The screams and cheers echoing from the battlefield were undeniably abnormal.
At the very least, to Pelfeel, who was commanding the assault on the Rebel Army's Position, they were beyond her calculations and expectations.
"What is happening? What is the cause of this commotion?"
Despite her calm inquiry, the subordinates surrounding Pelfeel shook their heads in a panic.
"We don't know! The units are in complete chaos, and we've lost all communication! We have already dispatched messenger soldiers, but it will take time for information to arrive."
"Too slow! ...Or so I’d like to say, but under these circumstances, that is likely the best choice. Well done. Now, can anyone offer a prediction?"
"The most likely scenario is that His Highness Mercurio has deployed a force he was keeping in reserve as a trump card," suggested one of the knights.
One of Pelfeel’s staff officers, standing nearby, spoke up.
"However, they have already deployed the Beast Soldiers and their small elite units, which were surely their intended trump cards."
"Then it simply means they had another one. At the very least, the enemy has Theoreme on their side. Considering that, it isn't strange at all."
"...I see. But in that case, is it not also possible that Her Highness Vihera has returned? Even though we are using the Breath of Quantome to project illusions over this entire area, it is more than plausible that Her Highness Vihera would have noticed our movements."
"Wait. If that were the case, we should have received word from the units stationed outside the range of the Breath of Quantome. It is impossible for there to have been no contact whatsoever from them."
"Then that leaves Her Highness Frizion’s army, but even then, it is strange that no report came in regarding a breakthrough."
"In the first place, we prepared catapults along the highway leading from the direction of the Imperial Capital. For them to be breached so easily is..."
Just as one of the men present shouted those words—
As if perfectly timed, a soldier on horseback arrived.
"A message! A report! The units stationed toward the route where Her Highness Frizion’s army was expected have been almost entirely annihilated!"
"What?!"
The man who had just claimed they were safe because of the catapults widened his eyes at the report.
He was not the only one. Everyone in the Main Camp reacted the same way, and even Pelfeel was no exception.
"Is that a fact?"
The way Pelfeel asked, without raising her voice like her subordinate, was characteristic of someone who held His Highness Cabajid’s deep trust.
"There is no mistake! I... I saw it! That... that Crimson was rampaging and destroying the catapults! Furthermore, the units not directly guarding the catapults were bombarded with a massive number of stone projectiles dropped from the sky, suffering immense casualties. There are countless dead and wounded; in some cases, the captains commanding the units were killed. Most are in such a state of chaos that they no longer function as organized units!"
"...I see. So, this commotion was the work of Crimson."
Pelfeel muttered to herself.
Hearing those words, the others present also came to the same realization.
"Then...! Then, the reason no reports came in was because Crimson reached this battlefield before the messengers could?"
"There is likely no mistake. Crimson has a Gryphon as a tamed monster. Between one who flies through the sky and one who runs upon the earth, it goes without saying which is faster."
"That is..."
The men listening to Pelfeel’s words caught their breath. Those words were undeniably true.
"If only we had Dragon Knights..."
Someone muttered, but Pelfeel immediately shook her head.
"It is no use. Have you forgotten that Crimson annihilated the Dragon Knights during the Spring War?"
"But if they were used as messengers!"
"...Are you suggesting that His Highness Cabajid’s judgment was flawed?"
As Pelfeel asked quietly, the man who had been agitated over the matter of the Dragon Knights seemed to come to his senses. He settled down but still managed a rebuttal.
"I do not think so. However, His Highness Cabajid is also a mortal man. As such, there must be times when his thoughts do not encompass everything. In such times, it is necessary for us, his vassals, to offer counsel."
"That may be true, but regarding the Dragon Knights, we cannot deny the possibility that there were reasons beyond our imagination. ...Regardless of that, however. Issue orders to the entire army to withdraw for now. Now that we have been thrown into such confusion, continuing to fight like this will only increase our losses."
"Understood! I will attend to it immediately."
The soldier waiting for messenger duty immediately left the Main Camp.
Watching him go, Pelfeel turned her gaze toward her subordinates once more.
"Everyone, prepare for a retreat."
"You intend to withdraw just like this?"
"Yes. As I told the messenger soldier, there is no chance of victory if we continue to fight now that Crimson has arrived. On the contrary, we might be wiped out by a Flame Tornado, just like the Subjugation Army led by Blatta."
"That is..."
Even the man who was dissatisfied with the retreat could not offer a further argument, for he knew exactly how much damage Blatta had sustained. Now that the entity known as Crimson had arrived on this battlefield, the possibility of him using a Flame Tornado certainly could not be ignored.
Yet, after making so many moves, they had finally succeeded in bringing about this situation. Despite that, was it really acceptable to withdraw so easily? Such thoughts lingered in the minds of everyone except Pelfeel.
As if to reassure her subordinates, Pelfeel spoke with a smile.
"Do not worry. While this development was certainly unexpected, His Highness Cabajid must have anticipated this possibility. Most likely, the units currently heading our way have been prepared to deal with Crimson."
Her subordinates wore expressions of surprise. The content of her speech was one thing, but more than anything, they were shocked to see Pelfeel’s smile. Pelfeel was strict with others and even stricter with herself; many among them were seeing her smile for the first time.
"Furthermore, His Highness Cabajid previously mentioned that he has an ace up his sleeve against Crimson. If that is the case, it should be about time for him to play that trump card."
"The ace up his sleeve... Could that be the Magic Item used on Rhodos? The one that supposedly absorbs flames created by magic power."
At those words, Pelfeel’s expression clouded slightly—though it was so faint that those watching nearby did not notice.
