"I'm sorry to have called you, Ray," Have you been busy?"
"No, don't worry. The tent had already been delivered in advance, so all we needed to prepare was dinner. I'll get used to it if it lasts this long."

　At night, Ray was in the tent of Dusker. Several other knights of the bodyguard were seated in their chairs, some ten members of the neutral faction.

"Is he the one mentioned earlier, Mr. Dusker?"
"No, whatever it may be, isn't it ... too small?"

　Neutral aristocrats are frowning slightly at Ray.
　What I see is not so much contempt for Ray as a look of concern.
　But Dusker nods as if it were nothing to worry about, and turns his eyes to the aristocrat who said Ray was small.

"What, can't you trust my eyes?"

　The tone of the question was not to blame, but rather to amusing the reaction of the nobles when they saw Ray.

"No, I don't doubt your eyes. for he is a Larkus frontier who continues to rule on the frontier."

　The aristocrat next to him nods to his words, which he says in a flustered manner.

"But that's because Mr. Dusker, Count of Larkes," We are nothing but rural aristocrats. I have many opportunities to meet the adventurers in my dominions, but there are many who are well-muscled."
"Well, so am I. There are so many warriors, perhaps because they are basically in the countryside, or because there aren't so many wizards."

　One after another, the aristocrats agreed, but the words put a nasty smile on Dusker'

"Don't you have any misunderstanding? Ray is certainly a wizard. I can't feel it, but as a wizard who can sense magic, it seems to have incredible magical powers. But this is not a natural wizard, but a wizard. In other words, he's the type of person who controls magic while fighting in the avant-garde.
"...what?"

　A member of the nobility utters a dumbfounded voice. Only one of them actually spoke out, but the other nobles had similar eyes on Ray.
　But before long...

"Oh, oh. Is that so?" Come to think of it, he was accompanied by a Gryphon, wasn't he? I understand what you mean, then. You leave the close combat to Gryphon, and he will devote himself to magic."

　The words came out as if they were suffering, but they seemed to have the most persuasive power. Most of the aristocrats there nod in agreement, saying that they would agree with it.
　But again, Dusker shakes his head with a smile.

"Ray's follower, Gryphon, is indeed a powerful monster. But what I'm talking about is Ray himself. In fact, its strength can be wiped out even against the escort knights to protect the noble general. Come to think of it this way, you know how good Ray is?"
"... indeed. I know that the Duke of Kelebel adores Elena, who is called the Princess General, and at the same time makes the most of her usefulness." and of course she has a strong bodyguard against her beloved daughter."

　One of the nobles nods, muttering, and turns his eyes to Ray.

"But that's just ability against one person, isn't it? Well, if you ask me if I can trust you with your plan even if I hear about your ability against one person..."

(What are you talking about? It's definitely related to this war, since you're talking about my ability.)

　I know my existence is causing some debate, but I don't know what it is. Ray frowns faintly at the way they are being discussed.
　You must have noticed the situation. Watching the nobles with a smile, Dusker calls out to Ray.

"Ray, these are my allies. I suppose you'd better call me company."

　one's ally With the words, Ray understands what the aristocrats are like here.
　Dasker, Count of Larkus, who has the strength to call a great force on the frontier. The Dusker called his allies and allies very limited. That is to say...

"Neutralist"
"That's correct."

　Dasker nods to Ray's muttered words with a smile as if to say good job.
　Now that they've been told that much, they've finally realized that they haven't introduced themselves either. An elderly man in his fifties speaks on behalf of the nobles around him.

"You were certainly rude," They were called neutrals, led by Dusker. I had heard from Dusker how strong he was, but his appearance --"

　Ray shakes his head after getting into trouble with his appearance.

"I know full well that I don't look strong. So don't worry."
"Well, I'm sorry. But, my dear Dasker, why don't you sit down and talk to him as long as you can?"

　Dusker nods at the remark and turns to his bodyguard knight to bring him a chair.
　It's not as big as Elena's, and it's about 10 tatami mats.
　While marching to the area, Ray was once again impressed by the extent of the area, though he had gone inside several times due to the incident of wolves in the grass.

"Go ahead,"

　Ray sits in a chair offered to the knight and turns his eyes to the neutrals, including Dusker.
　The first person to open the door was Dusker, of course a neutral figure.

"In fact, I have spoken to the nobles and the kings about the war since I took up this position in the afternoon." ...the royalists seem to think of this war only as a regular attack."
"Oh, my! Mr. Dusker has captured and sent all the people of the Vestian Empire, the source of the information, to the capital of the kingdom! But he still omits it as usual."

　Perhaps he couldn't stand it enough, so the man who called Ray a little while ago muttered abominably.

"Well, calm down. ...and back to the point, as long as the royalists think this war is a regular one, they believe that the kingdom of Milliana will win by protecting this Celemus plain. Well, here's a question. What do you think is going to be the king's side who think there will be a war that will surely win?"
"What...? To inflict more damage on the army of the Vestian Empire?"

