Heirent soldiers struggling out of the water were mauled by the Tyrant Dragon, Tyrano. Meanwhile, the Thunder Dragon, Brachio, trampled through the Hovos lines like a moving fortress, churning the muck beneath its feet.
Ahead, more dragons stirred—a demon wielding twin blades rode atop the monstrous Deino, while the blade-tailed Stego advanced toward the Hamiel Kingdom’s forces. The Demon King’s army had launched its full assault.
If this continued, the central forces—the Hovos Federation and Heirent Kingdom—would be annihilated. The collapse of the center meant the coalition’s total destruction.
“Kyle, I leave command to you. I’ll take Glen and Hans north from the hilltop to reinforce the Hovos Federation. You lead the ten thousand reserves from below, supporting them from the rear.”
I handed command to General Kyle, resolved to lead the reserves to aid the Hovos forces.
“I’m asking a lot of Otto and the others, but I trust you.”
“Rest assured, Lady Romelia. We can fight even without reserves.”
Kyle nodded firmly as I entrusted him with leadership.
“Glen! Hans! Prepare the cavalry!”
“Wait, Lady Romelia! You’re going to help another nation?!”
Secretary Spiri’s voice rose in protest as I issued orders. She must have found it unbelievable that I would divert precious reserves to aid others in such dire straits.
True, the coalition had spent more time undermining each other than cooperating. Even in war councils, we were treated like enemies, dismissed and belittled. But this was no time for such pettiness.
“If we do nothing, the coalition will collapse—worse, we may be wiped out. To survive, we must save them.”
At the word “annihilation,” Spiri’s expression shifted.
“The situation is that dire. Mage Captain Cleate.”
I turned to Cleate, who stood ready with his three hundred mages—our last reserves.
“Your unit will advance and engage the Deino.”
I pointed toward the frontlines,
where the monstrous Deino and armored giant soldiers marched forward.
“B-But… Taking on a dragon with just us…”
Even the usually boastful Cleate hesitated this time.
“I’m not asking you to kill it. Just attack and provide cover—that’s enough.”
I didn’t expect them to slay a dragon.
“Otto! The Deino is coming. It’s your responsibility. But don’t force yourself to kill it—just keep it occupied! Understood? You don’t need to defeat it!”
As I shouted, Otto raised his war hammer in acknowledgment.
Originally, I had planned to send Glen and Hans against the Deino, but with most reserves diverted, we lacked the pieces to counter it.
“The rest is in your hands.”
Leaving command to Kyle, I mounted my horse, its saddle bearing the banner of the lily bellflower.
“Glen! Hans! Ready?”
“Always.”
Glen grinned fearlessly. Behind him, five thousand cavalry stood ready.
“Then let’s move!”
“Men! Follow Lady Romelia!”
Digging my heels into my horse, I charged forward as Glen rallied the troops. The cavalry surged behind me.
Galloping north along the hill’s crest, I saw Kyle’s reserves advancing below. Soon, scattered demon soldiers appeared ahead.
I urged my horse faster. I lacked the strength to fight, but against scattered infantry, I didn’t need it—my steed would trample them.
As I crashed into the enemy, the demons scrambled aside—only for Glen and Hans’ cavalry to spear and trample them in our wake.
Around us, the Thunder Dragon Brachio rampaged unchecked, throwing the Hovos frontlines into chaos. Then, as if abandoning the fray, a rear detachment broke away—a cavalry-led retreat. At its head flew the banner of five stars: General Dimos.
He had deemed the Hovos forces unsalvageable, sacrificing half to save the rest.
A swift decision—but to abandon tens of thousands while survival was still possible? I frowned at Dimos’ choice, urging my horse onward.
Then, ahead, a lone demon stood with its back to us. Before it, two women froze in place, carrying a wounded soldier.
Princess Lelia of the Hovos Federation and Princess Helen of the Heirent Kingdom.
“Glen!”
At my cry, Glen shot past me, closing the distance in an instant. With a single swing of his lance, he cut the demon down.
The sound of pierced flesh. The demon fell.
“Lady Lelia! Lady Helen! Are you unharmed?”
