801 Episode 0801



this is the fiercest civil war in the Westian Empire
 Watching the battle from the headquarters, Mercurio turns to the Teoreme at hand.

"Overall, is it fair to say that...?"
"Yes, we are inferior in military strength, but we can say that the current war situation is even. ...it was originally planned to cause more spectacular confusion in the rear of the punitive force."
"Well, if it had been going well, we would have had an advantage by now..."
"If you think of Ray's personality, he's going to use a flashy magic trick."

 Fritzione muttered anxiously, listening to Mercurio and Theoreum.

"Yes, sister Fritzione," Certainly, given Ray's personality... or rather his ability, I don't think he's going to have to fight it out here. Was the hand hit by Kabazid'said.
"That's all I can think of," But I don't know what you've done. To be honest, when it comes to the right person to control Ray, I can only think of immovable noise."

 Theorem says so, but one of the nobles in the headquarters shakes his head.

"You've already come to a conclusion on the matter, haven't you? If it's noise, you might be able to compete with Ray. But the noise will need the Emperor's permission to use it in this civil war, and most importantly, it has already gone to the devil's end after the competition. I have to say that it is difficult to pull out the noise."

 The others nod in the same way.
 Yes, it's quite impossible to bring noise to this battlefield as the aristocrats say.
 There's no doubt about it.
 But what lies in Theoreum's mind is that the punitive force, which had fought many times since the beginning of the civil war, had lost a series of battles, and had yet to win any battle, let alone achievements such as defeating several soldiers or defeating knights.

(In other words, the punitive force is cornered.) And Frederick's confidence. It's about His Highness Kabazeed. I am sure that there is something in it."

 In Theoreum's mind, we can call him Mercurio's biggest rival... or, on the contrary, his experience in politics makes him look more like a cabazade than he could call forward compatible.
 I'm sure I'm doing something about it.
 Then the messenger appears as if he had read such a message.  
 He must have run this far with all his might. The horse on board doesn't hide his heavy breathing.

"Messages, messengers! They're killing each other!"
"...what?"

 At first, Theoreum doesn't understand what the messenger is saying.
 No wonder. The shortstop is one of the most elite of Mercurio's forces.
 Even without Ray, it is the unit that boasts the same level of ability as the Magic Veterans and the White Rose Knights, and if Ray is included, it is literally the strongest unit in the Mercurio army.
 Naturally, the men who belonged to it had been assigned to the Mercurio army after examining whether there was any fear of betrayal other than ability.
 Of course, as long as there is a civil war going on, it cannot be a complete investigation.
 Theoreum also thought there might be one or two people up to something.
 That's why he was sending his subordinates, Pernicus.
 ...however, even though it is a unit led by Ray, he is supposed to actually lead the unit because he basically prefers to act alone.
 At any rate, it was almost impossible for a man or two to betray a man or a woman to the extent that they were reported to have committed a mutual attack.

"What's going on?"

 I hear the murmur of a nobleman near Theoreum.
 When Theoreum hears it, he immediately returns to himself and gives instructions.

"There is a risk of serious damage to the surrounding area if the shortstop troops are fighting each other. Suppress it with a nearby force of leeway. Try not to kill him as much as you can. And when the commotion settles down, Perenicus... well, that's the time for it. Bring in someone who can explain the situation in detail. So, what is the effect on the battle against the punitive force?"

 The messenger, who had been waiting at the headquarters at the first instruction, ran swiftly to the horse, and the one who brought the report again.

"Those who are on the rampage seem to be on the rampage regardless of whether they are friends or foes. Therefore, when the punitive force approaches, they attack the punitive force, and when the punitive force approaches, they attack the punitive force."
"... didn't you betray me and join the punitive force?"

 If we were to side with the punitive force, it would be strange to launch an attack on them.
 If you ask such a question, the messenger who brought the report nods back.

"Yes. I got the impression that they were running wild rather than betraying me."
"Runaway?"

 I tilt my head, but I can't even think of having a magic item that would run wild.
 In the first place, such magic items are very rare, and I don't think they have the numbers that I've heard about, no matter how elite the Mercurio Army is.

(Then... what? No, should I just act now rather than think about it?)

 Just worrying about it as it is will only cause anxiety to those around you.

"Is there any other unit that is fighting against each other?"
"We haven't received any such reports so far. Maybe it's just the shortstop."

 Theoreum chagrined at the explanation.
 So far, there has been no particular problem with the other units, but as long as the reason why the shortstop units are fighting each other is unknown, we cannot feel completely at ease.
 What should we do next?
 When I think about it, I finally see the person I've been waiting for.
 No, considering the hardships that the person in front of you has gone through, it would be right to describe it as coming at once.
 The blood around his face is probably returning from the fact that the man did not appear to have been injured.
 There was no doubt that it was the blood of his comrades, considering the man was fighting against.
 Confusion is strong in the eye.
 Theoreum calls out to one of those squadrons.

