"Huh?!"
A startled cry echoed from within the carriage.
"Luo Li! Are you insane? I've never heard of a commander personally heading out to rescue their subordinates!"
"Lina, please, calm down."
"How can I be calm?! That's the rear of the demon army! Once you go there, you'll be completely cut off from the central command. Have you even thought about the consequences?!"
Watching the agitated Lina, Luo Li felt a warmth in her heart, though she was also a bit helpless.
Though they had known each other for barely ten days, Luo Li was genuinely touched by Lina's pure, heartfelt concern.
"But Lina, no one else can fill this role but me."
No one else possessed her group-wide recovery capabilities.
There was no telling how much combat strength the isolated units had left.
Furthermore, they were bound to face the worst-case scenario, and the survival of that unit was already looking grim.
To be honest, while Luo Li desperately wanted to save them, she hadn't originally planned on going herself.
After all, the strategic objectives had already been met. Even if the Beast Sovereign were sacrificed, the blow dealt to the demon race would still be massive.
However, that was a cold calculation she could only entertain for a moment.
If the other nations learned that she had sacrificed the Beast Sovereign to achieve this victory...
She wouldn't just lose the credit for the win; she would lose any shred of respect for her hard work.
Moreover, the entire beastman race would view her as a sworn enemy.
At the same time, it would be nearly impossible for her to win the trust of the world again.
The conflict between humans and beastmen had lasted for countless years.
Now, while the forces of other nations had all withdrawn, only the Beast Sovereign had been left behind.
Even if she had done nothing, the powerful figures of every race would believe she had orchestrated the whole thing.
That was the reality.
Even if she did nothing.
Even if the Beast Sovereign had gone there of his own volition.
Even if this truly was just an accident.
The blame would ultimately fall on her.
Everyone would believe Luo Li used the war as a pretext to suppress the beastmen while driving out the demons.
If it came to that, she would never be able to form another non-human coalition.
Other races would hesitate before her words, or perhaps lose all faith in her entirely.
If the demon race attacked again, even if other races wanted to send troops...
They would first look at what kind of end the Beast Sovereign met under her command.
Therefore, she could not, and dared not, let the Beast Sovereign die on that demon island.
One could only imagine how powerful the beastmen were; even the mouse-tribe among them were master assassins.
'I really don't want to spend the rest of my life living in the shadow of potential assassinations.'
Luo Li sighed inwardly, though no one could hear her.
Looking at Lina, Luo Li took a deep breath.
"Alright, this matter is decided. Lina... I'm leaving these two strategic heights to you. Please, take them for me at all costs."
At this, a bitter smile touched the corners of Luo Li's lips.
"Otherwise, even if I make it back alive, I won't be able to retreat."
"I..."
Lina stared blankly at Luo Li.
The girl before her held a magnificent title, but in reality, she was only a sixteen-year-old girl.
Compared to the already mature Lina, the girl before her was still just a child.
"Are you... truly certain?"
Lina pondered for a long time before she could finally force the question out.
But when the words came, they felt as though they had crossed a thousand hardships just to be spoken.
"Yes. Lina, once you've occupied the strategic heights, you must hold them immediately."
Lina closed her eyes and adjusted her breathing, becoming much calmer.
When she opened her eyes again, she had regained her original spirit.
She gazed intently at Luo Li.
"...I understand. But you must promise me, you must come back alive!"
"I will."
Huh?
Why did that sound so much like she was setting a—ahem!
No, I can't think like that. It's bad luck.
Lina raised her hand and placed it on Luo Li's shoulder, her face full of solemnity.
"I'll be waiting for you. I'll be waiting for you to come back so we can drink celebratory wine together!!"
Wait a minute!
Hold on just a second!!
You airheaded Saintess of War!
Stop raising flags for no reason!!
When you say it like that, I feel like I'm never coming back!!
Luo Li's internal screaming couldn't stop this airhead from raising flag after flag.
Lina looked at Luo Li with total sincerity.
"Go with a peaceful mind. I will ensure this strategy is completed perfectly!"
"I will definitely wait for you!"
"Even if you don't come back, I'll be sure to pour the best sweet wine from the Kingdom of the Highlands over your tombstone!"
I... I can't take this anymore!!!
Luo Li pressed her fingers together, raising her hand like a blade above her head—I'm going to split this flag-raiser in two!!
Slap!
"Ow~!"
The Dragon King and Rhine watched blankly as the Saintess of War crouched down, clutching her head.
Then they looked at the Saintess of the Moon, who had lowered her hand as if nothing had happened.
The two men exchanged a glance.
They silently withdrew from the Saint's Carriage, going their separate ways to arrange the details of the upcoming plan.
"Waaaah... why did you hit me? I meant well!"
The dignified Saintess of War was huddled on the floor, a red mark visible on her head.
Her pretty face was filled with grievance.
Luo Li massaged her temples, truly at a loss for what to do with this airhead.
...
"Your Highness, are you... truly going?"
When Lancelot returned to the central command with two thousand members of the Dragon Knight Corps, those were the first words out of his mouth.
Though phrased differently than Lina's, the meaning was the same.
He was terrified she would die on the front lines.
"There's no other way. Only I am suitable for this."
"But Your Highness, even if that's the case, there's no need to withdraw the Dragon Knight Corps. The men have just built a rapport with the dragons. Isn't it a waste of combat power to pull them back now?"
Lancelot looked at the girl and offered his counsel:
"Your Highness, I recall the beastmen have five thousand flying bats. Why not use them to retrieve the stranded soldiers? Wouldn't that save a massive amount of our strength?"
Luo Li shook her head helplessly. She didn't want to explain, but if she didn't, Lancelot likely wouldn't accept it.
"Sir Lancelot, you are right. Bats are indeed more convenient than skysoar dragons and coordinate better with the beastmen."
"Then why..."
"But!"
Luo Li interrupted him.
"But... the flying bats themselves have almost no combat capability, and their defense is pitifully low."
"The north and south have been completely separated by the demon army. To cross through, one must face the demons head-on."
"The flying bats do not possess that kind of combat power."
At this point, Luo Li looked up at Lancelot.
"Furthermore, the flying bats have a more important role. Otherwise... how would the people occupying the strategic heights evacuate?"
Unlike the dragons—those giant flying lizards—the bats could serve as transport units, but as a combat force, they left much to be desired.
Rate on N.U.
