Jayclaire, capital of the Handal Union. The governor's office.
"Your Excellency, another village has been set on fire…"
Lamber, the governor's aide, reported with a grim expression.
"Is it Iwubara or around Carignano?"
"It's Iwubara Village…"
The Union Governor Lord Aubrey asked without changing his expression, and Lamber replied with a frowning face.
Lamber seemed to want to say something, but in the end, even Lord Aubrey knew he couldn't say anything.
"Lamber, it goes without saying…"
"I understand. The defense of this region is the responsibility of the Volturino Grand Duchy."
Yeah, Lamber also understood.
That there were areas where the Union government couldn't intervene.
If this were officially recognized as 'war', then Lord Aubrey, the Union governor, would have almost complete military authority within the Union territories.
But currently, it was just a local rebellion.
At most, it was large-scale armed activity.
This was something that each country forming the Union was supposed to handle.
The Handal Union, as the name suggests, is a united nation formed by many countries.
The Union government led by Lord Aubrey is merely a coordinator.
Of course, they can push various agendas, but it's not something they can do recklessly.
At most, it's the center of governance for each country.
Among them, the Ten-member Council, composed of ten countries, holds significant power within the Union.
The Volturino Grand Duchy also holds a seat in the Ten-member Council.
Of course, it's the Grand Duke of Volturino himself who occupies that seat…
This time, the red-armored men are causing havoc in parts of the former Inbury Duchy and parts of the Volturino Grand Duchy.
The areas once belonging to the Inbury Duchy are now ruled by ten countries collectively, but the areas near the Kingdom's borders were annexed by the Volturino Grand Duchy.
Originally, the Volturino Grand Duchy shared a border with Redpost, a city on the Kingdom's border, when the Inbury Duchy existed.
Hence, the western regions of the former Inbury Duchy were also annexed by the Grand Duchy.
The other nine countries didn't complain about that.
They left the border security near the Kingdom to the Grand Duchy, preferring to focus on other areas.
Because handling border security with a major power can be quite troublesome…
As a result, ninety percent of the affected areas this time are under the control of the Volturino Grand Duchy…
"If only the Grand Duke of Volturino would request support from the Union government, we could also send troops…"
"He probably won't. That man."
Aide Lamber said, and Lord Aubrey nodded slightly in response.
Thinking of the stubborn face of the Grand Duke of Volturino.
Generally, representatives of the ten countries forming the Ten-member Council don't oppose the policies of the Union government led by Lord Aubrey.
However, that doesn't mean Lord Aubrey can do as he pleases with everything.
Balancing these aspects is extremely difficult…
It hasn't changed much since thirteen years ago.
Lord Aubrey doesn't act as freely as those around him might think.
The capital city of the former Inbury Duchy, Aberdeen, is under the direct control of the Union Government.
Furthermore, there is a direct route built from the Union Capital Jayclaire to Aberdeen, which was constructed during the invasion of the Inbury Duchy, allowing for smooth transportation of not only supplies but also military movements.
To put it bluntly, from a strategic point, holding this stretch from Jayclaire to Aberdeen would be as good as having established control over the current Union Southern Region almost entirely.
That's why Lord Aubrey had decided to leave areas like the western border with the Kingdom to the ten nations.
However, with this much devastation, it inevitably starts to affect the sentiments of people in other regions.
Some say they fear that the Union Government might not protect them when something happens.
In that sense, as a responsible ruler, Lord Aubrey genuinely didn't want significant damage to occur.
"I see, so Hafrena City was safely defended."
Upon receiving the report, King Abel let out a sigh and nodded.
"We've received reports that the attackers were high-ranking minions."
The one making the report was Marquis Heinlein, the Prime Minister.
He has his own intelligence network, so detailed information often reaches him.
"How… did they manage to repel such high-ranking minions? I heard the Silverdale Knights arrived just in time, but… Hafrena's defense force is still weak, and the stationed Royal Knights are just two squads, right?"
"That's right. As you are well aware, Your Majesty, it's the squads led by Zack Cooler and Scotty Cobook."
"Really? They're okay… right?"
"Yes. Apparently Zack Cooler engaged in combat with the high-ranking minion."
Upon Abel's slightly worried inquiry, Marquis Heinlein nodded in response.
"Zack… he really is dedicated to the path of the sword…"
As Abel knows the reason behind Zack's dedication, it puts him in a rather complex emotional state.
Knowing that Zack's love is unrequited.
Still… it's also distressing to dampen the spirits of a hard-working friend.
"However, according to the reports, Zack Cooler alone couldn't handle the opponent."
"What?"
"A merchant from the Gecko Trading Company saved him from danger."
"The Gecko Trading Company? A merchant? I don't get it."
Abel tilted his head in response to Marquis Heinlein's report.
But then a realization hit him.
"Could it be… they used water-attribute magic?"
"Exactly, Your Majesty."
"Ah, I see. So they were Ryo's disciples…"
Abel remembered seeing the scene back when he visited the Gecko Trading Company.
The scene of the boys practicing with
At first, he was completely taken aback…
The merchant Gecko had explained it, and Abel understood.
"They are Ryo's disciples".
"Even his disciples can fight against a Djinn's minions… what's more, they're merchants…"
Abel's mutterings reached Marquis Heinlein's ears.
Marquis Heinlein smiled slightly and replied.
"Because their teacher is who he is."
Meanwhile, in Hafrena City.
"Where is Luce-dono?"
"He seems to have pushed himself too hard… he's asleep. He probably won't be able to move for a while."
In response to Zack Cooler's inquiry, Chloe looked towards the mansion and answered.
"…Evans."
"Luce, you've finally come to. Hey, don't move. You're already weak, and yet you used a 5-layer package."
"Couldn't help it, Evans was in danger."
With a wry smile, Luce spoke, and Evans frowned as he responded.
"Yeah… Thanks by the way."
Evans said that and bowed his head while sitting.
"Did I… do okay?"
"Huh? You saved my life, didn't you?"
"That's true, but… I wonder if Teacher would have praised me… if he had seen me?"
"Of course. If it were Ryo-sensei, he would definitely say something like 'Luce, that was amazing!' "
"You certainly sound like him."
Evans said, mimicking his tone, and Luce laughed.
"But in the end, even the 5-layer package was torn apart, and he escaped…"
"Yeah, I guess so. He seemed to be a follower of the Djinn, still, he's incredible."
"I need to step up my practice."
"… First, let's get you fully recovered, okay?"
A senior caring for a diligent junior…
It's always tough, no matter the era.
"Oranj, you dumbass! What a disgrace to be caught off guard by the Kingdom knights."
"I apologize."
This is the annex of the Duke of Shrewsbury mansion in Wingston, in the office of the new lord.
Erwin Ortiz, who looked thirteen, was scolding a kneeling giant of a man.
"However, the fact that you've destroyed many villages is a significant accomplishment. I'll praise you for that. Well done."
"Aye, sir."
The Djinn Garwin with the appearance of Erwin, praised him, and the giant man, Oranj, expressed his gratitude.
"But it's far from enough. Vim Lowe is active in the Union territory, correct?"
"Yes, sir. They don't seem to have significant forces there. Everything is going very smoothly."
Isolde confirmed in response to Garwin's inquiry.
After apologizing, Oranj sat on the sofa in front of Isolde.
Isolde could tell that Oranj was in a good mood.
"It's rare to see you in such a good mood."
"Huh? Nah, not really. Just the same ol' me."
Oranj replied nonchalantly to Isolde's words.
But he was aware of it.