As I reined in my horse, the two—who had shut their eyes in fear—slowly opened them.
“Ro—Lady Romeria?!”
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Princess Helen’s eyes widened in shock before she slumped to the ground, seemingly from relief. Princess Lelia, on the other hand, stood frozen in place, causing the soldier she had been carrying to slip off her shoulder.
The soldier the two had been carrying was Sir Baines, a knight of the Heirent Kingdom. He appeared to be breathing but unconscious. Fortunately, neither Princess Lelia nor Princess Helen bore any visible injuries.
“I’m relieved to see you unharmed. I shall lend you some of my soldiers—no, please flee to the encampment of the Hamiel Kingdom.”
I glanced toward the southernmost position where the Hamiel Kingdom was stationed.
It was unclear how this war would unfold, but in the worst case, retreating across the Line River was a possibility. The safest place right now was the Hamiel Kingdom’s encampment, closest to the Soot Bridge.
“Thank you, Lady Romeria.”
Princess Helen expressed her gratitude with tearful eyes, but Princess Lelia, for some reason, glared at me with her willow-like brows furrowed in displeasure.
“Wait a moment. What do you intend to do now, Lady Romeria?”
“Me? I will head out to support the Hovos Federation and the Heirent Kingdom.”
As I answered the visibly displeased princess, I surveyed the half-destroyed encampments of the two nations.
The Hovos Federation had lost its commander after General Dimos led the main force away from the frontlines. Meanwhile, the Heirent Kingdom’s position had completely collapsed, with many of its soldiers swept away by the floodwaters from a broken dam. If we didn’t reinforce both armies, the center would be annihilated.
“Help? You? Us?”
“If we don’t cooperate, we lose.”
Princess Lelia seemed unable to believe my intentions, but the Demon King’s army was not weak enough to be defeated without unity.
“If you have further questions, we can discuss them later. For now, please retreat to the Hamiel Kingdom’s camp.”
“Wait! I’m coming with you! Take me along!”
“Huh? Are you serious?!”
I was stunned by Princess Lelia’s sudden insistence.
Perhaps it stemmed from her competitive nature toward me, but I couldn’t possibly bring a woman onto the battlefield.
“There are no spare horses. If you insist, you’ll have to ride behind me.”
I gestured to the space behind me, expecting her to refuse the idea of riding together.
“Fine.”
But contrary to my expectations, Princess Lelia leaped onto my horse, hiking up her skirt as she climbed on.
“This works, doesn’t it?!”
Seated behind me, she flashed a triumphant smirk.
“Ugh, fine! Don’t blame me if anything happens!”
I didn’t understand why she was so determined, but time was of the essence. With Princess Lelia clinging to my back, I spurred my horse forward.
“Hey! You’re leaving the infantry behind!”
Princess Lelia shouted from behind. True enough, the foot soldiers advancing at the base of the hill couldn’t keep up with the speed of the cavalry, falling further behind.
“This is fine. The infantry is the anvil; the cavalry is the hammer!”
Having ridden north along the hill’s crest, I sharply turned left and charged downhill. Princess Lelia shrieked as I maintained full speed, hurtling toward the enemy’s infantry formation.
“There!”
I shouted, locking onto a weak point in the Demon King’s army’s formation before steering my horse toward it.
“Wait! Where do you think you’re going?!”
Princess Lelia screamed again.
“Don’t worry. A gap will open in that line.”
“Wh—Seriously?!”
She let out another shriek at my confident words.
Her shock was understandable—the enemy’s ranks appeared impenetrable. But I knew that formation would soon split.
The Demon King’s infantry had been advancing to crush the Hove Federation’s position, but upon noticing the approaching Lionel Kingdom’s forces from the south, part of them began to pivot. This created a fleeting gap—a seam in their awareness—that I could exploit.
Ignoring Princess Lelia’s protests, I drove my horse straight into the enemy line. Just as predicted, the Demon King’s soldiers shifted—some continuing forward, others turning—creating an opening just wide enough for a single horse.
That was exactly where I had intended to go.
I forced my steed through the crack, widening it as I pressed forward.
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