There was a lot on my mind this morning.
Hamperlon was advancing quickly, and their generals were overwhelmingly powerful.
If things didn't change quickly, the Snow White Wolves' fortress would soon be under siege, and from there... It'd be a matter of time until their end.
I also couldn't risk coming into contact with the Second Prince, so Melissa forced me to continue aiding from behind the lines.
Licia: "Is the coffee not to your taste? I thought it turned out pretty well..."
Miwen: "Oh, sorry... I am just thinking about what I can do now."
Since Melissa stopped me from trying my idea, the girls decided to focus on expanding their mana pool until we had found our next plan.
Meanwhile, I sat on the grassy field, sipping the coffee Licia had brought me.
Though I liked it a little stronger, Licia and I had surprisingly similar tastes, and seeing me enjoying it brought a smile to her face.
Licia: "The matter with the Snow White Wolves..."
Miwen: "Yeah, I can't see a path forward right now. Do you have any idea?"
The air around Licia was so cold that even some of the grass blades were freezing near her feet.
According to her, keeping magic active for a long period of time was the best way to enhance both the mana pool and the mana control.
Licia: "Sorry, but I-"
Claire: "I think you've already done enough."
Even though Claire could do the same training as Licia, increasing the temperature around her, they seemed to disagree on the best method to increase the mana pool.
She sent a few fireballs into the sky, each one larger and infused with more mana than the last.
Since her mana was pretty limited, she tired quickly; however, she argued this was the best way to enhance both her mana output and mana pool.
Miwen: "What do you mean?"
Claire: "I know that you're helping them because of your Gift, but I don't think you need to do more than you've already done. They defeated an enemy general thanks to your help, and you're also providing them with weapons. I think that's good enough. You shouldn't put yourself at risk."
She kept just enough mana not to suffer from mana depletion, but her last fireball seemed quite tiring, so she took a seat next to me in the grass.
Miwen: "But they're not going to win if I don't take action."
Claire: "Well, maybe? But is it your responsibility? I mean, it's not your fault if they lose. You did what you could; it's up to them now."
She had a hand on her chin, staring longingly into the horizon.
Despite how bothered she seemed, I had to push back.
Miwen: "I'm not giving up on them, Claire. No matter how slim their chances may be."
Claire: "That's not what I meant. Just... You already did a lot given your level. Just be mindful of your own circumstances. Besides, you're still helping them..."
A small sigh escaped her.
Briefly, she clenched her fists.
Claire: "If things were different, I would be the first to suggest going all out, but... I think you should be proud of what you've accomplished."
Even though her smile was gentle, I felt something a little somber behind it.
I understood where she was coming from, and I couldn't deny it entirely. At the end of the day, I could only blame myself for not being strong enough.
However, I had decided to help the Snow White Wolves, so I would see it through to the end.
Maybe I was getting a little ahead of myself after killing one of Hamperlon's generals, but Claire herself said that it was immensely impactful.
As long as I could kill the Seven Rainbow Miracles or one of the princes, we could still turn the war in the Snow White Wolves' favor.
That, or we could wait for the gachas to hand us a cheat item...
Not that I could count on that.
Miwen: "Did Melissa say something to you?"
I couldn't help but feel like Claire was pushing herself a little.
Perhaps she was told something that I wasn't.
Claire: "...Regarding the war? Not at all. Which is also a little worrisome, but..."
She turned around, staring into my eyes.
Claire: "I'm gonna be honest, Miwen. Melissa is strong. If we fought, it'd be a close match even against the me from my previous life. However, even with her strength and your Gift, I don't see her tribe winning this war."
Her tone was slightly different from usual. The energy in her voice was colder, more serious.
It reminded me of the first few days she spent with us.
When it came to military affairs, Claire had me and Licia beat. Especially when predicting the impact of Gifts and skills on the battlefield.
Furthermore, given her level before being summoned, she should know very well how much one person can change.
However, I noticed that Licia had been quiet for a while now, and I wanted to hear her opinion.
Miwen: "What do you think, Licia? Do you also believe they cannot win?"
Licia: "...Sorry, Miwen."
I saw her eyes dart toward the ground for a second, but then, she returned her gaze to me.
Licia: "I think Claire is right. But what concerns me more is Melissa herself."
She approached Claire and me, sitting by her side.
Licia: "She's smart enough to reach the same conclusion, and when we were talking... I felt that she was more interested in the Kingdom than the Snow White Wolves' war."
Claire seemingly agreed with her, slowly nodding her head.
Licia: "I'm not sure what she's thinking, but... Maybe she has given up on winning already."
I couldn't understand how they got that impression from Melissa.
Melissa was always planning, patrolling, fighting, and organizing her tribe. Ever since I met her, I felt she was ready to fight until the end, no matter the cost.
She felt like someone who'd rather die than surrender.
Besides, Melissa was good at faking her emotions and hiding her intentions. She might've wanted the girls to believe she had given up, for some reason...
Miwen: "I see... I'll keep it in mind. But for now, you guys can go back. I need to meet Melissa."
They didn't seem too happy to leave the discussion open-ended like this, but I felt there was no reason to continue discussing this matter with them.
For now, I was going to continue giving advice and providing Melissa with whatever I could.
At the same time, I'd keep thinking of another strategy to help Melissa's war effort.
