144 - The Time Has Come
Offense and defense across a moat. That is the current state of the battle in the Forest of Bewilderment. It was an unexpected turn of events for the allied forces led by Fumiya.
Naturally, they had not prepared any boats. Even if they tried to build them on-site, the timber needed for materials had been burned away cleanly. The same went for pontoon bridges. Procuring materials would take time.
They searched for shallows where they could cross on foot, but as expected, the Demon King's army kept a strict watch over such locations. They attempted a crossing with a small unit as a test, but it was annihilated under a rain of arrows and magic.
As a result, the allied forces decided to attempt simultaneous crossings at multiple points and began surveying the shallows and procuring materials for pontoon bridges. Once again, the invasion came to a standstill.
However, the allied forces did not remain idle while they prepared. They carried out attacks on the opposite bank using fire arrows. If those had been successful, the Demon King's army would have been forced to retreat their front line again, but they would not allow that so easily. Fire arrows that reached the opposite bank were swiftly extinguished, preventing them from spreading. Even when they launched a barrage of fire arrows in a war of attrition...
"Do something about that magic!"
They were blocked by magic. Walls of ice deployed in mid-air stopped the fire arrows, and raging storms knocked them down.
They considered attacking with magic in return, but that didn't work either. The power of the Demon King's army's magic was so strong that it not only canceled out their own but actually resulted in them taking attacks instead.
The allied forces were at a dead end. They were left in a situation where they had no choice but to wait for the preparations for a forceful assault to be completed—
"The enemy's magic is likely the work of Cecil, who holds the title 'Witch of Ice and Blood'."
Even amidst this stagnation, reports on the war situation were regularly sent to the royal capital. During one such meeting, a report regarding Cecil was made.
"She is not a demon?"
"She is one of the enemy's excellent mages, and there is no doubt that there are others as well."
"...Is there any point to that report?"
As Hansmann pointed out, it was a report of little significance. However, from the reporter's perspective, it was a situation where they were trying to find something to talk about while things were stalled.
"We lack an absolute number of mages. I request reinforcements."
"I heard that last time as well..."
The request for the dispatch of a mage corps had been conveyed during the previous reporting meeting. However, there was currently no prospect of it being realized.
"What is the reason the request is not being accepted?"
At Hansmann's indecisive attitude, irritation surfaced on the reporting knight's face.
Reinforcements of mages were absolutely necessary to execute the crossing operation. Without magical support, if they were to be unilaterally attacked by the enemy, it would result in many casualties.
"The mage corps dispatched last time was annihilated. They say there is no guarantee that the same thing won't happen again."
"In war, it is inevitable that there will be casualties."
"Yes. That is true. However, I wonder if the army possesses the power to keep those casualties to a minimum."
"That is..."
The mage corps believed that the reason their allies had suffered casualties close to total annihilation in the previous battle was that the Kingdom Knights lacked the power to protect them. The knight now knew this.
"The claim of the mage corps is that they cannot reduce their numbers any further while the defenses of the royal capital must also be strengthened."
"...What does His Majesty say?"
"His Majesty... says that the mage corps' argument has some merit."
A dead man would never say such a thing. But Hansmann had to continue lying. In a situation where the battle against the Demon King's army was not going well, he could not afford the risk of increasing the number of defectors.
"...I see."
He did not receive a favorable answer. The knight's heart grew heavy as he thought about returning to his unit and reporting this to Fumiya.
"The procured supplies will be sent immediately. We shall have them transported by the armies of the noble houses that have newly arrived."
Seeing the knight's depression, Hansmann spoke of supplies and the arrival of reinforcements. This was not only out of consideration for the knight's feelings, but also because he did not want it to seem as if the royal capital was doing nothing.
"...Understood."
Hansmann's words were not particularly welcome to the knight. Once the supplies were gathered, the forceful assault would be launched. While still inferior in magical offensive power. He sought the support of the mage corps rather than the armies of the noble houses, who were weak soldiers.
Still, given the knight's status, he could not complain. Even if he did, it would not solve the problem. After finishing the rest of the report, the knight returned to the Forest of Bewilderment.
"...Can we really win?"
After the meeting ended, one person who remained behind muttered.
It was Libert, who was in charge of the financial department. He was a member of the same rebel faction as Hansmann and others, and one of those who had come to the forefront.
"Isn't it a bit early to feel anxious? We haven't even fought properly yet."
Fumiya simply hasn't had the opportunity to demonstrate his true strength. That was how Hansmann thought. The achievement of winning against the army led by Sieg served as the basis for his trust in Fumiya.
"That may be so... but if the battle drags on at this rate, the finances will become strained."
"I know."
Although they had extorted military funds from the Kingdom of Lydia and the Kingdom of Aria, if they continued to move a large army, they would eventually run out. The finances of the Laurel Kingdom were not that abundant either.
"Is it not possible to prioritize striking down Anfang?"
"Would that solve the financial problem?"
"At the very least, the collection of stalled taxes would improve."
"...That is true."