From Pelfeel’s perspective, Rhodos was someone she had trained herself. No matter how much Rhodos himself had wished for it, her honest feeling was that she had not wanted him to use a Magic Item that absorbed flames, let alone one that granted a powerful regeneration ability at the cost of stripping away his own will.
In truth, she was by no means fully satisfied with that matter, even if it had been His Highness Cabajid’s idea. Such thoughts passed through her mind for an instant, but she quickly shook her head and concentrated on the matter at hand. Wasting time here would only increase the casualties among their allies.
"His Highness Cabajid said he had several methods of dealing with Crimson. I do not know what they are, but if there were only one, he surely would not have said there were several."
The words that came from Pelfeel’s mouth were a statement of fact. His Highness Cabajid, the superior of everyone in this place, never spoke of things he could not accomplish. This was something they understood clearly from their experience serving him. That was precisely why everyone present followed Pelfeel’s lead.
"Understood. Then, what shall we tell those of the Second Prince Faction?"
Since the forces carrying out the capture of the Rebel Army's Position were the Subjugation Army, there were naturally men belonging to Schuls as well as Cabajid. However, the Second Prince Faction led by Schuls currently had significantly diminished influence.
The reason for this was the nobles who had been taken prisoner in the first battles; the fact that those nobles were currently the focus of Pelfeel’s attention was a truly ironic result.
In any case, because many of the nobles who were supposed to have been discarded had survived, those nobles were currently engaged in ransom negotiations with the rebels, and they could not possibly deploy their forces to the battlefield.
Of course, not every noble had been captured; some were completely unscathed because Schuls had recognized them as capable from the start. Nevertheless, compared to Cabajid, who led the largest faction and possessed many capable nobles, their power had dropped overwhelmingly. Consequently, in this operation to attack the Rebel Army Main Camp, they had no choice but to cede leadership to the First Prince Faction.
"I suppose we can explain the situation honestly. They surely understand from past experience that if they were to recklessly attempt to oppose Crimson, it would only result in damage to their own army. Even so, if they wish to remain, that is fine. We shall use them as the rearguard when we retreat."
Everyone present nodded at Pelfeel’s words, and the messenger soldier departed.
"Well then. Having said that, their units will likely agree to the retreat immediately. Engaging Crimson head-on would only further reduce their already meager forces."
"I suppose so. In that case, it will become necessary to prepare a rearguard ourselves."
"...It is a pity. The renowned Crimson. If I were not the commander of this army, I would rather want to test my strength against him."
Pelfeel had confidence in her own power. Yet, she understood that she had not yet reached the level of power required to hold an alias. Precisely because she understood this, she wanted to fight the Alias Holder Crimson and feel exactly how much of a difference in strength existed between them.
(Am I wishing for too much? Besides, even if it is impossible this time, as long as His Highness Cabajid is hostile toward the Rebel Army, the opportunity is sure to come someday.)
Quickly pushing aside her internal feelings of regret, Pelfeel issued one instruction after another to her subordinates. All while thinking that, since Rei and Seto were still rampaging, they might have to simply give up on any units that encountered that man and his beast.
"At any rate, we must withdraw from this place as quickly as possible and put distance between ourselves and the Rebel Army. Give each unit proper instructions so they do not mistake the direction of the retreat! If you foolishly try to retreat toward the Imperial Capital along the highway, you will collide head-on with Her Highness Frizion’s army. I also authorize the use of the Breath of Quantome."
"With our current strength, would it not be fine even if we clashed with Her Highness Frizion’s army?"
Pelfeel directed a gaze of contempt at the knight who said this.
"Are you a fool? The morale of our soldiers has already dropped due to the engagement with Crimson. Clashing head-on with Her Highness Frizion’s army in such a state—while our victory in terms of numbers would be certain, the casualties would be immense. Furthermore, what do you plan to do if the Rebel Army pursues us while we are fighting them? Within that pursuit unit, Crimson might very well be present."
"...My apologies, I had not thought that far ahead."
"Being full of vigor is well and good, but if you wish to be of use to His Highness Cabajid, you must learn to look at the distance as well as what is right in front of you."
She said only that much to rebuke the knight before returning to issuing orders.
"It's no use! The units facing Crimson are already on the verge of collapse! The number of people fleeing from the units in the vicinity of Crimson's rampage is increasing!"
"The same goes for the units where the Gryphon is rampaging! The direct damage isn't as severe as what Crimson's units are facing, but the psychological impact is greater, and many soldiers are fleeing!"
The men around Pelfeel were stirred by the reports, but Pelfeel herself showed no sign of being bothered as she gave her commands.
"Have officers from the adjacent units take over command. As for those who fled, leave them be; in this situation, gathering them would only serve as a source of chaos. Group together those who are still under command and withdraw. We will dispatch a unit to stall them immediately. I believe Ishtet's and Matren's units were stationed not far from Crimson and the Gryphon, respectively. They do not need to attack. Just have them stall for time. What has the Second Prince Faction said?"
"We haven't heard back from them yet... No, here they come!"
One of the nobles nearby shouted. At the same time, a messenger on horseback arrived before Pelfeel.
"The Second Prince Faction says they will also retreat. Furthermore, they say they will provide a rearguard from their side as well."
"...Oh?"
Since she had fully expected them to demand that the more numerous First Prince Faction handle the rearguard, Pelfeel let out a murmur of surprise. But that murmur was, if anything, one of approval.
"Because they are the Second Prince Faction under His Highness Schuls, who holds strong influence over the military, they likely couldn't bring themselves to push the entire rearguard onto us and simply withdraw... One must say they are exactly as expected."
Muttering this, Pelfeel quickly issued the final instructions for the retreat.