Chapter 249: [ Superficial. ] \nThe enemy’s forces began to concentrate on the right flank, where Roa and the others were.\n
The right flank is made up of centaurs and monsters……
On the other hand, reinforcements from inside the door have arrived to the central flank where Gio is.
And Gio, immediately after the reinforcements arrived, sent them to the right flank.
When Niko heard about this……
[You bring back the monsters you brought from the central flank back there. Leave the handling of this side to us. You go back and help the rest of the army———— with that sorcery of yours.]
—–That is what she said to me.
On the right flank, there were no member of the Four Warlights.
Roa was strong, but she isn’t as strong as the Four Warlights.
Compared to the others, they were more worrying.
However, I’d also like to check out the central flank where Gio is.
[Alright. You guys should be prepared to focus on defense for the time being. I’m sure you know about this already, but avoid engaging the Sixth.]
[You need not say it again.]
With the monsters in tow again, we returned to the central flank.
Once there, I met up with Gio and the others.
It seemed like they had set up a hastily constructed camp a few distance back from the front line.
I could see a few Leopardkin soldiers being treated here and there.
There were also some dead bodies among them.
Some of them even had lost their arms and other parts of their bodies.
Looking at this scene for a moment, I called out to Gio, who was looking over the camp.
Seeing me in my Leopard King outfit, a grin creeps on Gio’s lips and he jokingly spoke.
[So you’ve arrived, Leopard King.]
[I heard you’ve crushed one of the enemy’s cavalry units.]
[Being called the strongest of the Four Warlights isn’t just for show after all.]
Saying this, Gio silently gazed at the wounded Leopardkin soldiers for a moment……
[It’s just that…… our victory wasn’t possible without sacrifice. I’m still a little worried that we don’t have a complete picture of the enemy’s forces. The 6th Cavalry hasn’t shown up yet either.]
Even as she said this, Gio himself looked almost unharmed.
Finished observing Gio, I dubiously asked him.
[For someone who fought the enemy captain, you hardly have any scratch on you.]
[He’s a lot easier to deal with than your Deputy.]
[Have you received any updates about Roa and the others?]
[From the reports, it looks like they’re doing well. The reinforcements that Liese sent over there might have been of use. Ahh, also…… I’ve heard that there are signs that a new wave of enemies is heading this way as well. With the situation like this, it honestly helps that the monsters you brought to help Niko were back.]
He has black fur, so it’s not very noticeable.
The amount of blood that stuck on his body.
Judging by the amount of blood that splashed back towards him, compared to the other soldiers————-
Gio most probably killed dozens of times more.
A large scale war.
Normally, one person’s strength would be negligible.
However, Gio may have the power to overthrow the disadvantage of being alone.
Gio Shadowblade.
I wonder how many people he has killed alone.
As expected of a member of Four Warlights, his individual fighting ability is clearly outstanding.
Although the person himself says that “it was just a few”.
He is definitely worthy of being called the strongest of the Four Warlights.
In this battle……
As long as this man is alive, the survival rate of our allies would be greatly increased.
Not only does he have excellent combat skills, he also has excellent battlefield instincts and commanding abilities.
Thus——— I don’t want this man to die.
This may be something I personally want but……
Thinking with the perspective of limiting the sacrifices that our allies need to take, his presence would be necessary.
[…………………..]
It’s reassuring to know that I can trust him with another area of the battlefield.
Keeping his eyes on the Leopardkin soldiers, Gio spoke.
[……I’ll tell you this now. I’m really glad that you came to the Faraway Country. ……Thank you.]
[As Liese pointed out, I’m cooperating with you all because it’s in my best interest. You don’t need to be that grateful.]
[What I think is still the same even if that’s the case. Niko’s life might have been in danger if you hadn’t come running to her. With you on our side…… I could fight without any hesitation.]
[…………………….]
Gio chuckled a bit.
[That sounds a little suspicious, wasn’t it?]
[No———- I was just thinking the same thing.]
” ”
[ ? ]
Hearing what I said, Gio’s ears perked up.
[Ahh, speaking of which———– I had some information I wanted to tell you. A Leopardkin soldier on a reconnaissance mission to the right flank brought back some interesting information.]
Gio started speaking about this information.
Thinking about what I heard, I brought my hand to my chin.
[……They’re thoroughly checking the unit number and identity of the messengers huh.]
[The cavalry that’s clashing with Roa and the others by now…… He had overheard them talking about this matter on the road.]
———–They already found out what I was doing huh?
However, I’m sure I killed every last one of the defeated 10th Cavalry around.
I haven’t felt the presence of any humans at that time……
It’s hard to imagine that there were any eye-witnesses left.\n
There’s someone among the enemy who predicted that our side might disguise as their messengers?
” ”
However, that would mean……
If we have a handful of “humans”, that would certainly be something that the enemy would conjecture……
[According to the Leopardkin soldier who was listening to their conversation, they were thinking that that Mad Emperor fellow is on our side.]
