Published: August 10, 2026
"If we could have kept the pincer attack going like this, it would have been ideal, but the gibe knights order won't last. Once we break through the center, first have the Ehrenfest knights receive healing."
"Yes."
When I used an Ordnance to inform them that reinforcements were coming to the gibe knights order, it seemed they had already received word from the lord family. They said they had to hold out somehow until the reinforcements arrived, and that they needed to join up as soon as possible.
"I'll take the lead. Rosemine and Lady Hannelore, please do not slow down at all. Even if something happens to the knights around you, do not stop until we have broken through the enemy ranks."
Ferdinand, with his guard knights, raced ahead. As we moved toward the main battlefield on our Mounts, the Dunkelfelger knights began gathering around Hannelore and me. It seemed they were forming up for a central breakthrough. My own guard knights were close by, but wherever I looked, there were knights in blue cloaks. By then, I could no longer even see Ferdinand's or Eckhardt Brother's cloaks from where I was.
"Cornelius, Leonore. Have Matthias and Laurenz returned?"
All around us were only Dunkelfelger's blue cloaks, and there were very few Ehrenfest cloaks among my own guard knights. I could only see knights on Mounts, and because everyone was wearing helmets, it was difficult to tell who was who.
"...Not yet."
"I don't know where the guard hut they went to check is, but I imagine they'll probably rejoin us at the rear."
At Leonore's words, I couldn't help but glance back. There were only blue cloaks of knights behind us.
"After we break through the enemy ranks, Lady Rosemine and Lady Hannelore should move to the position closest to Summer Hall, behind the knights."
"Guard knights must devote themselves to protecting their lord!"
As I nodded at the orders being called from around us, we adjusted our speed to match the others. Everywhere I looked, there were only knights with shields raised. My view was blocked by flapping cloaks, and I no longer knew exactly where we were in the advance. Still, we kept moving without knowing.
Because I couldn't see the battlefield situation or the enemy waiting ahead, the tense atmosphere of the knights around me alone was painfully clear, and my hands began to tremble on the handles. I desperately held back the urge to put more force into the foot pressing the accelerator.
"Wah!?"
Suddenly, flashes of light burst around us. I reflexively looked around. It seemed we had entered the range of remote attacks using mana, and the knights' raised shields were deflecting them.
I still couldn't tell how far away the enemy was, and I could only see more knights as before. Even just seeing flashes of light here and there made my heart seize up.
...It's sc-scary.
Most of the attacks were being blocked, but arrows began slipping through the gaps between the knights and raining down. They wouldn't come into the mini bus because of the difference in mana, but something scary is scary no matter what. I clutched the steering wheel with tears nearly in my eyes, though I still had enough composure to be afraid.
The front brightened so intensely with complex, rainbow-like light that the knights ahead became little more than silhouettes. It was an attack that released stored mana all at once. I couldn't tell whether it was attacking or being received. I squeezed my eyes shut without thinking.
"Rosemine, match the movement around you!"
Cornelius Brother's shout made me jolt and open my eyes. I hurriedly matched the movement around me. It seemed we had not been hit by an attack, but had launched one ourselves. Now and then, things that looked like they were blocking the light flew about around us, but the shockwaves were being completely stopped by the knights' shields.
"Ooooooooh!"
With a battle cry that seemed to unleash unspeakable heat and surging emotion, the speed of the knights surrounding me gradually increased. In order not to fall behind, I desperately adjusted my speed and matched their movement.