Episode 168
EPISODE.84
* * *
In terms of the importance of the agenda, it was a level where discussions had to be continued over several days.
However, as much as its importance, the risk is also a matter of fighting for urgency.
The argument lasted for several hours.
“Due to the nature of the Warp Gate, which cannot send multiple people at once, it is unreasonable to send a kingdom-centered regular army.”
“First of all, it seems that the priority is to move the 5th and 7th corps to improvise the defense line.”
“It’s not a bad idea for units with supply lines nearby.”
“After that, how about contacting the nearby Margraves to fill up the lack of troops?”
At the end, the overall strategy and the list of people to be dispatched to the southern part of the kingdom were also decided.
The total number of strongmen who were dispatched was eleven. Among them, there were seven wizards and four Auror practitioners.
In fact, the number is about half of the remaining strongmen in the capital.
Even including those on missions, it would be close to one-fifth.
Not to mention, it was a luxurious composition that included Amelia Merwin, the white pagoda owner, and Niccolo Machiavelli, the yellow pagoda owner, two of the four tower owners of the royal capital.
‘Is it like leaving only the minimum manpower to prepare for an unforeseen situation-.’
Russell was naturally included in one of them.
No, not only Russell, but Vermilion and Hubert were no exceptions.
Among the wizards, those who boast the strongest firepower are those who inherited the lineage of the fire-attribute red tower.
They were also War Mages who could turn dozens or more numbers to ashes at once.
To leave them out is absurd.
It was the best decision as well, given that the lord of the spear tower and the tower of salt tower remained in the capital in preparation for some kind of emergency.
“They are a number of monsters that are difficult to dare to estimate.”
When the list was completed, the king. Alfonso Ratmos opened his mouth.
He made eye contact with each member of the list and spoke with strength.
“We don’t know how they appeared, but if we let them set foot in our country’s territory, it’s clear that the damage will grow out of control.”
uttered in a firm voice.
“Make sure not even a single monster crosses the border.”
Those who were given the mission responded in unison.
“I follow the order of His Majesty the King!!”
A muffled shout echoed through the meeting room.
.
.
Preparations for departure were made quickly.
There weren’t that many in the first place, and all of them were high-ranking mages who could use subspace magic.
There was no reason to pack the wagon in a complicated way.
Of course, Auror practitioners were also included, but it’s enough to give them artifacts with built-in subspace magic.
like that.
After only a few hours of preparation, Daria approached the brother-in-law who were waiting to use the warp gate.
He straightened their clothes by hand.
“I know that your skills are not lacking, but there are a lot of monsters, so I can’t help but worry.”
She spoke in a voice full of worry, like a mother putting her child at the water’s edge.
“Besides, a battlefield is a place where even a blind arrow can kill you…”
Eventually, Daria stopped in front of Russell and opened the hem of his robe.
“Don’t worry about not being able to contact Her Highness. I’ll give it to you instead.”
Russell shook his head with a small smile at the teacher’s joke that he brought out to change the atmosphere.
“I am not worried.”
“…?”
“He’s still difficult to get to know, but he’s not so young that he can’t tell the difference between public and private.”
Even when pouting or spitting, he does not cross the line. The Hecate that Russell had seen so far was such a woman.
Daria, who joked about Russell’s answer, gave a small smile.
“He’s become completely pathetic.”
He reached out and ran a gentle brush through Russell’s hair.
It’s not a real war, but the youngest disciple with a mission that’s equivalent to that. Is it because this is the first time Russell has been put in?
It seemed to be somewhat sentimental.
‘That child… must have grown up to be this handsome.’
It feels like the face of someone long lost is reflected on Russell’s face. Without realizing it, my fingertips trembled…
“…Master?”
Russell questioned the questioning attitude.
Daria hurriedly withdrew her hand.
“no. Nothing. Hmmmm.”
I cleared my throat and saw off the three brothers, including Russell.
“Please come safely.”
A bright halo of light enveloped them.
Flash-!
* * *
“Uh-.”
No matter how many times I rode this warp gate, I couldn’t adapt to it at all.
Russell murmured as he confirmed the clock was changing along with mild motion sickness.
“…This is already the second visit.”
Vermillion nodded and accepted the words.
“Right. The last time I went to Underworld, I used the warp gate of this branch.”
To put it bluntly, the two of them, Russell and Vermillion, are not on their first journey.
Of course, that doesn’t mean the two of them would have to act as guides themselves.
If it was a road heading to the Underworld or the Great Forest, not only was it marked on the map, but the party included not only dwarves but also elves.
“Are you here?”
When they left the branch, Niccolo was executed by them.
In front of him, the knights and wizards who had arrived earlier were huddled together.
Elves and dwarves were also among them.
“Now, if only the people from the Window Tower and the White Tower come, it will be over.”
It is not possible to move a large number of people to the warp gate at once, so each royal city also divided and used what was installed in the mage tower.
