you. If you make any suspicious moves, I''m going to kill you.


    Killing is not so easy to say. I think so, but to say it now would be suicidal. My emotions are so high that Mr. Presha has lost his ability to make a calm decision now.


    She didn''t trust me to do it. Ms. Presha is testing me. If he decides that my word is a lie, neither my captors nor I will have any guarantee of life.


    I now understand why Mr. Raquel had told Mr. Presha to bring me back safely. Raquel-san had foreseen the possibility of this happening.


    In this way, Presha-san''s age doesn''t look much different from mine. The first impression of aloofness was not felt now, and yet his spirit still seemed to have some immaturity left in it.


    ''Mages contract with spirits to borrow their powers and exercise magic. The spirit can also summon the spirit itself from the spirit world by using the spirit guide markings that the mage possesses and preparing the ...... necessary mediums to influence this world.


    ...... What does that mean?��They say you''re a failed mage. It''s not like you can call up any useful spirits: ......


    No, it''s useful in situations like this. I''m only able to contribute in limited circumstances.


    I take out a small leather bag from the bag that Rendle-san was holding for me.


    What was in it was - a bulb.


    A medium used to summon plant spirits. There''s only one kind of spirit I can call, but I can make it manifest for sure - because this bulb is a genus of a certain spirit.


    I place the bulb on the floor. Then I stand up and hold up my hands - Presha-san looks at my actions with a questioning look on her face.


    ''...... What is that?��The root of something ...... so what can you do ......?


    ''''Watch. ''O glossy flower blooming in the garden of demon flowers, ...... show yourself once again in this world and show your power.'' ......!


    Two years ago, when I first tried summoning magic for the first time, I didn''t know what would appear - it was a low-grade spirit that I successfully summoned and could always call out, but its power would surely help me in this place.


    ''''Huh...... what......?��This ...... grass ......?


    In response to the chanting, blue grass grows around the bulb - and the one drawn is a magic circle.


    The moment the figure made of grass is completed, the bulb germinates, rapidly taking root and growing.


    (ugh, ...... different than usual. It''s bigger than usual ...... this, because it''s inside the fort ......!


    Inside the fort, a human with a powerful magic power - His Highness Astina, just like that, the plant that manifested was bigger than the one that was supposed to be summoned in the magical academy, which was supposed to be rich in magic power.


    The stems intertwined, the leaves spread out, large buds began to appear and swell - and then bloom.


    ''''Is this ......ma, demon ......?''''


    ''''No, it''s not. It''s a plant spirit with the power to influence the minds of people, the Spectral Flower Alraune .......


    The flower has bloomed - the only being I can call from the spirit world.


    At the center of the open flower is a girl the size of a doll. She is the incarnation of the demon flower - when I called her before, she was much smaller and didn''t even have a distinctly human shape, but now she''s different.


    The girl, an unworldly being with a small flower on her head, looked up at me, bowed and said.


    ''''Summoner-sama, it has been a long time. I have come here from the Garden of Pandera, Arraune the Demon Flower.


    From there to here. That chanting phrase when you make a contract with a spirit refers to the spirit world (yonder) and this world (kata).


    I put her on my shoulder as Alraune asks me to. As I touch her, I feel my magic power being sucked out of me - Alraune is responding to my will and trying to use her inherent power.


    ''Can you get these three to change their minds? To cooperate with us and tell us everything.


    ''Yes, sir. Here we go: ...... my children ......!


    With Alraune''s words, the flower she had been born into shone pale and bright - and the rising pollen of the demonic flower shimmered in the air, enveloping the captives.

 16 Chapter 14 Hypnosis

    When the pollen of Alraune adheres to the organism''s nasal mucosa, it is transformed on the spot into a substance that has a hypnotic effect on the brain. Unlike the pollen itself, this substance is not trapped by the body''s immune system at all. This substance is mostly made up of magic and the particles are thought to be very small compared to the pigments in the blood, for example.


    The kind of truth serum used by the military is too much of a burden on the body, and if used on a prisoner who has lost his strength due to torture, it can be life-threatening. However, in the case of Alraune, it does not put a burden on the body of the creature, but rather activates it to some extent, as it is essentially a hypnosis to feed the creature.


    Although it''s an outrageous story, the survival strategy of this beautiful flower is a frightening one. In the spirit world, the nutrients from the soil seem to be enough, but once it is summoned to this world, it becomes extremely greedy for nutrients from other living creatures.


    However, if you sign a contract right after you are summoned, those qualities of Alraune are not a threat to you. I''ve never once been in danger in my study of this youka''s biology.


    ''''This ...... na, what''s glowing ......?''''


    ''This is Alraune''s pollen. As you can see, it is effective in small spaces. In these places, you can certainly get them to inhale the pollen ...... because if you don''t get them to inhale a certain amount of pollen, the effect won''t manifest itself.


    ''Ka, isn''t pollen the stuff that makes you sneeze when you inhale ......?��It''s a tough season with all that stuff out there: ......


    When we breathe in pollen, the substances produced by the body''s immune response cause symptoms such as sneezing, eyes and itchy nose. Alraune''s pollen doesn''t cause an immune response, so nothing happens when we inhale it.


    --but not the targeted captives.


    The vacant, rag-clad woman''s expression changes. Her strength has been drained, or rather, she has gone into a state of dazedness - and that''s a success.


    In a hypnotic state, she is made to obey only what Arraune and I, the summoner, tell her to do. I look at Presha-san, who is watching me in silence - she nodded back with a look of fearfulness.


    ''I''m going to ask you a few questions now. And you will answer them without stagnation.


    "...... yes ......


    The woman who had so stubbornly refused to speak nodded easily. Her expression is soft, even a faint smile is on her face - a moment that makes me think that she is doing something dangerous, as is typical for a doctor.


    I''m a prisoner of war - or rather, I instruct Mr. Rendle to take out a notebook to write down the information on the patient I''m hypnotizing. It''s the one I''ve been planning to use since I started working in this fortress - the leather cover is foil-stamped with the words ''Medical Examination Record''.


    The stand on which the prisoner''s hands are placed during torture - presumably for removing nails and such - is no longer needed now. I used the stand as a desk and spoke to the patient, observing him carefully.


    ''Why did you go across the border to the other side?''


    "...... We have an informant in the Zirconia Empire ...... who has been working on a deal with our... ...... weapons. ...


    You''re telling me that ...... is the one that got a weapon into the enemy''s hands?��Our country''s weapons are better than zirconia. ......


    It would be an unforgivable fact for Mr. Presha - but now he had to swallow his anger and hear it all out.


    ''Who are your ringleaders?''


    You know, I think I caught that guy earlier, and my men put him in another cell.


    ...... The ringleader is ......, well, a man. ......


    ''Huh? ......!''


    One of the prisoners they had already captured and driven into a corner was the ringleader. In other words, none of the knights had a grasp on the reality of the organization they were, and none of them had any inside knowledge of what was going on.


    Mr. Presha brought out one of the two men, but he was hypnotized and deflated. Looking at him, he was a man who was nearing his thirties and dressed similarly to the other man, which I could surmise was to prevent him from being detected as the ringleader.


    ...... So you''re saying that the one left in that hideout was just a lowlife?


    They are bandits ...... who are the head of the bandits ...... who were hired by me for this arms deal.


    We get a pretty good idea of what they were doing, largely in full view. Perhaps the Zirconia Empire had promised them a great return - the bandits were dazzled by the amount of profit they could gain, even at the risk of trading across the border, and they turned to trafficking.


    ''Where did the bandits get the weapons they would sell to Zirconia from?


    ...... It''s .......


    ''Lord Summoner, there seems to be a great deal of resistance to this question. It is taking a great toll on this human''s psyche, do you wish to continue with the question?


    A certain survival instinct is maintained even while under Alraune''s hypnosis.


    This woman is more afraid of telling me what''s coming next than of dying. Still, I have to move on.


    ...... Dear Mr. Glass, if you are distressed: ......


    It''s okay ......, I''ll have to ask anyway.


    No matter how much it made me want to turn away from it, I had to face it.


    Ms. Presha didn''t say another word, she just looked at me. I didn''t ask her what she was going to do, she would know that she didn''t have a choice either.


    ''I can''t avoid this question. Where did you get the weapons from?


    Alraune''s pollen grew thicker. Still, after showing a little resistance, the light faded from the woman''s eyes and her lips moved.


    ''...... the North, the Knights ...... of the Royal Family, through humans ...... weapons, shed ......''


    --Mr. Presha looked up to the heavens, which he could not see from his prison.


    Northern Knights. To Presha-san, the knights who were supposed to be her friends, though they belonged to different affiliations, had sold their weapons to the enemy country.


    This fact would be hard for His Highness Astina, and even Raquel-san to accept - once it was corroborated, the enemy would be among those who thought they were fellow countrymen.

 17 Episode 15: What a military doctor should be

    Hypnosis with Alraune can alter the ego if applied too long. We had decided that it was dangerous once the concentration of pollen was increased, so we were given that much to do for today''s interrogation.


    The interrogation of the chieftain''s man also changed the day. Preciousha has been in a state of mindlessness and follows my advice.


    But I''m only a newcomer, and I don''t like the situation where our positions are reversed just because the questioning was successful. It''s a good idea to have a good idea of what you''re going to do with your life.


    I could completely erase the fresh wounds from the whip that the prisoners received, but I also knew that would leave those in charge of the torture in no position to stand, so I left some of them in place. They were guilty of something they shouldn''t have to do as doctors, but they were guilty enough to take the pain as punishment.


    ''Try chewing this weed, Mr. Presha. It helps a lot with caution.


    Thank you .......


    It was hard for her to accept the word of the Northern Knights'' betrayal and the people of the royal family working behind the scenes - that''s how hard it was for her to accept the word of the Northern Knights'' betrayal and the people of the royal family working behind the scenes.


    Alraune''s power could force her to take notice, but her pollen could be a deleterious drug for those who didn''t have a tolerance to it. Although she looks like an adorable girl, she is also a demon flower that sucks the life out of people.


    ...... bitter taste, but it makes you feel better.


    ''The grass has a sedative effect. If you extract it with cold water, you can make it into a drink, but it''s best to have it nibbled raw because it''s difficult to preserve .......


    Oh, yeah. So you can make medicine, too? The doctors in the village where I grew up were the kind of people who get paid for folk medicine that may or may not work. The doctors I studied at the capital''s academy are a whole different story: ......


    Medical care in this country is not that well developed compared to the world''s standards. In the capital city, you can buy pills and ointments that are guaranteed to be of a certain level of quality, but as Presha-san said, in the rural areas, it seems that we have no choice but to rely on folk remedies and traditional treatment methods.


    The doctor at the clinic I met in the town of Portoro didn''t immediately understand the patient''s condition when I explained it to him, and I had some trouble sending him off with what he needed to do.


    How is it possible that there are no other doctors in this fortress, where we have border defenses and routinely fight bandits and demons? Although it was said that there was a shortage of military doctors.


    �����


    We asked the jail keeper to take care of the rest and went up to the first floor of the fortress. Presha-san said she was going to lead me to the officers, and then she continued to walk in front of us for a while without saying a word - we went up to the third floor, and in the middle of the hallway to the next staircase, she unexpectedly asked for my back and came alongside me. As I continue walking, she starts to talk to me.


    ''...... I''m sorry about earlier. I can''t stop when I get in my head,...... and my sister Raquel is always mad at me for doing too much. All of my guys are scared of me, and they won''t let me do too many big jobs.


    Preciousha-san''s strength was enough to tell even if she hadn''t yet wielded her spear once.


    He was so strong that he could give the illusion that he would be killed by being pierced through the chest with just the killing intent, or so he thought. Even so, they didn''t confess - they were more afraid of retribution from the people who asked them to smuggle weapons to them than they were of being killed by a spear through the heart.


    ''I know how you feel, Presha, and I know it''s not nice to say ....... Under the circumstances, I don''t think we had a choice.


    "...... you are the ...... nothing. It may sound weird if you say it like this, but ...... you''re there, so I don''t have to kill people that I don''t need to. It''s funny that you say that now when you''ve already dealt with hundreds of people: ......


    I can see that Mr. Lendl is nervous - and I can understand that feeling.


    Presha-san was just as powerful as I had sensed from his behavior. It''s a good thing that you''re still young, but you''ve survived many battles and slaughtered the opponents you''ve faced.


    I''m not sure if it''s a good idea for me to say this, but I''m sure it''s a good idea for me to say it. There were times when the Zirconia army set up across the border. ...... The fortress didn''t fall, but a lot of the enemy''s soldiers died, and the enemy''s new weapons caused some casualties to the soldiers. And then there were the attacks of the mages ...... those guys always break and kill from out of sight.


    In war, a mage is required to play a role in war. In the academy, too, the elements that are considered excellent - destruction from a distance and mass slaughter.


    If this fortress had suffered that damage as well, how horrible a sight would the military doctor who was there have seen.


    ''The boy is still in the fortress, but he can''t be forced to do anything. If you''re a man, you don''t think you''re going to get sick so easily if you''re a man and you have to be there for the torture: ...... You think about it, and then I get hotter than you, and then I get hotter than you, and then I kill you or I don''t kill you or I don''t kill you. ......


    ...... No, I''m glad I was allowed to be there. If I do say so myself, I don''t get upset at all when I see blood or see a bad injury. It doesn''t change the fact that I''m a patient who needs to be healed for me.


    When I was studying to qualify as a spirit doctor, I was told by my supervisor at the exam not to get too emotionally involved in my patients.


    The previous military doctor did not have it because he was too kind. I don''t think that''s a bad thing; it''s a wonderful and natural thing for people to do.


    But I know that my emotional turmoil can affect my treatment. That''s why I tried to cultivate a spirit that is unfazed by any patient - I learned from the plant spirits who are always quietly watching over living things, alive and well.


    "...... Dr. Glass doesn''t look strong or anything, but he''s kind of ...... big. He doesn''t seem to fall down when you push him.


    ''Master Presha, please don''t say anything that would put Master Glass at too much of a distraction. I''m his secretary, and I''m afraid I''m going to have to be impertinent.


    Oh, ...... I''m sorry. My secretary, you know, she came with Dr. Glass. Right, if it''s just the two of you, you shouldn''t be sharing a room with anyone else. We''ll both have to share a room together.


    "Huh, that''s ...... if you''d like to go to ......, Mr. Glass, but if it''s possible, I''d like to keep my room separate, even if it''s small. If you can, please visit ......


    It''s true that there are some people who are suddenly sharing a room with other guys who are okay with each other, and others who are not. Sven also said at first, "It''s hard to sleep calmly with people in the same room - well, that guy has a thick liver, so he fell asleep right after he said that.


    ''We don''t have a dedicated room for military doctors, but there''s a compartment where the medics are gathered, so let''s get you a room there. I''ll get the medic captain to meet you later, I won''t be coming to the ''Round Table Room'' we''re going to, so I''ll see you afterwards.


    The Round Table Room ...... and that''s where His Highness Astina is?


    ''''Raquel sister ...... there''s also a chief cavalryman. The chief archer, Mr. Deethe, has been called in, so if you make him wait too long, he might get shot.


    Presha-san, who had seemed to be thinking about it earlier, smiles.


    It doesn''t change the fact that the situation is serious, but it''s good if talking about it made you feel a little better. With that in mind, I went up to the fourth floor of the fortress where the round table room is located.

 18 Chapter 16 円卓

    The round table room where the executives are meeting, which runs everything in the Isle Rose Fortress.


    Sitting there and waiting is His Highness Astina - and Raquel-san is sitting on her right side, and Deite-san is sitting next to her on the opposite side.


    There are two other female knights waiting in the wings, but it seems they are not executives. They don''t take a seat and seem to be escorting His Highness. Although they are inferior to the cadres, they have a dignity that sets them apart from the other knights I saw in the fortress.


    It''s only natural that the princess would be escorted by her Kingsguard. The reason why it is called ''Swords Princess General'' may be due to His Highness Astina''s own strength as a warrior, but the third princess is also in a position to be protected at all costs.


    ''''Your Highness Astina, I have brought Dr. Glass Weed to you.


    Thank you, Presha. Please take your seats. Dr. Glass and the squire.


    Then I''ll take you up on your offer.


    I curtsied alongside Mr. Rendle and sat down across the round table from His Highness Astina and the others.


    ''Glass, I was told beforehand that you were coming, but I have not received any reports about the other one. Could you please explain that to me?


    ''''This is me ...... my secretary, and my name is Lendl. In order to assist the military doctor in his work, the head of the Academy of Magic requested the Society of Stewards to send me to assist him with the work of the military doctor, but since it is ...... forbidden for men, if it is difficult for you to live in the fortress, I would be happy to let you stay in the nearest town.


    I will tell His Highness what I was going to say before I came here. If men are not allowed to stay inside the fortress, I may not have been in the direction of staying inside the fortress to begin with, and I would be grateful for any covered bunk as long as I was allowed to do my job.


    Did Presha tell you about the situation with our Order''s doctor?


    ''I told him about it, and that my former army doctor is now recuperating.


    ''I see. We don''t have a single full-time doctor in this army at the moment. The medics can also treat the wounded, but they can''t handle serious wounds and illnesses very well. ...... I''ve asked the administration to send a doctor to the hospital several times now.


    The headmaster informed me that I was selected at his request. I''m sure you''re not familiar with the term ''spiritist'', but I am trained as a doctor.


    Just because I witnessed the torture doesn''t mean I''m immediately trusted as a doctor.


    However, if I said too much about myself, it also seemed to discredit me, so I didn''t continue to speak further.


    It''s partly because His Highness Astina and Raquel-san, who are silent and quietly thinking, are too neat and beautiful. Deethe-san and Presha-san are also beautiful, but there was something about the demeanor these two wore that could only be described as exceptional.


    '' ...... Your spirits are not suited for combat. But it is good for medicine. Is it correct to think so? I have no widowly knowledge of what a ''spirit doctor'' is like.


    ''Yes, yes, Your Highness Astina. Dr. Glass, by the power of the spirit, has made the captive who didn''t speak up ......


    ''Presha, it is you. Speak up only when asked for your opinion.


    "I''m sorry that ...... is also, I''m sorry, Knight-in-Chief Raquel.


    Raquel-san chided her, and Presha-san shriveled up. Ms. Deethe, who was watching her - who has somehow changed her clothes and is now in plain clothes like a young lady - laughs, hiding her mouth with a fan.


    ''You look so quiet and unconcerned about witnessing the torture. And if you say that he contributed something, wouldn''t it be fair to say that Captain Raquel ...... he has shown his competence?��I feel sorry for you, sir, if you''re being so evil.


    ''I do not mean to be evil. ''Deite, do the dukes bring fans to the military council?��I''ve been meaning to tell you for a while now.


    ''''Hmph, the captain is talking like a big sister. She''s just one year older than you.


    Raquel-san is the chief knight who unites all the knights and serves His Highness Astina. In other words, Raquel-san should be in a higher position than Deite-san, but Deite-san treats him almost as an equal - is that because she is the daughter of a duke family?


    ''''Presha, what was the result of your interrogation?''''


    When His Highness Astina directs the question to His Highness Astina, Ms. Presha shudders with a jolt.


    His Royal Highness lowered his eyes, his long lashes casting shadows on his white cheeks. It''s only for a moment, but His Highness'' eyes look deep and melancholy.


    -- she had probably expected it. To who were those who had betrayed their country and were connected to Zirconia.


    ''...... later, come to my office. Presha alone is fine with me.


    ''Your Highness, I am ......''


    ''Raquel, you have a lot on your plate. I''ll scrutinize the report from Presha first, and then I''ll tell you later: ...... Rest assured, I won''t hide anything from you.


    "Haha ...... sorry, I never suspected such a thing .......


    The power relationship of this knightly order is now visible - the Knight Captain of Raquel has a respect for His Highness Astina that can be described as worshipful.


    The fact that His Highness Astina''s orders would be absolute could be fully deduced from the current exchange alone.


    --Thinking like that as if it were someone else''s business, His Highness'' next statement would catch me off guard.


    ''Raquel, Glass is the only military doctor in our army at present. I have received a notice from the royal family to make him my direct mage, but this Order itself, more than me, requires him to function. I judge that to be the case.


    Your Highness, then: ......


    "Glass Weed. I am placing you under Raquel''s direct control. From now on, you will follow her instructions.


    "......, yes. Your command is granted.


    I didn''t expect to be given such an order - as long as I join the organization of the Knights, it makes sense that I would be included somewhere in the organizational chart, but I wonder how it would be to be under the direct control of the magic-hating Knight Captain Raquel, of all people.


    ''Deite, you will direct the archers to the west side of the city walls. Based on the recent movements of the Zirconian army, it is possible that they will set up a maneuver around today.


    ''Ha, ...... squirming. That''s what I was called to do, wasn''t it?


    Watching that exchange, I feel slightly uncomfortable. Why is His Highness Astina able to foresee the enemy''s movements as if it were a definite future?


    ''Swords Princess General'' - from that name, I could imagine that her sword skills were excellent. That''s not all.


    His Highness Astina is also a military strategist who can only garner the trust of the executives with a single-minded focus. I could understand that when I saw Deite-san''s back as she immediately left the round table room.


    His Highness, Mr. Presha, and the Kingsguard also leave. The remaining Raquel-san said to herself before she left her seat.


    ''That''s why I told you not to change into your normal clothes or anything else ...... utterly, you don''t listen to me.


    Mr. Raquel is also a constant source of distraction. It seems that she is usually worried about Deethe-san, who acts freely.


    I have to somehow gain her trust so that she, who hates magic, doesn''t have to suffer even more heartache from me being under her command.


    Standing up, Raquel-san walks over to me. He''s not wearing a top of armor right now, so his upper body is only under his armor - not that there''s anything to be said for it, but it''s unimaginable. I thought the chest armor was incredibly thick when he was wearing the armor, but that''s not the case, there were two large masses housed inside.


    (...... No, wait, ...... Raquel''s movements are a bit odd. (......) Like he''s shielding himself from pain.


    Wearing that much heavy armor and wielding a javelin on a horse, no matter how much of a demon warrior he was, Raquel''s body was being forced to take an extremely heavy burden. This gave a slight discomfort to the gestures and the way he walked, which seemed to be nothing at all.


    But as she ponders if she should point it out, she opens her mouth.


    ''...... Glass Weed. As for what you will be asked to do in the future as a military doctor, I''ll let you figure out what to do on your own to some extent, based on your predecessor''s logbook. You will remain in the infirmary until I give you further instructions.


    Yes, yes, ...... will do.


    ''What are you frightened of ...... replying to me more openly. You didn''t look so pathetic when you walked in here with Presha.


    I was suddenly angry - certainly not the time to be flustered by being spoken to out of the blue.


    ''''First, you must decide on your accommodations. You can follow me.


    Saying that, Raquel-san leaves first - Rendle-san, who stood up from his seat with me, murmured quietly in front of the door that had been slammed shut.


    ''''Is Raquel-sama in a bad mood because she couldn''t join His Highness ......?


    ''Well, well, maybe ...... so. Don''t tell me that.


    I agreed with Rendle-san, but as a newcomer, there''s nothing I can do about it.


    How will His Highness accept the facts conveyed to him by Presha-san? How will he tell Raquel-san--and will he be able to safely prevent the Zirconia attack that His Highness foresaw?


    A lot of things are starting to happen as soon as I''m posted. But I''m just going to do what I can, one by one, so that I can be recognized by those around me as a military doctor as soon as possible.


    ''...... What are you doing, Glass Weed? I''m leaving you behind.


    I knocked on the door all the way from outside and Raquel called me in. Saying I don''t like magic doesn''t always mean I''m going to show it. While I was horrified by his concern, I was honestly grateful for his concern.

 19 Chapter 17 Sanitation Building

    The fifth floor of the fortress is the rooftop, where the quarters of His Highness Astina, the Kingsguard and the officers are located. It seems that Raquel-san is also sleeping and waking up there.


    The medic''s quarters are located in a separate building, and you have to go down to the first floor to get there. The isolation from the main building is designed to deter the spread of infectious diseases in the event of an outbreak.


    There are no outbreaks of infectious diseases at the moment, and the sanitary conditions inside the fortress seem to be cleaned frequently, so it''s a good thing. However, due to the fact that there is a canal running through the basement, some parts of the ground floor are prone to mold growth - this can also cause illnesses in some cases, so we''ll need to think about countermeasures later.


    In my case, mold growing on plant-based food can be determined whether it''s toxic or not. Some of them produce ingredients that are useful in medicine, but no one would believe me if I told them I could make medicine out of molds.


    The development of medicine is key to the power of invisible microorganisms - I think so, but when I tried to write a paper and get it out, head teacher Hendrick wouldn''t even accept it.


    All I was asked to do was to kill my breath and get out of the way of my brilliant students. Serving the development of medicine as a spirit doctor was worthless in the academy.


    I don''t think it''s evil to use spirit magic and exert power in war. But what I thought after listening to Presha-san''s story was that it was unacceptable for an ally to die from magic. It''s the same for the enemy country, and my thoughts are just ego.


    If I could end the war, I wouldn''t have to use magic for war - I never thought of this when I was studying at the Academy of Magic.


    But in order to do so, we would have to win and seize the enemy country, not lose. I still don''t have the ingredients to know for real how difficult that will be.


    I apologize as a Knight Commander for letting you witness the torture as soon as you arrived ....... I also have no way to reliably extract information from my captors. I know that I am forcing Presha and his interrogators to do something atrocious.


    We reached the other wing and Raquel-san said before opening the door.


    I wasn''t sure if I should tell her about Alraune''s case - or if I should let her hear about her aversion to magic. However, he decided to speak with his stomach, thinking that it would be unnatural to explain it if he kept it down, so he decided to speak with his stomach.


    ''''I can use magic to make her speak without causing her pain and making her vomit. That''s what Presha-san was trying to say earlier.


    Raquel-san ministers to me over her shoulder. I don''t look away - and then I let my gaze escape from her.


    ''Do you think I''m a disgusting woman for saying that I''m ...... your presence and winning over Presha?''


    ''No, I don''t think so. I''ve only just arrived here, but I could see and feel that Presha-san respects Raquel-san a great deal. I''ve felt that way ever since he helped me too.


    ''...... Do you respect a woman who screams and charges like that?��You''re a curious man.


    ''A yell means ...... It was a dignified voice that came through well, a dignified voice.


    ''Yes, it was a very encouraging voice. At the same time, I felt reassured that this country is protected by a fierce general like Raquel-sama.


    Mr. Lendl agrees with me. Raquel didn''t say anything for a while, but once again, she reflected on me and said, "I don''t need flattery.


    ''I don''t need flattery, I am your highness''s spear, I only lead my knights to protect my people. The people of the city will need you as well ...... no. It includes Lord Glass and Lord Rendle. That''s all.


    Thank you, Mr. Raquel.


    When I thanked her again, the color of the emotions in Raquel-san''s eyes changed faintly - it was no longer the eyes that were looking at unrelated others, was it?


    -- Come to think of it, the Alraune I summoned this time is in the form of a young girl, but I''ve left her in the underground prison guard until the pollen gradually fades away so that the hypnosis doesn''t suddenly wear off. I wonder if she returned to the spirit world while I was away.


    As I was thinking, Raquel-san rang the bell on the door and called out to the inside of the separate building.


    ''It''s Knight Captain Raquel. Medical Captain, are you inside? I would like to show you Lord Glass, the military doctor.


    ''Yes, hold on a second: ...... Are you sure it''s just water?''


    ''Yes, I love water... as long as I have water and light, I can live!


    (A child in the Knights of the Order is ......, that voice is ...... no way!


    A door opens from the inside and we are greeted by what appears to be a medic captain. She is dressed in a medic''s uniform, with her hair gathered up in a hat (cap), perhaps out of concern for hygiene - the armband on her shoulder seems to indicate that she is the captain.


    ''I''m sorry, Knight-Captain Raquel, but there was someone''s child walking downstairs and I was protecting him here. He says he''s called Alraunechan.


    ''Oh, Summoner!��I did my job!��Praise me!


    ''Oh, oh, oh ...... no, no praise ...... wait, don''t run all of a sudden!


    Alraune, who was sitting on a chair and letting his feet dangle, jumped down with a whimper and ran towards us - but tripped over a round stone that was laid out as a floor. And then, as expected, he was received head-on by Raquel-san.


    ''''Phew!��...... Oh, thank you very much ......


    ''...... What is it, what is it? What is the summoner?��Why is this girl holding on to me?


    ''''Oh my goodness, I wonder if he''s mistaken Captain Raquel for his mother. Even I''m not that fond of you, but ...... it''s not fair, is it?


    What is the joke of it, I''m your mother? I am a person who has dedicated myself to the warrior and there is no such thing ...... as a partner.


    ''Summoner!��I''ve been a good boy!��Praise me!


    As I moved away from Raquel-san, Alraune now ran towards me. However, he was caught by Lendl-san and carried in his arms.


    ''''Huh~ I''ve been caught ......


    You mustn''t be too formal, Mr. Alraune.


    Yes, I''ll be careful in the future. Oni...... brother?


    Yes, my brother. He''s a very powerful man, despite his appearance.


    ''''Hmph, you''re so innocent, Alraune. ...... How are you, Raquel-sama?


    Perhaps it''s because Alraune has moved away so quickly, but Raquel is holding her hands in her hands. Could this be - could she be a child lover or something?


    ''...... Lord Glass. There seems to be some circumstances, but if you''ve brought a child with you, you''ll have to say so beforehand.


    "Ha, yes ...... I brought him with me, or rather, I couldn''t have imagined that this would happen either ......


    I have no excuses. Katie, if there is a room available in the medic''s compartment, I would like you to show Master Glass around. But first, you must tell me about this girl.


    Before, he wasn''t able to materialize clearly enough to be so active - I didn''t think he was such a tomboy when he was in an anthropomorphic, or rather human-like, form.


    However, when I explained the identity of Alraune to Raquel-san, who hated magic, she didn''t reject me that much. Even if you don''t like magic, you can''t hate Arraune in his child form--if you thought that, then I knew I had to change the strict impression I had of Raquel-san up to now, a bit.

 20 Chapter 18 colleagues

    Soooo ...... soo ......


    Alraune was sitting on Lendl-san''s lap, and after a while he began to doze off. The sanitary building was built with sunlight in mind, and it was warm, so he fell asleep - they said that he could live on water and light alone, but it was also meant to be preserved, since just being an entity would drain his magical power.


    In the medics'' wing, the medics were engaged in treating the wounded. The second floor and above are wards, and the first floor has treatment rooms, diagnostic rooms, medic''s waiting room and changing rooms. We were sent to the common room to listen to the medic commander.


    ''''Greetings, I''m the medic captain, Katie. Glass-san is from the Academy of Magic and as I heard ...... you are still a young man,


    Hi, my name is Glass. I hope to serve as a military doctor as soon as possible.


    ''Thank you. As soon as possible, I would like to discuss with you the treatment of an injured man who is currently in the sanitary wing ...... and has only just arrived, so would it be correct to ask you to start seeing him tomorrow?


    Do you have any records of your past medical work?��If there''s anything you can do to address that as soon as possible, you can start today: ......


    ''No, I understand that Dr Glass was present at the interrogation of the prisoners. That''s partly true, but I''m getting a little pale: ...... Sorry, excuse me.


    Katie stands up, leans over the table and reaches for my forehead - I wonder what''s going on, but it looks like she wants to take my fever.


    ''Your fever is ...... a slight fever, I guess. But you seem to be fatigued, so please don''t take it easy. My staff will take you to your quarters today, so why don''t you rest until dinner time?


    No, I''m not that tired: ......


    Mr. Katie, can you take the medical records out of the room?


    ''Yes, if you are a military doctor. Some medical records are confidential and require the patient''s consent to view them: ...... Oh, dear, yes.


    Katie clasped her hands together, as if she had a flash of inspiration. Then she looked at Raquel, who had been listening quietly for a long time.


    ''Captain Raquel, since the military doctor has come to see you, why don''t you take another examination?


    ...... I was a little sore before, but not so much now. Lord Glass and the others have been guided out, and I will return to my normal duties. Lord Glass is to come to me tomorrow morning after the morning meeting. Is that alright?


    ''Yes. Thank you, Mr. Raquel, for showing me this far.


    ''I will tell you one thing: ....... I hope that His Royal Highness Astina will not feel bad about not having Lord Glass under his direct control. I also ask you not to clamor out there about disobeying royal instructions: ...... This is true.


    Raquel-san bows to me. A warrior like that, bowing to me, who had just been posted to the post and didn''t know right or left - in fact, it shouldn''t happen.


    In order to serve His Highness Astina, I was added to the youngest of the court mages. Serving under Raquel-san is not the form I had originally thought of. But that, I''m not unhappy about it.


    It''s also because I''ve learned about some of the situation His Highness Astina is in in the royal family.


    If it was the Second Queen who ordered the smuggling of arms. I''m sure you''ll be able to find a way to get through to the Zirconia Army, which has engaged in numerous battles with this fortress - it''s no longer a matter of choice. The Second Queen would be hoping that the Zirconian attack would cost her Lady Astina her life.


    (The throne is such a delusional thing. I''ll never seem to understand that feeling for the rest of my life, but ...... even though I don''t yet know the details of His Highness''s thoughts, His Highness fighting for his country shouldn''t be allowed to fall.)


    When I asked myself the question, the answer was clearer than I thought it would be. I would rather trust His Highness Astina, who is fighting to save the people, than the people of the royal family, whom I have yet to see.


    ''I will never betray you. I was given the title of court mage only to serve His Highness Astina.


    ...... I''m sorry.


    Where was that apology directed to?


    If she has seen the predicament in which Her Highness Astina has been placed by her side - does she apologize for not being able to reveal who the enemy is when she knows who it is?


    We should be wary of the Second Queen and thwart her attempts. But if it was easy to do that, it would be no trouble. Even if it''s discovered after the weapons have flowed, as in the case of the arms smuggling this time, it''s too late.


    After Raquel-san leaves, Katie-san gets up from her seat and puts her hand on my shoulder. The way she touches me is very natural, and like when she touched my forehead earlier, it doesn''t make me feel alarmed.


    ''Dr. Glass''s words, I''m sure Captain Raquel is happy to hear them. I knew that her feelings for the mage would not be easy to change, but ...... Dr. Glass would be able to .......


    I''ll try ....... That''s all I can do right now. I''ll show Katie that I can be a military doctor first so that she can trust me.


    I understand. Okay, I''ll get the medical records. Can I have one of my men bring it up to your room?


    ''Please. Mr. Lendl, I''m sorry to have you take care of Alraune. Would you like me to take over?


    ''No, it''s fine. Dear Katie, about your room: .......


    Mr. Lendl asked, and Katie smiled and replied.


    ''If you had come alone, Lord Glass, I would have asked you to sleep with a female soldier. If you are two men, then we will ask you both to use one room. We have a spare room that is not normally used and is used by outside visitors, so we have a spare room at ...... Um, Mr. Rendle, was that you? How can I help you?


    ''Yes, no. I am grateful to you for that consideration and for the trouble you have given me as your secretary: ......


    It seems that Mr. Lendl can share a room with me, too. I followed the person who came to show me around, imagining what my new base room would be like.

 21 Episode 19: Repatriation of Spirits

    The knights have separate quarters for the executive class, platoon commander class, and the soldier graduates. The medic''s quarters also served as the visitor''s lodging, and it was better built than other soldiers'' quarters.


    There is a courtyard inside the city walls, where the soldiers'' quarters were built. The white-painted building beyond the trees - a structure that is similar in construction to the magic academy''s school building - makes you feel a little nostalgic.


    Forty-eight medics, including Katie, live in the two-story apartment building. The total number of soldiers in the fortress is three thousand, and there is only one fortress of this size, one on each side of the kingdom, east, west, north and south.


    However, not long ago, right after Zirconia''s attack, a single medic was said to be in charge of treating ten people, a situation that was truly a shura. There were many medics who were recuperating from overwork or illness, and sixteen of them were new recruits.


    The person who showed us around was one of the oldest of the medics, and was a year older than Captain Katie. He told me that many of them would be able to stay on active duty for a long time if they could make it through the recruits'' period.


    Mr. Glass," he said, "you''re the only one here, but to be honest, we''re still a work in progress. There are many wounded men in the medics'' wing who will probably take a month to heal. The next time the enemy attacks in this way: ......


    ...... How is your former military doctor doing now?


    They can''t heal themselves in the fortress, so they''re recuperating in a nearby town. They bring food and supplies to this fortress, to a town called Wendell.


    There was a town we passed by a short time after we left Portoro, and it seemed to be the most prosperous in the area. Perhaps that was Wendell.


    ''Well, I was in town, alone, and I wasn''t feeling well. ...... The Preciousha attack captain was a friend of hers, so I go to pick her up sometimes. We''d take a walk in this garden and stuff. As long as that''s all you''re looking at ...... nothing is the same as it used to be. ......


    The woman who looked wispy is moistening her eyes and wiping them roughly. Mr. Lendl has also turned his back on me - apparently, I''ve gotten him to cry.


    ...... I might be able to do something for you. I hope I can visit you once.


    I''ll be here at least once a month. Could you ask the Prisha attack captain then? She doesn''t like men, though, so it''s best to stay away from her if she''s in a bad mood.


    If I told Mr. Presha-san that I''m called ''Dr. Glass'', he probably wouldn''t believe me. And Mr. Presha-san said that his subordinates were afraid of him.


    The former doctor. I will now begin to use her written diagnostic records as a reference for policy, and I''ll be a military doctor.


    But I had one possibility in mind. By touching a person, I could identify the nutrients and other factors that they were deficient in and recall the plants that possessed them.


    In other words, even if the cause of a disease is unknown, I can get a clue to a cure. As long as the recalled plant is located in a place where it can be obtained.


    �� ���.


    The room that was shown to me was a double room, but it was built with one living room that could be moved to two bedrooms. Even if more than one visitor came together, there would be a problem if there was only one bedroom, so it was said that the rooms could be divided even if they were small.


    When a person of high status came to inspect the fortress, there were times when the master and a few attendants would come together, and in that case, it was especially necessary to accommodate such a situation, since the master and the attendants could not, as a rule, sleep in the same room.


    Is it safe to occupy the visitor''s room if it is occupied by ......?


    Well, if it''s empty for the time being, that''s fine. There''s a desk in the living room, and you can write in here and do things like that ...... There''s also a light in the room.


    ...... Mr. Glass is a learned man, I''m told. But I hope you won''t be too hard on yourself. As Katie said, he''s looking a little fatigued.


    ''Oh yeah, ......?��I still have a lot of energy left over, though. I''ll go through the diagnostic records as soon as I can. Isn''t it about time Mr. Lendl took his hat off?


    Then I''ll take it off. May I have the use of your room?


    ''Oh, you can make that one into Mr. Rendle''s bedroom. I''ll take the other room.


    I take Alraune from Mr. Lendl. After he closed the door to his bedroom, Alraune woke up - but he looks like he''s sleepy.


    ''...... Summoner-sama...... it looks like it''s time to return to the spirit world......''


    What''s up with you all of a sudden? I think there''s a lot of magic inside this fortress: ......


    ''This is a power I shouldn''t be using just to be here. The truth is, it''s dangerous to have ...... so full of it. ......


    Alraune''s figure faded away - and then there was a vision of the petals scattering on the spot. Later, the bulb I used as a medium is left behind.


    There are no mages in this fortress other than me. In other words, no one has been able to detect that the amount of magic in the atmosphere has increased just because His Highness Astina is there.


    I was also so overwhelmed by her presence when we were face to face that I didn''t recognize the abnormality as an anomaly. It''s the constant overflow of magical power that gives her a sense of mystery.


    I would love to hear how His Highness Astina obtained the magical power that she has now, right now. But I was kept away from her and did not become a direct follower.


    (...... Now, it''s not that His Highness Astina is physically challenged. She did not show any of her health problems. If there is anything, do you hide it from those around you ...... or does Raquel not know ......?


    ...... Dear Mr. Glass, how can I help you?


    "Geez. ...... Oh, oh, Mr. Rendle. Sorry, I was just thinking about something.


    For some reason, I had a neutral impression of Mr. Lendl when he was hiding his face with his hat and glasses - but when I took off my hat, took off my glasses and looked at him, he had a boyish but firmly masculine look to him.


    ''When you take your hat off, you get a different impression. It''s more like a different atmosphere: ......


    ''I am often told. I personally feel more comfortable wearing glasses or a hat.


    Really, he''s a different person. Can I say that the air around him has changed - if it were Rendle-san now, Arlaune would call him ''big brother'' without half a doubt.


    His chest, which he said was pigeon-breasted, also looked quite thick, but not so much when he took off his coat and only had his shirt on.


    ''Which way would you like to see it, Master Glass?��The diagnostic records appear to be compiled in the order of the names of the injured and sick.


    In the meantime, can you bring it all to me? I''m going to go through it all today.


    ...... I hope you won''t be too hard on yourself," said Mr. Glass. But Mr. Glass is not one to listen to you. The best I can do, as your secretary, is to make it as easy as possible for you.


    Mr. Lendl, who said that, was, to put it mildly, the very ''ideal secretary'' I imagined him to be.

 22 Chapter 20 Decision

    As he began to look through the medical records of the Order members, Brother Glass was concentrating on the same things he was doing when he was studying at the Academy, so much so that he couldn''t hear the sounds around him.


    What he was doing was identifying areas of improvement in treatment for each injured person. Even with patients he doesn''t see in person, Brother Glass seems to be able to find out if there are better medicines available, or if this could be used to speed up their recovery.


    When I came down with a cold, he noticed it before I did and gave me some medicine. I took it early, and when I felt my throat was a little sore, it started to heal and I didn''t have to miss the academy.


    My homeroom teacher didn''t give me the same guidance as the others after I signed a contract with the "Air" spirit, and I didn''t really have to go to the academy every day because I had a lot of classes I couldn''t attend, and my parents were insistent that I come back.


    But I couldn''t go back. If I couldn''t get some kind of job or role as a mage - how I would be treated in that house was determined.


    ''You can take a break whenever you want, Mr. Rendle, too.


    Yes. Thank you for your concern.


    I''m already used to speaking in polite language like this. Normally, I felt I shouldn''t, but I used to use unreserved words to my older Glass brother.


    When I first started at the academy, there was an event called Forest School where I met my brother Glass when I was in a group with the older students.


    Even as a child, I was the kind of kid who was always oblivious to my surroundings. There were times when my family would go out together and I would be the only one left behind, or I would be the only one left out of my class and the teacher wouldn''t even notice.


    When I was in the forest school, I got lost in the forest because I was left behind by my classmates. The forest was getting darker and darker, and I was determined to leave the forest on my own, so I kept walking, not knowing where I was going.


    It was my brother Glass who helped me at that time. He heard that I was lost in the forest and came alone to find me, even though we were in a different group - after that, he was very angry with me, and I couldn''t tell him that it was my fault, so all I could do was watch.


    I wanted to return the favor. I always wanted to ask him why he had come to my rescue.


    "Huh. ...... You''re right, my eyes are a little tired. Why is it that doctors like to write in letters that only they can understand?


    "Mr. Glass seems to read it rather easily,


    ''The instructor I taught also had some pretty quirky handwriting. Well, in some cases you can only use it for a few minutes for diagnosis, so I guess the letters will be simplified so you can write faster.


    In this country where there are not many doctors, the hospitals in the capital are always overcrowded. Brother Glass will also be very busy from now on.


    Perhaps he was worried that Brother Glass was taking it too hard, but the headmaster asked me to ask him to be his brother''s keeper. That was because he knew that I was friends with Brother Glass.


    But if I went out west as me - Leslie Lee Renkles - the house would grasp me. In order to prevent that from happening, the dean suggested that I disguise my identity.


    I can force Brother Glass to recognize me as a different person even if he is about to realize my identity - by interfering with the ''air'' with the power of the spirit.


    Brother Glass said that ''air'' would be able to do something similar to the spirit of ''wind'', but if it could do that, it wouldn''t be called out of place.


    Air is something that is always there, even if you can''t see it, even if you don''t recognize it''s existence. It''s very vague, but I am in contract with the spirit that dwells in such things.


    If you change the ''air'' you wear, the impression others have of you will change. But if you keep doing that all the time, your magic power won''t last, so I had to make Brother Glass think that "Leslie" and "Rendle" are different people, even if only in disguise.


    Every time he started to notice them, I interfered with the ''air'' and changed his perception. But if he had to show his face, the degree of interference would have to be greater.


    I believed it would work, but at first I was so nervous that my voice almost rose to the top. Even my emotions were wrapped up by the ''air'' spirit.


    ''''Your stock of medicines is quite scarce. If you can''t get them in a nearby town, you can request them from the central ...... or you can think about being self-sufficient in the vicinity.


    Do you make your own medicine?��Then you may be too much of a burden for Mr. Glass: ......


    The process itself isn''t difficult if you have the right ingredients. The medicine can be a speciality, and if we can secure the area where the herbs come from, I think we can hire someone from the town to do it for us.


    ''I see. ...... I''ll ask that ranchman to talk to you, and I''m sure the conversation will go smoothly.


    My brother Glass, who used to look cramped in the academy, is now very much alive and well.


    He is trying his best to do what he can do with his life without being depressed by the horrors of the battlefield, which I think is amazing.


    I was able to go west with Brother Glass, and at first my feet were fluffy. But that would disqualify me from being here.


    Even though my magic power is drained, I will continue to use magic to change the ''air'' from now on. The name of my great-grandfather, who was named on the spur of the moment, will be the very person called ''Rendor''.


    But the truth is, as "Leslie", I would like to see the letter that my brother Glass entrusted to me. I know that I should never do that.


    ''...... hmm?��This is ......


    In the medical records, there is a small piece of paper attached to a different color of cover. There was this written on it.


    ''Captain Raquel had consulted her former doctor for a long time. It would be difficult for her to request a consultation with her replacement, Dr. Glass. However, I would appreciate it if you would at least take a look at the medical records, Katie.


    Katie asked Brother Glass to look at the medical records for Raquel''s concern - even though she said that the executive''s medical records could not be seen without his consent.


    Maybe that''s how bad Raquel''s physical condition is. Brother Glass looked at him, wondering what to do, and he seemed lost, but he didn''t open the records.


    ''I understand how you feel, Katie, but it''s going to be hard to build trust with you if you see this. So I can''t see it now. We''ve got to get a chance to hear it up front first.


    ''Captain Raquel and I will be meeting tomorrow morning, so there will be a chance to talk to her.


    ''Right. Now ...... let''s turn the rest of it into the night and take a break. Mr. Lendl needs a break too.


    ''I''ll stay up until dinner time. I have a few things to write about.


    Yeah, okay.


    Brother Glass walks into his bedroom. When I see the door closed, I approach the small mirror that hangs on the living room wall.


    Brother Glass sees me as a man - but when he looks in the mirror, he sees my true self.


    I have to keep playing the part for a long time to come. I''m a completely different person than Leslie, who he only sees as his sister, the ''secretary Lendl''.

 23 Episode 21: Green healing

    After taking a nap in the bedroom for a while, I noticed that the setting sun was shining through the window.


    Lendl woke me up and we headed to the mess hall. There are so many lower-ranking graduates that they are supposed to take turns eating every hundred people.


    We were added to the medic''s table and ate our meals according to their manners. There was bread with a hard crust and little moisture, and a soup with shreds of smoked meat and a few vegetables. A piece of goat''s milk cheese was also served, and the drink of choice was wine or water.


    In the capital, the main meal, main dish and side dishes were served at every meal, so I didn''t have to worry so much about the nutritional imbalance - but as a military doctor, I had to decide that this situation was not good.


    After we finished eating, we went to the medical wing to talk to Katie, who said she was still working.


    ''Good work, Dr Glass. After all, is it about the food ......?


    ''Yes, ...... right. Can I talk to you for a minute?


    Katie said she had been allowed to bring and take her dinner, and a tray with a dinner on it, which had only been touched up a little, was on the table.


    ''I was just working on the nursing schedule for tomorrow. Things change from one day to the next, so we need to decide who to put where. Depending on the condition, some patients can be very difficult to take charge of on their own. ......


    I mean, it''s a big deal: ...... I''m sorry, can you tell me if you can?


    It was always written down in the medical records I was looking at earlier - a finding about the mental condition.


    Sometimes mental symptoms are more difficult to deal with than physical injuries. I haven''t seen a lot of patients either, but I''ve been shown the course of treatment.


    What is needed is ''healing'' and improvement of the physical factors that affect the psyche. I''m about to discuss this with you, but nutrition through daily eating is also very important.


    ''I don''t want to say it''s hard, but we struggle to deal with patients who have mental sequelae. As long as this is a fortress and our stronghold that is visible to the enemy, they will still attack us in the middle of the night ......, but some patients get frightened when the bell rings to let them know .......


    You mean to tell me that ...... could cause a depression. I understand. I''ve had experience with emergency responses to those symptoms.


    ...... Ho, really?


    Katie, who had always appeared calm and had a gentle smile on her face, as I suppose she tries to do as a medic captain, was the first to show her agitation on her face.


    ''Firstly, you should always have a method of calming your patients in case they become out of control or frightened by external factors. This also means that the medication and other substances used must be chosen precisely according to the symptoms. Painkillers that relieve the pain of wounds also have a calming effect, but if you rely on them alone, you may become dependent on them.


    ''Oh ...... my God. We haven''t been able to think that far and take care of the wounded ...... and the frightened patients, and all we can do is encourage them .......


    It''s very important and necessary. But depending on your symptoms, you may want to consider recuperating in town. You don''t need to insist on completing everything in a fortress: ......


    --I''ve just told you that much.


    The high-pitched ringing of the bell could be heard. And the inside of the sanitary building suddenly began to get noisy.


    (Is this ...... the crafting of zirconia soldiers that His Highness Astina was talking about ......?)


    ''I can''t believe this is the time for a hostile attack. ...... Sorry Dr. Glass, we''re going to be on alert. We need to calm the patient down, so we''ll consult with you later at .......


    ''Let me help you with that. Don''t worry, I won''t do anything to confuse the patient.


    Captain Katie!��Please close the door to the sanitation building, one of you can run away ...... yikes!


    One of the patients pushes past the medic and runs towards us.


    He has bandages all over his body and his injuries have not yet healed - the enemy is coming, and he can''t stand the horror of it all, and he''s trying to escape to a place that is safe for him.


    ''Get out of the way ......, I''m going to get to my mom and dad ......, yay, let me go!


    A confused patient can be incredibly powerful. It''s the same even if it''s not on the battlefield, and doctors and those involved in nursing are often injured when they struggle with patients.


    Stick ......!


    I manage to catch the patient. I don''t know what unit the soldier is from, but it''s an amazing force - depending on the person I''m dealing with, I might not even be able to hold her back like this.


    But the moment I touch her, I know what state she''s in. What I needed to calm her panic - one of the medicinal herbs I grew at the academy, brought here, and carry around with me.


    (O green herb, pass its healing power to me: ...... "Green Heal (Green Heal)" ......!


    What the hell are you doing at ......?


    A herb that has a sedative effect - I can convert its medicinal properties into magic and draw it out and send it to the patient.


    Sedatives as substances take time to enter the bloodstream and show their effects. However, with the "Green Healing", the effect appears on the spot when it is sent. Not every medicinal effect can be converted into magical power, but the sedative component is relatively easy to convert.


    ''''.......''''


    The tension is removed from the patient''s body, which was flailing in my arms. The strength was also released from the hands that gripped my arms.


    ''Okay, ...... it''s working. Katie, can I take care of the other patients? I think I can be of some help.


    ''Yes, yes ...... Dr. Glass, please ......!


    ''Mr. Rendle, when this patient has calmed down, I want you to grind up this weed and give it to him internally. Once he''s intensely agitated, he''s prone to nausea and such ...... and we need to keep it under control.


    I''m sorry, sir.


    It''s still very helpful to have someone to assist me. Katie will also follow my instructions - if I''m recognized for what I just did, that''s fortuitous, but right now, my priority is the patient above all else.


    I go upstairs to the hospital room, where the patient is shivering in his bed, his head in the corner of the room - a glimpse of what happens when the horrors of the battlefield come back to haunt him.


    Reassuring the patient, that''s my role now. I continued to look around at each one of them and give them encouragement, trusting that Deite and the others would be able to fight off the enemy.

 24 Episode 22: Food Situation After an Enemy Attack

    The bell rang and there was a commotion for about half an hour, and soon the area was quiet. If the enemy had come, it was a small group of people, or maybe they were scouts and not an attacking force.


    After examining all of the patients in the medical ward and confirming that they had calmed down one by one, I gave each one of them ''medical attention'' and wrote down what I learned in my examination records.


    What I found was that the food they were eating as a sick person''s diet was not sufficient for them.


    But deficiencies in certain nutrients are actually not uncommon, even among people in the capital city away from the battlefield.


    A relatively common deficiency is a trace mineral that is consumed in various parts of the body. This, too, can be supplied to some extent by the consumption of green leafy vegetables and nuts, but for some reason the quality of the soil may have deteriorated to such an extent that it is deprived of the nutrients it is supposed to contain.


    Patients are provided with some certainty that they will be able to take some fruits and vegetables even if they are lacking in the pantry. However, when I asked Katie to show me the pantry, I found that all of the vegetables and other items that had been stored were not of good quality because they were not very lively.


    (The soil in the area of production is deteriorating: ...... You''ll have to take a look at it once. It''s not like soil improvement methods are only widespread in the capital city: ......)


    ''For the past couple of years, demons have been coming out of the fields, so our food production has been reduced. Orchards and other orchards have also been damaged. ...... Natural fruit trees are valuable to the residents in the vicinity, so we can''t force them to collect them.


    ''Demon ...... I saw a goblin on my way here, too. Is that the sort?


    ''No, they say it''s a demon that kills crops, but for more information, go to ...... The land occupied by that demon is so dangerous that you can''t even get close to it.


    From what I''ve heard, they are very poor quality demons. If such demons continue to breed and increase, they won''t be able to procure food from near by and will have to rely on transportation from far away.


    Another problem, the shortage of medicines, would also be difficult to solve. There was no way they could generate the extra energy to spend on cultivating medicinal herbs when the fields that produce food were being destroyed.


    ''''Has the Knights of the Order been called upon to help with that demon?


    ''Yes, several times. Each time we''ve taken action, but we haven''t been able to solve the problem, whether it''s that it''s useless if we don''t eradicate ...... the root of the problem. Rather, the damage has only spread.


    ...... I understand. Thank you for everything you''ve taught me.


    "No, no, we''re the ones who are sorry for relying on Dr. Glass, who just came to visit us, to tell us that we need to take ...... a break and so on. I''m sorry to say that I''ve been relying on Dr. Glass to help me out, but he''s been a great help to all my staff.


    I''m not used to being evaluated after all, and I sometimes wonder if I''m not hearing things like that, or if I''m being sneaky.


    But with Katie and with Presha, the change in attitude after gaining their trust is significant. The fact that they are aware of you as a man can also be conveyed through gestures like touching your hair and ears.


    ...... It''s late today, so I''d be happy to sit down next time and talk to you about our upcoming activities.


    ''I''m the one who looks after you. Okay, I''ll take this ...... to see what happened earlier, will I still be disturbed if I go to see what happened earlier?


    I don''t know ...... if there are any injuries, I''m sure they''ll report back to us.


    Katie went outside the sanitation building to check on the situation, but there was no sign of anyone coming. If no one was injured, then it still means that it wasn''t important.


    ''If you walk through the fortress at night, you may be stopped by the guards. If you are going upstairs, please walk in a well-lit area.


    ''Ha, yes. I don''t want to be treated like a prowler either, so I''ll be careful.


    ''''Hmph ...... You were in a shura just now, but you''ve already calmed down. I thought you seemed unreliable, Glass-san, but I didn''t see it coming. ...... I''m sorry.


    When I look at it this way, I can''t help but notice how s*xy each gesture is--when I was thinking about it, Rendle-san, who wears tinted glasses when she goes out and a coat with a stand-up collar, was looking at me intently.


    ''''Master Glass seems to have a weakness for mature women. I must definitely report this to the Dean.''


    ''''No, no, it''s not that I''m weak ......, I might be weak, but it''s not that I''m strong, either.


    ''''Oh my goodness, please don''t tell such ...... Rendle-san, please keep it to yourself. The head of the Silvana Academy of Magic, Millennia Weed, is the one who was known as the "Jade Witch". If you''re in a good mood, it would be very difficult for you to be ...... oh?


    Katie seemed to realize that she had said it herself. Me and the head of the academy share the same family name.


    Was the head of the ...... academy old enough to have children?


    ''Yes, no ...... I''m your brother. But I''m not my parents.


    ''Well ...... you''re my brother-in-law, aren''t you? Could that be the forbidden ......?


    ''No, that''s not at all ...... and that''s exactly what your sister-in-law would be pissed off about if she heard you.


    I''m sorry, I have such a vivid imagination for all those things ...... but I shouldn''t be a teacher either, because I''ve shown you how incredibly nice I am. I''m sure all the members of the medical corps, from 16 to 40 years old, have become fans of yours.


    I was about to retort that there was no way that there was such a picture-perfect story - but I was going to say it back.


    The medics who had been scrambling in the medics'' wing just a few minutes ago - and even the patients who had settled in - had come to see what was going on in the room we were in.


    ''''I thought that popularity didn''t come in a day. But Dr. Glass has taught me that it can be accomplished in a night.


    I had hoped that I would be trusted with gradual results, but most importantly, I can only say that it was good to have a place to stay in the place that would be my workplace.


    However, the eyes are still subtly glazed over, or rather, I could feel the gaze even in the cafeteria, but even I, as expected, can''t help but recognize that ''I''m being targeted''.


    More importantly, I''m glad to see that the patients who had lifeless eyes until I saw them are showing signs of recovery - is that too neat a way to sum up the situation? Anyway, I will continue to be careful not to disturb the atmosphere in the workplace.


    �� ���


    In order to get up to the ramparts surrounding the fortress, they would have to go up to the fourth floor. If Mr. Deethe was leading the archers on the defensive, he would have to go up there to hear about the situation.


    Since it''s not in the category of a military doctor''s interest, he wondered if he should just go back to the residence hall - or not.


    ''Hmm ...... that was ......''


    The castle walls protruded inward in a circle, and there was a door that looked like it could be entered from the courtyard. As soon as I thought it opened, the one who came out from inside was Deite-san.


    ''''Oh, thank you for your help, Mr. Deite. Is there a staircase inside that door to go up?''''


    No, it''s man-powered, but it''s a ground floor-to-floor transportation system. Katie is always worried about it, so I came to tell you that no one was injured. I could have told her with my horn, but it''s late at night like this.


    Deethe said as she stroked her smooth red hair. She wore a breastplate to make it easier to shoot the bow, and it was evident that she was prepared for battle.


    ''''Just like Astina-sama said, the enemy troops have been trying to cross the river. If we had been slow to respond, they would have seized us up to the city walls, but we were able to prevent them from doing so at the water''s edge.


    I prevented - that is, I shot and killed an enemy soldier. Deethe-san is smiling, but also looks a little empty somehow.


    ''I can''t tell ...... everyone very much. I don''t think I should have to fight a lot of battles where I''m not in fear of dying. Because the only people you can kill are the ones who are ready to be killed.


    ...... Everyone here at this fortress is grateful to Mr. Deite and the people at the shooter. I don''t think there''s anything wrong with fighting to be safe.


    Miss Deethe didn''t say a word, but looked at me. Looking at her graceful beauty, I thought again - if it hadn''t been for the war, she probably would have been a duke, and she would have always been a socialite, not a battlefield person.


    ''I didn''t want any comfort, though. You''re not afraid of me, are you?


    ''We will not be afraid. Everyone in this country is proud of you.


    ...... What if I tell you that I''m going to take you to find out what''s left of them?


    --if any of the soldiers were attacked by the archers from the city walls and still survived. Deethe-san came down to find out.


    I don''t know if he was going to take me with him from the beginning. A few more soldiers come down from the top of the city walls - they would be the subordinates accompanying Mr. Deete.


    ''''Okay, I''ll accompany you. Mr. Lendl, please go back to the residence first.


    "...... is the right thing to do.


    I controlled Mr. Rendle, who was about to come with me, ahead of him, and he hesitated a bit, but followed my instructions.


    ''Then let''s go to ....... Thank you for coming without hesitation. You, can you ride your horse?


    ''No, my experience with riding is ......''


    Well, then, I''ll let you ride my horse. If my horse is to your liking, that is.


    Mr. Deethe walks out with his men - it looks like they are heading to the surrender gate to get out of the castle gate.


    Will there be survivors, or not? What I''m required to do is to use my eyes as a military doctor to determine if there are any survivors.

 25 Chapter 23: Forgetting the Flower in the Night

    The enemy hadn''t even been able to reach the moat that encircled the city walls, and had been wiped out by arrows in the riverside meadow.


    I had never seen the power of a longbow, but the metal arrows had penetrated the enemy''s armor and inflicted fatal wounds. The number of enemy soldiers that had been destroyed was over fifty - what the Zirconia army was trying to do with that many people could be seen by looking at what they were trying to carry.


    ''Cannons ...... This caused a lot of damage the last time we were there. They were going to carry it in the dark in small numbers and destroy the walls of the city before they found us out.


    Concerned about the hiding soldiers, Deite ordered his men to carefully scout the area. When it was safe to do so, I asked him to dismount his horse and looked around for the fallen soldiers in the area.


    I couldn''t find any survivors. Leaving the dead out in the open affects the morale of our own troops as well as the enemy''s - I wonder what we''ve done so far after we''ve defeated the enemy army.


    Then I casually look at the soldiers ahead of me and I feel a sense of discomfort.


    ''...... alive ...... Dite, there was a survivor. It looks like he just got hit by an arrow and couldn''t move.


    Well, I will take the men back to the fortress. Hopefully, I''ll be able to get him to tell me what we''re here for.


    If I pull the arrow out here, the blood loss is too great. As it stands, I''ll just have to put some anti-bloody medication on it and then I''ll have to do the surgery when I get home.


    ''...... What are you doing?��If you need treatment, etc., please visit .......


    ''If we don''t, we''ll be in danger of losing our lives before we bring them home. If we''re going to take him as a prisoner of war, we need to take the least amount of care possible.


    ''Yes, it''s ....... You''re right, Doctor. Excuse me, please continue.


    A little bit, Deite''s complexion looks white.


    Come to think of it, it was the same when we got here. I was told to get in front of Ms. Deethe, but her hands seemed to be trembling a bit as she held the reins.


    ''I know you might be offended when I say this ....... Presha-san also said it would be better if we didn''t have to kill an enemy soldier if we didn''t have to.


    ...... to say such feeble things in front of a military doctor. That means she''s still young after all.


    ''No, you don''t get used to it when you get older. It''s much more human that way.


    ''You must abandon such sentimentality if you are going to protect your country. Otherwise, you will lead to your own death one day.


    Ms. Deethe, who is no other, has not been able to split - that''s why she keeps telling herself from earlier.


    To shoot out and block the progress of the enemy forces before they get close. This is how you get hit by arrows and check on an enemy force that has been wiped out - it''s impossible to feel nothing and not wear out your mind.


    From the time we rode together, I could feel what her mind needed. It was a flower that relieved the symptoms of sleeplessness - ''Night Forgotten Flowers'' (Nightflower).


    If you place that flower in your bedroom, it is said to put you into such a deep sleep that you forget that there was even a night. I didn''t use it myself, but I had recommended it to my sister-in-law, who was pleased with it.


    People who have been in the battlefield often suffer from insomnia. Especially when they have experienced many nighttime enemy raids, as in this fortress.


    Deethe-san also dismounts her horse and approaches a fallen sword that looks like it was equipped by an enemy soldier and picks it up. The engraving on its hilt had been scraped off and left behind.


    ''''After all ...... weapons made in our country. It was true that the weapons were flowing to the enemy forces. ......


    ''Did you hear from His Highness Astina, Mr. Deite? What Mr. Presha has reported to you.


    ''I''m sure you''ve been very careful not to demoralize us. We are not so dull of intuition either. His Highness Astina is ...... no from the center. He is marginalized by some forces of the royal family. Otherwise, that person who has served with distinction on the Eastern Front wouldn''t be sent to the dangerous West continuously.


    -- Formerly in the east, where His Highness Astina was fighting. On the eastern border, the war situation has stabilized for several years now, and they have regained the territory that was once taken from them, and now they have an opportunity to expand their territory.


    There should no longer be any need for the princess to stand in the battlefield - but she has been sent to the dangerous battlefield again and is accepting her orders.


    The reason I found Her Highness so inhuman was because her mentality was so clearly different from the rest of us.


    Her brilliance was never given just for the sake of fighting. Her purity and godliness was originally a natural gift to gather the people''s trust, to give them peace and guidance.


    I''ve only just met her, and I''m amazed at myself for being so worshipful. But I think His Highness Astina is to be revered that much - as is Captain Raquel and everyone else in this fortress, including Captain Raquel.


    ''There are those who call Lady Astina a ''saint''. That''s because I can''t use any other word to describe her, as she doesn''t say anything against her circumstances and doesn''t point her sword at the master of the conspiracy. At the same time, as the ''Swords Princess General'', she is willing to wield her sword and kill her enemies. That''s why we want to be the weapon that avenges the enemy instead of her. Yes, we all made a vow.


    It reminds me of Raquel''s running at the command of His Highness Astina. The reason she was so fierce must have come from that vow.


    ''It''s ...... strange. I thought you were a little boy who still felt like a student. Since you are so calm, I''ve told you a few unnecessary things.


    ...... I''m scared, too. So I''ll do what I can. Can you wait over there for a minute?


    What are you going to do?


    ''If we leave the enemy soldier intact, he''ll cause an epidemic. I can prevent it from happening to me. If you have anything that needs to be recovered, save it for now.


    ...... Weapons and other evidence, one at a time, are fine. I will leave the rest as grave markers for dead soldiers.


    Mr. Deite''s men retrieve some of the undamaged armor. The captured soldiers were put on horses and carried away. As for the cannon, it takes some time to carry them, but we manage to transport them inside the fortress.


    While Mr. Deite watches from a little distance, I work on the grass spirits that have filled the riverbank.


    Normally, the spirit users of the earth would be better at this - returning those who have lost their lives to the earth.


    But plants also contribute to obscuring the traces of battle.


    ''O green grass that covers the earth! Answer my call and cover the wasted land. ...... "Promoting Greening ''Plant Grown''


    Encourage grass growth over a wide area. Covering it up with this may seem like a temporary measure, but it will mitigate the effects on the land by allowing new plants to flourish that suck up the phosphorus and salt in the soil.


    What you see behind you is a weapon that has become the gravestone of the enemy. Only the sword and spear sticking out of the ground are still intact for now.


    ''...... Dr. Glass, you said you came from the Academy of Magic, but I''ve never heard of this kind of magic ...... oh ......!


    ...... Sorry, I''m sorry. I thought I could handle this one.


    I''ve worked my magic many times over the course of the day. I knew this could happen if I did this big of a job at the end of the day - but I''ll have to move with a little more respect for myself, too.


    As I almost fell down, Deethe-san catches me. I managed to stay conscious and stand on my feet and away from her.


    ''...... You''re pushing yourself too hard, aren''t you? This isn''t the time to worry about us.


    Really, I''m sorry to be so pathetic ...... sorry to bother you.


    When I apologized, Deethe-san gave me a chiding look - but her eyes narrowed in annoyance.


    ''I''m not just annoyed, but ...... we''re the ones who have to thank you. If you''re going to have a water burial now, I''m sure you''ll be sleepless again tonight ...... oh ......


    I knew you couldn''t sleep. I know a good drug ...... that I can use sometimes when I can''t sleep, so it''s guaranteed to work.


    ''...... kohon. If a woman slips up, men should just sit back and let it go ...... I''d say. It''s hard to hide the dark circles in your eyes, so I''m counting on you.


    Deethe-san said that and bared her head. That smile was as dainty as the little flowers that ''Night Forgetfulness'' puts on - although if you said that with a straight face, you would surely be laughed at even more.

 26 Episode 24: Humanity

    After returning with Mr. Deethe''s unit, he performed surgery to remove the arrows from the captive.


    A chemical solution was pumped inside the wound to disinfect it and stitch it up. The arrow had hit his leg, but the nerve and large blood vessels had been dislodged, and the wound, while serious, was not life-threatening.


    He had been trained in surgery, but this was the first time he had ever performed a full-scale operation like this. After finishing the sutures and protecting the wound, I was still stunned for a while, and finally came to myself when Katie called out to me.


    ''Thank you for your hard work, Dr Glass. It was a stunning surgery ...... I''ve never seen such beautiful stitches in my life.


    The thread I''m using is made of vegetable-based fibers. This allows me to control the thread precisely when it comes to suturing, so I can suture it the way I want.


    ''I''m glad it worked. We will have to watch his condition carefully for a while, though. If you feel any pain, call me immediately.


    Right now, he''s still unconscious due to blood loss, but he''ll eventually regain consciousness. However, he will need to be monitored to make sure he doesn''t try to escape.


    ''And thank you, Katie, for being my assistant.


    No, no, ...... I can only watch. I''m embarrassed to say that I don''t even know what the tools Dr. Glass had in his possession are used for, even though I''ve heard their names: ......


    What the medics are taught is essentially first aid knowledge, so if they don''t know the names of the surgical tools used by the doctors, it''s no wonder they don''t know them.


    However, Katie-san is a quick learner, and if the other medics can see and learn the surgical procedures, the medical skills of this Order will be raised to the bottom of the whole range.


    ''''Well, I''d better get back to my room and rest. See you tomorrow, please.


    Yes. Thank you. Good night, Dr. Glass.


    A long day is coming to an end - or maybe the day is already changing.


    Maybe it''s because I''m using my magic in rapid succession, but I could lose consciousness at any moment. Somehow, I have to get to the residence safely .......


    �����


    I don''t really remember what happened after I returned to my room. I was greeted by Mr. Lendl, managed to get dressed and rolled into bed in my room, and the next time I woke up, the sky I could see through the window was white.


    We had to be on time to the dining room for breakfast as well, since there were so many people in the room. After washing my face and changing, Lendl and I took a bread and leafy vegetable soup today. There is a choice of oatmeal, but I''d rather have something hot.


    ''Hey, I heard that ...... was awesome yesterday ......''


    ''I can''t believe a man is coming to ...... our military and our policy is ......''


    It''s okay.��He seems nice, and if you can see that doctor, you can go to .......


    It''s being blatantly gossiped about - not only by the sanitation building, but also by the rest of the unit. Maybe it''s because I worked with Mr. Deethe''s archer''s unit yesterday.


    .............


    ''Leigh, Mr. Rendle. Please, don''t tell your sister-in-law.


    ''No, no, ...... I don''t want to complain about anything in particular. It was a fresh surprise to me that Mr. Glass had such a wide range of women in his sights.


    ''Isn''t that a subtle way of putting it: ......?��Well, even in the narrowest of confines, they don''t hold much in the way of favors.


    ...... Is that right?


    Yeah, why not?


    What is this awkward exchange? From Mr. Lendl''s point of view, do you think I''m doing someone a favor and not realizing it?


    ''As Katie-sama has said, Master Glass has gained the popularity of the medics overnight. The fact that he can do that means that the others can, too.


    I don''t know. ...... I hope so.


    The biggest challenge for me at the moment is gaining the trust of Raquel-san.


    I hope that the trust will build up as I receive her instructions and carry them out. I have a feeling that it won''t be enough to change her mind about her aversion to magic.


    ''''Whatever it is, we just need to do what we can do, one thing at a time. Good day to you, Rendle-san.


    It''s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Glass.


    The conversation is settled and the rest of us are focused on eating. But every move is being watched by other soldiers - from the youngest to the motherly. This capital''s theatrical actor-like attention span is the only thing that needs to be improved.

 27 Chapter 25 Inspection Team

    After finishing breakfast, I went to the first floor of the fortress to see what was going on, as Raquel told me that she was gathering the commanders of each unit for a morning meeting on the first floor of the fortress.


    ''''The first attack squad will be conducting a vigil around the fortress today. The second squad will conduct training under my guidance. The third squad will be on standby today. You will be allowed to leave the fortress, but not unless it is an important requirement. Don''t get me wrong, it''s not a rest day. Those who seek out what they can do and make a difference will be given the credit they deserve.


    ""Yes, sir, Herr Knight!"


    It seems that in this knightly order, putting a hand on the chest and looking up to the heavens is the way to show respect to a superior opponent.


    Raquel-san continues to make an offer to the other squads. There are three attack squads and two archers. You will find that Presha-san is the captain of the third squad, so he will be on standby for the day.


    After the total of fifteen captains were dismissed, I decided to stop Raquel before she returned to her office.


    ''''Knight-Captain Raquel. Glass Weed, I''m here to report to you.


    Raquel-san slowly turns around - when she looks at him with her slit eyes, her whole body is still tense.


    ''''You don''t have to dare to use military-like words like ...... surrender, though.


    ''Haha ...... I''m not just a doctor, I''m a military doctor. I feel like I''m a military man too, and I want to do my duty.


    ''I''ve received reports from Deite and Katie. They said they did a good job in last night''s enemy raid ...... and that we''ve only just arrived, so we''ll have to get used to it first. There''s nothing for me to tell you at the moment.


    I told him to come to me yesterday to ask for instructions, and I''m not even upset that there''s nothing there - and I''m not upset about it. It''s because they may have heard about last night and taken it into consideration.


    ''As for the ...... POWs, it will be some time before we can interrogate them. From what I''ve heard, your magic is not so much about interrogation as it is about being able to make the enemy do everything you say. That girl Alraune had that kind of power?


    ''Yes ...... I didn''t expect to use it that way either. I''ll continue to use Alraune''s help when I need it.


    I don''t blame you, per se, and I''d rather say thank you for your contribution. As long as you don''t abuse that hypnotic magic.


    ''Sir Knight Raquel, do you see Master Glass doing that?


    I''m sure you can''t blame me for being suspicious, but you''re right, Lendl, I would never do that.


    ''...... Right. You were just eager and honest when you went to treat the ranchers. I''m sure it was the same last night ...... Katie and Dite looked good when they talked about you. Even that manly Presha seems to respect you, rather than approve of you.


    ''Then why do you doubt Master Glass: ......?


    It''s ...... too much, because it''s too much to do. It''s impossible for even a military officer educated as a commander''s candidate to take control of people''s minds at such a rapid rate. Objectively speaking, it''s extraordinary.


    Sure, I''ve been able to make good use of my spirit magic so far, and it''s all been meshing together.


    However, I haven''t been able to get through this on my own. It''s only because of the strength of everyone in the Knights, and because Rendle-san was there too.


    ''''I''m ...... no for the sake of this Order. I originally came here as a court mage serving His Highness Astina. The spirit I signed up for was something no one in the Academy of Magic would recognize. But I wanted to put it to good use for others. I figured if I became a doctor, I could do that.


    Raquel-san was listening to me in silence. If you look away, you won''t gain my trust - there''s nothing I''m guilty of, so don''t look away.


    Eventually, Raquel-san takes a small breath. Then he looked behind me.


    ''Presha, what are you looking at? I thought you said the Third Squad was on standby.


    ...... La Raquel. I may have spoken poorly, but it''s not like Raquel to question Dr. Glass. If you all do your best, you''ll appreciate it and you''ll always be fair to me. ......


    It seems that Presha-san has been watching us with concern - she blushes when she meets my eyes, but continues to appeal to Raquel-san.


    I trust Dr. Glass. It''s not just because I want you to continue to help me. If you''re here, this order will be better: ......


    ...... Maybe so.


    ...... Huh?


    Raquel affirmed Presha-san''s words. I thought I misheard her, but before I confirmed it with her, I had a suggestion to make.


    ''''Knight Captain Raquel, if you don''t have any specific instructions, may I make a suggestion about today''s mission myself?''''


    Dr. Glass, is there something you want to do?


    ''This fortress is in serious food shortage at the moment. This is clearly evident from the content of our dinner and breakfast. If the diet continues to be chronically monotonous, all sorts of obstacles will arise.


    "We have received requests from farmers near ...... to exterminate the demon. But that demon is not something that can be easily eradicated. And once it appears, its fields will become useless. Even the members of the Knights of the Order are too strong to easily defeat it. ...... That makes it difficult to send out troops.


    Zirconia is not the only enemy. A threat that rivals it -- a powerful demon that undermines the field is plaguing this knighthood.


    -- but as for the field becoming useless, I might be able to take countermeasures. The crops in the field are also plants, and there is a close relationship between the plants and the soil.


    ''''Raquel Knight Captain, please. Could you let me go inspect the field that was attacked by the demon?


    ...... No. I''m sorry, I can''t risk the military doctor who just arrived .......


    In that case, I''ll go with you.��You''re on standby, so you''re not prohibited from moving to solve problems in the territory.


    ''What are you talking about, you have subordinates too. Only the captain goes out on his own, etc. ......


    ''Then I''ll be happy to accompany you. Only a person of captain or higher can chaperone Mr. Presha: ...... I was on guard last night, so I''ve been ordered to stand by.


    Deethe-san will accompany me - if the two captain-ranked people are with me, it''s certainly reassuring. However, I also have the feeling that it''s really OK with me.


    In the face of such a question, Deite-san meditates on one eye with a snap.


    ''''Raquel Knight Captain, it''s quite heartbreaking to see that you and His Highness Astina are the only ones eating the same food as the lower-ranking military graduates, without restricting the diet to the other officers. Please don''t give such gentle consideration to them, thinking they won''t notice.


    ''What ...... was that?��I also shared the fruit with the guys in the squad when it was served: ...... Sister Raquel, you said that food is the source of your body, and I can''t believe I''m unhealthy.


    ...... food supply from the center is lagging behind, but it will go away eventually. Until then, the entire fortress will be conserving food, and so should I.


    That''s not enough to sustain Raquel''s body as a heavy cavalryman. It''s not just a matter of nutrition, she is putting too much strain on her body and not enough care for it.


    ''Our stockpile of medicines is low and we need to solve the problem of food insecurity in order to solve it. I pledge not to take any unnecessary risks. ...... Please, please let me go on a visit.


    Once again, I bow my head. Beside me, Mr. Rendle follows suit.


    ''''...... I understand. Even though it''s difficult to resolve, leaving it unattended is also the raison d''��tre of the Knights. Since we can only be knights if we protect the people.


    "Raquel''s sister... ......


    ''''That''s what the Knight-in-Chief ...... is all about, and you''ll listen to me at the end. That''s why I like you so much.


    At Deite''s words, Raquel closed her eyes and sighed. It seemed to be directed at me as well.


    ''Be back by sunset. Don''t touch the demons if you deem them to be dangerous. You can promise me that much and go.


    "Yes!


    Our replies came together. Presha and Deite looked at each other and smiled.


    We want to get a clue to solve the food shortage through this inspection. Food is not only a matter of nutrition, but also a problem that directly affects the morale of the members of the knights--we must restore the food production capacity of the territory at all costs.

 28 Episode 26: Gray ground

    Heading south from the fortress, the wheat fields spread out in the direction of the south. It was said that the farming village that has been severely damaged by the demons is located further on the road that passes between these fields.


    Since the road was maintained to some extent, we used a horse-drawn carriage to get around. Mr. Presha''s men were acting as gosha, and the two captains were riding their own horses.


    Through the window of the carriage, I can see Deethe-san advancing side by side. As we approached our destination, she began to explain to us without us having to ask anything.


    The farming communities in this area are governed by the great families who ruled this region. They were hostile to our kingdom at first, but after the construction of the Isle Rose Fortress, they accepted it without much resistance.


    With that fortress, I don''t think you''ll be easily motivated to challenge it. ......


    ''That''s partly because the Zirconia threat was looming across the canal. A militia of peasants armed only with a peasant militia would not be able to resist a trained knight. Knowing this, they came under the protection of the Royal Army.


    The Knights continue to fight off the Zirconia soldiers that the great tribes feared, as a matter of fact. However, if food production is falling in this rural village, it''s possible that the impoverished great tribes are thinking about turning over - and that''s what they think.


    ''Since Lady Astina became the guardian of the fortress, the people''s feelings towards the Knights of the Order have improved. It''s probably because they are not only against Zirconia, but also because they are protecting their territory from demons and brigands. However, if the demons that ruin the farmland are left unattended, the people''s feelings will gradually worsen. Because the food produced in this area is shipped out to the entire western territory.


    ''''I''d like to do something about ....... No, if we don''t do something, it will exhaust the entire Order. And the drop in production of grains and vegetables means that it will also affect our cattle farming. If it''s difficult to consume a lot of meat, it would be nice if we could consume some legumes.


    ''Our fields of beans have also been damaged. We used to produce them down the road, but now they''re at .......


    Deethe stared forward as if she noticed something.


    ''''What the hell, that shouldn''t have been as bad as it was before ....... ......


    Guys, look!��The color of the land over there has changed: ......!


    (...... The color of the ground has changed completely from the original soil color ...... to gray.)


    I look out the window and am left speechless by the sight. A border has been formed beyond the wheat field and the land beyond it has turned gray.


    Even the horses are slowing down their progress, as if they are feeling abnormal. And up ahead, from a house that must have managed the fields around here, a person came out on horseback from a house.


    ''''Oh, you''re the Knights of the Order, ...... I''m glad you came, but this land is no longer good. It will all wither away before the harvest.


    ''Why is it such ...... that this is happening?��I thought there were just demons out there?


    Even the man looked puzzled by Presha''s question, and he pointed to the gray land behind him - and the forest beyond.


    ''Indeed, at first it was only the demons that came out. We were vulnerable to the flames, and burning them off was a temporary fix for the ...... Knights, and we had some help with that. However, a few months ago, the land around that forest turned gray and no crops could be grown normally.


    ''''Wouldn''t defeating a ...... demon like that help you get back on track?��It doesn''t matter how many demons you slay, if your crops don''t grow, it doesn''t matter how many demons you slay: ......


    Raquel-san would have received the report and would have understood it to some extent. Unexplained, land contamination - no, this is ''erosion''.


    I got out of the carriage and listened to the plants in the area. It wasn''t as clear as the voices I could hear from the elders, and the crops around here, which hadn''t turned gray, had weakened.


    (...... The wind is ...... that, you know, flows from the forest. What is this feeling ......)


    ...... Dr. Glass?


    Mr. Glass, how can I help you?


    --The gray forest in the distance. As I looked at it, I was reminded of something different from the reality of the scene I was seeing.


    The forest was bathed in sunlight. A girl is looking at me, bathed in light.


    The girl''s lips move. But I can''t hear her voice - of course, I''m seeing an illusion.


    That scene I saw when I made a contract with the spirits. But it is rapidly fading and turning gray.


    ...... You''re there. Am I ...... seeing a vision of that place ......?


    Why don''t you get your head out of your ass ...... and get your head out of your ass, what do you mean by a phantom?


    Oh. Oh. Excuse me, I was wondering about that forest. What''s in that forest?


    When I ask the farmer man about it, he, too, twists his head and says


    ''I heard that somewhere in that forest there is a place where the ancestors used to worship some kind of god in their generation. People stopped coming near it and ...... I''ve never been inside it since I was born. There are even rumors that it''s ''cursed'' ......


    ...... curse, is it? It seems to me that the withering away of the land would be a much more horrible thing to say .......


    Everyone would imagine that the cause of the demons is in that forest. The phenomenon of this land turning gray is because it is spreading from that forest.

 29 Episode 27: The identity of the demon

    It''s a terrible idea to go near that forest. People shouldn''t go there, you know. Sooner or later, we had to leave the land. That''s all. ......


    I''m sorry ......, and I understand your concern. But could you please wait a little longer? I don''t know how fast the gray soil will erode, but I think we still have a few days to spare. I''ll try to stop it in those few days.


    ''''When I say stopping it, I mean ...... even the Knights can''t eradicate that demon. Lately, every time there''s a demon, the gray land is spreading rapidly. It seems to have stopped now, but once or twice more demons appear, the fields I manage will be finished.


    Even under those circumstances, they have stayed here until now. I know I''m asking you to endure that much and wait a few more days, I know I''m asking too much.


    But I know that the root of this encroachment is that forest, but I can''t touch it, and if we can even break through that situation, it will be for the better.


    "...... Mr. Presha, Mr. Deethe. You can''t go any further: ......


    ''Don''t tell us to go home because it''s too dangerous. It''s true that I''m the captain and it''s important that we fight Zirconia, but we don''t know how much damage we''ll do if we''re left to our own devices. But if we leave this place unattended, we don''t know how far the damage will spread, and if the demons start appearing around the fortress, that would be a disaster.


    There''s no way to know for sure. If there''s one valid clue, it''s that it''s vulnerable to flames. We need to be careful not to damage our hardy crops, though: ......


    Deethe-san also proceeded as if there was no choice but to return.


    I''m very sorry to say that I''m about to pack up and leave, but do you have anything to burn?��I need to use a fire arrow.


    Yes, yes ...... are you sure you''re going to head to that forest?��No matter how many people in the Order, it is too dangerous. Please don''t take it easy. ......


    ''''If you can''t get a hand or foot in there at all, though, I''ll consider retreating there. Giving up without even approaching it would be a knight in disguise.


    The man had nothing more to say in response to Mr. Deate''s answer. He was never happy to leave this place, either.


    Not just this farmer, but many others who have been around for a long time, and they would be forced to make the same decision to leave the land they were used to living in.


    (What the hell is going on in those woods ......?��No, that''s no ordinary forest. (A forest of strange plants that grow in the grey land: ...... Still, plants are plants)


    If you have something to fuel your fire arrows with, you can use the matches I use to disinfect needles and such. I asked if they were widely available in the west, but he said I could buy them if I went into town - once this problem is solved, I''ll ask Raquel for permission to go into town once.


    ''Well, ...... guys, are you ready?��We don''t know when the demon will appear from here, so we''ll walk to it. I''ve heard that even horses are vulnerable to those demons.


    ''Then we''ll keep them here. Knights, take care of yourselves. ......


    The men would wish us well. We continue on foot, walking more cautiously as we reach a point where the land begins to turn gray.


    --We are still a long way from the forest. But then, as if to block our path, a sound like a rumbling of the earth begins to be heard - the soil ahead of us seems to be bobbing and rising in all directions.


    At the same time, something bursts out of the soil from several points. It was a nightmarish scene - flying out everywhere towards the cloudy sky.


    ''''Whaaat ...... big ...... I can''t believe how many of these demons appear at the same time ......


    ''The worm monster ......?��Either way, we have to do it: ......, haha!


    Presha-san boldly swung her spear and faced the demons that attacked her from the air with snake-like movements.


    Indeed, if it had such colors and moved like a living creature, everyone would be mistaken. That the enemy is an ''animal''.


    (No, ...... this is not a worm, much less a snake. It''s a plant that has changed to attack people, ......!)


    "Kuh ...... what''s the point, it''s not at all responsive ......, yikes!


