Beyond the gaze of the group including Rei and Elena, the main bodies of the Kingdom of Mireana Army and the Bestia Imperial Army clashed head-on.
Watching the spectacle from a short distance away was a group of about thirty riders on warhorses. Among them, alongside Rei and Elena, was Siminal. In fact, given the unit's formation, it was fair to say that Siminal was the one in command of the group.
As they moved with hushed breaths, a quiet conversation reached the ears of Rei, who sat astride Seto.
"Fighting fire with fire, huh? It seems Count Alius was truly pushed past his limit."
The speaker was one of the adventurers employed by the King's Faction. Given the current state of affairs, the irony in his voice was unavoidable.
"So he’s giving them back exactly what they gave him? Well, his pride as the Supreme Commander leading the King's Faction—the greatest power in the kingdom—was dragged through the mud. I suppose I can understand how he feels."
"Probably. He likely wants to frame it as turning the tables. Like, 'They never would have expected to receive the same kind of surprise attack they launched themselves,' or something to that effect."
"Heh, you're not wrong. Nobles and their obsession with saving face... it sounds like a lot of work."
A wave of stifled laughter spread through the surprise attack unit at the adventurer's words.
Normally, Siminal should have rebuked them, but he remained silent. In fact, a faint smile that seemed to agree with their sentiment even flickered across his face. However, as the leader of this mission, he couldn't let it pass without a word, so he eventually spoke up.
"Keep it down. I believe you all understand the situation, but that is precisely why this surprise attack must succeed. Naturally, being chosen for this unit means you'll receive a significant bonus on top of your reward. ...Of course, if this mission fails, you shouldn't expect a single coin."
At Siminal's mention of rewards, one of the adventurers chimed in as if he couldn't help himself.
"Now hold on, Captain. If the surprise attack fails, we’ll end up isolated right in the middle of the enemy main camp anyway. If that happens, I don't think we'll be worrying about rewards."
"That is true. But what of it? Are you saying you don't want the coin if things go south? My, what a magnificent spirit for an adventurer. As your leader, I'm honored."
"Wait, wait! Nobody said they didn't want the money! Besides, this unit has an adventurer with a Gryphon and, above all, the Princess General herself. I’m not doubting our success for a second. So make sure you pay up properly."
The adventurer's flustered response prompted the people around him to let out a fresh round of suppressed chuckles.
Despite the fact that they were about to launch a suicide mission into the heart of the enemy's main force—targeting the enemy commander-in-chief—there was no sense of tragic desperation among them.
(This is thanks to Rei... no, thanks to Seto.)
As he rode alongside the adventurers, Siminal cast a glance toward Seto, who led the way at the head of the unit, and Rei, who sat upon the Gryphon's back.
As he did, his heart gave a sudden throb upon seeing Elena riding beside Rei, but he forced himself to bury the emotion. Now was not the time.
Moving through the terrain was a stress-free affair because they relied on Seto's keen senses, and even when it came to the actual assault, the Gryphon's presence eliminated any anxiety regarding their combat power.
Furthermore, there was Rei, who had single-handedly routed the enemy's lead unit with a Flame Tornado, and Elena, the legendary Princess General. Siminal knew that with such overwhelming power on their side, it was only natural that the adventurers felt no fear.
(But... that doesn't mean we can afford to be careless.)
A thought flickered through Siminal's mind: the Beast Soldiers, those unnatural abominations that were half-monster. And then there was Theoreme, the man known as "The Flash." It was no exaggeration to say that a single Beast Soldier possessed the strength of dozens of regular soldiers. Theoreme, the man who commanded them, was likely even more formidable.
(As for the Beast Soldiers, I think we can manage them if I look at the members of this unit.)
Most of the participants in this surprise attack were elite adventurers hired by the King's Faction. In terms of sheer skill, Siminal didn't believe they fell short of the veterans from the City of Gilm. Even if a Beast Soldier had the strength of dozens of men, it wasn't impossible for this group to oppose them. Moreover, since they were launching a surprise attack, they didn't necessarily need to fight the Beast Soldiers head-on. Their only goal was the head of the Supreme Commander of the Bestia Imperial Army.
