Chapter 36

Lunch break was over, and our squad resumed our march.

"Magic Arrow"

"Geah!?"

My Magic Arrow blew the lizardman away with a single strike.

The discomfort I had felt with the Magic Arrow before noon had disappeared. It flew smoothly as it used to, accurately piercing the spot I aimed for.

It must be thanks to Rola.

When I glanced at Rola standing next to me, she noticed and gave me a gentle smile.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, I nodded and looked away.

I hadn't been in the mood to fight much during the day and hadn't fired many Magic Arrows, but this time I joined the battle more actively.

"...It feels easier than before noon."

"There are fewer lizardmen coming our way."

"Has the number of enemies decreased?"

"It's probably increased. I think the rear support has gotten stronger."

I overheard the knights whispering to each other.

Rola spoke to me softly.

"It's because Albert is doing his best! It's amazing!"

"Is that so... I hope so."

I thought it couldn't be that much of a difference just because of me. It must be Rola's overestimation.

Philbus took over the conversation with a weary look.

"...Maybe you can handle everything on your own, Albert?"

Philbus still seemed to enjoy making light-hearted jokes.

"I can't do anything on my own."

With that, our squad continued to defeat the lizardmen one after another and advanced steadily—

"Alright, that's enough for today! Let's withdraw!"

We returned to the main camp in high spirits.

However, the bright atmosphere was only ours.

The mood at the main camp, which had been filled with confidence, had clearly changed from before we set out. There were many injured soldiers, and a gloomy atmosphere hung in the air.

What on earth—

◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

Allenja was pressing his temples in the office at the main camp.

It had been a tougher battle than expected.

He had just held a meeting with the captains of the main army.

Compared to the first battle, the captains were clearly more fatigued. However, they all said the same thing.

"Although we didn't advance as smoothly as last time, our army is still in a favorable position!"

They were all high-ranking military officials in the kingdom. Given their pride and ambition, it was hard to take their words at face value.

So, Allenja carefully read through the reports.

He meticulously analyzed the sections that couldn't be exaggerated, such as the number of casualties and the areas advanced.

What he concluded was—

The captains' statements weren't lies.

They didn't accurately reflect the truth, but they weren't lies.

We were still in a favorable position.

If the previous victory was an 8-2 win, this time it was more like a 6-4 win. We were winning, but the margin was narrowing.

Still, a favorable position was a favorable position.

If this trend continued, we would win.

However, Allenja wasn't satisfied with that. What he wanted was a decisive victory that everyone would praise, not a hard-fought win with many sacrifices.

After all, the enemy was just lizardmen.

Even if they were enhanced by heraldists, the notion that they were "just lizardmen" couldn't be shaken.

If the kingdom's army struggled against "lizards," the nobles who didn't know the front lines would mock us behind our backs.

The king also desired a decisive victory.

A narrow win wouldn't do.

No, more than that.

There was a possibility that the third battle could turn the tables—

Allenja shook his head to dispel that thought. That was something he had to avoid.

Amidst the unpleasant situation, there was one bright spot.

Goubirbalphis's squad had made a significant advance despite the ongoing tough battle.

According to Goubirbalphis's report, they had struggled like the other squads until noon, but then they advanced rapidly.

"All of this is due to the bravery of my squad's knights! They are not mere lizardmen!"

At the meeting, Goubirbalphis had declared this boldly, looking down on the other captains who were dejected.

One of the other captains, who was jealous of his success, muttered.

"Hmph, isn't it thanks to the mages you brought along?"

"Mages!?"

Goubirbalphis snorted.

"What can those weak Magic Arrows do!? Besides, you have mage support too. It's not a unique feature of my squad!"

He insisted it was the knights' achievement, breathing heavily.

In the midst of the others' dejection, he wanted to make a grand impression on Allenja.

(As long as the results are there, anything goes...)

He would use the ambition of his subordinates. If Goubirbalphis was so eager, he could use that to his advantage.

If he was truly capable, he would achieve results in the next battle as well.

However, that could be problematic.

(Goubirbalphis's squad... I remember...)

Allenja stood up and took a file from a nearby shelf. He flipped through the pages and found what he was looking for.

It read:

"Mage Albert, assigned to Goubirbalphis's squad"

This was not a pleasant discovery.

The glory and victory of the squad would also reflect on its members. If Goubirbalphis's squad continued to win consecutively for some reason, there was a risk that Albert's reputation would rise.

Despite only being able to fire those "weak Magic Arrows."

(What a worthless good-for-nothing! He seems to have luck, though!)

It wouldn't be pleasant if Albert's reputation rose.

There was a chance that his father's feelings might change. Of course, Allenja thought this was an overreaction—

(But better safe than sorry...)

At that moment, an idea struck Allenja.

—Send Albert to a separate decoy squad.

The perfection of this plan made Allenja tremble, almost swooning at his own genius.

A separate decoy squad was essential. However, after today's intense battle, they had lost many members, just like on the first day.

This would help fill the gap—

And it would keep Albert away from glory.

If he died, Allenja would never have to worry about his brother's existence again.

(A glorious death in battle. At least I'll give you a grand funeral in the Lumina family, brother. Isn't that nice? Having a brother-loving younger brother.)

Allenja twisted his lips and laughed loudly.