The Kingsguard had split up their forces, and Arx and Seyran were beginning to move.
　In addition to Arx and the others, there were others who were concerned about the strange situation on the battlefield.


"...... has collapsed?


　I'm not sure what to make of it, but I think it's a good idea. In the event that you have any questions regarding where by and how to use the internet, you can call us at the web site.


　He is the head of the Wrangler family, which has been in charge of teaching magic to the royal family for generations. ...... A man of seemingly indistinguishable age, wrapped in a long, thin black coat. You can find a lot of people who are interested in this kind of thing.
　However, there is a part of him that gives you a sense of shadow in the way he stands still and in his solitary shadow.
　The surrounding people's perception of Roheim Wrangler is that he is a picture-perfect mage whose mysteriousness stands out more than other national mages.


　Since the beginning of the war, he has been instructed by Ceylan to take charge of the mage troops of the defeating army, and is still supervising the mage troops in the center rear.
　In the midst of this, the right flank of the allied forces was hit hard by Barg Gulba's attack, and was disrupted and damaged.
　Naturally, the news of the unit's collapse and the unsettling atmosphere did not go unnoticed by him.
　Now he is alone with his horse, just a short distance away from the troops. He squinted his long, slitted eyes and tried his best to read something deep in the battlefield.


　As he does so, the Chief Mage approaches him on horseback.


"Herr Wrangler.

Report.

Yes!　...... Barg Gulba suddenly appeared on the right flank, kicked out the infantry troops that made up the flank and the cavalry troops on the rightmost flank, and is continuing the battle. Currently, Count Schalmann and Baron Ronel are responding to him, and the scene is at a standstill.

I'm not sure what to make of that, but I'm sure it's a good idea.

The . I am also concerned about the situation on the right wing, but I believe that the issue at hand is the escape of Count Dowd Bow.

That's true. That would certainly be a problem. What would you do, Chief Mage?


　What would you do, Chief Mage?" Roheim asks, and the Chief Mage responds nervously.


"At ......, with all due respect. In the event that you have any questions concerning where and how to use the internet, you can contact us at the web site. If the Rastinel soldiers quickly kick out the enemy troops, the Nahdar army won't be able to maintain the stability of the legion.

"If you break the connection of the army, the soldiers will naturally flee. If Nadar's army retreats, Balug Gulbah's empire will also be forced to retreat. Surely, that is the right answer.

"Then?

No, I'm going to ask you to lead your men to our right flank.

To our right wing at ......?

I want you to work to maintain the status quo while magically supporting your right-wing allies. Those are my instructions to you.

But, sir, there are still enemy soldiers in front. Shouldn't we be covering the Rastinel soldiers who have moved to fill the gap?

"Yes, we should. You're right, that's important too. You're right, that's also important. I think it's a good move as well.

So, you're saying you have other ideas?

Yes. I have a plan that you're reluctant to tell me about.

What's that?

It's simple. I can take care of this place by myself.


　When the Chief Mage heard Roheim's words, he looked surprised.


I'll take care of it myself.　It's .......

"Hmm. Where is the problem?　Isn't that right?　Because--


　--all I have to do is get serious.


"Ho......!


　The Chief Mage swallowed his spit with a shudder.
　I'll get serious. The national mage, the great warrior of the nation, uttered such words. A mage, a being who can accurately understand the immensity of his power, cannot help but be afraid.


　What comes to mind in his handsome face is either a lust for game or an eagerness to fight.
　The skinny man, who had always been calm since the beginning of the war, now had a thin smile on his face.
　While the Chief Mage was in awe, Roheim called for his messenger.


"A word to the Rustinell soldiers who have come in to fill in the gaps.

"Ha!

"The National Mage, Roheim Wrangler, commands you. Leave the area immediately and rejoin the main force. If you disobey this order and remain there, I cannot guarantee your life.

Sir!　I have your orders, sir!

Very well. Then go.


　The messenger bowed once and rode to the Rustinell soldiers who had filled in for the Earl of Dow's Bow.


"At ......, my lord, do you use the 'waterwheel'?

"Yes. If we can make a large hole in the center front of Nadar's army, we won't have to worry about Nadar's flank anymore.

Yes, sir.

I'll head there as soon as I'm done. I'll be there as soon as I'm done, because I have to deal with Balgu Gulba - oh, and keep him pinned to the right flank, but don't touch him. I know it's a little crazy, but it's a strict order. Okay?



Ha!

"May the Chief Mage and all the mages of the Kingdom have good fortune.


　As soon as Roheim wished him good luck, the mage chief bowed and left to move the mage troops.
　After that, Roheim made sure that the mage troops were moving away towards the right flank and then started to move.
　As he hurried his horse, he saw that enemy soldiers were already coming up through the hole.
　This was probably due to the order he had given earlier. ｜The enemy soldiers were pouring in through the hole because I had removed the lids (Rustinell soldiers) that were holding them back.


　As ...... instructed, there are no Rustinell soldiers in sight. Not a single soldier.
　I naturally admire you for being able to recognize the situation and act quickly, even when ordered by a different chain of command.
　On the other hand, the enemy soldiers in front of me showed more confidence in their movements than the troops who had just formed a flanking line. They are not the makeshift movements of conscripts. They were probably mercenaries hired by the Nadar army.
　There is no uniformity in their equipment, but they are all clad in the swashbuckling swagger that can only be possessed by those who engage in battle. Whether they were intimidating their surroundings or trying to cover up their low morale, they were shouting wildly as they attacked, trying to penetrate the flank of the vanquishing army.
　What a bunch of ruffians, shouting on the battlefield. They reminded me of King Shinru and Crabbe Arbent of the past, but in comparison, they were quite cute.