If Count Alius had known about the Prairie Wolves, he might have requested Daskar's help. However, the Count was completely unaware of their existence, and Daskar had no intention of volunteering the information and letting his scouts be wasted.
(But 'The Flash' is different. Since he specializes in surprise attacks, there's a high probability he's anticipated our move. If that's the case, he's surely taken measures. The only ones in this unit who can stand against him are Rei and the Princess General. When that moment comes, I wonder what will happen...)
As he cycled through these unanswerable questions, a hand suddenly landed with a firm thud on his right shoulder.
Turning, he saw the adventurer who had been haggling over the reward. The man was still mounted, but as expected of an elite chosen for this mission, he sat perfectly stable in the saddle.
"I suppose nobles have all sorts of things to worry about, but I'm not the least bit concerned about this unit. So, why don't you stop overthinking it and just take it easy?"
"Even if you say that... the outcome of this entire war depends on what we do here. Considering that, I can't exactly take it easy..."
I can't. Just as he was about to say the words, Seto stopped in his tracks at the front of the line, and Elena simultaneously pulled her warhorse to a halt.
Even though they had been joking around, the members of the unit had been keeping a sharp eye on their surroundings. They brought their horses to a stop instantly.
Sensing the change in the atmosphere, Siminal sharpened his expression and spoke to Rei.
"Did something happen?"
"Yeah. ...It seems they're wary of a surprise attack after all. I guess being the ones who started it has made them extra vigilant."
Following Rei's gaze, Siminal looked ahead, but he saw nothing out of the ordinary.
"...Can you see something? I don't see anything at all."
"Lord Siminal, over there."
Elena, positioned next to Rei, pointed toward a cluster of trees growing on the plain. It was a small grove about a kilometer away, but to Siminal, it looked like nothing more than a normal patch of woods.
"Can any of you see anything?"
He asked the adventurer he had been talking to, but the man merely shook his head in silence, equally blind.
Rei, however, paid them no mind and dismounted from Seto's back, stroking the Gryphon's neck as he spoke.
"Seto, can you do it?"
"Guruuu!"
Seto gave a resonant trill, as if to say it was no problem. Rei then turned back to Siminal.
"There's something that looks like a Beast Soldier inside that grove. Likely a scout. I'd like to send Seto ahead to finish it off in one strike, but what is your opinion as the Captain?"
"If they're truly there, I can only say I'll leave it to you... but are they?"
He knew what Rei and Seto were capable of; he had seen it himself. Even so, when told they had found an enemy at a distance where he couldn't even tell if anything was there—and a Beast Soldier at that—he couldn't help but be skeptical. Still, if there really was a scout, he couldn't leave it be. He gave his permission, and Rei nodded to Seto.
"Gururuuu!"
With a short cry, Seto kicked off the ground and soared into the sky. The members of the surprise attack unit watched its departure in silence.
About five minutes later...
"Gurururururuuu."
Seto returned from the grove Rei had pointed out. Clutched in its beak was the corpse of a Beast Soldier—a creature with lizard-like scales, insect-like compound eyes, and a furry fox's tail.
"...I suppose 'as expected' is the only thing to say."
As the surrounding adventurers fell into a stunned silence, Siminal was the one who finally murmured the words. The others simply nodded.
To take down a Beast Soldier—a creature with massive combat power even on its own—in just a few minutes without making a sound was a feat even these hand-picked veterans couldn't easily replicate.
"Guruuu."
Seto set the corpse down at Siminal's feet and gave a proud cry, looking toward Rei.
It was a silent plea for praise. With a wry smile, Rei gently stroked the Gryphon's head.
"Kyu!"
As if to say it wanted to offer praise as well, Iero chirped and hopped from Elena's shoulder onto Seto's back, where the two creatures began a quiet "conversation."