"I've never called you before," ... No, before I do that, shall I ask you this? Has the confusion of the shortstop stopped yet?"
"No, it's calming down, but there are still some who are on the rampage. Come on, what's wrong with them... they'really insane. Why are you so...?
"...it may be hard to listen to now, but that's far from it now. How did they manage to get our troops... and that's how they got the best of the best of their troops, the shortstop? I want you to hear it. Do you have any idea?"
"Even if you say so..."

 Theoreum's words make the men in the squad worry.
 A few tens of seconds have passed, and then he opens his mouth in a state of uncertainty.

"Perhaps because of Wyvern's leather armour."
"Waiburn leather armor?"

 mutter and recall immediately
 that Ray had killed the Dragon Knight and brought back Wyvern's corpse.
 Then, I used magic items to forcefully shorten the time and make leather armour from the skin that was peeled off from Wyvern's corpse.

"...that is, is this Ray's work?"Theoreum's mouth was the worst prediction.
 If Ray, who is also the strongest force in the Mercurio army, had betrayed the punitive force, the battle would be completely hopeless.
 But soldiers in the squad shake their heads in disbelief.

"I don't think Captain Ray would do that." The vice-captain agreed."
"Pernicus..."

 I don't think the judgment is wrong because I trust my subordinates.
 Then why? I think so, but I can't think of the cause... and suddenly I'm struck by the sheath containing the dagger that the soldier in the squad in front of me has as a spare weapon.

(Dagger? Come to think of it, from Ray to Leather Armour...?)

 I remember what I said to Ray, and I took my breath away.
 Then he hurriedly opens his mouth to the man in front of him.

"You must have made daggers and arrows out of tusks and claws, besides leather armour, from the materials of the Weiburn, though you must have put off the magical swords, for they would take time."
"What!"

 I suppose he hadn't thought that far. A soldier gasps his breath.
 Of course, if soldiers were normal, they would have thought about it.
 All of a sudden, however, my friend, who had been talking to me until a few minutes ago, began to rage.
 Well, it should be commended that only those wearing Weiburn leather armour saw it as rampant.

"Theoreum, what do you mean? Can you explain it to me?"

 Theoreum nods and opens her mouth to Fritzione's words as she silently watches the development of the story.

"Even though they have accessories made of the same Wi-Bahn material, only those equipped with leather armour go wild... No, those who run wild and have accessories with tusks and claws are not running wild. even though they are made from the same material stripped from the same Wyburn."

 To put it that far, Mercurio, Fritzione and others around him probably understood what Theoreum meant.
 catch one's breath in a little
 Meanwhile, Theoreum's words continue.

"And the attack of the Dragon Knight who got the Weiburn. Ray told me that he showed up in a completely meaningless situation and attacked me as if it were on the assumption that he would lose. ... yes, just to give Wyvern's corpse to Ray."
"But... let's suppose Kabazid's brother had some sort of trick on Weiburn." But why are there no particular abnormalities among those who have equipment with tusks and claws?"

 Mercurio's words prompt Teoreme to speak.
 I was half expecting the trick in this case.

"Tanning leather usually takes a certain number of days. If it becomes a monster... that's also a monster like Wyvern, it takes longer than usual days. It's so hard to make it into leather in a few days."
"But did you make it in time?"
"Yes, a magic item used by our military blacksmiths is a drop of drim. If you hang it on the skin and tan it, its performance will decrease rather than normal leather, but it will dramatically shorten the time it takes to turn it into leather. But if I knew that His Highness Kabazeed was going to use this magic item..."
"Do you mean it's not difficult to do something against the Weiburn to confuse the wearer in response to the tricky trickle of the drim?"

 Theorem nods at Mercurio's words with a stern expression.
 That's probably the case. In other words, Kabazid had read all the way to this point and had the Dragon Knight attack Ray.
 I don't think I can set a trap this far if I think about it normally.

(However, this is the result of a series of coincidences. If Ray had decided to hand over Wyburn's leather armour after the war, this may not have happened. I didn't aim at it as a must-win measure, but was it just a lucky one to succeed?)

 I don't understand Kabazide's thinking, and there's a lot of doubt in the theme.
 The loss of five Dragon Knights seems to be too much of a damage for a plan to be launched if one is lucky.
 If Ray hadn't given the Weiburn leather armour to his squadron, he'd just kill the Dragon Knight in vain.

(This time it went well.) But... the betting factor is too strong. I mean, did Prince Ningle Cabad really read it this much.)

 Theoreum's imagination is beyond imagination.
 So far, there have been a number of coincidences that have piled up into the present situation.
 But to read all of it and set a trap...

(No, is it possible to have Prince Kabazeed?")

 It reminds me of the ignorance of the first prince.
 In terms of ability, it would be the highest among those who have the right to succeed to the throne.
 However, considering his unknown character, I could not believe that he would look up to me as emperor.
 That's why Teoreme chose to serve Mercurio.
 ...though it is undoubtedly true that he was attracted to Mercurio's own vessel.

"The confusion of the shortstop unit seems to have subsided at last! But the damage is great!"

 While I was relieved to hear the report of the messenger, I couldn't help but wonder what they were going to do next.