Wortenia Senki (LN) - Volume 9 - Chapter 2

Chapter 2: The First Obstacle

Roughly a month before the O’ltormean invasion army, led by the First Princess Shardina, began their hurried preparations to retreat, a meeting took place. On the evening of the day following Ryoma Mikoshiba’s first meeting with Helnesgoula’s queen, the Vixen of the North, Grindiana Helnecharles. 

It happened in the citadel city of Memphis, originally an important defensive position for the Kingdom of Xarooda, which was then occupied by Helnesgoula’s army. In one corner of a building that was once the center of the city’s administration, there were three individuals sitting around a single map. 

They had but one objective. To come up with a way to drive Shardina and the O’ltormean invasion army back. Even with Helnesgoula, one of the strongest countries in the continent, on their side, the three kingdoms of the east had limited options. 

General Arios Belares had died in the Battle of the Notis Plains, and Shardina’s invasion army had already taken root within Xaroodian territory. They’d established a firm bridgehead by building Fort Noltia in the Ushas Basin, allowing them to encroach deeper into Xarooda’s domain. 

Truth be told, if General Berlares’s heir, Joshua, had not repeatedly disturbed their supply lines with guerilla warfare, O’ltormea would have already divided Xarooda’s territory right down the middle by now; the history books would have already been written. 

Joshua’s miraculous struggle was very much the reason Xarooda still clung to life as a country. But that miracle could only last so long. O’ltormea was already drawing on its vast national power to gather troops experienced with fighting in mountainous terrain. Large amounts of food and supplies were piled up in Fort Notis, and then delivered little by little into Fort Noltia. 

It was only a matter of time before the invasion army switched over to a large-scale offensive. This left the alliance with only two options. The first was to let Helnesgoula’s army march on the Ushas Basin and join forces with the armies of Xarooda and the two other countries; this would form an allied army that might be able to repel O’ltormea’s invasion force. 

The other option was to have Helnesgoula launch a surprise attack on the O’ltormea Empire’s northern borders, forcing them to consolidate their forces there. In doing so, they would be lightening the pressure on Xarooda’s front. 

Both ideas had their shortcomings, though. 

With the former, it was unclear if Helnesgoula’s forces would be able to arrive at the Ushas Basin in time before the battle began. And even if they did arrive before the fighting began, it was hard to say whether the newly formed allied army would be able to fight properly in tandem. 

Worse yet, Xarooda had a unique mountainous topography that made the terrain hard to march across. Helnesgoula had a vast intelligence network and was aware of the country’s terrain to some extent, but still, deploying an army into another country carried risks. 

But the other choice, launching a surprise invasion on O’ltormea’s northern border, was just as risky. Should Helnesgoula do this, the first to act would be the O’ltormean northern front armies, marshaled by the crown prince. That army was said to be a force of elites, capable of matching the Emperor Lionel Eisenheit’s own elite guard. 

A direct clash with those forces would not be decided easily, and there would be no chance for an armistice. Both countries would need to pull all their remaining forces into the battle. And while that would force Princess Shardina’s army to pull back, the land would be piled up with both countries’ corpses, and rivers of their blood would flow. 

It would mark the beginning of an endless war of attrition between O’ltormea and Helnesgoula. And who was to say other countries wouldn’t try to take advantage of the situation for their own ends? There was no guarantee the Holy Qwiltantia Empire wouldn’t try to capitalize on the war. And that would turn this military maneuver, meant to help Xarooda, into the start of a grand war for the entirety of the continent. 

And even if Helnesgoula was interested in helping Xarooda, this was still another country’s problem. As Helnesgoula’s queen, Grindiana had no need to take this kind of risk. 

But even so, one man fearlessly brought up the reckless suggestion of attacking O’ltormea’s northern border. His name was Ryoma Mikoshiba, a baron of Rhoadseria and an otherworlder from Rearth, who overturned Queen Lupis Rhoadserians’s inferior position in the recent civil war, winning her the crown. 

He passed himself off as some kind of genius, but finally he shows his true colors... Arnold Grisson, one of Helnesgoula’s generals and commander of the eastern front, sighed in disappointment. I have to wonder if this man even came up with the offer he gave us yesterday. 

During their first meeting the day before, Ryoma impressed Grindiana, the ruler Grisson admired and was devoted to, by accurately seeing through her intentions and making her an offer that exceeded her expectations. And that shocked Grisson to no end. Despite being more than twice his age, Grisson was overcome with both fear and awe towards Ryoma Mikoshiba. 

But by now, Grisson felt nothing of the sort. Ryoma would have to be a fool not to notice how reckless and dangerous the suggestion he’d just made was. And if he said it knowing how insane it was, he was a serpent clearly trying to deceive them. 

“Are you... serious?” 

“Yes...” Ryoma nodded composedly. “I want you to order Helnesgoula’s armies to begin preparations to attack O’ltormea’s northern borderline.” 

Seeing his attitude, Grisson let out another exasperated sigh and shook his head. Truth be told, had Grindiana not been present in this room, Grisson was inclined to drive his fist into Ryoma’s face. 

