Chapter 686 - Chapter 6: The Cave Where the Demon Lord Resurrects (Engrio) ②
After the morning operation ended, we returned to the surface once. The relief for the guards had already arrived, so everyone moved in order using Teleport.
Since it was said there was still time until lunch, we held a strategy meeting. It's probably a review session.
At the meeting, the opinion that it was dark came up after all. The illuminators are far brighter than lanterns or bonfires. However, because the irradiation range is narrow, even if we find a snake, it's difficult to keep illuminating it. Consequently, it took time to defeat even one. Unlike insects, they don't gather, so tracking them is also hard. If we increased the number of bowls and the number of illuminators, it would be solved to some extent, but Engrio lost many bowl users in the previous war. Currently, the Aerial Scout Corps itself is being rebuilt. Furthermore, there are only about several dozen Light magic circles. One only lasts for two hours. We can't use an order of magnitude more magic circles prepared in advance like we did in Sertoria.
"How about we just drive the monsters away and prioritize mowing the grass?"
That was Eleanor-sama. Since this method itself is based on Sertoria's method, she is in a position like a military advisor.
"Drive them into a narrow range and finish them off all at once, huh."
King Seldic immediately understood Eleanor-sama's idea.
"I think that's better. Mow the grass, dig up the ground of the site, and bake it hard with fire magic. Let's keep proceeding with that."
"That's right. Shall we try that in the afternoon?"
And so, the formation for the afternoon changed.
Those riding in the bowls became primarily holy mages and scouts who operate the illuminators. It's a five-person formation: one bowl user, two holy mages, and two scouts. The bowl I'm riding in is the one operated by Beatrix, and since the captain also came along, it became a six-person formation.
Since the warriors and attribute mages were incorporated into the ground team, the Henry Party was incorporated into the ground team.
I returned to my original role as an illuminator from detecting with Sense Living. I fly eight Fireflies and illuminate with full power. There's no aim. I just illuminate relentlessly. A priest riding in the same bowl fires Holy at random into the illuminated range. The role of the Sense Living user is not to detect monsters. It's the role of confirming that they are not there. Once we create a range where there are no monsters, we then create an ice wall with Glaciate to surround it. After that is the Henry Party's specialty: civil engineering work. It's fine if it's a bit dim, so we mow the grass, crush rocks, and carry them within the range illuminated by the eight Fireflies flown over as wide an area as possible. Once bonfires are placed and light for work is secured, we dig it up with Clump Sand and bake it hard with fire magic. Since there are multiple ultra-high-level mages, it progressed well.
There are undulations, but they aren't high and are gentle. At the boundary with the ice wall, embankments were piled up for the amount of dry moats dug. A landscape like a field fortification being constructed unfolded.
"So there is such a way of fighting."
That was the captain. Apparently, he has no experience in constructing field fortifications in front of the enemy. Conversely, I feel like I've done nothing but that. Just the other day, I was doing aerial support in Medioland.
"I've been doing nothing but fortress defense battles."
"Are you heavy infantry?"
"Yes. Can you tell?"
"If I look at your body."
He's laughing, saying 'I see'. He's quite a large man. He's a good match for Beowulf.
"It was nothing but the roles of charging and being a wall."
I met people like that in the prisoner-of-war camp. I wonder if they're all doing well.
"If it was against monsters, it must have been quite difficult."
"That's right. After all, I was a commoner with no education, and I couldn't ride a horse very well. When I volunteered for a place where I could fight with just this body, I was told to become heavy infantry."
When I heard various stories, it seems his first battle was the Demon Lord army war fought within Engrio along with King Seldic, who was a minor at the time. King Seldic appointed promising ones among the people of his own territory's village as knights and brought them into his direct army. He was doing before he became an adult what he still does now.
"In the past, the village closest to the Demon Realm was apparently a sacrificial pawn. Since reinforcements wouldn't come, when the oracle that the Demon Lord would resurrect was given, everyone would flee. It was Seldic-sama who changed it so they would stay. He said there was no need to needlessly give up the land they had gone to the trouble of reclaiming, so he built a sturdy fortress, stationed soldiers, and moved in himself along with Sir Falstaff."
At that time, to increase the number of garrison soldiers, he provided combat training to the young people of the village and also called out to the surrounding commoners and serfs. One of the people who stepped forward was the captain.
