The next day.
A report that the main enemy force will arrive by the end of today came in.
Everyone in the fort became tense; we had everyone take up their positions.
I also took my place on the roof of the fort.
The job given to Roxy and me is to fire off magic attacks while taking orders from the magic soldier commander.
Until the enemy gets here I just have to wait patiently.
I am currently wearing the 『Magic Armor MK-II』.
I set 『MK-I』 up so that it's sitting down over the back of the fort.
It's setup and ready for me to jump in and go.
Even now, Hitogami has yet to show his hand.
Will he do something when this battle is over?
Or will he somehow come and take advantage of this battle?
Could there be apostles among the enemy?
Might there even already be an apostle in the fort?
Will Pax come from behind as the true enemy?
While I was feeling uneasy something moved within the edge of my view.
"Hmn?"
The back of the fort.
From the opposite side of the enemy's advance.
A group of armored figures separated from the fort. They seem to have moved into the woods across the river.
Somewhere around 100 people.
No way, it couldn't be deserters.
"Excuse me, do you know what is going on over there?"
"Yes sir!"
I try to ask Mr. Billy, the company commander.
Then he nodded at the group outside the fort dressed in armor.
"It is a military unit that was formed around his highness Zanoba. Their task is to kill enemy soldiers who attempt to escape through the forest, to launch a surprise attack on the enemy in certain situations, and to take the head of the enemy general."
"Eh!?"
What was that?
"What!"
"Yes sir.... No, with Rudeus-sama's arrival the need for us to protect the fort has weakened."
"No, I don't think I make that much of a difference."
"I think we are very lucky, and along with Rudeus-dono came Roxy-dono."
Well yeah, I'm grateful for your consideration, I understand what you want to say.
It would surely become that when Zanoba leads a small unit away from the fort I would yell, [This is exactly the form Hitogami's trap would take!].
Roxy might have also reacted in the same way, given the situation.
From the forest I do not think I can do as much, depending on the situation.
I understand the reasoning.
But then this didn't have any meaning.
Because of that guy's thinking I have come here for nothing.
I only came along to protect Zanoba.
You could at least say goodbye before your departure.
What would we have done if I had accidentally nuked you?
I mean, what if our opponent knew that our supreme commander was just sitting in the woods? Wouldn't that be dangerous?
Right now I should give chase...
"Tsk!"
However, before I could take action the tension in the fort spiked.
The bell to announce the enemy attack resounded with a [Kan Kan].
Everyone's eyes looked toward the same place.
Ahead of us, the horizon is blurred by a cloud of dust.
The enemy had come.