Chapter 171: Courage Inherited
Several days after we set the carriage eastward, we, Reginleif, crossed the plains and finally entered the mountainous region.
With each step eastward, the monster encounter rate has been steadily increasing. Our armored carriage, which originally had six horses, is now down to three after some were killed, and much of the carriage’s armor has been stripped away.
“It won’t be long before we have to part with this carriage.”
“Hm?”
“We’re running low on horse feed, and from here on, there will be roads impassable by carriage.”
“I see…”
I pat Lily-san’s head, who looked uneasy.
If we abandon the carriage, our travel speed will naturally drop significantly. For us, who want to defeat the Evil God as quickly as possible, this is an unwelcome situation.
We need to defeat the Evil God quickly and stop the monster invasion.
The Baumgarten Territory was always flickering in the back of my mind. Cassandra-san, of course, but also the good-natured people of Baumgarten I’ve known for a long time, and those who newly became citizens of Baumgarten. I’m worried about everyone.
“Please be safe…”
I couldn’t help but mutter those words.
◇
DOGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!!!
In the Baumgarten Territory, which had long been a battlefield, an exceptionally loud explosion echoed.
A section of the castle wall, which had protected the citizens for a long time, had finally collapsed.
“Retreat! Retreat to the second wall! Hurry!”
Commander Achim, who had been entrusted with command of the front lines, immediately decided to retreat.
“Retreat!”
“Fall back!”
“Run to the wall!”
“Hurry! Retreat!”
Hearing Achim’s command, the soldiers shouted loudly, spreading the order to retreat.
The soldiers began to retreat like a receding wave, and Achim himself started running towards the second wall.
What came into view was a magnificent castle wall, slightly lower than the outer wall they had been defending until just moments ago.
The current Baumgarten Territory had been transformed into an impregnable fortress city, sectioned off by numerous moats and castle walls.
Monsters swarmed in through the breach in the broken wall as if competing with each other. The first to break through were ogres. They immediately tried to chase the fleeing soldiers, but—
THUD!!!
A giant arrow suddenly sprouted from the chest of the leading ogre. The ogre died without even understanding what had happened.
It was a Ballista bolt fired from the second wall. The monsters trying to pass through the narrow gap between the walls were perfect targets. One after another, they were struck down by Ballista bolts.
However, slipping through the Ballista’s fierce barrage, the figures of advancing small humanoids came into view. Goblins. They used their small bodies to weave through the Ballista bolts.
And they began their pursuit, aiming for the soldiers who were late in evacuating.
One of the soldiers who was late to retreat, Sophie, who was in charge of the mage battalion, was growing frantic. The mages, having used their magic to its limits, were exhausted both mentally and physically. There was no way they could escape. They would be caught by the Goblins somewhere along the way.
“Please, run! Run!”
Carrying an exhausted young female mage on her right shoulder, Sophie desperately urged them on.
However, reality is always cruel. Eventually, the Goblins caught up, and with the filthy swords in their hands—!
WHOOSH!
Something zipped past Sophie’s face at high speed. An arrow. Allied archers, sensing Sophie’s group’s peril, had deliberately turned back.
“Secure the mages! The rest of you, withdraw immediately!”
At the archer commander’s order, the archers began to retreat, carrying the mages.
“Thank you, you saved us.”
Sophie entrusted the girl she had been carrying on her shoulder to an archer and thanked the archer commander.
“Not at all. The destructive power of mages will be needed from here on out.”
“Thank you, truly. You all should evacuate quickly too—”
“No, someone has to hold this position.”
“!”
The Goblins were still in pursuit. Indeed, someone would have to become a sacrifice and hold back the Goblins.
“I’ll hold them back.”
Sophie said she would hold back the Goblins. Sophie still had some Holy Power remaining, and as a former adventurer, she had abundant combat experience. As a former mage of the Crimson Vow, she was confident she could hold off mere Goblins. However.
“The destructive power of mages is absolutely essential for what’s to come. I believe I said that, Battalion Commander Sophie. Please retreat quickly. We’re counting on you for what comes after.”
He wore the kind of serene smile peculiar to those who have already resolved themselves to their fate.
Sophie was rendered speechless. A calm part of her whispered. True, her magic possessed more destructive power than ten archers combined. In terms of battlefield value, she was likely superior. However, to have that pointed out by the side that was being sacrificed, to be told to live…
“…May fortune favor you in battle.”
Sophie, feeling inexplicably close to tears, managed to say only that before starting her retreat.
“May fortune favor you, Battalion Commander Sophie. We’re counting on you for Baumgarten.”
The archer commander muttered to the departing Sophie.
Then, he turned back, looked at the approaching Goblins, and opened his mouth wide.
“First squad, with me! You drew the short straw!”
“Squad Leader-dono, are we doing this?”
“Yeah, let’s give ’em hell! First squad, draw swords! Follow meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!”
“””””UOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!”””””
They had no intention of being outdone by mere Goblins. However, having been late to retreat, they knew they would likely die in battle. Even they understood that much.
In their hearts was the image of the eleven brave warriors who had laid down their lives to repair the gate. Their own lives, too, would be for someone else. They were prepared to become the cornerstone of Baumgarten.