They agreed the previous evening that Helnesgoula would unite with the eastern alliance and act as the union’s leader. And the leader of a union was expected to be willing to take some damage to assist the countries under its wing. But that didn’t mean it would need to take a risk large enough to potentially bring down its own destruction. The suggestion bordered on madness. 

As such, Grisson’s exasperation was to be expected. However, contrary to his attitude, Grindiana looked at Ryoma, who sat opposite of her, with glittering eyes. Her gaze was like that of an innocent child who had just been shown a magic trick. 

“You just don’t understand, Arnold,” Grindiana said, and then raised her voice in pleasant laughter. 

“But, Your Majesty...” Grisson could only tilt his head quizzically at his mistress’s attitude. 

Ordering Helnesgoula’s armies to begin preparations for an attack on O’ltormea’s northern borders meant going to all-out war with the Empire. Grisson couldn’t see any other interpretation to what Ryoma just said. Any of Helnesgoula’s generals would likely assume the same thing. 

Grindiana saw things differently, though. 

“You’re a little fool, Arnold... Ryoma Mikoshiba wouldn’t have made this plan if he didn’t think that an all-out war with O’ltormea was perfectly avoidable.” 

Grindiana smiled as she spoke, with a glimmer dancing in her eyes. 

“That’s not your intention... Is it, Mikoshiba?” She punctuated her words, regarding Ryoma with a bewitching sidelong glance. 

The sheer charm in the gaze she directed at him would send a shiver down most men’s spines. But it seemed ineffective against Ryoma. 

“Of course it isn’t, Your Majesty,” Ryoma nodded composedly, pointing at a specific area on the map spread before them. 

“Fort Notis...” Grisson cocked his head. “What about it?” 

Ryoma pointed at the Notis plains, which were now firmly in O’ltormea’s territory. Grisson didn’t understand what Ryoma and Grindiana were getting at. 

“This is where we’ll be aiming for,” Ryoma said. 

“What?!” Grisson exclaimed, rising to his feet in surprise. 

Later that night, Arnold Grisson sank his body into the sofa, his eyes looking up at the ceiling. It was just him and Grindiana in the room. 

“I can’t believe he came up with something like that...” Grisson muttered. 

Ryoma Mikoshiba detailed an outline of how they would offer Xarooda their aid. And for Grisson, a seasoned soldier who had survived countless battles, it was a plan that seemed all too absurd. 

Who could come up with something that preposterous...? 

Grisson’s heart was flooded with emotion. True, he was at fault for not hearing Ryoma’s idea out to its conclusion. He couldn’t help but regretfully curse himself for raising his voice despite his position as supreme commander of Helnesgoula’s eastern front. 

But this was all hindsight, of course. Who could have read into Ryoma’s intentions ahead of time? None of Grisson’s colleagues in Dreisen could have predicted it, either. While they were all gifted generals, they were trained to take command on the field. Put simply, they were tacticians. But this was a matter of strategy. Of course, this wasn’t to say strategy was more important than tactics, but they differed in terms of perspective. Very few people could plan military operations on a national level. 

Arnold Grisson was hailed as one of Helnesgoula’s leading tacticians. He took pride in that fact, but by now, that praise felt all too hollow. Especially since there was another monster in this room, capable of the same level of thinking. 

“Did it really surprise you that much?” Grindiana asked with her usual composed smile as she took a gumdrop from a jar on the table and placed it into her mouth. 

Seeing his mistress’s attitude only made Grisson sigh again. 

“I certainly wouldn’t have been able to come up with anything like that, at least. Using our army to shake up the Empire’s northern borders, and using that chance to cross the mountains and attack Fort Notis...” 

Grisson’s body shivered as he spoke. 

That man’s a monster... He’s on a whole different level. 

Grisson was gripped by utter terror at Ryoma Mikoshiba. Ever since Ryoma came up with the suggestion to establish the four-country union, he’d held a high opinion of Ryoma. But it seemed even that appraisal wasn’t quite right. As a general of Helnesgoula, things were going in a very bad direction for him. 

Everything’s still fine for now, but... 

At least some of his anxiety stemmed from the fact that he’d been put to shame in front of Grindiana multiple times over the last few days, but that wasn’t all. 

How many people in Helnesgoula are capable of dealing with this man...? 

The sinking fear he’d first felt the other day was once again settling over his heart. Right now, Helnesgoula was in a cooperative relationship with Ryoma. And the trade treaty bound the four countries together, meaning it was unlikely that relationship would sour anytime soon. 

But who was to say this relationship would last indefinitely? And if it didn’t, would Helnesgoula have the reliable means to resist this man? If nothing else, Grisson knew full well he wasn’t this man’s equal. What had happened earlier was that much of a major blow to Grisson’s spirit. This man saw the world in a whole different way than he did. 

His eye for strategy and tactics is on a whole different level than mine... He’s far more capable than I am. 

