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Ilta and Katy continued their conversation in hushed voices, careful not to let Trevor overhear.

“…Um… Team Leader Trevor. May I ask something?”

Casey Guinness, still seated on the cot, addressed Trevor hesitantly.

“What is it, Casey? Are you still worried about your stamina? We can let you rest a bit longer before heading back to the village.”
“No, sir, that’s not it. It’s just… are you really planning to head into Iroshio with only these people?”

While lying in bed, Casey had overheard Trevor and Aria’s earlier conversation and realized that this group was the reinforcement force being sent to Iroshio.

“With all due respect, that’s far too reckless. A single team of reinforcements won’t be enough to turn the tide. The enemy’s strength isn’t something that can be overcome so easily!”
“Casey, you think we’re marching off to our deaths, don’t you?”

Casey silently nodded. The enemy he had witnessed firsthand was not the kind that could be defeated simply by adding five or ten more fighters. Sending them in would be little more than a drop of water on a blazing fire. There was no reason to throw away valuable manpower. He hadn’t left his comrades behind just so more people could die needlessly.

Watching Casey clench his teeth in frustration, Aria finally spoke.

“Don’t worry. We’re not charging in blindly without a plan. We’ve got a secret weapon prepared.”

As she said that, Aria glanced at Ilta, who removed a magical device from her pack.
Casey frowned suspiciously.

“This is a spare core for a Large-Scale Barrier Generator, borrowed from the Temple’s leader.”

The device was a disc-shaped magical tool roughly forty centimeters across and five centimeters thick. A hemispherical crystal was embedded in its center, while smaller crystals encircled it like the numbers on a clock face.

“Only a priest can activate it. And its effective range depends on the user’s skill. According to the Temple head, Ilta can deploy a barrier with a radius of about one kilometer. Once activated, even without additional mana, it can prevent impure beings from entering for twenty-four hours. So? Don’t you think our trip to Iroshio has meaning now?”

Aria winked.

“Th-Then… if you use that, the Team Leader and Knight-Commander could be saved?!”
“If we deploy it where the enemy concentration is highest, the Temple head said it could purify one or even two thousand enemies at once. We’re lucky our opponents happen to be undead.”

“Ooooh! The please,.. the Captain…!”

Casey lifted his head as tears welled in his eyes. For the first time since waking, hope shone in his gaze.

“I’ll hold back the enemy myself,” Aria declared proudly. “I’m Aria the Iron Wall, after all! I’ll draw in as many enemies as possible. Once they’re gathered, we’ll activate the barrier and trap as much of their force as we can. Then we’ll withdraw from Iroshio together with any survivors!”

She continued explaining the operation. “This is actually one of the village’s most important defensive secrets.”

The barrier device was the core of the entire plan.

Though, lowering her voice so only her companions could hear, Aria added, “Of course, the real secret weapon is someone else.”

Her eyes shifted toward Susie.

“When did they even prepare something like that?”

Susie tilted her head and whispered the question to Anne-Marie.

“Before the village chief gathered us at the outpost,” Ilta quietly explained, “he requested the temple’s cooperation and arranged to borrow it.”

The entire operation had been planned by Village Chief August Dulles.

Truthfully, even August had not believed Susie could wipe out the entire enemy force by herself. Still, there was little doubt she could deal them a devastating blow. Combined with the Large-Scale Barrier Generator, it would create a defensive wall that could allow Howard and Conrad to withdraw safely from the front lines.

(I see! If we have this, I can focus entirely on saving Papa Howard! Maybe I won’t have to worry so much about accidentally destroying the natural environment!)

Beneath her cloak, she secretly clenched her fist excitedly.

“Now it’s a race against time! We’re heading for the front lines immediately!”

Aria declared. She swept her cloak dramatically and announced their departure. Everyone present responded with a determined shout.

“C-Captain Trevor!”

At that moment, Casey Guinness stepped forward with a resolute expression. “Please… grant me permission to return to the Abyss as well!”

“There are still comrades fighting there! Even now, they’re risking their lives! I can’t sit safely in the rear while they’re still battling! I know I’m being selfish! I know I’m asking too much! But if it’s at all possible… please, Captain Trevor! Send me back! Let me return there one more time!”
“Casey…”
“We might not have the spare strength to protect you,” Aria warned.
“That’s fine! I’m still a member of the Mobile Heavy Cavalry! And I know where the front lines are! I can guide everyone along the route I took, the fastest route! Please… please let me serve as your guide!”

Head bowed, he pleaded desperately before both Trevor and Aria.

“But you’ve only just recovered from grievous injuries… Are you truly all right?”

Though he understood Casey’s determination, concern lingered in Trevor’s voice. Trevor glanced toward Aria and Ilta. The two discreetly looked toward Susie. Susie gave a small nod.

“All right!” Aria said. “I like people with guts. We’ve got no objections. Just make sure you guide us properly.”
“Thank you very much!”

Casey bowed deeply once more.

At that exact moment, Regulus suddenly neighed loudly.

“Huh? Wha… Regulus? Don’t tell me… you’re saying you want to come too?”

The horse rubbed his body against Susie while continuing to neigh. Susie murmured uncertainly, almost as though she understood him.

“He seems to want to return to his master together with this boy.”
“I see…” Aria smiled. “Just what you’d expect from the Boss’ horse.”

After Anne-Marie relayed the meaning to Trevor and Casey, Aria happily stroked Regulus’s cheek.

“Casey, you can use the horse this girl rode here on instead. Come on! We’re leaving immediately!”

With that, Aria led Team Aria out of the tent.

Outside, everyone mounted their horses.
Trevor and Casey mounted their own as well. Members of the logistics corps began fastening several packs onto the two knights’ mounts. Aria glanced at them curiously, asking, “What are those?”

“Spare Mana Battery Units for our Mobile Armor,” Trevor explained. He patted one of the packs. “To be honest, these miniaturized versions are classified military technology for the Mobile Heavy Cavalry.”

His gaze shifted toward Ilta’s backpack, which contained the barrier core.

Aria merely shrugged. “Fair enough. Looks like we’re both carrying secrets.”

The original plan had been to deliver the batteries after establishing a supply base at Black Rock. At the outset, the army had more than enough power reserves.

However, after engaging in an all-out battle, battery consumption had skyrocketed. The front line was likely already running short on energy. If they intended to conduct a full retreat, fully charged batteries were essential.

“Honestly, Casey joining us is a huge help,” Trevor admitted. “These can’t be entrusted to anyone outside the Knight Order. I couldn’t carry all of them by myself.”
“Team Leader Trevor…”

Casey’s voice trembled slightly. Trevor simply nodded. Watching the exchange, Aria grinned. Then, from atop her horse, she raised her voice.

“Our destination is Black Rock! Listen up! Anything that stands in our way gets cut down without mercy!”

She thrust a fist into the air. “All units, move out!”

A thunderous battle cry answered her command. As the first rays of dawn pierced the horizon, the warhorses of Amukham neighed fiercely and pounded the earth beneath them. Together, they began their charge toward the depths of Iroshio.