　When I see these mercenaries, I can't help but laugh at them without even knowing it.
　It's nothing but foolishness to be lured by a mere sum of money to fight against the royal family of the Crosselords.
　The horsemen of the battle, who were almost upon Roheim, suddenly stopped their horses.
　It's not clear if he suspected a trick or sensed a trap from his isolated appearance, but...


"Mm?　Only one?

Yeah. I'm the only one here.

So, ...... you're some kind of commander whose troops got away, huh?


　Did the leader of the mercenaries think he was a head worthy of the credit?
　It is true that Roheim's neck could also be given credit.


"I am Garo Dames, Commander of the Dames Mercenaries!

I see.

I am Garo Dames, Commander of the Dames Mercenary Corps!" "I see." "...... How can you act like that in front of us mercenaries? Are you thick-headed, or are you too slow to understand the situation?

"Well, which is it?

That's why you're left here all alone!　Like your men, the Rustinell soldiers have just escaped our onslaught!　You'll have to make do with what you have!　Ha-ha-ha-ha!

"That's terrible.


　"That's horrible." Commander Gallo laughed vilely with his men. Apparently, they mistook the retreat of Count Dow's Bow and the withdrawal of the Rastinel soldiers as the result of their own fury.
　Such a blindness to the situation can be called third-rate at best.


　I'm sure you'll be able to figure out what's going on.


"Well, here's a problem for you. I have a problem for you.

What?

Who am I to be left alone in a place like this? What do you think?　Can you answer this question?

Stalling for time with such questions and answers!　How dare you!


　The commander Gallo was very angry, but Roheim did not change his color.


If you don't want to answer, that's fine. If you don't want to answer, that's fine, I don't need an answer either, after all, this is nothing but my ramblings.

"You're a disturbed man!　Hey, grind him down with your horse!

Oh, dear. ......


　As soon as Roheim said that, he put his fingers back up and slowly lifted his right arm to make a raised hand. He was either a student waiting for a teacher's appointment, or he was saluting in some other country.
　At the same time he made such a move, he released all the magic power he had stored in his body. For a moment, sparks seemed to flash around Roheim, and then the magic that was to be consumed erupted with a storm.
　The air, colored and visualized by his magical power, flows and rushes around him like a raging air current. In this struggle, a cloud of smoke was born, and it rose through the magic into the sky.


　But right after that. It was just after that, however, that the movements of everyone within the range of the magic that Roheim had released began to be hindered.


What the hell?


　Suddenly, the mercenaries were struggling on the spot. They move their arms and legs, but they are too slow to move as they should. It was as if they were submerged in the deep, dark depths of the ocean.
　While the mercenaries were drowning on the hill, Roheim opened his mouth again.


"Turn, turn, turn the waterwheel. From the deepest depths of the Great Sea of Vaha, descend the blue spiral that stirs the chaos of the primeval. To those who come and go, in the midst of perpetual motion. For those who fill up and disappear, in the echoes that never end. To those who gather and flatten, to those who press and return. They will crack and shatter, split and scatter. This is the ultimate in logic, written in the dawn of time. ......


　A huge, earth-shaking tremor that shook the entire battlefield.
　In the midst of a tremor reminiscent of a trench-type earthquake, Roheim's mouth spun an incantation that produced Orion blue [magic letters]. The highly saturated blue letters forgot their limits and multiplied, extending to the sky, spreading to the earth, and extending as if to split the battlefield vertically. Eventually, the vast amount of horizontal [magic letters] began to swirl around and around right beside Roheim.
　It was like a whirlpool created by a violent tidal current created by the difference in ebb and flow, and it rotated with a splash of magic power. Gradually, it was filled with water, and in the blink of an eye, it turned into a real whirlpool.




　A giant whirlpool lying on its side on the battlefield. Its diameter is well over 20 meters high. It is always spinning, and the mass of each splash of water is equivalent to a small bucket of water.


　The ...... mercenaries facing it will feel as if they are looking into the center of Morning Glory. Depending on how you look at it, it may look like a giant snake is following them.
　Upon seeing the overwhelming disaster, Commander Gallo looked up at it with an expression of despair, as if it had been created by Roheim. And then, stunned, he moves his head awkwardly like a tin doll that forgot to add oil, and says the following words.


"The mage of the waterwheel, .......

That's the right answer. But it's too late for that answer. A little sooner, and for all I know, you might have been able to escape my waterwheel.


　Roheim gave a relentless push to Commander Garo's despair, and then let out a sigh.


I also think it's a bit excessive, even given our strength. But, you know, in order to show the prestige of the royal family, you have to do something like this - so be happy. You should be happy that you can be the cornerstone of the new royal line of the Crosselords.

"Hee-hee!


　The situation was so desperate that the rest of the mercenaries tried to flee the scene. They didn't care what they did. However, as long as they were trapped in the culvert of Roheim, there was no chance for them to escape.


　And then.


"...... Fools who defy the royal family. Return to the spiral of reason far, far away.


　-- [Waterwheel Manipulator (Vaha Ray Dine)



　Roheim slowly swings down the palm of his hand.
　As the key word is released, the huge vortex shakes once more. The mouth of the spiral opens its jaws and runs out to swallow everything in its path.


　A disaster without mercy, without temporal debt, without anything.
　The edge of the vortex that arrives with little time to spare.
　The grass that had withstood the fury of war is pulled up by the roots.
　Even the ground that had been treaded on was lightly gouged and rolled up.
　Of course, mercenary groups with no roots in any one place would have no way to endure this.


　Not only the mercenaries, but even the soldiers in the area behind them were swallowed by the seemingly eternal rotation of the giant waterwheel.