The 24-member Assault Unit is fighting fiercely on the riverbank without losing a single member, using their martial arts, magic, and blessings.
However, the number of enemies crossing the river is not just in the hundreds or two hundreds. Even for an Assault Unit known for their exceptional strength, it is impossible not to let a single enemy pass due to numerical and geographical constraints.
Weaving through the rain of arrows and magic, the infantry finally reaches the barriers of Alsace.
But this low embankment combined with wooden fences is not a very robust barrier, and the soldiers have yet to overcome it.
“W-What is this iron wire—”
Without hesitation, the soldiers step into the thicket of barbed wire laid thickly before the barrier.
And they regret it as soon as they step in; the thorny iron wire pierces their feet, wrapping around them as it causes excruciating pain and severely hinders their movement.
“Get out of here! Go back to your country, you humans!”
The soldiers, hardly able to move in front of the barrier, become easy targets for the adventurers on the inside who are ready to counterattack.
Although they are composed of an average Rank 2 and are inferior in ability to the Assault Unit, they have spent years living a perilous life as adventurers, achieving sufficient skill to be considered seasoned soldiers.
The thrusts of spears protruding from the fence are quite effective, accurately claiming the lives of Crusader Soldiers ensnared by the barbed wire.
However, on the other hand, the Crusaders continue to surge forward in overwhelming numbers, and the number of soldiers fighting in front of the barrier gradually increases.
“Sister, isn’t this getting a bit dangerous!?”
Hannah, the third daughter and a member of the “Three Huntresses,” bravely fighting in front of the barrier like a legendary Valkyrie, raises her voice instinctively.
“Calm down, it’s still alright. Elves never panic, no matter the situation.
Laura, are you ready?”
“Yes, sister.”
Hannah has already switched her equipment from a bow to a spear, repeatedly stabbing soldiers who are just about to overcome the barrier for the past five minutes.
Meanwhile, the eldest, Irina, and the second daughter, Laura, are armed with wind and lightning bows, preparing larger lightning arrows than usual.
With enemy hordes pressing in front of them, it seems that even if they shut their eyes and shot, they would still hit the enemy, yet there are no enemy soldiers in their sights.
“Everyone, step away from the fence!”
At Irina’s voice, Hannah and the other adventurers wielding spears in front of the barrier immediately take a step back.
Using the brief pause from the spear thrusts, the soldiers quickly close in on the fence, attempting to climb over.
“‘Lightning Release’!”
Simultaneously released from the bows are low-level area attack spells of lightning. Even though they fire two shots, they cannot strike all the enemies rushing towards the barrier within the attack range.
However, barbed wire is sprawled at their feet, firmly entwined around the fence.
The released lightning from the wind and lightning bows gets absorbed into the barbed wire surrounding the fence and travels through the conductive iron wire, quickly electrifying the entire network of barbed wire laid out.
At that moment, the mere barbed wire transforms into electrified barbed wire.
Soldiers who had been stuck to the fence collapse as if a fly caught in a screen had been sprayed with insecticide, while anyone who stepped into the thicket of barbed wire was shocked and lost the strength to fight.
“See, we’re still fine, right?”
“Uh, yeah…”
Feeling the difference in tension between her and her sister’s expressions, Hannah looks at Irina.
“Everyone, get ready! The next wave is coming!”
The soldiers that had swarmed in front of the barrier are nearly wiped out, but immediately, the enemy reinforcements appear.
There’s no time to rejoice in having taken down a large amount of enemies; the adventurers rally again and face the enemies.
“Sister, the next wave might be a bit harder.”
Laura’s calm voice reaches Irina.
“What do you mean? The fence hasn’t collapsed anywhere yet.”
“That’s not it, there are too many corpses.”
Laura points to the other side of the fence, where the deceased and the gravely injured lie scattered on the ground.
Naturally, they are laying not on the ground, but on the barbed wire.
“No way, are they using the bodies as stepping stones—”
Just as Irina realizes this, it becomes a reality.
The Crusader Soldiers charging forward again stomp on their fallen comrades’ bodies or even carcasses of those still alive, approaching the barrier without getting caught in the barbed wire.
“You bastards! Are you out of your minds, trampling on your comrades?”
Someone from the adventurers shouts.
For adventurers who value teamwork, the act of ignoring their comrades’ corpses and not helping the ones still living, treating them as mere objects to step on, is unforgivable.
However, it could be considered a natural action for soldiers, as in reality, stepping over comrades’ bodies to break through barbed wire is one method of overcoming obstacles.
Nonetheless, aside from Chrono, no adventurer knows this, and the Crusader Soldiers are just using the conveniently placed stepping stones before them.
“Indeed, this might be troublesome; even using an electric attack wouldn’t shock them much now.”
From here on out, it’s only possible to push back the enemy physically.
Resolute, Irina and Laura draw their bows, facing the incoming enemies with even greater intensity. At that moment,
“Revival!”
With that shout, they hear the unforgettable thunderous sound of the demon that a Crusader Soldier has.
With a mechanical grinding noise, a torrent of deadly bullets, capable of penetrating armor, is fired accompanied by black muzzle flashes.
“Sorry to keep you waiting, everyone! The machine gun is back!”
The storm of bullets, holding lethal power for humans, once again assaults the Crusaders.
