Chapter 135 - Episode 23: My Prediction was Spot On!
Gokigenyou! It is I, Violia Nico Fortesia!
I am now excited for the army of Chris Bay Clarino that is finally coming!
"The Royal Capital side should be soon."
"It seems so. ...It is proceeding exactly as the plan Lital brought."
It can be said that the plan is currently progressing according to the plan document Lital brought. Yes.
However... naturally, Chris must have noticed that Lital has disappeared. If he thinks about Lital's destination, I believe he can easily derive the answer that 'Lital betrayed House Clarino and went to the Revolutionary Army.'
If Chris has realized Lital's destination, he should also realize that the plan has been leaked.
...It will be something to see how he attacks. Yes.
The bright time before noon. Immediately, the sounds of fighting began to be heard.
...Well, it is mostly the dragons. Yes. Most of the soldiers should vanish with the simultaneous firing of the dragons' breath. Even from the top of the mountain, I can see the fire flickering a bit beyond the trees.
Furthermore, as planned, Doran and Chesta seem to be hunting the survivors. They are battle maniacs, after all. Yes. I believe the defense of the Royal Capital side will be successful without much time passing.
Around the time the fighting on the Royal Capital side began to settle down... the battle also started on the south side where Keeb and Lital were waiting. Keeb's magic is good because it's easy to tell he's fighting even from afar... I can clearly see the lightning flashing and falling with a thunderous roar. Yes.
Lital should also be fighting well. ...Well, as for him, he might have some resistance to fighting the soldiers of House Clarino. But since Keeb alone should be able to handle the defense to some extent, even if Lital becomes spiritless, well, it should work out somehow. Yes.
...And finally, the battle began on the road on the opposite side of the Royal Capital.
Naturally, I don't think Giovan can protect this place with traps alone. Therefore, I want the reinforcements from Doran, Chesta, and the dragons early, but...
...Here, it seems Chris has made his move.
Yes. The reinforcements from the Royal Capital side are not coming.
The sounds of Doran, Chesta, and the dragons' battle can still be heard. In other words, they are 'being delayed.'
As for why they are being delayed... surely, it is because he greatly changed the proportion of personnel used for the capture of each direction. Yes.
If it is Chris, who knows that the plan has been leaked to us, he should be able to do it. Something like 'delaying the Royal Capital side, which was scheduled to be finished quickly, so they cannot go to reinforce others.'
...Now then. This is the difficult part. Yes.
Currently, Doran, Chesta, and the dragons on the Royal Capital side are being delayed. Because of that, the opposite side of the Royal Capital, the direction Giovan is protecting, is in a state of being quite empty. If they attack Giovan's side all at once now... they will get through. A large number of soldiers could come all the way here.
Alternatively, it is also fully possible that they will attack Keeb and Lital's side. After all, both of them are mages. If they are heavily equipped with anti-magic gear, breaking through should be relatively easy. Especially since Chris must have seen that Lital is here, it wouldn't be strange if he had prepared magic countermeasures overnight. Yes.
...But.
But, it is unlikely that all those worst-case scenarios will happen at once. Yes.
Because, naturally, there must be a limit to the number of soldiers that can be gathered in one night. I believe the number of soldiers participating in this operation is mostly according to the original plan. Yes.
Therefore... if they come, it will be from the south or from the opposite side of the Royal Capital.
I thought about it and reached a conclusion. Yes.
...I shall go to protect the south.
The reason for the decision is only one. 'Because the south is the most convenient for Chris.' Yes.
I am standing on the premise that Chris has come equipped with anti-magic gear, but if that's the case, the easiest route for him would be the south side with the mages. Yes.
...From Chris's perspective, it is a very terrifying situation right now. Because 'the opponent knows our plan, but we don't know the opponent's plan or strength.' Yes.
So, Chris does not know. He doesn't know how many excellent warriors are here, how many of them are mages, or where I am deployed. Yes.
But, there are some ways to find out.
...If he watches the soldiers he sent earlier as they fight, he should be able to know what is waiting there.
Especially regarding magic.
Lital's magic is one thing, but Keeb's magic stands out even more. It is lightning. Since it flashes and makes noise, it should be recognizable even from a distance. Yes.
Therefore, from Chris's perspective, he should immediately know that the ones protecting the south side are mages. Yes.
...He can probably also tell that the Royal Capital side is in a terrible state because of the dragons. On the other hand, the road on the opposite side of the Royal Capital, the one full of Giovan's traps, probably doesn't reveal much even if he sends soldiers in. Yes.
If so, what is 'certainly safe' for Chris is the south side. I predict he will come to the side protected by the mages! Yes!
With a bow in hand, I came to a position where I could see the southern slope. Yes.
I can clearly see Keeb and Lital firing magic at the soldiers. What cute hard workers. Yes.
Now then.
Those hard workers finally finished off the soldiers... and succeeded in annihilating the soldiers who had come from the south. Yes.
"We did it!"
"It's only natural to be able to do this much. Don't let your guard down. If there's a survivor who comes to take us by surprise now, you'll die."
While the two carefully look around the perimeter for survivors, I also check very carefully. Yes.
There should be someone who comes out targeting Keeb and Lital here.
"...There are none."
"True. Is this the end for this side?"
But, even when the two searched and I looked, there was no sign of anyone who looked like Chris. Yes.
