We split into three groups at the foot of the Nebel Bridge. One group headed to the South Gate of Lauenstein Castle town as a foothold for retreat, another to the watchtower to repair the Magic Cannons possibly destroyed by the explosion, and our group headed to the bridge to hold back the impending invasion of the Demon Army.
The town of Lauenstein is home to adventurers who travel to Nordland to obtain magic stones, and the castle accommodates a Knight Order.
Despite that, only adventurers have gathered. Perhaps the security provided by the Magic Cannons has made the Knight Order complacent, as not a single knight has shown up.
“Hey, I heard there was an explosion at the watchtower.”
The young adventurer who kindly approached us, talking to Priscilla, still believes it was just an accident.
They really don’t expect monsters to attack. Can’t they imagine fairy tales becoming reality? If this were an accident, we’d be playing at the sea this afternoon.
“What about the Knight Order here?”
As Lauenstein has a castle, a Knight Order should be stationed here, keeping a watchful eye on monsters crossing the Nebel Bridge. It wouldn’t be a joke if they only relied on Magic Cannons and had no knights.
“Knight Order? I’ve never seen any Knight Order.”
I debated whether to call him out on that joke. The young adventurer who spoke to me cast a clearly displeased glance. He immediately turned his attention back to Priscilla, seeming to want to talk to her, but was my assumption about the joke wrong? Be careful, young man, Priscilla carries a very slippery Halberd.
The adventurers gathered here are likely those caught up in the commotion on their way to Nordland, unaware that the Demon Army is about to attack.
Lauenstein has many adventurers. In a field battle, it might be different, but on a single bridge, it will be a direct clash of strength against strength. We have experts in monster extermination. Even the Demon Army won’t be able to cross easily.
Or so I thought, but with only about thirty people here, it’s not much. I wonder if more are delayed or have fled. I had hoped for Orietta’s help, but the watchtower is still shrouded in mist.
“What’s that sound…”
Along with the sound of an immense number of something walking, “thump, thump,” and voices that sounded like war cries, came from beyond the impenetrable fog.
“This is Mikael Sin, Captain of the White Lily Corps! The explosion just now was an attack by monsters! Monsters are coming across the bridge. I don’t know what happened to the Magic Cannons. We’ll buy as much time as possible and wait for a counterattack. Let’s cross the bridge, follow me!”
Only Priscilla and Rufina would likely follow orders like that. I’m lucky to have such good subordinates. Can us three hold out until the Magic Cannons can be fired, or for two hours before we have to retreat?
Rufina’s Area-of-Effect Magic would be effective on the bridge, where there’s no escape. Then there’s my Mode Two and Mind’s Eye combination, and Priscilla, the golden Lycanthrope. Is it just us three who have to fight? That’s a rather pathetic fighting force, making me want to run.
The three of us passed through the gate towards the war cries and began to cross the bridge. No adventurers followed us after hearing that.
“Priscilla on the right, I’ll take the left, a two-top formation. Rufina in the center, if you see the enemy, hit them with one big shot to start.”
“This is getting fun!”
“It’s fun, but this waiting time is the most boring.”
Please don’t die. I haven’t even seen you in your swimsuit on the beach yet. We stopped at a point where the watchtower was faintly visible and waited.
In less than five minutes, without wasting time and letting their imaginations run wild, a mass of black figures charged out of the mist with a roar.
“Rufina, go all out!”
“I shall take all the blood you desire. *■■■■, Gale of Ruin.”
“All the blood you desire” was an exaggeration. Rufina’s eagerness would scare even a demon into running away. The Ogres, who had been the black mass approaching us, were reduced to dust without being able to do anything.
The Gale of Ruin, unleashed like a tide across the bridge, erased even the surrounding mist and raged for five hundred meters. The black figures beyond seemed to be suffering, but they did not stop their advance, and white mist faded, engulfing the Nebel Bridge once more.
“Now it is as I desire. Perhaps a blood bath with the Captain would be nice.”
That’s disgusting. There are things like sake baths, or putting yuzu in the bath. Do something healthier.
But she did well. The monsters beyond the mist should be visible now, so the adventurers will surely believe me.
“Boring… So damn boring! Let’s just charge!”
…Idiot. It’s good that it’s boring. Do you realize how many Ogres Rufina’s magic just wiped out? We bought time without doing anything, you should thank Rufina first.
“As expected, Rufina’s Area-of-Effect Magic is amazing, everything is gone.”
“Hmph, naturally. After all, it’s mixed with so much blood that it fills a bath. I wish I could erase everything like this, but from now on, defensive magic will come out.”
You can’t have a bath full of blood, so dilute it.
If we could clear them out with magic like that again, it would end as boringly as Priscilla said, but I don’t think it will be possible next time with defensive magic.
The watchtower is still hidden by the mist, but all we can do is pray that Orietta can do something about the Magic Cannons. The monsters on the bridge should be visible by now, and I can only pray that more adventurers and the Knight Order will gather… I’m praying to that god so much, I can’t really expect much.
There’s a short interval before the next group arrives. My left eye is still not visible, but with Mind’s Eye, I can handle a free-for-all battle. Priscilla should be fine. The only concern is her possibly charging too far ahead. The problem is whether I can pull the golden Lycanthrope back.
“Rufina, fall back a bit and cast supporting magic for us. Don’t use Area-of-Effect Magic, it’s not wide enough to avoid.”
“Tch, I don’t have any allies who are about to die.”
Don’t click your tongue like that. Can I really trust you with my back?
“Captain, something’s coming.”
It wasn’t coming from the front, but from behind. It seems the adventurers, seeing the mist cleared by Rufina, finally believed that monsters were indeed attacking.
“Did monsters attack? It looked like they were swarming the bridge…”
I don’t know the full length of this bridge, but the rear-guard monsters that couldn’t cross to Nordland are likely waiting.
“We are currently confirming the status of the Magic Cannons. If the Magic Cannons can be fired, we’ll have a one-sided advantage, so let’s buy some time with everyone gathered here.”
I don’t know the actual strength of the adventurers gathered here, but it’s the job of a salaryman to make do with what they’re given.
It’s tough. I wonder if I’ll be able to just sit at a desk and give orders when I become important. Technically, I’m the captain of a mercenary group, but I feel like middle management.
The time limit is less than an hour and a half. We’ll sweep them away with the Magic Cannons and play at the sea this afternoon. I haven’t given up on plain curry yet.
