—At Baim, the city walls were being inspected in preparation for defending the city.
They were checking for any breaches and making preparations to face the approaching army of Monsters.
However, the Monster army that had already begun its advance had not yet reached the city.
One of the mercenary group commanders was standing atop his assigned section of the wall, gazing into the distance.
"...Is Redant Fortress holding out? Well, if they have twenty thousand, they might last a week, perhaps."
He knew about Redant Fortress, but even with reinforcements, he never believed it could possibly hold back an army of hundreds of thousands of Monsters.
This was because he hadn't heard that Lyle was receiving support from the Trace family.
The fact that they had received a considerable financial aid to fortify Redant Fortress into a true stronghold was information beyond the knowledge of a mere mercenary group commander.
Even if he had learned of it, he wouldn't have thought they could hold out.
He and Baim had genuinely believed the combined forces of Zayin and Rolfis at Redant Fortress would be annihilated—.
—At the Baim merchant council.
In this meeting, which was effectively where Baim's leaders gathered, Fidel was feeling irritable.
In the tiered council chamber, the person in charge was talking about Baim's ironclad defenses.
The main figures had already met beforehand and confirmed the information. Because they had confirmed it, Fidel was irritated.
"As you know, Baim's walls are made of a special material with high resistance even to magic. Currently, repair work is progressing, and we have deployed the mercenary groups for a complete defense. We're also having craftsmen produce large quantities of weapons and armor, and the production of arrows is advancing rapidly one after another."
Sitting in his chair with his hands clasped on the desk, Fidel was angry at the overconfident presenter.
(You fool. If this continues as is, we'll end up stuck with all those supplies.)
Several of the merchants were trying to turn a profit from this war.
They were purchasing arms and armor, but they were also thinking ahead to after the Monsters were repelled.
But Fidel knew.
(That deadbeat! He built a fortress! With my money! He went and built a fortress on the Trace family's coin without permission, and cut the numbers in half on top of that!!)
There were other facts that made him want to clutch his head. Since the Trace family had thrown in their support, many more merchants had followed suit and backed Lyle as well.
That was fine. But the amount of that support had become nothing to scoff at. The enemy's advance was so slow that the fastest adventurers from Baim's guild had been sent out to scout.
And what they found was not a fort but a fortress.
(According to the adventurers' assessment, they said almost none of them could hold out against it… but a few said they could. Is there actually a chance?)
The fact that Lyle's odds of repelling the Monsters at Redant Fort—no, fortress—were not zero was something Fidel could not accept.
(Stubborn to the very end!)
Fidel seethed, but what frustrated him even more was this.
(At this rate, isn't he going to win this all by himself!)
This time, Lyle had requested that Baim's guild headquarters send reinforcements. But naturally, the guild pushed back. In the end, they seemed prepared to send somewhere between two and three thousand, but Lyle had backed down immediately.
If Lyle were to crush the Monster army here, the guild would be the ones who had refused to support him.
(…Hmm, well, the Trace family already supported him, so that's no skin off my nose. If the guild ends up being the one to bring him down, so much the better.)
Many of the merchants, starting with Fidel, had backed various houses. They could always fall back on the excuse that they had done what they could.
While most merchants, ignorant of the full picture, scrambled to prepare for the Monster army's assault, a few were quietly wondering whether Lyle might actually be able to hold off an army of hundreds of thousands—.
The second wall.
Having bought myself five days, I decided to begin preparations for withdrawal.
It was considerably earlier than I had planned, but given the situation, there was nothing else to be done.
From atop the wall, I gazed out at the Monster horde. They packed the cliff-flanked passes on either side shoulder to shoulder, crammed into every inch of space.
"This is as far as we go. The units we originally stationed out there have almost all pulled back to the fortress. Even with rotations, we've been cycling troops to the rear nonstop, and the numbers have dropped below a thousand."
The Second Wall itself was still holding.
But there was no one left to hold it.
Beside me was Eva, who had returned from the fortress. Her pink-blonde hair was disheveled, and she wore a slightly exhausted expression.
"Lyle, Alette, Crate, even Alberno have all pulled back to the rear now. Aria did three days ago... There's no one left in command."
