kscans

Chapter 633 - First Story: Exterminating Engrio's Ants ⑪

The reply to the report Will sent to Eleanor-sama only said to protect the crossing point. We didn't know where the Demon Race woman was, or even what happened to the base attacked by ants. It looked like a scribbled note, so she might be in the middle of a battle.

"Well, what are we going to do?"

Harris-sama asked Wilson-san.

"We'll ambush them with the whole fortress. We'll just wait here."

"Well, I guess that's all we can do."

In the end, we decided on our posts and waited. Our post was in front of the main gate so we could set out in the bowl at any time. Only Harris-sama, the Magic Reflection personnel, was different; he was at the manor with the commander. It was decided that he would recast it on the soldiers who came for patrol at each shift. Those soldiers seemed to have steeled themselves, and they all felt calm and reliable.

However, despite the preparations, nothing came no matter how long we waited. The sun has tilted considerably.

"Tch, they're not coming."

The soldiers who had been patrolling with tense faces also became a bit impatient. For soldiers who had prepared themselves after hearing that a quite powerful Demon Race member was coming, the wait was too long.

"Jeanne, can't you see anything even if you zoom in with Sight?"

"It's too far, so it's impossible. However, since no smoke is rising, I think things might be okay."

I don't know if fire would rise when a fortress falls like in a human war, but it's better than having something unusual happen.

"It might become night like this."

At Will's words, I remembered the critical moment after all this time. Since it's the beginning of August now, it's close to a new moon. The monsters' blood won't boil, but it's at night that monsters act. If they attack after the sun goes down, it'll be a battle in a situation where even scouts can't easily see.

"It's better to take turns resting while we can."

It'll be an all-night battle. When I heard Wilson-san's words, I somehow thought so.

When night fell, the howling of Fenrirs could be heard. I thought we had finished them all off, but I was too naive. We've lit bonfires at key points. From a distance, they'd be good targets. That said, we can't put out the bonfires. Allies wouldn't be able to distinguish each other.

"There might be close to ten Fenrirs. From what I can see, the entire swarm is about two thousand at most. There are also more than ten big ones."

I can't see anything. This is unique to Wilson-san, who can see through the darkness.

Fenrirs don't have just one specific individual howling; each one howls in turn. Since the cry, tone, sense of distance, and the interval between cries are subtly different, you can tell the approximate number of individuals. However, I was taught by three wind users I teamed up with during my time in the Eastern Plains Jaegers that about half of the individuals don't howl, so it's better to think of it as double the number of individuals you distinguished by listening.

Tonight it sounds like about five or six are howling, so Wilson-san must have judged there were ten in total. However, if the total number of monsters reaches thousands or tens of thousands, it's a different story, and in that case, the way they howl apparently changes again. It's a large swarm, or rather a unit by that point, but in that case, they supposedly don't howl while approaching.

"The swarm during the day might have been a reconnaissance-in-force to gauge our strength."

During the day, we repelled over a thousand without letting them near the fortress, but they might have thought they could take it with double that, two thousand, at night. If they were hiding them with Camouflage, there might be others as well. The difference in strength would be dozens of times in terms of individual count alone.

The interval between howls gradually shortened, and finally, they could no longer be heard. They're coming soon.

As for our stance, almost all the fortress soldiers are heavy infantry, but since they're a fortress defense force, everyone can use bows. Until it becomes close combat, everyone will have bows, and when the opponent gets close, they'll use hand spears. Since earth has been piled up on the inside of the main gate, it's effectively an unopenable gate. However, since the outer wall is the same height as a single-story building, Fenrirs and big ones will likely climb over. Anticipating that, everyone except for a few people is on the outer wall or the roof of a building. The infirmary centered around Harris-sama is also being held on the southern outer wall facing the river... that is, in the open air. It'll be a battle of top versus bottom against the Orcs. There are four magic soldiers, but since they're two mid-level mages and two primary-level mages, we decided to have them focus on magic defense and give up on attacking.

"Commander. Shall we start?"

"Understood."

Receiving Wilson-san's words, the commander raised his right hand. When he swung it forward, the prized catapult moved with a clunk. The distance had been adjusted while there was still daylight. They were flying round stones about the size that two people could lift. Since they would roll and deal damage even if they fell in front of the enemy, it was apparently fine as long as they didn't overshoot. This time, what flew through the air with a swish was a barrel with a lit fuse. It seemed to be something prepared for when the Demon Lord's army attacked. I wondered what would happen, and then an explosion echoed. From the position of the sound, did it explode in mid-air?

