-Screech.
The wooden speedboat stopped with a noise of twisting hull. At the edge of this barren glacier, without even a harbor or ferry dock, a Droan sailor who had been rowing turned to Ivan.
"We've arrived, sir."
The Droan people were quite respectful to him. It was natural since no one had survived after competing with Einarr and his men throughout history. They revered Ivan.
Ivan silently looked around at his companions. Though their complexions were somewhat pale from suddenly being dropped in a cold region, he saw nothing unusual about them.
Even Isabelle, who knew she was going to kill her own father, maintained a composed expression.
Ivan nodded and said to the sailor.
"Would you give me your helmet and armor?"
"Pardon?"
"Put the cost on Einarr's tab. When you return to your homeland, you may use the best weapons Einarr possesses."
"...That's not necessary, sir."
The Droan sailor shook his head and rushed to gather the armor. Perhaps because he had requested it from the sailor whose build most resembled Ivan's, the Droan-style armor fit well despite feeling awkward.
After pressing the shoulder plate clasps shut and taking the helmet, Ivan gave a light bow. The sailor wore a happy expression despite his face being pale from the cold.
"It would be my honor if my armor helps you on your journey, sir."
"Thank you."
"I mean it. If I've provided weapons for the Hero's battle, it will become a song passed down through generations of my bloodline."
All Droan men are warriors. They enjoyed heroic tales and epics. It seems he believed that being able to help Ivan, who was heading toward a battlefield where the Demon King and the Seven Dragon Generals were rampaging, was like writing his name in a corner of a Droan heroic tale.
Weapons were not cheap, so this was like a great favor. But it wasn't a favor without compensation. They must be hoping for a heroic tale. An epic of heroes who saved the world.
Not to fail, not to be defeated, and ultimately not to die and fall—that was the price they calculated. Ivan nodded heavily to express his gratitude and moved to the bow.
-Click.
As he pressed down the helmet, the sound of the harsh northern wind hummed along the visor's metal plate. This is why he doesn't prefer helmets. Because they restrict hearing and vision.
He briefly addressed his companions.
"We depart now."
His companions followed him without much response. As everyone lightly stepped onto the ice after jumping from the bow, the sailors shouted from the speedboat deck.
"Good luck!"
"Good luck to the Hero Party!!"
Soon the sailors departed without waiting for a reply. They probably wanted to reach their destination as quickly as possible to participate in the war, as Droan forces would also be advancing beyond the front lines by now.
With even the sailors gone, only the group remained on the desolate ice sheet. Ivan walked on in silence for a while.
"Go ask him."
"Me...?"
"You're the closest to him!"
"Weren't you all the ones who wanted to get close to my brother?"
Yu-jin grumbled in response to Isabelle and Yu-ri's words. After glancing at Ivan's back as he walked silently, Yu-jin sighed and joined him.
"Brother, aren't you going to give us tactical instructions?"
"I should."
From under the helmet came a voice like someone awakening from deep contemplation. Only then did Ivan stop walking and take a deep breath.
"I apologize. I had some things to think about."
"Is there some problem...?"
"Everything."
Ivan looked back. His companions, who had been hanging back due to the heavy atmosphere, were now approaching closer while looking at him.
This would disqualify him as a scout. What kind of scout makes the main force retreat?
Elizabeta, and his child whose gender he still didn't know, Maximillian's objective, the burned northern Krasilov, the marching route of the demon forces, the chances of success even if the withdrawal operation succeeded, and also... the future.
The future.
He rolled that heavy word around in his mouth once. Future, a dark and gloomy word. Both objectively and subjectively.
What would be the extent of Krasilov's losses in this battle? They would lose the entire northern territory and more than 70% of their total forces. Although most other dynasties are currently weak, Krasilov's losses will certainly become widely known throughout the United Kingdoms.
Krasilov's foreign policy had always been the same. Rule through fear. They maintained their national body by extorting scarce resources based on powerful military strength and highly systematized administrative power.
If such a country loses its military power, could it really... maintain the territories of previous generations? Elizabeta might be able to devise some means, but Ivan, who was nearly ignorant in politics and diplomacy, couldn't easily predict.
And also, mixing in subjectivity.
The emotional pain Elizabeta must have experienced from this war. Having to choose to let half of this country, which she had protected by cutting away all her own rights, luxuries, and desires for pleasure, burn.
Would she be alright? Although Elizabeta was a powerful superhuman, even superhumans don't have infinite souls.
And another future.
Would a future be given to him even if all operations succeeded? Even if he defeated Maximillian, the divine curse, the divine power would burn his soul alive.
Moreover, this is merely the most hopeful future. In case of defeat, he would literally, literally lose everything.
He had been lost in these burdensome thoughts, forgetting his role. This was close to disqualification as an agent.
"I apologize."
"No, brother. Are you really alright?"
"I have to be."
Ivan briefly replied and turned to his gathered companions.
"I'll now assign roles and brief you on our mission objectives. If you have questions, ask after the briefing is complete."
"Yes!"
Almost simultaneously with Isabelle's answer, Ivan's words continued heavily.
"Yu-ri. You'll walk with me. You'll give directional instructions, and I'll handle all combat situations that arise. The rest of you will follow behind while minimizing casualties."
"Uh...? B-but..."
"Questions later. Again, we're heading south to the northern front. We're currently at the boundary between the open sea and demon territory, and if we enter the demon territory and start heading south, we'll reach Andgrund. We won't stop until we pass through the Great Gate and make contact with Krasilov's 2nd Corps. It won't be an easy journey, but you can do it."