"What should we do? Should we go to reinforce Giovan-san?"
"Hmm... shall we? It's stupid to stay and protect a place where the enemy isn't coming forever. It seems Doran and the others are still at it."
And finally, Keeb and Lital gave up and started climbing the mountain. Yes.
I believe that shouldn't be the case. If it is Chris, he should definitely want to target this place. Yes.
This place is protected by only two mages, and if he has anti-magic gear, he can completely nullify the magic. And...
...Lital is here. Lital, who betrayed Chris. Yes.
I drew my bow. Yes.
If nothing happens, that's fine. I can just say it was my groundless fear and be done with it. Yes.
But, if there is something... what it targets will be Lital. Yes.
What I am aiming for is one of the obstacles in key places. The shadow of a large rock where a single knight could easily hide! Yes!
The moment the arrow was released, Keeb, noticing the sound of the bowstring, was startled and braced himself. Lital also braced himself a little late... and then, instead of the direction the bow sounded from, he became alert toward where the arrow flew in a parabolic arc. Yes.
...A clink sound was made. Yes.
It wasn't the sound of an arrow hitting a rock. This was... the sound of an arrowhead hitting plate armor. Yes.
"...You noticed well. I shall praise you."
The one who emerged from the shadow of the rock was indeed Chris Bay Clarino himself, who had come clad in anti-magic armor. Yes.
"But it is too late! You traitors who defy the country! You shall all die here together!"
And having said that, Chris lunged with his sword toward Lital. Yes.
Before Lital, who was targeted, could move, Keeb moved first. Yes.
The lightning Keeb released certainly caught Chris... but Chris brushed off the lightning and still charged at Lital. Yes.
"Damn, anti-magic gear!?"
Hearing Keeb's words, Lital seemed to realize that his means of attack would not work on Chris. He immediately gave up on intercepting with magic and moved to evade using wind magic. Yes.
If he flies into the sky, Chris will not be able to follow. ...Or so I thought, but it seems Chris is incredibly unable to forgive Lital. He threw a knife at Lital. Yes.
The fact that he brought things for throwing means he likely prepared while assuming a flying Lital from the start. Chris intends to kill Lital. Yes.
"Chris-niisama!"
At Chris's incredibly heartless action, Lital seemed to be momentarily bewildered. Yes.
Did he think there might be some mercy since they were close? Or is he simply bewildered by the fact that he himself is opposing that person he was close with? Yes.
In any case, there is no time to be bewildered. Chris is already throwing the next knife, and Lital is in a state where he is somehow parrying and dodging them with wind magic. Yes.
"Lital! You did indeed betray us! To sell out the country and fawn over a great criminal, how pathetic! Know shame!"
"Chris-niisama, I am here for the sake of this country! No matter how you think about it, is the current country not strange!?"
"Silence, rebel! Did you think I could show mercy just because we share blood!? I feel no affection for you who betrayed both the country and the clan!"
When Chris barked that... he used magic. Yes.
As expected of the prodigy of House Clarino. He is versatile. I wonder if the first throwing knives were a trick to divert alertness from magic. Yes.
Chris's magic was water magic. With properties very similar to Lital's, it attacked Lital all at once. Yes.
"Then I feel the same way! Chris-niisama, you only ever follow the righteousness His Majesty the King speaks of, and you never think about what is truly right! You only think about the interests of House Clarino... can you truly be called a noble with that!"
Lital is dodging and parrying Chris's magic, but because there is hesitation in his spirit, he looks to be at a disadvantage. Yes.
In terms of pure magical skill, Lital would win. But... this time, it seems the odds are a bit against him. Yes.
"Ah."
And finally, the balance of Lital's magic crumbled. Lital became unable to fully control his posture in the air and descended slightly. Yes.
...Chris is not one to miss that. Yes.
"Death is the only thing for traitors!"
Chris swung his sword, as if to slice off Lital's legs. Yes.
"That's why I'm saying, learn already."
The sword that targeted Lital ended up cutting through the empty air away from Lital. Yes.
That was because of the knife that pierced Chris's arm. Yes.
...It was because of Keeb, who had picked up and thrown the knife Chris had thrown. Yes.
"If I know magic doesn't work, I can respond like this. Idiot."
Keeb sneered provocatively and showed himself before Chris. Yes.
...Chris moved toward Keeb. Yes.
Keeb did not flinch and just stood there composedly... no, looking closely, his clenched hands are still trembling. Yes.
"Fine. Then you shall die first."
Bathed in Chris's cold words, which already felt like madness, Keeb laughed. Yes.
"Say that after you've killed me. Well, you won't be able to kill me anyway."
"That is exactly right."
An arrow pierced the arm of Chris, who was about to slash at Keeb. Yes.
It was a powerful shot I had aimed and released at the last possible moment. Yes.
Chris looked at the arrow stuck in him, and then moved his gaze toward me as I appeared. Yes.
...From here on, I won't be attacking bit by bit with arrows. If I'm going to show him the overwhelming difference in power and give him defeat, after all, the final thing is this. Yes.
"You cannot kill anyone. Because you will lose here! Now, come at me! You 'small fry'!"
I readied my sword and taunted Chris. Yes.
Chris looked down at me, madness seeping into those blue eyes... and immediately changed his target to me and attacked! Yes!