Ryoma’s words spiraled nonstop through Grisson’s mind. His suggestion was simply that unusual. To be exact, Grisson had already considered the option of attacking Fort Notis. Attacking the enemy’s weak point is as effective in a war between countries as it is in a tavern brawl. 

After all, the supplies gathered in Fort Notis were the invasion army’s lifeline. It was the very lifeblood supporting Shardina’s army. Attacking the enemy’s line of supply was in no way an impressive display of strategy. Even if occupying the fortress outright wasn’t possible, burning the supplies could tilt things in their favor. 

But discussing that option and actually implementing it were two different things. The biggest problem was that Fort Notis was sitting deep in O’ltormea’s territory. If Helnesgoula’s army were to mount an assault on that base, they would have only two ways of doing it. The first was to attack through Xarooda’s territory, and the second was to cross the precipitous mountains running along the O’ltormean-Helnesgoulan border. 

Given Xarooda’s poor position in the war, crossing their territories was a rather risky idea. Now that Arios Belares was dead, the enemy had built a large bridgehead in Fort Noltia, west of the Ushas Basin. King Julianus I of Xarooda was losing his unifying power rapidly. Of course, there were a considerable number of nobles which had led their armies to Peripheria to stand alongside the king in the bitter war to come. 

But there were also quite a few opportunistic nobles who sought to preserve the stability and glory of their names. They remained nestled in their lands, and while they outwardly made preparations to fight against O’ltormea’s forces, they could very well have been waiting for the right chance to turn coat. Honestly speaking, those nobles could not be trusted. 

It was clear what would happen if Helnesgoula were to march an army through these lands. The O’ltormean invasion force would be tipped off at once, and their plan would have immediately backfired. 

But the plan of crossing the border through the mountains was even more foolish. O’ltormea and Helnesgoula both kept a careful watch over the mountain roads that were wide enough to march an army across. If Helnesgoula’s were to show any sign of heading south, O’ltormea’s northern forces would step up to lock down the highway. They’d be stopped long before they’d reach Fort Notis. 

But trying to get off the highway to cross the mountains is even more absurd. 

In this world, the towns and highways were protected by barrier pillars meant to keep monsters away. Going off the road meant entering monster-infested territories. Trying to force one’s way through by getting off the highways was inviting painful retaliation upon oneself. Even with skilled guides, marching an army through there was a problem. 

If one tried to mount a force of ten thousand, it would essentially be impossible. Considering the necessity of bringing supplies, the most they could manage was a single knight order of 2,500 knights. Even then, it wasn’t likely that all of these knights would reach Fort Notis alive. 

True, the monsters breeding off the highway were nowhere near the number or strength of the beasts infesting the no-man’s land that was the Wortenia peninsula. And some strong adventurers and mercenaries intentionally wandered off the highway to cross borders. 

But this was different. Marching an army through a mountainous region infested with monsters? Even if they were graced with the best luck imaginable, only 70 or 80 percent of their men would survive the journey. And if fate sided against them, they could very well be wiped out before they even reached their destination. 

Additionally, assuming all 2,500 knights would actually make it to Fort Notis safely, a force that size would be far too small to mount a successful attack. Based on the fort’s size, it could house roughly 10,000 men. Due to Joshua Belares’s repeated raids on their supply lines, the fort’s men were sent out on guard duty and patrols, and Princess Shardina’s order to mount an offensive also influenced the numbers in the fort. With all that considered, it was hard to believe the fort was fully manned. At best, it would have 50 to 60 percent of its capacity. Still, it would mean that the fortress would be garrisoned by 5,000 to 6,000 troops. 

So even if all 2,500 Helnesgoulan troops were to cross the mountains safely, they wouldn’t be able to topple the fortress. To overcome a fortress, one would need three times the numbers of the garrison. A single knight order didn’t have nearly enough men. Realistically speaking, mounting a charge on Fort Notis with those numbers would be reckless. 

Not to mention, this was going under the assumption that they would only have Fort Notis’s troops to contend with. The longer it took to break through the fortress, the more reinforcements they would get from cities in the rear. They would need to overwhelm Fort Notis within a limited timespan, or they’d be boxed in by O’ltormean soldiers on all sides. 

With all that in mind, it only made sense from a military standpoint to assume that attacking Fort Notis was impossible. But while even Grisson, so lauded for his tactical ingenuity by his colleagues, deemed it impossible, Ryoma had come up with a viable strategy for conquering Fort Notis. 

It’s like the god of war favors him... 

The only person he knew who could probably match Ryoma’s monstrous intellect was his queen, Grindiana. 

“Are you that anxious?” Grindiana said, popping another gumdrop into her mouth as she eyed Grisson’s face. 

“Doesn’t he make you anxious, Your Majesty?” He answered her question with a question. 

“Well... I can’t say he makes me very anxious, no.” 

Grindiana brought the teacup sitting on the table to her lips. She knitted her brows in displeasure at the lukewarm tea. If she had any apprehension, it was directed at everyone except Ryoma. 

That man knows to be satisfied with his lot in life... If nothing else, he won’t let foolish ambition thrust him into a pointless war. 

