Episode 11 Fighting Alone
Apart from the White Dragon mountain range to the north, the other cardinal points of Arra City are made up of great plains.
As an important traffic point, various main roads run through the flat terrain. Travelers would be very grateful for it, but the open area has no shelter or detour routes and the view range is wide, so other than clashing with an enemy head on, almost no tricks could be used in fights.
“…A trench is the best we could do huh? But it would be nice if we had the chance to dig up the trench.”
While viewing the enemy rider who rode on the top of a beast type monster, Vice Guild Leader Gald muttered to himself with a bitter face.
It doesn’t matter what way the opponent is being lead by the ogre king, it’s still a monster after all. Not using their mind and trusting only their instinct, the monsters should be rushing headlong towards the city, but contrary to expectations, the enemy movement is so surprisingly well organized that the first part of the plan is beginning to fall apart.
The plan was to dig the trench and lie in wait to ambush, forming groups to target the masses of enemies that come to attack. First, the initial strike would be conducted by archers and catapults from a long distance. Next, when the enemy gets disorderly, magicians and elementalists who hid in the trench would conduct the attack from a middle distance.
At that time, from the same trench several adventurers who were escorting and standing by will leap out, scatter individually, and attack the enemies.
With the situation fully in chaos, the military troops would be the main hammer joining in and in one fell swoop, aim for the ogre king head. That’s how was the plan on the human side, but it appears on the monster’s side, they are going to use the riders to reach the humans quickly and seal off this side’s archers and magicians. Then with that, the main force would come surging in. It seems they plan to bring themselves close to get into hand to hand combat and have an overwhelming position.
“―I hope they were brought down by the archers and magicians before getting closer.”
I don’t have field experience, so for that reason I left all the rights to command this battle to you and with me as the best magician here, I am going to the front lines. Thinking about Collard, Gald gulps down his bitter saliva.
While gazing aimlessly at the front of the battle operation command post, a pavilion which extended atop the grasslands, there was a face among the armed adventurers that he recognized, reflexively he called out to that person to halt.
“OI, BOY!”
“Ye-yes!”
That person who was being called out, Joey, spontaneously stood completely still on the spot.
“What the hell are you doing?”
Gald uttered his shocked words while walking slowly towards him.
“O-of course, I am participating in battle to intercept the monsters!”
“Haa? You’re still F rank right? Didn’t the obligatory mobilization order tell E rank and below to stay back?
“…That’s true but…but I can’t stay silent at a time like this. I can at least swing my sword!”
“You’ll just be a hindrance. A boy like you should get away from this place quickly!”
Judging that what Joey was doing was child egoism, Gald spit out his words with irritated tone.
“…Where will I get away to anyway? Isn’t the shelter already full with woman and children, old people, and people who couldn’t fight? If we lose here those people will be eaten by the monsters anyway, right?”
“Gh..!”
Gald sunk into silence after getting hit with a bullseye.
Surely the great majority of adventurers that could be called full-fledged, or D rank and above so to speak, are participating in the battle according to the guild’s obligatory mobilization order, but they number 7,000 people. An additional 500 people from the stationed army and 2,500 volunteers total 10,000 troops. Compared to the 7,000 troops of the monsters it should be a 3000 surplus, but theoretically, to deal with monsters there needs to be at least three times the number of humans compared to monsters.
Presently their number is not enough to overwhelm the monsters.
At the current time, they’re in such a bind that they could use anybody who is willing to fight.
“…But you know, boy, you are still young. No one will complain even if you escape alone now.”
Hearing such words, Joey gives off a strange expression like smiling while crying.
“Mia-san also said that to me recently.”
“Mia huh…”
Her existence is similar to Gald, who until this year was unmarried. He told her again and again many times over to evacuate before the battle operation began, but she stubbornly covered her ears and even now, she is here somewhere, checking on the materials and coordinating the relief squad.
“―Besides,” Joey smiled embarrassingly, “this morning, Hiyuki made her appearance all of sudden.”
“…Muh”
Gald frowned hearing that name. After all, it’s unlikely that Hiyuki had any intention to help at all according to her d