“Offensive magic would be ineffective against walls, so it would be more practical for mages to focus on strengthening weapons,” Maxi noted, looking triumphantly at Miriam.
His sense of victory was quickly interrupted when Kuahel dryly commented, "If we don't solve the wyvern problem, it won't matter how much we improve the catapults.
No amount of distance will keep our men safe from an air attack."
“We will resolve this issue quickly,” replied Geoffrey.
"We have deciphered most of the rune.
Once we understand how it works, it will only be a matter of time before we figure out how to neutralize it.
However..."
The wizard hesitated, looking worried.
Breston's impatient nature came to the fore.
He pressed irritably, "However, what?
Let's get on with it, man."
Geoffrey frowned, offended by Breston's rudeness, and said brusquely, "To destroy the rune, someone would need to access its mana circuit."
There was a pause.
“That means someone will have to infiltrate the monster city,” muttered Riftan.
Maxi's posture tensed.
Surely he wasn't considering taking on such a dangerous task?
She watched him warily.
“The monsters will fortify their defenses once we gather our army,” Kuahel said sarcastically.
“Infiltrating won’t be as easy as last time.”
Riftan lifted his chin to look at the paladin, and a cold smile curved his lips before disappearing.
“The first time wasn’t easy either.”
Deliberations continued into the night.
The knights threw around different military terms, taking turns expressing their opinions.
The atmosphere in the room soon became heated, with one argument following another.
Tired of the knights' battle of nerves, Anton rose from his chair as the servants arrived to light the candles.
"Let's apologize now.
We still have a lot to do."
Maxi instinctively stood up with them, but the sight of Riftan and Princess Agnes sitting side by side stopped her from advancing any further.
Seeing her frozen strangely, Miriam frowned as she walked towards the exit.
"What are you doing?"
The other mages were already leaving the meeting room.
Not knowing what to do, Maxi turned to look at Riftan.
Her husband, however, kept his eyes fixed on the map.
“Walk her back, Charon,” he said monotonously.
Elliot got up and walked over to her.
With no excuse to remain, Maxi left with a sullen expression.
She found Anette and Armin still working in the workshop.
Despite Elliot and Ulyseon's insistence that she return to her quarters and rest, Maxi returned to her place next to the brazier to finish her task.
After working late into the night, she finally returned to her room to satisfy her hunger with bread, cheese, and mulled wine.
Even so, there was still light coming out of the living quarters.
Standing in front of the window with a lamp in her hand, Maxi looked out at the courtyard before curling up on the bed with a grim expression.
When morning came, she reached out to Calto to suggest hiring mages not affiliated with the Mage Tower.
Although he initially didn't like the idea, the elder must have considered it necessary, as he soon sent a letter of commission to the mercenary guild.
A few days later, seventeen wizards arrived at Eth Lene Castle.
Although most were minor mages who could only use a few spells like healing or restoration magic, some were practitioners of considerable skill.
His assistance made it much easier for Maxi, Anette, and Armin to create the magical devices.
The advancement in deciphering the dark mages' runes also progressed, and the leaders of the coalition army were able to set the date for departure.
Anton entered the spacious room where the mages were gathered and made a solemn announcement.
"You must pack your things before the end of the day.
We are ready to leave at the first sign of light.
Each of you will be provided with self-defense weapons and emergency rations, and we will also deliver magical devices, magic stones, and medicine.
Make sure you take everything."
“Has the army already made plans on how we are going to capture the city from the monsters?” asked Miriam, raising her hand.Anton shook his head.
"The commanding officers seem to have something in mind, but nothing definitive has been decided.
They seem wary of information leaking.
Details will be confirmed as we travel to the Plateau."
At his words, the mages began to whisper among themselves with expressions of apprehension.
Everyone was aware of the war of nerves simmering between the commanders of each of the kingdoms, and the mages doubted that such a fragmented command would be capable of leading this campaign to victory.
"Enough whispering.
Let me remind you that three knights are considered the incarnations of Rosem Wigrew and will fight in this campaign," said Anton in an imposing voice, trying to calm the wizards' apprehension.
"This war is necessary to protect the peace and prosperity of this land.
It will not be an easy endeavor, but I pray that everyone will do their best in their respective roles."
His firm tone silenced the mages.
He studied their faces before adding, "The Tower's mages will be divided into two units.
The mages from Sigrew and Kabala will assist the knights at the front.
The mages from Undaim and Nome Hall will form the defensive line behind and tend to the injured along with the unaffiliated mages.
Are there any objections?"
When his listeners remained silent, Anton continued slowly, “I will lead the offensive support unit, and I want you, Maximilian, to lead the rear support.”
