Chapter 18 - The Beginning of the Battle
That night, we ended up staying in a five-person room reserved for female soldiers. It seems there are ten female soldiers in the entire guard unit, and two rooms are allocated for them; this was one of them.
The beds consisted of two bunk beds on the side opposite the window and a single bed by the window.
In the middle of the room was a table, six chairs, a long bench for four, and a fireplace in preparation for winter. The toilets and baths were communal, but it was spacious enough, and for me, who only knew life in an orphanage, it was quite comfortable.
Tonight, the five of us—the three of us from the Class of 175, plus our acquaintances Bridget-san and Angelica-san—were together.
Angelica-san had regained some energy now that her brother Albert-san's honor had been restored, and she began to show a smile little by little.
The black stone ring had been removed.
She apologized, saying "I'm sorry for lying," and when I asked what she meant, it was about having kept quiet about being able to use high-level magic.
She had sealed it, leaving only the intermediate magic necessary to maintain the magic tool shop her brother left behind.
In particular, Marcelo-san had kept quiet even about the basic spells Holy and Heal, despite being able to use high-level holy magic. The last magic he used toward Albert-san was holy magic. It seems that using holy magic had left him with psychological damage, and he had voluntarily sealed all of his holy magic.
As it turned out, he had released the soul of the manipulated Albert-san with holy magic. Since that was understood, he decided to use it without issue.
When I said, "It's fine since you're not a member of the Class of 175," she tilted her head, but she laughed when I explained. I was happy to see Angelica-san's smile return.
Beatrix seemed to have known that the black stone ring was a Magic-Sealing Ring and had suspected something was up.
"Isn't it great that it's resolved?" she rejoiced.
Since a contract had been exchanged, it seemed my scroll-making could continue as before. From now on, I would apparently be making scrolls for higher-level magic as well.
Bridget-san was a veteran in her fifth year, and there had apparently been talk of recommending her to the Kingdom's Army if she so desired. She was torn between choosing her current boyfriend or the recommendation to the Kingdom's Army. However, even if she were incorporated into the Kingdom's Army, she would initially be assigned to a unit stationed in Nakanohara, so it probably wasn't that serious.
Despite it being after lights out, while we were talking about such things, the door to the room was suddenly pounded violently with shouts of "Wake up, wake up!"
"So noisy! Don't you know how to wake a lady? You won't be popular like that!"
Bridget-san cursed loudly, but the unpopular man shouted back from the other side of the door without backing down.
"This is no time for jokes! Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"
He then ran off with a clatter.
Startled, Bridget-san's face went pale as she grabbed the sword placed by her pillow and leaped from the bed she had been lying on. Then, she pulled the chainmail on the table over her head. Beowulf did the same.
Beatrix and I, who were on the top bunks, hurriedly climbed down and put on our Black-Purple gear and neck guards, but we had nothing to do and just paced around the room.
Once the five of us were ready and led by Bridget-san to Hans-san's location, everyone had gathered. The bells of the church and the guard station's bell tower were ringing.
"It seems a massive army of Revenants is descending on the town. They're trying to enter the town through the church's backyard and the main gate. The priests will hold them off at the church, but they're few in number. Five of you, go as reinforcements. The rest, come with me to the front of the main gate. Paul-san, Marcelo, Angelica, you come too. Class of 175, standby here. Beowulf, you too. You'll be acting as messengers. Soon, the vigilantes will gather here, so split up and tell them to guide the townspeople to the Kingdom's Army camp. Once that's done, come report to me. Understood?"
As everyone responded to Hans-san's instructions and began to move, my mind went completely blank.
While I was waiting in a half-dazed state in front of the guard station for the vigilantes who were supposed to gather, Owen-san, the owner of the Bird's Head Tavern, arrived wearing chainmail. In his right hand, he held a dangerous-looking weapon that looked like a meat cleaver attached to the end of a thick pole.
He is indeed the captain of the vigilante corps. The vigilantes cooperate with the military for free only for the defense of the town. Since the military actively cooperates in the town's reconstruction during disasters, it also includes the meaning of a return favor.
The members are all adult townspeople not belonging to the military. Of course, not everyone fights with weapons. There are many things to do, such as rescuing the injured and distributing food.
"An enemy attack, I hear. Which country?"
When asked so suddenly, my head wouldn't work, so Beowulf answered for me.
"The ones attacking are Revenants. Numbers unknown. Priests are holding them off at the church's backyard gate, and the guards are holding them off at the main gate."
Owen-san was speechless. Not because he was terrified. It was likely because he understood they were opponents he couldn't defeat with his weapon. He clicked his tongue in annoyance.
"What should we do?"
"Acting Captain Hans says he wants the vigilante corps to split up and guide the townspeople to the Kingdom's Army camp. We're counting on you."
"Understood. The district heads will be gathering soon. Leave it to me."
While Beowulf was explaining, people holding various weapons gathered in swarms. Everyone had their own equipment.
"Is the enemy from the south?"
The south probably refers to the Kingdom of Engrio, which we were at war with until three years ago.
The one who asked was the owner of the bathhouse. Due to his job, he can use water and fire attribute magic.
"Tell me the enemy's numbers. Are we going to hold the castle?"
The owner of the tavern I always go to brought a spear.
"Don't we need to bring out the catapults?"
Someone I didn't know said.
"The enemy's position is too close to use catapults," Beowulf answered, and the person struck their sword and shield together, saying, "Then it's hand-to-hand combat."
Everyone was full of fighting spirit.
Even though daily life is peaceful, does it become this different?
"Quiet, quiet!" Owen-san shouted at the top of his lungs, explaining the details he heard from Beowulf to everyone. What surprised me was that he immediately began giving detailed instructions afterward.
"The opponents are said to be Revenants."
Everyone was surprised, but they listened without saying anything unnecessary.
"We have to split up and evacuate the townspeople to the Kingdom's Army camp. Go through each district and take them there. Don't worry about water and food, as they're at the camp. Since it's summer, only bring a change of undergarments. If there are those who can't walk, carry them bed and all. Don't forget to have the doctors from the clinic come too. Since the opponents are Revenants, our job is town security. Once the evacuation is finished, patrol the town by district. That is all."
When Owen-san's explanation ended, the gathered people ran off in all directions, shouting "Evacuation! Evacuation!"
"Since the opponent is what it is, we might not be of much help for now. However, leave the townspeople to us and have the guards handle the gate defense. They might break in and it could become urban warfare. We'll line up wagons in the square in front of the church to make a field fortification. Tell Hans that."
I could only nod in sheer amazement.
"Don't worry. Even if we're not an army, even without a commander, we can fight. That's how we've protected this town. On the name of the Nakanohara Vigilante Corps founded by the first King, we won't hand this town over to some Revenant-user."
Owen-san said so and smiled at me.