After His Highness Astina and the others started talking to General Rothgard, they immediately gave us instructions.

　The divine tree Eucellicis is regaining its former power by 'connecting' with His Highness, the Royal Priestess.

　Already the plants throughout the Western Domain are ready to listen to the voice of Euceresis at any time. That means that they can know what is going on in this grassland in a minute.

　--and what I found out is a fact that is so overwhelming that I can't think about it for a moment, beyond indignation.

　A handful of men under Vaisek's command had captured the father and son of that ranch who had met me and Mr. Rendle when we had just entered the western territory.

''I cannot obey that order. My duty is to protect the people of this Western Domain. My duty is to protect the Western Domain, to put the hearts of the people of the Domain at ease, and to enrich their lives.''
'Nah ...... not to talk about, and if you don't know what it means to be against your Majesty's life, then the word itself is a grave treason!

　His Highness finally conveys his will to Vaysek head on. This is not an argument, it's only a one-sided debate - Vaissek has no cause, he's only working for his own selfishness. His Highness can expose Weisek's true face in front of General Rothgardt, who may have known nothing about it.

　At this stage, His Highness, with the help of Euselisis, had seen through Vaissek's conspiracy.

　Vaisek's men broke into the ranch shed and captured Meena, who was working, and took her hostage, and even detained her father, who had come to check on her. No other family members were nearby - perhaps they were on their way to the nearest Portoro town. It was a blessing in disguise, but if they didn't help Meena and her father at all costs, it would add to their grief.

'Even Vysek's husband thinks badly of it. How dare he try to take a hostage for the sake of it.''
It's not just a matter of time before you'll be able to get your hands on a new one. In order to make them obey you, you need to prepare them.
I thought you were a milky lass, but you're a pretty good-looking girl, aren't you?
'Mmmm, mmmm ......!

　The scene that Euceris had conveyed to him was such that he couldn't help but clench his fists in indignation.

　The three men hired by Vysek gave their captive Meena a vile look. Her father is tied with a rope, gagged and rolled on the floor - there is no longer a moment to lose.

　I look around for Leslie, who is riding on the back of Mr. Deite's horse. There are also cavalrymen near General Rothgardt that Vysek had with him - they are watching our movements without a hint of caution, so I can't overtly show them dismounting from their horses.

　Yes, 'not overtly'. If Leslie is there, we can break the current situation without them realizing it.

'Leslie, I'm going to make my way to that hut to get out of sight. Meena and her father are being held by Vysek's men ...... and we need to get them out of there in a hurry.
'...... All right. Air Spirit, Airia ...... blocking the light and hiding us ......

　Spirit mages can talk to each other sensitively if they are near each other. Even through telepathic communication, Leslie's whispered chanting can be transmitted - and the aspect of the air surrounding me and Leslie changed.

'Presha-san, please stay put. They won't know we've moved. We need to help the hostages in that hut.
"Hostages are ...... Vysek, another cowardly move ......!
'Calm down, Presha. It's Vysek's intention to make you upset.

　You can see that Deite-san, who says that, is aware of the composite bow (composite bow) she is carrying on her back - if her aim is directed at Vaissek, she will not be able to escape as long as her range is reached.

　Repeatedly disrespecting His Highness Astina and the outrageousness of Vaissek, which he is doing right now, is making the two fierce generals exceed their patience limits.

''Even Brother ...... Glass is angry. But it's great because he looks calm.''

　I chuckle unconsciously - I'm just telling myself that I shouldn't lose my cool, but I really wish I could change this twisted situation right now.

　I have to avoid fighting my sister. Just confronting her like this makes me terribly nervous - there's a 'Jade Witch' on the other side, and just being aware of that makes me tremble this much more.

I'm not going to be able to get a good idea of what I'm talking about. That guy ...... hostage, where His Highness can see ......!

　Mr. Presha is indignant - but he looks at me behind him, suppressing his anger. I nodded, and at the same time as Leslie, I dismounted and rode across the meadow.

　We have to rescue Meena and her father, which is of primary importance, but there's one more thing I know now that I've come to this place.

　Vysek hadn't realized it yet. What kind of situation this entire ranch area is in - what will 'they' think if the cavalrymen wait for a long time in a 'position visible from the mountain'?

''--Glass, after all, it seems that he(...) and others(...) continued to aim at this ranch. We should have had a conversation with General Rothgardt in a place that wasn't originally here, but ......'

　That would be inevitable, if General Rothgard's group goes any further, there is a possibility that they will try to force their way into the Isle Rose Fortress.

''We would like to do what we can to help your highness. It might be a battle, but if that happens, we'll be able to help you at ......''
'Yes, let us protect the people of the ranch. Both General Rothgard and the cavalrymen who have followed him should have the power to protect their own lives.''