Tax revenue was not coming in from the north, which had sided with Queen Ekaterina. Not only that, but taking advantage of this chaos, there were not a few who refused to pay their taxes.
"If that is impossible, we should request further military funding from the two kingdoms."
"Will the two kingdoms comply with the request?"
"Is there any possibility they wouldn't?"
The Kingdom of Lydia and the Kingdom of Aria were vassal states. There was no way they would defy the orders of the suzerain state. That was Libert's assumption.
"...If the Hero orders it, they might comply. Shall I try telling them?"
The Kingdom of Lydia and the Kingdom of Aria were following Fumiya, not the Laurel Kingdom. Because of that, they were trying to be in an equal position rather than as vassal states—or rather, they were trying to place themselves above the Laurel Kingdom. That was Hansmann's judgment.
"Do we not need someone to seize control of the army?"
The new speaker was Beran. His role was ambiguous, but currently, he was handling negotiations, such as acting as the window to the noble houses.
"Are you saying we should replace the head of the Kingdom Knights?"
"If that is necessary. And I believe it is."
If they could not seize control of the Laurel Kingdom army, they would be pushed aside by Fumiya's military power. Beran was concerned about that.
"The Hero is a person who will become King. If the King controls the army, is that not enough?"
But Hansmann's thinking was different. Fumiya would become King. There was no need to create a faction that opposed that King.
"But..."
"If you harbor unnecessary ambition here, everything will come to nothing. Do you not understand that?"
"It's not that I have ambition..."
When spoken to in such a manner, he could no longer say anything further. If one interfered with the aspiration to change the country, it was betrayal. What awaited a traitor was death.
"However, it is a fact that the situation is not going as hoped. Is there any move we can make...?"
It would be fine as long as Fumiya won. But as it stood, it seemed it would require a longer period than expected. That would directly lead to a delay in seizing control of the entire Laurel Kingdom.
"...How about having the noble houses attack Anfang?"
Beran replied to Hansmann's self-questioning. He voiced the plan he had been considering before the meeting.
"The noble houses... won't they defect?"
"We just need to promise rewards sufficient to prevent that."
"But..."
How much of a reward would be necessary to ensure they didn't defect? He didn't know. On the other hand, if he wanted to promise something that was absolutely guaranteed to work, it would become excessive.
"It's fine even if the conquest fails. No, since we wouldn't have to give the rewards, it's better if they fail."
"What do you mean?"
"Regardless, we make them point their blades at Ekaterina, even if only once. If we can create that situation, they won't be able to defect so easily."
"I see. That's not bad."
After creating the situation, if they made the noble houses believe that Queen Ekaterina would never forgive those who pointed blades at her, they would have no desire to defect. Hearing Beran's explanation, Hansmann also thought it was not a bad plan. It was better to reduce the risks associated with making Fumiya King as much as possible.
"Then we should move before unnecessary rumors reach the ears of the noble houses."
Neil was already dead. If the noble houses heard of this, even as a rumor...
"True... I'd like to attach a trustworthy unit as well."
"Why not just have the Kingdom Knight Commander lead only those he trusts?"
"...Understood. Let's do that."
Even if the Larc Kingdom Knight Commander was on the battlefield of the Forest of Bewilderment, he could not control Fumiya. If that was the case, it was better to send him to a more useful battlefield. Hansmann thought so too.
This instruction would be promptly delivered to the Larc Kingdom Knight Commander. At this time, Hansmann and the others did not consider that this would shift the tide of the battle in the Forest of Bewilderment.
◇◇◇
The reporting knight who returned from the royal capital, prepared to be reprimanded, conveyed the contents to Fumiya. Fumiya naturally knew that he had gone to the royal capital to report, including the request for reinforcements from the mage corps. He had no choice but to report, whether he liked it or not.
Fortunately, or so one might say, Fumiya's anger was directed not at him, but at the royal capital. Naturally. The knight had only conveyed the message. It was Hansmann and the others in the royal capital who had rejected the request. Moreover, Hansmann and the others had not merely rejected the army's request.
"What do you mean!? This is weird, right!?"
"Even if you say it's weird... since we are dispatching an army, someone has to be the commander."
The one receiving Fumiya's reprimand was the Larc Kingdom Knight Commander. This was the result of informing him that he would lead the noble houses' armies toward Anfang.
"Why is that you? I'd be fine too, right?"
Attack Anfang and capture Queen Ekaterina. Fumiya had expressed this intention once. His own going had been denied, and he was not convinced that the Larc Kingdom Knight Commander should go to Anfang instead.
"The Hero has an important battle to fight."
"Attacking Anfang is also important for the subjugation of the Laurel Kingdom."
"That may be so, but regarding this battle, the possibility of losing is high."
"If that's the case, then all the more reason why I should go."
"No, it's not that... it's better not to win."
Since Fumiya didn't seem likely to be convinced, the Larc Kingdom Knight Commander decided to explain the circumstances he had intended to keep secret.
"...What do you mean by that?"
