Chapter 52: Counterattack

Hi guys, here’s a double relase as promised. Enjoy reading!

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Astina-denka is wearing clothes that barely expose her skin. The condition wherein her body overflows with magical power was improved to some extent by completing her spirit mark but it is not completely suppressed because her magical power is fundamentally out of ordinary.This is translated by Yume Neiji (yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com)

So the spirit mark may react to the magical power of Her Highness and appear in a state where anyone can see it. We don’t want to surprise the captains who are attending the war council so it’s best not to show the spirit mark at this time.

When will Her Highness have the opportunity to go under the tree of sacred tree?

–It’s better to be as early as possible. From here on, that will depend on the strategy that will be discussed.

“Yesterday, 62 Knights were killed due to the enemy’s attack. The night before yesterday, a Zirconian platoon set up an attack across the canal, but Dite’s corps repelled them. At that time, the enemy carried only one cannon.”

“I think the enemy army tried to destroy the city walls to invite turmoil on our army… even though it did not happen, they still attacked. It only meant that the enemy was also impatient, right?”

When Raquel said so, Astina-denka ordered her close aide to spread the map on the round table.This is translated by Yume Neiji (yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com)

“Perhaps Zirconia’s strategy would have been to make us think to defend the rampart. In reality, they were aiming to siege the fortress from east and west. They daringly used medium-sized boat to carry the cannons to keep our eyes away from their warships.”

“Your Highness, can I be permitted to speak? We are also watching the canal but there was no shadow or figure of a warship. How did the Zirconia’s side keep it hidden?”

Dite-san raised her hand and speaks after getting permission. I was also skeptical about that –if there was an enemy base along the canal’s upper stream and if they were following the stream over the water, we would definitely see it from the Isle Rose Fortress in which there’s a constant monitoring across the canal.

“…I have confirmed that the enemy has a magician and that was why I’ve been at the frontline.”This is translated by Yume Neiji (yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com)

“Uh………There’s a magician in Zirconia… so far, we never had such information…”

“Well, in exchange of having no magicians, Zirconia is ahead from our kingdom in terms of the development of military weapons. They consider it an advantage and try to incorporate it into their operations as they attack us… that’s what I thought.”

She spoke till that extent then Her Highness looked at me. Thinking that I’m going to be asked for some opinion, I prepared to answer.

“However, I’ve been feeling a sense of malaise for a while now. There was a sign of unrest across the canal… If that was because the magician was using some magic to trick our eyes…”

“….I think there is a possibility for that. Normally, it is difficult to maintain magic especially showing such a large illusion. However, water spirits are active across the canal. For example, that magician can show the illusion with the help of a mist.”

“Mist huh… If that was the case, then all this time, they made us think that we are safe as there’s no movement from the enemy across the river… right?”

“Her Highness was convinced of the existence of a magician while battling the enemy army from the east…Perhaps, the magician was accompanied by the enemy’s general, Alejandro?”

It was so far away from me so I couldn’t feel it –but Astina-denka’s sensation extends all around the fortress. As she gets closer, the easier it will be to feel the magician’s presence. As she was on the front line, it would almost be correct.

“Alejandro… Zirconia’s “white crow”. With him coming out from their capital probably means that he had been given full military power by their king. Even if he came out to the front line himself, their retreat had been early…”

“…I think it’s probably because the magician who followed Alejandro taught them about my perception. I thought about it when Grass explained the cause of my collapse, it wouldn’t be strange that the enemy army considers exhausting me first.”

The general of the Isle Rose Fortress can see the future and if she swings her sword, she is a warlord who can kill 100 people in a battle all at once. There’s no doubt that Zirconia considers Her Highness as the most threatening enemy.

And if the enemy has a magician, it is not strange to notice Astina-denka’s magical powers which spread all around Isle Rose Fortress.

(…Grass-sama. If the magician…)

Leslie next to me spoke in a soft voice. With that said, I too realized it.

There was a magician in the enemy’s army that could not be felt until now. Some people from the Royal Family are familiar with Zirconia –which suggests the worst possibility.

“…Grass, Lendl. This is what I ask of you since you guys are the only magicians present in this fortress…”

“Yes…we are ready to go on the battlefield. But, if the enemy have combat magicians who use elemental spirits… Most probably, they had undergone combat training.”

I can’t tell if they’re from the Silvana Magic Academy or they are magicians from Lezenia –but if our opponent uses “water” magic as I guessed, they could manipulate one of the elemental spirits from earth, water, fire and wind.

“But we still have to win this battle. At this rate, Isle Rose Fortress will isolate and cut off itself from the capital. There are some who don’t like us within the kingdom you see.”

“Uh….A-Astina-denka…t-that is…”

“I-If you say something like that, it would be considered as rebellion against the kingdom… Even as the third princess, pardoning you is…”

The two attack captains voiced out. The second archer captain turned pale and trembled without uttering a word. It’s natural to be afraid. Her Highness revealed that she could not put her full trust in the kingdom that she had been fighting for.

“To reward those who have died in the past, we cannot be so weakened and crushed by Zirconia like this. If that happens, the territory will be sacrificed and everything that we tried to protect so far will be robbed.”

“….To us, nothing will change. If Astina-denka’s aspiration is to protect the people, we will obey. If anyone has doubts, we will not force you to fight.”

Raquel-san’s remaks opened the eyes of those agitated captains.

Astina-denka then pointed out two points on the unfolded map. One of which is the other side of the canal, probably the location of the enemy base.

“…To protect this Isle Rose Fortress and the western territories, we will attack Zirconia while our troops’ strength and morale still remains.”

If we keep still, we will lose everything. Zirconia’s “White Crow” is stubbornly aiming for this fortress –furthermore, it will be hard to keep with such scheming behind.

On this battlefield, I thought I would never be seen as a magician. However, from the start, I cannot give up just because I am a “flop” spirit user.

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