To be frank, he had fun.
The battle in Hafrena.
The knights… well, they weren't bad.
To wield a sword like that as a human is quite something.
But what was even better was…
(The water magician. And there were two of them! Two of that caliber… In contrast to my impression when I first awakened, I thought the level of the magicians in this generation had dropped, but boy was I wrong! Water magic has developed incredibly!)
There seems to be a misunderstanding.
(I'd like to fight with other water magicians… maybe I should ask Garwin-sama for another sortie? Ah, but I caused quite a few casualties in the physical soldiers… so it might be difficult…)
As he thought about that, one memory resurfaced.
(That water magician said something. His sensei is a million times stronger than himself… what's a million times stronger than that? Well, even if it's not that much, he's definitely stronger than him, right? Ahhhh, I'd love to fight him!)
Watching Oranj like that, Isolde thought for a moment and then spoke up.
"Garwin-sama."
"What is it, Isolde?"
"I think it's time to move to the next stage."
"Next stage?"
Garwin asked in return to Isolde's words.
"Yes. Recently, I've noticed movements in the city, like rats scurrying about."
"Rats… you mean spies? Where, and what have they discovered?"
"I'm sure they are spies from both the Kingdom and the Union, but I can't say for sure what they've discovered…"
"Hmm. And what do we do about it?"
The two of them delved into detailed discussions.
While Oranj seemed to be listening, in his mind, he was thinking about something else.
Yup, like if he were to seriously fight those water magicians, what kind of magic would they use and stuff like that…
The expression of Prime Minister Alexis Heinlein, who entered Abel's office, was noticeably cloudy.
That was unusual.
Despite always handling intense workloads, accumulating fatigue should have been common, but it never showed on his face.
Also, even when major problems arose, they never reflected in his expression when reporting.
However, the moment he entered, Abel glanced at him and could tell that his expression was noticeably clouded.
"What's wrong?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. It's not confirmed yet… I mean, it's true, but why it's happening is unclear…"
Marquis Heinlein's hesitation was probably his first as Prime Minister.
"How unusual. I can tell something pretty bad has happened. What is it?"
"Yes…. The Shrewsbury Duchy may have ties to the Djinn."
"…What?"
Abel frowned.
Of course, Marquis Heinlein wouldn't report something like that without any basis.
He probably scrutinized the information several times.
Abel understood that this was a report based on a thorough investigation.
However, even though he understood… it was still an unwelcome report.
The current Duke of Shrewsbury is thirteen-year-old Erwin Ortiz.
Although his ducal authority is suspended, he returned to the eastern territory to learn about managing estates at his request, and he is currently in the ducal capital of Wingston.
"Explain in detail."
"Yes. Regarding the Duke of Shrewsbury's residence in Wingston, there is a place called the 'Annex', where not only the servants but also important figures like the Knight Captain are not allowed to approach. It seems that such an arrangement was made since Erwin-dono returned…"
"Hmm?"
"Red-armored individuals are seen coming and going there."
"What…?"
Abel was speechless at Marquis Heinlein's report.
'Red-armored' refers to those who have been wreaking havoc on the eastern borders of the Kingdom and the western borders of the Union.
It is almost certain that they are the minions of the 'sealed Djinn to the east'.
The fact that such individuals are coming and going… is certainly unusual.
"Since their numbers are not large, their main base is probably elsewhere. However, we've confirmed sighting of someone believed to be a high-ranking follower, who clashed with the Royal Knight Company Commander Zack Cooler…"
"Hmm…"
Abel literally buried his head in his hands.
Needless to say, the Shrewsbury Duchy is the cornerstone of the eastern part of the Kingdom.
The first trigger of the war three years ago also began with the death of the Shrewsbury Duke at the time.
For such a crucial duchy…?
"It's important to know whether Erwin Ortiz himself is involved."
"Exactly. Therefore, Your Majesty, I have a suggestion."
Abel asked for confirmation, to which Marquis Heinlein said he had a proposal.
"First, I suggest we dispatch Zack Cooler, who is stationed in the city of Hafrena, to Wingston to confirm the presence of the aforementioned high-ranking follower."
"I see…"
"Of course, since the opponent is a Djinn's follower, it's a dangerous mission…"
"It's dangerous, but… that confirmation is crucial."
Abel deliberately voiced the importance of that confirmation, understanding Marquis Heinlein's words.
Depending on the circumstances, it could lead to another division and conflict within the country.
Moreover, one side would be an alliance between the Shrewsbury Duchy and the followers of the Djinn.
Abel couldn't help but say aloud.
"I hope it's a mistake…"
Marquis Heinlein also nodded. But his expression was grim.
He knew better than anyone else the accuracy of the information he had gathered.
Still, he hoped it was a mistake…
(There's no doubt there is a connection. The question is, how involved is Erwin-dono?)
Marquis Alexis Heinlein… whom has established a spy network not only in the Central Countries but also in the Corridor Nations.
Naturally, has infiltrators within the Shrewsbury Duchy as well.
These are exceptionally skilled individuals…
However, even they have been unable to gather information about the situation inside the Duke's 'Annex'.
Whether there is a connection between the current Duke Erwin and the Djinn, the fact that they cannot gather information about such a heavily guarded place… is certainly abnormal.
There must be something absolutely crucial being hidden.
A ducal household cannot exist completely disconnected from national politics.
They are inevitably intertwined.
And within that, there will naturally be things they wouldn't want central figures of the state like the Prime Minister, to know about.
That's only natural.
However, the abnormality of the Duke's 'Annex' is too glaring.
Apparently, Erwin himself moves back and forth between the main office in the mansion and the new office in the annex.
Despite being an annex, it's quite spacious.
And yet, no one, not even the servants, can approach it?
How is it cleaned?
Does Erwin clean it himself?
That's ridiculous.
The more you think about it, the more unnatural it seems.
(While Zack Cooler would confirm the presence of the high-ranking follower… perhaps further confirmation about Erwin Ortiz himself is necessary. Come to think of it, I believe 'they' are nearby? I should have them investigate.)
With a small nod in his mind, Marquis Heinlein left the King's office and immediately began drafting orders.
-x-X-x-
Chapter 0423 Infiltrating Windston
-x-X-x-
"We were told to come to Wingston, but doesn't it feel a bit… tense?"
"Yeah… there are a lot of patrolling soldiers… right?"
"Those are probably knights."
"There are regular city guards too."
Swordsman Hector, spear-wielder Isaiah, scout Oriana, and priest Tarlow exchanged their impressions while surveying the city.
Kenzie, the earth-attribute magician, nodded silently after hearing their words.
They are all members of the former royal capital-based C-rank party 'Morning Star'.
Currently, they are active as adventurers based in Acre, the capital of the Heinlein Marquisate.
Although officially a C-rank party, they often take on jobs from Marquis Heinlein and his eldest son Phelps A. Heinlein, who oversees almost all the affairs of the marquisate.
These jobs are not counted in the guild's completion count since they bypass the Adventurer's Guild, so they remain at the C-rank level.
However, being C-rank adventurers means they are still top-tier and not to be underestimated.
The jobs from the Heinlein Marquisate come with exorbitantly high rewards…
But they are often dangerous…
And mostly involve traveling abroad…
But the money is good!
"Well then, let's get ready."
"Yeah."
Swordsman Hector said, and scout Oriana responded.
The other three nodded as well.
This request is also extremely dangerous…
So they needed to prepare thoroughly.
"Hey, Scotty. Do you really think it was a good idea for both of us to come out?"
