Chapter 456
(Kyle Calendar Year
516: Age 23)
A Disturbing Honeymoon
④ The Southeast Demon
Territory
Although
the conversation on the boat journey drastically changed from an initial
trivial talk to a strange direction, I think it led to a fruitful result,
formally reaching the topic of a Five-Power Alliance. This again seems to have
been the right answer because everyone was riding on the same ship for the
return journey too. The ship journey took a little over three days, and after
stopping at Feari, we sped along the land route on horseback for about
two days, finally reaching our destination, the entrance of the southeast Demon
Territory. However, what spread out there was... something completely out
of place from the Demon Territory scenery I knew.
Although
I could only see the foreground so far, the desolate land was dotted with
shrubs about the height of a person, and in some places, grass like dead pampas
grass grew densely. Along the complexly protruding mountain ridges, several dry
valleys extended. The earth and the numerous tumbling boulders were mostly a
rusty reddish-brown color from iron, but some seemed to contain other metal
oxides, coloring the earth in lurid colors like orange, yellow, and emerald
green.
「Tch, at first glance it's like America's
Death Valley I've seen on the net. Except here it's not a bald mountain,
and shrubs and weeds are growing thickly, but... With the ridges forming a
complex terrain, it's like a labyrinth.」
Unintentionally
feeling an abominable sensation, I muttered as if spitting it out. While
feeling an alarm bell-like sensation welling up from the bottom of my heart
saying, 『This place is dangerous』... The reddish-brown earth is exactly an appropriate place
for fire-attribute monsters to run rampant, but the complex terrain and tall,
thickly growing dead grass must be the perfect place for them to hide.
Moreover, the dead grass and shrubs are parched dry, and a small fire could
cause them to flare up all at once, potentially becoming a trap that ensnares
us. Advancing through such a place, we stand out unavoidably with nowhere to
hide.
「It's not a place to stay for a long
time either. Earth Mages, everyone work together to construct a dry moat
and defensive wall at the entrance. Once that's done, leave two people and the
assault unit goes inside! The remaining two, proceed further with establishing
the base.」
First,
I started with the customary construction of the final defense base, but there
were no trees here that could be used for abatis or stakes, so the response
relied entirely on the Earth Mages. And when the dry moat and defensive
wall were completed, I assigned two Earth Mages and a unit of four
hundred people to base defense, and installed eight of the mobile ballistae
King Crajyu had brought there. Just in case, we'll carry two of them
entrusting them to Space-Time Mages, but it seemed there would be few
opportunities to utilize them due to terrain issues, anyway.
Leading
the four hundred people who would be the assault unit, I acted as the vanguard,
chose one of the dry valleys, and while being vigilant, cautiously confirmed
our surroundings as we advanced deeper. This Demon Territory, although
the entrance resembled Death Valley, as we advanced through the dry valley, I
felt it resembled something completely different, a scenery I used to know well
in the past. It looked exactly like the path jutting out with rugged rock
surfaces leading to the place called the 『Valley of the Winds』 in 『Kata Tjuta』,
another famous spot forming a pair with the desert area 『Uluru』 which includes Ayers Rock, famous as a tourist destination.
「Huh? Are all the shrubs growing
thickly around here a type of pyrophytes? So nostalgic, this one looks
just like a banksia...」
The
words slipped out unintentionally. Pyrophytes are a general term for
plants with the unusual characteristic of germinating and propagating through
fire, such as bushfires, and were plants mainly seen in the arid regions of Australia.
Red earth, the Valley of the Winds, banksias, etc. are nostalgic sceneries to
me, aren't they? At this time, I was turning my thoughts to the red earth where
『Nishida』 once lived.
「Takuhir-sama, please be careful. The rock
surfaces are discolored in various places around here. I believe it's from
flames...」
Oops,
this is no time for that. As Shannon said, the rocks and earth being
discolored a dark black are probably scorch marks from flames breathed by
monsters.
「Does that mean we've entered the
monsters' territory? All forces! Prepare for battle against enemy attack!
Convey it to the rear guard as well!」
At
my voice, everyone's tension instantly rose to the maximum.
「From the vegetation to everything
else, this place (Principality side) is different from the Demon Territory
beyond the great mountain range (Kingdom side). The circumstances are
different, so don't let your guard down!」
I
hadn't thought it would be this different just separated by one mountain range.
Although plants are resilient and seem to have evolved to suit their
environment, though.
「!!!」
「Takuhir-sama! At nine o'clock, on top of the
rocky mountain, about two hundred mels ahead, dozens of enemies heading this
way!」
When
the urgent voice of the Sound Mage Shannon, who was advancing
beside me, echoed, I immediately reacted. We are already standing on the brink
of life and death.