"A third son of a free farmer has no freedom in anything he does. I made a resolution and worked hard, and as a result, I was able to come this far."
Now he is a unit commander who oversees an army, standing shoulder to shoulder with the nobles as King Seldic's staff.
"If this operation is successful, you might be granted a territory..."
The priest riding in the same bowl said. If that's the case, the captain will also become a bona fide noble.
"Are such rumors already circulating?"
"Yes. Is it different?"
"Let's stop such talk now. For I might overexert myself at the critical moment."
"I see. Understood."
I see. I'll work hard too.
The work proceeded smoothly, but halfway through, the monsters stopped fleeing. There are signs that they are enduring the brightness and staying put. My ally bowl unit shot arrows of holy water to track the monsters, but they just tried to dodge by shaking their heads.
"That's strange."
The captain also seemed suspicious.
"What is beyond here?"
"Wait a moment."
When I checked the map relying on the light of the lantern, there was a wetland, and further beyond that was a pond.
"It seems they don't want to go to the wetland. However, snakes should be able to swim."
This is dangerous.
"Please pull everyone back for now."
"Did something happen?"
"A tough one might be lurking in the wetland."
"I see. Then, let's pull back for now."
Speaking of wetlands, I have an idea. Just in case, I turned the Fireflies toward the wetland and opened them up to full power.
"Hey, why don't you make an ice wall with Glaciate?"
That's Beatrix. It's a good idea. Since the magic beasts here are the non-furry type, they probably won't try to cross it. I got the captain's approval, descended once, and at the same time as pulling everyone back, I requested the attribute mages to make a wall with Glaciate.
Three ultra-high-level mages stepped forward to make an ice wall and made three long ones.
It was then. Suddenly, water came flying and one bowl was shot down. Since the bowl was ahead, it fell beyond the ice wall.
"Is it Maelstrom!"
No, they probably just threw water.
"Anyway, let's rescue them. Beatrix!"
"Got it."
I deactivated the Fireflies I was flying and illuminated with full power from the tip of my staff.
The crew of the bowl that crashed in the middle of the snakes are firing Over Flow wildly and somehow holding out. The fact that they aren't remaking the bowl... did casualties occur?
"Descend. I'll support."
As expected of heavy infantry. He leveled his hand spear. He intends to do ground combat.
"Let's all just get down!"
Beatrix turns the bowl into a plate and dives. I restrain them with Light, and the priest raises both hands above his head and fires Over Flow. The power is low, but it's effective against snakes. We somehow secured a landing point. The captain immediately goes toward our allies. One person must have injured their leg; the captain came back carrying them.
"Are you safe?"
When I asked, one priest had a broken leg, one was unconscious, the bowl user had a broken hand, and both scouts were safe, but the illuminator was broken. The bowl user's injury is painful. If we don't fix it, it'll be overweight and they won't be able to fly in a small bowl.
"Let's intercept them here. Please treat the injured. Beatrix, I'll make a wall, so lightning please."
"Okay!"
I block three sides with walls of Light. Since there's an ice wall behind us, it should be fine.
"This is..."
The people of Engrio, including the captain, are surprised. Come to think of it, only the ultra-high-level veterans among the Engrio priests had seen a wall of Light.
"I'll explain later. Weapons won't pass through, but magic will. Please attack with Holy."
Anyway, I'll have them fire wildly. Since I'm making it shine with full power, the snakes don't approach. While one priest here fired Holy for restraint and Beatrix was firing Thunder Bolt horizontally, the other priest treated the injured.
However, this alone is dangerous.
"Beatrix, make a wall with Glaciate!"
"Okay!"
Just as she finished chanting and an ice mountain was about to be formed in front of us, a large amount of water came flying through the air. It's Maelstrom. We didn't make it in time.
"Everyone! Hang on!"
I shout instinctively. What to hang on to would be the people nearby, but it's better to have even a little support.
The water thrown by Maelstrom flowed in over the ice wall. The wall of Light won't hold. Behind us is the ice wall, but on the left and right, there are gaps between the front and back walls. We'll be washed away and scattered... or so I thought, but the captain supported the wall with both hands. Instinctively, everyone took a stance as if pushing his back. Of course, it wasn't a level of pressure that could be handled like that. However, thanks to the wall becoming a triangle with the captain at the apex, although we got drenched with water from our heads and were soaking wet, we managed to avoid being washed away and scattered. If Beatrix's ice wall had been even a little later, the pressure would have done something to the bones of our entire bodies. We were saved by the amount that flowed over the wall.
