Just as Leon had said, this was a war with a perfectly organized process.
Everything was within his expectations.
Naturally, Leon had no intention of intervening personally.
If he decided to act with his own hands, that war would end in an instant.
After all, this was merely a battlefield with a few thousand people.
He could exterminate everyone present with a single casually cast area-of-effect spell.
After obtaining the Heart of the God of Grass, Leon's magical power had become practically limitless, and his strength had increased absurdly once again.
Now, even a simple small fireball could transform into a miniature sun capable of melting enormous mountains.
A mere water cannon could evolve into a gigantic tidal wave capable of flooding entire cities.
A blade of wind could become a colossal tornado that swept away everything around it.
Leon had become a natural disaster in human form.
Calling him a god of elemental magic already seemed insufficient.
And if he used his exclusive spatial magic, Leon could even completely shatter the space of Britain itself and exile the entire island into dimensional cracks.
"It would be far too boring if I acted personally… and besides, my current status still isn't appropriate."
Leon rested his face against one hand as he watched the war in the distance.
"It's fine to support, sponsor, and manipulate things behind the scenes… but if I directly intervene in Britain's internal disputes, it would create unnecessary problems."
Leon calmly watched the thousands of soldiers who had already begun fighting in that thirteenth war.
At that moment, he was still merely a foreigner in name.
And those people were not yet his people.
If he acted directly, it would officially count as interfering in another nation's conflicts.
"So you're just going to let them kill each other like this?"
C.C. asked while delicately resting her chin on her hand.
Although she felt some pity for the soldiers fighting below, she honestly already viewed everything as a drama.
After all, both sides believed they were desperately fighting for victory…
But the outcome of that war had long since been determined.
The result had already been written in the script prepared by Leon.
That war was merely a necessary process to reach a predestined ending.
Everyone there was a prisoner of fate.
Puppets manipulated by Leon.
"No, of course we're not going to let everyone die after they've outlived their usefulness."
Leon shrugged as he replied.
"After all, we can't allow the opportunists waiting behind the scenes to reap the benefits."
"Too many deaths would also affect my future development."
It was impossible to allow the battle to continue until complete annihilation.
There were still many factions claiming neutrality while secretly observing the war greedily, waiting for both Mordred and Artoria to emerge weakened so they could harvest the fruits of the situation.
That was why this war was merely a process.
Once either side exceeded forty percent casualties, the battle would be halted.
And then the side with fewer losses would propose a duel between kings.
"Hmm? But why would the side with fewer losses propose a duel?"
"Hahaha… you'll understand later."
"All right… but will this really work?"
C.C. tilted her head slightly.
"That knight… Mordred, right? Although she seems absurdly strong in combat, honestly she doesn't look like she has any talent whatsoever for commanding troops."
Artoria and Mordred had the same face.
But their temperaments were completely different.
At first glance, Artoria looked like a calm, experienced, and rational commander.
Meanwhile, Mordred…
She looked like nothing more than an extremely impulsive mischievous child.
"It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter."
Leon smiled carelessly.
"I recently recruited an excellent strategist. So there won't be any problem."
Leon had always believed that talent was the most precious resource in the world.
A few days earlier, a girl named Sangonomiya Kokomi had come seeking refuge with his tribe.
Leon immediately discovered that the girl possessed extraordinary talent for military strategy.
So this war also served as a test.
If Kokomi delivered a satisfactory answer, Leon intended to properly train her before sending her to Esdeath's army to gain practical experience.
Since Mordred lacked talent for command…
They simply had to place command in the hands of someone competent.
After all, that was exactly what being at the top meant.
You didn't need to master every skill.
You only needed to place the right people in the right positions.
Leon: "Besides, although Mordred's side has fewer soldiers, their equipment and supplies are far superior. Combined with an excellent strategist… it would be strange if they lost."
C.C.: "As flawless as ever… honestly, your enemies are pitiful."
And exactly as Leon had predicted…
The war had barely begun…
…yet Artoria's army was already retreating continuously.
First, the enemy used attrition tactics to wear down Camelot's troops physically.
Then, the moment the soldiers became exhausted, they launched sudden offensives.
When Artoria ordered the formation of a solid defensive line…
The enemy immediately executed diversionary attacks, striking the east while advancing through the west, directly hitting the army's flanks.
After that, they sent cavalry around the enemy's rear.
They secretly attacked Artoria's already scarce supplies.
They stole everything.
From mashed potatoes to the last remaining provisions.
At one point, they even managed to separate Artoria from her subordinates.
She became completely isolated.
Then they closed the encirclement and unleashed Mordred directly into the middle of the battlefield.
The strategy was clear:
Capture the king first to defeat the entire army.
If Artoria had not been absurdly powerful individually, she might already have been defeated at that very moment.
Even so, although Mordred failed to capture her…
"…She managed to rip off Artoria's cape!"
The mischievous girl became so happy that she nearly flew from excitement.
She excitedly declared that she would sleep hugging that cape that very night.
In any case, even though the attempt to capture the king had failed, Camelot was already practically doomed.
Artoria: "…Report the damages."
Bedivere replied with a heavy expression:
"All supplies and provisions have been taken. The left wing suffered severe damage. Although the main force and right wing did not suffer as many losses, morale has fallen to its lowest point…"
"My king… this war may already be over."
Artoria let out a faint sigh.
Then she smiled bitterly in self-deprecation.
"I'm sorry… I disappointed all of you."
"It seems the myth of the Knight King's invincibility will be destroyed today."
Bedivere immediately tried to comfort her.
"My king, please do not say such things! We… still have a chance!"
Artoria remained silent for a few seconds.
Although there was still a chance…
She knew victory was no longer possible.
At best, perhaps they could achieve a draw.
But to Artoria…
A draw was equivalent to defeat.
And the knights who followed her probably felt the same.
After all, this was the first time an army led by the Knight King had been crushed in such a manner.
Artoria could not stop the bitter smile that appeared on her lips.
This was also the first time she had faced an opponent like this.
And naturally…
She was not talking about Mordred.
From her understanding of that girl, Mordred definitely did not possess the ability to command an army in such a way.
Artoria could clearly imagine that someone was helping Mordred behind the scenes.
And honestly…
She felt she had learned a great deal from those unexpected strategies.
The wars she had fought previously had never been this sophisticated.
In fact, it could even be said that her former enemies practically possessed no strategic competence whatsoever.
That was precisely why she had always been able to defeat them easily.
But now…
Artoria finally understood that there were always people beyond people and heavens beyond heavens.
She might dominate all of Britain.
But that did not mean she was invincible.
There would never be a shortage of geniuses in this world.
"…That said…"
Artoria slowly narrowed her eyes.
"I feel like something is wrong."
"As if we're overlooking an extremely important problem."
Bedivere was surprised.
"My king… perhaps you are overthinking things?"
"No."
Artoria slowly shook her head.
"It's merely intuition…"
"But my intuition is far too accurate. Accurate enough that I hate it."
Bedivere fell silent for a moment.
Then his expression also became serious.
After all…
The Knight King's intuition was practically a supernatural ability.
Artoria then murmured quietly:
"What exactly… is wrong?"
(End of Chapter)