I will arrive at Yuma Bashar’s encampment, which should be set up at Anaheim Offen, by morning. But the sun is already starting to rise… Why!
Is it because I enjoyed horseback riding without a single wink of sleep? It was certainly fun, horseback riding without having to swing my whip. As expected of a beast, I almost got overwhelmed by Ring kali.
“Aisha, I’ll run from here on, so please catch up later.”
Riding Aisha, then riding the Unicorn, and continuing to ride and be ridden. Aisha was starting to show signs of fatigue. I merged with the supply troops Yuma-kun had prepared behind us, left my beloved horse, and ran with Godspeed.
My legs are stumbling. Is Mode Three reaching its limit…? I was supposed to have breakfast with Yuma-kun, but maybe I’m getting old. In the past, I could have worked all night.
Still, with Godspeed. Panting, I somehow reached Yuma Bashar’s encampment just as the drums of advance began to sound.
“Yuma Bashar! This is a violation of military law! Retreat immediately!”
Yes. I understand, Hero… You can only tell me that, can’t you?
“Look, Shin! My Knight Order is scattering the Goblin vanguard. This is where it begins!”
Yuma Bashar’s Knight Order, having started their assault, advanced towards the castle gate with the force of tearing paper against Goblins.
If it continues like this, we can take Anaheim Offen. I can’t rule out the possibility of a trap, but I heard there are only a few Orcs left.
It’s possible for me to let Yuma-kun take Anaheim and fulfill his wish. The Demon Army units deployed in Anaheim are few, and supplies are plentiful. Are they attacking with a time delay, or are we already within their encirclement?
“Look! The sheer size of it!”
In front of the knights positioned before the castle gate, a Giant is created as if springing from the ground. Is it Rricharda’s Golem!? I never imagined Rricharda would be involved.
Rricharda belongs to the Harm army, and she’s only “temporarily” with the White Lily Corps, so if ordered, she could be taken away regardless of me. I should have her officially join the White Lily Corps next time! Ah… but… there’s her Guard Duty…
The Giant Golem kicked the castle gate. Once, twice, and on the third kick, the gate was shattered, and the crowd erupted in cheers.
“We won! Signal the whole army to attack! I’m going too!”
I feel conflicted. He’s my superior, and he’s just openly defied my orders. We could win if we keep going, but is it right to win like this? It feels complicated to let Yuma-kun achieve such a feat.
I figured I had no choice but to go, but my horse was gone. Just as I thought about kicking someone off their horse to steal it, I was warned that this was a trap.
“Army Commander! Something is flying from the northern sky!”
“(You’ve kept me waiting!)”
Snake-san’s cool voice echoed in my head. Is this the trap!? I can’t see clearly from this distance, but the number… about ten. Flying makes me think of Red Dragons, but they seem smaller… If so, it’s Harpies, but they seem bigger than that.
Is it a Chimera? If they come down, it’ll be a fight. If they keep flying overhead… Should I throw stones with Godspeed?
Yuma Bashar and his rear guard began moving towards Anaheim without even confirming the flying objects in the sky. I just stood there, contemplating tea… No, I won’t. I focused my eyes on the approaching flying objects.
Circling over Anaheim… are those Dragon-chans? They’re larger than Chimeras, easily exceeding ten meters, and their necks look slender.
Dragons are troublesome. They just fly and won’t land, so my sword can’t reach them. Plus, they have their own flamethrowers, perfect for a barbecue. Well, I can dodge flames with Godspeed.
How can I get them to land? When would I dismount from a horse? If there was an old lady at a crosswalk, I’d dismount to help her across. If I dropped my wallet, I’d dismount. Then, if it was hitchhiking, I’d dismount for a woman. …None of those seem effective against a Dragon.
I’ll look for a female dragon someday, but what about now? Usually, in situations like this, the flying dragon lands and says, “I am the King of the Sky!” and breathes fire, but I wouldn’t fight on the ground, negating my own strengths.
What value do I have without Godspeed! My value as Hero Mikael Shin comes from Godspeed! …Saying it makes me feel down. I’m sure I have other good qualities. For example…
While I was lost in thought, they had already moved on, ignoring me. Yuma Bashar and the rear guard. This loneliness is indescribable, but I can’t just stand here. I used my only skill, Godspeed, to catch up to Yuma Bashar.
“Yuma Bashar! It’s a Dragon! Turn back! Retreat!”
“Shin, just a little more… Anaheim will fall any moment now…”
If he had replied with an insult, I would have kicked him off his horse. But to be told that with such a sad look in his eyes, I had to consider what lay beneath it. Selina Hasse. Yuma Bashar’s sister, who died fighting to defend Anaheim.
