The Klavis Prince had no intention whatsoever of repeating the same failure from three years ago.
After sending a small group, including magicians, several days ahead to prepare, he and the remaining comrades ambushed several kilometers away from Bold.
“Your Highness, the sacrifices have departed Bold.”
At the report from the scout returning, the prince nodded with a firm expression.
After glancing at the others once more, he stood up with vigor.
The specific plan was as follows.
“Spill everything you’ve got, and I’ll spare your life! Hahaha!”
First, twenty people, including the prince, would pose as bandits and ambush the sacrifices.
The key was to use magic to create the illusion of being a much larger force.
Though this shabby disguise would be quickly seen through by anyone knowledgeable about magic, it was remarkably effective against ordinary people ignorant of magic.
“Try running away! Hahaha!”
Next, they deliberately loosened the encirclement to allow 150 people to escape in one direction.
The targets were civilians, not trained soldiers.
When encountering bandits, fleeing was the natural choice rather than resisting. Â
Nadja’s Mind Control was absolute but did not drive people completely mad.
Basic common sense and knowledge remained intact, but only Nadja’s words and actions were recognized as correct.
Three years ago, the prince, unaware of this fact, had tried to suppress them by force, resulting in a catastrophe where commoners, who had never even wielded weapons, rampaged like demons.
“Chase them! Don’t let a single one escape! Take whatever you want—kill and plunder at will!”
Matching the prince’s energetic act, the twenty comrades herded the people like sheep into one place.
Measuring the distance, the prince confirmed that all 150 had entered the trap and shouted loudly,  “Now!” Â
The ambushed magicians simultaneously cast their spells at his command.
From the pre-drawn Magic Circles, a powerful sleep mist gushed out, enveloping all 150 people instantly.
Sounds of people collapsing weakly came from all directions.
There was no meaningful resistance.
It did not take long before all 150, mind-controlled by Nadja, lost consciousness.
“Did we succeed…?”  Watching from a slight distance to avoid the sleep mist, the prince muttered in disbelief. Â
Soares, who had quietly approached, nodded slightly, “That was an excellent operation, Your Highness.” Â
“Is that so? Did we succeed? This time… no failures? No one killed, and no one died?”
Of course, it was not a complete success.
The Mind Control was still intact, and the magic-induced sleep would not last longer than two hours at most.
However, at least they had overcome the most critical hurdle for now.
“It’s all thanks to Your Highness’s decisive action.”
“Don’t flatter me. You opposed me until the end.”
“If not for me, who else could hold Your Highness’s reins?”
The prince, who had been silent and sullen, suddenly let out a small laugh.
After looking around once more, he spoke with relief,
“Good. Let’s start cleaning up. Quickly bind the people with ropes and load them onto the carts. Once we head south, the Mind Control will weaken. From now on, it’s a race against time.”
Twenty carts, forty horses, and powerful sleeping potions brewed from combined herbs—these were supplies gathered for the rebellion.
Yet no one here regretted their use.
With everything prepared, they started swiftly moving south.
***
“We succeeded. Th-Thank goodness.”  At Yuria’s report, Zion exhaled deeply in relief. Â
In contrast, Arcs’s expression froze.
“This isn’t good.”
“Why? But Your Highness’s plan succeeded.”
“Yes, it did. But you forgot the most important part. You left the Mind Control untouched.”
Arcs explained quickly.
“Let’s think this through, Zion. You’re a mind controller. You intend to achieve your goal without getting your hands dirty by controlling innocent civilians. But then some unknown people keep interfering with your plan. Would you just stand by and watch?”
“That’s… not right.”
“Exactly. Sister, are you saying Nadja probably set up some contingency Mind Control for situations like this?”
At Yuria’s sharp inference, Arcs nodded firmly, “That’s correct. Mind Control usually involves layering multiple suggestions to guard against interference. If Nadja, a Demon, were stupid enough not to know that, it would be fortunate. But in times like this, you must assume the worst.” Â
Understanding the situation, Zion’s face hardened.
He pressed his lips tightly and fell into thought for a while before finally looking at Yuria.
“Yuria, go to Your Highness. Watch the situation and come to me immediately if anything drastic happens.”
“And Zion? What will you do?”
“I…”
Zion’s gaze shifted to the materials gathered for making an artifact.
There was enough left for about two attempts.
“I’m going to make an artifact.”
He had to succeed within two tries.
“Understood. I’ll go then.”
Though her expression showed she had much to say, Yuria nodded at last and quickly left.
Like the past few days, Zion sat on the ground comfortably.
He began placing the materials before him one by one, then suddenly stopped moving.
‘Arcs…Â Â Wouldn’t Arcs be able to resolve this easily?’Â Â
Unconsciously, Zion looked up at her.
Their eyes met, and Arcs smiled knowingly.
Just as she was about to say something, Zion silently dropped his gaze.
‘I said I’d do this. Then I have to do it.’
He felt it would be different to rely on her at this point.
Of course, if things became truly dire—if someone’s life was at risk—he would cling to her without hesitation.
Until then, he wanted to try with his own strength.
‘Not relying on anyone now is both admirable and lonely. Maybe Frey felt the same way.’
Watching him, Arcs smiled warmly.
She had no intention of just standing by.
But from her perspective, it wasn’t yet too late to turn things around.
