Chapter 19 (1/2)
I am back in the guest room.
“That’s, yea, you were in the wrong.” (Sedam)
“Seriously. And now Arnogia-sama’s face is all smashed up. I can’t believe you.” (Claura)
(T/N: His figurative face, not physical.)
Sedam’s and Claura’s opinions are unanimous.
“Wait wait wait, if killing anki is supposed to be the Order’s raison d'être, then……” (Gio)
“If you wanted to simulate real combat, you should have made it 2 vs 20 instead of 6 vs 20.” (Sedam)
…… Ahhh, I see. So these are the market prices for the fighting that goes on in this world.
“6 knights can easily handle 20 small demons. It’s just…… fundamentally, anki are existences that should be engaged with whole armies.” (Sedam)
True to that, the Carbanera Knight Order is deploying two whole companies for this operation, which adds up to more than 400 people altogether.
“Speaking of which, how strong are adventurers then? Sedam, if it’s your party, can you guys take down one large demon?” (Gio)
In response to my question, Sedam pulls a difficult face.
“When Claura is in the party, we can defeat several large demons. When she isn’t, we would struggle quite a bit against a single one.” (Sedam)
“Since I can use even upper rank magic.” (Claura)
So even Sedam’s party, which looked quite experienced to me, would have trouble against a single ogre—large demon—huh.
“Then how about those humans called heroes?” (Gio)
“If we’re talking about those specialized against anki, then there is the warrior called ‘Anki Killer’ Leid. He can probably handle 5 or 6 large demons at the same time. Might even be able to take on a rock demon.” (Sedam)
“As for magicians, Pelishura-s.h.i.+, 1st Seat of the Lusick Magician Guild, can kill rock demons. It is rumored that she can use the super rank magic Ice Coffin.” (Claura)
(T/N: The -s.h.i.+ suffix for Pelishura is not the usual one used for equals, but the one for masters or teachers.)
“While we’re on this topic, the strongest adventurer party in Sedia is ‘Cabran of the Purgatory Flames,’ the leader of which is a magician. At that cla.s.s, they can fight against several rock demons at the same time and win.” (Sedam)
“Well, they’re based in the capital of Shulendal, so we can’t count on them this time around.” (Claura)
Anki Killer, magician guild 1st Seat, and even Purgatory Flames, huh. If this was a TRPG, they would be important NPCs that I’d definitely meet some time in the future……
“Mumu.” (Gio)
I slap my own cheeks a few times to dispel the unnecessary thoughts. This is reality.
“This b.a.s.t.a.r.d! Doryahhh!” (Gillion)
“Aniki, behind you! Tah!” (Lioria)
The Carbanera siblings’ shouts are currently reverberating from the courtyard.
Arnogia, as well as the knights under him, have also begged with me to allow them to continue training.
Right now, the people that I should rely on, as well as protect, are those three and Sedam and Claura.
♥♦♣♠
“Sei!” (Lioria)
“Gugyaah!?” (Ogre)
To everyone’s surprise, two days before the sortie, Lioria managed to kill one ogre.
There was some coordinating with Gillion and her subordinates, and the ogre was bare-handed, but she is growing at a speed that can be seen by the naked eye.
“Wizard-dono! It’s all thanks to you! Thank you so much!” (Lioria)
Despite being covered with ogre blood from head to toe, her pure smile was truly beautiful.
“d.a.m.n you, Lio! Don’t you get c.o.c.ky! Since I’m gonna catch up with you!” (Gillion)
“Gillion-dono, you should probably work more on commanding your subordinates……” (Gio)
Gillion has also shown some growth, and Arnogia is freezing up less often while commanding.
There is no doubt that these three have what it takes to become heroes one day.
Which is all the more why they should never be sacrificed.
♥♦♣♠
All 430 members of the 1st and 2nd Companies, as well as 20 attendants, eventually gathered in full.
With all of us on horseback, the Grand Cross saw us off.
“...... May the fortunes of war blow your way. Victory to the White Sword! Ruin to the anki!” (Amrand)
“VICTORY TO THE WHITE SWORD! RUIN TO THE ANKI!!” (Knights)
But well, despite the gallant start of the campaign, it's not like we went straight off to fight anki. After all, we didn’t even know the exact location of the nest.
As such, the subjugation force first headed for the fort where Jyagul used to be at. A base is necessary for setting up a defensive line to prevent runaway anki from getting close to the highway or nearby settlements.
Furthermore, messengers were also sent ahead of us to Yuule and Lelis to warn them.
Because my [Meteor] destroyed the straight mountain road, we had to take a narrow, twisty animal track. Although it was only a few days, laying eyes again on the fort that was my starting point gave me a slight twinge of nostalgia.
“What on earth……” (Knight)