"An ambush at the border… How do we stop it?" The captain speaks up as he disperses the circle around me.

Look at him speaking as if he truly wishes to help.

Maybe he actually wants to.

After all, I mentioned how he was the first to be killed in my Divination/Vision.

He must now recognize that those warriors intend to double cross him, so it is in his best interest to ally himself with us.

At least for now.

'Just you wait! Once we get out of our immediate predicament, I'll expose you!' My thoughts echo with genuine emotion.

I am actually angry.

To think that the cause of my many deaths and failures was the captain I was trying so hard to protect.

How mortifying!

"First and foremost, we need to account for the sniper." I speak up, my words calm and my expression neutral.

"True. He sounds the most troublesome."

"The problem is that he is hidden. There could even be multiple of them, but I find that unlikely since the shots were fired one by one. Although they came in quick succession, it was always one at a time. The archer is likely very skilled, and he changes positions very frequently, which makes it extremely difficult to pin him down."

"Then the solution is simple. One of us should simply enter the wall of trees and attack him there." The captain retorts boldly. "I will go and flush him out!"

'You think I'll let you? Who knows what you could be planning…' I shoot a dark gleam at the captain.

As tempted as I am to point out his untrustworthiness, this isn't the place or time for that.

I'd be biting off more than I can chew by accusing the leader of all these Knights of being a spy.

It would backfire too spectacularly.

'I could even be accused of being a spy meant to sow discord and slow down our escape. This will be the perfect excuse to kill me.' I sigh and shake my head.

At that point, even Enryndal wouldn't be able to help me.

Thus, a different approach is needed.

And I have just the thing.

"I disagree, Captain. Your strength is required on the battlefield. We still need to protect the Emperor and what's left of the Imperial Family. Perhaps this brave Knight should be the one to go. He knows so much about the enemy's movements already, isn't that right?"

'Enryndal… you… you genius!'

I don't know if this man can read my thoughts, but he made the exact move I was going to before I could even speak.

Does that mean he is truly on my side? Maybe he also suspects the captain of being a spy.

If that's the case, then I have underestimated this man.

He is truly a legendary figure!

'Once this whole debacle is over, I should confide in him regarding my suspicions. We could work together so I can pass this Trial Scenario.'

I heave a sigh of relief and nod at Enryndal's words.

'I knew I was having too much bad luck for my First Apotheosis. But it turns out I had a stroke of luck with me all along.'

I should be able to find and eliminate the sniper with enough time. As long as the rest of the barbarians are handled by everyone else, we should secure victory.

It will still be a tough battle.

But we can win!

For sure!

***********

"For Kalakuta!!!"

The barbaric warriors shout and attack us in their hordes.

Since we are already prepared this time around, we immediately react to their noises and also ready our weapons.

The Knights are exhausted.

That much is unavoidable.

But we are in a much better position than before. For one, the captain didn't die from the arrows of light, and he is even properly defending against them.

He can hold his own and draw the attention of the sniper while I approach the target to eliminate them.

The commotion of the battle offers me a better camouflage than I expected, but even without it, I would have still been fine.

After all—

'Just as I suspected… they have Potions!' In my hand is an empty vial that previously contained a Grade 3 Potion.

It's a very rare and valuable item to these people, but to ensure our survival, they had no choice but to entrust it to me.

After ingesting it, the Potion takes quick effect and I become invisible.

No Trace Elements flow as well.

'Now they can't detect me at all, no matter how hard they try. The effects won't last very long, though.'

I have my unique digestion to thank as well as blame for my benefit and disadvantage.

Oh well!

I enter the wall of trees and quickly spot the sniper alongside a few more barbarian warriors.

It appears they are defending him.

'They've also encircled him, which will make it extremely difficult for me to bypass. Unless—'

A smirk forms on my face as I begin to walk around, ensuring I step into multiple positions as quickly as possible.

As long as it is in the immediate vicinity of the sniper, I make sure to step there at least once.

'Damn… the Potion is already wearing off!'

I hurriedly hide among the trees and watch my target fire the arrows of light from his glistening bow.

So that's the Armament.

The bow doesn't require any arrows, as it generates them from thin air due to its mystical properties.

Such a useful and effective weapon.

I want it!

"We're switching positions!"

Although the accent is rough, I still recognize the language as the same Nowearic tongue of the Grand Age of Unification.

'Looks like my chance has arrived!'

Once the sniper begins to move through the trees, I immediately activate Tracing and appear right behind him.

SWISH!

Not only do I slice his throat with my weapon, but I also tightly grab the bow and use Tracing once again.

I immediately disappear from the wall of trees, leaving shocked guards in my wake.

My line of vision changes, and I witness the battlefield once more as I stand at the fringe of the greenery.