"Well, even if you say that…. Only Zack can make the ID, but I suppose I'm here as a sort of escort. Besides, it's an order from Knight Captain Dontan himself, and even the Battalion Commander personally came and took charge of our squad. We don't have a choice but to go, right?"
Royal Knight Company Commander Zack Cooler and his counterpart, Company Commander Scotty Cobook, are now within sight of Wingston's city gate.
It was too late to turn back now.
Indeed, it was too late, but… Zack had been repeating similar questions since leaving Hafrena City.
It was quite unusual for Zack, who is generally seen as carefree, to repeat the same question so many times.
But Scotty, who has a long-standing relationship with him, knew.
Zack doesn't fuss much about himself, but he cares a lot about his subordinates and juniors.
Not exactly a big brother figure, but somewhat similar…
One shouldn't judge people based solely on appearances.
While they were talking, the two passed through the gates of Wingston.
The guards were standing, but they didn't particularly check the belongings or identities of those entering and exiting.
It was the ducal capital and also the largest city in the eastern part of the Kingdom.
Moreover, it was still in the process of recovery from the Kingdom Liberation War, so the pedestrian traffic was unusually high.
It wouldn't be practical to check everyone and everything.
"We're in luck, Zack. We're disguised as merchants, but if they had investigated a bit, they would have seen through our lies immediately."
"Well, there's no helping it. It would've been risky to enter as Royal Knights. That's why entering as adventurers makes the most sense, but we can't forge those guild cards. It might look real at first glance, but if they check, they'll know it's fake right away."
The adventurer guild cards of the Central Countries are said to be impossible to forge.
They are created through highly advanced alchemy, and there's even a legend that it was created by King Richard, the founder of the Kingdom.
Well, when it comes to 'highly advanced alchemy', it's often said to be 'created by King Richard', so whether it's true or not is unknown at this point.
However, because it's true that they cannot be forged, Zack and Scotty disguised themselves as merchants.
There is indeed a merchant guild for merchants, and those who belong to it have merchant guild cards, but in reality, most merchants are not affiliated with the merchant guild.
The merchant guild can foster mutual support, but they are often required to pay membership fees and cooperate in ways other than financially…
Therefore, younger merchants often do business without belonging to the merchant guild.
Even among the lords, many believe that encouraging competition leads to economic development, so whether one belongs to the merchant guild or not, there are no restrictions on doing business in the city.
For these reasons, Zack and Scotty entered the city of Wingston as independent merchants.
Their mission was to confirm whether the Shrewsbury Duchy had any connections to the Djinn.
Specifically, Zack, who faced a high-ranking follower, was tasked with confirming if they were entering and exiting the Duke's residence…
That's why the order was directly given to Zack, who actually knew the face of that high-ranking follower.
The two, combining lunch and a strategy meeting, entered a diner in the city and engaged in conversation.
"To get to the Wingston Government Office, well, anyone can go there. But even though the Duke's residence is adjacent to the office, it's not easy to enter the premises. Moreover, there's a restricted area within the Duke's residence called the 'annex', and they might be entering and exiting from there, right? Zack, you mentioned you had a good idea. What's the plan?"
To Scotty's question, Zack solemnly nodded and replied.
"It's risky to approach during the day. We'll sneak into the Duke's residence at night to confirm."
"Yeah, that won't work."
Scotty immediately rejected Zack's plan without hesitation.
The speed of his rejection was almost as if he had anticipated it.
The ability to 'anticipate' from years of association is not to be underestimated.
"Why not! Then what? Are you saying we should sneak in during the day?"
"No, it's not about it being night or day, it's the idea of 'sneaking in' itself. That's what I'm trying to say."
Zack retorted in frustration.
Scotty criticized his plan.
"Say we sneak in, and we get caught… no, if there really are Djinn minions around, we'll definitely get caught. There's no way we can go in there and come back safely."
"Then what do you suggest!"
Zack retorted against Scotty's calm observation.
"It was written in the instructions. Knights in 'red armor' are entering and exiting a noble's residence a hundred meters away from the Duke's residence. It's connected to the ducal residence's annex through an underground passage. Keeping watch over that noble mansion seems logical."
"Ugh…"
Scotty's logical explanation left Zack speechless.
"Zack… you probably just skimmed over the orders, didn't you…?"
"T-T-That's not true. What are you talking about, Scotty-kun?"
Scotty's exasperated remark clearly unsettled Zack.
Confirming his suspicion by watching Zack's reaction.
Scotty shook his head slightly and said;
"I was probably asked to come along because they anticipated something like this…"
"Grrrh…"
The two of them made quite a good team.
The mansion, while not large, had an elegant exterior that could be described as luxurious.
As evening fell, lights came on inside the house, and occasionally, figures could be seen passing by the curtains from outside.
It seemed like someone was indeed inside.
"Hey, Scotty. Are you sure that mansion is connected to the Duke's residence?"
"Don't ask me… The instructions that came from Captain Dontan didn't specify the source of the information."
"If that's true, then they must have done quite a thorough investigation…"
"Yeah. It's probably from the Prime Minister's intelligence network."
"The former Knight Captain, huh…"
Scotty speculated about the source of information, and Zack nodded in agreement.
Prime Minister Heinlein was the former Knight Captain of the Kingdom and acted as a mentor to the current Knight Captain, Dontan.
His information-gathering abilities were considered among the best in the Central Countries, and it was said that his intelligence gathering had led the Kingdom to a great victory during the 'Great War'.
"He was strict as hell, wasn't he?"
"His nickname is 'the demon' after all."
Zack whispered for some reason, and Scotty responded in a hushed tone as well.
Perhaps they thought that speaking in normal voices might reach the 'the demon'…
The two were sitting by the window of a tavern where they could oversee the back entrance of the surveilled mansion.
It was a perfect spot to monitor while having a drink!
Company Commander Zack Cooler was the one who spotted it.
When it came to detecting these kinds of things, Scotty was no match for Zack.
"It's amazing how good you are at stuff like this."
"What's with that condescending tone? Thanks to that, we can monitor comfortably."
Scotty said in exasperation, and Zack retorted as if he felt offended.
In big cities like this, taverns often stayed open until dawn.
Perhaps due to stiff competition…
Or because many customers wanted to keep drinking until morning…
Either way, it was convenient for the two of them.
Late into the night, after a considerable amount of time monitoring, four figures emerged from the surveilled mansion.
Even in the late hour, the 'lamppost' alchemy tools were lit, allowing for a decent view.
However, all four of them wore cloaks and hoods, so their faces couldn't be seen.
"Zack, what do you think?"
"The one in front… I feel like their height is similar. Build too. But I can't be sure."
Scotty asked, and Zack grimaced while answering.
They had a feeling they were the suspected minions of the djinn, but they couldn't be certain.
Nevertheless, the two of them had been dispatched to gain certainty.
"We have no choice. Let's follow those four."
"Well, it can't be helped… The mansion is just the entrance to the underground passage leading to the Duke's mansion, as stated in the instructions. There should be another place where the Djinn's minions gather. Finding that would be a jackpot."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah… Zack, read the instructions thoroughly next time."
"Ugh…"
Zack couldn't say anything in response to Scotty's words.
He knew it too.
He knew better and made sure to go through them thoroughly when leading his subordinates…
"I just glanced through them…"
"Yeah, you've never been fond of reading."
Zack muttered quietly as he stood up.
Scotty sighed and stood up as well while speaking.
"I admired Abel in that aspect."
"Well, he was a prince in disguise. He skipped classes sometimes, but Abel often read books…"
Both Zack and Scotty remembered Abel's love for reading.
