[The map of the royal castle’s interior has been updated.]

After driving out Playana, a detailed map of the castle’s interior appeared in Taehyun’s vision. The first thing he looked for was an escape route. He studied the layout, memorizing the structure.

‘There are a few underground passages. The castle has eight floors. Playana must have entered from the upper levels, which means the knights and mages on the lower floors are still alive.’

They had allowed a single assassin to slip through; security had to be tightened immediately. Taehyun began redeploying the remaining soldiers to the upper and top floors to prevent another infiltration. It was a temporary fix, but with Mana Detection active, it would be impossible for an enemy to sneak in alone again.

[Agnis Kingdom Army]

[Infantry: 5,000]

[Cavalry: 1,000]

[Archers: 3,000]

[Priests: 1,000]

[Siege Engineers: 1,000]

[Shieldbearers: 2,000]

[Mages: 1,000]

[Knights: 1,000]

The remaining Agnis forces numbered around fifteen thousand. Excluding the soldiers defending the castle itself, the rest were fighting a losing battle against the Kantaim army in the city streets.

‘We’re using the city’s layout to hold them off, but it’s only a matter of time before they break through. Two days, at most. I have to secure an escape route before then.’

The one saving grace was that the enemy hadn’t gotten a look at Rinal or Deis. Having finished his assessment, Taehyun returned to the top floor.

“Where have you been wandering off to in a situation like this?” Kubic demanded. “We need to be preparing countermeasures!”

“Further countermeasures are useless,” Taehyun stated flatly. “Deis, you must feel it too. We have to get His Highness out of Baltricia. There is no hope left here. We must reach the territory of another noble and plan for the future.”

“Are you serious right now?” Kubic exploded. “Those bastards are all cowards who tucked their tails and ran at the first sign of the Kantaim army! How can you suggest we ask them for help?!”

More than ten nobles had already abandoned the capital of Baltricia and fled. All of them were undoubtedly hiding within their own domains, waiting to see how the situation unfolded. They might defend their own territories, but none would dare join Rinal in an attempt to retake the capital. Deis, however, seemed to grasp Hendrick’s intentions and nodded. “Frustrating as it is, Hendrick is right. The Kantime army will surely move to mop up the remaining nobles after occupying the capital. When that happens, those cowards hiding in their fiefdoms will have no choice but to form an alliance. If His Highness appears then to take command, we can secure our future.”

“Precisely,” Hendrick affirmed. “The challenge now is escaping Baltricia. With the Mage Tower’s teleportation circle disabled, our only option is long-range teleportation magic.”

“But the Kantime forces have likely blocked that in advance,” Deis countered. “So you’re saying we need to secure an escape route and fight our way out.”

“We could also establish a hidden refuge somewhere and wait for an opportunity to slip out. But first, we must secure a viable route.”

With their primary objective set, Hendrick used a spell to project a map of Baltricia’s layout into the air. “As I recall, this is the layout of the capital.”

“Hmm. It seems plausible,” Deis mused. “I predict the Kantime army will concentrate their blockade here and here.”

The spots Deis indicated were the only downhill roads connecting the royal castle to the city’s outskirts. These paths offered a direct escape without having to navigate the city proper, but that also made them an obvious choice for both friend and foe.

Hendrick nodded and pointed to an underground passage on the map. “Exactly. In this situation, our only choice is the hidden underground passage. But even if we use it, we’ll still emerge within the city walls.”

“Then what are you suggesting?” Kubic demanded. “By your logic, there’s nowhere left to run.”

“In theory, yes. First, we must use our remaining troops to create a diversion among the Kantime forces. We’ll draw their attention while simultaneously clearing enemies from potential escape routes.”

“Hmph. A rather distasteful plan,” Kubic grumbled.

“It’s all we can do for now,” Hendrick said, his tone firm. “For His Highness Rinal’s sake, we cannot afford to be picky.”

“Ugh. Fine,” Kubic relented, finally nodding.

Deis, who had been watching quietly, gave Hendrick a surprised look. He had skillfully forged a sense of camaraderie by invoking Rinal’s name. Perhaps he had been planning this dynamic ever since he helped Kubic fend off the dark mages. ‘It’s like he’s a completely different person. What happened?’

Though Hendrick’s attitude had shifted abruptly, it was a welcome change given the circumstances. The three retainers put their heads together and began to formulate a strategy.

—

Mission Day 8.

A portion of the Agnis Kingdom’s forces, which had been holding back the Kantime army, was pulled back from the city’s interior. Each unit was assigned a new mission and deployed to a designated location.

“First, send soldiers to potential escape routes to scout the enemy’s deployment,” Hendrick ordered.

“Isn’t that just sacrificing our troops for nothing?” Kubic argued. “Besides, sending them out like this practically hands the enemy a map of our intended escape routes!”

“Patience, Kubic,” Hendrick sighed. “You should learn to hear me out. Revealing the routes is a deliberate tactic to disperse their forces. The Kantime army has likely already identified them anyway. What’s important is to learn where they’ve deployed their soldiers, and in what numbers.”

“Are you calling me ignorant?!”

“You might seem less so if you shaved that ridiculous beard.”

“Gah! How dare you insult the traditional beard of the Alons family! Unforgivable!”

That day, soldiers were dispatched to eight different locations. From the hill roads on either side of the city to the narrow alleyways within, and even to the exits of the underground tunnels—they scouted every possible path of retreat.