It is said the world is made up of all kinds of people. Some seek stability and safety, while others burn with ambition and seek to constantly elevate their station. Grindiana had carried the responsibility of leading one of the three greatest countries on the continent for many years, and thanks to that, she had been graced with a discerning eye for people’s natures. 

Based on her observations, Ryoma had a perfect balance of ambition and stability. Depending on the circumstances, he could exhibit either of those traits. But moreover, she had judged him as the type more prone to seek stability. 

He fundamentally does not interfere with others. But that only means he hates it when people interfere with him... So long as someone ranks higher than him, he wouldn’t normally bare his fangs at them unless they foolishly try to corner him. 

He was a sensible man, who abided by faith and trust. And he didn’t lust for further riches or authority. Had Ryoma been the kind of man who would stop at nothing to achieve glory or self-preservation, he would have sold the Wortenia Peninsula to Grindiana back when they met to discuss the union. In exchange, he would have her grant him a noble title in Helnesgoula. Even if he didn’t do something that flagrant, he might have attempted to make some kind of other shifty deal. 

And that would, of course, be an act of blatant treason against Rhoadseria and a betrayal of Xarooda. 

Still, nobles who would sell out their lords to further their own standing were far from uncommon in this cutthroat world. In fact, most nobles fell into that category. The fact that he’d never once tried anything of the sort marked Ryoma as that much more trustworthy in Grindiana’s eyes compared to most of Helnesgoula’s nobles. 

But more than anything, if anyone makes me anxious, it’s not him... It’s you, Arnold. 

Her loyal retainer remained seated on the sofa, looking up at the ceiling. As Grindiana gazed at his face, her eyes filled with unease. She didn’t intend to condemn Arnold for the dread he was feeling. 

She had no doubt that Ryoma had the mind and strategic eye to match even her, whose shrewdness had earned her the title of Vixen of the North. As a general charged with Helnesgoula’s national defense, ordering Grisson not to feel some amount of healthy caution and dread toward this man was unwise. 

But fearing and shirking someone will buy the dread and unease of the other side as well. Even if such emotions are never put into words, other people have a way of picking up on them; all the more so in Ryoma’s case. If all the information she’d dug up on this man proved true, it didn’t matter how aptly Grisson might try to hide his feelings; Ryoma would still notice. 

For the time being, the fear budding in Arnold’s heart is still a tiny sprout. But... 

But given time, that small sprout would grow, bloom and mature into a tree of suspicion and fear. And a time may come when that tree would grow larger than the confines of Arnold Grisson’s heart could hope to contain, and become a malignancy infecting everyone around him. 

The question that remained was how would Ryoma react were that to come to pass. 

Naturally, he’d act to eliminate the threat... 

But if Grindiana were to tell him of her doubts directly, it would only deepen Grisson’s fear and aversion. The most Grindiana could do was to periodically try to patch things up between the two. 

I suppose this could be overly anxious on my part, though... 

With that thought in mind, Grindiana rang the bell on the table to have her lukewarm tea replaced, praying all the while that the hypothetical winter which could come was nothing but needless concern on her behalf... 

As morning rose, a suffocating atmosphere settled over a certain room in one of Memphis’s inns. 

“Lord Mikoshiba, are you quite serious about this?” 

With that said, Orson Greed, the captain of Xarooda’s Monarch’s Guard, directed a questioning glance at the man sitting calmly on the sofa opposite of him. 

“Yes. I’ve already made sure everything is prepared,” Ryoma said, taking a swig out of a wine bottle. A burning sensation surged up from within Ryoma’s body. “Don’t you trust my plan?” he added. 

“No, I wouldn’t say that,” Greed shook his head. “Not at this point, anyway. That plan is a gamble, and a bad one at that. But I do realize that your chances are not nil, and I also know we don’t have any other options.” 

Looking away, Greed turned his eyes to the administration building standing tall outside the window. 

“The Vixen of the North didn’t oppose that plan... And His Majesty ordered me to entrust everything to you, Lord Mikoshiba. I don’t think I’m in any position to find fault with your plan.” 

With that said, Greed heaved a deep sigh. Looking at him, Ryoma gave a subtle nod. 

I can understand his anxiety... 

The fate of his country was hanging in the balance. If they failed, Xarooda would quite literally be wiped off the map. And he was the captain of Monarch’s Guard, a man who had entrusted years of his life to Xarooda. He couldn’t avert his eyes from this crisis. 

Not least because he had to go back to Peripheria next and report the news of the four-kingdom union to Julianus I. Then, he’d have to deliver a message which was very much the crux of the coming operation to Grahalt and Joshua, who were currently lying in wait at Fort Ushas. 

Both were crucial tasks, which could only be entrusted with someone worthy of the necessary trust. But once he’d finished those tasks, he was to take over from Grahalt’s role of defending Julianus I. 

With the captain of the royal guard, Grahalt, out on the battlefield, Greed and the Monarch’s Guard couldn’t afford to leave the king’s side. That much was unavoidable, and Greed wasn’t displeased with the task he’d been given. 

But still, with the fate of his kingdom being decided in a place far out of his sight, his anxiety was understandable. And yet, those concerns were the same as a child’s whims. After all, Ryoma had hatched this plan despite being the mere commander of a reinforcement squad. He was very much carrying the heaviest burden when it came to Xarooda’s survival despite not being part of this kingdom. 

Honestly, out of everyone in this war, Ryoma was without a doubt the one to have drawn the shortest straw. Worse yet, his skillful tactician, Lione, and Dilphina, the daughter of the Mad Demon Nelcius, were away from this place, along with most of his soldiers. His spies, the Igasaki clan, stayed behind with Gennou and Boltz to keep the Wortenia Peninsula defended. 

The only members of the Igasaki clan at Ryoma’s side were Sakuya and a few select ninjas handpicked by Gennou, and he had them dispatched to scout out Fort Notis’s internal structure. They were currently on their way to O’ltormea’s territory. 

With Greed going back to report to Julianus I, the only soldiers left under Ryoma’s command were a single knight order of 2,500 knights that Grindiana had deployed for him. Besides them, there were his aides in the Malfist twins, House Mikoshiba’s personal vassals (a group of ten soldiers led by Kevin), and fifteen Igasaki ninja Sakuya left behind to serve as guides through the mountains and bodyguards. 

Ryoma’s total forces were 2,528 soldiers, himself included. 

In terms of raw numbers, they had about as much as a single organized knight order. But most of his vassals, alongside whom he had experience working, were away. Ryoma would have to mount an attack on Fort Notis with soldiers that felt no sense of unity or common interest with him. 

It was like trying to play a game of chess with your side only having pawns. 

Greed’s right. It really is a bad gamble... 

Ryoma couldn’t help but feel this way. But given the situation Xarooda was in, they were long past the point where conventional means could help them. As risky as it was, they had no other way of saving Xarooda, except resorting to this reckless plan. 

Even Ryoma had to acknowledge that this strategy was risky to the point of being a gamble. Firstly, they’d need to avoid O’ltormea’s lookouts and cut a way through a mountainous region crawling with monsters. Then they’d need to find a way to smoke out the soldiers within the fortress and sneak inside. Then they’d need to kill the officer in charge of defending the fort, and burn the food and supplies that were likely to be stored in their warehouses. 

The probability of any and each of those steps going according to Ryoma’s plan was exceedingly low. Still, as low as their prospects were, they would reap further rewards if they emerged victorious. And to ensure this highly improbable victory comes to pass, Ryoma made every preparation and tried to plan out every step meticulously. 

Even so, regrets and doubts surfaced in his mind. Couldn’t there have been a better way? Did he overlook something? Questions lacking answers swirled in his mind like a labyrinth. 

It was then that two small palms rested on Ryoma’s shoulders. Small, soft hands. Ryoma knew, without even looking, what that sensation meant. 

Right... I did everything I could. The only thing left to do now is to keep believing and move forward. 

Ryoma rose from the sofa. 

“Right, let’s get started... Call them over. And also...” 

Laura and Sara wordlessly nodded at Ryoma’s vague instructions. 

The citadel city of Memphis. A city on the cusp of the Xarooda-Helnesgoula border, and also the home of many adventurers who make a living by exploring the dense forest and steep cliffs near the border. 

Beyond the reach of the barrier pillars was a world infested by monsters. But that danger also translated to an opportunity for profit. The monsters’ skins could be used to make leather armor or clothes. Their fangs and claws could be fashioned into weapons. Their ichor, bodily fluids, and internal organs could have medicinal properties, meaning they could be sold for a pretty sum. 

The presence of monsters was a threat for mankind, of course, but those creatures could also serve as a source of income. 

Memphis was home to many sly adventurers that made their living through hunting monsters. Among them was a group of female adventurers called the “Petals of the Northern Wind,” a group of three women named Olivia, Abby, and Tia. They were quite young, in their late teens to their early twenties. Despite this, they’d been affiliated with the guild for five years and had reached Rank C already. They were skilled enough to be recognized by other members of the guild. 

The Petals of the Northern Wind were now climbing the ridges of the mountains south of Memphis as part of their job as the guides of a certain group. It was a job they’d accepted outside of the guild, in an underground pub in the city. 

This is bad... I thought we were just supposed to be guides here. 

The group’s leader, Olivia, glared at the line of people trailing behind her as she tried to catch her breath. It had been ten days since they’d set off, leading this group across the mountains. Walking behind her was the leader of this group, Ryoma Mikoshiba, and his two attendants, Laura and Sara. They were clad in their usual black armor as they trudged along silently. 

I knew it wasn’t an ordinary gig, but... I didn’t expect anything like this. 

She’d repeatedly cursed her own naivety for jumping at a deal that sounded too good to be true. Still, she didn’t have any choice but to accept it; she normally never would have taken a job like this. 

There were several reasons she accepted this job. Firstly, a benefactor of hers had set it up; secondly, the reward offered was quite high; thirdly, they’d failed a job for the guild, inducing a hefty penalty for breaching their contract. If they didn’t pay that penalty by a set date, the Petals of the Northern Wind would be sold off to slavery. 

