At long last, the day of the subjugation arrived. At the break of dawn, Elias and his company set forth for the fortress that served as their rendezvous point. There, they regrouped with their allies and reviewed their strategy once more.
“First, we must ascertain the whereabouts of the magic beast Alder. The knights and heroes stationed at the vanguard shall likely engage it first, but we shall monitor its movements while preparing to lay our traps.”
“What if the beast doesn’t show itself?” Misheana murmured, voicing her concern.
Frenn took it upon herself to answer.
“The kingdom has, through past subjugations and reconnaissance, devised methods to lure magic beasts. The moment Alder steps into human territory, they intend to sever its retreat by means of magic, cutting it off from its domain.”
“…Didn’t they try to trap it in the second subjugation? They set their snare but failed to contain it, right? Do they truly believe it will work this time?”
“There seems to be some new strategy in place, so they are confident in their success. However, I could not ascertain the finer details.”
(They likely plan to use magic to repel Alder from retreating rather than physically restraining it…)
Elias mused inwardly as he listened to Frenn’s explanation.
(If Alder is being controlled by some unknown force, or if it is following direct commands, this method will be ineffective. Still, the kingdom has judged—based on previous encounters—that this tactic will suffice.)
“In essence, the plan hinges upon ensnaring Alder within human territory and striking it down,” Frenn continued. “At present, the kingdom is actively tracking the beast’s movements and making its final preparations.”
“And in the meantime, we remain in reserve,” Misheana remarked.
“If the encirclement is successfully executed, we will serve as a barrier to sever Alder’s escape route. That said, capturing it within our net does not guarantee its defeat.”
“—There will always be unforeseen circumstances, no matter how well-conceived the strategy.”
Elias followed up on Frenn’s explanation.
“Every man here—indeed, every soldier in this battle—understands the peril of Alder. Its fearsome speed… a single hit from its high-velocity charge could prove fatal. Merely tracking its movements is a challenge in itself. I expect that the kingdom will employ both human barricades and magic barriers to restrict its mobility. However, this is a foe that has eluded capture for fifty years. In truth, the most dangerous moment may very well be when we begin closing the encirclement.”
“…The kingdom seems to be moving forward with the assumption that their strategy will succeed,” Misheana murmured, nodding to herself.
“Alder is cunning. Should the kingdom prematurely believe in their victory, it may seize the moment and slip through our grasp.”
“Indeed. Given its past escapes, we must assume that Alder possesses an acute sense of its surroundings. Even if it cannot comprehend our precise strategy, it may still sense that something is amiss. Perhaps it can even discern human intent… There is no telling how it will act. But precisely because we are positioned in the rear, we may yet find an opening to strike.”
Elias exhaled lightly, shrugging his shoulders.
“That said, it would be far better if the kingdom’s strategy unfolds without issue. The fewer casualties, the better. Even with all our preparations, there remains a chance that we will never have the opportunity to spring our trap, and the battle may end without our involvement.”
“That is fine by me,” Misheana said plainly.
To her, a decisive victory without needless bloodshed was far preferable to reckless engagement.
“We must pray that no lives are lost and do what we can within our means.”
“Aye… Let us take our positions.”
Elias and his company set out. The knights stationed at the fortress likewise advanced toward the mountain.
The allied heroes proceeded toward their designated positions. Meanwhile, Elias, Misheana, and Frenn moved together as a unit.
Elias extended his senses, seeking the presence of others. There, beyond the regions where the frontlines had expanded, he detected a multitude of human presences—knights, warriors, and auxiliary forces, all converging upon the battlefield.
(To the kingdom, Alder is an adversary steeped in bitter history. It is only natural that they have committed every available resource to ensure victory. Under normal circumstances, I would trust in their measures—but…)
“Elias.”
As they moved, Frenn addressed him from behind.
“I will handle communication with those setting the traps. You and Misheana should focus solely on the battle against Alder.”
“Understood.”
“Yeah, I’m counting on you.”
As soon as Elias and Misheana voiced their assent, a surge of magical energy rippled from the vanguard.
The battle had begun.
“Hey, Elias.”
As the sensation of power filled the air, Misheana turned toward him.
“I know that, ideally, the kingdom’s plan will work. But judging from the way you carry yourself, you don’t seem entirely convinced.”
“…I am not assuming outright failure. That said, if I were to estimate the chances of success… I would say perhaps seventy percent, if I were to be generous.”
“So that’s how dangerous Alder is?”
“It is my own conclusion, based on all that I have considered. Of course, it is also possible that the strategy will succeed and that we will be given the opportunity to strike the killing blow. With that in mind, I would prefer to set our traps.”
“But if Alder moves first, will we have time to lay them?”
“That will depend on how the beast acts. However, our odds are not poor. Given its abilities, devising a flawless countermeasure would have required more time, more manpower, and more resources than we possessed. We have done all we can to prepare. Now, all that remains is to see whether the kingdom’s strategy will hold… or whether our own preparations will bear fruit. In either case—”
Elias tightened his grip on his sword.
“—Victory shall be ours to claim.”