kscans

Chapter 186 - Interlude: The Situation in the Four Nations

Let's turn back time.

Kingdom.

The monsters had suddenly appeared at a location away from the main gate. The royal family immediately issued an emergency summons.

All soldiers, knights, and adventurers who were confident in their skills gathered before the main gate.

Commanding them was Glad, the shield knight who had attained the rank of captain.

Glad shouted.

"Listen up! This is the gate to the Royal Capital! If they break through here, the damage to the citizens will be immense! All units, fight with all your heart!"

A roar went up at this order.

From this, it was clear that the trust in Glad was deep.

However, a middle-aged knight captain said.

"Tch! Just because he's a favorite of Her Majesty the Queen, he's getting full of himself. Just you watch. In this battle, I'll prove that I'm superior."

He spoke with ambition.

In a way, raising a death flag.

All forces gathered at the main gate, facing an innumerable army of monsters. After a while, the monsters began to move all at once.

The vanguard was Goblins and Slimes. It felt like the opening move.

The knights had confident looks on their faces. The soldiers also looked like it would be an easy victory. For the adventurers, it was business as usual. Each of them was certain of victory in the first battle.

But then, Boooooom!.

Suddenly, an explosion was heard from the left and right.

Glad shouted.

"What was that sound?!"

His question was only natural.

Immediately, soldiers and some adventurers split to the left and right to investigate.

When a soldier returned.

"Sir, sir… I-I report! The wall protecting the Royal Capital has been destroyed!"

At this report, Glad said.

"Wh-what did you say?! A surprise attack by the enemy?!"

The soldier replied.

"W-well, there were no signs of the enemy nearby. At the same time as the explosion, they attacked from the outside. Currently, the soldiers and adventurers who went with me are fighting back, but there are too many of them! We need reinforcements immediately!"

At the same time as that report, another soldier came running.

"Th-this is the left side! The wall has been destroyed, and monsters are attacking! We are fighting back, but there are too many of them!"

A similar report.

Glad thought for a moment, then said.

"Messenger! Immediately notify the five A-rankers! Tell them to split up and defend the destroyed walls!"

The messenger saluted and entered the city.

Glad remembered his conversation with the queen.

"Are you saying that something might have been done to the city?"

To this question, the queen had replied.

"It's just a prediction. It's just what I thought I would do. I think I'm probably overthinking it, but please be careful. Especially those A-rankers; they are one of the core parts of our forces. If you judge it to be dangerous, move them accordingly."

Finishing his recollection, Glad said.

"Queen Olivia's predictions are always so accurate…"

With a smirk, Glad focused on the army before him.

A messenger appeared at the inn where Bardos and the others were staying and relayed the situation.

Leona said.

"I see, so that explosion earlier was the destruction of the wall. Bardos? How should we split up?"

To this question, Bardos replied.

"I'll leave that to you. I'm all about rampaging, after all."

He said this with a grin, holding his axe, and tossed the decision to Leona.

Sighing, Leona said.

"Then, Bardos and I will head to the right side. Rumily, Milfy, and Matilda, please head to the left side."

At this instruction, Matilda said.

"Wait a minute. I think the balance of power is a bit too skewed. How about assigning one magician to your side?"

To this question, Leona replied.

"You're right about that. However, while I may be one thing, Bardos has never coordinated in that way. Even when he teamed up with Shinsuke, his style was mainly close combat. His coordination with magicians is practically nonexistent. In that case, it's more efficient for us to fight with partners we're used to. You'd be more comfortable moving with Milfy and the others than with us, wouldn't you?"

After thinking about it for a moment, Matilda agreed.

Ignoring this conversation, Bardos said.

"Are you done yet? Let's go already!"

He was already at the entrance.

Leona said to a castle maid who was at the inn.

"Then please take care of that child."

She said this, then picked up her spear and shield and headed to Bardos's side.

The maid bowed and returned to the room.

Milfy, who had been watching this scene, said.

"Bardos-san is the same as always. Well then, let's head out too."

She said, picking up her staff.

Rumily also nodded and checked her equipment.

Matilda said.

"I don't know if he's obedient or just stubborn. I really don't get it."

She said this, confused by the meaning of her own words, and picked up her staff.

Republic.

Knights and soldiers gathered at the main gate. And all the adventurers in the guild had taken up battle positions.

The defense here was sufficient with just the main gate. Because the left and right sides were a gentle crescent-shaped coastline, there was no other way to attack from land.

Bradamante, who had been promoted to Knight Captain, said.

"Then I'll leave the instructions for the adventurers to you. Guild Master."

At these words, the Guild Master, holding a lance, said.

"Leave it to me. I won't let a single one enter the Royal Capital. On my honor."

As he said this, he emanated a fighting spirit.

This was one of the most skilled individuals in the Republic. A muscular body with a calm judgment. Worthy of being called a master.

He was in his fifties but could still be active on the front lines. However, when his predecessor fell ill, he was named as the successor.

In other words, he was the Guild Master who was closest to being an active adventurer among all the guilds.

Bradamante said.

"That is most reassuring. Then I shall focus on my own work."

She said this, picked up her trident, and returned to the army she commanded.

The Guild Master shouted.

"Listen up, all of you! We don't know when this battle will end! Don't waste your stamina; focus on defense! Refrain from any heroic actions!"

He roared.

The adventurers raised their weapons to the heavens and let out a battle cry. At the same time, the monsters began to move.

The vanguard was Goblins and Geckos.

Seeing this, the Guild Master said.

"Alright then, let's show them a little of our power."

He said this and stepped forward.

The monsters attacked. The Guild Master readied his lance.

Infusing it with magic.

"Skill, 'Vibration'!"

With a shout, he thrust his spear.

Then, something invisible shot out in a straight line towards the monsters.

The moment it touched them, the Goblins were sent flying all at once. They flew back like something out of an anime or manga.

An adventurer who was watching said.

"Whoa. So that's the skill that earned the Guild Master the name 'Wild Bull.' First time I've seen it."

He was excited.

The others felt the same way and readied their weapons to live up to the Guild Master's expectations.

The Guild Master thought.

(Well, that's about it for a preemptive strike. They don't seem to be intimidated. I wonder how long we can hold out.)

He was inwardly anxious.

Church.

Knights' Garrison.

Pope Altorine was giving orders to defend the main gate while being cautious of the monsters' strategic movements.

Just then, an old man armed with a spear and three adventurers appeared in the garrison.

"Your Holiness, this Guild Master… has come… to assist. Wheeze, wheeze…"

He was already out of breath.

This was the church's Guild Master. He was over ninety years old but was a stubborn old man who wouldn't give up his seat, saying he was 'still active.'

Altorine said.

"Guild Master, I accept your sentiment. For now, it is enough for you to give orders to the adventurers at the guild."

She politely declined.

Hearing this, the Guild Master said.

"Wh-what are you saying! I-I am still active, you know. See, like this…"

He said this and swung his spear around wildly.

The adventurers next to him shouted 'Watch out!' and dodged. And then.

Crack!.

A terrible sound echoed from the Guild Master.

The Guild Master dropped his spear and turned pale. Sweat was pouring not just from his face but from his entire body.

The Guild Master said.

"M-my… back…"

He was desperately trying to say something.

Altorine said.

"You adventurers there. Take the Guild Master to the aid station."

At that instruction, two adventurers nodded and carried the Guild Master away.

Altorine, pulling herself together, said.

"Then, you will take command. I will handle the response to each unit from here. You there, as the representative of the adventurers, please take command. I have heard of your popularity. Please protect the main gate together with the knights."

The Knight Captain and the adventurer both bowed. Altorine thought.

(Alright, with this, I've done what I can for now. All that's left is to somehow hold out until the Empire takes care of things.)

As she was pondering what to do next with anxiety in her heart, a knight entered the garrison.

"F-forgive me! The monsters are on the move! We've received reports that Goblins and Bears have begun their advance!"

At this report, Altorine said.

"Intercept them immediately! However, do not pursue them deeply; focus on defense! Do not let them enter the city under any circumstances!"

After giving this order, the next soldier entered.

