Chapter 36
Preparing for the coming battle, about ten days passed.
On a particularly cold morning, the situation began to shift.
"......So they've finally come, huh. How many people are out there, I wonder?"
Yuurai looks south from the castle window. From beyond the horizon, an army of not just one or two thousand, but far more, is advancing.
"......There must be at least ten thousand. They've mobilized on quite a large scale."
Claire, standing beside Yuurai, responded.
"Ten thousand...... That's going to be tough to defeat, even for us. Finding the right balance to hold back will be difficult."
They had made some preparations. However, facing ten thousand, they couldn't exactly say they had the upper hand.
"If the enemy suffers losses, there's no helping it. It's their fault for unilaterally attacking you when all you want is to live in peace."
"Even now, isn't there a chance to resolve this through discussion?"
"I doubt it. If they had any intention of talking, they would have sent a messenger before the army."
"I see. Then, I guess there's no choice."
Yuurai turns around and first gives instructions to Ragvela and Jeevy of the Eyeless Tribe.
"It's dangerous, so you two should escape to the village in the Northern Forest. Don't come out until we know it's safe."
The two nod in agreement.
"I really wish Lipia could escape too, but......"
"I'm staying with Yuurai! I can use healing magic, and I'm sure I'll be useful in a pinch!"
"......Alright. Fine then. But you absolutely must not die."
"I know."
"Hm. So, what about Ceres? I don't want her getting in the way."
In the end, Ceres has settled in at the castle. Neither side considers the other an ally, and Ceres always does whatever she pleases on her own.
"I'll just watch. A battle between Monsters and an army sounds interesting, doesn't it?"
"Oh, fine. I'm not planning to protect you, so take care of yourself."
"No need to tell me that."
"Hm. The Gilka outside have already started moving, so that's fine. Alright then, everyone, begin your preparations."
Yuurai, Claire, and Lipia return to their respective rooms for the time being to equip themselves.
Yuurai dons the crimson robe with the highest defensive power found in the castle. It's apparently called the Red Phoenix robe. It has high Anti-Magic performance while also offering above-average protection against blades.
Additionally, she fastens a Magic Sword of wind and thunder to her waist and holds a staff as tall as herself, called Enki. This staff is highly compatible with Dark Magic and offers excellent support for wide-range spells.
Claire's weapon, as always, is the Elegant Flame sword. It's said to be so sharp that there's nothing in this world it can't cut, and it can also be imbued with fire-attribute magic.
For armor, she uses the set she wore back when she was a Holy Knight. Whether it's Anti-Magic or blade protection, its performance surpasses any armor found in the town. However, since she's no longer a Holy Knight, she has painted over the emblem engraved on the armor.
Lipia is equipped with the Blue Flower robe and the Healing God staff, a typical mage set, along with a shield made of White Dragon Scales. Though such a shield is usually carried by knights, it's perfect for Lipia, whose top priority is to stay back and protect herself.
Once equipped, Yuurai and the others head toward the southern gate.
Along the way, they meet up with Gilka and climb atop the southern castle wall.
"An army of ten thousand...... Seeing it with my own eyes, it's quite a sight."
Ten thousand soldiers march across the southern plains. Individually, they might be insignificant opponents to Yuurai, but their sheer numbers make them feel like a threat.
"......It'll take a little longer before the battle begins."
The enemy is still a few kilometers away. It's still too far for either side to launch an attack.
"Gilka, is the evacuation of your subordinates going alright?"
"Yes, it's fine. I've told them to leave the town for now, but since our leader is here, I doubt the enemy will attack the town directly."
"We've gone to the trouble of cleaning up, so I'd rather they didn't destroy the town."
"Exactly."
"......Oh, it's snowing."
For Yuurai, the light overcast weather is a welcome sight. Finally, snow begins to fall lightly. The wind feels cold.
"I hope it doesn't get too bad."
"With this weather, it'll just be a light dusting."
"I see. Gilka, aren't you cold?"
Gilka is still wearing her midriff-baring outfit.
"I've always had a high body temperature, so I'm fine. I'm actually good with the cold."
"That's good to hear."
The enemy is approaching, slowly but surely.
"......Ugh, I'm getting nervous. There are so many enemies...... Can we really win......?"
Claire gently takes Yuurai's hand. Though the gauntlet makes it feel rough, Yuurai senses strength in her grip.
"Yuurai, you can win. What you should worry about is how much damage you can minimize. Winning without killing anyone is impossible."
"......Sigh. I hate this, killing and all. They're not even evil people."
Unlike Bandits, the enemies this time are soldiers who live honest lives.
For Yuurai, this is a battle she has no enthusiasm for.
"The enemy isn't evil. But they are soldiers prepared to die in battle. Yuurai, you don't need to feel guilty."
"......No, saying they're prepared to die is a lie. Most soldiers become soldiers thinking they won't die. If that weren't the case...... Claire wouldn't be here."
"......That might be true."
"Ugh. I hate this. But I don't want to die either, so I guess I have no choice but to fight......"
As Yuurai lets out a deep sigh, Gilka pats her on the shoulder.
"Yuurai-sama, you're incredibly strong, but you've got a surprisingly delicate side to you."
"......I just have the strength to fight. Other than that, I'm just a kid."
"No sane person can kill without it weighing on their mind. It's probably something that will follow you for life. It never gets easier."
"......Is it the same for you, Gilka?"
"Yes, it is. But if you can't allow yourself to die, then sometimes you have to fight and kill. When you're forced to kill...... curse this damn world and keep pushing forward somehow."
"......Yeah, you're right."
Talking with the two of them, Yuurai gradually calms down.
A moderate sense of tension sharpens her focus.
"Hey! If it comes down to it, I'll heal you! It'll be okay!"
Lipia declares with a slightly trembling voice.
(Among us, Lipia is probably the most scared. I can't keep showing how nervous I am in front of her.)
"Thanks, Lipia. I'm counting on you."
"Yeah!"
"Hm. Well, no helping it. Let's fight. All three of you, don't die."
"If that's an order."
"I won't die."
"I'm not ready to die yet!"
The enemy draws near. The battle begins.