Chapter 57

: Battle
ED: Bluegraine

No, it’s only a prediction, I might be wrong too.
The opponent may be just normal bandits, but with things like this, you should still prepare for the worst.

A little relieved air flowed in the words of Bart.

So, what is the probability of it being that 「worst situation」?
  (Brett)
Bart answered with a straight face to the question of Brett.

Well, about 80%
 (Bart)

…
(Everyone)
And Bart confirmed his intention to the merchants who still hadn’t said anything until now.

As a client, what would you like to do?
 (Bart)

Well … Well, with number of soldiers 3 times or more, they are not opponents we can fight and win against, right?
How about we withdraw after confirming the identities of the opponent and the number of people. We will inform the royal palace immediately after we reach town?
  (Merchant)

Well, the enemy will move before the army of our country moves, and the reason why they have killed all the merchants until now is to conceal their identity.
So, if we turn back here, the enemies will obviously realize they have been discovered.
And I’m worried about how far they will go to hide their identity. Would they chase after us?
Even if we kill all the bandits we capture and run away with full speed, they will still catch up soon enough.
They may prepare horses for pursuit.
It might be a little better if we choose a place that’s advantageous to us.
What do you think about killing 3 or 4 people per person.
  (Bart)

Well, there is no choice from the beginning!
 (Merchant)

That’s it.
  (Bart)
Just like that, Bart and merchant were laughing.
The other members of 『Dragon Breath』just shrugged their shoulders. Perhaps, it was the usual thing with them.
The three members of 『Flame Wolf』 had a slightly pale appearance, but they kept calm, as they were hunters after all. And 『Red Oath』 was too.

What, these people …
(Mile + Maevis + Pauline + Rena)
Mile was amazed at the nerves of Bart and merchant. And …

What’s that, they aren’t bandits? I wasted a lot of time for discussions …
 (Rena)

No, no matter how you see it, that army is invading another country, not with a regular battle, it isn’t a military action. They will be treated as spies or ordinary bandits, so they can be killed as if they were bandits
 (Maevis)

If you capture the commander and squeeze out information, you will get a lot of rewards ~
 (Pauline)

You are such …
 (Rena) (あんたらねぇ)
Normally, we would have continued traveling for a while.
However, the merchant decided to camp here.
The highway went around the rocky mountain, with a rock wall that stood out on the right side, the rocky ground on the left side, and there was no grove and field.
Normally, it wouldn’t be considered a camping place.
Because if we went a little further, past the rocky mountains, there were grasslands. That place would be convenient for making camp, but not for battle action.
Since this was a rocky ground with no trees, we could use fire magic without hesitation.
Because we could fight with the wall of rock behind us, it was suitable for battle against a large number of enemies because they couldn’t surround us.
The enemy scout would without doubt notice us. Even if they were to think we acted weird, there was nothing they could do.
Because of the distance of only a few hundred meters, if they were to think that we had already noticed them, they wouldn’t keep waiting to ambush but instead move to attack this place.
The merchant united the carriages into 3 rows and 2 column, fitted perfectly to the rock wall to minimize the area which we needed to protect.
The captured bandits had both their arms and legs tied, and would be knocked unconcious.
With this, they would be inferior to the merchants and they could be killed as soon as the enemy began to approach.
Look like Bart thought, that in the worst case where we were going to die, we had to at least kill these bandits so they didn’t harm any other people.
I did not think it would take very long to kill seven bandits who were unconscious and tied up. The elderly merchants wouldn’t hesitate to kill the bandits either.
The escort hunters finished fixating the horse-drawn carriages, and tied the bandits up.
Right now, we were setting up a perfect interception pattern.
The others didn’t eat meals. An idiot who put food in their belly before a fight with a sword or a spear could not live long.
After that, we only awaited the enemy’s movement.
And about an hour later.

