「……Now then, regarding Kabajid’s letter, what do you think? I want everyone to give their honest opinions.」
The envoy sent by Kabajid, Frederick and his group, were given a large tent in the camp to wait at while Mercurio made his decision.
Only members of Mercurio’s army were left as Mercurio spoke.
「I’m against it! There’s no need to play into the hand they’ve prepared!」
As one noble spoke up, others also agreed.
「That’s right. Setting a date for the battle means they would have plenty of space to set up a trap! We’re already at a disadvantage in terms of numbers, so there’s no point in taking a fight that give them an advantage. We should just make it a drawn out war. Fortunately, it’s autumn now and winter will be here soon, so it will be hard to fight at that point.」
「But wait, isn’t that the same for us? It might have been a different story if we had a proper base, but we’re still in a temporary camp. When winter comes, we’ll be the ones who suffer more!」
「No, no, that’s not true. We will suffer great losses as well, but considering the difference in numbers between us and them, there’s no doubt their losses will be higher in the end.」
「But I can’t accept a plan that assumes we will suffer great losses! In the first place, once winter comes around, it will be hard to even get food!」
「That is true……how about we ask Rei-dono to lend us his strength? He has a rare item box after all.」
The noble glanced at Rei as he spoke and Rei started thinking.
He had been hired to help in the civil war.
But it still didn’t feel good to be used by others for their own purposes.
Several others felt the same way.
Vihera’s gaze turned cold when she heard people wanting to use her beloved Rei for their own purposes.
The noble seemed to have noticed the gazes directed at him as he looked away in confusion……but he continued as he still felt that Rei was their most effective means in their current situation.
「There are a lot of important nobles on the other side. I mean, most of them probably can’t afford to stay around all the time, so if you consider that……」
Several people who heard his words nodded in agreement.
The fact was that with two members of the royal family present, Kabajid and Shurus, the nobles working for them would have to send out either their family heads or someone of equal standing.
If they sent someone incompetent or of lower standing, they would face various troubles once the civil war ended.
To avoid that, even if they were important noble families, they still had to send someone important enough.
And, if they were going to send out someone important, they had to do so with a suitable force, which due to the vanity of many nobles meant a large army.
Sending a large army might have been fine if it were for a short period of time, but if they were gone for the entire winter, bandits, monsters that adventurers couldn’t handle, and other troublemakers would start to crop up in their territories. That was a risk they couldn’t afford to take.
Of course, if their territory was close to where battles were taking place, it might be possible to send their soldier home in time.
However, the Bestir Empire was vast and not all places were easy to travel to and from.
「……In other words, by just waiting here, the forces of the nobles in the punitive force will gradually weaken.」
「But if that happens, don’t you think that Mercurio’s army will suffer similar damage?」
「That is right……」
The noble’s eyes were directed towards Rei once again.
It was true that with Set, it wouldn’t be hard to send Rei around as a one man army.
But……
「We can’t rely on Rei for everything. We still have our own honour to uphold.」
Many nodded at the leader of the mercenaries in the army.
But, even seeing that, the noble continued to speak without backing down.
「Then what do we do? Should we fight the enemy head on as written in the letter that Frederick-dono brought? Surely that’s impossible. Have you forgotten that they said they have a solid plan to deal with Rei-dono?」
「……But, is that really possible?」
For a moment.
The voice of one noble mysteriously echoed inside the tent.
It was a question that many held in their minds.
Knowing Rei’s power, they couldn’t help but wonder if their enemy had really found a way to counter him.
Rei had already achieved so much after all.
「So, you think that they might have mass produced a magic item that can absorb fire magic, like the one you encountered while escorting Princess Frizione’s army?」
Rei shook his head at the noble’s question.
「No, it’s true that it could nullify fire magic, but it didn’t seem to work unless it came in direct contact with my. Above all, my magic can affect a wide area, but that doesn’t mean it’s my only means of attack. If I use Overlord’s Armour like when they attacked the camp, I don’t know if they can counter it……」
It’s impossible, probably, Rei though.
The fact was that Overlord’s Armour was a very powerful skill, ignoring the extremely high magic power cost. Just charging into the enemy would cause great damage and it was impossible to stop him.
(As for the consumption of magic power……)
Rei gently touched a bracelet under his Dragon Robe.
The Magic Absorption Bracelet, which he had completely forgotten in the previous battle.
It was a magic item that allowed him to absorb magic power from enemies he hit, proportional to the damage inflicted.
(Although, to be honest, I doubt it can cover the massive amount of magic power that Overlord’s Armour consumes compared to ordinary magic.)
The Magic Absorption Bracelet did absorb magic power from enemies.
But this didn’t mean it didn’t have any limits.
It was impossible to absorb more magic power than his enemy had.
And Overlord’s Armour consumed a crazy amount of magic power.
Even if he charged at enemies with Overlord’s Armour active, hitting many people……the amount of magic power recovered wasn’t likely to cover the expenditure of the skill.