The first and third reasons were especially crucial. Thankfully, the deposit they got for this job was quite the hefty sum, so they’d already avoided the risk of being enslaved. In that regard, Gran introducing them to this job was definitely a windfall. 

And yet, they couldn’t exactly be happy about this job, either. 

The pay was great, and we had no choice anyway, but... 

The job was to lead a group through Memphis’s mountains and into O’ltormea’s turf. The client Gran introduced to them was a young blond woman, who had informed Olivia of these details. At first Olivia thought they were simply smuggling contraband, but the truth was far darker than that. 

She didn’t imagine they’d be leading a Helnesgoulan military unit. 

Recalling the large, bearded man leading the Northern Wind Brigade, Olivia bit her lips. True, Gran was their benefactor. They owed him a debt too large to put into words. They were both originally from southern Rhoadseria, and despite Gran being well over twice her age, they were both from the same small village and were essentially like family. 

Gran was actually the son of the village leader, and had helped change Olivia’s diapers when she was still a baby. While their parents worked in the fields, he was the one who looked after Olivia and the other two girls. Gran matured into a healthy young man and began working as a mercenary, but fate had grim plans in store for Olivia and her two friends. 

It happened six years ago; the village Gran and the girls lived in was in southern Rhoadseria, near the border with one of the southern kingdoms, the Kingdom of Britirnia. In other words, it was closely-contested land. 

Naturally, the nobles in control of southern Rhoadseria demanded the peasants conscript to fight in the conflict, and the taxation was quite severe. In that situation, they didn’t seem to care much for maintaining public order within the domain. 

And sure enough, Gran’s village was attacked by a group of bandits. Many of the villagers were killed or sold off as slaves. Out of everyone, the three girls miraculously escaped the bandits’ grasp. But having been left with nowhere to go, they had only two options left; to die on the wayside, or sell themselves into slavery. 

It was then that Gran, who had begun distinguishing himself as a young mercenary and the leader of the Northern Wind Brigade, returned to the village. He took in the three girls, who were hiding in a dilapidated house, and taught them how to handle a weapon and live on their own. 

Since the three girls moved their operations to Memphis, their relationship with Gran had become a bit more distant. But they were still close enough that whenever Gran would accept work in northern Xarooda, he would drop into Memphis to check on them. 

It was because of this closeness that they accepted the offer he brought them, even if it lacked the guarantee that came with guild-associated work. But had Olivia known the real details ahead of time, she never would have agreed to this. The Petals of the Northern Wind tried to make a living as adventurers, and getting mixed up in a war between two countries was the last thing they wanted. 

True, adventurers and mercenaries both used battle as a means of profit. What set them apart was that adventurers mostly fought monsters, while mercenaries fought other people. Still, it wasn’t a major difference or an ironclad rule. Vanquishing and pursuing bandits took tracking abilities, and adventurers were often deployed to take care of them, despite bandits being human. Conversely, mercenaries were often hired by governors to guard their domain, and there were cases where they were ordered to slay monsters. 

The difference between an adventurer and a mercenary was extremely vague at times. This was why the guild managed both mercenaries and adventurers and mediated work for both. Olivia, for example, called herself an adventurer, but had experience hunting down bandits. 

That didn’t mean Olivia and the girls actively enjoyed fighting other human beings, or wanted to be on a battlefield. They held a great deal of indignant anger toward bandits, given what had happened to them in the past, but they still hated the act of killing, and were haunted by guilt whenever they had to do so. 

I might be naive for feeling this way, but... Still. 

Olivia tightened her grip on her sword; it was a gift Gran gave her when she first became an adventurer. She always thought she wielded this sword for the sake of the helpless and the weak, for those who fell victim to bandits like her family and friends. Her two comrades felt the same way. 

They knew, of course, that when it came to surviving in this continent, such thinking was nothing more than sugar-coated lip service. But even if they only served as guides, they didn’t want to take sides in a war. 

“You all right, Olivia?” One of her comrades, Tia, suddenly appeared beside her. “You kinda look down.” 

Her face was full of concern. She probably wasn’t on board for this mission either, but they’d already accepted the advance payment for the job. They couldn’t give it back, since they needed to pay off their penalty to the guild. 

Even if they did manage to find some way to produce those funds, they probably couldn’t talk their way out of this just by returning what they’d been given. And their benefactor, Gran, specifically asked them to take this job. They couldn’t say no. 

No, no, I have to stay focused... All we need to do is guide them, that’s all. 

If Olivia, as their leader, were to let her dissatisfaction show on her face, that emotion would go on to spread to Tia and Abby. And if that were to happen, they wouldn’t be able to do their job. Their cooped-up feelings would overflow, and they would definitely give up on the job. And if they did that, the group following them wouldn’t be able to cross the mountain range. 

