Chapter 72 - Que Sera, Sera
After that, nearly two weeks passed without anything special happening.
Paul-san cut down trees to strip the area around the position bare, Angelica-san dug vertical and horizontal trenches, and everyone made fences by lining up the cut trees; the civil engineering work progressed. In the meantime, the area around the pass was also developed, and it began to take on the appearance of a checkpoint. There was no longer anyone sleeping in tents.
Ultimately, the plan was for the foot of the cliff to be the forward position, the pass to be the headquarters, and the slopes around the pass to be the side defense positions, with work progressing toward the construction of a road running east-west connecting the mountain fortresses of Higashinohara and Nakanohara.
Orcs and gargoyles would attack sporadically in groups of about a dozen, but such scouting units were of no consequence.
Lyudmila, who visited almost every day, spent peaceful days planting weeds to prevent landslides on the ground where the surface was exposed from cutting trees, and strolling around the position with Hanna-san to find new water sources.
One such day, Emily-sensei and Catherine-sensei came to visit the camp. Emily-sensei had come to consecrate a large amount of holy water after receiving a direct request from Adolf-san.
Water was abundant thanks to Marcelo-san's magic circles. To make it usable even at the foot of the cliff, it was being transferred into the four large barrels used in the water-splashing festival.
"How is it? Are you all doing well?"
"Thanks to you, everyone is fine."
"Is Wilhelmina here? I came to entrust this to her."
Catherine-sensei handed the spear she brought to Will. Since the tip was glowing faintly white, it was made of sterling silver.
"Is this alright? Isn't this a spear you treasure, Sensei?"
"Well, yes, but it's a waste not to use it when it's here, right? Will is like my disciple, after all."
"Thank you very much," Will said, overjoyed.
"By the way, you seem quite relaxed, but are you going to be okay?"
As expected of Nakanohara's new War Goddess. she saw through it easily.
When I explained the situation, she crossed her arms and told me to stay alert because there would likely be a big battle soon.
While I was talking to Catherine-sensei, Emily-sensei called me.
She asked me to help.
We went down to the foot of the cliff together.
"What is that stone?"
She was pointing at the goblin grave.
When I explained, she patted my head.
Scaffolding was set up in front of the barrels. It was for Emily-sensei to consecrate the holy water.
My role was the chant response. Since there was a large amount, it would take time. Having another priest respond to the chant prevents the concentration from breaking.
After finishing three, I slipped my foot as I stood up and fell into a barrel. Because I fell headfirst while still in my priestess robes, I almost drowned.
I was pulled out by a Jaeger and coughed and wheezed.
"Since you drank so much holy water, I'm sure you'll receive a blessing."
Emily-sensei laughed at me like that.
One barrel's worth had to be redone, but because Emily-sensei said, "Everyone, please purify your bodies with this water today," everyone ended up taking a holy water bath that day.
We had spent our time relatively leisurely like that, but tension gradually began to rise.
Because the full moon was near.
We had repelled them in what could be called overwhelming victories both on land and in the air, and the position was gradually expanding in scale.
On the other hand, the gargoyles' scouting had also become somewhat persistent.
"They're coming soon."
Paul-san was also on guard.
"They're coming for real this time. You don't know what might show up, so be careful."
He says scary things.
The enemy has also experienced the two battles. It won't be so easy to confuse them by taking them by surprise as we have until now.
Finally, on the day of the full moon, the Class of 175 gathered during the daytime.
"It seems something strong is coming."
The facilitator was, as usual, our oldest mage. She was understandably tense.
"In the guard squad, they're saying things like 'be prepared.'"
"When you say 'strong,' do you mean like Cyclopes or Fenrirs?"
Stop it, Beatrix. If you say it out loud, they'll really come.
"Isn't it fine for those coming on foot?"
It's just as Will says. We've made and set up many stone magic circles. Now there's almost no place to step.
"Apparently, strong monsters aren't very affected by anything other than holy magic."
Beowulf said something worrying.
"Which means this is likely to be useful."
Will was holding the sterling silver spear. It was the one Catherine-sensei had lent her.
"Are you planning to charge in with that?"
Beatrix was exasperated.
"Actually, I was handed this too."
What Beowulf pulled from her scabbard was a silver sword.
"The seriousness level is high, isn't it? Is it for everyone in the guard squad?"
"It arrived from Higashinohara. Lord Roberts' legion lent them to us."