Maxi was listening intently.
Her eyes widening at Anton's command, she glared at him before turning a confused look to Ben, a senior mage from Undaim.
“W-Why me and not Master Ben?”
“I have no experience in warfare, but you once served in a support unit when you were still an unaffiliated mage,” Ben said placidly.
"Besides, you're quite popular with the soldiers.
I'm sure they'll have no problem taking orders from the Scarlet Lady.
It would make it a lot easier for the rest of us if you were in command."
Heat rose in Maxi's cheeks as he scanned the faces around him.
Including herself, a total of twenty-one mages would serve in the support unit.
Three were from the gnome hall, one from Undaim, and the rest were unaffiliated.
Although she wondered with some apprehension whether these mages would be willing to follow her instructions without complaint, she eventually nodded determinedly.
"I understand.
I accept the role."
"Good.
Now, all of you, go.
Go pack your things."
Everyone dispersed at Anton's instruction.
Maxi headed to the infirmary to gather medicine and medical equipment.
To his surprise, the training ground“previously packed with the tents of Balton's knights“was now filled with dozens of carts and thousands of horses lined up in neat rows.
She was moving among them when she saw Riftan bend over one of the carts and turned to Princess Agnes, freezing her.
He looked stunning in his burgundy tunic and the silver breastplate and chainmail of the White Dragons, over which he had thrown a black fur coat.
This bothered Maxi to the end.
Biting her lip, she considered giving in and talking to him first.
The fact that he had made absolutely no effort to reconcile was starting to make her anxious.
However, when she saw him straighten up from his inspection into a beast and turn towards Princess Agnes, all thoughts of approaching him first disappeared.
She looked at the two of them, her eyes narrowed.
The pair were like figures in a painting.
A slender beauty with dazzling golden hair, and an attractive black-haired knight.
Maxi felt his heart burn with jealousy.
Since the princess's arrival at Eth Lene Castle, they were always together.
According to Ulyseon, the royal edict that the princess had brought with her designated Riftan as the chief aide to the supreme commander of the royal army of Wedon“the princess herself.
They attended strategic meetings together and supervised military training side by side afterwards.
On the surface, there was nothing strange about it.
After all, Riftan was a knight who had sworn loyalty to the crown of Wedon.
Still, Maxi had a suspicion that King Reuben hadn't given up on his desire to pair Riftan with the princess.Suppressing her boiling emotions, Maxi turned and entered the infirmary.
The mages who were already there were packing vials in the dimly lit space.
Although she threw herself into her work, her busy hands did not stop her thoughts from returning to Riftan and Princess Agnes.
Did he really feel nothing for her?
Even if she didn't feel it, the same couldn't be said for the princess.
Maxi frowned, hating himself for harboring such suspicions.
Her head told her that there was no reason to worry, but inside she still boiled every time she saw them together.
She bit her lip irritatingly and tied the opening of the herb bag as tight as she could.
It was time to overcome this feeling of inferiority that I felt towards the princess.
After all, Agnes had done nothing but support and encourage her until now.
It would be very ungrateful of her to repay your kindness with petty jealousy.
She took a deep breath.
Princess Agnes was not the problem.
The real problem was the lack of trust between Riftan and herself.
Even so, she couldn't think of a way to resolve this.
Maybe I'm expecting too much.
She walked to the window and opened the shutters.
Outside, he saw Riftan and Agnes walking through the crowd of soldiers.
It was a suffocating feeling, this desire to be the only one by her side, whether it was in the safety of the castle or on the battlefield.
But all this desire of hers had done was cause a rift between them.
One of the two would have to give in first.
She knew her resolve was weakening every day.
His greatest fear was that they would end up getting along no better than strangers if she stubbornly persisted in imposing her will over his.
After this war ended, would it be wiser to follow his wishes?
She did not wish to antagonize him further.
The next day, twenty thousand soldiers set out from Eth Lene Castle at the first sign of light.
The infantry marched at the front of the huge procession, carrying the flags of their respective kingdoms.
Behind them came the cavalry, followed by a line of baggage carts.
As the armies of Osiriya and Balto had already departed, the waving flags still visible were those of Livadon, Wedon, the golden flag of the Royal Knights of Bolosé, and the navy blue of the White Dragon Navy.
Maxi watched the crowd as he rode behind the White Dragons.
It seemed as if all the city's inhabitants had gathered in the streets.
They waved colorful scarves, cheering: "Rosem Wigrew d'Aren!
Rosem Wigrew d'Calypse!
Peace and victory for the Seven Kingdoms!"