    Mr. Presha!


    "Presha ......, no, you''re going to hit that girl with this .......


    A demon appeared from underneath her feet and tangled her legs, and Presha-san was suspended in midair - if this was the case, she could be knocked to the ground.


    ''''Let go of me ...... this ...... Dite-san, shoot me!��Don''t worry about me!


    Lady Deite, look out!


    Kuhn: "Kuhn: ......!


    One demon after another jumps out of the ground - Rendle-san pushes Deethe-san out of the way and narrowly escapes capture - while a second and third demon is entangled in Presha-san, and the It takes away your freedom completely.


    (After all, it''s an ivy-like plant ...... that has a will. Then there''s no point in attacking that ivy. (There are other places to target it.)


    Even if the other party is a demon, if it''s a plant, you can hear its "voice". Where does that voice come from?


    I finish my ears and concentrate. In the meantime, one after another, the demons are attacking us, crushing the ground and rolling up the gray earth.


    --Punishment to the humans who have abandoned the divine realm. In the name of the divine tree, I will bring them to judgment.


    (I heard ......, that''s the main body ......!)


    ''Mr. Deite, the demon in the back!��I want you to aim at the root of that thing!


    "Huh ...... there''s something in there ......, I believe you. ......!


    While dodging the enemy''s attack, Mr. Deethe guards the arrow on the bow, draws it - and releases it.


    "--Let go of Plesha, you fool!


    The arrow that ran through the air shot through the purple ivy, which, unlike the others, had barely moved - and then


    ''The tightness, was loosened ......!


    Preciousha-san, who landed on the ground, runs. Exactly with the speed of a carnivorous beast that catches its prey, she unleashes a full-throated thrust at the demon that Deete-san''s arrow pierced.


    ''''--Yaaaah!


    At the end, I leaped and speared out to thrust into the ground - and then I heard the decapitation raised by the owner of the voice from earlier in the day in my ears.


    ''...... haha, haha ...... awesome ...... I did what Dr. Glass said and we won...'' ...


    ''Brilliant, Presha, at ......, but you''ll have to wait a minute to look back!


    What ......?


    As he was hoisted up by the ivy and restrained, it was supposedly so - Presha-san''s armor came off, and the armor underneath, which he was wearing underneath, was also torn wide open.


    ''I''m so glad you didn''t get caught .......


    ''''Well, if you say that ...... you''re going to leave a scar on Lady Presha''s heart if you don''t.


    "Ugh ......, if you feel like something''s wrong with you, it''s ...... rubbing and tingling on your skin, and it sucks .......


    In this case, of course it would be me who would be in charge of the treatment - perhaps because the surface of that demon was rough, although it seems that Presha-san has received abrasions all over her body. It was no longer a time for me to be happy that I had managed to fight it off.

 30 Episode 28: The main part of the spirit doctor

    The demon that appeared to be multiple was a variant of a male and female plant, with the female plant acting as a command center and using the male plant to attack. Through the underground stems, they were all connected to one another.


    The attack on the command tower seemed to have caused it to stop working, but when it stopped moving, I could see that it was originally a normal plant, albeit with a venomous coloration.


    ''''I''m sorry, Glass-sensei...... what is it, the part where I got tangled up with the demon is tingling......''''


    ...... poison on the surface. Okay, let me see it.


    "If I wore a full body armor like Raquel''s sister, I''d die of ...... itchiness and itching.


    I take a look at Presha-san''s sitting down, and at her arms first. The area on her two arms is not covered by armor, so the area under the armor has been torn and the skin has been scratched.


    Touching the red, swollen area still causes a scratchy sensation and inflammation, two kinds of venom that are bad. The itching seems plain, but it''s one of the most unbearable pains a human being can endure.


    ''It''s a bit chilly, but this will bring down the redness.


    The ointment made by mixing the ingredients of herbs with oil was tested with all the herbs available and tested for effectiveness. I have made dozens of dermatological remedies alone, but I have found that by mixing the ingredients of several herbs in the right proportions, I can achieve better results than with any one herb alone.


    The ointment was applied to the reddened area and a bandage was applied. The place where it was wrapped was on both arms, above the knee pads, and on the thighs. The area is swollen on the line as if it had been whipped, so use your magical powers to activate the ingredients of the drug to speed up the healing process as much as possible.


    ''...... awesome sweat ...... doctor, what a concentration. My hands are sweating as I watch.


    Mr. Deethe and Mr. Lendl wipe my forehead from both sides. I''m embarrassed to be that concerned, but it helps to wipe the sweat off, so I don''t say anything for now.


    I check my arms, my thighs - and then the rest of my body and apply medicine to the fine wounds. I didn''t forget to apply the treatment to my neck as it seemed to be wrapped around my neck as well.


    ''Presha-san, do you have any other areas of pain?''


    No, I''m fine now: ...... Thank you, doctor.


    Presha smiles and stands up. The medicines I carry around with me can''t be infinite, and I''ve used up all the skin pills in the current treatment - I''ll have to mix them up again when I have time.


    I didn''t feel any evil thoughts during the ...... treatment. Is Dr. Glass a saint, by any chance?


    Mr. Glass doesn''t mean to be a prude. It''s just a form of therapy.


    ''Oh ...... sorry, Mr. Presha!��Me, I was just thinking about treating you ...... and I might have embarrassed you.


    It''s not that I''m embarrassed or anything, it''s just that ...... is not a place for people to touch you, so I thought it was a bad idea, but I''m just trying to do my best, and I think I''m too self-conscious to say that.


    ''Then it''s like you''re saying I''m too self-conscious, or too evil, but ...... no, I''m not. I thought it was only a therapeutic act, too.


    I think it''s a therapeutic act for me too, but when I remember the sight of the ointment being applied now, I know it would be an objective sight to think about. Even though I know it, I''ll just continue to work on it mindlessly in the future when I need urgent treatment.


    ''Master Glass, I think it''s time to move on ......, you never know when the demons will come out.


    ...... No, I''m fine. I don''t feel the presence of a demon approaching.


    This place is in the middle of the gray wilderness - but so far, there is no sign of demons coming out. The reason they were said to be numerous is probably because they were demons that looked like more than one, even if they were one, so they looked numerous.


    ''''What......se, sir?��What the hell are you doing, you''re going to itch like me if you touch me?


    I walk up to the female plant that Mr. Presha has poked through and examine it. The stem - the vascular bundles are unusually developed and altered to allow for tentacle-like movement, but this is the plant I know.


    The shape of these leaves is ...... I knew it. This demon is a variant of what is called a nettle. It has been changed to look like a demon, but it was originally a plant. It is sometimes used as a medicinal herb.


    ''Ya, herbs ......?��With all these toxic colors and poison?


    ''Depending on how you use it, it can be either a poison or a medicine. Nettles can grow thorns on their stems in regions where they are often eaten by animals. It''s the thorns that have damaged the coiled parts of the plant.


    ...... You move like a living creature, so no one realized what it was. If we burned it, it would be more and more difficult to figure out what the original was.


    Even the remnants of the burning wreckage would have been recognizable to me as plants if I''d seen them. The tissue is quite different from that of an animal.


    I touch the motionless female plant. It''s still breathing, but there''s no will to resist - on the contrary, the consciousness that comes through weakly.


    (......? giving judgment to those who have abandoned the divine realm. The man I was talking about earlier, that some kind of god was being worshipped ......)


    The clue to stop the erosion caused by this gray soil is still in that forest.


    Abandoned means that it used to be associated with humans. What if they lost it and the beings worshipped were angry and created demons as punishment?


    (And those demons aren''t going to be turned in by any number of them either. The beings in that forest are already quite weak.)


    ...... I''m sorry about this. If you could, please don''t send any more of your people to us. That way, we won''t have to fight.


    I speak to it, but it doesn''t respond. But the plant''s poisonous color changes to green, which is probably what it was originally.


    It really was ...... originally an ordinary grass. ......


    ...... It''s like you''re talking to a plant and telling it to go away. Dr. Glass, what the hell are you doing at .......


    I''m a plant spirit user. I''m glad to be here today. ...... I think the reason I signed up with the plant spirit was also to come here.


    To hate and torment people, I created demons and let them encroach on the gray land - that idea was gone for me.


    The beings in that forest are weak and need help. The role of the ''spirit doctor'' is to heal not only people, but also the things that reside in plants - spirits.


    ''There may still be some plants that see us as enemies. Fire arrows are certainly effective, but if possible, please do not use them in the event of a battle.


    ''...... I understand. If you think about how the plants feel, it would certainly be painful to have them burned, and it would intensify their hatred.


    ''''If I got stabbed with a spear, that''s going to hurt. ...... I thought it was a demon, so I poked it as hard as I could.


    ''Otherwise, we would have all been taken into custody. I don''t think we could have avoided the battle we just had.


    If it hadn''t been for Presha-san and Deethe-san, we might have ended up trapped and unsure of anything, with no dialogue or anything else.


    However, if possible, I want to avoid any more fights. Whether or not that''s possible depends on how I interact with the demons I''m about to encounter - the plants.

 31 Episode 29: Abandoned Garden

    The closer you get to the forest, the more intense the miasma becomes. The miasma of a flower that has changed into a demon is releasing pollen like a sandstorm - but I can protect myself from the pollen flying towards me. The miasma of the miasma is a miasma of the plant, and it is a substance that I can interfere with.


    The miasma is a constant drain on the miasma''s magical power. The miasma is a miasma that accumulates and releases magical energy as needed.


    (Crystals are incredibly expensive. ...... It''s not something a student can buy. You have to accumulate a military doctor''s salary for quite a long time to buy them, and right now we have to get by ......)


    ...... Mr. Glass, are you using magic?


    "Oh, yeah. Because my magic is the only way to prevent this miasma from happening.


    This sandy thing that''s avoiding us is the magic of Dr. Glass ......?


    You mentioned a plant spirit. ...... Is this sand something of a plant too?


    Unlike Alraune''s pollen, this time the pollen is just attacking the human immune system. If you were exposed to it properly, you would not be able to stop crying.


    Normally, we can''t see the pollen even if it is flying, but with this density, we can see it. If you are sensitive to pollen, it''s a very unbearable situation.


    At ....... I''ve been entrusted by the dean of the school, but I''ve finally accumulated enough magic power to be able to use it. I will give it to you.


    "Huh ...... le, Mr. Rendle, that''s .......


    Lendl-san takes out the magic crystal that I was thankful to have at a time like this from his bag and holds it out to me.


    The price of the crystals varies greatly depending on the amount of magic power they can accumulate. This is a common mage''s, able to collect seven days worth of magic power - you can tell how much magic power you have collected by the state of the color, but about a seventh of the total color changes from black to purple, so it is considered a little more than about a day''s worth.


    ''Is this ...... perhaps you saved it up for last night?''


    ''I''m sorry, I could have saved up a full load if I''d been able to prepare for it before: ......


    ''No, it''s enough. It really helps.


    ''Mr. Rendle is your teacher''s secretary too, so you must know a thing or two about magic.


    I suppose that means they''ve chosen someone who can assist them in both medicine and magic.


    The moment he received the magic crystal, it was no longer a struggle to maintain his magic. On the contrary, it was so much faster than the speed at which it recovered.


    The magic power accumulated in the crystal is converted into a form called ''pure magic power'', so any mage can use it, and in some cases, it can be used more efficiently than one''s own magic power. I''ve never used it before, so I didn''t expect it to be so powerful - students who have contracts with elemental spirits are allowed to use it during mock battles.


    ''''As for the magic power, my surplus will always be stored in the crystals, so please leave it with me for the night.


    ''Yeah, just take it easy. Magic is important to everyone.


    Hey, sensei, do we have magical powers too?


    ''You''re ''the same'' as Captain Raquel, so you have magical powers. I also seem to have more than the average person, but I can''t compare to Dr. Glass the Mage.


    In general, the ratio of human life force to magic power is ten to one, but for mages and demon warriors, it is one to one. The difference is not something that can be bridged by training or other means.


    ''''If only I knew how to do it, I could share my magic power with my teacher ......


    We knights have a role to play, too. If we do that, then it''s worth it for you to come along with us.


    ''Yeah ...... right. You have to do your part instead of asking for something you don''t have.


    The role of the two of them--that is, to defeat the enemy. As if in response to their words, an unavoidable barrier awaited them ahead.


    Two huge flowers, blooming like forest guardians. They would be beautiful flowers in their original state, if only they weren''t too big, instead of the poisonous colors of the extreme colors.


    (...... No, wait ...... this flower is ...... a flower I''ve never seen before.)


    I had long ago researched all the plants available in the academy. I''ve studied the distribution maps in the illustrated books and conducted a certain amount of field research as far as I could reach near the capital city--even so, after three years of researching, I''ve finally only discovered a few new species.


    But this forest in front of me - the nettle I knew earlier was a plant I knew, but it too had evolved on its own. The flowers in front of me have never seen the form itself.


    I''m convinced that I''m here. This forest is a garden of plants I''ve never heard of - a secret place.


    If we can restore the demonized plants to their original form, this forest will surely return to its former state. I''m going to have to meet the nettles, the being that they call ''God''.


    ''It''s coming ......, teacher, tell me your weaknesses!��We''ll just go for it!


    They say beautiful flowers have thorns, but they can''t have ...... fangs. ......!


    Even among the insectivorous plants, no one has evolved to specialize in ''predation'' like this - the flower is split in two as if it were opening its mouth, revealing a dense row of fangs.


    Deite was baffled by the ghastly sight, but Plesha held up her spear without any fear at all.


    ''''Presha-san, please poke the stalk!��There''s no particular weakness in this type of plant!


    You''re right, ...... it can''t be that convenient, many times. Okay, I can handle it.


    ...... Presha, you''re letting me handle this, aren''t you?


    Presha nodded without turning around. And towards her, the two flowers tried to bite at the same time - but.


    With a marvelous body technique, Presha-san was flying in the air. And while falling, she thrusts her spear at one of the flowers - tearing it apart with the blade attached to the tip of the trident, cutting the flower in two.


    ''''--Seyaa!


    With the spear that she brought out as she turned around, she cut off both stems of the other flower - the spear is covered in a pale light. The power that is unimaginable from her petite body is created by her magical power.


    It''s not just a matter of time before you''re ready to go. I''m afraid of people saying I''m afraid of them when I''m fighting. ......


    ''I don''t think anyone is afraid of you. I was just admiring your abilities.


    But ...... is just a regular flower. If you cut them off, they''ll be more hostile to you and me. ......


    Still, we won''t know anything until we go deeper. I''ll try to convince you, but the plants aren''t exactly a monolithic force to be reckoned with.


    The only way to do that is to take it down is if it attacks you. I hope it''s only a demon that I can take down with me.


    The first demon was incompatible, but depending on the opponent, I think it''s safe to say that Presha-san''s power is unbeatable under the heavens. Her ability to become an attack captain at a young age could not be more understandable.


    ''''......-sensei, please take a look. There''s something like a stone pillar standing over there.


    Stone pillars?��Why is it here: ......


    Two rotten stone pillars stand at the end of Deite''s point. Guessing at the original shape, they were arched gates, though the top part was crumbling.


    There''s a tile-like stone buried at the foot of this one. It looks like it continues to the back.


    It has fallen into disrepair and is in its original form, but I could imagine what this place was originally.


    This is a garden. A garden that was once manned and maintained has been abandoned and has been transformed into something else.

 32 Episode 30 Sanctuary

    What had happened in this place - the stone floor left lying around after the soil had dried and weathered and washed away, and the decaying, ivy-tangled sign beyond it. As I got closer to it, my guess turned to certainty.


    ''...... This place was once under the control of the kingdom. I can''t read all of it, but it has the coat of arms of the kingdom and the name of the then king on it.


    This name is nearly a hundred years old, if the reign of King Kludio was ten generations ago .......


    The area containing this garden is not completely controlled by the kingdom, but it should have been the territory of this country for a hundred years.


    Did a powerful family become so influential that the kingdom lost control of this garden itself? Or did the kingdom itself abandon its management of the garden? There is no proof of either at this point.


    ''''If the kingdom has stopped managing this place, why didn''t you ask the people in the vicinity to do it?


    ''I can only guess that from the ...... situation. I think that for some reason, this forest has become inhospitable. Places where the power of the spirits is strong often reject people. If you''re not a mage who can detect the influence of the spirits, you ''somehow'' don''t want to get close to them and that''s it.


    Forbidding people from entering a person under the influence of a spirit is a magic that can be applied. However, if a genie is angry or refuses people with bad feelings towards humans, it should never be left alone.


    Nature spirits bring various benefits to humans, but sometimes they can also cause them to suffer. Elemental spirits are said to be particularly influential, and sometimes the spirits'' wrath can appear as a natural disaster - the spirits in the spirit world will return to the spirit world once the summons is released, so they have little impact on this world.


    (...... The phenomenon that is appearing in this garden is also due to a mutation that happened to the spirits. There is something else that is affecting the entire plant life in the garden. If such a thing is possible, not a genie, but another higher being ...... but if it is down the road, can it approach and stay safe ......)


    In this situation, where some of the companions are accompanying them, there''s no way to make a reckless choice - but as Presha-san and the others had said themselves earlier, there''s no choice but to retreat to them.


    ''Glass-sensei, you don''t need to be shy with us. I won''t regret my decision to move on, no matter what happens next.


    The royal family gave away and neglected gardens ...... You don''t get to experience such mysteries when you''re in a fortress, do you? I don''t mean to play around, but to be honest, my heart is dancing in my chest.


    A path leading to the back of the garden with a sparse stone floor. There, a new plant demon blocked the path - seeing that, Presha-san stood with fighting spirit from all over her body, and Deite-san held her bow. The fact that these women came together with me was once again reassuring.


    �����


    Hah!


    There. ......!


    Presha-san''s spear roared and Deite''s arrows shot through the raging plants. Even though these demons are far more powerful than goblins and the like, the two of us didn''t hold back as long as we knew their weaknesses.


    The closer you get to them, the more they don''t want you to get to them, the more they attack us. But the nettles listened to me and never attacked us.


    Plants of the same species share consciousness as friends. The plants attacking us just repeat the words ''punish those who have abandoned the divine realm''.


    But as they realize that they can''t stop us, their voices gradually weaken. And we were on a long downhill slope in the increasingly dense miasma.


    --The miasma is a miasma that has been around for a long time, and it''s not until we got this close that we were able to see the existence of it.


    It''s not just a matter of time before you''ll be able to get a good idea of what to expect. No, I could tell it was a tree because of its trunk and branch-like parts, not a single leaf, and its surface was decayed and gray.


    I''m sure you''ll be able to find out more about the miasma, and I''m sure you''ll be able to find out more about the miasma. I''m sure you''ll be able to find a way to make it work.


    ''''Wha-......, my predecessor, ...... this won''t even be another step ......''''


    You can''t do this, Mr. Glass!��You''re not alone in this: ......!


    Both Presha and Deethe were unable to take another step forward. I could hear the two of them stopping me, but I still couldn''t help but advance.


    The being ahead of them was weak and asking for help - it wasn''t as easy to imagine.


    They despaired and mourned, and they had no choice but to turn their anger on all humans. There was only one reason to do so.


    ''I know what it''s like to hate the people who abandoned this place: ...... Still, I know it''s too much to ask!��Just give me one more chance!��We are not going to betray you again!��I''m not going to leave this place and forget it: ......!


    --not a betrayal.


    --I had always assumed that man would offer up his faith.


    --My conceit has put men off. A god who does not have faith will only decay and be forgotten.


    ''Your family members aren''t convinced by that...... so they turned their wrath on us. I''m sure you feel sorry for them too!��If the land around us continues to wither and die, we can really forget about it: ...... Now, we can still stop it!��We can help you!


    I didn''t mean to tell a makeshift lie. I''m not going to be the only one who''s been in the same boat for a while.


    If the miasma is causing the land to wither away because of the loss of faith, then I''ll offer my faith again. The moxibustion is a very important part of the miasma.


    Still, the rejection intensified, and the miasma grew thicker and thicker without end. Stones mix with the blowing gray earth and graze your cheeks -- you can feel the pain and know that the blood is running down your cheeks.


    -- it''s too late now. Even I can''t stop my body from decaying. If my roots that hold this land together wither, the soil will rot, and my servants will be turned to demons. Those who were cut down by you were also originally innocent plants and flowers.


    --I shall be a martyr to them, and they shall perish. Abandon this land again, O man!


    A voice rings in my head. If that''s what God wants, then maybe there''s nothing left for humans to do.


    Still, I can''t give up. It''s a good thing that the miasma is only a short distance away, as it prevents the miasma from blowing in, but the magic power stored in the magic crystal is already on the verge of being lost.

 33 Episode 31: Incarnation of Kamiki

    The miasma is a miasma that mounts up in the midst of the rushing miasma, and I try to move forward.


    The miasma is a miasma that can only be stopped by the power of the magic crystal. Then, as if my consciousness is being reaped, it gets darker - gradually I can''t see anything.


    (But ...... if I give up here, this great tree will die and the surrounding land will wither away.


    A huge tree - I don''t even know what kind of tree this is.


    The continent I was born on was still filled with so many unknown plants.


    I wanted to find and study as many plants as possible that could be used as medicine so that one day there would be no more diseases that couldn''t be cured.


    --The same is true of this great tree.


    I want to heal this tree. I want to see again the lush green paradise that once stretched out around this tree.


    I remember Jichan, who was quietly waiting to die in the courtyard of the academy, answering my call for a cure.


    There is no such thing as a disease that cannot be cured. If despair is the disease that leads to death, then a little bit of hope can change everything - and that''s why.


    "I''ll be the ...... I''ll cure you!��I promise you ......, so listen to me!��I''m going to spend my whole life trying to fix you. ......!


    The miasma shows a bewilderment.


    The raging rage and the force that is trying to keep me away eases, and I take one step forward, and then another.


    -- and yet, my vision remains closed to the darkness.


    As I almost fell forward, I was held from behind, in someone''s arms.


    "Glass-sama ......, if you''re going to move forward ...... I''ll make a way for you to go a little further ......, even if I have to change into this body. ......!


    I can hear Mr. Lendl''s voice. There''s no need for him to risk his life with me when I just met him.


    Still, I feel so reassured by the arms that support me from behind.


    I stepped without falling down and moved forward. Soon, my outstretched hand will touch the trunk of the great tree - and.


    The moment I lost all my magical power, my consciousness was cut off from reality.


    �� ���


    I should have lost consciousness, not even knowing if I could have touched the big tree.


    When I opened my eyes, I found myself lying face down on the ground, green grass growing in front of me.


    I wondered if it was more of a dream that I was walking on the dirt that had turned gray. I wondered if the sight of the ground covered in green grass was as comforting as this.


    When I woke up, I saw the same forest square I had thought wasn''t a real scene, the same forest square I had seen that day in my vision.


    Birds were singing, I could hear the rustling of leaves on the trees, and the sun was shining down generously from the sky.


    And the great tree that stood before me - lush and leafy, and the morning dew spilled from its leaves, leaving a trail of light in the clear air.


    What is it that catches that drop of light with both hands?


    It is a girl with hair that seems to be made of threads of light as it is, a girl with a beauty that is beyond human form, yet has a human form.


    "...... you are ...... no, you are ......


    As I looked at the figure, I naturally understood it.


    A higher being, a higher being, of a plant spirit - a being that should be called a plant god. She was the very incarnation of the divine tree, right in front of me.


    The first thing you need to do is to ask yourself, "...... who has the power to speak and communicate with my family members. I called you here to ask you why you approached me without fear of death.


    The voice I was hearing from the big tree didn''t seem to be a man or a woman. However, the incarnation of the divine tree in front of me now sounds weak, but makes a crystal-clear, feminine sound reach my ears.


    She doesn''t care about hiding her skin, the thin silk she wears is almost transparent in the light, revealing the contours of her body.


    ''I thought ...... you were still alive and could regain your vitality. If your faith is lost, then you can get people to worship the divine tree again. I don''t know why the kingdom has abandoned this garden and you ...... The only thing I can say is that times have changed since then and now. There are a lot of people who need the blessings you bring, including us.


    ...... I was once worshipped as a god. Those of the king''s blood received my oracle to win the war against the periphery and extend my rule. However, those who control spirits of a different lineage from me ...... tried to seal my existence. They feared that I would have no more power as a god.


    The moment I heard that, I realized that the custom I had been questioning for a long time and still had no choice but to follow was for a reason.


    The divine spirit of the Great Tree made great contributions to the kingdom. There were those who disliked the growing influence of these spirits - the elemental spirit users who disliked the fact that the plant divine spirits had power.


    And then the earth, water, fire, and wind spirit users emerged, and the rest were treated as unfortunate spirits. Me, Leslie, and Sven - the students who couldn''t make a contract with the elemental spirits were all ''less valued than the elemental spirit users''.

 34 Episode 32 Name

    The divine tree that had brought victory to the kingdom was marginalized, and various human agendas were believed to have been involved in the abandonment of this garden.


    However, not all the mages who contracted with elemental spirits must have set a trend of not valuing any spirits other than those they contracted with.


    The battle mages who are currently making great contributions to the military - those who have obtained their current authority by separating the spirits of the divine tree from the royal family. Some of them have distorted their values towards spirits.


    Accusing them doesn''t mean that we, who signed a contract with the ''outlier'' spirits, will be immediately restored to power. The accusation itself means treason to the country - the court mages are deeply entrenched in both the military and political aspects of this country.


    ...... When you were worshipped as a god, did the royalists ever come here, too?


    At the fertility festivals, which celebrate the harvest of crops, the priestesses of the king''s blood came to me and offered me songs and dances with my people.


    ''In the blood of the king, the priestess ...... when that person was around, you were able to gather faith. So that''s what happened.


    Just because it is a big tree does not mean that people''s faith will be gathered. It is only because the royal family led a festival to worship and venerate this large tree that faith was gathered and she was able to exercise her power as a god.


    The ...... priestesses are chosen from the maidens of the king''s blood. She conveyed the oracle to the people and sometimes brought the god down on her person. By contracting with the maiden, I was able to exercise the secret art of being a god. People called it a ''miracle''.


    Miracles ...... then, the priestess was treated like a present-day god ......


    ...... The last priestess who made a contract with me was called ''The Saint''. But that contract was unilaterally broken. And I and my consorts were discarded.


    I was abandoned - a being who was called God, and that''s how I perceived my situation.


    I had always thought of God as a more supernatural being. I had imagined that he would give people grace and punish them, all at the mercy of God''s will.


    If the spirits, having gained divinity, are called gods. It would mean that we mages are close to God and can relate to him in a deeper way.


    ''My life is already running out. Once you are called God, if you lose your faith, you lose the meaning of your existence. If I try to resist the disappearance, it will consume the world. If I live on, the earth will wither away without end.


    The sooner the remaining lives run out, the sooner the withered earth will stop eroding.


    If that''s why they were keeping us away - the divine Tree Spirit has not yet hated people so much that she wants to destroy everything.


    In order to cure her, she needed to restore people''s faith in her. As soon as possible - but time would inevitably be needed.


    How do we make sure they have that time? Even if I, the people around me, the members of the Order - even if that''s all the people believe in her at first, will she regain some of her strength?


    '' ...... a royal priestess. The third princess I serve is called the ''Sword Princess General'', and being a priestess is a bit different. But she is of the king''s blood.


    ...... of Raseneian blood here ......?


    Raiseneier - the name of the royal family that rules this country. When she said that name, the color of emotion dwelt in her eyes for the first time.


    The divine tree and the priestess were closely related. I don''t know if I can advise His Highness Astina and get her to listen to me - but it''s the only way.


    ''I will ask Your Highness to come to this place. And I call on you to make sure that more people believe in you and want you to be as well as you were. All we can do now is just a comforting band-aid ...... and I think it''s a terrible thing to ask you to endure that, too.


    ...... The daughter of the royal family will not come to me. For the royal family has abandoned me.


    ''His Highness Astina may not have been informed of this place yet. Even if he did know and didn''t come here, we''ll have to find out.


    All I can do is keep telling him to trust me - Mr. Raquel might even have difficulty with me advising His Highness in some cases.


    Still, I can only ask. If we can save the divine tree, everything will change. Both the Order and the lives of the people living around here.


    ''...... why ......''


    What ......?


    Why would ...... try to save me so much? Why do you believe that I am worthy of ...... when no one needs me anymore?


    That''s because - the place I''m in now, this forest was the beginning of my spirit mage and the place I should aim for.


    This place is an illusion of the former divine realm, shown by the divine tree. If I return to myself, the huge, dead tree as it was in the beginning will be right in front of me.


    I ...... have been feeling called to this place for a long time. I had hoped to reach it while I was still alive. But I''ve already found it.


    ...... who can communicate with the spirit of the plant. That also means that you can communicate with me. I owe you an apology if my voice has been heard.


    ''There''s nothing to apologize for. I''ve always loved plants. If I can heal you from now on, that would make me happier than anything.


    ''...... I''m not the kind of person to get people to say that much. But .......


    She offers me a drop that has slipped down the leaves of the giant tree, pooling in the girl''s hand.


    I thought about whether it was okay, but if she''s recommending it, I put my mouth on it - and then.


    ''Huh ...... this is ......''


    I can only create ...... so much now. The drops of the divine tree will be able to be created by the power gained from the earth, the faith ...... and the prosperity of my kinsmen. I thank you, O human being, for your thoughts. A heart that wants to heal me, which is also faith.


    --I''m not going to be able to get rid of it.


    A few transparent drops that pooled in her palm gave me an overflowing sense of vitality.


    ...... I still want you to get your energy back. I''m sure you''ll be able to help a lot of people out of their illnesses.


    ''I''m not all-powerful, and now I do harm to people just by existing. I can''t even put the dead soil back together ...... but I can stop my family members. Those born in this forest will now be put to sleep.


    ''Thank you. I''m sure the people who farm around here will feel comfortable with it.


    I don''t think I''ll be able to get faith in ...... considering the fact that my family members have attacked humans so far. When you do, send me to .......


    ''Please don''t ask me to let you die. But ...... if you have no choice but to do so. Then I will do what you want.


    I can''t let it end like that - but if I just impose my hopes on her, I''m going to make her suffer.


    I hope it will work out, and while I hope so, I am well aware that people''s hearts cannot be changed so easily.


    But even if I alone believe in it, I''ve certainly helped her. I have tasted that fact with my own body, so there is no hesitation.


    Can I ask you ...... one ...... now?


    ...... My name is ''Euceresis''. That''s about all I can answer for.


    She showed me a glimpse of the power of the divine tree that had given the king an oracle. She tried to anticipate my question.


    The sunny forest is covered in white light - I must leave this place now.


    But I will come back here. I''ll show it back to the way it was, not as a phantom, but as a reality - both the divine tree and this forest she lives in with her attendants.

 35 Episode 33 Prayer

    Sensei, first-year student!


    Get yourself together, Dr. Glass!


    "ugh. ......


    The miasma is a very rare disease.


    The miasma that had filled the area was now infinitesimally thin. The miasma is not only a miasma, but it is also a very serious disease.


    It''s a good thing ...... you''re touching this tree and not moving the whole time.


    ...... Did Dr. Glass stop the miasma?


    No, ...... this divine tree has stopped it. The erosion of the land will also stop for a little while. The demonized plants will no longer attack people.


    ''Really ......?��Thank goodness ......, but a little while means it''s not a fundamental solution: ......


    ''''That''s why I need to go back to ...... the fortress and ask the Raquel Knight Captain to do something for me. Once the power is returned to this divine tree, the withered land can be restored to vitality ...... and for that, we will need the cooperation of His Highness Astina.


    The two captains turned tense as they mentioned His Highness'' name. That alone showed the depth of respect they had for His Highness Astina.


    ''''What does it have to do with the fact that this is a garden that was managed by the royal family?''''


    ''What ...... Mr. Deethe, how do you know?''


    That''s the analogy we''ve been drawing from. This huge ...... tree, towering at the far end of the garden, was probably the symbol of this garden. Dr. Glass was touching ...... this huge tree and probably interacting with it.


    ''''It''s just as you say. This divine tree, Eucalyptus, used to be worshipped as a god, but the entire garden was abandoned. But for some unknown reason, the entire garden was abandoned and it has lost most of its power as a god.


    We look up overhead - what would once have been a magnificent branching arrangement has cracked the bark and grown black moss that eats away at the trunk.


    ''Master Glass, look at the leaves ......


    "Huh. ...... This is .......


    I reacted as soon as Lendl-san told me to, and picked up a leaf that had fallen.


    --even though the divine tree is dead and there isn''t a single other leaf on it. The leaf in my hand was small, but it was a fresh green color.


    I was able to regain a small amount of power, not only in the illusion, but in reality as well. I must believe even more strongly that this divine tree will come back to life. I believe that this thought will heal this divine tree, even if only a little.


    "...... This tree is alive. No ...... you responded to Glass-sama''s thoughts.


    I don''t believe in it, but it''s not enough. I want as many people as possible to believe in ...... that this tree will definitely come back to life. I''m hoping that I can bring this garden back to its former glory.


    ''Well, I''ll pray too. I''ve been praying to the god of war all my life, so I don''t know if I''m doing it the right way: ......


    It''s not so much about the polite way of doing things as it is about just not lying to your heart. That''s what faith is all about.


    Mr. Deethe combines his hands and prays. Presha-san follows suit - and so do we.


    The divine tree does not answer anything. But I believed that if I always remembered what I had just prayed for, it would be the strength to support the divine tree.


    �� �� ��.


    The encroachment of the grey land had not only stopped, but had ''receded'', albeit only slightly.


    A man who was about to abandon his house and move to another piece of land ran up to us when he saw us returning and bowed his head.


    How can I thank you all ...... the gray soil that had been spreading is about to return to normal. Even the crops that were still safe are suddenly alive .......


    The miasma that had been flowing out of the forest had stopped, which immediately had a positive effect on the crops. As I got off the wagon, he took me by the hand and thanked me again and again.


    ''If the grey soil stays stopped, our crops will grow safely until the harvest. Then we won''t have to leave the house.


    ''If you can harvest it, would you be willing to sell some to our fortress as well? We''re running low on food, anyway: ......


    ''There''s no way we''re going to sell it, we don''t charge you for what we harvest. It''s because of the people in the Order that we don''t have to live in fear of zirconia. That''s what we, the people who organize our farmers, are constantly being told.


    The person who is in charge of the farmers is probably a wealthy family who once governed this area and is now under the protection of the kingdom. Once we can contact them, we can ask them what they are growing on the farmland in this area, and maybe we can discuss the possibility of producing new medicinal herbs.


    First and foremost, we need to revive the divine tree. We need to get one or two more people to believe in it.


    ''''There is one thing I need to ask you to do to restore this gray soil to its original state.


    ''Yes, if I can do anything to help you, by all means, ...... family, no, all of my relatives, let me help you in any way I can.


    ''Thank you. It''s not so burdensome, but I''d like you to pray for that forest. If God in that place can get his strength back, this area will flourish more ...... so please pray with us.


    ''I thought that God was ...... oh, we shouldn''t be anywhere near that place. It was because we were touched by God''s wrath ...... I''ve lived in this land for so long and I didn''t know anything about it. I''m truly ashamed ......


    ''It''s not too late. Everything will be back to normal ...... No, more than the original, the land around here will be fine.


    Presha and Deethe are already praying for the forest. The men brought their families, which numbered ten in all, and they all prayed with us.


    We can''t say that the fertility festival will take place immediately. However, His Highness Astina can let all of the western territory''s lords and ladies know - he wants them to pray to the God who brings fruitfulness.


    Then, surely, the divine tree Euselisis would be restored to its original form. If the God who once led the kingdom to victory was present, then the current situation, where they could be attacked by Zirconia at any moment, could be changed.


    --no, that must change. If we use our power for the good of the people of the realm, rather than letting our hearts be worn out in battle, both Presha-san and Deite-san will not have to pile on the gloom of killing people.


    ''...... Shall we pray from now on to remember that morning and evening? Dr. Glass, me and Presha''s squad will follow your instructions whenever possible.


    I don''t know what to do. It would be best if I could convince my sister Raquel ...... I hate magic, I wish I could do something about it. ...... Ah. Speaking of magic, Mr. Lendl, what in the world did you do when you caught up with your teacher from behind?


    I have granted Master Glass my magical powers. I have some magical knowhow.


    Because Lendl-san shared his magical power with me, I was able to take the last step to the big tree.


    --Really, is that true? Even though magic power can be shared between mages, it is considered very inefficient. Each and every mage, the nature of magic power is not the same, and unless you are a blood family, you can hardly use someone else''s magic power.


    (Rendle-san''s magic nature is close to mine ...... no. Didn''t he use his magic to prevent the miasma ......?)


    Hmmm, I''m sure you''re right. Hey, can I hold that magic crystal this time?


    ''It''s surprisingly healthy of you to try to score points with Mr Glass by doing that.


    I''m grateful to Dr. Glass for the opportunity to help me out, so I''d like to thank him for that.��You don''t believe it at all, your face!


    ''Huh ...... You''ve been unexpectedly taut since Dr. Glass arrived. You and I both.


    Presha-san''s magic power can certainly be used if it''s accumulated in magic crystals. However, if you use the magic power of the opposite s*x too much, a problem that cannot be said out loud will occur--that''s something I should deal with at my own risk, so I decided to leave it unsaid for now.

 36 Episode 34: War

    In order to revive the divine tree, I must ask for Your Highness Astina''s help.


    I''m sure that as of yesterday, His Highness Astina''s opinion of me hasn''t changed much. Presha-san also said that I told him that I was present at the interrogation and that I drew information out of him with magic - I wonder what his reaction was at that time.


    "His Highness is always very deep in thought, or rather ...... doesn''t often express his or her thoughts, so I can only imagine what he or she thinks. He didn''t seem angry or sad when he heard that someone from the royal family was involved with Zirconia. As for Dr. Glass, he said, ''I''ll talk to you in person at a later date about his contributions.''


    Now I''m being told a very important story - I thought His Highness didn''t expect much from me, but am I right in thinking that my reputation has improved since the beginning?


    ''''There''s a view that His Highness didn''t just shun mages and didn''t join his order because he didn''t respect them, but he didn''t choose his direct reports from among the court mages who only have combat mages. In that respect, I don''t think I have a strong sense of evasion when it comes to Dr. Glass'' magic.


    I look out the window and talk with Presha-san and Dite-san who are running alongside me.


    His Highness Astina, who is leading the knights as a general, evades the battle mages who are said to have the power to influence the course of the war - why is that?


    Conceivably, he does not have a good impression of the combat mages he has met so far.


    Or is it that you can''t easily rely on a battle mage who has a direct connection to the royal family - a battle mage who is likely to be under the breath of the second queen, who is estranged from you.


    ''...... His Highness Astina is an old acquaintance of the Dean of Millenia. He has spoken with the Dean of the Academy, who is a court mage, when he was in King''s Landing. I don''t think he hates all combat mages. ......


    Rendle-san, sitting next to me, tells me so. Her sister-in-law didn''t say how close she was to His Highness, but I wonder if she kept quiet because she thought I would be spoiled if I told her - does that mean that her sister-in-law, who is deeply loyal to the royal family, didn''t tell her about His Highness easily?


    We can only speculate, but in any case, I must get an opportunity to have an audience with His Highness through Raquel-san.


    It is unlikely that I will be able to meet His Highness Astina, the commander of the fortress, on the same day. Even so, if I don''t tell His Highness about the divine tree as soon as possible--''''


    ''''That''s .......


    Smoke is rising from the ...... fortress. ......You don''t suppose it''s a hostile attack, do you?


    (Holy crap, ...... yesterday, they''re back on the offensive today. ......!


    In the morning, the sky near the fortress was clear with only a few clouds - but now there was black smoke rising, the sound of metal striking, the sound of some weapon being unleashed, and the sounds of a struggle.


    ''Presha ......, wait!��We must go inside the castle once and ask for instructions from our superiors!


    You can''t say that ......, they''re all fighting already ......!


    Wait, ...... she''s a really rambunctious girl. ......


    The battle was fierce on the western wall of the fortress facing the border. Presha-san shook off Deethe-san''s stillness and rushed towards the battlefield on his own.


    It was also to prevent the enemy cavalry from approaching us. A platoon of cavalry trying to detour south and turn to the eastern gate spotted Presha-san approaching and came toward us with their spears at the ready.


    Our wagon slows down - if we continue on the open road with an open view, there is a chance that the enemy soldiers will find us.


    ''If we cross the river in the dark and are repulsed, we will cross from another location and push with the amount of material ...... we knights are not completely able to monitor the river either. Southwest or northeast ...... or at the same time. If there are cannons and projectiles, we need to destroy them as soon as possible .......


    Unless you can look down from a bird''s point of view, there''s no way you can figure out the composition of the enemy force from here.


    --But I would. This plain is filled with grass all over the area around the fortress - even to the point where it cannot be seen from here.


    ''''My name is Presha Hortensia!��Knights of Zirconia, come and get me: ......, haha!


    Presha-san comes forward - Hortensia, that''s the name of an honorable family among the kingdom knights.


    That name had reached the Zirconia Army as well - three cavalrymen, undaunted by Plesha-san''s spear-wielding gallop, rushed to Plesha-san.


    One of them preceded him and rushed forward while raising his axe spear. The killing spirit is enough to pierce Plesha-san and reach us.


    ''''Zirconia Knights Eighth Rangers, Darius O''Connell!��I''m taking your head!


    Presha-san and the enemy knight crossed paths - I couldn''t see how Presha-san''s spear moved at all.


    The enemy knight, holding his axe spear at the top of his horse, stopped moving, and continued to gallop on - he suddenly fell off his horse, and the horse fled from the scene with a whimper.


    The first thing that comes to mind is the fact that you can''t get away with it. Please watch the fight to see how it plays out.


    Deethe didn''t even hold up her bow, but instead watched Presha, who flashed her spear on her horse and cut down the rest of the cavalry.


    ''''Hah! ......!''''


    The second rider is knocked down by having the tip of his spear cut off, and the third rider is completely hunched over, catching the spear of Mr. Presha, who rode with his horse, in his chest and falling without a pause.


    With his spear spinning like a windmill, Plesha yells at the enemy cavalry coming from the west to halt their movement with a single rider.


    ''Come what you want to die!��Let its head be laid out before my fortress!


    This is the young attack captain - Presha Hortensia.


    ''Me, do whatever you want ......, whoever you want, get that woman''s head!


    But ...... three of the fiercest men in our unit are already ......


    "You can''t just walk away from this. ......��If you don''t want me to cut you, go!


    ''Woooooooooooooooo ......!''


    On the battlefield, barbarism destroys itself. Knowing Presha-san''s abilities, the enemy cavalry, who challenged him with a few bodies, reduced their numbers each time they crossed paths with Presha-san once.


    ''''Ka, monster ......, you monster ...... in a woman''s skin, monster ......!


    "...... Good call, monster. That''s what I''m supposed to be to you. If I''m feared more, no one will ever be able to stand in my way again.


    A human can''t be defeated by a monster... ......


    It was probably the last thing he had in mind. The captain of the enemy, who was trying to escape, suddenly charged Presha-san - but there was no way he could not see out of his raging and monotonous movements, and Presha-san had won the battle in an instant.


    The enemy horsemen he defeated were eight horsemen. Without any amount of return blood, Presha-san is on his horse unharmed.


    ............


    However, Presha-san didn''t try to come back here - I was running out without knowing why.


    ''''Huh ...... Dr. Glass, what ......?''''


    Mr. Presha, who was on his horse, turned over, his arms slackening down with his spear.


    I walked around to the front and looked up at his face. Presha-san''s eyes widened in surprise - someone this strong hadn''t noticed until I got so close.


    ''...... glass, sir ......''


    ...... Mr. Presha is not a monster. Thank you for saving us.


    She thanked the warrior who had slayed hundreds of people on the battlefield. She didn''t laugh at that, which was ridiculous - she just softened her expression and the power returned to her eyes.


    ''Thanks ...... Dr. Glass. But I''m not done yet. I have to go help everyone.

 37 Chapter 35 Out of Battle

    Presha-san looked up and turned his attention to the battle that was going on on the west side of the fortress.


    ''''The siege tower is coming from ...... over there. They''re going to give us a ladder to the ramparts and try to get inside ......!


    The siege tower - this was the first time I had ever seen the real thing. As the tower is called, it''s quite tall, a mobile turret of sorts. It''s protected by enemy infantry, and its allies are unable to touch it.


    Mr. Deite is also coming towards us on horseback. To the west of the fortress and to the northeast - fierce battles are taking place in two directions.


    ''''We have to stop that siege tower ...... but also the northeast ......


    Which one should take precedence: ...... If only I could borrow a bird''s eye in a situation like this: ......


    You can''t see the battlefield unless you have the eyes of a bird - but I would.


    If you listen to the sound of the grass all around you, you can get information about places that your vision can''t reach.


    (But there''s too much information flowing in ...... everyone, fight hard ...... and don''t die, please don''t die ......!


    What I could see by borrowing the plant''s vision - the infantry that rushed in from the northeast of the fortress, a single heavily armed cavalryman ran as a swift black wind, swinging his javelin out and flinging it away.


    Even if they were demon warriors, if they ran alone, it would be like throwing away their lives.


    But even so, Raquel is still protecting herself from the arrows that are being shot at her with her shield and manipulating a huge spear with one hand - even though her entire body is screaming, she continues to fight like a lion in an effort to reduce the number of her enemies as much as possible.


    ''''Presha-san, please head to the northeast!


    What ......?


    ''I can hear the plants. I can get some information on what the battlefield is like to the southwest and northeast ...... Rak''el-san is trying to prevent the enemy as much as possible on his own by reducing the number of troops he''s sending to the northeast.


    What? ......


    Deethe-san raises her voice. Presha-san bites her lip in frustration, as if she knew Raquel would make such a decision.


    ''The enemy is attacking us from the southwest and northeast, across the canal. The enemy in the northeast has been stopped by Raquel, but they are turning their troops to the west, or they don''t have enough troops. To the northeast we have eight hundred, and to the west of the fortress we have one thousand two hundred men.


    ''...... sister Raquel is too strong and doesn''t want her men to fight her. Dr. Glass, how many enemies are likely to be in the northeast?��Tell me about it, approximately.


    ...... northeast is one thousand three hundred. One thousand infantry and three hundred cavalry.


    ''''That''s a lot of ......our cavalry, only four hundred cavalry in all. If we had three hundred in the northeast, we would be outnumbered ......!


    All the troops have not left because they remain in the fortress to fight off the enemy soldiers who have attached themselves to the fortress. Any enemy soldiers who try to cross the moat must be defeated without leaving a single one behind.


    The cavalry that Raquel has with her is one hundred and fifty cavalry. Even against twice as many cavalry, Raquel is still holding them well - but they are too outnumbered.


    ''''The other attack captains have all turned west. Then we can stay on. ......


    Okay. I''ll join Raquel''s sister. But first, we have to destroy that siege tower. We can''t let the enemy into the fortress: ......


    Leave it to me. I''ll make sure the siege weapon is disabled.


    By the time I spoke, I was already working on the plant.


    The siege tower is moving forward, scraping through the grass with its wheels. The motive force is a dozen or so soldiers pushing sticks sticking out of the sides of the siege tower.


    --only one wheel is stopped by tangling the grass. That way only one side might try to move forward and break the center of gravity.


    I thrust my hand into the ground and appeal to the plant spirits. The magic power used up in the miasma had been used up by the drops given to the divine tree, and the drops had returned enough extra power to use great magic once.


    ''O green grass that covers the earth! Thwart and hinder my enemies ...... ''Foot Tangle (Trap Snare)''!


    The distance was far, and the things holding us back were large -- it was a gamble, to be honest, whether the magic would work.


    --But the effect of the magic was far beyond my expectations.


    ''Nah, what ...... the grass from underneath my feet ...... wow!


    "Ugh, it doesn''t work ...... and it''s not moving. ...... Whoa, move, move, move ......


    Stop it, you idiot!��Don''t push too hard, the wheels will come off. ......!


    After a screaming enemy soldier''s voice, a bang is heard - and then.


    The siege tower, with the wheels off on one side, tilts and stops moving in the middle of the meadow. When the soldiers who had been surrounding them were confused, the cavalry on the friendly side cut in, and the enemy''s formation was totally destroyed.


    ''''Thank you, Dr. Glass. ......!��I''m going to join my sister Raquel!


    ''Yes!��Good luck, Presha, and best of luck to you: ......!


    Presha-san sent his horse to gallop and headed to the northeast of the fortress.


    --But by that time, the battle stations in the northeast had already moved significantly.


    From the fortress, with a few cavalrymen, the one who rode out from the fortress -- a lone warlord with golden hair, wearing white and silver armor.


    Swords Princess General Astina. She''s going in person to support the troops of the Raquel Knight Captain''s troops - if Presha-san joined her there, she can surely push back the enemy to the northeast as well.


    The moment His Highness Astina crosses swords with the enemy''s cavalry, she is convinced that this battle will end in victory. She had the overwhelming swordsmanship to make him think so, and the supremacy to dominate the air of the battlefield.

 38 Chapter 36: Gong Feng じ

    Following Raquel-san''s assault, the enemy cavalry who were in formation were broken down from the center.


    ''''--Haah!


    The male cavalrymen, who were trying to stop the two horsemen from striking a blow in unison with their javelins out, are blown away without a peep.


    In the corner of her eye is the flag of the enemy general. It was painted in black cloth with a zirconia emblem, fluttering in the wind of the battlefield.


    The grass and trees could sense the earth-shaking steps of the enemy army. Caught up in the battle, they couldn''t even escape, they had no choice but to wait for the end.


    They''re not within reach of my voice. I can''t stop Raquel-san from pushing forward with her eyes on the enemy general with the enemy cavalry still chasing her even after the formation is broken down--I can''t stop her.


    ''''Seiyaaaaah!


    An armored warhorse drives by. With superhuman physical strength, wielding a spear to whip up the wind, Rakuel-san rushed forward, cleaving off the enemy and the flying arrows.


    --But. The spear-slide of the heavily armed infantry, assembled only to stop the warhorse, finally stops Raquel''s progress.


    Even though she is not frightened, the horse is afraid of the sharp spearhead and lifts its upper body in a big snort. Pulling back on the reins to calm the horse, Raquel-san returned the spear and knocked down the horseman who was approaching from behind.


    ''My name is Raquel-Ritkasha, general of Laiseneier!��General of Zirconia, step forward if you have the skill to do so!


    (One horsemanship: ...... Rash!��(I''m sure you''ve noticed, there are archers on both wings of the enemy: ......!


    The enemy general didn''t answer - no, he had given instructions to his men. Without responding to the provocation, the archers guarded the arrows in their composite bows and tried to launch a wavy attack so that she couldn''t receive them.


    It''s impossible to believe that Raquel-san, His Highness Astina''s right-hand man and the cornerstone of the Isle Rose Fortress'' defense, would be so reckless for no reason.


    Her body is on the verge of reaching its limits. If that''s what led her to act this time, such as laying down her life--.


    Even if she had struck me on the cheek, I should have told her that I felt uncomfortable with the slightest gesture.


    ''''--Don''t!


    All you have to do is delay for a moment before the arrow is released.


    There were nearly a hundred enemy archers, even farther than the distance to the siege tower.


    Still, as long as you can delay the first wave of attacks, that''s all that matters.


    (The enemy''s synthetic bows are made from yew trees ...... i.e. ''plants''. If I can use my magic to interfere ......!)


    The bow uses the elasticity of the wood to shoot arrows. But what happens if that elasticity is strengthened - a bow in high tension, also known as a strong bow, can interfere with firing if it suddenly can''t be drawn in the same way as in normal conditions.


    "--Change your appearance by the hand of man, O tree!��For a moment, answer my call: ......, Wood Rainforce!


    I''ve never paid attention to the existence of wooden equipment on a battlefield where metal armor is the norm - I never had a chance to see the enemy''s equipment, and I thought the only time magic would be useful now was if I had to use a wooden stick as a weapon.


    ''''Wha......, the bow, pull ......!


    "Geez ...... geez, the string is broken ...... and this bow is faulty or ......!


    The archers who were trying to shoot arrows at Raquel-san were thrown into confusion - while they were trying to shoot at Raquel-san.


    His Highness Astina, who had come out of the fortress, caught up with them, and the enemy cavalry, who had been unable to approach Raquel-san for fear of misfiring, were challenged by the cavalry led by His Highness Astina.


    ''''Your Highness, this battle is ...... to me .......


    ''I wouldn''t call it letting you do something reckless. You''ll have to explain to me later about going off without permission.


    "Your Highness Astina, Sister Raquel, we''ll join you!��You guys are in the way ...... haha!


    Presha-san''s figure was visible from the fortress, and her subordinate cavalrymen also join her - now they can cross over to the main force led by the enemy general.


    Her magic consumption has already reached its limit, and she can barely stand. But this is also a battlefield - we have to enter the fortress as soon as possible.


    ''''Master Glass, you''re brilliant ...... magic that interferes with plants is incomparably powerful in a grassland like this, isn''t it?


    ''I didn''t think I''d be able to use it in a fight. If it helps at all: ......


    But it''s not just about treating the knights after the battle is over.


    We use magic to reduce the number of wounded. Thinking about honing my magic to do that, I headed to the fortress with Rendle-san.

 39 Episode 37: Surgeons Battlefield

    Miss Deethe protected our wagons until we made our way to the fortress. But without her having to use her bow, the soldiers led by the three generals completely blocked the enemy from the northeast.


    ''''Your Highness Astina, ...... after all, when that person is able to go into battle, the atmosphere changes completely. Both the Raquel Knight Captain and Presha will only show their power when they fight together with Astina-sama.


    Under the command of His Highness Astina, the allied archers shoot arrows at the spearmen - and at the collapsed point, Presha-san and Raquel-san, who are rushing in unmolested by the enemy''s arrows, rush in, and when the formation collapses, their men attack them.


    ''Any further fighting is futile!��Pull back, Zirconia soldiers!


    I won''t back down from being told to back off!��That''s Astina, take her down, no matter what it takes!��To our own General Alejandro, we give the glory of our victory!


    The captain rank leading the enemy''s cavalry pointed his men at His Highness Astina - Presha-san stopped one rider, but the other rider pointed his spear at His Highness.


    ''''Satoru ......!''''


    --Astina''s Highness swung her sword as she passed the enemy horseman, and the little flowers on the battlefield stared at the gleam of her white blade.


    An enemy soldier running past fell off his horse, splattering the flowers with red blood.


    His Highness Astina brushed away the blood-soaked sword on her horse and quietly turned her burning eyes to the enemy''s flag.


    �� ���


    As we entered the fortress, the drawbridge was quickly raised. A soldier with a bow on his back, who was probably her subordinate, came running up to Deete-san who was ahead of us.


    ''''Captain Deete! ......


    ''You held up well while we were away from the fortress. I hope you''ll be able to give me a quick report.


    ''The Zirconian army is invading from two directions, across the canal. We had not detected that Zirconia was building warships, but General Astina detected the invasion before the enemy had finished crossing the river and ordered us to intercept them.


    Last night''s enemy attack, His Highness Astina has a keen sense of danger - or perhaps he can even see the future.


    Even so, he was unable to prevent the enemy from taking out the warships. Crossing the canal and striking a warship before it was brought to the river would also mean entering enemy territory.


    If His Majesty the King does not allow us to invade the enemy country from here. His Highness Astina can only use the fortress as a base for defense, not an offensive.


    ''Our first archers are attacking from the ramparts, while the second archers are outside the ramparts, covering the cavalry and infantry. The fall of the siege tower, which had just been approaching from the west, has given us a large advantage in the battle on the west side. However, we have yet to order the enemy soldiers to retreat.


    Deete-san gives a momentary look of melancholy. So does Presha-san - she hopes that the battle will be over as soon as possible.


    ''...... Dr. Glass, I''m going up to the ramparts. You guys should start preparing to receive the wounded.


    All right. Take care of yourself, Mr. Deethe.


    She nodded and went up to the top of the ramparts. When she entered the sanitary building, there were thirteen soldiers who had already returned after being wounded, waiting to be treated.


    ''''Preacher Glass, ......!


    Sorry I''m late. Captain Katie, the status of the injured can be found at .......


    ''Here''s a summary of his condition. Some of the soldiers are bleeding badly and are in danger if not treated immediately: ...... Sorry, we''re not at all .......


    Okay, sir, I''ll take care of it. Are you okay!��Can you hear me!


    One of the soldiers lying on the bed in the treatment room was hit by an arrow - I asked Mr. Rendle to assist me and began the emergency surgery.


    (The procedure of magically assisting the anesthetic to act on the nerves on a limited basis and quickly ...... suturing a broken blood vessel is not much different than connecting the leaf veins of a plant. It always works ...... always ......!)


    Ugh, .......


    If the surgery is not completed under local anesthesia, the loss of strength will be fatal in a situation where there is just too much blood loss. Even if they can''t make the pain go away completely, they''ll have to endure it.


    A few minutes can feel like an uncomfortably long time - I almost forget I''m even breathing until I''m done with the surgery.


    ''There you go, ...... Mr. Rendle, take care of the rest!��Can you do ...... as you saw it before!


    Yes, Mr. Glass!


    As soon as I let Rendle-san disinfect and protect the wounds after the surgery, other medics come calling for me.


    ''''Firstborn, firstborn!��The awareness of this patient here is ......!


    Okay, I''ll be there in a minute!


    I treat each severely injured patient one by one - no matter how badly injured they are, I don''t let my heart be moved.


    The anger, the sadness, I can feel after I''ve done my duty as a military doctor. I continued to treat the patients in pain, using all the measures I could to relieve their pain as quickly as possible.

 40 Chapter 38: Falling Sun

    Just as the light coming through the windows of the sanitation building was turning the color of sunset, a horn sounded, announcing the enemy''s retreat.


    The drawbridge came down, the soldiers returned to the fortress, and the wounded were carried one by one into the sanitary building.


    Swords, spears, arrows, hammers - the soldiers were wounded with a variety of weapons, some with only minor injuries, while some were carried in on their backs, unable to walk.


    Far more wounded than the thirteen I''ve already seen - my predecessor must have worn out his mind as he treated them.


    I wish for a moment that she was here. Just having two doctors who can perform surgery would dramatically reduce the time it takes for the injured to be released from pain.


    But I can''t whine about it. I''m going to ask you, Katie, and one of the medics to pick one of the most skilled of the medics to take charge of the moderately injured.


    ''Mr. Rendle, when you''re done treating the seriously wounded, take a break. We won''t be able to help you if we go down.


    Mr. Lendl just nodded back. He''s not exactly well versed in the medical arts either, but he''s doing a good job - he''s able to do the post-op procedure without me having to say anything.


    Everyone on the medics is doing a great job, too. Even if I''m a new guy, I should still try to improve the morale of the field regardless. Like I said, what''s important is that I don''t break, no matter how tough the job is.


    I''ll go into a few stitches and treat the arrow wound in my second arm - no matter how fatigued I am, I can''t let my hands get out of whack. During the practical exam, I performed the actual surgery with guidance, but even in the face of such a wide variety of wounds, I definitely put what I learned to good use.


    I was able to encourage patients who were dazed by pain and stop the bleeding quickly. Research into ''how to compensate for the loss of blood'' is still in its infancy, and transfusions of other people''s blood have been considered, but have not yet been achieved.


    I don''t know if it will be possible to keep all patients alive. There may already be soldiers brought in too late - and I''m not even afraid of that.


    If I stopped to do so for fear, more people would die. Because I knew that.


    �����


    Alejandro, the Zirconian general, divided his force of two thousand five hundred men into almost two halves and attacked the Isle Rose Fortress from two directions.


    The enemy''s casualties were over two hundred and fifty on the west side of the fortress. On the flank, thirty-seven men lost their lives.


    When the siege tower collapsed, the morale of the enemy was greatly diminished and the chain of command was disrupted. The allied forces were able to successfully poke at it and further reduce the momentum by striking the collapsed enemy soldiers, and the rest of us were able to keep our damage to a minimum by remaining on the defensive.


    In the battle to the northeast - even with the efforts of Knight Captain Raquel, and His Highness and Preciousa-san, twenty-five people were killed.


    The death toll of the enemy''s army was well over four hundred. His Highness Astina himself wielded a sword in the front line and cut down as many enemy soldiers as the sixteen cavalrymen of the Kingsguard who were accompanying him combined.


    The battle results of the Raquel Knight Captain and Presha Attack Squadron Captain were aligned with His Highness Astina. The reason why the Raquel Knight Captain chose to charge alone was because the power of the Demon Warrior was so outstanding that he could in fact slay a hundred men with a single rider.


    Most of the soldiers were lightly wounded, and those who were severely wounded were carried into the fortress and survived.


    Many, however, were unable to return to the fortress and lost their lives on the battlefield. To hear that they were still alive when the battle was over, it was just unfortunate to hear that they were still alive.


    Still, there was a definite life in the eyes of the soldiers as they fought off Zirconia.


    I carried Katie to the couch, who was asleep, propped up on the desk, too tired to do anything about it. Mr. Lendl was also asleep in his sitting position - it would be best not to speak to him now.


    I left the sanitation building. The medic building alone couldn''t accommodate the seriously injured, so the medics were dispersed to other quarters to deal with any sudden changes in their condition.


    Ever since Raquel''s men told me the outcome of the battle, one thought kept going around the same place in my head.


    ''...... General Alejandro ...... and Zirconia ......''


    What was the enemy general''s objective - did he think that if he mobilized that many troops and made a surprise attack, he could take down the Isle Rose Fortress?


    Or did they have other aims? The damage to the enemy''s troops was heavy, and the commander, the general, is likely to be blamed, but if the general has other aims, it is possible that this time was not just a defeat for the enemy.


    I was a student until the day before yesterday, so it is inappropriate for me to think about military matters. However, if I simply work as a military doctor, the death toll will continue to rise, and if we drafted troops to replenish the army, the nearby territories would lose their loyalty to His Highness Astina.


    It seemed very unlikely that experienced soldiers would be sent from the center. Now that there was one case of ''''a royal person communicating with Zirconia,'''' it was impossible to think of such an optimistic thing.


    (...... Under these circumstances, I can''t even ask His Highness to visit the divine tree. After a night after last night''s enemy attack, a massive attack ...... If this kind of thing is done, His Highness will not be able to leave this fortress even for a moment)


    On the contrary, talking about the divine tree in this situation might itself cause displeasure.


    The erosion of the dead earth will eventually begin again - and when it does, it will be too late.


    ...... Glass Weed.


    I didn''t notice the figure standing in front of me until his name was called.


    The person who was standing there - the Raquel Knight Captain.


    But she was fierce on the battlefield, calm and collected in normal times, always radiating the chi of a warrior - she looked as if she had lost her supremacy, her pale face and her lips were trembling.


    ''''Raquel knight-in-chief, what in the world ...... is in danger!


    The person who must be her tangles her legs and almost falls forward. As you support its shoulders and hold it back, you can feel the shaking coming from its body.


    ''''Are you okay ......, get a grip, Knight Captain Raquel!


    She shook Raquel''s shoulder, and the light barely returned to her vacant eyes.


    Then she said in a muffled, weak voice that seemed to wrench from her lungs.


    ...... His Highness Astina has been knocked down.

 41 Episode 39: Sleeping Princess

    I used to think of Raquel-san as a woman who would never be moved by anything.


    But now, just by telling me about His Highness Astina, her voice trembles and her body never stops trembling.


    If something happened to His Highness Astina, Raquel-san wouldn''t be safe either. Her loyalty is that deep - that''s what it''s like to worship her.


    There is a limit to how much words can cheer her up. Because if it wasn''t me, but His Highness Astina, it would not be possible to erase Raquel-san''s anxiety.


    The only thing I can do right now is to give him some medicine that will help him relax. The extracts of the ingredients that have a calming effect are mixed in a small bottle for stirring - the main ingredient is an extract made by boiling down the bark of pine trees.


    Only the southeastern part of the kingdom is slightly facing the sea, and there are pines called ''coastal pines'' growing in that area. The ingredients from that bark have been recognized for their sedative effects by the people since ancient times - I had tried and succeeded in using magic to gather those ingredients in high purity.


    ''Raquel-san, try this. It has a slightly peculiar taste. ......


    "Huh ...... is not the time to do that. ......


    ''No, it is necessary. When you go to His Highness, you should not show your anxiety on your face. They say that sickness comes from the mind, and to some extent it''s true.


    "...... This is what you should be drinking: ......


    Raquel gulps down the reddish-brown liquid in the vial I gave her in one gulp. Some of the pills are too bitter to drink as it is, but the mint and other herbs I put in it besides the extract of coastal pine should make it somewhat easier to drink.


    ''It will take some time for it to kick in. Let''s head over to your highness.


    ...... All right. I''m sorry to have made you feel like a disappointment.


    It was bitter, after all, and Raquel frowned - but the strong taste eased her tension somewhat, and her expression relaxed for a moment.


    ...... bad medicine, but it''s not undrinkable. ......


    Drugs vary greatly in the process they go through in the body before they take effect, depending on their ingredients.


    The quickest way to get the most effect internally would be through sublingual administration, which requires the drug to be held under the tongue. In my case, the volatile scent components allow the nasal passages to act on the central nervous system through the mucous membranes to get the effects of improved mental status earlier. Ingredients that are absorbed through the body''s metabolism take several hours to develop their effects - it doesn''t make sense if the effects of the drug wear off quickly.


    "...... chest swooshes and ...... calms the mind. What the hell is this ......?


    You may think it''s unpleasant, but it''s inevitable. Most of the medicines available in the kingdom are made from powdered medicinal herbs, etc. and are not sold in the form of extracted extracts because they cannot be preserved, so even if they contain effective ingredients, their purity is low.


    Only research institutes have the equipment to extract the medicinal ingredients and to sort them out, and mass production is currently a dream.


    However, it would be nice if we could cover the medical needs of this fortress. Even without equipment, if I''m able to extract plant ingredients, it''s not difficult for me to create medicines as needed--think about it.


    I realize that now. I''ve made Raquel-san, who hates magic, drink a potion that used magic in the manufacturing process.


    ''...... magic that borrows power from plant spirits. The potion made with it is highly potent ......


    ''I''m sorry, Raquel, ...... for giving you a potion without explaining anything to you. Indeed, I used magic when I made the potion now. There''s no excuse for that.


    Raquel-san walked next to me for a while without saying a word - but no words of reprimand flew out of her mouth.


    ''It is a personal circumstance that I hate the mage ...... thing called magic. That''s not to say that I deny Glass Weed ...... your magic. I know that magic is a necessity for this country, and that it has great potential.


    ...... Mr. Raquel.


    I can''t tell you what''s going on. I don''t want you to think of me as a fragile woman any more than I already am.


    No, it''s not: ......


    ''''How could I not think about it? I was also aware of how pathetic it was to show his highness and his subordinates a face like that. Thanks to your medicine, I can save face ...... thank you.


    Raquel bowed her head as she walked. His black hair tied back cascaded over his shoulders, and the gesture of re-arranging it made him look the most ladylike he''d ever seen.


    ''...... I can''t let a man into His Highness''s bedroom by nature. However, His Highness already had a high opinion of Glass'' abilities. He had proven himself on the first day.


    For treating patients in the sanitary wing and for being present at the interrogation of Ms. Presha. With regard to the latter, Alraune deserves a lot of credit.


    His Highness appreciated those things. It wasn''t just that he put me under Raquel-san and that was the end of it--''''


    ''''That man is adored by all the soldiers in this fortress. Commanders can be hated, but His Highness Astina is not like that at all. You will find that it is a very good idea to have a good idea of what you are doing. How his heart gives courage to his soldiers and to his people: ......


    ''We won''t know until we see ...... your highness'' condition. We will do everything in our power to treat him. His Highness must stay healthy.


    ...... please. I don''t know anything about medicine ...... Glass, I can only entrust you with .......


    Mr. Raquel told me to ''trust'' me. I thought it would be a long time before I could hear such words.


    Further up from the four levels of the fortress, we go out to the rooftop. His Highness''s sleeping quarters were said to be in an apartment building built on top of the rooftop.


    A soldier guarding the doorway sees us and opens it for us. We followed Raquel through a corridor that could be called bleak and unadorned for a third princess'' residence - and then.


    An attendant woman, not a soldier, opens the door as Raquel speaks into her ear. The woman who emerged from inside also had the appearance of a maidservant, and her skin could be seen to be pale even in the dim light.


    I was urged to go inside and I entered the room with Raquel.


    We passed through the reception room and were ushered into the bedroom - after all, on a bed that was simple in construction for a third princess to use, His Highness Astina closed her eyes as if she were sleeping.


    And I finally realize that I''ve come to this point. As a spirit mage, it was too late to notice.


    The magic power that had filled the entire fortress just by the mere presence of His Highness Astina''s presence was weakening. And at the same time, a part of His Highness Astina''s sleeping body was glowing faintly - if she wasn''t a mage, she wouldn''t be able to see this light.


    Why did she lose consciousness? I bowed deeply to His Highness as Raquel-san looked on, and then approached the side of the bed.


    ''''First of all, let me give you a diagnosis of Your Highness'' symptoms. Raquel-san, would you be willing to be present?


    ...... Got it.


    The luminescence of the body can be seen even through the thin blanket draped over the body. To confirm this - I need to take off His Highness'' clothes and see it with my own eyes.


    Even in sleep, His Highness Astina is breathtakingly beautiful. But I vowed not to disturb her mind for a minute, so I pulled the blanket and gently opened the collar of His Highness'' clothes.

 42 Chapter Fortieth Half a Month

    The front of the thin white robe that His Highness was wearing opened to reveal skin as smooth as ceramic.


    He couldn''t see it when he was wearing the armor, but the rapid rise from his collarbone to his chest was such that it was hard to believe that he had survived so many battles.


    The red marks left on his white skin suggested that his chest was tightly clenched when he went out into battle. It''s the same for the other soldiers, but knowing that even your highness is doing this makes me wonder if this fortress form that allows only women to fight the war is really the right one.


    I know what you''re thinking: "...... I know what you''re thinking. But the fact that men and women have different body shapes is just a matter of course. Your highness and we are fighting without a man or woman. I don''t think that''s painful, and I think I''ve fought my way through that much.


    Raquel-san is also an unparalleled powerhouse - there aren''t many men who can be as strong as her. Even for men, if they are not quite blessed with a strong physique, they cannot wear thick armor and wield a javelin as a heavy knight.


    I change my mind and turn the blanket up to my abdomen and open the thin cloth further. His Highness''s breathing intervals are long and very quiet, so quiet that I can''t hear the sound of his breathing at all unless I''m close enough to hear it. But that doesn''t mean his breathing is weak.


    Checking his wrists, his pulse is slower than a normal person''s, but it''s within acceptable limits. But my body temperature is a little higher - I recognize this symptom.


    ''Glass ...... what the hell is that tool ......?''


    ''This is for hearing things like heartbeats. You may not have seen it before, but you can hear it better than if you put your ear directly against it, so it''s never weird .......


    I cut out an elder''s branch and made a tool - a stethoscope that listens to the patient''s heart and breathing sounds by conducting vibrations through a wooden tube.


    The one with the wider end against the patient''s body and the one with the smaller end against the patient''s ear - this tool was invented to reduce the mental burden on the patient and to increase the amount of information available for diagnosis rather than just seeing and touching. Done.


    Put the stethoscope to the location of the heart, the lungs, etc. After all, there is no problem - His Highness''s body is perfectly healthy in its present state, and there is another reason for his coma.


    ''Mr. Raquel, do you have any pre-existing medical conditions, Your Highness?


    I didn''t dare to say ''Knight Commander''. Too much attention to formality would make it impossible to draw out a straightforward opinion - Raquel-san didn''t seem to blame me either.


    ''No ...... nothing. However, there have been times in the past when I''ve been sick after a big battle. But that''s something that happens to everyone when you''re out on the battlefield ......


    ''''Well, at ......, do you see the magical luminescence now emanating from Your Highness'' body?


    "...... magic?��His Highness certainly has magical powers, but ...... light and other things are not ...... at all.


    ''''Just like Raquel-san, Presha-san, I consider His Highness Astina to be a ''demon warrior'' as well. Do you mean that you weren''t aware of that fact?


    Raquel was at a loss for words. She didn''t know she had the talent to be a mage, and the fact that she didn''t get the chance to sign up with a spirit probably made her a natural demon warrior.


    ''...... I had been pointed out to me by a court mage that I was ...... using my magic power to fight. But at the time, I didn''t ask for details. The "Demon Warrior" ...... Okay, so that''s why Presha and I were special compared to the other soldiers. There were times when I sensed the same qualities from Deite as we did.


    ''''Deete-san also has magic power, but not as much as Raquel-san and Presha-san. However, His Highness Astina has a capacity that is incomparable to the two of you, and that''s more than even a mage can match.


    Raquel''s eyes wavered. She bit her lip, oozing regret for not knowing something very important about the lord she had served all her life - and regret for that.


    ''I''ve been ...... loyal and said that I would be a spear for Your Highness when I pledged my allegiance, yet you didn''t know a single thing about Your Highness .......


    ''''It can''t be helped. At the Academy of Magic, we keep our magic secret to keep it outside. If the court mages told Raquel-san that she has magical powers, it could be a violation of the rules if they don''t belong to the same unit.


    However, if His Highness''s symptoms had been overlooked, I don''t know what would have happened to His Highness - even a coma is dangerous, so we must figure out the cause and treat him as soon as possible.


    I take Raquel''s help and further remove His Highness'' clothes.


    The magic power overflowing from her body has rapidly decreased, and she is currently experiencing a fever. In an attempt to find the cause of this, I stared at her half of her body.


    -- though it''s fading and nearly invisible. Surely, it looks familiar -- like a figure, drawn on her half of her body.


    (This is ...... definitely. The Spiritual Guide Seal ...... Why is this written on His Highness''s body ...... and it''s missing half of it, too)


    His Highness Astina had undergone the Rite of Election or something similar in the past.


    As an indication of this, her tanden area had a mark in the shape of a half-moon and the remnants of a spirit guide seal that had been drawn to follow it, continuing towards the area still covered by clothing and blankets.

 43 Episode 41: The interrupted ritual

    The Spiritual Guide Mark is drawn all over the body, and after the ''Election Ritual'' is completed, it becomes invisible. It is possible for some of them to emit light in response to magic when using spirit magic - which means that His Highness Astina''s magic power was drained by the incomplete Spiritual Guide Mark.


    (A half drawn, incomplete spirit guide mark ...... she could be called a half-mage. She had more magic power than a normal person, and she was holding on while wasting her magic power in that state.)


    We already know why she collapsed. The fever is a symptom of ''magic power depletion'' due to the large amount of magic power depleted in a short period of time. Without proper treatment, it will take at least a few days to regain consciousness�`�`that''s why mages fear coma due to magic power depletion.


    And the reason why His Highness Astina can also be powerful as a mage warrior is because her spirit seal is incomplete. Because he is not a perfect mage, he can unconsciously enhance his physical abilities with magic power.


    I hadn''t thought about it, but if I became a mage after honing swordsmanship and other skills as a demon warrior, I would be able to learn both skills. ''''The situation of ''being left without a contract with a spirit while only half of the spirit seal is drawn'''' couldn''t happen in the magic academy itself, and if they tried to perform the ''Election Ceremony'' against His Royal Highness Astina, it would mean that the person who performed the treatment was a court mage! --unless there''s some reason for it to happen.


    ''Gu, glass ...... wait. Earlier, the maidservants have changed His Highness Astina, but His Highness is not allowed to wear his underwear at bedtime. You must not lower your blankets any further.


    ''''Oh ...... sorry. But, Raquel-san, I know only a mage can see it, but on His Highness Astina''s body, there is something called a ''Spiritual Guide Seal'' painted on his body from his belly down. I''d like to confirm that: ......


    Raquel-san''s face flushes so much that it''s clearly visible even in the dimly lit room - I''m surprised I didn''t expect her to be that shy.


    ''...... I''d like you to see every inch of your body when you have Your Highness'' own permission to do so. I don''t mind if you want to look at it from the tips of your feet to the extent that you can. If you insist, I''ll have my maidservant come over to deal with it.


    ''''Ha, yes, I''ll be fine with that. However, I will tell you again about the treatment plan after Your Highness wakes up, but I''m going to complete the ''Spiritual Guide Seal'' that''s on its way and complete something similar to the ''Election Ceremony'' that Your Highness was supposed to undergo.


    "What do you mean by that ......, it''s as if His Highness is ......


    If you told Raquel-san, she would be very upset - but if you told her that you don''t just hate all magic, I''m sure she would understand.


    ''...... Your Highness was supposed to undergo a ritual to contract with spirits as a mage. The ''Spiritual Guide Seal'' required for this was drawn from the abdomen to the lower half of his body. The Spirit Guide Seal was limited to the number of people who could be drawn, and it took several days to draw it. Perhaps His Highness was interrupted when he was halfway through drawing the Reishirokujian: ...... I don''t know if that was by His Highness'' will.


    ''I have heard that His Highness Astina has ...... no, well, ...... heard that there is a woman of royal blood of the Raseneian royal family who possesses exceptional magical powers. The woman is said to have the role of being a ''royal maiden'' ...... but such a custom should have died out a long time ago.


    Mages don''t choose the spirits to contract - the spirits choose the one who is born into this world to contract with them from among the lives that have been born into this world.


    What if His Highness Astina was born to make a contract with the divine tree, Euceris. The fact that His Highness has the power to read the future is proof that she is qualified to be a royal priestess, isn''t it?


    If she has the ability to read the movements of the enemy army without a contract, then if she can sign a formal contract, the oracle brought by the divine tree will be the power to help her escape the predicament of constant enemy attacks.


    ''''The royal priestesses had the role of receiving the oracle from the divine tree located in the discarded royal garden ...... there, south of this fortress. The divine tree had been abandoned by the royal family and forgotten by the people, leaving the surrounding land to rot. But the divine tree is still alive.


    ...... That''s why that demon appeared ...... If the divine tree is revived, will that gray soil stop?


    ''''Yes, Your Highness. If Your Highness will visit the Divine Tree as the ''Royal Priestess'' ...... and, if possible, have Your Highness himself make a contract with the Spirit of the Divine Tree. Everything will turn out for the better.


    Raquel-san can''t hide her bewilderment and looks at His Highness - His Highness Astina, who is a fierce general called the ''Sword Princess General'' and a warrior on a par with Raquel-san, is also a ''Royal Priestess''.


    In order to stop His Highness'' magic power from draining, there is no other way but to complete the ''Election Ceremony''. Raquel closed her eyes and pondered for a while, and eventually opened her eyes and looked at me.


    ''''If there is someone called ...... God, why did you give His Highness alone such a heavy fate ......?''''


    ''As much as Raquel wants to support His Highness, I think all of you, Presha, Deite, and everyone else feel the same way. Me and Rendle-san are new to this country as well, but we want to do our best for ...... or even for the people we see. Just a little bit, so that we can lighten the load your highness carries.


    Ms. Raquel simply nods back. Then she personally flips the blanket over His Highness'' legs - when she reaches the tight but feminine fleshy thighs, Raquel-san stops her trembling hands.


    From His Highness''s right thigh to the toes of his right thigh, there is a spirit guide seal painted on it - but because he didn''t complete the Rite of Election and the paint didn''t settle in, there are some areas that are faded.


    You need to think about what shape this Reishio Stamp will take when it is painted on the entire body, once it is copied onto paper.


    ...... Mr. Raquel, the first step in restoring Your Highness'' consciousness is to restore his consciousness, but there are two types of medicines: an ointment and a pill to take.


    It''s not a good idea to transfer a bottle of ...... medication to the mouth of an unconscious person, Your Highness. If you try to do such a thing without permission, I''m questioning your decency.


    He nails it hard, but Raquel''s face remains red. I think she might actually be a first-time woman - although it would be hard to tell.


    ''But then the only option would be to apply an ointment ...... which would be best done by a doctor.


    ''''No, I don''t mind if it''s Raquel-san or one of the handmaidens. I''d like you to apply the ointment I''m using to restore your magic power where I tell you to.


    "Wow, it is disrespectful for me to touch His Highness ...... body. I can''t do that.


    Since I have deep respect for your highness, I want you to help me to heal him, but Raquel-san''s hands are certainly shaking, so it''s not good to force her to help me.


    Then I thought I would ask the two handmaidens - I called them and asked them, and I got this answer.


    ''Doctor, this is a treatment, sir. I am embarrassed to say that we, as amateurs, may not be able to do as the doctor instructs.


    The three women look at me as if clinging to me - I think of Miss Katie, but I also think of her sleeping on the couch, exhausted, and she''s not here to check on me. The same goes for Ms. Lendl.


    (I''m the only one ...... yea, that''s okay. This ...... no, the sooner you make up for this ...... no, the sooner you make up for the exhaustion of your magic power, the safer it will be for Raquel and the others).


    ...... I think I know from the people I''ve met that you don''t think about the perks of the job.


    ''Please, doctor, I beg you. If it''s not a procedure, I''d be happy to help you.


    Once again, I was asked to do so, and while I was happy that Raquel-san''s reputation had risen significantly over the course of the day, I couldn''t shake the feeling of apology.


    I take out the tools for applying the application of the ointment - and while Raquel-san and the two maidservants look on, the chakras scattered around His Highness'' body - the parts of the acupuncture points that promote the recovery of magical power. -- and carefully apply the ointment to it.


    "Geez, is it really ...... necessary ...... to get to that point?


    ''The doctor is very serious. This is a necessity, Knight Raquel.


    It''s uncomfortable to be watched over like that, but I applied ointment to the one hundred and eight chakras all over my body so that my hands wouldn''t go crazy.

 44 Episode 42: Another Patient

    In order to send magic power to others, a process such as via magic power crystals is necessary.


    It is possible to use my magic power to activate the effects of the ointment applied to the chakra area - that would mean that more or less of my magic power would enter His Highness'' body.


    There is no law for court mages that says you can''t supplement the magic power of the person you serve when it''s depleted, so it''s not a prohibition.


    But why am I still able to perform the treatment when I''ve depleted my magic power quite a bit while treating the wounded? Thinking about that, I remembered the drops Eucerisis gave me.


    That drop, which moistened my throat even in a small amount, seemed to restore more than the magic power I had from my own source. I''ve never heard of super recovery being applied to magic power as well, but I have a feeling that my current magic power capacity has gone up more than I know.


    (Raising the magic capacity limit would help me in battle as a mage ...... No, that''s not why I want the divine tree drops. Eucerisis shared the precious little power I have left ......)


    Glass, are you finished with the procedure?


    ''''Yes, I managed to ...... sorry, I only did it except for the parts I shouldn''t touch. Even so, I can still recover enough magic power.


    ''''Why is His Highness being drained of magic ......?��Is it because His Highness is being used, just as I and Presha are using our magic in battle,


    ''''That''s partly true, but the direct factor is that the rituals His Highness received to contract with the spirits were interrupted. In this state, His Highness would be in a state of constant leakage of magical power to those around him, even if he was simply spending his time in a normal state.


    Even in such a state, His Highness has been able to fight on the battlefield with her own sword.


    This was only possible because she has an unparalleled magical capacity. She continues to generate new magic power in her body that can compensate for the intense wear and tear - her talent as a mage might have been comparable to the first rank in the court mage''s pecking order if she had signed up in order.


    I''m sure you''ll be able to find a way to make it happen. I would advise your highness to do the same.


    "We are mere servants of the royal family, but this is not something we can say. However, if Your Highness is feeling well, I would like to ask for the doctor''s help at ......


    Three of them bow to me. One of the two maidservants, who hasn''t said anything since earlier, seems to be very quiet - almost, the other, a mature-looking girl, is talking.


    ''Oh ...... too, I''m sorry. Karin, therefore, can barely speak to a new person ...... I, Soara, will speak for her .......


    ''Oh no, it''s all right, don''t be so horrified. I don''t mind.


    A quiet girl with shoulder-length, cropped hair - she''s called Soara, the other girl, and she looks younger than me.


    The two of them look unsuitable for the fortress. Other people, such as the mess hall attendants, are dressed differently than the soldiers, but these two in particular are dressed like servants working in a nobleman''s mansion, something you don''t see in town, as if to show that His Highness is the third princess, a noble status.


    ''''I will wait in the next room until Your Highness is awakened. When His Highness awakens, it will be more comfortable for you to be by his side. Would you please let me know if anything happens?


    Yes, ma''am. We will take turns being with His Highness.


    ...... I, too, wait with the glass.


    ''No, Raquel, you need to rest. I think you need medical attention, too. And that too, as soon as possible.


    Soara looks surprised that there is something so bad about Raquel-san - Karin also looks at Raquel-san without saying anything.


    Raquel-san doesn''t deny it, she just puts her hand on her left shoulder - it may have been unconscious, but it was a gesture to protect her dominant arm, which was overworked beyond its limits.


    ''As long as the ...... zirconia attacks continue, there''s no time for treatment. I''ve had my way in the past. If the next time I can''t do the same thing and die, then that''s my, as a warrior, ......


    ''Just a little bit of time, that''s all it takes to make a dramatic difference. Please, please think about it.


    I know she''s starting to recognize me when we talk. But that and relying on a military doctor who just got here can''t be put in the same frame of mind.


    But if she thinks I have no choice but to force myself to fight, then I won''t back down easily either.


    Because the power of a medical technique is not as weak as she thinks it is.


    Even if you can ...... heal, you can''t make it a priority. But, Glass ...... if both you and I have free time to fit in, ...... then I''d like to ask for it.


    It''s been bothering me ever since I felt uncomfortable with her movements - but now I can finally move on to treatment.


    But the way she said it, it''s like she''s being physically put off ''if I get the chance''. My position as a military doctor would not allow such a thing.


    So I moved forward nonetheless, while preparing myself for the possibility that I might make Raquel-san''s moods worse.


    ''''If you''re free, now is exactly the time. Let me examine you first.


    That''s .......


    ''This one has taken one ......, Knight Commander Raquel.


    Soara says, and Karin nods as well - what a great friendship the girls seem to have with each other, albeit taciturnly.


    A cornered Raquel-san is sure to glare at me. But as if resigned, he returns the kibisu as he swings his black pigtails around with a bang, and tries to leave the room.


    ...... I''m in the next room. The first and foremost priority is to wait for His Highness to wake up. That, don''t forget .......


    She must have tried to keep me in check with some strong words, but her voice was trembling. I headed to the next room, knowing I had to start by getting her to relax.

 45 Episode 43 First Aid

    The room next to His Highness''s sleeping quarters seems to be a room for the maidservants to wait on, but it too is simple for a royal maidservant''s room, and the only decoration is the flowers on the chest of drawers.


    ...... What am I supposed to do?


    ''Yes, ...... then, to bed .......''


    Why is ...... in bed when there''s a chair over there?