I managed a wry smile.
"I thought we'd hold out a few more days, since Noi-san had returned. Guess I miscalculated."
At that, Eva gave me a flat, unamused look.
"You were naive. They get sent to the rear, and as soon as they come back, they're sent right back again. This isn't normal."
I had, admittedly, miscalculated badly. Just then, Clara came running up the stairs, bringing me a message.
Clara was also quite fatigued and had been resting further back. She'd just gotten up, but there were so few people who could operate a Porter that she'd been pressed into service.
"Oh, there you are, fake elf."
"'Fake'? What's with that! Can you stop with the passive-aggressiveness? It's seriously annoying to listen to!"
Clara flashed a bright, charming smile.
"I hear people get angry when you hit a nerve. Now then, I have a message for you, Lyle."
I checked that Clara's expression had turned serious, then grabbed and restrained Eva's arm, which looked ready to lunge at Clara any second.
"Preparations are complete. Aramsass's 'Exploding Arrows' have also been finished by the artisans. When I told them it was for students to earn pocket money, they scolded me for being too reckless. Boost Arrows... that's their official name now."
I nodded to Clara.
"Transport the wounded and the bedridden. I have preparations of my own to make."
Clara lightly pushed her glasses up with one finger.
"Another round trip, then? Would you mind going back first, Lyle?"
I shook my head.
"Sorry, but this is the last time. Hurry up."
As Clara descended, I released Eva's arm and spoke.
"Eva, begin preparations to fall back. Also, send Monica and the Valkyrie back first."
Then, Eva looked toward Clara.
"That sharp tongue of hers... it's fine, but it's already night. If our numbers decrease, they'll reach here easily, don't you think? Is it okay to pull Monica and the others back? They won't like it."
Even though she's an Automaton, why is she so assertive?
"No problem. In the worst case, this place only needs to keep its form."
Because the second wall—the real purpose is elsewhere.
Night.
It was almost dawn.
While Clara transported personnel to the fortress, I watched the army of Monsters.
"I don't feel like they've decreased at all."
Since I was alone on the scene, I could respond to the Jewel's voice. The Third Generation was as nonchalant as usual.
"That's true. No matter how many we cut down, the enemy numbers in the hundreds of thousands—even if halved, it's still an army of over ten thousand. It was a bit ahead of schedule, but I'd say it's going smoothly."
I looked up at the night sky.
"...though many of the flying Monsters got away."
While I was resting, and while I was distracted by other matters, the flying Monsters carried other Monsters on their backs and even passed beyond the fortress behind us.
The Fifth Generation was a bit angry with me.
"Don't think you can do everything. The others did what they could. You also did everything within your power. Then, the rear is Baim's responsibility. Can he really not let a single one through? If we had more people, it would be different, though."
The wall had been reduced to tatters by the magic flying toward it.
Eva came to me to report that preparations were finished.
"Lael, you're the last one."
"Understood."
I climbed down from the wall, where a large Porter was preparing for departure. Knights, soldiers, and elves had all boarded the large Porter that would carry the cargo Damian had assembled.
I climbed up to the roof and told Clara to set off.
"Take us out."
"...Alright."
Clara seemed somewhat embarrassed, but now was no time for that.
The Monsters launched a coordinated attack on the wall, which had lost all ability to resist. Tremors reached all the way to the Porter as I watched the wall.
Perhaps the Monsters decided the gate was weaker than the wall, because they shifted their assault toward it.
When the Porter reached the halfway point between the second wall and the fortress, the gate was breached. Monsters began flooding through.
I readied my silver bow in my left hand and nocked an arrow on the roof.
"I'll take out the fast ones. Clara, keep heading straight for the fortress."
"O-Okay."
The large Porter had a space at the front where someone could ride. By positioning herself there, Clara could operate the Porter while keeping her eyes forward and staying safe.
After steadying my breathing, I released an arrow at the centaur leading the charge.
The leader tumbled, and the ones behind it tripped and fell. But the Monsters trampled right over their fallen comrades and kept charging forward.