　Vaissek was in a precipitous position with His Highness' remarks and used a means that he should never have used - he took the people of the realm hostage and forced His Highness to surrender the Isle Rose Fortress.

　General Rothgard condemned Vaissek's words and actions, even pointing his sword at him. And yet, if Vaissek is found to have acted in a way that tarnishes the pride of a knight, it is hard to imagine that he will no longer try to deprive His Highness of his command as he is told.

　Or will he prioritize following the wishes of Cassandra's second queen? This is also not unreasonable considering General Rothgardt's position.

　I wonder what Milania's sister-in-law (hey) thinks when she sees the knights insulting His Highness Astina, the person to whom she should be loyal in nature, and looking down on the female cadres - I think her anger has already reached its limit, but should I say fortunately, I'm still She didn't use spirit magic.

''Brother Glass, do you use air balls?　Or ......'
'I want Leslie to stagnate in the air so that Lune's hypnotic pollen can continue to have an effect. O glossy flower blooming in the garden of bewitching flowers. ......!''

　Meena and her father were taken out of the hut and made to stand on top of a small hill, threatened at knifepoint by the men standing behind them. It wasn't difficult to approach them from behind as they were completely unaware of us.

''Mu, only my daughter is ...... gah ......!
Didn't you hear me when I told you to shut up?
'I've been told to do what I want with you guys when the job is done. If you don't die, you could be slaves somewhere and have a father-son reunion: ...... hahaha ......!

　-- not even anger, this is disappointment.

　When you know you're getting help from these people, you don't have to take any chances.

'Brother Glass ...... and Lune is .......

　Lune, who manifested in front of me, looked a little more grown up than usual - and I understand.

　With Eucerisis regaining its power, all the plant spirits that have contracted with me are now able to take in more magical power than ever before.

'Summoner-sama, it's ...... amazing, more power than ever before ......'

　I'm relieved that his tone hasn't changed as he grows - he's grown up enough to feel the gap in his lisping tone. By the looks of it, it's probably about 13 years old when compared to a human being.

''I'm going to get even bigger than that. When I grow up, I'll be bonk-bonk-bonk, and I'll make the Summoner-sama look glum.''

　I now realize - the demonic flowers that bloom in the Garden of Pandera can fascinate people not only with their pollen, but even with their appearance.

'...... Brother Glass, I'm ready. I'm wrapping those people in a wall of air in Airia. We can even keep the hostages from breathing in the pollen.
'Oh ...... Alraune, don't be shy. Just neutralize them ......!
Very well, my Lord Summoner!

　The invisible, magically composed pollen spreads softly from Alraune's entire body - riding the wind currents to envelop the men holding Meena and her father captive.

'What is this sweet ...... smell ...... is ......
Hey, hey, what are you doing?　The order to let them go is ...... goooooooo!

　Two men behind Meena and her father untie the two men with a knife. When the man who was watching them tried to blame them, he was beaten down with a ferocious force - there was no way to react when his companions suddenly caught him by surprise.

'Ah ...... ah ......!'
...... It's all right now. It's okay.

　Leslie runs up to Meena, who has sat down on the spot, and Leslie calls out to her. Meena clutches her chest and cries like a child - she couldn't help but feel relieved when she saw Leslie in the guise of 'Rendle-san'.

It's a good thing that you're able to have a good time with your friends and family. ......

　When the gag is removed, Meena's father says with tears in his eyes - I couldn't help but grit my teeth as I felt the regret of not being able to do anything about it when he told me he was going to harm his daughter.

'...... Dad, I'm fine ...... and I don't know what more words I can say to thank you both for helping me again. ......
'I'm sorry, Meena ...... I'm sure it still makes you a little nervous. But I'll make sure to protect this ranch, and I want you to rest in a safe place.
'Gu, Dr. Glass, what the hell is that ......, wow, ......!

　It was not only the little father (uncle) who raised his voice.

　The cavalrymen with General Rothgardt and even Vaissek were distraught.

　--a swarm of goblins, rushing in from the mountains. The demons, once repulsed by the knights of the Isle Rose, had made a final counterattack.

''General Rothgard, there's a huge individual among the goblins ......
"Wow, our mission is not to fight demons ...... but to get to the Isle Rose Fortress ...... as soon as possible.

　If the knights don't take the lead in fighting, this whole area will be overrun by goblins.

　The knights who are not at the front are not used to fighting demons. There are very few demons in the vicinity of the royal capital - there is a history of carefully sweeping up the areas that are considered to be demon nests and then expanding the walls of the royal capital.

