The Annihilation Brigade, Second Army, Corps Commander Priscilla. A Lycanthrope who doesn’t listen to orders.
“Don’t fall behind!”
Chasing after Priscilla, who charged ahead, was the Second Army and Rufina and Orietta. With those two following, there was no need to worry, and keeping them away from the Golem with the Railgun would prevent wasted shots.
“Third Army, move to the castle at a brisk pace. Christine, I’m counting on you. The White Lily Corps will advance along the west wall, defeating the guards at the west castle gate.”
Christine’s march with eight hundred daredevils, the main force, was a picturesque sight. Perhaps I should bring painters and bards along with the White Lily Corps from now on.
“Richauda, hurry the Golem! Depart!”
The Golem should be able to keep up with a horse’s brisk trot. I want to see the Railgun’s full-auto capability, but at seven hundred gold per shot, it puts a strain on the household budget. The White Lily Corps, consisting solely of cavalry, headed for the west castle gate with their super-vibrating Halberds and horse tack.
The broken west wall through which we penetrated was closer to the northwest, so if anyone tried to escape from the north gate now, other units would undoubtedly find them.
If we secure the west gate, there should be no escape from Klinshberbach. That damned Demon Lord, he’s trapped like a rat in a bag. We’ll storm the castle, defeat the Demon Lord, and claim victory.
“There they are! All cavalry, charge!”
The Ogres guarding the west gate numbered less than a hundred. With no Sand Dragons or Giants, there was no need for the Railgun, and no financial worries. More importantly, this was my debut as a Hero. A man’s desire to look good for the expanded White Lily Corps.
“Light!”
With Magic Sword Zebra glowing, I and the White Lily Corps led the charge into the pack of Ogres. I was almost swept away by my own performance; I must look cool right now.
“So bright! Don’t get so fired up just because it’s daytime!”
Rose’s retort reminded me of Priscilla. As a Hero, it’s fine to stand out! If I stand out and become a target, the other white lilies won’t have to scatter.
The Ogres, apparently not expecting an attack from inside the castle, were no match for Magic Sword Zebra and the super-vibrating Halberds.
The Ogre horde was annihilated in a single charge, with only a few dozen remaining for mopping up. It was a complete victory. No one in the White Lily Corps was killed or injured.
“Nadia, take ten people and secure the west gate! Open it and stand by. If enemies appear, flee. Report back to the castle rather than fighting.”
Nadia was a transfer from the Hasuhanto Mercenaries. Unfortunately, she’s taller than me and has a larger chest. That’s fine, but she’s more of a Rose type than a Priscilla type…
“Alana, what’s the status of the battlefield!?”
“It seems all troops have engaged. They’re currently exchanging stones.”
“Are there Sand Dragons and Giants?”
“Both are at the east gate, and only Sand Dragons are at the south gate.”
“And Priscilla?”
“She’s fighting a Cyclops near the castle wall.”
If we’ve cornered them that much, the Demon Lord can’t escape. And with only a Cyclops, victory is all but assured. I just hope Orietta isn’t firing in full auto.
“What about the north?”
“It’s quiet. Just one Giant.”
Was it placed there to secure an escape route? A single Giant? But if the Second and Third Armies advanced towards the castle from the main street, and there’s still a Giant at the north gate, the Demon Lord must be in the castle. We’ll win if we push them!
“All cavalry, advance! Towards the castle!”
Gathering the disorganized White Lily Corps into a column, I smoothed and tied Mikene’s hair, and we headed for Klinshvelbach Castle, where Priscilla was fighting.
I’m exhilarated. I know it myself. Mikene’s hair was more beautiful than I expected… Priscilla is attacking the castle and pinning down the Demon Lord.
It will be over soon. Whether it’s a Cyclops or a Demon, nothing stands before Mode Five. I’m so unfamiliar with it that I don’t even know what I’m doing, moving so fast.
“Ah!?”
I saw it… Orietta changing the magazine of her Railgun. Thirty rounds, twenty-one thousand gold, exchanged for the castle gate of Klinshvelbach.
From behind the Second Army, who had dismounted and were fighting, the extremely disruptive Railgun fired. The shockwave blew away the burly soldiers of the Second Army who were in front of Orietta, and also blew away the castle gate!
“Orietta! How many shots did you fire!? What is Rufina doing here!? Can’t you break down a castle gate with magic!?”
“It’s the second magazine~. Full auto is flashy and good~.”
“The front is blocked and I can’t advance. Is it alright to crush the entire Second Army?”
“…It seems Priscilla is having a hard time.”
Don’t all talk at once! Even Christine is involved… Is Priscilla really struggling? If Rufina moved forward, she could break the gate without destroying the Second Army. Did Orietta just spend twenty thousand gold…
The situation is close to a stalemate. The Second Army has dismounted and is fighting a Cyclops and a giant, three-headed dog, Cerberus, while the Third Army and subsequent units are stuck behind them. The enemy numbers aren’t many, but each one is strong. This looks like my chance to shine.
