kscans

Chapter 149 - Chapter 17, Part 2: A Tentative Conclusion

East of the river, in the Imperial army's encampment.

"The Mage Corps will reorganize into three ranks immediately after crossing the river. Ensure sufficient spacing. Execute a wave attack with Calidus Stūre on the charging Kingdom cavalry. Once you've halted the enemy's advance, move forward with the vanguard. The cavalry on the flanks will check the enemy's flanking maneuvers."

Maytyl's calm orders were relayed to each unit.

"The accuracy of their catapults was indeed impressive. I felt a slight trace of magic. To think they can track the trajectory with such a minute amount, the Kingdom's measurement techniques are truly excellent. However, their numbers are insignificant."

"Yes. Up to this point, everything has been just as that girl informed us," said Berit, who stood at Maytyl's left.

"Then there's that green shield. Judging by the color, I wonder if it's the new magic-inhibiting substance she mentioned."

"She said it was found in trace amounts in the soil of the Red Forest. If that's true, there's no way they could have prepared such a quantity in such a short time. We cannot be certain that girl is telling the truth," Crenne said in a firm voice from Maytyl's right.

"Heh. Crenne, you were displeased that I was so engrossed in my mathematical discussions with that girl, weren't you?"

"...That's not it. I am merely urging caution."

"I know. That's precisely why I had them form three ranks, so we could respond. If the first rank is blocked, the second and third will attack simultaneously. After that, we advance until the enemy headquarters is within range. We'll focus our attack on that needlessly large banner. That should settle this tiresome battle."

A messenger arrived from the vanguard.

"Movement from the enemy catapults."

"Still not learning their lesson, are they? Respond as before. The first and second ranks of one hundred mages will prepare for the enemy knight's charge, while the flanking platoons of the third rank will intercept. The remainder of the third rank will maintain their aim on the knight order. Open fire as soon as they are in range."

At Maytyl's command, five mages on each flank of the rear legion raised their magic staves toward the sky. They rolled up their sleeves, and the exposed magic seals began to glow.

Red magical light extended from their arms to their staves. A band of light appeared around each staff, spiraling toward the tip as it converged.

A faint ringing filled the air. A chill touched her skin. A ball of red flame materialized at the end of each staff. The next moment, the fiery projectiles, having stolen the heat from the surrounding air, were launched toward the enemy munitions flying through the sky.

"That reaction just now...?"

The moment the Spiral Flame hit the enemy projectile, Maytyl saw the fire scatter in an unnatural way. An instant later, there was a sharp cracking sound as the projectile burst. Along with the shattered fragments, a liquid rained down upon Maytyl and her troops.

Maytyl instinctively covered her face with her hands. When she wiped her cheek, a thin green line, as fine as a needle, stretched across her fingertips.

"Acid...? No, it's not. Is it oil?"

Ignoring Crenne who was frantically wiping her face with a cloth, she rubbed her fingers together. She felt no physical pain or discomfort.

"What can they do with such a small amount of oil? No, the reaction to the Spiral Flame just now... and this color."

Maytyl's mind raced.

"The enemy knight order is approaching. The third enemy catapult is moving."

"Proceed with the original orders."

At the aide's command, the soldiers raised their magic staves. Over a hundred staves turned forward, taking aim at the charging cavalry. The mages had recovered from their confusion in an instant. But what was supposed to happen did not. The surge of magic around her failed to materialize.

"The magic seals won't activate!"

A voice like a scream rang out. The next moment, a stone projectile crashed into their ranks. Fortunately, the aim was off, but the infantry surrounding the Mage Corps was blown away.

Maytyl hurriedly looked at her own arm. She could see that the flow of magic was being blocked in various places. It was clearly the work of the green dye she had just been showered with.

The mages desperately wiped at their arms. Maytyl, too, tried to wash it off with the water she was given. But the small amount of pigment that had soaked into their skin was powerfully inhibiting the flow of magic.

"Magus, your orders."

"A magic inhibitor, and so potent in such small amounts. Switch the magic crystals to crimson. Increase the magic pressure and activate the seals."

At Maytyl's command, the mages took out new magic crystals.

The knight order was drawing closer. Magic flowed from the arms of the Mage Corps to their staves. The flow of magic in the area began to intensify. They had made it in time. Maytyl also raised her magic staff. Her target was the knight in the conspicuously magnificent armor at the enemy's center.

But the next instant, the surrounding magic was thrown into chaos again. Maytyl instinctively weakened her own magic.

"H-Hey, what are you doing?" "It's no use. G-Get away!"

The next moment, a flash of light erupted in front of Maytyl. She thought it was an enemy magic attack, but what she saw was one of her own mages, smoke rising from their staff.