“Yuma! Selina is gone! Are you trying to destroy the unit!?”
With a smile that lacked any joy, Yuma Bashar looked down at me and spurred his horse faster. It’s no longer about logic. …I have to think of a way to defeat the Dragon within thirty seconds.
Suddenly, as I was about to look down, something flashed in the sky above Anaheim. A deafening roar followed, and the Giant Golem’s right arm was shattered from the shoulder.
Something flashed. I didn’t see it clearly, but there was a flash, a sound, and the Golem’s right arm came off. Was it the Dragon flashing? If it were fire, the sky would be red, and the sound would be like “Goo!”, but a sudden flash with a “Boom!” is…
The Dragon, circling above Anaheim, seemed to have chosen the Giant Golem as its first target. It descended rapidly, emitting a flash of light, and the Golem turned into a motionless clod of earth.
That was lightning! It’s a Dragon, but it’s a Thunder Dragon! Lightning is bad. Attacks that travel at the speed of light are unavoidable, even with Godspeed.
We have to retreat. Fighting against a thunder god requires a lightning rod. I want Yuma Bashar to achieve his wish, but for now, we must retreat!
I overtook Yuma’s rear guard and plunged into the midst of the knights fighting at Anaheim’s castle gate.
“Is Richauda here!? Knight Order! Everyone, retreat!”
Don’t give me that “What is this guy?” look. I came to save everyone. The picnic is over. Let’s pack up and go home.
“It’s Hero Mikael Shin! The conquest of Anaheim ends here! We’re retreating!”
A retreat order just before the castle gate opens and victory is declared. They probably haven’t noticed the Thunder Dragon. Don’t give me that “Who are you?” look.
“This is Mikael Shin, Grand Commander of the Allied Forces, Count of the Ashtal Empire! A Thunder Dragon is incoming! Retreat!”
The Golem was destroyed, but some have already entered Anaheim. The Thunder Dragon’s lightning is now striking those who couldn’t fully enter through the castle gate. But why isn’t anyone moving? You idiot! Don’t go into Anaheim!
“I-I am Mikael Shin, Captain of the White Lily Corps! You lot, I’ll deal with your insubordination later! Retreat!”
My last resort, the White Lily Corps, which I didn’t want to use. The object of terror that silences crying children, the White Lily Corps. This is the command of its Captain!
“Ah, that’s the White Lily Corps…”
“Are we in trouble?”
“It’s smaller than I thought…”
“Isn’t that… the Captain who slept with a hundred women in one night…?”
“I’m in love.”
The last three comments, shut up! This is scary! The White Lily Corps should be more famous than any hero. If you can’t even obey the command of its Captain, I don’t know what to tell you. You can all get electrocuted until you’re burnt!
“Captain Mikael…”
“Richauda, are you unharmed!? We’re retreating!”
We’ll leave behind those who can’t keep up. The Thunder Dragon has already set its sights on us gathered at the castle gate. Flashes of light and explosions crisscross the area, sweeping away the Knight Order like some daytime electrical parade.
“Retreat! Follow me!”
“B-but there are still troops who charged in.”
Richauda-chan, I’m not a god, nor am I a psychic. Humans die brutally in the face of savage power.
“Leave it to me! Richauda, you retreat!”
Look, a father wants to look cool in front of his daughter! Slipping through the broken castle gate, I entered a street where knights were toying with Orcs. How can cavalry lose their charging power once they dismount!
Targeted Wide-area Mind’s Eye!
Like a radar, I checked for any remaining Harm knights and found they were only near the castle gate fighting Orcs.
“Everyone, retreat! Those who reached the castle gate have already escaped! Retreat!”
Are you ignoring me…? When faced with an Orc right in front of you, it’s too scary to turn your back and run when told to retreat. In that case, I’ll show you my true strength! It’s just disheartening that the only gallery members are men…
Godspeed, Mode Six!
From the nearby Orcs, I swung my Zantou, easily severing their heads. I wish at least Richauda-chan could have seen this.
“Are you hurt!? Retreat, get out quickly!”
I forced one person to stand and then turned to the others who were fighting, attacking other Orcs.
Against the Orcs confronting the knights, I used Godspeed to attack them fairly from behind. The Orcs split in two. It’s not cheating, you know. Attacking an opponent’s weakness is a valid tactic.
About halfway through, a chill ran down my spine. I would have been glad if it were just a cold, but the Thunder Dragon was approaching directly from the road heading north, on a bomber run.