In any world, it seems reading is important.
As the two left the tavern, they immediately noticed something.
"Hey, is that…"
"Yeah. Apart from us, there are others following those four from earlier."
Three people were shadowing the four from a short distance ahead of them.
"Three people, huh?"
"Yeah, three."
Scotty confirmed Zack's observation with a nod.
The four who came out of the mansion.
The three following them.
And further behind, Zack and Scotty in pursuit.
The chase continued for a while.
As the largest city in the east, Wingston's size was considerable.
One could even say it was vast.
Near the center of the city were the government office, the Duke's residence, and the Wingston temple, with the city spreading out radially from there.
This time, the mansion was on the north side of the Duke's residence, and the group that came out was quickly moving northeast.
"Indeed, it's the largest city in the east… but I think we're getting close to the city walls, aren't we?"
"Yeah. There's hardly any big houses left."
When Zack asked, Scotty answered.
Suddenly, without a word, the two of them leaped backward.
Two swords swept down where their heads had been.
It was as if swords had come out from the shadows on both sides of the road…
"Damn it. They must have noticed our tailing."
"Looks like we're not the only ones."
Zack cursed, and Scotty looked ahead.
In front of them, the three who had been following them were quickly defeated.
"This is bad."
"Let's run."
Scotty said, and Zack made the decision.
"Too late."
Clang.
Zack caught the sword that came down.
He had seen the man who swung the sword before.
They had come to confirm if that man was here…
"We meet again. Captain of Hafrena's squad."
It was Oranj.
Zack was able to confirm that high-ranking minions of the Djinn were indeed coming and going.
However, whether he could deliver that information to the right people was another issue altogether.
-x-X-x-
"The Djinn's minions…"
Zack muttered.
"Oh… so you do know that much. Huh? Come to think of it we were never properly introduced. My name is Oranj. I'm one of Gawain-sama's four generals. And you, captain, what's your name?"
"Zack."
Zack replied straightforwardly to Oranj's question.
Right then, every second counted.
He needed to grasp the situation and think of a way to escape.
Zack confronted Oranj.
While Scotty faced the two who emerged from the shadows.
The three who came out of the mansion with Oranj had tied up the three they had defeated earlier.
"Are you taking those three somewhere? Seems a bit menial for minions of the Djinn."
Zack inquired deliberately to buy time while extracting information.
"Information is crucial, you know? We need to investigate those guys to figure out which faction, or who, and how much they know exactly."
"That doesn't suit your appearance at all."
"Why you… you want me to smash your head in right now?"
Zack blurted out what he honestly thought, and Oranj retorted while his cheeks twitched.
Even as they talked, Zack was still receiving Oranj's sword strike.
"If they still haven't shown up after all this talk, does that mean the water magicians aren't with you this time? I won't ask for both, just one of them. Don't tell me none of them came with you?"
"Why do you ask?"
As Oranj deliberately looked around while questioning, Zack frowned and asked back.
"Isn't it obvious? It's fun. Both of those water magicians are quite something. Well, as far as I know, they're quite skilled. I don't know the level of water magicians these days, but if they're as good as those guys, fighting them would be enjoyable."
"I see. They might be around here somewhere."
Zack vaguely replied to Oranj's explanation.
There was no need to explicitly give away the answer.
Zack thought he might not take drastic action if he considered they might be around.
However…
"Hmph, that's a lie. I see, they didn't come along. That's a shame."
"…"
"But still, you must realize that two swordsmen wouldn't stand a chance against us, right? Why were you following us?"
"I'm not going to answer that!"
"Hmm. It wasn't to defeat us… and certainly not to capture us either… In that case, it must be reconnaissance. Since you know my capabilities… ah, are you confirming if I'm here or not? Here in Wingston? I see…"
Oranj stopped there and took a breath.
Then he smirked maliciously.
And continued.
"You noticed the connection with the Duchy, huh?"
"!"
That was a decisive statement in various ways.
It became clear that there was a connection between the Djinn and the Duchy.
But at the same time, the fact that the Kingdom had noticed that connection was now known to the Djinn camp.
In other words, from now on, the two factions would clash in earnest…
At that moment, there was no turning back for both sides.
That's how it was.
(This… I must report this no matter what.)
Zack frowned inwardly.
If Zack and Scotty were defeated or captured and unable to report back, then the Djinn camp would be unilaterally informed that the Kingdom had noticed the connection between the Duchy and the Djinn.
They would gain the upper hand in the upcoming large-scale actions.
That would be extremely bad.
It's bad, but…
(There's a good chance that neither Scotty nor I will be able to get out of this…)
Zack understood the difference in power between himself and the Djinn's follower in front of him.
At the very least, he knew he was no match for him.
In that case, it might be possible for Scotty to escape from this situation and report back.
Making that judgment, Zack glanced at Scotty.
Scotty probably understood the same thing.
He glanced back at Zack.
However, he shook his head slightly.
It seemed Scotty's opponents were also a formidable.
Even if they are not the Four Generals, facing two of the Djinn's minions is naturally challenging.
After a while, the ones who were restraining the three people up ahead might join in…
One of the individuals restraining the three rushed over.
Zack noticed it but couldn't move.
Oranj's sword, poised above him, was surprisingly heavy.
Zack constantly felt the weight of the sword pressing down on him.
If the opponent were human, there would be various ways to escape from this situation, such as using the ground's rebound force to push the sword up with one's entire body for a counterattack or to retreat.
However, Oranj's strength was extraordinary.
It felt like being crushed by tens or hundreds of kilograms from above…
He couldn't move.
There was only one way to escape from this situation.
However, even that could lead to his balance being disrupted if mistimed, leaving him vulnerable to a fatal blow.
Timing was crucial.
The subordinate who had run over reported to Oranj.
"Oranj-sama, we have identified the identities of the three from earlier…"
After saying that, he glanced briefly at Zack.
"It's fine, go on."
"Aye. Those three appear to be spies directly under the Union Government's jurisdiction."
"When you say directly under the Union Government's jurisdiction, you mean not from the something Grand Duchy on the border, right?"
"Yes."
(If it's the Union Government, then Lord Aubrey…. Did the Union Government also suspect the Shrewsbury Duchy?)
Zack contemplated the information he heard.
"Understood. Get more details when we're at the mansion. Take those three to the mansion. Also, convey this message."
Orange paused for a moment, then continued with a smirk.
"The Kingdom seems to be convinced of the connection between the Duchy and us."
"Dammit…"
Zack grimaced and spoke regretfully at Oranj's words.
"Sorry. Just doing my job."
"You consider being a Djinn's follower a job… you might want to choose a different career path."
"Aye. Even in this situation, you never seem to run out of words. You're quite composed, Captain."
Oranj responded amusingly to Zack's words.
At that moment.
Oranj's grip weakened slightly.
"Gotcha!"
Zack tilted his sword with all his might.
Swoosh.
As Zack tilted his sword, Oranj's sword slid forcefully over it, almost hitting the ground.
With the pressure gone, Zack extended his right leg forward diagonally, opening up his stance, and swung his tilted sword upward.
The sword sliced through the air.
Although Oranj's posture was disrupted, he managed to jump sideways with just his right leg.
He avoided Zack's deadly strike.
However…
Zack continued thrusting his sword forward.
Thrusting, thrusting, thrusting.
Oranj parried the last thrust with his sword.
Then, he tried to swing his sword downwards…
But halfway through, the trajectory of the sword changed.
