Ah, there might have been something like that.
During the audience I was thinking only of Hitogami's possible traps and the Death God.
Over the course of events there may have been something outside of my expectations which I missed.
Another head with different expectations may have been necessary.
That head may have been Roxy's.
Well, there is nothing I can do about what's already past.
"... Somewhere there will be a trap created by Hitogami."
"Hmmm, could it be that the trap is only in Orsted's imagination, and there is nothing?"
"We should assume the worst and move accordingly. It may be that, right now, there is an invisible noose drawing around our family."
The fact that Lara, who has become the savior, cried like that has made me nervous.
For now there is no sign of Hitogami, but we might just be missing it.
It could be anything.
"Well, it was a careless remark."
Roxy lowered her head apologetically. [2]
"If Pax summoned us here to spring a trap, then he won't announce anything, I think he's hiding something."
"For example...?"
"For example, this morning Ginger-san brought me some information."
"Oh?"
Although I haven't seen Ginger, she must be moving behind the scenes.
"Her report says that 500 soldiers are at Fort Karon."
"500?"
If only a number is told, I won't understand if that's too little or a lot.
By her way of speaking it sounds like that isn't much.
"The enemy force seems to number nearly 5000."
That's horrible.
If there is a difference of 10 times, there doesn't seem to be a chance of victory.
"Did you hear about that?"
"... No."
I didn't hear about that at all, I was only told to go.
"Ginger also told me this:
Prince Pax is keeping the forces protecting Fort Karon to a minimum,
The rumor is that in the background mercenaries are gathering for an ambush.
Did you hear anything about the strategy?"
"... No."
I had not heard any of that.
But, yeah, it would be possible to throw away Fort Karon.
On the outside he could be welcoming Zanoba, but his intention could be to use him and then throw him away.
While Zanoba holds the enemy at bay with his life, he would be able to consolidate his fighting force.
If I suppose that Pax thinks of Zanoba as a liability, then that would be killing two birds with one stone.
"In addition it could be that getting Rudy was the intention all along."
"Why do you say that?"
"I have never been to war myself, but I have read an account of a single Saint class magician who was able to hold off 1000 soldiers by themself."
Is there such a record?
A warrior worth a thousand men.
I had not really thought about the scale of Saint class magic.
"I am King ranked, Rudy is the equivalent of emperor rank. If it's the two of us, we should be able to hold a fort for a considerable amount of time."
Hmmm.
It might be difficult to annihilate a 5,000 strong force.
If it's me, though, and I come at the entire force with the intention of killing them...
But even just being there, the other side should know about it.
Information that a King and Emperor class magician are present should leak out somehow.
It would be the height of foolishness to just plunge into such a well defended fortress.
Or possibly, if an attack came...
Out of those 5000 soldiers there may be a considerable number of magicians.
If it is a full assault by such magicians, even someone Saint ranked could be overwhelmed and destroyed no matter how much more powerful they are.
No, in an all or nothing battle it would only take one good blow to be disabled.
"However there is a limit to magical power. Eventually you'll become exhausted."
I can't imagine running out of magic power myself, but while fighting fatigue will accumulate.
Magic power is also not infinite, it will decrease by the amount you use.
"If the Death God is sent to us when we are exhausted from battle... possibly that could be his aim. Do you think it seems like that kind of trap?"
"Ah, it's certainly possible."
"Also..."
Roxy raised her spoon between her fingers: the pose of a teacher.
"There are only three apostles?"
"Yes"
"The king of Kingdom of Dragon King making Pax king feels kind of forced. At this point it's kind of hard to tell whether an enemy attack is coming, isn't it? Rudy, who do you believe the apostles should be?"
Who would I make as the apostles...
Ah, the enemy nation!
Shirone is kind of like a vassal state to the KDK.
There would be a risk involved when invading.
A disenting opinion should appear in the country.
An apostle would be needed to push past that.
Perhaps a member of the royal family from the enemy country...
No, maybe someone like a general.
"While getting advice from Hitogami, bringing us to ruin reliably in a pincer attack with the Death God... surely."
Thanks to Roxy's insight, my thoughts were coming together.
There are two people with a high possibility of being Hitogami's apostles.
One is the king of Kingdom of Dragon King.
The other person should be an outstanding person from the group attacking Fort Karon.
As to the third person, I wonder who it could be?
In the Asura kingdom it was... Luke's turn.
To be honest, this casts some doubt onto Zanoba.
However from the talk yesterday he did not feel like an apostle.
Then there is Ginger.
Given their organization in the Asura Kingdom, the Death God is suspicious.
Or there is the possibility that it is the Princess who was beside Pax.
Until now Hitogami has not attacked with more then two pawns.
That is to say, if there are only two people this time then the other one is possibly moving towards the next goal in another location.
In other words, there is likely no third apostle here.
There are numerous possibilities.
The third apostle cannot be determined yet.
However the general identities of two apostles have been solidified.
Roxy is once again reliable.
"For argument's sake, what will you do if going to Fort Karon becomes like climbing into the lion's mouth?" [3]
"Well... for now I think it's important that we don't speculate too heavily about the other party."
"I strongly believe we should not go to Fort Karon."
But Zanoba is raring to go already.
He'll go even if we stay.
He'll go even by himself.
But Pax is sending Zanoba to a location with a mere 500 troops, with that knowledge I could try to persuade him.
Pax you are trying to kill Zanoba... You are heartless enough to say, [Even if you don't want to, go there even if you die.]
It is that you are going to use him and throw him away.
That reason alone will not stop Zanoba.
Zanoba will just set out with, [It is my duty to protect my country.]
In that case, if someone said to retreat during an enemy attack he would not just nod his head and listen.
Wait... If somehow the enemy is 5000, might that satisfy Zanoba?
While Fort Karon is holding out against the enemy Pax can gather more forces.
In other words, while Fort Karon is protected the country is stable.
I wonder if they are just pretending to defend the country.
".... We'll go to Fort Karon to save Zanoba."
"I understand."
"The problem is, there is still a trap."
Roxy made a bitter face when I said that.
For the time being I had better bring Mk-1.
I wonder if it is possible to beat it head on...
"Well there is some time before we go to Fort Karon. We can consider various things."
"Yes, Sensei."
Then, around the time we were finishing our conversation, a horse drawn carriage arrived carrying Zanoba.