Chapter 112

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 112

Chapter Title: Demon's Lair

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After spotting the soldier we suspected was the flag bearer, my troops and I quickly moved to our position.

Our camp was in the shopping district.

Just like how Ballua's forces had guessed Uji's camp would be on Deshon Street during the qualifiers, the densely packed buildings here made it impossible to use explosives.

In other words, it was a place that limited the enemy's tactics.

Once inside the command tent, I had my soldiers confirm the intel on Shuheil's 'redhead.'

"Josh Telbern."

[Young Master Shuheil has been training since four days ago. The knight most likely to be the flag bearer is Telbern—he's fast on his feet! And Young Master Shuheil's weakness is……!!]

It matched the guess from Hadelloro's sheep!

'Then the story I heard last time is credible intel.'

I needed to verify it, just in case it was false information leaked for his fiancée's sake.

I nodded and listened to the rest.

"Josh Telbern is swift as a courier, with excellent horsemanship. Coming from the archer unit, he's skilled in ranged combat."

He's specialized in running away.

The finals had no time limit. In my past life, mock battles had dragged on for four days and nights straight.

I glanced outside the tent. The sky had turned ominous, and raindrops began to fall one by one.

"His soldiers are all from the capital garrison, so they'll know the area better than us. Shuheil, as the winner of the last mock battle, outranks me."

My soldiers looked tense.

They all knew it, so they had every reason to worry.

I flashed a bright smile.

"But most of my soldiers hail from Duvered lands, experts in urban warfare. Our territory gets frequent rain and snow, so we're quick to adapt to weather changes and physically superior to them. We won't be at a disadvantage."

I stood, gazing at them steadily.

"After my father, Theodor Duvered, became family head, Duvered forces have never lost a battle. I'm his daughter. As long as you don't give up, neither will I."

The soldiers dropped to one knee in unison, and I said to them,

"Tell me why Duvered forces are the best."

"Yes!"

"Yes!"

Imperial Palace.

Some nobles watching the magic screens let out gasps of admiration.

"Lady Duvered knows morale is key."

In contrast, Edgar Shuheil on the other screen couldn't hide his agitation.

He'd been outmaneuvered by Leblain's strategy from the start. Realizing his mistake had exposed the flag bearer must have rattled him. No matter how cunning he was, he was still just a boy.

With the commander acting hastily, Shuheil's troops were inevitably affected.

"The flames weren't just to spot the flag bearer."

"It was a setup to excite Young Master Shuheil. What a clever nine-year-old."

"Truly the Child of Destiny."

"More like a true Duvered."

Dowager Camilla chuckled softly and said to Duke Duvered nearby,

"Looks like the lady learned a lot from her brilliant commander father."

"I've never taught her tactics. Not even advice for this mock battle."

"None?"

The area buzzed at Duke Duvered's words.

Dowager Camilla asked in surprise,

"Is that true? Then how could a nine-year-old lady know things she's never been taught……."

"She's the daughter of a man who's never lost a battle. She must have picked it up naturally. Of course, it's only possible because my daughter is exceptional."

He spoke modestly, but he couldn't fully hide his pride.

Dowager Camilla stifled a laugh. From Duke Duvered himself to Javelin Ariege and the three young Duvered masters, they all beamed with pride—it was amusing and impressive.

They were born into power, gifted with talents unmatched by others, so superiority was expected.

'Naturally, any father would puff up seeing his child shine like that.'

Through the mock battle, Leblain had shattered the notion that she was 'just a lucky Child of Destiny adopted into Duvered.'

Some fools still clung to that view, but most with keen eyes were astounded.

Soon, those watching the screens with rapt attention jumped to their feet.

"The battle's begun!"

Part of Leblain's forces advanced on Shuheil's camp.

As Leblain had said, Duvered troops held the edge in the rain.

But fighting inside the enemy camp, on unfavorable terrain, they were quickly pushed back.

"Oh no…… Huh?!"

The retreating Duvered forces destroyed Shuheil's horse stables.

And then.

Boom, boom, boom, boom!!

Cannon fire erupted from the building right in front of Shuheil's camp.

The startled horses whinnied shrilly—"Hiiing!"—and bolted.

Young Master Shuheil's face paled on the screen.

[Grab them!]

Duvered forces hadn't charged to recapture the flag.

They aimed to cripple Shuheil's flag bearer, Josh Telbern—the swift horseman—by eliminating horses and mounts.

No matter how fast on foot, he couldn't match a horse. The reason Telbern was chosen was gone.

"Heavens!"

The crowd gulped dryly.

Leblain, expected to falter even in qualifiers, now dominated the finals.

