Upon reaching the Margrave Lavender territory, Rest was met by an operative from the secret unit known as the Sky-Demon.
Word of suspicious enemy activity had brought them to a particular plain, with the Sky-Demon leading the way.
They pushed through waist-high grass and dense foliage, navigating a desolate expanse that lacked even the faintest beast trail.
"Is that the border river...?"
The river lay just beyond the brush.
Rest couldn't recall its name, but it spanned over a hundred meters. Its current was swift, and the water appeared dangerously deep.
While there were likely shallower, slower-moving sections elsewhere, crossing the river at this specific point seemed impossible.
"Is there really something here?"
"Wait. Get down," the agent whispered.
"Mm..."
Rest lowered his posture as instructed, concealing himself in the tall grass.
Twigs and leaves brushed unpleasantly against his face. The presence of insects crawling nearby stirred a visceral sense of revulsion within him.
Nevertheless, he was in no position to complain.
Suppressing his discomfort, he held his breath and maintained a sharp watch on their surroundings.
"Imperial scouts have been spotted frequently on the opposite bank. It appears as though they are preparing for something..."
"Something? Like what?"
"Most likely... Here they come."
Rest’s pulse quickened.
Following the Sky-Demon’s gaze across the water, he saw a group of men emerge who were clearly soldiers of the Geisel Empire.
The soldiers appeared one after another, their numbers steadily growing until they totaled roughly five hundred.
"It isn't a massive force, but if that many soldiers infiltrate the country and sow chaos behind our lines, it would be a devastating blow."
"...You're right," Rest agreed.
It would be impossible to topple a nation with a mere five hundred men, but they could easily raze granaries, destroy armories, torch towns, and execute diversions.
If the rear fell into turmoil, the soldiers on the front lines would be unable to focus on the battle, and the kingdom's overall war potential would plummet.
(If those soldiers cross the river and begin sabotaging the interior, the Lavender army fighting at the frontier will be crippled by the loss of supplies. It might even prevent reinforcements from the capital.)
"...It’ll be over if the border is breached."
"The Geisel Empire possesses superior national strength. If they penetrate the undefended interior, they could push all the way to the Royal Capital in a single thrust."
"But how do they intend to cross...?"
Rest remained hidden, suppressing his presence as he watched the far bank. He couldn't fathom what they intended to do at a crossing point that was impassable even with a boat.
Then, a figure stepped forward in front of the five hundred Imperial soldiers.
"Is that...!"
Rest’s breath hitched.
The figure was draped in a deep red robe that concealed both their face and gender.
Emblazoned upon their chest was the symbol of an inverted pentagram.
"A Sorcerer...!"
He recognized that mark instantly.
The morose, skeletal man who had manipulated the foreign tribes—that Sorcerer had worn the exact same inverted pentagram symbol.
"Could it be one of his comrades...?"
"Shh! Stay down!"
Rest reflexively started to rise, but the Sky-Demon gripped his arm firmly, yanking him back.
Before them, on the far bank of the river, the red-robed figure raised a hand high.
The air grew heavy as the figure began to weave an incantation.
Even from this distance, Rest could feel a massive surge of mana radiating from the individual.
In the next instant, as Rest’s eyes widened and the Sky-Demon narrowed theirs, a spell of staggering proportions was unleashed.
"The river...!"
"It froze solid!"
The churning, massive river was instantly transformed into ice.
An ice bridge roughly twenty meters wide now spanned the water, linking the two nations.
"This is bad... This is really bad!"
"The enemy is moving."
The five hundred soldiers of the Geisel Empire began to march across the newly formed bridge, intent on invading the Aiwood Kingdom.
"There's no other way—I have to stop them!"
He couldn't allow them to set foot in the kingdom.
Rest surged out of the thicket, unleashing his magic toward the advancing enemy.