Chapter 66 - Reason to Fight
The next battle was a night engagement.
The opponents were about twenty Orcs.
Since it was a distant location, we moved to the lookout post in groups of five using Teleport.
They were trying to cross the northern pass that we hadn't been able to crush.
From the destination to the ambush point, Beowulf carried me on her back.
It's quite embarrassing, but it's better than getting injured.
After all, it's pitch black. I wonder how the others can even walk.
Night battles are apparently a struggle.
After all, humans are at an overwhelming disadvantage in the darkness. Usually, they fire flaming arrows, hold torches in their hands, or in some cases, just give up, but this is in the middle of the mountains. It would be a disaster if a forest fire started, so they had to hold back considerably, and it seemed they were struggling quite a bit.
I chanted while hiding behind the grass, creating a tiny light in my palm with the Light spell. When I let go of my hand as if riding the magical wind Paul-san created, it floated away toward the monsters on the wind.
The way it fluttered and flew softly on the breeze made it look just like a firefly. Although the season and time were a bit off. If I move it too fast, it slips out of my control and disappears, so I can only make it fly slowly. However, as it drifted fluffily in front of the monsters, it actually added to the atmosphere. The monsters were distracted by the light and showed no sign of noticing us.
"Now!"
The signal was given. I turned my palms downward and made them glow with all my might. It shone more intensely than I expected right in front of the monster swarm, but the effect was tremendous, and the monsters were falling to their knees or on all fours. It's holy magic. It must be quite blinding for monsters.
While they were groaning with their faces covered by both hands and looking down, the archer squad surrounded them and fired all at once, and Angelica-san created a mountain of ice that caught nearly half of them. The infantry unit, delivering the finishing blows, charged forward with a shout.
It seems a few managed to escape, but they said pursuit isn't necessary in a night battle. The primary goal is not to be broken through, so the objective was achieved.
Above all, it was good that we could return to the fortress safely without any injuries. I was praised quite a bit by the Jaegers, starting with Lewis-san.
"The nights will be lonely without you."
Lewis-san said with a wonderful smile, placing his hand on my shoulder. I smiled brightly and blasted a Holy spell right into his face. He clutched his eyes with both hands, rolled on the floor, and writhed in agony. Everyone found it amusing and surrounded him with arrows notched in their bows, shouting, "It's a monster! A monster!" Since holy magic worked on him, treating him as a monster was sufficient.
Even so, he staggered back to his feet.
"That's cruel. Even though it was a compliment."
It's his fault for saying such misleading things to a priest.
"Can you say the same thing to the Headmistress?"
When I asked him that, he went, "Hmm," and thought about it.
"Bishop Catherine is indeed a woman worth staking this life for."
I see, so he knows he would receive a severe punishment.
I was called outside by Paul-san and Angelica-san.
"Have you ever used magic with both hands?"
"Yes. When I want to increase the output of a single spell, I use both hands."
"Not that. I mean alternating left and right."
"Alternating left and right?"
I don't quite understand. While I was tilting my head, Angelica-san gave me a demonstration, saying, "Like this."
"Ice Cube!"
A single bite-sized piece of ice rolled onto her right palm. It was the intermediate magic she used to make the frozen mouse. Perhaps she was suppressing her mana, as it was quite small. When she chanted the same spell with her left palm this time, a piece of ice appeared in each hand.
When she chanted it once more for each, two pieces of ice sat on each hand. I see. In the battle the other day during the day, the way Angelica-san blocked the Orc's spear with an ice shield and froze its neck with her right hand was a time-lag attack using both her left and right hands.
Now that I finally understood, I tried it immediately. They told me the output could be minimal, so first with my right hand.
"Light!"
A light like a firefly was created. I tried it with my left hand too. I did it! Although the light seemed a bit weak, probably because it's not my dominant hand. Then, by chanting continuously with my right and left hands, I was able to produce four lights. Angelica-san patted my head, saying, "You did it!"
According to the two of them, it's easier than splitting a single spell, and the mana consumption is lower. Conversely, that means Beatrix, who manipulates split flames, is amazing.
"Alright, let's fly them."
When Paul-san chanted wind magic, they drifted away fluffily, as if four fireflies were flying.
"Now. Increase the light intensity. It doesn't have to be at full power."
When I focused my consciousness on both hands aimed at the fireflies, an intense light illuminated the outside. After all, it's four times the usual. The mountain bandits gathered in a surprise, but when Paul-san explained, everyone praised me, saying it was amazing.
"How is your remaining mana?"
"It's fine. I think I can use Heal a few more times."
"Let's go with this for the next night battle."
"Yes. Thank you very much!"
Paul-san and Angelica-san nodded with smiles.
"The nights without you are truly—Ugoooo!"
Lewis-san, who had put his hands on Angelica-san's and my shoulders to say something, was writhing in agony after being kicked in the crotch by the "Ogre Angelica," whose eyes had changed.
"As expected of the fearless Kingdom Jaegers."
While Paul-san was laughing with a ka-ka-ka, Lewis-san received his second monster judgment of the night and was surrounded by bows and arrows.
The next day, I was told we would have a Marcelo Company strategy meeting. Since Marcelo-san and Beatrix came, we immediately gathered in the dining room-cum-meeting room.
"About the night battles. I think it's easier to fight if Jeanne uses Light. What does everyone think?"
It's nice to have Paul-san, who is always there, say that. I don't know when he ever sleeps, though.
"When it's just me and Beatrix, we struggle in night battles. She does her best with split flames, but it seems stealing the opponent's vision with holy magic light is more effective."