Of course, since this wasn’t a job they got from the guild, they wouldn’t have to pay a penalty for dropping the gig. But this was about more than just money. Discarding this job would mean tarnishing something more important than money: their dignity and reputation. And that extended not just to Olivia’s group, but to Gran, who introduced them to the client. 

We can’t do that to Gran... 

Those emotions constricted Olivia’s heart. 

“I’m fine, Tia. We should be at the summit soon, we can take a break there,” Olivia said, pointing up at the peak so as to blow away the heavy mood. 

It was then that she noticed what looked like a black dot within the sun. 

What...? 

The sun’s light was too bright, making it difficult to recognize what that dot was. Olivia held up a hand to block out the sunlight and looked intently in its direction. 

It’s getting bigger... 

At first it was tiny, but the dot was growing gradually in size. 

“Oh, no!” Upon realizing what the black dot was, Olivia raised her voice in a shout. “Everyone, get down!” 

This would achieve little, but honestly, it was better than nothing. After all, they were faced with the strongest monster in Memphis’s southern mountains; effectively, the king of this region. 

An Eagle Lord... Oh, no. 

Olivia intentionally led them in an effort to avoid its territory, but they somehow ran into it anyway. The western continent had some monsters that were effectively giant versions of creatures from Rearth. Like squids and octopi in the sea, as well as other land animals and avians. The greatest of them were the dragons, which stood dozens of meters tall. Their breath could melt armor like butter, and their scales deflected weapons easily. 

They were like bomber jets with the sturdiness of a tank. A final boss, in game terms. But even so, as powerful as the dragons were, they weren’t the apex species of this world. As mighty as they were, they had natural enemies. 

The Eagle Lord was one such creature; not unlike the Roc from Sinbad’s tales in One Thousand and One Nights, it matched the dragons in terms of size and flight speed. The flapping of its wings was capable of blowing a person away. 

And so, Olivia told them to get down, but mere humans had no way of opposing this creature. 

“So that’s an Eagle Lord... It’s hard to tell from a distance, but apparently it’s as large as they say.” 

As the soldiers formed a circular formation and held up their shields, a voice spoke from Olivia’s side. Massive monsters like this one were seen as something of a natural calamity. And among those monsters, the Eagle Lord was considered on a class that was close to the strongest monsters in existence. If the Guild were to put up a request to eliminate one of these creatures, only Rank A mercenaries or adventurers could participate, and only a group of several could possibly pull it off. 

“So, what do we do?” Ryoma asked, holding up his own hand. 

His eyes were narrowed as he gazed up to the sky, looking at the Eagle Lord circling above them. Apparently, he’d judged that the wise thing to do was to ask the guide for her opinion. But honestly, Olivia didn’t know how to deal with this situation either. 

After all, the Eagle Lord was simply circling in the sky above them. Did it recognize them as prey? Was it preparing to swoop down to attack them? Or perhaps it had its eyes set on something else? This was a situation where they could be attacked at any moment. They couldn’t sit idly by and wait. 

Do we run? Not like we’re able to... This ridge is too narrow. If it was just us three, maybe we could manage it, but this many people? It’s impossible... And even if we try to hide... 

The ground was dotted with rocks, and the road was only wide enough to accommodate two or three people. Normally, Olivia would have run away from this place without a second thought. But with 2,500 people behind her, having them all run off at once was a recipe for a lethal accident. Depending on the situation, it could result in more casualties than the Eagle Lord would inflict. 

All the same, waiting in the shadows for the danger to pass them by wasn’t an option either. There were hardly any large boulders on the ridge, let alone trees, so there was nowhere to hide all of these people. 

And that leaves... 

Olivia admitted, very unwillingly, that the only remaining option was to meet their attacker with an assault of their own. But of course, given the cramped terrain, they couldn’t hope to employ any group tactics. 

“Whether it attacks us or not, we can’t just ignore it... But that means...” Olivia trailed off. 

Sitting idly by just so this monster could devour them was absurd, but blindly waving their weapons at it wouldn’t help them either. Realistically speaking, a small force would have to distract the Eagle Lord while the rest rapidly escaped the area. This was the most efficient, most reasonable suggestion, but Olivia couldn’t bring herself to say it aloud. 

I’d imagine it’s hard for her to bring it up... 

Ryoma aptly noticed the hesitation in her eyes. Saying someone would have to draw the Eagle Lord’s attention might have come across as innocuous enough, but the reality was that whoever served as the decoys would essentially be left to their deaths. Olivia held her tongue because she feared she might be ordered to fill that spot. 

The knights Grindiana entrusted him with only obeyed Ryoma temporarily, because their queen had ordered them to do so. They’d left Memphis as soon as Ryoma was given the right to command over them, so there was no trust between Ryoma and the soldiers. If Ryoma were to order them to lay down their lives now, the knights would revolt against him. 

That said, ordering Olivia’s group to do it was honestly a difficult call to make. They had the weakest standing out of everyone present, and were arguably the most expendable. But Ryoma had to bitterly admit that without them, their chances of successfully crossing this mountainous region were all the slimmer. 