"Where's the lady?!"

On another screen, Leblain moved with her remaining half of the troops.

They destroyed every spot suitable for hiding Shuheil's flag or set traps using permitted magic tools.

"Is the lady personally setting traps? That's dangerous!"

A soft-hearted noblewoman watched the little girl with worry, but Leblain moved like the wind.

The Central Knights' captain let out an impressed "Hoo……."

Mock battle forces numbered twenty each. With Shuheil's commander—the young master—joining combat, Duvered was outnumbered.

In small-scale fights, one less fighter was critical.

Leblain supporting from the rear was the obvious, preferable choice.

It didn't even matter if she wasn't much help—it eased concerns about being short-handed.

'She knows that full well.'

Duvered troops scattered with magic tools, focused on laying traps.

Leblain entered a shabby building that looked like a warehouse, and since no viewing stone was there, she vanished from sight.

At that moment, Duke Ballua shot to his feet. But with others already half-standing in excitement or stamping their feet, he went unnoticed.

'Th-that place……!'

"Father?"

Hayton and Nils, watching with Duke Ballua, stared puzzled at their pale-faced father.

Duke Ballua swallowed hard and sat back down.

'No. Entering doesn't mean she'll find it.'

He'd already cleared it out.

That's why he'd felt safe even including it in the mock battle zone.

'But why set a trap there of all places.'

It was a building, so hiding was possible, but surrounded by tall shopping district structures and right by Leblain's camp—no sane flag bearer would hide there……!

'This is one of Duke Ballua's secret warehouses!'

I grinned and tucked the magic tool into my pocket.

I'd never planned to set a trap here.

I'd come inside to scout, avoiding the magic screens.

So I'd deliberately used the excuse of destroying flag hiding spots to blast the viewing stones near the windows.

'The moment I saw this was in the mock battle zone, I planned it.'

[What about the stuff in the shopping district warehouse basement?]

[Dispose of it quietly without drawing eyes. Send part of the shadow corps for now…….]

I recalled the memory from my second life.

'Basement. There was a basement…….'

I lit a torch, scanned the interior, and tilted my head.

"A bookshelf like this was in Duke Ballua's study too."

It looked worn but valuable—something I knew from my second life as his daughter.

Suspicious to store such a thing in a warehouse, I groped along the shelf. My fingers caught on something at the corner.

I pressed it.

Rumble…….

The wall split, revealing stairs.

I let out a scoff.

"So that's why he freaked out when I snuck bread into his study to eat."

Afraid I'd discover the secret mechanism.

I snorted and carefully descended the stairs.

The air reeked of rusted iron.

'Iron? No, this is blood!'

Prepared for anything, I etched an ignition rune on my palm and surveyed the basement.

Scattered hair, ritual circle remnants etched into the floor, faint mana lingering in the air.

[Bune, then how do normal people summon demons? (Bune, how do ordinary people summon demons?)]

[With a gem medium, sufficient mana, a sacrifice, and a summoning circle, it's possible.]

[Summoning circle?]

[Each demon has its own. It's the most crucial part to call one.]

I let out a hollow laugh.

"You bastard, summoning demons here."

The scattered hair must be from sacrifices bought from the House of Hope.

I picked up a stone and traced the faded summoning circle on the floor.

Luckily, since it was mana-drawn, it would take time to fully vanish.

Connecting the lines, I could make out the summoning diagram.

'Memorize this pattern, then check with an alchemist later to identify the demon…….'

Just then, the area shook violently.

Kaboom!!

Simultaneously, my communication stone flashed.

[Little One, get out now! Shuheil's forces have surrounded us!]

Oh no. I'd lingered too long.

I dashed up the stairs, shouting,

"Which way should I go?"

[For now…… the window you can see…… wait……]

The voice glitched with noise, then cut off.

Shuheil's forces must be using a communication jammer magic tool.

My troops had no commander now.

I bit my lip hard.

No choice then.

Time to call the last reserve troops they wouldn't expect……!

'Ah, I was saving it for the end.'

I activated the transmitter, sending the signal.

Three flashes.

And soon, the figure outside the window…….

Edgar Shuheil spotted him and yelled,

"Impossible! How are you……!"

I shouted out the window,

"Zachary!"

[When did you manifest aura?]

[Master, please. It's strategy, obviously.]

[What?]

[Aura-infused magic stones. That way, they'll think I'm gone and let their guard down. Little One, inquire about troop swaps at the palace tomorrow. Let the world think I've manifested aura.]

Our troops' crybaby king.

My guard, rivaling Henri in dirty tricks.

Zachary.