An unexpected harvest during the march… after replenishing their strength with giant buffalo steaks, the advance party resumed their progress toward the northern fortress.
The remaining surplus meat was frozen with magic and packed into the wagons alongside the other supplies.
The meat that couldn't fit in the wagons was smoked for preservation, then distributed to the soldiers to add to their rations.
After several days of travel, they arrived at a fortress on the border.
To the north of the fortress flowed a river, and beyond that stretched a dense, overgrown forest.
"That forest is the home of the foreign tribes. In this country, it's called the 'Oni's Nest.'"
Pointing at their destination, Diebl explained.
"There are many tribes among the foreign tribes. The oni tribe, winged tribe, lizard tribe, insect tribe, and so on are warlike, and they have invaded the Kingdom of Aiwood many times in the past."
"This might be obvious by now, but what's their objective in attacking?"
"Their main purpose is plunder. They attack villages and towns, stealing food, money, and valuables. They also sometimes kidnap young women and children."
"They're no different from bandits… I guess even if their races are different, what outlaws do is pretty much the same, huh."
Rest frowned, looking displeased.
Just imagining what they might be doing to the women and children they took made his blood boil.
"It seems not all the foreign tribes are hostile, however… I hear the forest tribe and the horse tribe are gentle and don't like conflict with us."
"Forest tribe and horse tribe…"
Were they elves and centaurs?
Come to think of it, despite being in a fantasy world, he had never seen any demi-human races—beings distinct from humans.
If they weren't enemies he was about to fight, he might have been a little more excited to meet the foreign tribes.
"(If they weren't people I have to fight to the death, I'd like to talk to them…)"
"Don't we ever attack the foreign tribes from here?"
"There have been several attempts at a counter-invasion in the past, but they all failed. It seems fighting on the enemy's home ground is difficult."
"Well, the enemy has the advantage of terrain. That can't be helped."
Even under normal circumstances, numerical superiority is difficult to leverage in the forest.
If the enemy hiding among the trees were to wage guerrilla warfare, we would only suffer unnecessary losses.
"I heard the fort was under attack… but it doesn't look that way from here, does it?"
There are no enemies in sight around the fort.
There were no disturbances in the forest where the foreign tribes lived… or so it seemed.
"Ooooooo—!"
"!"
A sound like a rumbling of the earth echoed from within the forest.
Immediately, a large number of figures burst out from between the trees.
What appeared were humanoid figures with red skin. They were all large, nearly two meters tall.
Given the horns protruding from their heads, they must be the foreign tribe known as the oni tribe.
"Releeeeease—!"
"Ooooooo—!"
The oni tribe hurled the axes and spears they were holding toward the fort.
The distance from the forest to the fort was nearly two hundred meters across a river. It was not a distance that weapons should have been able to cover, but the thrown weapons closed that gap in an instant.
"What a range. Amazing power…!"
Rest gasped.
In Rest's past life, the world record for the javelin throw was roughly ninety-eight meters.
Spears and axes easily flew twice that distance, crossing the gap without losing any momentum to assault the fort.
"Defend! Release your magic!"
Someone shouted from the fort's walls.
Magic of fire and wind burst forth, shooting down the thrown weapons.
"Here comes the next wave! All troops, intercept them!"
Then came the follow-up attack.
Several figures burst out from the clouds floating overhead.
What charged down from the sky, spears at the ready and wings spread wide, were humanoids... the Winged Tribe.
Over a hundred winged enemy soldiers descended upon the allied troops defending the walls.
"Knock those birds out of the sky! Keep your guard up, they're coming from below too!"
"Gyaoooooooh!"
But the enemy had even more reinforcements.
Sinister shadows emerged one after another from the river, charging toward the fort.
They were humanoid, but their bodies were covered in blue-green scales and they had long tails… They looked even more like monstrosities than the oni or the winged ones, but those were likely the Lizard Tribe.
"Cross the river!"
"We'll follow you!"
The oni who had been throwing weapons from the opposite bank also leaped into the water, making their way toward the fort.
So it really was wartime.
As if the silence from moments ago had been a lie, a fierce battle erupted.
This is...!
Our allies are being attacked. We will fight!
The one giving the orders was Vareiya Cattleya, the commander of the advance party.
Swordsmen and warriors, advance and block the enemy's progress! Mages, provide support with magic from the rear!
Ha!
Upon receiving Vareiya's orders, the advance party acted quickly.
Soldiers armed with spears, swords, large shields, etc., deployed to the left and right. They took a formation to intercept the enemy.
Rest and the others were positioned in the rear, protected by the soldiers lined up in front.
There are humans over there too!
Kill them! Kill them!
Perhaps having noticed the advance party's presence, some of the oni who had crossed the river came toward them.
As soon as they arrived, the battle began.
Without even a moment to rest their weary bodies from the journey, the battle with the foreign tribes had begun.
—————————— April 1: Volume 1 is now on sale!
Melonbooks, Gamers, and Animate each come with a bonus short story!
With the book adaptation, the main title of this work has been changed to 'Infinite Magician', so I ask for your continued support.