74 - Hippogriff
In a location situated in the center of the village, I deployed the Porter's shield to serve as a roof.
I placed a table and drew a simple map on a piece of paper.
Through this, I would confirm which parts of the village to reinforce and where to set traps.
I drew the map and began marking the locations and types of traps.
It was after breakfast, and Miranda-san was near me.
Luca was beside me, watching the process.
The village chief of Gioni Village looked at the map and was surprised. Above all, Clark-san's surprise was even greater.
"Lyell-kun, did you think of all this in a single night?"
As for the village chief...
"Reinforcements and trap placement... no, but with this many people..."
The village chief was deep in thought, considering whether the reinforcements and trap placements I had marked were possible.
Seeing this, Norma-san spoke to me.
"What is there to be surprised about? Anyone could think of this. If it were me, I would add traps here and here, and reinforce this spot."
Norma-san spoke with absolute confidence, but upon hearing that, the Second Generation burst out laughing.
Who is this person? Too incompetent.
The Third Generation was laughing out loud.
It's true that anyone could think of it. But whether it can be executed or not is a separate issue.
Clark-san shook his head and explained to Norma-san.
"Captain, we lack the manpower. We need to complete at least this much within a few days. In the meantime, there will likely be attacks by Hippogriffs, and we need this much reinforcement and trap placement before the Griffons appear."
The village chief looked at Norma-san with a displeased expression.
"...I would be troubled if you placed traps in the current locations. Even if you restore them later, there are houses there."
Norma-san took a step back. She had a frustrated expression.
(Well, I did think about placing more traps.)
The Fourth Generation spoke.
He's placed them after considering various things. But this is probably the limit.
The Fifth Generation urged me to give the next instructions.
Lyell, don't stay silent forever and move forward. From here on, it's a race against time.
I decided to give instructions to the gathered group.
"Now then, Norma-san, please stand by here. If someone is sent here to report, I will give the instructions. Clark-san, please begin the soldiers' training. Village chief, the village reinforcements. Miranda-san—"
Miranda-san replied as if she already knew.
"Setting the traps, right? I think I can do it, but given the scale, I'll only be able to give instructions. I've brought the tools, but preparation will take a day."
I told her that was no problem, as I had already taken that into account.
"The trap placement should be finished by the second wave—before the Griffons appear."
The Hippogriffs were being used to lead attacks on the village.
First, the Hippogriffs would likely lead monsters to attack the village.
This method of gradually cornering the enemy made them seem like unpleasant people.
Of course, if it were a dragon or something similar, the village would be destroyed in an instant.
The fact that the Griffons weren't showing much movement might mean they were gathering strength.
"Novem and Clara will also participate in the reinforcements. I'll have Monica help with the field kitchen, so let's take turns for meals and breaks. Any opinions?"
As I looked around at everyone, one of the knights present asked a question.
"Ah, no... um... whose instructions are we following?"
The knight glanced at Norma-san, but I stated clearly at that moment.
"I will give instructions as the Commander Proxy. Reports should also be made to me."
When the knight nodded, he seemed slightly relieved.
The Sixth Generation spoke.
...Is this person useless as a commander?
The Seventh Generation agreed.
Well, they are excellent in a different sense. From the perspective of those who use them, they are a troublesome talent.
Norma-san stood there, averting her gaze.
(It's true, she's excellent in a different sense. However, she doesn't look like she's doing very well.)
She could have climbed the ranks using a completely different method...
Thinking that, I answered the questions.
Some were trivial questions, and some were questions from people who didn't understand the conversation at all.
While answering those, when I was asked to explain the way of working, it led to doing it directly on-site.
Watching this meeting, the Second Generation spoke.
Uwah... I'm anxious.
Why was he sounding so amused despite saying he was anxious? I wondered that, based on the Second Generation's bright tone.
Having borrowed a horse, I used my skill to check the overall state of the village.
My style was to watch the progress of the work in the village and rush over if there were any problems.
I could have waited for reports in the center, but since they had only just started moving, there were more troubles.
When I confirmed a dispute, I would ride the horse to the scene.
Outside the wall made by driving in logs, ditches were being dug to create a height difference.
The soil was piled up on the wall side, also serving as reinforcement.
It was heavy labor, and the one arguing there was Novem.
The villagers were making a fuss after seeing Novem's magic.
"Why won't you do it all! We're in a hurry, so you could at least do that much!"
A slender man wearing tattered clothes was making a scene, but those around him had exasperated expressions.
Novem explained.
"That is why I cannot give my full power. I will be on standby for treatment after this, so I need to conserve my magic—"
"You're planning to be the only one taking it easy!"