    ''Yes, no, not in a weird way. It''s just that the little chair you use in front of the restroom table puts a lot of pressure on you to maintain your posture. I need to be able to examine you in as comfortable a position as possible.


    ''Well, I''m sorry ......, I''ve only ever been to a female doctor. I apologize for being overly cautious ...... because I''m a man, and I apologize for my rudeness.


    Ms. Raquel sits on the bed. I go around to the other side of the bed and look at her back - and then Raquel-san turns the pigtails that were hanging on her back from herself forward to make it easier to examine her.


    ''If you''re a ...... knight, you should keep your hair short, but you don''t have time to cut it, and it''s just been left to grow out. I know it''s unsightly, but I hope you''ll forgive me for now.


    That''s what she said, but since demon warriors have a higher body metabolism than normal people to begin with, their hair grows faster.


    Fortunately for the speed of her recovery, she was able to recover from excessive strain on her body before it became important, even if she had suffered a minor muscle tear or something like that - but there are parts of her body that cannot be compensated for by that alone. It''s the tendons and joints.


    ''Raquel-san, could you take off your jacket?


    She nods and removes the general''s jacket. The collar of the shirt he wears underneath already reveals a bandage wrapped around his upper body - this is probably to keep the pain at bay.


    The way the bandage is wrapped is either instructed by the previous military doctor or taken into account so as not to inhibit violent movement. However, the way the bandage is wrapped up is also constantly evolving, and a method of wrapping it up for martial arts practitioners was also devised by the doctors in the royal capital.


    ''Can you try moving it around a bit? Is this movement okay?


    .......... that''s about it... nothing... nothing at all...


    After all, the strain that is placed on the super-heavy javelin when swinging it out is almost beyond the limit. The tendons have become inflamed and the joints are worn out, and if this continues, bone spurs will probably develop and cause pain.


    (But osteophytes aren''t something that can be surgically removed. It''s a natural healing process, so if you''re at rest, you won''t have much pain. ...... What you need to deal with right away is tendon inflammation. (I haven''t even put any medication on it, so my whole body is overheated.


    ...... Mr. Raquel, the next time the enemy attacks, will you still be fighting on the front lines if they do?


    ''Of course. I''ve always done that, and I''m still in good physical condition, but the reason I''m not going out is because of ......


    ''But if His Highness Astina hadn''t gone to help Raquel-san, it would have been a much more difficult battle.


    "Huh. ...... It''s .......


    Mr. Raquel was at a loss for words. And I remembered now that I had tried to block the enemy archer''s movements and cover Raquel-san.


    Besides, she had noticed - her eyes, which were reflecting on me, were different than before.


    ''...... I was prepared to take arrows from the enemy archers at that moment. Even though I was slightly injured, I was ...... able to cleave off the enemy, but the archer''s movement was unnaturally slow. If that''s what our side did, I can only think of one thing: ...... I was saved by magic.


    The only two mages on my side who were there were me and Rendle-san. You couldn''t even see me, who was far behind, but Raquel-san was still determined that it was something I had done.


    ''I should have thanked you for that time first. Even when treating your highness, I didn''t defend my position and said a lot of unnecessary things ......


    ''''No, no, ...... I know how much Raquel-san adores His Highness. I want to respect His Highness''s feelings as much as you do. So don''t worry about it.


    Are you not offended by ......?


    ''Yes, totally ...... I''d like to live like a big tree, if I could say so. I used to call the longest-lived tree in the academy Jic-chan, and he''s a tremendously generous person, or something like that ......


    ...... I wish I could be like that, too. I wonder if being able to talk to a plant spirit can have that effect on you: ......


    Raquel-san was listening to my story with interest. Other than Leslie, Sven, and his sister-in-law, I had never seen anyone else give me such a look - I think of how closed off the Academy of Magic was to the world.


    ''...... You''re right, I''m putting a lot of strain on my body by using heavy equipment. Every time I wielded a javelin on a horse, I began to feel pain every time I wielded a javelin, and lately, just walking around in my armor has made my upper body ache. Sometimes my body gets so hot when I sleep that I can''t even sleep.


    ''I knew it, yes, ...... Thank you for talking to me. I''d really like to do some serious treatment, with a plan in place. In the meantime, I''m going to give you some first aid.


    I take out another ointment, not the one I used on His Highness. Then Raquel''s eyes widen and she covers her own body - her white skin flushes and turns bright red all at once.


    ''''That''s it, it''s ...... on me ...... body, all over the place, just like your highness.''''


    No, no, I won''t do that.


    What ......?


    ''I think Raquel is going to take off or re-wrap the bandage before she goes to bed. At that time, you''ll apply this ointment where I tell you to. I''ll draw a diagram for you. Also, I have a better way to wrap the bandage, so you can practice wrapping it around me.


    Raquel-san blinks her long eyelashes - did she think it was something I was going to apply? As expected, if you do that all the time, even if Raquel-san allows you to do so, you''ll receive the suspicion of those around you.


    ''...... Nah, I''m not making any mistakes. That''s right, if you''re going to teach me, it''s only fair that I paint it myself.


    She seems to be sulking a bit, but that''s probably just my imagination. And there''s still one more thing I need to tell her.


    ''This is just a first aid measure, so once the zirconia attack has settled down, you''ll be given a full-scale treatment.


    ...... Okay, I get it. That''s a promise.


    ''Good. Well, let''s start by applying an ointment ...... and we''ll go over the painful areas.


    Mr. Raquel did what I said, and I was able to locate the pain. I''d like to think that this won''t be a serious injury until the next round - and that it won''t be a serious injury until the next round.


    But I haven''t told her yet, but I''ll have to do some pretty painful treatments to quell the muscle fatigue, tendon strain, and inflammation in various areas that have progressed to this point. I''d like to get an understanding of that when I actually do the treatment.

 46 Episode 44: Awakening

    There was a problem with being alone in the maidservant''s room after the medical examination, so I asked for a chair out in the corridor, where I tried to prepare for the change in His Highness'' condition--


    ''This is not the time to only worry about us. Wouldn''t it be better for Glass to rest too?


    Raquel stood beside me and glanced at me. I smiled bitterly and replied.


    It''s a good thing that you''re not the only one who can do this. That''s how I learned the art of waking up in an instant, no matter how deeply I was sleeping.


    ''No, no ...... I''m not saying that I''m tired and that Glass is going to fall asleep when it matters. It''s just that since I''m here, I thought you might want to let me rest in the room I was in earlier .......


    Don''t worry, there''s a good reason to sleep in a chair. The chairs are usually made of wood, so if you ask them to wake you up in an emergency, they will wake you up.


    ...... Is Glass diligent or unusual? I''m starting to get the feeling it''s both of those things. I don''t know what a man his age is thinking.


    Raquel crossed her arms and closed her eyes. Looking at his profile, I was tempted to ask him something that had been bothering me for a long time.


    ''Raquel-san, well, I don''t think you''re that far away from me. Presha-san was younger, but Raquel-san is .......


    ''I am one year older than Deite, and this year I will be twenty. I was made a knight''s apprentice at twelve and a captain of the attack force at fifteen. Before I moved to the Isle Rose Fortress, I was given the rank of Knight Commander ...... yet I have yet to do any work worthy of that rank.


    ''Yes, no ...... that''s too much humility. Twenty years old ...... then you''re one year younger than my sister-in-law.


    ''I see ...... you''re close to my age. I had heard that you and His Highness were old acquaintances, but I hadn''t heard that much detail.


    Raquel-san huffs and laughs. Something about the way he looks at me when I say I have a sister makes me feel kinder - I''m too immune to women, myself.


    ''I''m sure there was some conflict in sending Glass out as a military doctor. When I first saw him, I wondered if it was right for a student to come to the battlefield. ...... I''m sure Glass''s sister was worried about him, too.


    ''Still, I had always dreamed of being a court mage. I thought I was imagining the rigors of being a military doctor, and I knew it would be tougher than that. Still, I''m glad I came here.


    ...... that it''s good to be in this situation. You think so. The people you see face to face could be dead tomorrow. Not many of us are sick at heart on the front lines like that.


    A lot of soldiers died today. I don''t think we should ever become numb to the deaths of others, even if the damage done to the enemy is many times greater.


    I want to help as many people as I can, face to face or not. I want to help as many people as I can. It''s the same with using magic on the battlefield. ...... It''s within the scope of a military doctor''s job. Keeping the wounded out is part of medicine for me.


    Raquel closed her eyes and seemed to be thinking about something.


    -- right now she was probably thinking of her subordinates who had lost their lives today. Her thinly opened eyes seemed to be reflecting a place that was not here, but a place that could never be reached.


    ''Rita was an active girl. She was competitive and always competed for the most spears with her best friend, Sarah. Anna was born in the West and was a stout girl ...... who always wanted to protect her homeland with her own hands. Rebecca was an excellent sword user. His Highness Astina saw her skill as a great asset ...... and from now on, she will be a great figure ...... in our order.


    Sixty-two people died in the war. Each one of them had a dream that they wanted to fulfill, and they were cut off from their aspirations.


    Many died on the Zirconian side as well. How many people died in front of this fortress, swallowed up by the waves of war?


    Rather than feeling sad about it, I feel a strong urge to do so now. The war must end no matter what - as soon as possible.


    I didn''t look at Raquel-san. I knew that even if she was crying, I wouldn''t want her to see my face.


    I just clenched my right fist tightly. What can I do to avoid repeating this feeling of uselessness and the regret of not being able to do anything for the person who died, even if only for a little while?


    (...... zirconia, stop it. Bring a ceasefire to ...... and figure out what you can do to make that happen. (What the hell can I do with what I have, in my position?)


    ''Doctor ......, Your Highness has regained consciousness ......!


    ...... Okay, I''ll be right there.


    Soarer called me into His Highness'' bedroom again. His Highness, who had been asleep earlier, raised his upper body on the bed and looked at us.


    ''...... glass weed. And Raquel ...... come here.


    Following His Highness'' words, me and Raquel-san stood side by side by the bed. Raquel-san''s expression was tightening as a Knight Captain - I could feel her strong determination not to show any fragility in front of His Highness.


    ''I ...... have also lost consciousness, haven''t I? At the time of your bathing ......


    Yes, yes, ...... we''ve had the pleasure of bringing you into this room.


    Soara and Karin are standing behind us, listening to what we have to say. The two of them brought His Highness into the bedroom and gave him his first care.


    We knew that the ...... power was being lost from their bodies. Fighting and reading the ''flow'' of the enemy ...... both of which must have taken a toll on my body.


    ''Yes ...... Your Highness is right. Your Highness has a very strong magical power, but for one reason or another, he is unable to control it.


    His Highness places his hand around his own abdomen. Tanden - part of the Spiritual Guide Seal, around which a half-moon is depicted.


    ''...... I have felt myself that the power flowing through my body has been stagnating somewhere in ...... an unnatural flow. To identify the cause of this, I would have to go back to my childhood. However, some of my memories are missing. In that missing memory is the reason why I can''t control my magic: ...... So that''s what it is.


    "Yes, I think it''s probably ...... that, you know, I was just a few minutes ago at His Highness''s .......


    ''You examined me at ....... I felt that somehow after I woke up. That it was you, Glass Weed ...... that woke me up.


    I applied a potion to His Highness'' body and used magic to restore his magic power. If I knew at that time that my magic power had entered His Highness'' body - I would have known how he was treated.


    ''''There''s no need to hold back. It was only a treatment that you went to ...... and I could tell from the warmth of the force that was sent to you that you were sincere. I am sorry that you came here as my direct report and were not immediately accepted ...... because of my narrowness.


    His Highness bows his head to me. His long blonde hair flows as if it were a thread of light - for a moment I didn''t know what had happened and I couldn''t react immediately.


    His Highness has shown his appreciation for my treatment. It was also the moment when he recognized me as a court mage in name and substance.


    ''''You have something to tell me. Please do me a favor as well: ...... Zirconia will attack again without a pause. At that time, I want to do what I can to help my soldiers avoid being hurt as much as possible.


    -- Zirconia, which should have been defeated, is once again attacking across the border.


    There was an unwavering will in the eyes of His Highness as he spoke of this nightmarish reality. A strong desire to break through this predicament and protect everyone.

 47 Chapter 45: Feelings

    What is the first thing we need to talk about? The first and foremost priority is to complete the Spiritual Guide Seal that His Highness is finishing in the middle.


    After doing that, I''ll take His Highness to the Divine Tree. It''s highly likely that this will mean that His Highness and the spirit of the divine tree will make a contract, but it''s not a sure thing.


    (Normally, performing the Election Ritual would result in a contract with a spirit in the spirit world. With their power, they will be able to interfere with the spirits in this world ......, which means that the royal priestesses have been contracting directly with the divine tree for generations ...... Is that what you mean?)


    I''ve studied at least a few things about contracts with spirits, but even the teacher candidates at the academy can only teach a small portion of them, so I don''t know everything.


    However, there are several laws regarding the Spiritual Guide Seal, and there is a big difference between men and women''s designs, but if it''s half drawn, it''s not difficult to finish the other half.


    ''...... Glass, what''s going on?��Make a hard face.


    ''''No, no ...... well, I would like to say this without any presumption. First of all, in order for Your Highness to be able to control the magic power, it is necessary to complete the ''Spiritual Guide Seal'' that is drawn on your body halfway through the process.


    "ugh. ......


    Raquel, and the two maidservants almost screamed in surprise - I knew it was going to happen, but if I was going to go a long way, I wouldn''t be able to move forward with the conversation.


    ''Is it invisible ...... to my body?''


    ''''Yes, it''s been quite some time since it was drawn, so some of it has faded, but the ...... spirit guide seal is like a contract with a spirit to make a contract with it and exercise its power. The fact that it is drawn suggests that His Highness was scheduled to undergo a ceremony called the Rite of Election, which was interrupted for some reason.


    His Highness listened to me without a doubt. In front of those eyes, I felt restless, as if he could see through to my inner turmoil.


    Drawing the Spiritual Guide Mark means that I have to look at His Highness'' body again. In the academy, taking into account the feelings of the students, the method is used to cover up the other parts of the body with cloth and draw parts of it one by one, except for the parts that are drawn - but even so, since it is drawn on the entire upper body, it includes the parts that should not be seen by nature.


    I understand. Then, could you draw the markings? Now, since I''m not wearing anything under this blanket, I think it''s convenient.


    ...... and but ......


    "How can you be so upset when you say ...... his highness is himself. It''s time to calm down and draw.


    No, no. If you have someone who is a good painter, you can ask them to do it for you. There is a chemical that makes the paint temporarily visible to everyone. Of course, it''s not harmful to the human body.


    ''So, then ...... Karin is a very good painter, so if you let her do it, you can go to ......, but you can''t be wrong if Dr. Glass draws it directly...'' ...ugh.


    Soara is quite flustered - Karin, by contrast, is calm and calm, and she is not overly fearful of His Highness Astina, although that may be partly due to her personality.


    ''...... Glass, you are looking out for me, aren''t you? Now, would you please ask Karin ...... Glass to teach me and draw it?��I think your paintings are excellent too, and your letters are beautiful, so I''m sure you''ll do well.


    "...... sucessfully ......


    Karin replies in a very quiet voice. I didn''t know what her voice sounded like since she hadn''t spoken for a long time, but the cool, whispery way she spoke was counterintuitive to my ears.


    "...... your instructions to ...... your doctor, I will do as you say. ......


    ''''Wow, I understand. First of all, we need to make the spirit guide markings on His Highness'' body appear on paper. In order to do that, you can go to .......


    ''Don''t hold back with me. Karin is of the same s*x. ......


    His Highness says this and looks at me. I''m waiting to see what he''s going to say--.


    ''...... Glass, could you stay outside for a moment?''


    ...... I''m sorry. Well, I''ll just show you how to draw it and then I''ll go out.


    I asked Karin to make an exact copy of the drawing and left the room, showing her how to draw the diagram.


    I sat down in the chair outside and breathed. She told me that it would take quite a while to copy the figure and that I could leave the room.


    I had a serious misunderstanding - His Highness was so impersonal, or supernatural, that I didn''t notice the obvious.


    (...... Normally, it''s embarrassing. But he''s asking me because it''s necessary. I need to be more sensitive and caring, too. (Isn''t it obvious?)


    The wait was unsettling. I looked out the window and saw the moon floating in the night sky - I thought about going back to my room for a moment to chill out.


    I was longing to live like a plant, but I hadn''t become one at all. I must stop disturbing my mind at the sight of a woman''s body for the day - so I walked down the quiet corridor and left His Highness'' residence.


    �� �� ��


    I head to the medic''s residence and go to my room. I use the key to open the door and go in - and when I do, it seems that Mr. Rendle has returned once and the door to the bedroom he is using is open.


    But he doesn''t seem to be in the room. If so, I wonder if he is taking a hot bath.


    Since it was a communal bathroom, he didn''t have to wait his turn to use it. I can''t take the time to wash myself whenever I feel like it - my clothes are soaked with the day''s grime and I smell like sweat that I can''t fake it.


    I grab a change of clothes and head to the bathroom. If there''s a woman in there, there''s a problem, but if Mr. Rendle is in there, I''m sure he''s passed the word to the other soldiers.

 48 Chapter 46 Remembrance

    A channel drawn from a canal leads to the Isle Rose Fortress. It is used for domestic water, but there are other deep dug wells that are used as fresh water for cooking meals.


    Originally, the well was used by nearby residents who built a small settlement and used it there, but it was bought out when they were building the fortress. With the money, the original residents moved to the town of Wendell, which was close to the fortress.


    The reason for the high price of the well was because one of the two wells dug was laced with hot springs. A major advantage for the soldiers sleeping in their quarters on the first floor of the fortress was the easy access to hot water.


    The basement of the fortress was divided into several areas, and one of them was that there was a bathhouse for the use of the officers. I feel that this is also a consideration unique to the women-only fortress - even in wartime, hygiene is directly related to morale, so it''s good to have the facilities in place.


    (Well, hot springs and wells don''t always spring infinitely either, so I can usually only wipe myself down at ...... academy, but that''s not always possible, although I did go into town and occasionally go to a public bathhouse.)


    As I begin to remember a little of the past, I still think of my friends. Sven is a tough guy, so I''m sure he''ll be fine, but I wonder if Leslie is doing well at the Academy.


    I''m concerned about Leslie''s house. The head of the Duke of Renklus'' family, the illegitimate child - Leslie himself thinks I don''t know about it, but I happen to know about it.


    My father was a clerk in the House of Lords, and my mother was the seventh daughter of the Viscount family. Normally, there was a huge difference in status between Leslie and me, and it wasn''t a relationship that allowed me to socialize with her. As for why it was that I met her and came to know her and call her ''Brother Glass'', I have to go back to the beginning of our meeting.


    When I entered the Academy of Magic at the age of eight, the teachers'' eyes weren''t so strict because I was of noble blood - that expectation would be turned around on the day of the Election Ceremony. To begin with, there were not a few children of nobility, so it''s not that I was particularly privileged.


    However, because I was of noble blood, and because of my mother''s family''s involvement with the Dukes of Renklus, I was summoned by Headmaster Hendrick at the time of Leslie''s entrance to the school and asked to do something.


    ''''As one of the personnel guarding the academy to prevent other students from harming Leslie Lee Renkles, I would like you to help me as well.''''


    It was a request for me to keep a strict eye on Leslie in a forest school setting where the new students and the upperclassmen would form groups.


    A few other aristocratic students who were breathed by the Renklus family were chosen, and Leslie spent her time in the forest school, probably completely unaware of it, being watched by multiple people.


    I was in a different group than Leslie. What happened was that Leslie got lost in the woods, despite the fact that she was under such strict guard orders.


    Someone else would be able to find Leslie. At first I thought it would be unnatural for me to go willingly to the aid of a younger female student I hadn''t even spoken to yet.


    But I didn''t hesitate any amount. While everyone else was shying away from the darkening forest, I was unreasonably confident that I would be able to find Leslie in the dark.


    Come to think of it, maybe then I was showing signs of making a pact with a plant spirit. I had a feeling that the spirits of the trees that existed in nature were telling me where Leslie was.


    ''Why did you come here?''


    The girl, who had finally found it after a lot of searching, looked up at me as I reached out from the cave at the base of the great tree. She didn''t trust anyone, and I could tell by the way she looked at me that she didn''t trust anyone.


    For some reason I hesitated to tell them the truth. Maybe I had an idea of what the girl in front of me would look like if I said the words ''because the teacher asked me to.


    So I thought about it desperately, and even though I thought about it, I couldn''t come up with an answer, so I said, ''I don''t know.


    How did I bring Leslie home then? I don''t remember exactly what I did anymore until I had to piggyback her off of a sprained leg.


    (...... I''m not going to die until I tell you the truth. So I don''t have anything to worry about.)


    The fact that I was instructed by the head teacher and that I knew where Leslie was coming from. I shouldn''t keep that quiet for a long time - one day I should be punished by her.


    I felt comfortable spending time with Leslie, who also enjoyed the face of not knowing anything, and who also enjoyed being called ''Brother Glass'' and drew the same outlier spirit.


    All of the women of the Renklus family''s blood are married through political marriage. While I''m away from the academy, it''s not surprising that Leslie will be the same at any time - it''s said that all the nobles will be married off by the age of eighteen.


    ''Oh, um, ...... Dr. Glass?''


    I was just stopping in the hallway or something.


    I noticed that a woman with short hair was standing in front of me. I still can''t remember all the names of the medics - I''ll have to remember them again next time.


    ''Oh, you''re going to take a bath, aren''t you? If it''s the bathroom, there was a bill for men in use. We made the tags for Dr. Glass and his secretary.


    Thank you for your concern.


    No, it''s my pleasure ...... and I''m very grateful to the teachers for their help and support. ......


    As if in some kind of hurry, the woman ran - but she saw a sign with the motto ''Quiet in the corridors'' and left from there at a quick pace.


    The people in this fortress are all hardworking people who value discipline. I think there are many different people, but so far relationships are improving and there are no quarrels. I wonder if it''s fair to say that we''re doing well.


    (I knew I might be pretty isolated since I''m the only guy, but ...... in that sense, I''m still pretty happy to have Rendle there to help me out.)


    While thinking about this, I open the door with the ''Men in Use'' tag on it and enter the changing room.


    ''Oh, Mr. Rendle. I''m already on my way up: ......


    ''Huh? ......!''


    --that can''t be anyone but ''Mr. Rendle'' there.


    A male in use tag. Mr. Rendle, who came with me -- even if I took off my hat and removed my glasses, he was definitely a man.


    But all the time I didn''t ask what spirit was responsible for the magic that Mr. Rendle used to protect me from the goblin arrows.


    What if ''Mr. Rendle'' was using the power of that genie to disguise his identity against me.


    ''...... glass, sir ......''


    For a moment, I couldn''t connect the ''she'' that called me like that to the person I knew.


    When she was twelve, she was still a child of innocence. But in the three years since then, knowing that she had changed, I still didn''t understand how much of a change it was.


    The cloth used to wipe her body reliably hid her breasts. Long wet hair draped over her shoulders, and her shoulders, too, must have been hidden by the ingenuity of her clothes - thin, slender curves.


    Thus, everything I saw in my eyes showed that ''Mr. Rendle'' could not be a man or anything else.

 49 Chapter 47: Secret

    Even in the middle of the night, the air was warm and damp, as if they had been provided with hot water for bathing, and the changing room was warm and damp without getting cold at the bottom.


    Drops were still running down from my wet hair and dripping down from my white elbows to my feet.


    ''......, Air Spirit, Airia, ...... answer to my voice.


    "Well, wait a minute, ......, whatever you''re trying to do, calm down, ......!


    You''re telling me that I''ve seen the secret, and you''re going to use your skills - she - Leslie - with a towel that unreliably covers the front of her body, she - Leslie - closes the gap from the front.


    ''''d*mn it ......!''''


    I didn''t know what I was going to do, and I couldn''t fight back. I''m not going to be able to get the best out of it.


    ...... airia ...... the air clothed in my body ......, which has become a nebulous illusion and substituted for... ...


    ''...... I see. I didn''t see that at the Air Spirit ...... institute, but that''s what you were using.


    I say, looking up at Leslie, who is draped over me and holding my shoulders down.


    -- her wet hair hangs over her face and her eyes just catch me as if she is frightened and can no longer continue chanting, she just looks at me.


    Even the towel that was hiding her body has already flown away. I had never seen her so distraught before.


    ''It''s quite a great magic. ...... I just thought you were a different person when you were completely male. So changing the feel of your voice isn''t too difficult if you''re an air spirit?


    I don''t know much about anything outside of my field of expertise, but a voice, in other words, is a vibration of the human vocal cords that is transmitted to the air and produced as a sound.


    If Leslie can contract with and interfere with air spirits, it''s not surprising that she can change her voice. Even so, there was a limit to it, but he hadn''t been able to lower the level of his voice.


    ''...... Why didn''t you come back a little later, ......?''


    ''I''m sorry. Even with this, it''s been quite some time since I left the sanitation building while Leslie was asleep and came back from His Highness'' place.


    Still, ...... and a little bit more ...... and a little bit later, if you could slow down a little bit, .......


    ...... then I''d be oblivious for a lot longer. But I''ll realize it eventually. You''ll have to realize, no matter how stupid it is that you didn''t know anything about it before.


    The strength in Leslie''s hands that had been holding me down loosened. She pulled her hand away and tears spilled from her eyes.


    ''Brother ...... Glass is not ...... stupid, and I knew that if the ...... academy gave me an order, I would absolutely follow it...'' ...The dean of the school said as much. That''s why he told me ...... brother Glass before he went: ......


    ''So you''re saying that ...... you talked to your sister-in-law about it and you''re following me. It''s not like I''ll never see you again, so why would you do that?


    ...... You never know what you''ll find when you go to the battlefield. Even today, if a lot of people died and ...... my brother Glass had to do that, I wouldn''t have to ...... again.


    I didn''t think I''d ever see her. Unable to put it into words to that extent, Leslie began to cry without raising her voice.


    She was so elusive, always so calm. She had better grades than me, but she drew the same outlier spirit and was no longer recognized by her peers - not that we were comforting each other in the same situation. But for sure, I had Leslie and Sven as my confidants.


    --It''s just that the ones who are chosen by the outlier spirits are not born lucky.


    --Hey, she''s taking care of trees again. I wish he''d quit the academy and become a gardener.


    --Glass Weed. Perhaps you should consider helping your father with his work instead of being a mage. If you''re a clerk in the King''s City Council, I can write you a letter of introduction.


    If you hadn''t joined the academy to become a mage, you might have chosen to live the way they say you did. But now that I was in the Academy of Magic, I couldn''t give up my dream.


    Every time I was despised and marginalized, I felt one of those feelings of cursing the world at first.


    My friends were the only reason I was able to endure being treated as an outcast.


    Even when I was denied the spirits I had contracted with and forced to reduce myself to a mere breathing entity in the academy, I didn''t give up.


    I wasn''t afraid of dying.


    When you think no one needs you and your dreams are cut off, it''s easy for people to despair, to look at the world with cold eyes, and all you can think about is the words that put you and others down.


    It''s even worse than dying to stop like that and live with your emotions sunk to the bottom of the mud.


    I waited until the crying Leslie had calmed down and she looked at me.


    Eventually, her moist eyes turn to me. I thought back to the first time I met Leslie.


    She looked at me that time, too. As if she was afraid, but as if she wanted something.


    ''I had a ...... dream,''


    What you said about wanting to be a ...... dream ...... court mage?


    That''s part of it. But before that ...... I wanted to be a mage and be something else all along. That''s about as vague a dream as you can imagine.


    I don''t think Leslie has a clue what I''m trying to say yet. But he''s interested, and his breathing gradually calms down.


    ...... All the people who died today and all the soldiers who have died for their country so far were like that. I''m not going to be able to say that I''m not going to be able to do anything about it. But if they had survived ...... they would have been able to chase their dreams again.


    I''ll be assigned to the fortress at the front line as a military doctor. When I accepted it, I just thought the job of a military doctor was for that, with the primary focus being to be able to sit at the end of the court mages.


    Now, it''s different. Being able to come to this fortress as a military doctor has fulfilled one of my dreams. That''s not the end of it - even if it''s not fair to think about this, I can''t help but wish for it.


    I''ll see to it that this battle is over. I want to find out what I can do until I don''t have to fight one day. It would be a blessing to live in peace where there is no fear of death. But then I''ll end up just living and dying one day, watching Leslie marry off in the distance and not doing what I can do. I''d rather do what I have to do here, even if I don''t know when I''m going to die.


    "...... glass brother ...... my, my house ...... knew about ......?


    ...... I don''t know everything about it. But I do know that ...... Leslie has the blood of a duke in her veins. I''m sorry I''ve been quiet for so long. I don''t have the right to be angry at Leslie for what he''s been up to. I''ve been lied to worse than that, too.


    When I told the truth, I wondered if I was going to lose everything, or - I thought it was a sin to even think that I might be forgiven.


    ''...... That''s not ...... a lie. Brother Glass didn''t say anything for me. I was more concerned about myself and ...... even now, I was just trying to protect my own lies .......


    ...... So we''re both the same then. I guess we''ve been overthinking things.


    At first, Leslie looked surprised.


    But I wonder if she understood the meaning of ''the same'' - she smiles for the first time in a long time, with a smile on her face.


    I can''t say anything to that crying and laughing expression. I was the one who made her think so hard about it - she was more afraid of me dying on the front lines than I was of her.


    My feelings for her were just warm. I was grateful and wondered what I could do to repay her.

 50 Episode 48: Same room

    I feel like it''s too early to say thank you. It''s only after we get over the situation this fortress is in right now that we can let up.


    ...... I''m sorry, brother Glass: ......


    Leslie apologizes with a sly smile. The sight of her hesitating so clearly in shame, often not knowing what she was thinking, was so limpid that she was lost for words.


    -- more than that, more than anything else. In order to get her to realize the current situation peacefully, even though I''ve only lived three years longer, I''m going to have to follow through like an older man.


    ''''I don''t have anything to apologize for, but ...... as expected, if you weren''t a mage, you''re about to get hurt if you''re knocked backwards in a place like this.


    ...... I''m sorry, I''m sorry ...... I''m always bothering my brother Glass. ...


    After saying that much, she finally realized that she was in one piece.


    ''Huh ......, oh ......''


    When people are too upset, they lose their voice - Leslie was the embodiment of that now.


    She finally remembers and hides them with her hands, having forgotten to hide them. I close my eyes and cover them further with my own.


    ''See, I didn''t see ...... it, no, I could see some of it. Maybe I was a little too bold.


    "But wait a little longer, close your eyes still until I say you can go to ......, please... ......


    I know, I know. No need to panic, okay?


    I close my eyes until Leslie says it''s better. I don''t listen to the sound of the garment rubbing, but I''m talking to the spirits that inhabit the wooden items around me - you''re a rash daughter, says the older lumbering spirit. I replied in a small-talking tone, "I''m usually very calm.


    ''...... glass brother, I''ve changed my clothes. Wake up .......


    ''Oh ...... ooh, it''s back to ''Mr. Rendle''.


    --and then, with permission, I raised my body and opened my eyes. I saw Leslie, with her exposed clothes re-wrapped tightly and changed into men''s clothes.


    ''But if you don''t interfere with the air spirits, it''s still ...... Leslie, isn''t it?


    ...... Now that I don''t have my mouth covered, I have to hide it because the ...... mouth is the most revealing part of a person''s character.


    ''Well, ...... we''ll discuss that area when we get back to the room. I don''t know if I''ll have to continue to be ''Mr. Lendl'' in the future.


    When I stand up, Leslie pays for my clothes. When I am taken care of in a worthy manner, I feel sorry for everything that Leslie has done for me as a secretary, everything that Mr. Rendle has done for me in the past as well as everything that Leslie has done for me in this way.


    ...... We''ve known each other for so long, you should have noticed the gestures and such.


    ''The ''air'' spirits were said to be outliers at the academy, but I thought they were different. It''s a power that can interfere with something that is everywhere called air...... everyone feels through the air when they see or feel something. So when you ''change the air'', you can make it look different...... sorry, I''ve been keeping it a secret for so long.


    ''No, I''ve been hiding it from you. That magic, depending on how you use it ......, would be tricky if someone thought of using it for espionage or something and approached Leslie. We''d better not tell too many people about it in the future.


    The outlier spirit users didn''t have to demonstrate their practical skills in front of the teachers. Only elemental spirit users were required to perform practical skills, added to the evaluation, and treated as the flamboyant pride of the academy - thanks to such a convention, we were able to keep the information about our own spirits secret without disclosing it.


    Looking at my report card, which was unappreciated just for being a ''plant spirit'', anyone would think that I was useless as a mage. The Second Queen sent me to His Highness Astina, who was competing with her son, the Prince, for the succession to the throne, presumably to get me to drag my feet.


    If Leslie''s spirits weren''t also unappreciated, they would surely be noticed. A spirit that interferes with the ''air'' - I once thought it was similar to the Wind Spirit, but in reality, it''s just not like that.


    I didn''t know that ...... brother Glass''s magic could also be used in battle. As a doctor, he studied a lot and was very good at surgery. ...... I thought brother Glass was even more unreliable.


    ''Well, I don''t blame you for thinking that, but ...... you remember my special skills. One of these days, if we find a fruit-bearing tree somewhere else, we''ll share the fruit.


    ''Yes. If you can, I''d prefer figs ...... and if not, anything I can eat with my brother Glass.


    I still felt uncomfortable with the sight of Leslie with her glasses on, but I didn''t say that now.


    If I said something like, "Maybe you should take off your glasses," it would be like I was hitting on you.


    ''...... I can''t reveal my true identity in this fortress just yet. Can I go back to ''Leslie'' again when the battle has calmed down?


    ''That''s ...... why?��People will be surprised when I tell them I dressed up as a man for a reason, but isn''t dressing up as a man a burden on Leslie?


    No, ...... the people who come and go in and out of this fortress might know about my house, so ...... in the unlikely event that the house gets word that I''m brother Glass''s secretary, I''m sure they''ll come to bring me back.


    ...... So that''s what it was all about.


    This is probably what your sister-in-law meant when she said it was a thorny issue - if you''re going to follow me, you''ll have to disguise your identity.


    But that''s not all. If you''re going to pretend to be a stranger, you could have been a woman.


    Still, there''s a reason I chose to be a man. I should have an idea by now, but I don''t use my intuition to any extent. But after using my mind to the maximum, I finally find one answer.


    I thought if I dressed up as a ...... man and played secretary, people wouldn''t be suspicious of me in the same room as me, so is there a ...... reason for that?


    ............


    Leslie didn''t answer. It was the right thing to do - to be my secretary and dress up as a man so that I wouldn''t be suspicious when I was around.


    ...... That''s part of the reason, but ...... that''s not the only reason.


    Yeah ......, well, what''s more?


    ...... This fortress is all female, so if you and brother Glass are sharing a room with someone else ...... that might happen. I thought, "I''m going to go to .......


    It seems very hard to say, Leslie says. I guess I''m really embarrassed to even imagine such a thing - my face is red, and yet he''s telling me the truth.


    It''s true that the rooms in the fortress are limited, so if I had come alone, I might have ended up sharing a room with someone else. As I had heard from my sister-in-law beforehand, I actually felt that I was often made aware of by female soldiers.


    ''...... So you''re here as my watchdog. Not at all .......


    ...... Sorry.


    No. As far as I''m concerned, it''s not safe for Leslie to be here, just as it''s not safe for me to be here. So you have to take responsibility for bringing her back safe and sound.


    "Thank you, brother Glass ....... I''ll do my job well as a secretary.


    ''Yeah, good luck with that. I know you''re going to be busy for a long time to come, so let''s take it easy.


    We laughed at each other and walked back to our rooms.


    As we walked side by side, I remembered my time at the academy, even though Leslie was dressed in men''s clothes - we hadn''t walked next to each other that often.


    What had Leslie been thinking about when she had come here? I think it''s clear enough now that I can be sure of that.


    But for now, more than anything else, I want to fulfill my role in this fortress as a military doctor and secretary. I was pondering as I walked, wondering in what order I could break down the pile of problems that were piling up.

 51 Chapter 49 霊Guide Seal

    It seems that Leslie''s background has already been written in the letter from her sister-in-law to His Highness. In other words, His Highness Astina knew about Leslie and placed her here.


    It doesn''t mean that I am going to deceive His Highness Astina, my lord. As I explained that, Leslie dressed as a man again, interfered with the air spirit, and returned to the guise of ''Rendor''.


    By now, Karin should have finished copying His Highness''s spirit guide seal onto the paper. It was only half of it, so she would have to imagine the whole image and restore it before drawing it onto His Highness'' body.


    ''''I think I can restore the shape of the spirit guide seal. I''m very good at remembering shapes.''''


    Are you sure?��Then we can draw on the body of His Highness, or on Leslie of the same s*x ......


    As he said this, Leslie shook his head. I thought it was an odd idea, but why not?


    ''Earlier, brother Glass: ......


    When he spoke while walking down the hallway, his normal voice sounded reasonable. Leslie rephrased it midway through so that it was safe for someone to hear her.


    ''''If Glass-sensei gave you a treatment that promotes the recovery of magical power, then Glass-sensei''s magical power has entered His Highness Astina''s body. If I draw the Spiritual Guide Seal while putting my magic power into it, I think there will be a backlash ...... because it will make you ''immune''.


    Yeah, right: ......


    ''I''m sure the doctor understands that, too. I think it''s a sign of kindness on your part to be concerned about His Highness'' mind, but this is a doctor''s job. Ladies and gentlemen, we won''t give you the benefit of the doubt, so please perform the treatment with dignity.


    A reliable secretary - or rather, this is just a normal way to be lectured by your sister-in-law.


    However, Leslie is right, so I don''t get a counter argument. Originally, I also felt that I should have looked at the spirit guide markings while looking at His Highness'' body and copied them, instead of leaving it to Karin.


    I didn''t do so for exactly the reason Leslie pointed out to me.


    (That being said, ...... rei-directory marks get drawn in places where you can''t say you''re embarrassed or anything. Basically, it''s supposed to be drawn by the same s*x. ......)


    ''I''m sorry, Dr. Glass, I''m sorry, my words were too much. I just thought we shouldn''t continue to shy away from it because we''re dealing with a woman: ......


    ''No, Leslie is right. It''s a matter for His Highness''s body. ...... From now on, I''ll do what I have to do as a doctor. And I can''t afford to be immature.


    ...... such a kind teacher, and I''m sure you''re all happy to have him here.


    ''Oh, hey ...... "Rendle", aren''t you being too soft on me?''


    The original Leslie was cynical in some ways, which made me panic. I guess I, as a person, am susceptible to being nice to others.


    ''''Anyone who has seen my teacher since I''ve been here would think that.


    ...... I''m so selfless, I don''t really know what I''m doing.


    Maybe Leslie sees things differently than I do because she sees me as an assistant when I''m examining and treating her.


    It''s important for me to understand the emotions of my patients. I should always try to make sure that I don''t miss seeing each and every one of them because I''m too busy.


    �� �� ��.


    He received a copy of the spirit guide seal that had been drawn on His Highness'' body from Karin, who was waiting outside His Highness'' room.


    ''...... light, but where you can''t see it in the faintest way, is ......''


    ...... is fine. I think I can restore it.


    ''Good: ...... So, Mr. Rendle, please be as quick as possible. How long will it take?


    Half a minute or so should do it. Please wait a moment.


    Half a minute - I didn''t know that I only needed to restore the faint part of the spirit guide seal and draw analogies from the shape of the mark on the lower part of the body to the upper part of the body, but that''s all I needed to do.


    While Leslie was working on the reconstruction in the next room, I heard from Karin about His Highness'' condition. She said that he was calm at the moment and that he had been talking to Soara earlier, but now he was resting.


    I heard that Raquel-san had stayed behind earlier, but after receiving instructions from His Highness, she returned to her room and is now resting. He said that he was told to rest in preparation for the military council early tomorrow morning - I''m wondering what kind of talk will be given, but I''m not sure I''ll be called in as a military doctor.


    Eventually Leslie completed the drawing of the Spiritual Guide Seal and brought it to me. I take the paint and brushes I brought from my room and go into His Highness'' bedroom.


    This paint is also used to paint the magic circle, and it''s the first thing that mages are taught to mix. Since the materials can only be obtained in the royal capital, this must also be procured if it''s in short supply - although it''s so rare that the opportunity to paint a spirit seal with my hands may never happen again.


    ''...... glass, I see you''re ready to go. Soara, would you please leave the room once so as not to distract him from his concentration?


    "Huh ......, Your Highness, but ......


    ''Don''t worry. I have a feeling from the report that he is worthy of my trust. I trust my instincts.


    Oh, I''m sorry. I''m sorry, Mr. Glass, but I suspect: ......


    No, it''s not unreasonable. It would be outrageous to leave me, a man, alone with your highness ...... but can you trust me to do it?


    I will not bother you anymore by thinking only about the duties of a squire ...... when I am the one who should be thinking about His Highness''s body first and foremost. We believe in the one your highness believes in, too.


    Soara bows her head and leaves the room.


    When they are alone, His Highness slowly lowers the blanket he had been tucking into his chest.


    ''''So, Your Highness, ...... I''ll draw in a little bit at a time, so you can just show me a part of it ......''''


    ...... That would be a lot of work. It would be faster to draw the big picture as you go along.


    His Highness is right - if I only see one part of the picture and draw it, it takes longer to work because I have to imagine the parts I can''t see.


    She looks at me with eyes that are stifled with emotion, revealing her divine figure in a dimly lit room with only faint lights.


    -- I could tell she was stifling it because there was no way to hide it, and a blush was on her face.


    ''...... please. Do I just have to close my eyes?


    With His Highness ready to face me, I knew I must not waver at all anymore. I nodded back and motioned for her to lie down.


    The spirit guide markings drawn from her thighs to her shins are faint and interrupted. I pulled a small ceramic plate out of my bag and produced the paint on it, selecting the finest of several brushes.


    ''If I tickle you or anything, just let me know. You will need to rest at .......


    We will now finish the treatment before the sky turns white - in about an hour and a half. We must hurry as much as possible in order for His Highness to rest as much as possible.


    His Highness didn''t move at all when I began to draw. He just quietly raised and lowered his chest, closed his eyes, and made sure that there was no hindrance to his drawing.

 52 Chapter Fifty Resolution

    Drawing a mark on your highness'' body - I don''t have any artistic ability, but since I use paint that reacts to magic power, if the accuracy of manipulating magic power is high, I can draw a figure as I want.


    Even if you can''t perform the actual skill of summoning spirits, training in magic power manipulation is one of the basic lessons. There was a class where students would paint a sheet of paper with paint that reacted to magic power, and by precisely manipulating their own magic power, they would cause interference all at once to create a diagram for the task.


    No matter how well they did with that, the ''outlier'' students were not evaluated. In any case, if you can''t be taken up as a mage, none of the specialized classes you''re taking now as a mage will be of any use - even if you can use it in your daily life, the teachers don''t think it''s worth it.


    ''...... glass ...... a little ......''


    "I''m sorry, Your Highness,


    His Highness, who seemed to be asleep with his eyes closed, raised his hand slightly. It couldn''t be helped, it was extremely difficult for him to remain slightly motionless even when I was having the mark drawn.


    Sven had been chosen by the Stone Spirit and was terrifyingly calm and composed, and he was not at all bothered by having his mark drawn. However, no matter how calm His Highness seemed to be, it didn''t mean that he was unfazed by anything.


    But rather than taking his time, it was better to calculate that he would move a little and draw it all at once. From this point on, I''m going to be mindless and just try to finish it - there''s still a whole side of the back to go.


    There''s no need to draw in the face, just draw in the neck. As far as moving up to the divine tree, it will be hidden by the clothes, so it won''t surprise the people around it.


    ''...... That''s the end of the upper body. Now, may I ask you to lie on your face?


    All right. Glass, aren''t you tired?


    ''No, I''m still fine. Thank you for your concern.


    You''ve been moving around a lot since you got here, and I know you''re tired. You mustn''t take it too far. ...... No, you mustn''t take it too far. The entire fortress is exhausted, and we need to break the situation as soon as possible. ......


    Even in this situation, His Highness is thinking about the war. What kind of move will she make as she predicts that Zirconia will attack again?


    While drawing marks on my back, I think - the only way to change the situation where Zirconia is attacking us one-sidedly is to go on the offensive from us.


    The enemy can cross the river from anywhere, using their warships. This fortress, which faces the canal, is not inherently suitable for defense. It would be nice if the enemy would be in a situation where they had to turn their backs on the water, but the enemy knows that''s why they didn''t land close to the fortress, but instead split up to the east and west.


    (...... They aren''t even allowed to follow the retreating enemy forces and hit their bases. That would be like saying wait until this stronghold falls one day. (Otherwise, without the opportunity to interact with Zirconia, the situation won''t get better until the enemy wears down and gives up).


    His Highness would know all the things I would consider.


    ''...... Glass. I''m sorry to burden you so much, but may I order you to attend the military council meeting tomorrow morning?


    I''m sure the other generals will wonder if I, as a ...... military doctor, will be on the military council .......


    Raquel, Presha, Deite ...... and the other captains who were on the sortie today know that you used your magic on the battlefield. The siege tower that was approaching from the west side of the fortress fell before we could attack it. When I received that report, I thought it was to your credit that you could use magic. ...... Isn''t it?


    His Highness says, as if she had a view of everything around the battlefield fortress.


    She puts her chin on the pillow on the bed and holds her arm out behind her. I replied as I drew the continuation of the spirit guide seal that wasn''t drawn on the back of her arm.


    ''His Highness ...... has never incorporated a mage into his command before. Still, can you sense the flow of magic power on the ...... battlefield that you have determined I did?


    ''Yes. If there is a mage on the battlefield, I can feel it firsthand ...... and it once got me out of a crisis. But I was convinced you used magic because I had seen your magic once. You used it when you were stalling the goblins.


    ''Oh, I''m sorry ...... that His Highness could see the magic of that time, I just thought you were completely unaware of it.


    His Highness seemed to smile faintly. I felt more and more ashamed of my shallowness.


    ''I knew that you had used your magic to protect the people of my realm. But I didn''t want to give you too much credit: ......


    ...... Does that mean there is still a question of succession to the throne, as has been rumored in King''s Landing, after all?


    When I received the report from ...... Presha, I was concerned that you had found out about it as well. But I guess that was unfounded. I apologize for doubting you, even for a moment.


    His Highness Astina didn''t say, ''The Second Queen is trying to bring her down.


    She knows all this and still wants to avoid making an enemy of His Majesty the King and the Second Queen.


    There could be many reasons for this. But if there is the biggest one--''''


    ''''If I may be so presumptuous as to ask you, may I ask you? What does the First Queen think of the current situation?


    ...... She has stayed out of the fray and has kept her distance on matters of succession to the throne. Originally, she had no intention of fighting. She is still recuperating quietly in one of the royal family''s vacation homes.


    His Highness answered questions that could be considered rude, without being offended.


    The First Queen distanced herself from the struggle for the throne. However, the Second Queen''s side is conspiring to make her son, the Second Prince, king.


    Perhaps that means that the man His Majesty considers worthy to succeed to the throne is not the second prince - understandably, the second prince is only a 10-year-old boy. If he succeeds to the throne in the near future, he will still have a regent in place.


    As we talk, the spirit guide seal is nearing completion. I drew a mark in the center of His Highness'' back that resembled the sun - the moon on the tanden and the sun on his back. By drawing the paired patterns on the front and back of the body, the seal expresses the connection between the elements that make up this world.


    ''Thank you for your efforts, Your Highness. Now that the mark is complete--


    I was about to say that.


    His Highness'' hand, which had his back to me, moves and grabs my wrist. It''s not a strong force, but it''s not easy to shake off.


    His Highness saves his back and says, revealing a pattern on his half of his body that only mages can see, as if he is surrounded by light.


    ''''With your coming, Glass ...... this fortress, our Order is about to change. I never imagined that this would happen either. I wondered if you, sent to me at the behest of the Second Queen, would even really work as a military doctor.


    There is still something I must tell you during this night. The thought was evident in His Highness''s tone of voice.


    --I also have something to say. How was I seen as a person to the Academy of Magic and to this kingdom?


    ''''...... I was found by the Second Queen because I was an ''outlier'' mage. It''s frustrating, but I was deemed useless and sent here ...... as a token court mage to pull His Highness''s leg.


    I''m sure His Highness felt the same way. Until I actually started working as an army doctor.


    ''''But I don''t want to end up just a formality. I want to be a person who is truly worthy of being a court mage ...... because I''ve always wanted to be one.


    If you''re ....... Glass ...... with me and fight. I''ve been told to stay away from this thing called magic, and it might be a bugger to trust a mage after all this time ...... but ......


    His Highness has his doubts. Is it okay to expect too much from me when I''m still new here?


    -- If I can get rid of that uncertainty, I''ll do whatever it takes. I may not be able to squeeze this hand back now, but I can put my resolve into words.

 53 Episode 51: Round Table Again

    When I was in the academy, I would never have been able to say something like this. ''''Trust in my magic,'''' and so on.


    Entering the western territory and experiencing the atmosphere of the battlefield, even if it was in the rear, confirmed that my magic was not of no use in battle.


    Of course, it''s not at all comparable to a battle mage who can change the battle situation in an instant. But even if it can''t destroy on a large scale, as long as it''s used in the right place, even the smallest amount of power can be effective.


    ''''I will do whatever it takes to end this battle. Let me work not only as a military doctor, but also as a mage when needed. I will certainly be of service to your highness.


    His Highness''s eyes are tinged with sorrow. I can sense the hesitation still lingering in his eyes at drawing me into the battlefield.


    I show my will by not looking away. I haven''t squeezed my courage to hide my cowardice, I''m not afraid.


    If I''m afraid, it''s that I''ll end up doing nothing, thinking that I might have been of some use.


    ''Thank you for ......, Glass. Your resolve has been conveyed.


    "Whaaaaat ......, then, Your Highness... ......


    His Highness looked back at me, pulling the sheets up to his chest, as if he was aware that his back was turned.


    ''I need your help. I''ll reveal the reason why I have to do so at tomorrow''s military council meeting. I''ll have a seat reserved for you, and you''ll come with your assistant.


    ''Yes, yes ...... I understand. Your Highness, you can find out more about ''his'' situation at .......


    ''I heard about it beforehand in a letter. I wondered at the time why a person of Renklus'' blood would accompany you. ...... Millennia is an unpredictable person, but she rarely acts unthinkingly. Therefore, I didn''t ask for details.


    Thank you. I wouldn''t have been able to put myself here if ''she'' had been asked about her identity in the first place.


    When he expressed his gratitude, His Highness huffed. When he lowered his well-formed eyebrows and smiled, it was hard to believe that he was the same person as the demonic figure who had cut down countless enemy soldiers on the battlefield.


    The knights of this fortress are all the same. In truth, they are kind-hearted, but in order to protect their people, they must become demons.


    ''...... You may not think so yourself, though. Your popularity is what makes her behave the way she does. Presha, Deethe, Katie ...... and Raquel, as well as all the maidservants who have just met with you. Maybe they''ll turn to you to heal them rather than to me in my position of leadership.


    Healing ...... isn''t just about healing injuries. First of all, it''s about food. I have heard that His Highness is eating the same diet as the lower-ranking soldiers, but that is not enough nutrition. Overall, we need to improve our diet.


    Perhaps because the conversation suddenly switched to a petition about the food situation, His Highness stopped staring at me - is that a reaction to being suddenly told that?


    ''...... Temperance contributes to making a person''s body purer and free of impurity. That''s what I was thinking.


    It is true that effective moderation or fasting can improve the body''s metabolism.


    But that is only if sufficient nutritional considerations are taken into account, and even if the current diet can provide heat and some nutrition, it is not sufficient to sustain the body of an athletic military man.


    ''When we have an idea of how to stabilize the food supply, could you allow me to discuss it with the cooks. If we improve our diet, the morale of our soldiers will improve, as will their health.


    ''...... I''ll think about it. If it''s possible, I wish I could ask for some guidance on that diet first, but I''ve been educated as a ...... princess and a knight, but I''m ashamed to say that I''m very unfamiliar with anything else.


    ''Yes, yes ...... if your highness wishes. Although I believe that your service as a military doctor should take precedence first.


    ...... change the war situation and create a situation where the enemy won''t attack us. All of this is after you''ve done that.


    In contrast to the naive behavior of asking for guidance from me, she returns to her commander''s expression.


    First of all, I wonder what guidance His Highness Astina will provide at tomorrow''s military meeting. I greeted Soara and Karin and resigned from His Highness'' bedroom.


    �����


    It was fortunate that the room we were assigned was in the form of two separate bedrooms. Each room was barely big enough to sleep in, but if we had arranged the beds in the same room, we wouldn''t have been able to sleep in them easily.


    At the academy, the boys'' and girls'' dorms were separated from each other across the school building, and going back and forth was strictly forbidden. The occasional girl sneaked into the boys'' dormitory and vice versa, but it was nothing to do with Leslie and I. It was just a topic of banter.


    --and so I think I dreamed a little bit of my time at the Academy, but I was woken up by Leslie just as the morning sun was beginning to peek out from behind the sky.


    ''Good morning, brother Glass,''


    ''Oh, good morning. I have to attend a military council meeting today, so I''ll finish my patient rounds before I do.


    Leslie has changed her clothes into men''s clothes, but she hasn''t put on her glasses and hat yet. It''s unlikely we''ll see her with her hair down in the future, but seeing her again makes her look strangely fresh.


    ...... hair must be tied up and put in the hat.


    ''That''s a lot of work ...... No, I''m sorry to sound like someone else. Is there anything I can do to help?


    No, he''s fine. I''ll call him Dr. Glass when we''re done. Where''s my brother Glass?


    ''Mr. Rendle, I suppose. Until I can tell everyone what''s going on one of these days, I''ll do that.


    ...... I''m sorry to be a pain in the ass.


    It can''t be helped since they wanted to accompany me even if I went that far.


    However, even if the Renklus family sensed Leslie''s movements, I don''t plan to return them easily if they''ve come this far.


    I need to get someone with a little bit of medical knowledge to help me - if possible, I need to think about training them. With that in mind, I got out of bed and began to prepare myself.


    After finishing my rounds and having breakfast in the dining room, I took Leslie to the round table room.


    Mr. Raquel supported me and instructed me where to sit at the round table - me and Leslie were in the lowest seat, almost directly across from His Highness'' seat.


    I never thought the day would come when I would be sitting here - Raquel-san, Presha-san, and Deite-san. And there are two attack captains I haven''t spoken to yet, one archer captain, and the captains of other units, though I haven''t heard any details, and ten knights in all.


    We all take our seats and wait for His Highness to come in. Eventually the maidservant announced His Highness''s entrance and the knights greeted him with a salute.


    His Highness looked at them all and put his right hand to his chest as if in prayer. Then he opened his eyes once more, and when she nodded, the knights returned to their upright positions.


    ''We will now begin our military discussion. Please be seated.

 54 Episode 52 Counterattack

    Her Highness Astina is dressed in clothes that barely show her skin. The symptoms of magic power overflowing from her body have been remedied to some extent by completing the Spiritual Guide Seal, but it is still fundamentally not completely suppressed, perhaps because her amount of magic power is out of the ordinary.


    Then, the Spiritual Guide Seal could react to His Highness'' magic power and float up to be visible to everyone. It would be best not to show the mark at the moment, as it would not cause any upset to the generals present at the military council.


    When will His Highness have the opportunity to go to Shinki - the sooner the better, but that will also depend on the policy that will be presented.


    ''''Due to yesterday''s enemy attack, our Knights lost sixty-two deaths. The night before last, Zirconia''s engineering force attacked across the canal, but was repulsed by Deite''s troops. At that time, the enemy brought only one cannon with them.


    I believe that the enemy tried to destroy the walls of the city and tried to upset our forces. ...... If that didn''t happen, does it mean that the enemy is in a hurry to attack us as well?


    When Raquel spoke up, His Highness Astina ordered her entourage to spread the map out on the round table.


    ''I suppose Zirconia''s plan was to make us believe that they were meddling in the city walls. In reality, however, their aim was to attack the fortress from east and west, encircle it and bring it down. They dared to use medium-sized boats to carry the cannons so that the presence of the warships would not be detected.


    ''May I speak, Your Highness, if I may? We''ve been watching the canal as well, and we haven''t seen a shadow of a warship in the canal. How could the Zirconians have kept it secret?


    Mr. Deate raised his hand and spoke with permission. I had my doubts about that too - because if the enemy''s stronghold was along the upper reaches of the canal, and they were moving on the water with the current from there, they would be visible from the Isle Rose Fortress, which is constantly monitoring the canal.


    ''...... I have confirmed that the enemy has mages in their midst. That''s partly why I went to the front lines.


    ...... Zirconia and the Mages have never heard of ......


    "Instead of having no mages, Zirconia is ahead of our country in developing military weapons. They see that as an advantage, too, and will incorporate the weapons into their operations to attack our forces. ...... I''ve been thinking about that, too.


    After saying that much, His Highness looked at me. I wondered if he was asking for my opinion on something, and prepared to answer.


    ''But I''ve been feeling uncomfortable for a little while now. There''s a disturbing feeling across the canal ...... if it''s because the mages have been using magic to dazzle us .......


    ''I think it''s possible that ...... Normally, it would be difficult to maintain a magic that would cause illusions on such a large scale. However, water spirits are active along the canals. If you are a water spirit user, you can use fog and other mediums to show deceptions.


    If that''s the case, we''ve been relieved that the enemy on the other side of the river wasn''t making a move ......?


    "His Highness was convinced of the Mage''s presence when he engaged the enemy forces from the east ...... and was accompanied by the enemy general Alejandro.


    It was too far away from me to feel it - but His Highness Astina''s senses extend to the vicinity of the fortress. If the closer you get, the easier it is to sense the presence of a mage, it seems almost certain that if she says she''s on the front lines, there''s no mistaking it.


    ''Alejandro ...... Zirconia''s ''White Raven''. If he has come out of the center, then he''s probably been handed full military authority by the king. For him to have come to the front himself, the retreat seems to have been premature ......


    ...... It was probably because of what the mages following Alejandro taught me about the senses I have. Glass identified the cause of my fall, but given that, it''s not surprising that the enemy forces would consider exhausting me.


    He is the commander of the Isle Rose Fortress, a fierce general with an eye for the future and the ability to slay a hundred men in a single battle when he wields his sword. The person Zirconia feels most threatened by is undoubtedly His Highness.


    And if there are mages in the enemy, it''s not surprising that His Highness Astina is aware of his magical power that extends to the entire area around the Isle Rose Fortress.


    (...... Master Glass. If that mage is ......)


    Leslie, who is next to me, says in a small voice. When he says that, I notice it too.


    A mage whose presence has never been felt before is in the enemy army. A person from the royal family is getting through to Zirconia - which suggests the worst possible outcome.


    ''...... Glass, Lendl. I asked you two to be present because you are the only two mages in this fortress.


    ''''Yes ...... we are ready to go into battle, too. But if there is a combat mage on the enemy who uses elemental spirits ...... probably has combat training.


    I can''t be certain that he''s from the Silvana Academy of Magic, or that he''s a mage from Laiseneier - but if the enemy used ''water'' as I''ve guessed, it means that he controls one of the elemental spirits of earth, water, fire and wind.


    ''''Still, I must win this battle. If we continue like this, eventually the Isle Rose will be cut off from the center and isolated. For there are those inside the kingdom who do not think well of us.


    "Huh ...... a, Your Highness Astina, it''s ......


    It would be treasonous to the kingdom to talk like that, even if she were the third princess. ......


    The two attack captains raised their voices. The second archer-in-chief was wordless, his face pale and trembling.


    No wonder he was afraid. His Highness revealed that he had been fighting for his country, and that he could no longer place his full trust in it.


    ''We cannot continue to be stripped of our strength and crushed by Zirconia in order to reward those who have lost their lives so far. If that happens, the Lords will be forced to sacrifice, and everything we tried to protect will be taken away from us.


    ...... We are no different. If the aspiration of His Highness Astina is to protect his people, we will only follow it. If anyone doubts that, I will not force them to fight.


    The captains, who had been upset, widened their eyes as if they were taken aback by Raquel-san''s statement.


    His Highness Astina indicates two points on the unfolded map. On the other side of the canal, the position where the enemy''s base is probably located.


    ''...... to protect this Isle Rose Fortress, and the people of the realm. We will attack Zirconia. While there are still our troops and morale left.


    If we just keep defending it, we will lose everything. The White Raven of Zirconia is vindictive in its pursuit of this fortress - we cannot continue to be on the back foot against its schemes.


    I thought I''d never see the Mages on the battlefield. But I can''t give up at the beginning because I''m an outlier spirit.

 55 Chapter 53 Righteousness

    His Highness'' guiding principle of attacking Zirconia''s strongholds across the canal and across the border has been set forth.


    However, there are a few things to worry about. Knowing the situation in this fortress, did the military headquarters in the royal capital really not try to take any effective steps?


    ''''Our country has a cause to attack Zirconia. Since the Isle Rose Fortress was built, they have never once invaded our territory from us. We all know how often we have been invaded from Zirconia.


    ...... But the danger is greater to attack than to defend ....... If the enemy intercepts our troops with a large army, carrying water on their backs across the canal, ......


    One of the attack captains seemed to know it was rude, but he couldn''t help but give his highness an opinion. The other one next to him was trying to control it, but he hadn''t been able to act.


    ''''Originally, we should make a staging point between the royal capital and this Isle Rose Fortress and have two to three thousand troops stationed there. However, the request I''ve sent out to the center since I was posted to this fortress has been largely unacceptable.


    "Ugh, so that''s ...... and already, as of now, this fortress is ......


    ''The one who sent me out on an ...... errand is not returning from King''s Landing. Some of them are grasping at my remarks before they reach His Majesty the King. But if I said that out loud, I would have pointed out that it was treason, and the situation would have been worse.


    Even though he was treated unfairly by the second queen because of the issue of the succession to the throne, he defended his country without saying anything - the members of the knightly order have respected and obeyed His Highness Astina and put their lives on the line.


    However, there is a limit to that as well. There are people in the heart of the country who are enemies of this knightly order - if they are left unattended for any length of time, sacrifices will be made.


    ''''Bridget, you originally wanted to be a Knight of the Kingsguard. For you, whose dream was to serve His Majesty, my decision this time may be difficult to accept. But I want you to believe me. I have no intention of betraying His Majesty. I am trying to fulfill the duties of the Order so that the Western Domain will continue to be a part of the Kingdom of Raiseneire.


    "...... His Highness Astina ...... no. General Astina,...... I am very sorry. I have forgotten the debt of gratitude for finding me as a mere swordsman, and have been easily distracted by the fact that I have been distracted by the ...... shame of living in this life, and after the proper battle, I will use my own sword ......!


    That''s what you call not thinking straight. If you''re asking me, I''m not doing it for you.


    ''d*mn ......, I know. But I can''t think of any other way to take responsibility: ......


    ''If you can''t think of anything, I''ll tell you. I pledge my allegiance again to your highness, and if you can''t do that, then put down your decorative sword and go back to the country.


    Mr. Deethe had some poignant words for the attack captain, who was called Bridget. Ms. Raquel raised her hand and controlled any further words.


    ''''Brigitte, you will defend this fortress along with Chloe and Solfa. In this operation, only a select few will cross the river and infiltrate into enemy territory.


    "Whaaat, do you expect us to defend this fortress with ...... the Knight-in-Chief of Raquel himself, crossing the river ......!


    ''Yes. Me, Presha, and Dite have been taught by Glass that we can use our magical powers in battle. His Highness is the same ...... This is what His Highness wanted. If a small number of men can change the course of the battle rather than a large number of men clashing with each other and losing their lives, they should do so.


    "Depending on the forces the enemy has in place, it may be difficult for us to shut down the base by ourselves. At first, we will try to find a way to cross the river without the enemy''s knowledge. If we send a secret agent to the other side, it will surely be the one who can survive.


    The people who can do that are Raquel-san, Presha-san, and Deite-san - but it''s risky for the knight captain and attack force leader to be the knight captain himself.


    If he is committed to a desertion move when he feels danger, the survival rate compared to ordinary soldiers may not be comparable, but even if it happens, he shouldn''t take the risk.


    What we need for that is information from the Zirconia Army. That''s what we can get at this stage.


    ''Your Highness Astina, may I have my say?


    When I raised my hand, it attracted the attention of everyone present. Being timid here won''t help, so I only looked at His Highness'' face and waited for permission.


    ''''...... Glass, do you have any other means of obtaining information other than infiltrating a small number of people into enemy territory?''''


    ''Yes, sir. Mr. Deethe''s troops are taking the survivors of the enemy soldiers who were operatives last night as prisoners. We didn''t interrogate him last night because of the heavy loss of blood from the arrows, but I think it is very likely that he has information about the enemy''s base.


    It was Presha-san who reacted the most to my statement. Her eyes shone as she looked at me, as if she had found a treasure - although I don''t think she should look like that since this is a military council meeting.


    ''Yes, that''s right, Your Highness: ......!��Dr. Glass can definitely get information out of even the most tight-lipped POWs. If you do that, I''m sure you''ll find a way to strike!


    ...... So, you''re that good at torturing people: ...... For all your kindness, people are not always what they seem.


    ''Lord Bridget, I think you''re mistaken, but that''s not true. You can draw information out of them without making them suffer.


    Preciousha-san seemed proud as if it was her own business. Seeing that, Bridgette-san as well as the other attack captain, Chloe-san, and the archer-in-chief, Solfa-san, also seemed to have changed their perceptions of me.


    The hypnosis caused by Alraune''s pollen is not a panacea either, as it can leave an after-effect on the opponent if it is added or subtracted incorrectly. But it''s much more reliable than causing pain and making them spit out information.


    ...... Glass, may I be present at the interrogation of the POWs? I don''t think it would be a good idea to say this now without being present the other day.


    ''No, no, ......, if your highness wishes to do so.


    Now, we''re going to patrol the fortress area. Bridget, Chloe. Brigitte, Chloe, we''re going to be patrolling the area around the fortress, so you''ll have to do your homework. Come with me.


    Ha!


    ''We will go up to the walls once. Solfa, let''s go.


    ''Yes, yes ...... Deethe sister ......''


    Raquel-san and the four captains leave. His Highness Astina, who remained in the round table room, gave her a few words to her entourage before coming over to me with Presha-san.


    ''''After I finish my interrogation, I have something I want to discuss with you.


    ''It''s ...... your highness, you remembered the divine tree?


    ''Of course. Originally, I don''t think we should leave the fortress now ...... but we can''t put it off either. If so, I thought it was best to visit the divine tree now. Because the possibility of losing consciousness in the midst of the battle cannot be ruled out.


    His Highness has already made up his mind. He is going to visit the divine tree today.


    I''m sure Raquel-san and the others will protect me from being away. Perhaps sensing my thoughts, Presha-san nodded vigorously to me.

 56 Episode 54: POWs

    I came with His Highness Astina and Mr. Presha to the prisoners being held in the dungeons. Leslie, who is accompanying me, has been giving much less attention than before - I guess that means not to make a claim unless it is necessary.


    ''We didn''t manage to capture any of Zirconia''s men in the battle yesterday. I had received a report from Deite that we had captured an enemy soldier the night before last, but I had lost track of it. ...... Thank you for your suggestion, Glass.


    ''I was ...... no, I had the privilege of treating the prisoners and I was strongly impressed by them. I had some expectation, based on the wounds, that he would have regained consciousness today.


    ''It''s a quandary. But I know you''re showing me respect, but it''s okay to be ''me''. If it''s more natural for you.


    His Highness says so, but I''m not sure if I should take him at his word. I''m not even polite to someone of such a noble status, even though I''m not very polite - and how generous His Highness is to allow me to do so.


    His Highness says that he was unaware of his captive''s presence, but she is performing various duties as commander, and yesterday she fainted after going into battle. Still, if she can move with a perfect calculation of everything, then she is truly a being that transcends humans.


    If you look at his strength, magical power, and military strategy, I think he''s far from human, too. But it doesn''t mean that he''s forced to be perfect - if possible, it would be good if His Highness could have time to relax, as constant vigilance can be a source of illness. But that''s only after we''ve gotten through the immediate predicament.


    I take out the flower bulbs and place them on the floor. The Zirconia soldier, who had been lying on his face in silence, looks up, but his interest is pale - we all have no idea what''s about to happen.


    ''''O glossy flower blooming in the garden of demon flowers, ...... appear once in this world and show your power.''''


    In response to the chanting, the bulb sucks up the magic around it and takes root.


    ''''Gosh, ...... this is ...... glass, I can feel something flowing out of me .......''''


    ''''I''m sorry, Your Highness, ...... yet the magic power overflowing from Your Highness'' body has not been completely stopped. Your Highness has also shared your magic power, and the flower spirit Alraune has been summoned and is about to appear.


    The stem grew out of the bulb and produced a large bud as we watched. When the bud opened, the girl inside with a flower on her head looked at me and smiled.


    ''Summoner-sama, you are summoned to ......


    As he was about to greet her, Alraune looked at His Highness as if he noticed something.


    ''...... your mother ...... I can smell your mother. This person ......


    ...... am I like your mother?


    Excuse me, Your Highness. Alraune, your highness is from the royal family, he''s a human being.


    ''I''m sorry, I''m sorry ...... but I''m a bit like your mother. My magic is on a different wavelength from the rest of you.


    That''s how I feel about it too, but when I say Alraune''s mother, I mean a plant spirit.


    I''ve never heard of a human being with magical powers similar to a spirit - no, it''s possible, but it''s not easy to fit it in there.


    A human child of a spirit-infused human may inherit the nature of a spirit. However, it is so rare that not even a single student of the Academy of Magic can be found, and it''s something that is treated as a legend.


    (But His Highness has the potential to do so. If she had inherited the blood of a maiden: ......)


    ''So, then, my summoner. Can I ask this person to do what I say?


    "Nah, what''s ...... I won''t talk about ......, I won''t talk about ......, I promise, I won''t say anything about .......


    A strong will to resist - if you speak, you won''t get away with it, because you know that. But a person with no resistance would never be able to resist Alraune''s hypnosis.


    The flowers on Alraune''s head shine, and the glowing particles in the area - pollen - dance around. Only when the designated target inhales, a component that acts on the central nervous system changes even the most stubborn of opponents into obedience.


    The light fades from the captive''s eyes - and even His Highness looks at it. Mr. Presha saw it once, but he was still too amazed to say a word.


    ''If you maintain a hypnotic state for too long, it will affect your captive''s ego. It will be long enough, but in the meantime you should be able to get the information out of them.


    ''Okay. Now let''s go to ...... and tell us about your affiliation and your name.


    ...... under General Alejandro''s command ...... Zirconia''s Third Army Corps ...... Covert Engineer Corps ......


    One by one, the men would tell him who they were. Leslie was responsible for writing them down and recording them.


    Then the man revealed that Zirconia had built two bases on the other side of the canal, east and west, and that they were training to bring warships from there to the canal quickly.


    ''How was it possible to do that without being visible to us?


    ...... Mage ...... Noin ...... General Alejandro, brought in ......


    Huh. ......!!!


    Noin--When I heard that name, both Leslie and I couldn''t help but be surprised.


    A student of the same age as us, who was raised to a court mage soon after completing the Election Ceremony. I couldn''t help but think of that person when I mentioned Noin as a water mage.

 57 Episode 55: Water Wizard

    Even when the mage''s name was mentioned, His Highness Astina didn''t get a glimpse of our expressions. The upset must have been palpable - but if she looked at us immediately, it could be taken as suspicion. The fact that His Highness is not a good person, we could tell from her behavior so far, that she is not a good person.


    No, at first she didn''t want us to trust her so easily. But once she found out that I was not the Second Queen''s breath, she didn''t give me the benefit of the doubt.


    ''Well, what kind of magic does this mage named Noon do?


    ...... That''s as far as I''ve heard from the stories that have been passed around to me. ...... Suddenly, a young woman came to General Alejandro''s entourage. ...... But my immediate captain told me not to say anything unless I wanted to lose my position: ......


    As I listened to my captors, my suspicions were renewed.


    That the name of the mage was mentioned - that it belonged to a student who was vying for the lead seat in our generation. I can''t be certain yet, but if it''s someone that Leslie and I know, it''s ''Noin'' and his real name, and he''s lending his power to General Alejandro.


    A court mage, in other words, is a combat mage, basically a member of the military. If that person is aiding the enemy army, it would be a clear act of treason - I had heard that the defector would be subjected to extreme punishment.


    Sven was worried that the country was in a state of war, and at first he regretted not being able to sign a contract with an elemental spirit. However, he thought there was something even the Stone Spirit could do, so he gathered gossip about the movements of the army in town and told me about it.


    (Sven must have been in the same class as Noin. She''d be shocked to learn that she''d been turned by the enemy. ......)


    There''s a young female mage ...... who''s the reason we''re here.


    ''Please hold back now, Presha....... Everyone in the Order understands how you feel.


    His Highness Astina also clenched her fists. If Noin''s magic had misled him into allowing the enemy army to invade, it was only natural to feel indignant.


    But I was stuck on one thing. This student called Noin, who had once spoken at an academy assembly, didn''t seem to be very complicit in the betrayal. He had said that he wanted to become a court mage with noble determination and contribute to the protection of the kingdom.


    (...... Why should I use my real name?��Even if they turn on the enemy, they should be able to use a false name if they don''t want their identities probed. (And even though it''s a covert operative unit, it''s known to the general soldier: ...... I don''t think that Noin Flores would be so bypassed.


    The girl was called the ''Jewel of Water'' for her well-rounded appearance and her extreme excellence as a mage. Once, I got a perfect score in a classroom exam with her - she laughed at me for wasting my efforts because I couldn''t take the practical skills class.


    Of course, just because I tied for the magic theory exam alone doesn''t mean I had any room to take advantage. After two years of being a court mage, she must have far more real-world experience than me and Leslie.


    How long has she been in the Zirconia Army? I was going to gather some information, but hearing Noin''s name quickly increased my questions.


    ''...... last question. General Alejandro isn''t going to pull back until we drop this fortress, is he?


    "General ...... received an edict from the King ...... to attack Rayseneire for a period of less than six months... ...By then, we will have all of the Western Territories of Laiseneier in our hands: ......


    My Summoner, it''s time for this one to get out of the way.


    All right. I''ll stop the hypnosis and let the prisoner rest.


    The female prison guard will take care of the rest, and we will get out of the dungeon and up to the ground.


    General Alejandro will attack vindictively until this fortress falls. And we have to move based on the fact that there are mages in the enemy.


    The name ...... Noin sounds familiar to you.


    His Highness asked before she mounted her horse to go to the divine tree. After all, she dared not mention it right away, though she was aware of it.


    She said she would fight to defend her country. In order for the western territory to remain the territory of the kingdom.


    --But this country. What if it was already in a situation where His Majesty the King''s will would never reach this land and be distorted.


    The graduates of the Silvana Academy of Magic, which cultivates a warrior force important to the country, are being sent to an enemy country through a personal plot. If that was confirmed to be true, even if they succeeded in repelling Zirconia and dropping the enemy''s base, they would still be in danger of being attacked from behind.


    ''If you don''t want to tell me, that''s fine. I''d rather not know yet either: ......


    ...... If it''s someone I know, Noin is a student at the Academy of Magic. He uses water spirits ...... probably had the help of the water spirits that fill the entire canal area and created a large scale illusion.


    His Highness hears my words and looks at me as if he''s looking somewhere far away. In that melancholy profile, I thought that maybe I shouldn''t have said it now.


    But faking it won''t turn anything around. The conspiracy of someone in the royal family - perhaps the second queen - against His Highness Astina has reached a point where it is no longer possible to extract it.


    ...... even if they are the mages of our country, they must be defeated. Do what you can to make that happen: ......


    That was when His Highness was about to say. A scout is coming back across the drawbridge from which he was lowered - and he said with all his might, "The message is .


    The following is a message: "....... Many unidentified monsters have appeared in the south!��Residents have been evacuated, but the grey ground that had stopped for a time is beginning to spread again. ......!


    The divine Tree, which had been stamping out with the slightest amount of strength even as it withered away, was finally unable to stop its subordinates from running amok.


    They had to head towards the divine tree as soon as possible. If the plant demons were to attack, it would be difficult to reach them - yet, there was no time to get lost.

 58 Episode 56: The Magical Power of the Princess

    Mr. Presha will be the carriage driver to carry me and Leslie to the southern plains of the fortress. His Highness was leading us along with two Kingsguard knights.


    The gray soil had not yet reached the master of the farm we had met before. But this time they decided it was dangerous, and the family was getting ready to leave the house.


    ''You are ...... well, no way, of the Isle Rose Fortress, General ......!


    Sorry it took so long. We will prevent the erosion of the dry land. You all must take shelter for once.


    "And yet ...... before, that one was headed to that forest and the expansion of the dead land was stopped. This time, there are far more demons, and I didn''t think it was possible to stop them very much .......


    Still, it must be stopped. It is the duty of the Order to protect its people.


    Sensing His Highness''s determination, the master of the farm did not stop any further. With a hint of bitterness, he put his family and the luggage they would need during the evacuation into the wagon and drove off in the direction we had come from, as if fleeing the gray land.


    "Your highness ...... I have worked with Dr. Glass and Ms. Deite to defeat that demon once. Leave this place to me .......


    ''Even you won''t be able to cope with a flood of demons like that. Don''t worry about me, we''ll make our way together.


    Yes, sir. ...... I''m sorry, that was a thoughtless thing to say. ......!


    A mutant species of nettle that germinates from underground stalks in the soil and appears on the surface of the ground - it emerges from the gray land in countless ways, as if to reject everything that advances to the Waste Garden, reaching up to heavenly heights and undulating like a snake.


    Even if the two of them were a single fierce general, it would be impossible for them to avoid the myriad of spiky leaves and proceed to kill the demons, which could only be stopped by stabbing their roots - last time it was one, but this time there are far too many of them.


    (Interfering with plants ...... No, not in this state. It''s very, very difficult to talk to them.


    Summoner ...... I hear a very sad voice coming from that forest.


    .......... Brother Glass. Where did this kid come from? ......


    Alraune thought he was comfortable, but he went back to the bulb of his own accord, and Leslie had left him in her care - and, as it happens, he stuck his head out of the collar of his jacket.


    ''I''m saying it''s painful and lonely. We flowers will wither away if you just water us ...... master and call him as best you can and ask him to help you.


    ''...... I see. This is not the time to stop here ...... if Euselisis is calling us. I''m sure I can hear that voice.


    The devastating appearance of the raging grass demon - but that was also due to the people''s forgotten regret that the divine tree had no place to go.


    I got off the carriage and shouted at the top of my voice to the forest, which was blocked by the demons and invisible.


    ''''Divine Tree Euselisis, can you hear me!��I''m taking Her Royal Highness Princess Astina there!��You''re almost there, I''m sure you''ll get there: ......, so just wait and see!


    However, in spite of the call, a number of new demons appeared and filled the gray wilderness with them.


    Is there no choice but to get rid of the demons and proceed? If they are stranded there, the gray land will spread even further and swallow up that farmhouse.


    ''''Summoner-sama ......, from the forest, the wind is not ...... ''sickly air'', clean air is flowing in!


    Alraune calls the miasma ''sick air''. That''s right - the phenomenon that''s happening now is happening because the divine tree is affected by the disease.


    Plants can purify the soil and air and return it to its natural state over a long period of time.


    --The divine tree still has a small amount of power to create clean air. It was clear from the demons'' reactions why they delivered it to us.


    (Clean air, even though the demons are avoiding ...... that much rage, they still remember that they are the Divine Tree''s servants.


    Euceresis is giving us a clue as to what''s going on. It was both me and Leslie who noticed it at the same time.


    ''Air ...... Yes, ''air''!


    ...... Dr. Glass, I''ve been thinking about that too. With my magic, we can establish the pure air delivered by the divine tree to envelop our own surroundings.


    I mean, I''m not very bright, but do you know ...... that you can use magic to ward off those demons?


    Leslie nodded with a persistent nod. As His Highness Astina watched, she left her beloved horses to the kinsman knights who had been following them all along, and ordered them to wait at a safe distance.


    ''It will be easier for me to do this than it would be for me to ride my horse independently. Lendl, please.


    I''m sorry. ...... ''Clean air, brought from the divine tree, be a shield against evil. Be a shield that envelops us and repels evil.'' ......!


    After completing the flowing chant, the air created by the divine tree was amplified and increased in mass, becoming a large sphere and enveloping the carriage.


    ''''Are you alright?��It''s pretty magical to maintain this state of affairs: ......


    No, ...... I''m wearing out less than usual. I think it''s due to the help of His Highness .......


    Normally, you can''t use someone else''s magic power. It''s the first time that magic power is converted into ''pure magic power'' and stored in magic crystals that anyone can use.


    However, His Highness Astina''s magic power defies that common sense. When I summoned Alraune and when Leslie used magic - I was able to borrow His Highness''s magic power without even being aware of it.


    ''I don''t feel that much power flowing out of me, unlike when ...... Glass summoned this child. Does that mean I have the power to assist the mage?


    ''Yes, perhaps ......, but it''s a real rarity. You can''t use someone else''s magic directly, because that''s a restriction for all mages.


    ''So ....... Then why is my magic special ...... mother might know something about ......?


    It was a sudden revelation for His Highness, and he could tell that he was confused.


    But thanks to His Highness, Leslie was able to focus on controlling the air magic without worrying about running out of magic power.


    ''Dr. Glass, the demons are avoiding us!��We can reach the divine tree with this!


    Yes, please, Miss Presha!


    ''We''ll be fine!��Don''t worry about it, just go full speed ahead!��Alraune, you are holding on tight.


    Yes, yes, ...... it''s been a great shaking. ......


    ...... Mr. Rendle, hold on tight. ......


    You too, Glass. You must not remove this hand, until I give you permission to do so.


    So, Your Highness, please go to ......


    The wheels of the carriage ride up and down the wasteland, bouncing up and down relentlessly. Even in the midst of it all, His Highness is holding my hand, while his other hand firmly supports his own body. Alraune is clinging desperately to His Highness - a small body with an impressive amount of tenacity.


    He is concentrating on his magic, and he endures it doggedly, being careful not to have Leslie thrown out of her seat. Just as quickly as possible to get to Kamiki - that''s the only thing on his mind.

 59 Episode 57: Anger of the Genus

    The carriage finally drives through the wilderness and reaches the entrance to the Waste Garden. But like a gatekeeper, a huge stalk emerges from the ground, blossoming, splitting in half and opening its fang-filled mouth.


    ''''I couldn''t come here until the divine tree that was so angry and treacherous ...... abandoned got to this point. What a foolish thing to do .......


    ''''Your Highness, the divine tree has led us to it. So we''ll definitely make it!


    ...... glass, how can you ...... be so strong? How can you remain unmoved after seeing all those scenes? It''s all because of what the royal family has done. I also played a part in that ......


    ''I won''t make that mistake again. They may indeed be angry ...... but they''re sad at the same time. They didn''t give up on the Lord who tried to wither away alone and alone, and they didn''t give up on the divine tree who tried to end up noble, their subordinates. If you are going to destroy everything without any idea of what to expect, you have no choice but to defeat it and move on. But that won''t be the end of anything.


    His Highness regrets the actions of the royal family in disposing of the divine tree and this garden. She feels that she should be judged even if she didn''t do it.


    I know how noble and pure her heart is. But when she has sacrificed herself to fight for her country, she doesn''t have to bear the sins of the royal family in the past.


    I''m sure you''ll be able to find a way to make the same look again. ...... The plants and flowers can be reincarnated in the same way if the body remains intact. That''s something that no animal can imitate. That''s why I admired plants. When I made a contract with the spirits, I caught a glimpse of the spirit of the divine tree. I want to bring that scene back to reality. If His Highness and the people pray, it''s not a dream that will never come true because ......!


    Let me handle this!��You all need to get there and help that tree!��Dr. Glass, I''m leaving His Highness in charge!


    Presha ......, I can''t go to ...... alone.


    His Highness ran out and we followed. Mr. Presha had dismounted his horse and, carrying his spear, had jumped out, breaking the membrane of clean air that Leslie had established.


    ''--His Highness ......, don''t stand in front of Dr. Glass!


    A spear longer than Presha-san''s height. But it can''t slash the flower stalk, which is thicker than before - or so I thought.


    ''''Hah! ......!


    With a cry of enthusiasm, I saw Presha-san, perhaps unconsciously, pass her magic power through the spear.


    At the same time, Plesha-san''s spear was swung out and the two flower demons lined up in a row were torn apart horizontally - the destructive power like a siege weapon, the destructive power like a siege weapon made both of us gasp.


    ''''--Presha, not yet!��There are still roots left in ......!


    Kook ...... ahhhh ......!


    A flower root sticks out from under Presha-san''s feet, twisting her legs together and suspending her in midair. His Highness Astina holds up her sword, but the flower root moves to shield Presha-san and doesn''t let His Highness swing the sword.


    ''''Kuu ...... uu ...... let go of me ...... in a place like this!


    One after another, roots emerge from the ground and become entangled in Presha-san''s arms - we can only watch as she is deprived of her freedom.


    (If Deite-san is there ...... no, if they use Presha-san as a shield, they can''t aim very well. What else can we do? ......)


    "Summoner!��It''s a flower for a flower!��I want you to let me handle it!


    "Alraune: ...... All right!��''O demon flower, return to the Garden of Pandera and bloom brightly.'' ......!


    The body made of Alraune''s magic is reconstituted from the bulb once it is unmanifested - and then transformed into a giant flower using the magic of your highness and me.


    (I''m like you, Flower Incarnate ...... Stop fighting and listen to me!


    "Huh ...... is this the voice of Alraune ......?��This flower is her: ......


    I was surprised for the first time, too - the voice of the giant flowering Alraune was no longer a child''s.


    The demon flower still had some power left in it that I didn''t know about. If we are lumped together as the same flower, we can interfere even if we are demonized - the roots that bound Presha-san were loosened, and Alraune''s leaves stretched out to catch her as she was about to fall off.


    (Leave it to me here!)��(I''ll protect Mr. Presha and his carriage!


    ''Okay ...... Mr. Presha, Alraune, I''ll be back soon, I promise!��Hold on until then!


    The always sturdy Presha-san smiled a little weakly - but in the next moment.


    If you ask me, I''ll stop a thousand or even ten thousand people. It doesn''t matter if the other party is a monstrous flower: ......!


    ''Presha, don''t cut in for mischief, take help from Alraune!��If you can slow the enemy down, you can avoid being caught: ...... You can do it!


    "Yes, ......, by Your Highness... ......!


    After receiving His Highness'' instructions, Presha-san''s movements change. The flowers that emerge from the ground one after another and attack us, with the help of Alraune, we repel them without fail, and thanks to her attracting us, we even open up the path we''re on.