Mozurun grips the machine gun and unleashes a barrage towards the soldiers charging at the barrier with all his dark magical power.
“Ah, perfect timing for a revival.”
Displaying a somewhat relieved expression, Irina turns around to give orders.
“Then let’s go fetch Chrono and his group.”
Standing there is Witch Fiona, dressed all in black in a different sense than Chrono.
“Alright, I’m counting on you.”
“Yes, leave it to me.”
Fiona pulls out a large horn from her pointed witch hat, which is her trademark.
She places her small lips to the horn and lightly blows into it,
Bwooooon
The loud melody drowns out the soldiers’ angry shouts, the gunfire, and the sounds of battle.
That sound reaches even the ears of the Assault Unit fighting on the other side of the barrier and Chrono’s group.
“That’s the signal from the horn! Everyone retreat!”
As I hear the distinctive sound of the horn, I immediately issue a retreat order.
That said, since the retreat has already been communicated to the entire Assault Unit through the horn wail, they should retreat without needing to hear my words.
“Come on! Bring it on!”
Among the hot-blooded warriors, it seems that some have completely forgotten the horn’s signal and are engrossed in battle.
I’m talking about you, Vulcan.
“Magic Bullet.”
I fire a bullet at Vulcan’s temple, the same soft-nosed round as when we had our duel before.
“Ouch! What the hell, Chrono! Don’t interfere!”
Caught up in the swing of a large sword unleashed with an angry shout, two soldiers are sent flying.
“We’re retreating. Didn’t you hear the sound of the horn?”
“Ah, now that you mention it, there was that signal.”
How long did you plan to keep fighting here if I hadn’t said anything? Until you die?
“Black Smoke.”
Taking the brain-dead wolfman, filled with the excitement of battle in his head, I promptly unleash a smoke screen to retreat quickly to the village.
Seeing some soldiers displaying a cautious demeanor, as if fearing whether it was poison, at the emergence of the thick black smoke, unfortunately, this smoke has no offensive ability. It’s merely a distraction.
This black magic is one I recall from my escape with Sariel, and thankfully, unlike that time, there’s no one attacking accurately from beyond the smoke. This is a significantly better situation.
“Truly, seasoned adventurers are commendable, their retreating methods are quite skillful.”
The ones who had just been surrounded by soldiers and had been caught up in a chaotic battle were immediately breaking through the encirclement and starting to retreat.
However, in this nearly flat riverbed, nothing stops the enemy’s feet. The soldiers push through the smoke screen and pursue us.
“The demon race is retreating!”
“Chase them! Chase them!”
Seeing us show a clear intention to retreat invigorates the Crusaders.
If we merely move straight back toward the gate, they will rush in the moment we enter the opened gate.
Somewhere, I must hold the enemy back just long enough to buy us a little time to return to the village.
However, that is not my job.
“Out of the way, oraah!”
Avoiding the Assault Unit, the enemy soldiers flocking towards the barrier begin to be cleared out by the Assault Unit members, led by Vulcan.
The soldiers, who had been momentarily caught in a pincer formation, are easily driven away from in front of the gate where the Assault Unit wields their blades.
That’s right; we just need to keep the enemies away from the gate for now.
The 24-member Assault Unit gathers in front of the barbed wire that we laid just after moving out.
All that’s left now is to wait for their reception.
“Welcome back, Chrono.”
As Fiona’s words reach my ears just as the gate opens, I reply.
“Ah, I’m back.”
Emerging from the opened gate with her usual sleepy expression, yet standing dignified, Fiona is flanked by adventurers holding an implement resembling long-handled scissors, or rather, clippers.
Their tool, resembling pruning shears, is not a weapon but designed to cut and remove the barbed wire.
Thanks to practicing several times, they swiftly clear the barbed wire laid out in front of the gate in no time, creating a path.
However, in that brief moment, I see the enemy soldiers rushing toward us, flooding in after noticing that we are retreating and the gate is open.
“Alright, I’m counting on you.”
“Yes—”
Without particularly worrying about what was behind us, we calmly advance back into the gate while listening to Fiona’s flowing incantation.
“لهب النار إيقاف جدار حاجز لمنع الثابت لهب هيروشي ثلاثاء كيكو”
I don’t know what that incantation means, as I am no ordinary mage, but I do know what kind of magic she is about to activate.
It is a type of defensive magic that saved me in Irz Village.
At first glance, it might seem like an advanced skill, but the magic she’s using now to stop the enemy by herself is indeed the real advanced defensive magic.
“――‘Fire Wall’”
It is truly an eruption.
Fire shield, flame wall; such expressions are insufficient, an enormous mountain of red flames with immense heat rises there.
Just as a human cannot stop the eruption even if they leap into the crater, the “Fire Wall” completely halts the march of hundreds of soldiers.
“…Amazing.”
“Thank you.”
It isn’t just me, but the adventurer comrades as well as the Crusader Soldiers who were watching for attack opportunities in front of the barrier are captivated by the sudden emergence of this giant mountain of fire.
And so, without letting a single enemy inside, all 24 members of the Assault Unit return to the village, and once again, the gate is closed.
At the same time, the red-flaming wall flickers like a mirage before disappearing like an illusion the next moment.