Looking at the man making the fuss, he didn't seem very sane.
Then, a small man stepped forward.
Was he a Gnome?
"Hey, instead of making a fuss without working for a while now, could you help out? Besides, you won't get a reward if you don't work."
The small Gnome was around 150 centimeters, which is considered tall for his kind. The slender man shouted at the Gnome youth.
"Don't mess with me! You Gnome brat, shut up and work! Don't talk back to a human! If this woman finishes the work quickly, I'll get a reward—"
I approached the slender man, who was screaming and spraying saliva, while riding my horse.
"I won't be giving out rewards. Let me tell you, Novem is also an overseer. I will pay rewards based on work, and if there are results, I'll add bonuses. However, if the opposite is true, the reward will only decrease."
The slender man, seeing me, suddenly became quiet.
And the Gnome youth was wiping away the saliva the man had sprayed, saying, "How dirty."
"I'm working seriously... but this woman... the Gnome..."
To the man muttering complaints, I raised my voice.
"If you have complaints, tell them to me! If you have no intention of working, stay inside and don't get in the way! Also, the work here is the slowest. If it continues to be delayed, there will be no additional reward."
When I said that, the villagers who were watching resumed their work in great haste.
I was making them compete to see who could finish the work the fastest.
Normally, I would have wanted them to be careful about the quality of the work, but right now, speed was important.
"I am sorry, Lyell-sama."
Getting off the horse, I confirmed the work with Novem.
"No, this much is cute."
As I said that, I looked at the Gnome youth. I had heard that he was dexterous and was acting as a carpenter in the village.
The Dwarven blacksmith was with Miranda-san, digging holes to set traps.
"It would have been better if there was a blacksmith you liked."
When I joked with Novem, she had a slightly troubled expression.
"I want them to work hard on setting the traps rather than here. Besides, we need to have weapons prepared."
Crossbow bolts.
Spears.
I planned to have those prepared as well.
"If the enemy attacks, flee inside immediately. There's no movement for now, but according to the village chief, it feels like they'll come soon."
"I'll be careful. Please be careful too, Lyell-sama."
"I know."
Saying that, I mounted the horse and checked the surrounding situation with my skill.
The next problem was at Clara's location.
(Problems everywhere.)
As I rode the horse, I heard the Third Generation's voice. I felt irritated by the voice that sounded like he was enjoying himself with a smirk.
Come on, do your best. This kind of thing is fun just to watch, isn't it?
The Fourth Generation agreed.
When you think you have no responsibility, it's easy, and you gain the leeway to see various things.
The Fifth Generation too.
Ah, I get that.
(You guys...)
Leaving the ancestors who were enjoying themselves alone, I headed toward Clara.
It was around the time the sun began to set after the work had started.
Returning to the Porter, I got off the horse and spoke to Norma-san, who was standing by.
"Did anyone come?"
In truth, I knew that no one had come to report, but I tried talking to her.
The grumpy Norma-san replied shortly.
"Nothing. That maid named Monica, whose head is a flower garden, brought food."
She probably brought something like soup in a wooden plate.
Having finished her meal, Norma-san sat in a chair, looking bored.
The Third Generation spoke.
This person... let's place her somewhere.
The Seventh Generation refused.
We decided to make her a mobile reserve, didn't we? Rejected. Besides, Lyell moves more than I thought, so isn't she sufficient to leave as a proxy?
The proxy of me, who is a proxy, is the real captain—.
It was becoming confusing.
While this was happening, Monica brought my meal. She was running with a smile, carrying a plate on a tray.
As I looked on anxiously, wondering if she would trip, Monica, who had approached, spoke.
"Did you think I'd trip? Too bad! Food cannot be treated carelessly."
Irritated by her attitude as if she had seen through me, I received the meal from Monica.
Because I had been moving around the village on a horse, my meal was delayed.
Seeing my meal, Norma-san spoke.
"Hey, the contents are different from my meal!"
Monica, who was collecting Norma-san's tableware, laughed through her nose.
"So? The ingredients were brought in by us."
Leaving the frustrated Norma-san to the smirking Monica, I finished my meal quickly. Seeing this, the Seventh Generation spoke.
Lyell... he used to be such a well-behaved child.
The Second Generation was appalled.
Consider the time and place. This is a battlefield.
The Seventh Generation shot back.
Even on a battlefield, House Walt is a Count's house! That behavior is important!
The Third Generation added finally.
...But the current Lyell isn't even a noble.
While listening to the ancestors' conversation, I finished my meal.
