March

Illumina’s border defense commander Conta was restless at news that the royal army had entered under Pernok.

‘If only I could move one hundred thousand troops immediately, I could’ve ended all civil war.’

Conta was also a member of the faction supporting Vans. But when Tyr deployed thirty thousand troops toward the border, he had to erase thoughts of support from his head.

‘Why is Princess Yuliana there?’

The thirty thousand troops that appeared accompanied by Magi established position nearby without a word.

They were so peaceful that words about colliding with Rakis’s 13 Lords at the frontlines sounded like lies.

They seemed to have not the slightest thought of causing war. But the letter Yuliana sent had these words written.

The instant the garrison moved, Tyr would also go kill Vans.

It was a threat that found the reason Rakis moved in Vans.

Ultimately, Conta could only maintain meaningless confrontation while watching the capital’s situation.

‘Please may the prince be safe.’

It was one day when he’d tried somehow to divide forces at news the 8th castle fell.

“Her Majesty sent a letter!”

“Her Majesty?”

Conta opened the sealed letter stamped with the king’s seal.

Dear Lord Conta.

Yuliana’s actions have crossed the line.

However, Yuliana is also undoubtedly a royal successor.

So that child doesn’t go astray, the border garrison must hold tight.

I’ll secretly send someone for Vans.

Burn this letter immediately so others don’t discover it.

It was a threat absolutely not to divert forces elsewhere.

“Did Her Majesty truly send such a letter?”

Conta found it hard to believe.

Because he was someone who’d demand unreasonable drafting from the border garrison to save Vans, whom he especially cherished among children.

“Yes. I received it directly from the messenger.”

“Where is the messenger?”

“He said he had things to convey to His Highness Vans and returned.”

“Mm…”

“Why is that?”

“Her Majesty said the border garrison shouldn’t move.”

“Is it a royal command?”

“Would I mention a royal command if I were mad? If so, Her Majesty’s divinely mandated neutrality would break, and others who’d been reading the situation would rise up.”

“But hasn’t she been backing His Highness Vans all along?”

“She cherishes all her children. She’s saying to look after even Princess Yuliana over there.”

After examining the letter several times, Conta shook his head.

Certainly, it was a genuine sealed letter stamped with the king’s seal.

“Her Majesty seems to be saying not to unreasonably divert forces and give room for Tyr to directly intervene in Illumina.”

“Then will you watch the royal army strike Commander Owen’s main force from the rear?”

“Since Her Majesty has thoughts, she must’ve sent me this letter.”

After burning the letter in candlelight, Conta climbed the castle tower.

The thirty thousand troops had been immovable for two weeks already.

It was just amazing where they obtained food and supplies to feed that great army.

“Watch Her Highness Yuliana. Just blocking her from going elsewhere will help His Highness Vans.”

* * *

Pernok smiled while receiving the messenger’s report.

“The border garrison is confronting as is, and the palace guards are also concentrated on the royal palace. Both forces show no room to intervene in civil war.”

He’d arranged it as if Phillena used the king’s seal to send a letter to the border garrison.

The driving force to ascend in reverse order from the 8th castle was also thanks to the seal.

He’d waited until the royal army sufficiently obtained armories and supplies as if Phillena granted permission, and raided the 8th castle the moment all preparations were complete.

The castle lord who mistook the royal army as allies died as is.

After easily occupying the 8th castle, Pernok continued momentum to pound the 7th castle.

“Fire!”

Garth was pounding the 7th castle’s rear extremely excited.

Nobles who’d entrusted all forces to Owen had no capacity to block the royal army.

They seemed unable to even imagine forces would strike in from the rear from the start.

“Flemyr.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“How does the war situation look?”

After watching Garth’s figure carefully, Flemyr nodded.

“It seems we’ll capture it before sunset.”

“Your physical condition?”

“I can produce about half my true form. My retainers still need sufficient rest.”

“So we can’t expect your retainers’ help until finishing this matter.”

After pondering, Pernok passed the baton to Flemyr.

“Then after capturing the 7th castle with Garth, advance immediately.”

“What do you mean?”

“I have a place I must urgently go leading three thousand forces.”

At Flemyr’s curious eyes, Pernok smiled while speaking.

“Even if three thousand slip out from this great army, no one will notice.”

Pay a bit more attention to security.

After conveying those words, Pernok secretly circled the castle leading three thousand separate forces.

* * *

Owen couldn’t pierce the 6th castle’s thick barrier.

“Pour more! Why can’t you pierce a mere castle wall!”

Weapons flying from the castle bounced off Owen’s reflection barrier.

One-sided offense from this side was possible.

But strange mana began flowing in the castle walls.

All weapons fired from this side were crushed before even reaching the walls.

Even the royal Magus unit’s magic often slipped.

‘It’s identical to the Magus Arts that tried to crush my reflection barrier. But it was this wide-ranging? It keeps maintaining form even receiving tens of thousands of attacks?’

It was impossible unless an S2 Magus equal to himself.

Owen’s expression hardened.

When work that shouldn’t exist and couldn’t exist unfolded before his eyes, all calculations trying to press down with force began tangling.

“Keep attacking!”

Though he pounded the castle changing day and night, it didn’t budge.

And when two days passed, an unexpected person appeared carrying bad news.

“It’s been a long time, commander.”

“Wait, Prince Vans? How did you come here?”

“Civil war intensified so I couldn’t focus on competition.”

While doing so, pale-complexioned Buckingham was being supported where he turned his head.

“I met Count Buckingham on the way here. Did you hear the news that the royal army’s General McDonnell and the entire command center were all swept away?”

“No. No such words…”

“The royal army joined Pernok.”

Owen’s eyes widened as if tearing.

