It's Reiwa, and it might take some time to get used to, but let's all get accustomed to it together ('Ļ')ć
Since it's April, I'm reopening the comment section.
I'll try to respond as much as possible, but if I think a comment or the person writing it might cause trouble, I'll deal with it.
The comment section is apparently under the author's jurisdiction, so please understand <m(__)m>
Some people won't read if the comment section gets chaotic, so there's nothing we can do about it (/ć»Ļć»)/
Well, that's it.
Let's go back a little in time.
When the detachment Leo sent out had plunged into the skeleton army, and Leo and his group had begun their charge toward Bassau, Rize and her group had finally caught sight of Bassau in the distance.
"Monsters as far as the eye can see."
"But there are those who advance through them."
From a distance, it was hard to make out, but Rize was certain. Leo was there.
While riding, Rize closed her eyes.
Her younger brother, who had once clenched his teeth and stopped her, was a straightforward and resolute person. He was probably clenching his teeth now, trying to do what was right.
As his sister, there was only one thing she could do.
"We're charging in too!"
"Understood!"
As Rize accelerated, a thousand riders followed.
They were not adventurers or knights but elite cavalry regiments who had fought under Rize for a long time.
There was no need for motivational speeches.
They were soldiers who would dedicate their lives to Rize and would die if ordered to do so.
"Regiment Commander! We're using it!"
"Understood!"
The regiment commander raised his right hand.
At the signal, a hundred men came forward.
They held crossbows, but these were not ordinary crossbows.
Attached to the bottom of the crossbows were cylindrical tubes with small jewels embedded in the center.
"The prototype rotary magic crossbow is ready!"
"Good. Eliminate the obstacles in front of me."
"Understood! The target is the monsters in front! No need to aim carefully! It's full of enemies! Just shoot! Ready! Fireeee!!"
At the regiment commander's command, a hundred soldiers pulled the triggers of the crossbows.
Thanks to the magic power stored in the jewels, arrows were continuously fired as long as the triggers were pulled.
The cylindrical tubes at the bottom rotated, supplying arrows and aiding in rapid fire.
The arrows, fired at an unprecedented rate, hit the skeletons one after another, shattering their bodies.
Rize took advantage of the gaps created by the attack and charged forward.
"It's a good weapon, but the problem is what happens after the shots are fired."
"That's the job of the developers. All we can do is make requests."
Once the magic power in the jewels was depleted, the prototype rotary magic crossbow became a crossbow that could no longer be fired and could only be used as a blunt weapon.
Rize had been conducting evaluation training with this weapon alongside new recruits in the rear.
However, an unexpected opportunity for a live test had arisen.
"Let's report this and request that the tubes be replaceable. A disposable weapon has limited uses."
"Agreed. We should also order weapons specifically for anti-monster combat."
"Good idea."
While discussing these matters, Rize and the regiment commander each gripped their weapons and cut a path forward.
The crossbows, designed for use against humans, were not very effective against skeletons. Skeletons, which could continue moving without feeling pain until their cores were destroyed, were not a good match for the crossbows.
"Hmm... It's been a while since I've done this."
Leading a small group into a charge against the enemy.
She had done this many times in the past, but now it was rare. There were no suitable opponents, and her position did not allow it.
However, Rize felt a sense of fulfillment in this situation.
Feeling the enemy's hostility up close and still moving forward. No moment of relaxation was allowed, and she had to navigate a narrow path to victory.
Yes, Rize declared.
"This is the battlefield...!"
Saying this, Rize, with a vivid smile, tore through the enemy's ranks.
To the regiment commander, who had served Rize for a long time, the current Rize overlapped with the Rize of the past, who had rampaged across various battlefields and was feared as a princess general by the nations.
Not the Rize who had lost her vitality after the crown prince's death and focused only on border defense.
The regiment commander, called by Rize, quickly followed her.
And Rize and her group caught sight of Leo and his group.
"Big sister...!?"
Seeing Leo's surprised expression, Rize smiled slightly.
She thought he had grown up when she saw Al.
But the current Leo was even more impressive.
Leading the vanguard of an army, his presence as a general was evident, and he exuded a charisma that made those behind him think they were fighting for him.
His appearance resembled the young crown prince she had sworn to support as a general.
"You weren't just talking big..."
