Chapter 39
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Buildup
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"...We can immediately mobilize 8,000 regular soldiers and 200 knights."
I nodded.
"And the enemy? Worst-case scenario."
"If we assume the Karg tribe has rallied every clan and all available personnel... their combat-ready forces could range from a maximum of 80,000 down to a minimum of 30,000."
‘?...What’s with these numbers?’
"That’s a huge variance."
"It’s hard to get a precise read because of the nomads’ flexibility and diversity."
"...In other words, a head-on clash would be suicide."
The room fell silent as I lowered my gaze.
"Get as close an estimate as you can. Then let’s draw up some plans."
Owen stood and offered his input.
"To tie down the enemy, we need to cut their supply lines. The Northern Army can’t sustain itself, so if we target their supply routes and wagons, we can buy a lot of time."
It was a solid idea.
"With only 9,000 total troops available, we’d lose half to their cavalry just advancing and retreating..."
Even if we lucked out and hit a supply train, the pursuit afterward would be the real problem.
The mobility of barbarians who’d spent their lives on horseback was beyond imagination.
I peered intently at the map.
‘A place where their mobility is restricted, guerrilla tactics are easy, and the enemy gathers in one spot without scattering...’
There was one. But it was far.
‘...There has to be a way... right?’
I stood and pointed at the map.
The spot I indicated was a rugged mountain range flanking the barbarians’ southward path.
"We use this range here. Send in a small elite unit fast to sow chaos in their supply train, then flee into the mountains. That should shake off their cavalry."
No large force would detour around this stretch just to spare their stamina.
The nobles stirred.
"Your Highness, that’s reckless. The snow-capped peaks there are brutal—too many constraints for operating troops. Even if we mounted up and left now, they’d have passed the area by the time we arrived. And there’s no separate teleport array due to the terrain."
I stated firmly.
"I’ll lead the small unit myself. We’ll infiltrate stealthily via teleport, stir up their supply train. All we need to hold out is time to slow their advance. Delegate temporary command to Duke Ardell. Once all troops arrive, have them move out swiftly and position on both sides of this sector. We’ll drag it out as long as possible and link up."
"Understood."
He might be trash as a father, but he was the empire’s duke. Better than those potbellied first princess loyalists over there.
It was the best plan I could think of on the spot.
I didn’t even know how strong the enemy was.
"Load war supplies and rations into the subspace. Gather every last mana potion, and..."
I hoped my idea panned out.
"Prepare several books on barbarian myths too."
"Myths, Your Highness?"
"Yeah."
"Yes, sir!"
Though puzzled, the nobles bowed smartly and hurried out.
"Let’s grab our gear and head out too."
""Yes, sir!""
"Your Highness."
As I turned to leave, the duke’s heir called me back.
"Young duke, what is it?"
I asked with a quizzical look, and he stared at me for a long moment before speaking.
"I’d like to join the raiding party."
At his words, the lady cried out in a trembling voice.
"Y-Your Highness! Please, g-give me a chance to join too!"
We’d be chaining teleports from here on—no room for dead weight.
I circulated my mana and scanned them both.
‘Whoa... on par with Lancelot? But the lady... tch.’
A quick once-over told me the young duke could handle himself. His mana wasn’t a waste.
The lady, though? Third circle and a frail build.
I met the young duke’s eyes and nodded.
"Young duke, gear up and follow. Lady, you stay here."
The young duke nodded as the lady shouted furiously.
"Wh-why can’t I go?! Just give me the chance—I can do it!"
I was already pissed enough; no time to coddle a yapping noble lady.
"Tch. Reason? You’re weak. End of story. No arguments—we’re short on time."
Ignoring her stunned, speechless face, I strode out of the meeting room.
As we headed for supplies, I questioned the young duke.
"Young duke, ever killed anyone?"
"Yes."
"Specialty’s swordsmanship?"
"Yes. I can use a bow too."
"How far can you snipe?"
"Up to 500 meters."
"Got your own subspace bag?"
"Yes."
"Know the terrain well?"
"I followed the late duke on a punitive expedition."
"Perfect."
Oh, ace recruit. I like him.
We arrived at the training grounds amid bustling soldiers and spotted Duke Ardell.
Our eyes met, and he bowed in greeting.
"I’ll arrive even faster than ordered."
A wry chuckle escaped me at the sight of myself—the one buying time for the reinforcements, who in turn needed to buy time for their own arrival.
With a hollow laugh, I pulled out paper and pen, scribbled a missive.
"Duke Ardell, it’s hastily drafted, but it delegates authority temporarily. Hopefully you won’t need it, but if anyone interferes, use it. Kill them on the spot."
I handed him the slightly crumpled but better-than-nothing paper.
"Thank you for your trust, Your Highness! And to the prince’s consort... my apologies."
"Huh? Oh, sure."
Jenia replied with a ‘what’s his deal?’ look.
The duke probably figured she’d brought him some luck.
I’d just picked the emperor’s faction member with the biggest hat.
We left the still-bowing Duke Ardell behind and began loading supplies.
"Kids, hand over half your supply mana potions to me."
""Yes, sir!""
"Saintess! Take all of mine!"
Veronica beamed, arms full of mana potion crates.
Holy power supreme...
"Alright! Everyone bundled up warm? Let’s move."
""Yes, sir!""
With their crisp reply, I checked the map, memorized it.
Now I could project it anytime with a bit of mana, no need to unfold.
