Dawn broke.
The sun rose in the east, and the area quickly brightened. Even in this land which was in the northern half of the continent, and therefore warr than the kingdom, it felt cold at this ti of year.
In the morning air, there were seven people standing near the western gate: Halbert, Kaede, Ruby, Jirukoma, Lauren, Kuu, and Leporina. Behind them were the soldiers of the Kingdom of Lastania, waiting for the ti of battle to co.
Well then, shall we get started, Ruby? Halbert asked.
Yes. Lets get started, Hal.
Ruby turned into a red dragon, and Halbert jumped on her back.
Sir Halbert. Madam Ruby. Well be counting on you, Lauren, the captain of the soldiers, said to them, bowing her head.
We know, Hal nodded. You take care of yourself too.
Youll be working outside the walls, so youll be in danger just like us, Ruby added.
Jirukoma pounded his burly chest. Leave this place to us. We will put our lives on the line to defend the work crews.
Ookyakya! Well be helping here too, so dont worry, Kuu laughed. Dont get carried away and screw this up, Hal.
Youre the one whos going to say that, Young Master...? Leporina muttered.
Yep, Kuu had the sa baseless confidence as ever, and Leporina was holding her head in exasperation.
Kaede walked over to where Halbert was, placing her hand on Rubys foreleg.
Ruby, take care of Hal for .
To borrow a line from Naden, Roger that. You can leave him to .
Hal, you too, said Kaede. Dont go too wild, you know? Ruby is with you, so make sure you dont act recklessly.
I know, okay?
Kaede took a step back from the two of them, then turned to the soldiers and spoke. His Majesty and Sir Julius are preparing our next move, so I will take command here. Everyone, lets do our best.
Yeah!
The mont after everyone responded to Kaedes order, Halbert and Ruby took off into the sky. As they left the ground, Ruby grabbed the blocky object that had been prepared for her with her hind legs. That object which had iron walls on five sides and a tal bar door on the sixth side was a cage for the lizardman that had been fed the monster at.
Carrying that cage with her as she flew, Ruby asked Halbert, First, we let this lizardman loose near the forest to the west of here, right?
Yeah. Well have to touch down, so be careful.
I know.
When they were flying alone, the chira-like monsters that could fly started to gather around. They probably considered Halbert and Ruby as easy pickings because it was just the two of them. The monsters had no understanding of how powerful those two were.
Halbert Magna, coming through! Halbert swung his two favorite spears around, slicing apart the monsters that attacked from above. Then he wreathed one spear in flas and threw it. The mont it planted itself in a monster...
Boom!
There was a burst of fire, and even the other monsters close to it were caught in the blast.
Here, have another!
Halbert pulled on the chain attached to his other spear, retrieving the first spear from flas, then wreathed the other spear in fire and threw it. Repeating that cycle, he made bursts of fla blossom like flowers all around them.
Halbert smiled as he swung his spears around. Its convenient not having to throw them away after one use. Ive gotta rember to thank Taru for making these.
Kaede warned you not to get carried away, rember...? Im setting down now.
Sure.
Halbert crouched low on Rubys back, and then Ruby ca down to earth at a forty-five-degree angle. As she touched down, she opened the door to the cage, then imdiately took off again.
Halbert spotted the lizardman crawling out of the cage down below. It imdiately ran off into the western forest where its kind were hiding.
Nice! The lizardman is successfully freed. Next, we fly over the forest.
Yeah.
Ruby spread her wings and flew slowly, heading over the forest with flying monsters in tow. They needed to pull in as many flying monsters as possible, so they couldnt go too fast, which ant the faster monsters caught up to them.
Bzzz! There was a huge, one-eyed, bee-like monster coming at them with its wings buzzing.
Do sothing! Ruby shouted. I dont want to be sward by bugs!
On it!
Halbert quadrisected the bee monster with his two spears. The bee monsters fluids splattered everywhere as it fell to the ground, with just its translucent wings dancing around and refusing to co down.
Hang in there, Ruby! This is where it gets serious!
I know! she shouted back. Roarrrrrrrrr!
Blowing fire and shooting thorns, the monsters attacked from a distance. A number of those attacks grazed Ruby, but she kept flying at the sa steady pace.
Halbert and Ruby finally succeeded in bringing the monsters they were pulling with them over the top of the western forest where the lizardn were lying low.