When I loosed the next arrow, I could take down a Monster the same way, but they'd just trample over it and keep rushing forward. It wasn't very effective at stopping them.
Using the Skill—Speed—I was accelerating the Porter, but we might barely make it to the fortress even so.
The gate to the fortress was open, and all we had to do was rush inside.
I kept firing arrow after arrow, but it looked like we were being swallowed by the tide of Monsters.
The Fourth Generation spoke up.
"You know, it doesn't look like it's having any effect at all."
Then the Seventh Generation said.
"There's probably some effect. Better than nothing, I'd say."
Just then, a massive Monster came charging out, trampling over countless others and sweeping its arms aside to clear a path.
It was a white, ape-like Monster with a red face. Its long foreclaws were razor-sharp, and it bared its fangs as it lunged toward us with long, powerful limbs.
Five meters tall? Six?
It had burst out from the Monster horde and was heading straight for us.
I drew my silver bow and loosed an arrow. The Monster reacted instantly, shifting its body slightly to the side. The arrow tracked it, but it didn't land where I had aimed.
It pierced the Monster's shoulder and exploded, but it didn't seem to do much damage. The white fur must have cushioned the blow.
I glanced back at the fortress—it was already right in front of us. I fired two more arrows trying to slow down the giant ape, but the enemy ignored the damage and charged right in.
I converted the silver bow back into the Jewel and hung it around my neck.
Mireia looked a little surprised.
"Oh my, you're not going to use the greatsword?"
I drew the blade at my waist and held it ready with both hands.
"No, I want to use it. But I also wanted to test how this one handles—"
In that instant, the Large Porter burst through the fortress gate, and a massive, sturdy-looking portcullis came crashing down from above.
However, the Monsters charged in too, spilling right into the fortress. The Large Porter slammed on its brakes to kill its momentum, swinging its long rear section to the side and pivoting ninety degrees before coming to a stop.
As I leapt down from the roof, I came face to face with a massive Monster.
Clara, who had climbed down from the Porter, shouted at me.
"Laiel, it's a Giant Kong! I think it was the boss of the Dungeon!"
I planted my feet, and there it was—the red-faced Giant Kong glaring at me.
It had chosen me as its first prey.
I rushed toward the Giant Kong as it puffed out its chest and prepared to let out a roar, drawing the gun from the holster at my hip.
As the Giant Kong leaped up and opened its mouth wide, I aimed the barrel right at it.
"If your skin won't do, how about the inside of your mouth?"
I pulled the trigger, and a bullet sailed into the Giant Kong's maw. Whether it hurt, the Giant Kong let out a strange noise.
However, its foul-smelling breath became a blast of wind pressure, and I was sent flying back a bit.
I aimed for the Giant Kong's eye as it glared at me from midair, and pulled the trigger.
That was the sixth shot, so as I landed I holstered the gun. The Giant Kong had its left eye shut, blood streaming from it. Blood was also dripping from the corner of its mouth, and its deeply wrinkled, crimson face had become even more creased as it glared at me.
I drew the katana with both hands, and knights and soldiers began gathering around me. In their hands they carried guns, bows, and crossbows.
"Don't lay a hand on it!"
With those words I charged in, using my Skill—UpDown—to slow the opponent's movements while boosting my own speed. The Giant Kong struggled against the Skill's restraints, but as I closed in it swung its right arm.
I moved to its blind left side, where it was flailing its left arm wildly, and swung the katana in a vertical arc.
The blade appeared to be made of rare metal, yet it chipped.
Still, the Giant Kong's left arm was blown clean off and crashed into the fortress wall.
"Good edge."
That was my impression upon looking at the katana, but it had chipped despite being made of rare metal. Too sharp, too delicate. If someone more skilled were handling it, the result might be different, but in my hands I'd probably ruin it in no time.
But the opponent had tough fur. If I could cut off an arm from something like that, it should be enough.
Spraying blood everywhere, the Giant Kong slammed its right arm down at me. I rolled across the ground to dodge, then slashed at its leg.
As the Giant Kong's movements grew slower and slower, I lunged in and swept its head off in a clean horizontal line.