Monica was saying something like "Eating so heartily... even that part is..." but I ignored her and used my skill.
If I didn't use it while taking breaks, fatigue would set in.
I watched Monica's back as she took the tableware and returned to her post.
I checked the state of the village and the nearby forest with my skill.
Then, I scratched my head and stood up.
"...They could at least let me take a break."
When I drew my saber, Norma-san stood up from her chair in surprise. She was keeping her distance from me.
I tapped the Porter, and Shannon emerged from it.
Since she came out yawning, I gave her a light slap.
"That hurts!"
"Prepare the signal fire. Hurry!"
Then, Shannon flusteredly lit the tool for raising the signal fire that had been installed near the Porter.
I had her light it with simple magic, and after a while, thick smoke rose into the sky.
"Wait! This is suffocating!!"
Seeing Shannon flee back into the Porter while coughing, I thought.
(She really feels like a disappointing beautiful girl.)
Norma-san was flustered, but there was no doubt she was a knight. The moment the preparation for the signal fire began, she had taken up her weapon.
"About thirty are coming. They are led by a Hippogriff."
The number of monsters being led was increasing.
Previously, I had heard it was about ten.
(I remember reading in a book that they gather strength by attacking people...)
There are many mysteries regarding the habits of monsters.
The fact that they have something called magic stones in their bodies is one, and the same goes for their diet.
They attack humans and beasts, but their eating intervals are long relative to their body size.
(Now is not the time to think about that.)
I spoke to Norma-san and mounted the horse.
Then, I explained the situation to the messenger soldiers who had run over.
Where are they coming from?
What is the number?
What are the types of monsters?
I told them those things and gave instructions on how to move.
It was a time for the knights and soldiers to earn as well.
Rather than being nervous, they seemed to be thinking, "Come to my area quickly."
"You will deal with everything except the Hippogriff. Counterattack if attacked. Or you may flee."
Once I finished giving instructions, the messengers returned to their own units.
The expeditionary force had many anxiety factors against the Hippogriff from the start, but it had become somewhat better.
Then, Marcus-san and Bread-san ran toward me.
"Lyell! I heard monsters appeared!"
Marcus-san seemed intent on fighting with a spear.
Bread-san also had a serious expression.
Seeing this, Norma-san muttered under her breath.
"...Hmph, as if you lot could win."
When the trio I had saved also gathered, I gave instructions.
"The Hippogriff will enter the village. If it becomes dangerous, please evacuate near the Porter."
Bread-san spoke.
"I can't run away here! I desperately want some credit!"
Since he seemed desperate, I didn't say anything more.
I took the bow on my back and pulled an arrow from the quiver. I possessed the exploding arrows because there were few of them.
I had thought about giving them to Clark-san, but I stopped because there was no time to test them with the crossbow.
Looking toward the forest where the Griffon was, I saw the Hippogriff fly up from there.
Goblins emerged from the forest and followed the Hippogriff.
"It would have been easier if the Orcs had come out too."
I wanted to reduce the opponent's combat power here, but it seemed it wouldn't go that smoothly.
The village suddenly became noisy.
They seemed to have doubted that the signal fire had been raised, but since monsters actually attacked, they were hurriedly and seriously evacuating.
"With this, the real thing should be fine."
Marcus-san said while looking at me.
"The real thing... this is the real thing."
I shook my head.
"How well we win will change things from now on."
Hearing my words, the Sixth Generation spoke.
You've started talking. But don't let your guard down.
Gripping the jewel, I watched the monsters' movements.
(Based on the location, it's Aria.)
――The monsters that attacked Gioni Village were blocked by the reinforced walls and could not break in.
The soldiers and knights attacked them with crossbows and spears, reducing their numbers.
However, that didn't matter to the flying Hippogriff.
As it dove into the village, it blew away one soldier and searched for prey.
Its front legs had eagle claws.
It grabbed one soldier and would not let go.
The grabbed soldier was blown away, gripped with strong force, and was vomiting blood as the claws dug in.
Around them, knights and soldiers surrounded the Hippogriff with spears.
At the sight of the creature, which was one size larger than a horse, the knights and soldiers' hips retreated, even though money was involved.
In the midst of this, the one who leaped out was Aria.
Gripping her spear and having removed her buckler, she pounced on the Hippogriff.
"Show me if you can fly well while still holding on!"
Closing the distance in an instant, she thrust her spear directly into the Hippogriff.
However, perhaps because its eyesight was good, the Hippogriff took distance and tried to fly up immediately.
As it threw away the soldier it was holding, comrades rushed over.