Ruby roared, Well settle this in one try! Hold on tight!
Got it!
As Halbert clung to Rubys back, Ruby rapidly accelerated, lifting her body, climbing higher into the sky, then sorsaulting into a rapid dive to behind the monsters.
In an instant, the hunters beca the hunted.
Ill pay you back a hundred tis over!
Bwoooooooooosh!
Ruby opened her mouth wide, unleashing a great gout of fla toward the flying monsters.
Dragon breath was the attack most emblematic of dragons, said to be able to lay waste to an entire kingdom. The monsters hit by Rubys dragon breath were fried to a crisp and dropped to the forest one after another.
Seeing that, Halbert scratched at his cheek. Wasnt that a bit much? The monsters were charred black, you know?
M-at tastes better well done.
While Halbert and Ruby were luring in the monsters, there had been movent on the ground too.
The gates of the city walls opened, and ard soldiers piled out. They numbered roughly 600.
Once the soldiers ca outside the walls, they attacked the monsters on the ground that were eating the burned lizardn corpses. The monsters were so absorbed in eating that the soldiers were able to catch them by surprise, cutting them down with swords, shooting them with bows, and striking them with magic until they died.
These 600 soldiers were all battle-hardened. That was to be expected.
These soldiers were a mixed unit made up of the Kingdom of Lastanias regular forces, the refugee volunteer soldiers, and the Kingdom of Friedonias Dratroopers. For this group of combat specialists, slaying monsters that didnt fly and werent particularly more powerful than lizardn was no different from going hunting.
Inside that group, Captain Lauren shouted to encourage her troops as she knocked away a small monster with the large shield she was holding.
While Sir Halbert is keeping the flying monsters at bay, we will carve a path! There is no need to chase monsters that flee! Protecting the rear unit is our top priority!
Laurens heavy equipnt was ill-suited to moving quickly, but well-suited to settling in and holding a single position. Lauren bashed the monsters that ca at her with her shield, cut them down with her sword, and was defending the place where she now stood.
Once the weak monsters realized she was not an enemy who would be easily defeated, they imdiately started to move away.
As Jirukoma raced over, kukris in hand, he let out a gasp of admiration despite himself.
Splendidly done, Madam Lauren. I raced over because you seed surrounded, but it seems my concern was unwarranted.
I am a professional soldier after all. This is nothing to . Lauren smiled proudly...and then wryly. Well, even though I feel that way as the captain of the soldiers, Im a little embarrassed as a woman that Im able to fight monsters so easily. I wish I could be a gentle, graceful woman like the princess too, but its beyond ... She laughed weakly.
Jirukoma was a little confused. What could be wrong with being a strong woman? In my tribe, strength and toughness are seen as virtues in a woman. They can give birth to stronger children that way after all.
Ch-Children?! Laurens cheeks went red. Um... Do you like strong won, Sir Jirukoma?
Hm? I suppose I do. My sister was a tomboy after all. I think I do like them.
Y-You do?! Lauren wore a brilliant smile for just a mont, then gripped her shield tightly as if getting her mind back on task. Then she used the sword in her right hand to point forward. Now then, Sir Jirukoma. I want to ensure safety over the widest area possible, so I would like to ask you remove the monsters from this area. Leave defending this place to .
No, but...
Ill be fine! I am a strong woman! Lauren pounded her puffed up-chest.
With an expression that looked dumbfounded by her sudden declaration, Jirukoma nodded. R-Right... I understand. But make sure you dont do anything reckless.
Right. You be careful too, Sir Jirukoma!
Lauren him go as Jirukoma took off at a run.
While he raced around cutting down emaciated, goblin-like monsters with his two kukris, he ran into Kuu, who had an awkward look on his face.
Kuu swung around his cudgel, crushing lizard-like monsters that raced around, then stood back-to-back with Jirukoma and asked him, Buddy...you wouldnt happen to be dense, would you?
Dense? What are you talking about?
Catching the blank look on Jirukomas face, Kuu shook his head in exasperation. Im talking about you taking responsibility.
Responsibility? Um, what do you an?
I wonder. Try thinking for yourself!
As Kuu said that, he was confronted with a monster coming in at high speed. It was larger than the other monsters, shaped like an ostrich with a goats head, and it had its head down and was charging him in as if it was trying to gore him with its two horns.
