Mock Battle (2)

Crown Prince Kunter von Württemberg had gathered all the knights of the First Star Palace.

He clicked his tongue abruptly while reviewing the formations.

"This isn't enough manpower. It's too risky."

The strategic mock battle against Asella was set for tomorrow. What started as a simple wager had escalated into an all-or-nothing showdown, with both palaces staking their very funding.

If Kunter lost, maintaining the First Star Palace would become impossible—but he had no choice. To prove himself to the Emperor, he had to throw everything into this and win.

"I've got confidence in the strategy... but still."

Having spent his days holed up in the palace playing chess and similar games, he was confident of victory.

The rules of the strategic mock battle were straightforward: Each side formed twenty units of a hundred knights apiece. Victory went to whoever seized more strongholds or neutralized the enemy's commander.

Played in turns, with only one unit movable per turn, it was essentially chess.

"The main differences are that each unit's movement range is based on actual distance covered in five minutes, and combat is winner-takes-all—attacker or defender, only the victors survive."

Unlike chess, the attacker didn't automatically win. And the terrain wasn't a flat board but real rugged mountains.

Asella, holding two barracks, could easily assemble knights suited for mock battles. Ras had even heard she had a sword expert named Tanya, who was supposedly formidable.

Facing her for real weighed heavily on Kunter.

"Worst of all, I have to fight on the front lines myself."

The commander joined the fray personally. If he was taken down, it was game over.

As Kunter agonized, Libio visited for his afternoon checkup.

"Your Highness, you seem troubled."

"Oh? Yeah... the conditions aren't favorable."

Libio nodded as he watched Kunter position pieces on the terrain model.

"As expected of Your Highness. The strategy is flawless, without a single gap. The issue is whether the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠knights can execute your grand vision."

"Y-you think so?"

Kunter scratched his head, pleased by the praise.

Libio offered a solution.

"On the day of the match, I'll have my faction healers cast enhancement blessings. Mine are more potent than any healer's. We can surely surpass Moonlight Palace's level."

"Really? Then we can win!"

"The only concern is Your Highness getting ambushed and taken out."

"R-right..."

Libio pulled out a vial. Something pitch-black writhed inside.

"What's that?"

"A refined enhancement spell. Use it in emergencies. It'll make Your Highness stronger than most knights."

"For real? You're the best, Libio. I knew you had something like this."

The writhing mass of a spell looked suspicious, but Kunter, trusting Libio implicitly, pocketed it without question.

"I'll be cheering for you, Your Highness. Prove your worth this time and offer Moonlight Palace's funds to His Majesty."

"Of course. After Asella, I'll take down Heike too and prove I'm the Crown Prince."

Libio's lips curled into a faint smile as Kunter showed his resolve.

"Your mana circuits seem slightly disrupted. Activity is fine, but take it easy today and be cautious."

After finishing Asella's morning checkup and packing up, she asked me,

"Young master, heading to the Imperial Medical Office now?"

"Yes."

Asella replied coldly, clearly displeased.

"...Don't do anything foolish. Stay put."

"Of course. Who do you think gave the order?"

The air between us was frosty. We'd had a spat yesterday.

I left Moonlight Palace with a lingering unease.

Of course, I had no intention of staying put as Asella ordered.

'I need Kunter's brooch too, and Libio's bound to pull something—I have to counter it.'

If Asella wouldn't let me in, I'd have to approach from outside.

I immediately started rounds, searching for Geda's room under Libio's care.

Conveniently, Libio was examining the princess.

Upon hearing I'd arrived, he came out to meet me.

"Doctor Gotberg, to what do I owe the visit?"

"Good work this time, Priest Libio. Her Highness must have been in rough shape."

His face hardened at my casual opener.

"Thank you."

His mechanical response made me grin widely.

"It's about tomorrow's mock battle between our Moonlight Palace and your First Star Palace."

"The mock battle. As a mere attending physician, I'm not well-informed."

Libio's poker face and flat tone sounded robotic. He was clearly drawing a line between us.

Time to test his reaction.

"Not well-informed? Rumor has it you egged on His Highness Kunter."

"I have no idea what you mean."

Libio stayed calm, but his neck flushed red. His heart rate had spiked.