However, what I am greeted with isn't an encouraging sight.

'W-what the—?!'

Once again, the captain is dead.

How did he die?!

This time it seems he was stabbed by blades in multiple positions. There are also multiple dead barbarian warriors around his corpse, which explains his cause of death.

He must have taken them down with him, but still… I expected more from him!

'Even if he was exhausted, he shouldn't have lost to mere soldiers. How incompetent can someone like this be?'

He had an Armament, for crying out loud.

Speaking of the Armament, where is it?

"B-brave Knight?!"

I hear Enryndal's voice call for me from behind one of the carriages, causing me to hurriedly move in that direction.

There, I find another terrible scene.

"I-I don't… I don't understand!" Enryndal groans, his body covered in slash marks as blood drips from his robe.

Lying in the ground is the deformed Tyrrion, already deceased.

Stuck between his chest is the captain's C Grade Armament—the sword.

"The captain… he suddenly… I don't understand! Please, Knight… help me… help me take this out!" Enryndal tries to pull the blade out, to no avail.

It is stuck.

The sword has been embedded deep within Tyrrion's chest, and even though the uncomposed Enryndal tries his best to pull it out, it is useless.

Even if he managed to do so, it's already too late, isn't it?

Tyrrion the Visionary… is dead.

"No! Not Master!" Enryndal howls, tears streaming down his face. "Why? How could this happen??"

The sudden outburst of emotions stuns me, especially since it is coming from someone like this.

But I am not too surprised.

These two had a close relationship, even in historical records.

It was written that Enryndal didn't leave his home for an entire month after Tyrrion's demise, and even kept mourning his death for a whole year.

He simply held deep respect and affection for his dear friend.

Now that Enryndal has been reduced to the level of a disciple, I can only imagine that the respect would run deeper than ever.

'But from the looks of things, the battle is nearly over. With this bow, even with the death of the captain, I can still turn the battle around.' I think to myself, trying to distract my mind from the current tragedy.

'It's possible to win!'

However, right as I have this thought, everything begins to blur and the world around me disappears.

Yet again… I am returned to the start of the Trial Scenario.

'I… failed?'

But how?

The situation wasn't as hopeless as in the previous turns. I was even close to victory.

'Could it be because of Tyrrion's death? Ciel did mention that there is one clear objective. If my hunch is right, then it should be tied to those two and preserving their lives.'

Why am I so sure?

Because… they are the only ones with names.

Not just names that I know of.

Names, period.

Throughout my turns, I haven't seen anyone else addressed by their names—not even me.

I have only heard of three names.

Enryndal.

Tyrrion.

Kalakuta.

These are named figures, so they must be central to the core objective of this Trial Scenario.

Everyone else is dispensable.

But not them.

'I should add the Emperor to the list… just to be safe.'

If this were a story, then Tyrrion and Enryndal can be labelled as the main characters. The antagonist is this Kalakuta person. And all of us are the supporting characters. But what about the grand objective?

Could it be… the Great Bridgeworks itself?

Right now, I can't say for sure.

All I know is that although I was closer than ever to victory, the last plan failed.

Tyrrion died.

He was killed by the captain, likely as a way to either bargain for his life or a way to spite the ones who betrayed him.

'Based on what I know, it should be the latter.'

It doesn't seem like those Kalakuta warriors want to kill Tyrrion and Enryndal.

No, they want them alive.

The Captain knew this, so he killed Tyrrion and almost killed Enryndal, but was stopped by the warriors before he could finish the job.

That man…

He is far more dangerous than I gave him credit for.

I need to be more careful when planning, and I have to make sure he isn't able to get anywhere close to those two.

But what can I do?

If I let things play out like last time, the outcome will be the same.

What should I change?

I can't let the captain go after the bow guy since he could rejoin his former allies and that could end badly for us.

The enemies have an Armament.

We can't give them another.

'I need to make sure he isn't able to make any moves while also taking away the bow from the opponents. Damn… and I was able to accomplish the latter before. If only that could translate to this reality… h-hold on!'

An idea suddenly lights up in my head, causing me to gasp instantly.

'W-what if—?!'

I look around me, my body shuddering at the realization.

'No way. Could that actually work? I haven't tried it before, but… it should be doable, right?'

I can't confirm it now, but… I should have a chance soon—when the arrows rain down on everyone.

I keep my gaze on the third carriage and smile at it.

Enryndal should start noticing me really soon.

This time, I don't bother to cast my blade to a safe area once the arrows are fired.

I don't think I need to anymore.

A wide grin forms on my face.

My eyes brighten in anticipation, and I feel my heart racing without pause.

I'm scared.

But also very excited.

'This is a gamble, but if it works… I'll be able to pass the coming hurdle this time!'

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