    ''''We''re going to run all the way through from here!


    "Yes!


    I think I''ve instructed Leslie to run while maintaining her magic, but even His Highness replies - but this is not the time to reiterate that I''m being rude.


    We run along the road with its exposed weathered stone tiles. One after another, plants we''ve never seen before appear and attack us, but the clean air surrounding us slows us down for a moment and we are able to avoid them in the nick of time.


    --And we saw the divine tree at the end of the long downward staircase.


    We barely prevented the miasma that was being released, but we were never frightened to proceed.


    The first time I ran out of magic crystals, my hand finally touched the trunk of the great tree. But now that Your Highness is here, even in the midst of such a storm of miasma, my magic power was not depleted.

 60 Chapter 58: Reunion

    I couldn''t hold back any longer. I borrowed the magic power to maintain the magic from His Highness, who supported me from behind, and in front of me was Leslie, who maintained the magic of the air--even if I held on to her hips, I could only go forward a little at a time.


    I don''t hear the voice of the divine tree. Even though he knows we''ve come, the faithless and withered divine tree can''t stop the outburst himself.


    ''''You two must never let go of my hand!��If they let go in this miasma: ......!


    "Kuhuh ...... ...... Glass-sensei ...... is no more, the air you gave me is ...... more durable No .......


    I almost got ...... to reach ......


    I reach out my hand to touch the trunk of the divine tree - but at that moment, a searing pain runs through my palm.


    Peeking out from underneath the dried and cracked bark is a blood red color. The bark, which had been gray, had turned close to black and was rejecting everything that tried to touch it.


    --it had to end. It was a mistake in itself, to have put down roots in this land.


    --I have met the king and seen the world of men through a royal priestess.


    --What I did for people was vain, leaving no meaning behind.


    --if I didn''t show interest in humans. If I didn''t help them, I could be what I am.


    A voice echoed in my head, wondering who it belonged to. Every time I heard one, I saw a scene in my mind that I had never seen before.


    The life of the divine tree is coming to an end. Maybe what I''m seeing is a memory of the past, seen by the dying Shinju.


    If he hadn''t lent his power to humans, the divine tree would not have become a ''god'' and would have remained a mere tree spirit.


    But once it gains faith and becomes a god, once it loses its connection to humans, it will suck the stagnation of the world out of its roots and undermine it.


    ...... I had to come here sooner than I did. Before you suffered so much and changed so much.


    His Highness is talking to the divine tree. His Highness''s hand, extended from behind, was laced with mine, extended to the divine tree.


    And Leslie''s hand as well. We are not afraid of the pain and try to touch the divine tree again.


    "Kuu ...... ah, ...... it doesn''t hurt, it doesn''t hurt, ...... with my brother Glass, it''s ......!


    We won''t leave you alone any longer ...... until my body is finished, so please answer our call ...... !


    Both Leslie and His Highness Astina must be experiencing the same pain as I am. But they endure and continue to call out to the divine tree at the end of their voices.


    "Can you hear me ...... we''re here and we believe. You''ll be back to your original form once again ......


    --Words ...... powerful, words ...... glass weed of the contract .......


    Light overflows from underneath your highness'' small hands. The light that I gave to her body, the light emitted by the spirit guide seal.


    The divine tree is asking for a contract. I thought it was because Euceresis chose His Highness as the contractor, after all.


    ''''Brother Glass......!


    Leslie shouts. I didn''t know what was going on, either.


    It wasn''t just His Highness'' spirit guide seal that was shining. The mark that was painted on my body and that should have been invisible after I finished the contract has emerged again.


    ''I''m going to try to chant the contract ...... I was watching Brother Glass with you back then, so I''ll know what kind of chant to do .........'' ...ugh.


    Both me and His Highness'' spirit guide seal are reacting to it. If the contract is signed in its current state, what will happen - I have no idea what will happen.


    But if what I saw when I signed the contract is the answer to what''s happening now.


    ''O you who preside over all things!��The one who was carved with the sign of guidance asks the spirit of the divine tree for a covenant: ......!


    The words that take over Leslie''s chanting naturally pour out of me.


    Eucerisis is urging me to make a contract. It begins - for her to regain her power as a divine tree.


    ''--Show your true form to me and ask for a pledge ...... divine tree Euceresis!


    The chanting is complete.


    Our Spiritual Guide Marker shines brighter and the bond takes shape.


    ''Euselisis ...... that''s your name ...... I finally got to know ......''


    His Highness''s magic power, which had merely overflowed until now, connected with the divine tree through the Spiritual Guide Seal, giving vitality to the large black and withered tree.


    However, it''s not just that His Highness and the divine tree were connected through a contract.


    It''s not just a matter of time before you''ll be able to get your hands on a new one. Everyone and I were wrong all along .......


    Instead of answering Leslie''s words, I wrapped my hand around hers in a smaller one.


    Her Highness Astina formed a bond with the divine tree as a ''maiden''


    --and.


    As ''Mage'', I signed a contract with ''Divine Tree Eucerisis'' - no.


    I''ve always been called. I''ve been called to make a contract with the divine tree that controls all plants, the home of the plant spirit, in order to make a contract with this.

 61 Episode 59: New Power

    The miasma that had been swirling around the divine tree, the miasma that had been rolling up the withered sand and swirling around the divine tree, cleared up - the black divine tree''s outer layer of bark was removed, and what regenerated from underneath it was a fresh bark the color of wool.


    The miasma that covered the entire discarded garden disappeared at once with the clean air released from the divine tree - the blue sky was visible, and a dazzling sunshine poured down from between the white clouds that floated across it.


    The gray soil that had been spreading continuously stops and returns to its original color - in the blink of an eye, life returns to the soil of the entire garden, and the plants that had been turned into demons stop moving.


    Not everything in the divine tree is back to normal. However, the regeneration is much faster than I had imagined, and I can see green sprouts on the branches that didn''t have a single leaf on them. A number of young shoots have already opened and new leaves are about to be born.


    ''...... Glass brother ...... deal, done ......?''


    Oh ...... yes. I was chosen to be a ''plant spirit''. That''s why I was able to make a deal with Euceris as well. I wasn''t expecting this to happen, though.


    His Highness''s hand, which was holding mine, gently pulls away. When I turned around, His Highness fixed my hair after fixing His messy hair, he also fixed my hair.


    ''''So, Your Highness, I''m afraid to ...... such ......


    It''s okay. You''ve accomplished more than words can say: ...... It''s the only way I can show my gratitude now.


    The dignity she always wore made Her Highness look bigger than she was. But after all, the woman I see in front of me is one who is smaller and slimmer than me.


    If she wasn''t wearing armor - no. It''s because she has such a brilliant appearance and yet wears metal armor made for battle that everyone calls her a ''saint''.


    ''...... Lendl ...... No, Leslie. I admire your courage as well. The glass is more important than anything else, isn''t it?


    ...... I just follow my brother Glass around all the time. Just watching him do what he does gives me courage.


    The word, without being pedantic, now slipped into his chest. The way he said ''he'', Leslie looked much more mature than he ever had before.


    I knew he wouldn''t stay young forever. Leslie decided to follow me on his own - and he''s been here when it matters.


    ''So am I.'' Having Glass here has helped me stop the loss I''ve been feeling all along. I haven''t felt this much better in a very long time. ...... No. Maybe it hasn''t been that way since I was born.


    ''''Your Highness''s magical power has stopped flowing out, but being connected to the divine tree as a ''miko'' has been used to regenerate it. However, I never expected ...... to regenerate so quickly.


    ...... I can see that. The divine tree, Eucellicis, regains its divinity through ''faith''. But it is not necessarily necessary for faith to be directed ''directly'' to Euceris.


    By becoming a priestess of the divine tree, His Highness is rapidly gaining knowledge about the divine tree - if that''s what she says, it should be safe to assume that it''s true.


    ''...... Because brother Glass has healed so many people. Everyone''s feelings for Brother Glass are the same as ''faith'' and the power of the divine tree. ...... Is that what you''re saying ......?


    ''Yes. The loyalty of my soldiers and people to me is also akin to ''faith.'' ...... But the gratitude directed to Glass for going around healing the wounded is even more precious than that. To the extent that Glass healed everyone, now the divine tree is also healing.


    As a military doctor, he dedicated himself to treating the patients in front of him - and if everyone is grateful to him for that, there is nothing more rewarding than that.


    And if healing leads to gaining faith in the divine tree, then doing your duty as a doctor will make all things better.


    But that alone is not a fundamental solution. To end the battle, General Alejandro''s will to fight must be broken.


    ''...... Your Highness Astina. If you want to sneak into the enemy''s stronghold, join me and .......


    ''Please take me with you, too. We''re not trained in combat ...... but if the enemy has mages in their midst, we need to stop them.


    Knowing Leslie''s identity - she''s the illegitimate child of the Duke of Renklus, His Highness shouldn''t be able to give permission easily.


    I can''t and shouldn''t take Leslie into enemy territory either. But if I remembered her determination and the way she reached out to the divine tree with me, I couldn''t say no.


    ''''My magic will always be effective when we infiltrate enemy territory. It will never slow you down.


    ''''I''d like to ask for ...... Glass''s judgment. Since this is how the three of us got to the divine tree, there is no doubt that her power is great.


    I can see, even through my glasses, that Leslie is on the verge of tears.


    -- and yet, when she doesn''t cry, she''s getting stronger, I think. But I can''t indulge my sisterhood until the mission is safely over.


    ''Air magic can be used to break the spirits ...... then, Leslie''s power will be essential.


    ...... that''s ......


    ''Don''t take it too far. Follow the instructions of His Highness and those who accompany you ...... and if you can follow them, we''ll go together.


    Yes ......, thank you, brother Glass ......


    It would be difficult to cross over to a combat-trained court mage just because he had signed a contract with a divine tree.


    I need a new power. Right now I don''t have an effective way to attack with magic - I can halt and block the bow, but I have no way to attack against mages.


    I''m going to use my magic for defense and leave the attacking to His Highness the Demon Warrior and Raquel and the others. I thought about that, but the fact that these women would be wielding weapons makes it almost inevitable that Noin would die.


    (I want to hear the truth: ...... whether he betrayed our country or not. If Noin has an agenda, if we can ''neutralize him without killing him'' ......)


    Yes, that was the moment I thought about it.


    The divine tree emitted a faint light, and the light gathered on the ground. Then, a plant that hadn''t existed before heaped up the soil and stretched out its stems, producing four large leaves.


    ''''Is this ...... the Divine Tree''s Consort ......?''''


    It wasn''t any of the plants that had been demonized - I hadn''t even seen them in an illustrated book.


    I wondered if the divine tree had summoned the plants from the spirit world. As I touch its leaves, a single name comes to my mind.


    ''''...... Mandrake ...... this plant, for me?''''


    Kamiki doesn''t respond. It''s as if he''s telling me to find my own answers.

 62 Episode 60: Youka Sisters

    I know the name Mandrake - and all of the Divine Tree''s consorts seem to be in a state of contract with me, so there''s no need to make another contract.


    It is not, but this plant does not respond to my call. It seems to be asleep.


    ''Brother Glass, this leaf ...... makes me want to pull it so badly when I look at it. ......


    ''Wait ......, there''s some kind of illusion going on. I''d better chew the grass on this attention ...... I''m sorry, could your highness please do the same?


    Yes ...... ...... pain ......


    His Royal Highness Astina is about to say ''bitter'' and stamps out. His cheeks seem to be a little red - he is ashamed to even honestly say he is bitter, is that the pride of royalty?


    ...... I''m starting to get a clearer head. Thank you brother Glass, thank you ...... for the bitterness.


    There are several plants that can be used as a pick-me-up, but I use the leaves of mannenrou incense. It can be refined and used as an incense oil, but if you chew the leaves as they are, they are quite bitter. However, its strong taste is due to its ingredient that resists illusion, and the bitterer the taste, the more effective it is.


    ''''How could this leaf be a dangerous spirit ...... that can conjure up illusions just by getting close to it ......?


    ''''It looks like the divine tree called me from the spirit world, so I guess that means something. ...... I''ve never seen this plant before either.


    It''s not that this plant is using illusions with malicious intent. Perhaps the plant itself has a powerful hallucinogenic component to begin with, and this is reflected in its ability to be a spirit.


    (...... Don''t tell me you mean to say that this plant''s poison is going to round up all of Zirconia''s troops ......?)


    That''s an idea that comes to mind, but if it''s poisonous, it could be any other plant, which is a weak reason for calling this plant from the spirit world.


    What if the mandrake has some special power? I''d like to see what it is - but for some reason I don''t feel like I should pull the leaves out to try it out.


    I''m the one who understands the emotions of plants, so I know how dangerous this mandrake is. If I talk to it and it doesn''t respond, do I have to wait? Or do I have to try to pull it out like Leslie says--''''


    ''''No, summoner, you must not pull that boy out of it!


    Perhaps because the demonized plants had quieted down, Presha-san and Alraune were fortunately unharmed and came running down the garden stairs.


    ''''Hey, it''s not safe to run, but you''re a ...... tomboy,''''


    I''m glad you''re okay, Mr. Presha. ...... We made it, too, in time.


    Preciousha was about to catch Alraune, but when I called out to her, she quickly straightened her back and turned red in the face.


    The first thing that comes to mind is the fact that you can''t get away with it. I don''t want you to look like you''re smiling just because you''re taking care of your kids.


    ''No, there may be some ...... of that. You''re very caring, Presha.


    ''So, that''s what I''m doing at ...... and, anyway, I delivered Alraune safely.


    With that, she looked around at Kamiki and his surroundings, which had changed completely.


    ''Wow ...... it''s totally changed. Does this mean that Glass-sensei has revived Kamiki ......?


    ''It will still take some time to regain full strength, but I don''t think we need to worry about it anymore. So, Alraune ...... don''t just pull it out, do you know what this plant is?


    ''Yes, they are like my relatives. It''s called Demon Flower Alraune, Majin Mandrake, and it''s close to where I live.


    I wonder if this is some kind of "evil ginseng". It looks vaguely similar to carrot ginseng in terms of its leaves.


    The mandrake makes a ''zetsuin'' sound when it''s pulled out. When people around the mandrake hear this, their energy is sucked out by the roots. Covering your ears is not enough to prevent this; you must protect yourself with the power of the spirit to protect yourself.


    Alraune is desperate to explain it to me. Thanks to that, I fully understood that it was dangerous.


    If it loses its vitality by the roots, it will ''wither'' and fall into a state of suspended animation. It''s life-threatening if left untreated - a plant that will die if you pull it out of the ground is very interesting, but I''m not going to bypass it either.


    ''The Power of the Spirit ...... plant to put earplugs in a plant isn''t airtight.


    ...... I think my magic can prevent this from happening. It''s a lot of responsibility, but ...... a little more, and I''ll have some magic left to .......


    ''''If it''s magic, you can use my stuff too. Having you guys use your magic has given me a sense of how to provide you with ...... no, I''m not going to give it away intentionally.


    ''''Eh ......, does that mean His Highness himself can do that magic-storing gem of a thing?''''


    A jewel - you mean a magic crystal? It''s true that they look polished and beautiful, but it''s a fearful thing to compare it to His Highness.


    However, His Highness is smiling softly. With Presha-san''s analogy, His Highness smiles - the impression I had created on my own that he doesn''t show much emotion changes at this very moment.


    ''''Presha, I have become the ''Priestess of the Divine Tree''. In other words, I was given the role of hearing and worshipping the voice of the Divine Tree. And Glass has signed a contract with the Divine Tree as a mage. To the one chosen by the Divine Tree, I am also ......


    ''''So, Your Highness, ...... any more than that, please, not here and now, but where sister Raquel and the others are also!��It''s not like I can take it all in by myself. ......


    ''This is the first time I''ve ever been stopped from speaking by a ...... subordinate, though. Presha, I''m glad you''re willing to speak your mind honestly.


    The current His Highness seemed to tolerate and forgive whatever she said - that''s how calm the air she was wearing was.


    His Highness was both the "Swordswoman General" and the "Saint" - but the latter was probably closer to her essence. Even if you know that you are not allowed to say that in the midst of battle.


    ''...... Brother Glass, is it time to go?��Or do you want to try pulling it out on my own?


    ''No, I can''t leave it up to Leslie alone. Then I''ll cast a spell on me, and after I''ve blocked out the sound, we''ll all get as far away from each other as possible.


    ''''There''s no way Kamiki would think of something like killing Glass. You have nothing to fear.


    ''Ha, at ......, but this kid is very dangerous ......''


    Even if you say it''s dangerous, you have to pull it out anyway to start.


    "''Air, respond to my will and be a wall to block the vibrations.''


    With Leslie''s chanting, a membrane of air envelops each of our bodies. Blocking out the sound means we can''t hear anything.


    In the silence, with everyone watching me, I gripped the stalk firmly so that the mandrake''s leaves wouldn''t tear off, and pulled it out with my foot on the ground.


    �� �� ��


    ...... nihii. Brother Glass. ...... Get it together.


    Are you okay, Glass?


    "Mmm ......, oh, that ......, I''m ......


    I''m flying in and out of consciousness from where I was about to pull out of the mandrake. The next thing I knew I was lying on my back with my head caught in something soft.


    ''...... Good, you''re awake now. You don''t look too pale.


    I was worried about what was going to happen to me ......, but I''m not going to let you worry too much about it ......


    ''Brother Glass...... Mandrake''s kid, he says he''s like a relative of little Alraune after all.


    As soon as I wake up, I''m confused for a while by all the different information coming in. I feel like I''m losing track of what I need to deal with most right now - which is.


    ''...... glass?''��Do you want to chew the grass on your own?


    --what posture His Highness Astina is talking to me in.


    She was afraid to sit on the ground herself and kneel down.


    ''''I''m sorry, Your Highness ......!


    Without a second thought, I jumped up. And as I was about to get up, I saw Alraune and - in front of me - an unfamiliar girl holding hands with her.


    ''''Demon ginseng, Mandrake. I have come here as a member of the Divine Tree Euselisis. With Lord Glass as your summoner, you ask us to obey your orders.


    Mandrake, who was speaking smoothly - he has a leaf on his head, but otherwise looks like a girl about Alraune''s age - couldn''t get his tongue to turn at the end, a thread of tension. He let me loose.


    ''Could it be that this girl ...... is the new power of Glass ......?''


    ''I''m sure that''s what it''s supposed to be about. ...... Mandrake, what did you do when I pulled you out of the ground earlier?''


    ...... The Summoner, who has endured my voice, deserves my respect.


    So the process of pulling out the mandrake and enduring its voice was the process of waking her up - I don''t know what Euselisis was thinking, but I guess he was anticipating that we could withstand it now.


    (Mandrake''s voice that knocked me unconscious, even if I prevented it with the power of an air spirit - which, depending on how you use it, is not a bad idea: ......)


    Although she looks like a girl, Alraune is also a powerful force. Mandrake is also a great power, depending on me - I had a few ideas for what situations I would use her help in.

 63 Episode 61: The Green Sea

    Now that I''ve communicated with Mandrake, I can repatriate him once to the spirit world.


    They wanted to greet the plants in the garden as their new friends, so I decided to take them with me.


    For all intents and purposes, they''re two small children ...... and if they don''t have flowers and leaves on their heads, people won''t recognize them when they say they''re spirits, will they?


    Presha-san is walking hand in hand with Alraune. Mandrake was, as it happens, held by His Highness - ''It''s only natural, since the warlord has more power,'' says His Highness, but for me, I''m afraid.


    ...... And about ''Leslie''. Should I still keep my mouth shut?


    ''I''d like to reveal it eventually, though. Leslie has a situation, and if possible, I''d like her to stay in the fortress as a different person.


    I knew very well that it was difficult to keep acting all the time. Even though I was conscious of Kamiki, I called her ''Leslie'' in front of Presha-san, who came later - and Leslie also forgot to change her voice.


    ''...... I''m sorry for deceiving you all,''


    No, I don''t mind that much. You came along because you''re worried about Mr. Glass.��I understand that, since you''re sending them off to war. When I decided to become a knight, my best friends stopped me from doing so too.


    Presha-san gives me a somewhat distant look, as if she remembers those days. The keystone of the knight''s group, the stiff and brave attack captain - but she''s also the same age as us. There are times when she feels lonely and has a melancholy look on her face.


    ''But she''s got some nerve. You''re not going to be in a room with Dr. Glass ...... oh ...... also doing something you can''t say in front of these kids, are you?


    ''......?��What is it that you can''t say in front of us?


    Lune is just a kid and he doesn''t understand.


    ''Even Ray is a child, and though his leaves are fine, he hadn''t yet put down good roots.


    ''I''m mature enough already. I wouldn''t look like this if I took it seriously.


    Alraune is childlike to the core, but Mandrake is more mature than he looks. I wonder if that''s what he looks like, partly because of the way he speaks so matter-of-factly.


    And - can we assume that Alraune is ''Lune'' and Mandrake is ''Ray'', which is a common name?


    ''Lune and Ray? There''s no way to abbreviate me, so just call me Glass.


    "Yes, my summoner.


    The responses come back as well as they were supposed to. Everyone laughs, and the atmosphere of the place eases - although they are in a hurry, I can tell that everyone is at ease or soothed by the presence of the two little people.


    Presha, in particular, seems to be quite fond of children, for what it''s worth. She holds Alraune''s little hand firmly in hers and walks her with a matching stride.


    ''Well, feel free to call it what you want ...... and both of you, what about the plants in the garden?��I haven''t heard much of it yet, but ......


    ''I''m thanking the Summoners for their help. ''Thank you for saving Lady Euselisis.''


    ...... And the flowers over there say they won''t attack anymore. They have been attacked, but the seeds are still there, so they can bloom again. They want us to re-plant them in the fence if possible.


    Yes - the plants that would have originally been planted with the landscape in mind have flourished everywhere. I can''t really do anything about it now, but I can work with the plant spirits and tell them what I have in mind for the restored garden to be the easiest to grow and improve the landscape.


    ''I will tell the plant spirits the image of my mind. Remember what you ought to be.''


    --In the middle of the chanting, I already felt different than before.


    Until now, I had only been allowed to use the magic power that Your Highness had unconsciously flooded me with. But now it''s different - I can see that His Highness is donating his magic power to me of his own volition.


    ''''...... awesome ...... When the ''maidens'' and ''mages'' are together, they can do this ......?''''''


    I can see why Leslie marvels at this. The grasses that had been growing in disorder, and the flowers that had been blooming out of the road, had died down once, returned to the soil, and sprouted again from elsewhere.


    ''Is this another one of those Dr. Glass ......?''


    ''The Summoner was originally very fond of trees and plants and flowers. But there is a limit to what one person''s magical power can do ...... now, it''s different. When you use the power of the princess, all the plants and flowers as far as the eye can see will respond.


    ''No ...... I didn''t think I could do this much either. Plants are ...... the power of life, really ......


    I''ve never told anyone for a long time because I had the feeling that it was a beautiful thing. I didn''t realize that plants are alive and that all life is equivalent and wonderful without division.


    ...... The earth, once dead, is now breathing life back into it. Glass ...... please. I''m sure you can do it now .......


    ''Yes. For once, the plants will have to do their best ...... to take care of this garden and the land so that it can return to its original state as the seasons pass.


    Restore the landscape of the garden to what it used to be - or make it more beautiful than it was.


    And it''s not just in the garden. As I leave the stone pillars of the dilapidated gate, I see a wasteland that was originally farmland, though it has returned to its original earth color.


    I put my hands on the ground - and called out to the crops that must have once been spread out as far as the eye could see, with everyone watching over me, the same as before.


    ''...... glass, the divine tree and the plants of the garden also share in the spirit. All of this is available to you .......


    Looking behind her, His Highness Astina lowers her lei to the ground and puts her hands together in prayer.


    -- at that moment, as she says, a tremendous amount of power flows in, along with the gratitude of the plants in the garden.


    ''O grain, spread across this plain! Sprout once more from the land of abundance and become a golden ocean ......!


    The grey soil that would have made those who farmed in this vicinity despair is gone.


    The withered crops are essentially irreversible and must be restored over time - but only now. The season of harvest that was supposed to come is revived at this time.


    -- the spirit seeps into the earth and spreads out -- green buds appear and spread like waves, and the landscape changes, as if time had been hastened.


    ''...... Dr. Glass, ...... teacher, is really .......''


    Not that it was ready to be harvested immediately. But the crops that the farmers had lost were not dead - they were still alive, even though they were dying.


    From afar, a voice could be heard - it was a voice of joy. Farmers who had been trying to flee are now running in a hurry. They are running toward the sea of wheat, where the harvest will soon be upon them.

 64 Chapter 62: Friendly Army

    We rode our wagon down the farm road through the wheat fields. Halfway down the road, as we approached a farmhouse, the family, who had been nothing but grief-stricken earlier, were still rejoicing at the sight of their restored fields, and their children were running around with their dogs.


    The middle-aged man, who must be the head of the family, the middle-aged man I spoke to earlier, was holding hands with a woman who looked like his wife, but when he realized we were coming, only the man came over to us.


    ''Princess, and your party ...... really, I can''t thank you enough. What a miracle ...... that you could stop that gray soil.


    "That forest is where our royal family once maintained the gardens. Originally, it was our abandonment of the garden''s care that led to this situation: ...... But we were unable to do anything about it up to this point, and today is the day we were able to change that.


    The reason I''m not mentioning my name was something I asked His Highness to do beforehand.


    The fact that I''m a plant spirit user, if the farmers know that I''m a plant spirit user, it might indeed be an easy material for them to trust me when they ask the farmers for something in the future. However, the fact that I''ve signed a contract with the divine tree and have a great deal of influence is a danger when it''s widely known.


    (Right now, my presence is not yet known to the enemy. But if Zirconia is getting through to this side of the world, ...... it''s unlikely that this farmer will betray me, but I don''t know where the information will be transmitted to the other side.)


    I cannot force the Lords to maintain secrecy in the same way as a military man. I''m still the only one with a plan to fulfill my duties as a military doctor and solve the fortress'' food and medicine shortages--then I''d be grateful if you would follow your highness'' policy and not spread my name too much without good reason.


    I think we need to increase the number of people we can trust, not only within the Order, but also outside. I don''t have any power right now, so I should move carefully and prudently.


    ''We could do nothing, even if we knew that something strange was spreading from that forest. It was still thanks to the knights that we didn''t have to abandon the land we were used to living in. I didn''t expect that the wheat would return to normal once it had dried up ...... I must quickly inform those who left the village earlier. I''m sure they''re doing some unfamiliar work by now, so I''ll fly back.


    The farmer, who had a pensive look on his face for a long time, spoke with a cheerful smile, as he should have. He seemed to be happy that his farmland was back to normal and that his acquaintances from the same village were able to come back.


    --But his expression suddenly gets stronger. Presha-san puts his hand on his weapon and turns his sharp gaze to a group of riders on horseback, approaching from the east.


    ...... That seems to be the banner of the Reinfeldt family, which claims to have the whole area under its control.


    ''Yes, yes ...... they may have been sent out here in response to the large number of demons that are out there. We have been told not to leave the farmland, so what will they say ......?


    ''I understand. We don''t have a good relationship ...... but I''ll explain to you that you are still not to blame. Please stay inside the house.


    I''m sorry, Your Highness. ......


    The men look frightened and go into the house with their families. His Highness instructs us to go into the carriage - and Mr. Presha is going to escort us in.


    ''Maybe it''s not your father''s side, so it''s not a flash in the pan. I''m sure his father is bitter because his territory was seized by the knights a long time ago. ......


    ''Does the father ...... mean that the son of the head of the Reinfeldt family is here?


    Yes, that''s right. The next head of the family has a son and a younger sister under him, I think: ...... I don''t know all the details because I''m hearing it again, too.


    Just as Presha-san had said, the one leading the group of ten or so horsemen was a young man with golden hair. A woman with the same hair color and still old enough to be a girl was following from diagonally behind them. They were probably the sons of the Reinfeldt family.


    They dismounted from their horses, perhaps in a show of courtesy before approaching His Highness. But the cavalry, though not armed, were lined up side by side, radiating an eerie menace.


    ''My name is Snyder, son of Hartner Reinfeldt. Please allow me to speak to you with my horse in line behind me. General Astina.


    ''Don''t worry about it. Your father will be wary of us Knights.


    The man who called himself Snyder was unable to look directly at His Highness Astina. He wasn''t being intimidated, but he couldn''t look at her very much - something that could be called ''divinity'' that His Highness got from becoming a priestess would make him do so.


    ''Given your position, you should not be blamed for bringing the troops with you. There will be bandits in this area, where the number of people has dwindled. Instead, speak to me of your requirements.


    ...... As for the rural areas around here, we have originally claimed autonomy. I have come to ask you to review that matter.


    "ugh. ......


    Mr. Plesha puts strength into his hand holding the spear. If the Reinfeldt family went through with their claims, even if the farmland was restored and the people returned, it would no longer help to solve the food situation.


    --but it was different. The ''review'' that Snyder was seeking was not about giving the Reinfeldt family rural autonomy.


    Snyder kneels on the ground. The woman who seemed to be his sister followed suit and bowed deeply and profoundly - an act of reverence for the Reinfeldt family''s highness.


    My sick father has entrusted me with the fate of the House of Reinfeldt. I, Snyder von Reinfeldt, with five hundred men, pledge allegiance to the Royal Guard against Zirconia, which threatens our lands from across the river.


    The soldiers on horseback lined up behind Snyder and the others raised their swords and prayed, which meant that the private army of the Reinfeldt family was under the direction of His Highness.

 65 Episode 63: Healing Gods Eye

    The Reinfeldt family wasn''t the only great families with private armies in the western territory, but several other great families were linked together, and for a long time, instead of collecting taxes from the peasants, they served to protect them.


    Snyder''s father, the former head of the family, is subordinate to the Royal House of Laiseneire on the surface, but even after the completion of the fortress, he has not come up to greet them voluntarily and has avoided dialogue with His Royal Highness Astina, providing only the bare minimum amount of food for the war effort.


    ''Until now, the Reinfeldt family has been autonomous, from the town of Portoro in the east, to the rural areas around here, and even to the woodlands to the west. But when the gray earth began to spread and the demons began to appear, my father did not send a single soldier. He thought that he was in danger of being seized by the Knights at once when he was exhausted from dealing with the demons. However, that was not the case. On the contrary, ......


    That was another reason why Snyder couldn''t see His Highness Astina in person.


    He was aware of the oddities in the forest but couldn''t interfere - but he ordered the peasants to stay in the area. Snyder must have understood the contradiction.


    ''It''s not your fault that the demons were out there. It was our ...... that neglected the forest that was under the control of the royal family.


    ''If that was the case, we were charged with protecting the peasants and could do nothing about it. Even when only a few of the Knights headed into that forest with only a few men, we were only watching from a distance and waiting for the storm to pass. And we were silent, even as Zirconia was attacking us ...... That doesn''t qualify us to be lords.


    Snyder knows what happened when we visited the Waste Garden the first time. And that the Isle Rose Fortress is under heavy attack.


    His Highness wanted to place troops inside the front line as well, and he said that the center was ignoring the request. If the Reinfeldt family would be under the command of the Knights, they would not have to wait for reinforcements that were never dispatched, and they would have less hindsight.


    Most importantly, having the army of a great family that is not on friendly terms with them in their territory would be dangerous in the long run, so it should be very big just to eliminate that worry.


    ''''I understand what you guys are thinking. I would like you guys to be on guard against Zirconia in normal times. Because if the enemy is not attacking your fortresses, but rather trying to slip into your territory, it may be too late for us to respond on our own.


    ''Very well, Your Highness. But we are already determined to fight Zirconia and defend our territory. If it is possible, we will be ready to attack .......


    ''If you go to the front and lose your life, you will lose control of House Reinfeldt. Leave the fight against the enemy to the Knights and make sure that you are on the defensive in conjunction with us. Just being able to share information and work together on enemy raids would be a great contribution to me.


    Haha ...... thank you for your generous concern. I will do my best to contribute in any way I can, starting from this moment today.


    This does not mean that the Knights of the Isle Rose will incorporate the soldiers led by Snyder into the Order of the Isle Rose. They would continue to move independently, but if there was a Zirconia attack, they would work with the Knights.


    In addition to Isle Rose''s troops, which were at 2930 or so, 500 troops could move as a separate force. They were attacked from two directions last time, but if Snyder''s troops joined forces with the lesser side, they would be able to advance the battle more advantageously.


    Apart from that, there''s one more thing that concerns me as a doctor. Snyder''s father is ill - but it would be rude to ask him about his condition when you''ve only just met him.


    But you can''t be shy about asking him nothing. It''s not that I''m trying to ingratiate myself, but just by listening, I may be able to order some effective treatment here.


    ''Excuse me, Mr. Presha, but may I ask Your Highness for a favor?


    You mean the brother and sister''s father who are sick?��I know Dr. Glass is worried about you, but I don''t think he''s going to tell you what''s going on ...... easily.


    I''d like to ask you to just ask ....... I think my brother Glass would be in trouble if I left it unattended.


    No, no, ......, that sounds like a threat to me.


    Yeah, okay. Well, I''ll go talk to His Highness for a minute. I''m sorry if it''s a bad idea.


    Mr. Presha leaves the carriage, and after bowing to His Highness Astina, he speaks to her. Then the girl who had been kneeling all the way behind Snyder stands up and is talking with His Highness about something - and.


    Snyder''s approval, and the girl comes over here, accompanied by Presha-san. Me and Leslie got out of the carriage and responded.


    She carried a fine sword in a silver scabbard, and it was evident that she was not only the child of a wealthy family who had followed her brother, but that she was also skilled in the art of swordsmanship.


    ''This is the first time I have met you, gentlemen. I am Kufika of the Reinfeldt family.


    ''It''s nice to meet you, I''m Glass Weed. I''m sorry, we''ve only just met and I was wondering if I could talk to you about your father''s condition, ...... if I could.


    The girl who called herself Kufika''s expression is cloudy - she was greeting him stoutly, but I guess that''s how bad her father''s condition is, after all.


    The first thing you need to do is to make sure that you have the right kind of information. ...... My father has been in a fever-like state for a week now, ...... and before you know it, his legs were swollen, and he had a doctor from the clinic in Portoro come and treat him. It only relieved the pain, and I still have .......


    My leg is swollen and the fever won''t go away. ...... This is bad. Were you able to get out of the house before your father developed symptoms?


    ''Are you suggesting that ...... my father is the cause of this?��It''s like whipping my father, who is suffering so much in his sickbed, the doctor .......


    ''Calm down, it''s just another thing we need to do to help you get better. I know you''re worried about your father, but, you know, hitting Dr. Glass won''t help.


    Presha-san tells me off, pushing down Kufika, who was about to take a bite out of me. Kufika bursts into tears and begins to cry - her father''s condition has suddenly deteriorated so badly that even from her point of view he is in danger.


    Things are time-sensitive - but do I have time to stop by the Reinfeldt house before I return to the fortress?


    ''I''m sorry ...... for being so distraught. We can''t very well heal you now ...... and then we''ll have to shelve ourselves for doing to your father what we did to him .......


    No, there is still a chance it''s not too late. We''ll have to take the appropriate steps to administer the serum, though.


    How do you know that just from listening to ......?


    ''Mr. Kufiqa, your father may have been bitten by a poisonous insect. There are other creatures that are venomous, but if it had been a viper, he would not have lasted a week. Can you tell us where your father went before he developed the disease?


    There is a risk in treating someone who doesn''t think well of the Order - I know, but is it really a wise decision to leave a patient who could be saved by it?


    ''If ...... Haltner recovers, he might rebel against the Order again. But you don''t make decisions based on that kind of thing. Dr. Glass is a man.


    ''No, I''m not a panacea either ...... Unfortunately, it''s been a long time, so it may not be a complete cure. There could be some aftereffects ...... but I want to respect the family''s wishes as well. I would like to know how you and Mr. Snyder feel about whether you should be treated or not.


    Looking at the tears, there was no doubt in Kufika''s mind.


    Snyder comes over to us. He puts his hand on his crying sister''s shoulder to quiet her, and looks at me - the impression of a brilliant heiress. His eyes, which seem cold but have an inner heat to them, are somewhat like Sven''s.


    ''...... Please, if there is a way to save my father, I would like to beg you to tell me. If my father still says he won''t obey the Order, that doesn''t make sense. But for us, our parents are still our parents. We want them to live, if they can.


    I understand. Things are time-sensitive, but there are some wounded in the fortress and I must return to it immediately. So I''ll give you instructions right here.


    I don''t need to look directly at ...... to know that the procedure can be done without looking at ...... that''s such a god thing to do.


    You can do it. You don''t have to be a god to ask the symptoms, and you can leave the rest to the local doctors - unless you need surgery, but if it''s a poison, depending on the type, it can be treated with medication.


    The divine tree is the ruler of the plants - now that I''ve made a contract with her, if I ask where Mr. Hartner is believed to have been poisoned, the plants will tell me what kind of poisonous creatures are there.


    ''Talk to me. Where is the place to which your father was sent?


    ...... my father went to ...... before he collapsed.


    I ask Kamiki where the place I was told by Kufika is - and the answer comes back to me. It''s a marshy area in the southeast direction from here.


    The poisonous creatures that live in the swamp are a snake with a venom strong enough to kill livestock in a few hours - and a tick that causes fever-like symptoms and can take up to two weeks to kill an infected person.


    Once we know the type of poison, we can see if we can make an antidote. I can figure out the antidote to every plant''s antidote, and if necessary I can mix it up and make a new antidote - before I made the contract with the divine tree, I only had information on the plants I had seen, but not anymore.


    All the plants will help me. The antidote that Mr. Hartner needs can be extracted from the plants that can be collected along the road from the fortress to this farmland - once I can make the medicine, all I need to do is teach him about heat cooling and other treatments.

 66 Episode 64: Growing flowers

    Currently, it was found that most of the western territory was under the influence of the divine tree.


    Plant seeds were carried through the wind and living things, spreading endlessly. The divine tree, which has regained its power, obtains information through its military units that have taken root in various areas and can tell me about the remote areas if necessary.


    Based on Mr. Hartner''s symptoms, I concluded that the infection was caused by the venom of the Beni Madara mite. The necessary ingredient for the antidote can be extracted from the Lansen thistle, a plant unique to the West and often overlooked because it grows among the weeds on the roadside.


    --But even if you can make an antidote, Kufiqa seemed uneasy about entrusting the treatment to a doctor who was still unable to administer effective treatment to Mr. Hartner.


    (Should I still go ...... The wounded from yesterday''s battle also need to be examined for their wounds. Given the travel time, the only thing I can do is to give instructions ......)


    My Lord and Master Summoner.


    Hmm. ......?��Hey, Lune, what''s up?��We''re talking about something important, so now we have to go to .......


    This one is important too, my summoner. I want to help you.


    ''...... This one is fine, we''ll be waiting for you. We''ll be happy to talk to you.


    Kufiqa had a thoughtful look on her face, but she smiled at Lune, who was grabbing the hem of my clothes, as if she didn''t think she could show that face in front of a young child.


    I walked back to the carriage at Lune''s request. Ray from Mandrake seems to want to talk to me, too, together.


    ''I''m sorry to worry you, did I look difficult?''


    The Summoner has a lot of patients who are worried about him. Then I will take the place of the Summoner!


    ...... We''re very familiar with the poison thing. We make poison in our bodies.


    ''You mean you''re going to go to ...... the Reinfeldt family compound for me?��But Lune and Ray won''t let you do anything like a doctor when you''re so small.


    Lune and Ray looked at each other. And for some reason, they laughed happily at each other.


    ''Wait ...... wait. Since both Alraune and Ray are under contract with me, can you ...... give them both treatment instructions? If you touch the affected area, we can identify it if it''s different from the poison you predicted, and we can instruct them to respond.


    ''''That''s right, the Summoner and us are connected no matter how far apart we are. We''re even connected back in the spirit world, so it doesn''t matter where we go in this material world, we''re still connected.


    ''Children are only so because they are minimally embodied. Spirits, there is no age. They can be more mature than the Summoner.


    Until now, it would have been impossible with my magic capacity to materialize Rune and the others in a remote area and keep them in shape.


    But now it''s different - I can borrow magic power from the local plants, and I can give them the magic power they need through the Divine Tree''s attendants in various places. Your Highness''s magic power is not inexhaustible, but it will accumulate too much in your body if you let it go, so it must be used in moderation.


    Even now, I continue to receive magic power from His Highness through his will. It''s a good thing that you have a lot more in your pocket than you consume, but thanks to that, my magic capacity itself is increasing at a very small rate - this will give me more freedom in terms of the degree of embodiment of Lune and Ray.


    ...... If this is successful, if it works with the town''s clinic, I''ll be able to treat all the people in the territory by me, right?


    ''That''s right, I''m going to ask the doctor in town to plant some bulbs for me. If you have a fellow flower, you can embody it there at any time. Once you break the embodiment and return to the spirit world, you can be summoned back to the summoner anywhere.


    I can''t travel ten thousand miles in an instant, but a spirit can. It means that when Lune finishes his duties, he can be sent back at any time.


    ''''I see. ...... But it''s hard for Lei to go with Lune. I suppose we can separate the roots, but pulling them out of the ground would be a big deal.


    ...... It''s inevitable. This time, I''ll stay home. But I want to grow up to be useful to the Summoner one day.


    Ray looks at Lune with envy. If anything, the situation will be more tense when she borrows Ray''s power - her power is more skilled in the direction of subduing the enemy in an instant and restraining their movements than Lune''s. In some cases, she can annihilate the enemy, that''s the kind of power Mandrake has.


    ''''Then I want you to let me use ...... magic power more than it is now. Until now, I had to use less so that the summoner-sama''s magic power wouldn''t run out.''''


    You''ve been good to me, ...... Lune, you can use your magic as much as you like. You can use your magic as much as you like, but try to materialize it into your ideal form.


    Yes, ...... would like you to do some chanting.


    Okay. ''''O glossy flower blooming in the garden of bewitching flowers, I am the source of strength. With me as your source of strength, bloom even bigger and brighter ......!


    In response to my chanting, the magic power flowing into Lune increases - I felt a little lost at first, but the magic power is soon compensated for. Even this is not a burden with the amount of magic power of your highness. This is because the magic power that was constantly flowing out of her was not in this amount.


    And Lune, who sucked up the magic power like water, grew up in the carriage''s cabin as he watched - from the appearance of about ten years old to fifteen years old. And when he had grown a bit more, the change stopped.


    ''Wow ...... he has long limbs. He''s a spirit, so his clothes have grown with him!


    Even the young Alraune was adorable, but as she grew up, her beauty stood out as if she had just blossomed. Even Ray, who was watching beside her, was transfixed.


    ''''It''s amazing ...... grown up. Raune has become a big sister .......


    ''If the flowers are big enough, they stand out, so they have to look like a hairpiece. Summoner-sama, can you rely on me for this?


    ''Oh, oh ...... yes. It''s more than I can imagine and I honestly don''t have the words to describe it, but ......


    �� �� ��


    I was to send Lune out on an errand in my place and let her have the antidote. The Reinfeldt family looked away until we were out of sight - Kufiqa, who had Lune riding with him on his own horse, bowed to us at the end and followed his brothers.


    ''Since Alraune is a spirit, you can call her to you, can''t you? I haven''t tried to learn about spirits until now, so it never ceases to amaze me.


    ''''If you don''t mind, I would like to speak with you again. I think it would be better for Your Highness to know more about the spirits.


    ''''That''s right. Now that I''ve gotten through to the divine tree, I can see how profound spirits are and how deeply involved they are with people. Since we are borrowing their power, we should understand them as much as possible.


    And by the time we returned to the fortress, Rune had arrived at the Reinfeldt house and received permission to see Mr. Hultner''s condition in person for treatment.


    --a fungal infection caused by an infection caused by the venomous tick that had weakened his resistance. Even in the remote area, Rune followed my instructions well, and the inflammation caused by the poison that had been consuming Mr. Hartner eventually began to show signs of subsiding, and I felt a sense of relief in my chest as I made the rounds of patients in the fortress''s medical wing.


    But it wasn''t until the evening that peace was restored in the fortress.


    A messenger from Central Command had come with a written order to order the return of the prisoners detained in the Isle Rose Fortress.

 67 Episode 65: Pride

    I was making the rounds of the wounded with Katie and Leslie in the sanitation building when I was called in by Raquel''s men as soon as I finished my work.


    The room on the second floor of the fortress, which is used to respond to visitors from the outside. We were brought to the front of it, and we were shown into an adjoining room - where I saw Chloe-san and Solfa-san. I had seen them in the round table room, but this was the first time I had spoken to them directly.


    Chloe-san and Raquel-san have a similar air about them, but I feel that Raquel-san''s sense of intimidation as a warrior is one degree higher than mine. I don''t feel any magic, so I guess it''s innate, but she''s a mysterious woman with deep green hair and eyes.


    Ms. Solfa is a woman with long flaxen hair tied in two on either side, which gives her a sense of elegance. She could be considered quite young since she called Deethe-san ''big sister'', but with the position of archer-in-chief, there is a sharp light in her eyes.


    ''''...... Originally, this kind of thing is fraught with danger. The Raquel Knight Chief must have that much trust in Lord Glass. Your sister is also .......


    I''m sorry for calling you out of the blue, Lord Glass. A messenger is now visiting you from the center with a written order from His Majesty the King. His Royal Highness Astina, the Knight-in-Chief of Raquel, and Lord Dite are here to see you and talk to you.


    From the center ...... does that mean you received a request for reinforcements from His Highness and received a response?


    If so, it should have been a good thing for this fortress. However, Chloe and Sorfa didn''t answer together, and Chloe urged me to come to the back of the room.


    There, I could faintly hear a conversation from the next room. Chloe-san looks at me without saying anything - she wants me to listen to the conversation between His Highnesses and the messenger from the center that is taking place in the very next room right now.


    ''We have permission from the Knight Commander. Glass, if you fear that this will result in defection to the center, we will not force you to do so. We can''t be deceitful to you, either, as you are doing your duty as a military doctor and are contributing to the cause.


    ''I''m of my own volition, and I''m willing to be listened to. I also believe that if Raquel is telling me to do something, I should definitely listen to her. And not just because I''m under orders to do so.


    ...... Right.


    Chloe only replied briefly and said nothing more. The three of us listened to the conversation coming from the next room - and.


    What we heard was a high-pressure male voice. It was an insolent manner of speaking that made it hard to believe we were talking to the guardians of this fortress.


    ''''His Majesty the King personally sent me. ''''His Majesty''s request is to release all those held in this Isle Rose Fortress.


    ''If it''s ...... Zirconia''s soldiers, I can still understand. But as for the rest of them, we have captured them for their actions to avenge this fortress. Why should we let them go?


    "Let''s ask you to keep your mouth shut, Raquel. This is an edict from the King, and I will only deliver it. If it is refuted, it will be conveyed to His Majesty the King with appropriate meaning.


    "ugh. ......


    It was unbelievable to my ears. Not only Zirconia''s prisoners of war, but even those who had been pouring weapons into Zirconia were said to be released by ''His Majesty the King''


    -- I shudder in wondering about that. There''s no way that such a thing can really happen, but the circumstances up to now show one possibility.


    (There is someone who needs to have ''all'' of those detained in this fortress released: ...... That person has urged His Majesty to borrow the name of His Majesty the King or issue a written order.)


    "...... of the North, the Knights ...... of the Royal Family, of the Order ...... of the Royal Family, through humans ...... weapons, shed and ......


    Information drawn from the prisoner by the power of Alraune. The words of the one who had communicated with Zirconia across the border came back to his mind.


    The other possibilities were no longer mostly destroyed.


    -- a member of the royal family who had a connection to Zirconia had inspired His Majesty the King.


    But even though there was still evidence to suggest so, the decision was left to His Highness. A decision too weighty to decide the fate of this fortress - and yet, if they do nothing and simply release the prisoners, they will do what the people who are plotting against His Highness Astina and the others want them to do.


    (Is it all a plot that the Second Queen is hatching? ...... How can she go so far?��His Highness Astina is fighting to protect her country. (Hand in hand, this country would be more ......)


    I wasn''t the only one clenching my fists. Chloe and Sorfa were also biting their lips in anger.


    The girls may not yet know that their enemies are in the royal family. Still, anyone in this fortress could see that the center was being forced to be unreasonable.


    The ...... Zirconia side has been attacking us incessantly without any attitude of dialogue. We are defending Raiseneier ......


    "I''m sure the integrity of the Isle Rose will be appreciated by both the people and the center when we free the detainees. I''m sure His Majesty the King will be very pleased.


    -- and then another unbelievable thing happens. The messenger man interrupted His Royal Highness Princess Astina''s remarks to express his opinion as if it was not necessary.


    ''''You, you ......!''''


    ''Raquel, it''s fine. Thank you, Lord Vysek, for conveying ''His Majesty the King''s Will''. But as for the prisoners of war, I hope you will understand that the matter of the POWs is directly related to the defense of the Western Territories ...... and not to their immediate release.


    "...... Your Highness, you should be understood. Your position in the Kingdom''s military was given with the utmost consideration for your position as a princess. I''ve heard rumors of your service on the battlefield, but it''s always your followers who speak of it, and it''s doubtful to what extent it''s truly meritorious. I suppose I shouldn''t get too brazen.


    The man rudely gets out of his seat and leaves the room. You can hear Raquel-san getting up from her seat - yet she still didn''t move, controlled by His Highness.


    ''Lord Glass ......!


    I couldn''t help but move. Why did he not know that His Highness Astina had risked her life on the battlefield while in the army? Are you going to treat even the achievements she has made so far as if they didn''t exist?


    There is no way I can allow that to happen. But I wasn''t the only one who thought so.


    On the other side of the door, Presha-san was standing there.


    She was more angry than anyone else. She was bleeding from her clenched fists as she pushed down her fury, anger, and murderous intent - all of it.


    ''...... I know that I can never do that. If I kill that guy, everything I''ve endured will be for nothing....... He was sent to disturb and humiliate His Highness Astina''s heart....... Even I can understand that much.


    ...... Mr. Presha.


    If someone cuts into Vaissek here, what will happen - His Highness will be deprived of his right to the throne as a traitor who has disobeyed His Majesty''s edict.


    There is only one person who would benefit from that. If he was able to identify the person behind Vaissek, he would normally be the one to be blamed. But with His Royal Highness far from the center and seemingly unconnected, His Majesty is more likely to lend an ear to the slander of those close to him.


    I''m not going to allow ...... his highness to say something like that, it''s absolutely unacceptable. I''m going to kill every single one of them ...... someday.


    ...... I feel the same way. There''s no way we can allow that to happen.


    Tears spilled out of Presha''s eyes, which were beginning to turn the color of hatred. She squirmed against the wall and slammed her fist down repeatedly.


    ''Why ...... why can''t we just think about ourselves ...... and be one for this country ...... how can we? ......!


    The fist raised once again stopped. Raquel came out of the room and grabbed Presha''s wrist.


    ''...... I''m sorry for the pain I put you through. I''m only ...... watching Vysek''s brutality in front of me, too.


    ''That''s not true. The most shameful thing I''ve ever done is ...... myself.


    "What do you mean by ......, Your Highness? His Highness came here ...... for his people and took the sword himself for us. Why didn''t you say so? The one who really cares about his people and wants to be their shield, Your Highness Astina, should be yourself. That is our pride, so why did you not order us to slay Vaissek: ......!


    Raquel-san spoke out in front of His Highness. It should have been painful for her, who has deep respect for His Highness, to the point of cutting herself.


    His Highness reflects on me. Then, without saying a word, he walks off towards the upper levels.


    I thought that he wanted me to follow him. Raquel-san doesn''t say anything, but looks down - Presha-san gives me a clinging look.


    I have to go, I have to go. In order to hear your highness'' true intentions with my ears.

 68 Episode 66 Sunset

    The colors of the setting sun tinted the area as they made their way up to the fourth level.


    His Highness stepped out into the crossing hallway and crossed to the ramparts. Without looking back once, she kept walking - she stopped at the top of the ramparts on the eastern side of the fortress. It was a place where she could see the town where the people lived.


    A flock of white birds flew from the sky beyond and passed near the fortress. Beyond that was the territory of Zirconia.


    ...... Until this day, I knew that if I just held out, if I didn''t offer myself up as a desire for the throne, I would one day be unbounded.


    A rectangular window, for shooting the bow. How many arrows shot out of here and through the soldiers General Alejandro had led the other day?


    With his back to the square cut out of the sky, His Highness looked back at me.


    -- as if it wasn''t a man. A beauty that looks as if God had created it without making a single mistake. The deep melancholy in his eyes had a magical power that held my body in place.


    I couldn''t move a single fingertip. I almost forgot how I usually breathe.


    ''My own mother ...... First Queen Amneria wasn''t physically strong since she was young. The first prince ...... my brother also tended to get down from an early age, and from the moment he found out, his majesty was hoping for a ''strong heir'' from the nobles around him.


    One of the most important requirements of a king is to have an heir.


    The Raseneian kingdom had always been ruled by a royal line of succession from the founding kings.


    If the first prince, who was considered to be physically weak, became king, his centripetal force would be weakened. It is inevitable that a stronger successor will be required to solidify the royal family''s power.


    ...... But all three born from it were princesses. In a country where only princes, the king''s legitimate sons, have succeeded to the throne, we princesses also have the right to the throne, but since the first prince is the highest in line of succession, he was considered to be the king.


    That''s all changed now that ...... the second queen has become a member of your Majesty''s entourage.


    She nodded back as she took over His Highness'' words.


    But at the same time I was thinking of another possibility. With His Highness Astina''s achievements as a soldier, she might have an eye for inheriting the throne - in fact, it seems that it wouldn''t be surprising if that happened, because she has contributed so much to the kingdom.


    ''''His Majesty didn''t want to make the First Queen''s position worse. Even after receiving the Second Queen, His Majesty had shown his compassion for His Royal Highness Amneria. In order to protect my mother and my brothers and sisters, I volunteered to enter a knightly school and receive an officer''s education. This was because I wished to put at least a little bit of peace in His Majesty''s mind, who was concerned for us.


    And His Royal Highness Astina developed her unparalleled swordsmanship at the Knight''s School.


    --One thing is curious. The fact that His Highness had undergone the Rite of Election at an early age, which was interrupted.


    His Highness Astina didn''t become a ''Mage'' and became a ''Demon Warrior'' without being aware of it, which gave him the strength of a millionaire - but he was constantly consuming a large amount of magic power and was in a precarious state.


    ''''I became a soldier and continued to fight on the front lines of the eastern borders to defend the ...... country, where I was able to use my magic power as a demon warrior without being aware of it. Initially, I was entrusted with five soldiers and went to countless battlefields, from a platoon commander who took care of and commanded five men to ...... being appointed as an attack commander in six months.


    His Highness puts her hand on the sword strapped to her waist. Instead of gripping the hilt, she wraps it around the hilt head and closes her eyes for a moment without saying a word.


    When I realized that she was praying, I closed my eyes too. She is praying for the many enemy soldiers who have slashed at her with that sword, and she is praying for the many enemy soldiers.


    It was the second spring after I went to ...... the east. I took over the title of ''General'' from that time onwards when the general commanding the legion fell to an enemy arrow. Raquel had been my subordinate before that. I have been with her ever since the Knight''s School.


    His Highness looks at her hands. Staring at her hands in the sunset, she continued to speak.


    ''I thought I had no such thing as human compassion. No matter how strong a knight is, cutting people down will give you nightmares and wear out your heart ...... I wasn''t. I could slay people for as long as it was necessary. I always thought I was feared by those around me for being like that.


    ...... Mr. Raquel was different.


    ''Yes ...... she is a nobler and stronger woman than I am. She told me that she longed to be like me. She wants to be a knight like me.


    To Raquel, His Highness''s very existence was nothing short of a source of pride for her.


    It''s not just her, everyone in this fortress thinks so. Even I, who have only just arrived here, can say that without hesitation. I have a lot of respect for Your Highness Astina.


    ''''I''ve slayed many enemy soldiers, and I guess it''s not right for me to say this. Glass ...... no you can ...... the soldiers of the fortress. I''ve been thinking about it since I saw you heal a ranch owner who had been hit by a goblin arrow. That I would have wanted a force like yours if it could have come true.


    "...... I would never ask His Highness ...... to say that much to me.


    All my life, I have not been needed.


    Only the spirits who are useful in warfare are valued. Even at such an academy, we swore to each other that we would never break our hearts, together with our fellow "outliers".


    I''m not on the outskirts of the academy, there must be some value to it. Even if we can''t admit it now, someday...


    I wanted it so badly that I couldn''t stop thinking about it. I''m not going to fight, but to be needed.


    They could see that I learned to heal people, not to fight, but to heal them. His Highness, who I thought hadn''t seen me at first, remembered me from our first meeting.


    If I said something now, I would sound pathetic. Seeing me like that, His Highness smiled faintly - for a very short time, with the wind flowing and shaking His Highness'' hair.


    ''I must question His Majesty the King''s will. Vysek didn''t even look at the death toll from Zirconia''s attack, he was nervous about the provocation to disqualify me. He did not bury the dead with his own hands, nor did he pray for them. Then those who have put their lives on the line for this country will not be rewarded.


    I thought it was Mr. Presha - and Raquel - who was the one who was most upset.


    But it was different. His Highness, who was such a commander, who went to the front to protect his troops, would not allow Vysek to insult him.


    ''''Central has no intention of lending its strength to the defense against Zirconia. If you are going to leave the soldiers of this Order to die, I cannot accept that.''''


    In the middle, with your back to ......, you say so.


    No ...... has yet to express its intentions overtly. We will now release the prisoners. But we will not return them for free. With your help, Glass...... we may be able to get a clue as to who it is that is trying to trap us.


    Let the captive have a plant as a medium for the spirit. That''s what I was thinking, too - we can now embody Alraune remotely, and if we get it right, we can gather information through the captive.


    ''And Zirconia doesn''t expect us to attack them. We will take our stronghold across the river and use it as a bargaining chip along with our captives. It would take a great deal of upsetting to convince the enemy to think it is not in their best interest to antagonize us.


    In order to do so, they would have to defeat the water mage who had enabled them to swoop in from Zirconia - Noyn - in some way.


    ''As for Vysek, we already have a secret agent on him. He''s not trying to leave the Western Territories straight away ...... If he has orders to inspect the situation in the Western Territories, then he hasn''t been reported to me. I have the authority to condemn any unauthorized intelligence activity in the territory, even by military personnel outside of my command.


    If Vaissek ignores the stipulation, then Vaissek will have to defend himself. Vaisek would have to explain why he acted contrary to the stipulation.


    Perhaps he would remain silent. Until then, as he has done in the past, he will be magically ''interrogated''.


    ''...... You''ve relied on your power for everything, haven''t you? I was once told that I am skilled in military tactics, but that''s just a matter of logic, such as sensing the signs and direction of an enemy''s attack.


    ''''No. ...... Your power will surely help the Order. Isn''t it possible that now that you are connected to the divine tree, Your Highness''s ability to read ahead has increased?


    ''Yes ....... The divine tree whispers to me, and I certainly have that feeling. In the time to come, you will be asking for the ''oracle''.


    What we need to know for sure is That is the location of key players in the enemy''s army, such as General Alejandro and Noyn.


    We have to get Zirconia to decide that they shouldn''t fight us. That''s not an easy task, but we can''t start by assuming it''s impossible from the start.


    We must change the game before the enemy sends another great army. The best time to move for that is sometime - the sooner the better, His Highness said, seeing me thinking this.


    ''The infiltration of the enemy base is tonight. We will carry out the infiltration of the enemy base tonight, at midnight, when the vigilance is at its lowest.

 69 Chapter 67: Before the Journey

    Normally, it would be considered reckless for His Highness, the guardian general of the fortress, to infiltrate into enemy territory.


    However, there is no individual fighting force equivalent to her in this fortress. Although Raquel-san could play a unique role as a heavy cavalryman, she would use a sword when on an infiltration mission, and she was one step short of His Highness Astina''s sword skills.


    Even so, Raquel-san was the second best swordsman in the fortress. I''ve been told that if you let Presha-san use a one-handed spear, there''s no one else on the right - with the addition of Deite-san, the leading archer, I''m still holding out hope that if these four people are together, they''ll be able to accomplish a difficult task.


    (The question is, will I be able to stand up to the enemy mages? Leslie will be there, but neither of them have any experience fighting a combat mage. (If you were able to participate in a mock battle when you were at the academy: ......)


    Compared to a combat mage, we would be treated as amateurs. Even if we''re demon warriors, if we''re molded against a mage, we may not be able to use our strengths and be sealed off.


    My role is to contribute with what I can only do with spirit magic. And with Leslie accompanying me, I can plan a strategy that makes use of her spirit.


    ''''I thought that the danger of being detected by the enemy would inevitably have to be risked when crossing the river, but with the ...... ''Spirit of Air'', you can completely cut off any sign of it.


    ''''Yes. With my magic power alone, it will be depleted as soon as I lose the presence of a large number of people. But with the help of Your Highness, the time I can maintain it will be very long.


    Leslie took off her glasses, revealing her bare face. Ms. Raquel''s eyes widened at first, but when she saw that Mr. Deethe had calmed down, she simply coughed one out to follow suit and returned to her usual calm demeanor.


    ''...... So it''s Leslie, not Lendl. Let''s not ask now why you accompanied Glass as a man. Only that it was necessary, I suppose.


    If a man is sneaking in dressed as a woman, he may need to be punished, though. But there are a lot of soldiers of the right age in this fortress, and I''m sure some of them would be disappointed to find out that they are women.


    ''I can interfere with the air that flows around me and change the impression I make on my surroundings. Before I''m a man or a woman, I can make you unrecognizable if you make your presence go away.


    ''Is that so ...... that''s great. Do you mean to say that you have always done so as much as possible?


    ''Yes. It will be difficult to interfere with a large area of air, but in a limited area, you can alter the air in a variety of ways.


    The more I learn about Leslie''s spirits, the more I think about them.


    I think I know why she hasn''t tried to talk about spirits much before - because they are too good for ''infiltration operations''.


    Completely obliterate the air and transform the air - for example, depriving the air of the ingredients necessary for the human body and attacking the target by suffocating it. If the Renklus family had known they could do such a thing, Leslie might have been brought home sooner. It would be optimistic to say that an ambitious man who wanted to use his daughter for political maneuvering, knowing the power of the air spirits, would not plot anything.


    ''Glass, Leslie ...... it is not in our nature to send you along on dangerous missions. But we are unlikely to get out of this phase without the help of magic ...... and you must forgive us for that.


    ''''The enemy army also has the help of mages. Only mages can counter the mages. ...... We are not combat mages, but we are both mages. We will prevent you from being defeated without even knowing what you are doing to us.


    ''Thank you, ...... doctor. If it''s true, you''re more .......


    He gave up being a court mage and worked in the royal capital as a doctor. That was certainly a choice, too.


    But I don''t think I should have done so at all. I consider it a sincere honor to have been allowed to accompany His Highness in this way.


    The people in the fortress, the people of the territory - there are many people who need to be healed. I want to do my best to restore the Garden of the Divine Tree to a more beautiful state.


    I knew one day that Zirconia had to be stopped. If we don''t accomplish that, nothing will get done - that''s why.


    I''m talking about a very serious ...... story. Wouldn''t you be creeped out, Ray?


    "...... summoner will not die. We will protect you.


    ''That''s right!��Summoner, we want you to rely on the power of us and all our friends. If we wanted to, we could even summon a bunch of Ray''s friends to the bad guys'' nooks and crannies to take them all out!


    We were talking in the ops room as we prepared to leave, when Alraune and Ray were peeking in.


    ''''I know, ...... I''m thinking that Dr. Glass would be incredibly strong if he really didn''t go easy on you.


    ''Mmm ...... Since Glass arrived, he''s always been a contributor. Sure, we haven''t had a massive attack like a combat mage, but I''m sure you''ve got quite a bit of power behind you from the shadows.


    That''s not all, dear. Dr. Glass takes care of you at night, too.


    ...... Dite, what does that mean?


    It''s a thoughtful way of saying it, but I know what Deite-san is trying to say, so I dare to keep my mouth shut. It could be because His Highness Astina''s nonchalant tone of voice felt powerful in some way.


    ''I talked to him about my lack of sleep, and he told me about some good flowers. I just put them in my room and for the first time in a long time I had good dreams.


    Yuh, I don''t mean to sound like a dream: ...... Mr. Deite, don''t you think that''s a strange thing to say on purpose?


    "Huh ...... you guys look so miserable. It''s dangerous to sneak into enemy territory, but that''s when you should be as calm as usual. But that''s when you have to be as calm as usual. The Grim Reaper is only accessible to those who are afraid of him.


    Everyone''s expressions softened as Deete-san smiled. I felt like I understood once again what role she had played in this fortress.


    ''''Well ...... I''m sure you''ve already prepared your equipment for the infiltration, so let''s go change your clothes. Your Highness, I''ll be happy to help you with your equipment.


    ''No, you''ll be fine on your own ......, but you should check each other''s equipment.


    ''Your Highness, will you use a small boat to cross the river?��Or ......


    ''When you cross the water, you can ask for the help of your friend''s plants. My summoner, may I borrow your ear?


    What''s ......?


    I bend down beside Alraune and she whispers in my ear.


    ''I see ...... ''Such plants'' exist in the spirit world, too: ......!


    ''Yes, that''s right, I''m sure I can help you. I will go to the spirit world and call you!


    A plant that can be used to cross the water - if I summon it, I can cross the canal effortlessly and cover my tracks by repatriating it.


    I decided to finish my equipment while Alraune was back in the spirit world. I heard that they don''t have any men''s equipment, but the armament maintenance staff in the fortress will adjust what they have and prepare it for us. It''s not every day that a military doctor is armed, but it''s necessary to be prepared to protect your life.


    The time of the operation is about an hour after the sun changes. While thinking about what else I should prepare for, I went to get my armor.

 70 Chapter 68: Crossing the River at Night

    The canal flows from west to east, gradually heading north. It passes through the upper reaches of the northern part of the kingdom to the sea, which stretches to the far northeast.


    The last time the enemy landed, it was on the west and east sides of the fortress. Using the canal, a massive amount of water, to create an illusion in some way, Zirconia came across the river to hide the warships.


    In the case of Alraune, they could expand their sphere of influence by sending pollen flying on the wind. The water spirits were also more natural at extending their range along the current, and it would take extra magic power to go against the current.


    In order to hide the warships crossing the canal from the west and east, they would need to generate an illusion over a wide area. According to Deethe''s story, the phenomenon of fog over the canal had been observed several times, and until now he had thought it was due to climate change.


    ''So that''s what you mean when you say the mages are most likely to be on the upper side of the canal.


    We gather in the courtyard on the ground floor, geared up and gathered in the first floor courtyard, exchanging ideas about whether we should cross the canal from the west or the east.


    His Highness closes his eyes, puts his hand on his chest and prays - and as he does so, the entirety of the trees growing in the courtyard shine and grains of light are absorbed into His Highness'' body.


    (The divine tree is answering His Highness''s call through that tree, to which it is a subordinate. The Royal Priestesses received the ''oracle'' like this in the distant past. ......)


    Eventually, His Highness opened his eyes and looked at us. The oracle seemed to help us determine where we should cross the river from.


    ''The vegetation along the canal was detecting the effects of magic. It seems that the mist was flowing along the river''s course from west to east, and that it was blocking our view of the river.


    You''ll find that ...... the enemy''s stronghold is in the west, and the troops that attacked from the east were coming down the river from the west?��When they retreated, though, they retreated from the east side: ......


    ''In order to hide both the western and eastern warships, as Your Highness says, the mages would need to be located upstream. In other words, we can assume that they are back in their western stronghold.


    The flow of water - if you can use it, the water mages will show great power, but on the other hand, you are also bound by the flow?


    ''Does that mean that the chances of the mages being in the western stronghold are quite high? Even if it''s an outlier, it would be nice to be able to drop the bases where the warships are docked.


    If we neutralize even one warship, it would be a huge blow to Zirconia. Because if we can successfully take them, we will be able to use our warships.


    Once we have a policy in place, we will make a final inspection of our equipment. All of your lordships are wearing black leather armor that is easy to hide in at night, rather than metal armor that makes a sound. They always wear silver armor, which always looks clean and clean, so the difference was surprising at first.


    Perhaps because Leslie usually hides his identity as ''Rendle'', he looked good in his covert-like clothing. For some reason, he was also adept at wearing his equipment and taught me how to equip it - I was curious how he knew so much, but I didn''t have time to ask him for details right now.


    ''From the time we cross the river, I will use my magic to hide everyone''s presence. However, if we use a boat to cross, it will take too long and they may notice us.


    We need to get across as quickly as possible, I suppose.


    ''You could take your gear off and swim ...... No, that''s not safe, and that''s not safe. With a small boat, it''s going to take at least half a second to cross the river because of the current. ......


    ''Alraune has some good wisdom to share about that,'' he said. Let''s move closer to the point where we start the crossing.


    If Alraune was right, there was no need to prepare a boat. We went out through the sender''s gate to the west side of the fortress - all the armor left as grave markers of the soldiers the archers had defeated before has now been recovered, as it is decaying intact and the metallic quality affects the land.


    After passing through the reedbed, we reach the banks of the canal. It''s so far away at this time of night that you can''t see all the way to the other side of the river - the water is also slowed down here on the level ground, but if you try to cross it in a small boat, you''ll be swept farther downstream.


    The power of the water spirit to interfere with this entire vast canal ...... becomes so tremendous. But we can''t just let them get away with it.


    Raquel-san looked at the farther shore, the Zirconia side of the river. Deete-san held up a short bow, one size smaller than the compound bow she usually used, and looked around her.


    ''''Deete-san, what is that thing you''re carrying on your back ......?��I can smell a little bit of gunpowder.


    ''We were able to seize the enemy''s artillery, and now we have the gunpowder. The Zirconian side is behind in metalworking technology, but when it comes to gunpowder weapons, they have a day''s head start on us. I had ordered my men to develop this "fire spear", and we were able to use the enemy''s gunpowder for it. After all, swords, spears and bows are not enough to hit a stronghold.


    ''So it''s like a developmental system of fire arrows. Certainly, there may be times when you need it.


    Raquel, Presha-san specializes in martial arts, but Deethe-san seems to be well versed in weapons development as well.


    And if you have a gunpowder weapon, you still want to avoid getting wet. The weather is well clear, but if Noin moves and uses fog magic, it could ruin it.


    --that''s when the bulb I carried in my pocket begins to shine. As I placed it on the ground and chanted, Alraune was summoned in the form of a child.


    ''''Sorry to keep you waiting, but she''s going to help us. ''''That child'''' needs a lot of magical power to materialize, so I need the princess to help me.''''


    The person called ''That Girl'' said she would help us cross the river ...... then use any amount of help you can get. Glass, may I?


    ''Yes, please help me, Your Highness. Lune, the chant to call that spirit is ...... so that''s what you''re going to do.


    At that moment, I was able to know what Lune had seen in the spirit world and the new chanting phrases that he had seen in the spirit world - Lune released his materialization and dwelt in me as a spirit body.


    The plant has an ecology that no plant in this world could ever have - I can only marvel, as I always do when I know a new plant, at the sight that has flashed through my mind.


    ''So let''s get started: ...... Leslie, when you''re done summoning, ask for a distraction spell.


    Leslie nodded persistently. I held my hand over the torrential stream of water and began to chant as everyone watched.


    It''s a good thing that you''re not the only one. Show yourself once in this world.''


    Magic power flows into me from your highness. Rather than being supplemented by the magic power used to summon it, it almost overflows from the vessel that is me - every time I borrow her power, I wonder if I''ve been left with such tremendous power.


    A large circular pale light arises above the dark surface of the water. It is not a single one, but a myriad of strands, extending to the other side of the canal.


    ''Is this ...... huge, lotus ......?''


    ''This plant really exists: ......?��In the air, floating in the air: ......!


    The Floating Lotus, an aquatic plant that exists in the Elmir Fountain in the spirit world, has circular leaves large enough for an adult to ride on, and floats in the air to move to a sunny spot.


    It summons countless numbers of its floating demon lotuses to use as a foothold. This would allow them to cross the canal in the shortest possible distance, unaffected by the current of the canal.


    As if there was no time to get lost, it was Presha-san who took the lead first. She leapt and rode on the floating lotus leaves, and then flew to the next foothold - watching the wandering that easily received a single adult and bounced back with elasticity, followed by His Highness.


    Mr. Raquel, Mr. Deethe, Leslie - and finally me. The river is flowing below us, and the sight of the black water that seems to suck us in makes me cringe, but I turn my attention forward and focus on getting across - and.


    We had completed the crossing, which would have taken half a second in a boat, in no amount of time. After being released from the summons, the lotus is repatriated to the spirit world, melting into the darkness of the night.


    That doesn''t stop us, we bend down and move through the reed field. The direction is west - we continue to move towards the handy woods, where it is difficult to be seen, while paying attention to whether enemy scouts are patrolling the area.


    We''ve got to be careful not to get caught in the middle of a battle, as the wolves are howling in the distance. Deethe-san was our escort and accompanied us without leaving us behind.


    ''They are following us well, both of them. But you won''t be able to rest for a while yet.


    I have to marvel at Deethe''s ability to talk while running. She''s also a soldier and it''s a sign that she works out on a regular basis - I should have been building up my physical strength too, but I can''t whine about it.


    Eventually, Presha-san, who was ahead of me, slows down. She pointed ahead and saw several lights floating in the darkness of the night.


    ''''Your Highness, look, I see lights.''''


    We can see the ...... turret and the zirconia soldiers on guard. It looks like that''s the same place where they built the enemy''s base ...... warships.


    A tributary of the canal flowed toward the enemy''s fort, which was surrounded by a high fence. There were signs that the nearby forest had been cut down and large amounts of wood had been extracted.


    How many enemy soldiers are in that place? How are they going to occupy it - and will they encounter Noin? Whatever happens, I will only do what is required of me as a mage, along with Leslie.

 71 Chapter Sixty-Nine: Infiltration

    We carefully detoured north through the woods until we came to a point where we could see the back of the fort. The guards seemed to take turns keeping an eye on their surroundings from the turrets built one in each direction, but as long as Leslie''s magic lasted, there was no sign of them noticing us.


    The Zirconia stronghold we found is thought to have started out as a barracks to guard the shipyard and surrounding area, and then fences and turrets were built around the perimeter to prevent intruders from entering the area, leading to the present day.


    There are traces of trees cut down on the north side - they were cut down to build this fort about two years ago. It is believed that since that time a plot to build a warship and cross the border has been in motion.


    ''Glass, if the wood cut from here is being used to build the fort, is there any information we can get from it?


    Even though the tree has been cut and processed, it still calls to the stump. His Highness was right, when I touched the stump, I could sense where it was used in the fort.


    (My goodness, ...... the divine tree still governs all plants. Even the zirconia plants are helping us, the contractors of the divine tree, ......!)


    I sorted and reconstructed in my mind the memories provided by the stumps of the trees that had been cut down. Then I used one of the stumps as a stand and began to draw a drawing of the fort on the parchment I had brought with me.


    ''Dr. Glass, is that ...... a map of this fort?''


    ''Yes, sir. As your highness said, I was able to trace the memory of the tree that was cut down here.


    With the moonlight shining through the forest, I finished the simplified diagram and asked Presha, who was peeking in, to look at it first.


    I''m not going to be able to get it right.��How does a commander''s bedroom even know that?


    ''Trees are cut down, but they live on. I''ve had conversations with these stumps and they''ve taught me a lot about how the fort was built.


    ''How can you go to such lengths ...... Doesn''t Glass mean that no matter how solid a fortress is, if the wood is used, the structure can be laid bare?''


    ''It''s fine for about two years after it''s been built. As the years go by, though, the vibrancy of the wood wears off, so it''s hard to get them to answer the call.


    Presha and Raquel look at the drawing and consider the route of entry. The fence on the north side of the fort has a small door for the soldiers to enter and exit. At first glance, it would not open from the outside, but there was a mechanism to open it from the outside, and it seemed to be easy to open if one knew how to do so.


    The fact that only the commander''s quarters are built separately seems to contribute greatly to our operation.


    And one more thing - a large, one-story barracks that is probably used by many of the soldiers in this fort. With magic, we can neutralize the enemy soldiers here in several ways.


    ''''Leslie, manipulating the flow of air is a category controlled by the ''wind'' spirits, isn''t it?''''''


    ''...... I can work on the air around me and get it to move. It''s not as fast as a wind spirit, and it can''t be used over a wide area.


    I see ...... has that kind of restriction.


    Perhaps it would be a better match for what I''m about to do now if I worked with the Spirit Master of the Wind.


    With Alraune''s pollen, the entire fortress will be under the control of the demon flower. It would be a simple matter to shed the pollen from windward, but we can''t reliably let the pollen enter the building, and even if only some of the enemies are hypnotized, it would be useless if the other soldiers are alerted to it.


    ...... Brother Glass, I have one thought for you.


    Hmm. ......?


    ''You can''t change the direction of the wind, but you can create a ''ball of air''. Besides, if you can trap the pollen from Alraune''s pollen: ......


    Oh, you can do that?


    Leslie nodded at the surprised Presha-san with a persistent nod.


    By cooperating with Leslie, Alraune''s pollen is made into a flying tool that can put the targeted opponent to sleep - the "Hypnotic Air Ball", the power of which was to be tested by using it on the soldiers in the turret on the north side of the fortress.


    Arraune is summoned from the bulb and the pollen is sealed into the air ball by Leslie. She said, ''I can get it to move,'' but the small ball of air seems to be able to manipulate it at will, and it flies straight to the soldier on the turret - and.


    ''...... Summoner-sama, it worked, my pollen has reached the enemy''s people!''


    Lune complained excitedly, though he kept his voice down. The soldier on top of the turret stopped moving as if he were asleep, as he would not be able to serve as a watchman if he did so.


    The pollen of hypnosis, it turned out, could work without commanding them to sleep, if only to put them to sleep. Depending on how they used it, they could control the movements of the enemy soldiers and eliminate obstacles until they entered their destination.


    ''Magic is an amazingly powerful thing when you''re creative: ......


    ''Lune, with the help of your pollen, I''m sure we won''t have to do any naughty killing.


    "I''m happy to see you, summoner, the princess praised me. ......


    Good for you, Lune. Try not to speak too loudly from here on out, or you''ll be in big trouble if they notice.


    Lune closed her mouth and held it in her hands. It was a bit tense with an infiltration mission with a child, but now that the combination of Leslie and Alraune proved effective, the always stern Racquel-san didn''t blame her.


    ''Then we will proceed to the commander''s office. Let''s take things very carefully.


    Leslie intensifies the effect of the magic that eliminates the signs. We became ''an unrecognizable presence there'' except for ourselves, and we finally entered the interior from behind the fort.

 72 Episode 70: Covert Action

    The fence that surrounds the Zirconian fort is constructed of thick logs driven in at certain intervals to support the fort, with reinforcements between the logs like a bridge, then thin logs are driven in between to fill in the gaps, and finally the reinforcements are driven in again from the back. From a distance it looks solid, but as you get closer, you can see that not much money has been spent on the fence.


    The turrets are stacked solidly built of stones. But the windowed facility is not at all threatening, as a hypnotic air ball can get into it.


    Leslie interferes with the air so that our shadows are not visible in the light of the torches. The guards have been neutralized, but there could be scouts circling the perimeter of the fort, so we''ll have to be on the lookout.


    Since there are no shields to hide behind, we choose a blind spot where the torchlight is harder to reach, and run through at once, lowering ourselves.


    The back door in the north fence is a back door, and if you look closer you can see that the logs lined up vertically have been cut off in the middle. If you look at the feet, there are signs that the logs have been tried to be buried back in place, but the logs are pointed where they stick in the ground and the soil is gouged out - no doubt, this cut-off section can be moved.


    After first touching the log fence to make sure there was no one inside, Raquel lowered herself, inhaled, and pushed in with all her might.


    ''Phew ......!''


    It''s truly a rigid warrior - the vibrations are about to be transmitted to the entire fence, and I use magic to interfere with the logs to minimize the impact.


    Once the hidden door was pried open enough for me to bend down and pass through, I quickly stepped inside. The first thing in front of me was a food storage room, according to the drawing.


    Presha-san, who was the first to enter, quickly ran - he turned the corner of the food pantry and just as he turned, there was a soldier who had come patrolling.


    ''''Huh ......!?''''


    Presha-san''s agility was just like a carnivorous beast. Before the enemy could brace himself, he lightly struck his pigeon tail with a spear stone thrust, and the enemy soldier let out a small groan and fell to the spot.


    ''''I think I could have gone easy on you, ......-sensei, ask for the rest.


    It would be easy to advance while eliminating the enemy soldiers, but that would also expose them faster. So I decided to use Lune''s pollen-induced hypnosis to get the enemy soldiers to ''cooperate'' with me.


    ''When you get up in ten seconds, you will patrol the path of the guards as scheduled, and when you have finished that, you will give a timely report. There was nothing unusual,


    "...... yes, ......, I''m sorry. ......


    The soldier, who inhaled the pollen of the demon flower as he fell, replied with empty eyes. And exactly ten seconds later, the soldier got up and walked away as if he hadn''t seen us, pretending to be aware of his surroundings.


    (Presha-san, even if there are enemies behind the corner, we can still send air balls flying to hypnotize them. (Let''s move carefully to the commander''s quarters.)


    (Yeah, I get it. That was a little close, I didn''t know you were just going to come around: ......)


    (Thanks to Presha''s instantaneous reaction, I was about to fire an arrow too.)


    Although there are watchtowers inside the fort as well, there is a pathway that allows us to proceed without being in sight of them. First, I decided to move to where I could see the quarters where most of the enemy soldiers were located, with His Highness''s permission.


    Wiping out the enemy soldiers with the help of the mandrake, that''s one tactic. But I decided to keep two options at the ready.


    There are windows in the quarters and they are left open. It may be for ventilation, but the enemy soldiers wouldn''t dream that it would be of any help to us.


    (Your Highness, I''m sending Rune''s pollen into the quarters to bring the soldiers under the influence.)


    His Highness Astina nodded and folded her hands together as if in prayer - the supply of magic power was ready. All that''s left is for Lune to do her best.


    (......~)


    (...... Dear Leslie, what''s up?��(You''ve been using magic for a while now, and you''re getting tired.


    (It''s okay ...... this much. The air ball is also a little harder to control when it''s big ...... okay, brother Glass. (I''m fine, so keep going.)


    I say, even smiling, but Leslie is an integral part of this operation - if she runs out of power, the risk of being discovered by the enemy jumps.


    (Summoner-sama, I''m ready.)


    (Okay, ...... Leslie, please.)


    I can''t even talk to him about resting when this is over. But there''s something I can do - it''s the job of a military doctor to examine and give first aid to my companions.


    ("O you who sink into sleep, get lost in your long dreams, get lost in the garden of bewitching flowers.")


    With a chant, the flower on Lune''s head gives rise to a pollen - which Leslie encapsulates in the air and sends it with precision into the enemy soldiers'' quarters.


    Then I throw a root, her (Ray''s) alter ego, to summon a mandrake, by the wall of the quarters. As long as there is soil with nutrients, it will rapidly take root and sink into the ground - now I can use that alter ego as a medium to materialize Ray.


    (...... Glass, do you intend to defeat the soldiers in the quarters with the power of a mandrake?


    (That''s conceivable, but as it stands, I''m going to let the soldiers in those quarters cause some confusion with their hypnotic effects.)


    So it''s a two-step process. You really never learn anything about fighting, do you, Glass?��(You seem to be thinking and working further ahead than I and others.


    (That''s because they''re students from the Academy of Magic, which is also the first academic school in King''s Landing. I wouldn''t be surprised if they have a different train of thought than we do. ...... If we can get home safely, we could have a study session on tactics.)


    (It''s bad luck to say that, so be careful, Mr. Deite. Well, Mr. Deite is most reluctant to do so.)


    Mr. Deethe smiles gracefully, but it''s only for a moment, and we move on.


    --to hypnotize the commander, or not. And whether or not the mage, whose presence is still not felt, is in the fort.


    As for Leslie, I examine her condition as I walk - the spirit guide mark is feverish from continuing to maintain the magic. As a mage, I''m always prepared to deal with this condition as a mage, so it''s likely that I can treat it with the medicine I have, albeit temporarily.

 73 Episode 71: Dark Night Fog

    It seems that there are only about two hundred soldiers stationed in this fort in total. Even if we subtract the fact that the last time they attacked from the west side of the fortress was about a thousand, and there were reports that they defeated over two hundred and fifty soldiers, it is believed that there is another place other than this fort where the soldiers are stationed.


    A hundred men are lodged in the quarters to which Rune''s pollen was sent. Since there are two quarters of the same size, I asked Leslie to take a potion to help with the fatigue caused by the consumption of magic power and maintain the magic to eliminate the signs, and then crafted the two quarters with hypnotic air balls.


    ''So you''ve neutralized about two hundred troops with this: ...... Glass, Leslie, are you okay with fatigue?


    ''''With my current abilities, I''m almost at the limit of what Lune''s hypnosis can do at the same time. If there are only a few more of us, I think I can use hypnosis to eliminate any enemies we encounter.


    We''re relying too much on the magic of the two of you, and we need to get this over with fast. ......


    What would you like to do, Your Highness?��You have two choices: capture the commander and surrender your soldiers, or just take the warships and escape.


    ''Even if we were able to take the warship, we would not be able to sail out into the canal with the current wind direction. The direction of the wind seems to change according to the time, so we''ll have to wait another minute and a half or so. Unless the weather changes suddenly or otherwise: ......


    --This was exactly when His Highness Astina was about to say that.


    It felt as if a drop of water had fallen from somewhere. The moon is out and it''s raining - I''m sure such a phenomenon is not absolutely absent, but I felt a strong sense of discomfort.


    (It''s not raining ...... moisture in the air is gathering and turning into water ......?)


    Brother Glass, this fog. ......


    Leslie hurriedly pulls my sleeve while keeping her voice down. She was right, the fog was rapidly rolling in and the visibility was deteriorating.


    However, even in this situation, His Highness, Raquel-san and the other three were calm. His Highness looks around and points to the back of the commander''s quarters, not the commander''s quarters.


    ''''There''s a material shed over there that''s not well guarded. Let''s move quickly.''''


    We begin to move at once, following His Highness'' instructions. One of the soldiers on guard yawns, but before he notices us, he flies an air ball to hypnotize us and gives us instructions as we pass each other. It''s as simple as that -- "Go back to the stuffing station once the fog is out,


    -- we manage to get into the materiel shed before our clothes get wet. We braced ourselves if there were enemy soldiers inside for some reason, but no one was going in or out at this time.


    ''The fog seems to be just right for hiding and moving, though: ......


    I don''t think this fog is naturally occurring. Perhaps magical interference.


