At the beginning of battle, the enemiesâ monsters let out an attack with unbelievable power and a large scale magic attack that destroyed the spirit of the Lords Alliance. However, since the next attack didnât come after that, they began to believe that those attacks canât be used continuously; a kind of power only gunshot and one time only firework.
--Well, if they ask the people themselves, Kurashi (gunshot) and Ikaruga (firework), they will gladly answer the request by firing it in rapid fire. Still, right now theyâre busy drinking alcohol while gazing at the battlefield, cheering, resenting, and commenting with a self satisfied lookâtheyâre very busy.
Then, as if complementing them, the monsters that had been standing by in the Acquira Plateau for the past few days started to move while giving a battle cry.
Then, looking at that, the Lords Allianceâs commander judged that their enemy had used up its trump card then moved to conventional melee. With that they suddenly they feel their spirit come back, and see their chance at victory.
The remaining military strength of Amitia Kingdom was over 28,000, while the enemy monsters only had 10,000.
In this world, fighting monster 3vs1 is possible theory-wise. Thus according that, they have equal war potential. However, different from personal battle, the effect of difference in numbers will rise exponentially in a group battle.
ââWe can win!!ââ
Every lord believed in that and first ordered the volunteer soldiers that were divided and placed under their command to the front line, thus preserving their own pieces.
Even though their numbers were overwhelming, they werenât better than any amateurâwell, from the lordsâ perspectives letting them who supported the third prince who was a traitor and had a high possibility to rebel to die together with enemy is a justified actionâthey held crude weapons and wore crude defensive armaments. Even if they desperately stood their ground against the surging wave of enemy monsters, they were mowed down by the Troll Warriors, and sent flying by the surging charge of the Goblin Raiders.
Those terrifying free for all fights, slowly became an agonizing painting of hell that will ruin your eyes.
In those chaotic and confusing states, the Lords Allianceâs regular army which was standing by and waiting for an opportunity poured down a violent rain of arrows. Additionally, the magician corps was also firing numerous ice arrows which bore holes on whoever was in the way disregarding if it was friend or foe.
Moreover, as a finishing move the cavalry charged and exhausted the enemy army, then the infantry that came afterwards exterminated the survivorsâthat kind of scene can be found everywhere in this battlefield.
The match is decided! After all they are just inferior beasts, no matter how much they gather it wonât be a problem!
Believing in their victory, complacent smiles floated in the faces of Lords allied forcesâ commanders. However the enemyâs persistence which was out of their expectations and their own forces started dwindling together with the passage of time, making them begin to feel agitated and frown. Before long, cold sweat started to flow like water.
What is this?! Where are they coming from!? Moreover, their fighting spirit hasnât declined. As if they know no death!
Then, the needle of the scale started to wane away from the favour of the Amitia soldiers, as time passed it slowly inclined toward Imperial Crimsonâs side, until it was impossible to reverse.
***
âWell, [[All rise (Wide area resurrection)]] was only 8x8 grids when it was a game, so it helps a lot since now it covers a 50m radius, but stillâŚâ
Disregarding friend or foe, I stood in the middle of a sea of blood, and used the saint skill [[All rise]].
Faint light flowed from the long cane in my hand âSecret Rose (Blue Velvet)â toward my surroundings, the corpses started to come back to life and looked around, confused.
âFor it to ignore friend or foe, I donât know if I should say itâs convenient or inconvenient⌠ or rather, while looking at that strange bird which was dragged in, also coming back to life and flew while saying âstupid stupidâ, I feel it is really a waste of MP.â
While muttering to myself, I move and cast [[All rise (Wide area resurrection)]] again without stopping.
Since the resurrection knows neither friend nor foe, allies and enemies were jumbled together and got into a confusing situation, in panic some even started to fight again, however,
âHey! Imperial Crimsonâs soldiers who have come back to life, quickly move to the front! The battle has already moved forward since a long time ago, donât be slow! Also, volunteer soldiers from Amitia Kingdom, the Lords Alliance sacrificed you guys and even attacked you from behind, I wonât forgive you put up resistance and I wonât resurrect you again. However we wonât pursue you, so if you want to runaway, go on. Thatâs all.â
I said what I wanted to say (since it is only possible to use resurrection within 30 minutes, I canât waste my time here), and left that place.
Actually, this is what I heard at latter time, most of the volunteer soldiers retreated from the battlefield in an unsteady manner, as if their soul was gouged out.
ââŚdo you think Iâve become soft, Mikoto, Amari?â
Suddenly, I remembered the face of a certain masked knight who was also in this battlefield, and asked the two of them.
âNot in particular. âSince from the beginning, itâs not something princess should worry about.â
ââŚFrom the start Princess was always saving others depending on mood and meaninglessly committing atrocities. So I am happy that you havenât changed.â
ââŚwell, thank you.â
I see, so they look at me that wayâŚ
âWell, first, letâs work hard!!â
Encouraging myself, I ran around the battlefield like a wind.
***
The result is clear like night and day.
