“————Finally, they’ve come.”
The information that the Rogentaria army was moving to attack the construction site reached me while I was having a graceful breakfast with Fiona.
The railway had long since entered the territory of Adamantoria and was being steadily extended day by day. Even though it was a place far from the main road, the large number of people involved and the heavy machinery golems making a loud noise created a large-scale construction site. Any incompetent would be able to find us easily.
I had thought that a raid to obstruct the construction would happen sooner or later… but it seems the enemy commander was quite cautious. They weren’t launching an immediate attack as soon as they found us; they were clearly waiting until they had reached a more advantageous position for an assault.
“If they are to raid with only standard troops, this position is ideal.”
“As expected, Sariel thinks so too.”
“Isn’t this meat a bit burnt?”
We had now reached a place where the railway ran close to a large town. It was already clear that a Rogentaria army battalion was stationed in that town, keeping a vigilant eye on the surrounding area.
Passing right next to a sufficient force was simply because this route was optimal for laying the railway. Besides, we had confidence that we could adequately deal with an attack from such a small force.
If there had been two battalions, I would have undoubtedly taken a detour, but Rogentaria’s forces were still concentrated in Damascus. As a result, the military deployment in this area was minimal. It seems they were quite fearful of a dwarf rebellion in the capital.
“It was a good idea to widen the reconnaissance range just in case.”
“Yes, both ground and aerial reconnaissance units are very proficient.”
“But this burn is delicious.”
Until now, air reconnaissance relied on the dragon knights, but it wasn’t just flying dragons that could soar through the skies. The Varna Forest Sea was home to various harpies, some of which were particularly skilled in flight.
This time, we decided to let Chris’s “Imperial Dragon Knight Corps” rest and instead had the harpy aerial reconnaissance team do their best.
Of course, on the ground, keen-scented dog-like and wolf-like beastmen were far superior to humans. The rabbit beastmen had sharp hearing, and the squirrel beastmen were known for their small size, which contributed to their stealth.
“Thanks to finding them early, it seems like we’ll make it in time.”
“Master, are we really going out?”
“Thank you for the meal — so, shall we go, Chrono, Sariel?”
As expected from the one who initiated the operation, Fiona was unusually motivated.
Sariel had a face that clearly didn’t want to go out, but there were many dwarves at the site, led by Dane, who would help support the empire’s industry going forward. Not a single one of them would be allowed to become a sacrifice in a place like this.
According to the reconnaissance report, it seemed the enemy had just left the town.
We were at the forward base we had established at a critical point. If we boarded a simple cargo car from here, we would reach the site almost immediately. We should have ample time to deploy the defense line and evacuate the workers.
“I’ll ask Kai’s First Assault Brigade for backup.”
“Then the Dark Knight Corps will…”
“No, we’ll go with the ‘Giant Beast Corps’ —”
“————You idiot! Did you really think the enemy wouldn’t have beastmen with them!? I told you to be careful of the aerial reconnaissance from the harpies, didn’t I!?”
As soon as the operation began, Harold, the battalion commander of the Rogentaria army, shouted angrily at the messenger.
“I-I apologize… The company commander thought this was a good opportunity since the enemy’s defenses seemed thin…”
“This is why nobles are useless!!”
He kicked a wooden crate in frustration. Though his anger was enough to burst blood vessels in his head, Harold kept himself sane enough not to strike the messenger in front of him.
“Fine, if it’s come to this, we have no choice — All troops, follow the company commander, advance!”
Now that we had been discovered by the enemy, retreat was no longer an option.
If it were up to him, he would have wanted to retreat and reorganize at this point, but if he withdrew without having exchanged fire with the enemy even once, he would be subject to harsh reprimands that could very well cost him his head.
More than anything, he had been waiting for the Demon King’s army to come to the location that was most advantageous for them to strike. If they let this chance slip, there would be no other points where they could focus their amassed forces and hit the enemy.
“From here on, speed is key! We will launch a cavalry charge. All cavalry, follow me!”
He was aware of the risks, but before the enemy could prepare their defenses, he would strike with the fastest cavalry charge and inflict as much damage as possible.
There was no need to annihilate the enemy. Getting them to suffer at least a little would suffice. The damage to them might be minor, but they would also keep their own losses to a minimum. As long as they could demonstrate bravery by launching a cavalry charge against the enemy lines, that would satisfy those above him.
Taking all these considerations into account, Harold made that decision.