Mia: "If nothing else, you actually have good timing."
I blinked when transferring from the Kingdom to the world of the [Event], so her voice reached me before the sight of my prison cell's iron bars.
Once I opened my eyes, I saw her tapping her feet on the ground, and I couldn't help but tease the anxious wolf puppy.
Miwen: "Did you miss me?"
Mia: "That would be a miracle. I'm saying it because the [Blood Contract] is done. I'll just need a drop of your blood to complete it."
Her eyebrows were furrowed, but she didn't stay mad for long.
Stepping forward, she showed me the scroll in her hand.
Miwen: "I'll need to read it before signing it."
Mia: "You can read? Being surrounded by girls on all sides, I thought you only knew about debauchery and trickery."
She raised her chin and turned away slightly, looking at me with the corner of her eye.
Even though her stare used to be as sharp as her mother's, when she was acting this petty, I found it cute.
Miwen: "I wish."
Taking a closer look, the contract would bind my soul, making it almost impossible to circumvent its restrictions.
But then again, the only real clause was that Melissa could leave the Kingdom whenever she wanted, and I couldn't impede her. Everything else just went on about the gruesome details of my death if I failed to comply.
Miwen: "Was it really necessary to expel all the mana from my body, making me suffer from mana depletion for hours? And this bit here, about my skin melting, why add that? If my heart is going to burst anyway, why don't you just start with that?"
Seeing the carefree smile on her face as I read out loud some of the consequences for breaking the contract made me feel like she had a hand in it.
Mia: "But then it wouldn't be as fun."
And that confirmed it.
Miwen: "I'm not seeing the fun in this."
Mia: "I knew you couldn't read..."
She shrugged, her shoulders loosening as she raised her open palms.
Mia: "Listen, as long as you follow the conditions, then nothing happens. The cruelest death imaginable is just an incentive so you don't break the contract."
Even though she said that, her smile wasn't very reassuring.
Miwen: "Death is already a good enough incentive."
Mia: "I'll keep it in mind next time."
Miwen: "I knew you were the one who wrote it!"
Her smile grew even wider, her fangs showing.
Mia: "Heh, I made it with great care and consideration, you know? Just-For-You~"
Closing her eyes didn't make her any less threatening.
If anything, the pressure of her smile became even more unbearable.
I really didn't need this kind of consideration, but admittedly, she had a point.
As long as I didn't break the contract, I wouldn't have to worry, and I had no intention of keeping Melissa stuck inside the Kingdom.
Miwen: "So, how's the situation on the battlefield?"
Mia: "Those bastards have been razing the ground and the trees using magic. Even though the snow never stops falling, they've been making steady progress."
That made sense, they only cared about the mines and nothing else, but still...
If invading someone's home wasn't bad enough, they were now burning it to the ground.
I couldn't blame Mia for clenching her fists. I had done the same.
Mia: "Thanks to their barriers, we can't even punish their reckless use of magic. Mother is also busy bringing villagers and soldiers inside the fortress to prepare for the siege."
I let her make a small cut in my finger to mark the parchment while she explained the current state of the war.
After piercing my finger slightly deeper than necessary with her nail, a tear-shaped blood drop fell onto the scroll.
Miwen: "Say, Mia... What do you think of your mother?"
Her eyes immediately squinted, becoming as sharp as when we first met.
Mia: "What kind of question is that?"
She spoke slowly, her voice stern.
Miwen: "I've just been thinking about what she's going to do now, since it seems like I've run out of options on my end."
Seeing me retreat a step, Mia took a deep breath, calming herself.
Miwen: "...I don't think she's the type to give up. But as her daughter, you might know better."
She turned away from me, looking at the ground while slightly shaking her head.
Mia: "... I don't know what she'll do. But she won't stop fighting."
Miwen: "I thought so... but do you think she can win?"
I crossed my arms, watching how she'd react.
To my surprise, Mia's eyes fixed on me.
Mia: "I... I have no doubt."
She seemed conflicted, but her eyes were determined.
Mia: "Mother never lost, so you don't need to worry about anything. From the start, she wasn't even expecting any help. Whatever plans she made to win came way before your arrival, so rest assured."
It was reassuring to see how much she believed in her mother.
Since we shared the same feeling, I began to wonder if Melissa had planned for the siege all along.
Mia: "Ah! Before you go! Mom said you need to come tomorrow night! She said it's crucial!"
She noticed my attention shifting away from her and raised her voice, thinking I was going to disappear into the Kingdom.
Miwen: "I'll see to it then. Anything else?"
Mia: "No, you can go now. Actually, just go already."
Crossing her arms, she closed her eyes, once again tapping her feet on the ground.
Miwen: "So mean. You're not even gonna give me a goodbye kiss?"
Mia: "You can kiss my fist when it's glued to your face."
She cracked her knuckles, trying to stare at me with sharp eyes again, but...
Miwen: "I'll be sure to."
Mia: "Eek. Gross. Pervert-"
The prison cell began to disappear from my sight as Mia sang me compliments.
Given Melissa's request, for better or worse, tomorrow was probably the day she had been waiting for.
But even if that wasn't the case, I'd definitely get a chance to ask a few questions when meeting her again.
And since our time was running out, I was going to make sure she'd tell me everything she had planned.
Hopefully, there was more to it than just the current state.
Otherwise... Things would be looking bleak.