'If we retreat, we will allow the goblins to take control of our neighbourhood ...... sweeping here and pushing back to the mountains. The knight must always be a shield for the powerless people!

　General Rothgardt's proclamation to his men, who have fallen into a depression, is.

　-- but the spreading grasses of the prairie tell us. Why doesn't the general issue a retreat order? The reason I entered the western territory as the general's subordinate is not to fight the demons.

'...... General Rothgard. It seems that your men have never dealt with demons before. Entering the Isle Rose Fortress also means that you will be undertaking the task of defeating the demons that ravage the territory.
No knight under my command has ever been intimidated by a ...... goblin or anything like that.

　The knights were ready and ready to intercept the goblins coming from the mountain - but then it was time.

'Jeez, you've got to be kidding me. ...... I didn't know this was going to happen!　If I knew that the Western Domain was a demon cave, I wouldn't have come for a second glance. ......!
What do you want, Mr. Vysek? ......
''Yes, that's right, ...... 'Jade Witch', with Lord Millennia's power, demons like that one are not to be feared!　Now protect us with your magic!

　I'm also dumbfounded at how much they can think in a convenient direction. If the knights don't think it's their duty to fight demons, then it's safe to say that it's the same for my sister-in-law.

''Unfortunately, my magic should be exercised on the battlefield. If you guys consider the battle with the goblins as a 'battle', you must first play the role of a cavalryman. A mage is one who chants in the rear guard and breaks the opponent's ranks.
That 'cavalry duty' is ours to perform. It is the role of the knight to protect his people, and I need not reaffirm such a thing.
Guh. ......!
"Hear that, knights!　A brave swordswoman puts her sword to the sword for her people!　This is not our place!
"Shut up, you coward!　Don't be a bat that does nothing and rants about being smart!
'Heck ...... d*mn it ......!　Okay, let's go, you guys: ......!

　There was no longer any centripetal force or anything else, and Vaissek returned his horse with the men he had brought in front of General Rothgard's rage - the direction was the barrier that separated the central and western territories.

''--Dono Vaisek!
"Don't worry, Your Highness Astina, when you return to the center...

　Vysek turns around on his horse and answers His Highness Astina, who stops him. He was probably trying to say something that sounded like a throwaway line until the end.

　But the reason why he couldn't say it until the end - was because a 'wall' suddenly formed in the path of Vaissek and the others, and the horse was gone and stopped in its tracks.

'Whoa ......!　What the hell is this? ......
It's as if that fox is blocking our way ...... and she's trying to keep us from getting away.

　Vysek and his men are confused - I was being told by the plants in the meadow what that wall was made of.

　The material - 'stone'. In the past, when building a road for wagons to travel, the stones that were scattered in the grasslands had been combined to create a barrier to stop the horses' feet.

　How did they get to the western territory? There were plenty of ways out, but I was grateful that 'he' had taken such a risk to get here.

'...... Sven. I guess I owe you one for this.

　I don't know where he got it, but he was a man riding a horse and wearing a cloak that hid his face. I knew he was Sven by the cigarette in his mouth - because it was a homemade herbal cigarette I had made myself.

'Lord Vysek, General Rothgard does not want you to go on your way. The General has doubts about your attitude towards the Order.
"-- You were right, Millennia Weed!　How dare a venomous woman like you, how dare you, how dare you, me ......!

　Vysek's escape was prevented - he tried to escape on a technicality, but the contents of the 'Imperial Decree' he had in his possession will be confirmed, and his parochial behavior will finally be denounced.

　And Sister-in-law Millennia is not the kind of person who would keep quiet after being told so.

　She glares at the goblins who are trying to shoot arrows at us from the horse.

'Your Highness Astina, I will neutralize the enemy's bow. After that, you can go to .......
Yes, ...... it's a pleasure to fight with you, Lord Millennia.

　The 'Sword Princess General' and the 'Jade Witch' join hands - and Presha-san and Deite-san join the battle line.

　How powerful are the knights who were defending the Isle Rose Fortress? I can't just watch their dependable appearance - I first summon Mandrake and use her 'voice' to frighten the goblins. By interfering with the air spirits in conjunction with Leslie and blocking the sound, I can effectively attack them without getting caught up.

''O demon ginseng, the demon ginseng that echoes the song of doom, come to me. Come to me.' ......!

　He summons Ray of Mandrake - both Lune and Leslie are blindsided.

　Ray's summoned form is growing, just like Lune's. She always looks a little sleepy-eyed, but I could tell by looking at her that her strength was growing.

'...... Can I sing as hard as I can?　My Lord Summoner.

　I honestly cringe when I see them smiling - I'm sorry for the goblins who showed up here, but I was sure they would regret coming out here.