In reality, it was likely the optimal solution given his current position and forces.
The cavalry unit, core forces of the battalion led by Harold, overtook the reckless infantry company that had been sent ahead and rushed over the rough grassland like the wind.
This area wasn’t a complete wasteland, but neither was it a dense forest filled with towering trees. It was a mix of rocky and grassy terrain, with patches of woods dotting the landscape.
While it wasn’t as good as a forest for concealment, careful progress could allow them to hide. And it was open enough for cavalry to run as needed. The terrain was suitable for both advancing and retreating, and it was close to the garrison town. There was no better location for an ideal ambush than this.
Even after making the blunder of getting caught early by the harpy aerial reconnaissance, it was still possible to recover. I was playing my best hand. While I was reassuring myself as I urged my horse forward,
“————Damn it! Did we not make it in time?”
As we closed the distance to see the enemy site, what filled our view was a wall spreading out before us.
It was a coarse earthen wall mixed with rocks. It was merely a low-level range defense magic, “Stone Wall,” but the extent to which it had been deployed was vast.
While it would collapse easily under an attack, it was more than enough to kill the momentum of a cavalry charge.
“A bunch of construction workers are responding too quickly…”
Confident in his own speed, Harold still found it surprising that the enemy had calmly prepared their defenses in that brief time. After all, the mere laborers and civil workers tasked with road construction wouldn’t be capable of such a feat.
Clearly, a well-experienced and veteran earth magicians’ unit had been deployed, which was unexpected for Harold. And a defensive earth magician was troublesome.
“If they’re going to raise a wall first, we have to back off! Fall back!!”
He decided against sticking to a cavalry charge and quickly changed his strategy.
It was better to merge with the following infantry troops and concentrate maximum combat power for an attack, he thought.
Just as his deputy was about to express his thoughts on the continuously changing decisions, a unpleasant scraping sound passed by them with a swoosh.
“Get back now! The Empire Army will start firing guns!!”
What Harold feared far more than the wall itself were the archers protected by it.
While they weren’t bowmen, it was more terrifying that there were gunmen with great killing power, extensive range, and above all, high firing speed.
Harold knew that the infantry of the Elroad Empire Army had adopted a new type of gun known as a rifle. However, it was because he belonged to the Rogentaria army that he also understood the existence of guns.
After all, the neighboring country was Adamantoria, the industrial capital of Pandora. The latest magical weapons and advanced military technologies were constantly emerging. Of course, the question of whether they could be utilized properly remained.
Among those weapons, guns were certainly one type, albeit minor. The guns manufactured in Adamantoria were essentially seen as extensions of magic wands that fired attack magic. Being able to unleash lethal attack magic easily, even for those without magical power, was a formidable threat, but since they were magical weapons, they were also expensive.
There was no way a newbie magician or new adventurer who could hardly use magic would be able to afford such an expensive weapon… It was a minor weapon that, while powerful when amassed in large quantities, would be significantly more efficient to just hire the same number of magicians instead, as it didn’t offer value in terms of cost.
“Damn it, are those low-ranking guys really armed with guns… Is the legend of Karamala’s treasure true?”
The legend of an inexhaustible gold supply began to seem quite believable to Harold as he suppressed his irritation while being shot at by rifles.
“Ugh… What are the damages?”
“There are a few injuries. No casualties.”
“See? My quick decision helped us.”
He laughed at the grimacing expression of his deputy and successfully rejoined the main company.
The cavalry charge had effectively been halted. Next, he decided that even if it would take some time, they would prepare their forces thoroughly before launching their attack.
Of course, the enemy would fortify their defenses during that time. Alternatively, they might swiftly retreat.
If at all possible, he prayed to the gods that they would return for a moment… while waiting for the attack formation to be organized.
“Looks like they didn’t retreat after all.”
As he advanced to a position from which he could once again see the site, he found that even higher and thicker walls had been constructed.
“However, it doesn’t appear they have reinforced their defenses as much as I expected.”
Just as the deputy had mentioned, it seemed that the earth magician unit that built the first earthen walls had only taken a bit more time to strengthen them. He had thought they would construct a rocky fortress, but the setup was somewhat underwhelming.
“Were they unable to get any reinforcements over there…?”
Perhaps they were overconfident in their guns, believing that level of fortification would be sufficient to handle the situation. In reality, charging in would indeed incur a reasonable amount of casualties.
However, that would not be fatal enough to lead to defeat. They were gathering enough forces to stand a chance, in addition to the battalion, even those who had made mistakes were collecting as many troops as possible.