"I-I report! An Anaconda has infiltrated the warehouse district by climbing the wall! The knights are currently fighting back!"

At this report, Altorine said.

"Knight Captain, head to the scene immediately and give orders! Do not let a single Anaconda escape!"

The Knight Captain who received the order saluted and headed out with the soldier.

Empire.

Royal Capital.

Empress Grine, upon receiving the report of the large-scale monster army, said.

"Did they come from the front-line base?"

She voiced the worst possible prediction.

The knight replied.

"It is unknown. However, the monsters appeared suddenly. And they are positioned so as to surround the main gate. It did not give the impression that they came from the base."

He stated his frank opinion.

Grine said.

"Immediately instruct the knight order and the soldiers to fortify the defense of the main gate! Notify the Adventurer's Guild as well! Strictly order them not to hold back their forces! And tell the Dwarves to deploy all available Edgeson units!"

At that command, the knight saluted and left.

Just then, an official appeared before Grine.

"Excuse me. This is a message from General Goltor. It says, 'The monsters have yet to show themselves.'"

At this report, Grine said.

"So that means they haven't been broken through. Official, do not relay any of our situation here to the general."

At this instruction, the official said.

"But if we do that, the Royal Capital will…"

To the panicked official, Grine said.

"That is precisely why. If the general were to leave the base now, who would defend that place? Besides, the general's son and the Knight Captain, Magnes, is here in this Royal Capital."

At those words, the official's expression relaxed.

Knights' Garrison.

There, the knights who commanded each unit and the B-rank adventurer who was the guild's representative and had not gone to the base were gathered.

And then, a young man in his late twenties, one hundred and eighty centimeters tall, wearing a yellow full plate with a family crest engraved on his left chest and a yellow cape embroidered with the same crest, and carrying a large sword on his back, entered.

He was Knight Captain Magnes.

The son of General Goltor and a promising knight with skill and popularity that rivaled that of veteran warriors.

Magnes said.

"I have heard the situation. The monsters are deployed at a distance from the main gate, waiting for something. Currently, the knight order and soldiers have gathered at the main gate and have taken up battle positions. You haven't seen them anywhere else, have you?"

To this question, a knight captain replied.

"Yes, sir! We have thoroughly investigated the walls around the Royal Capital, but no monsters have been confirmed. Also, there is no damage to the city walls or the city itself."

He stated it succinctly.

Magnes thought for a moment, then said.

"Thank you for your hard work. Then we shall focus on defending the main gate. Place a small number of soldiers on top of the city walls and have them report immediately if anything happens. Notify all units. Do not make any unnecessary attacks; focus solely on defense."

At this instruction, a knight captain said.

"Defense, sir? With all due respect, we have the Edgesons. If we use them to rampage, wouldn't the monsters retreat?"

This suggestion was shared by the others as well.

It was a monster's instinct to flee when shown overwhelming power.

Magnes said.

"You all know that the monsters' movements this time are strange, don't you? Doing that would be useless. It would only lower our morale."

At those words, the captains fell silent.

Everyone present knew that the monsters' behavior was abnormal.

Magnes said.

"And you, the adventurer. I would like you to take command of all the adventurers."

The middle-aged adventurer said.

"Are you sure I am suitable for this? Without any consultation with the Guild Master?"

To this natural question, Magnes replied.

"To be honest, I cannot trust the Guild Master. The unusual request to the adventurers earlier, and the timing of this monster appearance. It's all too convenient. He may be in league with them."

At these words, everyone was speechless.

In other words, the Guild Master had sided with the monsters.

To the pondering individuals, Magnes said.

"Of course, there is no proof. It's merely circumstantial evidence. There is no basis for it. I ask you all to keep this conversation to yourselves. I do not want to cause any more anxiety."

Despite his pained expression, everyone saluted.

He didn't have to say such a thing. The fact that he did meant that he trusted the people here.

Magnes said.

"Alright, then let's begin the strategy meeting."

Meanwhile, at the Imperial Guild.

The Guild Master, with a glass of wine in hand, said.

"It has finally begun. Then, when the time comes, I too shall… kukuku…"

He drank, laughing.