I could blow away Priscilla of the Second Army, who is fighting the Cyclops, and charge in, but if Rufina is holding back, I can’t just charge in.
“Fourth Army, circle around the castle from the west. Fifth Army, from the east. There shouldn’t be any other way out of the castle besides here, but just in case.”
Klinshvelbach Castle has a moat filled with water. Without a boat, swimming, or crossing the drawbridge in front of us, there’s no escape. There might be a secret exit, but Her Majesty the Queen didn’t tell me about it.
“White Lily Corps, stand by on horseback. Rose, you have temporary command.”
“What about the Captain!?”
I wish I could go bass fishing in the moat. I’ve never seen fishing tackle or reels in this world yet, but I want to use a long rod and lure and shout “Fish!”
“It seems Priscilla is struggling, so I’m going to assist her. I leave the rest to you!”
Saying only that, I grabbed my fishing rod… no, my sword, and with Godspeed, I slipped through the Second Army and from behind Priscilla, gave her a “prank jab.” The “prank jab” that deeply pierced the surprised Priscilla will definitely earn me trouble later.
“Y-you bastard…”
“What are you doing!? Against a mere large dog with too many heads!”
Cerberus, the hellhound guarding the front of the drawbridge. It’s as large as a Troll, but I wish Orietta had shot this instead of the castle gate. However, if it went through Cerberus and destroyed the drawbridge, that would be problematic. And in the middle of Cerberus’s three heads, there’s a chihuahua.
A hellhound with a cute Chihuahua in the center, flanked by ferocious Dobermans and Tosa dogs. Orietta must have been hesitant about the difficult target composition, but I’m a cat person, so it’s fine.
“Leave it to me!”
Godspeed Mode Three. I closed the distance instantly, turning Zebra into light and extending it, then swung my sword from below into the center of Cerberus’s heads.
“Kyuuuun…”
What could I do when faced with such a pleading, round-eyed gaze and a whimper? I couldn’t possibly lay a hand on such a cute dog.
As I stood frozen, captivated, the Doberman and Tosa dog on either side bared their fangs and lunged at me. In a panic, I retreated with Mode Five and bumped into Priscilla from behind.
“What the hell are you doing!?”
What could I do? Are you telling me to cut down cute puppies!? Animal abuse is a crime. Whether it’s a human, an animal, or a monster, cuteness is justice.
“B-because it’s cute… Shall I cut only the dogs on the side?”
“Are you an idiot!? It’s one body!”
That’s right. It was just one body with three heads. If I defeat the heads on the sides, the chihuahua will die too. What should I do?
Compared to the ferocious faces on the sides, the adorable chihuahua’s fur stood on end. The chihuahua, angered, bared its fangs and began to threaten. Maybe I can cut it now.
“Get back!”
Grabbing my collar, I was thrown backward by Priscilla, and landed on my backside. They treat a hero terribly. A little more respect and courtesy would be appreciated, but Priscilla had already turned towards Cerberus.
From this angle, I felt like giving her another “prank jab,” but Priscilla, facing forward with her Halberd, glowed.
Is she turning into a golden Lycanthrope!? The brilliance spreading across the ground, transmitted through the Halberd, made me think so. The Second Army soldiers around us cried out in pain, and the light that reached me was it “lightning”?
“I’m… numb… My body…”
Is this what it feels like to be hit by a stun gun? That damn chihuahua spat out lightning magic. If Priscilla hadn’t used her Halberd as a lightning rod, I might have been directly hit and charred to a skeleton.
Although the direct hit was avoided by using the Halberd as a lightning rod, the weakened lightning spread along the ground, electrifying the surroundings. Is THIS why we couldn’t break through!?
“Are you alive, you rotter? You’re not dead, are you?”
“O-of course. Does that damn dog use lightning?”
My body felt weak, unable to move properly. I wanted to sleep a little longer, but I didn’t want to be hit by lightning repeatedly, nor eaten. As I struggled to stand, I grabbed Priscilla’s uniform, and it sparked.
“Gah!”
“Ugh!”
Like static electricity in winter, we shared the accumulated lightning energy. I didn’t know it had accumulated to such an extent that the word “ouch!” was replaced by groans. Don’t hit me with the Halberd’s hilt!
“Are you messing with me!?”
I don’t have the luxury to mess around in this situation. No matter how high my Godspeed rises to Mode Five, I can’t catch up to the speed of light.
“I feel like my shoulder stiffness has healed, you know. It’s rude for a dog to use magic.”
“To think that a mere dog could push Lady Priscilla this far. Do you have any strategies?”
None! What am I supposed to do against the speed of light…
Wait! Even at the speed of light, it’s a mere dog casting magic. Don’t underestimate me, dog! I’m a cat person!
Light, neither a dog person nor a cat person, but a “me person,” pierced Cerberus with a beam of light.