"Why is it coming this way? Aaargh!"

Another mage launched a Spiral Flame in a completely wrong direction. A mage was struck by an ally's Spiral Flame.

"Guh, my arm..."

"What's happening, I can't control the magic seal!"

That wasn't all. Many mages clutched their arms and crumpled to the ground. The only ones who succeeded in activating their staves as Maytyl had instructed were the three platoons positioned at the far left of each rank.

Maytyl peered at her own arm. The flow of magic was a complete mess. It was cut off in some places, while in others, an excessive amount of magic flowed. And places that should not have been connected were now linked.

Looking closely, she saw that the enemy's liquid on her arm was two colors, green and red. Maytyl finally realized the enemy's diabolical craftiness.

"They scattered two types of catalysts separately, one to inhibit magic and one to amplify it."

Simply having her magic flow inhibited would have been controllable. But to have contradictory effects applied completely at random was beyond the cognitive capacity of a mage to control.

Even so, how did they create two types of magic catalysts that could produce such an effect in such small quantities...?

"Magus, your orders. Magus!"

"Wait. Let's see, considering the nature of this attack... if we wash it off with alcohol or oil..."

Just as Maytyl arrived at a solution, the enemy cavalry slammed into their vanguard. Behind them, a sea of enemy infantry was visible.

"We won't make it in time. We must retreat. The cavalry will destroy the bridge with the battering ram. Escort the Magus to Kurtheite!" Berit shouted, sending orders to the cavalry units on the flanks.

"The mages who successfully activated their staves, follow me."

Crenne gathered the mages on the left flank who had somehow managed to recover.

Maytyl was dragged back across the bridge they had just crossed. The four horse-dragon riders at the head of the column, who had been transporting the improved battering ram, began to pull it forward. The golden stake, though a size smaller than what a horse-dragon would typically use, was improved to rotate at a much higher speed as it was driven into the sandbags.

The battering ram blew away the sandbag bridge, along with the enemy knights who were on it. The less than twenty mages led by her aide used the river as a shield and unleashed their Spiral Flames. Enemy knights who tried to leap over the destroyed bridge were sent flying.

The enemy faltered for a moment. The remaining cavalry units that had been positioned on the flanks approached the Mage Corps. The mages were picked up one after another by the cavalry. Still in a state of confusion, Maytyl too was pulled onto the horse of a cavalry captain.

However, the enemy's reserve cavalry was entering the river, and just behind them, a horde of enemy infantry was closing in. Ignoring their own fleeing infantry, the enemy pressed toward the robed legion.

As the horse galloped away, Maytyl looked back to see Crenne's unit on the riverbank being surrounded by the enemy. Mages who were too slow to escape were cut down by enemy blades or struck by spears one after another.

"To the enemy commander. Ricardo Vinder is prepared to negotiate. I repeat. Ricardo Vinder is prepared to negotiate."

The voice of the knight who seemed to be the commander, the one Maytyl had tried to shoot down earlier, reached her back as she fled.

"Ricardo Vinder... so that's the answer, isn't it?"

◇◇

West of the river, in the Kingdom's main camp.

The king stood with the royal banner fluttering behind him in the tent, while Tembelg and Fabius stood at attention before him. Tembelg was being bestowed a sword from the king, and Fabius a helmet.

Over a hundred of the Empire's mages, their main force, had been killed or taken prisoner. Tembelg's report stated that fewer than fifty had managed to escape. Their objective, to reduce the number of mages at all costs, had been achieved. He also added that the enemy infantry who had fled across the river, soaked to the bone, had also suffered no small number of casualties.

"Are you really going yourself...?" Fulsy asked.

"Yes. Once they know the negotiator is a Vinder, they'll realize Mia is a valuable bargaining chip."

The next thing to fear is the Imperial army lashing out in anger after their defeat. Besides, who else could negotiate Mia's return? I looked at the Kingdom's headquarters, which was jubilant with victory, with cold eyes.

This is where it truly begins. This battle was just a prelude to 'my' negotiations. I'll give them credit, though. Thanks to their struggle, the preparations were made perfectly.

"I understand that, but..."

Fulsy glanced toward the tent as well.

"Let alone the Empire, if by some chance His Majesty gets any strange ideas, I won't be able to stop him alone."

"Well, I have no intention of making a bad deal, not for the Kingdom and certainly not for the Empire."

"A business deal, you say..."

Fulsy looked at me with an exasperated expression.

"Yes. I'm a merchant, after all. First, I need to hear the wishes of my clients, the king and the chancellor. That reminds me, Director, is that 'thing' ready?"

If these are my negotiations, then I need my own bargaining chips.