Engagement - Earl Forte
The Astin Kingdom's army was stalled in front of a city.
“Lena, where's the Swordmaster?”
“I think he's still in the rear. I heard he was forced to come because of the Prince. They say he wants to go back already... Sigh.”
Lena and Leo chatted. They were enjoying the most leisurely time they'd had since entering the war.
The front line had been pushed back significantly. The Bellita Kingdom army had failed to hold the line at the city and had retreated across the river to rebuild their camp.
The Astin Kingdom army, judging that it would be impossible to cross the river within the year, decided to spend the winter in the city before them and laid siege to it.
Unlike the villages they had captured so far, this city seemed prepared for a siege. The gates were a patchwork of wooden planks, looking quite ragged.
The walls weren't high; the siege weapons deployed near the city could easily breach them. Yet, the city had not been attacked for nearly a month.
“How much longer do we have to wait?”
“It should be almost over, right?”
In this world, no matter how advantageous the siege, as long as a mage remained within the city walls, it was impossible to simply rush in and capture it.
If soldiers swarmed the city, area-of-effect magic would paint the sky.
“This is frustrating. Can't our mage block their magic?”
“I guess it takes a long time.”
The {Noble Society} information included a brief explanation of magic.
Magic was based on a field of study called 'Thaumaturgy,' which researched 'Mana Roads.'
To use magic, a mage would inscribe a 'Mana Road,' a path for mana to flow, in the air.
The mana flowing through this path, depending on its shape, would manifest various mystical phenomena. This was magic.
Since the discovery of inscribing Mana Roads, magic had advanced by leaps and bounds.
Unlike in the past, when mana was used haphazardly, modern mages wielded immense magical power through the precise study of 'Thaumaturgy.'
Given enough time, thousands of soldiers were no more than ants before a wave to them.
Once a massive Mana Road for large-scale area-of-effect magic was established in the sky, a mage's preferred disaster would wreak havoc below: fire and ice, lightning strikes, storms, and blizzards.
“Wait!”
Lena interrupted Leo's explanation.
The way she raised her hand was adorable.
“Can't we just stop them from making those Mana Roads?”
“I heard that if you inscribe a Mana Road to interfere with the opponent's magic, the two Mana Roads get tangled, causing some kind of interference phenomenon. Apparently, the colliding mana explodes... In the end, it's the same for our soldiers.”
“Aha. Then what do we do?”
“They have to set up a barrier around the castle that neutralizes all Mana Roads. It's been about a month, so it should be almost finished.”
“Wow! Leo, you're so smart.”
Lena stroked his hair, praising him.
“You were also amazing back then when you were teaching me etiquette. You're my husband, but you're something to brag about.”
Leo felt a little embarrassed.
If she knew how I got the {Noble Society} information, she'd probably think I was pathetic.
Unaware of his thoughts, Lena continued stroking his hair as she spoke.
“So, we just have to stand guard, right?”
“Can't we relax for a while? We're not even near the city, just at the outer perimeter...”
“Oh my! There's no more important duty than guarding the perimeter.”
She wagged her finger, pretending to be serious.
“As a captain of the Astin Kingdom, I cannot tolerate such laziness. You should be more careful in the future.”
“Yes, yes~ As you command.”
“Youuu~!”
Lena pinched his cheek, and Leo pinched hers back.
Her stretched cheek was cute.
Lena must have thought the same thing because she giggled and said in a breathy voice, “Oh myyy.”
The thought, 'I'm happy, but I shouldn't be like this,' had long since vanished.
Now, more than ten months since the scenario began, Minseo in his mind had faded significantly as the story progressed.
Consequently, Leo Dexter’s gentle yet narcissistic personality emerged.
‘I want to live like this with Lena forever.’
His will to clear the scenario had also disappeared. It was already too late to make Lena a princess. Once the war ended, their marriage would mark the arrival of the ending.
He desperately wished to postpone the marriage.
‘If only Minseo, the impurity, wasn't here…’
A chilling thought crossed his mind.
Minseo was the only one afraid of losing himself in the endlessly repeating story, and the only one who wanted to escape.
If only Minseo wasn't there. Couldn't the countless, perhaps infinite, Leos live short but happy lives?
It was certainly sad that the ending came with marriage.
But he had confirmed that the story continued even after the ending. So, a happy ending would suffice.
'I' wouldn't experience it, but both Lena and Leo could live happily ever after.
If only Minseo wasn't there…
Leo scratched his head, feeling Minseo's spirit becoming unpleasant.