Chapter 204 - Eighth Story: New Tactics
Eleanor-sama's third training session finally increased in severity, and we were truly incorporated into the front lines of the Northeastern Forest conquest.
Fortunately, we weren't with the Eastern Plains Corps, who were going on the offensive, but were reinforcements for the Jaegers, whose mission was to maintain the battle line. However, Priest Williams was taken from us.
The western front is maintained by the Eastern Plains Jaegers, who have five bases lined up from north to south.
This time, we were incorporated into the middle unit. That spot alone was protruding toward the enemy side.
Last time, we were protecting the flank at a position slightly recessed behind the northernmost edge, but since Fiona won the duel with the cat, the location itself has been left alone. Just in case, the unit at the edge had been reinforced.
While everyone else is fighting with the frontline units, Flora and I are at a position slightly away from the camp.
The so-called rear.
"It's here. Front of the camp, second square. About twenty Orcs, two Cyclopes."
Flora is in the air ahead, riding in the bowl. Her role is to grasp the position of the monster packs and convey it to the Jaegers. Then, the Jaegers convey that content to me on the ground using hand signals. My role is to indicate that content on the map and convey it to the magic soldiers.
"Fire!"
With the signal, a jar was launched.
An OK signal came from the bowl Flora was riding in.
"The aim is good. Please continue as you are."
With a pop-pop sound, the five catapults lined up in a row fired in order from the front. Jars filled with holy water were launched one after another from the magic catapults made of hollowed-out logs, aiming at the monster packs.
Since the opponents are moving through the forest, they probably won't hit that often, but when they hit a tree, the jar breaks and holy water splashes around. The sudden attack with holy water will surely instill sufficient fear in the opponent. Of course, if it gets on their bodies, they'll be scorched.
By the way, the consecration of the holy water was done by the Headmistress, and the fee was apparently paid from the training expenses.
It was a feat only possible because we had both Flight Magic, the far-sighted Flora, and my [Sight]. Until now, it seems it could only be done when aiming from surrounding hills at wide wastelands or plains. That limits the terrain. It's impossible in flat forest areas.
Flora's vision is better than [Sight]. And when I, a priest, cast it on myself, the effect of [Sight] is greater than when casting it on other professions.
Eventually, when the Goblins, who have far-sight and night-vision, begin to truly excel as scouts, we will be able to launch preemptive attacks on monsters regardless of terrain or time of day. Paul-san and Robinson-san, who heard this story from Eleanor-sama, took the hands of Flora and me, who were acting as experimental subjects, and encouraged us.
After firing about ten shots in total, a signal to stop came from above.
After the Jaeger in the sky waved his hands broadly, he made a circle with both hands. It seems the enemy has retreated.
"Cease fire. The enemy has retreated."
"Ceeeeease fire!"
When the squad leader gave the command, the catapults stopped launching jars for the time being.
The two soldiers assigned to each catapult began carrying new jars.
"It seems you hit one Cyclops in the head and finished it off."
"Did everyone hear that? We finished off one Cyclops!"
Cheers rose from the soldiers carrying the jars.
"This kind of weapon wasn't deployed to the Jaeger units. After all, someone who can use [Wind Barrier] is required. High-level mages belonged to the Magic Corps of the central army."
"Were they deployed in conjunction with the inauguration of the Paratroop Jaegers?"
I conversed while making sure not to take my eyes off the bowl above the camp.
"That's right. Because they have to handle the bowls. While remaining in the Magic Corps, they were reassigned to each Jaeger unit in a dual role. They came specifically for this operation."
Since there are few people, the fact that they have to hold dual roles is the tough part.
The log-type magic catapults, which fire over relatively short distances, can be carried. Of course, without horses, it takes two or three people to carry them, but even so, because they are easier to transport compared to large bronze catapults, the Paratroop Jaegers will be able to take them when they infiltrate enemy territory.
Since the opponents are monsters this time, we're filling them with holy water, but normally they apparently fill them with oil, wrap them in straw, and set them on fire before launching.
In the future, they seem to be thinking about launching jars filled with gunpowder with the fuse lit.
A little while later, there was a signal from the aerial reconnaissance team.
"The monsters are moving to the right from our perspective."
The squad leader conveyed a move of one square to the right.
A signal to fire one shot came, and after firing one shot, they conveyed to wait as is.
Since it fell short, they're likely waiting for the enemy's advance.
While waiting for a while, the signal to fire came.
"It's time to fire."
"Fire!"
