Between Termus and the boundary forest lies a vast plain that takes several hours to cross on foot.
Currently, on this plain, hundreds of soldiers are diligently digging holes and building walls with soil. These are being made to hinder the invasion of monsters and buy some time. However,
"Does that even make sense?"
Watching the lord’s private soldiers dig holes from a distance, Giril muttered in a mix of amazement and disbelief. Nearby adventurers nodded in agreement.
Giril and the other adventurers were located in front of the northern gate of Termus. Here, they would welcome the monsters while receiving support from above the barricades. It was a straightforward and uncreative strategy.
"But, it’s better than nothing, I think."
A clear and resonant voice echoed, and the adventurers’ gaze turned to one person.
It was Lilith, the only Rank A adventurer currently in Termus and the highest combat power. She was in charge of leading the adventurers in this battle.
Until just a moment ago, Lilith was discussing the strategy with the Count of Belsize, but it seems that they have reached an agreement.
"Our goal is solely to buy time. To achieve that, we’ll do everything possible, said the Count."
"Our lord isn’t very aristocratic, is he?"
"I agree."
"He’s more like an adventurer."
At Lilith’s words, the adventurers made light-hearted comments. No one reprimanded them, as these would have been disrespectful remarks towards a more typical noble.
The adventurers generally had a favorable impression of the Count. He was a martial and sensible person who valued his people, a character that resonated with the adventurers.
"Still, what a joke."
Giril clicked his tongue as he looked up at the sky above the boundary forest.
"The difference in combat power is already desperate, yet the enemy is marching in perfect order. Are they really monsters?"
Everyone present, adventurers, soldiers, and the Count of Belsize, couldn’t help but agree with Giril’s complaint.
Monsters are generally low-intelligence creatures that act on instinct and desire. However, the monsters this time were different; they were marching orderly, like a human army, a highly disciplined approach that was uncharacteristic of monsters.
If the flying monsters had attacked first, they could have focused on anti-air combat before transitioning to ground combat. But reality wasn’t so kind.
This was undoubtedly unwelcome news for the adventurers and soldiers, hence their pessimism. However, surprisingly, none of the adventurers’ faces showed despair. Instead, there was a sense of resignation, yet not defeatism.
"Well, if we don’t do it, the people behind us can’t escape. Can’t be helped."
"That’s right. We have to hold them off at least until the residents have completed evacuating."
As Giril and Lilith said this, voices rose and faded around them.
"I wonder if my mom managed to leave the town."
One person worried about their family,
"I hope Canaria escapes safely..."
Another held thoughts of a loved one,
"After this battle, I’m confessing to Emilia!"
"Oh, didn’t you know? Emilia got a boyfriend recently."
"God is dead!"
And yet others made light-hearted jokes.
The buzzing spread, ebbing and flowing like waves. In this tense yet slightly buoyant atmosphere, Giril spoke in a low voice to Lilith.
"So, what will the girls do?"
"Ah, the two of them are on escort duty. Izayoi is probably struggling to cheer them up."
Giril smiled wryly at Lilith’s reply with a hint of a smile.
"That’s a relief. I was a bit worried that they’d insist on staying."
Giril’s wry smile softened, and he exhaled in relief.
"It’s too early for kids like them to die. Honestly, I wish you were on escort duty too…"
"Don’t worry about me. I was a knight, after all. I’m prepared."
Lilith’s expression showed strong resolve, but Giril couldn’t help feeling that she was somewhat vulnerable.
Whether it was his caring nature or a veteran’s intuition, Giril was quite sensitive to the subtleties of human emotion. Therefore, he noticed that Lilith was carrying some sort of burden.
But there was nothing Giril could do. Lilith, despite her princely demeanor, was a woman, and there were boundaries Giril couldn’t cross.
That’s why he had high hopes for Yuka.
Lilith, who usually kept a distance from others, especially women, showed interest in a girl named Yuka. She was a red-haired, red-eyed adventurer who appeared about a month ago and rapidly rose to prominence. Since meeting Yukika, Lilith had begun to smile more compared to before. It was a subtle change, not even noticed by herself, but it was obvious to Giril, who had been watching Lilith since she was rank F.
Had things continued this way, Lilith would have surely opened her heart to Yukika. But, that progress had been reset due to the recent battle. This was something Giril couldn’t help but regret.
“What a disagreeable world…” Giril mumbled to himself.
“I completely agree with that,” Lilith replied with a bitter nod to Giril's spontaneous mutter.
Their gazes were directed towards the Boundary Forest, which had suddenly started to get noisy. The monsters’ roars and bellows could already be heard; they were getting closer.
Noticing the approach of the monsters, the adventurers fell silent all at once. The immediate silence and the rising fighting spirit were contrasting. Everyone was switching their mindset to combat, preparing to confront the impending threat.
Everyone was already prepared.
Seeing this, Giril and Lilith exchanged glances.
Edgar Belsize, clad in luxurious battle gear that distinguished him from ordinary soldiers, stood proudly at the forefront of the troops.
His imposing figure, looking down upon the soldiers with his sword thrust into the ground, coupled with the atmosphere of a seasoned warrior, made one feel the urge to kneel. Edgar surveyed the soldiers who looked up to him and nodded in satisfaction. Every face was filled with fighting spirit; they were all good warriors. With them, not only could the task be accomplished, but it was also possible to significantly reduce the power of the monster army.
Pleased with the growth of the soldiers he had trained, Edgar solemnly delivered a battle speech without showing his delight.
“I am glad you have gathered, brave warriors. Unfortunately, I am not good at long speeches. Therefore, allow me to do this in my own way.”
Saying so, Edgar energetically drew the sword he had thrust into the ground and raised it as if to pierce the sky.
“Draw your swords! Ready your arrows! Annihilate every monster threatening our people, until their lives are extinguished!”
“Ooooooooooo!!”
The warriors' roar shook the atmosphere.
“Brave warriors, follow me!!”
Pointing the tip of the raised sword towards the monsters emerging from the Boundary Forest, Edgar roared. Following him, the soldiers maintained their formation and charged forward in unison.
The monster army also noticed the movement of the human side and entered combat mode. They let out strange cries and roars, unleashing their brutality.
Here and now, the fuse was lit for an unprecedented scale of human vs. monster conflict.