Chapter 18 (2/2)

(T/N: Lmao is this a kindergarten?!)

“U-...... Understood……” (Gio)

“I’m so sorry. And thank you truly for your generosity.” (Lioria)

Even Gillion has become less quick to flare up against me after seeing [Meteor]. Rather, I seem to feel even a bit of awe from him. Lioria is also looking at me with trust-filled eyes. All because of my personal virtue——or not, and I feel pathetic admitting that.

“Without further ado, have your men get into position.” (Gio)

“Acknowledged.” (Arnogia)

As a fresh start, I make an exaggerated announcement, then raise my staff aloft.

“All hands! Battle readiness! 1st and 2nd platoons, defensive ranks! 3rd platoon, attack readiness at the flank! 4th platoon, reserve ranks!” (Arnogia)

“YES, SIR!” (Knights)

Arnogia is shouting instructions in a surprisingly sharp voice. The 20 or so knights form ranks in no time at all.

10 are standing shoulder to shoulder as a wall, 5 are on the right side, and 5 are lined up at the back. Arnogia himself is mixed in with the back line.

“Ogres, attack the knights. But under no circ.u.mstances are any of them to die.”

“GuruaaaAA!” (Ogre)

“GAAAA!” (Ogre)

I’m surprised at how easily a commanding tone came out. Well, irrelevant to what tone I used, the ogres obey my orders, rus.h.i.+ng at the knight ranks while raising fierce roars.

“s.h.i.+elds, brace!” (Arnogia)

At Arnogia’s command, the whole front line of s.h.i.+elds decorated with crests goes up. The knights’ perfect movements and perfect stances give the s.h.i.+elds an air of immutability akin to that of a solid steel wall…… But.

“Garuu!” (Ogre)

“Guwah!?” (Knight)

The wall built of plate armor and s.h.i.+elds and the knights’ own bodies sways severely. As can be expected, none of the knights were blown away by the first hit, but now the line has fallen into total disarray, what with some still reeling from the impact, some dazedly tottering in place, and some staggering to regain balance.

“Kuh…… Just hold on!” (Knight)

“Guruuuh! Gaaaah!” (Ogre)

The knights near the middle of the line try to help their allies by shouting encouragement, but in the face of the 6 ogres’ violent barrage of punches, there was very little effect.

“......!” (Arnogia)

Unsure of what order to give next, Arnogia has fallen silent.

“Guwah!” (Knight)

In the meantime, the punches that fall like rain never slowed. Eventually, a knight failed to catch a punch properly, and is sent flying together with his s.h.i.+eld. In succession, two, then three more crumple to the ground, unable to withstand anymore. Then more follow suit.

“......?! 4th platoon, to the front! 3rd platoon, circle around!” (Arnogia)

“Gyah!?” (Knight)

“Uwah uwahhhh?!” (Knight)

Despite having stiffened up, Arnogia refuses to give up and issues more commands. However, the combat difference is just too great. Even while the hole in the defensive line is being plugged up by the reserves, knights are sent flying one after the other.

“Take this!” (Knight)

“Gahh!” (Ogre)

The 5 knights who had circled around swing down their swords on the ogres’ flanks and backs. Several of their attacks successfully tear through ogre flesh and deal damage, but the counterattack punches sink them one by one.

“Kuh…… circle up! Form a ring! Victory to the White Sword!” (Arnogia)

“Ohhh, they sure are working hard.” (Gio)

“...... Ar! Don’t give up! Aim for the eyes!” (Lioria)

Watching Arnogia calling to the few knights still standing and standing back to back with each other in an outward facing circle, I involuntarily muttered to myself. Lioria is shouting encouragement. Gillion is……

“Tsk. What is he doing. If it was me……” (Gillion)

…… getting irritated. However, these two who are verbally expressing their feelings are still on the better side. The other knights and castle residents that are looking on can’t even speak up. I suppose there’s no helping it, with how similar the ogres are to actual anki. Actually wait a second, isn’t this kind of bad?

“...... Stop right there!” (Gio)

Arnogia had been doing not too badly, dodging several punches and sliding several more off his s.h.i.+eld, but his sword strikes were merely bouncing off the ogres’ muscles. An instant before an outstretched ogre arm was about to grab his head, I called out. The loyal ogres stop all motion at exactly that moment.

“...... Uuuu……” (Arnogia)

Arnogia is groaning with an ashen face.

“...... Everyone, you have done well! Take the rest of today off to rest up. Up to the day of the sortie, let us continue polis.h.i.+ng our fighting techniques! Don’t worry, today was merely training. Real achievements are earned on the real battlefield!” (Arnogia)

Him saying such things while going around and waking and helping up the fallen knights seriously impresses me. Even more so due to the expression on his own face betraying the fact that he himself cannot accept such plat.i.tudes.

“I, I’m so sorry……” (Knight)

“The next time, for sure……” (Knight)

“Hah, what a miserable display! I’ll show you all how to do things. Just  watch!” (Gillion)

At the voice of Gillion, who is incapable of reading the atmosphere, the troop morale that had recovered slightly dropped back down to rock bottom.

♥♦♣♠

“Doryahh! How’s this?!” (Gillion)

The way that Gillion, the 2nd Company Commander, fights is the complete opposite of Arnogia.

At the start of the fight, the first thing he did was leave his subordinates behind and charge straight in, all by himself.

Turns out his enormous amount of self-confidence is not entirely unfounded. Squarely catching a punch with his s.h.i.+eld, he then deflects the force back to the ogre. His follow-up attacks are aimed accurately at weak points. For someone with such a large body, he fights in a surprisingly clever way. With his precise movements, he is able to skillfully handle the concentrated attacks.

“Hah! Sei!” (Lioria)

As for Lioria, she is faring even better than Gillion.

Running around at a speed almost unbelievable for someone wearing armor, she is actively throwing the ogres into disarray and sinking her sword into heels and knees and any other exposed weak points.

“Ohhh!” (Spectators)

The spectators that are watching with bated breath are all astir. One ogre that has been receiving Lioria’s attacks finally falls to its knees.

Despite being fellow humans, how can there be such a large difference? Actually, no, this is this world’s reality. Be it experience or talent or some other cause, differences the size of the gap between the heavens and the earth can and do exist. This is truly a world of heroes.

“Good going, Lio! Ugoh!?” (Gillion)

“Tsk! Let go!” (Lioria)

Sadly, it appears that they, too, have reached their limits.

Gillion, who stopped moving for a split second, got kicked square in the back, and has fallen over. Lioria, who was growing out of breath, had her arm grabbed and her sword taken away.

And I don’t know if I should say ‘as expected,’ but every other member of the 2nd company had already been beaten to the ground ages ago.

“Stop right there, stop right there!” (Gio)

I hurriedly command the ogres to stop moving.

“s.h.i.+t! Let me go one more round, Wizard-dono!” (Gillion)

“Eat this! Let go!!” (Lioria)

Gillion is still shouting energetically, while Lioria is still attacking the ogre that froze with her arm still in its grasp. I am impressed, in a different way than I was by Arnogia. However……

“Why are you dragging morale down even before the sortie?!” (Claura)

I would prefer it if you thanked me instead for learning ‘this’ before the sortie.

After all, it is something that I have a right to know. As an ‘ally.’ Yep.

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