    ''We''ve been in the range of the fog for a little while. I hope the enemy mages haven''t noticed.


    There''s no denying the possibility - just as I can get information about remote locations through plants, the water spirit user should be able to do the same thing.


    Leslie is manipulating the air to prevent the fog from entering, but it''s possible that he could detect that the ''spirits are in contact with each other''.


    However, within a few minutes, Leslie gives him a dubious look.


    ''...... Brother Glass, the fog has disappeared. What do you think that means?


    ''If they''ve put out a fog for a short period of time just for the sake of spying, then they might attack us here.


    You want to avoid a head-on collision with a combat mage - then what do you do? As long as the commander is restrained, the enemy won''t be able to attack the commander without a second thought.


    Gently opening the door of the hut, Presha-san looks around. Fortunately, the enemy soldiers outside don''t seem to be gathering here.


    I''m sure you''ll find a window high up at the back of the commander''s quarters. Is there any way to get in from there?


    You''re not going to have to be quite so light to get in that position: ......


    ''Then me, Presha and Glass will go. Raquel, could you take care of the scaffolding?


    ''Yes, sir, I understand. Glass, I know it''s your first time and it will take guts, but you should be prepared. His Highness has personally appointed you.


    ''Ha, yes. What the hell is a scaffold? ......


    ''Raquel will catch your foot and fly you away. Let''s make sure the room is safe before we decide.


    I''m honored that you''re ordering me to follow you, but I''m a little worried that I can''t keep up with everyone''s physical abilities - but I can''t be lost.


    ''Leslie, can you continue with the magic of distraction once we''re indoors?


    ...... inside the fort, you can stay away from it. Not too far away, though.


    Once we''re inside, I''ll lock down the commander. When you''re done, use Glass''s magic to notify the three men outside. Can you do that?


    "Yes, sir. Leslie, when this bulb lights up, take it as a signal that you are safe. Or I''ll use that bulb as a medium to materialize Lune and act as a messenger.


    Yeah, okay. Brother Glass, take care of yourself: ......


    Presha-san went out first and alerted the surroundings before me and Raquel-san followed. I touched the walls of the wooden quarters, making sure there were no enemies awake inside, then nodded to Presha-san and Raquel-san.


    Raquel-san catches Presha-san''s leg and with a gulp of force, flies her to the high window. You''ll be able to get a hold of the window frame silently, and Presha-san smoothly enters - His Highness will follow, but her physical abilities are also impressive, and the way she leaps appears to flutter with light like a celestial maiden! -- and this is no time to gawk.


    ''Feel free to come. You''ll have to make up your mind at once, or you''ll be received by me downstairs.


    As a man, even a general as fierce as Raquel-san, I managed to avoid being received like a princess. I belly up and let Raquel-san catch my legs and fly me vertically - I managed to lean indoors with my hand on the window frame and germinate the seeds of the ivy plant I''d tucked into the cuffs to the beams that supported the roof, and let them fly like a rope Let it get tangled up.


    After the ivy plant slowly pulls me up the rest of the way, after my body is fully indoors, I sloshed down with a long stretch of ivy. When I got down to the ground, Presha''s eyes widened in amazement.


    (Awesome ...... If you can do that, you didn''t have to fly to climb.)


    (Because it''s best to save as much time as possible. We managed to make it work.)


    (This looks like a reference room.) Let''s move carefully to the commander.


    Finally, I was able to advance the piece to the point of packing - but.


    The meaning of the fog from earlier is stuck in my chest. Where is Noyn, and if he''s heavily used in the Zirconia Army, is he in this commander''s office - Nervously, we open the door to the archives and try to get out.


    ''''--Gooooooooooooo ......!


    And at the very moment we were about to leave the room. From somewhere in the building, I heard a voice that sounded like someone suffering.

 74 Episode 70: A dull dagger

    The wooden quarters were devoid of any kind of firelight, perhaps as a precaution against fire.


    From the moonlight that shone through the windows at the end of the building and the information given by the wood itself that made up the building, I was able to determine where the commander''s bedroom was located.


    Even in a building that was assembled with precision and without gaps, they could find a place where air could pass through if they looked for it - if they could get the commander to breathe in a hypnotic air ball, they could take him prisoner without resistance. However, I realized that I couldn''t do that, as soon as I heard the voice I had just heard.


    (Inside these quarters, there is a mage ...... inside the commander''s bedroom, where detection by hearing the tree''s voice is not possible.


    (...... You mean we''re going to fight here?��(If you''re inside, you can plant it from the outside or ......)


    (No air can be pumped into the room. See ...... There is a thin film of water in the middle of the hallway.)


    (eh ......!)


    Presha''s eyes widen. With such a thin, transparent film of water, it could be touched unnoticed in the dark. It must have been set up for that.


    (But I''m curious about that voice you mentioned earlier. If that was the commander''s, then it raises the possibility that the mages betrayed him.)


    On the Zirconian side, a mage who graduated from the Silvana Academy of Magic has infiltrated the enemy army and is assisting them.


    I suspected that this was the result of a conspiracy by someone who doesn''t think well of His Highness - the Second Queen.


    What if Noon hadn''t completely followed the Second Queen''s scheme.


    What if he hadn''t forgotten his duty as a court mage to protect the kingdom? Would that be too convenient an idea?


    (At any rate, we have to do something about this membrane: ...... It''s not good to touch it.


    (Yes. We should take good measures to remove it.


    Thus, facing the trap set by the water spirit magic, I realized for the first time.


    I was able to counter the fog I had just encountered, come to think of it.


    Plants breathe. And with the exception of some, plant tissue is mostly composed of water - the fog can be extinguished by accelerating the absorption of water from the air.


    Whether or not a water spirit user can interfere with the water taken in by the plants. It''s a gamble, but let the plants absorb this water film and we''ll find out.


    (I''ll summon Alraune and have her suck the water through her roots.)


    (What? It''s ......, okay?��(Isn''t Lune in danger?)


    (It seems worth trying ...... to see if the water brought by the water spirits could be neutralized if Lune, a plant spirit, could take in the water brought by the water spirits.)


    With His Highness'' permission, I asked the girls to hide behind the door of the archives. Then I placed one of the Arraune bulbs that I had brought with me on the floor, a little away from the water membrane.


    ("O glossy flower blooming in the garden of demon flowers, ...... show yourself in this world once and show your power.")


    --Alraune''s roots don''t need to suck the spirit from the ground, but can bloom with only my magic power as nourishment.


    However, this time the flowering process was different. As soon as I finished chanting, thin vines and green leaves grew out of the bulb all at once, as if they regarded the water membrane as a nutrient, and sucked up all the moisture.


    The water membrane was set up by the mage, after all, and it was sucked by Alraune''s vines and showed signs of resistance at first - but by the time the water reached Alraune''s roots, it was sucked out of the spirit and incapacitated.


    Through an unusual process, the flower of Arraune opens up. Then it materialized in the form of a girl with a flower on her head.


    (Puhaha, it was delicious water. It was full of magic power, so the vine just grew.)


    (Good job, Lune. I think the water was set up by an enemy mage, but you did a great job sucking it up.)


    (If it''s the main body of the water spirit, it doesn''t work that well even if you suck it. It seems to be a trick that if you touch it, it becomes a spear of water and flies away, but if it leaves the body, it''s just water for me. (I''m not good at that because I can''t suck it all at once if it''s swept away by a lot of water.


    You did well this time, Rune, but I''ll give you credit later. There are enemies in that room, you mustn''t run out of there for your own safety.


    (Yes, that''s right, I''m staying quiet until the Summoner directs me to do so.


    Raquel chastises her and Rune covers her mouth with her own hand. Raquel-san smiles faintly and lightly picks up Lune with one hand. It seems that she is going to protect you.


    How powerful is a water spear - I''ve seen the magic of a combat mage from a distance, but it wasn''t a half-hearted one. Even a trap of this scale would be something that would be fatal if received.


    The plant spirits seemed to be a good match for the water spirits. With this, the compatibility might make up a little bit of the huge difference between the presence or absence of actual battle training.


    The commander''s room was either caused by the water spirits or the magic prevented interference from the outside world, so even if you touched the walls, you couldn''t grasp what was going on inside. Presha-san took the initiative to cut in here as well.


    (I extend my vines inside as fast as I can as soon as I open the door. That way I can check for any traps.)


    Yes, please. If not, I''m just on the fringe of being a warrior myself, so I''ll avoid a few.


    Immediately after opening the door, Alraune''s tendrils grow into the space inside with tremendous speed - as soon as she realizes that the water membrane is not set up, Presha-san follows and slips inside with a low profile.


    ''''You ...... body, what ......?''''


    Mr. Presha asks the person inside. You can tell from his voice that he doesn''t understand the situation in front of him.


    We follow and enter the room - and when we do, we see a man who looks like a commander sitting on a bed in the bedroom and a woman in a zirconia military uniform with a dagger at her neck.


    ''...... Noin Flores ......''


    A woman with light blue hair, fascinated by the water spirit. However, her mood is like a change from the one I''ve seen her in the school.


    The commander is already wounded. After receiving that return blood, Noin wiped the blood on her cheek with her free right hand and let her lips, which had a gloss in the weak light of Kantera, touch it.


    '' ...... I can''t believe you came through my ''Water Mirror Spear''. Even though you''ve been called a bastard mage, it looks like you weren''t rotten to the inside.


    He has a relaxed tone that resembles the rushing of water, but his words have a clear venom and an unguarded sharpness lurking in them.


    Why would she do such a thing as attack the commander of this fort? If she had created that fog, it was not to detect intruders, but to allow herself to take advantage of the fog to get in here.


    ''I didn''t mean for it to be a test, but I''ll consider it a good enough qualification to come here. Hey guys, what do you say we make a deal with me?��I think our interests are aligned in a certain way. If Her Royal Highness is also here, then the decision can be made right here.


    His Highness Astina did not answer. In this interval, Presha-san or her outstanding sword skills might be able to ''reach'' her - but His Highness did not grip the sword.


    ''...... I won''t make a deal, but depending on what you are here for, there is room for dialogue.''


    ''''Hmph. ...... It''s no wonder that the people of ...... have so much faith in him, if he''s so innocent. Truly, it doesn''t even cause me to feel jealous.


    Her smile and her words only seemed to contain something in this situation.


    But I didn''t think I could trust her at all. In fact, Noin was trying to play the commander of Zirconia, our enemy, into his hands.

 75 Chapter 73 Ming 霊

    The cutting edge of the dagger Noin is holding leaves a thin line on the neck of a man who looks like a commander. Then I realize - this man is not wounded and immobilized by the sword or the struggle.


    His hair, and the water dripping on the bed and floor. The pained voice I heard the other day means - that he was drowned in the water ''in this room''.


    ''Are you going to fight me?��Your magic has some advantages against me, but I don''t want you to think you can win with it.


    ''Provoking our Dr. Glass is suicidal. If you were a water mage who sided with Zirconia, I''d kill you right now.


    As Presha-san said, she has a center of gravity that allows her to spear out at any time. The smile disappeared from his face as if Noin also felt that Presha-san was not just a person.


    -- on the contrary, he appears to be pale. I''ve seen a lot of patients, and I can tell a certain amount about their mental state by their breathing and minute tremors.


    ''...... Presha, please keep it down. If this mage tries to deceive us, I can realize it now.


    His Highness Astina says it matter-of-factly, but his words are cold - like a blade of ice.


    As a general leading an army, His Highness feels remorse for losing so many soldiers. I''m not sure if it''s a good idea for me to say that I''m a good fit.


    That''s what I would think, too. Why did he betray his country and help Zirconia invade? If it weren''t for Noyn, the soldiers would not have died.


    ''From Your Highness, I can sense magic ...... you taught them magic ......?''


    I can''t answer that question right now. I can''t answer that question right now, because you and I were in different classes, and we didn''t have any connection, only that we were at ...... the same academy. But we can''t just let what you''re doing go by the wayside. If you betrayed your country, you will pay for your crimes.


    Noin doesn''t say a word, she listens to me.


    Then she moves - she drops the dagger in her hand and raises her hands.


    ''...... I had to do that then. If that sounds like an excuse, I''ll let you cut me down here.


    How dare you suggest that ...... betray our country and then swagger on!


    Noin looks away, as if he can''t bear to look away from Presha-san''s tremendous anger head on.


    His Highness Astina put her hand on her sword and without a minute''s notice, she is relative to Noin. In front of the two strong men, Noin no longer had to be nervous to even move a single fingertip.


    You''re going to be able to have a look at it and you''re going to be able to see it. I''m sure you''re aware of the situation. If you were ordered to sneak into Zirconia by someone you couldn''t possibly disobey, you''d have to cooperate with ...... Zirconia or your position would be in jeopardy.


    ''Whatever the circumstances, when you''re complicit in Zirconia, it''s a betrayal.


    Presha-san said, stifling her anger. She still seemed to think that she had to avenge Noin here.


    Noin closes her eyes in the face of the killing spirit - the look on her face is resigned.


    ''When someone broke into this fort and I found out it was a mage, I knew it was someone from Laiseneire. I was originally called by this man ...... General Alejandro''s second-in-command, to Vale.


    Are you going to start making excuses for ......?


    Noin smiled faintly when asked by Mr. Presha - and shook his head a little.


    ''Guh......!''


    No one here would have ever imagined what happened next.


    Noin holds her mouth and sputters blood. And then I realize - the moment she tried to speak, a magical power arose in a part of her body that was not hers.


    ''Don''t tell me that you were inhabited ...... ''Underworld Spirit'' and sent to Zirconia with it ......?


    "...... You must be laughing at the ...... grades I left behind in the academy, ''they'' only saw the grades I left behind in the academy as how useful a pawn I was. I didn''t even realize that, because I found myself becoming a great enemy of my country.


    After Noin finishes saying it, she sputters again. The evil magic power that can be felt from her chest - it is due to the ''underworld spirit'' that exists to consume and curse people, unlike the ''spirit'' that contracts with mages and lends them power.


    Underworld spirits do not live in the spirit world, but in a different world called the underworld. In the current Silvana Academy, it is forbidden to learn about the magic circle used to summon the underworld spirits and the marks used to hold them in humans, and the books written about the underworld spirits are forbidden and placed in the sealed archives.


    However, the divine tree Euselisis is wary of the existence of the underworld spirits as an enemy to the spirits. She warns them - that a being that is harmful to all living things dwells in the body of the Noin in front of her.


    ''...... Did you side with the enemy because you don''t want to die yourself?��If you think that''s inevitable, then I can''t forgive you at ...... and I still can''t forgive you.


    ''When it''s all over, you can kill me. I''ll never run away ...... I want to die the way I want to, at least at the end. I''m going to show Alejandro, Vale, and all those people who saw me as a ''woman'' who would do anything I said, that I''m not a tool.


    Who sent Noin to Zirconia - if there was someone who had become a court mage and had an underworld spirit in her.


    The ''court mages'' that I admired were no longer a group of people who served the royal family and used magic to protect the country, but rather, they were people who would use any means to reach their goals.

 76 Episode 74: Customs

    There are those who are willing to die for the sake of selfishness. All in order to make the Isle Rose Fortress fall and make His Highness Astina''s Highness a deceased person--.


    However, if one were to ask Noin who set it all up for her with the underworld spirit in her, her life force would be sucked away by the underworld spirit. Already her skin is pale and her white hands are covered in her own blood.


    ...... Even if you live in this place and give us the benefit of the doubt, you have no future. You are only an enemy to us, and I don''t think we should help your cause.


    I thought at first that it was a shunning word. Part of me thought it was the right thing to do.


    His Highness draws his sword. Then he swung it down towards Noin.


    -- Even though that sword flashed twice, Noin was still alive. The blade did not reach her body.


    ''When you betray me again, I will wield this sword again. I am not bonded to your affections. But I have decided that I can at least give you time to avenge those who have twisted your will. From now on, you will only fight for L?zen?ire with all your heart. To save more people than you let die.


    There is no bringing back the life that was lost. His Highness knew that and still chose to let Noin live.


    If Noin could turn back time before he was inhabited by the underworld spirit, no one would have been able to feel so unfulfilled - he couldn''t help but think that.


    (...... How do I get out of this dark stagnation?��(How can His Highness, all of the Knights, all of the people of the Western Territories, stay away from the battle?


    I knew there was one answer.


    Break Zirconia''s will to keep fighting. We will take Vale, who has been entrusted by General Alejandro with command of the fort, as a prisoner of war, take the warships and turn the enemy''s trump card, Noyn, over to us.


    No - we don''t stop at turning him. This mage, who was the best in our generation, is going to do a great job.


    What do we have to do to make that happen? As a ''spirit doctor'', he will take on the disease known as ''underworld spirit''.


    "...... If Your Highness says so, I can''t let you die like this.


    ''But if we take her out as she is now, she won''t last long with her condition. I know it''s irresponsible of me to say this when I''ve told you to live: ......


    ''Leave it to me, Your Highness. If you''ve saved her life, I''ll let her live. That''s the duty of a military doctor.


    I was prepared to be told that it was the duty of a military doctor to do whatever it took, or that he knew what Noon had done - and I was prepared to be told that.


    But that was not the case. Even if I didn''t affirm my decision, Preciousha-san, who is directing her resentment towards Noin the most, didn''t blame me either.


    I thought maybe I was being soft on her. If I said it was what I said, Ms. Presha would not object - if it was true, I shouldn''t repeat the reliance on compassion like that.


    ''''Noin ...... If you are a water spirit magic user, you should be able to move the warships regardless of the direction of the wind. But if you follow my instructions to use magic, you will wear out your life.


    Even if he merely uttered the will to resist, the light of Noin''s life was diminished.


    Then I''ll perform the treatment when I board the warship. Even if the soldiers of this fort will notice me, I''ve made enough preparations to buy time.


    ''Never mind about me. We will need ships here to counter the Zirconian warships. If moving the ships and resisting the coercion of the Underworld Spirit has cost you your life, then wash my corpse into the canal. That is the last ......


    We can''t have you dying on the way. If you can help me get the warships to safely reach ...... near our fort, I''ll need you to help me fight Alejandro''s warships. To that end, Noin. You will be ''cured''.


    This was the first time since I became a doctor that I had ever said anything to a patient that was an imposition. He had always felt he had to think from the patient''s perspective and respect their wishes.


    But now, Noin, who was on the verge of giving up on living and ending up using her life for revenge, needed to have the will to live. No matter how painful it may be for her to live on.


    "You were supposed to die if this was the case. No. ...... Once you die, you''ll come back to life. You must have suffered that much.


    ...... to come back to life. I don''t think you can pull off the underworld spirit that dwells in me.


    You''ll never know unless you try. It''s just not in my nature to give up before I''ve even tried.


    Noin doesn''t say anything, he just looks at me. I don''t know why he''s so motivated to treat himself as a sinner - or so he says.


    ''Now Glass is not the man you know him to be. No ...... There must be a problem for some reason with the selection of spirits in this country and at the Academy of Magic, for some reason. Noin, in my personal view, I don''t think Glass is not better than you at all.


    Even though His Highness had assured him of this, Noin did not deny it.


    In the academy, as ''a student with a promising future'' and ''a student with no expectations at all'', there was an absolute difference lying between them.


    However, just because he went out into the outside world didn''t mean that his position was reversed. If I''m not bound by the underworld spirit and it''s easy to make use of the power of the water spirit, she''ll be able to do what I can''t.


    ''''The most revered spirits in the history of the ...... kingdom were none of the earth, water, fire, and wind spirits. Knowing this, no one would think that elemental spirits were unconditionally superior. Even more so if you are a court mage, I understand that.


    ''Well, ...... after all, the mages in this country seem to be bound. To a cause that has been going on since before we were born.


    His Highness has probably come up with a reason for interrupting the Rite of Election that she had undergone.


    The fact that she had the aptitude to be a mage was silenced because there were those who thought she should not be a royal maiden.


    The reason why His Highness didn''t remember that was probably because someone had blocked her memory. However, now that he was connected to the divine tree, His Highness would be able to draw out the memories that he couldn''t draw out on his own will with the help of the divine tree - because the divine tree had looked at the history of the kingdom for a long time.


    Noin also knows the darkness of the court mages. The time is approaching when we will get confirmation of who it is that is plotting against His Highness, rather than speculation based on circumstantial evidence.


    I remembered what His Highness had told me in the sunset. I questioned the will of His Majesty the King - but if His Majesty had sided with those who wanted to tilt the country to their own ends.


    What can be done to protect the Western Domain that was about to be cut off, and the soldiers of the Isle Rose Fortress? If the answer to that question is known by a divine tree that can see into the future, then I would like to know the answer to that question. Even if he knows that it is to cling to the power of Euselisis.

 77 Chapter 75 Wedge

    If Noyn grants us the right to use magic, the dark spirits will immediately try to take her life. That means she can''t use her magic until the dark spirit breaks her bonds.


    (Noon''s fog can cover the entirety of the fort. If you can work with me ...... No, that idea was never in the beginning.)


    And then there''s the question of whether I can really make the treatment against the underworld spirits successful. If I fail, His Highness Astina has some power against the spirits, but Raquel-san and the other three knights will be in danger.


    The underworld spirit is not a boon to the creature, but a curse itself. In accordance with the covenant of binding the Noyn with restrictions, they attack indiscriminately those who interfere with it - there are records of one village that was destroyed just because they made a mistake in dealing with the Underworld Spirit.


    Hence, it is forbidden. In the back of the academy''s archives, there are said to be books written about the underworld, but they are not available for the average student to see.


    However, Neun is in fact inhabited by the underworld spirit. It was suggested that there was a possibility that some of the books in the academy had been viewed and misused.


    It''s not all on our side anymore, not even the academy. It''s unthinkable that your sister-in-law would know about it and overlook it - I''d like to think that she, as the head of the academy, doesn''t know everything about the academy''s staff, and even her personal connections to the court mages.


    ''...... Glass, are you concerned about Millennia?''


    ...... I''m sorry. Now is not the time to go to .......


    ''Dean Millenia Weed was never involved with me. I''m only at the end of the line, so I can''t say that for sure, but ...... I haven''t heard of her being involved in any conspiracy from the time she was in the military until now. On the contrary, I''ve filed a superscription asking for a proper report on what happened to the student who became a court mage.


    Was your sister-in-law concerned about the disturbing movements of some of the court mages? Or was she trying to show the success of the students that the academy had produced as an encouragement to the juniors - considering the character of the person I know as Millenia Weed, I think it''s both.


    ''''If the head of the academy is truly an ''ally of the kingdom'', I don''t have any problems with that. ...... If you can, I don''t want you to be an enemy.''''''


    If the pressure was even applied against the academy and forced to turn against His Highness Astina. I would eventually have to fight the mages who studied in the same academy as me and the court mages who are more powerful than Noyn.


    ''''If word gets out to the center that we attacked Zirconia, there''s a chance that hostile forces within the royal family will move in for violating our orders. No ...... sure, they will try to capture me. They want me gone. And imprisonment.


    If His Highness went into battle and suffered a heavy defeat, she would be blamed for it as a weakness and the center, which was supposed to be her ally, would try to get rid of her.


    How could she fight her way through in such circumstances? After crossing over thin ice and leading the Knights to this point, there was no way she could be punished for her actions to protect her men and people.


    ''''Your Highness ...... there is something I can tell Your Highness now. Your Highness''s mother ...... the First Queen and her son, the First Prince, and her sister, the Second Princess.


    ''Noin, if you say that, it could cost you your life. You need to put yourself first for now.


    He would really like to know at once. But His Highness refused without showing the slightest bit of regret.


    We get out of the path we used to break in and out of the commander''s quarters. Vale, who is unconscious, is hoisted up with plant ivy and put out the window - after using the same ivy to get out, we meet up with Raquel and three others who were hiding in the materials shed.


    ''This man is ...... your highness, do you take him as a prisoner?''


    Seeing the commander''s insignia on Bail''s shoulder, Raquel-san immediately understood the situation. His Highness nodded and I summoned Alraune and let Bail sniff her pollen.


    ''U......''


    You''re coming with us now. We won''t let you disobey.


    ...... I understand. ......


    His eyes are blurred, but his hypnosis is working well. Now we will not be disturbed by Vale.


    "You will be escorted to the warship. Is there a way out of here that won''t be obvious?


    Go to ...... here: ......


    Vale wobbles at first, but gradually his footsteps become more sure, and he leads us to a landing adjacent to the river, by a path out of sight of the guards.


    There are two service entrances to the landing from inside the fort, only one of which is guarded by guards, and one of which seems to be guarded from the turret, but it could be easily neutralized with the use of a hypnotic air ball.


    There are guards inside the landing area as well - but when you get this far, it wasn''t difficult to eliminate the enemy soldiers, who are not mixed up with the handlers. They hid in the blind spots of the guards, breathing down their necks and making them comatose in turn. The last one was guarding the jetty to board the warship, and just as Vale showed up and fished it out, Presha-san, who had come around behind him, struck him with the hilt of his spear, making him comatose.


    ''It''s going so well it''s scary. ......


    ''Yes ......, but the wind direction is still not good. We won''t be able to get out of the canal at this rate, and we''ll be swept away to the Zirconia territory side.


    ''With the water spirit magic, you can move your ship at will. ...... With these headwinds, it''s tempting to hope for a change in wind direction.


    Noin chuckles when Deethe says it, holding her fluttering hair. He didn''t expect her to show such an expression, and it felt surprising.


    ''We have to go against not only the wind, but the river''s current as well. ''Let the water cooperate'' is the only way we can get this warship to the canal in the current weather.


    ''''...... Spirit magic is still a terrifying thing, isn''t it? At the same time, it''s also very encouraging.


    Mr. Deate looks at me and says. He''s counting on me, but I guess that means it''s risky to trust Noin.


    I was there to bring Noin to our side - I''m responsible for bringing him to our side - but my experience as a doctor has taught me that Noin isn''t lying.


    ''Wait for ....... What''s the sound ...... this is, a horn ......?


    Raquel is right, a sound can be heard from the west - a group of enemy soldiers are approaching this fort, trampling through the grass and other grasses.


    ''No way ...... no, you''re not. It''s the eyes that are already ready for you.


    ...... Alejandro sensed that I had betrayed him. If that''s why he sent troops to ...... them, they will go into the fort and try to find me.


    ''''We can''t afford to get lost. ...... Everyone please board the warship. I''m here to ''exorcise'' the Neun''s dark spirit.


    ''Brother Glass, I can witness the rituals too. I can even draw a magic circle for an exorcism.


    Okay ......, Leslie, please. Noin, let me put you under a little hypnosis.


    If the underworld spirit reacts to her ''will to resist restraint'', there is a danger of just having her watch the ritual progress.


    ''''Huh ...... Summoner-sama, this person is resistant to my children.


    ...... I''ll try to weaken the resistance somehow. I''m sorry, I''m a mage, I''m a mage ......, d*mn it .......


    Combat mages seem to be trained to react to and defend against enemy magic that affects their minds - but Noin weakens his defenses of his own volition.


    As the hypnosis takes hold, Noin''s eyes throb and his body weakens. Leslie drew up a magic circle at his feet, using the paint that allows magic power to pass through it.


    ''Brother Glass, is that ......?''


    ''''What we''re trying to exorcise is an ''underworld spirit'' ...... and we need to use the ''spirit wedge method''. If we''re exorcising normal spirits, we don''t need a ''wedge''.


    Now Noin is forced to make a contract with the Underworld Spirit. In order to break that contract, it is necessary to have another spirit - a third spirit - intervene between the water spirit and the underworld spirit that Noin originally contracted with, to play the role of a ''wedge'' and have the ''third spirit'' temporarily take over the contract.


    But what happens if we do this - because Euceresis will temporarily take over the contract of the Underworld Spirit, it means that we can have compulsory power over Noin.


    But there''s no problem because Euceresis will not threaten Noin''s life. The question is whether I can use my current power to contain the underworld spirit that I made manifest to transfer the contract.


    ''...... Okay. Leslie, I need you to stay away with Lune.


    "Brother Glass, ...... be careful. Don''t ever take it easy.


    There is no time to get lost. Leslie understands this, and as I instruct her, she takes Alraune in her arms and approaches the rope ladder to get to the warship.


    I remain alone on the landing, and I sip the extract of ''Coastal Pine'' to suppress my nerves. It''s something I had Raquel drink, but I know the effects best because I made it myself - the distractions disappear as I look at it, and my vision becomes clearer.


    ''Noin, tell me the name of the water spirit you originally contracted with.


    ...... Suiten ...... Apsaras ......


    Even in the books that have written about elemental spirits, the upper-ranking spirits among those belonging to water - after all, Neun''s abilities are quite impressive. The names that often come up are ''Undine'' and ''Nereis'', and although these spirits are also elemental spirits, they don''t have the power to cause natural disasters.


    Apsaras is said to have the form of a beautiful woman. What kind of state is it in after being inhabited by an underworld spirit--.


    I will get rid of the disease as soon as possible. I made up my mind and began chanting to borrow the power of the divine tree.


    ''''Dwelling in Noin Flores, spirit of the underworld. Transfer that covenant to my spirit and return to the place where it belongs: ......!


    She chanted and thrust her hand to the ground. At that moment, the evil presence that was tangled up in Noin''s chest like it was eating away at the spirit guide mark engraved on her chest appeared as if it was being ripped away from her body.


    ''''W-...... glass brother ......!


    Don''t come here, Leslie!


    A black snake - an existence opposed to the water spirit, the water spirit of the underworld. It sucked up Noin''s magical power and forcibly manifested itself, coiling and tightening around Apsaras'' entire body.


    The fact that the contracted spirit was weakened and on the verge of death eroded the mage''s own life force. The black serpent that bit into Apsaras'' neck sucked up the water spirit''s limpid magical power, fattening and fattening its own stagnant body.


    (Is this the disease ...... my power to seal it? No, I will seal it ......!)


    It was the moment I swore that, on the line of the magic circle, the grass rapidly sprouted and became ivy, spreading out across the ground, forming a huge cage that wrapped me and Noyne as a whole.


    This is a warding - woven by the Divine Tree''s attendants. Euceris created it to contain the underworld spirits without allowing them to escape.


    Now there was no longer any fear of involving everyone. However, Noin''s life force is still being sucked up by the black snake - all of its power must be returned to its owner.


    ''...... You must be gone from here. That''s no place for you ......!


    The black snake detaches its fangs from Apsaras'' neck. In the next moment, the snake with its jaws (agitated) open attacks with unseen speed - but.


    ''Summoner, it doesn''t matter if it''s dirty water!��If you''re a god tree, you can go to ......!


    Huh. ......!


    Yes - the outcome was already decided.


    When the Divine Tree''s gendarme, rooted at Noin''s feet, twisted its ivy around her body.

 78 Episode 76: A New Servant

    I hear someone shouting. It''s not just Leslie, it''s everyone''s voice.


    But only His Highness Astina is watching, not saying anything. She knows, she knows that there is nothing to worry about.


    The snake stops dead in its tracks as it bares its black fangs at me. I hold out my hand to the snake - I felt the Divine Tree Eucerisis telling me to do so.


    -- O dwelling tree (mistlutin) that dwells in my branch. Bring forth a drop of the source of all life from the defiled water.


    ''...... aaaaaaahhhh ......!


    Noin cries out in agony - it is also dragged down by the demise of the underworld spirit that inhabits her.


    The torment that arises when exorcising the underworld spirit, tormenting both the spirit and the body. But it was also the mistletoe, the divine tree''s gendarme, that healed her. Entangled in Noin''s legs, it sucked up Noin''s life force that the underworld spirit had taken from her and withered it before she could see it, returning the unholy power to its original life force and returning it to Noin and Apsaras.


    Apsaras, who had been weak and on the verge of death, regained her spirit - her entire body was tinged with a pale light, and her figure, clad in a thin robe, was truly worthy of being called a heavenly woman.


    The underworld spirit then disappears completely - or rather, returns to the underworld.


    Noin, who was freed, saw me. It was the first time since I met her, and it was done purely by her will alone.


    ''...... such ...... such a thing, really ......''


    Noyn covers his face. In truth, he must have been so preoccupied.


    Noin''s appearance, dragged by the word death, was nothing but tragic. But there was no need to despair anymore. Because the underworld spirit that bound her was exorcised by the power of the divine tree.


    The mistletoe leaves Noin and once it leaves Noin, it releases its materialization. Then it materialized once more, entangling itself in my arms.


    Don''t be afraid, Euselisis speaks to me. The will in the mistletoe also calls out directly to me.


    --It''s not just a matter of time before I''ll be able to get my hands on it. Henceforth, it is my pleasure to serve you.


    "Yes, it''s a pleasure to meet you.


    -- Please don''t hesitate to ask for me when you are in danger. I have ''original roles'' other than the one I''ve shown you this time.


    Yes, I''m drawn to plants because there''s not just one characteristic that they have, but the more I study them, the more they show me a different side.


    Mistortin will also be another aspect of the plant. Alraune, Mandrake, the plants I met in the Garden of the Divine Tree, and the floating demon lotus - what I originally wanted to study was the healing power of plants. I can''t thank them enough for helping me to fight in this way, though.


    ''Noin, you are now free of the underworld spirit. You no longer have to listen to orders that don''t meet your will .......


    Before he could finish, Noin unexpectedly dropped to his knees on the magic circle and bowed deeply to me.


    ''There''s no need for us to do that when we''re about to fight together. Raise your head.


    Still, she only raised her gaze slightly. Does that mean that she is extending her gratitude to the individual that is me?


    The battle isn''t over yet, rather it''s just a point where we''ve gained a foothold. After we defeat Alejandro and make a truce with Zirconia, we must take action against those who are against us.


    It is out of the realm of territory for a military doctor to consider where the Knights are going. It is only a matter of remembering that and doing what I can in the future.


    ''I used to think of myself as one who lived to die. When I let so many of the soldiers of the Isle Rose die, I thought there was nowhere to go back, only to end up being used up by Zirconia ...... but you changed that.


    ''...... I just wanted to ask for Noin''s help because I needed it for the Order. In other words, it''s all for my own good. There''s nothing to be thankful for.


    ''Yet I cannot help but say. That the only reason I am alive in this way, the only reason I am free, is because of you.


    There was not a shred of hesitation in Noin''s eyes.


    It was not a temporary thing, but a word that showed the intention to share in the long-lasting battle to come.


    ''''Glass Weed ...... No, Glass-sama. I pledge my allegiance to you and to the Order of the Isle Rose. Please let me use this life that has been saved for that purpose.


    ...... His Highness Astina said that, though. I think we all understand that Noyn was unavoidably following the orders of the enemy.


    Those who have died will not come back to life. But it is not Noon who is to blame.


    There is someone else to blame. That''s what Noin can say now without being tied down.


    ''Noin...... our enemy is who sent you to Zirconia.


    "...... The Second Queen Cassandra. She has a court mage in her service. Jorg Frost, the man who led the mage troops on the northern front. He impregnated me with the spirit of the underworld and sold me to Zirconia. Shortly after I ascended to King''s Landing to serve the Second Prince, the legitimate son of Cassandra.


    The corruption is deeper and more widespread than we could have imagined - no, we just didn''t know it, but it was there from the beginning.


    After all, the Second Queen was working to exclude His Highness Astina. But Cassandra alone could only do so much, and there was one person who helped her do so.


    Jorg Frost. Some of the accomplishments of court mages belonging to the military are public and some are not. I''m a widower, and I don''t know much information about the man - but I do know his rank as a court mage.


    The fourteenth rung of the ladder - three ranks higher than Millenia Weed, the ''Jade Witch''.


    '' ...... When you are studying the underworld spirits, you are breaking the taboo as a mage in this country. If we don''t do something about that Jorg man, we''ll continue to get screwed over for good.


    I''ll do whatever it takes to bring that man down: ......


    Sometimes winning at great cost is admirable. But it''s not in my nature. No need to brood alone, or to stand alone.


    ...... yes. I''ll follow Mr. Glass'' orders.


    There is a part of her that is too submissive and confusing, but if it''s her way of showing sincerity, it seems tactless to correct her every time.


    Then, the first order of business. Noin, I want you to get the warships moving as soon as possible.


    My goodness, my Lord.


    Either you''re playing a joke on me or - even though it''s natural to be called a summoner by a contracted spirit, I never imagined the day that I would be called that against a human.

 79 Episode 77: The Sea of ??Clouds Tennin

    As we boarded the warship, Noin told us about the procedure for setting sail. Noin stands on the bridge of the ship as Presha and Raquel remove the chains that held the ship together.


    The morning was still far away, but the moon was beginning to tilt. The ground rumbling from the movement of the Zirconia cavalry, which had been heard from the east, was already approaching just outside the fort.


    ''The sooner we find out that Vale has become our prisoner, the sooner the enemy will be able to respond. If possible, we''d like to keep them as confused as possible. ......


    "When the enemy enters the fort, we will use the ''trap'' we have planted. We can involve the troops coming in from the outside, which will completely shut down the functioning of this fort.


    His Highness didn''t nod right away when I advised him to do so. He bit his lip and oozed a kind of regret.


    ''''It is not your role to fight. And yet we have relied on you so much. We know you don''t want us to use spirits to hurt people, even though we know you don''t want us to.


    Clearly, they use magic to attack enemy soldiers. Some of the soldiers will lose their lives if they pull out their mandrakes and get their spirits sucked out.


    It''s our selfish idealism to say this ....... But, Glass...... we don''t want you to kill people the way we do.


    Yes, it''s ....... Dr. Glass, unlike ...... me, will have to live again someday in a peaceful and cheerful place ...... and forget all about the battle.


    ''Really, it''s idealistic, isn''t it? But ...... knowing your kindness, I can''t help but wish that you wouldn''t change.


    Well, then, I''ll just...


    --I''d like to go back in time before the war, before everyone kills the enemy with their hands.


    I can''t help but wish for that. Relations with our neighbors were already bad before we were born, and we couldn''t keep our country in shape without a fight.


    I became a military doctor because I wanted to help people. I''m not really any different from those girls who became knights to protect people.


    ...... master is not going to change. I won''t let him change. I''m sure even Ray would think so.


    As if in response to Alraune''s words, the mandrake root in my bosom starts to shine - and the embodied Ray looked up at me intently and said.


    ''...... suck the enemy''s spirit and if you don''t want to die from being sucked any more, I''ll tell you to drop your weapons and run. I don''t know what happens after that ...... but that''s not something the Summoner-sama has to worry about. The enemy has killed dozens of the Summoner''s friends. If it''s true, there''s no way I''m not going to die too.


    Rey''s values are probably representative of the spirits'' perspective on the human world. As former inhabitants of the spirit world, they may contract with humans to lend them power, but they rarely interfere from that side.


    Even so, Ray still takes my sentiments into account. He might kill people, and he doesn''t think I want that.


    "Every single one of the enemy soldiers in this fort could be put to death. But Ray won''t ...... because he knows that doing so would change nothing.


    ...... My Lord Summoner.


    Ray, who''s only about half as tall as I am, makes my eyes water slightly. I bend down and stroke her head.


    The characteristic large leaves grow out of her hair like a hairpiece. The leaves and the mandrake itself may also hold the power to heal people. We should not expect the ray to serve only as a tool for battle.


    ''''We can just ask the soldiers here to be a ''limp''. If General Alejandro sends his troops to give new orders to Noyn, we''ll get them involved and stop the movement.


    In the meantime, we''ll hit Alejandro''s main force. As quickly as possible. .......


    The knights nodded at His Highness Astina''s words. Our policy has been decided - we will escape while this fort is in chaos.


    ...... Noin, can Vale be used to mislead Alejandro?


    That''s because ...... I''ve been asked to make sure that Vale''s loyalty to Alejandro is solid. Vale is a man by nature loyal to his desires. However, if you are angry that Alejandro tried to use me to buy his loyalty, and that he slipped out of the fort to remonstrate with Alejandro on his own, you might be able to find an opening.


    Noin doesn''t seem to realize it herself, but she is mindlessly embracing her body.


    What had she been offered to do to Vale? Why did she choose to defy the order, even at the risk of her life - the thought of it gives her an undoing feeling.


    (Not only did he want Noin to fight his home country, he also wanted to use her for other things. Alejandro...... I don''t know what he looks like, but ......)


    ''We won''t be able to get Alejandro to take Alejandro down at Vale''s hands, but if we negotiate Vale as a prisoner of war, he will only be cut off. If we assume that he turned himself in because he couldn''t fix the chaos in the fort, he could certainly come face to face with Alejandro.


    His Highness looked over at Raquel and the others and listened to their opinions as well.


    ''If we can make contact with Alejandro with Alraune''s hypnosis on Vale, we may be able to extract some information from him. We might even be able to sway him directly.


    I agree with my sister Raquel, but ...... if Vale is going to get paid at the door, then I''ll have to do it.


    ''You can''t cut him down and get anything out of him, so I''m sure you''ll try to get something out of him. ...... I think it''s time to get out of here. Dr. Glass: ......


    I nod back to Deite. I''m already ready - I''m going to fight for real, along with everyone else.


    ''Ray...... No, it''s the demon ginseng mandrake. If the enemy comes into the fort and draws you close to the barracks, don''t hold back. Command the altered body to ''shout on high.''


    "Yes, my summoner.


    Ray, who didn''t always show his expression, smiled slightly.


    It seemed to be an expression of pure joy at being asked for his power.


    '' -- ''O half of my soul that I share. Far away from the Garden of Pangaea, cry out for the distant land, high and mighty.''


    Ray''s body wears a reddish-purple glow - it is the color of magic power that is toxic to people. Her alter ego is also probably wearing the same light.


    The troops sent by Alejandro enter the fort. Realizing this, Leslie deploys a wall of air that blocks out the sound so that it envelops the entire ship.


    And Noyne, too. She orders Apsaras to interfere with the flow of water and move the warship around, while she uses the large amount of water to create a fog.


    '' -- ''O Apsaras, celestial maiden born from the sea of white clouds, O Apsaras, dance with the illusory mist. Dance with the mist of illusion.''


    As soon as the boat leaves the shore and slides out into the river, it is enveloped by the fog that rises from the water. There is no interference and counteracting with Leslie''s magic, and the illusion created by the fog envelops me from above the wall of air that blocks out the screams of the mandrake as it is pulled out and released.


    I borrowed the vision of Ray''s alter ego and checked the current situation to see what was happening inside the fort. There was no longer a need to even hide with the illusion, only a few soldiers who had escaped a direct hit from Mandrake''s shouts were in confusion in front of the fallen soldiers.


    --What was that horrible cry just now ...... that the ones who heard it have all fallen down ......!


    --Lord Vail, what happened to your commander?��What the hell is this ...... what the hell is going on in one body!


    --Find the Mage!��It''s him! It''s him! It''s him!


    --No, he''s a water mage. You won''t find "water" here: ......!


    Noin could probably be used as a medium for drinking water and so on, but the enemy soldiers didn''t seem to know about it. It was fortunate that the Zirconia Army''s knowledge of spirit magic was small.


    ''...... Apparently, it doesn''t look like the enemy is going to come after us. Good work, Ray.


    ''I thought the Summoner-sama didn''t want to use ...... me because I have a poison that can kill people. But I was wrong ...... I''m glad I could help the Summoner Lord.


    Just because it''s a poisonous plant doesn''t mean it''s not useful in medicine - to me, it''s the power of the plant as it is, including the poison and its ability to protect itself, that makes it so appealing.


    The ...... water flow is only going in the opposite direction the boat is going. It''s as if it''s carrying me ...... This is the power of the water spirits ......


    But you are no match for Lord Glass. No, Lord Glass would say that every spirit has its advantages and cannot be compared: ......


    Mr. Raquel sees through my thoughts beautifully. Plants, air, water - they can all do different things, and they can even join forces like they are doing now.


    Noin seemed relieved that it worked, too. But she couldn''t relax, because she was still blaming herself - and.


    ''Noin, when this ship goes out into the canal, let us land a little west of the Isle Rose, please.


    ''Yes, sir. Your Highness ...... In the meantime, I have something to tell you.


    We must tell Her Highness Astina that the enemy is the Second Queen Cassandra.


    When we do, we will determine who we are to fight and we will have to make a choice.


    The war against Alejandro, and beyond. The Second Queen Cassandra and the court mage Jorg - how we will face them.

 80 Episode 78: Fortress of the sunrise

    While the Zirconian fort was in turmoil, we made our way up the tributary in a warship and reached the home side of the shore without difficulty.


    Raquel was the only one to lift the anchor that would hold the ship together. Then he threw the anchor into the shallow water a little further from the shore and threw it as far as he could - if the ship came any closer to the shore, it would run aground, so he would have to find another way to secure her.


    ''O Apsaras, lead the chains that hold our ship together to the bottom of the water: ......!


    At Noin''s command, Apsaras dances in the air above the water''s surface - and then a vortex is created on the surface of the water. It would lead the anchor to the bottom of the water.


    ''''--say!


    When Raquel threw the anchor, instead of stalling due to the resistance of the water, it dived down, spinning at a tremendous speed. After throwing the required number of anchors to secure it, Deite wiped Raquel-san''s sweat off her face.


    ''''Thank you for your efforts, Knight Captain. If you combine your stiffness with your magic, you''ll have no enemies.''''


    ''Indeed, the power of magic is great. But I can only do my best because of Lord Glass: ......


    ''Dr. Glass, did you also treat my sister Raquel?��Personally ......?


    Presha gives me a strange look. I guess she''s wondering when there was such a time.


    When I gave the Spiritual Guide Seal to His Highness Astina, in the next room - and if I explain it as it is, it would cause Raquel-san to feel embarrassed. In fact, she was actually holding her mouth as if she had made a gaffe.


    ''''No, I mean, I''m on the edge of being a doctor too. Just by looking at it, I can tell which part of your body is under strain or where you are sheltering.


    "Hmm ...... I''m not in pain anywhere and I''m pimply, so I didn''t get any treatment. If you have time, I''d like you to take a look at it, just to be sure.


    ''That''s what everyone thinks. I''ve had help with my insomnia too, and I''m sure I''d feel better if I took the time to see .......


    There''s also the term "preventive medicine," which means that I can examine the nutritional status and the strain on the body on a daily basis and make adjustments (maintenance) with my own hands on a daily basis.


    But why is that - is it because everyone is relieved that the mission is safely over? I''m sure you''ll find that the eyes are looking at me more as a woman than as a knight.


    I''m sure you''ll find that ...... Lord (Aruji)-sama is really adored. Looking at it this way, it seems to me that it''s closer to worship.


    Noin says while smiling as she flutters her light blue hair in the river breeze. It''s not going to be the same as it was for me, but since we''re from the same academy and are close in age, I''m still a little uncomfortable calling her ''Lord''.


    ''''If I were to be worshipped, it would be His Highness Astina, the priestess of the divine tree, and I''m just a spirit user.''''


    ''You are the one who can draw the power of that divine tree through me. In other words, it''s .......


    ''No, no, please don''t go on beyond that. I am a subject of the princess''s admiration, and I am in the same position as everyone else.


    I knew that from the time I made a contract with Shinki. His Highness, who is connected to Shinju, has changed his attitude towards me.


    She''s a royalty, and she''s acting as if she''s my equal, or if she''s obedient to me. It''s a good thing that you''re able to get a good idea of what you''re looking for.


    -- but if His Highness would continue to say nothing just because he was interrupted by me, that was another story.


    ''''The glass that I contracted with the divine tree is an existence that stands alongside the divine tree. My mission is to worship the divine tree, respect its power, and pass on its benefits to my people. I see Glass, who can use the miracles of the divine tree as magic, as the most important person in the Order.


    The river breeze calmed and passed between us.


    Even though I knew that His Highness Astina had given me the highest compliment, I couldn''t react very well.


    It was Raquel who was the first to react. The way she looked at me was filled with total trust, which was unthinkable from the first time we met.


    ''''From now on, our knights are facing a major turning point. With the presence of three mages such as Lord Glass and the other three mages, we were able to change a situation where we were only cornered. We will be able to continue to move forward without bending our beliefs to live by dedicating our swords to His Highness Astina and to our people. For that, I am grateful.


    ''At first I thought they would be too scared of the battlefield to run away. But that was not the case. I can''t apologize to Dr. Glass for that mistake in any way. ......


    ''It was the same for me. We had bounced off the zirconia without relying on men, and I knew we had to continue to be so. That''s because we didn''t know of any gents like you, Dr. Glass ......, who could be an unwavering pillar of support.


    Why would the three of us say so much?


    It''s as if, if you don''t say it now, you won''t be able to say it anymore.


    -- it''s because they don''t know if they''ll survive the battle with General Alejandro that''s coming up.


    It''s a good thing that you''re not the ''outlier'' because you''ve met everyone and come to the Isle of Wight fortress. ...... I''m the one who got to see you all and feel that I''m not ''outlier'' because I came to the Isle of Wight fortress. Even I can help people.


    I had to muster the strength to even affirm to myself. When I was in the academy, I think I was often looking down, trying not to be rotten.


    Since meeting and talking to the elders, I''ve been looking up more often than not. Because looking up at the branches of the great tree had become a natural part of my life.


    Leslie wasn''t depressed when she drew the Spirit of the Air and left the path of the elite. He said that he was spending more time with me, like he didn''t know if he was serious or not - Sven had taught me how to live without worrying that everything was meant to be.


    There was nothing wrong with the path he had taken so far. As it will continue to be so, I''ll just keep thinking about what I can do to make sure we all get out alive, even when I know everyone is ready.


    ''I don''t want anyone to die. I don''t want to see someone die without being able to do anything anymore, to heal someone who was hurt and convince myself that I did what I could with it.


    It''s not something I''m going to tell everyone who is in the military. Even if you might be, I don''t want to send you off to war without telling you.


    Let me think with you because ....... When we face an enemy force, what kind of strategy can we use to avoid causing damage?


    Me, Leslie, and Noin, the battle mage. Now that we have new forces and warships, we should be able to bring down the enemy stronghold with Alejandro in a way that we couldn''t use before.


    We were able to neutralize the stronghold where the warships were being built by a small number of people. The Divine Tree''s consort, Lune and Ray--and Airia and Apsaras. With this many spirits, we could create an overwhelming advantage if the enemy didn''t have any mages.


    ''''It''s an ideal that we won''t cause ...... deaths. Any commander would take the damage into account when planning their strategy.


    I know that His Highness Astina is right. My thoughts are childish, and I''m not facing reality.


    But she wasn''t denying me.


    ''But ...... I would like to believe, too, that the power of spirit magic will surely make the impossible possible. I''ve witnessed the miraculous events you''ve caused so many times.


    ...... Your Highness .......


    Glass, Leslie and Noin. Please, please help the three of you. Noin, you would think that I, who called your sins unpardonable, would be the one to say: ......


    ''No. The only thing I have in my heart is the desire to work single-mindedly to make the Lord''s ideal a reality. I only wish that you would allow me to do so.


    Noin would easily try to sacrifice himself for me. So I have to watch out for him.


    The same goes for Leslie. She tries to cover for me on the spur of the moment - which has been good so far, but if she continues to do that in the future, she could be seriously injured one day.


    If you''re with Brother ...... Glass, I''ll try to help you as much as I can with ...... magic.


    ''Thank you, Leslie. You really do adore Glass, don''t you?


    "...... I am ......


    Leslie''s answer was lost in the wind.


    His Highness Astina seemed to understand what Leslie was trying to say. Before he could ask her about it, His Highness approached the edge of the ship.


    Looking down at the shore, he saw the scouts of the Isle Rose Fortress who had come on patrol. They are Deite''s men.


    ''''So, Your Highness ......, this ship is .......


    They are hidden from view by the magic of the fog, so it is impossible to see them unless they are quite close to the warship. Therefore, the scouting soldiers are quite surprised. The soldiers hurriedly salute when Deite-san also shows herself from the top of the ship.


    ''''This is a Zirconia warship. Since it''s hidden by magic, it will take some time for the enemy to detect it.''''


    ''I will use this to move on to the next operation. You are to conduct a reconnaissance of the eastern flank of the fortress. If there is any enemy movement on the other side of the river, let me know at once.


    "Haha ...... I''m so excited!


    A group of scouts rode away on horseback at the behest of His Highness. After seeing them off, we dismounted by a rope ladder and stood on the ground.


    We made our way through the reed field to the Isle Rose Fortress. The sight of the fortress against the morning sun makes me feel proud rather than nostalgic.


    ''...... You''ve come back, no one is missing.''


    At His Highness Astina''s words, the knights widened their eyes. His Highness was also anxious about this strategy of infiltrating into enemy territory - she thought there was nothing to fear, and then she spoke of relief.


    ''''Of course. Neither I, nor any of you, are training half-heartedly.''''


    Huh. ...... But I was nervous. I thought I''d have to fight everyone in the fort.


    ''I was going to take care of it before that happened, though. That could have been preserved, too.


    The gunpowder weapon that Deete-san has prepared - ''Fire Spear''. Using a weapon that had just been developed comes with a big risk. It could be said that not using it was a fortuitous thing in the end.


    Even though I know that the knights are always fighting for their lives, I still can''t help but think about it.


    I won''t let a single person die. I''ll use all the means available for that purpose - to protect with my own hands everyone who said I was their ''support''.

 81 Episode 79: Oath of the Sword

    The main gate of the fortress is on the east side, but there is also a hidden entrance on the west side. Deite-san of the archers called it the ''back door'', and he said that it was often used except when returning to the fortress after making a big announcement to the soldiers.


    As the soldiers led him into the fortress through the back door, Deite first stopped at the armory on the first floor of the fortress.


    ''''I should say that it''s a good thing that the enemy soldiers came to craft it, as His Highness ...... read, that this will be available in this phase. I know it sounds cynical.


    Overnight, the situation had changed dramatically. By using Zirconia''s warships, it was now possible to send a coherent number of troops from our side to Zirconia''s side, and also to equip the warships themselves with weapons.


    Cannons brought by Zirconia''s engineering unit. The ammunition and a set of wheels for transporting it were prepared for use by Mr. Deite, who ordered his men to prepare it for use.


    The ''fire spear'' made from cannon ammunition seems to have considerable destructive power as a portable firearm, but after all, if the cannon itself can be transported and used, it should be a more powerful trump card than the ''fire spear''.


    ���� ��


    We headed to the round table and, without a moment''s rest, we began our military discussion.


    ''We must assume that the enemy forces have some kind of trump card to play. Or maybe they''ve sent a crafting unit to test out a new weapon ...... Either way, we have to be careful about the enemy''s firearms.


    ''Your Highness''s intuition is also due to the guidance of the divine tree. Perhaps General Alejandro''s troops will have powerful firearms.


    Do you mean the cannon ...... or are you going to use a tube of gunpowder, like the one Mr. Deethe made?


    It is said that the fire spear is a weapon that, on impact, explodes and shoots out flaming bullets.


    But from what I''ve heard from my sister-in-law, there is a weapon that converts gunpowder explosions into propulsion and shoots metal bullets out of an iron tube that is thinner than the fire spear - it''s called an ''iron fire canister'' and has the power to penetrate a knight''s armor and has the potential to greatly change the shape of a battle. They said they had it.


    Fortunately, it hasn''t been mass produced yet. And for a weapon made in the south of our country, it''s unlikely that Zirconia is deploying it in large numbers. No soldiers have been seen equipping it in actual battle, and even if the necessary resources are available, the technology to make the ''iron cannon'' is unlikely to exist.


    ''Since gunpowder came into use in warfare, I have come to believe that the age of knights will one day come to an end. One look at it and you can see that those weapons, which cost so many men their lives at a distance, will eventually replace the sword and spear and the bow. It will use up a lot of our mineral resources, but with a ranged weapon as powerful as the Iron Cannon, we won''t have to make heavy armor to protect ourselves.


    His Highness Astina is worried about the ''change in the army''. If the technology of the ''iron cannon'' is transferred to Zirconia, which is capable of producing large amounts of gunpowder, it will be difficult for this Isle Rose Fortress to repel Zirconia''s army with old weapons alone.


    We need to decide on the battle plan now that we can cross over with a formation of infantry, knights and archers - Zirconia''s will to fight must be broken.


    ''By those whom Glass first interrogated, it was discovered that Zirconia had been supplied with arms by our side. The number of troops may be greater than ours, but they are not all equipped ...... We think we should wait for this and attack them from us before they send weapons to Zirconia by other channels. And we have to take out General Alejandro: ......


    "Raquel, sister ...... I''ll do it. The next time Alejandro comes to the front, I''ll cut in and do whatever it takes to get him up to the head grade.


    ''''Hold on, Presha. Even for you, I don''t think you''ll be able to handle an attack if you ride solo into a room full of Zirconia''s elite soldiers.


    ...... But I have to do it, too. It''s the only thing I can do for everyone else who died.


    Presha''s inner danger. I understand now at this moment what it is that I''ve been feeling but not seeing clearly.


    The resignation of having seen so much death. In the midst of the battle, her heart was worn out, and so was hers. It has become a mind that is willing to sacrifice itself in order to end the battle.


    ''...... laying down your life will not save anything. It is only conceit. If you think of the regret of those who have died, you must live.


    From the beginning, I had been thinking about it.


    Why was Ms. Presha so angry when she first took me to the dungeons and had me witness her interrogation?


    The weapons that had been shed by the treachery of the Royal Army could have been used to kill her men. She had no way to take that anger out on anything at that time.


    If I show the slightest suspicious movement, I will kill you. When she said that, her mind had already reached its limit, and yet, up to this point, she had continued to wield her spear.


    How was I able to do nothing in front of her as she walked with her open wound intact? It''s the proof that I only cared about the wounds on her body and neglected to examine her mind.


    ...... Yeah. Okay, ...... sorry, I''m sorry, I''m the attack captain, what happens if I stick out on my own ...... and that''s exactly what I''m going to do, I''m going to put my men in danger again.


    ''Up until now, we were on the defensive. We were not allowed to attack ...... but now it is different. Your Highness will fight to protect Laiseneier, and that will not change.


    There are those who try to twist it into a mere ''violation of orders'' or an act of rebellion and tell the center.


    Vaisek - that man who didn''t even mourn the soldiers who were sacrificed and insulted His Highness Astina.


    ''Your Highness, I was told that you were keeping an eye on Vaissek. You can keep tabs on his movements at .......


    His Highness Astina shows us the report from the secret agent.


    Seeing what was written there, Raquel-san closes her eyes. And then he clenches his fists on the desk with a painful force.


    ''...... Contacted the patriarch of the great family in his sickbed, Hartner Reinfeldt. He blew the whistle that any cooperation with His Highness Astina to engage Zirconia would be considered rebellion. ...... If that is true, Vysek is ......


    They are working to obey central orders and avoid an all-out war with Zirconia - it''s not that pretty.


    They are setting up to lose the war against Zirconia in order to unseat His Highness Astina.


    ''Why is that going on as if ...... this is going to be like ......''


    Mr. Deethe has already had an idea. The reason why Vaissek acts so unattended is because he has the power behind him.


    I have to say now what I heard from Noin. Who is the insider with Zirconia, who was only known as ''a person of the royal family'' until now--''''


    '' ...... Your Highness Astina. The people who are connected to Zirconia are Queen Cassandra ...... and the court mage who works with her, Jorg Frost.


    The second queen is trying to have her son, the prince, succeed to the throne. Even I, a mere student, knew this through gossip, so it was impossible for them not to know.


    But there was no proof. Even if there was, that wasn''t a reason for His Highness Astina to immediately rebel against him - or to appeal directly to the king to denounce the second queen''s actions.


    The fact that they were hostile to Zirconia, and that this fortress was a shield to protect her people, was the only thing she had to focus on and continue to fight for.


    ...... to seize the enemy''s stronghold and restrain any further incursions. To get Zirconia to accept a ceasefire. I must accomplish that. Even if Lady Cassandra is trying to exclude me, I would like to come to the table for once to discuss this.


    ''Why ...... would His Majesty the King acknowledge the achievements of His Highness Astina? Then it is also ...... that you don''t listen to him at all.


    To Raquel-san''s advice, His Highness Astina quietly shook her head.


    The expression on His Highness''s face, which always never crumbles, shows a shade that cannot be hidden.


    Brushing back his golden thread-like hair, His Highness looks somewhere in the distance.


    I can tell, as I am connected to her through the divine tree. What she feels is loneliness.


    She didn''t receive proper love from her father or her mother, and she is still unable to consider her parents as her allies. To be pampered in this way weakens her heart, which she has been fighting for as a knight - she disciplines herself strictly in this way.


    ''''His Majesty the King is looking to Cassandra-sama for a place in his heart. That''s not unreasonable. ...... My mother was too sickly to be able to be always by her Majesty''s side as queen. I''ve been told that she was greatly relieved by marrying Lady Cassandra, who was a child of her mother''s equal status in the family. If I denounced Lady Cassandra now, His Majesty would only try to draw me away from the army.


    "Even if the Second Queen wants to destroy the country? If we allow her to have her monopoly, this western territory will be cut off. Many will die just to unseat Her Highness Astina and satisfy Lady Cassandra''s private desires.


    ...... It''s a thorny issue no matter which way you choose to go. If we have to fight the motherland, it will affect the morale of our soldiers. Some of them have families in the middle.


    The progress of this Order is in trouble. His Majesty the King can''t be expected to be an ally either - Zirconia could attack us at any time.


    But if we leave Vysek unattended, he will continue to work in the West - if the people under the rule of the great families stop cooperating with us, this fortress could end up in food shortages.


    We don''t consider the western territories to be important and are willing to cut them off. If His Majesty the King is unaware of Queen Cassandra''s intentions, the current situation is what it is - then.


    ''Rather than having our territory overrun by ...... zirconia. We should establish a system of governance so that the Western Territories can defend themselves of their own volition while we maintain our ability to take over.


    On your own volition ...... Glass, do you know what that means?


    ''The enemy is attacking us across the canal. They''re invading our borders. It''s no longer a body of command to not fight back against it.


    The same is true of Queen Cassandra''s orders to hold Her Highness Astina accountable for allowing Zirconia to invade, or to die an honorable death in battle.


    I know nothing of His Highness Astina''s previous efforts or suffering. He is committing too great a sin for the purpose of making his still young child eventually king.


    ''...... As an independent territory, I will rule the Western Territories. You say that I should do so.


    ''Yes, sir. That is the only way we can continue to gain the cooperation of the people and maintain the strength of the fortress. There will be no way to get it back after a number of defections.


    His Highness will be the lord and explain to his people why he is fighting Zirconia, so that he can lay the groundwork to easily discredit the slander of the forces that interfere with it - I think we need to restrain him about Vysek, but even if we do, his replacement will be sent They only come in.


    ''So far, he has only been acting on behalf of His Majesty the King, acting on behalf of his orders. We cannot condemn him for his actions in the form that we have been able to block Vaisek''s movements.


    ''Your Highness is of the blood of His Majesty the King and is the rightful heir to the throne. By nature, he could have taken a mate and become a lord without becoming a knight.


    ''Yes, that''s ....... If His Highness Astina hadn''t been knighted, she would have been .......


    ''''In that case, I would not have received the territory, and it would have been considered a political plot to form an alliance with the enemy. I am glad that I chose to take up the sword. I am still grateful to His Majesty the King for giving me permission to do so: ...... but ......


    To His Majesty the King - point the sword at his father. If he declares himself ruler of the western realm, he will be one of Queen Cassandra''s


    There is no "general" in the name. It''s probably because His Highness Astina realized once again that this is an opponent that must be defeated.


    Presha-san wipes her eyes and stands upright with her bright red eyes and puts her hand on her chest.


    Raquel-san and Deete-san follow suit. His Highness evenly pulled out a shiny silver sword and placed his forehead on the bundle and prayed, then held it out in front of him.


    The three of them, who always use spears and bows, also wear swords at their waists. It''s a good idea to be able to have a good time with them.


    I''m honored to be able to be present here. At the same time, the fear of the difficulties that lie ahead - the emotions that rise above them.


    "We now swear to fight and live and die together. In the name of Astina-Razeneier, we launch Operation Zirconia Attack.


    Goosebumps enveloped my entire body. Just imagining how much their bravery would inspire the hearts of their people - just imagining it made my heart tremble.


    ''''-- Glory to my knights!

 82 Episode 80: Steel Heart

    Under His Highness Astina, the knights are of one mind. But the cause we stand for will be a disobedience to His Majesty the King''s orders.


    Regardless of what the Second Queen thinks, this Isle Rose Fortress will never fall. We must defend this place and prevent Zirconia from taking over the western territory, even temporarily. Otherwise, the peasants and townspeople who had just returned to their restored farmland would be overrun by the enemy forces.


    With so much blood already spilled by the soldiers of both armies, it was only an unreliable idealism that the enemy army would not do harm to the Laiseneian territories. We can only imagine how harsh the plundering of the city in wartime will be - but it is inevitable that the people who do not have the strength to fight in this fortress will be the first to suffer.


    Katie, the medic captain, and the people who work in the fortress. The maidservants in the service of His Highness Astina. The only way to protect them is to not only defend themselves, but also to strike.


    We will take the initiative before the enemy moves. With our seizure of the warships, Noin''s whereabouts unknown ...... and the detention of Bail as a prisoner, the enemy''s main camp will be in turmoil.


    With Glass''s magic, the soldiers in that fort should be decimated. ...... It would be ideal if we could attack before the enemy could get into position.


    ''We can expect to have a day or two to wait for Alejandro to make his move. In the meantime, we will show our superiority. We will land on the Zirconian side and surround the enemy''s main camp with 2,000 men.


    ''''Considering the size of the two thousand ...... enemy troops last time, it''s certainly reasonable? It''s possible that reinforcements have been sent from the rear.


    ''I suppose the reason Zirconia wants the Western Territories is to get some farmland. I don''t think they know that there have been poor harvests in recent years, but the people still provide enough food to support not only themselves, but also our three thousand soldiers. Zirconia is a mountainous country, so they must be struggling to generate enough food to sustain their army.


    After entering Zirconia, there were wide open plains, but the reason why the area was untouched is because Zirconia abhorred the idea of developing farmland along the river. That''s how much the Isle Rose Fortress was seen as a threat to Zirconia.


    Strong soldiers needed to eat a lot of meat and beans to keep themselves strong, but cattlemen needed a lot of fodder and manpower to produce meat. There is a lot of fodder and manpower required to produce meat for cattle.


    (A ceasefire would give Zirconia no small advantage. Still, they''re trying to invade because the King of Zirconia trusts General Alejandro''s ability to do so, or they''re afraid that a ceasefire will result in a ceasefire that will give them terms of exchange. ......)


    It is better to have a strong male hand to perform concentration and herding, but at present, hard-working men are taken up as soldiers - there is a measure of living as peasants when there is no fighting, but the reason for complying with military service is partly because they are exempt from work. It''s not easy to do both.


    Even in this fortress, until now, the soldiers have been engaged in military service only. Concentrating on training and other activities would certainly allow them to maintain their diligence, but this is only possible because the farmers of the Western Domain are diligent and are willing to collect food.


    ''''This season, the benefits of the Divine Tree will be available to the entire Western Domain, so there will probably be a rare bumper crop during the harvest season. When that happens, more and more, Zirconia will be coveting this land to death.


    The Western Domain will prosper by gaining the blessings of the divine tree. Your Highness'' surplus magic power will always be returned to the divine tree, and the divine tree will bring blessings to the land from that garden. And the crops produced would have a certain amount of resistance to bad weather, and would be far more abundant than those that didn''t have the blessing of the Sacred Tree.


    If Zirconia knew that fact, they would want this land by the throat. However, I will not surrender that garden, where the divine Tree Euceris takes root, to anyone else.


    ''''The influence of the divine tree tells me what the future holds for me as I try to protect this land from those who would threaten it. Even after so much withering away, Euceris was still working on me. ...... It would have long since reached its limit if Glass hadn''t come to me. If only I had realized sooner the preciousness of being a spirit: ......


    ''''Spirits, if true, are beings that keep their distance from humans. We learned at the Academy of Magic to understand those beings and to borrow their powers. In a way, it might be like pulling them out of their peaceful lives for the convenience of the mages.


    No, you don''t, do you?��Even we are really interested in the human world. If we weren''t, we wouldn''t be summoned.


    Leslie was holding me to observe, Lune says - next to her is Ray, who is being held by Noin. He was doing so, refraining from taking his place at the round table, the one where the knights sat, but it was a smiling sight, enough to make even a military council feel at ease.


    ''I''m much worse than the Summoner-sama thinks I am, so it''s very satisfying to be pulled out ...... and suck the sperm of the creatures around me. Mandrakes are that kind of species. The sperm sucked by my alter ego will nourish me in the main body.


    ''Well, that''s ...... something, similar to the kind of dreamer who sucks the sperm out of people by showing them their dreams.


    Rei only smiles faintly and doesn''t answer clearly - is that what sentience means, after all? I can''t help but wonder if it''s good to think that such a young looking Ray was siphoning strength from the strong soldiers.


    ''''I can tease the ivy like this and suck it up.


    ...... Wait, wait. You don''t have to give us an example here.


    ''''Whew~......, after all, master''s magic power is the best. But since we have a contract, even if you suck it from your master, it''s still your master''s magic.


    The ivy of the plant, an incarnation of Alraune, arises from the ground and tangles around me. It''s not tightening, but I feel restless.


    Your Highness, who had been watching it closely - this is not the time to be frolicking, and when she tried to straighten her collar, she said with interest.


    ''I see. ...... I and Glass also communicate through the divine tree, but my magical power does not always flow into him. If I increase the power that flows into him, does that mean that Alraune''s power will also increase?


    ''Huh. ...... So that''s certainly true. And then what would happen to me?


    ''Alraune is powerful enough as it is, but ...... when it''s enhanced, it may have powers you can''t imagine. The same could be said for Ray, though.


    ...... If I get any stronger than this, they will all just pull me out and die. All the hearing creatures around me will die out.


    It''s a radical thing to say in a matter-of-fact way, but Ray is probably just saying it as fact. If Mandrake''s power grows any stronger, he can''t just reap the benefits of his consciousness.


    The power of Ray will be immensely powerful in battle. But to use it as a force multiplier, I believe that Lune''s power is equally effective.


    ''I ...... no, I agree with you. We''ll be relying on these girls, who are still very young, to help us in the fight .......


    ''I''m fine!��I want to help the Summoner in any way I can!


    A spirit''s appearance does not change with age. It''s just that being in the form of a child consumes less magic power in maintaining embodiment.


    The abhorrence of going out into the battlefield with a child becomes less of a problem if the girls say so.


    I was also planning to volunteer to accompany the knights from the beginning, even if they stopped me. Considering that I''ll be contributing with magic, I''ll be in a forward position among the entire army - even if there''s a risk of arrows flying at me, I''m prepared for that. I''ll just have to protect myself.


    ''If I am allowed to accompany you, I will do my best to contribute as a mage. But I''m not the only one, I think Noon''s magic is also a big key.


    ''Yes, we''ll need to maintain the illusion of water spirit magic to hide the warships. And there is one more thing ...... that will put a huge strain on Noyn until the enemy forces are surrounded, though. I have a favor to ask of you.


    "At your service, Your Highness. I am a mage to Lord Glass. I would be more than happy to join him in this Order.


    I understand that it''s because they saved your life, but aren''t they changing a little too quickly ......?


    ...... I wouldn''t be standing here without Lord Glass. I wouldn''t exist. Therefore, I wish to continue to exist only by the will of Lord Glass.


    Noin says with a blush on her face - it makes me feel more embarrassed than I am watching. I know that saving lives is a big deal, but the change in her attitude, such as calling me ''Lord'', is certainly too sudden.


    '' ...... I''m also Glass-sensei''s follower, so I''ll follow you into battle. Sensei''s magic and my magic are ...... compatible with each other, so I will definitely be able to help you.


    Leslie thinks she might be left behind, and she advises me to do so. I considered asking her to stay away for a bit, but it would be an imposition on me to force her to do so.


    Water, air, and plants. They aren''t as specialized in combat as spirits such as fire and wind, but when the three attributes are aligned, the effective combination increases dramatically.


    Combining air balls and hypnotic pollen is also a combined magic, but if you add the option of water spirits to that, what on earth can you do - you might even be able to derive a plan like sealing off Alejandro''s army, or even a plan that could be derived.


    ''Compatibility ......? I see that kind of feel is also important between mages.


    Everyone in the room becomes awkward as Deete-san says it in a thoughtful way. Only His Highness was at ease, but Raquel-san coughed, ''''Hmmm.


    ''''Oh, by the way, ...... Leslie, if you were a woman, you''re in a room with the doctor ......


    Presha-san says, as if to say that she just noticed it. After being told, I too think, surely, even though they are a body of a military doctor and his assistant, wouldn''t it be considered disturbing the public morals of the fortress if men and women used the same apartment?


    ''''That''s not a problem. Noin will be sleeping in the same room as Glass and the others. With the three of us, there''s no reason to believe that anything will go wrong.''


    "No, no, ...... I would, you know, if I could just move myself to another room. It could be a warehouse or something like that, if you''ll let me sleep there ......


    When I said that much, Raquel-san stood up for some reason. I thought I was going to be angry, and my body involuntarily shook with a jolt.


    ''''What are you talking about. You instructed and treated me about the strain on my body and yet you think you can be allowed to be indifferent to your own body. Glass needs to be given a human bed to sleep in. I''d even give him the same bed as mine.


    Mr. Raquel is reeling at once - he''s as angry as he is with me.


    I regretted my rash remark, and at the same time, I couldn''t help but say my thanks outright.


    ''''Thank you, Knight Captain Raquel. I''m grateful that you care so much about me ...... I understand, and I hope that I can focus more on my work as a military doctor so that everyone doesn''t get the wrong idea.


    ''Ummm ...... kohon. I''m sorry, you''re too humble to be ......


    ''I thought you were going to take Dr. Glass into the Knight-in-Chief''s room when he suddenly insisted on a bed just like his own.


    ...... Is that really possible?��Oh, and my room has at least one more place to put the bed, or maybe ...... a little smaller, but it would be more comfortable ......


    Raquel-san sits back shakily and returns to her stately posture like a knight chief, but she is still blushing to her ears.


    (If you don''t deny it, then ...... no, no. If you deny it, it''s like you''re stubbornly refusing to share a room with me, so you''re paying attention.)


    And even Mr. Presha has the attitude that he''s willing to leave me there if I''m going to move the room. I don''t think this is the same person who tried to kill me when I first came to this fortress - it''s as if the tiger has turned into a cat.


    She is definitely a tiger with no equal on the battlefield. But even if she can get past the many shuras and bring her heart closer to steel, the fragile part is not completely lost.


    Leaving what she held onto intact might lead to her being hurt on the battlefield. It''s not that I don''t believe in Presha-san''s bravery, but the fact that she''s aware of it and neglects it, I can''t help but feel a tug on my heart.


    ''...... Glass, I don''t mean to move your room, but since you have a thought, I will give you permission to do so. As for the general''s quarters, you are free to visit them and get permission to treat them. As for your body, I have seen enough to know that these are not the only wounds you can fix.


    "Huh. ...... is, yes. Thank you for permission, Your Highness.


    It seems that the idea of having to ask His Highness'' permission was conveyed to him through the contract with Shinki. It seems that even if your daily rambling thoughts are not conveyed, your requests to His Highness are easily conveyed by simply going through your mind - then you can''t think of anything thoughtless.


    ''''We''ll discuss the strategy again tomorrow at noon. Some of the territories will be anxious if we attack Zirconia due to the influence of the ...... Vysek, who are operating in the territory. We need to let them know that we will be attacking Zirconia as part of our defense, and to some extent what the future holds.


    ''''At your service, I will send a message to each of the knightly branches in the territory. In particular, we will need to reaffirm our cooperation with the Reinfeldt family.


    From my eyes, Schneider of the Reinfeldt family seemed to be a good man who put the people of his domain first. That''s why, if he is swayed by Vysek, who calls himself an emissary of His Majesty the King, there is probably a possibility that he will prioritize protecting his people.


    As long as they didn''t turn to the enemy, that was fine for now. We must not continue to allow Zirconia to invade by continuing to look for the good mood of the center, which is not willing to help at all. The Reinfeldt family should know that.

 83 Episode 81: The purpose of healing

    I return to my quarters once and give Nein and Leslie instructions for the future. Since both of them will be positioned as my assistants rather than military mages, they will share the responsibility of going around the large fortress and checking on the health status of the soldiers.


    It''s better to have them work together at first. When Noin gets used to it, we''ll redefine the division of labor.


    "Yes, Lord willing, if it''s your command.


    ...... That, Lord, because people would be surprised to hear you call me Lord. I think you should call it something else.


    Leslie didn''t hesitate to express her opinions to the older Noin. Noon did not seem to be particularly offended by her, and he was enjoying himself.


    ''There is no other word in me to call him other than that.


    .......... well, it''s not up to you to decide that, but my brother Glass. ......


    Leslie calls me that all the time, and it''s something I''m very emotional about. Even though I dress up as a man and behave thoroughly as my squire, Leslie is still Leslie.


    ''...... Leslie, you could be a little more honest, too. Though the purity of it is very desirable to me.


    I''m not ...... pure anything. I just do what I want ...... to do.


    Yeah?��Then it seems even more desirable.


    I don''t know Noyn well yet, and I don''t know the whole truth behind Noyn''s words just by listening to the current exchange.


    Noin became a court mage because he wanted to, but his will was twisted by Jorg-Frost. The pain she suffered in her mind and body while she was inhabited by the underworld spirit can only be imagined from the edges of her words.


    ''''I''m sorry, Lord. I feel that I should respect your opinion as much as my Lord does, but there is something that I am not willing to concede to you.


    ''Well, well, ...... I''m in agreement with Leslie. It might be best for Noyn to do what he wants to do, and also ......


    ''...... Brother Glass, don''t you have a soft spot for Mr. Noin?��I was famous in the academy for being extremely beautiful and talented, so my brother Glass was also .......


    ''I have been aware of the Lord since I was at the College. I remember how often he used to look at the plants in the courtyard.


    ''Ha ha ...... Well, they treated me like a freak. The only people who cared about me were Leslie and Sven.


    When I looked at Leslie, she seemed unhappy about something, but she smiled at me nostalgically.


    ''I''ve been trying to make sure that the spirits that were considered ''outliers'' by the academy''s regulations were really ...... no one questioned whether they were. But that was a mistake. If it turns out that the Lord''s magic is great, I think the constitution of the academy will change as well.


    ''''That''s not something that can be changed overnight, but I do think it would be nice if they reviewed the evaluation of non-elemental spirit users. From the academy''s point of view, though, I''m a ''straggler'' and I think there''s only so much I can do.


    The Silvana School of Magic. The highest academy in the country, which has produced mages to support the kingdom.


    It was only after leaving there that I was able to realize that my magic has value, and that it is needed by the people, even if it is not a useful spirit for warfare.


    I have a sister-in-law, Millennia, in the academy. If she hadn''t given up on me, I''m sure she would have questioned the current nature of the academy. Even so, the inability to come up with a policy of not discriminating against spirits is probably due to the conventions of this country itself.


    ''''...... Brother Glass''s spirit magic is really amazing. So it''s better not to spread it around too much and keep it a secret. Otherwise, our enemies will be after you.


    ''''Well, ...... even if I were to protect my Lord at the cost of my life, it''s still important to behave in a way that doesn''t make him a target first. Lord, is it right to think of it that way?


    ''It would help if you did. Because I suppose there are times when it''s better to be underestimated.


    You mean ...... where only a limited number of people understand the magnificence of your spirit. I would be honored beyond measure if I could be one of them.


    ...... Brother Glass isn''t very good at receiving praise, so don''t say so much one after another.


    ''Well, well, ...... you''re right there, Leslie, it would be helpful if you didn''t lift it up too much. I''m human, too, and that''s where the looseness comes from.


    After all, a room of three people, including Noin, is a venerable problem in that I might be corrupted. It''s a good idea to recognize the severity of the current situation and brace yourself even more.


    �����


    I asked Leslie and Noin to find people who were feeling unwell in the fortress and bring them to the sanitation wing for treatment. Fortunately, we were able to treat all the cases with medicine with the herbs we had on hand.


    Some of the soldiers had already left the med wing and returned to duty. They''ve been writing me letters, but I haven''t been able to take the time to read through them.


    ''They all love Dr. Glass. I think they can tell that he always cares about them. People I haven''t been able to talk to for a long time have been asking me if Dr. Glass has made his rounds yet. ......


    Katie, who is helping me with my work in the filling station in the sanitation building, wipes the tears that nearly spill from her eyes as she speaks this.


    ''I''m still new here ...... and I feel bad about the opposite when I get people to thank me like this. When I get letters and such, I get so shy I can hardly open them.


    Maybe I shouldn''t be the one to tell you that I''m not supposed to say ...... after you''ve calmed down. Please, please read it to him. I''d be as nervous as if my letter were being read to me.


    ''I do too. If it says something good, that''s great.


    ...... Dr. Glass is too humble. I can''t tell you how much what you are doing is helping to heal our wounded soldiers. ......


    I''m glad to hear that. But the reason I''m treating everyone is to get our soldiers back on the battlefield, even if not all of them will return to the front.


    If only I could get them back to a life of calm, not fighting. I''ve vowed to follow His Highness Astina to make that happen, not just to hold it as an ideal.


    --Wouldn''t doing so cause me to clash with your sister-in-law? If that were to happen, how could I avoid a fight? I think I''ll have to think about it now as a possibility.


    ''Even at ......, sometimes you look very difficult. If you bring such a kind doctor to the battlefield, show him a terrible situation, and then have to go through the same thing ...... that happened to his predecessor again.


    ''Don''t worry about that. I''m just me, so it won''t be easy to change. And I''ve said with my friends that I won''t fold under any circumstances.


    ''You''re a wonderful friend: ...... oh. Are you referring to Mr. Lendl, by any chance?


    ''Yes, uh, ...... well, Mr. Rendle is one of them.


    Katie still thinks that Leslie is a man called "Mr. Lendl". Considering Leslie''s home, the number of people who know his true identity is limited - and that means he can''t reveal it to Katie yet.


    ''If I had gone to the wizarding academy to learn magic too, I wouldn''t be able to make a dreamy metaphor about Miss Glass and ....... I''m going to take over the innkeeper.


    ''Don''t take it too hard. I''ll give you some pills to take away your fatigue. Put it in your tea and drink it, it will warm you up.


    Thank you ...... Dr. Glass is really sweet.


    I wonder if it''s a contrary conceited notion that I want to somehow restore the balance of human relations since I''ve been feeling like a compliment lately - or is it a contrary conceited notion?


    I wave to Katie, who has a big smile on her face, and leave the sanitation building. It''s almost time for dinner, but let''s pay a visit to Presha first.

 84 Episode 82: A flame that burns the sky

    The knights of captain''s rank in the Isle Rose Fortress have their private rooms in the ''Officer''s Building''. Presha-san was also returning to his private room now.


    There is an uncovered area on the third level of the fortress, and you will pass through it on your way to the "officer''s building". The moon was floating in the sky between the clouds - the moon was a little less than it was when I saw it with Mr. Deete before.


    Her health has improved a lot since Ms. Deethe used "Night Forgot Flower". Sleep contributes to both recovery from fatigue and maintaining mental equilibrium, so if her sleep cycle is a little out of whack, she should work on improving it.


    The soldiers of this fortress, who had been fighting alone against the Zirconia attack for so long, may not have any visible health problems, but they may have symptoms that could be the source of the disease. I think we should do a medical examination of all of them, but all of this is something to consider after this mission is successful.


    There was only one older guard in front of the entrance to the officer''s building, and when he saw me, he gave me a salute. She''s old enough to be a mother to me, but her body is well-trained, and the way she stands with her stick gives her an unapproachable swagger.


    -- but as soon as she sees me, her expression relaxes. Apparently, she knew me.


    ''Dr. Glass, you''re welcome. Can I help you with the officers?��They''re all in their rooms except for Miss Chloe, who''s doing her nighttime rounds.


    If you only look at her cheerful smile, you get the impression that she''s a good-natured lady. Everyone is like that - when I first saw them, many of them were killing, but their expressions are soft, even though the current situation is not good.


    The time for exclusive defense ended with the determination of His Highness Astina. It means they have already heard that from their superiors.


    ''''Depending on the outcome of tomorrow''s military council, I''ve heard that we''ll be attacking Zirconia soon. Dr. Glass, please take good care of your comrades who remain in the fortress.


    ''''No, I will accompany you. We mages must do everything in our power to get things done, otherwise we can''t break out of our current predicament. ...... Sorry, I''m sorry, I haven''t been here long enough to say that.


    She was surprised that I said I was going too, and she didn''t hide the heartache on her face. I guess the reason she gives me that look is because she thinks that my accompanying me, a military doctor, is in danger of death.


    I''m well aware that I can''t let my guard down. I''m sure you''ll be able to find a way to make the most out of it.


    I''ve heard that magic is more powerful in warfare than we can ever imagine. But ...... I''m sorry that it was me who took the liberty of putting my son in front of the doctor. I volunteered to be a soldier rather than let my little boy eventually go into battle.


    ...... I see. Your son is still at .......


    ''My family lives in the town of Portoro, and I have the opportunity to return twice a year. My family lives in the town of Portoro and I return twice a year, and I get to see my son grow up every time I return. I wondered if I was making my son feel lonely by not having his parents around, but that''s not the case. He''s proud that I''m in the Knights of the Order. ......


    I can see why she speaks so eloquently. At the same time, I make sure that every soldier, not just this one, has someone waiting to come home.


    And she''s also prepared to face the prospect of leaving the army. She wants to talk to someone - a child who wants to protect her family, even at the risk of her life.


    ''I''m sure your son will be even more magnificent when he returns to Portoro again.


    Maybe it''s insensitive. To say now that there is more to come than tomorrow or the day after tomorrow.


    But I still say it. It''s a reminder to myself of what I learned about magic and what I learned how to make the most of people.


    ''We''ll definitely go back together. So let me fight with you all.


    ...... You may be so young, but you''re still a teacher. I''m sure he knows everything about everyone''s feelings when he talks to you.


    ''We have not yet been able to examine everyone. For that reason, we must come back victorious ...... Yes, may I ask your name, belatedly?


    ''My name is Odessa. If I am ......


    After she says her name, she tries to tell me something. I knew what it was, and I was going to listen in - but.


    Ms. Odessa shook her head and dropped the words she was about to say to her chest.


    ''No. Dr. Glass, it''s been a pleasure talking to you.


    ''Me too. I''ll get cold at night, and I''ll bring you something to warm you up later.


    There''s not much I can do. As I entered the officer''s wing, the caretaker woman was about to go and offer Miss Odessa a drink, apparently having been asked about what was going on outside.


    ''Good evening, sir. I didn''t want to be a bore, but I''ll bring the guards some drinks now.


    ''Thank you. Um, where is Captain Presha at ......?


    The woman''s expression shades as she asks. She hesitates, but still answers the question.