While waiting, Russell turned his head. Stare in the direction of the red canyon to the southwest for a moment.
I asked as I approached Azlan, an elf who was sitting in the middle of the crowd.
“Can I ask you one question?”
“…?”
“Perhaps you are one of the elves of the White Ash Clan…”
Russell muttered in a puzzled tone before he could finish his sentence.
“How could you…”
He then checked his black hair and red eyes and opened his eyes wide.
“okay. You are the one Io was talking about! Somehow, for a human, the scent of spirits was strong!”
“yes?”
“I have heard a lot from Io. Dirty—humans… No, he said he saved Lee Oh and his family from those with ugly minds…”
“You seem to know Lee Oh well.”
“sure. Even though he is not from the same tribe, he is the Sentinel of the clan.”
“Sentinel…”
Russell had heard the name too.
‘Generally speaking, guardians refer to warriors who protect a tribe among elves.’
Azlan in front of him was also one of those guardians.
The first Guardian who is also said to have the most outstanding skills within the tribe.
However, there were some warriors who protected not only those tribes, but the entire race of elves.
‘They are the Sentinels.’
I never thought Io would have gone up to the Sentinel. Was that also the effect of awakening the power of the dragon?
With that in mind, Russell asked.
“Is Io okay?”
“of course.”
To that question, Azlan nodded his head proudly.
“You built a line of deterrence for the young and injured elves until the end, and you were fighting on the front line for your clan even when I left.”
It was about five days ago that Azlan started heading for Endymion.
‘At least that’s the story that I didn’t have any problems until then.’
It was then.
Two women and a man appeared from inside the branch along with a powerful wave of magical power.
“…dochaak.”
Of course, the identity of the girl flying in the air, relying on her drowsy voice and white rabbit doll, is Baektapju. It was Amelia Merwin.
The middle-aged woman in a white robe underneath was also a top lord-class wizard belonging to the White Tower.
and another one.
The man in the blue robe was also with them.
‘Alan Page.’
In place of Hemingway Melville, the lord of the spear tower, who was in charge of defending the royal capital, Alan, his apprentice, was included in this mission.
He met Russell’s eyes and nodded lightly.
In the meantime, after confirming that everyone had arrived, Nicolo rose from the rock he was sitting on.
thud-.
Light steps drew attention and opened a sub-space.
He took out a map and threw it into the air.
Hwaaak-.
Although Nicolo and Amelia Merwin were on the same level, he was the one who took on the role of commander-in-chief in this subjugation.
“Ha ha-.”
Amelia Merwin flew by and yawned. Meanwhile, Nicolo opened his mouth.
“Assuming that we move from here to the border while maintaining power, it will take about two days. And…”
He asked Azlan and Mathers, pointing to a place on the map, without calculating the time required to travel.
“This is where the headquarters of the Fairy Alliance is located, right?”
It was necessary to face them as the representative of Endymion as it was a situation in which they were united over a common enemy.
“Yes, when we left, the command was located at that point. If nothing else happens…”
“The time it took to get to Endymion was 5…days. One day in the capital and then back again…five days.”
A languid voice cut off Azlan’s words.
Perhaps it was because, in the long-lived elves’ sense of time, ten days was no different from an instant.
Otherwise, I don’t know if it’s because of the peaceful life in the Great Forest, but-.
Unlike the Elves, Nicolo and Amelia had the experience accumulated from bloody battles with the Empire.
“It’s a time when nothing special can happen on the battlefield.”
Nicolo nodded and accepted the words.
“…wires pushed forward or otherwise pushed. it must be one of the two Probably the latter in this case.”
“that!?”
“Huh, is that really true?”
At Amelia’s words, Azlan and Mathers raised their voices at the same time.
“The 5th and 7th corps will arrive ten days later at the earliest.”
“huh. As it is a large army for infantry, it will take time to move.”
The two archmages quickly exchanged glances.
Their first mission was to hold the lines back and drive them back into the Great Forest.
“Anyway, we have no choice but to speed things up.”
“If you reduce the distance to the border by a day and a half and the distance to the command center by two and a half days, then four days will be enough…” After
saying that, Amelia Merwin looked back at the party and asked.
“Can you?”
As most of those present here were veterans of war, the answer came straight away.
“of course. Tower Lord!”
“Compared to the forced marches we went through in the last war, it’s about this!”
Leaving behind that answer, Niccolo had never experienced war.
I asked the two mages of the newly born kingdom—Russell and Alan.
“How are you guys? Can you come after me?”
This is the first time he has participated in a war as a top lord level wizard.
However, since he was living a freelance life before returning, he was already good at this kind of forced march.
Now that conditions are better than then, what can I say?
Feeling the gaze of the party focused on him, Russell replied confidently.
That said, it’s not that difficult.
dragon-swallowed wizard
