“Alana!”
I could only call out to Alana, her breathing ragged and her face contorted in apparent pain. *Think, me. Seeing no external wounds on Alana, it must be poison, just as Priscilla said.*
Sophia would prioritize treating Alana over anyone else, but she couldn’t use magic effectively after unleashing the Platinum Laser at full power. If that were the case, there would be someone within the walls who could use healing magic.
Asking the mages under Lady Annelyse would be no good. Lady Annelyse had to take on a dangerous role; I couldn’t entrust Alana to them in such a situation.
“I’m going to take Alana to the healers inside the walls. Priscilla, please regroup with the brigade and tell Lady Annelyse to set up position near the North Gate.”
“Got it!”
“The Red Dragon was probably their trump card. Judging by the sounds, the West Gate is under attack. The same likely applies to the East Gate. If we can hold out, the North Gate will be sealed. Be careful of the gates.”
“Understood, Mikael. You hurry too, the North Gate is far.”
“I’ll be fine. I’ll clear the walls with Berry Roll.”
I scooped Alana up and ran. Mode Three was unusable now. So what?! Mode Two is more than enough! I’ll break the world record. The wall is twenty-five meters high.
“Hyaaah!”
With a burst of spirit, a man’s ultimate weapon! I was still five meters short of the top. I drew the Orietta Knife from my hip and thrust it into the wall. Using it as a foothold, I leaped another five meters and reached the top of the wall.
The knights on the wall were startled by my sudden appearance and pointed their swords at me, shouting, “What is this?!” While I wouldn’t hesitate to kill anyone obstructing me, Alana was the priority now.
Looking down into the city from atop the wall, I saw a flag marking the location of the healing magic. I searched for it… Found it! I readjusted my grip on Alana and moved to the edge of the wall… How was I supposed to get down twenty-five meters?
“Alright! Here goes nothing!”
I drew Magic Sword Zebra and leaped, descending twenty-five meters. I thrust Zebra into the wall to slow my speed. It’s surprisingly doable. I wonder if Orietta would cry if it got chipped? I landed inside the walls and ran towards the healing magic destination.
Along the way, someone saw me and tried to stop me, but I don’t care what happened to them. They probably assumed I was deserting the front lines, but the White Lily Corps’ regulations dictated the annihilation of anyone who interfered.
“Is there a healing mage here?! It’s poison!”
I don’t know if there’s a reception area, but if you don’t want to be annihilated, don’t get in my way. I can’t stay calm right now.
“Bring her here!”
Hmm, a cute nurse. If it weren’t for Alana, I’d ask her out on a date. But Alana is the priority right now! I’m sorry, but if there’s a queue, I’ll push my way to the front.
“Alana, it’s okay. The mages will heal you.”
Her breathing is still ragged. I regret not being able to carry her in a way that would put less strain on her body. Is there anything else I could have done…
“Please step back a little. *Heal*.”
Whether it’s poison or a cut, I have to admire the mage who can heal it with a single word, “Heal.” What an easy business. If I were reborn…
“Captain…”
Alana’s eyes fluttered open. I-It’s not like I was worried or anything! At least she’s okay… finally…
“Are you affiliated with Duke Flüge’s forces?”
I’m talking to Alana right now, who’s in important condition! If you interfere, I’ll kill you! I’ll use Godspeed and slice you to pieces!
“Yes, why?”
I replied with extreme displeasure. I understand I should be grateful to the healing mage who cured Alana, but… but you’re in the way! Continue interfering and I’ll kill you!
“T-His Majesty the King seems to have abandoned the Royal Capital, have you heard anything? If it’s a retreat, surely there would be word to the units outside the walls…”
I haven’t heard. I haven’t. Sure, the Red Dragon’s aerial bombardment was terrifying, and there might have been damage within the walls, but that’s all over now. You don’t have to hide in a bomb shelter anymore.
“That can’t be true. The Red Dragon has already been defeated. I believe we will enter a siege battle. The enemy cannot breach our walls.”
Try your Berry Roll if you can. A height of twenty-five meters is more frightening than you think.
“W-Well, a mage acquaintance of mine came by earlier and said His Majesty has left the city…”
I don’t want to hear lies. This greatly affects the morale on the front lines. It’s unthinkable for the King to abandon his people and soldiers and flee first. It’s impossible to advocate for a fight to the death and lend weapons, only to flee first. The Red Dragon has already been defeated, and I’m confident we can hold out if we lay siege.
“I’ll go and confirm. Until then, please continue the treatment. — Alana, I’ll be back in a bit. Rest, Alana.”
“I-I’ll go too… *cough*, Uuuuh.”
Alana, being a demi-human, is vulnerable to poison. Even if the poison is cleared, it will take time to return to the front lines. Rest now and let your body recover.
“Please take care of Alana.”