　Even though they invade regularly, the Milliana Kingdom must also send troops each time. That would naturally cost money.
　It was a natural opinion for Ray, who remembered the small number of troops dispatched, especially in the city of Subursta, because the deputy lord did not want to spend money. But when Dusker hears it, he shakes his head, and so do the other nobles.While the opinion is incorrect, the gaze towards Ray is somewhat soft. We were so accustomed to power struggles as nobles that it was only natural for us to read the other side of the story. Ray's views on them were immature and green, but they were still pleasant.
　There were still many who doubted Ray's fighting power, but even if Dusker told me half-heartedly, it was a formidable force. Such a person's intelligence aside from his fighting power would undoubtedly be considered a risk factor, but as far as Ray's opinion is concerned, there is no such thing. Rather preferably, the rest of us, except Dusker, felt relieved.
　Ray wouldn't be interested if he found out that his lack of insight had lifted the guard of the nobles. But luckily or unfortunately, Ray doesn't notice it and the story goes on.

"Well, Gohong. So, I'll get back to that."

　Dusker has dated Ray to some extent, and reports from Langa and the Adventurer Guild give him a good understanding of Ray's character. So I wasn't worried at all about Ray's political ambitions.

"Excuse me, Mr. Dusker," I interrupted him."

　One of the aristocrats says so and looks apologetic.
　Dusker shakes his head when he sees it, saying he doesn't have to worry about it, and opens his mouth to Ray again.

"Well, yes. The royal faction is predetermined to win this war. Their aim is naturally to increase the influence of their factions."
"...that is to say, that the King's faction will launch a full-scale attack on the Imperial army?"
"No,"

　A clear shake of the head at Ray's words.
　Ray opens his mouth with a mystified look on his face.

"Why? By increasing their influence, of course, do you mean that they will do well in this war?"
"A great achievement in this war will certainly increase the influence of the royalists. But it also carries a high risk. Let's say, for example, that they launched a full-scale offensive against the army of the Westia. That would certainly increase their influence if they routed the enemy, but if they failed in the attack, their influence would decrease and their military strength would decrease. But what if we were neutral or aristocratic in attacking the enemy?"
"...even if you say yes." Isn't it the same as the royal faction?"

　Dusker shakes his head again at Ray's reply.

"It may be the same in terms of increasing influence. But they have different influences. The royal faction is dominated by the king, and has a great influence in itself. Even if we were neutral or aristocratic in this war, it wouldn't have an effect."

　Having said that, Ray understood what the royalists thought. in other words

"Putting the fight on the neutrality and aristocracy of the Daskers?"
"Yes, if we win this war, we will have limited influence. As the king of the largest faction, we will never allow them to have more influence than we do. Even if we win further, our strength will surely decrease. I don't think I can imitate winning without a dead man."
"I suppose so," No matter how complete a victory may be, it is highly unlikely that there will be no dead man."

(If there is a possibility, will they destroy the enemy before approaching them in a one‐sided attack from a long distance? No, but they have the means to attack from a long distance, too, of course. I don't think I can imitate winning without a dead man.)

　Ray nods to Dusker's words, muttering inward.

"And in the worst case for us, the King's side most desired that, when the neutrals and the nobles were unable to maintain the line of battle, the King's forces would attack us to decide the victory."

　The aristocrats in the tent frowned at Dusker's words.
　Watching the situation, Ray understood that the royalists were now trying to carry out what Dusker had just said.

"You seem to understand his face," Yes, what I just said is what the royalists are trying to do in this war. "Well, I have been talking for a long time, but here's the reason why I called you."
"...to take the lead in me, too?"
"Yes,"

　Dasker nods to Ray's words without hesitation.
　Of course, Dusker's original feeling is to put Ray in the vanguard. ...that is, I don't like this idea, which can be used as a shield for my own army. But the neutrality does not allow it. Of course, the adventurers, knights and soldiers of the town of Gilm, led by Dusker, are among the best in the army of the Kingdom of Milliana, regardless of number. But basically five people with two powers are more important in a war than one with ten powers. Of course there will be many exceptions.

"I understand what you're saying, but if you're going to take the lead, wouldn't you mind if it wasn't me or Elk?"
"Oh, of course I told Elk this first. And he accepted it without hesitation."
"... I see,"

　The apology Elk was supposed to make to Ray is that he was seriously trying to defeat the enemy in this war.

"I have received information about you and the axe of Thunder God. That's probably a big reason why Elk accepted my request."

　You must have thought the same as Ray. Dusker also nods and says so.
　And Ray, who had been thinking about it for a few seconds, recalls the most convenient magic in this case.
　This magic, which can be called widespread extermination magic, is released in cooperation with Seto.

"... Mr. Dusker, would it be better if we had a head-on collision with the Imperial Army of Bestia?"
"Huh? Well, to be honest, that's it."
"Do you care what means?"
"There will be no problem with the usual means of war. However, it would be helpful if the royalists would say things like the pride of the nobles after the war if they pretended to take hostages."
"...how about this sort of measure?"

　That's what Ray says, explaining to Dusker the magic of his trump card, and the proposal will be adopted.