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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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“Hee hee. Don’t you feel a sense of accomplishment? Helping someone and receiving their gratitude?”
“Not really…”
I answered Iris curtly, ignoring her teasing.
It wasn’t that I disliked being thanked, but even as Sibylla expressed her gratitude, all I could think about were the fifty shop coins I had lost.
Iris was the type of person who found joy in saving lives, regardless of the cost. It was hard for me to understand, but I respected her for it.
This world would be a much darker place without her.
“I still don’t get it.”
“You can say that, but I know you’re actually very kind.”
“What are you—”
“You act gruff and calculating, but you can’t help but help people. I can see right through you.”
“You’re wrong.”
“Am I? You always help people without thinking, Schlus. And then you come up with excuses to justify your actions. Oh, I did it for the greater good. It’s an investment in the future…”
“….”
Nonsense.
She had no idea about the grand scheme, the ending I was working towards. She thought I was some kind of saint, incapable of ignoring those in need.
If I were truly that altruistic, I wouldn’t be involved in this war.
Had she forgotten I was here to crush a rebellion, a fight for freedom?
“You’re entitled to your fantasies.”
“And you’re entitled to your denials.”
“I’m telling you, I’m not—”
“Huh?”
“…?”
Iris’s arms tightened around my waist.
She froze, clinging to me.
Startled, I stopped the horse.
We stood motionless in the middle of the empty road, the silence of the Great Forest pressing in on us.
I carefully turned my head to look at her.
“Iris.”
“Ah…”
“Are you alright? Don’t tell me—”
“Yes. I saw the future.”
“….”
As expected. Her foresight had activated. It seemed to occur randomly, regardless of time or place, similar to my ‘Original Body’s Memory’.
It must be exhausting for her.
Perhaps that was why she was always so calm and reserved. She had to constantly suppress her reactions to her visions.
“What did you see?”
“Further down the road… we’re ambushed.”
“And the outcome?”
“You die, Schlus.”
“I see.”
I clicked my tongue.
It wasn’t a surprising revelation.
I had anticipated that Lorraine would escalate his attacks after our successful negotiations with the Great Forest.
I hadn’t expected him to send assassins into Great Forest territory, but it wasn’t outside the realm of possibility.
My death was also plausible.
I had already used three seconds of ‘Selection and Concentration’ today. Two seconds wouldn’t be enough to deal with a large group of enemies.
“It seems they’re sending quite a force.”
“That’s not it! You die saving me, Schlus!”
“Pfft…”
“Don’t laugh! It’s true! It’s true…!”
Tears welled up in Iris’s eyes.
I instinctively pulled her closer, holding her tight. I hadn’t laughed because I didn’t believe her.
“Please take me seriously!”
“Don’t worry. Because you saw the future, I won’t die. Neither of us will.”
“You said something similar in the vision…”
Then I would have to do something completely unexpected. Something I wouldn’t have done if I hadn’t known the future.
“Let’s dismount.”
I jumped off the horse and helped Iris down.
Thanks to her foresight, we had the advantage.
Now it was time for a counter-ambush.
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“Whoa! Look at this! Amazing!”
“….”
Ainz stood on the rooftop, staring at the sky in awe.
Erica stood beside him, arms crossed, tapping her foot impatiently.
“Wow! What is this? This is incredible!”
“Hey! Move! Let me see!”
“Just a second!”
“Ugh…”
Erica tried to push Ainz aside, but he wouldn’t budge. She sighed and looked up at the sky, a frustrated expression on her face.
Following the flow of mana, she could see the intricate structure of the spell. It was the high-precision observation spell that Schlus had created.
How much mana had it taken to create such a powerful spell?
But more than the sheer amount of mana, it was the spell’s mechanism that fascinated her.
It translated the flow of mana into visible light… She had never imagined such a thing was possible.
“Move!”
“Oof!”
Erica took a running leap and slammed her shoulder into Ainz, sending him sprawling. She quickly accessed the spell.
“Whoa…”
A panoramic view of the surrounding area appeared before her eyes.
The spell, positioned high above the castle, provided an unobstructed view, bypassing the walls and towers.
“Ooh…”
She could even zoom in on specific locations, seeing details that would normally be hidden behind trees and hills.
“….”
Having familiarized herself with the spell’s capabilities, Erica began to seriously assess the situation around the Fourth Castle.
Scattered enemy units occupied elevated positions.
They were attempting to surround the castle, but their cavalry sorties kept them at bay, preventing them from completing the encirclement and cutting off their supply lines.
It might seem like a precarious situation, but it wasn’t. The enemy hadn’t constructed any siege weapons, like catapults or siege towers.
They would attack eventually, but not imminently.
“I was so worried, but it seems like nothing’s happening.”
“Yeah, this might be easier than we thought.”
They had expected a full-scale assault the moment Schlus left. But it seemed their elaborate observation spell would go unused.
As the two mages took turns gazing through the observation spell, someone was guarding the ground floor of their quarters.
“Yawn…”
Trie stretched and yawned, then narrowed her eyes, scanning the passersby.
She had been tasked with protecting the two mages, the suppression force’s greatest assets.
She had refused to let them leave the quarters, even when they complained about being cooped up.
With Schlus gone, anything could happen.
“You’re working hard.”
“Ah, Imperial Knights Commander.”
Trie’s face lit up as she saw Kane approaching. He had been busy with administrative duties and hadn’t had much time for socializing.
“Are you guarding the quarters alone?”
“Yes… I am.”
“I can see why Schlus values you so highly. He must consider you the strongest knight here.”
“Oh, no, sir. He just trusts me. The Commander-in-Chief and the Imperial Knights Commander are much stronger…”
“Excessive modesty is a dangerous thing. Only fools would underestimate you in the South.”
Kane had been impressed by Trie’s performance in every battle since their arrival.
It was remarkable that a student could remain so calm and composed on such a bloody battlefield. And her stamina was incredible.
Even veteran knights were exhausted after a single sortie, but Trie would be ready to go again in no time, seamlessly integrating into the next assault formation.
And it wasn’t just her ability to adapt.
She had also demonstrated remarkable leadership skills, naturally taking point and issuing commands during battles.
No one questioned her authority. They followed her orders without hesitation, moving as one.
If Pelaine was a leader forged through hard work and dedication, Trie was a natural-born genius.
Not that Trie lacked dedication…
“Are you not interested in earning glory? If you join the patrol, you might encounter an undefended enemy camp—”
“I must decline. I can’t abandon my post.”
“I see…”
Kane smiled wryly.
While her friends earned accolades and praise, Trie had been fighting alongside the other knights, sweating and bleeding. And yet, she wasn’t interested in personal glory.
Was it even possible for someone to be this perfect?
‘She truly is Gawayn’s daughter. Gawayn’s blood runs deep.’
Just as Kane was admiring her, a sudden sound pierced the air.
Wail!
“What?!”
It was the siren.
The alarm system Schlus had designed and Pelaine had implemented. It was the emergency alert for incidents within the castle walls.
“They’ve finally made their move!”
The beastmen had finally started something.
Kane gritted his teeth, adjusting his helmet.
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