I broke into a run using Mode Two. My destination is the Royal Castle, Klinshvelbach. I should be able to find out something there if I go.
There were still scattered fires within the city from the Red Dragon’s flames, but they hadn’t spread, and some citizens were fighting them. Knights were heading towards the North Gate, so perhaps I’d been fed false information.
The castle is a bit distant, but I’ll use my Special Wide-Area Mind’s Eye for once. It’s a convenient cheat skill, or rather, the fruit of my efforts, that allows me to see further than Wide-Area Mind’s Eye by concentrating on a single point.
I climbed onto the roof of a slightly taller building and activated my eye. Peering at Klinshvelbach Castle, I saw only sparse figures. There’s no way there are so few people. Did they really run away? I suppressed the urge to check the bathhouse and ran towards the castle.
Upon reaching the castle, I was stunned by its ruin-like silence. The King abandoning his people and fleeing…
Abandoning the castle and setting up camp near the South Gate? I’ve never heard of such a tactic. I ran towards the South Gate, as far as my Mind’s Eye could reach.
What I saw with my Special Wide-Area Mind’s Eye was the royal carriage and knights leaving the South Gate. I’ve been had… What a foolish King…
Without those who have the will to fight and the ability to pay, there’s no reason to fight here. Emptiness washed over me. We could still fight, the castle walls haven’t even fallen yet…
“Damn it!”
I took out my pent-up anger on the roof and ran towards Duke Flüge. Some knights and mercenaries were still running towards the gate, seemingly unaware that the King had fled.
Duke Flüge’s army had moved their position from the left flank of the North Gate to the center and were fighting monsters. The White Lily Corps seemed to be at the very front, as they were nowhere in sight, and only Sophia, exhausted from the Platinum Laser, was beside Duke Flüge.
“Sophia, we’re retreating. Tell Orietta to head to the healing hall inside the walls. Alana and several injured people need to be transported, let’s rendezvous at the South Gate.”
“Is Alana alright?!”
“She’s fine, but she can’t move due to the poison. Have Orietta transport her, hurry!”
Sophia started walking, albeit unsteadily. I’ll carry her princess-style later, so hang in there for now.
“Lady Annelyse! The King has abandoned the castle. I confirm he escaped through the South Gate. I advise we retreat as well.”
“What nonsense are you spouting! It’s unthinkable for His Majesty to abandon his people!”
Yuma Bashar, what are you doing here? Go to the front lines and die, you’re complicating things. It was your doing that my brigade was sent to the front, wasn’t it?
“Silence! Yuma Bashar! — Lady Annelyse, the King has fled. I saw it with my own eyes. Harm has fallen.”
“B-But… But…”
I understand your reluctance to accept reality. But we don’t have time to convince you. If word gets out that the King has fled, the gates will be closed, and other Knight Orders will flee as well. If we’re locked out, we’ll have nowhere to go.
“Lady Annelyse, I believe what Shin-dono says is true. It would be best to escape and fight another day.”
Is Fleet Helm on my side? Or is he acting solely for Lady Annelyse’s sake? It’s better to have more allies.
“Princess, you should send out scouts. It won’t be too late after we confirm.”
Lämbrook, one of the most trusted elders, rarely gets a chance to speak. It will be too late after confirmation. Stale information is useless.
“Lady Annelyse, for now, please move inside the walls. Once the gates are closed, they won’t open easily. We can report our findings from inside the walls.”
Lady Annelyse agreed to this difficult compromise, but Yuma Bashar looked displeased. Serves you right. Or at least, that’s what I thought, but then Yuma-kun went inside the walls with the princess under the guise of escorting her.
“Lord Lämbrook, you should inform the other legions so they can enter the walls at any time.”
Lämbrook dispatched messengers to the commanders of each legion at the North Gate. I headed towards the 1st Brigade, who were being forced to fight on the front lines. The legions near the North Gate were in a defensive formation due to the Red Dragon’s flames, and conversely, brigades led by the White Lily Corps had advanced too far.
“Christine, fall back! We’ve advanced too far! Gather at the North Gate.”
“Are you an idiot?! If we fall back now, we’ll be pushed back!”
Even Priscilla cannot fully utilize her abilities in this chaotic battle. Killing allies is forbidden, you see. I wish I could extend my Sword of Light and swing it around.
“It’s a calculated risk! — Rufina! Head inside the walls and join Sophia.”
“Don’t give orders!”
I can’t afford to wait. Please obey.
“Priscilla! Buy us time for the brigade! Anything goes!”
“Alright!”
She transforms instantly. My Golden Lycanthrope, whom I haven’t relied on in a while. The Valkyrie of the battlefield. In the end, I can count on my woman.
“Darkness!”
The magic of the Sword of Light is gone. Now, with this rotten great scythe…
“Say one more word and I’ll kill you!”
I scattered the enemies with my ordinary great scythe.
