“Now, we depart! Non-combatants are to take their positions in the center. Combatants, solidify the perimeter. Remember, we are the army led by the Third Prince of the Bestia Empire, His Highness Mercurio. While it is true we are currently called a rebel army—and we even use that name ourselves—we carry ourselves with honor!”
Theoreme was likely using wind magic to project his voice; his words echoed clearly even in the ears of those at the furthest edges of the camp.
The day had finally arrived to abandon the camp that had served as their headquarters and head toward the Imperial Capital, finally crossing the borders of Count Obrisin’s Territory.
By this time, some had already left the Rebel Army, satisfied with the profits they had made so far. Conversely, others were gathering now, convinced that even greater gains were to be made as the conflict escalated.
The Rebel Army advanced with these individuals positioned in the center, surrounded by a protective layer of soldiers and adventurers. While some had initially argued that protecting civilians would hinder the army’s mobility, these non-combatants had proven themselves invaluable. They provided food—sold at a fair price, saving the army’s own provisions—and offered weapon sales and armor repairs.
Some had even brought warhorses to sell, though where they had obtained them remained a mystery. It was no exaggeration to say that these non-combatants had become essential to the Rebel Army’s logistics. Furthermore, because they chose to join a rebellion, many possessed a degree of fighting skill; it was not uncommon to hear stories of a civilian knocking out a rowdy soldier who had tried to start a fight.
“Regardless of whether we are rebels, failing to protect those who follow us would be a great humiliation. Never forget that! As we advance, the Subjugation Army will surely appear. Beyond them, thieves and monsters will wait in the shadows. We must never allow the people who lend us their strength to come to harm! I expect each of you to act with the pride of a soldier under Prince Mercurio’s command. Now, move out!”
“Ooooooh!”
As soon as Theoreme’s speech concluded, a thunderous roar rose from the Rebel Army soldiers. They began their march, shouting their resolve to serve as the strength that would see Prince Mercurio to his goal.
The cavalry units took the lead. Their role was to scout ahead and eliminate any enemies they encountered, performing the dual duties of search attacks and force reconnaissance. These cavalrymen fanned out not just to the front, but also to the flanks and the rear.
Next came the infantry, forming the outer perimeter to shield the inner layers of archers and others capable of long-range attacks. At the very heart of the formation were the non-combatants. The massive formation resembled a square formation designed to defend from all sides.
Because of its scale, the army’s travel speed was not particularly fast. However, the formation was robust enough to handle an attack from any direction. Should an opponent appear capable of breaking through, the specialized combatants of the Rebel Army—Vihera, Gurgast, Theoreme, and Rei—were ready to intervene.
In addition to the non-combatants, the center of the formation held wagons loaded with supplies.
Rei had originally offered to transport the materials in his Misty Ring, as he had done for Margrave Larkus’s army during the Spring War, but the offer had been declined. The leadership argued that if Rei held all the supplies, he would have to be present for every distribution, which would prevent a rapid response in a crisis.
Considering that Rei’s material transport during the Spring War had mostly been a shuttle service between Gilm and the Seremuse Plain, Theoreme’s tactical reasoning was sound. Unlike a war fought within their own borders, they were currently a rebel army moving through the Empire’s territory—enemy soil. An ambush could happen at any moment.
There was another reason Theoreme hadn't voiced: though Rei was an ally, he was not a citizen of the Bestia Empire. Entrusting a massive stockpile of weapons, medicine, and food to a single foreign mercenary was a risk to the army's public image. Some among the ranks, though they kept quiet, even feared that Rei might flee with the supplies if things turned sour.
If Rei heard such concerns, he would have scoffed at the idea, but the leadership of a three-thousand-man army could not afford to rely entirely on an uncertain element. This was not a matter of trust, but of fundamental organizational management.
Consequently, Theoreme—who trusted Rei’s power implicitly—and Vihera—who harbored even deeper feelings for him—had accepted the decision without complaint. Rei understood the situation as well, having been briefed beforehand, and felt no dissatisfaction.
“Well, at least it’s one less burden for me,” Rei muttered.
“Guru?”
Seto, walking beside him, let out a soft trill as if asking what was wrong.
“Nothing. I just thought the march was going to be a bit dull.”
Rei scanned his surroundings. He and Seto were positioned near the center, close to the non-combatants and the Rebel Army leadership.
Given their overwhelming combat power, Theoreme would have preferred to place them on the outer edges with the infantry or cavalry. However, while Rei and Seto were devastating as individuals, their high-scale abilities and independent natures made them ill-suited for tight coordination with regular units. It was decided that they would serve better as a final guard for the non-combatants and as a mobile trump card to be deployed if the scouts encountered an enemy they couldn't handle.