… here they come
  (Vera)
Vela who was an archer with good eyes found the enemy approaching first.
Because we began preparing for the encounter quite early, the surroundings were still bright.
Because it was possible that some people would miss their blows if it got dark, it seemed better to attack while it was still bright. They had overwhelming numbers after all.
Our camp was protect by a rock wall, but it also blocked our retreat. The attackers didn’t need to divide their strength.
They collected all their available fighting power, and around 40 enemies surround our camp in a semi-circle. As Bart expected, there were really 40 people.

We are bandits! Discard your weapons and throw it down!
  (Commander)
From the way the leader of our enemies surrounding us was talking, it was clear that he planned to kill us while hiding their identities.
We are bandits.
Moreover, it was
Discard your weapons and throw them away
instead of
Surrender
.

… Because it will be a battle anyway, what can I say? Because I want to get even a bit of information, can I try something?
 (Bart)
The merchants nodded to the words of Bart. 『Red Oath』 and 『Flame Wolf』 also nodded.

That voice, aren’t you the commander ? What on earth are you doing in other countries?
 (Bart)

Huh…?
 (Commander)
The commander was surprised and began to shake as Bart shouted loudly.

I think I met you before in …
  (Bart)

No… I’m not! I’m just a bandit! Don’t say stupid things. Discard the weapon and throw it away quickly!
  (Commander)

…What do you think?
  (Bart)

Ahaha …
(Mile)
To Bart’s question, Mile could only show dry laughter.

Well, I don’t think they will admit it, but with this I can with 100% certainty determine that they are soldiers.
That also means that even if we surrender, they kill us all. Everyone, are you ready?
 (Bart)
Everyone silently nodded.

Alright, noncombatants, get on the second carriage as planned. Escorts, move to your position!
  (Bart)
Everyone went to their designated positions according to Bart’s instructions.
The merchant got on the loading platform of the second carriage which had been unloaded from goods in advance.
This horse carriage had been placed between two others cars and fitted tightly to the rock wall, which was to give it a position in cover from arrows and magic attacks.
Mile would guard this carriage as planned. She asked the nanomachines to cast a spell on the captured bandits.

Make all of these bandits lose consciousness until dawn
(Mile)
It was very appropriate to say that it was a magic spell, but the nanomachines seemed to understand what Mile wanted, and the bandits lost consciousness. With this, we didn’t have to worry about the captured bandits anymore. The plan was for Mile to stay here to protect the merchants but she was worried about her party and allies so she said to the merchants.

Well, please wait here!
  (Mile)
She smiled as she said that to the merchants, and Mile got off the platform. Before leaving the carriage, she muttered in a small voice.

Grid force barrier, completely transparent version!
  (Mile)
Kin, a small sound of the barrier was made. With this, nothing could harm the merchants anymore.
When Mile returned to the battlefield, the enemy began approaching in order with coordinated movements.
Although they were dressed like bandits their movements and equipment were strange. They had weapons of good quality. They were also wearing metal armor under bandit clothes.
Then, according to Bart’s instructions, Jeanne released attack magic from a distance. As her magic power was weak, it was natural to wait until the enemies entered the effective range where the power and accuracy increased. It was natural to try to reduce the enemy numbers a little with the first strike, but Bart’s aim was to check the enemy instead. He concentrated on their movements.

… Fire Bomb!
  (Jeanne)
The flaming explosive bullet that Jeanne cast towards the enemy leader disappeared before reaching him.

Well, so they also have special units like magicians in this platoon
  (Bart)
Normally, in war, magicians were not included in an ordinary unit, magic was intensively operated by a unit composed of only magicians. That would be more efficient.
Bart seemed to know details about the army. Was it due to many years of experience as a hunter, or had he been in the army before?

I will take care of about three or four enemies in the front. You four magicians, how many do you think you can take ?


The number of people means nothing
 (Rena)
In response to the words of Bart, Rena cast the attack magic.

… Fire Bomb!
  (Rena)
A Flaming Explosive bullet flew toward the enemies.

