And so, Rest broke through the first major gate since arriving at the fortress.
Except that gate wasn't an enemy foreign tribe, but rather an ally—or, well, Yuri's three older brothers.
"Count Clover, there's a war council. I trust you'll join us. You wouldn't say no, would you?"
"Lord Clover, do you have a moment? I'd like to hear your opinion."
"Clover, how about a little mock battle? I won't lose this time!"
"What's up with those guys...? Are they just that bored?"
Several days had passed since he arrived at the fortress.
He was getting fed up with the three Cattleya brothers, who kept finding spare time to pester him.
"It's probably improper to think this, but maybe I'd welcome an enemy attack at this point..."
Rest let out a deep sigh as he hid in the shadows.
He was on the fortress wall, having fled from the Cattleya brothers to lie low.
A few lookout soldiers were visible along the wall, but for now, they didn't seem to have noticed Rest.
(Brothers who dote on their little sister, huh... Not that I mind. I really don't. But being on the receiving end is exhausting...)
Rest didn't have any younger siblings. Not in his past life, nor in this one.
Still, he had an older half-brother named Cedric... but could he really call someone a brother when they shared no real bond?
He had wondered what it would be like to have a younger sibling, but it was probably for the best that he was the only victim of his toxic parents.
"How long is this going to go on...?"
He never expected that, having come to the battlefield, his greatest enemy would be on his own side.
He had known that war wouldn't be easy. He had expected it to be harsh.
But... this kind of difficulty was unexpected.
"Well, fine... The vanguard's mission is to defend the fort until the main force arrives. Reinforcements will be here soon enough... Huh?"
At that moment, the sun was blocked out.
For a brief instant, he thought a cloud had passed over the sun. Then a foreign presence entered the detection range of his always-active [Presence Detection].
"Up above... foreign tribes!?"
Rest looked up at the sky.
White clouds swam across the blue sky like whales... Those who had been hiding within them revealed themselves.
Winged humans. They were one of the foreign tribes, the 'Winged Tribe'.
They must have climbed high and used the clouds as cover to fool the lookouts... Still, no one other than Rest had noticed the enemy yet.
(They hid in the clouds and launched a surprise attack... I have to warn everyone!)
"[Burst]!"
Rest cast his magic.
A small explosion occurred above the fort. A large spark and sound erupted, and the soldiers who were outdoors all looked up at the sky.
"What was that explosion just now!?"
"Hey, look up! It's the enemy!"
"The foreign tribes are attacking!"
The explosion Rest created alerted the entire fort faster than any words could.
"Soldiers, engage the enemy! Show them the justice of the Kingdom of Aiwood!"
Vareiya Cattleya, the commander, appeared and ordered the soldiers to intercept the enemy.
«Magicians, attack with magic! Warriors, shoot down the winged people with bows and arrows! There may be other enemies. Don't let your guard down around you!»
«Ha!»
Following Vareiya’s orders, the soldiers of the fort immediately moved into action.
Those who could use magic fired spells, while the rest of the soldiers aimed their bows upward.
«[Thunder Cannon]!»
«Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaa!?»
Rest also fired magic at the winged people.
The lightning strike charred the winged foreign tribe member and knocked him to the ground.
Although the other soldiers were also shooting them down, their side was not unscathed. Some soldiers collapsed after taking spears and stones thrown by the winged people.
«Their numbers have increased compared to the last attack...»
Even so, if the only enemies were the winged people, it wouldn’t be difficult to handle.
Just as he thought that... once again, multiple presences were caught by Rest’s [presence detection].
«What...!?»
He turned his gaze toward the direction of the presences.
It was outside the fort, on the inner side of the border river.
Countless presences were appearing there. Moreover, they were increasing rapidly.
Only the presences were there; their forms were not visible.
«[Thunder Cannon]!»
Nevertheless, he fired magic, trusting his own senses.
Lightning was shot towards the empty ground… but the next moment, the air wavered.
The scenery rippled like a mirage, and countless figures appeared from beyond the lens-like distortion.
«No way… they were hiding themselves with magic!?»
«It’s the foreign tribes! A massive wave of enemy soldiers is heading this way!»
The sentry soldiers noticed the enemy reinforcements, just a beat behind Rest.
Their detection was delayed because they had been invisible.
Over a thousand warriors from the foreign tribes had crossed the border river and were now charging towards them.
—————— Volume 1 of the series is now on sale from Sneaker Bunko!
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