The spearhead of Ailes Kartis was a man of great importance named Mortai.


    For a long time, he and Ailes had been active in the province of Brantal and its outskirts, which was called Minelia. In other words, they knew that they had to win this battle.


    We have deployed about a third of our force to the forest of Awayyu, the home of Laviala. I, the regent, have been informed that I am also there.


    I''ve also put a tail on him.


    So to speak.


    Having lost Castle Nevre, Regent Arsrod Nevre has taken up a position in front of the forest where his nanny Laviara was born, and here he intends to commit suicide along with the elves who have served him well.


    Althrod was not a good man among his family when he was young, and the only people he could trust were the elves of the nanny''s side. Now the man has made up his mind.


    There were already traitors on Arsrod''s side, and he could no longer afford to take on Kartis and Brand with his entire army. So, out of 14,000 men, he took 2,000 and headed for the forest.


    --That''s about it.


    Of course, a lie is a lie. I have no intention of dying here, and the morale of my men is not low. We have 20,000 men, not 14,000, but almost as many as the enemy.


    The important thing is to make them realize that we don''t think we can win.


    --It''s just like you to make the regent play such a trick on us.


    Oda Nobunaga seems a little surprised.


    --I have always fought with as many men as I could spare and overwhelmed them. A small army may win sometimes, but in proportion, the one with the greater number of men has the advantage. There is no point in taking the gamble yourself.


    That is, unless I could use 50,000 men myself, but unfortunately, that''s not the case. Besides, they''ll play nice when I can move 50,000 men.


    And if we hit them with about the same number of men, there will be more casualties.


    I''d rather win in style with fewer casualties. I still have a lot of work to do, so if I can create a myth that I''m strong, I should do it.


    --All right, all right. Do as much as you want. I''m sure your army can overwhelm them with the Signpost of the High King anyway.


    But it''s still a risk. The woods are safer.


    While I was camped out in front of the forest, Laviala and her clan were plotting and scheming in the woods.


    The forest of Awayyu is the very home of Laviala. In case you are wondering, the family name is Awayle. I have been calling her only Laviala for so long that I usually forget it.


    Soon, Laviala came back happily.


    "We are ready!　I did a thorough job!"


    "Good, that''s Raviara. Good luck on the show!


    Raviara seems to be having more fun than she has in a long time.


    "Yes!　I knew that running through the forest like this was more suited to Raviara. Both King''s Landing and Maust Castle are too much for Raviara. Working in the forest like this, the trees are talking to me.


    "What, are you going to recite a poem in a place that will become a battlefield?"


    It''s not a poem. For the elves, it is true that the trees speak to them. The grass, the flowers, the wind, they all speak to us. Follow their voices and you will not be defeated.


    "I''m going to trust Raviara there. After all, it is the word of someone who is almost as good as my sister.


    I grew up watching the back of Raviara, who was born a little earlier than me.


    I have Raviara as my consort, so I guess it is a matter of fate that we have been able to be together all this time.


    "Laviala has always believed in you, Mr. Arsrod," he said. I will do my best this time, too. I''m going to make a fuss!"


    Behind me, the other elves and archers were also looking full of life, ready to do their part.


    Now all we have to do is wait for the enemy to come.


    Mortai''s army on the side of Ail''s Kartis seems to be 5,000 strong against us. They must have thought they could defeat us all at once with that many.


    We formally asked the enemy camp if we could make peace with Seraphina as an intermediary.


    The request was easily rejected. No matter how many daughters of the Kartis family we had, it would not work.


    Even if they accepted, I had no intention of protecting them. It was just a pose to show that we were weak.


    And Serafina may be a daughter of the Kartis, but she is still my wife. I have already made up my mind to destroy the Kartis family.


    Now they will come at me with everything they have to kill me. They will consider it a nuisance if I run into the woods, and they will want to catch me as soon as possible.


    Just before noon, Mothai''s men began their assault.


    As planned, I slowly move them back. I made it look as if they were being pushed by the enemy.


    The enemy''s "Push, push!" It''s a small forest anyway!　I''m not afraid of them getting in!" I can hear them. Narrow forest. It''s not like the forest is endless.


    But it has to be. If the forest is too deep, they will be wary. A trap is useless if it is too obvious.


    A general of Ailes Cartesian would think like this.


    Even if they run away into the forest, there is not enough time to set a trap, and it would not matter.


    Come on, attack!


    "Gentlemen, into the woods!"


    Raviara leads the army into the forest. I will follow.


    The enemy follows them into the forest.


    "Should we light the fire now?" You idiot!　The allies ahead of us won''t be able to get back!"


    I hear voices like that. Yes, yes. We can''t burn down the whole forest if we come inside together.


    And when the enemy forces are well inside the forest, the counterattack begins.


    Archers came out of nowhere, and the enemy fell to the ground in a flurry.