Ate let out a wry smile and then glanced at Isabelle, who stood beside Elric, his eyes suddenly lighting up.
"Hmm?"
Just before they set out, Ate had a brief opportunity to exchange a few words with her, alongside Brian, when she was introduced as their strategist.
They didn't talk for long, but in that short conversation, Ate had the distinct impression that Isabelle possessed far more talent in military strategy than she let on.
He had never imagined that the woman once widely rumored to be the future Crown Princess could have hidden such abilities.
And now, as she stood beside Elric, she carried an air of knowing exactly what was coming.
Ate finally realized where this bold plan must have originated.
"...This operation was your idea, Lady Isabelle," Ate remarked.
Elric nodded in confirmation.
"Yes. I agreed that it is worth a try. So, focus on leading the charge and handling the command, Lord Ate."
"...I'm not entirely sure what you're aiming for."
If Isabelle and Elric had concocted this plan together, then surely there was something at play that ordinary people like him could barely imagine.
"But it looks like you'll show us something quite interesting. I'll look forward to it," he said with a hint of anticipation.
Ate decided not to press for more details.
There was a quiet trust between them, a belief that Elric and Isabelle would handle things as they saw fit.
Elric appreciated Ate's response.
Neither he nor Isabelle had yet made any significant achievements on the battlefield. In fact, for both of them, this could be considered their "debut" in war, so Ate had every reason to be skeptical.
Yet, Ate raised no objections or doubts.
Brian and the other members of the Star's Legion also displayed a similar attitude.
Though there were some traces of unease, they mostly exhibited unwavering faith that Elric would lead them to success.
Whether it was out of admiration for a hero or outright devotion to an idol, it was unclear.
But Elric had no intention of betraying their expectations.
"Of course," Elric said confidently.
"That's enough for me," Ate replied with a nod before returning to his position.
Meanwhile, Ate was dying of curiosity, desperate to know what Elric's plan was for single-handedly taking down a castle. He could barely contain himself.
But he'd soon find out.
As Elric's orders spread, the pace of their march quickened. It was almost as if they were making a bold statement, daring the enemy to notice them.
***
"'Claymore' Sagnard is said to be the most ruthless of the four 'claws' representing the Red Lion," Isabelle briefed as they neared Ketrain Castle.
As she prepared for battle, she spoke calmly, even though to any onlookers, this entire situation seemed absurd.
Yet neither Elric nor Isabelle showed the slightest sign of tension.
"But he's also known for charging headfirst into battle without hesitation. If you really start the assault, Sagnard will undoubtedly respond immediately," she said.
Elric nodded in understanding.
This was the key to their strategy.
Ketrain had tens of times more troops than they did. To overcome such odds, they had to strike like a storm, leaving the enemy no time to gather their wits.
When the storm passed, the enemy commander's head had to be severed, and chaos needed to reign among the ranks.
Only then could the enemy's overwhelming strength be transformed into a crippling weakness.
"I see them," Ate reported, breaking the tension.
Elric nodded and spurred Speckles forward, taking the lead.
Though Speckles wasn't a trained warhorse, the steed showed no sign of fear in this heavy battlefield environment. If anything, he seemed to enjoy it.
『He looks like he's having the time of his life.』
[You wouldn't understand, Mephisto. I've been waiting for this moment.]
And Elric was no different from his horse.
Despite all the hardships he had faced in the Black Snowfield, the battlefield's tension was something else entirely.
No wonder some magicians, especially those with fragile dispositions, fainted under the weight of the war's oppressive atmosphere.
But none of that applied to Elric.
It wasn't that he underestimated the horrors of war.
In fact, Elric understood the devastation war could bring better than most.
His prestigious family, once hailed as a magic royal family, had crumbled under the weight of war.
But his excitement stemmed from one single fact:
–At last, I would raise my family's banner high for all to see!
That alone was worth everything to him.
To see the Melvinger flag standing tall amidst a sea of enemies—this was the moment he had yearned for, the moment he had longed for above all.
And he would seize this opportunity, wielding the power of Winter his ancestors had bequeathed to him.
Along with everything he had learned from the Blue Lion!
"[Armament]."
As Elric strode forward, he recited a spell. He walked from the Star's Legion toward the castle while quietly chanting.
His dormant Spell-power Circuits began to stir, waking up one by one. The area of his Mind's Eye expanded, covering the entire castle, sensing the presence of the soldiers on its walls.
"What's that?"
"A person?"
"Why's he coming alone? A diplomat, maybe?"
"But he's not carrying a white flag. Diplomats usually carry a signal of some sort, don't they?"
"Is he suicidal? The guy's crazy!"
"What should we do?"
"What do you think? Shoot an arrow or something. That should scare him off."