I tore through the fur that had withstood even explosions, and as the head went spinning through the air, I flicked the blood off my katana.
The sky was brightening, and I looked at the blade.
"Better than a mass-produced saber, but..."
I muttered, gazing at the chipped and cracked blade, when Valkyrie No. 1 came up beside me.
"Master, here is a replacement katana."
She pulled a spare katana from the wing-like binder on her back and said just that.
Monica, who had also brought a spare katana, looked at us with a dumbfounded expression.
"Th-this Monica, falling behind...!"
She was quite dejected.
With a sigh, I swapped out the katana and issued orders to those around me. Then I headed for the stairs leading to the top of the fortress.
"Strip the monster materials off this thing. It's worth gold. Who's up top?"
Clara had been directing the soldiers on how to dismantle the enormous Giant Kong, but she turned back toward me.
"It's Aria and Miranda. Alette is in the dungeon... and Novem is busy treating the wounded."
Upon hearing this, I was about to call out to Eva and head up, but—
Eva was busy bragging to the elves.
"See that? That performance was song-worthy, wasn't it!"
—She was showing off.
"You're right. But when we're this busy, there's no time to think of lyrics."
"I'd like to hear about the other standout figures too."
"If we're going to turn it into a song, we should probably mix in today's battle as well... No, that would make it too long."
The elves, eager to recount the battle and consider turning it into a song, were discussing it with earnest expressions.
Exasperated but unsurprised, I headed upward alone.
Climbing the stairs, I stood atop the fortress.
The Third Generation looked out at the scene and—
"Well then, from here on it's the big job. We've prepared for this, so let's make sure we deliver results."
—That was what she said.
From within the fortress, cannons had extended their barrels. The soldiers had prepared mountains of arrows and were manning bows, crossbows, and ballistae.
Knights and mages stood ready awaiting my orders, and ten thousand troops were assembled at the fortress.
The Fourth Generation spoke with visible excitement.
"Since our 'growth' speed ended up being absurdly fast, we descended to the fortress well ahead of schedule. But that's all there is to it. Let's meet them here."
The Fifth Generation looked toward the second wall visible in the distance.
"They dutifully came through the gate. Thanks to that, all we have to do is seal the gate and they're trapped. We shouldn't have to let a single surface Monster escape. Well, I assume they'll keep pushing forward, but having no stragglers is a good thing."
The second wall had two gates prepared. One had been destroyed, but the other could be sealed at any time.
The Seventh Generation spoke in a serious voice.
"From here on out, it's just busywork. Crush the trapped Monsters. We've made every preparation for that. ...Laiel!"
I gripped the Jewel and looked up at the sky. Monsters were attempting to invade the fortress from above, riding atop Griffons and Hippogriffs as they headed our way.
"They still had forces left in reserve. They should have committed them a little sooner, though."
Above even those Monsters, Kirin galloped through the sky, generating lightning from their prized horns and shooting down the Monsters flying through the air.
Not just a few of them.
More than ten Kirin looked down upon the Monsters from the sky.
And far off in the distance, May could be seen. She was heading toward the Second Wall, working the mechanisms to close the gate.
With the gate shut, it meant the Monsters no longer had any escape.
The knights and soldiers, having experienced growth and been given time to rest, would surely perform better than before.
Mireia said:
"Even a massive army of Monsters is nothing more than fodder for training elite soldiers. Honestly, the Successive Heads of House Walt are terrifying."
She was absolutely right.
The fortress was even more robust than the Second Wall, and it had been thoroughly prepared with anti-magic countermeasures. All that remained was to annihilate the trapped Monsters right here.
When I made my way to the highest point atop the fortress, the eyes of every knight and soldier turned toward me.
Above the fortress, flags swayed in the wind, shimmering as they caught the light of the morning sun.
I raised my right hand.
"This is where we get serious! With everything you have, annihilate the enemy!"
Facing the trapped Monsters, the knights and soldiers roared their battle cries. They thrust their fists toward the heavens, and their morale soared.
...That's right. This is where the real battle begins, and from here on, it is hell.
I gazed upon the Monster army bearing down before me, thinking just that.