Theoreme also prioritized Seto’s flight. If Rei were a standard cavalryman, his movement would be restricted by the surrounding civilians and the various layers of the formation. But Seto only needed a few steps of a head start to take to the skies. Being able to bypass the terrain and the army entirely provided a massive strategic advantage.
They surely understand that on the other side, too, Rei thought. If anything, they know more about the superiority of flying units because they have dragon knights. Though, I wonder if they’ll actually deploy them.
The fact that Rei and Seto had slaughtered numerous dragon knights during the Spring War was common knowledge. Rei suspected that if the enemy sent dragon knights against them, it would simply lead to another massacre. However, since his participation in the Rebel Army wasn't widely known yet, the enemy might still try a dragon knight strike at first.
This formation is huge. It would be a pain if they hit us with wave attacks using hit-and-run tactics from multiple directions.
Rei and Seto were, ultimately, just one man and one beast. If spread too thin by simultaneous attacks, they could be overwhelmed. If the attack came from a single direction, Rei could use his flame magic for wide-area annihilation, but friendly fire was a major concern. He didn't have some magical ability that would automatically distinguish friend from foe like a video game. To avoid hitting his allies, he would have to individually control every Fireball or Flame Arrow he released—a feat nearly impossible to manage with three thousand allies in the way.
I hear dragon knights are expensive to train and maintain, so they're probably the enemy's pride and joy. Since they know that pitting them against us means certain death... I’d like to believe they won’t be that reckless.
It was a hopeful thought, but Rei clung to it as he watched the army advance.
With the merchants and their wagons in the center, the army moved at a snail's pace. However, the sheer size of the host was enough to deter the bandits currently plaguing the region. As for monsters, the surrounding area had been cleared recently, so very few appeared. Occasionally, a stray goblin would show itself, only to be cut down by the cavalry scouts or the perimeter guard.
As long as only weak monsters appeared, the march remained steady, if slow.
Eventually...
“Rei, do you have a moment?”
A voice called out to him. Rei turned to see Theoreme riding up on a warhorse. A short distance away, Seto was happily purring while accepting snacks from a group of prostitutes on their wagons; the fact that Theoreme’s horse didn't bolt in terror at the griffon’s presence was a testament to its high-level training.
“Yeah, everything's fine here,” Rei said. “In fact, it’s a bit too quiet. I’m bored enough that I’d fight a goblin just for something to do.”
“…Let’s not be hasty; that would cause unnecessary confusion. That’s not why I’m here.”
“What is it, then? Did a rare species of goblin show up? Because if so, I’m claiming it. Rare Species magic stones are valuable, even if they're from a goblin.”
Rare species were, as the name implied, incredibly rare. Rei had only encountered a handful in his life, and he was eager for more. Theoreme, however, simply looked exasperated.
“I never said anything about goblins. Honestly, you should show a bit more tension. This is a military campaign, believe it or not.”
“Hard to feel tense when it’s this dull. I’m sure there are monsters and thieves out there, but your cavalry is dealing with them before they even get close, right?”
“True. I’ve received the reports. After all, those soldiers and knights were personally trained by the man known as Crimson. I have no doubt in their skills.”
Theoreme’s exasperation vanished, replaced by an admiring look. Rei lightly shrugged and pulled up the Dragon Robe’s hood to hide his embarrassment.
“…So, what do you actually need?”
“Right. At this pace, we should leave Count Obrisin’s Territory by evening. When we do, I’d like you to head out for reconnaissance.”
“I see. I assume you want Seto as well?”
Theoreme nodded. The entire reason for asking Rei was the overwhelming advantage of Seto’s flight. He certainly wasn't going to ask Rei to ride a horse like a common scout; besides, Rei’s body was so thoroughly permeated with the scent of a griffon that most horses wouldn't even let him near them, let alone on their backs, unless they were as well-trained as Theoreme’s own mount.
“I’ve got it. Like I said, I’m bored, so I have no problem with that. Want us to head out now?”
“No, stay here for now. Having the strength of 'Crimson' visible in the center is a powerful deterrent and a morale booster. The men consider you a pillar of heart.”
Rei frowned slightly at that. This was Mercurio’s rebellion, yet he, a mere foreign mercenary, had become a central figure in the soldiers' minds.
In most stories, this is where the leadership gets jealous and tries to get rid of me, he thought. But... probably not here.
He knew Mercurio and a few others had their reservations about him, but they weren't stupid. They knew that if they crossed him, he was more than capable of incinerating the entire rebellion himself.
With a mental shrug, Rei nodded to Theoreme.