Elric could hear their chatter clearly, perhaps because his heightened awareness had sharpened his senses.
They seemed agitated, unsure of what to make of him. But Elric remained unbothered.
No matter what they tried, there was no way they could hurt him.
Instead, he sharpened his focus.
He was searching for something.
Something specific.
Then.
'Found it.'
In the depths of the castle, Elric sensed a powerful energy. He knew instantly that this must be Claymore Sagnard, the very commander Isabelle had warned him about.
According to the plan, Elric needed to eliminate or neutralize him first. Judging by the aura, it wouldn't be easy.
But
'I'm not about to lose, either.'
A slight smile curled across Elric's lips.
"[Unlock]."
Boom—
The dormant storm of mana suddenly erupted, spreading out in all directions.
Now armed with the Seal of Winter, his Spell-power Circuits awakened, and the two divine powers he'd gained from Otto Han, Elric had also rapidly honed his ability to control mana through his training with the Blue Lion.
He had grown far stronger than he had been when he left the Black Snowfield.
Rumble, rumble, rumble...!
Just releasing his mana was enough to make the castle tremble.
At last, the soldiers atop the walls seemed to sense that something was wrong, and they began shouting orders.
But by then, it was already too late.
"[Rush in,] [and Crush.]"
Boom!
A blizzard whipped up, unleashing the Winter Storm.
***
In the heart of Ketrain Castle's war room, Sagnard, who had long served as the Red Lion's left hand, furrowed his brow as his adjutant reported to him.
"They're advancing openly?"
"Yes, sir."
"...I can't understand their strategy at all."
Just moments ago, a scout had reported seeing a group of soldiers approaching the castle carrying the Melvinger banner.
The force appeared to be around one hundred men.
Far too few to launch any serious attack on the castle.
And yet, their movements were far too bold and fast for a mere scouting or scouting mission.
Could they be bait?
But even that didn't make much sense.
Sending a detachment bearing the flag of a Magic Royal Family as bait would be an enormous loss for the Empire if they were to fall.
"A distraction, perhaps?"
Suddenly, Sagnard's eyes glinted coldly as an idea struck him.
"Of course. It's a diversion. There's no other explanation for such foolish behavior. They want to draw our attention toward the Melvinger banner."
In some ways, Sagnard's reasoning was sound.
It was hard to imagine a force of fewer than 1,000 men would dare to attack such a castle!
"Damn imperial bastards. I'll crush your arrogance and rub your noses in it…!"
Sagnard ground his teeth in anger.
For over 20 years, he had served as Lord Wynz' trusted adjutant. He had seen firsthand how loyal his master had been to the imperial throne, sacrificing day and night to fulfill his duties.
Naturally, his resentment toward the Empire ran deep.
And now, the Imperial Army had made the first move, sending in a small detachment flying the Melvinger flag.
It was clear that a full-scale war was on the horizon.
Sagnard felt his fighting spirit surge.
"There must be another detachment moving toward us from a different direction. Find them."
"Understood."
His adjutant nodded grimly and hurried out of the room.
Just as he left, another officer rushed in, bowing deeply.
"The Melvinger troops have reached the front of the castle."
"What? Already?"
Sagnard's eyes widened.
How had they covered that distance so quickly?
"However…"
"What is it? Is there another problem?" Sagnard asked, frowning at his officer's hesitation.
Knowing his commander hated vague or incomplete reports, the officer sighed deeply and continued.
"They've sent a messenger."
"A messenger? What?"
The officer nervously added, "They've demanded our surrender…"
"What in the—! You wouldn't have just sent the envoy away, would you?" Sagnard roared in fury, slamming his fist onto the table.
His immense aura filled the war room.
The officer stiffened, regretting ever having to deliver such news.
Sagnard was infamous among the Red Lion's knights for his temper, and being near him now made the officer's blood run cold.
"They used a sound amplification spell, so we couldn't capture the messenger…!"
"Those miserable dogs!"
For a moment, Sagnard felt an overwhelming urge to open the gates, lead his troops out, and crush the enemy on the spot.
But he remembered his lord's strict orders: to never act on impulse.
His lord had entrusted him with Ketrain Castle, advising him to remain patient, for even greater opportunities lay ahead.
Clenching his fists, Sagnard reined in his anger. He intended to order his men to remain calm and not be provoked.
Suddenly—
He froze as a chilling sensation crawled down his spine.
Looking out of the window, Sagnard saw massive hailstones—larger than human bodies—filling the sky and crashing down to the earth.
It was an divine power.
Winter blizzard.
Boom, boom, boom!
Crack! Boom!
[T/L: You can read ahead chapters and support me here: https://ko-fi.com/revengerscans ]