No, it wasn't just the sword; Oranj's body itself jumped backward.
At the same time, blood spurted from the necks of the two followers who were fighting Scotty.
"Run!"
A man's voice echoed around them.
Without hesitation, Zack and Scotty started running.
For a full two minutes.
Oranj stood alone, motionless.
One minute passed until their presence completely disappeared. Then another minute passed in the same manner.
"That ought to do it."
Muttering to himself, he sheathed his sword.
By then, the fallen subordinates had lost their form and turned to ashes.
One of Garwin's followers emerged from the shadows…
"Isolde, was that satisfactory?"
"Yes, it was. I thought about punching you when you started fighting that knight…"
Oranj scratched his head vigorously while speaking, and Isolde responded with a sigh.
"Well, at least I let them escape."
"Because reinforcements arrived, right? What were you planning to do if they hadn't come?"
"Then… I might have let them go in exchange for information on the water magician."
"What's that? Sounds suspicious…"
Isolde shook her head slightly at Oranj's random answer.
At the very least, they didn't intend to kill Zack and Scotty on the spot.
In fact, they needed them to escape and report to the Kingdom government.
"Now, the Kingdom will likely send a punitive force. They know we have an army… Maybe the Union will join in too. They'll pincer the Djinn between the Kingdom and the Union."
Isolde said happily.
"A war between the Kingdom and the Union against us, huh. Well, many people will die in a war. Whether the enemy in the war is another country or us, it doesn't matter."
The Kingdom and the Union realized that the initial move of the Djinn was to 'trigger a war between the Kingdom and the Union near the border'.
That's why they avoided it through direct talks between King Abel and Lord Aubrey.
However, they didn't understand the reason behind 'why they wanted to start a war near the border'.
The speculation that releasing a large amount of the 'Fragments of God' held by humans through their deaths would prompt Garwin's complete awakening… was something nobody could figure out.
If there had been information about the 'Fragments of God' that the Mission to the Western Countries had, someone might have reached that conclusion…
Without understanding the cause, solving the fundamental problem was difficult.
That seemed to be a constant in any era and any world.
"Such a hassle. It would be so much easier to kill all the residents of Wingston and collect the Fragments of God."
"I'm sure you know. The last ten percent must be fragments of God from humans who come out onto the battlefield."
Oranj made an extreme statement, and Isolde responded.
"Seriously… What are these fragments of God?"
"I have no idea. Don't ask me."
Even high-ranking followers of the Djinn who had lived for thousands of years didn't know everything.
"Perhaps… King Richard understood it better than us."
"Yeah…. To have sealed Garwin-sama for this long. That might be true."
"We managed… to escape… I think…"
"Yeah… maybe."
Zack and Scotty exchanged such a conversation while catching their breath.
However, they quickly drew their swords and assumed a defensive stance.
They sensed the presence of others.
"Oh, we're not enemies. Commander Zack Cooler and Commander Scotty Cobook. We are adventurers who infiltrated on the orders of Marquis Heinlein."
Saying this, a party of five men and women emerged from the shadows.
"I'm Hector from Acre's C-rank party, 'Morning Star'."
"It's been a while. Since the Kingdom Liberation War, right?"
Zack inquired.
Zack and Scotty had infiltrated the royal capital before the liberation war, operating as rebels.
They had some acquaintance with 'Morning Star' back then.
"Yeah. Nice to see you again."
Hector replied on behalf of the group.
"We owe you for earlier. Thank you."
Zack expressed gratitude as he and Scotty bowed.
"No problem at all, don't mention it. We just have one thing we want to confirm."
Hector said, looking at Zack and Scotty alternately before continuing.
"Have you confirmed the presence of the Djinn's follower?"
"Yes, we have. One of the Four Generals of the Djinn Garwin, who identified himself as Oranj. It was the follower I fought in Hafrena city."
Zack said, and Hector nodded before continuing.
"Understood. We will report this to the Kingdom government."
Upon hearing Hector's words, Zack felt the need to add some information.
"However, they also learned that the Kingdom government has found out the connection between the Duchy and the Djinn…"
"Yeah… It might lead to a civil war or even a full-scale war."
Hector grimly acknowledged Zack's words.
No one really wanted a war…
"Please be careful and return to Hafrena city. We will shoulder the responsibility of reporting back."
Hector said, and a woman behind him nodded.
"What about you guys…?"
"We have one more thing to confirm."
Hector answered Zack's question.
"Confirm?"
"Yeah. We have confirmed the connection between the Duchy and the Djinn's followers. Next, we will confirm whether Erwin Ortiz himself is involved with the Djinn's followers."
Hector said, shocking Zack and Scotty into silence.
Erwin Ortiz was the current Duke of Shrewsbury.
Indeed, the elegant mansion where the followers appeared tonight was connected underground to the 'annex' of the Duke's residence.
If so, it was likely that Erwin was not uninvolved…
But 'likely' wasn't good enough.
They needed solid evidence.
That was the mission given to the five members of 'Morning Star' this time.
-x-X-x-
"…Hey, are we really doing this?"
Scout Oriana asked anxiously.
"…We'll proceed after confirming no one else is around."
The leader, swordsman Hector reassured.
"…I-Isn't there any other way?"
Spear-wielder Isaiah prompted for reconsideration.
"…We discussed it, but no other options came up, right?"
Hector replied somewhat exasperatedly.
"…So, we're the ones executing it, right?"
Priest Tarlow asked, his face tense.
"…We have to confirm it ourselves."
Hector nodded as he answered.
"…I don't want to."
Earth-attribute magician Kenzie said plainly.
"…Stop whining."
Hector said firmly.
"The preparations are complete. If the timing is right tonight, we'll execute it tonight."
Hector stated, and the other four frowned.
It seemed like they were about to do something unpleasant.
"I don't want to do it either… but can you think of a better way?"
"Maybe Hector could infiltrate the 'annex' alone and directly confirm if the Duke and the Djinn's followers are meeting?"
"Might as well kill me now!"
Hector vehemently objected to Oriana's outrageous proposal.
The other three nodding in agreement with Oriana's suggestion only added to Hector's misery.
This was his party.
Hang in there, Hector.
"Our King and Marquis Heinlein gave this to us for times like this."
"I don't think so."
All four chimed in, denying Hector's assertion.
They had been given something, and it seemed they were supposed to use it.
"Anyway, we have to find out as soon as possible."
"I'm not disputing that… But it's a government building, right? Are we really going to use black powder…?"
"If things go as planned, no one will get hurt."
"Sure, if everything goes as planned, any plan will succeed. But… you know."
Oriana countered.
And the other three nodded in agreement.
And thus, against the strongest opposition from party members in the history of 'Morning Star', the mission proceeded…
"It's just two people on patrol as usual."
"Well, there's nothing really valuable there. Attacking a government office and making enemies of a great Duchy is not something sane people do… except for a certain group of five."
"…Are you still going on about that?"
Hector shook his head, trying to dismiss Oriana's sarcastic comment.
"We knocked out the two guards, tied them up, and left them at a distance."
"There's no one else inside the building."
Priest Tarlow and Magician Kenzie reported.
"Alright. Then as planned, you two handle things here. And we'll check over there."
"I prefer to be over there…"
Hector said, and Kenzie frowned and expressed his wish.
"No, Kenzie needs to be over there. Same with Tarlow."
Hector preempted Priest Tarlow, who was about to say me too.
"We only have three binoculars to begin with. So we're counting on you guys."
Hector said, and Kenzie and Tarlow nodded reluctantly.