Going to fight in order to lose. This was something difficult for Fumiya to understand.
"The noble houses that attack Anfang will likely not want to side with Ekaterina after that. Even if the Hero becomes King."
"...I see."
"It is a battle fought with the time when the Hero becomes King in mind."
"...I understand. But are you pulling three thousand allies away for that?"
Fumiya, hearing that the attack on Anfang was for his sake, felt his emotions settle slightly. However, he was not convinced about pulling three thousand troops for a losing battle.
"There are three thousand five hundred troops in Anfang. Even if we lose, it would be problematic if we were completely annihilated."
"I see. Sieg is there, right... Is three thousand enough?"
There was no way the Larc Kingdom Knight Commander could win with a small number against the three thousand five hundred troops led by Sieg. Thinking this, Fumiya changed his dissatisfaction with the number three thousand into anxiety.
"It is only to assist in the retreat. Probably..."
The Larc Kingdom Knight Commander also felt anxiety. The enemy was Sieg, the greatest general of the Laurel Kingdom.
"...Why not take five, no, about six thousand?"
"Is that alright?"
If he took six thousand, almost no Laurel Kingdom army would remain on this battlefield. While he was happy to increase the number he led, the Larc Kingdom Knight Commander thought that was simply too many.
"It's fine. Battles aren't won simply by having more numbers."
That might not be wrong, but it wasn't a line that Fumiya—who had proposed increasing the number to six thousand because he was anxious about the size of the force heading to Anfang—should be saying.
"...Understood."
Despite his complex feelings, the Larc Kingdom Knight Commander accepted the increase in numbers. Even if it was a battle where losing was permitted, he couldn't afford to die because of it.
"The number of soldiers has decreased, and there are no reinforcements from the mage corps... It seems it's finally time for me to go to the front line."
"Eh?"
If the numbers had decreased and there were no reinforcements, they should proceed with the battle cautiously. That was what the Larc Kingdom Knight Commander thought.
"I have to end the battle here quickly. Even if we win here, the battles at Anfang and then Nordende are waiting."
"...Even so, isn't haste forbidden?"
"I'm not rushing. Once I've grasped the enemy's way of fighting, that's when the real battle finally begins."
This was not bravado. Fumiya believed it. Even if the ones actually thinking deeply were General Gaston and General Gerutza.
"...It might be rude to ask this, but are you alright?"
"That really is rude. No problem. If I lead them, even weak soldiers become elite. Even the battle you are heading to, if you leave it to me, can be won."
Whether they were regular army soldiers or the incomparably weak armies of the noble houses, it didn't matter to Fumiya. He could turn them into strong soldiers who did not fear death. Even if the casualties would be high.
That was Fumiya's power. The true power granted to the Hero.
◇◇◇
Opposite the camp of the Laurel Kingdom army, across the moat, was the camp of the Demon King's army. Though called a camp, there was nothing specifically marking it. The Demon King's army intended to fight using the entire Forest of Bewilderment as a fortress. There was no need to construct a sturdy base near the entrance. It was simply a place where many people gathered to rest.
In that place, Rei was gazing at the night sky peeking through the gaps in the trees. It was not his usual habit. It was simply that his state of concentrated focus happened to look like that.
(...Is he coming to the front line?)
An Information Rat eavesdropping at the distant camp of the Laurel Kingdom army. Rei—or more accurately, Leni—was directing his consciousness toward that will.
(He's awfully full of himself. I know he's confident, but...)
Kamui felt anxiety at Fumiya's confident manner of speaking. If it were baseless confidence, that would be fine. Given Fumiya's personality, there was a non-negligible possibility that it was.
(It seems he has some kind of trump card?)
Leni conveyed that it was not the case.
(A trump card?)
(I don't know the details. But it seems it's a fact that he defeated the army led by Sieg in a frontal battle.)
The two generals from the Kingdom of Lydia and the Kingdom of Aria proved that this was a fact. Although it was only based on what they had heard, even if the espionage had been discovered, he couldn't think of a reason to tell such a lie.
...Well, he is the Hero. There's no doubt he's a formidable opponent.
Even so, I cannot afford to lose.
No matter what trump card Fumiya held, Rei could not afford to lose.
Will you be alright?
You... this isn't the time to voice doubts, is it?
I mean, the opponent is the Hero and you're the Demon King. Normally, you'd lose, right?
Idiot. In modern other-worlds, even Heroes lose.
Heh. Is that how it is... well, regardless, I have no intention of losing.
You should have said that from the start.
He voiced the doubt to relax his tense heart. Kamui also had not the slightest intention of losing. He had been waiting for this moment to come for a long time.
...Killing Takeuchi isn't the end of it, you know?
I know. I know, but...
He was an opponent against whom there was no guarantee of victory even if he fought with everything he had. Thinking of the future, there was no way he could afford to save his strength. He would use everything he had now to defeat Fumiya. That was all Rei decided to think about. It wasn't something he had decided just now. Rei had been thinking about what would happen when this day came for a very long time.
The long-awaited day was almost here.