While the Zirconian fort was in turmoil, we made our way up the tributary in a warship and reached the home side of the shore without difficulty.

　Raquel was the only one to lift the anchor that would hold the ship together. Then he threw the anchor into the shallow water a little further from the shore and threw it as far as he could - if the ship came any closer to the shore, it would run aground, so he would have to find another way to secure her.

'O Apsaras, lead the chains that hold our ship together to the bottom of the water: ......!

　At Noin's command, Apsaras dances in the air above the water's surface - and then a vortex is created on the surface of the water. It would lead the anchor to the bottom of the water.

''--say!

　When Raquel threw the anchor, instead of stalling due to the resistance of the water, it dived down, spinning at a tremendous speed. After throwing the required number of anchors to secure it, Deite wiped Raquel-san's sweat off her face.

''Thank you for your efforts, Knight Captain. If you combine your stiffness with your magic, you'll have no enemies.''
'Indeed, the power of magic is great. But I can only do my best because of Lord Glass: ......
'Dr. Glass, did you also treat my sister Raquel?　Personally ......?

　Presha gives me a strange look. I guess she's wondering when there was such a time.

　When I gave the Spiritual Guide Seal to His Highness Astina, in the next room - and if I explain it as it is, it would cause Raquel-san to feel embarrassed. In fact, she was actually holding her mouth as if she had made a gaffe.

''No, I mean, I'm on the edge of being a doctor too. Just by looking at it, I can tell which part of your body is under strain or where you are sheltering.
"Hmm ...... I'm not in pain anywhere and I'm pimply, so I didn't get any treatment. If you have time, I'd like you to take a look at it, just to be sure.
'That's what everyone thinks. I've had help with my insomnia too, and I'm sure I'd feel better if I took the time to see .......

　There's also the term "preventive medicine," which means that I can examine the nutritional status and the strain on the body on a daily basis and make adjustments (maintenance) with my own hands on a daily basis.

　But why is that - is it because everyone is relieved that the mission is safely over? I'm sure you'll find that the eyes are looking at me more as a woman than as a knight.

I'm sure you'll find that ...... Lord (Aruji)-sama is really adored. Looking at it this way, it seems to me that it's closer to worship.

　Noin says while smiling as she flutters her light blue hair in the river breeze. It's not going to be the same as it was for me, but since we're from the same academy and are close in age, I'm still a little uncomfortable calling her 'Lord'.

''If I were to be worshipped, it would be His Highness Astina, the priestess of the divine tree, and I'm just a spirit user.''
'You are the one who can draw the power of that divine tree through me. In other words, it's .......
'No, no, please don't go on beyond that. I am a subject of the princess's admiration, and I am in the same position as everyone else.

　I knew that from the time I made a contract with Shinki. His Highness, who is connected to Shinju, has changed his attitude towards me.

　She's a royalty, and she's acting as if she's my equal, or if she's obedient to me. It's a good thing that you're able to get a good idea of what you're looking for.

　-- but if His Highness would continue to say nothing just because he was interrupted by me, that was another story.

''The glass that I contracted with the divine tree is an existence that stands alongside the divine tree. My mission is to worship the divine tree, respect its power, and pass on its benefits to my people. I see Glass, who can use the miracles of the divine tree as magic, as the most important person in the Order.

　The river breeze calmed and passed between us.

　Even though I knew that His Highness Astina had given me the highest compliment, I couldn't react very well.

　It was Raquel who was the first to react. The way she looked at me was filled with total trust, which was unthinkable from the first time we met.

''From now on, our knights are facing a major turning point. With the presence of three mages such as Lord Glass and the other three mages, we were able to change a situation where we were only cornered. We will be able to continue to move forward without bending our beliefs to live by dedicating our swords to His Highness Astina and to our people. For that, I am grateful.
'At first I thought they would be too scared of the battlefield to run away. But that was not the case. I can't apologize to Dr. Glass for that mistake in any way. ......
'It was the same for me. We had bounced off the zirconia without relying on men, and I knew we had to continue to be so. That's because we didn't know of any gents like you, Dr. Glass ......, who could be an unwavering pillar of support.

　Why would the three of us say so much?

　It's as if, if you don't say it now, you won't be able to say it anymore.

　-- it's because they don't know if they'll survive the battle with General Alejandro that's coming up.

It's a good thing that you're not the 'outlier' because you've met everyone and come to the Isle of Wight fortress. ...... I'm the one who got to see you all and feel that I'm not 'outlier' because I came to the Isle of Wight fortress. Even I can help people.