Fire bomb will be prevented again …
  (Jeanne)
Jeanne tried saying so to Rena because her fire bomb had been prevented earlier.
The Flaming Explosive bullet released by Rena was blocked by enemy’s defense magic and it exploded when it hit.
The soldier who was hit was blown backwards and the left and right soldiers involved in the explosion were rolling on the ground trying to put out the flame on their bodies.
It seems that the power was reduced by the defensive magic and also by the metallic armor they wear under their bandit clothes. The one who was hit became incapable of fighting, but he was still alive.

Huh…
  (Jeanne)

What?
 (Rena)
Rena asks Jeanne who was shocked.
Certainly, Rena hadn’t demonstrated her attack magic in the graduation test, as she had been stopped before that.
Jeanne thought that Rena was only strong with defense magic as she had seen it in the graduation test. Clearly, she seemd to think that Rena was a supportive magician who was good at defensive magic. But to think she had that much magic attack power.

… boiling water ball
  (Pauline)
Pauline started chanting after Rena, and used water magic rather than wind.
A water ball twice as big as a softball flew somewhat slowly.
With that speed, there was plenty of time to cast defence magic, or the soldier himself could block, parry or avoid it. To conserve magic power, the soldier choose to avoid.
At the moment of avoidance, the water ball suddenly changed its course and hit the soldier’s neck.

Gyā a ~a~a~a!
  (Soldier B)
It went through the armor from the neck and flowed into the inside of his armor and clothing,
The tightly squeezed high pressure water ball had a high temperature exceeding one hundred degrees.
Even if you tried to shake it off, even if you rolled around, hot water soaked into your clothes and after directly touching your skin, the temperature did not go down easily. The water moved deeper and faster and the burn became severe.
Next to the soldier, another soldier who had received a water ball, no, a hot water ball on his face was screaming.
And Mile was still waiting.
A few soldiers who had been in the back ran over to the soldiers wounded by Rena and Pauline’s magic.

Okay, that!
(Mile’s thought)
Mile murmured a suitable spell, it was just a simple appearance so that it wouldn’t like a non-chant, she close one eye like a wink with a prime expression.

Give electric shock to foolish people, prime monocular!
(Mile)
The electric sound echoed, all the enemy soldiers who had rushed to the injured soldiers fell down on the spot. It is an electric shock magic with low powet output so people doesn’t die. And that was the birth of one of the Seven Mile’s Death Blow that later will be called 『Angel’ s Blink Shot』.
The magicians who run over to use curative magic to the injured soldier, that what Mile thought and she aimed at them. Because magicians also seemed to be dressed like a bandits, we can only tell them apart by behavior differences. With this, enemy magicians should have decreased considerably. If Mile’s idea was correct, it is.
Both healer magicians and injured soldiers were also receiving electric shocks and lost consciousness.
But for the injured soldier, they were fortunate. Especially for those injured soldiers who were rolling with burning pain due to Paulin’s attack magic. Mile also plan to cure them to a certain extent later.

Wh(at) …
(FW’s members) (Original only have
na…
I guess I was
na(ni)…
)
Three members of『Flame Wolf』are shocking looking at Mile who is still away from their enemies.
Because enemy movement is stopped all of sudden. They don’t expect her to be a strong magician. They know her is a strong swordsman though.
As expected, the members of 『Dragon Breath』aren’t react like that. Even they are also surprised but they are still closely watching the enemy’s movement.

It’s coming!