“It seems I conveyed information first. We must withdraw forces from here immediately. From the rear, Pernok’s royal army and Duke Flemyr’s forces are gathering together occupying castles. While those bastards rush straight here, that castle shows no sign of collapsing. Like this, we’ll be caught in pincer attack and die.”

“…”

Normally, he’d have confidently shouted he was an S2 Magus and rather defeated encircling enemies.

But tens of thousands of troops and Magi called Pernok and Flemyr.

Plus putting even the unidentified Magus defending the 6th castle all in his head, the situation grew complex.

“Count Buckingham…”

“He blocked Duke Flemyr at the command center and was greatly injured by Pernok’s pincer attack. Magus Arts is impossible.”

“Mm…”

“Commander, let’s first escape toward the border.”

When he sent a curious gaze, Vans spoke firmly.

“The border garrison is also my people. Since they’re blocked because of Yuliana, if we reversely lend strength to the border from here to drive out Tyr, receiving the border garrison’s support becomes possible.”

“Like this… if we flee leaving those bugs, we…”

“We haven’t lost yet, and capacity remains to reinforce more strength. Don’t lose the great cause to petty pride, commander.”

After pondering, Owen finally nodded.

“Understood. For now, we must escape this place.”

“The rear is dangerous. Is there another side path here?”

“There’s one place with hills. If we retreat there and head for the border, it should work.”

The moment they discussed reorganization, mana surged from the 6th castle.

“…?”

Vans’s and Buckingham’s gazes immediately turned toward the castle.

“You sensed it too, Your Highness. There’s a considerably strong Magus there.”

“…”

“Your Highness?”

Vans raised his hand as if to be quiet.

And he burst out of the tent to look at the castle tower.

Though it was quite far, the two Magi precisely stared at that man spewing eerie mana.

“Gra… m?”

When Vans and Buckingham muttered at the familiar mana, Owen who came out belatedly heard those words and tilted his head.

“Gram? Don’t tell me you mean Rakis’s Marquis Gram?”

“…”

“Haha, no way. Why would Rakis’s marquis be there?”

But from mana blatantly revealing hostility, the two were certain.

“It’s Marquis Gram.”

“What?”

“It’s certain. This mana and the Magus Arts’ nature wrapped around the walls is definitely Marquis Gram’s ‘gravity.'”

“No, what are you…”

Buckingham stepped forward like someone bewitched.

Even forgetting his injured body, he glared at the castle tower while shouting.

“Marquis Gram! What is this!”

The voice without mana imbued couldn’t possibly reach the castle.

But the S2 Magus caught that faint sound and responded with laughter.

[Kahahaha! As expected it’s Buckingham! Did Vans come along too?]

Vans’s and Buckingham’s faces cooled coldly, and Owen was flustered unable to even continue words.

[Ah, I heard about the royal army’s news. Seeing it, your wounds are deep, Count Buckingham.]

“Why are you there?”

[I saw the king’s qualities in Pernok. And right now as I expected, Pernok is rushing to kill you all.]

“Marquis! This is an act defying the duke’s instructions!”

[Not at all. It’s autonomous action! We just need to choose who’ll become king and bring glory to the empire with judgments fitting that. Though paths differ, intentions ultimately align.]

“Are you finally… opposing the duke!”

[You should’ve chosen well. Didn’t I say repeatedly? Sinister bastards will ultimately crumble before cold judgment and might. Now is that moment.]

Simultaneously with those words ending, massive gravity crushed the area.

When Owen urgently spread reflection barrier, Gram laughed while adding mana.

[Kekeke, I hold no personal grudge. Since it’s results from different judgments, don’t feel too bitter and die, count. And incompetent Vans.]

Vans bit his molars tightly.

When he left to study in the empire, two people who didn’t acknowledge him were Breia and Gram.

And meeting as enemies like this while spewing words carried habitually, Vans’s composure broke.

“We’ll escape this place!”

[Not a chance. I wouldn’t let you go now, would I?]

When cracks began forming in the reflection barrier, Owen shouted through gritted teeth.

“It seems that traitor absolutely tries to kill you, Your Highness. I’ll block here, so please go to the border quickly. And convey this fact to Rakis to bring Magi!”

“Don’t dig in too deep, and join at the border after appropriately checking.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

When Owen erected reflection barrier at the front, it grew massive like a castle wall.

Since it even bounced all mana flowing from the castle, the great army’s movements became much smoother.

But sinister laughter still flowed from the castle.

[Kekeke, stupid bastard. Because you think of backing Rakis, you’re dying.]

The moment two Magi’s mana collided, Vans led the great army and nobles while slipping out the side path.

* * *

If he joined the border’s great army to drive out Yuliana and brought even half that power, he judged he could collapse Pernok and Flemyr’s alliance.

That thought wasn’t wrong.

If each side had equal condition Magi, the overall trend would be seized by the side with more forces.

Vans thought his only survival path, having become inferior in forces in an instant, was joining the border garrison.

But there was one more person who made the same prediction.

On the hillside path Vans tried to climb, that person blocked the escape route with thousands of forces while calmly declaring.

“Clever bastards always wander seeking survival paths. The action smart you would take the moment thinking it’s a dead end is overturning forces’ inferiority. To not break the nearly grasped victory, it was only seeking out your last strength.”

Vans’s face hardened stiffly.

“With even Buckingham broken, there was no answer besides the border garrison. If surrounded front and back, I predicted this was the only path to go there. But you shouldn’t have made this judgment. Rather than seeing Gram and fleeing, you should’ve led even Owen to break through the front.”

Pernok drew his sword atop the hill.

“To half-clever you, this is the first and last teaching I give in the lower realm.”

An icy smile hung on his lips.

“The tuition fee will be substituted with that neck.”

The First’s Circulation Link began.