While Rosais' and Domorgal's forces were on the offensive at the Terrier Fortress, Raimondo, Rosward, Muzio, Virgal, Soyon, and Dora were descending the Adelian Mountains. When they descended, they were to pass through the Romano Forest and enter Domorgal territory.

　They were all on horseback.
　The wagons are difficult to carry through the forest, so they are disassembled and carried around. It is made in such a way that it can be completed in a short time by assembling it with nails.
　In addition to carrying loot, wagons are essential for transporting wounded soldiers and prisoners of state.

　This time, while Domorgal's army was preoccupied with the terrier fortress, they invaded King Domorgal's country by passing through the forest.
　The idea is to destroy the supply base and raid it.

　If that happens, Domorgal's army will be forced to retreat back.
　The main force would pursue it and strike a blow.

　After that, the separate unit would run around as much as possible and exhaust Domorgal's forces.
　When the time is right, they meet up with the main unit and defeat Domorgal's army.

　It would be easy to defeat Domorgal's exhausted army.


　''But then again, how can you find a beast path in a forest with so many trees?
　'These woods are like a garden for me and Roseward.

　Sojourn answers Muzio's question with a smile.
　Naturally, he's done his homework, so there's no hesitation in leading them.

　The soldiers are also able to march without worrying about heavenly punishments thanks to So-yeon and the others' guidance. Well, because it is not adjacent to the Romano Forest, more than half of them are Alvans and Germanis who don't know much about the Gryphon, so they are not lost in the first place.

　'You can rest assured that you will be at ease when you enter King Domorgal's country. I am from King Domorgal's country. And I lived there until I was ten years old.

　Plus, I've done some owl research in the middle of the night.
　The geography is perfect.

　'That owl, by the way. It doesn't seem to be a species that lives in the Adelian peninsula where did you get it?
　Dora asks So Yeon.
　In case you're wondering, Dora is older than you, but So-yeon is older than you.

　In addition, he is also a better spellcaster.

　''I got it from a Cilicia merchant five months ago.
　Five, five months ago...

　Dora is astonished.
　Normally it would take at least three years for them to get to know each other. To get to know each other well enough to put a soul on it.

　Seo-yeon is the best when it comes to animals no really.
　Rosward praises Sojourn.

　'Oops, it's time to get out of the forest you all brace yourselves.
　Raimondo gives orders to all five hundred troops.

　In case you're wondering, the commander of this separate unit is Raimondo.
　Due to the fact that Muzio is a prince, the commander can only serve as a person of higher rank.

　Raimondo doesn't have any experience commanding cavalry but he has Roseward, Wilgal and Muzio, who are specialists in that area.
　Therefore, there is no problem.

　''Oh, we're finally through the forest!　Come on, captain. Let's get going!
　Saying that, Rosward grabs Villegal's chains as he tries to run out and stops him.

　''Ugh, you're hurting me!
　You fool, it's dark out there. It's not gonna be a real march.

　The sun is already on its way down.
　If we start the operation now, the whole army will be scattered and lost.

　If we carry torches, we will be too conspicuous.

　'There's a creek about ten minutes from here. The tree density is thin, so I think we can stay there.
　Seo-yeon says, pointing to the forest.

　Horses can't run in the forest, and since we're marching where we can walk, it's going to take us a while.
　It is expected that it will be nighttime by the time they leave the forest.

　"Well, that's good. And the horses are tired.
　With Muzio's approval, it was confirmed that we would spend the night in the forest.

　


　Early morning.
　The sun has not yet risen.

　It is dimly lit, but not entirely blind.
　Come on, let's go!
　A separate movement began to move with Raimondo in the lead.





　Horses show their true value only on the plains.
　Therefore, the separate team will march on the narrow roads that the farmers often use.

　In other places, there are swamps and forests that are difficult for horses to pass through.
　But on such a road, of course, there is a village.

　The detachment occupied that village without avoiding it.




　The village, which hadn't taken any precautions, was quickly occupied by a separate force.
　The villagers assumed that Domorgal's army had been defeated and immediately hung their heads to Raimondo.

　'Please. We will give you all the food. We will also give you the young girls of the village. So make all the villagers slaves...''
　No, we don't need food or women. We are in a hurry. ...No, still the village chief. I want you to follow me.