    ''Only Raquel-sama is allowed to visit Presha-sama''s room at night. But if you''re Dr. Glass, you can go to .......


    ...... I''ll go to the front of the room. Will you allow me to go that far?


    Yes, sir. I''ve heard that Mr. Glass is a trustworthy man, and I''m sure you have confidence in him, too, Mr. Presha. Presha-sama''s room will be upstairs.


    I get directions to the stairs upstairs and start walking towards them.


    And when I get to the second floor - I find a dark-haired woman looking out of a hallway window.


    ''Raquel, Knight Commander ......''


    When I called her name, she responded with a twitch and then slowly turned around.


    She was wearing a gown over her thin sleeping gown, and her expression was so gentle that I couldn''t help but admire it, quite different from the stern knight-errant figure she showed during the day.


    -- but her eyes are tinged with melancholy when she looks at me. She slid the moonlight into her long eyelashes and looked at me without saying a word.


    ''...... I was going to keep Presha''s affairs a secret between me, your highness, and Deite. Presha herself wouldn''t want you to know about it yet, either.


    "I''ll let you know that I''ll have ...... ...... for Mr. Presha.


    I was about to tell him that there was something he was hiding, and then I reminded him that there wasn''t.


    Everyone has something to hold onto. It''s no wonder I''ve only been here for a short time and there''s a lot I can''t reveal to you.


    ...... To me, it looked like Ms. Presha was in a hurry to live. If she is willing to sacrifice herself to help us win this battle, I came here to tell you now while I can.


    ''I know. I knew that Glass was nervous and thoughtful while Presha was speaking ...... His Highness would have noticed that.


    Me and Your Highness are connected to each other through the contract with Kamiki. So if Your Highness sensed that I was about to meet Presha-san, he could stop me.


    But I''m here. I don''t want to be conceited, but I also have the idea that when I''m here without being blamed for anything, I''m allowed to meet with Presha-san.


    But I thought the reason Raquel-san is here is also to test me. I read that he was coming to see Presha-san and was waiting to determine if I should let him meet with her.


    ''...... Don''t be surprised if Presha shows up in any way. If you see her differently than Presha in the daytime, I hope you''ll take her as she is. Yes, can you promise me that?


    ''Yes, sir. ''I did not come here on a joke or a whim. It''s my duty to take care of the health of the generals who go out to battle. Ms. Presha is in a position to organize a lot of troops ...... and I can''t let what I find disturbing about her go unchallenged.


    The best I can say is that she is concerned about herself, but I can''t phrase it well or do anything about it. However, I felt I should tell her that I wasn''t acting out of personal feelings.


    Raquel folded her arms and closed her eyes as she listened. It wasn''t like he was trying to intimidate me, I thought, but he was examining the words deeply.


    ''...... I see. Right. I''m sorry for trying that. Because of the treatment you''ve given me and the way you''ve conditioned my body, I''m able to go through the night without having to endure the searing pain. I know that I am the best person to leave it all to you.


    ''''We need to make sure that the Raquel Knight Captain continues to receive treatment. If you have the time, I would even be happy to visit you later.


    ''No ...... tonight, don''t worry about me. Just think of Presha. And hopefully, from the bad dreams she''s been having for a long time ...... by your hand.


    ''You''re too overprotective to tell me everything. Let''s leave the rest to the doctor.


    ''...... Dite, how long have you been listening to me? Isn''t eavesdropping an act against the pride of the nobility?


    I wonder if there is a bedroom on the same floor or not, and Deethe-san shows up. Her bed clothes are not that opulent, even though she comes from a noble family, but since I''ve always seen her in armor, she looks very fresh.


    Once again confirming that this order is full of beautiful women, my heartbeat quickens undeniably - I thought I didn''t have that kind of impulse, but is this what is called the preservation instinct of the species? It''s hard to control with reason, just like the hunting instincts of animals.


    I''m sure you''ll be able to find a way to make me aware of the fact that I''m a woman when you respond to me like this ......


    "Nah, what are you talking about ...... at all. Glass responds etc. ......


    ''Oh, no, no, ...... we both have a different impression of each other than usual, so ...... I''m sorry, it''s just before bedtime, so it''s only natural.


    I don''t think this is the time to be embarrassed, but with Deite-san and Raquel-san in front of me, with their hair down, I feel like this is not a place for a man to enter.


    Whether he knew my inner feelings or not, Mr. Deite came halfway down the stairs and went around behind me, touching my shoulder and urging me to move forward.


    ''I''d really like you to come into the room to see how the flowers you gave me before were placed, too. It would be a collegial concern to have them think only of Presha for now.


    ''Mmm ...... Dite, we''ll stay in our room just in case. It hasn''t been around lately, but if Presha is having a nightmare ......


    Nightmares ...... Are you saying that''s the cause of the obsession you''ve always had, Presha?


    ...... Heartbreak is not an easy thing to heal. Even if I knew the cause, there was nothing I could do about it. You can''t change the past, and you can''t bring back what you''ve lost.


    Still, the girls said they would let me go to Mr. Presha. I would never want to betray that trust.


    ''I''ll be fine. You two should go to your room and rest. May I have a checkup again at a later date?


    It would take a toll on both of us to keep the air heavy. So I smiled, though I wasn''t sure I was playing it well.


    Their eyes were blushing - I didn''t want them to look like that, but they were both kind-hearted and thought that much of Presha-san.


    ...... Take care of that girl, Dr. Glass.


    ''Please do me a favor. Please don''t let Presha one day do anything that would cause her to lay down her life in battle ...... even a little bit of her heart.


    If it''s a physical injury or illness, there are numerous cases that have been proven to be curable and I''m confident in my ability to treat them.


    Equal to or even more difficult to treat than those, and even more difficult to find an answer to, is mental illness. There were soldiers in this fortress as well who were left with the aftereffects of battle - but now they are laughing at me when they see me.


    You can''t start by giving up from the beginning. I''d rather find what I can do than give up because it''s too hard.


    I leave the two of them and make my way down the dimly lit hallway. And at the far end, I stood in front of Presha''s room.


    I was about to knock on the door, and I knew that if Mr. Presha was asleep, I shouldn''t wake him up. By touching the wooden door and listening to the ''voices'' coming from the wooden items in the room, I could see how Ms. Presha was doing.


    There is almost no plant ''voice'' coming from inside the room. The wooden products seemed very bleak, although I could tell that there were shelves for storing weapons and clothes and a bed in the room.


    (...... Is this voice talking to ...... someone?��(No, ...... different ......)


    I thought I might have heard it wrong. Everyone talks in their sleep - but.


    A wooden bed in the room. It felt to me like Mr. Presha, sleeping on it, was crying.


    --Mom, please ...... forgive me, don''t leave me ...... and I''ll be a good boy. ......--


    What do those words mean? Even if she doesn''t know, she experiences a pain that gouges her heart.


    She''s having a dream now. There''s a way to find out if it''s a ''nightmare'' as Racquel-san calls it - with the help of Alraune, a spirit that enables her to touch people''s hearts.


    He places the bulb at his feet as a medium. Then he chanted in a small voice.


    ''''O glossy flower that blooms in the garden of demon flowers, ...... once appear in this world and show your power.''''


    In response to the summons, the roots of the grass formed a magic circle around the bulb. Then the flowers opened and Alraune''s Lune appeared.


    ''''Thank you for calling me, Summoner-sama. Huh, it''s always dark outside when I''m summoned these days.''''


    I''m sorry, I know it''s late.


    ''I can make a lot of nutrients in the moonlight. Look how alive the leaves are.


    Lune shows me a flower that has bloomed on her head. It looks like a flower hair ornament, but it absorbed the moonlight coming into this corridor and converted it into magic.


    ''...... I can hear your sister Presha crying. Summoner-sama wants to help your sister, right?


    ''I would if I could. But ...... what''s the point of coming up here and going into her room where she''s asleep .......


    ''I don''t have time to say that; I''m in so much pain. If you continue to have nightmares, your mind will become more and more consumed. A sad dream is like a bug that withers the roots of a flower.


    Alraune is desperate to appeal to me. Deite-san was also being consumed by insomnia, but of course it would be better if Presha-san didn''t have any nightmares to make the most of the power she had, too.


    In the meantime, Raquel and Deite came in, apparently checking on you before returning to the room.


    I''m sure you''ll be happy to hear that ...... you''re not comfortable with it, so we''ll tell you as well. Not long ago, when Preciousha had dreams, I would stay with her and rest when she had them. It''s a good thing that you''re a long-time friend of mine, because I''m the only one who can calm her down. ...... But Presha has grown up. She''s started to rest on her own, not to be coddled by me, but ...... honestly, I''m not worried about her.


    ''Presha said she was worried about keeping Dr. Glass and another woman in the same room. She was probably thinking that she could take the teacher back to her room. It''s a possibility, but if it really did happen, if she let the teacher see her having nightmares ...... that way, Presha would suffer more.


    The fact that you''ll be rooming with me is just an example. What Mr. Deite is trying to say is that Presha will always try to be stout in front of me and will hide the nightmare from me.


    If Presha were to invite Glass into the room, then he would not show ...... the ''current state'' of affairs. That makes no sense. I want Glass to see her room as it is now. It may be too much interference, but I''m not in a state ...... that I can leave very well alone.


    ''I understand. If Mr. Presha is angry at you for entering his room without permission, I will take that anger as a given. I will do my best to avoid that, though.


    ''It''s a bad habit of teachers to take everything on as their own responsibility. Presha and I are colleagues, and though it may seem spoiled, ...... we have spent a long time together. It''s us meddling that should be upset with that girl.


    Raquel nodded at Deite''s words. Then she opened the door quietly.


    Rune and I entered the room together, and I looked at the room - and accepted the scene as it was.


    If Raquel-san hadn''t told me beforehand, I would have been more than a little upset. A number of cuts, perhaps from spears, left marks on the walls and floor that looked like they had been cut and repaired.


    There was an old wooden bed by the wall of the room that did not seem to be used by the officers of the Order, and Presha-san did not lie on it, but sat there holding something in her arms, leaning against the wall.


    The thing she was holding was a tattered doll. And the spear propped up on the bed is always within her reach.


    ''...... Summoner-sama, you can''t go near it now. I''m sure it''s not your sister Raquel, and if you get close to Presha-san, you will have to ......


    Even in this state, everyone in the knight''s group treated Presha-san as a ''fierce general''.


    That''s because Presha-san''s knightly pride is something that has nothing to do with the heartbreak she''s had to deal with.


    ''''Lune is right. I''m not allowed to get any closer to her now.''''


    The anger she showed when she condemned the betrayal of her countrymen against our country, Laiseneier. It was a hatred, if you can call it that.


    As we fought together, she recognized me as one of her friends and even called me ''teacher''. Still, somewhere along the line, I felt that there was a lack of understanding between me and Presha-san.


    ...... utterly inadequate doctor. I was terrified somewhere inside, seeing how strong Presha was. How could you say you wanted to heal her wounds with that?


    Dear Summoner: ......


    Even the floor at her feet was scarred by a spear wound. One more step and she could be attacked by her nightmares.


    ''We will fill this distance. "Alraune, can you help me?


    ''Huh ...... yes. For the sake of the Summoner, I''m at your service for cheap: ......


    Lune answers and she touches her hand to the ground. Then the arraune ivy grows from under my feet and tangles, and the ivy travels across the floor to reach Presha''s bed.


    Then the ivy puts on a single flower. The pollen that the flower opens and makes it dance leads me to sleep - with the connection between me and Presha-san''s consciousness.


    I am shown the dreams she is having, and I am shown the dreams she is having. Even though I could imagine how painful it was, I wasn''t going to step back from where I was standing now.


    �� �� ��


    There is the sound of something, something metallic, clashing with each other. The sound of horses'' hooves, the sound of people in armor pacing - and a scream.


    What is it that I''m seeing? Amidst the faded scene, only the black smoke rising in the sky and the red color of the flames burning the houses are brightly colored.


    ''--Mom!��Just wait and I''ll help you in a minute. ......!


    The voice was a little younger and more innocent than it is now - but it was certainly Presha-san''s.


    This is what Presha-san is dreaming about. She''s a little girl, and she''s running to her village where she''s being attacked by someone, with a wooden stick in her hand.


    (Don''t go, don''t go ...... Mr. Presha, if you go now you will be killed ......!


    ''Wow!


    This is an event that happened in the past. It was a scene of soldiers flying the flag of an enemy country - not Zirconia, but the troops of the ''Grunica City Alliance'', which borders the eastern part of the kingdom, attacking a village.


    From the moment I connected my consciousness, Presha-san''s memories had flowed into me. But the sheer volume of information and her emotions burned into my memory create a tearing pain - not in my body, which is not here, but in my heart itself, which feels pain.


    Young Presha-san runs single-mindedly - jumping through the hole in the fence that surrounded the village, destroyed by force, and running as fast as a child, even if the cavalrymen who entered the village noticed her.


    ''''Mother, mother, mother! ......!


    Wildly wiping away her tears, she calls her mother repeatedly. Each time she does, her heart seems to tighten, but there''s nothing she can do about it now.


    --I can''t change the past. But I can''t allow myself to look away.


    I still only thought I had seen part of it and knew how horrible the consequences of warfare could be.


    The girl, Ms. Presha, opens the door to the house she believes to be her own, which was set on fire.


    ''...... mother ......?''


    I want to scream at her to stop looking, but I can''t change her behavior in the past.


    Ms. Presha follows the bloodstains left on the wooden floor and proceeds to the back of the house. She then enters the dining room where she would have once eaten with her mother and sees the room destroyed at random.


    Everything else turns gray. Only the blood that has flowed to Presha-san''s feet burns more red in my vision than anything else.


    ''''I don''t want to ...... ......!


    Removing the stick from her hand, Presha ran to her mother, who was already motionless, and clutched at her body.


    Memories of her time with her mother poured in. One by one, the memories of her time with her mother drained away and filled in black.


    The last thing Presha''s mother said to her was, ''It''s Presha''s birthday, I''m going to cook something delicious with my skills.


    If only she had left a little earlier. If only I had told her mother to be selfish and taken her out into the forest - in the midst of this regret, Presha realizes. She held her mother''s hand and the needle wound left on her fingertips.


    In the cleaved room, ''it'' was there, mixed in with the wreckage of the furniture. A hand-sewn doll, probably made by her mother for Miss Presha.


    Gifts that could be prepared to please a child were not so available in this village. Ms. Presha, who wanted a paper book, a precious paper book in the village, knew her mother was making a doll, but she was not pleased with it.


    She held the doll in her blood-soaked hands. As she held it in her arms, she saw a shadow stretching out from behind her.


    ''Don''t feel bad about ...... what you would have died if you hadn''t come back.


    -- instead of cowering in fear when she heard the voice.


    Reflexively, she picked up the stick placed beside her and swung it at the man standing behind her, who might have groped her mother.


    A sharp blow - but against a soldier in armor, it could not be a fatal blow.


    The soldier was enraged by the unexpected counterattack and swung his long sword. There was no way to receive it with a wooden stick - yet what Presha-san chose to do was to make a thrust with the resolve to stab it out.


    ''''--Aaaaah! ......!


    I don''t care if I get killed. Only this man, by his own hand--.


    Her thrust, unleashed to avenge him, however, completely cut through the sky.


    That was because the weapon of immense mass cleaved off the place where the soldier had been. The great man wielding a steel horse-mounted spear on the ground - the black-haired knight, Raquel-Ritkasha, who wore the same spirit as now, was there.


    ''''Ah...... ah......''''


    The blown-up enemy soldiers don''t move. Seeing Presha-san''s figure holding the stick, Raquel-san''s eyes are filled with sorrow.


    ''''I''m ...... sorry. If only we had arrived a little earlier ......''''


    Even though he knows he''s on our side, Mr. Presha can''t put down his stick. Her emotions, which have nowhere to go, are making her body''s freedom ineffective.


    She can only glare at her friendly knight who saved her. Even so, Raquel-san continued to face Presha-san in silence.


    ''''You fought well ....... But just being able to use a stick is not enough to survive in this desolate battlefield.''''


    I''m ...... with my mom ...... and my mom wouldn''t leave me. This is ...... such a thing, this is ...... such a thing, this is ......!


    It''s a bad dream. Before Presha-san could utter that, Raquel-san let go of her javelin, and without fear of being attacked, she stepped in front of Presha-san with her stick at the ready.


    ''''--Don''t come!


    Reflexively, Raquel-san just tilted her head to avoid the stick that was brought out, and clutched it.


    ''''Let go ...... let go ......!


    "...... You have the makings of martial arts. The enemy forces that attacked the village were routed by our Royal Army of the Raseneian Kingdom ...... under the command of my lord, Your Highness Astina.


    "I don''t know that ...... our village has done nothing wrong. ......


    "...... No matter how strong we get, we can''t protect everything. But in our army, we want to be. Even if that is a distant ideal.''''


    The power in the stick loosened. It was because I saw the tears on Raquel''s cheeks.


    My vision blurs and blurs. Presha-san is also crying - even though she was sad, she had forgotten to even cry, but seeing Raquel-san''s tears reminded her.


    The sticks that had been removed rolled across the floor. Raquel kneeled on the floor and hugged Presha.


    That was the beginning.


    One knight, Presha Hortensia, was born on the day she lost everything.

 85 Episode 83: Flightless Birds

    Presha-san was taken by Raquel-san to the headquarters of the Eastern Front to study as a Knight Candidate at the training school attached to the Order.


    Although he didn''t have many opportunities to be instructed by Raquel-san, Presha-san followed her instructions well and spent his time training to be as good as the male candidates. But the memory of that time was left in Plesha''s mind as an accumulation of pain and nothing else, just an accumulation of the things that made her the person she is today.


    Three hundred times a day with a stick that had no weight at first. When that didn''t feel responsive, she made a training device with weights on the stick, outside of regular class hours, and kept swinging it incessantly.


    With her hair short and looking like a boy, Presha was sometimes called ''male and female'' by the boys, but slowly she stopped caring about it. She had divided that in order to become a knight and fulfill her purpose, it was pointless to be aware of her gender.


    She overcame the training that was too much for a girl of early ten years of age by spending her innate magical power on physical recovery, and she developed physical abilities that were unimaginable for her small body. So the path to learning spirit magic and becoming a mage disappears - she didn''t realize that she had the makings of a demon warrior, but the people around her noticed her alien powers and slowly grew to fear her.


    Eventually, Presha-san began to participate in mock battles, and she became known by another name, ''She-Wolf'' (Volfes), because of the beastly way she controlled a stick that was much longer than her own height and greedily targeted her opponent''s weaknesses.


    There was no one who could beat her, not even the instructor. Two years after becoming a knight cadet, a girl who was only twelve years old became the top of the class based solely on her martial arts performance - but Presha-san''s wish to go to the front line was not fulfilled, and the one selected as an officer was a male cadet of noble blood.


    An eighteen-year-old young man. He might have had a shred of pride in him as well. He swore blatantly at Presha-san, who had never been able to win in martial arts.


    ''''You''re cocky, even though you''re an upstart poor man. You''re getting carried away just because your underlings like you. Look at the swollen spot where you struck me, it''s still swollen. What can you do about it?


    "...... I don''t know anything about that. I don''t remember hitting you in training.


    "If you don''t remember it, I have it!


    He took a number of the boys in his cronies and led them out to the back of the schoolhouse so that Mr. Presha could not argue with them. Looking relieved and triumphant, he approached Mr. Presha, who was standing there, and touched his chin.


    ''''You should mind your own business, and from now on, the poor should be quiet as the poor. If you don''t have weapons, you can''t do anything about it.


    How is it that humans are able to direct so much malice at people? Even an event that happened in the past would make me very hard to keep quiet about.


    But this is just an event that happened in the past. I can only watch - but.


    ''Ha, you''re finally getting it. Fine, I''ll discipline you in the manner befitting a little b*tc*. Hey, make sure no one comes in.


    From the next moment, the memory is choppy. What I can read is an all-consuming anger and a murderous intent.


    Don''t speak ill of my mother!


    Ms. Presha didn''t have a stick. So, the boys who surrounded her were also caught off guard - but.


    ''''This, this guy ...... guh!


    Presha-san was the first to aim at the opponent who had a weapon - a wooden sword for self-defense - and conquered him using only her physical skills. In the blink of an eye, she mastered her opponent''s arm and took the stick away, and then went to the nobleman''s young man who mocked her.


    ''''I will never forgive anyone who insults my mother. ......!


    "Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!


    The aristocratic young man lets out a pitiful scream. Presha-san raises his wooden sword with all his strength, with the intention of taking his life - but.


    ''''Hey ...... let go ...... let go ...... this guy, this guy let my mom ......!


    The one who had grabbed the wooden sword with an amazing grip and stopped it - it was Raquel-san. Her hair was cut off, and her impressions were very different, but there was no doubt about it.


    She had more of a warrior''s demeanor than when I brought Presha-san here, and it was enough to make me tremble involuntarily, just looking at the memory.


    ''''I''ll let you listen to her in the instruction room. I will report your actions to my immediate instructor. Since this is out of class time, you are to return to your quarters immediately.''''


    "Bullshit. ...... This guy was trying to kill me, man!��He hit me, the potential heir to the Viscount''s house, with a wooden sword!��That''s not acceptable!''


    The aristocratic young man made a provocation and then excused himself by putting himself on the shelf. Seeing this, Raquel didn''t say anything and looked around at the three people who were surrounding Presha.


    ''...... Why did you call your underclassman girlfriend alone?��The rules of the Knight Training School should prohibit personal interference in non-academic matters with the opposite s*x.''''


    "That''s because he was ...... this guy was rebellious against us ...... heck ......!


    A sharp light dwells in Raquel-san''s eyes, which had hardly shown any emotional movement until then - just like that, the aristocratic youth trembles and takes a step or two backwards.


    ''''It is forbidden to engage in private fights with other candidates, or to apply pressure as a group. If such things were done, the punishment would be severe, but ......''''


    "...... Oh, we didn''t ...... do anything. We didn''t even almost get beaten up ......


    ''That''s fine. If you start spouting malicious content against her, I''ll make this a matter for the entire training school.''


    "Kuh ...... ugh ......


    Unable to face Raquel-san''s gaze, the young man who looked at Presha-san with regret, had emotions in his eyes other than hostility and fear of Presha-san. That''s right - obsession.


    What was the purpose of calling Plesha-san? Even after realizing that, I can only think of it as too juvenile. What would be the point of forcing a favored party to listen to you by force?


    The actuality is that you have to pull back for now ......


    "Wha-...... I know you don''t have to tell me!��Excuse me. ......!


    The young man called Dadram left in a hurry, taking his cronies with him. The remaining Presha-san was lying on his face, still unable to let go of his wooden sword.


    ''''...... That''s not a weapon suitable for you. You promised to give me a spear when you became a quasi-regular knight. If you can''t hold out here, you won''t be able to do that either.''''


    It was only during the short period of time that Mr. Presha taught Mr. Raquel the spear during his stay at the training school that Mr. Raquel taught him. However, Presha-san looked up to Raquel-san as her spear master.


    Otherwise, Mr. Presha would have struck at Ms. Raquel as well, as she became unconscious back and forth. Plesha-san has not forgiven the person who insulted her mother - she quickly suppressed her murderous intent to keep Raquel from feeling sad.


    I''m ...... not going to be like my sister Raquel. I have to endure until I become a knight to avenge my mother''s enemies. ......


    ''...... If I had been put in the same situation as Presha, I would have been just as angry. There is no need to be ashamed of that. If your spear is wielded to protect your own pride, you really shouldn''t have stopped.''


    ...... No. If I kill him, I''m sure my noble parents will come out and try to execute me...... then it will be a problem for my sister Raquel who brought me here. I may be an idiot, but I know better than that.''


    Ms. Presha spoke stoutly, but she couldn''t hide the tremor in her voice. Mr. Raquel hesitated a bit, but he didn''t hug Ms. Presha like he used to.


    At the training school, you never know who''s eyes are on you. If rumors spread that Mr. Raquel, who was an active military officer, had made accommodations for Mr. Presha, a student, it would still put Mr. Presha''s position in jeopardy.


    ''There are those who forget their aspirations of defending the country and go sideways to satisfy their own greed,'' he said. Presha...... such people, neither I nor my lord will ever forgive such people. If unclean waters don''t suit you, get knighted as soon as possible.''


    ''...... yes. I wonder if I''ll be able to go ...... to the place I want to go.


    It wasn''t just Raquel-san in front of her that Presha-san''s words were directed at.


    The person who isn''t here - Presha-san was speaking with an empty gaze to somewhere far away.


    ''...... I''ll be able to go, I promise. But don''t forget. Hurrying to live is not going to make up for anything.''''


    Her voice seemed to be overflowing nonetheless as she stifled her emotions.


    Presha-san''s tense mind was faintly softened. She certainly felt comforted by Raquel-san''s words - and.


    "Thank you, Raquel. I''m going to be stronger than ever before on the battlefield. I want to repay her for everything she''s done for me.


    I think she said it with a smile. I''m looking at the past from Presha-san''s point of view, and I don''t understand her expression.


    But those words were only meant to cover up her true heart.


    Even if I was pulled back from the darkness now by Raquel-san''s hand, all along, Presha-san could still hear her voice.


    When Raquel-san seemed to back away, but still turned away and walked away, Presha-san looked at the wooden sword and said.


    ''''I''m ...... sorry, sister Raquel. I''m ......''''


    Presha-san had already been able to use her magic power under her unconsciousness to strengthen her physical abilities.


    The emotions that had no place to go were put into the hand that held the wooden sword''s hilt - the wooden sword, which should not have been shattered by the girl''s grip, creaked and snapped with a dizzying sound.


    The sharp edges of the wooden section scratch Presha-san''s palm. Plesha-san''s lips don''t hesitate to put her own blood on it as it tries to run down her fingers.


    She feels no pain. It''s a good thing that you''re not going to have to worry about the fact that you''re not going to have to worry about the fact that you''re not going to have to worry about the fact that you''re not going to have to worry about it.


    -- she had long ago lost the feeling that she was alive.


    It wasn''t her own will that drove her, but the voices that kept being heard.


    �����


    Then, about a year passed.


    Plesha-san was given the title of quasi-regular knight, the youngest at the time, and was assigned to the front line of the Eastern Front as requested by Raquel-san, who wanted her to be her subordinate.


    The first unit that Presha-san belonged to was the Fifty-seventh Cavalry Rangers led by His Highness Astina. Plesha-san, who had studied horsemanship at the training school, was given her own horse and the long spear that she had promised Raquel, and she demonstrated her abilities as a demon warrior and made military achievements one after another - but.


    Three months after being assigned to the team, it was three months later. Presha-san was on the verge of being promoted to a regular knight, and was placed in a punishment cell in the Eastern stronghold of Vulcanus Fortress.


    Dressed in rags and bound with wooden fetters on her arms and legs, she was staring at the rats that lived in the corner of the prison.


    ''...... Presha''


    At the sound of a voice, Mr. Presha, who was sitting with his back to the wall, slowly looked up. Standing outside the bars was Raquel-san, whose hair had grown out.


    A demon warrior''s body metabolism was improved by magic power, and his hair would grow much faster than an ordinary person. It meant that Raquel-san was constantly putting herself in fierce battles.


    Already by this time, her body had begun to scream under the load - it could be seen that she was constantly wielding the super-heavy javelin of a horse, a super-heavy spear. Even if it was the figure in Presha-san''s memory.


    The time was like night. The light coming in from the high air window was moonlight - in that, Raquel-san was quietly staring at Presha-san.


    ''...... Why didn''t you tell me. That I was looking into the officers stationed in this fortress.


    "If you tell my sister Raquel about ......, she''ll get in trouble for .......


    When Presha-san said in a faint voice, Raquel couldn''t hide her indignation on her face. It looked as if he was crying.


    ''''They did what they should have ...... been punished for, but there were other things they could have done. Even if you didn''t do something that would have put you in jail, there are other ...... things you could have done.''''


    ...... It wasn''t just the neighbors I had to deal with. The people who talked to our enemies that day, the people who ruined my village ...... are still alive and kicking, and the fact that they sold out my village... ...innocent, jokingly ......''


    Presha was investigating the reason why enemy forces had invaded her village - it was because the troops defending her village did not respond to the enemy forces when they attacked.


    ''...... The troops defending the village where Presha lived were of low skill level and were far from the area where the battle was originally taking place. The enemy forces that set them apart were cunning: ......''


    But ...... they ran away before the Raquel sisters could come to their rescue. They came to the village and wanted things, but in the end they sold the village and then they said it was not a bad thing because they had no choice but to ......


    That was the reason why enemy forces had infiltrated across the border and raided Mr. Presha''s village.


    For the sake of temporary gain, they sold the village where the innocent people lived to the enemy forces in order to avoid the danger of engaging themselves.


    But they could not be blamed for the crime, as they were supposed to have committed a great crime against military discipline.


    ''...... The sons of noblemen are sealed off from the territory by making military achievements as knights. But not all of them are brave enough to make a difference in battle.''''


    "I''m a nobleman, so ...... I won''t be charged with a crime for abandoning my village and running away. I won''t even be blamed for laughing at such a thing.


    Raquel doesn''t answer.


    ''''I''m not well versed in the aristocracy. But even when I was at the academy, there were students who were accommodated because they came from a noble family. It''s not just about drawing the ''winning'' spirit, it''s also about having excellent grades.


    I''ve never strongly questioned that. It''s not just a matter of being an aristocrat, it''s a matter of being a nation where people with high family status are given preferential treatment. Now, I can only feel ashamed of that - after seeing the attitude of the aristocratic youths towards Mr. Presha.


    But we can''t easily change the structure of the country or the consciousness of the people. Knowing this, Raquel is unable to say anything.


    ''My village was only worth so much to this country. I''d rather fight as a knight like those traitorous guys ......''''


    ''...... sometime ago, we talked about it. You shouldn''t stop wielding that spear if you''re trying to protect your pride.


    ''Then ...... why can''t you kill those guys ......?��Mom says to kill those guys... ......!


    Ms. Raquel''s eyes widened. She knew for the first time at this time - what is the identity of the thing that is still driving Presha-san.


    ''I don''t have to be a knight ...... if I can make those guys pay for their sins.


    ''If you did that, what''s left of ....... If it''s still just a punch and that''s it. I had a problem with what they said ......, but if the next time the same thing happens ......''


    ...... the Raquel''s sister is also an aristocrat who will eventually listen to the aristocrats. Because Raquel''s family is related to the aristocracy ...... and she''s different from me from birth, you should feel sorry for me ......


    Racquel-san took in all of Presha-san''s words in silence.


    Seeing the sad look on her face, Presha-san had actually noticed it too. That there was no point in blaming Raquel-san - and that she was doing something irreversible.


    Nevertheless, Presha-san, knowing that she shouldn''t say it, said the rest of the story.


    ''Whether or not I could avenge my mother''s death didn''t matter to my sister Raquel....... That''s right, it doesn''t matter. I''m just a foundling ......


    Her heart was just empty.


    The first time she became Raquel''s subordinate, when she got her first battle results, Presha was praised by Raquel, and she was truly happy about it.


    The soft smile that the quiet Raquel sometimes seemed to spill out of her mouth made Presha admire her, and she longed to be as strong and beautiful as she was.


    If she didn''t remember that she was a woman, she would never be strong. With this in mind, Plesha began to grow her hair long because she wanted to be as close to Raquel''s figure as possible.


    To Presha, Raquel was more important than anyone else, and she admired her so much.


    But the face of her mother, who was supposed to be kind, warned Presha - every time her mind tried to leave the past, there was no escape.


    ''...... Presha. All this time, in your heart ...... you didn''t believe in me, didn''t you ......?''


    That''s not true. I want to answer that, but Presha-san can''t put it into words.


    There is no point in taking out the regret of not being able to fulfill one of your revenge on Raquel-san. Even though she knows this, Plesha-san''s will is twisted by the voices she hears.


    --that''s how you forget about me?��Presha was such a sweet girl.


    The voice of someone who wasn''t there could be heard loud and clear. To Presha, it is real and not an illusion or anything else.


    He is definitely there. The spirit body of her mother, holding Presha-san from behind.


    --you''re so strong, you''ll avenge your mother''s death.


    But it''s not. It''s not the mother Ms. Presha knows. It''s a spirit without a will drawn by her guilt, a spirit that has changed in response to her remorse.


    The events the genie exerted are deeply imprinted in a person''s memory. That''s why I was able to notice - if I had a spirit doctor at the time, I might have been able to notice the disease that was consuming Presha-san earlier.


    "I don''t ...... believe in anyone or anything ......


    The decisive words try to spill out. Mr. Presha can''t look Raquel in the eye - his heart creaks and aches, but he can''t stop it.


    But before the empty words can be spun to the end. The voice reached their ears.


    ''''It''s Presha. It can''t be your true intentions.''''


    "Wha-......, Your Highness, why are you here ......


    The stagnant air of the prison seemed to be purified by the limpid qi she wore.


    --Astina-Razeneier. A third princess with golden hair stood in the corner of Racquel-san''s gaze, wearing white and silver armor.

 86 Episode 84: The Four Knights Gathering

    Although His Royal Highness Astina was her direct superior to Ms. Presha, she had never had the opportunity to receive a direct word from him before.


    This was because, as the third princess, she was constantly being watched by those around her, so His Highness Astina was always forced to behave cautiously.


    In the Rayseneian Knights, it was customary for knights with command authority above the head of a unit to give orders to their subordinates through a deputy who acted as an assistant, and it was not recommended to have direct words with certain subordinate knights.


    Although quasi-regular knights were elite in the army as a whole, their individual combat abilities made them a subordinate who was likely to be on the front lines with the civilian soldiers and, from a senior knight''s point of view, likely to be unreturned. It was believed that if they had feelings for each one of them, it would reduce the accuracy of their command.


    --But His Highness Astina was different. She was willing to break conventions and cause her superiors to have a bad opinion of her, and she came here out of concern for her subordinate, Presha-san.


    Raquel, who always stood tall, straightened her posture even more to show her Highness her thanks. His Highness responded with a small wave of his hand and stood in front of the cell where Plesha had been placed.


    Through the bars, His Highness was standing at the end of Presha''s misty gaze. You''ll be able to get the most out of it.


    ...... This is not the place for your highness to come. I don''t want to be pardoned. I still regret that I didn''t kill those men who sold out my village.


    "Wha-......, Plesha, what is it like for you to be here: ......


    ''''It''s fine, Raquel. I was unaware of Presha''s thoughts and asked him to take the lead as an excellent spear knight. ...... I thought Presha''s boldness was dependable. I didn''t even know what kind of emotion that spear was being wielded with.


    Presha-san looked up at His Highness'' eyes, which were filled with a quiet light, without saying a word.


    From Raquel-san, Presha-san had heard a little bit about His Highness Astina''s character. Born as a princess, she did not want to end her life being used as material for political maneuvering, and in order to protect her homeland and her close relatives, she entered the officer''s academy at the same age as Presha-san, and finished the entire course in two years, half of what would normally take four years to complete, and graduated.


    With her beauty, which is said to be immense, the leaders of the Order had contacted her many times, dreaming of marrying the princess of the kingdom - but His Highness Astina was never as they wanted her to be, and until she was called by the nickname of ''The Lone Swordswoman'', her personal efforts He has made a lot of success in the war alone.


    His Highness Astina standing further away from Raquel, the object of admiration for Ms. Presha. But she, too, can never punish an officer from the nobility who has abandoned his people for self-defense.


    His Highness Astina will make a successful war in the East and eventually return to the center. Being on the front line originally is an exception in itself, so he''s not like a soldier like himself who ends his life in battle.


    ...... I only fight because I hate them, and I don''t want the unforgivable to live. I''m not going to be able to say that the person who betrayed our village or the League of Grunica Cities is any different. I hate the traitor more for being a nobleman of this country.


    --That''s very sweet of you, Presha. Your mother would be so proud of you.


    --You should kill anyone who stands in your way. Our suffering will never be understood by this fair maiden.


    Like a curse, a gentle voice can be heard. An indiscriminate killing intent boils up from inside Presha-san - not by justice, nor by her will.


    With her now, no matter how strong she is, I don''t think she can survive for long on the battlefield. From this moment on, it seemed that she couldn''t even move on to Raiseneire.


    Because in Presha-san''s mind, even though it was given to her by others, she only had the desire to kill His Highness in front of her.


    His Highness Astina should have noticed it too. And yet, she is.


    Just standing there, taking in all of Presha-san''s emotions as they are.


    ''''There is no law in this kingdom right now to punish those who caused your village to be attacked by the enemy. His Majesty the King must decide on the punishment in person ......, but the only thing reported to His Majesty by the Knights is the victory and defeat of the battle.


    At that time the warfare in the east and south was fierce, and His Majesty the King was lying sick in his bed with much heartache. Bartholomew 25th, once known as the Sun of L?senneia, became incapacitated after a serious illness in his fifties - his public appearances declined so much that Queen Cassandra II even took over for the king. It was.


    I will appeal to His Majesty, that King, to punish the nobleman who fell on Mr. Presha''s village. That this was impossible even for His Highness Astina, His Highness''s deep melancholy eyes showed that this was impossible even for His Highness.


    Even though she is a princess, she has no authority. Nor does she intend to punish traitors. Ms. Presha was not disappointed by that.


    A black stain fell on Presha-san''s worn out mind. The spirit of a person is being eroded - the human spirit is being eroded.


    I don''t care how many people over here die before ...... if that''s all that matters to you as long as you defeat the enemy. Is that what you''re saying ......?


    "Presha ......, in the presence of His Highness Astina, such ......!


    ''It''s fine, Raquel. I can''t punish them ...... A superior officer who can''t even make his subordinates feel better about their disappointment is not qualified to lead.


    --Don''t be fooled, Presha. This man is only trying to play you down with pseudo words.


    --The princess wants freedom. She just wants to make you a convenient dumping ground for her achievements.


    ''Yes ...... I know ...... mother ......''


    ...... presha.


    It was a very small murmur. But there was no way His Highness and Raquel-san would miss it.


    Raquel-san is biting her lip. His Highness Astina looked at her and then turned to Presha-san once more.


    (...... No.) If you leave Presha-san alone any longer ...... but ......)


    Even though I know it''s in the past, I wish it was. I must wipe away the blackness that seems to be entwining around Mr. Presha, now.


    --But. His Highness Astina''s magical power, which should have been sealed off at that point, slightly overflows from his body.


    His Highness didn''t give up or try to give up, no matter how much Presha-san rejected him. It was a force that made him feel compassionate, which I could clearly see - even though the overflow of magical power would be a great burden on His Highness'' body.


    The battle with the Urban Alliance has been in a stalemate for the past month ...... and the burden on both sides is so great that there is a move to seek opportunities for a lecture.


    ''Your Highness Astina, with all due respect ...... the current situation is that we are losing a key border point to the League of Cities, and I''m afraid that if we don''t change that situation, the movement of the lecture will not proceed. ......


    ...... That is, if the situation does not change. The decision on the operation in a week''s time has just been made by the Governor General of the Eastern Sector Army. We will attack the enemy''s stronghold, which is staring at the ...... Aldrone Valley, which breaks the urban alliance''s stance and shows our military superiority.


    The Aldrone Valley - it is a natural pivot point called the ''corridor'' that runs east to west across the southern border between Laiseneier and Grunica.


    During the winter months it is impassable due to snowfall, but during the current season and summer it can be advanced by infantry and horses. However, the Grunica side has built a fort adjacent to the ravine, and as the border approaches, they mercilessly rain arrows down on you.


    However, a ''fierce general'' who defies common sense as much as His Highness Astina, Raquel-san, and Presha-san would be able to ride through the ravine while mounted.


    ''''If we can bring the Aldrone Valley under our control, Grunica''s army will try to retake it at all costs. However, we are only a ranger ...... If our main force doesn''t move, it will be difficult for them to divide their troops into the valley, too. Right now they are in a favorable terrain, so we only have to deploy our troops as they are now.


    If we tried to build a fort in the ravine, the enemy would come out to interfere. However, we can''t attack them from here - it can be said that our foresight in not thinking that the ravine would be a strategically important place and not building a base was lax.


    If it was His Highness Astina, she should be able to determine where we must hold just by looking at the topographical map around the border - she had the ability to foresee the battlefield even before she made a contract with the divine tree.


    As she listened to the story, Presha-san was anticipating what she was going to be told.


    His Highness had come to punish him in prison. And that was something for Mr. Presha to rejoice over. Because punishing a traitor and slaying an enemy soldier are equivalent for her.


    If ...... I cut in and ...... pave the way, then ......


    With Presha''s strength, he could run through the canyon if he used his strength to risk his life and just keep going.


    But that was not the case. The person I knew, His Highness Astina, had never changed and never forced his subordinates to sacrifice alone.


    ''No ...... you are not alone. Presha, you will go with us. Three horsemen will ride through the valley.


    ''Huh ...... Your highness, that won''t do!��No matter how strong His Highness is, he himself is such a .......


    ''For now, I''m only taking care of part of the squad. The difference between the captain and his men is not so great as absolute ...... difference?


    His Highness dares to speak without regard to the fact that he is the third princess in line of succession to the throne.


    Raquel tries to say something. But His Highness''s eyes, which are filled with determination, are unwavering.


    ...... together.... and the three of us... ......?


    That reckless belief of His Highness made Presha-san regain her human-like emotions.


    The hatred for the nobleman who caused my mother''s death faded for a moment, and the original glow of Presha Hortensia, the brave spear knight, returned.


    ''''Yes. Me and you two. These three are the only ones who can fulfill this.''''


    At that time, he was still unaware of the Raseneian Kingdom and the Grenica City Alliance.


    His Highness Astina, who would later be called the Sword Princess General. And that the two knights who serve her have the strength of a single rider each.


    �� �� ��.


    The next sight I see, Presha-san has already left the punishment cell.


    After finishing my report to my superior officer, Raquel-san, and walking down the corridor of the fortress to go to the training, Presha-san is greeted by a man I recognize as a wild man.


    --Dadrum. The man who called out to Plesha with a group of people and tried to get her to follow him, but couldn''t.


    ''How did you get into the princess''s arms?��...... Well, I love the idea of joining the Order, I love the fact that that princess is only interested in women. ......


    ...... He''s looking at Mr. Dadram like that again. ......!


    Mr. Presha, who did not mean to sharpen his eyesight, swallowed his anger nonetheless, with heartfelt contempt for Dadram and his crony men.


    ''You can say whatever you like about me. But I will not allow you to speak ill of your highness.''


    ''''Ha, haha ...... still such a strong point. I know, I know that you were grabbed by your uncle and offered a severe punishment.


    Huh. ......!


    What those words mean is that Dadram''s uncle has sold Mr. Presha''s village. How corrupt are the knights stationed in this Vulcanus Fortress - how corrupt are they?


    It''s not surprising to be disappointed. But Presha-san understood that there was no point in taking out his anger on Dadram here.


    ''Leaving the punishment cell will be the end of you, Presha. I''ll give you another chance ...... to follow me. If you do that, I''ll work to keep you in knighthood in the future.


    How can you say that, I even shudder. Still, Ms. Presha was noticeably different than she had been before she met His Highness - she was closer to the girl I knew, when she was behaving pleasantly.


    ''I''m not worth the trouble you''re going to put up with,'' she said. I think you have a much better chance of getting a partner than a woman who is all about fighting.


    ''...... Don''t regret it, Presha. I gave you twice the warmth, remember?


    Dadram spits that out and leaves with his cronies. Presha-san, who is left behind, clenches her fists tightly - but her strength is loosened.


    Ms. Raquel was worried, and she followed Presha-san. She approaches Ms. Presha from behind and places a hand on her shoulder, tapping her gently once, twice.


    ''''Even though the country has a large percentage of women, the Order is a male society. Even more so, there are those who come from the nobility who gain power without even a fragile experience of actual combat ...... A man like that sees female knights as nothing more than objects of lowly desire. You used to suppress your words.


    Even though they weren''t related by blood, Raquel-san''s exertions for Presha-san were like that of her own sister.


    When Presha-san touched Raquel-san''s hand, she smiled as if she didn''t need to be so careful. The blue-haired girl''s smile was reflected in Raquel-san''s jet-black eyes.


    ''''If she''s as beautiful as Raquel''s sister, she''s still so fond of things that she''s interested in me, isn''t she? Besides, seeing your highness, it seems like you don''t care about men and women like me even more.


    ...... Some men find it satisfying to subdue a woman with the power to fight. Besides, Presha has a low opinion of himself, but that''s not the case at all.


    ''That''s exactly what I''m talking about, I think it''s a family affair. I''d have to say that sister Raquel is kind and strong, not ...... because she''s kind and strong.


    Why do you correct me ...... Do you think I''d be embarrassed if you just said you were kind?


    It''s an exchange that makes me, who''s watching, smile more. Presha-san''s desolate heart is definitely being healed by the presence of His Highness and Raquel-san - allies in the knightly order.


    Still, there are some wounds that won''t disappear just by covering them softly. The danger I had felt watching Presha-san had continued since then.


    ''...... We must not show any weakness. The nobles see us as nothing more than pawns.


    The one who was in the end of Presha-san''s gaze - was Ms. Deite.


    The woman of that time had an appearance that was completely different from the present. It''s a good thing that you''re able to get a good idea of what you''re looking for.


    ''''I know about your situation, Presha....... But not all the nobles in this country are who you think they are. Please correct what you just said.


    ...... I think Deite''s archery skills are great, too. For a nobleman, you''ve honed your martial arts skills and joined the Order.


    If you''d like to acknowledge me as a colleague, even a little bit, I''d be happy to give you my opinion: ......


    If you want to get my way, try beating me. Then you''ll do what I tell you to do.


    A clear provocation - that''s something you shouldn''t normally do to the same knight.


    However, Deite-san was calm. She took Presha-san''s words head on and was completely unfazed - even Presha-san was slightly surprised inwardly at her boldness.


    A dainty noblewoman. Deethe-san, who should have been born and raised in completely different circumstances, Presha-san sensed something that she could relate to.


    ''''Our duty, as members of the Order, is to depose the enemy nation. I hope that Presha will appreciate me for the kind of work I do.


    ...... Presha, Deite is right. Don''t make the mistake of pointing your spear at the wrong person.


    ...... I don''t appreciate it or anything. I''m the one who asked His Highness and Sister Raquel to see if they can use it.


    ''I know it sounds like an impertinent thing to say, but ...... if you think you''re being ''used'', you don''t understand His Highness Astina, nor do you understand Lord Raquel. I know much better than you do from the outside looking in.


    Ms. Deethe, too, was not a simple matter. When she returned the challenge of Presha-san''s challenge, she gave a ladylike bow and walked away.


    Raquel-san looked at Presha-san without saying a word - but suddenly the edges of her mouth loosened and she huffed.


    ''''You don''t dislike a knight with a backbone like that, do you?


    ...... Because it''s enough to have a Raquel sister to be nosy like that, like she''s my big sister or something.


    Raquel only smiled at Presha''s reply.


    The calm time that passed between battles. But it was only a short-lived one - the Eastern Sector Army would decide on a major operation two days later.


    While the main force of Vulcanus Fortress is drawing the main force of the enemy, a separate force will attack the Urban Alliance''s fortress, which is just beyond the Aldrone Valley.


    Among those selected for the separate force was His Highness Astina''s troops, who had volunteered, overcoming the opposition of those around them.

 87 Episode 85: Dawn

    As I looked at Presha-san''s memories, I understood something - her mind had already been healed to some extent before she met me.


    Why was she still tormented by nightmares? There was one reason.


    Even after meeting Raquel, who was like a sister to her, and meeting a lord who shared her aspirations, she couldn''t erase the guilt inside her.


    If only she hadn''t left the village that day. If only she had been able to protect her mother--.


    If there is a way somewhere in this world to bring back the life that was lost, I don''t know. I''ve never heard of a spirit that can do that.


    Then what can I do? I''m just sitting on the sidelines, entering people''s dreams, and I haven''t been able to do anything doctor-like yet.


    (...... Summoner-sama, Sister Presha, you keep repeating the same dream all the time. (I''m sure that''s because if you remember the painful things, you have to remember the happy things, too, or your heart will break.)


    Presha-san''s dream and Lune, who is connecting me to my consciousness, speaks to me.


    If Lune is right, how sad it is.


    I still don''t know what the answer is. What can I do to free my mind from being trapped in the past?


    Presha-san''s memories are flowing away. Joining His Highness Astina''s ranger, she enters the Aldrone Gorge - only three knights ahead of her, attempting to break through, conquering the men who try to accompany her, saying they will die in vain.


    The canyon road is covered with a horse-proof fence to prevent cavalry. For the Grenica Urban Alliance, this place was supposed to be an impregnable keystone - if it was against ''normal cavalry''.


    ''''--Haah!


    Raquel-san wielded her javelin and proceeded to reap the horse-proof fence - the scene was like a tornado passing by.


    On the battlefield, the sound of bells echoes - the falling arrows cause Raquel-san''s horse to half-raise up with a loud whine.


    ''''What are you doing ...... following, archer horsemen ......?''''


    "--Racquel, please switch spears!��The enemy is quicker to notice ...... this is .......


    His Highness Astina blocked the falling arrows with her slender sword - the girls, who were supposed to break through with three horsemen at this point, had to stop their horses when they realized what was happening.


    ''''Why are the enemy archers lying down, even inside the ...... borders ...... preshach!


    Huh!


    With a flash of her spear, Presha-san knocked down an arrow that flew from behind. That''s right, behind her - the enemy archers shot at her from the top of the cliffs across the ravine, as the girls passed by.


    Then they turned around and were astonished at the scene they saw. There was no sign of the troops that were supposed to follow them and cover them from the rear -- the three horsemen were followed by a long-bow unit to check the enemy archers, and the archers were supposed to follow, but instead of entering the ravine, they were stationed in a position that blocked their retreat.


    --Dadram''s uncle is leading the rear troops. Dadram, who was standing by his side, did not try to do their part, letting only His Highness Astina''s direct subordinates come forward.


    ''Despicable ...... you people are so vile, even at a time like this ......!


    ''Raquel, Presha, please attract the enemy''s attack ......, the other cavalrymen can''t block the arrows!��But if it''s us, we can go to ......


    If it gets out that they left His Highness to die, Dadram and the others will be accused of a crime - and yet the fact that they went to this kind of folly is probably the result of their self-protection for their own life cuteness.


    Or was Cassandra the Second Queen already interfering? Either way, His Highness Astina and the others who were forced to form an isolated form in enemy territory seemed to find it difficult to even leave the valley and survive - but.


    ''''--Preshach!


    Presha-san, who had been continuously beating away the falling arrows, made her horse run - neither His Highness Astina nor Raquel-san was in a position to follow her.


    The horse-proof fence zone that Raquel-san had destroyed no longer served as a deterrent against the cavalry. The cavalrymen who came out of the enemy''s fort would still have stepped out of the enemy''s stronghold, but they would have stepped that no one would be able to reach them - until Ms. Presha came running through the falling arrows.


    ''Why can''t the arrows hit ......, they won''t die ......!


    ''--Yeah!


    Blood and wind blew. Long spears were sent out to split the sky, and without letting the enemy''s cavalry respond to a single match, they took out one by one.


    ''''--Presha, come back!��Don''t stick out on your own, you''re too close to the enemy''s stronghold. ......!


    Mr. Raquel is shouting - Presha''s voice has reached him.


    ''I''m ...... already ......''


    She was bathed in the return blood of several cavalrymen and took an inevitable arrow to her shoulder, and still she tried to move forward.


    ''...... This is ...... the end of the .......''


    ''--Oooh!


    The knight, enraged at the sight of his companion''s death, abandons himself and marches forward furiously - Presha-san''s movements slow as he is hit by an arrow, and he barely tries to handle it, but his grip weakens for a moment and his long spear leaves his hand.


    The enemy''s cavalrymen scream out a yell. Even at that moment, Presha-san did not feel fear.


    --But it was just an attempt to lose her mind and accept the pain and everything.


    ''''--Please back off, Presha!


    There was a voice that wasn''t supposed to be heard.


    Presha-san''s body reacts. The moment she narrowly dodges the spear of the enemy soldier that was unleashed, an arrow thrusts into the enemy soldier''s shoulder.


    ''''Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ......!


    Mr. Presha took the spear from the enemy horseman and threw it off his horse - and he did it with his left hand only, not with his right hand, which was not strong enough to do it.


    The arrows of support were not the only ones fired by Ms. Deite - Deite''s men, lined up on the cliffs on the south side of the ravine, poured arrows down on the enemy army.


    ''Captain Astina, Raquel-dono!��The fifty or so under Dite, the rightful knight, have belatedly arrived!��I will now take command!


    Deete-san had taken the enemy archers who were lying face down on the cliffs on the south side by surprise or were annihilated - the archers on the north side were checked by the longbows flying in from the opposite side and slowed down their attack on the valley.


    Presha-san and Raquel-san aren''t the only ones - Dite-san is also a ''fierce general'' who can''t be lined up as an archer cavalryman.


    His Royal Highness Astina, who has received support, orders the hundred-plus horsemen of the troops to break through. Even so, the unmoving Dadram and the others no longer seemed to be confused by the fate of having destroyed themselves in self-defense.


    If their lordships survived, their treachery would be exposed. In all, it should have been a thousand troops, but less than two hundred were following His Highness'' command - but there shouldn''t have been so many troops on the enemy''s side that relied on the terrain.


    ''''Presha, get a grip!��We''ll take care of your wounds right away. ...... You''ll have to endure a little more, just a little more. ......!


    Raquel-san catches up with him, and Presha-san follows him, pulling the reins with one hand and letting his horse run with the other. Her Highness Astina and the other horsemen catch up with her, and they exit the ravine safely - and.


    The enemy nation''s fort, which was supposed to keep an eye on the ravine and hold the key border point, was assaulted by Raquel-san''s jousting spear, which broke through even the stone walls, allowing the Raseneian army to enter.


    The fort, which was not expected to be invaded, was fragile, and a second after breaking through the ravine, the flag of the Raseneian Kingdom was raised in the fort - the first battle with His Highness Astina and the three knights together ended in the form of a victory.


    �� ���


    The occupation of the fort in the Aldrone Valley by Raiseneire dealt a heavy blow to the League of Cities of Grunica.


    The League of Cities, exhausted from repeated attempts to retake the fort, could no longer suppress the dissatisfaction of its citizens and asked for and received a ceasefire on terms favorable to the L?zen?ire.


    With the truce condition of the League of Cities'' military reduction, the Eastern Army was also reduced, and although it was renamed the "Eastern Guard," the soldiers returned to the center or went to other battlefields - which led to a surprise attack by the hard-liners of the League of Cities. But at that time, His Highness Astina had already been transferred to the Western Front because of the medals he had earned on the Eastern Front and was appointed as the guardian of the Isle Rose Fortress.


    The female only Knights of the Isle Rose. That meant that the knights and soldiers who wanted to be under His Highness Astina were all women.


    The male knights couldn''t accept a ''female commander''. However, His Highness Astina''s appearance of taking up the sword and fighting on the front line, despite being a princess, was enthusiastically supported by the female knights and soldiers.


    After becoming a regular knight, Plesha-san was appointed as the captain of the attack force and continued to play a lion''s share of the role in suppressing the riots in the territory and in the face of the Zirconia Empire''s invasion.


    Her respect for His Highness Astina and her admiration for Raquel-san. Her friendship with Deite - and her interactions with the soldiers in the fortress who admired Plesha''s strength - all contributed to Plesha''s success.


    All of this was comfortable for Presha-san.


    But at night. She sleeps with her mother''s doll in her arms, has nightmares and can''t help but reject anyone who comes near.


    The depths of darkness. It''s always in places like this that Ms. Presha continues to be tormented with guilt - to be able to see her mother as I see her in front of me.


    ''What''s wrong with that?��This child is mine. It''s only natural that you should care for your own daughter.''


    The spirit that dwelt in the sickbed of guilt and consumed Presha-san - it was no longer nothing more than the same quality as the underworld spirit.


    The reason why she was still unaware of the underworld spirit inhabiting Noin, even after seeing it, was because Presha-san was trying to take it all in stride. She couldn''t deny what she saw in her mother''s form.


    I respect Plesha-san''s heart from the bottom of my heart - I want to save her from everything that takes advantage of her suffering.


    ''Then you''ll give it back to me?��The time I was supposed to be with my daughter.


    "...... It can''t be done,


    The underworld spirit, in the form of Mr. Presha''s mother, laughs. She is mocking my helplessness.


    ''I will not give you this child. My little Presha ...... will remain forever young and go to the same place as me.''


    (Summoner ......, the one that''s giving Presha nightmares, comes ......!


    "Huh. ......!


    An underworld spirit changes its form - its human likeness is changing as you look at it.


    A black snake. It was not similar to the one that had been consuming Noin, and it was not similar to the one that had been consuming Noin, but Presha-san, who was still in the form of a child - entangled in her very spirit and biting at its neck.


    ''Kuu...... ugh...... Momma...... sorry I couldn''t save you. ......


    ''This is how ...... lurks and torments ...... people''s minds for years ......!


    There was no reason why she should suffer so much. She has fought as a knight and defended this country - with a bloody effort to gain the strength to fight.


    ''You, too, will sleep with her ...... here, forever.''


    (-- Summoner, run away! ......!)


    The black snake that was tying Prisha-san to the ground bared its fangs at me.


    I knew it would worry Rune, but I dared to take it in my arms. Even in the dream, the pain of the piercing fangs remains the same, but in fact it is more intense than in reality.


    ''...... stupid child. If you had just left this human being and ran away, you wouldn''t have to suffer. Why do humans always do things for nothing?''


    The voice of the underworld spirit that had stopped imitating Presha''s mother was terribly grating - it sounded multiple layers of sound, and it didn''t sound like it was coming from a person''s throat.


    (If you want to bully Summoner-sama ...... Summoner-sama, I''ll be the one to deal with you. ......)


    ''It''s okay ...... this kind of pain is nothing. It''s no big deal. ......''


    Even if it is a nightmare, the blood shed is directly related to death. The spilling of blood by the spirit is synonymous with the loss of magical power.


    "There''s no such thing as an understanding of pain now ...... just a part of it. I don''t know a single piece of the pain that Mr. Presha has experienced ......


    If you draw a ''hit'' spirit, you become a military mage. I''ve always taken it for granted - and was once disappointed that it didn''t happen.


    Even the moment when I thought I was unhappy that I drew an ''outlier'' spirit, is now just a past I should be ashamed of.


    I was able to learn in the safety of the academy, without fear of warfare. Presha-san couldn''t even give me what I took for granted.


    ''I''m an idiot ...... a big idiot. Even when Mr. Presha called me a teacher, I accepted it like it was natural. I''m ...... I didn''t deserve to be called a teacher by her, but ......, just because I used magic to get results ...... that''s all that matters, great! Just pretend you are .......


    He thought he could fight as well as she did. That even if I couldn''t use a sword or a spear, I could still be useful with magic.


    I was content with that, that she recognized me. I felt uncomfortable, but I didn''t make sure of it - even while she was suffering like this.


    ''...... oka ......sa ...... no ...... me, only...'' ...that, people are ......


    A voice that sounds interrupted. Even though she is in so much pain, she does not ask for help.


    More than pain, more than suffering, there is something she should enjoy.


    For that - the poisoning by the fangs of the underworld spirit, to be cleansed.


    ''What are you trying to ......?��Trying to rip me away from this girl is not going to work. My fangs are deeply sunk in. As it is, sooner or later, this child is going to die. ...... Can you get out of my way?''


    A poison that eats away at the human mind. There is no such thing as a specific remedy for it under normal medical practice. It is said that this is the only way to continue healing over a long period of time.


    But if it''s brought about by a type of spirit, it''s a different story. I''m a ''spirit doctor'' - if it''s a pathology brought about by a spirit, I should be able to heal it.


    ''You might have thought you could drive your fangs into me too and that would be the end of it. It makes sense for a doctor to let a snake bite him: ...... Lune!��Extract the poisonous antibodies that have formed inside me!


    (eh ...... antibodies ...... Master''s power to fight the poison. ...... Ray wants you to come too, and you two will help him!


    ''I''ve been waiting. I thought I''d see what I could do.


    Drawn into a dream by Arlaune, Ray appears - the magical ginseng mandrake, which swallows all the miasma and turns it into its own power. I''m not sure I''m going to be able to get my hands on it.


    It was dangerous if the poison went around before ...... creating the antibodies. Summoner-sama is too reckless.


    Ray, in the form of a young girl, gives me a quick, glare. But I apologize for worrying her, after I''ve put an end to everything.


    You can''t erase me from this child''s mind by creating poisonous antibodies ...... such things. We''ll be together ...... forever, and I have to watch over him until Presha destroys everything.''''


    Will she continue to play to the end - or is this a wish of Ms. Presha''s? Did her wish for her mother to be alive in any form give rise to this illness?


    I feel precious about such kindness from Ms. Presha. But it has to end now - I don''t think Presha''s mother is trying to make her daughter suffer, even if she says it''s an ideal and just a judgment, I don''t think she''s trying to make her daughter suffer.


    ''Don''t insult the people who are gone any more,'' she said. Ms. Presha''s mother would never say that ......!''


    "...... spoiled ...... my mom is going to die. ...... I''m already ......


    It''s not a bad thing!��It''s never too late for anything!''


    With Ray''s power, the poison that binds my movements disappears. In the next moment, my arms shine - the divine tree connected through His Highness, the ''priestess'', responded to my summons.


    --It''s not just a matter of time before you''ll be able to get your hands on it. It''s not just a matter of time before you''ll be able to get your hands on it.


    The sign of the contract with the divine tree appears on my arm. The black serpent that had bound Presha-san, attacking me like a storm - I have nothing to fear, and thrust out my right hand - the mistletoe ivy that arose from my entire arm, inhibiting the black serpent''s movement, entangling , sucking up the power and withering it away.


    ''''--aahhhh ...... ah ...... disappear ...... disappear, disappear, disappear. ......


    "No, don''t delete ......, don''t delete ...... from me, your mother. ......


    "-- Look ahead, Presha Hortensia!��What you got with your own hands is worthless if you don''t recognize it yourself!


    Did my words reach you, or was it the power of the Mistortin?


    Presha-san''s spirit body in its infant form is freed from the bondage of the underworld spirit. But the separated underworld spirit still flits around her, trying to possess Presha-san again.


    It''s a good thing that you''re not the only one who has the ability to make a good impression. Presha-san has to win the game herself ......!


    Rune caused his own alter ego, the flower, to arise from the ground and try to protect Presha-san - but just as Rune said, the underworld spirit did not weaken, but rather increased in power again.


    With her current young form, it seemed impossible to ask her to win against Presha-san.


    ''''But then, ...... I''ll help you. It''s my job to help my patients get better, ...... mistlutin!''


    It was her last bet. Before Presha-san was possessed once again, she herself had to defeat the underworld spirit - and to do so, she would lend Mistortin''s power.


    ''...... a ......''


    Mistletoe ivy with a pale glow tangles around the arms of Presha, who has been squatting.


    Mistortin follows Presha-san''s heart. ''I want to live''.


    A black snake bared its fangs and attacked Presha-san. She - opened her hands and received it herself.


    ''''Presha-san......!


    ''...... It''s okay. Summoner, you can go to ...... and your sister Presha can go to .......''


    Alraune had a better understanding of what had happened. Embracing the underworld spirit that had been sinking its poisonous fangs into her own heart, Presha-san whispered to the mistletoe she wore on her right arm.


    ''''I''m ...... sorry, mother. I''m ......''''


    The Mistortin increases in brilliance. The tremendous cleansing power of the Divine Tree''s family members is poured into the underworld spirit that was about to disappear.


    ''''--Aaaaahhhh......!


    The scream changed to the sound of something inhuman and then disappeared.


    The grass created by Arraune catches Plesha''s body as she collapses, exhausted. You''ll be able to find out more about the fact that you''ll be able to get the most out of this article.


    ...... I didn''t want my ...... teacher to see ...... the ugliest part of me. ''


    I don''t think of it as ugly in the slightest. But I can''t get the words out of my mouth right away.


    Right now, I can only do my duty as a doctor. Because the sight of Presha-san''s mind, worn to tatters and with a large fang mark on her neck, looked too fragile.


    ''...... This serum will eliminate the poison. Mr. Presha-san ...... please, can you accept it?''''


    Presha-san nods. Lune then sprouts a flower from the plant that hugged her body - the dew that was born on the petals, and I carry it to Presha-san''s mouth.


    It''s hard to believe that the drops are produced from poison, but they are so transparent - the antibodies erase the poison that has been ravaging Presha-san''s mind.


    ''''Thank you ......, doctor .......''''


    I hear voices. My consciousness is rapidly leaving Mr. Presha''s dream.


    The last voice I heard was my own, sometime ago.


    -Presha-san is not a monster.


    I don''t know now what she thought of those words. I just wish now that she had gotten the message that there was no lie there.


    �� ��.


    The moonlight was shining through. The window in the rundown room should have been closed, but now it was opened by someone else.


    --Leslie. She had come into the room, though she was wearing a hood and dressed as a man.


    ''...... Ray says he''s worried about my brother Glass. When I bring him in, he''ll quiet down after a bit and ...... when he comes in.


    Leslie seems to be having a hard time saying the rest of the story. I don''t think she can be blamed for coming into the room if she was worried about me - but I don''t think she can be blamed for coming into the room.


    ''...... soooo ......''


    (eh ......!!!!)


    I can hear the sound of sleep close by - I''m sitting on the bed before I know it, and Mr. Presha is huddled in my lap.


    ''Yes, what the hell is this ...... that, you know, selfless, unconscious behavior for the sake of the cure, ......''


    ''I can understand that, but ...... Raquel and the others said that you shouldn''t go near Mr. Presha when he''s having a nightmare. But it seems to be all right now.


    Leslie smiled and walked over to us. She picked up the doll that had fallen on the floor and gently stroked it to dust it off.


    ''''I have to clean up my precious ...... things properly. You''ll have to forgive me if I don''t, but I can''t.


    ''Yes. If Mr. Presha wants to, he can fix it for you.


    I can''t even touch Mr. Presha, who''s on my lap. Lune is looking at him happily, and Ray is looking a little greedy - as if he wants me to do the same.


    ''I think Presha-san needed her brother Glass'' treatment today. He always seemed to be in a hurry to live, and I was worried about him when I saw ....... He''s a strong man, so maybe it''s weird for me to worry about him.


    ''I don''t think so. We''re close in age, and hopefully we''ll be able to talk more in the future.


    ...... Yeah. I''d like to talk to you too, if that''s okay with you, Presha. After things settle down with Zirconia.


    Perhaps it''s because we started our conversation, but there''s a knock on the door and it opens slowly. I was still awake with worry, but Raquel and Deethe came into the room and breathed in when they saw Presha asleep.


    ...... Even though I''ve known her for a long time, I''ve never seen Presha so distracted by people. Glass, how in the world ...... no, it''s not even a wild thing to ask.


    ''I''m a little jealous ...... no. That''s a pretty good solution to insomnia. Presha, you look so happy in your sleep .......


    "...... Summoner, when you get back to your room, oh, um, um, .......


    "No, no, ...... we''re spirits, we''re not to be selfish. ......


    It''s not that nothing is wrong. It''s what I shouted in my dreams, but the implications now are so much more peaceful.


    Lune, and Ray, too. And all of the Knights - to live a peaceful life away from the days of battle. I will continue to do everything I can to help.


    ''''You both did your best, so don''t hold back. It''s a natural thing for a spirit user to listen to a spirit''s request.


    Wow. ......


    ...... really ...... I''m in danger, but ......


    Does Mandrake care about the fact that the plant is dangerous depending on how it''s handled? As for me, who''s been rescued so many times, I don''t need to worry about that.


    ...... sense ......


    The first immediate problem is when Presha-san will wake up - we may have to wait until dawn. At that time, it can''t be just the two of us alone, so I''ll have to ask Rune and Ray to watch her.


    Tomorrow''s military meeting will determine the future course of action. Raquel and Deethe must be well rested - and Leslie and Noin.


    And there is one thing I want to make sure of. The feeling I had when I lent the Mistortin to Presha-san - that seemed to suggest a new possibility for my magic.

 88 Episode 86: Signs of Rain

    After about half a second, the moon moves a bit and the light coming through the window changes.


    Raquel and the others are concerned that I need to rest too, and they try to gently lower Presha-san from my lap. Then Presha''s eyelashes quivered and her eyes opened thin.


    ''''Hn......''''


    I''m sorry, I didn''t want to wake you up.


    "Huh. ...... Oh, what?��When did I become ...... Dr. Glass and everyone else?


    Mr. Presha hurriedly picks himself up. It''s a good idea to be able to have a good time with them.


    You''re going to want to put Dr. Glass''s bed in this room. ...... You weren''t just thinking about competing with the knight chief somehow, were you?


    I''m not sure that''s a good idea ...... I wasn''t expecting you to come, but if you were, I thought I''d clean up my room. ......


    ...... I knew that was changing. I''ve been laughing a lot since Lord Glass arrived.


    At Raquel''s suggestion, Presha''s mouth flickers - her face is bright red, and Deethe-san holds her mouth and looks like she''s enjoying herself.


    ''''From now on, it looks like I''ll be able to get to know Presha better. Although we were told at the training school that knights should not get used to each other.


    ...... I''ve always respected Raquel''s sister (hey), but I think of her as one of my friends, too: ......


    ''Yes, me too. It''s nice to be recognized, isn''t it?


    ''Presha, sister Raquel (hey) is called ......''


    Raquel was embarrassed by the way he called me and tried to correct him. But when he glanced at me, he cleared his throat.


    ...... The details are not important right now. Presha, how are you feeling?


    "Yeah, ......, yeah, I''m doing great, but ......, is that ......?


    Raquel''s eyes widened - because a single tear ran down Presha''s cheek.


    "...... I ...... feel like I''ve been having a very long dream ......, la, Raquel sister... ...?


    As I approached Presha-san, Raquel hugged her from the front. The thought that he couldn''t help but do so was palpable to me as I watched.


    ''I hope the dreams I''m about to have are about the future. Presha......


    ...... Yeah. That''s what I thought, too. Maybe dreams aren''t something you dream about so much when you grow up. ......


    What are you talking about? You''re too young. You ought to get some flowers from Dr. Glass, and sometimes you need to sleep and dream of good dreams.


    Leslie looked at me and tilted her head slightly - as if to say, "What is a flower? I took out a flower bulb and called out to her and got her to put the flower on.


    ''This is the ''night-flower''. If any of your men have sleeplessness, if you put this under their pillows, I think they will sleep better and sleep more deeply.


    ...... A lovely flower. Here''s one for Glass, but for Deite: ......


    ''You can''t keep Dr Glass in the corner either. Wouldn''t it make Leslie feel uncomfortable if she did that all the time?


    "Geez, I''m not in a position to give Dr. Glass ...... a heads up.


    ''I think Dr. Glass would feel better knowing that you, ''Leslie'', are chaperoning me rather than as ''Mr. Rendle''.


    ''Well, well, that''s true, but ...... anyway, insomnia is the source of all diseases. I think it''s time for you all to get some rest for the morning. ...... Nah, why are you laughing?


    Raquel-san and Presha-san are all looking at me and laughing. Even Deete-san and Leslie - it''s good to laugh, but it''s unsettling to be made to look at something smiling like this.


    ''''Summoner-sama, your face is bright red. ''Embarrassed, you say?''


    ...... surely, yes. It''s a little fun to watch.


    It''s nice that even Lune and Ray ...... worried about you, but it''s time for the kids to go to bed, right?


    ''I want to sleep with my Summoner today!��Get ready for the big battle!


    At dawn, His Highness Astina will make a decision - when is the time to move?


    This is different from the past, when they were devoted to exclusive defense. We will strike out and attack Zirconia''s base - Raquel-san and the others will also be fighting on the front lines.


    What can we do? Once again, we need to talk about it - what can we do when the three spirits of plants, air and water are aligned? We must seek that to the fullest extent.


    �� �� ��


    I returned to the medic''s residence and opened the door to my room. Then Noin, who had been at his desk, stands up and comes over to us.


    Noin is wearing the provided sleeping clothes and the gown that was loaned to her so that she wouldn''t get cold at the bottom after the hot water. As a water spirit user, she seemed to be able to magically blow the moisture out of her hair after bathing in hot water, and her hair was lightly dry.


    ''Master Glass, I''m sorry ...... I was going to wait for you without leaving the room, but the medic came to call me that you were ready to bathe .......''


    ''Yeah, that''s not a problem at all. Just keep it as warm as you can so it doesn''t get cold....... Uh, better yet, keep it as warm as you can first.......


    Noin''s hair was tied up in a bun with a string, which made him look different from the usual. In addition to that, it is not surprising that he was wearing the same glasses I use to look at medical records.


    Noin-san, those belong to Dr. Glass, so you can''t use them without permission: ......


    ''Oh ...... I''m sorry. The light is a little low in this room, so it''s hard to see the letters without using glasses ......


    Since Noin was also supposed to assist me in my duties as a military doctor, I was supposed to have him read the ''guide'' on first aid and care that I was in the process of writing myself.


    Since my priority was to get them to contribute as a mage, I thought it would be a long time before they actually learned to be my assistant. Noin takes off his glasses and returns them to me, giving me something of a ticklish look. It was a respectful stare that even I, a dullard, could see.


    ''I can''t believe this book was written by Master Glass: ...... The words were so careful and easy to read, and the more I read it, the more it got into my head.


    Noin seems to be feeling upbeat, and her tone is mixed with a tone that is typical of her former self. From my point of view, she''s an honors student at the academy, and she''s a predecessor, so there''s something more comfortable about her speaking to me as an equal partner rather than a respectful one.


    ''''The content is so dense, though, that I''d like to take the time to read the rest of this carefully. There''s no such thing as a ''never'' when you''re in a fight.


    There''s no way I''m going to get out of here alive. There''s a resignation in Noin''s eyes as he says this that can''t be ignored.


    --At least at the end, I want to die doing what I want.


    --I''m going to show those people who only saw me as a ''woman'' who will do whatever I say, that I''m not a tool.


    At that time, Noin''s life was still being consumed by the Underworld Spirit and forced to follow Zirconia''s army against her will.


    I don''t have the right to know everything about what she went through.


    There was no sadness in Noin''s words, and she seemed ready to accept whatever happened in this battle.


    So, if you''ve decided to read the guide book while you''re at it. I had to tell Noin as much as I did Presha-san.


    ''There are no absolutes ...... Surely, that''s what fighting is all about. Still, fighting to live should give you a better chance of survival than fighting to die.


    ...... Brother Glass, I think he''s right. We all have to be heading in the same direction ...... so Mr. Noyn has to be ...... too.


    Noin didn''t respond to Leslie''s words for a while. It wasn''t strange to be told that it was idealistic, he thought.


    -- but it was different. Noin breathed in a huff, and relaxed his shoulders and softened his expression.


    ''...... I''ve never had anyone say that to me before. Court mages were told to die laughing for the sake of the kingdom, even if it cost them their lives.


    Court mages, who sometimes lead soldiers - they are the pinnacle of mages in the kingdom and are given great authority, but they also have responsibilities.


    I''m only the youngest member of the court mages and I don''t know the highest ranking mages. Your sister-in-law didn''t tell me to be prepared to die, but it means that some of them are prepared and deserve it.


    There are only a few mages who can take on ...... an army of mages, but you treat them like you''re using them up.


    ''''Among the court mages, there is a clear division of positions according to the ranks. The thirteenth rung and above will no longer be compulsory except by the edict of His Majesty the King: ...... Jorg Frost, who has the underworld spirit in me, can only reach that stage one.


    ''To enter the thirteenth ladder ...... or that you have taken in the second queen to raise your status as a court mage ......?''


    Noin neither confirmed nor denied Leslie''s reasoning. Noin may have thought that Jorg''s principle of action was based on his desire for power.


    To that end, I''d like to point out the newly added Noin: ......


    ''...... I''ve always wanted to be a court mage, too. I can''t use that as an excuse, but I had to stop thinking about it. I thought that following a higher ranking mage would be the best thing for the country ...... so I thought that .......


    Noin makes a point of embracing his body. Her light blue hair drapes over her face, covering her eyes.


    She had been made to obey Jorg and the Second Queen in order to satisfy their private desires, believing that she would be good for the country.


    Acting resolutely does not erase the events of the past. Hate, and regret - it will continue to torment a person''s heart repeatedly.


    ...... If you''re having a hard time, you can tell your brother Glass about it someday. Whether it''s me or someone else, if you''re willing to work hard for ...... this Order, we''re .......


    ''Well, ...... we''re friends. You might think that''s a nice thing to say to your ears, but ......


    When I call out to him, Noin takes my hand without saying a word. It''s a cold hand - but the heat gradually returns as I touch it.


    I know you don''t want any more ...... ''heavy'' women, but if you''re going to risk your ...... life, it''s better for you and what you want to protect.


    Noin''s body had stopped shaking when he realized that his body had stopped shaking.


    There are other things a doctor can do in addition to using medicine and magic. If Noin is going to rely on me, I have to stand firmly on the ground.


    ...... heavily ...... maybe you mean me?


    ''Yes, no, I don''t think so, but it''s not that ...... noins are heavy either, it''s just that, well, what can I say, .......''


    ''I have my own thoughts on same-s*x relationships. It''s more like a hunch: ...... I''d like to come back alive and talk more about things with Leslie, too. Mostly about Master Glass.


    She used the honorific title to me again - not to show her excessive gratitude to me, but because she wanted to. That is why it is extremely unsettling.


    �� ��


    Soon, morning comes.


    I was called by His Highness''s maidservants, and after breakfast, I went alone to His Highness''s residence - they had just completed His Highness''s "Spiritual Guide Seal" and wanted me to see the state of it.


    Soara-san and Karin-san invited me into His Highness''s room, and then they themselves left. After asking to see the flow of magic, His Highness sat down in a backless chair, turned his back to me and peeled off his clothes. It was necessary, but I was too nervous to be aware of how I asked for it.


    ''...... glass. Before I attack the Zirconia, I will go to the town council chambers in Wendell and talk to the mayor. I also sent an errand to the Reinfeldt family last night.


    The Reinfeldt family--a powerful family that unites the peasants of the Western Domain. Their patriarch, Mr. Hartner, was ill, but I sent Lune to treat him, and his condition is now greatly improved.


    If they were to attack Zirconia in this situation, the Reinfeldt family''s position might be to oppose it. Instead of forcing an attack in such a state, His Highness may think that he should let his righteousness pass.


    ''Very well, sir. You said that you would hold a military council at noon, but will you be back by then?''


    ''I intend to. I will try to get you to understand, but if it takes some time to persuade you, our return to the fortress may be delayed. Still, I don''t think we will be late until evening.


    As I listened, I didn''t touch His Highness''s skin while listening to the story and made sure there was no stagnation in the flow of magic power - but the spirit guide marks drawn all over his body were responding to His Highness''s magic power by themselves.


    ''''How about ......?��A little bit, my body is on fire when I''m asleep: ......


    ''''Your Highness has truly produced an enormous amount of magic power. ...... The divine tree has spread its ''roots'' in this western territory and is being revitalized by the supply of Your Highness'' magic power. Even after doing so, it is believed that there is still a surplus of magic power.


    ''''I see that''s true. ...... Would you be able to keep it down a bit more if you took a cue from Glass and trained as a mage?''''


    "Wow, I''m very afraid that I''m going to have to teach His Highness a lesson: ......


    I''ve learned the basics of spirit magic, but I learned it mostly on my own from the practical skills. If I were to teach someone like that, wouldn''t I develop a strange habit?


    But His Highness is looking back at me over his shoulder, as if to say something. His hands are firmly hiding his flabby chest, so there''s no danger of twisting his body - but for another reason, he makes me feel like poking my hands on the floor and apologizing.


    ...... I can''t ask Glass to teach me how to do this?


    I never imagined that His Highness would have such an expression on his face. He''s sulking - or perhaps he thinks I''m unhappy that I don''t listen to his request?


    The first thing that comes to mind is the fact that you have to be able to use your magic power to strengthen your body. I don''t think there is anyone else who can use magic power to strengthen the body and also has a spirit guide seal: ......


    If it''s not impossible, then tell me. I don''t mind if this battle is over in one piece.


    I''m much more susceptible to this kind of form than to being told off in a soft-spoken but firm manner - I''m much more susceptible to this kind of form than to being told off without a head start.


    Do you think it''s irresponsible to make promises after the ...... fight is over?


    When His Highness goes into battle, he is also prepared for it. No matter how supernatural he may seem, His Highness is not convinced that he will survive or anything, and he is also anxious. But His Highness would never show it in front of his men.


    To me, he''s showing it. More than I am honored by that, I have to respond to His Highness'' wishes.


    ''No. It''s not a good idea to be presumptuous, but I''d really like to ask you to do the same. Please allow me to teach Your Highness the basics of spirit magic.


    ...... yes. But I''m asking you to do it. You don''t have to be so formal. Glass is the teacher.


    As he put his clothes back on, His Highness stood up - she was standing in the sunlight streaming through the window, unarmoured and unarmoured, and she was as flattered as she could be.


    Then His Highness walked up to the window and looked at the sky and said, looking back at me.


    ''By this evening, it will rain. Around this fortress ...... and on the zirconia side.


    His Highness''s words suggested that the attack on Zirconia was to be carried out today.


    There was no sign of rain in the clear blue sky. But if it was His Highness'' words, there was no mistaking it - because it was the very oracle of Euselisis that His Highness Astina, as a priestess, had received.

 89 Chapter 87: Military Discussion

    After His Highness Astina had left for Wendell''s chambers with a few of his kinsmen, we gathered in the round table room with Raquel''s call to arms.


    ''Glass Weed, sir. Excuse me.


    When I enter the room, all the troop leaders are gathered together - Presha-san, Brigitte, and Chloe, the attackers'' captain, and Deethe-san and Sorfa-san of the archers'' squad. They don''t wear armor to conserve their strength before going into battle, and all of them are wearing the official clothing of the Order.


    We sit at the prepared seats - now there are nine of us seated at the round table, including me.


    The two mages, Lendl and Noin, will also be participating in the mission as mages. I''m sure you''ll be able to find out more about this, but I''m sure you''ll be able to find out more about this. Do you have any objections?


    We expected to hear something from Bridgette or so, but she just took one look at us and didn''t say anything in particular. Instead, Chloe, who is sitting next to her, looks at Noin and says.


    ''''We haven''t been told about her either, though we haven''t been told how she came to this fortress. To have her participate in an important operation like this one, does that mean she''s of reasonable ability?


    Raquel didn''t answer right away and looked at Noin. Noin got up from his seat and revealed his identity without any deception.


    ''''I am the Court Mage''s Seventy-Third Grade, Noin Flores. Until the other day, I was an internal spy for Zirconia.''''


    How did a person like that get into this fortress ......?


    You mean the ...... you came in contact with when you infiltrated the zirconia.


    Chloe-san usually speaks in a hard tone like a warrior, but she uses awe-inspiring language in a military congress - I guess it''s a sign of respect for Raquel-san.


    ''''Yes. Lord Noyn had infiltrated Zirconia with an unwanted order, but he no longer has to obey that order. Not all of the court mages will be like that, but there are those who are trying to undermine this country ...... that''s why His Highness made the decision.


    We will attack Zirconia - and eliminate the immediate threat on the western border.


    To do so, it is not enough to achieve a small victory in this battle. We must break the heart of General Alejandro - the ''White Raven'' who is in command of the enemy forces.


    ''I have already taken part in one attack on this fortress. I have lent a hand to the Zirconian army.


    Noin confesses - a fact that he can''t help but receive a reprimand here and there.


    ''If I had been part of the next operation, I would have caused more damage. If you think I should be cut down here, then I feel that I have no choice.


    ''There is no need to rehash what has already been decided about the treatment of Lord Noyn. Glass has proven that it was not done by Lord Noyn on his own volition.


    Raquel-san mentions my name, so everyone''s attention is on me - Noin also looks at me, but he seems to have some kind of faith-like emotion in him, and he''s uncomfortable.


    ''Dr. Glass is ......?��Sister Deethe, what''s that about ......


    ''Solfa, your slackness is fatal. You and I are equals, so refrain from calling me anything indulgent.


    ...... is, yes, hey ...... Captain Dite, sir.


    Sorfa-san hurriedly straightens her back. Even though they are both archer captains, there seems to be a clear hierarchical relationship between them - senior and junior in knight school or something like that.


    ''''I know that I was giving to Zirconia''s side at one time, but I know that I can''t be trusted immediately by contributing to the Knights ......, but could you please evaluate me by looking at my future work?


    Noin bowed deeply. Seeing that, Bridget and Chloe seemed to have listened to Noin''s arguments.


    ''''Although I have not swallowed the entire situation, I have no objection if it is the decision of Your Highness and the Knight Captain. Relying on mages is different from the previous policy of the Order, so we need to ask the soldiers to understand as well, but .......


    ''I have no objection to that. I think I understand what it means to have mages in this military council.


    This would be the first time in the Isle Rose Knights that a mage would formally participate in a military action.


    It''s very big that Noin, who can influence the war situation alone, has followed us. The canal, which until now was only an obstacle to entering Zirconia from this side, could be used in a completely different way with her being a water mage and having a military ship in her possession.


    Ms. Deethe spread out a map on the round table - it was something she had brought with her when she had infiltrated Zirconia''s fort.


    ''We deactivated the fort and took our commander, Vale, as a prisoner of war. When we interrogated him, we found that Vail was about to send a messenger to the king to report that he was not to blame for the failed attack under General Alejandro''s command. It is likely that Alejandro sent Lord Noyn to Vale in order to contain it and to move Vale''s forces more effectively.


    ''''So you''re saying that ...... Lord Noyn had even infiltrated the White Raven, that''s what you''re saying.


    What makes you think that sending Lord Noyn to the Vale is going to work?��Bale isn''t the only one who knows about the defeat. If you think we should win while we''re buying time, then I''d have to say it''s shallow.


    Bridgette''s opinion was a good one, to say the least. But Alejandro had a certainty. If he used Noyin''s magic better, he could make the Isle Rose Fortress fall.


    How would Alejandro move once he learned that Noyin was gone? Will he retreat to the center when he sees that he no longer has an effective way to attack the Isle Rose - or will he retreat to the center?


    Will a soldier who can make such a decision ever become famous? Isn''t Bridgette right, and isn''t she still thinking of ways to win?


    ''''This eastern military camp ...... is the base of attack for Zirconia to attack us. With Lord Noyn using water magic to blind the warships and move them to the east, they have attacked us across the river from two points.


    The effectiveness of that strategy is best understood by Raquel and the others who were attacked. Sixty-two dead and several times that number of wounded - everyone''s expression shades when they remember that day.


    But the Zirconia Army''s surprise attack was one that had been established by relying on Neun''s magic. If they were to attempt to invade again, it would take time to get into position.