[……So that’s how it is.]
The enemy judged that Mira was working with the Faraway Country.
Which means…… They still haven’t come to the conclusion that the Fly King Squadron is related to this situation huh.
It’s just, well……
[I’m afraid that disguising myself as a messenger and taking them by surprise has been blocked.]
Well, though I say that……
Even if they suspect me, it’s still a useful move as long as I can get within range.
The existence of the Fly King Squadron and my Abnormal State Skills haven’t yet been discovered.
However, what they did indeed increased the risks for me.
Thinking about this, I snorted.
[Hmph…… Well, this also has its merits too. Now, everytime a messenger arrives, the other side will have to be suspicious. It’ll have the effect of slowing them down a bit.]
Well, that would be as long as they don’t have the power to judge lies like Seras.
At that moment, our side’s messenger has arrived.
[They’re coming ! The enemy cavalry is heading this way!]
[How many?]
[About 200 in sight!]
Hearing his words, Gio turned towards his subordinates and immediately gave his orders.
[The injured would stay back! Those who can fight, come with me!]
[————I’m coming with you.]
Saying this, I then drew up the map of the area in my mind.
The terrain near here……
There should be a localized wooded area, right?
[Gio, let me see the map.]
▽
The cavalry appeared in front of the woods.
There was a sheer cliff on their left and right sides.
[Stop.]
The man in the lead brought his troops to a halt.
That must be the captain of this cavalry unit.
The captain looks over the cliff.
From the top of the cliff, he received some kind of signal.
Upon seeing it, the horse-riding captain stroked his beard in satisfaction.
[The cliff tops are fortified by my soldiers…… Now then, as for the woods over there……]
The captain turns his gaze at the deep forest stretched out in front of him.
In this rocky terrain, the woods are like an oasis within a desert……
However, it wasn’t fresh and lush.
The dense bushes darkened the appearance of the woods though.
The trunk of the trees are thick and they have large leaves.
Thus, it’s a place where the sun doesn’t reach even during the day.
[In short……]
Coming to a conclusion, the captain spoke.
[It’s a great place to hide…… I see, it seems that those fake humans have thought well. But even though I couldn’t feel their presence, it’s obvious that they had laid down surprise troops in the woods. Being the beasts they are, their hunting instincts might be able to mask their presence…… However, we humans possess intelligence surpassing animal nature. Thereby, we humans surpass the wild instincts of beasts. Beasts…… You have always been———-]
As the captain raised his arm, the mounted soldiers readied their bows.
[Superficial.]
Fire arrows.
They’re going to shoot fire arrows into the forest huh.
Moreover, another line of soldiers readied magic tools———-
[Fiiiiireeeeee—————!]
[ ! ? ]
Noticing something amiss, the captain raised his head.
The cliff tops were in quite a ruckus.
It was then that the captain realized the situation.
[Tsk! The enemy’s ambush isn’t in the woods…… but on the cliff tops huh! For this me to have misjudged the situation……! Ahh!? The enemy also has archers!? Cunning beasts———, ……………Uwooohhh!?]\nArrows began raining down from the cliff top.
And there, Gio Shadowblade’s voice rang out.
[Looking at the terrain here, thinking that there’s ambush in the forest is just obvious…… That’s why you lot neglected to devote your forces above the cliffs. I’m sorry———— but this will be a one-sided fight!]
From the top of the cliffs, Gio hurled a spear.
Fwoooooohh!
One of the cavalrymen was skewered, Gio’s spear piercing through his shield.
Seeing what happened, the soldier beside him became very shaken.
[Hi——– Hyiiiiiiihhhh!? It went through the shield!? I- It’s a monster…….!]
And when the captain himself saw that……
[A- AaaaaAAaahhhHHHHHHH————– D*mn it, d*mn it, D*MN IT ALLLLLLLLLL!]
He bellowed.
And immediately after the captain raged out……
RIIIIIIIIIIIIPPPPPPPP!
He tore off dozens of hairs from his beard.
[———–Fuuuu. Alright, I’ve become calmer. Now then……]
It seemed like what he did just now was some kind of ritual to calm himself down.
[Shieeeeeeeelds up! Don’t let yourselves be sitting ducks! Being that the enemy are on the top of the cliffs, we’re at a disadvantageous position…… Thus, hide in the woods! Make sure to watch out for the arrows overhead! Ready! Follow me!]
Giving his orders, the captain kicked the horse’s belly.
Under the hail of arrows, the cavalry avalanches into the woods.
However, not all cavalrymen were able to block the arrows with their shields, and unable to make it to the woods, they fell one after another.
[……Alright, we’re clear! They’re not shooting at us anymore!]
Once in the woods, the captain allowed his cavalry to slow down.
Looking back to the soldiers who managed to survive the hail of arrows, the cavalryman riding next to the captain spoke.
[……We’ve been had. That black Leopardkin…… Captain, what do you think of him?]
[He’s pretty good. On the other hand though, it would be a huge deal if we could bring him down here.]