Bart spoke to three distracted members of『Flame Wolf』.
There are only six escorts, only one magician at best. It will be easy to kill all of them after they surrender and throw the weapon. That’s what the scout report to the commander.
The commander thought that it was a simple job that had been repeated over and over so far.
Now they suffered a one-sided magic attack, and in the meantime nearly 20% of the strength was lost.
Besides half of valuable magicians are already defeated, enemy soldiers stopped moving for a moment, but the commander immediately instructed and resumed approaching.
It was not a slow approach as before, but an assault.
It is natural. If you are walking slowly you will be bombarded by attack magic one after another, so you only have to strike all at once with no interception time.
Several soldiers stopped at a distance without approaching. They are the remain magicians and rangers. It seems that they reach the effective range of their attack. Attacks by throwing spears need to approach a little closer.
Rena, Pauline and Jeanne repeat cast attack magic one after another during the Mile’s mysterious magic attack were released towards the leading enemies swordsmen, the spearmen.
Don! (SFX)
Hi ~yun!  (SFX)
Ba ~shu! (SFX)
Rena’s Fire bomb was released again, this time it didn’t hit the enemy troops directly but the exploding flame burned several soldiers.
Pauline has released a second condensed version of the fireball, shown in the graduation test.
There are two shots. One shot hit the right shoulder of an enemy soldier and the other shot hit the belly of another soldier.
Although the abdomen had been protected by armor, the shock of hit, high fever, and flame spread to the body, and the soldier rolled over the ground.
The magic used by Jeanne was ice spear. Even if magic is defended, unlike flames that continue to burn with magical power, the ice that has already become substantive never disappears.
However, this time, enemy magicians who reduced in number decided to allow some damage of their soldiers, they seemed to give priority to attack rather than defense, and did not use defensive magic. The ice spear pierces the enemy soldier as it is.
And three people to enter the next chant instantly.
Mile was closely watching the movement of the soldier who stopped.
Hi ~yun (SFX)
Arrows of enemy archers were all fired all at once, and Mile use the wind defend magic to change direction of all the arrows.
Uindoo, uindoo, uindoo! (T.N: Sorry but I don’t know what it mean, maybe SFX of arrows hit ground) (ウィンドぉ、ウィンドぉ、ウィンドぉ～！)
All arrows felt.
What Mile use is wind magic and all the arrows shot by the enemy fell to the ground.
This is just wind magic that magicians normally used, Mile don’t have to worry about stand out.
Following the arrows, the attack magic came flying this time. They use all kinds of magic to bombard the carriages. They don’t need to aim because the carriages are big target, no matter where it hit, a fire ball will spread the fire to the whole carriages group.  The number of magic is massive with trajectory.

Magic Shoot!
(Mile)
Mile’s spell at the same time perfect intercept all incoming magic attack.
All of them was hit by Mile’s instruction to nanomachines. The magic that Mile use was just simple magic balls so she doesn’t have to worry about stand out (except the part she perfect hit all flying magic with it)

That’s impossible
(Commander) (Sona bakana)
Looking at hunter magicians’s overwheming power, the platoon leader was stunned by the opponent’s combat capabilities that his platoon could be crushed lightly.
However, they will soon enter a close fight. Even if they are inferior with long range attack, with this number of people difference and the army of approaching battle with swords and spears, there’s no way that the hunters can win against soldiers.
The hunters also won’t able to use magic because their allies are mixed in.
Half of soldiers should aim for the magician and half will battle with Vanguard Hunters. Magicians without magic will be easy to kill, after that the soldiers will back up to fight Vanguard.
Although there were a lot of damage until approaching, we can cure it with curative magic later. The commander screamed with a reassurance.

Go!


Well, before the enemies approach us, I need to do something …
(Mile’s thought)
Mile did not intend to annihilate the enemy by herself.

If I do such a thing, the other escorts will not have anything left to do. More importantly, I will stand out. No matter how you see it, I’m just an average C rank hunter. It isn’t good to get extra attention.
However, if they can get near us and begin close combat, the damage to our allies will becomes big. I can heal them if they’re only injured, but I won’t be able to help if they get instantly killed or something like that.
Therefore, I must think a good way to lower the fighting power of the enemies.
Something not conspicuous, how to drop the enemy’s power …
Ah, that’s right!
(Mile’s thought)
And Mile chanted the devil’s spell.

The soles of our enemies’ shoes will be diagonally scraped, and pebbles will be inserted inside!