　With that, Raimondo ordered only the banner of King Rosais to be raised, and then he kidnapped the village chief and left in a flash.
　The villagers could only stare at the departing cavalrymen with a pouting expression.


　''It was good?　Couldn't you have at least burned it down?
　Muzio asks Raimondo.
　Raimondo shakes his head.

　'No, there's no need for that. There is no need for that," he says, "all the food from around here is in the village of Dres. There is only enough food left in the village to feed the villagers. Even if we burned it, it wouldn't do much damage to the 20,000-strong enemy. In fact, it's better to show them that our army will do nothing if they don't resist. Right, chieftain?

　Raimondo laughed at the village chief as he was placed in the wagon.
　The village chief shuddered involuntarily.

　And there's also the reason why he can't afford to walk around with slaves in tow without drinking, and he doesn't have time to kill them.




　One after the other, the separate movements attacked the village and left only to flag it down.
　Instead, they kidnapped the village chiefs.

　They send the village chiefs to any village that shows a willingness to resist, and make the village open up without blood.
　And at noon of that day, they arrived at the village of Dres at noon.





　'What do you mean!　I have no information that the main army has been destroyed!　Where did the enemy army come from!
　'No I have no idea what it is...'
　'So you think he had a spell that made him jump?　There's no way you can imitate that!
　The garrison commander shouted angrily.

　The garrison commander's feelings were understandable.
　If five hundred enemy troops appeared with no reports, it was no laughing matter to be confused.

　''So the enemy are all cavalry, right?''
　Yes. Yes, sir.
　'Then close the gates and hold fast!　We have only 300 infantry. We can't take on cavalry. Hey, order the sorcerers to hawk!　You must call for reinforcements at once.

　The village of Dres is a very strong fortress.
　It is made of a combination of stone and wood, and the walls are high.

　The castle gates are made of wood to open and close, but they are made of several pieces of wood laminated together and the sorcerer has set up a physical ward so they cannot be broken through with a little bit of effort.



　''So you want to break through that way?''
　I'll use the ballista. Didn't you assemble it last night?

　The separate team had brought four ballista's with them. Parts, to be exact.
　The parts had been assembled last night and brought in on wagons after they had left for the plains.

　The arrows were, of course, explosive spears.


　'If it doesn't fall off with a ballista, we'll have to use a breaking hammer. Well, you can make one from a nearby tree.

　Raimondo cuts off his words once.

　'Shall I recommend surrender for now? Mr. Village Chief, please.''
　Raimondo chuckled.
　The village chiefs went to the guard captain.



　'I'm sorry!'
　The village chief first got down on his knees and apologized to the captain of the guard.

　The first thing he did was to get down on his knees and apologize to the garrison chief. We don't have any soldiers in your village. So you have come to us to recommend surrender, haven't you?
　At the guard captain's words, the village chief trembled and shook his head.

　''The Domorgal army, which has noticed the abnormality, will surely come running in. Until then, we will continue our resistance. You will be the ones to surrender. Tell them.

　The village chief hurried back to Rosyth's army in a great hurry.



　'Hmm. Well, I guess I have no choice.
　Finally a fight.
　Muzio says happily, taking out his bow.

　'Separate squad, this is my first battle.

　'Ballista set up complete!　Five seconds before launch. Four, three, two, one, fire!
　The ballista fired at the same time Rosward shouted that, hitting the wooden gate.
　The spear stabbed deep and then exploded.

　The explosive spear repeatedly damages the castle gate.
　The structure of the spear exploded after it was pierced once, so it was very suitable for destroying the gate.

　''Charge!
　Rosais' army poured in through the broken gate.



　The battle was quickly settled.
　The enemy, who had intended to fight a siege, were surprised by the sudden fire, smoke, noise, and cavalry, and before they could put up any resistance as far as they were concerned, they were killed or bound.

　The garrison commander resisted to the end, but he was outnumbered. He was soon captured.
　They immediately restrained the sorcerers who were trying to get the hawk flights out.
　If this happened, they would not be able to get the hawk stool out. Because as soon as they let it out, their empty bodies would be destroyed.

　If the body dies, the soul will not be able to return.
　To the Adelnians, dying without being able to return to the soil is a very terrible thing.

