Rest and his team moved deeper into the forest, encountering no resistance from the Foreign Tribes.
The march was anticlimactically peaceful. Since Dieble’s [Anti-Search] magic was flawless, they weren't even bothered by wild beasts or monsters. After taking several breaks and camping overnight, the group finally reached their destination.
"That’s it," Rou, their Ogrekin guide, whispered in a hushed voice. "That’s the Sorcerer’s Castle."
Standing in the middle of a dense, overgrown jungle was a structure that looked entirely out of place. It was a fortress constructed of packed, black earth. From a distance, it looked like nothing more than an oversized, crudely made sand castle. However, Rest sensed the truth immediately.
A powerful aura of mana radiated from the structure. It looked fragile enough to crumble at a touch, but it was wreathed in high-level defensive enchantments.
"Professor Dieble. That’s..."
"You noticed, Lord Rest. It seems we are dealing with a very capable mage."
Dieble nodded at Rest’s observation.
"The earthen structure has been reinforced with [Hardening] magic. Judging by the sheer volume and quality of the mana, I suspect several other layers of defensive spells are active as well."
"So, a careless approach is out of the question. Just as I thought."
There were almost certainly detection wards in place. If they tried to breach the interior—or even brushed against the walls—they would likely be discovered.
The castle interior must be a den of traps, Rest thought. The simplest solution would be to blow it to smithereens from the outside, but that would be counterproductive.
Rest glanced at the back of Rou’s head. Even against such iron-clad defenses, he could probably level the place if he used magic like [Kagutsuchi]. But if he did, the hostages held inside would be vaporized along with the walls. Killing the very people they came to save would only deepen the Foreign Tribes' hatred, ensuring the war dragged on indefinitely.
"Rou, do you know where your sister and the others are being held?"
"...I don't," Rou replied, shaking his head in frustration. "I tried to sneak in to help them several times, but I couldn't even set foot inside. There’s only one entrance in the front. No windows at all. My kin tried to break through the walls, but even the strongest adult Ogrekin couldn't smash them with their clubs. Even if they managed to leave a scratch or a crack, it would fix itself immediately."
"Self-repair as well? I see. The mage who built this is more skilled than I anticipated—likely on par with the elite of the Court Mages," Dieble murmured in admiration.
Rest and Dieble were both top-tier mages, but it seemed their opponent was a formidable match. Any lapse in focus would be fatal.
In that case, we have no choice but to go in, Rest realized. If only I could pinpoint exactly where the hostages are.
He tried to probe the interior with [Presence Search], but the magical barrier repelled the spell. He could have used his infinite mana to force his way through the wards, but that would immediately alert the enemy to their presence.
"Well... how should we handle this?"
"The answer is simple," Bareia Catreia declared, his voice firm and unwavering. "We must charge."
He looked at the hesitating Rest with a sharp gaze.
"We are in the heart of enemy territory. What is there to fear now? If this is what is required to save the Aiwood Kingdom, then we must risk a desperate assault."
"Lord Bareia..."
Rest knew Bareia was right. They had risked this infiltration for a quick resolution. Sitting here and wasting time would accomplish nothing.
Bareia makes a good point, but charging straight through the front door seems a bit too reckless, Rest thought.
"I have a proposal," Dieble said, raising his hand to offer a calm alternative. "We should split into two groups. One side will launch a frontal attack to draw the enemy's attention. While they are occupied, the second group will break through the rear wall and infiltrate the castle to rescue the hostages. What do you think?"
"A diversion strategy? I see. Not bad."
Bareia stroked his chin, glancing over the members of the unit. Rest nodded in agreement, and neither Lyubase nor the others raised any objections. The plan was set.
"It's settled then. As for the groups—"
"Come on, lads! Charge!"
"OOOOOOOH!"
"Wait, what...?"
Bareia was interrupted before he could finalize the assignments. An unexpected development had suddenly occurred.
A group had emerged from the forest and was now rushing headlong toward the castle gates.
"Father? And my brothers!?" Rou cried out in shock.
The newcomers were a band of Ogrekin, about ten in total. They were armed with rocks, logs, and clubs, desperately trying to batter down the entrance. It was a reckless suicide charge, devoid of any strategy or plan. Even so, their raw desperation was palpable.
"Could this be... a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?" Rest whispered.
"Move out! Now!" Bareia roared.
The Ogrekin had unintentionally provided them with the perfect distraction. Moving like shadows, the infiltration team hurried toward the opposite side of the castle to strike while the enemy was distracted.