　I had to muster the strength to even affirm to myself. When I was in the academy, I think I was often looking down, trying not to be rotten.

　Since meeting and talking to the elders, I've been looking up more often than not. Because looking up at the branches of the great tree had become a natural part of my life.

　Leslie wasn't depressed when she drew the Spirit of the Air and left the path of the elite. He said that he was spending more time with me, like he didn't know if he was serious or not - Sven had taught me how to live without worrying that everything was meant to be.

　There was nothing wrong with the path he had taken so far. As it will continue to be so, I'll just keep thinking about what I can do to make sure we all get out alive, even when I know everyone is ready.

'I don't want anyone to die. I don't want to see someone die without being able to do anything anymore, to heal someone who was hurt and convince myself that I did what I could with it.

　It's not something I'm going to tell everyone who is in the military. Even if you might be, I don't want to send you off to war without telling you.

Let me think with you because ....... When we face an enemy force, what kind of strategy can we use to avoid causing damage?

　Me, Leslie, and Noin, the battle mage. Now that we have new forces and warships, we should be able to bring down the enemy stronghold with Alejandro in a way that we couldn't use before.

　We were able to neutralize the stronghold where the warships were being built by a small number of people. The Divine Tree's consort, Lune and Ray--and Airia and Apsaras. With this many spirits, we could create an overwhelming advantage if the enemy didn't have any mages.

''It's an ideal that we won't cause ...... deaths. Any commander would take the damage into account when planning their strategy.

　I know that His Highness Astina is right. My thoughts are childish, and I'm not facing reality.

　But she wasn't denying me.

'But ...... I would like to believe, too, that the power of spirit magic will surely make the impossible possible. I've witnessed the miraculous events you've caused so many times.
...... Your Highness .......
Glass, Leslie and Noin. Please, please help the three of you. Noin, you would think that I, who called your sins unpardonable, would be the one to say: ......
'No. The only thing I have in my heart is the desire to work single-mindedly to make the Lord's ideal a reality. I only wish that you would allow me to do so.

　Noin would easily try to sacrifice himself for me. So I have to watch out for him.

　The same goes for Leslie. She tries to cover for me on the spur of the moment - which has been good so far, but if she continues to do that in the future, she could be seriously injured one day.

If you're with Brother ...... Glass, I'll try to help you as much as I can with ...... magic.
'Thank you, Leslie. You really do adore Glass, don't you?
"...... I am ......

　Leslie's answer was lost in the wind.

　His Highness Astina seemed to understand what Leslie was trying to say. Before he could ask her about it, His Highness approached the edge of the ship.

　Looking down at the shore, he saw the scouts of the Isle Rose Fortress who had come on patrol. They are Deite's men.

''So, Your Highness ......, this ship is .......

　They are hidden from view by the magic of the fog, so it is impossible to see them unless they are quite close to the warship. Therefore, the scouting soldiers are quite surprised. The soldiers hurriedly salute when Deite-san also shows herself from the top of the ship.

''This is a Zirconia warship. Since it's hidden by magic, it will take some time for the enemy to detect it.''
'I will use this to move on to the next operation. You are to conduct a reconnaissance of the eastern flank of the fortress. If there is any enemy movement on the other side of the river, let me know at once.
"Haha ...... I'm so excited!

　A group of scouts rode away on horseback at the behest of His Highness. After seeing them off, we dismounted by a rope ladder and stood on the ground.

　We made our way through the reed field to the Isle Rose Fortress. The sight of the fortress against the morning sun makes me feel proud rather than nostalgic.

'...... You've come back, no one is missing.'

　At His Highness Astina's words, the knights widened their eyes. His Highness was also anxious about this strategy of infiltrating into enemy territory - she thought there was nothing to fear, and then she spoke of relief.

''Of course. Neither I, nor any of you, are training half-heartedly.''
Huh. ...... But I was nervous. I thought I'd have to fight everyone in the fort.
'I was going to take care of it before that happened, though. That could have been preserved, too.

　The gunpowder weapon that Deete-san has prepared - 'Fire Spear'. Using a weapon that had just been developed comes with a big risk. It could be said that not using it was a fortuitous thing in the end.

　Even though I know that the knights are always fighting for their lives, I still can't help but think about it.

　I won't let a single person die. I'll use all the means available for that purpose - to protect with my own hands everyone who said I was their 'support'.