Ch.10: Friend or Foe Identification
"Welco!"
"The problem solvers have finally arrived!"
Captain Royce enters the village chief's house amid a warm reception from the villagers, while the rcenary company mbers set up a temporary camp around it. After lining up the wagons in a row and lighting a campfire, they wait for the conversation to end.
"There definitely seem to be quite a few bandits."
"How do you know that?"
"The territorial administrator ca personally. Administrators usually stay holed up inside the castle walls. In other words, it ans they're facing quite a serious problem."
Sure enough, shortly after.
Baaaaaaa-thwack!
The territorial administrator who finished the conversation cos out and orders a village resident to slaughter a sheep. What follows is a at party. As chunks of at still dripping with blood are cut into pieces and placed on the grill, an incredibly appetizing sll soon spreads.
Gulp.
"What a luxury this is. They said you'd never go hungry doing rcenary work. This is even better than that."
Naturally, the newcors, including Volga, swallow hard, but Calix doesn't even glance at the cooking at chunks.
"Calix, aren't you hungry?"
"I filled my stomach moderately."
"You're really calm. How can you just fiddle with your sword while looking at at chunks? Are you living up to your looks? Anyone would think you're a knight."
"Rather than being calm... The captain said he'd use a decoy strategy. It's a bit much to fill your stomach before a fight."
"...Huh?"
Only after hearing his last answer does Volga notice that the veteran rcenaries sitting around him aren't moving a finger. Those grilling the at and those wanting to eat are only the newcors. As they say, you see as much as you know - the farther from the campfire, the heavier the atmosphere.
"Hmm, I guess it would be hard to fight well with a full stomach? Even now... Should I stop them? I'm also conscious of the seniors' reactions."
"How?"
"Huh?"
"How would you stop them?"
"Well... You and I could step forward."
Calix thinks it's an impossible goal to achieve.
"Volga, desperate people are easy to persuade. Previously, everyone was united by the will to survive and endured the tight training process. The situation is different now. Blocking people trying to satisfy their own greed is several tis more difficult and arduous."
"That's true..."
Nevertheless, Volga eventually gets up and approaches his comrades, volunteering to be scolded. Only a few from the sa region backed down with regretful expressions, while the majority didn't even pretend to listen.
'Good kid.'
Calix doesn't particularly view it negatively. Though one could criticize him for being soft, it was also Volga who stood in front of him right after receiving Captain Royce's sword. His gaze then shifts from the newcors to the veteran rcenaries. He needed to distinguish them more clearly before the battle broke out.
"How strong are the 'Mountain Rabbits'?"
"Strong enough to protect themselves."
He directs the question to Hadiya, but receives an answer from Zahira sitting next to her.
"That guy over there-"
"Ah, you an Kenta? He's a bit lacking. He's good with hand axes, but his acceleration output doesn't support him."
Five axe sheaths are attached to his body. If you include the one he's spinning around in the air with his right hand, that makes six. However, Calix's eyes are looking at colors beyond the sharp axe blades.
'That person has a vivid green light. Volga's is gray, so gray cos before green.'
The frawork for ability classification is established with one question.
"That person is..."
"Ericha. She mainly uses short spears and daggers. She's skilled at distance control in combat... Don't try to fight her for a while. She's about mid-level in the rcenary company, but she has the ability to beat weaker guys like catching mice. She's that skilled at distance control and nurical combat."
"What if she fights Kenta?"
"Well, he'd get beaten to death, and that'd be the end. Since he uses axes, he needs to approach close range, but actually Ericha handles daggers better than spears."
The fairly large female rcenary, Ericha, has an even deeper green. Is there another one? There are about 80 samples in total. Calix classifies them with what he can see in front of him for now. Dwarf Basim and Zahira, sitting near him, have a light blue color. Hadiya's color is a green that doesn't reach that level, and only healer Ella emits no light. On the other hand, Vice-Captain Marik displays a compressed blue that seems about to change to purple at any mont. Observing various other people:
'Gray, green, blue, purple order. Next would probably be... The enemy knights from the territorial battle. It was golden.'
Of course, there are also colors that are difficult to distinguish in the process.
'But my neural accelerator emitted a pure white light, so what could that be?'
Since he couldn't understand what the pure white radiance that magical engineer Nilo showed just before the implant surgery ant, Calix postpones judging his neural accelerator's grade for now. Right now, his power is at a weak level, so he just wants to utilize the maximum ability given to him before battle. And that mindset paid off the very next day, in the middle of the night.
***
As the rcenary company expected, the bandits' patience didn't last long.
"I'm telling you we need to wait a little longer!"
Like bandits roaming the northern part of the kingdom, typically are, they too were soldiers who deserted during the Niboria Empire's invasion. To put it nicely, they're honest about their own will; to put it as it is, they're those who can't resist hunger and murderous urges-
"What are you saying? Did your parents teach you that grilled at isn't for eating?"
"This bastard... Shall I slice your guts and grill them for you personally?"
"No, that bastard's right. Boss. My belly is sticking to my back. I have to eat that today, even if I die."
The one with the most fierce expression tries to pressure and persuade them, but it's ineffective as expected.
"This is already half successful. Didn't we already coordinate with the village folks?"
"You stupid fools... Have you been doing banditry for just a day or two? Of course, it changes depending on the situation! If the situation turns unfavorable, will the villagers side with us? We might beco the target of plunder!"
"Boss! They've co outside! They've split into two groups!"