Ivan carefully examined each member of his group.
They can do it. For this moment, for this very moment when they need to attempt a deep penetration in the middle of enemy territory, they've been training for the past few years.
Ivan had helped them with combat training several times. But conversely, that meant he hadn't taught them much else.
What they needed to learn wasn't combat techniques. Developing their talents was something they had to do themselves.
In Tilles, in Kalion, in the Six Southern Nations, and in Droan, Ivan taught them only one thing: "marching." He taught them the patience and physical strength to run for days straight while breaking through the middle of enemy territory even in extreme situations.
That would certainly be the most necessary virtue at this moment.
"Assuming the situation began right after we headed to Droan, we're at least two weeks, at most 20 days behind. At this point, when Krasilov's retreat is becoming certain, from now on..."
Ivan looked up at the cloudy night sky where a snowstorm was raging. The east was far away. It would be a long night.
"We'll turn the two weeks we're behind into ten days, ten days into five days, and five days into one day."
With minimal rest, and with Ivan alone handling all combat to preserve everyone's strength as much as possible, they would penetrate through demon territory, pass through the northern front likely occupied by demon forces, and then head further south.
They must pass through the entire northern territory of Krasilov and run toward the great plains spread across the central region of Krasilov to the south.
They must make Karpinsk or Zversk, this country's only breadbasket region, their battlefield. A land where Elizabeta couldn't retreat further even if she wanted to.
No matter how precious the people of the northern territories are, objectively speaking, that area is little more than a wasteland. It's a region with negligible production and income.
But the great plains of central Krasilov are this country's only breadbasket and the final line of defense just north of Pritzenkaya. It's the second largest city with a huge population, and if it falls, Krasilov will completely lose its ability to recover.
If there is to be a final battle, it must be here. A land that cannot be lost under any circumstances, and a land that, if occupied, would allow the demon army to devour all of humanity without resistance. The eyes of both the demon army and the United Kingdoms will converge on this battlefield.
"What about going underground? If the main force moved, they surely used underground tunnels like last time."
"We can't find our way underground."
It would certainly be a comfortable and fast route, but Ivan couldn't fully grasp the paths of the dwarf underground tunnels. That was a skill only dwarves could master.
While ancient dwarf cities might be recognizable, recently excavated tunnels couldn't be distinguished by the naked eye. Moreover, how many broken tunnels would there be if they were hastily excavated, and how many tunnels would have been blocked during the retreat?
There was no time to wander in the underground labyrinth. But on the surface of Krasilov, even the tiniest stream was clearly mapped in his mind.
He had memorized every region of this country down to tactical map units.
"This isn't a question of whether we can or cannot. It's something we must accomplish. Unlike before, we won't have the luxury of supporting those who fall behind."
"That's a relief!"
Isabelle answered with a grin.
"Honestly, when you arranged the party like this and we crossed over to Droan, I was a bit worried. Isn't our combat power too concentrated?"
Isabelle, Asidis, Yu-ri, Yu-jin. Among them, two competed for top position in the Knight Department, Yu-jin was strong enough to fight and win against knights, and Asidis had always had physical strength no less than many Droan warriors.
As a party composition, it was a 4-person team without a mage or priest (Yu-jin is no longer a priest). With Ivan added, the group's composition was bizarrely specialized for close combat.
Therefore, there was no need to worry about falling behind during the march.
As the companions met Isabelle's gaze and nodded with smiles, Ivan watched them for a moment with mixed feelings.
None of them are like the Hero Party of the past.
Isabelle can't be compared to Maximillian, and Asidis can't fight like Einarr. Though not present here, it's difficult to compare Elfihera with Beolgreen, and Lucia also falls short compared to Enrique. Even Oskar, who was the most excellent, might be merely a knight-attendant compared to Gil Ber.
But individual strength isn't important. They had to bear this burden at an overwhelmingly younger age than the Hero Party. They had to be rushed to the battlefield without sufficient time or circumstances to make them stronger, running frantically to get here.
So their weakness isn't their flaw.
It's just this era, this situation driving them. Among their peers, their generation, they are clearly the young people with the greatest qualities and talents.
But in Ivan's eyes, he now saw the image of the Hero Party.
Beyond strength and weakness, that shining will. That appearance of smiling and nodding despite trials and hardships. That attitude of being able to stand up again, take up weapons, and walk proudly forward despite facing events close to ordeals over the past two years.
-A hero doesn't mean the strongest person.
-The most courageous person.
-It means someone who can smile and move forward at any moment.
Ivan recalled Maximillian's voice from long ago. He remembered the smile of the young man wrapping bandages around his wounded forearm under the bonfire.
He recalled the man who split the dark night sky searching for starlight.
"You are... magnificent."
He struggled to finish his words. Soon he nodded and turned around. The group once again followed Ivan's back as they had at first.
If the lacking part is combat power, he can solve that. But if the lacking part is will, there's no way to solve that. Now they have proven their own role by not stopping.
So now it was Ivan's turn to prove his role.
An excellent scout doesn't find paths. They "break through" paths. Ivan gripped the axe handle and walked into the dense forest of the demon realm.
Fortunately, the geography of this place was as clear as if it were in his hand. It was because he had done this before.
Breaking through enemy territory without allies, crossing through the demon army's forces, facing the Seven Dragon Generals.
He had done it all before. A truly excellent agent doesn't struggle with things they've experienced once.
Facing a hero and facing the Demon King. Those two things he hadn't tried yet.
However, an excellent agent doesn't fear making the first attempt. Fortunately, as a trained agent, he was quick to learn.