「Water Mages, prepare to deploy a defensive
water screen at two o'clock, activation is up to you! First unit, firing
stance, Wind Mages support! Within a range of two hundred, ready...
fire! Following that, the second unit, mop up any that were missed! Commence
free firing!」
The
accustomed soldiers of the Demon Territory Knights move sufficiently
even with simple instructions. At the same time they released the first volley
from their Estol Bows, dozens of fireballs rained down from the top of the
cliff. And just before the Water Mages and Wind Mages deployed
the defensive screen, the second volley by the second unit had been released.
The defensive membrane fusing water and wind magic, devised and repeatedly
trained as a countermeasure against the Principality's Magic Corps, seemed
to be functioning effectively, and all the falling masses of flame disappeared
with a flashy sound. Simultaneously, the dozens of monsters shot through by
multiple arrows tumbled down from the top of the rocky area, but...
「Is this a Fire Fox?」
It's
so large it's hard to believe it's a fox, the body length is about as big as a
leopard, you know? Moreover, among them were even those with multiple tails.
「Confirm remaining enemies!」
「No reaction from remaining enemies!
The first wave seems to be completely subjugated.」
「Confirm casualties!」
「Vanguard, no casualties!」
Having
defended against the first strike, I breathed a sigh of relief, but at the same
time felt a great impatience. If even the Fire Foxes, considered the most minor
fry, are like this, isn't the level here too high?
「It seems there is no turn for us?」
Around
me were the leaders of each country including King Krugel, but everyone
including me can only fight with a sword. We can only watch with our fingers in
our mouths.
「Even so... the Archduke himself goes
to the foremost line to command? Even though you had always delegated command
until now.」
Princess
Consort Clarisse said so, but since the leaders are in the vanguard,
there is no choice but for me to command. Because if it were anyone else, they
wouldn't be able to restrain them if they charged forward.
「I have dispersed and placed those
who can command with their own judgment in various places. Because in this
terrain, the formation unavoidably becomes long. Besides, we have no leeway
this time, and we are exposing the soldiers to danger due to our selfishness.
It is logical to advance in the most dangerous lead.」
「Fufufu, you have the same feelings
as us, don't you?」
Wrong!
At the very least, you tomboy just want to advance in the battle where you have
the most combat opportunities! If that happens, King Krugel is beside
her, and if that happens, the Emperor, Sieghart, and King Crajyu
too... Because the leading group ends up being the VIP party.
「Next, they're coming! On two legs,
they're fast! Dozens of them, from one o'clock to six o'clock on the right
side, beyond the thicket!」
This
is bad... if they break through from a thicket with poor visibility, we can't
maintain distance and shoot! If they're on two legs, they are Cassowaries.
Instantly judging, I moved to the next instruction.
「Everyone draw swords! Slash at them
immediately after they jump out of the thicket! Watch out for their legs!」
「Here they come!」
Against
the Cassowaries that appeared as expected, the ones who stepped out the
furthest were six swordsmen including me, but it seems everyone succeeded in
cutting off their long necks while safely dodging their kicking legs,
however... There weren't just six monsters, but dozens, and among them, Fire
Foxes were mixed in.
「T-Takuhir-sama!」
「Not yet! Carla, provide
follow-up!」
Perhaps
thinking it was too much for the soldiers to handle, the strongest warrior (Yoltia)
asked for permission to use magic, but even so, I didn't permit it. Just in
case, I only had Carla, whom I had assigned to guard the VIPs, go to
follow up. As our trump card, she needs to stay guarding the VIPs until the
end. And... while it became a confused melee, we somehow managed to settle the
battle.
「Confirm remaining enemies!」
「No reaction from remaining enemies!
The second wave seems to be completely subjugated.」
「Confirm casualties!」
「No deaths, two out of combat due to
burns, three with minor injuries!」
Tch,
this time five injured including minor injuries! I looked anew at Marianne,
who was running around providing aid, and those injured were those
participating for the first time this time, and all were soldiers from other
countries, but... It's still only the second wave, you know?
「Third wave, coming! Direction...
a-all directions except front and back! Total number... unobservable, i-it's so
many!」
Seriously!
Do I have to play one of my trump cards already? This Demon Territory,
not only the number of monsters but the thickness of their layers is insane!
From here on out, we will plunge into a battle with monsters unlike any before. There, I myself will place myself in a fierce battle that will make me realize to a sickening degree that I too had grown accustomed to and underestimated battles with monsters.
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