As the clear autumn morning sunlight poured down, Frizione’s army was preparing to depart, forming ranks as they waited for the order to be given.
The fact that the morale of the soldiers was so high and they were ready to respond to an attack at any time made it hard to believe a battle taken place between Frizione’s army and the allied forces of Kabajid and Shurus the day before.
This was partly because they had managed to rest well overnight, but also because Frizione’s army was an elite one to begin with.
In addition, the army included the First Princess Frizione, the leader of the army, the White Rose Knights, a knight order that served directly under Frizione, and Rei, who was famous in the Bestir Empire for many reasons.
The army was extremely strong in terms of military strength, to the point that after being attacked from the front, back, and flanks by an army twice their size, they had suffered almost no losses while completely defeating the enemy.
……That said, the force that was intended to attack their flanks never really did anything, having been annihilated by Rei and Set before they could even leave the forest.
Although there were quite a few injured in the battle, there were close to no deaths. Even among the injured, many recovered thanks to the potions that had been brought along as well as mages who could use healing magic.
「Let’s head out! Considering our marching speed, we will probably join up with Mercurio’s army tomorrow. However, there is a possibility that Prince Kabajid and Prince Shurus’ armies will be waiting for us like yesterday, so don’t let your guard down!」
The voice of Angela, commander of the White Rose Knights, echoed out as Frizione’s army started their advance.
Their army was relatively small at 500 people or so, including the supply troops, so their marching speed was incomparable to an army of several thousand.
「Rei, could you do some scouting?」
Angela called out to Rei, who was riding on Set close to Frizione’s carriage, which was leading the way.
Originally, Rei’s role was to guard the army, so scouting would be left to other people.
In fact, Frizione’s army did have a scouting unit organised.
However, with Set’s ability to fly, the idea of scouting a large area quickly was very appealing to the army.
That was why Angela had asked Rei that morning if the scouting unit could be responsible for scouting the area closer to Frizione’s army while Rei and Set would use their mobility to scout further away, which Rei accepted.
「Okay, I’ll leave this place to you then. ……Well, I gave them a good beating yesterday. I don’t think they’ll try to do anything to us two days in a row.」
「That’s true. But, saying that, you should be careful too, Rei. I shouldn’t say this, but with you here, our combat strength is doubled……no, it’s obvious that it’s even greater than that. I think there’s a chance they will target you, so be very careful.」
Angela spoke worriedly.
But to Frizione, who was watching from nearby, there seemed more to Angela’s expression than just worry.
(Maybe it’s just my imagination?)
Frizione muttered from inside her carriage as she waved lightly to Rei and Set.
「Gurururu~!」
As Set responded to Frizione with a cry, the White Rose Knights guarding the carriage all squealed.
Even if they were skilled elites, it didn’t mean they didn’t have a weakness for cute things.
「Set-chan, I’ll give you something tasty later, so let’s play together.」
Set gave a happy cry at the words of the knight who had brought him the dried river fish last night.
After a run-up of a few steps, Set, with Rei on his back, flapped his wings as he ran into the sky.
As they did that, the commotion that was heard from not just the White Rose Knights but the whole army was proof that Rei and Set had attracted a lot of attention.
「Well then, Set. If nothing happens, we’ll reach the rebel camp tomorrow. I hope there won’t be a battle today like yesterday.」
「Gururu~?」
So that’s why we are scouting, right? Set seemed to ask with a cry. Rei gently stroked his neck as they flew into the sky.
As Rei and Set flew away, there were people watching them from the ground.
It was some distance from Frizione’s army, where Mulla and Sistoi had stopped to wait because of the battle that had taken place.
Seeing Set fly above them, they quickly threw something in their hands into a prepared bonfire before quickly leaving.
The people around them were a little suspicious of their haste to leave, but just assumed they were in a hurry and didn’t chase after them.
The people here had originally been heading for the Imperial Capital when they were stopped by Frizione’s army, which had set up camp.
Of course, the road hadn’t been blocked by Frizione’s army, so it was possible for them to go to the Imperial Capital if they wanted.
However, they had been afraid that their belongings would be requisitioned or that they would be falsely accused and interrogated, which was why they had stayed where they were.
While Frizione’s army had no such intentions and the peoples’ worries were unfounded, it was only natural for them to be more careful than usual.
However, in this case, their caution ended up dragging them into more unnecessary trouble.
Whatever had been thrown into the bonfire caused red smoke to rise into the sky.
A normal campfire would only produce black smoke.
The red smoke that came out of the fire made those who saw it think of a smoke signal.
Realising that, the merchants and adventurers nearby began to hastily pack their belongings.
If they stayed, they would definitely be caught up in a fight.
Being cautious, they decided to leave immediately……but it was already too late.
「What is this smoke signal!?」
Female knights, clad in white armour……the White Rose Knights, had arrived.
Being mounted on horseback, they were highly mobile. Furthermore, Frizione’s army had started their march, so when Angela so the red smoke signal in this direction, she had quickly dispatched her subordinates.
「Answer me! What is that smoke signal?」
While one knight questioned the people around here in a strong voice, another knight threw dirt on the fire to put out the smoke signal.