Bridget-san, who is good at close-quarters combat, apparently has two sterling silver knives at her waist.
"Then, will it mainly be a melee?"
I suddenly became anxious. If it becomes a chaotic battle, the monsters are stronger.
"It's what I've wanted from the start. Let's hit them head-on and settle it, shall we?"
"You can't win just by being brave. Didn't Lady Gladys tell you to focus on defense?"
Being reminded by Beatrix, Will crossed her arms. She must have remembered Lady Gladys's teachings.
"Are there any flying ones?"
As for those coming on foot, we can just use Angelica-san's ice magic to keep them from approaching if necessary. What we should be wary of are the flying types.
"I want to see a wyvern."
"Lyudmila, you're going home. Go clean the Ghost Mansion."
"No, I'm staying tonight."
Lyudmila was unusually rebellious toward Beatrix.
"No. Go home. You're doing rat extermination tomorrow, right?"
No matter how much we said, she just kept saying "no."
While we were all at a loss, Paul-san came.
"What are you doing?"
"It's a neighborhood meeting. Lyudmila is throwing a tantrum because she won't go home. Paul-san, you tell her too."
Lyudmila was looking at Paul-san with a pout.
"Isn't it fine? Lyudmila is also a member of the Marcelo Company. It seems Angelica is staying tonight too. Let's all be together."
"Yay!" Lyudmila was happy, but the expressions of the other members changed.
Tonight is the showdown. Angelica-san staying is the proof of that.
"Is there a plan?"
"It's the same as always. A plan without training is bound to fail even if you have one."
I wonder if we'll be okay. We all looked at each other.
"More importantly, you lot. You haven't been saying the names of strong monsters and saying they'll come or anything, have you?"
We totally did.
Reflexively, we all looked down.
"You did... In times like this, the ones whose names were mentioned usually come. What names did you say? Tell me."
Um, let's see, surely Cyclops, Fenrir, and then Wyvern, was it?
"Of all things, they're all D-rank high-tier species! I don't want to know anymore! If they show up, you're the ones responsible for defeating them!"
He stood up indignantly and walked away.
"What should we do? He got angry."
It was the first time Paul-san had gotten angry. Even Beatrix was looking dejected.
"No, it's okay."
Lyudmila was smiling.
"When Paul-san stood up, he looked this way, stuck out his tongue, and laughed."
"?"
When I looked toward where Paul-san had left, he was standing there looking back.
He must have thought we noticed; after sticking out his tongue, he went away laughing "ka ka ka."
Damn it! He teased us. Come to think of it, he was unusually good at acting.
Will burst out laughing.
"No matter what comes, what we do won't change. It seems all we need is to brace ourselves."
"That's right," Beowulf said, starting to laugh.
Beatrix and I looked at each other and reflexively burst out laughing.
It's not like us to think so seriously. We've come this far by playing it by ear anyway. Que sera, sera.
When I looked at Lyudmila, she was smiling.
This child might have understood everything.
"You look like you're having fun. What happened?"
It was Hanna-san.
When we told her the story, she went "u-fufu" and laughed.
"More importantly, look at this. Isn't it amazing?"
She showed us a quiver containing silver arrowheads.
"They gave it to me, saying it would be easier to move around with this."
It seems Hanna-san's quivers have become two silver ones.
"Is it tonight after all?"
I asked just in case.
"I wonder? It seems everyone is saying so."
I knew it. We really have to brace ourselves.
"More importantly, have you all noticed? If there's a full-scale offensive from the opponent tonight, if we win, we might be able to relax for over a week without doing anything."
I couldn't help but chuckle. True, our contract lasts until the end of next week. Even monsters would give up after having two full-scale offensives thwarted.
"Let's all work hard aiming for a good rest."
She walked away while smiling and waving her hand.
"As expected of the number one most popular fighting receptionist at the town hall. It'll be hard for Jeanne to overtake her."
It's not related, okay? I've never been conscious of the rankings.
"She's well-braced, isn't she?"
It's just as Beowulf says.
As expected of the Rank 2, right? She's quite different from me at Rank 8.
"Umu. That waistline isn't just for show. She seems to be beautifully braced as well."
Old man, be quiet.
"I want to see a wyvern."
Child, you be quiet too. It'll be scary if one really comes.
We all looked at each other. Smiles spilled out from everyone.
"It can't be helped. Let's work hard and earn!"
"Yeah!"
Following Beatrix's shout, we all fired ourselves up.