I spun my circles fiercely, tracing the teleport spell formula I’d practiced.
Eyes closed in focus, mana bent to my will, space unfolded within my grasp.
But this range was pitifully short. To merge the spaces, I curved my mana sense forward in a narrowing arc.
The world’s sides and rear beyond me chunked away.
Fine by me—it meant going farther.
Sense sharpening, I squeezed my perception to the limit, drew circles around both spaces.
The distant one resisted control, but it’d do.
I revved my circles harder, dominating ambient mana too.
‘Connect the points... jolt like a ricochet... center on me... now!’
A dizzying lurch, scenery shattered, mana chunk vanished.
"Hngh!"
"Your Highness!"
"Saintess, here’s a potion!"
"Teleport’s finally in the party! Drop me home next time, yeah?"
‘This punk...’
I downed Veronica’s potion in one gulp and sat for meditation.
‘Ow, my head... ugh, stomach...’
Queasy gut, throbbing skull, but manageable.
Plopping into the white snowfield chilled my legs, but gathering mana warmed me quick.
Up to fifth circle, circuits and circles overloaded hard. Now? Circles fresh, circuits stable.
Ambient mana plus potions—I could make it.
"Whew, dizzy... but doable!"
"Amazing, Saintess—er, Your Highness!"
"Sai... nt...?"
"It’s a thing with friends! Don’t overthink it!"
The recruit pried nosily, but our squad vet Lancelot patted his back and brushed it off.
Recovered enough, I stood and spun my circles.
"Alright, let’s keep pushing!"
‘I’m gonna die...’
Time had slipped to dawn.
Chaining teleports for a group wasn’t easy.
Mana held, but mental strain carved chunks out of me.
Head pounding, I force-fed myself potions.
When my stomach rebelled, I triggered vomiting manually.
‘Ow, throat hurts...’
But the sore gullet was worth it.
Our target lay before us.
The snowy plain’s white path stretched open, but mountains loomed like vast walls on either side.
Thick snow cloaked ridges, blizzards swirling like white smoke across the fields with every gust.
All that suffering nearly brought tears.
"Your Highness, great work... here’s some wa—never mind."
Jenia started offering water, then stopped, recalling my puking.
Throat raw—I needed a rinse.
"Perfect timing. Got water for a gargle?"
"Yes, here."
Gargling fresh water soothed my throat a bit.
Head cleared, I outlined our next moves.
"They’ll pass through here. They’ll watch for ambushes, but the path’s wide enough for their numbers—no need to detour."
The barbarians after the young duke’s head wouldn’t miss this chance.
"We’ll head to those flanking mountains, set up a few simple camps. Horses can’t climb—the terrain’s too rugged."
This shakes pursuit cavalry.
"I’ll handle disrupting supplies, but call for backup if needed. You lot cover each other on escapes, detect any scout climbers."
"Yes, sir!"
Briefing done, I teleported us up the mountain.
Gale winds battered, but spells blocked gusts, regulated temps as we scouted hideouts.
Mid-slope, a cave appeared.
"Hey, Liam."
"Yeah, that’ll do."
I’d eyed building a giant igloo illusion, but lucked into a natural cave.
We entered casually.
No bear or beast scares—folks lit fires or planed floors with aura.
"You guys got this..."
"Hee hee, well done, Saintess—Your Highness! Take a break?"
Veronica praised sweetly, but no rest for me.
"Stay put. I’ll scout a few more peaks."
"Your Highness, alone?"
"Just circling mountains, mark good spots, back quick."
I flew off, sensing through blizzard glare for hides.
Stuck mana-charged magic stones in nearby trees at prime spots.
No telling when enemies hit—prep boosted success odds.
Marked enough, returned to cave. Plan: expand territory like this for days.
"No clue when they arrive—set watches. I’ll ward the entrance; snow won’t spot this cave."
I cast at the mouth.
Entrance sealed slow, cave plunged dark save the fresh campfire glow.
Focus up—entrance parted, moonlight pierced.
"Ooh, opens and shuts like that? What if you’re gone?"
I pointed outside at Lancelot’s question.
"Lancelot, step out and back in."
"? Got it."
He exited.
Turned back...
"Hey Liam, I stepped out and now... huh? Where’s the cave?!"
Lancelot tilted his head, hopping like a zoo monkey.
"Aha! Magic mirror!"
"Bingo."
Jenia caught on.
"Magic mirror? What’s that mean, Jenia?"
Veronica asked—showing beats telling.
I grabbed her hand, led outside.
"Eek! Sainto—Your Highness!"
"Young duke, curious? Follow."
"?"
Dragged the sulky Veronica out, turned.
Our cave? Mirage—solid rock wall.
"Whoa! Popped from the wall! So that cave was a portal to this world..."
"Ah! One-way mirror—outside invisible from in? Brilliant!"
Ignored Lancelot’s nonsense, nodded.
"We’ll make multiples, hop between for evasion."
"Incredible, Your Highness!"
The young duke tested the wall—hand in, out—then asked.
"Impressive, sir. Illusion magic?"
"Kinda... but not. Pull hand, touch again."
He reached—wall solid as illusion faded.
"!!"
"This interferes with physics vividly. Impressed yet?"
I teased his sour face; answer turned serious.
"Yes... very much so."
Genuine awe embarrassed me into a cough.
"Ahem. Haven’t introduced properly. Call you Owen casually from now. Everyone in—intros time."
"As you wish."
Excitement high like we’d built a secret base, we took a fireside breather.