The enemy hadn't even been able to reach the moat that encircled the city walls, and had been wiped out by arrows in the riverside meadow.

　I had never seen the power of a longbow, but the metal arrows had penetrated the enemy's armor and inflicted fatal wounds. The number of enemy soldiers that had been destroyed was over fifty - what the Zirconia army was trying to do with that many people could be seen by looking at what they were trying to carry.

'Cannons ...... This caused a lot of damage the last time we were there. They were going to carry it in the dark in small numbers and destroy the walls of the city before they found us out.

　Concerned about the hiding soldiers, Deite ordered his men to carefully scout the area. When it was safe to do so, I asked him to dismount his horse and looked around for the fallen soldiers in the area.

　I couldn't find any survivors. Leaving the dead out in the open affects the morale of our own troops as well as the enemy's - I wonder what we've done so far after we've defeated the enemy army.

　Then I casually look at the soldiers ahead of me and I feel a sense of discomfort.

'...... alive ...... Dite, there was a survivor. It looks like he just got hit by an arrow and couldn't move.
Well, I will take the men back to the fortress. Hopefully, I'll be able to get him to tell me what we're here for.

　If I pull the arrow out here, the blood loss is too great. As it stands, I'll just have to put some anti-bloody medication on it and then I'll have to do the surgery when I get home.

'...... What are you doing?　If you need treatment, etc., please visit .......
'If we don't, we'll be in danger of losing our lives before we bring them home. If we're going to take him as a prisoner of war, we need to take the least amount of care possible.
'Yes, it's ....... You're right, Doctor. Excuse me, please continue.

　A little bit, Deite's complexion looks white.

　Come to think of it, it was the same when we got here. I was told to get in front of Ms. Deethe, but her hands seemed to be trembling a bit as she held the reins.

'I know you might be offended when I say this ....... Presha-san also said it would be better if we didn't have to kill an enemy soldier if we didn't have to.
...... to say such feeble things in front of a military doctor. That means she's still young after all.
'No, you don't get used to it when you get older. It's much more human that way.
'You must abandon such sentimentality if you are going to protect your country. Otherwise, you will lead to your own death one day.

　Ms. Deethe, who is no other, has not been able to split - that's why she keeps telling herself from earlier.

　To shoot out and block the progress of the enemy forces before they get close. This is how you get hit by arrows and check on an enemy force that has been wiped out - it's impossible to feel nothing and not wear out your mind.

　From the time we rode together, I could feel what her mind needed. It was a flower that relieved the symptoms of sleeplessness - 'Night Forgotten Flowers' (Nightflower).

　If you place that flower in your bedroom, it is said to put you into such a deep sleep that you forget that there was even a night. I didn't use it myself, but I had recommended it to my sister-in-law, who was pleased with it.

　People who have been in the battlefield often suffer from insomnia. Especially when they have experienced many nighttime enemy raids, as in this fortress.

　Deethe-san also dismounts her horse and approaches a fallen sword that looks like it was equipped by an enemy soldier and picks it up. The engraving on its hilt had been scraped off and left behind.

''After all ...... weapons made in our country. It was true that the weapons were flowing to the enemy forces. ......
'Did you hear from His Highness Astina, Mr. Deite? What Mr. Presha has reported to you.
'I'm sure you've been very careful not to demoralize us. We are not so dull of intuition either. His Highness Astina is ...... no from the center. He is marginalized by some forces of the royal family. Otherwise, that person who has served with distinction on the Eastern Front wouldn't be sent to the dangerous West continuously.

　-- Formerly in the east, where His Highness Astina was fighting. On the eastern border, the war situation has stabilized for several years now, and they have regained the territory that was once taken from them, and now they have an opportunity to expand their territory.

　There should no longer be any need for the princess to stand in the battlefield - but she has been sent to the dangerous battlefield again and is accepting her orders.

　The reason I found Her Highness so inhuman was because her mentality was so clearly different from the rest of us.

　Her brilliance was never given just for the sake of fighting. Her purity and godliness was originally a natural gift to gather the people's trust, to give them peace and guidance.

　I've only just met her, and I'm amazed at myself for being so worshipful. But I think His Highness Astina is to be revered that much - as is Captain Raquel and everyone else in this fortress, including Captain Raquel.

'There are those who call Lady Astina a 'saint'. That's because I can't use any other word to describe her, as she doesn't say anything against her circumstances and doesn't point her sword at the master of the conspiracy. At the same time, as the 'Swords Princess General', she is willing to wield her sword and kill her enemies. That's why we want to be the weapon that avenges the enemy instead of her. Yes, we all made a vow.

　It reminds me of Raquel's running at the command of His Highness Astina. The reason she was so fierce must have come from that vow.

'It's ...... strange. I thought you were a little boy who still felt like a student. Since you are so calm, I've told you a few unnecessary things.
...... I'm scared, too. So I'll do what I can. Can you wait over there for a minute?
What are you going to do?
'If we leave the enemy soldier intact, he'll cause an epidemic. I can prevent it from happening to me. If you have anything that needs to be recovered, save it for now.
...... Weapons and other evidence, one at a time, are fine. I will leave the rest as grave markers for dead soldiers.

　Mr. Deite's men retrieve some of the undamaged armor. The captured soldiers were put on horses and carried away. As for the cannon, it takes some time to carry them, but we manage to transport them inside the fortress.

　While Mr. Deite watches from a little distance, I work on the grass spirits that have filled the riverbank.

　Normally, the spirit users of the earth would be better at this - returning those who have lost their lives to the earth.

　But plants also contribute to obscuring the traces of battle.

'O green grass that covers the earth! Answer my call and cover the wasted land. ...... "Promoting Greening 'Plant Grown'

　Encourage grass growth over a wide area. Covering it up with this may seem like a temporary measure, but it will mitigate the effects on the land by allowing new plants to flourish that suck up the phosphorus and salt in the soil.

　What you see behind you is a weapon that has become the gravestone of the enemy. Only the sword and spear sticking out of the ground are still intact for now.

'...... Dr. Glass, you said you came from the Academy of Magic, but I've never heard of this kind of magic ...... oh ......!
...... Sorry, I'm sorry. I thought I could handle this one.

　I've worked my magic many times over the course of the day. I knew this could happen if I did this big of a job at the end of the day - but I'll have to move with a little more respect for myself, too.

　As I almost fell down, Deethe-san catches me. I managed to stay conscious and stand on my feet and away from her.

'...... You're pushing yourself too hard, aren't you? This isn't the time to worry about us.
Really, I'm sorry to be so pathetic ...... sorry to bother you.

　When I apologized, Deethe-san gave me a chiding look - but her eyes narrowed in annoyance.

'I'm not just annoyed, but ...... we're the ones who have to thank you. If you're going to have a water burial now, I'm sure you'll be sleepless again tonight ...... oh ......
I knew you couldn't sleep. I know a good drug ...... that I can use sometimes when I can't sleep, so it's guaranteed to work.
'...... kohon. If a woman slips up, men should just sit back and let it go ...... I'd say. It's hard to hide the dark circles in your eyes, so I'm counting on you.

　Deethe-san said that and bared her head. That smile was as dainty as the little flowers that 'Night Forgetfulness' puts on - although if you said that with a straight face, you would surely be laughed at even more.