As we attacked the river, we could clearly see the difference from the previous day.


    I said that the wind had changed direction, and that is exactly what happened.


    The battlefield is controlled by the air. When soldiers who are confident of victory collide with those who are worried that they may lose, the former always wins.


    I had been taking advantage of most of the battles from the beginning, so I was not that aware of this change. I didn''t realize how much it had changed.


    The enemy forces that up until yesterday would have still stood up to me, or even fearlessly attacked me, have easily turned their backs on me.


    That''s where our army pursues.


    The battlefield looks like a deadly chase. Is that the nature of the battlefield?


    --Special ability [Style of the High King] activated. It becomes effective when he is recognized by many as the High King. All his abilities are tripled. In addition, those who witness it will feel either awe or fear.


    Thanks to my army''s assurance of victory.


    "Let''s keep going!　Put some strength in your belly so that His Majesty will not think the Regent''s army is a bunch of cowards!"


    We march on, raising our voices. We''re about to cross the river. At last, it is our turn to attack the enemy position in earnest.


    Yes!　The king is attacking the cathedral!" This side is justice!　We can''t lose!" They''re all bitter about the cathedral!　Crush them."


    I''m sure you''re right. There must have been a lot of people who used the power of the Cathedral of Orszent to assert themselves. I''m sure there were many who grew to hate them.


    This battle has made the cathedralists a force to be crushed. Once the human consciousness has been transformed, they are ours.


    At the end of the river the enemy forces were more confused than we had imagined. The king probably thought they would remain quiet. For a long time, the king had never directly supported anyone militarily.


    He had Kerala nearby, who knew the movements of the king''s army. In any case, Kerala''s troops were attached to other generals this time, so he would not be able to lead them immediately.


    "Kerala, you are the one who has done the most good in this battle. You did well to seduce the king!


    "Your Majesty has always wanted to change. He wanted to be the king and the founder of the royal family.


    "You are still a great man for reading His Majesty''s feelings and bringing him out of it."


    Or was it the profession of akechimitsuhide? I am very glad that I did not pay attention to that.


    "I am sure that all the kings before you have wanted to make a name for themselves in a deeper way, and to play a more active role. But they did not have the courage to move. The kings of the past did not have enough experience on the battlefield to move lightly."


    "And you convinced him of that, didn''t you?"


    "I was not sure if I could do it on my own, so I enlisted the help of the royal family."


    "Oh," I said, "I can''t help it.


    I had forgotten all about my wife on the battlefield. Well, especially for Rumi, he had never felt so much fear of war.


    "Her Imperial Highness was determined to get her brother to send out his army at any cost. I''m sure that moved him."


    I understand. I''ll give Rumi a big hug when we get back to King''s Landing. In fact, I''ll be so choked up that I won''t be able to do anything else."


    "I would be most grateful if the two of you could spend the day together in your room."


    Considering the amount of political work I have to do, it''s hard for me to agree with you.


    I''ll think about it.


    Our army is going deep into the cathedral army. The fact that they can penetrate this far means that they have no intention of defending themselves.


    It can''t be a trap. There is no way we can surround them if they are this distracted.


    "Perhaps the allies withdrew first, causing confusion throughout the army. I can see that they are in high spirits."


    "Yes, it is. At this rate, there may be some big guns left."


    We advance into the midst of the enemy, but there is little danger since they have no desire to fight.


    And soon we found the man''s face.


    High Priest Kamito, you have really come here.


    The people around him were saying, "He''s not a soldier!　A priest!" They are yelling "We''re going to the beach! We were in a poor position, unable to leave in the first place, and with unreliable companions running away on their own, we were in a bad situation.


    How are you feeling, High Priest?


    I said arrogantly as I mounted my horse.


    The other side looked at me as if my soul had vanished, but somehow he seemed to regain his composure, and with a gasp he looked like a high priest.


    "Regent, do you intend to take the head of the foolish monk here?"


    "Since you are here on the battlefield, I have no reason to complain if you do..."


    I stared into his face. It''s a face we''re going to have to deal with.


    "--I''ll let you live this time. If you die here, your failures will be forgotten by your followers, and they will turn their hatred on me instead. You will at least apologize to His Majesty for your mistake."


    The high priest gritted his teeth in disgust. Not the face of a pious servant of God, at least.


    "And there is another reason.


    Maybe that''s the bigger reason.


    "You didn''t even think about killing me. At best, you went into this war with the intention of making us look at you painfully and discrediting your authority. So we will let you live.


    "Okay. Thank you for your kindness.


    "Next time you come to the battlefield, come with the intention of killing. Next time, I won''t accept excuses.


    Soon the high priest was mounted and retreated.


    "You have made a gentle decision for a regent."


    I knew Kerala did not mean what she said. That much political judgment is possible.


    "The man knows that it is better for the cathedral to die than to be humiliated by a crushing defeat. He is a man who cannot do that. Is it because he is not a warrior, or is it because the next generation has not yet emerged?


    I win this time, High Priest.


    "Now my authority, or rather mine and yours, is established. Most of the districts around King''s Landing will be swayed in my favor except for the area by the cathedral."


    Finally, I can wield the power of regent properly.