January 4.
　Lanwalker Frontier County Regalia Army

How much damage has been done?

Ha. The damage is about 1,000. We're still trying to get the siege weapons closer to the fort, attacking it with magic, but we're getting closer, little by little. And I'm still working on getting a cloud ladder up to the fort.

　It's been five days since we started the war in the Lanwalker Frontier Territory. It's past noon and we've already lost 1,000 men. All in all, it's about 10,000 dead.

　The first day ended with just a magic shootout, and the real war began on the second day. Magic is powerful, but if your allies get too close, there's a higher chance of getting caught up in it than with a bow, so I'm told that it's not used as much as it was in the middle of the game.

　The enemies also destroy gates and other gates if you release magic too close, so even if they use it, it's only elementary magic. I've been told that even if they do use it, it's usually blocked by a barrier, so they don't use it because it's a waste of magic power.

　And now, our regalia army is attacking the gate with siege weapons to break it. There's no choice but to break the gate or climb over the fort to open it. I've heard that magical barriers are weak against physics. But the enemy knows that, so it's not so easy.

Hm. Is the cloud ladder still inaccessible?

Yes, sir. The enemy attacked so hard. Even if you could get close, they would destroy you immediately.

　We, the heroic group, were told that our job was to get close to the fort. Kana has the title of 'Healer', so she heals the wounded. I can help because I can use water magic, too.

　The heroic group here is me, aka Kaido, Ijuin, Shido, Endo, Kana-chan and Mari. The other delinquent group and Shimizu were taken somewhere because they had a different mission or something. Gargante is also gone now.

　The only other people in the tent are General Gregorius, the general, and a few of his men. Only Delis, the idiot prince, is there. Actually, to tell you the truth, General Gregorius and Delis are not quite on good terms with each other.

　This is because Delis has been doing the stupid thing of advising the assault in vain, but General Gregorius has dismissed all of his opinions. Well, General Gregorius is right.

　Delis, who thinks her opinion is right, doesn't seem to like that.

　But if we don't, we'll be impoverished. I've seen this kind of war in the pages of novels and so on, but it's better to stay indoors, it seems. I wonder what we are going to do. When I think about it...

Hey, everybody doing well?

　And then Gargante walked in with a smile on his face. An annoyed face. ...Yeah?　Behind me is a stranger in a cloak. From the height, though, it's probably a man. Who was that?

"...Gargante-dono. We don't want you to go about your business too freely. Your duty is to protect the heroes, sir.

　General Gregorius complains to Gargante, who is wobbling. But Gargante is sputtering. 'I'm so angry at that guy.

''Sorry, sorry. It was a request from His Majesty the Emperor.

　But Gargante's words made the generals nervous. What would they say about the Emperor's request?

'What do you mean by that?　Why haven't I, as a general, been told about it?

Goodness. Don't be so angry. The Emperor said he wanted the General to focus on the war. Besides, I'm going to talk to him now.

　Then what I told him was too surprising.

　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.

I didn't expect to have to make a move like that.

　I've really drawn a poor one. It's true that the odds are probably higher for us who were summoned as heroes than for letting them become ordinary soldiers, but.......haha.

　When I'm slightly depressed like that...

Are you okay, Kaido-kun?

　And Kana came over. I wonder what's wrong with them both.　By the way, we're closer to each other than the other brave groups.

　We've been in the same squad before, and we're the only one in the hero group who can use water magic to recover. I've been helping to heal injured soldiers for the past few days.

　Those soldiers who were saved call Kana-chan 'The Saint of Regalia' or something like that. Well, she has the same goddess blessing as the saint of the Arcadia Papal States, so it's not a mistake.

　Mari is treated as a mascot for the soldiers. Apparently, there is something comforting about seeing Mari-chan's cheerful personality to the soldiers who have nearly died in the war. She herself denies it.

　And since I'm with such a saint and mascot, I'm the enemy of their eyes. Well, I've already given up on the idea that that's what happens when you're with two such lovely people.

'What's the matter with you two?'

'Uh-huh!　I'm here to comfort Kaido-kun, who's being forced into a ridiculous plan!

　Mari-chan says with a proud smile, "I'm not sure.

You can't talk like that anymore!　I'm sorry, Kaido-kun. Mari is just trying to act cheerful because she's worried about Kaido-kun too.

　Kana says so apologetically. I can't believe that these two cute people are worried about me. I'm about to cry from the sheer joy of it.

Haha, I know what you mean. Thank you for worrying about me.

　When I return it with a smile, for some reason the two of them have dark expressions on the contrary. Why does Mari also have that expression on her face? Where did the jovial atmosphere from earlier go?

But are you sure you're okay with this?　This was a very risky mission, okay?　I don't know if I'll make it out alive. And lots of people....

'I know, I know, it's dangerous. But if someone has to do it, it's the one with the best chance of survival, right?　Nah, I'm not going to die either. And I want to go back to the Imperial City and make out with Lucy.

　Then he winked and the two of them puffed out. Hey, why?　I thought I said something pretty cool in my mind.

'Shit!　Kaido-kun!　But yeah, you're right. You know, there are people waiting for you.

　That's what Kana-chan says, and she looks somewhat sad. It's a face she makes from time to time. My gut tells me that she's probably thinking about someone she loves.

　But if these two worry so much about me, I have no choice but to do my best. I don't want to die.