This was said by a messenger who had come from the lower floor.
During the chaos of the battle I had forgotten completely about Zanoba.
I ran downstairs in the blink of a eye.
But the scene at the bottom of the stairs was frightening.
A group of people with clearly different hair color is surrounded by ten of our soldiers.
They were filthy with leaves, dirt, soil, soot, sweat and blood.
One of our men, a ferociousness man in splendid armor raised his voice to greet me.
"Ah, Shishou!"
Who was this?
I thought I knew who it was.
Who was this with his victim's blood in his hair?
There was damage all over his armor.
Even his glasses were smeared with blood.
"Zanoba?"
Zanoba is Zanoba.
He looked like a different person who looks exactly like Zanoba.
It was so much so that I wanted to complain.
I just couldn't make the connection between this man and Zanoba in my head.
"You are..."
When I approached the crowd split in two.
So I swallowed my words.
At Zanoba's feet was a kneeling figure.
This guy tied up in a net was also covered in mud.
It is a net that I recognize.
It is the magical item that I had lent to Zanoba.
"Thanks to Shishou, the surprise attack was a success, we caught the enemy's commander."
"Ah, ummm..."
The soldiers around the fort are praising the dozen or so muddy warriors.
The eyes they turn towards Zanoba are different than when we first came to the fort.
They are different from those eyes filled with suspicion.
They are eyes full of respect.
I mean, only ten men.
Why are there so few?
When they left there should have been almost 100.
"Um... where are the others?"
"They were killed. They died honorably in battle."
Oh, I see.
If you raid that huge army with 100 people it becomes like this.
But isn't it strange?
Wouldn't we have won this battle even without making this raid?
They shouldn't have had to make a desperate raid like that.
"Just what... did you win something from the raid that would be worth the lives of 90 men?"
"Of course we did. This person is a member of the enemy's royal family. If we negotiate with him as a hostage the war should end."
Oh, I see...
I get it.
Yeah.
I understand now.
If that's the case then the raid was necessary.
This put everything in perspective, this battle was a complete victory.
Zanaba created a victory with a desperate charge.
If you think about it, this may have been a worthy way to sacrifice 90 men.
It's a rather small sacrifice for ending a war.
No wait, I shouldn't be deceived.
This time we delivered a crippling blow to the enemy.
1000 or 2000.
Or even 3000.
Any commander with his head straight on isn't going to attack us anymore.
"I can't keep Shishou stuck in this fort too long. This was a fine success."
Smiling, Zanoba laughed.
It was that kind of thing.
I guess it isn't necessary that the enemy would be stopped by just this defeat.
There is the possibility that the enemies commander doesn't have a good head on his shoulders.
Even though we severely wounded them today, our enemy has the advantage in numbers.
Meanwhile, without Roxy or I, the fort could easily fall.
Neither of us can afford to stay here one or two years.
But with the capture of an enemy royal, once a cease fire agreement is signed, the war is over.
Having gotten a hold of someone from the leadership, we can finish this surely.
Without that guy's methods, this wouldn't have been possible.
For example, if I was in the enemy's fort...
No, even if Roxy hadn't helped me get over my hesitation and fear of killing, wouldn't things have still taken their course?
"Iya. However just as expected.
That saint ranked magic of Shishou and Roxy-dono...
In addition, this [casting net of overfishing].
I thought that I would be able to capture the enemy's commander eventually, but I did not expect it to go so well."
Anyway, under the cover of the mess created by Cumulonimbus, Zanoba successfully captured the enemy's head.
Like picking up a chestnut from the fire.
If you make a bet, you have to win it.
He created a method using Roxy and myself, while just barely scraping by, got the best results from this single large battle.
"Iya-haha, but there sure is a large difference between being inside that saint rank magic and seeing it from a distance!"
"Ah, uuuh, Yeah, that it is."
Suddenly a chill ran down my spine.
The range of Cumulonimbus is wide.
It's the kind of attack that will strike the enemy in a large scope.
That would mean...
"Ah, that is, Zanoba... did I hit your group with lightning?"
"Hmmm......"
Zanoba placed his hand on his chin and made a pose like he was thinking.
He said with a straight face, "Shishou... there are always sacrifices in war."
I was right.
Roxy and my lightning struck them.
We were safe in the fort.
Alternatively, they could have also been blown by the strong winds into our own pitfalls.
It might have been a guy I was eating my rice next to.
It might have been a guy Roxy had taught magic to.
Even though I didn't get very involved with the men, I notice that faces I had gotten used to seeing over the last several days were missing.
"And, those men's fate are the sole responsibility of the commander. Shishou, you shouldn't worry about it."
Even if you say that, I feel like I've done something irreparable.
"Shishou, you must be tired. Please rest well for the remainder of the day."
While saying that, Zanoba hit me lightly with a pop, and then gently patted my shoulder.
Then he took the prisoners and disappeared into the fort, while saying one thing or another to soldiers he passed.
I just stood there stunned.
Words would not come out anymore.