Chapter 433

Resuming the March
With the King's brother's stance decided, we also resolved to resume our advance.
At that time, two of Plum's companions and a few Kiblinki Saltas would separate from us to form a detached unit to assist Duke Plafard.
It couldn't be helped, and losing that many escorts wouldn't pose any real issue, so we decided to move on without worrying about it.

"Well then, Duke Roberaud, thank you for everything."

"No, I should be thanking you. I leave the matter of the King's brother to you. I'll deal with the Third Prince’s faction."

"Yes. Leave it to me."

Once it was settled that we would dismantle the King's brother’s faction, we once again pulled the mountain of ice and the ice cage behind us on horseback and set off toward the region under the King's brother’s control.
Along the way, we were ambushed several times, but each time, the Kiblinki Saltas on patrol spotted the attackers beforehand. By deliberately allowing the attacks to occur, we left behind only the fact that there had been an assault—and those attackers ended up newly imprisoned in our cage.
Judging from their equipment, most of them were indeed from the King's brother’s faction.
There seemed to be some real bandits mixed in as well, but what exactly were they planning, attacking a group with this many knights and soldiers?

Our journey progressed smoothly, and at last, we approached the territory under the King's brother's control.
Apparently, there's a fortress just before entering it, so we held a meeting—or rather, a confirmation—about how to break through.

“Lily, may I leave it to you and Talat?”

“Yes. We’ll freeze the soldiers in the fortress, and while we're at it, freeze the fortress itself so that no one can pass through.”

“That’s reassuring, but that would leave us with no escape route.”

Marquis Vardmoi added with a wry smile, but it wasn't that simple a matter.
Besides, Marquis Vardmoi also agreed with the idea of freezing the fortress and making it impassable.

Once we passed through, if the Third Prince’s faction, which controls the northwestern area, were to send pursuers or if the fortress remained encased in ice, it would practically be an invitation for his forces to launch an attack.
To prevent that, we would surround the fortress and its surroundings—our strategic point of defense—with tall walls of ice, making it impossible for anyone to climb over.
Of course, doing this would also cut off our own escape route.
If Talat were with us, he could melt it instantly, but without him, we’d be trapped.
It was, in a sense, a last-stand formation.
It couldn’t be helped—we’d just have to go through with it.

“Well then, we’ll reach the fortress by tomorrow morning. Are you mentally prepared?”

“Too late to ask now. Let’s get this annoying job over with quickly.”

“Understood. In any case, we’ll camp here for the night. Your escorts probably won’t let their guard down, but be careful.”

“Yes. Leave it to me.”

To think we’d camp right next to the enemy’s fortress—Marquis Vardmoi really was bold.
No one objected, which probably meant they were all used to this kind of thing by now.
In any case, the real battle begins tomorrow.
This is where things truly start.

What do you think about this chapter?