Her Highness Astina is dressed in clothes that barely show her skin. The symptoms of magic power overflowing from her body have been remedied to some extent by completing the Spiritual Guide Seal, but it is still fundamentally not completely suppressed, perhaps because her amount of magic power is out of the ordinary.

　Then, the Spiritual Guide Seal could react to His Highness' magic power and float up to be visible to everyone. It would be best not to show the mark at the moment, as it would not cause any upset to the generals present at the military council.

　When will His Highness have the opportunity to go to Shinki - the sooner the better, but that will also depend on the policy that will be presented.

''Due to yesterday's enemy attack, our Knights lost sixty-two deaths. The night before last, Zirconia's engineering force attacked across the canal, but was repulsed by Deite's troops. At that time, the enemy brought only one cannon with them.
I believe that the enemy tried to destroy the walls of the city and tried to upset our forces. ...... If that didn't happen, does it mean that the enemy is in a hurry to attack us as well?

　When Raquel spoke up, His Highness Astina ordered her entourage to spread the map out on the round table.

'I suppose Zirconia's plan was to make us believe that they were meddling in the city walls. In reality, however, their aim was to attack the fortress from east and west, encircle it and bring it down. They dared to use medium-sized boats to carry the cannons so that the presence of the warships would not be detected.
'May I speak, Your Highness, if I may? We've been watching the canal as well, and we haven't seen a shadow of a warship in the canal. How could the Zirconians have kept it secret?

　Mr. Deate raised his hand and spoke with permission. I had my doubts about that too - because if the enemy's stronghold was along the upper reaches of the canal, and they were moving on the water with the current from there, they would be visible from the Isle Rose Fortress, which is constantly monitoring the canal.

'...... I have confirmed that the enemy has mages in their midst. That's partly why I went to the front lines.
...... Zirconia and the Mages have never heard of ......
"Instead of having no mages, Zirconia is ahead of our country in developing military weapons. They see that as an advantage, too, and will incorporate the weapons into their operations to attack our forces. ...... I've been thinking about that, too.

　After saying that much, His Highness looked at me. I wondered if he was asking for my opinion on something, and prepared to answer.

'But I've been feeling uncomfortable for a little while now. There's a disturbing feeling across the canal ...... if it's because the mages have been using magic to dazzle us .......
'I think it's possible that ...... Normally, it would be difficult to maintain a magic that would cause illusions on such a large scale. However, water spirits are active along the canals. If you are a water spirit user, you can use fog and other mediums to show deceptions.
If that's the case, we've been relieved that the enemy on the other side of the river wasn't making a move ......?
"His Highness was convinced of the Mage's presence when he engaged the enemy forces from the east ...... and was accompanied by the enemy general Alejandro.

　It was too far away from me to feel it - but His Highness Astina's senses extend to the vicinity of the fortress. If the closer you get, the easier it is to sense the presence of a mage, it seems almost certain that if she says she's on the front lines, there's no mistaking it.

'Alejandro ...... Zirconia's 'White Raven'. If he has come out of the center, then he's probably been handed full military authority by the king. For him to have come to the front himself, the retreat seems to have been premature ......
...... It was probably because of what the mages following Alejandro taught me about the senses I have. Glass identified the cause of my fall, but given that, it's not surprising that the enemy forces would consider exhausting me.

　He is the commander of the Isle Rose Fortress, a fierce general with an eye for the future and the ability to slay a hundred men in a single battle when he wields his sword. The person Zirconia feels most threatened by is undoubtedly His Highness.

　And if there are mages in the enemy, it's not surprising that His Highness Astina is aware of his magical power that extends to the entire area around the Isle Rose Fortress.

(...... Master Glass. If that mage is ......)

　Leslie, who is next to me, says in a small voice. When he says that, I notice it too.

　A mage whose presence has never been felt before is in the enemy army. A person from the royal family is getting through to Zirconia - which suggests the worst possible outcome.

'...... Glass, Lendl. I asked you two to be present because you are the only two mages in this fortress.
''Yes ...... we are ready to go into battle, too. But if there is a combat mage on the enemy who uses elemental spirits ...... probably has combat training.

　I can't be certain that he's from the Silvana Academy of Magic, or that he's a mage from Laiseneier - but if the enemy used 'water' as I've guessed, it means that he controls one of the elemental spirits of earth, water, fire and wind.

''Still, I must win this battle. If we continue like this, eventually the Isle Rose will be cut off from the center and isolated. For there are those inside the kingdom who do not think well of us.
"Huh ...... a, Your Highness Astina, it's ......
It would be treasonous to the kingdom to talk like that, even if she were the third princess. ......

　The two attack captains raised their voices. The second archer-in-chief was wordless, his face pale and trembling.

　No wonder he was afraid. His Highness revealed that he had been fighting for his country, and that he could no longer place his full trust in it.

'We cannot continue to be stripped of our strength and crushed by Zirconia in order to reward those who have lost their lives so far. If that happens, the Lords will be forced to sacrifice, and everything we tried to protect will be taken away from us.
...... We are no different. If the aspiration of His Highness Astina is to protect his people, we will only follow it. If anyone doubts that, I will not force them to fight.

　The captains, who had been upset, widened their eyes as if they were taken aback by Raquel-san's statement.

　His Highness Astina indicates two points on the unfolded map. On the other side of the canal, the position where the enemy's base is probably located.

'...... to protect this Isle Rose Fortress, and the people of the realm. We will attack Zirconia. While there are still our troops and morale left.

　If we just keep defending it, we will lose everything. The White Raven of Zirconia is vindictive in its pursuit of this fortress - we cannot continue to be on the back foot against its schemes.

　I thought I'd never see the Mages on the battlefield. But I can't give up at the beginning because I'm an outlier spirit.