　Also, at the call of the village chiefs, the villagers of the village of Dres were detained by a separate force without resistance.




　Raimondo gathers the villagers and the hundred enemy soldiers he has captured and declares.

　'We have business with King Domorgal and his men who are trying to invade our country. Therefore, we do not intend to kill the villagers. In return, you will tell them the location of all the food stores in our supply base. Don't worry. I will leave you with the bare minimum of food for you to eat.

　The villagers shouted for joy.
　The villagers shouted with joy, for from their point of view, it would be no problem if there was enough food left to eat.

　Then he told a hundred soldiers, "We should have killed you.
　We should have killed you under certain circumstances. But you have families of your own, don't you? And so we're not going to kill you. Instead, I want you to tell them. Our only goal is Domorgal's army. If you do not resist, we will spare your people.

　With that, Raimondo had the soldiers disarm all of them and let them go.
　He let them escape for three reasons.

　One, it's a waste of time to kill everyone. If you try to kill them all, you can expect resistance.
　Two, if they were going to kill everyone, Domorgal's army would put up a fight. Two, if they were all killed, Domorgal's army would put up a fierce resistance, and the morale of the enemy would be boosted to avenge them. On the other hand, if they knew they would not be killed if they surrendered, their future march would be smoother.
　Third, it was not possible to take them prisoner and carry them around in order to slow down their march.

　That's all I have to say.






　"Oh, here's the horse. Well, that's not bad. Well, let's take the horses. Let's get the horses out of the way!
　Muzio and the others immediately start distributing the loot.
　Other items of equipment of Domorgal's army are also very popular.

　Seventy percent of Domorgal's bows are iron arrowheads. From the point of view of Muzio and his friends who use stone arrowheads, this is a treasure trove.

　Raimondo looks at such Equusians from a distance.
　Iron equipment is heavy, so you can't carry it around.

　Besides, there was no need to collect it now, since iron equipment could be obtained in large quantities when the main force was chasing the enemy's main force.
　Raimondo was bored, so he spoke to So Yeon, who was nearby.

　'I believe you are from King Domorgal's country, right?　What village is that?
　It's a village.
　Wow, this village... what?

　Raimondo couldn't help but ask back.
　Seo-yeon laughed with a loose cheek.

　'My family ran a farm here in the village. It was reasonably large, and we had a number of slaves and cows.'
　Huh....

　Raimondo is a little confused, but he agrees. He felt something gloomy, so he tried to change the subject, but Seo-yeon wouldn't let him.

　'But my mother died of the plague my father was taken into the military service and died. So all my possessions were taken away from me by my relatives...
　Excuse me. That's enough.

　Raimondo broke off the conversation forcefully.
　Seo-yeon gives him a scowl.

　'Are you sure?　I'm going to be rescued by Ron's father, and we will be fighting with Ron's father to make love, and also the unfortunate version where Ron's father dies of a plague and they are left in the care of Ron's relatives. After that, there's the hope version where Gryphon-sama rescues you and Almus-san rescues you after being abandoned in the forest by the curse of the example.
　'No, I'm really full of it...'

　Raimondo was slightly concerned, but declined, as he didn't like the dark atmosphere.

　'Really?　I'm sorry to hear that. But don't worry. I've been to the city of Blouse many times with my father to pay my taxes. My body remembers the streets!





　Is this the last of the food banks?
　Rosward asks, and the villagers nod.
　Rosward orders Virgal to set up the black powder and oil.

　When he released the fire, it began to burn vigorously.
　Seeing the smoke, suspicious residents would rush in. Those residents would then head to the original barrier and leave for the fast horse.
　But by the time the fast horse arrives and the enemy's reinforcements arrive, it doesn't matter because they won't be here themselves.



　
　It's just heavy. And I've got something better for you.
　What's that good stuff?　Don't be so deserving, please tell me soon. Captain.

　Rosward twists his head at Villegal's words.

　'Huh?　Didn't you say the end goal?
　'You didn't tell me you were going to have fun!

　The rest of the squad nodded at Vilgal's words.
　Rosward scratches his head and laughs to cover it up.

　''Haha, sorry. This time, our target is the city of Braus where the mansion of the powerful Braus family is located in the area around here, in other words, the city of the boxwood (garnet) mine.