"...Hey, Rei."
"What?"
"I mean, those two are completely different species, and their cries don't sound anything alike... can they actually understand each other?"
"Yeah. I don't know the reason, but for some reason, they seem to get along just fine."
"I suspect it is not so much that they understand speech, but rather that they convey their intent through their movements and gestures."
Elena, who had been listening to Rei and Siminal, chimed in with a soft smile at the two creatures.
Despite the fact that this was a group of grizzled warriors on a mission, the atmosphere for a moment was almost heartwarming.
One of the few female adventurers in the unit looked as if she were barely restraining the urge to hug them both, her eyes fixed on the interaction.
Seeing the two animals emitting an aura that had no place on a battlefield, Siminal spoke up apologetically.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but please don't forget that a war is still being fought. Even as we speak, the battle against the Bestia Imperial Army continues. Let's finish our preparations for the surprise attack so we can be ready to give the signal."
Though their expressions were full of regret, everyone nodded and resumed their advance.
They continued for another hour, taking a wide detour around the main battlefield. Finally, Seto came to a halt at the front of the line once more.
"Guruuu."
With a short cry, Seto fixed its gaze into the distance.
Everyone understood what that meant now. Seto had found its target from afar.
Namely... the enemy main camp, the location of the commander-in-chief.
"...Lady Elena, I ask you to send the messenger."
"Mm, understood."
Nodding to Siminal, Elena turned her gaze to Iero on her shoulder. The small dragon-like creature immediately took flight, soaring into the sky.
"...It's faster than I expected."
One of the adventurers murmured.
Indeed, Iero's flying speed was considerably faster than when it had come to deliver letters to Rei in the past. It couldn't match Seto, but it was still vastly faster than a galloping warhorse. Since the Bestia Imperial Army had few ways to attack targets in the sky, it was a more certain and efficient method than sending a rider. Of course, such a messenger only worked because the plan was already set in stone; if complex tactical decisions had been required, a human would still be necessary.
"How long will it take to reach Count Alius?"
"If nothing goes wrong, it shouldn't take thirty minutes. After that, we simply wait for the Count to move and launch our surprise attack on the main camp of the Bestia Imperial Army."
"Do you think it will go well?"
At Siminal's somewhat pleading question, Elena gave a small shake of her head. Her golden hair danced in the air, and for a fleeting moment, Siminal was captivated by the sight.
"This plan has many uncertain elements. A surprise attack is effective precisely because it catches the enemy off guard. That was exactly what happened to us, wasn't it? While our lead units were clashing, the Beast Soldiers suddenly appeared in our rear. As a result, the King's Faction was thrown into a rout. ...We were lucky enough to escape before our forces were exhausted, which is why we have the strength to counter-attack now, but... I find it hard to believe that 'The Flash' doesn't understand the current situation. To be honest, while the Supreme Commander of the Bestia Imperial Army is certainly ahead of us, I suspect it may be a trap."
"Bait to lure us in," Rei added, nodding at Elena's words. The members of the unit around them looked on with grim expressions.
Since most of them were adventurers who had seen the Beast Soldiers and Theoreme firsthand, they knew the suggestion was more than just a theory.
"However, that is merely a possibility," Siminal announced, trying to ease the tension. As the leader, he couldn't allow morale to plummet. And more importantly...
"Even if he’s anticipated our move and is waiting in ambush, we have the Princess General. We have Seto the Gryphon, and we have Rei, the man who created that absurd Flame Tornado. Even if there are Beast Soldiers, our chance of victory is more than sufficient."
His words bolstered the spirits of the unit.
Most of them had seen Elena and Seto in action, and everyone present had witnessed Rei's Firestorm. Their confidence surged once more.
They waited for another forty minutes. Finally, as the front lines grew chaotic and the command tents in the distance became frantic, the surprise attack unit spurred their warhorses and charged toward the heart of the enemy camp.