“The day has finally come, Toril ♪”
“Ah, it has, Gins ♪”
Three years had passed since Gins became the head of the Viscount Dan family.
And now, behind the two of us, ten thousand private soldiers of the Viscount Dan family were armed and lined up.
In front of us were less than ten thousand soldiers from the Baronial Union Army, who had occupied the Silveren Countship.
It seemed they hadn’t even properly prepared their defenses.
However, the war drums began to ring loudly, signaling an attack.
“They’re… launching a charge ♪”
“Seems so ♪ Well then, Gins. Which troop should we give orders to ♪”
Gins and I had a good relationship.
There were even some behind-the-scenes dealings I couldn’t reveal to my mother or my younger brother.
Thanks to that, life in the manor, including with Horyun, had become quite comfortable.
The surveillance was gone.
Servants dedicated themselves to our care.
It was just like living in my own home.
“Heavy spearmen, assume stance —! Meet the charging cavalry!”
The dense phalanx unit, the longer they stood, the less fear they felt, began to move.
Behind them, a mixed unit of javelin throwers and archers waited to deliver a heavy blow to the cavalry once they stopped their charge.
The death cries of the warhorses and their riders echoed on the battlefield, louder than the clang of metal on metal.
Even with magic, if both sides were equally strengthened, the effects would cancel each other out.
Even if one tried to heal physical wounds, they would be killed by the follow-up attacks.
This put us even more at an advantage ♪
“Do you think they’ll surrender now ♪?”
“They turned their blades against the Count Family and haven’t returned the territory for three years. Even if they surrender, the outcome won’t change ♪♪”
Perhaps that’s true, but…
“I thought Gins, with his generous heart, would give them a chance to live ♪”
“You’re overestimating me. I’m not that kind of generous person.”
Fufu, then you’re still playing the softhearted man ♪?
Three years ago, you killed the former Viscount Dan behind the scenes, but you should have made sure there were no lingering grudges.
Even now, your siblings are brainwashed in the manor by Viscountess Dan.
They’re still young, so it will likely be a while before it becomes an issue.
Gins, you’ll be attacked in your sleep.
No matter who takes control of the Viscount Dan family, it will ultimately be a part of the Silveren Count Family.
In other words, if we win this battle…
Even if I’m temporarily extorted for money or become subservient, it’s my victory ♪!
The sound of trumpets, “Papparappar ♪”, began to ring out.
We gazed at the enemy formation ahead.
Multiple groups were creating high-energy spheres above their heads.
Magic so potent that it could be seen even without using magic detection in our eyes.
They were waiting for it to ignite at any moment.
“Defensive magic circle, deploy! Hurry!”
Our formation also deployed hundreds of defensive magic circles in front of us, with each soldier concentrating.
The strength of the circles varied.
Some magic circles were thick, while others were thin, clearly visible.
“Those units over there. And those ones. Wouldn’t it be better to have more magic training?”
“We paid a high price for them… but not all of them are skilled.”
To create troop numbers equal to the enemy, Gins had paid a considerable sum to the mercenary groups.
The mercenary groups, who had aggressively marketed themselves as capable of winning if hired, were doing good work, but…
The mercenary groups, who had boasted in their documents about their excellent balance, had, in their overemphasis on that balance, resulted in such sloppiness in generating the defensive magic circles.
If it stayed like that, a few would be hit dead center and die.
It would be their own fault if it were just them, but…
It would be a nuisance if it spread to the private soldiers and other mercenary groups around them.
“Wouldn’t it be better to divert the reserve unit?”
“They’re a precious trump card… Hmm, it’s not good to let them gain momentum. Understood. We’ll use the reserve unit to plug the gap! We’ll bill those guys (the mercenary groups who can’t properly establish defensive magic circles) later.”
The reserve unit was composed of the elite of the elite.
They were meant to trample the enemy formation.
And, in the event of our army’s defeat, they would be the rearguard to hold off the enemy until the very end.
To dispatch them for a makeshift gap fill.
It was natural to demand the proper amount.
It seemed fun to watch, along with the other mercenary groups, how much the remaining amount would differ depending on the negotiation skills of the mercenary group leaders ♪
“Toril. Let’s use defensive magic too.”
“Ah, it looks like they’re about to fire.”
We created defensive magic circles that enveloped ourselves.
A few minutes later.
The enemy’s magic projectiles flew in and collided with the defensive magic circles.
Some defensive magic circles were shattered, causing localized damage.
The damage was greater than I had expected.
However, Gins, who was enveloped by the magic circle next to me, seemed to have expected it and wasn’t flustered at all.
His smile had become even more polished. But he’s still just a second-rate handsome guy compared to me.
The second volley of magic attacks flew in.
Soldiers whose defensive magic circles had been breached had already retreated behind the intact ones.
The damage was minor compared to the first volley.
Gins, judging that the magic attacks had stopped, finally gave the order for the entire army to advance.
“Additional bonus! For every enemy soldier! 20,000 Carmels (2 silver coins of the Western Grabum Kingdom)! Let’s earn some money! ♪”
“Don’t lose to those mercenary groups over there! We’ll get more of the additional bonus! Let’s go —!”
The various commanders boosted morale.
The mercenary groups who would later be billed for dispatching the reserve unit had no choice but to desperately earn the additional bonus.
“If there’s any concern in close combat…”
What Gins worried about was the presence of heroes or those of heroic bloodlines in the enemy formation.
Apparently, killing people doesn’t give experience points.
The truth of this was unknown.
According to information, there were about ten individuals with diluted bloodlines who hadn’t obtained surnames.
If the rumor that one person could fight a thousand was true…
The tide of the battle could turn in an instant.
Damn gods. What kind of things do you pass down to your descendants!
If such people exist, my dream will recede further!!
“You have a plan for that, don’t you?”
I asked Gins.
Seeing that the two guardian maids were absent, I wanted to believe that they had prepared some sort of strategy…
“I have a plan.”
“Is that so ♪ As expected of Gins.”
For now, if things get dangerous, I’ll blend in with the soldiers and teleport.
No one knows yet that I can use space magic.
And they must never find out.
In the first place, space magic requires sufficient imagery; otherwise, it’s extremely dangerous, like being buried in the ground.
Generally, one can only teleport to places within their line of sight.
It seems I’ve been using space magic without knowing about heroes, brave warriors, great sorcerers, or great sages ♪
This is one of my hidden trump cards.
It’s dangerous if it’s revealed, as I can use it to surprise the enemy.
“Uoooooohhh!”
“Haaaaaaahhh!”
While my attention was diverted by such thoughts, the battle at the front line was neck and neck. This isn’t goblins, mind you.
I mean a back-and-forth struggle.
The enemy formation showed signs of complacency.
This must be from the confidence of knowing that heroes or those of heroic bloodlines were among them.
“Hmm. We can’t break through?”
“They were doing well until just now. A bit of struggle is also part of the fun of war, I read that in some book by a certain brave warrior ♪”
I calmed Gins down while acting like a genius ten-year-old.
Getting emotional is no good. It leads to fatal mistakes.
I came to this world because of such a mistake.
Gins, please lead properly.
You still have value to me ♪
