Both armies are initially led by theories.
　The troops deployed from the center, right wing, and left wing each made contact with the enemy units in front of them.

　On the Royal Army side, the center unit showed an aggressive offensive, while on the Imperial Army side, the left wing units were prominent.
　The Royal Army's left-wing troops and the Imperial Army's right-wing troops were slow to move, and although they clashed with each other, the fighting was not so intense.

　In comparison, the center of the battlefield, where the battle between the central troops was occurring, the swords were fiercely exchanged.
　The mercenary corps, the spearhead of the central troops, was charged with the extremely demanding role of charging towards the Imperial Central Unit, which was in a solidified position.

　This is a very common way for mercenaries to be used, and they themselves are aware of this kind of treatment before joining.
　But that doesn't mean that the mercenaries are willing to accept it, that would be a different story.

''d*mn it!　You shoot all you want from the other side of the fence, you idiot!

That's why they built the fence, isn't it?

　When Ted says in an uninteresting manner while protecting the flying arrows with his shield, Norris quickly returns the words.
　That Norris, along with Orphelia, is protected by Aldis's flying sword while shooting arrows into a small gap in the fence at intervals.

　The mercenary squad is the spearhead of the central unit. The ones fighting at the tip of it were Ted and the rest of the 'Myoujo of Byakuya', including Ardis.

　There are clearly more mercenaries on the imperial side hiding behind the fence and firing attack magic and arrows than us.
　Moreover, the other side of the fence and the empty moat did not come out from behind the fence and the empty moat, but attacked us while defending themselves with obstacles.

　Since it is such a difficult situation to fight, it would seem a poor strategy to attack from here, but the order given by the top brass of the Royal Army is to 'break the enemy position in front of you.
　It would be hard for Moore, the commander, to agree, but Aldis and the others, who aren't even troop commanders, can't do anything about it.

　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for when you go to work.
　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what to expect when you're in the middle of a fight.

　Still, there are several reasons why they are able to remain unscathed.
　In addition to the fact that Aldis and his men are skilled mercenaries, the fact that the enemy and their allies are not well organized reduces their offensive capabilities.

　According to the decision of the Moore battalion commander, mercenary teams are allowed to act in platoon units of around five men.
　There is an underlying belief that they would be able to make use of their abilities if they fought as a party unit that was accustomed to working together on a regular basis, but this is because there was originally not enough time to train the mercenaries, who were originally outsiders, to learn how to move in an organized manner.

''It would be hard to use for the higher ups, though.

　Norris commented on the mercenary as if it were a person.

''Though I'm sure that's the same on the Imperial side as well. If they form an army of archers and sorcerers and fire a shot in unison, they won't be able to get close to us easily.

　Just as Orphelia had said, the mercenary troops on the Imperial side seemed to be acting as a party unit as well as this one.
　The arrows and magic flying from the imperial side were sporadic, and the density was not so dense that it was unmanageable unless they received a concentrated attack due to a combination of coincidences.

　But the enemy isn't stupid either.
　Are they deliberately breathing together, or is it just a coincidence? The timing of the attacks that had been released in disparate ways until then are slowly beginning to match up.

''It's not good.''

　Ted, who had managed to eliminate the enemy mercenaries camped behind the fence, looked at the situation around him and muttered.

　There hadn't been any major battles in the Robles Continent in recent years.
　As a result, organized mercenary groups had disappeared, leaving only individual or small parties of mercenaries hunting beasts and demons.

　The number of opponents is often smaller or about the same number than they are, and few mercenaries have experience in battles where the number of both enemies and allies is in the hundreds.
　In other words, although the mercenaries are professionals in battle, they are not professionals in war.

　But they are still professionals in battle. In this short period of time, they have adapted to group warfare and have gradually begun to learn how to fight effectively.
　Ted's sense of impatience, which he had sensed rather than reasoned, had led him to his earlier comment.

'I see some of our allies are getting hit by a volley of fire.

　Naturally, Aldis noticed the change as well.

　The mercenaries who usually fight in small numbers are vulnerable to saturation attacks.
　An expert like Ted would be able to accurately defend against arrows with his shield, but even that has its limits.

　Even in the case of "Byakuya no Meisei", even if it was only a magical attack, even Ted, as expected, could not protect Norris and Orphelia from the countless number of flying arrows by himself.
　It's because Ardis' flying sword is on the defensive that everyone's safety is ensured.

''Hey Aldis. Can't you just fly that sword and eliminate the enemies hiding behind the fence or something?

　When Norris asked while glancing at the contents of the arrow canisters that were slowly decreasing in number, Aldis opened his mouth to declare.

''I'm going to kick them out with magic.''

　Aldis deploys his magic while using the two short swords for protection.

Fierce Red is born on the trail of the Raging Flame, the breath of the old dragon ----

　A small red circle emerged around a single raised index finger.
　The circle began to rotate slowly, and gradually increased in size.
　The circle, which had spread out around the finger, tore off and transformed into multiple small grains, and then it split off further, increasing in number.
　After the grains of flame increased in number to about twenty, the interrupted circle left the fingertips and increased in diameter and size as it floated up into the sky above Ardis, its rotation correspondingly slowing down.

''Purgatory Flame [Ferno Resta Ganov]!

　In the end, a circular mass of flames about three meters in diameter scattered to people at the urging of Aldis' voice.

　The first to be affected were the fence in front of Ardis and the other men, and the enemy mercenaries who had taken up positions behind it.