When the squad leader gave the command, they began launching the holy water jars in order from the left.
The signal to cease fire came. The enemy seems to have given up and withdrawn.
The base was similar to the simple camp we had made, only the size was different.
Since there was no point in dispersing the magic catapults, they were placed behind the center camp used for luring. Since Flora, who is far-sighted, and I, who learned the [Sight] magic, were placed there, the placement of everyone else seems to have been decided as well.
For now, when the monsters attack, we just launch jars to drive them away, so it's basically a shooting battle. A few Wyverns flew in, but they were shot down by an ultra-thick [Holy]. It was likely the Headmistress.
Since the Eastern Plains Corps is moving north, steadily attacking and even building simple forts, the monsters are placing their strength there and don't seem to attack this side much.
"Um, when we were at the edge, they attacked quite a bit..."
When I asked the squad leader, he replied that they attack the edges more.
It's apparently because it's better to bypass and get behind than to do a frontal attack.
Does that mean... were we suddenly thrown into a fierce spot?
"Hero Catherine was with you, wasn't she? I heard that person's simple barrier can't be breached by monsters D-rank or lower. You'd be fine even in the middle of a monster pack."
Apparently, it was set up from the start. Even if a pack of Wyverns had charged in, there was a way to escape.
"Then, is it easier this time?"
"During the day, yes. It's at night that they show their true colors. The real show is after the night deepens. The proof is that no Fenrirs have come, right?"
That's right. For the next week, they will continue to fight at this camp. The Eastern Plains Corps' front line succeeded in pushing up and linked with the Eastern Plains Jaegers' battle line. Now that the semi-encirclement is complete, the Eastern Plains Corps plans to advance in a way that closes the door toward the river and occupies the west side of the river all at once.
On the other hand, we can withdraw once we see tomorrow's dawn. We just have to work hard until then.
"Don't you use catapults in night battles?"
The monsters' offensive began before noon. It's already close to evening. At this rate, their magic will run out before nightfall.
"No, we use them. From now until late at night, we'll let the catapults rest. Until now was the first stage; from here is the second stage. You all will also enter the camp. Finish your dinner while you can."
I told Flora, had her come down, and after finishing dinner, we were sent to the camp by the bowl.
When we entered the camp, they welcomed us with cheers.
Although we were protruding to lure the enemy, because we had driven away the monsters that attacked sporadically with the holy water in jars, there was no damage.
"Thanks to you all, we were able to take it easy."
Everyone praised us one after another.
Because the monster attacks weren't a big deal, everyone had put effort into constructing the camp. It wasn't like the thing we made for the Goblin escape operation; it was authentic. Up to the point where it was surrounded by earthworks, moats, and wooden fences, it was the same, but the trees in front of the camp had been cleared over a fairly wide range. The cut trees were left as they were with branches and roots attached, but they were apparently cutting lumber from there to use for the construction of the camp.
Vertical moats were dug to the forest on the front left and right, and several trees with sharpened tips were planted, making it impossible to bypass to the left or right.
Anti-air ballistas were installed on two firmly solidified earthworks, protected by [Magic Reflection].
For some reason, several holes were dug within the camp. When I asked, it seemed that if Wyverns flew in, everyone would hide in the holes, and the anti-air ballistas and the Headmistress would shoot them down. Everyone was saying they probably wouldn't fly in for a while.
The second stage was without the log-type magic catapults. Since we had instilled a certain amount of fear in the first stage, I thought they wouldn't come anymore, but that wasn't the case.
Utilizing the daytime when the monsters' movements are sluggish, the Eastern Plains Corps advanced considerably. With the unit closest to the eastern river as a hinge, the westernmost unit advanced so that the door closed toward the river, and the southernmost unit of the Eastern Plains Jaegers shifted one spot to the north. To try and get behind the Eastern Plains Corps, they would attack here, which is protruding in front and is the biggest eyesore. The fort's unit commander said so.
While the four of us in the rearguard and the three scouts were scouting on the bowls operated by the Jaegers, Flora found them first. It seems the Orcs, without learning their lesson, have challenged us to a ground battle. Immediately, we informed our allies with [Light] magic.
The second stage of the battle began.
Did they think they were being targeted because the Cyclopes' heads were above the trees? There are no big ones. The Orc pack that broke through the area pursued by the log-type magic catapults began to run toward the camp. The camp is close; they closed the distance all at once.
They stopped once at the place where the trees had been cleared.