To make matters worse, a subordinate who had been observing the village situation returns just then to put a period on it. The rcenary group split into two, with one side heading to the forest while the other remained in the village. For him, the choice disappears.
"...What will you do?"
If he opposes any further, his boss's position, his neck might fly off.
"Let's go down."
"You should have done that from the start."
In reality, the raid preparations were already complete. The weapons in their hands had been sharpened wickedly by the hands of blacksmiths kidnapped from nearby villages, and murderous desire was surging on each individual's face. And that night.
While the rcenary group stays deep in the forest with torches lit, they gather at the village entrance and look at the remaining half.
"These are guys with just a lot of heads. They didn't even surround the wagons to use as walls. Very well chosen. The luggage looks abundant too, so it's obviously a goldmine."
"That's right, I said we should co today."
"Don't let your guard down. The moonlight is bright."
"Damn it."
"Let's begin."
Hunting ti. Soon, the forr deserters activate their neural accelerators, and under the bright moonlight, the bloodshot eyes stand out particularly.
***
Calix spent the day on edge. Not worrying about being ambushed, but to observe and interpret the veteran rcenaries' behavior.
"Where are they all going around like that? Do they have small bladders?"
"Volga."
"Yeah?"
"Gather only the kids who listen to you."
"Why?"
"I think our bladders need to get smaller, too."
"..."
Volga blushes at Calix's answer but scratches his head and obediently follows that instruction (though he thought of it as a request). He's a guy who's good at scheming, so he must have so idea. About nine people gather shortly after.
"I called you because the veteran rcenaries are moving around the area. They're probably expecting a fight soon. I think they're surveying the terrain and seeing where it would be good to fight, and I think we should follow suit. We should at least know where to group up."
"Uh... That's all good, but how do you know exactly when we'll fight?"
"I don't know that. But it's certain that a fight will break out. If my life is on the line, wouldn't it be better to follow even inexplicable actions?"
"...Yeah."
The persuasion itself isn't difficult since the newcors have also gotten used to the fact that veteran rcenaries don't kindly teach them everything one by one. So another half day passes.
Volga heeds Calix's warning and sleeps with his head leaning against the rear wheel under the wagon. Tap, tap. When he turns his head at the hand touching his shoulder, a handso face fills his vision. Perhaps because his eyebrows are furrowed, he gives off a rather sharp impression.
"Calix?"
"They're here. Don't rush and co out quietly."
"What, what's here?"
"Bandits."
"How did you know... Groan, how do you know that? Did Hadiya tell you?"
"Hadiya went to the forest following the captain."
"Ah, that's right. Then how..."
Swish. Calix doesn't respond to this and draws his sword. From the sheath on his right waist, with his right hand, he gently so as not to get hurt. At the sa ti, he glares at the lights flashing from all directions with both eyes.
'Between 60 and 70 people. Most are gray, but there are eight greens, and one blue too.'
What remained in the village was Vice-Captain Marik and others, twenty existing rcenaries plus thirty newcors. Considering that those who went to the forest took non-combat personnel with them, this would be a fight worth attempting.
[Emotional state change confird]
[Entering combat mode. Please be careful of dizziness]
[Reality acceleration 1.6x]
Then the last thing to figure out is... The sense of distance.
'How far can I see?'
Piiiiiik! Pik, pik, pik!
Just then, those keeping watch from the pig pen roof send a signal. When a small wooden whistle the length of two finger joints spreads its piercing sound, the veteran rcenaries simultaneously assu combat positions and shout in unison.
"Enemy! Prepare for battle! 30 paces distance!"
"Prepare for battle! 30 paces distance!"
"Prepare for battle! 30... Now 20 paces! Get inside, you idiots!"
A circular formation is quickly ford, and while calling in the bewildered newcors, Calix takes care of Gregor, who is already crouched under his shield, and enters the formation.
'Approximately between 30 and 40 paces.'
Waaaaaahhh! As soon as he finishes his assessnt, the attackers also rush in, shouting as if they no longer need to hide their identity. Tap. Suddenly feeling a touch on his shoulder, he turns his head to see a woman with a stiff expression. It's combat expert Zahira.
"Calix, you rember what you said to ?"
"...Yes. That I would take responsibility for Gregor."
"Right. I don't expect much. Gregor will co to his senses soon when the battle intensifies, so just take care of him until then."
"Yes."
While keeping promises is natural, Calix wondered until just before she turned around whether he should tell her about 'the existence of a blue-level ability user on the enemy side'. Since the color emitted from neural accelerators doesn't necessarily an the sum of individual combat power, it would be good if Vice-Captain Marik, who has the sa blue color, could handle it.
'...Not now. At least not yet.'
However, during that brief deliberation, combat unfolds.
"There are oiled guys here!"
"The sll of at is wafting!"
"Grill those bastards too!"
Being startled at seeing the rcenaries gathered in one place is only montary. The bandits rush in without hesitation, using their unstable neural accelerators as stimulants.
"Ca, Calix! Damn!"
"Calm down! You fought on the castle walls before! It won't be much different from then! Don't be scared!"
Calix first comforts the newcors, including Volga. They're staring only at his face like baby birds, as if they never had any distance.
"Comrades! What in the world is this! Is this a fight? Is it a fight? Soone please help !"
"...Gregor. Stay right next to
from now on."
"Ah, cook comrade. I got scared at those words. Really... I wet myself. Sorry."
"..."
Here's also one old man whose mind isn't entirely sound to add to the mix. In an already chaotic battlefield, there were quite a few things to take care of.
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