No matter how good the acting, autonomic responses are hard to fake.

Evidence would be easy to gather.

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'Diagnosis.'

'Oh ho.'

Classic signs of lying.

I was convinced Libio was behind this mock battle.

'Curse addiction? It was just general addiction last time.'

"Not participating in the mock battle?"

"It's for knights to fight. As a healer, I won't join."

He stated it firmly.

I grinned and praised him.

"Among healers, Priest Libio is the best. Shouldn't you go out there?"

"You're too kind."

"You saved Her Highness Geda's life too. Talented."

Libio's eyes widened in fury at my praise.

He must be pissed.

'She has amnesia.'

He'd probably used a brutal healing method to cover for healing spell side effects.

"Good work. See you later."

"Take care."

Libio bowed to me. Hiding emotions in the shadows still creeped me out.

Back in my office, I wrote up a report on Libio.

"Symptoms of curse addiction observed."

His original addiction seemed aimed at alcohol or narcotics.

The new notation meant he'd handled curses recently—maybe yesterday or the day before.

I suspected Libio planned to cause trouble with curses during the mock battle.

Such drastic action meant he was desperate—assassinating the Emperor wouldn't be out of character.

'But he said he's not participating. He's already set everything up.'

Staying away on the day provided an alibi.

Where did he get the curse?

Pretty dangerous state. I needed proof of his black magic ties.

I told Tanya,

"We need to tail Libio."

She responded instantly.

"I'll send Bruno. What evidence should we grab?"

Tanya got it right away—easy to communicate with.

"Record all contacts with suspicious figures. Focus on anyone like a black mage."

"Understood."

"Hugo, finished that thing we were developing?"

"Just in time."

Hugo handed me a device assembling mana stones and gems, with thin papers slotted at the end.

"Curse detector. Reagent paper touching the patient's body changes the gem's color, roughly indicating curse grade and type. But only for curses on my list."

"Good work."

With this, even if Libio used curses, we'd identify most types.

Hugo had already systematized various curses.

Asella's was pending, though.

'If even Hugo's struggling, hers might be top-tier.'

She'd been stable lately, but who knew when she'd flare up.

Needed analysis there too.

"If we can analyze curses..."

...we can counter them.

I wanted to join the mock battle where trouble might brew.

"Captain, you in tomorrow's mock battle?"

"Yes. Assigned to the mobile unit."

"Can you ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠squeeze me into heavy infantry? Full plate with helmet covering the face."

"Doctor, I don't recommend that idea."

Tanya read my intent and advised against it.

As she suspected, I planned to disguise as a Moonlight Palace knight and infiltrate.

If Asella caught me, it'd be bad—but if not, problem solved.

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"If nothing happens in the mock battle, I'll stay quiet."

"And if it does?"

"I'll handle it, and even Asella will forgive me."

"You sure?"

"Of course. I have my suspicions."

"I mean about Her Highness forgiving you. There was a weird vibe today."

Tanya was sharp about these things. Maybe from being close to Asella.

"Just a little spat. No big deal."

"Mm. Happens like that sometimes. But Doctor, you occasionally miss Her Highness's moods."

"Me?"

Hard to agree with Tanya there. No one knew Asella like I did.

...Though things had felt off lately.

"Anyway, I have to join the mock battle personally. Ignoring it could make things worse. Scolding can wait."

"Sounds like you're certain. If you say so, I'll cooperate. But stick by me for emergency response."

"You got it."

Tanya's matter-of-fact briefing felt reassuring.

Boom, boom. Drums signaled the start.

"All units in position."

Asella raised her staff upon the knight commander's report.

Her vantage was the knight order's live training ground in the northern mountains of the imperial palace grounds.

Divided into 120 zones, it was designed for mountain combat training: cliffs, mud pits, dense woods, steep slopes—perfect for elevation drills.

"Prepare to deploy."

"Yes, ma'am!"

The formed units entered full combat readiness.

"Lady Tanya, take the vanguard."

"Leave it to me."

Four knights followed Tanya to breach the enemy lines. One lagged slightly.

Tanya tapped his shoulder to snap him to attention, infusing spirit.

'Good, she hasn't noticed yet.'

From within the full plate armor, Ras glanced at Asella while raising his shield.