Chapter 166: Surprise Attack ②
A massive horde of monsters surrounded the castle walls. The Baumgarten Army, which suddenly appeared at their rear, launched an offensive against the monsters.
Perhaps even monsters could be thrown into confusion like humans; the surprise attack was a success, and the Baumgarten Army tore through the monster horde one after another.
“Rudolf, Achim, splendidly done.”
Cassandra, who confirmed the situation from above using the power of her Gift, rapidly issued her next orders.
“Soldiers on the walls, intensify your assault! The enemy is in disarray. There’s no need for us to sally forth. More importantly, be wary of friendly fire! Also, prepare to lower the drawbridge and open the castle gates. Make ready to receive our allies!”
“Yes, ma’am!”
Even as this was happening, the Baumgarten Army continued to hunt down monsters from the rear. The monsters, as if pushed from behind, fell into the moat, which had become a sea of fire.
And further behind the Baumgarten Army, which had appeared at the monsters’ rear, flames flickered amidst billowing white smoke. Achim and his men had set the forest ablaze.
This would cut off the monsters’ escape route and reduce the risk of them being ambushed themselves.
The monsters were routed by the Third Army of House Altmeier, led by Rudolf, and annihilated by the Baumgarten Territory Army, led by Achim.
Caught between the Baumgarten Army and the moat that had turned into a sea of fire, the monsters’ numbers rapidly dwindled.
As Cassandra heard the soldiers raise a victory cry, she pondered.
It was hard to believe that the monster assault would end with this.
“For now, things are proceeding as expected… However, we cannot let our guard down.”
A figure approached Cassandra, who was frowning. It was an elderly man impeccably dressed in a butler’s uniform.
“Madam, you must be tired.”
“Old Man, how were things on your end?”
Kurt, the steward of the Margrave Baumgarten family, lowered his eyebrows, flecked with white hair, and spoke.
“As expected, anxiety is spreading. However, they haven’t descended into panic. It seems your order to increase arrow production played a significant role. When people keep their hands busy, their anxieties and sorrows are halved, you see.”
Kurt had been ordered to look after the non-combatants of the Baumgarten Territory. So, he had encouraged the non-combatants to make arrows.
“That’s also because you taught me, Old Man. If it were just me, I would have hesitated to impose such an additional burden on them.”
“Not at all. The arrows they made are aiding those fighting on the front lines. Every lady willingly lent a hand.”
“Is that so? That’s a relief.”
With support from the rear as well, the Baumgarten Territory was engaged in an all-out war.
◇
Inside the Baumgarten Territory, a white tent bustled with an intensity akin to a battlefield.
“Hah… hah… hah… hah…”
A man gasped for breath. His abdomen had a large hole, as if torn open, revealing his internal organs.
“Hold on tight. I’ll heal you right away.”
The one saying this while holding her hand over the man’s abdomen was Thea, the healer from the former adventurer party, the “Crimson Vow.”
When Thea held out her hand, the man’s abdomen was enveloped in a faint green light. When the light subsided, his abdomen was completely healed.
“It… doesn’t hurt! Thank goodness! Thank you very much, Saint-sama!”
“Please be careful not to get injured again, okay?”
“Yes, ma’am!”
“What, that injury healed in an instant!?”
“Is that the power of the Frontier Saint, Thea-dono…!”
Thea had dispelled the curses from a large number of cursed items Dietfried had left at the mansion, evolving her Gift.
The title she gained as a result was “Frontier Saint.”
Thea herself would get embarrassed when called a Saint, but the moniker “Frontier Saint” spread rapidly.
Everyone wanted to believe that they had a powerful Healing magic user on their side.
“Bring in the next person!”
“Yes!”
Although they had won the initial battle, it was impossible for there to be zero injured or killed in action. Their battle was only just beginning.
◇
Outside the castle walls of the Baumgarten Territory. Most of the able-bodied soldiers had been deployed there to carry out a certain task.
“We don’t know when the monsters will come again! Get to work, quickly!”
“””””Yes, sir!”””””
It wasn’t just people who needed mending. The castle walls had been eroded by monster magic. And the moat was filled with monster corpses.
Carpenters were hastily laying bricks to repair the castle walls. Below them, soldiers were carrying out the monster carcasses that filled the moat, where the fire’s intensity had subsided.
Among them were Zasha, Zuzana, and Susane from the former “Crimson Vow.” They too, grimacing, dismembered monster carcasses and directed soldiers to clean out the moat.
“To think it’s already half-filled after we spent so much time digging it deep… it’s a nightmare…”
“That’s,” “unavoidable.” “”There were just too many of them.””
The twins nodded and replied to Zasha’s words.
“Looking back, it’s amazing we managed to win. When I first heard about splitting the army, I wondered what they were thinking, but Dora-sama is a genius.”
“”Totally!””
“She wasn’t just lewd, huh…”
“”Totally…””