Charge!
Kill! Kill!
The foreign tribes who had crossed the river charged at the advance party.
Those charging with primitive weapons like stone axes and stone spears were members of what were called the 'oni tribe' among the foreign tribes.
Demi-humans with red skin and horns on their heads charged in like bulls.
"All units, engage! Don't let a single soldier through to the rear!"
Vareiya Cattleya, the commander, issued orders to the soldiers.
The soldiers positioned at the front readied their spears and intercepted the charging oni.
"Hmph!"
"Hah!"
As could be seen from the fact that they had been throwing weapons across the river at the fortress, the oni possessed terrifying physical strength.
However, the soldiers of the Kingdom of Aiwood were not backing down.
They strengthened their bodies with mana and blocked the stone weapons swung down by the oni.
"Guh...!"
"What incredible strength...!"
However, even with enhanced bodies, it seemed the oni still had the upper hand in power.
The soldiers, who should have had iron weapons, were being pushed back by oni wielding stone weapons.
"We should have the advantage in both weapon quality and numbers... so this is the oni tribe!"
"Lord Rest!"
"I know... [Lightning Ball]!"
Urged on by Diebl, Rest, who was in the rear protected by the soldiers, also cast a spell.
A sphere of lightning traced an upward arc and struck the foreign tribesmen beyond the soldiers.
"Gyaaah!"
"You damn human curse casters!"
Screams rose from the oni.
He couldn't fire any overly powerful magic since his allies were nearby, but the intervention he had thrown into the midst of the soldiers' battle seemed to have had sufficient effect.
"Continue!"
"Fire! Drive back the foreign tribes!"
Taking Rest's attack as a signal, the other magicians also unleashed covering fire, careful to avoid friendly fire.
Flames and lightning flashed, and several explosions occurred in the enemy ranks.
"Now! Brave soldiers, crush the foreign tribes!"
The soldiers, spears in hand, pressed the attack against the enemies faltering from the magic.
Although they had been pushed back at the start, the situation was reversed by the magicians' covering fire.
"Guoh!"
"Curse casters! Kill them!"
Pushed back, the oni's targets shifted to the magicians in the rear.
They tried to somehow break through the wall of soldiers and reach the protected magicians behind them.
"Force your way through! Once we take care of the curse casters, the rest are just small fry!"
"As if I'd let you!"
"Gyaa!?"
The body of the oni who was trying to force his way through was slashed diagonally.
The one who cut down the two-meter giant with a lightning-like slash was Wilhelm Lubeth, the "Sword Saint Who Hates Women."
"Who are you calling small fry? You foreign puppet. Can't you see what's below with that huge body?"
"Yo... you..."
"Almakain Sword Dance... 'Scattered Petals.'"
"Gyaaaaah!?"
Multiple slashes were unleashed from Lubeth's sword.
The surrounding oni were all cut down, and blood mist danced across the battlefield.
"Tough... but what of it? They're only slightly better than practice dummies."
Saying this mockingly, Lubeth glanced behind him for a moment.
"............you bastard."
Rest's face contorted.
With all the soldiers in between, no one might have noticed, but Lubeth was definitely looking at Rest.
"I've cut down this many."
"What about you? Just watching from the back?"
He felt he heard Lubeth's voice saying that.
He was being baited. Provoked.
The arrogant attitude of his peer made a competitive spirit simmer inside him.
"I don't know why, but I feel like I can't afford to lose to you, rather than the enemy."
Rest put power into his legs and leaped high.
He soared to a height of over ten meters and looked down on the battlefield from above.
"As long as I don't cause friendly fire, it's fine, right? Attacking from up here is simple!"
Countless lightning orbs appeared around Rest.
A multi-cast of the same spell. A much simpler technique than using multiple different spells at once.
"
Fire!
"
The lightning orbs rushed toward the enemy.
Firing, generating more, firing, generating more… He showered the oni with a torrent of lightning like a natural disaster.
"Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
"You damn curse caster… Guwaaaaaaah!?"
"Retreat! Fall back!"
Unable to withstand the rain of lightning orbs, the oni were forced to retreat.
The opening skirmish came to a close, and Rest and his allies secured a temporary victory.
---- Volume 1 of the book goes on sale April 1st!
Those who purchase at Melonbooks, Gamers, and Animate will each receive a bonus short story.
This is all thanks to the support of all of you. I offer my heartfelt gratitude.
I look forward to your continued support of this work.