That was how much magic power Rei had and how much Overlord’s Armour consumed when active.
In other words, no matter how many people he attacked with the Magic Absorption Bracelet, it was a drop in the bucket compared to what he would need to sustain it indefinitely.
The conversation continued as Rei thought to himself.
「Even if it is more disadvantageous to them, I don’t want a strategy that puts us at a disadvantage as well. After all, our opponent is Prince Kabajid. There’s no way he hasn’t considered the possibility that we will refuse this battle.」
「……That’s true. At the very least, he would be able to spread word that we fled a battle to the people to tell them that we are at a disadvantage. He’ll probably also use the opportunity to say that we are dragging out the war for no reason.」
Everyone looked bitter at Vihera’s words.
The reason Mercurio’s army currently held some advantage was because they had only won.
As for the recent attack on their camp, because Mercurio’s army was eventually able to repel the punitive force, word had spread that it was their victory.
……The damage they suffered had been considerable, but they had still been spoken of as the victors.
Of course, the punitive force was also fully aware of that information and was trying to spread word that they had caused great damage to Mercurio’s army. However, the fact that they had been repelled without being able to capture the camp was a major factor in the eyes of the people, causing them to see it as Mecurio’s victory.
It was also because people believed it that many came to cooperate with Mercurio’s army.
But……what if Mercurio’s army fled without fighting?
With popular members of the royal family present, such as Vihera and Frizione, the immediate impact probably wouldn’t be too great.
That said, it would still put them at a clear disadvantage overall.
Because of their smaller numbers, Mercurio’s army needed to keep winning.
It would be unpleasant for them if rumours started to spread that they were intentionally dragging out the war.
Mercurio wanted to avoid the reputation of someone who didn’t care about his people and only sought pleasure in fighting at all costs.
「So, the best thing for us to do would be to accept the challenge from Kabajid and Shurus and then win.」
Several people frowned at Mercurio’s conclusion.
They all knew it. That was the best course of action.
But……
「In the end, it all comes down to whether we can defeat them or not.」
One of the nobles naturally turned their gaze to Rei.
He was the strongest person present and the person who held the key to this battle.
Facing the gazes of everyone present, Rei spoke as he felt the pressure.
「Set and I are not the type to lose so easily……I think the results so far have shown that. We would be at a disadvantage if we don’t accept their challenge here, so I think it would be better to accept it.」
「Rei has said the same……and I believe in the strength of this army. Theorem and his subordinates, sister’s high combat and command skills, and Frizione’s White Rose Knights. There are also many other gathered. There is no way we can lose to the punitive force.」
「Your Highness Mercurio……to trust us so much……」
「Victory to Your Highness!」
「Victory! We will win this battle!」
「The throne for Your Highness Mercurio!」
「Your Highness!」
Mercurio’s words resonated with the hearts of everyone present.
There was nothing special about what he said. But even so, those words undoubtedly resonated with the hearts of all present.
Vihera and Frizione looked on with joy, as did Mercurio.
The sisters seemed pleased that Mercurio had the charisma to attract so many people.
「So, does anyone have any objections to agreeing to their challenge?」
At his words, the surroundings fell silent.
Rei also looked back at Mercurio in silence.
「Then it’s settled. Can you please call Frederick here?」
「Yes! Right away!」
One of the nobles immediately called over a knight and ordered him to bring Frederick over.
「Pardon me, Prince Mercurio, Princess Frizione, Princess Vihera. I have come because I heard you called for me.」
Frederick and his entourage entered the tent.
However, a look of surprise appeared on his face after he entered.
The atmosphere was clearly different than before.
It was very similar to the atmosphere of his master’s camp, Kabajid’s camp.
(This is……)
Did something go wrong?
Thinking that, Frederick turned to look at Mercurio.
「Ah, I’m sorry for driving you out and then summoning you back.」
「No, I suppose that’s only natural, considering that this is a matter that will decide the future of the army. ……So, what was the outcome of the consultation? Could you tell me about it?」
Feeling everyone’s gazes, Mercurio spoke up.
「Yes, I will accept. However, I cannot agree with all of Kabajid’s conditions.」
「……I see, that would certainly be the case in Prince Mercurio’s position. I understand. What do you mean specifically?」
「The choice of battlefield. If Kabajid or Shurus had chosen the location in advance, there’s a good chance they could set up some sort of trap.」
Frederick nodded in response to Mercurio’s words, as if to say that was true.
「But, doesn’t the opposite also apply? If Prince Mercurio were to decide on the battlefield, there’s a possibility that you could set up something as well.」
Frederick wasn’t insulting Mercurio.
If he was insulting Mercurio here, it would also mean he was insulting himself, having been in the same position just a moment ago.
「That may be true. Well then, how about we each send a few people to keep watch over the proposed battlefield? That way, neither of us will be able to do anything sneaky. And……if we did……we’d end up being known as the ones who tarnished the battle.」
Frederick thought over it for a few moments before slowly nodding at Mercurio’s words.