Chapter 52 - Cave Defense Battle (2)
Marcelo and Emily ran past the rear of the struggling guard squad and headed toward the lookout point on the second floor, which also served as Robinson's private room.
They followed the three goblins acting as guides, who were running ahead of them with torches.
Marcelo thought the structure was indeed the same as the previous cave. Last time they were the attackers, but this time they were the ones being attacked. He hadn't imagined that the offense and defense would be reversed in just two days.
Robinson had said that making the two caves the same structure would make it easier to fight since they were used to it, and it actually made McBurn's tactical planning easier.
Going further in, there was a spiral staircase.
The two followed the goblins up the spiral staircase. The goblins seemed to be well-trained by Robinson; they placed one torch in the passage below and used the remaining two to illuminate the stairs so they could see well, ensuring the two didn't lose their footing.
After finishing the climb, the two smiled at the goblins and thanked them. The words probably didn't get through, but feelings are something that can be communicated. When they patted them on the shoulders, they were happy.
The goblins proceeded further in and disappeared into a narrow passage. This was to collapse the ceiling of the passage they had just run through and block the entry path to the room where the two were. After collapsing the ceiling, the goblins were scheduled to move to the Great Hall through narrow passages that only they could pass through.
Above the stairs was a large room.
He was surprised to see a crude bed on the floor, but I suppose it's natural if it's Robinson's private room. There were also a water jar, simple tableware on a small table, and even a fireplace. The room had a window, also made of stone within a frame, at chest height.
Waiting for dawn, they looked outside and saw the pack of Orcs at the cave entrance. The one who looked the most important would be the boss. Unlike the other Orcs, he was armed with not only a spear and shield but also armor and a helmet. The helmet even had feather decorations. Robinson had said that the goblins were also originally remnants of the Demon Lord's army. The pack of Orcs attacking this time must be the same.
Around the individual thought to be the boss, there were several Orcs, like staff officers, also heavily equipped.
For some reason, there was one Orc by the boss's side, whether following or fawning, who took a very humble attitude that even a human could see. He didn't have a weapon and looked somewhat shabby. He was clearly different from the other Orcs.
Shifting his gaze to the mountain slope on the opposite side, he saw the cliff the hunters had talked about. They had said to be careful because if archers were placed up there, the entrance would be completely visible. The Orcs didn't seem to have noticed, and no one was there.
After checking the water in the jar, Emily sprinkled salt and began some kind of incantation. She dipped her hand into the water while wearing the ring that was proof of being a priest. Next to her, Marcelo was lowering the quiver hanging from his waist and the leather bag slung across his back to the floor. The quiver contained twelve arrows with steel heads.
When the ritual ended and Emily pulled her ring out of the water, Marcelo thrust the leather bag into the water jar. After filling the bag with water and taking it out, he dipped the arrowheads into the water in the bag. Thus were completed the arrows of exorcism, their heads purified with holy water consecrated by Emily, a priest. Emily, a former hunter, would fire them. The effect would be equal to silver arrowheads. It's a specialty of Emily, the former hunter.
Leaning out of the window, Emily aimed an arrow at the unusually conspicuous, shabby-looking Orc and fired.
The Orc, whose throat was pierced, fell backward and died.
The Orc thought to be the boss was astonished and enraged to see his underling killed before his eyes. Looking in the direction the arrow flew from, he saw a human woman showing her face from a hole in the middle of the cliff.
He thought that she could have aimed at him at any time, but chose not to. That's what he believed.
From Emily's perspective, she just thought that arrowheads dipped in holy water, which is effective against monsters, wouldn't penetrate iron armor, but the Orc boss thought he was being provoked. He was shouting in a rage. In any case, this fulfilled the role of reducing the pressure on the main force. The enemy would send troops here too.
In the Great Hall, McBurn was writing down the movements of friend and foe onto a simple map of the cave drawn on parchment, based on Williams's [Skill: Sense Living] and the reconnaissance information from the goblins through Robinson. He was satisfied that the battle was unfolding largely as planned.
Catherine's magic is powerful, but its effect is limited if the opponent is dispersed in the forest. On the other hand, even if she let it loose in the narrow cave passages, the number of opponents she could defeat at once would be limited.
If the enemy were intimidated by the magnitude of the magic and surrounded them from a distance, there was a possibility they wouldn't be able to escape.
If they could gather the enemy in a place of appropriate size... for example, the Great Hall inside the cave... and deal devastating damage all at once, they could escape without any future worries.
To do that, they had to draw the enemy deep into the cave, even if it meant being prepared for some losses. That was McBurn's plan.
Beowulf returned, carrying a soldier.
The soldier being carried was bleeding from his head and had lost consciousness. Since his head didn't seem to be crushed, he would probably recover safely. As expected, if even the brain is damaged, even Catherine cannot heal it. It would have been dangerous without the leather helmet.
"What happened?"
"Orc stone-throwing. I caught it with my shield, but I couldn't kill the momentum."
McBurn was once again surprised by the strength of the Orcs' physical power. Instead of being deflected by the readied shield, the shield itself was knocked back.
It had backfired that they came with light equipment intended for agile goblins. He now regretted that they hadn't at least brought steel shields.
"I see. I'm glad his life isn't in danger. Have Bishop Catherine look at him."
Just then, the soldier who had been brought in first walked up slowly. He was dragging one leg slightly. He had been carried in covered in blood after facing an Orc head-on, but the healing magic must have worked. His spear and shield were lost, and his armor was full of rents. He was quite a sight, but he looked energetic.
"Are you okay already?"
"Yes. As expected of the Hero's recovery magic. I might be a bit short on blood, but I'm fine enough to move to the rear. I'll carry the wounded. Beowulf, inform the squad leader of the situation at the front."
"Don't push yourself."
"Thank you. I'll be fine."
When he rubbed the thigh of the leg he had been dragging, he took over from Beowulf, shouldered the wounded man, and walked toward the temporary hospital. He wasn't staggering. I decided to leave it to him.
"How is the situation at the front?"
"It seems the effect of magic is being dampened, so it's not easy, but we're managing. We're keeping our distance by blowing them away with Paul-san and Beatrix's magic, and attacking with arrows from Angus-san and the others. The guard squad is doing their best just to defend with shields and prevent the enemy from climbing the embankment with spears."
"I don't mind. Reduce their numbers while making them think they can win. Once we draw them in here, it's our victory."
"Yes. Then I'll return."
Just as McBurn nodded, the soldier from before returned after finishing the transport to the rear.
"I'm going to the front too. I don't have a weapon, but I can do stone-throwing and transport the wounded."
"Sorry. I'm counting on you."
"You got it! Alright, Beowulf. Let's go."
"Yes!"
I know he's pushing himself, but it's far better than having the healthy Beowulf come down every time someone gets injured.
Watching the two of them run toward the front, McBurn confirmed the movements of friend and foe with Priest Williams.
"The front line hasn't moved from the second point. Also, the goblins who went to collapse the ceiling will be back soon. Their movements are fast, so they should be safe."
"Thank you."
He said his thanks and then turned to Robinson.
"I'll count on you once the goblins are back."
"Understood. I'll give instructions so they do it well."
Saying "I'm counting on you," he looked down at the map.
If things go well, we can wipe out all the monsters without any loose ends. After all, Hero Catherine is here. All that's left is our own side's losses...
McBurn believed they wouldn't lose. Of course, a commander who doubts his own side's victory has no way of winning. All that's left is how they will win. He was thinking of how to minimize damage as much as possible, give the monsters despair and terror, and ensure the survivors wouldn't turn against them.