We can surpass our older brother if we work together.
Al had indeed said that. Seeing the current Leo, it was clear that he wasn't just putting on a brave face.
With the flexible Al supporting the straightforward Leo, there was an atmosphere that suggested they might be able to achieve something.
That's why, even in the face of the enemy, Rize said happily,
"Have you grown taller?"
"Um, a little..."
"Good. Keep growing."
I'll protect you until then.
Saying this, Rize looked at Baram, whose left hand had been severed.
While Rize and Leo were talking, Baram had tried to attack several times. However, each time, Rize's right arm reacted, preventing him from attacking.
"For a demon, you're surprisingly human-like."
Rize looked at her non-regenerating left hand and the red blood flowing from the wound.
For a monster of a relatively high rank, the wound should have been able to regenerate, but the demon in front of her did not.
From this, Rize deduced an answer.
"Are you using a human as a vessel?"
"You're perceptive...? But what does it matter now that you know?"
"It means it's not too late."
"Is it? If you get reinforcements, our game is over."
Saying this, Baram raised his remaining right hand.
The tip of his hand glowed black.
Following the light, high-rank undead monsters, such as three-meter-tall skeletons and dragon zombies with decayed bodies, appeared from the city of Bassau.
"Better run quickly."
Saying this, Baram turned transparent and disappeared from the scene.
Rize and Leo were left with a decision to make.
"The difference in strength is too great."
"But if we retreat now, we might not get another chance to get this close to Bassau."
"...You already have your answer, don't you?"
"I never intended to retreat. If demons need a vessel, we need to strike now. If we leave them here, they will infiltrate human society."
"Is there a guarantee we can defeat them?"
"There isn't. But the same applies if we retreat. No matter how large an army we bring, the enemy can summon monsters repeatedly. This is a crisis, but it's also an opportunity."
Seeing Leo's clear declaration, Rize smiled again.
Then she cut a giant skeleton that was charging straight at her in half.
"Let's go. Don't fall behind."
"Of course."
"Charge! The target is Bassau!"
"Follow me!!"
Thus, Leo and Rize began their charge toward Bassau together.
ā ā ā
After Leo and Rize began their charge, Linphia and Abel were gradually joining the vanguard.
However, the closer they got to Bassau, the stronger and more intense the enemy's resistance became.
"Ugh!?"
Monsters that even Abel and Linphia struggled against began to increase, and their advance speed clearly began to slow down.
If this continued...
Just as Linphia began to feel anxious, a fireball from a dragon zombie exploded near her.
The shock blew her away, and she was ejected from the vanguard.
"Ugh..."
Linphia endured the pain and stood up, using her sword as a cane.
She found herself in the middle of the skeleton army.
The skeletons were slowly approaching her.
She tried to move, but her body wouldn't respond as she wanted.
In the midst of this, a flute fell out of her pocket.
It was the flute made from a spirit tree that the old dwarf had given her.
Relying on someone else wasn't wrong. The old man's words came back to her. She had thought it was impossible to blow the flute in such a dire situation and call for help.
But the thought of not being able to die until she found her sister overcame everything.
"Please, let me borrow this...!"
Linphia grabbed the flute and blew it.
But no sound came out.
No matter how many times she blew, no sound emerged.
Had the old man given her a defective flute?
It was possible, Linphia thought, sighed, and gently put the flute back in her pocket.
But the sound of the flute had indeed reached its destination.
Far, far away, to the heart of the empire.
To the capital.
Calmly regaining her composure, Linphia tried to ready her magic sword to face the approaching skeletons.
Suddenly, the skeletons near her were blown away in an instant.
"Wh-What...?"
Thinking it might be another fireball from a dragon zombie, Linphia braced herself, but her tension was relieved by a voice from behind.
"Are you alright? Adventurer from before?"
"...Why are you here...?"
"I heard it was a raid quest. I brought the others too."
At that moment,
A giant transfer gate opened behind Linphia, and adventurers from the capital branch rushed into the skeleton army, shouting.
Hundreds of adventurers appeared and began to slay the surrounding skeletons.
At the center of these adventurers,
The greatest rescuer declared.
"Follow if you can. It's time to earn some money."
"Yes...! Silver...!"
Saying this, Linphia followed the masked adventurer.