She planned to stay prepared and act whenever necessary, but for now, she would watch Zion’s challenge.
“Hoo…”  Zion let out a long sigh. Â
Now that he was about to begin, all kinds of thoughts flooded his mind.
If he failed, how could he face Arcs and Yuria?
What if he succeeded but failed to time it right?
Wouldn’t it be better to just quietly ask Arcs for help?
[Zion.] Frey’s voice echoed. Â
It was a voice he hadn’t heard in a long time.
For the past two weeks, Frey had deliberately minimized conversations, leaving Arcs to handle the situation.
[Do not fear failure.]
A natural statement.
At the same time, it was a difficult one.
If it were easy to simply decide not to fear failure, more than half of humanity’s conflicts would have disappeared.
[I believe in you. You’ve already had experience. Think back to when you defeated the Cocatrice.]
Though it felt like a long time ago, it had actually been only about three months.
‘Back then…!  Was I afraid facing an unbeatable enemy?  Did I tremble imagining what would happen if I failed?’ Â
‘No, I wasn’t.’
At that time, Zion’s mind wasn’t that complicated.
He had only thrown all his efforts into solving the problem in front of him.
And now, it was the same.
Slowly reaching out his hand, Zion began putting his full effort into the task.
***
Tonio Barenci, the woodworker of Bold, heard a sweet, enchanting voice calling him in the darkness.
That voice sounded sorrowful.
It blamed Tonio himself for failing to save her.
Startled, Tonio cried out, but the deep darkness swallowed his voice without a trace.
He wondered how he could convey the truth to her—that she was not at fault and only he was lacking.
The answer was simple: break through this darkness and escape.
“Oh, Lady Nadja, my mistress, my sovereign.”
With words of praise welling up from deep within, Tonio opened his eyes.
He was on a swiftly moving cart.
Though his arms and legs were bound with ropes, the fence was low enough to climb over even in that state.
Blinking several times to clear his foggy, misted vision, Tonio scanned his surroundings.
Many others were in a similar predicament.
One by one, they opened their eyes and quietly exchanged glances.
Tonio joined them.
At the next moment, they all nodded simultaneously.
“Lady Nadja, we are coming to you now.”  Tonio whispered softly and jumped out of the cart without hesitation. Â
A heavy thud sounded as something fell.
Soares, driving the carts, turned around and was shocked.
The people of Bold, who should have been quietly asleep due to magic, woke up far earlier than expected.
The heavy crash came from someone jumping out of a cart.
“Your Highness! The people are rioting…!”
“Stop the carts! Casualties could happen!”
Quickly assessing the situation, the Klavis Prince gave the order.
The twenty carts slowed abruptly.
But quite a few had already fallen out.
Those remaining on the carts were far from peaceful.
Some rubbed their bodies harshly against the wooden floor, ignoring their skin being torn trying to cut the ropes.
Others bit the ropes until their teeth were ragged.
“Damn it! Gather those who fell off and tend to the injured! I’ll untie the ropes!”
Fortunately, no one was in critical condition, but many had severe injuries like broken limbs.
Yet, their expressions showed no sign of pain.
Only pure desire bordering on madness burned in their eyes.
Once freed, they quieted as if they had never rioted.
Of course, this did not mean they listened to the prince.
The 150 sacrifices checked each other’s faces to ensure everyone was present, then, without a word to the prince’s party, began walking toward Jedo.
They did not wonder why they had been tightly bound and loaded onto carts.
For them, wasting time on such trivial matters was unthinkable.
Their urgent priority was to reach Nadja as quickly as possible.
Amidst the helpless companions, the prince quietly observed and said, “We must stop them.”  Â
“If we fail to capture them here, I won’t have the face to look at the people we’ve ignored until now!”
“Your Highness, there’s no way.”
“No! There must… must be something left. There has to be.”
He started strongly but ended with a hollow tone.
The prince himself knew there was no solution.
This was a plan hurriedly assembled in two weeks, lacking prior preparation, materials, and manpower.
If the plan did not succeed perfectly, if even one small thing went wrong, everything would collapse like a house of cards.
What supplies remained?
What manpower? Â
Based on that, were there any means to subdue them without killing?
All these words whirled confusedly in his mind.
There were only formulas but no answers.
He felt trapped in a dark cave.
“Must I throw myself into it?”
‘…Are you sane, Your Highness?’Â Â
“Don’t worry. I was just saying that. Don’t glare at me like that. Honestly, it’s scary that I can’t even joke because you’re so serious.”
“There are things one must say and things one must not say as one who stands above.”
The prince shrugged with a sullen look.
It wasn’t really a joke.
If he were certain that his sacrifice would improve the situation, he would risk himself without hesitation.
But he knew well the weight of his own life.
The value of his life, the sins he bore, were not light enough to be wasted here in vain.
“Um… Sorry to bother you during a busy time.” Suddenly, a strange voice interrupted. Â
Turning cautiously, they saw Yuria standing among them, smiling awkwardly as she shrugged her shoulders.
“I have something to report and wanted to check on the situation. No one has died yet, right?”
“There are quite a few severely injured, but none in critical condition. But… Yuria, you were supposed to stay with Zion, weren’t you?”
“Ah, yes, that’s right.”  Nodding, Yuria said brightly,  “You don’t have to worry anymore. Zion will be here soon.” Â
“…?”
The prince and Soares exchanged startled glances.