Prince Gunter gathered all the knights of Sun Palace.
As he continued the formation, he suddenly clicked his tongue.
“This level of troops makes me uneasy.”
The strategic mock battle against Acella was set for tomorrow.
What started as a simple story had escalated into a massive showdown involving the palace’s resources.
If Gunter were to lose, maintaining the Sun Palace would become difficult, but there was no choice.
He had to use everything to win, if only to show the Emperor his true worth.
“I’m confident in the strategy, but… phew.”
Being cooped up in the palace playing chess-type games had left him with ample chances of victory.
Strategic mock battle.
Each side organizes one hundred knights into twenty units, winning by either capturing more strongholds or defeating the enemy commander.
Since it’s turn-based, only one unit can move at a time, making it fundamentally like chess.
“The difference is that the movement range of the units is determined by the actual distance moved in five minutes. In battle, regardless of offense or defense, only the winning side survives.”
Unlike chess, attacking pieces don’t guarantee victory.
The terrain isn’t flat like a chessboard but takes place in real mountains.
With the Second Barracks in hand, Acella could organize suitable knights for the mock battle as much as she wanted.
Rumor had it that Tanya, a sword expert, was quite strong.
Facing her was burdensome for Gunter.
“More than anything, I have to participate in the battlefield directly.”
The commander must also run into the battle.
If he is subdued, they lose.
While Gunter was deep in thought, Livio visited him for his afternoon diagnosis.
“Your Highness, you seem troubled.”
“Uh? Yeah. The conditions aren’t easy.”
Seeing Gunter set the pieces on the model terrain for the mock battle, Livio nodded.
“Indeed, Your Highness. The strategy is flawless, with no gaps. The concern is whether the knights can follow your grand intention.”
“Does it look that way?”
Scratching his head at the compliment, Gunter wondered.
Livio proposed a solution.
“On the day of the battle, I will place enhancement blessings with the faction healers. My blessings are more effective than any healer’s. I can surely surpass even the Moonlight Palace’s standards.”
“Really? Then we can win!”
“My only worry is a scenario where Your Highness gets ambushed and suffers defeat.”
“Y-Yeah…”
Livio pulled out a vial, something black wriggling inside.
“What’s that?”
“It’s a refined enhancement spell. Use it in emergencies. It will make you stronger than most knights.”
“Seriously? You’re amazing, Livio. I didn’t know such a thing existed.”
Though the squirming mass of spell looked suspicious, Gunter, trusting Livio, took it without hesitation.
“I’ll be rooting for you, Your Highness. Seize this opportunity to prove your abilities and present the resources of the Moonlight Palace to His Majesty.”
“Of course. After Acella, I’ll take down Heike too and prove I’m the Crown Prince.”
Seeing Gunter’s determination, Livio smiled subtly.
*
“I believe your magic circuits have been slightly disrupted. You’re fine to act, but be cautious today.”
After finishing Acella’s morning consultation and packing up, she asked me.
“Prince, are you heading to the Inner Palace now?”
“Yes.”
Acella coldly remarked, as if displeased with my answer.
“…Don’t mess around and behave yourself.”
“Of course. Whose order is it anyway?”
There was a chilling air during my conversation with Acella.
It was because we had a bit of a spat yesterday.
I left the Moonlight Palace with a lingering, unsettling feeling.
Well, obviously, I had no intention of behaving as Acella suggested.
‘I need to get Gunter’s brooch, and since Livio is up to something, I need to respond.’
If Acella wouldn’t let me in, I would have to launch a strategy from the outside.
I immediately made my rounds in the hospital, looking for Gesa’s room, which Livio was in charge of.
Just then, Livio was examining the princess.
Upon learning I had arrived, Livio came out to greet me.
“Teacher Gothberg, what brings you here?”
“Just wanted to say good job, Priest Livio. The princess must have been quite a handful.”
I only exchanged a bit of small talk, but his expression hardened.
“Thank you.”
His stiff and mechanical greeting made me smirk.
“Actually, it’s about the mock battle between our Moonlight Palace and your Sun Palace tomorrow.”
“The mock battle, you say? As a mere attending physician, I haven’t been informed well about it.”
Livio’s poker face made the conversation feel robotic.
It seemed he wanted to draw a clear line with me.
I thought I’d prod him a bit.
“Don’t know? The rumor says that you egged on Prince Gunter.”
“What are you talking about?”
Livio replied calmly, but his neck flushed red.
His heartbeat quickened.
No matter how good an actor you are, it’s hard to control autonomic responses.
Proof could easily be obtained.
‘Diagnosis.’
―――――――――――
– Seer Livio
– Condition: Temporary Blood Pressure Rise
– Condition: Temporary Physical Resistance Increase
– Condition: Borderline Personality Disorder
– Condition: Curse Addiction
―――――――――――
‘Oh ho.’
A textbook response to lying.
I was convinced Livio was the instigator behind this mock battle.
‘Curse addiction? What’s that?’
I’m certain there was only regular addiction before.
“Aren’t you participating in the mock battle?”
“It’s a battle for knights. As a healer, I cannot partake.”
He declared it firmly.
With a grin, I praised him.
“You’re the best among healers, Priest Livio. Shouldn’t you step in?”
“That’s flattery.”
“And you saved the prince’s life too. You have talent.”
At my praise, Livio’s eyes bulged out.
He must be quite upset.
‘I did hear that the princess had amnesia.’
He might have used rough healing methods to prevent the side effects of his healing spells.
“Good work. I’ll see you later.”
“Take care.”