Unhurt Imperial Crimson soldiers came from every direction, against Amitia soldiers who were not only full of wounds, they also had no reinforcements and were separated from their own lords. Moreover, Imperial Crimson soldiers thoroughly trampled them, not leaving even one soldier behind in their wake.
ââru, run⌠no, retreat!â
Nobles from the surviving army quickly rode their warhorses and attempted to leave the battlefield with great haste.
Trusted confidants who gathered around him looked at each otherâs faces and timidly asked for confirmation.
âHowever, our allied soldiers are still in the middle of battle, shouldnât we give them retreat signal?â
âDonât be stupid! Giving me time to retreat is the duty of those low class people! While they stall those monsters, letâs leave this place quickly!â
Hearing him shout with a red face, his close confidants nod to each other, and start to scramble towards their own horses.
ââŚErrâŚisnât doing that kind of thing irresponsible?â
In that moment, a violent blast descended toward their formation and the surprised horses simultaneously ran away from that place, leaving their owners behind.
âLike masters, like horsesâŚhuhâ
Falling because of the wind pressure of the horses, they were bewildered because they saw a knight with red armour and a red mask walking in the middle of them before they noticed.
--this man, I feel like Iâve seen him somewhereâŚ
A faint, familiar sensation welled up in their chests, but before they reached the answer, the man faced them and showed a fearless smile while resting his long sword on his shoulder.
âItâs unbecoming for commanders to sacrifice their own allies and run. Our princess on other hand, is running around the battlefield so none of her allies die here.â
âYou, who the hell are you?!â
One of the subordinates canât take it anymore and asked, the man prepared his sword and said.
âImperial Crimson, one of the Princessâs Subordinates. Maroudo.â
âWhaa--!â
In between the commanders whose complexion became pale, the man who called himself Maroudo danced forward as if slipping, drew and swung the sword in his hand horizontally.
ââUranami no Shibuki (Beach Wave Splash)â
With that one attack, those who drew their swords and grasped them, those who tried to draw their swords, those who tried to run, everyone silently turned into corpses.
Only one, a noble who fell on their back, was saved.
ââŚSeriously, to think someone had this kind of luck. Well, I donât know about the me from before, but the current me doesnât have any reason to hold back. So Iâll send you to the hell your subordinates went to, Earl Villoresi.â
Looking at the conduct of the man who walked toward him, his figure, also his voice that he used to name himself, matched up every sign he got, Earl Villoresi gasped.
ââŚMa, Maroudo you said? No, thatâs wrong, you, youâre CloudâŚAshylâŚâ
âThe person with that name is already dead. The one standing in front of you is only his remains⌠and it will also disappear shortly, leaving only Maroudo behind.â
Saying that, he drew and swung his sword straight ahead.
âŚIn the corner of the battlefield, all lives came to an end.
In the stillness that is unsuitable for a battlefield, Maroudo let out a sigh and whispered to no one.
âWill you feel sad looking at the current me? Well, more than that, perhaps you detest me for being unable to save youâŚâ
ââArenât you the one who knows the answer to that question the most? Do you really think her soul doesnât wish for your happiness?â
A clear voice answered him.
ââŚah, princess.â
Carrying âSecret of Rose (Blue Velvet)â in her left shoulder, Hiyuki stood there before he noticed.
âI am sorry, but please save your tears until after we wrap this up? The war here is over, but apparently thereâs a revolt in the royal capital. The follow up action is something you must do.â
âRevoltâŚâ
Hearing not so gentle words, the part of Maroudoâs face which was not covered with the mask tightened.
Hiyuki shrug her shoulder lightly.
âYep, somehow the result of this war was announced by the fleeing volunteer soldiers. Then the people who were unhappy towards the nobles until now, all revolted at the same time. âwell, the seed that someone planted might be sprouting, or something like that.â
ââŚI see.â
Maroudo muttered in low voice, hahâŚand as if he was a traveller who finally unloaded their heavy burden, he let out a sigh flooded with emotion.
âThatâs why. I am planning to direct all soldiers to the capital, donât lag behind. If youâre late, the thing you left undone might never get fulfilled you know?â
âI see. Thereâre still many things I need do.â
Though she feels the desire to ask, what heâs thinking about, who heâs thinking about, and what would he do, in the end she left that place without asking any of it.
Then, looking at that back, Maroudo felt somewhat relieved and asked frankly.
âPrincess, when everything has ended, may I borrow your highnessâs bosom and cry as much as I like?â
ââwha, why?! Just cry alone!â
Hiyuki hugged her own chest and retreated right away.
âWell, men are creatures who want to cry in a girlâs bosom in painful times.â
âThe, then isnât it better if itâs not thin like mine right? How about Sophia? Her chest is huge, thereâs no objection to it.â
ââŚThat young lady ogre? I will be strangled to death.â
Leaving aside Maroudo who felt dejected after imagining it, Hiyuki ran like the wind.
âMy my.â Scratching his cheek, Maroudo headed toward the royal capital. âI wonder whether heâs waiting for meâŚâ
He muttered someoneâs name, but there was no one to hear it.