Aria immediately threw a knife, but since she didn't have skill like Miranda, it was easily avoided by the Hippogriff.
The Hippogriff, spreading its wings and flying up, let out a high-pitched cry like a bird with its eagle head.
Just as it aimed at Aria and tried to attack, Aria laughed.
"Don't underestimate humans."
The moment the Hippogriff tried to gain momentum in the air, everyone evacuated from the spot.
The nets didn't make it in time.
But that didn't mean there were no other methods.
They threw things with stones tied to both ends of a string toward the Hippogriff.
Most of those thrown using centrifugal force missed, but one hit the Hippogriff's head directly, and another wrapped around its left wing, bringing it down to the ground.
The Hippogriff immediately shook off the thing that had wrapped around it, but there was no way Aria would miss that opening.
Aria's red jewel emitted light, causing her to use a skill.
Thrusting the spear into its head, she pinned the thrashing Hippogriff directly into the ground, sealing it in.
That feat of strength didn't look like it belonged to a girl.
She was truly a powerhouse.
"With such a cute face..."
"I'll stop talking to her."
"She's completely red with blood splatter."
The people around were completely put off by Aria, who was bathed in the blood of the thrashing Hippogriff she had speared.
(Good grief, with just this... the knights of Central are fragile.)
Confirming that the Hippogriff had stopped moving, Aria took out a towel and wiped her face.
The soldiers and villagers collecting the thrown tools asked Aria for confirmation.
"U-um... what about our work?"
Aria replied with a smile.
Despite that, the soldiers let out surprised sounds of "Hie!"
"Don't worry, I'll tell Lyell. I'm counting on you next time too."
"Y-yes!"
Collecting the tools, the knights and soldiers confirmed the Hippogriff's corpse.
Once they confirmed it was indeed dead, one of them ran off as a messenger.
"Now, as for the outside..."
Thinking that and looking around, the knights and soldiers who had been dealing with monsters clinging to the wall also gathered to see the Hippogriff.
(Is it over? One injured person...)
A soldier was carried away on something made by removing a door to use as a stretcher.
Judging from the state of the wound that Novem could handle it, Aria pulled her spear out of the Hippogriff.
Looking at the monster with an eagle's body and a horse's lower half, Aria was satisfied with her achievement.
(But it would be tough against a Griffon.)
From the sensation when she thrust the spear, Aria wondered if the skull had been just a bit harder—.
She could no longer be called a young lady.
As Aria checked her weapon, Lyell, riding a horse, rushed over to her.
Marcus and Bread followed behind him, and upon confirming the battle had ended, their shoulders slumped.
(I wonder if they didn't see anyone injured.)
Lyell got off the horse and spoke words of appreciation to Aria.
"It seems there are no injuries. I'm relieved you're safe. Even so, it was almost a one-hit kill, wasn't it?"
Aria said while wiping away the blood.
It was a short reply, but her voice sounded happy.
"I-is that so? Well, I've grown too."
Lyell looked around and gave instructions to have the injured knights and soldiers step back.
Then, he left the filling of those gaps to Marcus and Bread.
The two of them looked displeased.
Watching the two walk toward the wall reluctantly, Aria spoke.
"...Lyell."
"Hmm?"
"I wonder if I was like that too."
Then, Lyell smiled.
"You were. You looked displeased, as if saying, 'I'll do simple work like lookout.' Your attitude showed that you wanted to do more important work. Though not as blatant as that."
Aria got angry at the laughing Lyell.
"Don't say it so clearly! I'm reflecting on it, you know!"
Lyell gave a gentle smile.
"Then, isn't that fine? Now it can be settled as a funny story. Well, I don't know what will happen to those two, though."
It doesn't end as a funny story. That is the case when there is only regret, such as thinking they should have been serious at that time.
Remembering Lyra, who lost an arm and suffered burns—the second adventurer who had guided her—Aria's expression became serious.
Aria didn't miss that Lyell had a slightly lonely expression, as if saying he hadn't undertaken the education of those two.
Then, Lyell spoke.
"I've prepared hot water for the injured, so you should go wipe your body. Ah, and also."
"And also?"
While she wondered if there was something more, Lyell spoke with genuine concern.
"...Since it's not just among comrades, you shouldn't wander around naked like Alamsars."
"I-I'm not!"
The surrounding knights, soldiers, and villagers watching the two flirt spoke.
"I can't get excited by a woman covered in blood."
"That woman is a powerhouse, but that man is a powerhouse in a different sense."
"Adventurers, or women who are knights or soldiers, are no good..."
When Aria glared at the group who said such things, they immediately fled—.