Hector and Oriana, who had moved from the government building, joined up with Spear-wielder Isaiah.
"A few minutes ago, the Duke of Shrewsbury entered the annex. The followers from yesterday went in from that distant mansion and it's been an hour. If we haven't missed it, the Duke and the followers should be together in that annex now."
Hector and Oriana nodded in response to Isaiah's report.
Then, they checked the clock.
"It's almost time."
Hector muttered, and Oriana also prepared her binoculars.
One minute later.
Boom. Boom…
A surprisingly loud explosion reverberated.
Yes, it was the sound of an 'explosion'.
Consecutive explosions emanated from the government office.
The Duke's residence immediately lit up.
And people opened their windows to look outside.
Or stepped out of doors to check the direction of the government office.
The sound continued, but the government office itself remained unchanged.
There was no collapse or destruction.
However, if anyone looked closely, they might actually notice.
Several black stone walls near where the sound originated.
Of course, these were constructed by the earth-attribute magician Kenzie.
Who had received 'training' when handed the processed 'black powder'.
During the training, a water-attribute magician had said;
"The essence of this lies not in the explosive force but in the sound it produces."
They had experienced how the walls amplified the sound.
Kenzie, being an earth-attribute magician, could construct walls with earth or stone, so he took the training seriously.
And it paid off here.
…The sound was much louder than anticipated, causing quite a surprise.
"Okay, let's get out of here."
Priest Tarlow said, and Kenzie nodded.
They needed to escape before anyone arrived.
Dispelling the walls, the two of them started running.
Meanwhile, the three monitoring the 'annex'.
"Oh, someone is coming out."
Scout Oriana murmured.
"It's Duke Shrewsbury."
Spear-wielder Isaiah replied, looking at a boy who had come out from the door and was looking towards the government office.
"Another person is behind him…"
As Hector said, another person came out from the door.
"Isn't that…?"
"The follower from yesterday."
Oriana and Isaiah confirmed.
"It looks like… the duke is giving orders to the follower…"
Hector muttered.
Upon hearing that, both Oriana and Isaiah nodded.
After a moment's pause, Oriana spoke up.
"Is Duke Shrewsbury… one of the higher-ups among the followers…?"
Gasping for breath, Isiah continued.
"That follower is one of the Four Generals of the Djinn, right? So, does that mean the Duke…"
Nodding once, Hector stated firmly.
"There's a possibility that the Duke is the Djinn himself."
Two days later. In the king's office.
"Your Majesty, we've received information from 'Morning Star' in Wingston. It's already been vetted."
The Prime Minister, Marquis Heinlein, reported to King Abel.
His expression was clouded, but there was no hesitation in his demeanor.
He seemed to have made up his mind.
"It's been two days since Zack and Scotty's report, right? And this is about confirming whether Erwin himself is involved with the Djinn's followers. It's pretty fast, isn't it, to have already concluded a thorough investigation."
"Yeah. To cut to the chase, the conclusion is that there is a connection."
"I see…"
Upon hearing Marquis Heinlein's report, Abel sighed softly.
While the possibility had been in his mind, he wasn't overly surprised now.
However…
"Rather, it's suggested that Erwin Ortiz himself may be the Djinn."
"What!"
Abel exclaimed, genuinely shocked at this unexpected revelation.
Marquis Heinlein calmly met Abel's gaze.
And waited for him to calm down before continuing.
"We don't know if Erwin-dono has been possessed, if the current Erwin is someone else entirely, or if there's something else at play… However, three members of 'Morning Star' directly witnessed Erwin-dono giving orders to the follower Oranj."
"I see…"
Abel covered his face with both hands.
It seemed like he was desperately trying to compose himself.
Or perhaps recalling something from the past.
"I should have… pushed for a visit to the eastern region after the northern inspection, even if it was difficult."
During the northern inspection, the Empire attacked, and various other issues prevented him from inspecting the eastern region.
Abel lamented.
"No, Your Majesty, you were fortunate in a way. Jumping into the situation without any prior knowledge could have endangered Your Majesty."
Marquis Heinlein commented, shaking his head slightly.
That Abel's decision wasn't wrong.
Nevertheless, it was a difficult situation…
"We must deal with the Shrewsbury Duchy… don't we?"
"Yes…"
Abel asked reluctantly. Marquis Heinlein nodded with a pained expression.
The Kingdom was once again on the verge of division.
In the capital of the Handal Union, Jayclaire, the Governor's Office.
"Your Excellency… King Abel is certainly resolute."
"Well… three years ago, he led half the country and defeated the prince and the Empire. He's undoubtedly a remarkable figure."
The Governor, Lord Aubrey replied with a nod to Lamber's words.
Until now, he had been communicating with King Abel of the Kingdom of Knightley on a direct line.
It was a direct line via alchemy devices set up between the Crystal Palace in the royal capital and Jayclaire, established by Kenneth Hayward of the Kingdom and Frank De Verde of the Union.
Activation and use of the line can only be done by three registered high-ranking officials from each government.
Essentially, the Kingdom and the Union were virtual adversaries to each other.
The 'Great War' thirteen years ago and the Inbury Duchy conflict three years ago had resulted in actual military conflicts between them.
However, despite being potential adversaries, or rather because of it, they couldn't afford to avoid negotiations altogether.
Both nations represented major powers in the Central Countries.
Their conflict would have a significant impact on neighboring states.
Therefore, it was crucial to prevent unexpected clashes.
That's why the direct line was established.
Within that context…
"The Kingdom is prepared to open its borders to the Union forces. Words like that… are not said easily."
"No it's not. The Union's intrusion and the potential threat to the Kingdom's vulnerabilities… All these must have been thoroughly considered. The decision was likely made by King Abel himself, despite counsel from Marquis Heinlein. Thanks to that, we are facing an age-old dilemma."
"An age-old dilemma?"
"Is it better for neighboring leaders to be competent and decisive? Or foolish and erratic?"
Lord Aubrey said half-jokingly.
After tilting his head slightly, Lamber asked.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Competent and decisive leaders won't easily start a war. But if we show weakness, they might take advantage. On the other hand, foolish and erratic leaders may be exploitable, but they pose an unpredictable threat… we must always consider the possibility of war. Well, something along those lines."
"I see. So, the former is preferable if we consider the well-being of the people."
Lamber responded without hesitation to Lord Aubrey's explanation.
Observing Lamber's response, Lord Aubrey chuckled and remarked;
"Lamber sure is a good lad."
"Eh?"
Lamber tilted his head again, not understanding the meaning.
"Don't worry about it. Just keep being yourself and dedicate yourself to your role as my aide."
"Yes? Of course, I intend to do that…"
Lamber tilted his head once more, and Lord Aubrey laughed.
Perhaps these two also made a good team.
-x-X-x-
At the royal palace, a royal council was being held.
The attendees were…
King Abel I.
Queen Rihya.
Prime Minister Marquis Heinlein.
Captain of the Royal Knights, Dontan.
Captain of the Valkyrie Knights, Imogen.
Acting Grandmaster of the Adventurer's Guild, Finlay Forsythe.
High Priest Gabriel of the Central Temple in the royal capital.
Folklore Officer of the Central Temple in the royal capital, Viscount Rashata Debuo.
"…That concludes the information provided by the Royal Knights and 'Morning Star'."
The facilitator, Prime Minister Marquis Heinlein said, and the others nodded.
The contents were somewhat known beforehand.
What followed was new information.