Here, it could be said that almost all combined forces from the southwestern occupation unit of Adamantoria had come together.
“……Alright, let’s do this.”
Unfortunately, there were no signs of elements that would allow him to factor in a retreat decision.
Facing the enemy formation shrouded in eerie silence, surrounded by earthen walls, Harold finally issued the order.
“Charge!!”
The shield-bearing infantry began to advance under the protective cover of the magician unit’s defensive magic.
Above, they spread a wind attribute area defense magic, “Wind Wall,” as broadly as possible. While it remains to be seen how effective a wind barrier would be against lead bullets, he believed it was far better than having none at all.
Fortunately, up to this point, no soldier had fallen victim to the gunfire.
“Why aren’t they firing…?”
“Could it be that the enemy has already retreated?”
The distinct dry sounds of gunfire were absent, and just as the infantry unit approached the enemy formation with no counterattack, the earth wall suddenly collapsed loudly.
Of course, we did not break through it; it crumbled on its own.
It wasn’t that the spellcaster had left, causing a self-destruction — no.
The magician unit intentionally brought down the wall.
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
Roaring tremors shook the earth. Not just one, but many.
What kind of ferocious beasts were making those sounds? That question was immediately answered when a gigantic shadow appeared before Harold and his men.
“W-What the hell are those…?”
From beyond the crumbled wall came beastmen warriors.
Not just any beastmen. They were huge. Collectively, they were enormous.
The threat they exuded was self-evident.
“Now is the time to demonstrate the power of our Varna warriors!”
“Lord Chrono, the Demon King, behold our great beastly might!”
“O dark gods, grant us the protection of fangs and claws.”
“YIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!”
Their average height easily exceeded two meters. Among the beastmen living in the Varna Forest Sea, they were a big collection formed by particularly large species. The Varna Beast Alliance’s strongest ground forces, this was the “Giant Beast Corps.”
Leading them proudly at the forefront were four of the largest warriors, each exceeding three meters in stature.
The one emitting an especially massive roar with teeth bared was the leader of the “Giant Beast Corps.” A lizardman of a build so enormous he could scarcely be described as a mere beastman. Such a figure bore great fangs and claws properly befitting a descendant of dragons, along with a sturdy exoskeleton and a long tail.
They were a rare breed, the Dyna-Rex type, which was only found in small numbers within Varna, and they carried the blood of ancient earth dragons strongly within them. They were genuine heroes that Varna greatly boasted, possessing the combat prowess of a born apex predator, honed through countless battles and relentless training.
Alongside this commander stood a massive beastman that was a brilliantly-coiffed elephant beastman, draped in tawny fur. He boasted a stature that distinguished him among the giant beastmen of Varna, holding two maces in each hand, standing firm. His hooves sank into the ground due to his immense weight.
Raising a two-headed battle axe was a Minotaur, crowned with magnificent horns that scraped the sky. His gigantic form was covered in resilient muscle and fur, and he wore the best armor and helmet adorned with magical effects from his clan.
Having previously committed the greatest blunder by collaborating with the enemy and inciting a rebellion, the commander of the Clan of Great Horns entered the “Giant Beast Corps” merely as one of the warriors, yearning even slightly to redeem his clan’s name.
And there was a huge rabbit. In stark contrast to the imposing presence of the muscular and armored warriors, it was gently enveloped in fluffy and soft fur, with a round body resembling a stuffed toy.
However, the physical strength and fighting spirit it possessed was among the best of the “Giant Beast Corps.” This gentle giant rabbit beastman, an atypical berserker among benign creatures, swung its favored gigantic hammer with a high-pitched soprano voice, shouting, “Hiyahhh!!”
“Oh no, this is not good…”
Just one glance at them made the words of resignation escape Harold’s mouth.
It was too late to regret having taken them on. The infantry unit that had been ordered to charge was not going to stop immediately. Especially since the objective was already right before them.
At such a time, the monstrous army of giant beastmen appeared right before them. A one-sided trampling was about to begin.
“Retreat. There’s no way we can win against that.”
“B-But battalion commander, if we do this, we won’t inflict any damage on the enemy…”
“Can you say the same in front of that monster army?”
The absolute difference in military power was clear. This was never a battle to be won. Striking back at all was merely a vain sense of pride for the defeated.