"Eei! Glaciate!"
Beatrix fires a second shot and connects it to the ceiling. With this, there are no frontal attacks.
"Everyone! Are you safe?"
When I turned around while hanging onto the captain's back and spoke, it seemed no one had been washed away.
"What happened to the injured!"
The captain shouted! Since we didn't have to push the wall anymore, I went to the back while somehow proceeding through the slushy ground where my ankles were completely buried.
When I deactivated the wall and illuminated the surroundings instead, everyone was there. Only one person was being carried on someone's back.
"Treatment is complete. However, the one who was unconscious hasn't regained consciousness yet."
Don't tell me they drowned?
When I approached, they were somehow breathing. It seems the other priest instinctively blocked their nose and mouth.
"If it had been a direct hit, we would have been washed away. To build an ice wall instinctively, that was a wonderful judgment. Thank you."
I was thanked by the priest. Even though an ultra-high-level had only fired a basic Heal, they had recovered all the injured in that short time. It's not something that can be done instinctively.
"Well, you know. I've been doing this for a long time."
Listen, Beatrix. Among this group, you and I are the youngest.
"Are you safe?"
It's Eleanor-sama's voice. It seems she came to help in a medium-sized bowl.
"Eleanor-sama, I am terribly sorry."
"Our allies are firing Holy wildly, so let's withdraw while we can."
Only Eleanor-sama and Wilson-san got off. Everyone can fit.
It became the shape of a plate, and everyone crouched down while still covered in mud.
"The enemy?"
"Probably an Amphisbaena."
"I see. Then we can't just go home like this. Shall we give it a shot of Megiddo Fire?"
Since there's an ice mountain made by magic in front of us, Sense Living can't be used. We have to go around to the air above the wetland or pond, or we won't know where it is.
"A charge?"
"No, from here. It's just a declaration of war."
I feel like it's already entering the realm of a hobby...
"Captain, is it alright?"
"It's the legendary magic. Eleanor-sama, please by all means raise the signal fire of counterattack. If we leave it like this, morale will drop."
"As expected of the captain. You understand. Then, let's do it."
The battle maniac has been ignited.
"Was the ice wall that was in front made by Beatrix?"
"Yes, Glaciate."
"Then it's simple. Now, those who can use Holy, please cooperate."
There are two people who can use Holy. The one who was unconscious has recovered, but there's a high possibility they hit their head. It's better not to use magic, so I'll have them rest just in case.
Eleanor-sama began chanting. As the fireball generated from her highly raised hands grew larger, the surroundings were illuminated in red. I wonder if it's visible to the two heads beyond the ice mountain?
Support bowls gathered one after another.
"It's Megiddo Fire. I'll assist."
A veteran I know called out. He's also giving instructions to the other bowls.
There are five ultra-high-level holy mages including me, and five high-level holy mages. It's quite powerful.
"It's Holy Lance. Aim with full power. Keep firing rapidly."
This is... isn't this going to be something even more amazing than when we fired it at Behemoth during the Demon Lord subjugation battle?
The chanting ended, and it was completed.
"Beatrix, you understand, don't you?"
"It's fine. Leave it to me."
The Glaciate walls are deactivated one after another and turn into masses of water. The area is a flood.
"Prominence!"
It was fired. I also fired thrusts intermittently from the eight-shot port.
The red fireball turns into a white color. It's hot even though it should be getting further away. For some reason, sounds like continuous explosions can be heard around the Prominence. The light on the surface of the Prominence itself is bursting and glittering.
"Target confirmed, I'll make it plunge all at once."
The speed of the fireball increased. The surroundings are illuminated as if it were daytime. Water is swelling up ahead, there it is!
"Here we go! Beatrix!"
"Yes. Wind Barrier!"
For a moment, my vision distorted. A wall of air was completed.
"Glaciate!"
At the same time as the impact, Eleanor-sama made the wall of air into a wall of ice without a moment's delay. It was almost simultaneous... an explosive sound rang out that made me think the ceiling would collapse.