"They're doing quite well."

Wilson-san was praising them, but I couldn't see anything at all.

"Did they aim for that?"

"Yes. When it bursts at a good height like that, the effect is great."

"What did they put in that? Arrowheads?"

"Yes. Ideally, it would be silver, but here, iron arrowheads are the best we can do."

"No, having that much effect is enough."

"I am honored by your praise."

From what I heard, it seems they put arrowheads in the barrel along with gunpowder and scattered them at the same time as the explosion. Since there's still distance, I don't know for sure, but they seem to have dealt considerable damage. I mean, if something like that were done to you, it would be quite a blow mentally.

"After firing two or three more, it would be better to correct the distance."

"Yes. At that time, we'll change to round stones and roll them."

"Umu. Well then, shall we set out too?"

"Yes!"

For us, setting out at night is also convenient. Wilson-san can do various things under the cover of darkness. There's still time based on the distance from which the catapult can attack. We'll use that interval to settle things with the big ones.

Two more barrels exploded. The commander instructed the change to round stones, and the Wind Barrier that Wilson-san had deployed over the catapult just in case was deactivated. Finally, just as we were about to board the bowl and set out.

"They're here! Alert! Above!"

Wilson-san said that and immediately there was a roar, and lightning struck the watchtower at the northwest corner. The ballista was targeted. Screams went up, and the two soldiers stationed there collapsed. The ballista seemed to be fine. Everyone ducked at once.

"Another shot is coming!"

The second shot targeted the catapult. This one also had screams, and five people collapsed. However, the catapult was also fine.

"Don't go playing dead!"

A voice rained down from above. It seems we've been found out.

Before the sun went down, I cast double Defend and Shield. After making them tough, I cast Magic Reflection. Generally, if they huddle together, I can cast it on about ten people at once. The four corner watchtowers had it cast on each location. It's a feat possible because the number of people is small. Since the first shot would likely be lightning, we tried to at least endure the first shot. However, humans can act, but catapults and ballistae can't act. As expected, she noticed. Was it too much to ask?

Those who were playing dead got up with a "good grief."

In that case, it can't be helped.

"Above the manor. About the third floor."

Wilson-san told us the location.

"Light!"

I fired it from the tip of my staff. I fired it in a semi-circle to make sure there were as few gaps as possible.

"Is that all!"

She looked dazzled for a moment and held up her shield, but that was it. It seems she learned that she just shouldn't look directly at it. Of course, that's because I held back, and she's being overconfident.

The ballistae fired arrows all at once.

"Hmph! As if those would hit."

She ascended smoothly and dodged the arrows.

As expected of the Demon Race, she saw through them even in the darkness.

This time the allied archers fired arrows all at once. Since they made the attack range wide, she vanished, perhaps having used Teleport. This was as planned.

"Let's go!"

It was a rapid ascent under the cover of darkness. I used a Camouflage scroll on the way and cast Magic Reflection. Since it was in the dark, even our allies shouldn't be able to see us. We turned at high speed and headed back over the fortress.

"There she is, in front of the main gate."

Just as I thought. She came targeting me. The commander is doing his best to swing his spear, but it's being easily blocked by the shield.

"Where is that priestess!"

The Demon Race woman shouted. She had lost sight of our position due to the Teleport she herself had activated. Serves her right.

We charged in there all at once.

As we brushed past at high speed, Will swung her silver sword.

GYARIN!

Sparks flew. Was it blocked by the black sword?

"Guaaa!"

The Demon Race woman, illuminated by the bonfire, tumbled. The swing at that speed was able to slash her right shoulder as if pushing the opponent's sword in with pressure.

The commander tried to follow up with a spear thrust, but she vanished at the same time as she deflected it with her shield.

"Darn! She noticed! I was a split second late."

Will looked regretful.

She apparently aimed for the neck for a certain kill. The Demon Race woman seemed to have avoided a fatal wound by reflexively raising her sword. We had charged at that speed. If it had hit properly, her head would have been sent flying.

I don't know why she noticed. When Will asked Henry-sama later, he said it was intuition.