    ''In that battle, we were able to repel the Zirconian army ...... and the damage was far greater on the Zirconian side. If they still think they can drop this fortress, it''s nothing short of pride on their part.


    His Highness Astina thought it was now or never. ...... We will win a ceasefire with Zirconia and gain ground. Then we will have a chance to find out what the center wants.


    The center -- the general headquarters of the Knights of the Kingdom of Raiseneier. Brigitte-san, who had a strong sense that she was fighting for the kingdom, felt evasive about disregarding orders and rebelling against the kingdom.


    However, after fulfilling the original mission of ''defending the Western Territory'', then a certain basis can be obtained for breaking the order ''Do not invade Zirconia''.


    '' ...... I''ve been thinking about this ever since the incident with Lord Vysek. I''ve been wondering whether not to do anything against Zirconia in this situation is to encourage us to fight hard, or whether there is a lack of central interest in the ...... western territory, and I''ve been thinking that there is no way that such a thing is possible. That there is no way His Majesty the King would give up on the Knights led by His Highness Astina.


    Mr. Raquel''s statement was a thoughtful statement about Bridget''s feelings. Perhaps sensing this, Brigitte revealed her feelings.


    She thought that she was just evading ''violating the central order'', but that was not the case. After some thought, she had chosen to endure the situation as it was.


    ''''His Majesty the King has not abandoned the people of the Western Domain or our Order. But if I want to find out his true intentions, I have to move. We have not fought to this day to wait for this fortress to fall.


    At Raquel''s words, Bridgette nodded - the intentions of everyone gathered here were unified.


    ''''Bridget can be counted as a force, right?


    ''I must also prove to you that it is not a decorative sword. Lord Deethe, I want to make a full apology for what I said at that time. I am sorry.


    I''m the one who''s gone too far for words.


    Bridgette and Deite are reconciling. I''m glad to see that we have an end to this coiling before the battle.


    It''s a good thing that we''ve been able to get our hands on some of the most important pieces of glassware in the world," he said. The scale of the operation will be completely different from the last time, but His Highness said that the current Glass can do it.


    The last time they crossed the river, they summoned the ''Floating Demon Lotus''. Before, it was a path of a size that could be crossed by one person at a time, but in theory, it could form a bridge to pass a large army.


    Summoning would also be necessary when returning to the Isle Rose side - not that it was impossible to retreat, but it would take time to re-summon them to form a retreat path.


    Ideally, we have to get the enemy forces to surrender before reinforcements arrive. Even though the situation is confused by our infiltration operations, Alejandro can''t sit on his hands forever in that state.


    However, if we just go at it head-on, there will be more damage. It''s a good thing that the main unit can surround the enemy''s camp after shaking it up. We want to avoid being forced to go out into the field on the plains.


    The key to the measure of swaying - and the key to it - is the warship.


    Simply moving the warships closer to the enemy camp is not enough to attract their attention. That''s where we''re getting what we need. Other than that, Zirconia has brought it to us.


    ''Sir Knight, may I have my say?


    Noyn was allowed to speak and stand again. She points to the map on the round table and points to the point where the enemy camp and the canal are closest to each other.


    ''To this point, I can use my magic to move the warships under cover. If we appear in a position where the guards can see us, we can effectively induce unrest.


    ''Hmm. But if they can intercept us, it would be difficult to prevent them from doing so with a single warship, wouldn''t it?


    ''On water, I can defend the ship. But my magic isn''t enough to attack an enemy on land.


    The idea of attacking with a bow from the ship''s top was also conceivable, but Zirconia''s fort is surrounded by high towers and walls, and cannot be effectively hit.


    And since rainfall is expected, we can''t normally use any kind of gunpowder weapons - which means that the enemy can''t use any kind of artillery either.


    I asked Raquel for permission and proposed my opinion for the first time in a military council.


    ''If we can load our warships with cannons and fire them even in the rain, we can greatly upset the enemy camp.


    ''Cannons...... Well, there''s one brought in by an enemy crafting unit. It''s a good idea to load them onto a warship, but what about the weather? But what about the weather?


    ''With my magic, that problem can be solved. It''s not hard to keep the gunpowder dry and protected.


    Leslie didn''t have to say anything to guess. If the air magic protected the cannons, this one could fire the cannons even in rainy weather, and the enemy side could block any kind of gunpowder if they weren''t prepared for the rain.


    ''...... Everyone is speaking on the assumption that it will rain, though. Did your highness expect it to rain in this sunny weather?


    ''If it''s what Your Highness says, there''s no doubt about it. There has never been a time when the weather predictions have been off.


    If it''s going to rain reliably, ...... there''s another way to fool the enemy forces.


    Noin seemed to think that one role was not enough in this battle.


    That was probably what His Highness had in mind as well. A strange plan that could only be done because of Noin''s presence in the rain - it must be a nightmare for Zirconia.


    ''''Sister Raquel, I''m not in the ''main force'', am I?


    Presha-san, who has been listening quietly for a long time, speaks up - smiling. Raquel-san''s eyes widen faintly.


    ''It''s a race against time, but me and my horse can do it. It doesn''t matter if it''s in the rain.


    There''s a fire in her eyes as she says that - not anger or hatred, but the fire of knightly pride and fighting spirit.


    Presha-san''s change, Bridget-san and the others are also watching her eyes. And then they look at me - they''ve started to ask me for a reason as soon as something happens to them.


    ''Lord Noin, Presha. Could you explain it to me so that everyone can understand?


    Raquel begs me, and they reply. They are amazed that they can do so much with magic.


    Double and triple measures are piled on top of each other, and the road to victory is being built. I exchange glances with Leslie, who sits next to me - she''s surprisingly calm, even though she''s going to play an important role aboard the warship.


    --Brother Glass, I''m sure she''ll be fine.


    Leslie says in a voice that only I can hear, using the spirit of the air. I wanted to reassure her, but Leslie smiled as if she could see it all coming.

 90 Episode 88: The illusion of rain clouds

    The Zirconia Empire''s First Military Camp. A third of all the troops in Zirconia''s army were stationed in that military camp, located across a canal that served as a border replacement for the Kingdom of Laiseneier.


    The reason for the past tense is that the attack on the Isle Rose Fortress had failed, and the war against the sub-humans of the northern mountains and the peoples of the Forest of the Ends, who have long been a threat to Zirconia, had intensified, and it was necessary to divide the troops.


    Alejandro Flaesebel, one of the Three Winged Generals at the top of the Zirconian army, was forced to return 1,000 of his remaining 5,000 men to the center. That also meant that ten of his subordinate centurions would leave the command.


    The remaining troops are four thousand - from the information Alejandro has obtained, they still exceed the strength of the Isle Rose Fortress. However, if we were to attack and defeat the robust fortress, ideally we would have liked to have 10,000 troops.


    Nevertheless, Alejandro had been confident of victory in this situation just yesterday.


    The core of his tactics was a mage who was visiting as a secret messenger from the other Raeseneier - her magical surprise attack was successful, and even if it ended in defeat, Alejandro was able to make better use of his magical power to bring down the fortress I believed I could do it.


    "General, ...... please calm your anger, for if you do not, Leda will die!


    Inside the largest tabernacle in the military camp, Alejandro hung his hands around the neck of his subordinate who had just finished his report. He gazed emotionlessly at his subordinate''s footsteps and then struck down on the spot.


    The sound of the rumbling rain beating on the roof of the Tabernacle echoes. Amidst the sound of this rain, the other soldiers do not notice what is going on here.


    ''''Gahaha, ghohoho ......''''


    ''I told you to bring Noin back. It''s impossible for that mage to stay away from me ...... and not be found. Why would you tell such a lie?


    "Jeez, I''m, like, a lie ...... Lord Noyn is nowhere to be found in the fort, and one of the warships has disappeared ...... ahhh ......!


    The soldier called Leda is blown away by Alejandro''s kick. The other man - an elderly second-in-command who assists Alejandro - stands in front of Leda, who lies on the ground and tries to protect him as he sputters to the ground.


    ''Please do not take this any further: ......!��If you are going to kill Leda, then cut me down!


    ...... Vice Admiral ...... which .......


    Leda''s armor had a broken clasp, and the armor beneath it was ripped and torn, exposing her skin. Most of Zirconia''s soldiers are men, but the communications soldiers and the Transportation Corps, which is responsible for transporting them from the rear, are sometimes served by women - Leda was one of them.


    Alejandro is not aware of gender differences if he is a soldier, whether male or female. But Rihiardo, the second-in-command, was someone who was not thoroughly divided.


    ''''Lichardo. What do you think of the report you just received?


    Lord Noyn: "Lord Noyn, ...... the loss of a combat mage means that we cannot use tactics that rely on magic. ......


    ''There is no mage in Zirconia who is as useful as that one. In a situation where no mages were sent to the Isle Rose Fortress and we had our own mages, we could have brought that fortress down without a hitch. ...... I wonder why that didn''t happen.


    Even before Alejandro asked him about it, Reichardt had noticed it too. The archers'' bows suddenly became unusable and impossible to eject - the reason for this was never the poor maintenance of the bows.


    ''''It''s thought that the mages have joined the Isle Rose Fortress. I wonder if they had already come out to intercept them at the stage of the last attack. ......


    Noin''s whereabouts are unknown and the mages have joined the enemy army. If the soldiers learned of this, it would be extremely demoralizing.


    Alejandro is largely unemotional, even now that he has punished Leda and confirmed the disadvantage of his army. In his long career as a lieutenant, Rihjald had never seen a general of this young man''s age even slightly agitated in battle.


    --that Alejandro unexpectedly twists the edges of his mouth. Rihiardo shuddered and broke out in a cold sweat as he confronted the young general with white hair and ashen eyes.


    ''There is a connection between Noin''s disappearance and the mage who joined the Isle Rose ...... these two things. Do you see what I''m getting at, Rihiardo?


    "Wha-...... is haha ...... I understand. If we can get rid of the enemy mages, we still have a chance to win. I wondered if the enemy mages knew where Noin was located, too, since it is the mages who know the threat of the ...... mages.


    ...... Vail has also disappeared from the fort that sent Noyn to us. We believe that the man had no intention of cooperating with us anyway. As the commander of the Raseneian invasion force, the charge of treason applies to Bale. Even if he is still alive, there is no need to think about rescuing him.


    Alejandro had planned to send Noin to cage Vale, who was in command at the western fort that doubled as a shipyard.


    Alejandro has no interest in women, but he understands how Noin is viewed by the men. The mature Rihiardo had only seen her as a daughter, but Bail had used the obvious coloration on Noin once they had met face to face.


    It was an easy way out, Alejandro thought. But he also thought that if it was taken from him, he could just take it back.


    I''m sure that if Noon is lost to the enemy, no one will be able to save it. It is bound to a contract that allows it to take only my orders.


    Alejandro sees humans as nothing more than pawns - he doesn''t always behave that way, but he sometimes shows his true feelings in front of Rihjald.


    ''It is possible that Neun has infiltrated the enemy forces himself. If Neun, a citizen of Rayseneier, offered to help, the enemy would not suspect it.


    ...... yes. But even if it''s not, I''m not going to just end it.


    Even if he retires from the army, he leaves a claw mark. Alejandro was not undefeated until he rose to the rank of general - even in defeat, he still left scars on his opponents that would lead to his next victory.


    Hence ''The Raven''. Alejandro is called by that nickname because he has stood over the deaths of countless men and fed off of them to win in the end.


    (...... When the general attacks the Isle Rose once more, he will eliminate the mages ...... and, if he can, he will even think about taking back Neun. Once that is done, I intend to leave the camp once. (The sacrifices made to get rid of the Mages should result in minimal pursuit from His Majesty and the other generals.


    Zirconia is not so much a threat as it is a threat to the mages of Rezeneire. Although there are mages in Zirconia, none of them are as powerful as combat mages, and since there are no training institutions like those in Raiseneire, they are only of some use in logistical support.


    ''The Mages of the Isle Rose will definitely appear once again. Don''t overlook even the slightest anomaly.


    ''Ha. Soldiers like that ......


    --that was the moment when Rihiardo answered.


    The ground and the tabernacle shook with a sound that shook the eardrums. The military camp suddenly became noisy, and Alejandro stepped out of the tabernacle with his sword drawn.


    I''m not going to follow him immediately, but rather approach Leda, who is lying on the ground.


    ''...... Mr. Rihiardo, ...... I am ......''


    Don''t say anything. "Don''t say a word. But that may not be the case if we get rid of the enemy mages.


    Rihiardo tries to pull Leda up, but Leda refuses to help and gets up on her own. She is exhausted, but the sparkle in her eyes has not disappeared.


    If ...... you finish off the mage yourself, will your uncle be able to replace ...... that man?


    At Leda''s words, Reichardt looks back. There is no sign of Alejandro''s return outside the Tabernacle - only that he can hear voices from outside.


    It was not expected that this military camp would be attacked by the enemy. Alejandro was confident that Rezeneier would not give the order to attack, and he was planning his plans accordingly.


    Lichardo had also sensed that Alejandro had an insider in Raiseneier. That''s why he was beginning to wonder about continuing to be in the position of a second-in-command - being through to the enemy is good if you''re winning, but when you lose, it''s so pressing that you''re considered a war criminal.


    ''We need only look for an opportunity. If you can find a mage, then ...... don''t kill Noin, we must capture him if possible.


    Leda nodded, and Alejandro called out. Rihiardo walked out of the Tabernacle. In the pouring rain, black smoke was rising from the bulwark on the east side of the military camp.


    The fire was already extinguished, but the damage was extensive - the wooden bulwark was extensively destroyed, and one of the turrets had been destroyed.


    ''This is ...... one body, what is ......''


    A warship has appeared in the canal and is firing from the east!��We believe it was caused by a cannon!


    "Don''t be stupid. We can''t use cannons.��In this rain. ......!


    Rihiardo is furious, but Alejandro is unfazed. He calls for the messenger and has them ring the bell to stop the confused soldiers.


    He calls for the messengers to ring the bell and stop the confused soldiers from moving. Don''t let them use any more of their cannon!


    "Huh ...... Sir, if the soldiers land from the warship, they will be allowed to enter the military camp!


    ''That prediction is what the enemy is after. If that''s a diversion, then that''s where the enemy will come from: ...... the western plains.


    ''Then ...... tell the whole army!��As soon as you''re ready to launch, leave the main gate and form up!��The Rayseneian Army is available from there: ......


    It was at the moment when Rihiardo was about to give an instruction - from the ''north side of the military camp'', the screaming cries of the soldiers could be heard.


    ''Enemy attack, enemy attack!��Already, the enemy forces have already circled around to the north, and from the hills ......, guffawing ......!


    From the sky, arrows are falling - not the archers descending from the warships.


    In spite of the constant presence of guards against all directions, the enemy''s troops were going around the back of the military camp. Such a march should have been absolutely impossible, even if it was lost in the rain.


    ''''--General Alejandro!


    As if impelled, Alejandro straddles his beloved horse, which was nearby, and heads for the main gate of the military camp.


    The rain, which had been beating down, begins to rise. Alejandro finally realizes that this rain was caused by magic - Noyn, and that it is against him.


    ''''--Whoa!


    ''Hey, when did it come out ......, oooh, oooh, oooh!


    The guards toward the main gate let out a wailing cry. Alejandro felt a curse as the black clouds cracked and the sunshine came through the intervals.


    --The main gate is pierced by a breaking hammer. Beyond the wreckage of the destroyed main gate, Alejandro and Zirconia''s soldiers saw a nightmarish scene.


    What they could see was the camped Rayseneian soldiers and the flags fluttering in the sky.


    ''...... Astina...... Raiseneier......''


    Reichardt certainly heard the murmur as he caught up with Alejandro in the midst of the confused soldiers'' rage.


    The Swordswoman General turned to the offensive. The Knights of the Isle Rose, who had suddenly emerged the moment the rains lifted, had already completely surrounded Zirconia''s army camp.

 91 Episode 89: Surrender Recommendation

    There is a roar as the cannons land on the walls surrounding the Zirconia Army fort.


    The flames do not spread through the pouring rain, but the black smoke rises into the cloudy sky and I can hear the confused voices of the enemy soldiers.


    I bypass the south side of the fort and head east until I''ve come to a point where I can block the line of sight from the enemy''s guards. It looks like they cut some of the forest when they built the fort, but it''s fortunate that some of it was left intact - maybe it was left in the middle of the road when they no longer needed to cut out the wood.


    As we had talked about beforehand, Mr. Presha, who was soon to be on board the warship, should be driving his horse and arriving with Leslie and Noin on board.


    Presha-san''s horse was running through the rain and approaching - Noyn''s water spirit magic hid her figure, but I could hear the plants, so I could recognize the girls approaching at a gallop through the grasslands, and I wasn''t alarmed by who they were.


    I''m glad you''re safe, ...... sensei. We did the best we could. Even now, Deite is attacking from the water, keeping a distance to prevent the ship from taking over. As long as Leslie''s magic holds, we can use our gunpowder weapons.


    The magic that dries the air can be sustained even when I''m away from it.


    ''That''s great of you. ...... You''ve done a remarkable job as Master Glass'' first squire.


    Noin made the biggest contribution in this operation, but still her face was not bright.


    The water magic method was used to hide the warships and take them by surprise. So Alejandro would have sensed that Noin was on our side.


    Knowing that he had lost Noin, who would have been a key part of his tactics, all he could think about was either trying to bring Noin back at all costs, or - he would see Noin as an object of hatred.


    ''If it wasn''t for Noin, this mission wouldn''t have been possible. It''s like your highnesses'' main army is completely lost in the rain ...... with Noyn''s illusions, and the whole army is in hiding.


    At Presha-san''s words, Noin nods back - his complexion looks paler than usual. One reason is because the magic power lost in maintaining the extensive illusion is too great.


    ''''Noin, the magic power is too much of a drain. It''s better to use the magic crystals.''''


    ''''No ...... you should be getting a signal from the main force soon. If I can let them have it until then, then that''s my job .......


    ...... Don''t push yourself, use it. We can''t let you fall down here or anything.


    Leslie tries to take out a magic crystal from the pouch. Even if she has accumulated magic power, she can offer it to someone without hesitation - I frankly respect her for that.


    It''s easy to be misunderstood as someone who has always been plain and unassuming, but Leslie has a gentle nature from the heart.


    So I''m worried about him. I''m not sure if I''m going to be able to get my hands on a new one, but I''m sure I''ll be able to find it.


    If you use the ...... crystal now, your magic power will be used first. So, until my magic power is depleted, I''ll be able to use .......


    "--Noin, this is the signal from the main unit!��They''re letting us know that if we breach the gates of the enemy''s stronghold, we should unlock the illusion!


    The crux of this operation is how to avoid a frontal clash and get the enemy forces to surrender.


    If you find the fort already surrounded when you release the illusion - the enemy will be very upset and the will to fight will be greatly diminished.


    And the key to shaking the enemy is the breakthrough hammer that breaks through the main gate. In order to make it move as fast as possible, which would normally take a long time to move, I have been interfering with the portion of the wooden car that carries the breakthrough hammer with spirit magic and making it run at the speed of a chariot pulled by a horse. It has just now been shot at the main gate of the enemy''s fort and pushed through in a few crashes - the voice of an enemy soldier that resembles a scream can be heard.


    ''...... O Apsaras! The fog of illusion is clear, thy dance is ...... over .......


    ...... Watch out! You should use this magic crystal, you''re going to have to carry it on your back if you don''t move here.��I''m fine with that.


    The moment Noin releases the illusion, he weakens and is supported by Presha-san. If it was Presha-san''s power as a demon warrior, there would be no reason to carry Noin around, but with his magic power depleted, he would have no choice but to recover, as various malfunctions would occur.


    ...... I''ll share a little bit of ...... with you, Leslie.


    When Leslie nodded, Noin casually loosened the collar of his clothes and inserted the magic crystals into his chest - it''s true that the part of the body closer to the heart is more easily absorbed, but I was caught off guard and had to look down as I looked at it for some reason.


    ''Thank you ......, that''s enough for me. I''m sorry, Master Glass, for making you look unseemly.


    No, that''s not true: ......


    Noon feels like he''s going for a bit of a target, so Dr. Glass doesn''t have to apologize.


    It''s not so much that he''s after you as that he doesn''t want to hide anything from Master Glass.


    I don''t know how to react to that being said, but Leslie is staring at me, and I vow to graduate to reacting to these matters like a boy.


    Leslie keeps me in check, then looks at the magic crystals returned by Noin and his eyes widen. The accumulated magic power hasn''t decreased as much as I thought.


    ''Use more. I might need the magic again.''''


    ...... If I survive, will you leave me to accumulate the magic crystals?


    Noin received the magic crystal once more and absorbed more magic power - there''s not a lot left, but thanks to Leslie saving it up, it really helped. Since there are now three mages, we have to take measures about the magic power depletion as soon as possible.


    ''''Don''t you have those crystals, Noin?��I think it''s something that a court mage would have to have: ...... In layman''s terms, though.


    ''The crystals I had in my possession have been confiscated. They asked for it as a token of my loyalty because they couldn''t get it in zirconia when they wanted to incorporate a mage into their tactics. ...... ''White Raven'' is a man whose only obsession is to win, Noh.


    ...... I think that''s how little they know about mages, and they just think it''s worth using. That''s where I took advantage this time.


    Leslie analyzes the situation calmly. I think I''m right too - in terms of calmness on the battlefield, if I do say so myself, she''s very dependable.


    That''s why I think I have to protect her - Leslie''s behavior as ''Mr. Rendle'' was the escort itself, so I think she feels that she is protecting me, but I can''t continue to indulge in that feeling.


    The first thing you need to do is to make sure that you have a good idea of what you''re doing. The three of you had better retreat to the rear.


    ''The enemy may still try something. Let me look at the situation as much as possible. ...... If we can''t move when we get to the point where we can break the ice with magic, there''s no point in coming here.


    Presha was at a loss for words, but did not immediately deny it.


    ...... From now on, we''ll see how they react to the siege. If they surrender, we don''t need to move.


    If we''re talking about an all-out war, then we''re going to have violent clashes. ......


    There was a good chance that Noyn would mention it. If that were to happen, His Highness would be attacking the fort. The goal would be to capture or even defeat the enemy general.


    (...... If that happens, a lot of men will die. They are completely surrounded and their walls are destroyed. (Do we still want to fight in this situation?)


    Mr. Presha mounted his horse and led the way - we followed him out of the woods and asked for the front side of the fort. What can be heard is Raquel-san''s loud shouting that seems to shake the entire fort.


    ''''Attention Zirconia Imperial Army!��This fort is already under siege!��If you do not wish to cause useless deaths, then promptly lay down your weapons and surrender!��Otherwise, we will cut off your retreat and enter through the destroyed main gate and take control!


    Raquel''s bravery was seen by Presha, who was riding a horse. There was not longing in his profile, but the awe he held for the same warrior.


    ''''General Astina wants to have a conversation with you guys!��If you comply, fly the flag of surrender or let our troops know of it!��I repeat!


    -- Before the soldiers finish their second pronouncement, the air changes.


    ''The ...... flag has been raised ...... ......''


    Mr. Presha mutters - as if he can''t believe what has happened under his gaze.


    A white flag is raised over the Zirconian fort. The soldiers on top of the turret took the order to raise the pillar and hoist it up so that we could see it.


    But the enemy archers on the walls surrounding the fort have not yet been seen to have laid down their weapons.


    They are ready to shoot at us at any time.


    -- still so unpredictable. I''ll think about asking for instructions from His Highness Astina in the main unit to cut off the possibility of an eventuality.


    Through the contract with Kamiki, I can communicate with His Highness Astina even when I am away. She answered back when I called out to her.


    ''''The enemy has raised the white flag and is probably trying to catch us off guard. Glass, you have a bow sealing spell, would you be prepared if it happens? I need you to work with Presha as a ranger.


    ''''Your Highness, bow blocking is only effective if the enemy''s bow is wooden. If the enemy is using metal bows and arrows, then they will not be able to interfere with your spirit magic.''''


    ''''I understand. Now, as for you mages, please stay out of the front lines and use your magic as appropriate when you deem it to be an effective phase. If the range is large, it would be helpful if you could let me know in advance. It might confuse the soldiers.''''


    "Yes, I agree. Your Highness, please take care of yourself.


    "You must not be reckless. We have come this far unscathed.


    His Highness was able to predict that Alejandro was planning something, but he didn''t seem to be able to determine the details of it. The oracle of the divine tree meant that the future could not always be determined and predicted.


    From the main gate of the fort, which was destroyed by the breaking hammer, the enemy soldiers came out with their hands raised - when they indicated that they had no intention of fighting, Bridget''s cavalry and infantry first entered the fort.


    It was not long after that that the enemy general, Alejandro, replied that he would be willing to talk to them directly.

 92 Episode 90: Mud Crow

    After confirming the safety inside the fort, one of the cavalrymen that Bridgette had taken with her came out of the main gate and reported to His Highness Astina.


    ''''Glass. We will now speak with General Alejandro. Even though we have won the battle, the enemy soldiers remain mostly unharmed. Rather than forcing a proposal that is beneficial to us, I would like to see how they do it first.


    "Very well. Your Highness ...... may we also use our magic and watch the negotiations to make sure you don''t notice any signs of us?


    As I advance, there is a slight hesitant pause from His Highness - it''s rare that she hesitates about anything. I can feel the tension here as well.


    ''''Will you be able to neutralize the enemy soldiers as much as possible ......? What we are talking about is the tabernacle located in the center. If the enemy soldiers seem to be positioned in a position where we can see it, it''s no good to be on guard.''''


    "Ha, ...... Yes, sir. I''ll do it, I promise.


    "I''m sorry about the glass ....... I''m sorry for putting you, an army doctor, in danger. I ask you to rely on Presha often and not to take it too far.''


    His Highness entered the fort with sixteen knights of the immediate kinsmen guard and eight cavalrymen each who followed them - one hundred and twenty-eight of them. Raquel-san was entrusted with maintaining the siege and watched from the saddle of the giant horse, not missing even an inch of the enemy''s movement.


    Once Presha-san entrusted his horse to a subordinate under the command of the main unit, he walked back to us. When she stretched out with her spear, her eyes grew sharper.


    ...... Sensei, don''t worry about it. I''m not the same person I used to be ...... because I''ve changed thanks to you.


    ''I''m not worried. I just thought it was very encouraging.


    ...... Yeah, that''s right. Doctor, are you feeling calm all of a sudden?��Just a few minutes ago, I would have been easily frightened and impatient.


    ''Oh, ...... yea, no, I apologize if I seemed pompous, I was just saying what I honestly thought.''


    I have to say that that ''honest thought'' is a problem for me and Leslie. ...... We''re going to have a hard time with each other.


    ...... I''m used to it.


    I''m curious about what you two have to say, but if I touch you carelessly, I''ll become a bush snake. Right now, we have to focus on the mission we have to fulfill.


    ''''Presha-san, I was able to speak with Your Highness through the contract with the divine tree. We will move into the fort to prevent His Highness and the others from being in danger before it happens. There is an undeniable possibility that the enemy may move in for the time we are talking to the enemy general.


    ''If we drag everyone out of the fort, that''s the way ...... is going to be resisted, I guess. We''re not going to die easily, but we don''t want our men to fight each other.


    ''I''m sure His Highness thinks so too. Leslie, could I ask for a distraction spell?


    Yeah, I get it. Air Spirit Aeria, the spirit of air, ...... turn the air that surrounds us into a distraction that cuts off all signs ......


    In infiltration missions, Leslie''s power is unparalleled. We became ''an unrecognizable presence there'' and passed through the main gate of the broken fort without anyone noticing us.


    First we move to a place where there are no people in the vicinity - in front of the central tabernacle where His Highness and the others were headed, the enemy soldiers and the soldiers on our side are glaring at each other.


    An enemy soldier who has laid down his weapons is forced to stand in front of the armed cavalrymen. I understand their feelings, but they would have asked the same thing of us if they had entered our fortress.


    ''Chloe''s troops are camped on the hill to the north. Assuming you don''t mind the top of the north wall, ...... there are two lookout posts overlooking the middle west and east of the camp.


    ''All right, let''s keep the lookout neutralized: ...... Noin?''


    "...... If Alejandro is going to do anything, he''s going to have to use ...... his men to get rid of this fort... ...


    Noin''s eyes seemed to be looking somewhere else, not at the scene in front of her.


    Did Alejandro put so much hate on her? Or was it the fear of being close to the one who had once followed him?


    ''Noin, do you have some idea of how General Alejandro is going to come out?


    ''I''m sorry ....... I had to get over ...... that man and now I have to get over .......


    ...... okay. If we get this far, we won''t let the enemy general have his way.


    Leslie takes Noyne''s hand in hers. Then he wipes the sweat from his neck - Noyn squeezes Leslie''s hand back, and the shivering in his body eases a bit.


    ''...... Alejandro will surely do something about it. We''ve got to cut his pieces down a bit.


    ''Well, I''ll go to the lookout tower on the east side first. We can stun the soldiers on the watchtower with a spear, but what do you want to do?


    ''I''m here for this kind of thing. Leslie, get your air balls ready.


    Right now, His Highness, accompanied by his men, has entered the tabernacle where Alejandro is supposed to be - I summon Alraune in the shadows and approach the eastern watchtower.


    The air ball created by Leslie is filled with Arraune''s hypnotic pollen - if I try to extend the effect to this entire fort, the duration will be shortened and the magic power will be quickly depleted. However, it''s not difficult to hypnotize one person.


    ''''Summoner-sama, I was able to hypnotize the person above me.


    Good job, Lune. Leslie, can you take care of Lune for me?


    Dr. Glass, I''m going to carry you up the mountain in one go. It''s faster and will save your energy.


    Yes, yes, please. ......


    The next moment when Presha-san puts her on her back, she runs up the ladder vertically instead of climbing up it - something that is possible because Leslie''s magic has cut off any sound or sign of her presence, but once again, she is shown and admired for the sheer power of her physical abilities.


    There''s a lone soldier in the sentry stand, sitting on the floor. When I let him look up, Alraune''s pollen-induced hypnosis was in full effect.


    ''If you do it right, the same method could have worked for Alejandro: ......


    ''No, this hypnosis can make you answer questions, but it can''t make you actively do what you say. The enemy soldiers will indeed not obey Alejandro, who is no longer able to act as a general.


    Oh ...... I''m sorry, I''m simply overthinking things. ......


    I''ve thought the same thing, but most of all, I don''t think Your Majesty would want magical interference.


    Even as an insurance policy in case dialogue is about to break down, hypnotic magic is a risk. Even if the enemy has just a cloth covering his mouth and nose, it takes time for it to take effect - as far as Zirconia''s knights and soldiers are concerned, many of them have their mouths covered. The guards don''t cover their mouths, but that''s only temporary, and the cloth is wrapped around their necks. They would usually cover their mouths with this.


    ''I''ll let you answer some of your questions. Is this fort really going to accept the recommendation to surrender?��Tell me your intentions in raising the white flag. What does General Alejandro have in mind?


    "...... General Alejandro doesn''t reveal ...... his plans to us, the only soldiers in the army... ...Just find it: ......


    ''Find me ......?��What''s that?


    ...... There are mages in the enemy army, and they want you to kill or capture them as soon as you see ...... mages.


    A chill runs through my whole body - sensing our presence, Alejandro has clearly directed his killing intent at us.


    If he only noticed that Noyin was on our side, would he say ''mage''? It''s possible that he noticed not only Noyn, but also me and Leslie''s presence.


    ''Sir, I''m going to take a look around from the lookout. Ask any questions you think you can get out of me some more.


    This soldier said "schemes" - which means that he personally thinks Alejandro is on to something.


    There is no time to lose now. What is a valid question at this point - what is a valid question to ask?


    Do you have a second-in-command that General Alejandro trusts?


    ...... Reichardt, the chief of a thousand men, ...... originally led this military camp, but General Alejandro, who was to be his superior ...... As commander-in-chief of the invasion force of the Raseneian army.


    I''m going to hypnotize that Ricciardo person - no, it''s going to take too long.


    " -- Glass.


    At that moment, I heard His Highness Astina''s voice. She was supposed to be in the middle of confronting General Alejandro already, but she dared to call out to me.


    ''''The person we are looking at ...... who calls himself Alejandro, while saying that he will surrender, he has also thoughtlessly asked for concessions from us. We feel uncomfortable that he is speaking not of his own volition, but as if he is being ordered by someone else to do so.


    His Highness Astina''s words lead to one inference - if it is correct, there is not even a moment to lose.


    ''Does General Alejandro have any features of appearance?''


    ...... white hair often stands out ...... tall and slender-looking, with a well-developed ...... body... ...On his cheek, there is an old scar. The years do not reach ...... thirty, and he is the youngest ...... of all the great generals.


    "Your highness, is there a scar on the cheek of the man in front of you?


    ''Wounds ...... Yes, he was injured some time ago, or there are signs that he was treated.''


    This soldier says it''s an old wound, and Your Highness says it''s a new wound - what is meant by that incongruity?


    ''-- Your Highness, the person in front of you may not be General Alejandro, but a shadow!


    " ...... Everyone get out of the tabernacle!��And the soldiers outside, quick!''


    His Highness raises his voice - the next moment, something that shouldn''t have happened happened.


    ''''H...... what......?!''''


    The roar is deafening. The shock shakes the air - and the smell of gunpowder flowing through my nose.


    ''They''re ...... no way, your highness ......!


    It wasn''t Alejandro who came face to face with His Highness, it was a fake ...... If only I had been able to find out sooner. ......!


    Noin''s mutterings pass through my mind. We couldn''t think that there really was someone who would use such a scheme - even if it meant abandoning his subordinates and trying to prevent the ''fall'' of this fort - we couldn''t think that there really was someone who would use such a scheme.


    I look at the central tabernacle from the watchtower. In the nick of time, His Highness had escaped, and His Highness'' men outside had subdued the enemy soldiers around him. However, the situation is still unpredictable.


    ''''Your Highness, please get away from the fort!��The enemy is trying to take advantage of the confusion to take out your highness!''


    ''...... Don''t worry about it, Glass. I thought Alejandro had the same pride in being a knight. But that was not the case.''''


    An arrow flies towards the central tabernacle - but.


    ''''--Ha!


    His Highness flicks them all off with a flash of his sword. It''s as if he can predict the direction of all the arrows flying at him.


    ''Cavalry, spread out and take control of the fort!��The main force will continue the siege to prevent the enemy general from escaping. Tell Raquel to move in. Chloe''s troops will block their escape from the north and shoot arrows at the ramparts!


    The cavalry directly under His Highness begins to move - and Raquel-san''s troops, who have rushed in through the main gate, push forward, reaping what they see as they frustrate the remaining soldiers'' will to fight.


    ''''Presha-san, let us move too ...... Presha-san?''''


    Presha-san remained staring in one direction and did not move. When she looked in the same direction as her, there was a knight in a cloak and astride a bluish ash-haired horse.


    ''...... white hair ...... that''s ...... the real one, Alejandro ......!


    Mr. Presha! ......!


    I''ll take out that guy ...... teacher, and the fight will be over. That''s why I''m ......!


    Plesha-san, spear in hand, descends from the watchtower - and she marches onward, knocking down the enemy soldiers who stand in her way. It''s a good idea to have a good idea of what you''re looking for, but you can''t stop Plesha-san with that.


    ''''Brother Glass......''''


    "Master Glass, let me avenge Alejandro!��If only that man hadn''t been there: ......


    As soon as I get off the watchtower, Noin says - I use the ''Green Heal'' (Green Heal) to calm her mind.


    ''''Right now, you have to get through this place in one piece. We can''t leave Presha-san alone ...... but even though most of the soldiers inside the fort are disarmed, it''s not a good idea to fight them head on.


    "...... I will protect you, Mr. Glass. But ...... I can''t be like this: ......


    Don''t be nervous, Mr. Noin. I''ll be here to protect you both.


    ''I understand your hatred for Alejandro. But we''re not fighting alone. You have to remember that.


    Noin returns the nod - and draws his dagger for self-defense. I know that Leslie also knows more about self-defense than I do, but we still have to avoid engaging.


    ''Have you guys lost your knightly pride!��There is nothing to be gained by abandoning your allies, so why can''t you see that ......!


    I can hear Raquel''s voice. He hid the gunpowder in the Tabernacle and detonated it - the fake General Alejandro who was involved, and the enemy soldiers who were accompanying him, would probably have lost their lives in an instant.


    His Highness would not have been safe if he had failed to escape. But the white raven''s plan was thwarted - it was not going as he wanted.


    ''--My name is Presha Hortensia!��If you''re proud of your knighthood, you''re going to have to play your cards right, General Alejandro!


    Presha-san, who had reached Alejandro, leapt and swung down a long spear - and when he received it with his long sword held in both hands, as expected, Alejandro played back Presha-san''s blow.


    ''''Kukko......!''''


    "Pride is no more valuable than a victory sipped out of muddy water. Boldly, little knight, I will deal with you once and for all.


    If he''s thinking about running away without a plan coming to fruition, Alejandro shouldn''t have to admit that he''s the person himself - but he''s taken Mr. Presha''s game.


    He''s not just a man with a plan. Alejandro has absolute confidence in his abilities as a knight as well.


    ''''Though he says it from above. You''re going to be beaten by that ''little knight''.


    Presha-san holds his spear. Alejandro held his long sword and looked down from his horse - his eyes were not at all guarded.

 93 Episode 91: The Sun Between Clouds

    Without waiting for any amount of time, Presha-san set up ahead of him - running with his spear at a low, ground-crawling level. The archer behind Alejandro, and the long spearman, who was behind Alejandro, couldn''t react at all and couldn''t even aim.


    ''''--Haah!


    While jumping up from the ground, Presha-san raises her long spear. Alejandro''s horse is surprised and doesn''t even give him time to react, and the tip of her spear aims at Alejandro''s neck - but.


    (Nah ......!)


    With a dull metallic sound, Presha-san''s spear is deflected - a spray of blood from Alejandro''s arm, and then his cheek.


    Presha-san''s spear should have certainly hit Alejandro. But Alejandro didn''t even fall off his horse, and received Presha-san''s spear - he received it with the armor of his hand, when he wouldn''t have been able to respond in time if he responded with his sword.


    ''''Ugh ......!''''


    Not unharmed, he still survived the first blow from Mr. Presha. Then Alejandro put a hit into Presha-san''s abdomen as they passed each other in the air.


    ''''Hee...... ah......!


    Presha-san''s body slammed into the wet ground.


    Aiming for the enemy general''s neck, knowing the risk when it didn''t come to pass, Plesha-san still jumped in.


    If we take out Alejandro, our victory will be clear. We couldn''t let Alejandro escape with the other enemy soldiers like this - but.


    The glass brother, no ...... if you leave now, the glass brother ......!


    Presha-san rolled and avoided the spear of the soldier who was at the end of the fall, and then she reclaimed it with a flash of her spear.


    ''''--Haah!


    We can still fight - as if to show that, Presha-san handled the long spear soldiers who attacked one after another with one spear and defeated them.


    ''''Alejandro ...... that man is here ......!


    Noin begins to chant magic - the power of the water spirit, which had been filling the area around us since the rain had just lifted, begins to gather at the end of her held out hand.


    If we use magic, they will know our location - but we can''t say that. Alejandro doesn''t use his injured arm, but points an unseen form of weapon carried in his left hand at Presha-san.


    (A small bow ...... no, it doesn''t respond to the plant spirits ......!


    Mr. Presha, step aside. ......!


    Huh. ......!


    Noin summons the water spirit Apsaras and generates water bullets and shoots them out in succession - each shot is compressed and creates a shock that bursts as soon as it lands.


    ''''Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ......!


    Whoa. ......!


    This is the power of a court mage -- but Alejandro is not willing to use his injured arm to flick off the water bullets that are approaching at high speed.


    -- With his white hair flailing in the mist of the water bullets, Alejandro shoots a beastly glint in his eye. For the first time, a clear killing intent dwells in Alejandro''s eyes, which had never revealed any emotion before.


    ''''Wha...... ah...... ah......!''''


    Run, Noin!


    "...... air nymphs, Aelia ......, the invisible wall that protects us ......!


    I try to protect Noyne - Alejandro, without any hesitation at all, directs the archer behind him and himself also points his steel weapon at Noyne.


    The arrows launched from Alejandro''s weapon are steel arrows - Leslie''s deployed wall of air reduces the power of the arrows, but they come through without being able to completely reduce the power of the arrows.


    ''''Kukk......!''''


    Brother Glass!


    An arrow snatches at my arm, which was protecting Noin - a searing pain, and I immediately perceive that the poison has begun to enter my body.


    ''''Glass first, ......!


    I''m fine!��Mr. Presha, please step aside!��If the additions come, we''ll get our chance!


    Huh. ......!!!


    If the poison was of biological origin, it was difficult to deal with - but it was fortunate that it was a plant poison extracted from an aconite species.


    ''Leslie, get me an air ball!


    Ummm, yeah ...... Airia, please ......!


    Leslie shoots out an air ball and seals the poison she received and extracted into the air ball. Shaking off the enemy''s pursuit, the moment Presha-san, who is running towards us, lowers herself and accelerates, the air ball runs over it and flies towards Alejandro.


    ''''Hu......!


    Alejandro shakes off the air ball. He didn''t know that he would be spreading the enclosed poison.


    (I''m convinced that he can beat ...... Mr. Presha''s spear, which underestimated us, by outsmarting Neun''s magic. That carelessness is a deadly ......!


    Sister-in-law Millennia once told me how terrifying it was to not know what kind of magic the other party would use - and how terrifying it was to not know that.


    She said that even a mage of higher rank in terms of ability could be defeated by a lower-ranked mage due to chemistry. It''s a good idea to be able to use rudimentary magic to create a desperate effect if you are able to exploit your opponent''s falsehoods--and that''s what it takes.


    ''''Gah...... aaaa......!


    "Wha-what ...... the General''s name is ......!


    Alejandro stirs my chest. The poison that enters my body and is extracted is altered so that it can more easily travel around my enemy''s body - the poison paralyzes my muscles to breathe much faster than normal, taking away my body''s freedom.


    It is against the doctor''s nature to take away the enemy''s freedom with poison. Nevertheless, we must all survive now, no matter what we have to do.


    ''''--Razeneier''s dog (dog), get out of the way!


    Alejandro barked--that is, at the next moment.


    It''s a good idea to be able to have a good time with them. And before the arrows that Alejandro tried to shoot out, a flash of swordsmanship ran like a white light.


    ''''Gah...... aa......''''


    Following His Highness Astina, Raquel-san charges in - the long spearmen are blown away, and all the arrows shot by the archers are flung off and kicked away by the giant horse.


    ''''A beast (beast) that makes its subordinates throw away their own lives has no right to be called a dog.


    Alejandro''s armor is broken by His Highness''s sword - such a thing is possible because His Highness also has the power of a demon warrior, even if he becomes a priestess.


    ''''--Astina ...... you alone ......!


    Deeply wounded Alejandro points his steel bow at His Highness Astina - but...


    His Highness Astina is close to Alejandro. That meant that the priestess who could mediate the power of the divine tree was in the bosom of the enemy.


    (Dwell in the branches of the divine tree, O lodging tree. Dwell in the miko and be a shield to protect her. ......!)


    She summons Mistortin remotely - stopping the arrow shot at His Highness by extending the arrow at a speed so fast that the innominate ivy tangled in her arms is not visible.


    This is the power of a divine tree maiden. I can draw out a power that is incomparable to that of using magic alone.


    Alejandro discarded his right arm holding the sword in order to stop Presha-san''s spear. Otherwise, he would have at least been able to cut off a match with His Highness - but that didn''t happen either, and he was about to meet his end with the poison from the arrows he released.


    ''''--The monster!


    Until the very end, Alejandro did not go from beast to human again. He called his opponent, whom he could not understand, a monster, and raised his sword with an arm that should have already had no senses.


    However, the sword was never swung down.


    Whether it was a stray arrow or someone aimed and fired - Alejandro catches the arrow that flew at him and falls off his horse in a crumpled heap.


    ''''My lord ...... Alejandro, my lord!


    His Excellency ...... General Alejandro has lost .......


    Alejandro''s men seemed to realize that resistance was no longer meaningful. Their commander had been struck down and they were surrounded and unable to retreat.


    With the enemy soldiers unable to move or surrender, a lone knight approached. He dismounts his horse and kneels before His Highness, indicating that he is unarmed - a man of advanced age and mature age among the soldiers in the military camp - and he shows that he is unarmed.


    ''State your name and your affiliation.


    "My name is Ricardo Orrock, and I was the adjutant general of the ...... fort.


    The soldiers of Zirconia do not say anything, they just stare at His Highness and Ricardo. They are exhausted and could fall into a depression at any moment - but the limpid qi that His Highness radiates attracts their eyes and calms their minds.


    Even the enemy soldiers have a feeling of reverence. The person I served had the wherewithal to make such a pictorial story really happen.


    ''I am Astina Raiseneier, the defender of the Isle Rose Fortress across the canal. You are henceforth prisoners of my army, and this military camp will be placed under our control.


    Haha. ......


    Rihiardo replies, but does not raise his head until he is allowed to. The soldiers finally begin to understand what''s going on when they see their second-in-command.


    The Knights of the Isle Rose have fallen this fort with two thousand five hundred troops, a far greater number of soldiers. An important stronghold of the Zirconia Empire had been taken away.


    Even after the rain had lifted, the sun, which had been hiding behind thin clouds, appeared and illuminated the remaining rain and dew military camp. Noyn remained staring at Alejandro and didn''t move, but eventually he looked up at the sky.


    The soldiers who had been besieging the fort entered and the enemy soldiers surrendered. I approached Alejandro with His Highness'' permission and noticed that the arrow that had last shot through him was made of steel. The arrows used by our army are wooden shafts with wind blades and metal arrowheads.


    -- It was an arrow fired by another Zirconia soldier that shot down the white raven.


    We were able to dock the warship, and Mr. Dite was coming towards us on his horse. Raquel is lending a shoulder to the injured Presha-san - I''m wounded myself, but I need to examine her wound first.


    "Dr. Glass: ...... I''m afraid I''ve shown you how uncool I can be,


    ''No, that''s not true. Mr. Presha was very brave.


    If you''re too lax, you''ll be charging alone again. ...... It''s not the kind of fight that lays down your life, but it''s still dangerous if you misjudge the power of the enemy.


    Yes ...... I''m sorry, Raquel. I need to get stronger: ......


    We will use this military camp''s medical station to treat Presha-san. Vice-Admiral Rihiardo was cooperating with us, and the confusion in the enemy''s army was already calming down, and the fact that they had surrendered was being made known without a moment''s delay.

 94 Episode 92: After the Battle

    Some of the soldiers had tried to escape in the confusion after the commander''s tabernacle was blown up, but they were unable to escape the siege and were taken prisoner at every turn.


    Even the enemy soldiers who had been resisting inside the fort were now obeying the order to disarm. Many of the enemy soldiers had been wounded in the short battle just now, but those who were in a state of motion were assigned to care for the wounded - the painkillers used by the Zirconia Army were of weak effectiveness, so the seriously wounded would be given the medicine I had prepared for them.


    Of course, I prioritized treating the wounds of my allies, but Katie, who was accompanying me, also had surprisingly few injuries. We had one of the tabernacle buildings in the fort opened to house the wounded of our allies, and although three of them were seriously wounded, they were not life-threatening.


    ...... This is good ...... and you did well.


    This patient needed emergency surgery after taking an arrow, but he got through it well with only partial anesthesia. He holds Katie''s hand as she is assisted by her assistant and smiles.


    ''Thank you ...... doctor ......''


    I smile at the patient and reiterate that I''m good to go. The procedure after the stitches are removed is also important to ensure that no scarring is left in the sutured area, so I need to monitor the progress closely.


    Sutures made from plant-based fibers are my specialty. The time it takes to suture is also important for me to do my job as a surgeon, but in my case it was considered abnormal because it was done too quickly, and it was treated as a reference record.


    ''With all this skill, I''m sure I would have been able to pull a lot of strings in the capital.


    Katie-san would tell me that, but I could barely get a mention of being hired by the hospital where I was training. The doctors in the capital city are graduates of a medical school, not a magic academy, and they consider normal medical techniques as more mainstream than those that use spirit magic, which is why I was an oddball.


    If not in the capital city, doctors, including spirit doctors, are indeed a drawback, but it is said that they can be surrounded as the main doctor of a powerful person. That could have happened in my case as well - I''m really glad I''m able to come to the Order like this now.


    When the time comes again, when Dr. Glass is recognized and you can return to the capital, you can go to ......


    ''No, I''ll be here forever. I have family in the capital, so I''d like to think that it''s not like I won''t go back ...... forever. In any case, I won''t be able to return to the capital easily, and I won''t be able to.


    ...... I heard rumors about the story. I heard a rumor that a messenger from His Majesty the King had come to criticize His Highness Astina ...... and that''s why he decided to do this.


    An emissary of His Majesty the King - Vysek. He has delivered an absurd order that the prisoners held in the Isle Rose Fortress must be released immediately.


    The background of this order is now clearly visible as well. The Second Queen is in touch with Jorg-Frost, who sent Neun to Zirconia.


    It means that it was most likely the Second Queen who made Vaissek a messenger to deliver His Majesty''s edict to His Royal Highness Astina to say something insulting.


    ''''What does Your Majesty have in mind ...... seems to be driving His Royal Highness Astina, the daughter of my blood, into a corner. I''m sure His Royal Highness is in a lot of pain, but he has come to fight stoutly. Just looking at your appearance, I am ......


    ...... His Highness has sworn that he will never give the Isle Rose Fortress to Zirconia. The fact that he defeated General Alejandro and took an enemy soldier prisoner in the entire fort will be a deterrent to Zirconia on its own.


    Katie, who had been holding her chest anxiously, smiled at me, easing some of the tension with my words.


    ...... Dr. Glass went into battle and did his job as a military doctor. We''ll do our best to make sure that you don''t fall down. I hope that we can make the doctor''s burden a little less.


    Katie squeezes her medic''s hat back on and repositions the captain''s armband, and then walks out of the tabernacle with her men - it looks like she''s going to help prepare a meal, since the wounded have been rescued quickly.


    I go to check on Presha-san, who has been hit by Alejandro''s blow and is now resting.


    "...... n. Dr. Glass: ......


    ''You''ll be fine as it is, Mr. Presha. Still resting. ......


    Presha-san noticed me and raised her body up - but she had fallen asleep from the middle of the treatment earlier and was unaware of her condition.


    '' ...... pu, Presha-san, get a blanket ...... that, well, you should cover your breasts ......


    ...... Huh?


    Fortunately, no bones were cracked, and I applied an ointment to soothe the inflammation of the bruise and wrapped a bandage around my upper body to protect the area until the swelling went down - I was mindless when I treated it, but not wrapped like a salami, through the undershirt I wear under my armor. But the shape of my chest is clearly visible.


    ''Oh ...... see, don''t look at ......!''


    ''S-Sorry, I approached you insensitively: ......


    Presha-san gropes for the blanket and I look away. This is still not impossible to talk about, so I have to leave the tabernacle as soon as I hear if there is any pain - or so I thought.


    ...... Oh, I''m sorry, I''m the one who''s sorry, you''re a doctor, you don''t care about that kind of thing.


    Although when I''m in ...... therapy, I''m single-mindedly focused. But now I think I owe you an apology.


    At a time like this, I should probably say that I don''t think anything of looking at a woman''s body, but I''m sure I was upset by the unexpected, and I can''t lie.


    But just as I was about to be blamed, Presha-san''s hand reached out quickly - and she turned to me.


    I''d like to thank you for the ...... earlier. I''m sure you''ll be able to find a way to make it work. My sister Raquel always told me that if I underestimated the enemy, I would die, but I didn''t think twice about it and went into ...... it.


    ...... If Presha-san hadn''t challenged him then, Alejandro might have escaped among the other soldiers. I think this result came about because Presha-san continued to fight until His Highness and Raquel-san arrived.


    I can''t tell you anything about the battle - but I wanted to encourage Presha somehow.


    Her eyes are moistening - I thought I would make her cry, but the tears didn''t run down her cheeks. Presha-san wiped her eyes and smiled with a sly smile.


    ''...... I''m glad you weren''t appalled that I did something stupid again.''


    I''m not dumbfounded. I always feel like I need to thank everyone who fights for me. You might think I''m talking about something else, even though I''m a member of the military: ......


    No, that''s not true. Our job is to protect people who don''t have the strength to fight. You have a great deal of magic, but I want to protect you. That''s not just true for me, but for everyone, so I''m not going to run away from it.


    I''ve been told things that I''m sincerely glad to hear, but the words are so unworthy of me that I can''t follow my thoughts.


    When I came to this Order, I thought I would lose my place if I didn''t have my power recognized, and I also thought that Presha-san might cut me off if I was considered incompetent.


    ''It''s ......, so if you''re a ...... teacher, I won''t be offended if you see me, .......''


    The moment Presha-san said that - my vision was suddenly blocked and I couldn''t see in front of me.


    ''''...... Brother Glass, don''t look.''''


    Mr. Glass is a doctor and it must be difficult to treat him without looking at him.


    ''Well, uh, ...... Leslie, you don''t have to be so hard on him. Dr. Glass was just taking care of the injury.


    ...... make sure you put a proper blanket over it because you''ll catch a cold.


    Leslie took off the blindfold, but he still has a thought - though he''ll be offended if I tell him that he''s been so baked.


    ''Noin, Alejandro is at .......


    I didn''t hit Alejandro with the treatment. They pulled out arrows, stopped the bleeding, etc., but that was done by enemy medics.


    The enemy army doesn''t have a military doctor - the idea of having a doctor in the army itself was not in Zirconia. In a military camp of this size, it would be nice to have a doctor, but apparently the system for training doctors itself is not as well organized as our country.


    Whether or not we will treat Alejandro in earnest depends on whether or not he will follow us. As a defeated general, there is no easy way to imagine how King Zirconia and the other generals will treat him - and Alejandro has discarded his men and lost a great deal of centripetal force.


    "...... He has regained consciousness, but he won''t open his mouth. The first thing I said was to kill him.


    Well: ......


    ''Brother Glass, it''s almost time to eat, and His Highness Astina wants you to come before then. If you can, he wants to hear from Alejandro with you. ......


    The way he says "if you can," shows His Highness''s restraint.


    If Alejandro won''t talk, we have no choice but to make him talk. Luna, who had been quietly watching the sleeping wounded, came over and tugged at my sleeve.


    ''This is what I am for in times like these. Summoner, I need you to rely on me.


    ...... Yeah. I''m sorry, Luna.


    Alraune''s hypnosis allows him to find out what Alejandro knows.


    Why was Zirconia trying to attack Raiseneire?


    And does the Zirconia emperor know that there was someone in Raiseneire who was connected to Zirconia--and does the Zirconia emperor know that there was someone in Raiseneire who was connected to Zirconia?


    Leslie said she would take care of Presha-san, so I took Noin and Luna and headed to the place where Alejandro was being held captive.

 95 Chapter 93: Go Forward

    Inside the fort was a facility for capturing and housing those who had violated discipline and deserters. The disciplinary cell - unlike the mobile tabernacle, it was a hut made of wood and stone.


    Accompanied by Deete-san, I entered the punishment cell with Noin. Inside is His Highness Astina, the Knight-in-Chief of Raquel.


    Alejandro was chained to a pillar driven deep into the ground. He had been hit by an arrow around his collarbone and seemed to have lost a lot of blood, but he was bandaged after being treated to stop the bleeding.


    His skin was pale and a little blood had drained from his lips, but if the wound didn''t fester, it wouldn''t be life-threatening. It is up to His Highness to decide whether to let Alejandro live as a prisoner of war or to take him out as an enemy general - but His Highness doesn''t seem to have the option of executing the enemy general who interrogated him.


    Noin is a little upset at the sight of Alejandro, but he gently grabs the hem of my clothes. Since I''m standing in front of the person who made me submit myself, I can''t help but feel that emotion - I don''t mind stretching my clothes at least a little bit if it calms me down.


    I''m going to ask you to play an important role in the glass ...... standing up, though. Is Alejandro, in your eyes, in a position to stand up to interrogation?


    ''It''s difficult to do for long periods of time, but if you just ask the questions you need to, I don''t think it''s a problem.


    ''I understand. If we can help in any way we can too, please help: ......


    Mr. Deethe will offer, but the interrogation will go more smoothly with the help of Lune. That Lune must have been held by Noin, but he has been gone for some time.


    ''''N...... le, Lune. I was wondering where you went to .......


    Lune was hugging His Highness, as it happens. There is a considerable height difference between them, so they are hanging on to each other''s waist.


    ''''It smells ...... like a princess, it smells so nostalgic. You look like your mother .......


    ''I''m sorry ......, I''m not your mother. Euceresis must be related to you.


    The divine tree - the existence that governs all plants. If its roots (roots) are in the spirit world, then it can''t be said that Alraune is also like a child of the divine tree.


    But the sister over here also has a good smell. The sister over here has a good smell too.


    "Yeah, I don''t know if that''s true ...... I just finished a battle, so I don''t think it''s a good smell ......


    Could it be that part of you is attracted to the magic of ......?


    ''''It''s the same with magic power, but I like people who are friendly with Summoner-sama. Raquel-sister and Deethe-sister are just as much about Summoner-sama as they are about ...... Hmph.


    I was about to say something out of the blue, so I couldn''t help but catch Lune and cover my mouth. Since she''s a spirit, she''ll be fine even if she can''t breathe, but I just lightly place my hand on her so that she doesn''t suffer.


    ''Lune, if you say something like that all of a sudden, everyone will be surprised. We have to make sure we don''t get scolded.''''


    ...... Hmm.


    ''Yes, no, I''m not scolding you, but ...... what were you going to say?''


    ''Oh, you''re silly, Lune is ...... glad the doctor stopped you.


    Lune seems displeased, but now that she''s quiet, I let her go. Lune looks up at me and ''eeks'', but I guess she looked cute to Raquel and Deite, and they both laughed.


    ''It''s soothing to see ...... Lune. We must remember that this is hostile territory, though.


    ''Glass, I''m not going to pick on you too much, even if you''re your own spirit.


    ''I''m not bullying you ...... oh, here ......


    Lune decides that Raquel-san is on her side and hides behind her - but His Highness gently peeks in and picks up Lune and brings her to me.


    ''''Huh~ I''ve been caught. Summoner-sama, it can''t be helped, so I''m going to listen to what you say.


    Haha ...... I''m just about to say thank you.


    Looking at Lune, who doesn''t move at all even in front of the slightly unmoving Alejandro, I think that she, as a spirit, is not a child as she appears.


    And Lune is able to communicate with His Highness just by touching him - that His Highness, the priestess of the divine tree, has gained the power to be in tune with the plant spirits.


    Accompanied by His Highness, Lune comes up to Alejandro and holds out her hand towards the ground. A magic circle was created on the ground and a spectral flower, the main body of Lune, sprouted and blossomed before you could even see it.


    ''This little one has this kind of power ...... Anytime you see it, magic is a mystery.


    Deete-san is admiringly paying attention to Alejandro''s movements, not letting her guard down. The same goes for Raquel-san - even though she can''t move now, she''s the one who hunted down Presha-san, so she can''t let her guard down.


    Eventually, the pollen of the demon flower floats around Alejandro and is taken into his body with his breath - his eyes open slightly.


    ''...... I''ll check again. You are General Alejandro, right?


    ...... Yes, .......


    Now, I''m going to ask you to answer a few questions. Please answer them without hesitation.


    ...... Oh, .......


    After Alejandro replies, His Highness steps forward. I stand off to the side and watch the interrogation, carefully observing Alejandro''s condition.


    ''...... Were you attempting to take the Isle Rose Fortress through the humans of Raiseneire?


    There is not long enough time to hypnotize and ask questions at a time. It''s just a few minutes until the ego is transformed - there''s no time to take a detour, every question must touch the core of the matter.


    The woman ...... there ...... water mage, Noyne Flores, ...... a water mage, has asked for guidance on the part of the Kingdom of Raiseneire to use her power. I did. ......


    Well, who is the person who gave you the lead: ......?


    There are only a few people in your country who can give orders to the court mages of Rayseneier ...... who can do such a thing.


    Alejandro could only speculate, and he didn''t know the answer - it was just that ''someone in Raiseneire'' had been made to use Neun''s power.


    It was no doubt orchestrated by Her Royal Highness Cassandra, the Second Queen of Rezeneire, and the court mage Jorg Frost, who was in touch with her. If Alejandro didn''t know that, then the connection between Zirconia and Queen Cassandra was not as close as he had imagined.


    If Queen Cassandra was connected to the other generals, or even to the vicinity of Emperor Zirconia, it would be difficult to reach a truce with Zirconia through discussion alone. We know that there were other secret agents besides Alejandro, but I''d like to think that they are not involved in the heart of Zirconia - I''d like to think that they are not involved in the heart of Zirconia.


    ''There were those who were secretly funneling weapons to Zirconia from our territory. Were you aware of that?


    ...... It was guided by a man named Vale, who was in command of a fort ...... built as a base for warships to the west. ...... I asked Vale for supplies and ordered him to use a warship to coordinate with our forces ...... but that man was .......


    Why did he try to use Nein to use his hands to cage Bail? It was only because Vale had used his position to play games with Alejandro.


    If Bail didn''t move, he couldn''t take the strategy of attacking the Isle Rose Fortress by landing from two remote points. Apart from the fact that Noyn had been sent to Zirconia, there was a move to divert weapons from the Rayseneier to Zirconia, which was unintentionally creating a split in the Zirconian army.


    ...... It''s no wonder they can''t gain any credibility if they use operations like that.


    After all, you were right to target the shipyard in the west ...... because Alejandro was out of options because he took Vail as a prisoner and rescued Neun.


    It''s true - I''ve heard it said that a single court mage can change the course of a battle, and I think Noin embodies that as well. Alejandro may have been an excellent commander without a mage in the past, but I can imagine that he became dependent on Noin when he learned of his power.


    '' ...... Thanks to Master Glass. If I hadn''t met Master Glass back then, I might have gone back to this man.


    I''ve seen many men try to use women on the battlefield, but ...... is still unacceptable.


    Raquel-san directs her anger at Alejandro, but His Highness controls it.


    I''ve seen, Mr. Presha''s past - and among them, he has shown me glaringly that some of the men in the military think atrocious things.


    Not all of them. Sometimes they wear out their minds and become trapped in a delusional obsession with power as they spend time on the battlefield, and sometimes they don''t.


    I have to do what I have to do so that after this war, everyone can smile and go back to their lives. I even think it''s my calling now to be here as a military doctor.


    ...... Summoner-sama, this man has quite a strong resistance to hypnosis ......, if I ask you just one more question, it looks like I''d better break the hypnosis.


    ''Yeah, okay. Your Highness: ......


    ''Nope. Is there anything you''d like to say to Noin ...... Alejandro?


    "Geez, Your Highness, your highness ...... gives such an important opportunity to someone like me ...... and so on.


    ''I think you have the right to do so. Even if you are going to work for our Order from now on, it''s going to be hard for you if you don''t untie yourself a little bit.


    Just being freed from the underworld spirit isn''t the end of it. Even with the sight of the fallen Alejandro, he is still not truly free.


    "...... I am ...... no longer bound to you. Your orders are unreachable.


    "...... different ...... noin ...... you are my ......


    Lune is right, Alejandro is resisting hypnosis - his obsession with Noin is that strong.


    I don''t know if it''s right to try to help her here. Maybe she''s the one who has to overcome this on her own.


    Still, I put a hand on his shoulder, hoping to help Noin move forward as much as possible.


    ''...... Glass-sama ......''


    Noin lays his hand on my hand. The magic power of ''water'' and ''plants'' are compatible with each other - if they are so compatible, I can calm Noyn''s mental turmoil without using magic.


    ''...... I didn''t hear your answer. If you''re still hearing in that state, just inscribe my words ...... you''ve lost. To the Knights of the Isle Rose, led by His Highness Astina.


    --!


    Alejandro''s eyes widen - just as he is about to become enraged, Lune wraps Alejandro in a pollen that has a sleeping effect.


    ''''Geez, ...... is ...... ah ......''''


    As the concentration of hypnotic pollen increases, Alejandro quickly loses consciousness. Looking at a gulping Alejandro, Noin puts his hand to his chest - it must have taken a lot of courage.


    ''...... Your Highness, I''m sorry. I''m sorry that I''ve done something in the presence of Your Highness ...... that would make me feel resentful.


    ''No.'' Alejandro used a measure that cost the lives of his men ...... and yet there was not the slightest regret. That would not reward those who died following his orders.


    ''People who don''t realize they''re losing are especially hard to give up. You''d better make sure you have a reminder.


    ''Your Highness, as for Alejandro and Vale, as important prisoners, they will be a bargaining chip with Zirconia. However, if we bring them back to the Isle Rose Fortress, we believe that Vysek will again interfere with them. ...... I think we should proceed with one more piece of the puzzle at this point, but what do you think?


    His Highness''s eyes, which were asked by Raquel, changed for a moment to gaze somewhere other than here - a future vision by the power of the divine tree.


    ''...... Racquel, I entrust this fort to you. Bridget, along with Chloe, you will stay here for a few days.


    ''Ha! ...... accepted. What will your highness do?


    ''I will return once, leading my forces to the Isle Rose. Our attack on Zirconia is likely to be foreseen in the center of ...... our keystone, the Isle Rose Fortress, must be avoided if we are to be seized.


    ''...... That man ...... sounds like what Vysek would think. Your Highness, may I be allowed to accompany Presha and myself?


    Yes, sir. Glass, I''ll leave it up to you to decide where to place the two mages.


    ''Your Highness, you may leave the defense of this fort to me. I have some knowledge of the surrounding terrain during my stay.


    Noyn will offer herself to me - if she remains, which she did when we attacked this fort, she can be expected to contribute in the defense.


    I''m going to follow His Highness back to the Isle Rose Fortress, along with Leslie. Even if the gloom in the Zirconia area disappears, there is still a possibility that our original allies, the Raseneian army, will be framed for treason.


    This is the crucial point - in order for His Highness to become the ruler and create an independent territory, he must eliminate the worries of hindsight. I rode His Highness''s horse and Leslie rode on Mr. Presha''s horse and rode across the still rain and dewy plains towards the south where the fortress was located.

 96 Episode 94: Signs of a storm

    On the banks of the canal, the horses are grazing. At the sight of them, Lune holds up her hand to protect the little flowers growing on her head.


    ''Sister Leslie, do horses eat flowers too?''


    I don''t think I''d eat ...... unless I was really hungry. I usually eat horse grass.


    I get off my horse and sit with a cloth on a nearby rock, and Leslie is talking with Lune on her lap - how peaceful it is.


    I get off my horse once and approach the water''s edge, too. According to what I''ve seen in the illustrated book, there are some demons that live in the water, but after touching the water and asking the algae in the water, there doesn''t seem to be any dangerous creatures.


    ...... Glass, can you make a lotus foothold?


    ''Yes, no problem. Come to think of it, even though it''s such a big river, I didn''t think you were wary of aquatic life at all: ......


    ''You don''t seem to be around here. We couldn''t fish in the canal because of enemy raids, but if we could build a boat we could start.


    If fish could be caught, certainly the meals would not have been as frugal as they were. Fish was a precious commodity that was rarely eaten in King''s City, but I''ve eaten things like the ones that were salted and preserved because the troop merchants would come to sell them.


    ''''And that''s only after we get through the coming phase. ......


    "...... Your Highness, what is the ''oracle'' from Euselisis: ......


    ...... from the east, when the storm comes.


    ''Huh? ......!''


    In that direction from the east--western territory, there is the royal capital.


    The ''storm'' coming from the royal capital. When I heard that, I couldn''t help but think of one person.


    "Millennia Weed. ''''The ''Jade Witch'' is heading this way.''''


    How did Dean Millennia come up with ...... ......


    ''There is one thing I can think of. Suppose he was convinced of his own success when he provoked us at the behest of His Highness Vysek ...... Cassandra. He would think of seizing the Isle Rose Fortress ...... the Western Territories, under the guise of my rebellion against His Majesty.


    Even if they saw through that much ......, they couldn''t catch Vysek. That in itself would be treasonous, so ...... is that what you mean?


    His Highness nodded. Things were not looking good at all - but His Highness had such a calm look in his eyes that it was a relief to us just to look at him.


    ''Can what we are doing be treason? It is not for Vysek to determine that.


    ...... Your Highness Astina.


    Oh, yeah, what''s that called conspiracy numbers ...... for me?��I don''t know about those things, but I don''t mean to be wrong. And it''s impossible for Your Highness to be wrong.


    ...... I, too, can make mistakes. I don''t think you should do what you think is always right.


    I didn''t say that to dismiss Presha-san''s words.


    His Highness looked at me - his cool eyes seemed to say that he wanted me to say what I thought of his words.


    ''It would be a great relief for the people of the realm to know that Your Highness is thinking that way. Of course, I, too, think it''s a noble thing to do.''''


    ...... precious ...... that may seem a bit grandiose as an expression, but ......


    I was wondering what to say about His Highness, too: "I was wondering what to say about His Highness, too. ...... I think Dr. Glass is right. His Highness is a noble man.


    Even Presha-san agrees, and His Highness, who looks puzzled, looks away when he realizes I''m looking at him, and pats the neck of the grazing horse and lets him finish his meal.


    ''...... glass, that precious is forbidden. I know you don''t mean it in a bad way, but I don''t feel comfortable with it being said.


    "I''m sorry about ...... too, Your Highness.


    I regret to say that it was an impolite remark to His Highness, just because it was a small group of people.


    ''...... I''m not afraid to be that afraid. I didn''t say I didn''t want to, just that I was restless. You and I are connected through the divine tree, and yet precious is a way of saying it feels distant.


    ''Wow, I understand. Well, then, I''d like to reiterate: ...... I have a lot of respect for your highness.


    ...... Brother Glass, I don''t think much has changed.


    Hahaha ...... Even teachers get nervous and can''t say the right things sometimes, can they?


    Unlike Sven, I''m not as calm as a stone. However, it''s good to be able to chat for a brief period of time, as constant tension can cause a lot of mental fatigue.


    Deite and the others who have been scouting the perimeter have returned, and they come up to me with a strange look on their faces as everyone laughs.


    ''''We''re done scouting the perimeter. I don''t think we''re going to be attacked by the ambushers while we''re crossing ...... Now that Alejandro has been defeated, I''m guessing that Zirconia''s remaining troops aren''t in this area.


    ''Thank you, Deite. Glass, then, please.


    I''m sorry, sir.


    I hold my hand over the flowing canal - another landscape floats in front of me. In Elmir''s fountain in the spirit world, countless ''floating demon lotuses'' are still floating around.


    It''s the water lilies that rise and fall from the abyss. Reveal yourself once in this world.''


    Several large lotuses materialize from this side of the canal to the other side of the river. Having summoned them a few times, I''ve grown accustomed to them and can match the height at which each lotus floats and lay them out like a cobblestone path.


    I was told to ride His Highness''s horse, so He pulled me up by the hand. His Highness puts my hands around his own waist to prevent me from falling off.


    ''Then we''ll be off. There seems to be a slight breeze, so be careful not to get agitated.


    ""Yes!"


    When His Highness calls out to them, the knights in the Kingsguard also reply together. Hearing their voices this way, Presha-san is outstandingly young, but many of the knights seem to be in the mid-20s.


    ''...... Once the battle settles down, though, some of the knights may choose to retire because of their age. I must serve so that I can.


    When you''re as close to His Highness as you are now, it''s easier to get your thoughts across. His Highness Astina is always concerned about the lives of the knights as well.


    That feeling is conveyed, which is why all the knights who are older than His Highness are loyal to him.


    ''...... How is it that you think so often of things that compliment me?''


    ''''Geez ......, sorry. I''ll try not to get my thoughts across.


    ''No, I''m not mad at you ...... and unless my thoughts are always getting through to you, good.


    ''That''s not a problem, because I know how to be a mage myself. As for the propagation of thoughts through magic, there are ways to prevent it.


    ...... I see that only I am getting the idea of Glass. I still think I need a little Glass to work his magic on me.


    As we talk, Leslie looks back at me - does that mean I''m interested in what His Highness and I have to say? Maybe it''s not a good idea to talk too quietly.


    ''Did you listen to ......?��I asked for magical guidance, and I said so.


    ''Yes, yes, of course I''m listening. I''m sure your highness will get the hang of it in no time.


    ''I''ll try to be. It''s almost time to finish crossing the lotus bridge. ...... When you get down to the shore, I''ll have the horses galloping. Please hold on tight.


    ......!


    Just as His Highness said, when he landed on the shore, he struck the horse by the neck. Then the horse gradually accelerates and begins to canter - if you don''t hold on tightly, it''s going to be swung down.


    Leslie is doing her best to hold on to Presha, so I''m not going to let him get the better of me. Deethe-san, who is riding alone, is ahead of me and runs lightly - she reaches the Isle Rose Fortress a step ahead of me and sounds her horn to signal me to let down the drawbridge.


    Once inside the fortress, a soldier runs up to His Highness. His face was pale - something was happening, after all.


    ''''Your Highness, I am reporting to you. The troops dispatched from the center seem to have arrived at the western territory''s checkpoint. The commander is General Rothgard, and he has informed us that he has a written order from the central headquarters. He wants us to enter the Isle Rose Fortress before His Highness Astina returns. ......


    ...... What''s the strength of that unit?


    There was no need to check the strength of the troops if they were not going to operate jointly about another unit on the side - His Highness had suggested the possibility of hostility with friendly forces in his question.


    ''The fast horses from the guards have just arrived, about three hundred,'' he said. Perhaps because they didn''t know Your Highness would be returning early, they have already begun to move towards us.


    ''I can''t believe you''ve gone this far. That guy, Vysek, has been ...... from the beginning.


    Deethe-san bites her lip. The fact that the general sent from the center is coming here now means that he was only prepared to poke His Highness''s absence beforehand and prepare to enter the Isle Rose Fortress.


    The number of three hundred men would be a number with a view to putting the Isle Rose''s troops directly under his command and continuing to rule. It seems to be a decision that there is no need to direct a large number of troops from the center.


    ''Your Highness ...... If General Rothgard arrives at this point, he will probably be issued a written order from the Marshal. If he refuses to do so, he may turn all of the Raseneian Royal Army against us.


    Mr. Deethe continues to speak up to His Highness. We knew this was going to happen - in order to continue to rule the western territories, improve the lives of the people and bring peace to the people, sooner or later, Queen Cassandra''s conspiracy must be dismissed.


    ''...... The fact that I am here at this stage would be beyond their expectations. And there is no need for interference by General Rothgardt in this western territory.


    Your Highness: "......


    ''For what reason are you on your way. If you have an argument to disqualify me, I will listen to it. But that was before I entered this fortress with my feet on the ground.


    ...... All right. I will follow His Highness to the end.


    Presha-san has no hesitation. Neither were the knights of the Kingsguard - but Ms. Deethe was not quick to agree.


    ''Dietria ...... if you were to return to the Muse House, it would be ......''


    ...... says it''s now or never. That''s probably not a mistake.


    Dietria is probably Ms. Diete''s real name. And Muse is the family name of Mr. Deite''s birth family.


    I had heard the name Countess Muse when I was in the royal capital. The current head of the family is also the manager of the Royal Theatre, widely involved in business, and is said to be one of the richest aristocrats in the country.


    Born into such a prominent family, Mr. Dite chose to become a knight. However, that does not mean that he abandoned his home.


    ''...... If I were to face General Rothgard as a vassal of His Highness, the Muse family would also suffer some penalty. However, I have told my father that if anything happens to me, he is to cut me off at any time. My father is cunning and will not be easily demolished.


    Deite: ......


    Miss Deethe was not lost. She knew that His Highness, and Mr. Presha, would be concerned about her by speaking out about her decision.


    ''...... Ms. Deethe, are you sure?''


    ''I don''t want to think, even if it were possible, that from now on I would be incorporated under a new general for the rest of my life. I have sworn an oath to remain a knight in the service of His Highness.


    Yes, ...... me too. Your Highness, please take us with you.


    The knights were of one mind. I look at it and feel dazzled - at the academy, I couldn''t have met a fellow knight who wanted to be in the same place like this.


    ''...... Brother Glass, you have an envious look on your face.


    ''I guess it''s more of a longing. But ...... yeah, I guess so. For me, I had Leslie and Sven.


    ...... Yes, that''s right, ......, if that''s what you think.


    Leslie was saying something, but I couldn''t hear him because his voice was too low - I''m sure he was saying, "I''m glad you think that," or something like that.


    But there are not enough of us to hold General Rothgard back. There''s no time left now to bring back the troops occupying the Zirconian fort, either.


    If what we have been doing in ...... this western territory is sprouting up. We have nothing to worry about.


    Your Highness ...... With those words, my hesitation is gone from my inner being. Dietria Muse, Captain of the First Archers of the Isle Rose Fortress. I will accompany you until the day my body rots.


    His Highness returns a nod to Mr. Deite - to me, it seemed like His Highness smiled faintly. Deete-san smiled too, and the knights walked out of the fortress again.


    ''Your Highness Astina, ladies and gentlemen, please have good fortune ......!


    Your Highness Astina, your knight Presha, your knight Dietria, ride forth!


    A friend''s army - no. The knights run through the meadow to confront the army that was once their friend.


    What is waiting for them in the future? Will I have to face my sister-in-law as well?


    All I can do is make sure I don''t lose anything. That''s the only thing that won''t be different, I vowed to myself.

 97 Episode 95: Older sister and younger brother

    As we leave the Isle Rose Fortress and proceed for a while, the sky turns lightly cloudy and we can hear thunderstorms in the distance. The weather looks like it could be raining - but I can''t let that stop me.


    I''m riding on the back of Presha''s horse. I wish I had practiced riding, but it wasn''t considered an essential skill required of a military doctor - I think with the continuous movement of the situation, but riding skills are still essential if you want to accompany the knights.


    ''Your Highness, given the number of troops led by General Rothgardt, with our numbers ......


    Deete-san spoke to His Highness as she advanced alongside his horse. His Highness Astina looked at Mr. Deete and shook her head as if she wasn''t particularly worried.


    ''''The fact that we will be greeting you with so many troops means hostility. Although it is dangerous, you and four Kingsguard knights and sixteen knights ...... would be the limit of this number.


    If they see that we are a small group, they will come out strong. If there''s no room to negotiate and they force their way through: ......


    ''''General Rothgard is a beaten-up in the Order and has a distant relationship with generals from the nobility. And since he is being sent to the Western Territories, where the current situation is not good, he may not be happy about it.


    I''m sure you''ve been promised improved logistics, more Transportation Corps troops, etc., but it doesn''t change the fact that some people have forced General Rothgardt into this role with the intention of moving to the ...... left.


    Both His Highness Astina and Mr. Dite had obtained some information about the central knightly headquarters - I didn''t know what kind of person he was just from hearing his name, but I could swallow a part of the situation.


    ''First, let''s see how the other side comes out. We should be able to see them just past the vicinity of the town of Portoro. Make sure you raise the flag as soon as possible.


    "Ha!


    The four knights of the Kingsguard reply together without a minute''s disturbance - the reason why they are wearing helmets that cover their ears and can hear all of His Highness'' voices despite being on horseback is because His Highness'' unconsciousness is working through magical power under his unconsciousness.


    And now that she has become a priestess of the Divine Tree, information about the entire western territory where the Divine Tree''s influence extends to her has come into her life. But even so, she doesn''t let the information overwhelm her, but keeps her ego in check, and with the vast amount of information she has, she is thinking about the next phase of her life.


    ''''There is nothing to worry about. What we''ve done in the West ...... and what Glass has done in the past will come to fruition.


    How much I''ve accumulated - how much I''ve been able to do in the short time I''ve been in the Isle Rose Fortress.


    His Highness saw that more than I did. At first, His Highness was not indifferent, even if he didn''t know if he could trust me, who had been assigned by Queen Cassandra''s arrangement, but he was not indifferent.


    ...... It''s because of this person''s character that Sister Raquel and I came along. I''m really sorry that I didn''t understand ...... what was going on at first.


    ''No, it''s okay. I''m sure I would have been spoiled if you had trusted me from the beginning.


    It''s not so much that I''m spoiled, it''s more that ...... your teacher can count on you all, too. I''ll do my best to get them to do the same for me.


    It''s not that someone else has to carry more of the load on their shoulders, but all of us do. It is His Highness who takes the initiative to do that, and I believe that he is the one who thinks about this western territory more than anyone else.


    Without knowing anything about it, we should never accept simply shaking His Highness''s feet and upsetting the people of the territory for the sake of a battle for the throne.


    However, it also meant that the Isle Rose Fortress refused to accept the order that was supposed to be an edict from His Majesty the King.


    �����


    Under a light cloudless sky, we could see a group of cavalrymen coming down the street beyond the spreading meadows.


    When they see that we have raised our flag, they raise theirs as well. The banner of the Rayseneian Knights and a flag with a lion, which is probably the emblem of General Rothgardt, are raised.


    His Highness raises his hand and his horse stops. Instead of confronting them on the street, we entered the grassy hillside ahead of them, and General Rothgardt''s group also began to move late.


    ''''That cloak (coat) is a court mage ...... that is also of a higher rank ......


    Mr. Deethe looked nervously at the mage near the other party''s group, General Rothgard, with a nervous look on his face. I thought I was going to upset her, but I thought I should tell her again.


    ''She''s my sister-in-law ...... Millenia Weed. She probably asked me to accompany her because I''m being sent here.


    ''''That ''Jade Witch'' is here ......, the hero who single-handedly pushed back a thousand enemy soldiers on the southern front ......


    ...... If they use magic, even we won''t be safe. But if the doctor is here, he won''t attack us without question.


    I''d like to think so too - but your sister-in-law is loyal to her country. Even if she has a soft spot for me, she would never go against the orders given to her as a court mage.


    But if I could tell my sister-in-law about our situation - just as I was thinking that, I suddenly turned my head and saw a few cavalrymen ahead of me.


    ''''...... vaisec ......!


    ''That guy ...... was waiting around here. I''ve been waiting for him to blow something into General Rothgard: ......!


    No longer hiding their malice towards us, as if to show their appearance to His Highness Astina, Vaisek lets his soldiers open the way and approach General Rothgard.


    One by one, our side and the cavalrymen of the other side approach and exchange messages. His Highness did not change his expression when he received the report of the returning cavalrymen and sent out another messenger.


    ''''Your Highness: .......''''


    ''As I have been informed beforehand, they have told me to transfer the command of the Isle Rose Fortress and the governance of the Western Territory. The reason for this is a violation of my orders ...... and the fact that Isle Rose''s soldiers have left the fortress is also being ascertained.


    With this, Vysek must have been convinced that he had won. The pressure from Zirconia, and the delaying of the transport from the center, put the Isle Rose Fortress in a tight spot, and His Highness thought so, thinking that he had attacked Zirconia in pain.


    But the fact is that this is not the case.


    The Knights of the Isle Rose fell the Zirconia Fortress unscathed, and the threat of an invasion from the neighboring country was gone. On the contrary, they are now in a position to negotiate a ceasefire in favor of Zirconia.


    ...... And if we rebel, they will take us down with the help of the accompanying court mage ...... Lord Millennia.


    ''''That''s too much disrespect for His Highness ......!


    ''''More than three hundred cavalrymen, the power of a court mage allows you to make such demands. To bring them in to threaten your people: ......


    Presha-san tightens her grip on the horse''s reins and bites her teeth.


    If this is the case, she will have no choice but to drink the other party''s terms, that''s how big she considers her sister-in-law''s power to be. Neither me nor Leslie can think of opposing my sister-in-law - we want to avoid fighting her at all costs first.


    But we can''t accept the conditions that have been offered. There is a divine tree in this territory, and with your highness receiving the oracle as a priestess, the life of the people in the territory will surely improve. And His Highness'' power to read the future is the one and only power to avoid futile conflicts and ward off the fires that fall.


    His Highness is ...... about His Highness, what treatment they will give .......


    ''As for me, he says he''s going to take me to a military tribunal. They''re going to strip me of my rank as a knight: ...... As for the verdict, it''s as if it''s been decided all along.


    Do you really think you can pass that unreasonableness - or do you think you can?


    Queen Cassandra, the Northern Knights connected to it - and Jorg Frost. They have already undermined not only the royal capital, but also the heart of the Knights.


    ''Your Highness ...... will you have a direct dialogue with them?��What is the point of listening to the words of such men?


    ''Lord Rothgard probably doesn''t know about His Highness Cassandra''s intentions. And Milania-dono should also be acting solely on the basis of an edict from His Majesty. If it can be overturned, it would be if implementing the edict could ''undermine the stability of the territory''.


    Even though it is the order of His Majesty the King, it is useless if the country is disturbed. If all the edicts were faithfully executed, the country would be said to be invincible - but that''s not realistic.


    They don''t know the reality of the Western Territory. That is the only thing that can be put on them.


    ''Presha, Deite. Please stay here ...... and I will have a dialogue with the general.


    "... ...... Your Highness...


    ''Don''t worry, Mr. Deite. I''m sure His Highness will be able to help you at .......


    Mr. Deethe remonstrated with Mr. Presha, who was about to ask to accompany him. His Highness paces his horse and advances out with two of his kinsmen knights to the halfway point between us and the other side.


    ''Glass, you''ll see. I would never put you and your sister at odds.


    His Highness'' voice echoes in my chest - I can only thank him for his concern and pray for now. That everything will be safe and that I won''t have to fight with my sister-in-law.

 98 Episode 96: Confrontation

    When the document arrived at the Silvana Magic Academy from the Knights'' Royal Capital Headquarters, I had an idea of its contents before I opened it.


    My brother-in-law had yet to send me a single letter after being sent to the western territory, but Leslie, who accompanied him as his assistant, had sent me a letter once.


    He said that both that Swordswoman General and the knights under him were willing to recognize Glass as a member of the Order. Leslie didn''t exaggerate her wishful thinking, and I was optimistic that since it was my brother, he was establishing his own place in the group in his own way.


    Call me a big sister idiot, I can''t deny it. But I knew from the beginning.


    I knew from the beginning what the possibilities of signing a contract with a plant spirit in ''this country'' would suggest. Even Head Master Hendrik hadn''t even thought about it.


    When did the stop thinking that mages who contracted with non-primary spirits were worthless? From the time the Silvana Academy of Magic was created with the main purpose of training military mages - for Glass, it had been so from the beginning.


    Prior to that time, the records of this country''s mages were forbidden to be inspected by the country''s mages. Even I, who became a court mage of the seventeenth ladder, am not allowed to enter the sealed archives of the royal palace.


    (But it''s not the history pertaining to mages, but what happened to the ...... western realm that comes to light by looking at it from a different aspect. (And that it was worth as much as a heart to the Raiseneian royal family.)