Livio bowed his head at me.
It still felt uncomfortable that he hid his emotions in the dark.
I returned to my office and started drafting a document about Livio.
“Symptoms of curse addiction observed.”
Originally, I thought his addiction concerned alcohol or drugs.
With this newly noted, Livio must have come into contact with curses recently.
It could have been yesterday or the day before.
I used the [Prescription Writing] skill.
“The patient has voluntarily exposed themselves to symptoms.”
It suggested that Livio might be planning to create an incident in the mock battle with a curse.
Given the magnitude of his actions, he seemed to be in quite a hurry.
It wouldn’t be strange if he were planning to assassinate the Emperor at any moment.
‘But he said he wouldn’t participate. He must’ve made all his preparations already.’
It would be safer for him to be distant from the scene, creating an alibi.
Where could he have obtained the curse?
“I believe the patient may have been exposed to curses due to knowledge of black magic. The related curse is intermediate or higher. Observation of progress is recommended.”
Completing the prescription.
I smoothly wrote down the sentences with no awkwardness.
Then I used the skill [Second Opinion] on the prescription.
“With this, I can verify if my speculations are correct.”
My hand automatically moved, adding phrases to the prescription.
“Let’s see. I agree that the patient has been exposed to curse symptoms but do not judge them to be a black magic user.”
Then, where did he get the curse from?
“I deduce that he must’ve come into contact with a black magician. Detailed diagnosis of the curse’s level is necessary.”
My hand finished writing the final sentence.
“Immediate isolation is recommended to prevent contagion.”
It was quite a dangerous state.
I needed to gather evidence linking Livio to black magic.
I told Tanya.
“Follow Livio.”
Tanya, who had been waiting, immediately replied.
“I will have Bruno do it. What evidence should we gather?”
Tanya quickly understood my intentions, making communication quite smooth.
“Record all scenes where he interacts with suspicious individuals, focusing particularly on black magicians.”
“Understood.”
“Hugo, is that device you were working on complete?”
“It’s ready, just in time.”
Hugo presented me with a device made from magic stones and jewels, with a few thin papers sticking out at the end.
“It’s a curse detector. When the reagent paper contacts a patient’s body, the stone’s color changes, roughly indicating the curse’s grade and type. However, it can only measure curses I’ve listed.”
“Great. Good job.”
With this device, even if Livio had placed a curse, I could identify its type.
Hugo had systematically researched various curses already.
Acella’s curse hasn’t been identified yet, though.
‘Considering how Hugo is laboring this much, Acella must possess a top-tier curse.’
Recently she’s been relatively calm, but you never know when Acella might snap.
Quick analysis on that front is also needed.
“If we can analyze the curse…”
We could respond to whatever came our way.
I wanted to personally participate in the mock battle where the incident was set to occur.
“Commander, you’re participating in the mock battle tomorrow?”
“Indeed. I’ve been allocated to the mobile unit.”
“Can we create an extra slot in the heavy infantry? I mean, one fully geared with a faceplate and all.”
“Teacher, I wouldn’t particularly recommend that idea.”
Tanya read my intent and immediately advised me.
Just as she thought, I intended to infiltrate disguised as a knight from the Moonlight Palace.
If Acella caught me, that would be trouble, but well.
If I don’t get caught, that’s it.
“If nothing goes wrong in the mock battle, I’ll remain quiet.”
“And if something goes wrong?”
“Then I’ll deal with it, and surely Acella would forgive me, right?”
“Are you certain?”
“Of course. I have a hunch about certain things.”
“It’s not that, I mean the part about getting forgiven by the Royal Princess. There’s been a strange atmosphere today.”
Tanya was subtly sharp when it came to such matters, probably due to being close to Acella.
“It was just a minor spat. Nothing serious.”
“Well, that may be the case. But sometimes, Teacher, you don’t seem to grasp the Royal Princess’s feelings.”
“Me?”
I found it somewhat hard to agree with Tanya’s statement. No one knew Acella better than me.
…Well, I’ve been thinking it’s a bit strange lately.
“Anyhow, I need to participate directly in the mock battle. Not responding could lead to even bigger issues. I can deal with being scolded later.”
“You’re quite resolute. If you insist like that, I have no choice but to cooperate. But please stay by my side to respond in case of emergencies.”
“I’ll be counting on you.”
Tanya, explaining the strategy calmly, felt quite reliable.
*
“Welcome to the strategic mock battle! Today’s judge and member is me, Lau von Württemberg!”
Lau’s voice echoed across the mountainous area via magic.
The spectator area was set at the foot of the mountain. She reported live from the scene.
“I wish all the brethren a splendid match, and we will commence the mock battle!”
Thump, Thump.
The sound of drums announcing the start of the match resonated.
“Everyone has been deployed.”
After receiving the report from the commander of the knights, Acella took up her wand.
She stood at the training ground situated in the northern forest of the imperial palace grounds.
The training ground was divided into a total of 120 zones, specifically to train knights in mountainous terrain combat.
With hazards like cliffs and mud, and areas dense with trees or steep slopes, it was perfect for height training.
“Prepare to launch.”
“Yes!”
The knights organized into units geared up for full combat.
“Tanya, you will lead the charge.”
“Leave it to me.”
Four knights moved forward to breach the enemy’s defensive line, following Tanya’s lead.
One of them lagged slightly behind.
Tanya lightly tapped his shoulder, motivating him to get back in line.
‘Fortunately, I haven’t been recognized yet.’
Fully armored, Lars held his shield while discreetly monitoring Acella’s attention.
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