"First of all, the enemy's forces consist of the Djinn and his four generals, who are high-ranking followers. Among the four generals, the only one whose name we know is the one mentioned earlier, Oranj. Additionally, they are bolstered by two types of followers called 'Phantom Soldiers' and 'Physical Soldiers'. For further explanation on this, I'll yield to Viscount Debuo, the folklore officer."
Marquis Heinlein said, prompting Viscount Rashata to start explaining.
"The Kingdom's remaining folklore and written records didn't provide much. However, thanks to the cooperation of the Union, we were able to access the remaining memoirs and materials of the renowned folklore expert Baron Luke Rochecaux. What we discovered was that the 'Djinn sealed in the east', Garwin, controls two types of soldiers. One is the Phantom Soldiers, and the other is the Physical Soldiers."
"Are these phantom soldiers the ones that attacked the Union's Curcio city, and the Kingdom's Van Lane?"
Abel asked in response to Rashata's explanation.
"Your Majesty is correct."
"Oh, the siege with cavalry crashing against the city gates?"
Rashata confirmed, and Finlay muttered.
"These Phantom Soldiers are described as a kind of hybrid between wraiths and undead… some form of spirits."
Rashata explained further, to which the High Priest Gabriel nodded.
That's why Gabriel was summoned to this meeting.
"The entire contingent of three thousand monks from the Kingdom is ready at any time."
Gabriel declared, to which Abel nodded strongly.
'Monks' in the Kingdom are armed clerics of the temple.
Dedicating themselves to the Goddess of Light, clad in armor, wielding blessed staves, and fighting on the front lines.
They would undoubtedly be the trump card against the Djinn's phantom soldiers.
And perhaps the only strong point on the human side…
"Alongside the Phantom Soldiers are the Physical Soldiers, which have military characteristics. They have physical bodies like ordinary humans and can handle weapons. However, each of them is incredibly strong and never shows fear or hesitation. But since they have human bodies, they also share the same weaknesses."
"That's where we come in."
Royal Knights Captain Dontan responded to Rashata's explanation, with Valkyrie Knights' Captain Imogen next to him nodding in agreement.
They were prepared for significant sacrifices.
But they had to do it.
The survival of the nation depended on this battle.
"We have support from various knight orders across the regions. However, the Royal Knights and Valkyrie Knights will be the central forces. Dontan, Imogen, I'm counting on you."
"Aye."
Abel said, to which Dontan and Imogen nodded in response.
"The information regarding the Djinn and the Four Generals' powers is scarce. Records suggest that during the previous war with the Djinn Garwin, the Four Generals were defeated. However, the method remains unknown. Depending on how far Duke Shrewsbury, or rather Erwin Ortiz, has awakened as a Djinn, we can determine… that the Djinn himself couldn't be defeated ultimately, and was merely sealed."
"…Indeed, that's what it all comes down to."
As Rashata finished his explanation, Abel said softly.
Yes, ultimately, it came down to the power of the Djinn himself.
What they would do about it was the crucial question.
Despite not knowing everything, they had prepared several strategies.
The 'device' prepared for the Empire was now decided to be deployed in this battle.
They had devised strategies and prepared tactics, but… they didn't know how effective they would be.
To defeat and seal it…
Honestly, if this failed, there was no way to stop the Djinn and its army.
Last time, the Djinn was sealed…
However, the sealing method is unknown.
In fact, when the seal was broken is also unclear.
Or perhaps it hasn't been completely undone.
In the first place…
"Was Erwin's body taken over? If so, is that the body of the Djinn Garwin himself?"
Abel muttered.
But no one answered.
There was no answer to give.
Abel had a lingering anxiety.
Besides Erwin's body, what if Garwin's main body existed somewhere, waiting to awaken?
Even if they managed to seal Erwin's body, if the main body existed elsewhere, it would be pointless…
Abel shook his head slightly and turned to Rashata, who had gathered detailed information, and praised him.
"You've gathered such detailed information. Well done."
"It was at the strict command of the Prime Minister."
Rashata replied with a wry smile.
"Information can determine the outcome of war."
Prime Minister Marquis Alexis Heinlein responded with a smile.
No one opposed his words.
That's how, thirteen years ago in the 'Great War', the Kingdom emerged victorious against the Union.
However, they still lacked crucial information.
Perhaps Marquis Heinlein understood it better than anyone else.
At the same time, he knew they were running out of time.
Leaving the rampaging Djinn army unchecked would lead to widespread unrest throughout the Kingdom.
It had only been three years since the Kingdom Liberation War.
While the southern and western regions were relatively stable, the central region with the royal capital and the northern and eastern regions were not entirely secure.
One of the reasons they had to fight despite incomplete information… was precisely that.
"Currently, Viscount Kenneth Hayward of the Royal Alchemy Workshop is developing sealing alchemy tools with the cooperation of Frank De Verde-dono of the Union. However, since we don't have a precise understanding of the Djinn's power, it's uncertain how effective the sealing will be."
"There's no other choice."
Abel replied, nodding once to Heinlein's explanation.
And then he continued.
"If those two can't do it, it means it's impossible for modern alchemists."
After that, detailed discussions were held… and two days later, the Kingdom Army, consisting of knights from various regions who had gathered in the royal capital, set out to defeat the Djinn.
Leading the 50,000-strong Kingdom Army was King Abel I himself.
Personally leading the expedition.
However, the king occasionally glanced to his side.
Next to the king, as expected, was the queen.
"Hey, Rihya, are you really going? It's the battlefield, you know? It might be better to stay by Noah's side…"
"Abel, how many times do we have to go through this? I've left Noah in the care of Marquis Heinlein, so he'll be fine. Besides, our opponent is formidable. We need powerful priests even if it's just one more. That alchemy tool Kenneth and Ryo created… or rather, alchemical apparatus, its true effectiveness will be enhanced with more priests. I'll be more useful on the battlefield. Besides, if we lose, the Kingdom might perish. For Noah's sake, I will secure victory on the battlefield."
"O-Okay…"
Abel gave up trying to persuade her having felt Rihya's strong determination.
…However, Abel seemed likely to bring up the same topic again in a few hours.
"Give it up, Your Majesty. You know best how stubborn the queen can be."
"That's because most adventurers are stubborn."
Two elderly magicians interjected from the side.
They were the supreme advisor of the Royal Magician Order Ilarion Baraha and the leader of the Royal Magician Order Arthur Verasis.
Although both had initially declined, they were ultimately placed in their current positions in the Royal Magician Order through what was essentially a royal decree.
The Order had transitioned from the 'Court' Magician Order to the 'Royal' Magician Order, with the same members.
But with Arthur and Ilarion as the new leaders…
Incidentally, this time, over two hundred members of the Royal Magician Order were mobilized.
"Our magic research is being delayed…"
"It might have been better to appoint Ryo as the Head of the Magician Order rather than us…"
Both Ilarion and Arthur kept grumbling.
"Ryo would never agree to that… If he were to say, 'The Rondo Duchy is declaring independence from the Kingdom!' It would cause a huge problem!"
Abel said, shaking his head slightly.
"That's not entirely impossible…"
"I'd like to visit the Rondo Duchy someday."
Both Ilarion and Arthur said, shaking their heads.
Though not physically present in this scene, Ryo was still the central figure.
Leading the Kingdom's army was the Royal Knights.
Followed by the Royal Magician Order and the Valkyrie Knights surrounding the King and Queen, and among them were three rather unusual carriages.
These carriages seemed to be large contraptions in themselves.
Abel was aware of what two of them were.
Since he had seen their previous forms before they became 'mobile'.