The three members of the Class of 175 in the vanguard, who had solidified themselves with Eleanor's Armor and Helmet and received support magic from the Headmistress, jumped out in front of the camp to act as decoys.
The Orcs fired arrows all at once, but I had cast support magic firmly to harden them. There's no way Orc arrows would get through.
The Orcs, losing their patience, charged.
Around the time the Orcs began fighting the three of them, we moved and defeated the Ogres Flora had found, making them unable to deploy magic defense. After that, we could do whatever we wanted.
The allies who received the [Light] signal deactivated Priest Williams's arrow protection and fired arrows all at once. We also fired a barrage of amplified magic from the bowls.
After defeating more than ten, the Orcs fled.
"That hurts! I'm not injured, though. It does hurt."
Matilda was pressing various parts of her body with both hands.
Taking advantage of the fact that blades wouldn't pass through, she had apparently stood directly in front of the opponent without defending at all, and without caring that they were attacking, she had just swung her hammer around.
In that regard, Beowulf and Will were fighting while properly defending. The opponents they defeated were on a different level, but if they hit something reasonably strong or big, it might be dangerous.
"If you don't defend properly, your bones will be done for if you hit something strong."
I cast amplified [Heal] on her. It's not just to take away the pain. It's because her bones might really be damaged.
"Sorry, sorry. Anyway, I heard that you won't get injured by the likes of Orcs. I just tried fighting without thinking as a test."
I can't believe she can laugh.
Since I'm casting the amplified version, she won't be taken down easily, but if there's pain, she won't be able to move her body well.
"It seems it's better to solidify your defense first. Gladys-sama taught me that."
Will, who had been all about attacking, has come to emphasize defense and has become able to put up a good fight against Katherine-sensei.
"Yeah, I know. But there's no one around using a hammer. There's no way to learn."
"The basic equipment of the guard includes a shield. Spears are also short and used with one hand. The only weapons used with both hands are bows."
Beowulf said that in the Nakanohara Guard, the only hammer user is Matilda from the workshop.
"Why a hammer? Isn't a sword okay?"
"Because I use it normally. I just can't bring myself to like cutting or thrusting with blades."
When Beatrix asked, she said she liked the hammer.
She's almost like a priest. Though, her fighting form looks more violent than a sword or spear.
"Is a mace no good?"
"A mace?"
When the Headmistress asked, she apparently didn't know.
A mace is a weapon that priests can use, and it's taught as part of staff techniques. In essence, it's a club.
"It's not as heavy as a hammer, but you can swing it faster because of that. The power is sufficient, and the church teaches it."
"Wait a moment," she said, and although she was wandering around, she apparently had a Jaeger pick out a suitable one. She brought a tree branch with a thick end.
"It's like this. There are metal ones too."
Saying so, she held the thick end toward Matilda.
"In essence, it's a priest's weapon, but unlike a staff, one end is heavy. Think of a mace as having a weight instead of the decorations on a khakkhara. The way to use it might be similar to a hammer."
She swung it around with a swish-swish.
The place you hold it is different from a staff. You hold a staff near the middle to utilize both ends, but she was holding the very end.
She swung it up over her head as it was.
"Beowulf, use that stick there as a substitute for a sword and strike at me."
Suddenly, a practice session began.
Opportunities to challenge Hero Catherine are rare.
By the time Beowulf braced herself with a shield and sword, a crowd had gathered.
As Beowulf closed in steadily and thrust her sword from the side of her shield, the Headmistress swung the mace down. Beowulf was struck at the base of her sword and dropped it. Or so Will told me.
"Beowulf, I'm sorry."
Beowulf was staring blankly at her empty right hand.
"This is how you use it. Do you understand?"
"Normally, you wouldn't hit it that accurately," a spectating Jaeger said in a low voice.
Next, Will challenged her, but she lost easily.
"Jeanne. You have the cat's stone, don't you? Want to try?"
"No, I'm fine."
Since the opponent was clearly too much for me, I politely declined.
"How about it, Matilda? Want to try?"
"That's amazing... Alright, I'm done with the hammer. I'll use a mace."
She switched over easily. Having such a brilliant example is, in a way, something to think about.
"When you return to Nakanohara, go to the church. It's one silver coin per session. Kevin, the church head's secretary, should be able to teach you. At first, it'll just be basic swinging, but even that's fine. First, learn how to parry."
Matilda gave an energetic reply.
"She'll probably practice until she's tattered for a while."
Beowulf said with a laugh.