It was certainly a pity, but we managed to repel her. We headed toward the monster swarm that was charging in as we were.

"Jeanne, we're targeting the Cyclopes."

"Yes."

We flew at normal speed. We'll defeat the big ones early so the outer wall won't be destroyed.

I braced my staff and looked only ahead.

"Now!"

"Holy Overflow!"

I fired the one with reflectors. I successfully pierced the head of a Troll. The monsters are running through the wasteland. In other words, they're running on flat ground, so if we fly above the Orcs' heads, we can naturally target the heads of the tall Trolls and Cyclopes.

Since it fell backward, we passed through as we were. Will, who was riding facing backward, threw a jar, and Lyudmila fired a Flame. A dangerous sound went "boof," and the rear became bright. The oil in the jar had caught fire. The fire from the burning oil would serve as a target for our allies. According to the fortress commander, since Wilson-san, the scout with exceptionally good night vision, was gone, the rising flames would be heartening for the allies too.

We made a large turn and came out to the opponent's side. We charged toward the next target as we were. It seemed a round stone flew from the fortress, but there's no way it would hit. We charged without worrying.

"I'll target the ones in front. Wilhelmina and Lyudmila, target the right."

I heard there were about ten big ones. However, Cyclopes in particular are cowards, so if they know they're being targeted, they might flee.

"Now!"

"Yes! Holy Overflow!"

White light flew, and again it pierced and blew away the head of a Cyclops.

DOGAAAAAAN!

A massive lightning bolt struck. We dodged it by a hair. Or rather, should I say we were able to dodge it? It just didn't hit. The place it struck was where the Cyclops had been, and she had anticipated our movement as we targeted it from the front and passed through. She must have predicted our movements from the attack on the first one. Of course, there are no Orcs in the place it fell. She's also making sure not to commit friendly fire.

"We've been targeted."

Wilson-san was looking up at the sky.

She's come back. How persistent.

"The wound is healed. She seems to have used Mold."

She can even use healing magic herself. What a person.

"Priestess! Come out! I'll fight you!"

She must be using Loud, as an incredibly loud voice echoed. The monster swarm even stopped in its tracks.

However, there's no way I'd go out just because I was told to. There's no way a priest would engage in a duel. Besides, she's the one who refused King Seldic's duel offer, so what is she talking about!

"What are you going to do? Jeanne."

"I'm not going!"

"That's true."

Wilson-san is even laughing.

"Then shall we attack? Fortunately, we can see her form from here."

"Yeah, let's attack!"

Lyudmila is strangely fired up.

Wilson-san already seemed to have caught sight of the Demon Race woman's form, and what had been a slow circle suddenly determined a direction and flew straight.

"Everyone, let's go!"

"Yes!"

The three of us answered in unison.

We flew diagonally upward, cutting through the wind. I just looked ahead.

"Do it!"

It was Wilson-san's signal.

"Tornado Wind!"

A tornado attacked the Demon Race woman who was flapping in the air. Since it was fired at full power, it was far larger than the opponent. Her form vanished in an instant. At the same time, the bowl accelerated all at once.

"There!"

A voice echoed, and lightning struck. But there's no way it would hit. Because we were flying in a completely different place. Just as I thought, what Lyudmila had attacked was an Illusion.

"Jeanne!"

"Yes. Holy Overflow!"

I fired another shot along the direction Wilson-san pointed.

But, however, there was no response! Did she move with Teleport at the same time as she fired the lightning? A split second later, the bowl accelerated. It was ultra-high speed.

"Here!"

GAKON!

"Gua!"

An impact ran through the bowl, and it nearly tilted.

"Holy Overflow!"

To prepare for the impact, I was gripping the edge of the bowl with both hands, so I twisted my neck toward the voice and fired magic from my mouth. Of course, it was the one with reflectors around my face.

"Gah..."

Did we do it!

Wilson-san had accelerated all at once and rammed the target at the Teleport activation point.

"Ei!"

BAKON!

Lyudmila, supported by Will, struck the Demon Race woman who appeared with my staff, which I had entrusted to her.

"Gufu..."

After the voice, there was a thud below.

"She seems to have lost consciousness."

"We did it!"

Lyudmila was overjoyed at Wilson-san's words as he looked down.

Um... Lyudmila? I didn't hand it to you as a weapon. Please don't break my staff.