「That is, two men who were here earlier threw something into the fire, and then this happened……」
A merchant near the fire said that, but it was impossible for the knights to believe his words right away.
「So where are the two men?」
「No, they left right after……」
「What about their faces? Was there anything distinctive about them?」
The knights asked one question after another, but the merchant hadn’t been particularly acquainted with the missing men.
He had only just happened to be close by.
As a result, there was little information he could provided.
The red smoke signal was naturally seen by Rei and Set, who were scouting the surroundings from the sky.
Since Frizione and the others hand’t told him about using any sort of smoke signal, he expected that the enemy had probably made a move of sorts……
「This was really unexpected.」
「Guru~」
Rei muttered as he looked at the figures in front of him. Set gave a cry in agreement.
However, the unexpectedness wasn’t in a good sense, but rather in a disappointing sense.
That was because Rei was currently looking at five Wyverns. And, on each Wyvern’s back was a knight……in other word, five Dragon Knights.
Dragon Knights were certainly strong.
The Wyverns could shoot fireballs from their mouths while the knight could attack with spears, bows, or magic.
Above all, their greatest advantage, as the Wyvern suggested, was that they could fly.
It would be difficult for ordinary soldiers, even in numbers of a hundred or two hundred, to be able to match a single Dragon Knight.
There were a strong opponent, but……to Rei and Set, they had defeated them in great number during the Spring War.
As a result, five Dragon Knights wasn’t a big deal at this point in time.
「I don’t know if it’s Kabjid or Shurus, but aren’t they underestimating us? ……No, no matter what, there’s no way they can think of doing anything to me with just this level of strength. In that case, there must be some kind of trick……so, what are they planning?」
As Rei wondered what his opponent was planning, the Dragon Knights didn’t let go of the opportunity.
Five Wyverns opened their mouths wide as they shot out fireballs.
「Set!」
「Guru~!」
It was only a single word, but Set understood Rei’s intention from just that as he flapped his wings and rose into the sky.
At the same time, Rei’s Flying Slash cut through several fireballs, causing them to explode on the spot along with the rest of the fireballs.
(They aren’t coordinating well with each other?)
Rei seemed puzzled as he saw their movements.
The Dragon Knights he had fought in the Spring War did use long range attacks like fireballs as their main method of attack, but they would rarely explode like they did just now.
They would train to keep a proper distance from each other to avoid situations like this.
But the Dragon Knights in front of Rei and Set seemed to be each doing their own thing.
That was right, it was as if Dragon Knights from completely different units had been forcibly brought into a single unit.
「……I don’t know what they’re planning, but if they want us to reduce their fighting power, I am grateful for their consideration and will do as they want. Let’s go, Set!」
「Gurururu~!」
Set quickly responded to Rei’s words, flapping his wings greatly as he charged towards the Dragon Knights below them.
Gaining speed by flapping his wings instead of folding them in, they delivered a powerful attack before the Dragon Knights could react.
As they passed through the group, Set’s front claws smashed through the head of one Wyvern while a blow from Rei’s Death Scythe cut through a knight riding on another Wyvern.
The other Dragon Knights gasped as they saw the loss of two Dragon Knights in a single exchange.
「Ugh-Uwaaaaaaah! Someone, someone help me!」
The Dragon Knight riding the Wyvern which Set had killed shouted out.
Having lost its head, the Wyvern was obviously dead and could no longer fly.
In other words, the Dragon Knight started to fall from a height of over 100m, screaming in fear.
In comparison, the Dragon Knight that had been killed by Rei’s attack was somewhat better off.
Their Wyvern was still unharmed.
However, the Wyvern and Dragon Knight had grown up together since before the Wyvern had been born.
It was impossible for the Wyvern to stay quiet after losing someone who was like a partner, friend, and brother to them.
「GAAAAAAAAAAAH-!」
It spat out a fireball towards Set, who was below them.
However, Set just continued his dive straight to the ground without slowing down.
The three remaining Dragon Knights wondered if they were trying to kill themselves, but……
「Guru~!」
Set was obviously prepared and, just before hitting the ground, he flapped his wings to slow his descent before pushing against the ground with his legs to head back up into the sky.
The Dragon Knights didn’t seem to expect Set, who had rushed past them a few seconds earlier, to come back so quickly.
In a completely unexpected move, Rei use the Death Scythe to slash the head of the Wyvern that had lost its knight as Set crushed the head of another nearby Wyvern.
Two more Wyverns fell towards the ground.
The two remaining Dragon Knights……seeing their comrades taken down in an instant, probably realised they stood no chance of winning. They made their Wyverns spit out fireballs at once before quickly fleeing.
「Set, don’t let them get away!」
「Guru~!」
Hearing Rei’s words, Set flapped his wings to give chase after the Dragon Knights.
Rei knew better than anyone how troublesome Dragon Knights could be with their ability to fly. That was why Rei couldn’t let them get away.
If they escaped, there was a high chance that Frizione’s army or the rebel army could suffer heavy casualties.
(I don’t know what they were thinking, using Dragon Knights as disposable forces……but I have no intention of letting this golden opportunity go!)
Muttering to himself, Rei gripped the Death Scythe’s shaft tightly as he pointed it towards the backs of the Dragon Knights that were growing closer in his eyes.