Kuu put his cudgel behind him, then rushed toward the monster.
Sir Kuu?! Jirukoma cried out despite himself, but Kuu perford a slide right in front of the monster, then used his montum to kick out the monsters left leg, which was bearing its weight.
Down you go.
There was a snapping sound. With the combination of the creatures own montum going forward, Kuus power coming at it, and the creatures weight acting together, the monsters left leg snapped. With only one leg left that it could still use, it ramd into the ground with all its inertia.
Kuu let out a laugh as he watched it. Ookyakya! Like I thought, your leg was wide open!
Whoosh... Thock!
An arrow flew in, planting itself into the goat-headed monsters throat as it writhed on the ground. That finished it off, and it ceased to move.
The person with a bow rushed over to Kuu. Young Masteeer, dont scare like that! Leporina begged with a tired look on her face. Our mission is to remove monsters from the mission area. Theres no need to charge in, so show so restraint!
Ookyakya! Im fine, so theres no problem! Kuu tapped his cudgel on his shoulder, smiling unabashedly.
While Leporina frowned over Kuus lack of repentance, she saw the second group begin heading out from the city gate out of the corner of her eye. The second group, unlike the first, numbered over 2,000, and in place of weapons they were carrying large logs, pieces of firewood, basically any lumber they could lay hands on.
Leporina tugged on the Kuus outfit. Look, Young Master. The second group has co out, so we need to go and guard them.
Whoops, youre right. If I play around too much, Bro will get mad.
I would like to give you a proper scolding myself, but...perhaps it would be better if I arranged so lecture ti together with Taru.
Y-You dont have to bring Taru into this, okay?! There was panic in Kuus voice.
He thought nothing of being scolded by Souma or his father Gouran, but an extended lecture from the girl he liked was sothing he wanted to avoid.
Kuu clapped his hands as if trying to dodge the subject, then urged Leporina to go on. Look, were supposed to be defending them, right? Lets get a move on.
Honestly...
Leporina shrugged and took off after Kuu as he ran.
The one leading the second unit, which Kuu and Leporina were headed to, was Kaede.
Hurry, she ordered. We have to finish before the monsters co back, you know.
One of the lizardn started eating the charred monsters.
It acted as though they tasted good, eating several of them.
The pack of lizardn watched that individual cautiously.
It was eating the mixed-up monsters, but not only was it not dying, it didnt even seem to be getting stomach pain.
Why?
Looking at it, the individual was eating well-cooked at, and avoiding undercooked portions.
Seeing that, the data in the lizardns brains that said, Eating the mixed-up monsters can result in death was overwritten to say, Eating the mixed-up monsters raw can result in death, but if they are well-cooked, they can be eaten.
In the next instant, the lizardn sward around the roasted monster at. Due in part to their hunger, they tore into the at with reckless abandon.
Even the lizardn who hadnt witnessed the original individual witnessed those who had seen it, learned the sa information, and a battle over the cooked at began.
Eventually, that information spread through the whole pack.
However, there was far too little at for 800 lizardn. The well-cooked at vanished in no ti flat, leaving only the undercooked at.
While they were wondering what to do, a light appeared near the outside of the forest.
Looking at it, there was a place with fire burning brightly.
If I use those flas, I can cook this undercooked at! The lizardn who thought that took the undercooked at and approached the fire, then threw it in. They ate it when it was cooked.
In the pack, there were so who could breathe fire themselves, and those individuals cooked and ate by themselves.
However, there was a limit to the undercooked at too.
I want more.
Looking around, they noticed that...there was plenty of raw at feeding on their kinds corpses.
The lizardn began to hunt.
Its incredible to see, isnt it? I asked.
Yeah... Julius murmured.
It was around ten in the morning, with the sun was fully risen, and shining brilliantly.
I was with Julius, standing on the wall, watching the scene unfold beneath us in awe.
We watched the lizardn surround the bonfires, cooking the at of monsters they had hunted. It was like a banquet for primitives.
The lizardn were a threat to us, but this was like watching a scene from ancient tis, and it put into a strange, indescribable fra of mind.
Aisha, who could see well at a long distance, pointed and explained. Over in that corner, a group centered around a fire-breathing lizardman is starting to form, sire.
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