Gurgle… The air sank into a long, heavy silence.
Learning they faced such a terrifying allied force, everyone present stared blankly, sweat pouring, bodies trembling.
"No way…"
"That many enemies?!"
"W-well, yeah… Grain is vital, so of course it'd be heavily guarded."
"Hey, is it too late to back out now?"
BOOM!!
A fist wreathed in Black Flame smashed into a tree, snapping it clean in half.
"Everyone, cool it!"
Zera's punch cut the clamor short. "I believe Weston will lead us to victory!!"
The sight warmed Weston's heart.
At the crucial moment, his little wife had his back… He glanced at his other little wife.
Mavis was already drafting battle plans.
Weston felt guilty; ever since he'd transmigrated into this world, she'd lived in his shadow.
This time she'd probably lose the title "Fairy Tactician"… he'd just have to repay her "ten-fold" later!!
"I'll now transmit the detailed tactics of this operation via Super Archive."
"Mavis, Warrod, you two are the key."
"Yes, sir!!"
"Got it!!"
"Yuri, Zera, coordinate with me on a Combo Spell. It's the mission core, so no mistakes!"
"Roger!"
"No problem!!"
"Precht, take the rest of the guild as rearguard. After we strike we'll be drained; if the plan fails, you're up!"
"Leave it to me!!"
"Then, commence operation!!"
…In the hills the royal convoy trundled wagon after wagon of grain.
Leading them was a fat-cheeked general in armor astride his horse.
Suddenly he let out a thunderous sneeze that shook the ground ten meters away.
"Strange… this route feels different from last time?"
"Has my wife worn out my memory with her nightly demands?"
The thought made him shiver.
Escorting grain was monthly routine.
East and North armies had faced off for two months. He'd escorted three runs without a hitch, this one would be fine!
The column wound through woods, crossed a brook, crested hills, passed a gorge.
As time wore on, fatigue showed in every face.
"Weird…"
"This haul feels endless."
"By now we should've arrived."
Just then—
Thud!!
His charger slammed into an invisible wall.
"What the—?!"
The general looked up: mid-air floated black runes—
"Those who enter cannot leave."
A word enchantment spell!
An absolute rule!
"Magic?!"
Heart pounding, he spun round—the scenery had changed.
They weren't on a mountain road to the battlefield but in a valley ringed by peaks!
"Damn it!"
"Ambush!"
Instant chaos!
"Quick!"
"Call those guys for help!!"
The "guys" he meant: Wizards and mercenaries from Dark Guilds recruited by Fiore's Second Prince.
They'd accepted the prince's contract to escort the grain.
Until now the general had scorned these "desperadoes."
Not just for their "low birth," but because, unlike drilled soldiers, they were unruly.
They flouted orders, demanded special treatment, and grumbled filled the ranks.
Yet now, cornered, the proud general had to beg the very thugs he despised.
"It's magic, let the Wizards handle it! Get them here! If the grain's lost, they're accountable too!"
"General, those Wizards…"
"What about them?"
"They're gone!"
"…Say that again?!"
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the valley—
"Crap, we're ambushed!"
"Damn! What is this?!"
"Some guild Wizard pulled this? Cheap trick!!"
"I'll just break—uurk!!"
"You okay?"
"H-help me…"
"Fight us fair, trap-free, if you've got the guts!!"
"Those who enter cannot leave."
"Whoever casts magic will be drained and suffocate."
Same trap—
Different targets!
The hired killers, Wizards, and mercenaries, ten assassins, two-hundred-fifty mages, had all split from the convoy and fallen into the snare!
"That many? Our work's cut out!"
"No rush. Weston said just keep them from helping."
Precht and guildmates ringed the trapped killers and Wizards.
No matter the racket inside, they waited quietly, neither attacking nor releasing anyone… "Mavis's part worked; only common soldiers remain. The troublemakers are caged by Precht!"
"Looks like the plan's going perfectly!"
In the valley Weston stepped out with Yuri and Zera.
Everything so far had gone exactly as he'd designed.
Weston had scouted the terrain and had Mavis cast Illusion Magic along the route.
Her illusions were flawless; without prior warning, victims never noticed.
Add Warrod's power to shift trees, and together they forged a non-existent path, luring the grain train and elite escort apart and straight into his trap.
"Who… who are you people?"
The soldiers bristled at the trio's sudden appearance.
"Did you set these traps?"
"Wizards?!!"
"Just three of you attacking the grain, how outrageous!!"
"Get them!!"