When it came to knowing where the watering holes and shortcuts were, a map wouldn’t be enough. Having Olivia’s group guide them would also lower the chance of running into monsters, as they knew which areas were populated by these creatures. 

True, they had run into an Eagle Lord, but those creatures reproduced in very small numbers and were a rare breed. The chances of actually encountering an Eagle Lord in this region were less than one percent, as hard as it might be to believe, given that they were unlucky enough to run into one. 

Yeah, we ran into this thing, but that’s just shitty luck on top of shitty luck... 

To that end, discarding their capable guides here was actually quite risky. Which left the Igasaki ninja escorting him, and Kevin’s unit as well. Given their loyalty, they’d gladly take up the role of decoys if Ryoma ordered it. But if Ryoma did this, they’d definitely die. 

Given no other choice, Ryoma would order them to die if need be, but he didn’t think now was the time. 

No choice, is there...? 

He wasn’t enthusiastic about this decision. Still, this was the choice that ensured the most people would get away alive, including the decoys. He couldn’t stop the operation over something like this, especially not this late into the game. Greed should have already given Joshua and Grahalt his message by now. 

Ryoma’s hands brushed over Kikoku, the sword sheathed at his waist, confirming its presence. 

It’s a bit sooner than I expected, but I’ll have to put you to work... You ready? 

Kikoku’s blade trembled ever so slightly, as if to answer Ryoma’s question with affirmation. An imploring shiver, as if the blade had spurred him to let it sip the blood of a victim. 

It was then, however, that someone stopped Ryoma. 

“Master Ryoma... We’ll stay behind.” 

Laura silently parted her lips, and Sara, who stood beside her, nodded silently. They’d likely come to the same conclusion as Ryoma. 

Guess there’s no point in trying to stop them... They’d probably do a better job at distracting it than a bow would, anyway... 

Truthfully, Ryoma didn’t want to put the sisters in harm’s way. Seeing as it was his role to lead others, this sentiment may have come across as cowardly. But the sisters had been with him ever since he’d been summoned into this world. By now, he felt as strongly for them as he did for his family. 

Given their prowess, they were the first people he should have nominated for this task. But he intentionally excluded them from the count. The problem was that Sara and Laura felt exactly the same way about him. 

Was this romantic affection, or loyalty towards the man who saved them from slavery? Whichever it was, the two of them didn’t want to expose Ryoma to danger. And furthermore, Ryoma wasn’t adept at verbal thaumaturgy, so the two of them were more reliable at launching long-range attacks that would distract the Eagle Lord. And if they were to defeat it, using this method would no doubt be necessary. 

Still, I can’t let just the two of them handle this... 

They were up against a monster which was a match for a dragon. He was confident they could both handle it, but he wanted to ensure there was another layer of safety. 

“All right. When I give you a signal, fire the most bombastic spell you’ve got,” Ryoma said, and then turned to Olivia, who still hadn’t grasped the situation. “That’s that, then. We’ll be the decoys and distract it. You guys, go back the way we came and try to find a way around this area. We’ll regroup at the campsite we had planned for tonight.” 

These people... Are they crazy? Olivia was dumbstruck. 

What kind of commander would willfully march towards his own death? 

“Are you... serious about this?” Olivia asked. 

Ryoma replied with a cheerful smile. And then, he took a deep breath and allowed the chakras in his body to open. 

“Go!” 

Either way, he’d decided to do this; he couldn’t afford to waste any more time. With that word as their signal, Ryoma and the twins left the group and raced down the ridge, using the superhuman speed afforded to them by martial thaumaturgy. The wind roared in their ears as the scenery blazed past them. 

Perhaps finding their sudden movement to be irritating, the circling Eagle Lord began descending. In response, Ryoma rapidly scanned the environment, and upon spotting a relatively open space drew Kikoku from its sheath. 

“Now!” he called out to the twins. 

At Ryoma’s command, the two began chanting. 

““O great wind, breath of the gods that sweeps over all! Abide by your children’s will and return all of creation to the gods’ side!”” 

Their song-like chant was a harbinger of death. The five chakras in the Malfist sisters’ bodies opened, and their limbs surged with prana. As they concluded their chant, they raised their hands to the heavens. 

“Catastrophe Tornado!” 

This was one of the strongest spells the Malfist sisters had in their arsenal. As soon as the spell was triggered, dark clouds began brewing in the sky. The air rumbled as little by little two twisters formed, accompanied by the rolling of thunder. 

““Take this!”” 

What they had conjured was a spear of the gods, capable of severing and tearing through anything in creation. The two pairs of hands held up to the sky turned at the Eagle Lord, and the two whirlwinds bridging heaven and earth coiled around the enormous avian. 

The Eagle Lord’s cry echoed throughout the area. It was as if it had just been pressed and chopped up by two mixers. The spell crushed and shredded the Eagle Lord’s body, a shower of blood and fragments of bone spewing forth. And eventually, its scream faded into the sky. 

“Master Ryoma! Finish it!” Laura called out. 

As she did, the whirlwinds died down and the Eagle Lord’s tattered body crashed into the ground.