First, let's get the Prince of Apristos, who has already invaded this country.

　I advise the assembled ministers and the Elf King.

"You want to take the captured prince hostage and negotiate to have his army drawn?

But the prince is protected by three thousand men. It's easy to defend yourself, but to capture the prince, you'll need to wipe out the enemy. Our forces will be reduced as well.

'If we lose too many men here, we won't be able to defend ourselves when the national army comes.

　The ministers will argue.
　That's to be expected.

If the national army of Alheimers is willing to face the prince's private army, the prince should fall back to the rear of the army. Then we will attack from behind and capture him.

　Since our side has more forces than theirs, their private army will not be attacking us immediately. If we capture the prince before the battle begins, there should be little attrition on our side.

''........Is it possible?
Well, I'm here, so there's plenty of room.

　The sylphs agree with me.

　The sylphs are here and have told the ministers to listen to me so I can advise the Elf kings of my plan.

''With Silf-sama's help, we may be able to capture the prince. But even if we take the prince as a hostage, there is no guarantee that the national army will turn back.''

What do you mean?

　Sylph wondered at the words of the minister in charge of the intelligence service.

'It is the fifth prince of Apristos who is now invading our country. It is possible that he is being used as a dumping ground for the invasion of the national army into this country.

　Apristos' 100,000 troops is said to be equivalent to about a third of the country's war potential. It's hard to get the public to understand how to move that much war potential simply because the fifth prince's marriage proposal was annulled.

　But what if the prince had been captured and killed by Alhaym?

　It would be a great cause, destroying Alheim in retaliation.

　The information gathered by Alheim's intelligence department was that the fifth prince was being used by the home country as a discarded pawn for that purpose.

''Hmm. Because, Hurt, isn't there any point in capturing the prince?

'Sure, it may not be used to draw the national army, but we can leave evidence that this country tried to negotiate properly with the invading tribes.

"Proof of negotiating with the humans?　What the hell is that supposed to do?

If the enemy attacks us without knowing the difference in strength, and we annihilate them, we want to make sure that other countries know that this country was not unilaterally wronged.

"I don't understand. Halt, you're easy enough to annihilate the enemy. It sounds as if you're saying that.

''That's right. A hundred thousand or so troops marching in formation could be destroyed with a single shot of Luke's ultimate magic.

"Ultimate magic?　Do you think any of you can use it?

Yes. I'm a wise man's apprentice, so I'm level 125 by the way.

　The ministers buzzed at Luke's reply.

　He said he didn't want to sound like a braggart, but in order to convince the ministers, he had asked Luke to disclose his position and level beforehand.

'But if we did that, the rest of the country would see this country as dangerous. It's not a problem for one country, but if several countries join forces and start a coalition army, it's indeed unmanageable.

　It's not just the coalition forces that are the problem.

　If the neighboring countries see Al Haym as a danger to themselves, it will affect trade and other aspects of their lives.

　But it's not just a matter of wiping out the enemy.

It's not about whether we can win, it's about how we win.

　My plan A is this. First, we capture the prince, and then we negotiate for him to draw his army.

　Most likely, those negotiations will fall through.

　Next, I'll use Luke's ultimate magic, augmented by Luna, to demonstrate the overwhelming difference in strength. This is intimidation. We won't hit the national army, but will make the nearby mountains disappear.

　With this, it's good if the enemy is afraid to turn back.
　The operation is over.

　But there is a chance that the enemy may not turn back. In that case, it would be a bit of a hassle, but we'll switch to strategy B, which is to use my magic to disperse the enemies and destroy them one by one.

　This strategy B requires the cooperation of Alheim's army and the strength of my classmates. I told everyone the details of my plan.

　As it turned out, my plan was accepted. Because they knew the strength of my friends and my plan, and the ministers thought it was a win-win situation. The only thing left to do is to put it into action.


　─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─

　Prince Apristos' private army hadn't moved much from the border area, he said. While I was at it, I had to meet with the people who commanded the various units of the national army, explain the mission and introduce my people to them.


''Isn't it Lord Halt!

　I was approached as I was cruising with Sylph, Tina and Rifa to the commanders of the national army. There was a man with a muscular body that didn't look like an elf.

　He was a former general of the national army who had fought me in my first battle at the tournament to determine the man who would marry Tina. Apparently, he was discharged from the army because he lost his battle with me.

''Well, I heard that you were discharged after your battle with me...''

　Even though he lost to me, he was still strong. And yet, as a general, he was not demoted, but was suddenly discharged from the army.

　What could have happened? I was sorry, because it could have been because of his fight with me. And I'm also worried about the fact that the former general is now wearing a combat uniform.

''It's my fault for losing so easily to you. But this is still a former general. The war with Aplistos required strength, and I was called upon to join the war, so this is how I'm going to participate in the war as a soldier.''

'I see. You don't lead a squad?

''Haha, I understand now that I'm a soldier again. I'd rather be on the front lines wielding a sword.

　With that, the former general held out his hand.

I will fight on the front lines with my former subordinates to defend our country. The outcome of this battle depends on your strategy. Please give us victory.

Okay, I'll do my best. Please be safe.

　Then he shook hands with the former general.


　As I shook his hand, he put an armband on me.

'What?'　This is a...

　Awareness fades away.


''Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm!

　My consciousness vanished as I heard the general laugh.