    He could have told Glass everything from the beginning and sent him off. But then, the fact that he knew the secrets of the Western Domain might have made his behavior unnatural.


    If he could, he wanted him to get to the facts along with the core of the Isle Rose Order. The Discarded Garden and the Discarded Divine Spirit - if Glass is qualified, I''m sure he''ll be called there. But I wasn''t sure what happened beyond that either.


    The wavering was prodded by the Second Queen Cassandra. No, I do not believe that she herself alone could have made the decision to send me to the Western Territories.


    And yet here I am, riding my horse as I am begged to do, under a heavy cloudy sky, and being shown the expressionless profile of an old warrior.


    ''...... General Rothgard. Is it good?


    ''Your Highness Astina is one of the best generals in the Royal Order and has defended the Isle Rose Fortress well. His Majesty the King is pleased with that, but he is also worried about it. I can''t have the princess, who always takes the initiative in warfare, take command any longer.


    The short question was answered more than adequately. It also showed General Rothgard''s guilt that came from his loyalty to His Highness Astina.


    ''''Do you think that an old man''s bones, who retired from the front line as a general, cannot be relied upon to defend the border?


    ...... Such sarcastic remarks are unbecoming of a general.


    Between the court mages of the seventeenth rung of the ladder and the general of the Kingdom Knights, the general, who had a total of only eight members, would have a higher position in the army. Otherwise, I knew that I would be speaking too much to someone who was more than a year older than me, but I dared to say something unreservedly out of my mouth.


    -- this old general knew exactly how I felt about being here, and on top of that, this old general ordered me to do so.


    If there was any disquiet in the movements of His Highness Astina and the others, he ordered me to counter them with magic power. It is easy to imagine that the messenger who conveyed that to His Highness would have replaced it with strong words of disrespect.


    I''m not sure if this is the end of the special case of the women-only knights. It''s truly a mystery to me what kind of decision was made to leave the borders to women, and what kind of decision was made to continue to this day.


    ''With a noblewoman in the princess''s entourage, I suppose that means she had some say in the matter.


    ''Schmidt, Banias. The Knights of the Isle Rose have been defending the front line. You should know that we, from the center, are not as experienced as they are in battle. If you underestimate us, you will be caught off guard.


    General Rothgard remonstrates with his men - they are centurions, and Lord Raquel, who is said to be His Highness Astina''s right hand man, is at the rank of a thousand men. Still, the tendency to look down on them just because they were women did not change on any battlefield.


    Once they entered the Isle Rose Fortress, one could imagine how they would treat the knights and soldiers who would become their subordinates. It was doubtful whether they would give the only male in the current situation, Glass, the only male in the group, the orderly treatment as well. Because the first thing they would do when they entered the fortress would be to show that they would take control of the command and rise above. In order to do so, those in key positions in the fortress at the moment would either be excused from their positions on grounds of discipline, or their actions would be severely restricted.


    Knowing that, there''s an itch that they have no choice but to sit back and watch things unfold for now. This is the kind of ordeal that His Highness Astina, me - and my brother - will surely have to go through.


    ''''You understand, Lady Millenia Weed. "You are aware, Millennia Weed, that His Highness Cassandra also trusts the loyalty that the Jade Witch has sworn to my country. You will not betray that trust, my dear.


    We know that this man, Vysek, has been active in the West. I was brought here because of the arrangements this man had made.


    I didn''t feel that I was in a vulnerable position, having sent Glass to me. However, the fact that the document from military headquarters that came to me had a clause that said, ''If you respond to the call, your brother will be excused from the hearing,'' was only because Glass was perceived by me as a vital point of contact.


    I can show them things in my eyes to the extent that they underestimate me, but they underestimate even my brother. If you think about that seriously, you may end up asking my spirit ''Tempest'' for an emotional favor.


    I have no taste for being called a ''witch'', despite the two names ...... known to me.


    I''m sorry to say that ......, but I don''t mean that in a bad way, because your good looks are magical, or something like that.


    This is a slight that came out because I''m more than a former military court mage, and I see myself as a woman. That''s why women in the military don''t uniformly trust men - some of them are respectable warriors, but they are the only ones I''ve seen who don''t deserve it.


    This Vaissek was a person from a baronial family, a relative of Queen Cassandra, who had successfully risen in the Knights'' headquarters after working as a transport captain and so on while avoiding the front lines. It''s easy for me to grasp that much background, and I know that Vysek is supposed to be granted the territory on account of this ''merit''.


    --The question is, is it not an achievement or anything else, and isn''t it just an attempt to undermine His Highness Astina?


    ''''When this one is over, I hope to see you again at the King''s nightclub or some other event in King''s Landing.


    I''m afraid I have no intention of attending any such meetings in the foreseeable future.


    ''''You are not only the head of the Academy of Magic, you are also a nobleman. I''m sure you''re all waiting for me, ......, including me.


    I was long past anger, and my heart was dry from the heart.


    I suppose my temperament was a good match for the spirit of the wind. The mental picture that comes to mind at times like this is the desert - and the tornadoes that are blowing around.


    These knights have never fought with us on the battlefield. They seem to mistake me for something akin to a lady, but I''m beginning to feel like destroying that assumption at once.


    If I disobey the order, the military headquarters will create a reason to send a large army into the western territory. It''s not a reasonable decision considering the war situation in the north and east, but since Queen Cassandra is trying to get rid of His Highness Astina by any means necessary, she won''t miss it if she sees it as an opportunity.


    His Royal Highness is willing to come this way and engage in a dialogue: ...... Everyone, no disrespect.


    A knight on a white horse, accompanied by two squires, approached us. Even the knights who had been lightly babbling froze in their breaths at the sight of the sword princess with long golden hair braided and dressed in white and silver armor - His Highness Astina.


    As the cavalry opened the way, Vysek slipped into his position as General Rothgard''s second in command. I decided to watch the dialogue between His Highness and General Rothgardt from the rear.


    ''''It''s been a long time, Your Highness Astina. Please forgive me for the rudeness of meeting you in this manner.


    ''Face up, General Rothgard. No disrespect, sir.


    A man with a white beard, a warrior approaching the age of old age, hangs his head down on his horse to His Highness. He refused to lift his head, even though his Highness chided him.


    I could sense where General Rothgard''s loyalty lay. He is not satisfied with this order either - his loyalty to His Majesty and Queen Amneria''s Royal Highness is also directed to his daughter, His Royal Highness Astina.


    After General Rothgard finally raised his head, it was Vysek, of all people, who spoke before him.


    ''''I am sorry, Your Highness Astina. You disregarded the recent edict and attacked Zirconia, etc. ......


    ''We decided that it was necessary to defend this western territory. There was little supply from the center, and the damage would have been greater than it is now in the defense of the war.


    That''s what it is to be a general in charge of an army. It''s a very good idea to have a good idea of what to do. Even if it is His Highness Astina ......


    "Lord Vysek, Your Highness and I are speaking to you now. I asked you to be present, but you are not authorized to speak.


    "Goooooooooo ......, but. This time it''s only because of my report ......


    The man who had crossed the Knights with his glibness would try to take the initiative in the dialogue by playing with his oratory at the drop of a hat. But General Rothgard was not so pliable as to let him do as he pleased.


    "...... His Royal Highness Astina...... No, General Astina. If it is true that you have not obeyed His Majesty the King''s orders, then I will be the general of the Isle Rose Fortress, and Your Highness will be asked to return to the royal capital to await further action.


    A thunderclap roars in the distant sky. The black clouds grow thicker and the rain is about to start falling.


    --The cloudy weather doesn''t deter His Highness smiles. Even in the face of three hundred cavalrymen, there is no fear, and with an air of serenity, she replies.


    ''''I cannot obey that order. My duty is to protect the people of this Western Domain. It is my duty to protect the Western Domain, to put the hearts of the people of the Domain at ease, and to enrich their lives.''''


    ''Nah ...... not to talk about, and if you don''t know what it means to be against your Majesty''s life, then the word itself is a grave treason!


    ''At ......, I ask you. Can you be sure that there is nothing wrong with me requesting an audience with His Majesty in person?��Lord Vysek.


    That''s .......


    It was truly a sharp word that could pierce the heart. I''m not a swordswoman, I''m a swordsman - she was even called that, and she didn''t fall into the trap of scheming.


    It''s not just a matter of time before you get to the point where you''ll be able to get your hands on a new pair of shoes.


    He admired Vysek''s boldness in not letting it slip that the Second Queen would not allow it. However, Vaissek didn''t have the luxury of caring that he was being disrespectful to His Highness Astina.


    Looking at the expression on General Rothgard''s face, it wasn''t hard to imagine that siding with Vaissek was hurting the knight''s pride. Sadly, though, not a few of the general''s men seemed to agree with Vaissek''s opinion.


    ''''The Isle Rose Fortress has a battle record to report to His Majesty the King. I also believe that we should go to the King''s capital on this foot and report it to His Majesty, but ...... should we invite you to the fortress before that?��I''d like to see the soldiers continue to perform their duties as they have been, without needlessly changing the regime.


    Don''t add any extra work, His Highness says - his mannerisms are so painful that I can''t help but smile.


    The last time I saw him, when he had cut his hair a little shorter, his eyes have not changed from those days, the sharpness of his eyes have not changed. I felt that his dignity had increased to the extent that the innocence had been removed.

 99 Episode 97: Reversal

    (Glass seems to have calmed down while serving her now. After all, he''s been able to adapt without bending, even though he''s my brother.)


    I feel like praising him for his hard work right away. Even my troubled mind is surprisingly calm when I think of my brother - the glass is like a sedative for me.


    ...... Lord Vysek, the actual situation seems to be somewhat different from your report.


    "......, what kind of results could be achieved by violating His Majesty''s orders? So, it''s meaningless to report such things. General Astina, isn''t that the only response you should give is to follow the general''s orders?


    "I would like to correct one thing you may be aware of. Lord Vysek has no authority to know the inner workings of the Isle Rose Fortress. All he did when he visited my fortress was to notify His Majesty the King that he wanted the prisoners released.


    Guh. ......!


    I had expected that it would be something like that. It was likely that Vysek had not returned to King''s Landing on his own while he was operating in the Western Territories, but had used people to make reports.


    The reports were convenient, and neither the Marshal nor his chiefs of staff were so incompetent as to rely on them, but the interference of Queen Cassandra gave effect to Vaissek''s reports. It was supposed to be that Princess Astina was disobedient to His Majesty the King''s edict and was disturbed.


    I must say that it''s a bit of a poor idea to set up a scheme. You can guess why Vaissek was so confident that His Highness Astina would not resist.


    (His Highness did as Vaissek told him to do. Seeing this, Vaissek was caught off guard ...... this man who would be naive if he saw it as a woman, and his confidence was probably growing without the slightest inkling of His Highness'' true intentions.)


    In front of General Rothgard, the three hundred generals were clearly upset, although they didn''t speak out, but they were clearly upset.


    It''s not surprising that they thought they were justified in entering the Isle Rose Fortress and that they could put three thousand men under them as it was.


    ''Release the prisoners ...... Your Highness, it is ......''


    ''Ji, capturing Zirconia''s wounded soldiers would give the enemy a cause for invasion, and that''s why His Majesty was so concerned about it, to ......


    "Do you think it is permissible for me to speak for Your Majesty''s will, Lord Vysek? Isn''t that your private opinion?


    "General Rothgard, I am only acting on behalf of His Majesty''s direct orders ...... and do you think it is permissible to question them?


    Vysek, who had been giving His Highness a rude gaze with so much leeway, is completely distraught.


    His Highness is already not smiling. Together with the knights in his entourage, he only turned his icy gaze to Vaissek and the three hundred soldiers.


    ''''...... Lord Vysek. I''m not going to get anywhere if we don''t do this. It''s a good idea to have the contents of your "imperial decree" revised.


    General Rothgardt''s decision was reasonable. He was prepared to be told that the act of confirming the imperial decree itself would mean distrust of His Majesty, but he still wanted to confirm it.


    ''''...... kukkuh. Kuhkuh ...... kuhkuh ......!


    He couldn''t bear the sharp gaze that everyone here was directing at him - no, no.


    There was a beastly light in Vysek''s eyes. Ahead of his gaze, there was a pasture built on a grassy hill and a hut made of wood and stone.


    ''''In order to protect the lords ...... you said so, Your Highness.


    "Lord Vysek, what do you want ......?


    ''I do not wish to make matters worse. Your Highness, I hope you understand what this means.


    --When Vysek came over here, there was that hut on the way.


    The cavalry that Vaissek had with him was ''not all of them''. A few of them remained in that hut and took the inhabitants hostage.


    ''If you will continue to lead us to the fortress, that will be all right. I will not interfere any further with you in any way.


    His Highness should have already noticed what was happening.


    His expression did not move. Vysek regained his authority and began to further practically threaten with that mouth that said he would not interrupt as an afterthought.


    ''''In any case, if you violate this order, you will be put on military trial. Rather than that, why don''t you just hand over the dominion of the Western Territories and live peacefully with your mother? Her Highness Amneria will want you to do the same.


    Even an evil demon who attacked the powerless people without a care in the world couldn''t be more unbearable to watch.


    It wasn''t just His Highness. Vaissek even insulted Princess Amneria''s highness - General Rothgard''s hand holding the reins was filled with strength. He, too, is angered by Vaissek''s words.


    ''''If General Rothgard, a brave general of the past, arrives, the defense of the Isle Rose Fortress will be more solid. Even His Highness Astina, who is a good offensive man, should learn to defend for once. Questioning his aptitude, His Majesty the King has also issued this edict--


    Convinced of victory, Vaissek was mischievously overzealous in his speech.


    It was General Rothgard who pointed his sword at Vaissek. His eyes, like those of a bird of prey, held a quietly burning fury.


    ''''Nah, what ......, I''m the General-dono, so that I can carry out my orders .......''''


    ''''You have disregarded the true nature of a kingdom knight too much. That is too little respect for words to be directed at a knight who has wielded the sword on the front lines.


    It is impossible for a man who only cares about plotting to understand chivalry. The fact that such a person has entered the knight''s club, and is present here, shows the corruption of the knight''s club.


    When General Rothgard put away his sword, some blood returned to Vaissek''s face, which had turned pale.


    ''''Yes, I will apologize for what just happened ...... but you will carry out your orders. I''m here to see it through, you know.


    Perhaps seeing the situation in Vysek, the cavalrymen who had captured the ranch''s residents brought the hostages forward. The parents and their daughter - fortunately they weren''t injured or anything like that, but they must have felt fear and resentment at the fact that the soldiers of the kingdom''s army were using them.


    We already have the ingredients to turn the board over. But when I stop them by force, Glass does not rejoice in that - the harm to his family members in King''s Landing and some sort of punishment to the Academy of Magic are things that must be avoided.


    Glass''s father - my father-in-law has been prepared for this since I became a member of the military. My mother tries to avoid being used in the political struggles of the nobility, keeping a moderate distance from Queen Cassandra, while also providing assistance behind the scenes as she worries about the cold treatment of Princess Amneria.


    I didn''t even have to think about which side I wanted to take. Loyalty to the kingdom is not something that should be directed at a second queen who is willing to kick everyone around her to make her child king.


    ''...... Your Highness Astina. We would like to enter the Isle Rose Fortress once to assess the situation. As for the transfer of the reign, we will not offer you the same day.


    If the General''s decision was not reversed, it would still mean the downfall of His Highness Astina. Even for General Rothgardt, this is a painful decision.


    I try to give up on this place, as if this is the limit. General Rothgardt, who has faithfully carried out his duties as a soldier, would never decide to step down here. Even if I know that His Highness Astina''s statement is more correct than Vysek''s.


    I summon my contractual spirit, Tempest. In this weather, he will appear with a thunderous roar, and will be able to make three hundred horsemen tremble in fear.


    (...... Lord. Isn''t that a hasty decision?


    I can hear the voice of a dignified woman admonishing me for my willingness to perform the summons. Tempest is a female figure close in age to me and materializes in the human world - I can always hear her voice as she exists as a spirit body in the spirit world.


    (It would not be desirable to turn my power, even if I were to turn it on my allies. That won''t clear my Lord''s mind.


    Even if it was hypothetical - yes, it was only hypothetical. The only thing in their hearts is the desire for power to get the controlled army that His Highness has built as it is.


    There is no compassion for such people or anything else. I am sorry to General Rothgard, but if you want to block His Highness''s resistance and make him lead you to the fortress, there is nothing to do but stop him.


    (This realm is at the knees of a powerful spirit. It is comparable to me or ......)


    A spirit that is more powerful than the Tempest - it is no longer analogous to a divine spirit. One does not mean to be conceited about one''s power, and one has no other word for anything more than a spirit that controls the storm itself, except to describe it as a god.


    Something happened after Leslie sent the letter. That brother had done more than say that Glass would be accepted in the Isle Rose Fortress.


    ''I do not like to repeat the same words. I can prove that Fortress Aylrose is not lacking in strength to protect its people. And I can also show here and now that there is no such thing as a good cause for Lord Vysek .......


    Wha-......!


    I felt a feeling of enveloping His Highness Astina at that moment.


    --The figure of Glass talking to a large, dying old tree in the courtyard of the Academy of Magic. It was warmer than that, similar to the air that had enveloped him.


    ''...... Glass, ...... how far you''ve come to this western territory .......''


    Emotions flooded my mind and I was calling my brother''s name without being aware of it.


    The knights under His Highness Astina''s command, who were a little distance away. The figures of Glass and Leslie, who were standing behind them, had disappeared before I knew it.


    ''''......-ii, what in the world are you ......, you ......!


    Vysek is enraged - His Highness takes one look at me, and the knights who were holding the people of the ranch hostage have disappeared. I could sense the presence of two types of spirit magic at this distance - Tempest noticed it too and admonished me.


    Glass and Leslie moved to help His Highness. Whether they were instructed by His Highness beforehand, or whether they made their own decision, I do not know.


    However, I can say this much as a fact.


    The two mages, who had been marginalized and held down in the Academy of Magic, had shown their respective talents by using their powers to save their lord, the Princess, from her plight.

 100 Chapter 98: Growth

    After His Highness Astina and the others started talking to General Rothgard, they immediately gave us instructions.


    The divine tree Eucellicis is regaining its former power by ''connecting'' with His Highness, the Royal Priestess.


    Already the plants throughout the Western Domain are ready to listen to the voice of Euceresis at any time. That means that they can know what is going on in this grassland in a minute.


    --and what I found out is a fact that is so overwhelming that I can''t think about it for a moment, beyond indignation.


    A handful of men under Vaisek''s command had captured the father and son of that ranch who had met me and Mr. Rendle when we had just entered the western territory.


    ''''I cannot obey that order. My duty is to protect the people of this Western Domain. My duty is to protect the Western Domain, to put the hearts of the people of the Domain at ease, and to enrich their lives.''''


    ''Nah ...... not to talk about, and if you don''t know what it means to be against your Majesty''s life, then the word itself is a grave treason!


    His Highness finally conveys his will to Vaysek head on. This is not an argument, it''s only a one-sided debate - Vaissek has no cause, he''s only working for his own selfishness. His Highness can expose Weisek''s true face in front of General Rothgardt, who may have known nothing about it.


    At this stage, His Highness, with the help of Euselisis, had seen through Vaissek''s conspiracy.


    Vaisek''s men broke into the ranch shed and captured Meena, who was working, and took her hostage, and even detained her father, who had come to check on her. No other family members were nearby - perhaps they were on their way to the nearest Portoro town. It was a blessing in disguise, but if they didn''t help Meena and her father at all costs, it would add to their grief.


    ''Even Vysek''s husband thinks badly of it. How dare he try to take a hostage for the sake of it.''''


    It''s not just a matter of time before you''ll be able to get your hands on a new one. In order to make them obey you, you need to prepare them.


    I thought you were a milky lass, but you''re a pretty good-looking girl, aren''t you?


    ''Mmmm, mmmm ......!


    The scene that Euceris had conveyed to him was such that he couldn''t help but clench his fists in indignation.


    The three men hired by Vysek gave their captive Meena a vile look. Her father is tied with a rope, gagged and rolled on the floor - there is no longer a moment to lose.


    I look around for Leslie, who is riding on the back of Mr. Deite''s horse. There are also cavalrymen near General Rothgardt that Vysek had with him - they are watching our movements without a hint of caution, so I can''t overtly show them dismounting from their horses.


    Yes, ''not overtly''. If Leslie is there, we can break the current situation without them realizing it.


    ''Leslie, I''m going to make my way to that hut to get out of sight. Meena and her father are being held by Vysek''s men ...... and we need to get them out of there in a hurry.


    ''...... All right. Air Spirit, Airia ...... blocking the light and hiding us ......


    Spirit mages can talk to each other sensitively if they are near each other. Even through telepathic communication, Leslie''s whispered chanting can be transmitted - and the aspect of the air surrounding me and Leslie changed.


    ''Presha-san, please stay put. They won''t know we''ve moved. We need to help the hostages in that hut.


    "Hostages are ...... Vysek, another cowardly move ......!


    ''Calm down, Presha. It''s Vysek''s intention to make you upset.


    You can see that Deite-san, who says that, is aware of the composite bow (composite bow) she is carrying on her back - if her aim is directed at Vaissek, she will not be able to escape as long as her range is reached.


    Repeatedly disrespecting His Highness Astina and the outrageousness of Vaissek, which he is doing right now, is making the two fierce generals exceed their patience limits.


    ''''Even Brother ...... Glass is angry. But it''s great because he looks calm.''''


    I chuckle unconsciously - I''m just telling myself that I shouldn''t lose my cool, but I really wish I could change this twisted situation right now.


    I have to avoid fighting my sister. Just confronting her like this makes me terribly nervous - there''s a ''Jade Witch'' on the other side, and just being aware of that makes me tremble this much more.


    I''m not going to be able to get a good idea of what I''m talking about. That guy ...... hostage, where His Highness can see ......!


    Mr. Presha is indignant - but he looks at me behind him, suppressing his anger. I nodded, and at the same time as Leslie, I dismounted and rode across the meadow.


    We have to rescue Meena and her father, which is of primary importance, but there''s one more thing I know now that I''ve come to this place.


    Vysek hadn''t realized it yet. What kind of situation this entire ranch area is in - what will ''they'' think if the cavalrymen wait for a long time in a ''position visible from the mountain''?


    ''''--Glass, after all, it seems that he(...) and others(...) continued to aim at this ranch. We should have had a conversation with General Rothgardt in a place that wasn''t originally here, but ......''


    That would be inevitable, if General Rothgard''s group goes any further, there is a possibility that they will try to force their way into the Isle Rose Fortress.


    ''''We would like to do what we can to help your highness. It might be a battle, but if that happens, we''ll be able to help you at ......''''


    ''Yes, let us protect the people of the ranch. Both General Rothgard and the cavalrymen who have followed him should have the power to protect their own lives.''''


    Vaissek was in a precipitous position with His Highness'' remarks and used a means that he should never have used - he took the people of the realm hostage and forced His Highness to surrender the Isle Rose Fortress.


    General Rothgard condemned Vaissek''s words and actions, even pointing his sword at him. And yet, if Vaissek is found to have acted in a way that tarnishes the pride of a knight, it is hard to imagine that he will no longer try to deprive His Highness of his command as he is told.


    Or will he prioritize following the wishes of Cassandra''s second queen? This is also not unreasonable considering General Rothgardt''s position.


    I wonder what Milania''s sister-in-law (hey) thinks when she sees the knights insulting His Highness Astina, the person to whom she should be loyal in nature, and looking down on the female cadres - I think her anger has already reached its limit, but should I say fortunately, I''m still She didn''t use spirit magic.


    ''''Brother Glass, do you use air balls?��Or ......''


    ''I want Leslie to stagnate in the air so that Lune''s hypnotic pollen can continue to have an effect. O glossy flower blooming in the garden of bewitching flowers. ......!''''


    Meena and her father were taken out of the hut and made to stand on top of a small hill, threatened at knifepoint by the men standing behind them. It wasn''t difficult to approach them from behind as they were completely unaware of us.


    ''''Mu, only my daughter is ...... gah ......!


    Didn''t you hear me when I told you to shut up?


    ''I''ve been told to do what I want with you guys when the job is done. If you don''t die, you could be slaves somewhere and have a father-son reunion: ...... hahaha ......!


    -- not even anger, this is disappointment.


    When you know you''re getting help from these people, you don''t have to take any chances.


    ''Brother Glass ...... and Lune is .......


    Lune, who manifested in front of me, looked a little more grown up than usual - and I understand.


    With Eucerisis regaining its power, all the plant spirits that have contracted with me are now able to take in more magical power than ever before.


    ''Summoner-sama, it''s ...... amazing, more power than ever before ......''


    I''m relieved that his tone hasn''t changed as he grows - he''s grown up enough to feel the gap in his lisping tone. By the looks of it, it''s probably about 13 years old when compared to a human being.


    ''''I''m going to get even bigger than that. When I grow up, I''ll be bonk-bonk-bonk, and I''ll make the Summoner-sama look glum.''''


    I now realize - the demonic flowers that bloom in the Garden of Pandera can fascinate people not only with their pollen, but even with their appearance.


    ''...... Brother Glass, I''m ready. I''m wrapping those people in a wall of air in Airia. We can even keep the hostages from breathing in the pollen.


    ''Oh ...... Alraune, don''t be shy. Just neutralize them ......!


    Very well, my Lord Summoner!


    The invisible, magically composed pollen spreads softly from Alraune''s entire body - riding the wind currents to envelop the men holding Meena and her father captive.


    ''What is this sweet ...... smell ...... is ......


    Hey, hey, what are you doing?��The order to let them go is ...... goooooooo!


    Two men behind Meena and her father untie the two men with a knife. When the man who was watching them tried to blame them, he was beaten down with a ferocious force - there was no way to react when his companions suddenly caught him by surprise.


    ''Ah ...... ah ......!''


    ...... It''s all right now. It''s okay.


    Leslie runs up to Meena, who has sat down on the spot, and Leslie calls out to her. Meena clutches her chest and cries like a child - she couldn''t help but feel relieved when she saw Leslie in the guise of ''Rendle-san''.


    It''s a good thing that you''re able to have a good time with your friends and family. ......


    When the gag is removed, Meena''s father says with tears in his eyes - I couldn''t help but grit my teeth as I felt the regret of not being able to do anything about it when he told me he was going to harm his daughter.


    ''...... Dad, I''m fine ...... and I don''t know what more words I can say to thank you both for helping me again. ......


    ''I''m sorry, Meena ...... I''m sure it still makes you a little nervous. But I''ll make sure to protect this ranch, and I want you to rest in a safe place.


    ''Gu, Dr. Glass, what the hell is that ......, wow, ......!


    It was not only the little father (uncle) who raised his voice.


    The cavalrymen with General Rothgardt and even Vaissek were distraught.


    --a swarm of goblins, rushing in from the mountains. The demons, once repulsed by the knights of the Isle Rose, had made a final counterattack.


    ''''General Rothgard, there''s a huge individual among the goblins ......


    "Wow, our mission is not to fight demons ...... but to get to the Isle Rose Fortress ...... as soon as possible.


    If the knights don''t take the lead in fighting, this whole area will be overrun by goblins.


    The knights who are not at the front are not used to fighting demons. There are very few demons in the vicinity of the royal capital - there is a history of carefully sweeping up the areas that are considered to be demon nests and then expanding the walls of the royal capital.


    ''If we retreat, we will allow the goblins to take control of our neighbourhood ...... sweeping here and pushing back to the mountains. The knight must always be a shield for the powerless people!


    General Rothgardt''s proclamation to his men, who have fallen into a depression, is.


    -- but the spreading grasses of the prairie tell us. Why doesn''t the general issue a retreat order? The reason I entered the western territory as the general''s subordinate is not to fight the demons.


    ''...... General Rothgard. It seems that your men have never dealt with demons before. Entering the Isle Rose Fortress also means that you will be undertaking the task of defeating the demons that ravage the territory.


    No knight under my command has ever been intimidated by a ...... goblin or anything like that.


    The knights were ready and ready to intercept the goblins coming from the mountain - but then it was time.


    ''Jeez, you''ve got to be kidding me. ...... I didn''t know this was going to happen!��If I knew that the Western Domain was a demon cave, I wouldn''t have come for a second glance. ......!


    What do you want, Mr. Vysek? ......


    ''''Yes, that''s right, ...... ''Jade Witch'', with Lord Millennia''s power, demons like that one are not to be feared!��Now protect us with your magic!


    I''m also dumbfounded at how much they can think in a convenient direction. If the knights don''t think it''s their duty to fight demons, then it''s safe to say that it''s the same for my sister-in-law.


    ''''Unfortunately, my magic should be exercised on the battlefield. If you guys consider the battle with the goblins as a ''battle'', you must first play the role of a cavalryman. A mage is one who chants in the rear guard and breaks the opponent''s ranks.


    That ''cavalry duty'' is ours to perform. It is the role of the knight to protect his people, and I need not reaffirm such a thing.


    Guh. ......!


    "Hear that, knights!��A brave swordswoman puts her sword to the sword for her people!��This is not our place!


    "Shut up, you coward!��Don''t be a bat that does nothing and rants about being smart!


    ''Heck ...... d*mn it ......!��Okay, let''s go, you guys: ......!


    There was no longer any centripetal force or anything else, and Vaissek returned his horse with the men he had brought in front of General Rothgard''s rage - the direction was the barrier that separated the central and western territories.


    ''''--Dono Vaisek!


    "Don''t worry, Your Highness Astina, when you return to the center...


    Vysek turns around on his horse and answers His Highness Astina, who stops him. He was probably trying to say something that sounded like a throwaway line until the end.


    But the reason why he couldn''t say it until the end - was because a ''wall'' suddenly formed in the path of Vaissek and the others, and the horse was gone and stopped in its tracks.


    ''Whoa ......!��What the hell is this? ......


    It''s as if that fox is blocking our way ...... and she''s trying to keep us from getting away.


    Vysek and his men are confused - I was being told by the plants in the meadow what that wall was made of.


    The material - ''stone''. In the past, when building a road for wagons to travel, the stones that were scattered in the grasslands had been combined to create a barrier to stop the horses'' feet.


    How did they get to the western territory? There were plenty of ways out, but I was grateful that ''he'' had taken such a risk to get here.


    ''...... Sven. I guess I owe you one for this.


    I don''t know where he got it, but he was a man riding a horse and wearing a cloak that hid his face. I knew he was Sven by the cigarette in his mouth - because it was a homemade herbal cigarette I had made myself.


    ''Lord Vysek, General Rothgard does not want you to go on your way. The General has doubts about your attitude towards the Order.


    "-- You were right, Millennia Weed!��How dare a venomous woman like you, how dare you, how dare you, me ......!


    Vysek''s escape was prevented - he tried to escape on a technicality, but the contents of the ''Imperial Decree'' he had in his possession will be confirmed, and his parochial behavior will finally be denounced.


    And Sister-in-law Millennia is not the kind of person who would keep quiet after being told so.


    She glares at the goblins who are trying to shoot arrows at us from the horse.


    ''Your Highness Astina, I will neutralize the enemy''s bow. After that, you can go to .......


    Yes, ...... it''s a pleasure to fight with you, Lord Millennia.


    The ''Sword Princess General'' and the ''Jade Witch'' join hands - and Presha-san and Deite-san join the battle line.


    How powerful are the knights who were defending the Isle Rose Fortress? I can''t just watch their dependable appearance - I first summon Mandrake and use her ''voice'' to frighten the goblins. By interfering with the air spirits in conjunction with Leslie and blocking the sound, I can effectively attack them without getting caught up.


    ''''O demon ginseng, the demon ginseng that echoes the song of doom, come to me. Come to me.'' ......!


    He summons Ray of Mandrake - both Lune and Leslie are blindsided.


    Ray''s summoned form is growing, just like Lune''s. She always looks a little sleepy-eyed, but I could tell by looking at her that her strength was growing.


    ''...... Can I sing as hard as I can?��My Lord Summoner.


    I honestly cringe when I see them smiling - I''m sorry for the goblins who showed up here, but I was sure they would regret coming out here.

 101 Chapter 99: Lan

    I''m not going to be able to say that I''m not going to be able to get the best out of it.


    There are many more ...... than before, and we''ve divided up the troops. There aren''t many of them coming our way.


    ''I won''t let the Summoner get close to you. But we need to make sure our allies can''t hear us or we''ll all be wiped out.


    Ray says it plainly, but since it''s true, he can''t help but chuckle. Ray''s ''rupture sound'' sucks up all the sperm from anyone within range of her voice.


    ''''Leave it to me and you''ll be fine. Brother Glass''s magic is stronger now than before, so it''s a bit hard to take in ...... it.''''


    ''Sister Leslie will be fine. ...... Even if the summoner''s power is strong, Leslie sister will never hurt you.


    It''s a very good idea to have a good idea of what I''m thinking about, even though my tongue hasn''t changed even though I''ve grown up, and I have an innocent tone of voice - Ray.


    It''s a very good idea to be able to have a good time with them.


    It''s a good idea to be able to have a good time. Sing as hard as you can ...... and cripple as many goblins that come this way as you can.


    Very well, sir. Suu ......


    Ray inhales deeply - the plant spirit''s breath is all about absorbing light and air and turning it into power, sucking magic from the ground.


    We can deal with the goblins that are heading towards us. But the problem is that the group that can be called the main force coming towards your highnesses - not only the first wave, but the second wave can be seen from the mountains, and the knights who tried to return fire are confused.


    ''''Sho, Shogun-dono...... in that number.


    That giant goblin is not a singular individual. ......


    ''Do not be afraid of the sight of a demon!��They''ll come at you from the frightened ones!��Muster up and swing the sword!��...... Ooh!


    General Rothgard swung his sword and flicked the arrows that the goblins fired at him. The knight who was following him received the arrows with his shield - the reason why the wooden arrows stuck out even on a steel shield was because there was an individual in the goblin''s gang who strengthened the arrows with magic.


    ''''--Geez!


    It''s a good thing that you''re a magician. I''m not going to be the only one who can do it. ...... ''Queen of the Wind, who reigns over the Jade Sea. I''m not going to be the only one who can do that.


    That chanting is the origin of the name "Jade Witch" - a jade-colored ocean field, one of the seas that is said to exist in the spirit world. The Queen of the Wind who reigns there is named after the storm (Tempest).


    ''Gi...... giggling ......''


    "--Ggaaaaah!


    You can see that the goblins are also terrified by their instincts - but the giant goblin roars and won''t allow them to stop.


    The giant goblin tries to throw the club it was holding. The target is Millennia''s sister-in-law - even if the knights tried to play the role of the vanguard, the intimidating feeling she gives to her surroundings was so tremendous that the enemy would aim at her sister-in-law without a care in the world.


    ''''--Gishyaah!''''


    ''So a demon is more daring than a hothouse knight. Ironic, isn''t it?


    The small goblins release arrows as the club is thrown - but. A jade-colored, translucent-looking spirit queen, appearing to snuggle up to her sister-in-law''s back, raises the wind as she caresses the air.


    The cudgel that was thrown, the arrows that were supposed to fall down. Pitter-patterningly blocked by a wall of wind in the air - changed direction and shot back at the ones who released it.


    ''Geez, ......!''


    Googling ......!


    A ricocheting arrow sticks up between the goblins'' eyebrows, on their shoulders, and on the ricocheting arrow - but it doesn''t matter, the goblins in the vanguard with their blades flesh His Highness Astina.


    ''''Don''t point your filthy blades at His Highness ......!


    You guys don''t have time for this.


    Deite''s arrow shoots through the forehead of the goblins that have been protruding. No matter how many of them are defeated, they don''t falter - their deathless abandoned attacks pose a threat to the heavily armed knights as well.


    ''''Ugh ......, aim at the horses ...... these guys ......


    ''''Well, magic ...... goblins magic ......, woohoo!


    A small goblin threw a small blade-like object at the knights, and a female goblin - a female goblin on the shoulder of a giant goblin - waved her staff decorated with a skull in her hand, and a black magical flame shot out. The flames, the source of the evil spirit''s power, pierced through the armor and caused damage, and the ball of flames descended on the cavalrymen surrounding Vysek.


    ''''Ko, it''s not worth it to die here ...... Astina ...... If only Astina hadn''t defied me ......!


    Lord Vysek!


    Even though General Rothgard shouted, Vaissek did not stop. After taking an arrow to the shoulder and seeing the cavalrymen burned by the flames of the evil spirits, Vaissek was cut off from even retreating - until the very end, he chose a path that he should not have chosen.


    He was about to throw the concealed weapon to His Highness Astina - that moment.


    ''''--that''s the only thing I should never have done. Vysek.


    What happened - only to have the sister-in-law take a glance at Vaisek.


    The wind spirit Tempest, who is leaning against her back, lightly raises her hand. In the next moment, Vaissek''s body is launched into the sky - the tornado winds up only Vaissek on his horse, and he falls down and rolls to the ranch''s meadow with a cone rubbing, and he doesn''t move.


    '' - "''O green wind swirling in the sea field! Let it rage, mingle, and be still.''


    Continuously, the sister-in-law chants - the wind brought by the spirits creates turbulence at a distance without warning and becomes a tornado that lays waste to the main body of the goblins.


    The knights have no choice but to be stunned. Their role to play was not on this battlefield from the beginning - only General Rothgard, a general of the past war, remained calm even as he witnessed his sister-in-law''s magic.


    ''''The reason the ...... kingdom has been able to keep its shape is because of the existence of mages. After all, we are .......


    ''Still, a knight should be a knight. For magic is not a panacea.


    The sister-in-law''s answer to General Rothgard seemed to come from the heart. Mages alone can''t defend the country, that''s how I feel too.


    ''''The enemy is frightened ......, we can push them in now!


    "--Pressha, follow me!��Deethe asks for backup!


    Yes, sir!


    Two swift winds run across the meadow. Presha-san and His Highness turn to the sides of the two surviving giant goblins - the goblins on their shoulders were simultaneously shot out by the arrows released by Deethe-san before they could unleash their magic.


    ''''--Geeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee ......!


    While half destroyed by the tornado that your sister-in-law woke up, the remaining goblins are coming towards us - maybe they thought we were weaker than them, but in Ray''s eyes, the goblins are no longer the enemy.


    ...... summoner-sama''s enemies will suck it all up and ...... wither away.


    Airia ...... or the doomsday song of demon ginseng, enfold it in your power.


    Leslie''s magic formed a layer of air that blocked the sound - it was meant to give the song a directional quality from Rey to the goblins.


    ''......!''


    The cry of a spirit that cannot be released by a human. The sound released robs the goblins of their spirit - the goblins that were closing in on us can''t even move, they fall into a stupor on the grassland and let go of their weapons.


    ''''--Yaah!


    Hah! ......!


    At the same time, Presha-san flashes his spear and His Highness cleaves the slender sword away. It''s a good thing that you''re able to have a good time with your friends.


    I let out a low moan and two goblins fall over. The female goblin that was hit by an arrow tries to escape, but I''ll use my magic to stop her - there''s plenty of grass in the meadow to tangle with her legs. If I tie the grass to the fallen place with a chase, I can completely neutralize it.


    His Highness approaches the still-breathing giant goblin and points his sword at it. However, the blade did not swing down.


    ''''Your Highness, do you mean to warm up to ...... goblins?��They probably also have a human settlement: ......


    ''''If we eradicate one kind of demon, another will gain momentum. Their presence poses a threat to the people, but not long ago, they were able to coexist with the people of the Western Territory, separated from their homes. From the center, this may seem strange, but if we cut off the source of the malice that drives the goblins, that''s all that matters.


    The knights looked at him in disbelief - but because of their own failure to contribute in the fight against the goblins, they said nothing and listened to his highness'' words.


    ''...... Each land has its own customs. Know it well, deal with the demons and wield the sword for the people. I tried to invade the Isle Rose Fortress with my feet of clay, even though it wasn''t going to happen in a day. I obeyed my orders, knowing that it was unreasonable.


    General Rothgardt stowed his sword and hung his head to His Highness with his hand on his chest. His Highness and Mr. Presha also paid for the blood and put their weapons away.


    ''Your Highness, please forgive me for my many transgressions. You are the true .......


    ...... I can''t leave that fortress. Even if it means disobeying His Majesty the King''s orders. That''s probably why I''m disqualified from being a knight.


    Such is not ...... ever. Merely obeying your lord''s orders is not the only role a knight should play. I am not even able to do that. Laugh with the inflexible old bones.


    The general has tried to inspire his men and protect his people. But with 300 knights in this position, I don''t think I could bring myself to serve under him, even if we had to surrender the fortress.


    At Deethe''s frank words, the general was not angry - he laughed out loud, happily.


    ''Hahaha ...... Yes, that''s right. We are not yet strong enough to be entrusted with the keystone of a year-round standoff with Zirconia.''


    "C''mon, General: ...... and then there''s .......


    General Rothgard looks back at his subordinate''s cavalrymen who have called out to him fearfully and quietly.


    ''''We will return to the royal capital. Even if we enter the Western Territories, we will not be able to rule and defend ourselves as well as Your Highness Astina. If you make sure of that and still proceed, we can''t complain if we are cut down ...... right.


    ...... I have disobeyed ''His Majesty''s Order''. If you are still willing to step down, ...... will you do one more favor for me?


    The fact that the order that Vaissek received is ''His Majesty the King''s Edict'' has not yet been completely denied. Even if we know that it was due to Queen Cassandra''s interference, we can''t denounce it here - because to His Highness, His Majesty the King is not an enemy.


    Because Queen Cassandra is favored by His Majesty the King, His Highness had to take up the sword and obtain power to protect his family as well.


    What needs to be accomplished now is to dismiss central interference - and to create a de facto state of independence.


    The connection between Queen Cassandra and the court mage Jorg, and the fact that they are now hostile to His Highness Astina. Finding a way to resolve those issues is a little further down the line. If we hurry things up, we could be interfered with again from the center without pause.


    ''''Your Highness, what you are asking for is: ......


    ''I am aware of the fact that Lord Vysek has been working with the Reinfeldt family to encourage them to defect to me. You can see that over there.


    "Huh ...... is that the cavalry of House Reinfeldt ...... to support His Highness?


    His Highness Astina nodded with a persistent nod. The group of cavalry led by Hartner Reinfeldt, who had come from the western direction via the city road, stopped when they approached a certain distance and did not proceed any further. But if General Rothgardt''s troops attempted to advance to the Isle Rose Fortress, they would collide with them.


    ''I was told that ...... territory is unstable, but even that information seems to have been wrong. We were told that it was all too convenient, and we believed it.


    ''It''s inevitable. He''s ...... no. I don''t know what Vysek was thinking when he was working to unseat me. I''m counting on you to find out.


    ''As you wish, Your Highness. Your Highness Astina, it is a pleasure to meet you, albeit in this way. You have inherited the beauty of Her Royal Highness and the bravery of His Majesty the King .......


    ''It is too much for me. General, please be safe.


    General Rothgard bowed, then pulled the reins of his horse and turned on his heel. While he was sending them off, he heard the voice of Euselisis.


    -- Demons, sometimes deceived by evil spirits, attack people and livestock. Through the trees in their habitat, the evil spirits can be exorcised.


    ''Well ...... Your Highness knew that, so ......


    ...... Brother Glass, what''s up?


    No. No. The goblins don''t raid human settlements anymore. Let them take it back to the forest. The ''grafting'' that will allow the power of Euceris to reach them.


    Just by tracing the ground, the grass forms a magic circle - and in the center of it, the bud of a young tree, the Euceris'' subordinate, grows.


    You pluck it and wrap it around the wrist of the fallen female goblin. This will allow them to return to their habitat, and once the young tree has taken root in the soil, the goblins will be under the influence of the divine tree and will be able to repel the evil spirits.


    (Thanks to the power of Eucerisis, the threat of demons is gone. ''''Thank you so much.''''


    --It''s not just a matter of fighting them off with force, the resentment of the demons creates miasma. I''m not going to be the only one who''s been in the same place for a while.


    The voice that can be heard is calm and seems to affirm our decision. This would reduce the burden of the cavalry patrolling the territory to kill goblins and allow us to focus more on agriculture and industry.


    ''...... Brother Glass, have you noticed?''


    Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah, he''s here. I hope he didn''t pull up already. Besides, .......


    I''m concerned about Sven, but I''m also concerned about your sister-in-law who is talking to His Highness - and when I looked at her, our eyes met.


    ''...... Why don''t you go and talk to the dean first?��I''ll be there when the ranchers are settled.


    ''Yeah, I''ll let you do that ......, but when it comes down to it, what can I say?''


    If you show ...... a healthy face, I think that''s fine.


    Leslie says so, but I remember the exchange and many other things that happened when we left the academy, so my feet don''t move forward.


    As if she couldn''t bear to look at me, her sister-in-law comes over to me with her horse at a walk. The expression on her face is so cold that I want to apologize to her - but Tempest, who is snuggled up to her sister-in-law''s back, seems to be smiling.

 102 One hundred words Triumph

    The black clouds that had filled the surrounding sky were blown away by the tornado that your sister-in-law had caused, and the sun''s rays were pouring down on the meadow.


    My sister-in-law comes slowly over to us, walking her beautiful deer-haired horse. I descend the gentle slope of the meadow - Leslie is following behind me. Lune and Ray, who have fulfilled their roles, have released their summons once and have been sent back to the ''Garden of Pandera''.


    I can remember when I left the academy as if it was just yesterday. I didn''t expect to meet my sister-in-law here - but even though I hadn''t spoken to her in a long time, I couldn''t think of anything to say.


    ''''...... You have a nervous look on your face. You''ve just finished a battle and you''re loosening up fast.


    Looking down at me from the top of the horse, my sister-in-law says with a stern expression. My sister-in-law is right - the mere sight of her brings me back to my time at the Academy.


    But while I''m unable to answer, Tempest, who is snuggled up to her sister-in-law''s back, whispers something to me. Then the sister-in-law''s lips, which had been tied in a straight line, faintly quivered.


    ''''But it seems you are definitely growing up. You haven''t quite surpassed me yet, but you were unfazed against a group of ...... goblins and saved the people of the ranch. You''ve done well, Lendl.


    ''...... Yes. As a squire, I have had the pleasure of watching Mr. Glass''s activities most closely. I am glad to hear that Dean Millennia is doing well.


    Your sister-in-law agreed to let Leslie play ''Mr. Rendle'' and let her accompany me as my secretary. I have to thank her for that as well, but when I think about what happened in the fortress'' changing room, it''s complicated to just say ''thank you''.


    His Highness Astina, Dite and Presha-san are urging the surviving goblins to return to the mountain. The goblins who had been shown their power already had no desire to fight and seemed to obey honestly.


    ''It''s been a long time since I''ve seen Your Highness wielding a sword, and he''s as skilled as ever. The generals you are following also have enough prowess to earn a medal on any front line. It''s hard to find another fortress with the same strength as the Isle Rose.


    Oh, thank you ...... I''m sure you will be pleased to know that Dean Millennia has received such a tribute.


    ''I will address His Highness directly. Glass, it may be a disaster for you, but I have received a request from the Knights'' central headquarters to ''enter the Isle Rose Fortress''.


    I found out why General Rothgard''s group had left ahead of me - your sister-in-law has already finished her role of accompanying the knights.


    ''''Don''t worry, there''s no problem if you''re away from the academy. My secretary, Clarine, is acting on my behalf, and I don''t have many opportunities to give lectures to begin with. Although I won''t be staying for that many days, I''m hoping to return home to see the realities of the western territory ...... and my beloved brother-in-law (Otto).


    ''I''m doing ...... somehow. Each day is fast-paced, but it''s fulfilling and I''m glad I''m here. I''ve got a lot of support from Mr. Lendl ......, Leslie, and everyone else.


    ...... I see. I thought it was possible that since it''s Glass, it could be that he''s so phenomenally obtuse that he hasn''t noticed yet.


    I didn''t even seem to notice the identity of Mr. Rendle, so much so that I couldn''t argue with my sister-in-law at all. If it hadn''t been for the events of that night, I wouldn''t have noticed it even now.


    ''That ...... I got flustered and bothered my brother Glass to ......


    That''s interesting. I''ll let you hear about it later when we get to the fortress: ...... but Glass. I suppose you have a lot to answer for as well.


    No, no, I''m really not as weird as your sister-in-law thinks I am. ......


    What kind of days do they spend in a women-only fortress? While I am upset because I feel like I''m being imagined like that, my sister-in-law dismounts her horse and comes over here.


    ''''I''m away from the institute now. I should let them know that I''m Glass''s sister-in-law. ......


    "Hmmm. ......, my sister-in-law. ......


    My sister-in-law holds my head - her face is received by a pile of soft twins. I feel nostalgic for this kind of thing, but that doesn''t mean I''m not a boy anymore, so my sister shouldn''t be doing this to me.


    ''...... The head of the academy is still my brother''s idiot,''


    ''It''s my sister''s prerogative to love her brother. And I''m here to make sure of that.


    Puh-uh ...... sister-in-law, you know, it''s the eyes of His Highness and everyone else here ......


    ''I''m sure I''ve always told you not to use respectful language ...... and don''t push it too hard or you won''t like it. Let''s also take into account some of the publicity you want to maintain.


    I''m tempted to say, "Is it more or less?" but this is my sister-in-law. She''s undoubtedly the strongest mage I''ve seen with my own eyes, and she''s used her power to protect this country - I''m truly proud that she''s my sister.


    ''''Then ...... Glass, it seems that when I left the academy, there was one student who entered the Western Domain later on. If you know him, he''s probably still around. You should go meet him.


    ''Ha, yes. Sister-in-law, I''ll see you later at .......


    Her sister-in-law, who was probably right in that greeting, smiled and rode again to join His Highness. Mr. Presha was quickly asking his sister-in-law about her relationship with me, but she salaciously dodged the question by saying that she was just happy to see her brother-in-law again.


    ''...... Glass brother, that stone wall over there ......?��I''m on the other side of.


    The stone wall that blocked the path of Vysek and the others who were trying to escape. The wall was created in an instant by gathering the stones lying in the grassland - no doubt due to spirit magic.


    White smoke is rising from the other side of that wall. It''s the smoke from the herbal tobacco smoke I made.


    "...... Hey. It''s been a while, Glass.


    When I walked around to the other side of the stone wall, I saw a young man with long hair, sitting against the wall. He''s a little mangled from losing his magic, but it''s safe to say that he looks as healthy as ever.


    ''Sven...... I guess I should start by saying thank you for helping me out.


    ''''Hahaha ...... Well, I thought it would be a good time to show off the power of the Stone Spirit. Stone Spirit ''Clementia'', I hope I''ve been able to help you somewhat.


    Yeah. That guy Vysek got me pretty good at that ...... but I didn''t lose anything important.


    ''I see. You''ve already done a lot of defending something on the battlefield: ...... What about you guys over there?


    When Sven asks me a question, Leslie looks at me and then nods. He says that he''s willing to reveal his identity.


    ''...... I''m Leslie. If Sven doesn''t realize it, this disguise was meant to be.


    "My God, ...... what you did with me. Glass, I''ve never heard of you having a hobby of dressing up your sisterhood as men. Why didn''t you ever open up to me about it?


    "No, no, it''s not ...... brother Glass, it''s me myself ......


    Leslie hurriedly tries to correct him, but Sven is laughing and he looks at her with a look of realization.


    ''It''s ......, so I''m tempted to neglect Sven. It''s a wonder he''s so close to brother Glass.


    ''It''s one man''s dream to get a girl to dress up as a man, you know. Isn''t it, Glass?


    I don''t want you to get caught up in your hobby ...... or rather, I think Sven has too broad a dream.


    ''It must be. My heart was in the midst of a frenzy as I watched the knights, not to mention the Dean''s magic. But most of all, I was moved by ...... glass, by you.


    Sven was watching us - helping the people on the ranch and even fighting the goblins.


    When we were in the academy, that was just an imaginary story. The idea of using magic to help someone or fight a demon. I used to talk for hours with Sven about how well our magic would be understood if we became adventurers and such.


    ''I wanted to be like you. So I used my magic to stall someone who was opposed to you. I don''t think I could have done anything with that, but it was heartbreaking. It also made me think that the goal I was looking for might be just down the road.


    ...... Sven.


    Sven smoked a herbal cigarette - it had the effect of restoring his magical power, though it was weak, and it brought back some of his magical power that had been depleted by using the magic of the great ''stone wall''.


    I''ve been looking for a job in the King''s City, but I couldn''t find a job like I wanted. That''s why ...... I was really looking for a reason. I realized that I wouldn''t be able to become anything if I stayed at the academy until the last minute of my enrollment deadline. But I couldn''t even take the step to go to a strange land. As you know, I''m a coward, you know.


    There aren''t many people who are not only cowardly, but also have a heart like his. By signing a contract with the spirit of the Stone, he has developed a spirit that is unfazed by anything.


    It''s the same with me, who made a contract with a plant spirit. That''s why I was able to share a room with Sven and we got on the same page right away, and I still relate to what he says.


    ''...... So, Sven. I see you''re not going back to the academy.


    ''Oh. My magic was not needed in King''s Landing in the direction I wanted it to go. Then I''m going to make a track record of finding a place that needs it.


    Accomplishments: "...... Do you do anything with the magic of stone?


    Leslie asks, and Sven holds out his right hand to me. When he caused his hand to come up, Sven looked at the hut on top of the grassy hill.


    ''''With the power of ''Clementia'', we can build it much faster than hand-building. Glass, I will travel to all the cities in the Western Territories to see what I can contribute with this technology. If this is possible, I would like to strengthen the fortress you work in. If it means building a new fort, I''ll do my best to make it happen.


    ''I''m sure your lordships will be pleased with that ....... I''ll ask them if there are any parts of the house that need repairing in a hurry.


    ''I''d appreciate it if you would. I am going to ask for repairs to the hut first and see if I can get some work done. Next, there''s a town called Portoro, as I recall. I''ll stay there and look for work at .......


    ''''Sven, I can call out to you wherever you are in the Western Territory. Even from there, if you remind me strongly enough, ''she'' will be able to hear me.


    Now that he had signed a contract with Euceresis, he could communicate through the plant anywhere in the western territory. As a mage, Sven would be able to get a clearer picture of how Euceris was working.


    He had made a contract with a divine tree spirit that once had deep ties to the Raseneian Kingdom - even without telling him all about it, Sven seemed to understand.


    I''m not sure if this is the hidden potential of the ''plant spirit''. I''m sure you''re not the outlier, after all, Glass, you''re not the outlier. ...... Oh, my God. I never thought I''d see the day when I''d feel so refreshed.


    Sven removes the hood of his cloak and raises his fist in the air, as if he can''t hold back his elation.


    ''''I''d like to say that I can''t afford to lose either ......, but apparently your newly contracted spirit is an entity that I can''t measure up to with my common sense.


    ...... divine tree, Euselisis. My brother Glass worked so hard to get me signed up.


    ''His Highness Astina''s decision was more important than mine, more than anything else. Sven...... many things have happened, but let me speak to you again at leisure.


    ''Yeah, I''m looking forward to it. When we meet again, I''ll try to make some headway.


    I shook hands with Sven and headed to where His Highness'' group was. His Highness was in the middle of a conversation with Mr. Hartner of the Reinfeldt family.


    ''...... Lord Hartner, this is him, Glass Weed.


    "Oh ...... that he cured me of my illness. ......


    Mr. Hartner bids His Highness a meeting and walks his horse over to us. He is a very strong man with a full head of gray hair - his beard covers his mouth, but his face is very similar to that of his son, Mr. Snyder.


    ''I apologize for the delay in greeting you, my name is Hartner. I''m a wingman at Reinfeldt.


    ''This is the first time we''ve met in person: ...... I''m Glass Weed. I''m delighted to hear of your recovery from your illness.


    That is all right, Master Glass. You have saved my life, ...... and I would not feel comfortable letting you worry about such a person.


    Mr. Hartner had been at odds with His Highness Astina, but fortunately they were able to reconcile. The Reinfeldt family''s cavalry was their support to help His Highness.


    I''m sure you''re aware of the fact that there are a lot of people who have been going around spouting bad news about His Highness Astina recently, and it seems that they are from the center of the country ...... We are well aware that there is nothing lacking in His Highness'' administration and defense against Zirconia Therefore, he moved his troops, saying that he could not help them even if they had to face the army His Majesty had sent. Therefore, I moved my troops to be of assistance to His Majesty''s troops, even if I had to confront them with the army His Majesty had sent. Fortunately, it wasn''t a clash.


    ''Yes, I''m glad it didn''t turn into a fight. I''m sure there will be more interference in the future, but I''m sure it will take some time.


    ...... Lord Glass is aware of the situation in the fortress and the Order as well. I would have hoped that you would have been able to use your abilities as a physician for the benefit of the people, but I''m sure you would have been an excellent advisor to His Highness as well. I truly envy your highness'' popularity.


    ''''I''m the military doctor of the Isle Rose Fortress, but I have a desire to treat the wounds and illnesses of the entire territory. If there is a shortage of doctors in some areas, I think we can take the approach of training them, albeit in spite of the fact that it''s inaccessible. ......


    There are still doctors in various cities today, but there are not enough of them in absolute numbers. Everyone in the medics could learn some medical skills by teaching them, so training doctors is a realistic enough idea. Of course, though, we need to recruit people who are enthusiastic about medicine.


    ''''Earlier, the Reinfeldt family will officially serve His Highness Astina. We hope that we can do this according to His Highness'' policy, such as recruiting aspiring doctors in the territory. From now on, the orders of His Highness will also take precedence over the orders of the people who are under the control of our family. Therefore, the opinions of Lord Glass will be reflected in the internal affairs of the realm through His Highness.


    ''Huh ...... no. I''m just a military doctor, so I have no opinion on politics.


    ''How dare you? You have already rescued the peasants from the loss of their land. I have been informed that Lord Glass was accompanied by knights from the Isle Rose Fortress. You have the confidence of many more of your fellow countrymen than you can possibly imagine.


    Suddenly, I don''t feel or understand such a thing, and I can''t follow it - Mr. Hartner looks at me and smiles with his white teeth.


    ''Above all, I am a believer in you. That''s what it means to save people''s lives.


    Oh, no. I just thought you didn''t have a life-threatening illness.


    ''That''s what my son and daughter diagnosed me with, just from talking to them. Do you know how I felt when they told me that?��There was God, and the Son of God. I just thanked you for being in this western territory.


    Father, it''s time to go.


    "Yes, I know. Lord Glass, upon hearing of your victory against Zirconia, the people of the realm have asked me to express their gratitude to you. I beg you to respond to them with pride.


    Mr. Hartner, accompanied by his son Snyder and his daughter Koofiqa, moved down the road in a column of cavalry. I was given a ride on Mr. Presha''s horse and Leslie joined the line with His Highness on Mr. Deete''s horse - his sister-in-law was a little behind us.


    Presha-san and Deete-san follow on either side of His Highness. After a while, His Highness looked at me and said.


    ''''It would have been nice if Raquel and the others could have returned together. Let''s tell the girls again what happened this time.''''


    Raquel and everyone else will be happy. We''ll win.


    ''''Yes, ...... and the hindsight is gone for the time being. I''d like to rejoice with the people of the territory now.


    The always stout Mr. Deite smiles softly - ahead of His Highness and his friends, there are people lined up on both sides of the street.


    ''''--This is the triumphant return of the great knights who prevented the invasion of the Zirconia Empire and defended the western territory!


    With a single word, Hartner von Reinfeldt declared his loyalty to His Highness Astina to the Western Territories.


    While receiving cracking cheers, His Highness and Ms. Deite responded by raising their hands, while Ms. Presha shyly and modestly waved her hand.


    ''''...... You''re back, we''re back, aren''t we?''''


    Even amidst the cheers, Presha-san''s mutterings reached our ears.


    The Knights of the Isle Rose had overcome one great hardship. The fortress visible at the end of the road was flying the banner of His Highness Astina under a cloudless sky.

 103 Episode 101: Sister and Sister

    Before reaching the Isle Rose Fortress, our group led by His Highness was cheered by many of the lords.


    ''''Thank you for protecting us from Zirconia!


    Long live our goddess, Astina, for bringing our farmland back to life!


    Congratulations on your recovery, Mr. Hartner!


    In the Western Domain, the Reinfeldt family not only governed the surrounding area, but also maintained the security of the territory. The head of the family, the Hartner clan, was well respected, and his sons, Snyder and Kufiqa, were also well-liked by the people of the territory.


    With their return to His Highness Astina, the stability within the Western Domain was considered to be closer to a solid foundation.


    Today was the third day of the move, and when they came near the city of Wendell near the fortress, people still gathered and cheered for them. His Highness had told them in advance that he was going to attack Zirconia territory, and it was taken as a sign of victory as it was that he had returned safely.


    I can''t wait for my sister Raquel to see this scene. As long as the Reinfeldt family didn''t think well of us, there were a lot of people who didn''t like us.


    Mr. Presha, who is putting me on his horse, said with great emotion. Mr. Deite, who is gagging and pacing his horse, put his hand on his cheek and said.


    ''I''m a little surprised that Lord Hurtner-dono is so enthralled with Dr. Glass, but ...... you can''t leave the attraction of Dr. Glass to men, can you?


    ''I''m just curing myself, so I''m a little confused, but ...... when you''re back in consciousness, and you can show such supremacy, it''s easy to see why the people adored the Reinfeldt family so much.


    ...... Brother Glass, Mr. Deite''s jokes don''t get it.


    ''Eh ...... Oh, yeah. Um, I''m a gender-neutral guy, and if I can make my patients happy, that''s the best thing I can do for them.


    A military doctor who has been assigned to a female only order. Still, he often has the opportunity to see men, and he will continue to get many such opportunities in the future.


    ''''Men and women''s bodies are built very differently, and the amount of nutrition they need in their diets is also different, so we have to be ready to respond appropriately at all times.


    ...... Dr. Glass is looking at you as a doctor, so you''re not aware of women at all or ......?


    ''Hmm ...... I don''t think that''s true. If you''re saying that my and Presha''s knightliness is front and center, and I don''t feel feminine, then maybe it''s an honor.


    ''Er ...... Well, well, I''m certainly happy about that ....... It''s kind of complicated.


    I don''t know how I''m supposed to respond in these situations - I feel like I''m being treated like a saint before I''ve said anything.


    ''...... Brother Glass is just too serious to be found anywhere else,''


    Hahaha ...... I don''t think that''s true either.


    ''No, if that''s what Lord Leslie says, it''s true. And now that you''ve revealed yourself, what do you think?��Let''s have a tea party together once.


    Oh, that''s a good idea. But maybe after Raquel''s sister is together, and Bridget and Chloe too. Oh, I heard that Noin joined in, too.


    I wonder what kind of stories they''ll tell me without me - I''m dreading it.


    ''...... Glass, you too have done your part to protect your people and contributed greatly. Please keep a close eye on everyone''s faces.''


    His Highness Astina, who is ahead of me, speaks to me through the bonds of the covenant. It sounds as if she''s whispering in my ear, and I can''t help but get upset.


    ''Huh ...... is, yes, hush. I''m sorry for the pleasantries.''


    ''That in itself is fine, and I think it''s rather gratifying,''


    "What ......?


    There was a hint of a smile from His Highness. His Highness, who was going in front of him, looked behind him and their gazes met for a moment.


    There had been times when he had been able to show a calm expression. But the smile he showed now was the gentlest one ever.


    --he had been fighting all along. To protect his mother and the people he cared about, His Highness wielded his sword and remained strong in the conspiracy for the throne.


    Someone said that His Highness was ''our goddess''. She is divinely transcendent, yet occasionally shows glimpses of a human being.


    He became a military doctor because he wanted to do something. Now, there is another reason added to that.


    From now on, His Highness would be the actual ruler in this western territory. Now that the central interference has been dismissed, even if there is a new interference, His Highness will not comply with it. Since he doesn''t want to cause a civil war, it will be necessary to negotiate with the center somewhere - but.


    That day in the round table room, His Highness said, ''''I want to walk with everyone as one nation.


    The Western Territories will be independent. I want to see what will happen to the country that Your Highness will create.


    I know it''s impertinent for me to speak to His Highness - but still.


    "We are now taking a new step forward, aren''t we?


    Once again, it was so obvious that I didn''t have to say it. That was the kind of thing I was desperate to tell him now.


    There was no reply from His Highness. Eventually, the Isle Rose Fortress approached, and the band of horsemen led by Mr. Hultner sent us off and finished their task, then turned off the road into the meadow and headed back.


    The drawbridge of the fortress is lowered and the gates are opened. This was before we crossed that bridge.


    ''Raquel, Presha, Deite ...... Glass and Leslie and Noin. And everyone else is there, so I''m not afraid of anything.''


    "...... Your Highness.


    And it wasn''t the end. That alone was enough to make my heart tremble - and I felt more joy than I could handle.


    "You''re the one who made me put aside my doubts. Dr. Glass.


    Daringly, His Highness said, "Sir.


    --No. Although it is presumptuous, I will definitely ask you to do the same from me. Please allow me to teach Your Highness the basics of the spirit magic mind-set.


    --...... yes. But I''m asking you to do it from here. There''s no need to be so formal. Glass is the teacher.


    His Highness hasn''t forgotten. I thought that this day might come, but I never imagined that it would be a reality.


    ''Your Highness Astina, Captain Presha and Captain Deite, you have returned!


    ""Welcome home!"


    I don''t know what a normal army is like, but it''s because of this Order that His Highness is greeted with enthusiastic cheers from his men.


    Finally, we can take a breath of fresh air. But considering how Zirconia will come out, I can''t take it easy. We have to make sure that we succeed in getting a ceasefire before the other side feels threatened by us and attacks us uninterrupted.


    "Well, ...... me and Mr. Deite will go check on the situation while I''m away.


    ''I''m sure His Highness will be calling the meeting again, so please be prepared, doctor. It''s still high in the day, so there''s a chance that we''ll move to East Fort Zirconia later today.


    I understand. I''ll be standing by to get you out whenever you want.


    When the horses were left with the stablesmen, Presha waved and Deite winked before walking away.


    ...... I think it would be better to stay as ''Lendl'' for a while, except in front of those who know my situation.


    ''If Leslie''s okay, that sounds good to me. Because people will be surprised.


    ''Yes, sir. Now, once you''ve dropped your stuff off, go to the sanitation building: .......


    As I was about to say that, I felt Leslie''s stomach growl.


    As for improving the diet of the fortress, it is a problem that needs to be resolved first and foremost. His Highness also said that it must be resolved when the war situation changes, and I''d like to talk to the kitchen staff if there is time - but.


    ''Leslie, before we go to the mess hall, may I stop by the sanitation building? I''ve got some things I need to discuss with Captain Katie.


    ...... Yes.


    Leslie''s voice was very quiet, as if she was ashamed that her stomach was growling - I wish I could growl boldly at a time like this, but it''s not always easy to do so.


    It''s surprising that Presha and Deethe, who, like us, should not have had lunch yet, are moving unperturbed.


    ...... Both Presha-san and Deete-san are friendly, but they''re still great. Those knights have a totally different way of training.


    ''Well, ...... first I need to learn to ride a horse by myself, too. It takes a lot of physical strength to learn dressage, so I need to work out ...... Leslie?


    Leslie has a look of surprise on her face - it''s hard to see her expression because she''s wearing glasses that cover her mouth.


    She''s giving me a look behind me. I''m about to casually turn around - a nostalgic scent shimmers, and that''s when I realize who the person behind me is.


    ''''Geez, you''re ...... right ...... Dean .......''''


    ''''Hmph ...... If you were about to call me sister-in-law (nee), just call me that. Now that I''m away from the academy, I only have the title of court mage other than being your sister-in-law.


    Millenia''s sister-in-law smiles happily as she says, folding her arms.


    That posture has been a habit of hers for some time now - for one reason. It''s because her chest is heavy and her shoulders are stiff, but her sister-in-law had a distinctly mischievous look on her face when she told me about it.


    ''I''m glad to hear that Leslie is looking well too. I was impressed by the thorny issues you faced when sending you off as Glass''s secretary, but you''ve done much better than I imagined. As your sister, I thank you again.


    ...... I am the one who thanked you for allowing me to do so. Please don''t tell my house, and please don''t tell anyone at home. ......


    Since Leslie has the blood of the Duke of Renklus, she was originally not able to leave the academy easily. It was only with the help of her sister-in-law that this was possible.


    ''''You didn''t tell Glass that Leslie was a secret ...... but it would be necessary to understand the current situation. It''s a good thing that you''re able to get a good idea of what''s going on. I''m sure you''ll be able to find out more about that.


    The Second Prince - the son of the Second Queen Cassandra, who is an enemy of His Highness Astina.


    Cassandra is linked to the court mage Jorg, and has been trying to have the Western Realm attacked by Zirconia - she didn''t care what happened to Prince Astina and everyone else in the Isle Rose Fortress, she wanted to cut them down.


    No matter how strong his love for his own son was, his attempt to bring down His Highness Astina, who did not want to inherit the throne, and the Knights of the Isle Rose, who had fought for their country, was not a justifiable act.


    The Renklus family is trying to get Leslie to serve the Second Prince. What would have happened if she hadn''t accompanied me as ''Rendle'' - just thinking about it made my heart cloudy.


    ''...... I must obey what your father says. You took me in and put me in the academy, so ...... but that''s the only thing I can do.


    ''I know. I am not in an easy position to give an opinion on the House of Renklus, but ...... what would have happened if Leslie had stayed in King''s Landing and graduated from the Academy. That''s not good news!


    A child of a nobleman cannot decide his or her own life. The status of the house they were born into would set them on a path to the end - a nobleman would be proud of that, Mom had said.


    Mom had come from a baronial family. Even she had strong opposition from those around her before she married my father, who was a commoner. Such was the case with my father''s remarriage to a woman of county blood, but since they had both lost their spouses, there was no stronger opposition than the first marriage.


    Although her sister-in-law was of county blood, she had become a military mage and had also gained a high rank as a court mage, which allowed her to distance herself from the interference of the main family. However, I was told that before she became a mage, she was also forced to live as a ''noblewoman''.


    ''...... magic is what gives us a place to stand on our own. Leslie came to this fortress with Glass and did what she wanted to do on her own and obeyed the orders of her house. I find the former to be much more human than the latter.


    Dean: ......


    ''There is no denying that nobles and commoners have different obligations to carry. But it is the wish of the current head of the house of Renklus to envision the next heir to the throne now and to strengthen the ties, and there is a part of him that needs to look further ahead if he is to look to his people. I think so, and I will shelter about Leslie until I have to. You see, I am also known to be difficult, and the dukes don''t pressure me easily.


    Then her sister-in-law smiled softly. Then she extended her arms towards Leslie.


    ''.......''


    Leslie jumped into her sister-in-law''s arms, as if she had been thinking about it for a long time. She held her in her arms, gently stroking her back and said, "Thank you for supporting my brother-in-law (Otto).


    ''Thank you for supporting my brother-in-law (Otto). Keep up the glass, please.''


    ''It''s me ...... ...... it''s me. It''s always my brother Glass, and he''s the one who keeps me breathing .......


    ...... I see. Then maybe Leslie is just like me.


    My sister-in-law gives me a look. I can imagine what she''s thinking, and I can''t accept it so easily, but for once I can''t seem to get away with it.


    When Leslie leaves, her sister-in-law removes Leslie''s disguise glasses and wipes her tears away with her handkerchief. Leslie''s cheeks blush as if she''s ashamed of having cried, and she smiles happily, looking more innocent than usual - no, she''s just always uptight and fulfilling her duties among adults, but she''ll always be like a cute little sister to me in her own right.


    I could barely breathe before I knew that my brother-in-law was safe, too. Glass, do you have any words to say to a sister like that?


    ...... It''s been a few days now, but when we met again, the ......


    ''It''s not enough to fill me up with one hug. How many days do you think we''ve been apart?


    My sister-in-law seems to be high-handed and I know it''s an act. She always says all sorts of things, but I''m sure she cares about me as a brother, and that hasn''t changed since we became sisters.


    ...... and I wouldn''t appreciate it if I spoiled her too much. I''m going to go to His Highness Astina and talk to her about what''s going to happen during my stay in the fortress. I heard that Leslie is sharing a room with Glass, but I assume you have one extra room?


    I''m sorry that your sister-in-law is in the same room as you, I mean, ......


    ''Hmph ...... If you''re that upset, it doesn''t seem that you''ve passed by the women''s garden. It''s a little tougher, but it''s still the glass I know.


    I was satisfied with what I wanted to say - and without being satisfied, my sister-in-law patted me and Leslie on the head.


    ''Don''t worry, we''ll have a separate room for you. If you''re that serious, there doesn''t seem to be any need to monitor you.


    "I didn''t do anything stupid with my brother Glass at .......


    Leslie says what I, as a man, would normally say. Her sister-in-law just raises her hand in response - totally, we''re both completely at the mercy of each other.


    ''It''s ......, don''t worry ...... and I won''t do anything about it in the future.''


    ''Oh, yeah ...... I''ll try to be, you know, more careful about things, too.


    ...... Even if it''s like when I bathed in hot water, I''ll never do anything like that again that would cause my brother Glass to get hurt.


    I still think he cared - I wondered what was going to happen when he pushed me down with great force.


    So we can stay in the room together ......?


    ''So it''s because more people know Leslie now. As far as I''m concerned, I''d rather be with you than change rooms now ...... if you don''t mind Leslie.


    ''...... good. My brother Glass is so popular, I thought you wouldn''t want him to be with me all the time.


    It never bothers me, but it does bother me in other ways. Leslie is getting more feminine by the day than just being a cute little sister - I don''t know if I would have been able to settle down in the same room if she hadn''t dressed up as a man.


    I wanted to have a plant-like heart, but I might have a hard time keeping that up in the future. I thought about that as I looked at Leslie, who was huffing and puffing.

 104 Episode 102: Guidelines for Army Surgeons

    It''s a long season of sunshine, but it will soon be hectic in the fortress before dinner, so we head to the sanitation building early.


    ''Captain Katie, this is Glass. I''m back.


    I knock on the door and call out to them, but there''s no answer - come to think of it, it''s time for everyone to be making the rounds of the patients who are recuperating.


    I''m told I can go in when no one answers, so I go in. I looked into the stuffing room - Katie was just stretching out in the middle of her paperwork.


    ''Hmmm ...... my shoulders are so stiff. I need to take a break ......


    Good work, Miss Katie.


    ...... Seriously, doctor, you''re already here?��We just arrived at the fortress, and you could have taken a short break.


    No, thanks to you, I''m not too tired. I''ve gotten used to riding horses.


    ''Great, you''re awesome, sir. ...... I''ve trained to ride too, and I''m going to be knackered in half a day.


    I''m just getting a ride in the back, so ...... are you all in the ward?


    Katie nodded, looked upstairs and then chuckled.


    ''My men, and the patients, will be up in arms when they find out the doctor is back.


    Hahaha ...... sorry for the disturbance.


    ''No, it''s because the doctor is that well-liked. With his guidance, everyone''s morale is up, and some have recovered and returned to duty. The remaining wounded and sick have already fallen below ten.


    ''That''s good to hear. Let me see each one of you later: ...... And I have a few things I''d like to discuss with you this time.


    Yes, I''m at your service.


    Katie gives a salute - a gesture of putting her hand to the side of her forehead. Her expression is more cheerful than it was when she first arrived, and I can tell that the situation in the medics has improved.


    I think I can move forward with a lot of thoughts now.


    ''How much medicine do you currently have in your stockpile, sir?


    ''That''s why ...... merchants dealing in medicines are not coming from the center. We do procure them in the territory, but all of the medicines are in short supply. We''re also in a situation where we''re saving as much as we can on important things like disinfectants and painkillers.


    ''We can use distilled liquor to disinfect, so we can negotiate with the breweries in the territory.


    ''You can get alcohol in the town of Wendell, but it doesn''t seem to be enough to be used for disinfection.


    Katie expresses her concern, but I smile at her.


    ''Is grain the ingredient in the alcohol made around here?''


    Yes, it''s made of potatoes and wheat.


    ''If it''s liquor of those ingredients, I can make it pure enough to use for disinfection if you leave it to me. I''ll talk to the brewery and ask them to make a pure spirit from scratch, but until that is established, we''ll secure the disinfectant for you.


    ''Well ...... doctor, you know a lot about alcohol. But I''m worried that you''re going to be burdened with more and more of it.


    Disinfection is essential in many aspects of medicine. If there is a demand for it in the town''s hospitals and clinics, we hope to create a supply system. We can''t use too much grain for that purpose, so we''re hoping to negotiate for more fields of dedicated crops.


    ''All right, the clerk of the fortress will take care of that. You can rest assured that we will negotiate as Dr. Glass has instructed.


    Katie-san suggests that, but I''m wondering if it''s okay to have a clerk do the job under my direction - I''m thinking about it.


    ''''Glass-sensei was originally supposed to report directly to His Highness, so his authority in the fortress is higher than our captain rank. The fact that he reports directly to the Raquel Knight Captain doesn''t change that.


    ''Oh, thank you. But ......


    There was no official resignation from His Highness, so my authority must not deviate from the scope of one military doctor only. I think so, but Katie-san just smiles.


    ''While the doctor was away, I had a chance to talk to all the clerks as well. We were very grateful for the doctor''s efforts to resolve the farmland issue. It was an issue that could not be resolved even though petitions had been received from the Territories until then: ......


    "I owe it all to Pr��cia and Dite, as well as to Lendl. The deciding factor in the end was the fact that His Highness himself went there.


    Yes ...... but still, we all understand. Dr. Glass has been assigned to the post and has led this fortress in the right direction.


    Katie takes my hand - I don''t mean a handshake, but is this an expression of affection?


    ''I''m sorry about ...... oh ...... too, I''m sorry. I''m just so happy to be ......


    ''Yes, no. I''m also, well, I''m really glad that you trust me, I mean, I''m ...... not sure what to expect at first.


    Oh, Mr. Glass, you were so calm right from the start. We were very encouraged by this. We didn''t know what to expect.


    I no longer get compliments on anything I say, and I feel spoiled - and then I feel like I''m spoiled.


    ''...... Oh my goodness, you guys. You should have told me if you were back.


    Three medics come down from the upper floor and look at us. They''re a little older than me, so it''s not surprising that I say this, but they''re still a bit new to me.


    ''Oh, you''re going to say, "Welcome home, not ......"?��In times like these,


    That makes me feel like Dr. Glass''s squire: ......


    ''Lime, Irisa, I''m not going to float away just because the teacher is back. I''m sorry, these girls are so nervous ......


    Oh, only Odette''s trying to sound firm. That''s not true. She''s the one who''s most nervous.


    Katie chuckles in front of the three men who speak so skillfully. Although their ages haven''t changed much, I wonder if Katie, the sanitation captain, is like a big sister to everyone.


    ''Kohon...... to report back later on how you guys are working in Dr. Glass'' absence. Right now we have something important to talk about, so stay in the break room for a bit.


    ''Yes, yes, ...... doctor, a patient who has returned to the front line or returned to duty inside the fortifications wanted to thank you for your help.


    ''Thank you. I''m looking forward to it.


    "Huh ...... Yes, I think you''ll all be very pleased ......!


    People who have been out of the line of fire because of physical or mental injuries are back as soldiers again. It''s by their own strength, and my role is just to help the healing process.


    But it''s not "just doing it for a job". It makes me happy to be appreciated, and that''s what makes being a doctor worthwhile.


    Three medics bail on me and head to the break room. After seeing the girls off, Katie looked at me and smiled.


    ''Thank you for respecting those girls and their patients,''


    The truth is, I don''t deserve it. But I learned from the doctor under my tutelage that the gratitude of my patients is something to be accepted openly.


    ''I think it''s wonderful. I know that every doctor has a different way of dealing with patients. Everyone at this fortress knows that Dr. Glass is a kind man. But we don''t just take advantage of that either.


    Katie returns to her military face - she''s experienced the harshness of the battlefield many times more than I have.


    ''The policy that Dr. Glass is putting forth will have a positive effect on this fortress. Therefore, I hope you will not hesitate to move us: ...... I think so.


    At ......, we''re talking about negotiating for farmland. We would like to ask you to grow antiseptic and other medicinal herbs that will be used to make medicines. We will provide you with instructions on how to grow them, as well as seedlings and seeds for the medicinal herbs.


    Very funny. I''ll have someone on hand to help you mix it all up. Lime, Odette, and Irisa are young, but they have a strong work ethic and some knowledge of pharmaceuticals.


    That would be very helpful. At the hospital in Wangdu, a pharmacist is in charge of dispensing medicines, and it would be good if we could set up a dispensing department within the medical team as well.


    ''So you''re going to be able to produce medicines inside the dispensing department ...... fortress. Once that''s done, we won''t have to wait for supplies to come in from the center.


    The transportation of goods from the center has been slowed down, so even now we are no longer dependent on the center.


    Now we just need to secure food that can make up for the lack of nutrition. There are nutritional deficiencies that can be obtained from grains alone, so it would be good if we could provide a stable supply of food that can make up for these deficiencies. Not only does it have to be nutritious, but it also has to taste as good as possible.


    Since Euceris is connected to all the plants growing in the western territory, we will select the crops that are likely to be stable and ask the farmers to produce them. It would be smoother to ask through the Reinfeldt family and other wealthy families that unite the farmers.


    The production of disinfectant spirits, the establishment of a medicinal herb production and dispensing department, and the production of food - it will take some time to get started now and see results, but it''s best to get started as soon as possible.


    And one more thing. The problem this fort has - I''m the only doctor in the army.


    When I leave the fort, there will be no medic. I train all the medics in the art of medicine, but for difficult surgeries, I need a doctor with expertise.


    ''Katie, I heard that the army doctor before me is now recuperating in town: ......


    Nina Corsair, the former army doctor at ......, is recuperating in the infirmary in the town of Wendell. She is visited once a month by a member of the medical corps, but as she is from the Western Territories, there has been some talk of her being retired from the army at this time.


    ...... I see.


    I looked at the medical records left behind by Dr. Nina, and they were written in a calm brushstroke at first, but after a certain point they had begun to be decidedly disorganized.


    The shortage of military doctors had placed a heavy responsibility on her twin shoulders, and she hadn''t been able to continue her duties very long after the initial deaths from the war wounds.


    However, looking at Dr. Nina''s surgical records and the actual patients she had operated on, I felt that she had more experience and more skill than me when it came to operating on the same tools.


    ''At the moment, there is no immediate threat to the Isle Rose Fortress. If we can get Dr. Nina to return to ...... that would still be difficult to do.


    Katie keeps her eyes down. The possibility of being retired means that Nina''s condition is still not looking good.


    It might be better to think of something else after all, but Raquel and the others are stationed at East Zirconia Fort, and there are patients at the Isle Rose Fortress as well. In this state, I just can''t say that I''m enough of a military doctor on my own.


    I knew I had to go to Dr. Nina ...... no, I had to go to Nina at some point. I also wanted her to recuperate more away from the front lines, not in the town of Wendell, ...... but I''ve been putting off answering the question.


    Katie, you and Nina have been working with ......


    I consider her a friend as well as a fellow member of the same Order: ...... and still do.


    Tears were oozing from Katie''s eyes. I''ve been worried about her for a long time, and yet I didn''t keep Nina away from the fortress because I wanted her to come back.


    I''d like to meet her, who was a military doctor before she came to this fortress. ...... I''d like to meet her too. I just want to say thank you to her for doing her doctor''s duty in a difficult situation.


    All right. I will ask permission to go out to the town of Wendell tomorrow. Will Dr. Glass accompany His Highness when he crosses over to the Zirconia side again?


    ''Yes, I would like to accompany you if your highness directs me to do so.


    Now, I''d like to know when His Highness might be leaving ...... No, I''m sure you''ll have a direct notice to Dr. Glass.


    ''There will be a call later. I''ll talk to Dr. Nina at that time to see if we can set up a time to meet with her.


    ''Thank you for your help at ....... I''m sorry, I''m sorry that Dr. Glass has been so considerate.


    Katie has her hand on her chest. Her face is not very pale - so much so that she is probably nervous about meeting Nina.


    ''Captain Katie, can I have a word with you?''


    I got up from my seat and had my back to Katie, who was sitting there. I''ve been thinking since I came in here, but it looks like my body''s blood flow is pretty bad from all the paperwork and such.


    ''Dr. Glass, I''m fine if it''s me, I''m just a little tired, and I''ll be happy to see Dr. Nina at ...... about seeing her.


    ''No, there''s a little bit of stiffness in the upper body muscles, so we need to get the blood flowing.


    I take out a herb that soothes the inflammation in my muscles and start chanting magic - no need to say it in words, just remind me.


    (Green eggplant grass, pass its healing power over to me: ...... "Green Heal (Green Heal)" ......!


    The efficacy of the herbs is converted into magic and extracted, which is then applied directly to the affected area. After holding up her hand for a while, Katie''s blood circulation around her shoulder improves.


    ''''Geez, ...... awesome ...... my shoulders feel so much lighter ......''''


    ''That''s good to hear ...... and Katie, please make sure you get a good break whenever possible.


    ...... I''m the one who is tired and I can''t give anything back to you.


    ''No, don''t worry about it. I just wanted to see if there''s anything I can do to help you. ......


    --In the middle of saying it, Katie stands up and goes behind me. Then she relieves me of my shoulders.


    ''Keh, Captain Katie: ......''


    ''Huh. ...... That''s about all I can do. Dr. Glass may have Mr. Lendl do it for you, though.


    Katie smiles happily. She seems to care for me in her own way, but being alone and being touched like this makes me feel more or less uncomfortable.


    ''''Captain, it''s time for dinner, what do you want to do?''''


    Mr. Lime comes out of the break room and calls out to me, and Katie quickly leaves me - not to be misunderstood by my subordinates, but it''s an amazingly quick reaction.


    ...... Yes, well, I don''t know what I''m going to do. What will you do, Mr. Glass?


    ''I''ll call Mr Rendle and then go. Thank you, Captain Katie, for taking the time to discuss this with me.


    No. ...... It''s the same for me, I''ve got a lot to discuss with you.


    As I left the sanitation building, I left Captain Katie and the others and headed to my room. On the way, I find Leslie just coming out of her quarters.


    ''Glass to ...... Dr. Glass, Your Highness has called me to come to your room.


    Oh, thank you. What about Mr. Rendle?


    I''ll come with you. I''d like to hear everything you have to say.


    My behavior as Leslie is coming to the fore in front of me, but I''m going to ask her to accompany me, since it''s what my pretty sister says.


    ''...... Dr. Glass, you smell a little soap,''


    ''Eh, ...... yeah, no, that''s ......''


    ''Have you treated anyone in the sanitation wing or ......?��I''m glad to see you''re back and pulling early and numerous.


    I don''t think there was a transition when I treated Katie - a maiden''s intuition is hard to underestimate, even though I didn''t directly touch her.