Not yet.
[Now then…… I wonder what we should do from here?]
[As long as they don’t set this forest on fire, we can only wait and see…… Perhaps, if another cavalry unit arrives, we can catch them in a pincer attack.]
……Hold still.
[It would be great if we have some means to tell them our current circumstances but……]
[The Ninth or the Sixth might be able to sense our situation and adjust their movements. However, our cavalry can’t show our full potential in this situation. If that black Leopardkin and his lot come after us…… We’ll have to dismount and engage them in a good, old-fashioned jungle battle.]
[Captain, there are signs of monsters in the distance. It was faint, but their cries could also be heard.]
[Yeah, I sensed them too…… They ain’t moving, but kill them when they get closer. After the scouts return…… We’ll advance a bit more.]
————-, ………………..Just a bit more.
[Even so…… Even though he’s just a mere Demi-Human, he has successfully outwitted us huh.]
[If that Leopardkin has a wife, I’ll fuck her right in front of his eyes…… Only then could I have peace of mind.]
——————–Not yet.
Hold yourselves back, up to the very last moment.
A very faint breath reaches my ears.
I could feel their tension hitting the skin all over my body, transmitted from my surroundings.
It’s just a few distance more———–
[You sure like taking other people’s stuff, Captain……]
[It’s a hobby I’ve had since I was a bandit after all. I’m not sure why, but even if it’s something I don’t have any interest in, if it’s owned by someone else, I would want it for some reason. Well, I guess it’s just in my nature.]
[I mean…… Gray committed suicide because Captain forcibly slept with his wife! He was getting thinner and thinner by the day……]
[Fuhahaha, that would be Gray’s fault then! But well…… Even when he was a bandit, he also did some pretty nasty things in the villages we raided————]
[——————————Now.]
Rustle, rustle!
The Leopardkin all over the area, holding bows and arrows in hand, stood up.
[Ahh? …………., ————!? E- Even here…… They have soldiers prepared!? Moreover, for them to be this close!?]
Without pause, the Leopardkin shot their arrows.
[Kuhh!? Could it be that they had been aiming for this right from the very———-]
And along with the arrow-wielding Leopardkin———– I have already fired off my < Paralyze >.
” ”
After releasing their arrows, the Leopardkin soldiers raised a war cry and rushed out one after another, weapons in their hands.\n\nDo they actually have multiple Divine Beasts?
No———– I don’t think that’s the case.
This is most probably a bait to lure people in……
We’ve got it backwards.
They’re making use of our side’s top priority as a “fishing bait”.
However, this baiting plan of theirs……
In fact, this is one of the possibilities I thought of while I’m heading towards Niko’s side as reinforcements.
That’s why, I had told Niko about it.
“That even if such Divine Beast appears, you shouldn’t chase them too far.”
That’s why, I think our side wouldn’t be baited for the moment but……
Just in case, I should give out instructions to them again———–
[……Notify all flanks now. If you see anything that looks like the Divine Beast, don’t go after it until I give the order. Just keep on holding unto the line. The possibility that this Divine Beast is a trap——— is extremely high.]
I immediately sent out the messengers to all battle fronts.
Soon after, the nearby central front started retreating.
All that’s left now are the two remaining flanks……
Soon after, the messenger from the left flank returned.
[G—– Gio-sama…… Fly King-sama! Fly King-sama!]
Hearing what he called me, Gio rebuked him.
[Oi, when this guy is dressed as Leopard King, you should call him————]
However, now is not the time for that, so thrusting my arms in front of Gio…… I stopped him.
The messenger was clearly so shaken that he wasn’t even aware of how he should call me.
He also looked completely pale.
I urged him to continue again.
[Your report.]
[N- Niko-sama and the others————]
[Reporting!]
That’s when it happened.
This time, a messenger from the right flank arrived.
The flank where Roa and the others are……
They apparently stopped chasing and started to retreat.
They didn’t follow them reflexively.
That’s good.
Roa is able to make a calm decision.
However……]
[So———— What happened with Niko?]
Gio asked again.
This messenger that arrived from the left flank.
He is clearly shaking.
He looked like he’s about to collapse.
[I’m going to ask you again———— What happened?]
Gio urged him with great intensity.
However, the messenger still wasn’t able to speak it out.
I guess it must have been so horrible to talk about.
In the meantime, I recruited a few Leopardkin soldiers, including some of those who could give first aid.
[Lead the way.]
When I said that, Gio brought his hand on his katana.
[I’m coming with you.]
[No, you stay here and take command of the central flank.]
[…………………..]
Gritting his teeth at my response, Gio questioned the messenger again.
[Then, you should at least tell me……. What the heck happened to Niko!?]
[th…… xth…… there———-…………., ———-th……]
The messenger looked frightened and was speaking inarticulately.
Even so———- The messenger has somehow managed to convey it.
[The 6th Cavalry.]
The next chapter will be updated on 7/23 (Friday), around 9:00 pm.