　One mass of flames hit the fence.
　It easily broke through the barrier constructed by the enemy sorcerer, and the flames that swelled up at the moment of impact wrapped around the fence.

　The other mercenaries in the surrounding area, especially those who seemed to be sorcerers, were speechless.
　It was probably because they understood that the 'Purgatory Flame' they knew and the magic Ardis had just used were not similar to each other.

''I'll make it easier for you if you sit still, and...''

　Norris mercilessly shot arrows at the enemy mercenary, who was suffering in agony from being burned all over his body.

'I know it's too late now, but it's really bullshit. ......

　A red-haired female sorcerer with a grudging expression on her face.

''Orphelia could have prevented that one, right?

...... if there's only one.

　She is so skilled that she can even profess to be a first-rate magician.
　It's hard to prevent all of them, but if those flames are coming at you, you'll be able to deploy enough barriers to prevent them.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to get the most out of it.
　Naturally, the uninhabited fence where there were no sorcerers was also the same.

　This was enough of an opportunity for the Royal Army, which had been on the offensive until then, but had not been able to fully attack it, to gain momentum. In many places, the mercenaries on the Royal Army's side were gaining the upper hand.

''Yes!　We're going in, too!

　At Ted's command, Aldis and the others also charged towards the confused enemy mercenary force.

　Looking to the left and right, there were several pairs of mercenaries heading towards the enemy line as if they were breathing in unison.
　They may not have followed Ted's voice, but something that looks like coordination is naturally emerging as they match the movements of their surroundings.
　They are professionals in battle, after all. They may not be used to fighting in a group, but they seem to have a good instinct for it.

　Norris fires a restraining arrow at the burning fence and Ted dives into it.
　It's a good idea to have a good time with them.

''You sorcerer there, you're stepping too far forward!

　A warning flies from the mercenaries on our side.

　It's not unreasonable. No matter how many swords were in his hands, Ardis doesn't wear any armor or shield.
　It must be a very astute person to be able to tell that he is a swordsman by looking at his attire. Otherwise, he is either an ignorant child.

　But Ardis ignored the warning and rushed into the middle of the enemy.
　The enemy swordsman, who had been anticipating the attack, delivered a sharp blow just as they met.
　That attack, which was struck as if to pay off the body, Aldis made his body sink low while playing it from underneath with the Aoten Saihua.

''Chi!''

　The enemy swordsman jumped back while clicking his tongue.

　This time an arrow was shot from close range, aiming at Ardis's leg as she was about to step in.
　It's a good thing that you're able to have a good time with your friends. It's probably the attack magic released by the enemy's sorcerer.

　I'm not sure if it's of much power, but Ardis doesn't move to evasive action and deploys a magical barrier behind it.
　With a high-pitched sound, the enemy's attack magic was played off.

''Wha, why!

　He couldn't imagine that Aldis, who hadn't even uttered a chant, had deployed a magical barrier.
　The enemy sorcerer is bewildered by the fact that his own attacking magic has been scraped off despite being hit, and he is unable to understand.

　The swordsman, who has adjusted his stance, tries to take a merciless swipe at Ardis again, but it's already too late.

　There was no way the swordsman's strike, which was read in time, could reach Ardis.
　Ardis, who dodged the enemy's attack at the last minute, dived into the enemy's bosom with flowing bodywork.

''Don't feel bad,''

　While saying the words to his hand, Ardis cut off his neck with the Aoten Aika.
　With the same momentum, she cut and discarded the sorcerer who was behind her.

''Hi, hi!''

　The archer, who had been defeated by the two companions in quick succession, fell back with a pale face.

The archer's face turned pale and he fell back. You're done with this one, Ardis. Are you the only one left?

　Appearing behind the archer was Ted, who had rushed in from the other side of the fence.
　Apparently, the archer in front of him was the last of the enemy's mercenaries on this fence.

　Sandwiched between the two enemies, the archer no longer seemed to be able to speak.
　He is not grabbing an arrow from his bow or pulling out the shortsword from his waist, but stiffening up like a frog staring at a snake.

''Yeah, it'll be taken care of soon enough.''

'Hee!　Taht, help me ......!

　The archer, who understood his situation through their conversation, began to beg for his life.
　He thought he was riding a winning horse, but all of his comrades have been defeated and even his own life is now at risk. It's probably not the kind of character to try to find a way out of a situation where the odds are stacked against you.

What are we going to do?

　As expected, Aldis would not think to point his sword at an unresisting opponent.
　When he turned to Ted and asked him to make a decision, he said annoyingly.

''Ah-an?　Then drop all your weapons here and get the hell out.

Can't you just let me go?

　With anxiety and anticipation on his face, the enemy archer asks him a question.

It's not that I have anything against you. It's a good thing that you don't want to fight. It's a good thing that you don't have a grudge. And also the quiver.

"Wow, okay. ......

　Following Ted's words, the archer threw all the weapons in his hand on the spot and ran away as fast as he could.

''I'm sorry for taking the liberty of deciding to do that.

Okay. I can't argue with Ted's decision.

　What is needed is to win, not to kill the opponent.
　If one or two people who lost the will to fight escaped, it wouldn't have much of an impact on the war situation.

　Of course, there is no chance that the archer who saved his life would stand in front of Ardis again.
　However, that is 'if I can survive without a weapon in the middle of the battlefield'.
　Even though he was a humanitarian, Ted wasn't such a sweet man that he would have unlimited compassion for his enemies.