"Can't you use it, Marcelo-san?"
"Light is a rare magic. I can't use it."
So even for the duo of Marcelo-san and Beatrix, night battles are difficult. Light magic is surprisingly useful.
"On the other hand, in daytime battles, the collaboration between Marcelo's Teleport and Beatrix's attack magic is working well to confuse the opponent. I think it's functioning effectively since they can also perform surprise attacks from behind."
Beatrix was puffing out her chest.
"So, I think we'll get better results if we fix Jeanne for night battles and Beatrix for day battles. What do you think?"
"In that case, will I also be fixed for the daytime?"
"No, that won't be the case. It's good to have Teleport if it's available, but Beatrix's split magic is proving quite effective."
"But I think the surprise attack effect when collaborating with Teleport increases dramatically."
I heard Angelica-san received many medals for her teleportation and ice magic. She must be confident.
"But what about looking after the children?"
Paul-san said hesitantly, but the words that came back resulted in an extremely sweet outcome.
"It'll be fine as long as either Marcelo or I am there. Right?"
When Angelica-san winked at Marcelo-san, Marcelo-san winked back.
Perhaps because they've been passing each other lately, they're confirming their love in a place like this. They certainly are on good terms. Thanks for the treat. Beatrix even has her mouth open in a strange shape.
"I-I see. Then there's no problem."
"More importantly, if I'm not fixed for the daytime, there will be a hole in the recovery magic. As the one making them, it's better if the scrolls sell, but it's a waste."
"But I'll have to rely on scrolls for serious injuries if I'm alone."
Unlike Marcelo-san, there's a limit to my Heal.
"But that's the same as now, isn't it? More than that, you hate just watching the battle situation during the day, don't you?"
Beatrix followed up for me. Sometimes, Beatrix would listen to me grumbling, or rather, pouring out my feelings of helplessness.
"What's this, were you worried about that? Just flying that light in the night battles is more than enough to make up for it."
"That's right. Daytime aside, my magic is useless in night battles, so with your glowing thing and Angelica-san's magic, it's a one-shot deal."
I reflexively grabbed Beatrix's hand, and she smirked at me. This means I'll have to treat her to something.
It didn't just apply to me and Beatrix, but also to Hanna-san and Will. If they're going to shoot the boss in the middle of a melee, it's definitely better during the day. Additionally, it was proposed that Beowulf become my exclusive guard.
"Then, the matter is settled. I'll talk to the commander."
"What will you do, Paul-san?"
"I'm a mage who fights anytime, anywhere. Don't you worry about me."
"As expected, he's crazy to the bone," Beatrix said with an exasperated face, and after he puffed out his chest saying, "You can praise me more," he went to Lewis-san's place. I don't quite understand how that's a compliment, but if he's happy, I guess it's fine.
"What kind of person is Paul-san, anyway?"
Even during the construction of the fake camp, Lewis-san seemed to hold him in high regard. He doesn't seem like just a hunter.
"He's a hunter. And our technical advisor."
Angelica-san and Marcelo-san exchanged winks again.
If I don't stop them around here, Beatrix will eventually start spitting sand from her mouth.
In the end, Paul-san's proposal was accepted, and we were divided into two shifts, day and night.
"I'll leave the rest to you."
Saying that, it became my daily routine to see off Beatrix as she went home after dinner, passing each other by.
By the way, Lord Roberts' monster hunt will last for ten days, and the battle at this fortress is expected to continue until the end of this month. Why ten days? Since I didn't know the reason, I asked Paul-san.
"It's probably diplomatic consideration."
Paul-san lowered his voice. Diplomatic consideration? Does diplomacy get involved in exterminating monsters in one's own country?
"A war is happening in the east. The neighboring Medioland has also sent out troops, leaving the area around our border empty. So, we are also throwing the military force from the Eastern Plains, which is adjacent to the border, at the remnants of the Demon Lord's army to declare non-aggression."
The war in the east apparently started at the end of last month.
"But Lady Gladys is here too, and Medioland is an allied nation, right?"
"Even if the royals are on good terms, the nobles and residents will be anxious. They might try to withdraw from the battlefield using that as an excuse."
I see. It's a difficult thing.
"But then, why ten days?"
"Because the war will definitely end by the end of this month. They have to return to the fortress in the Eastern Plains by then. The preparation and the ten-day attack, all together it's about three weeks. Lord Roberts coming to the Water Splashing Festival was for the final adjustments."
The war will end by the end of this month... Is there such a rule?
"Listen, most of those sent by various countries as reinforcements for the battle against the main Demon Lord army are mercenaries. Mercenaries have contract periods, you see, and usually, it's about four months at most. This time, various countries have been sending support since May, right? The contract period is probably until the end of this month. If they extend the contract, the fees will skyrocket. They won't do that. In short, they're fighting because it's within the contract period."
That's just absurd...
"That's reality. Also, unless it's something extraordinary, they don't fight wars in winter. It's only for now."
Paul-san's explanation is understandable, but not something I can accept. There's no way it's okay to kill each other for such a stupid reason.
"We'll do our best to exterminate the monsters. They're opponents we have to defeat eventually. The King and Lord Roberts chose monster extermination instead of participating in the war. It's not a war against humans. You just need to understand that for now."
Sertoria probably doesn't have the leeway to wage war against humans right now. However, it's also a fact that this country did not choose conflict between humans. That in itself is something to be proud of. A sense of dissatisfaction remained that war was happening because of money calculations. But reality must be accepted. I suppose I have no choice but to switch my mindset and do my best at monster extermination for now.