If you got caught up in something like that, you ought to simply admit your defeat and find the quickest route to safety, ensuring as many survive as possible. Life is what truly matters. That was Harold’s motto.
“Magician unit, anything will do, just stop those guys! If the infantry get involved, they’ll be crushed in no time!!”
While the pitiful infantry were being trampled to pieces upfront, he began to mobilize the magician and archer units for some delay. In this situation, deploying mere infantry would have no meaning.
He prioritized pulling back the infantry while timing their own retreat.
“Stay calm! Their speed is slow; we won’t get caught if we keep moving!”
Perhaps thanks to Harold’s swift retreat order, they were fortunate enough to start disengaging gradually from the battlefield without panic causing a total collapse.
As the “Giant Beast Corps” trampled and crushed the infantry unit while steadily closing in, Harold desperately suppressed the fear to just run away.
Not yet, it’s not time; maybe just a bit longer… He endured until he could more closely hear the death cries of the unfortunate infantrymen and the fearsome growls of the raging beasts. Finally, Harold decided it was time to flee.
“Alright, it’s time for us to withdraw. Light up all the smoke bombs!”
This type of situation is why they always kept a supply of somewhat expensive magic item smoke screens, and why they had trained the magician units to use them.
In an instant, thick white smoke began to envelop the battlefield. Naturally, mere obscuration wouldn’t stop the enemy.
However, obscuring their vision should somewhat slow down their advance. Just how much distance could they cover during that time? While praying that the beasts were genuinely slow, Harold was just about to turn his horse around when something caught his eye.
“Hey, no way…?”
He thought he heard an uncountable number of flapping wings.
Amid the cloud of white smoke, several shadows flew across the smoke screen.
“————Is that an aerial unit of harpies!? Don’t joke around! They’re usually only used for reconnaissance!!”
Harpies had unparalleled flying abilities, but as a consequence of being a flying entity, they were light and vulnerable. Although some species, like the tough hawk types, were strong, typical harpies were not built well for direct combat.
Thus, their usage had been confined strictly to aerial reconnaissance; avoiding direct combat was the standard practice in Pandora. They typically only engaged in battle from above with archery or rock-throwing, and only the elite could perform magical attacks.
However, upon seeing the group of harpies making their move at this timing, Harold thought. The Empire Army is rich enough to equip their infantry with rifles.
Then, wouldn’t they also arm the harpies with guns? —That assumption was abruptly proven correct.
“AAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”
“Damn it, those birds! Shoot them down!!”
“Hey, don’t stop; keep moving!!”
The carefree harpy army swooped through the air, echoing dry gunfire from high above as they rained down bullets. This turn of events threw the infantry, who had barely made it out, into chaos.
Should we flee or retaliate? It was hard not to hesitate under the formidable coercion of the gunfire raining down from the sky.
The best course of action would likely be to ignore them and escape. Even considering the harpies, they didn’t number in the thousands. However, the sound of bullets being fired and the explosions of fire attribute magical attacks from the magic items caused the infantry unit’s pace to falter.
At that point, Harold’s command alone was no longer sufficient to control the situation.
“…Hey, shouldn’t we just make a break for it?”
“What kind of foolish idea is that?!”
For once, the usually serious deputy was speaking the truth. Yet it was undeniable that they were inextricably trapped.
If they stayed this way, they would be cornered by the chaos caused by the harpies’ attack, blocked from their escape route, and caught by the ever-approaching monstrous army. There was simply no opportunity to make use of the cavalry’s speed.
“Ugh… is this where I finally end up?”
Just as he looked up at the sky with faraway eyes, he saw a particularly large shadow pass overhead.
It wasn’t a harpy. What soared through the air had sturdy wings, but it belonged to a large horse. A Pegasus.
Yet what drew attention above all was the petite girl riding the pure white Pegasus.
Clad in pitch-black military attire and wielding a cross spear, a tremendous presence of magical power surged forth from her, as if struck by lightning.
“————I have spotted the enemy commander. I shall take her head.”
Oh no, I’m dead.
Harold instinctively sensed that there was no way to win, and in an instant, he realized it.
“I swear eternal loyalty, O dark spear! ‘Dark Knight – Freesia’!!”
He activated his blessing.
It was the most common blessing among Pandora’s knights. While it wasn’t a high-level blessing and granted only average abilities, it was still genuine.
From his body radiated faint lightning, and with the purple lightning swirling around the spear’s tip, Harold shouted with all his might.
“I’m not a follower of the Cross religion! Please, let me go!!”