[Communication with the soldiers has been lost from the market alley of the capital, Baltricia.]

[Communication with the soldiers has been lost from the left hill road of the capital, Baltricia.]

[Communication with the soldiers has been lost from near the exit of the capital Baltricia’s sewers.]

As expected, the soldiers were cut down by the enemy. The three retainers used the time it took for communications to be lost to estimate the enemy’s strength in each area.

“Considering each group included several knights, they were eliminated fastest near the sewer exit,” Hendrick noted.

“Wait,” Kubic interjected. “Doesn’t that mean the Kantime forces can also enter through the underground passage?”

“The exit will block them for now. They’ll likely try to seize the passage at the same time they assault the royal castle.”

It was safe to assume the Kantime army had already identified all possible escape routes. By deploying their strongest contingent at the sewer exit, they were clearly marking it as the most probable path. Hendrick then divided his soldiers into groups of varying sizes and sent them to probe the routes again.

“The goal here is to put the enemy on edge,” he explained. “Heires will be forced to second-guess herself based on which locations we send troops to and in what numbers.”

“So we’re forcing her to wonder how to best disperse her own forces in response,” Deis surmised. “We’ll certainly suffer losses, but they’ll have no choice but to constantly reposition their troops.”

“Exactly. This maneuver will undoubtedly divert the enemy’s attention. Now, the question is which escape route we will ultimately choose.”

“Hmm. As of now, none of them are viable,” Deis said grimly. “Unless we’re prepared to sacrifice all our troops at the other locations to force a breakthrough at a single, less-defended point, success is unlikely.”

Their strategy was to disrupt the enemy and scatter their focus. While it was effective in splitting their forces, the chance of failure remained high regardless of the path they chose. For half a day, the three retainers sacrificed their soldiers, agonizing over the impossible choice.

—

[War supplies in the capital Baltricia are running low.]

[Food supplies in the capital Baltricia are running low.]

As dusk settled, the dreaded system messages appeared. Soon, they wouldn’t be able to feed their soldiers, let alone properly equip them.

‘They’ll launch an all-out offensive tomorrow,’ Hendrick thought. ‘And we still haven’t chosen an escape route… This is a disaster.’

They had probed fourteen locations so far, every one of them watched by the Kantime army. A decision felt impossible. Hendrick clicked his tongue as he observed the enemy camp, where they had pitched tents and settled in for a siege. If they had only managed to defend the fourth gate, the city wouldn’t have fallen so quickly.

‘Well, it’s largely my fault for forbidding the use of member substitution at the start because of the second objective.’ He hadn’t expected Seonghwi to be so inept with the system’s relationship mechanics.

Sighing, Hendrick sat down. Just then, Deis appeared at the entrance, a bottle of rum swinging in his hand.

“The final assault begins tomorrow,” Deis said, stepping inside. “How about a drink to ease the tension?”

“Hmm. Isn’t drinking forbidden in the Agnis Mage Tower?”

“I’ve never heard such a rule. We’ve had drinks together on occasion, have we not? Come, sit.”

“Well, well. You’ve caught me.” The unfamiliar memories of his assumed persona were a constant source of anxiety. Hendrick forced a natural-sounding joke and sat across from him.

Deis began to pour, making small talk as they drank. One glass. Two. Three. As the rum bottle slowly emptied, Hendrick alone used his mana to stave off the effects of the alcohol.

‘So this is another mission event,’ he thought. ‘I’ve had more than enough to drink recently, but as a mage, I should maintain control. Now, what is it you want to say, Deis?’

He had managed to restore most of the favorability with Deis that Seonghwi had squandered. Whatever secret Deis was about to reveal could very well turn the tide of the entire mission.

“…As I thought, you don’t get drunk,” Deis said with a faint laugh, setting down his glass. “So, you were waiting for me to speak.” His eyes were still clear; he was completely sober.

Hendrick smiled back and drained his own glass again. “What could be so important that you’re beating around the bush? You’ve always come directly to me with matters concerning His Highness. It’s why I began tutoring him in magic in the first place. Do you remember?”

“I remember it vaguely. And you’re right, this is about His Highness. What I am about to tell you must never be known to anyone else.”

“…Let’s hear it.”

“I thought perhaps you already knew. It seems I was mistaken.” The room fell silent. Deis’s expression had become deadly serious.

[Deis Brotanian]

[Favorability: 59]

[Status: Wary, Resolved, Anxious]

‘Wary, Resolved, and Anxious,’ Hendrick noted. ‘He’s observing my reaction to make his final judgment.’ He would likely make his move the moment Rinal escaped. For Hendrick, who was simply trying to clear the mission, this presented no real burden.

After a moment’s hesitation, Deis finally spoke. “You are likely aware that His Highness Rinal is the only remaining heir of the Balconis royal family.”

“That’s right,” Hendrick replied. “After Queen Rinolin passed away from illness, His Majesty Balconis lived only for the prince. He never took a new queen, so His Highness Rinal is the sole heir to the throne.”

“Precisely. But tell me… what would happen if the heir to the throne was not a man?”

“The nobles who have been biding their time would launch a rebellion, or perhaps… W-Wait, you don’t mean…?!”

Deis’s eyes had turned to ice. He met the flustered Hendrick’s gaze and delivered the final blow. “His Highness Rinal… No, it would be Her Highness, Princess Rinal. I intend to place her on the throne, no matter the cost. Will you help me?”

—

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep