Shin and Rionne ran on the plain as they overtook the group of monsters which were previously ahead of them and became a black wave.
The map which was projected onto Shin’s view when he passed the group of monsters, displayed only a bright red marker without any gap where the monsters were. It was too crowded, and the distinction of the individual was difficult, too.
“Is it always such a large crowd?”
“Maybe. I think there are various kinds of scales in the ‘Flood’, but I don’t remember it. The number of monsters were a bit more than when I participated in the battle once. It would be nice if there were fewer to be considered…”
Rionne probed into her memories while remembering the scene from that time.
What Rionne talked about for a while was the story where she merely drove a sword into the emerged monsters, and repeatedly killed them. This ‘Flood’ felt larger in scale than the one at that time, Rionne added at the end.
Even if Rionne knew strong soldiers were there to protect Balmel, her feet naturally increased the speed.
“I understand your feelings, but you’re pushing too much, Rionne.”
Seeing Rionne who had shortness of breath, Shin called for a break.
No matter how much an upper class Chosen One Rionne was, her stamina was not unlimited. Before arriving at Balmel, there’s no meaning if she got completely exhausted and couldn’t move.
“Let’s take a break for a moment on top of that hill. We already passed the leading group of the monster too. Rest for a little bit.”
“But! …Well, sorry, you’re right, Shin.”
Rionne was probably trying to say that she still can go on, but she noticed her own state as well.
If this goes on as it is, she would run out of energy in the middle of the way. Since they kept running at a high speed, the monsters’ group was already quite far behind. Even if Shin and Rionne arrived at Balmel, several days could be expected to pass before the monsters reached them.
Considering their pace, it was reasonable to rest here, because there was still a distance to cover to get to Balmel.
“It’s called a fort city so haven’t they already repelled the enemy many times over?”
While they were on break, Shin asked about Balmel.
If it’s a city built for ‘Flood’ control, a military unit with reasonable equipment should exist.
“It is indeed, but it won’t finish without a small number of sacrifices. Moreover now, among 3 upper class Chosen Ones who should protect Balmel, one is absent.”
“Is it okay to be absent as the main part of defense?”
“It seemed there was something at the church, that he had to guard a certain person. Geez, what is the church thinking about?”
Rionne frowned as she couldn’t understand it.
The fort city according to Rionne, apart from being the ‘Flood’ breakwater, had received a dispatched upper-class Chosen Ones from the church and the neighboring countries. Because the fort city was inferior in terms of numbers, it was a strategy to compensate with quality.
However this time, since the church had stimulated a talk about pulling out a Chosen One at their own discretion, objections flooded from various countries.
(The church, huh?…Is it by any chance, that guy?)
Hearing “Church” and “A certain person”, a figure of a knight who damaged his wagon during the journey to Falnido came to Shin’s mind.
In this world, it was quite common that the actual status differ from the height of a level. However, a high-leveled person was still limited. The knights at that time, especially the man who destroyed the wheels of the wagon was level 239. It was higher than the present Rionne.
It was no more than a possible story, but if it’s the truth, it would be necessary to add restraints to the priest who threatened the knights.
“What about the other two? Will they be able to pull through somehow?”
“The combination is not bad. The other two are a magic swordsman like me and a mage. If they cooperate with the high-leveled adventurers who are in Balmel, they would never lose as long as there is no accident. The problem is the number of victims.”
“How far could the enemy be reduced by magic skills of the mage, was the key”, Rionne murmured, and drank water.
Even though how much the mage was called a Chosen One, a skill couldn’t be released forever.
Though it depended on ability and skill, there was also a limit in range a person could cover.
“How is the fighting force of Balmel? There are Chosen Ones from the adventurers’ guild, right?”
“Indeed apart from the dispatched people, there are powerful people who are close to upper-class Chosen Ones. But most of them are melee type. Only few people can attack a wide area.”
It was alright if the monsters were in small number, but when it came to several hundreds of thousands, defeat would happen in the long run. Since the monsters appearing in the ‘Flood’ were low-level, even a general soldier could help to keep them occupied.
Though the course to go over there was changed, Shin decided to contact Schnee just in case.