kscans

Chapter 183 - The Border War Begins

The border.

Front-line base.

Completely unaware of the trouble the other nations were in, I was absorbed in the problem right in front of me.

It wasn't monsters, but a swarm of adventurers crowding around Tina.

"My, what a beautiful lady. How about it? Will you join me in monster subjugation?"

"What are you saying? Do you think you're a match for her beauty? I, on the other hand…"

"What are you saying? A beautiful person should be with me…"

They were competing with each other.

These were B-rank adventurers. They seemed skilled, but their heads were in the clouds.

Tina said.

"I'm sorry, but I have no intention of teaming up with people I've only just met today. However, if you're willing to follow my instructions in this battle, I might consider it."

At these words, the adventurers exclaimed.

"Really?! Please, give us your orders!"

"For you, I would go through fire and water!"

"Our lives are for you, beautiful lady!"

They were ecstatic.

Tina looked satisfied.

"Well then, I'll be counting on you."

She said, then returned to my side.

I commented.

"That must have been tiring. They're wearing gear that suggests they have some skill, but looking at them, they seem unreliable. What's the reality?"

To my question, Tina replied.

"They're just as they appear. I think they have some confidence in their abilities, but that's it. They're probably the ones General Goltor was talking about. I have no expectations for them at all."

Her tone was exasperated.

The disbanded group was now barking orders at their parties in a strangely commanding tone. They weren't going to survive this.

I said.

"In that case, please give them instructions so they don't get in the way."

Tina nodded.

Just then.

"Hah! You sure act high and mighty, don't you? Lady A-rank?"

I turned around to see a party of four.

The members were a staff wielder, a magician, an archer, and an axe wielder. And they were all women.

The axe wielder, in particular, was intimidating. She was one hundred and ninety centimeters tall, with her crimson hair tied in a ponytail. She wore light armor made of Orichalcum, in an Amazonian style. And the first thing that caught my eye was the eyepatch over her left eye.

At first glance, her demeanor was masculine, but her chest made it clear she was a woman.

Tina asked.

"Excuse me, but who might you be?"

The axe wielder replied.

"Hah! I don't have a name worth giving to a polite lady like you! I just came to say one thing. Don't get carried away, got it?"

Her tone was confrontational.

It was like a greeting from a biker gang.

I was about to say something when Tina stopped me with her hand.

"Not to get carried away? Are you referring to my attitude towards the other adventurers just now?"

To this question, the axe wielder replied.

"Hah! So you do get it. Listen up. No matter what orders you give, we're not gonna listen. That's all I came to say."

The rest of her members had similar expressions.

Tina said.

"I see. That's a relief. It means there are fewer people I need to give orders to."

Her face looked relieved.

It might have seemed like a provocation, but it was her honest feeling.

The axe wielder said.

"Tch! Anyway, that's all I came to say! Let's go, you lot!"

And with that, she went somewhere.

There was a bit of a commotion, but it probably wouldn't be a problem. A nearby soldier captain said.

"Are you okay? I was getting nervous just watching from the side. After all, you were being confronted by 'Mad Dog,' one of the top B-rank adventurer parties."

He was breaking out in a cold sweat.

Tina asked.

"They seem to be quite skilled. Who are they?"

To this question, the soldier captain replied.

"Ah, the person who spoke to you just now is the leader, named Alumi. Her personality is just as it appears, but on the battlefield, she possesses a strength that makes her unparalleled. She's strong enough to not be outdone even by the general."

At his explanation, Tina said.

"To be that skilled… However, I've never seen her active before…"

To this question, the soldier captain replied.

"They started their activities a year ago. It seems they registered just after the super-large monster was subjugated. From there, they completed requests and became B-rank at a considerable speed. I don't know the details. But I hear that of the three with her, two were in an A-rank adventurer party."

He said, then returned to his post.

Tina murmured.

"Two of them? Ah, that staff wielder and magician. I thought I'd seen them somewhere; they were with that rich kid. What do you think, Shinsuke? Shinsuke?"

I was lost in thought, not noticing Tina turning to me.

('Mad Dog'? I feel like I've heard that somewhere before. But not recently. Was it a name I heard long ago? But where?)

As I was pondering, Tina gave me a knee to the gut.

Startled, I said.

"Huh? What is it?"

As I panicked at the suddenness of it, Tina asked.

"What were you thinking about?"

She was giving me a sidelong glance.

It seemed she thought I was thinking about something lewd.

I said.

"No, nothing. I was just curious about that party's name. That's all. I'll tell you the details later. Let's get to our posts for now."

I forcefully ended the conversation.

Tina looked dissatisfied, but given the situation, she begrudgingly accepted.

A soldier captain appeared before the adventurers gathered at the front gate.

"Listen up, everyone! We are about to face an unprecedented horde of monsters. We do not know how long this battle will last. It may be a long one. But the Empire will not fall! I have high expectations for your performance!"

With that declaration, the gates opened.

The adventurers began to march out in unison. We followed.

Once outside.

A gentle breeze drifted across the quiet wasteland. All around were numerous fences and catapults. And multiple Edgeson units.

They were fully prepared and waiting.

Tina said.

"Alright, you will all be on the defensive. Do not charge recklessly. Focus only on the enemies that come towards you. You must not let them break through. If you are injured and can no longer continue fighting, retreat immediately. Is that clear?"

To these instructions, the adventurers replied.

"""Yes! As you command!"""

They accepted in perfect unison.

I said.

"They're either obedient or just simple. Well, at least it's good that there won't be any needless deaths. What's the current situation?"

To my question, a soldier captain replied.

"Sir! Currently, no monster movements have been confirmed. We have scouted up to a distance of three kilometers just in case, but there is no sign of them. We have received the same report from the flanks."

He stated it succinctly.

The last time, they attacked normally. By this time, it wouldn't be strange if they had already arrived.

I had a strange feeling in my chest.

As I thought this, I looked ahead and for a moment, the earth seemed to dent and sink.

Huh? There was a wind, but it was a light breeze. The sky was cloudy, but it wasn't raining.

So why?

Wondering about this, I activated `Detection`.

Then, I saw countless red dots about two kilometers away.

I shouted.

"Fire Shot!"

I activated my fire magic as a preemptive strike.

Tina, who was next to me, said.

"Shinsuke?! What's wrong? Why did you suddenly use magic—"

Before she could finish, the fireball exploded in a seemingly empty space.

From there, several burning Goblins appeared.

Seeing this, Tina shouted.

"Everyone! Battle stations! The monsters are approaching invisibly!"

With this shout, the monsters revealed themselves.

An innumerable number of monsters. I confirmed Goblins, Lizardmen, Ogres, and Wolves among their types.

The soldier captain said.

"Send an urgent message to the general! The monsters have acquired a means of turning invisible!"

A soldier saluted and left.

The soldier captain approached Tina.

"Lady Tina, I would like you to take command this time. It seems the adventurers will only listen to someone as beautiful as you."

His words were tinged with a sense of his own powerlessness.

Tina replied.

"Understood. I will handle the adventurers. Captain, please take command of the soldiers."

At her dignified atmosphere, the soldier captain said.

"Yes, ma'am. An order from one as beautiful as you. In the name of loyalty, I have received it."

He said, then headed towards the soldiers.

Isn't your loyalty supposed to be to the general?

Tina said.

"Shinsuke… let's go."

She said, readying her spear.

I switched gears as well and readied my hammer.