Moreover, the magic stones used in them were the Wind Magic Stones from the Wyverns they had once acquired…
However, compared to those two, the last carriage, which seemed larger… was still a mystery to Abel, despite knowing its general purpose.
A specialized coachman and Radden from the Royal Alchemy Workshop were seated in the driver's seat, with Viscount Kenneth Hayward riding alongside the carriage on horseback.
Then King Abel rode up to Kenneth.
"Kenneth, you look quite impressive on horseback."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Abel and Kenneth were originally close friends from the drinking group 'Second Son Union'.
Of course, in this setting, they had to behave as king and viscount, given the presence of others.
This was unavoidable.
The king and a noble. A clear distinction in status.
Like with a certain premier duke. Though his demeanor doesn't make that difference too apparent…
"Looking at it again, it's quite massive."
Abel remarked, looking at the alchemical apparatus that occupied an entire carriage.
"It houses two devices…. We couldn't make it any smaller."
Kenneth said with a wry smile.
"Setting aside the sealing aspect, the other was developed for use in battle, so it's meant to be mobile, right?"
"Right. It's large, but it's designed for use on the battlefield, so it's equipped with various functionalities for that purpose."
"Kenneth, you and Ryo made it together, right? I understand your role, but… did Ryo contribute anything…?"
Abel asked, somewhat skeptical.
However, Kenneth vigorously shook his head in response.
"We were able to create this alchemy tool precisely because Ryo was there. He's amazing!"
"I-Is that so?"
"Yes! Ryo's
"But wasn't it designed for light-attribute magic?"
"That's correct, but the apparatus uses water-attribute magic, while externally it appears to use the light-attribute magic of a priest. In simple terms, it combines the two."
"I don't fully understand, but… isn't that one of those fusion magic Kenneth announced…?"
"Exactly. It's one form of Fusion Magic. It combines magic generated by alchemy tools with magic generated by magicians. And it can even fuse magic of different attributes. This is the essence of Fusion Magic."
Kenneth spoke passionately about the limitless potential of Fusion Magic.
Abel understood that this enthusiasm was typical of alchemists who were both researchers and engineers, so he didn't say anything in response.
After speaking passionately for a while, Kenneth muttered to himself.
"I somehow feel like Ryo knows alchemy from a different system that I don't know about."
"What?"
Abel asked, puzzled by Kenneth's statement and feeling curious.
"Well, he sometimes spouts completely incomprehensible words…"
Abel commented, and Kenneth smiled.
"Anyway, it was thanks to Ryo that this device could exist. The 'Long-Range Diffusion Goddess's Compassion'."
"It's just… a guess, but… I feel like Ryo might have been the one to name it, not Kenneth…"
Kenneth mentioned the name of the device, and Abel murmured with a small shake of his head.
"Oh, speaking of which, Ryo mentioned that the name had become a bit too long, so he said we needed an abbreviation."
"An abbreviation?"
"Yes. He suggested… 'Panacea Breath'."
"What does that mean?"
"I have no idea."
Abel asked with a frown, and Kenneth replied unable to provide an answer with a wry smile.
This alchemical tool wasn't originally developed for use against the Djinn.
It was developed over the past three years specifically for use against the Imperial Army.
However, the Royal Alchemical Workshop deemed it suitable for repurposing, and Abel supported that decision…
This time, adventurers were not part of the Kingdom's army.
This was to minimize the risk of information leaks and swiftly advance toward confronting the Djinn army.
Instead, several knight orders were participating.
Among them were the Royal Knights, naturally, and also the Valkyrie Knights, along with many knight orders from noble territories near the royal capital.
Among the central nobles of the royal capital was the Silverdale Knights, for example.
They had mobilized even their entire reserve force. Numbering two thousand knights for this campaign.
This is perhaps the largest mobilization in the illustrious history of the Silverdale Knight Order.
Leading them was none other than the future Duchess of Silverdale, Faith.
Despite being a beautiful nineteen-year-old woman, her command style was firm and rigorous.
The knights who followed her were undoubtedly among the Kingdom's finest.
Even knight orders from territories farther from the royal capital were participating.
Among these exceptions was a knight order that rivaled the Royal Knights and the Silverdale Knights, representing the Kingdom.
This was the Rune Frontier County Knight Order from the southern region.
Trained by Sera and Ryo in the past, its knights were acknowledged as one of the Kingdom's strongest forces.
Leading them was Knight Captain Neville Black.
Furthermore, there was a newly rising knight order gaining attention despite its relatively short history.
This was none other than the Carlisle County Knight Order from the north.
Although their numbers were only around three hundred knights.
They had garnered respect from nobles across the kingdom despite their short history of only three years…
This was largely due to the Count of Carlisle, who also served as the knight order's captain, and his wife, Countess Carlisle, who led the knight order's magic division.
Warren, Count of Carlisle.
Rin, Countess of Carlisle.
Both were former members of the A-rank party 'Crimson Sword'.
Warren's ancestral house, the Baronet House of Harome, is renowned for producing shield-bearers who serve as the king's shield from generation to generation.
Warren himself, during his adventurer days, bore the epithet 'Indomitable' and was even considered one of the Kingdom's foremost shield-bearers despite being an adventurer.
And when he established his own knight order, he trained them rigorously.
Creating a knight order of several hundred skilled in wielding large shields.
Every member of the Carlisle County Knight Order is proficient in using large shields.
Within this group of skilled shield-bearers, there are individuals of a different caliber.
Numbering around fifty, who are magicians.
Despite their small numbers, they are formidable as they are all capable of close-quarters combat, thanks to being attached to the knight order's magic division.
Rumor has it that this stems from Lady Rin, who leads the magic division, saying, "Modern magicians should be able to handle close-quarters combat like Ryo!"…
Whether this is true or not, it's a fact that in battle, it's better for magicians to be capable of close combat, so they have been trained for it.
By the shield-bearing members of the knight order…
Despite being magicians, they are not soft.
Apart from these renowned and noteworthy knight orders, there are various knight orders of different sizes from across the country participating in the war.
Many of them have been reorganized or expanded over the past three years.
The entire Kingdom Army consists of fifty thousand men.
It was undoubtedly a formidable military force.
At the same time, movements were occurring within the Handal Union.
"Your Majesty, there have been movements."
Dontan, the captain of the royal knights said, as he handed a report to Abel while on horseback.
"I see. The Union has declared war."
Under the name of Governor Aubrey, the Handal Union had declared a state of war.
This would give Governor Aubrey dictatorial authority.
Specifically, this authority pertained to all military forces within the union.
In times of peace, individual countries within the 'Union' would handle rebellions or issues concerning their own military forces. However, in the case of a dictator being appointed, their orders would take precedence over all others.
And the order of the Dictator, Lord Aubrey, was to attack the armed groups operating within the Union.
While publicly referred to as 'armed groups', the Union leadership was plainly informed that they were dealing with 'minions of the Djinn'.
This clear communication resulted in no opposition from the member countries.
Even the Volturino Grand Duchy, which had previously not taken a proactive stance and had not sought assistance from the Union government, promised full cooperation.
It seems that dealing with the threat of minions of the Djinn was too much of a burden for them.
Two hours after Lord Aubrey declared war, the Union forces led by the Dictator Aubrey set out from the capital Jayclaire and began their march towards the western border of the Union.
Due to the timing of this joint operation with the Union, the Kingdom had no room to deploy adventurers…
In any case, it was at this point, unbeknownst to the general populace, that a pincer attack against the Djinn was launched from both the east and west.
This marked the beginning of what would later be known as the 'Great Djinn War'.