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Blood-forged spears pour down from the sky in bundles.
Truly.
Isn’t this attack too dazzling to signal the start of a battle?
However, impaling the opponent with area-of-effect spells like this to break their momentum early on is quite a splendid tactic. One cannot help but praise it.
Yet, the opponent, having experienced countless battles as a second-year student, though relatively inferior in overall power, is not completely outmatched.
As expected.
Where the blood spears pour, hundreds of slender, shining mineral spears rise into the sky in opposition.
“That…!”
“It’s Daisy von Schkross’s magic.”
The pouring red spears clash with the brilliant mineral spears, leading to a massive explosion in midair.
Following that, dozens of spells come flying towards us through the debris and dust.
However, our mages, prepared in the rear, intercept them, successfully defending against the attacks.
One round of offense and defense ends in a stalemate.
Nevertheless, we are closing the distance, in an assault formation, while they, with the fortress behind them, have no retreat.
“Reyna.”
“Yes, our ‘strategic victory’ involves destroying all defensive structures in the castle. Then, we’ll immediately withdraw.”
“Additionally, our casualties must be minimized.”
“hahahaha, I am well aware of that.”
Saying so, we advance even faster.
Soon, from their side, cries and the sight of weapons being drawn could be seen.
However.
Contrary to their fierce demeanor, they did not step forward.
The castle gates opened, and from within, knights clad in shining silver armor mounted on humanoid golems emerged in formation.
“Adrian, …they’re here. Golem Knights.”
A silver-armored cavalry force numbering around thirty.
The horses, and the knights riding them, are all human-shaped golems. One of the two defense structures assigned to the defense team has appeared here.
And the other one is…
“Adrian, come! Scatter formation!”
“Scatter!”
A flash of light from the castle walls, then a crimson beam shot through between me and Reyna.
Clang…
Following is the translated novel excerpt:
Soon after, a deafening roar, as if the earth were being overturned, was heard, and flames shot up as if they could reach the end of the sky.
“…This is.”
“What…?”
Everyone gazed blankly at the path the laser had passed through.
If it had hit, there would probably be no trace left.
That was the second defensive equipment of the defense team. The laser cannon.
Because of its existence, excellent talents were assigned to the attacking team as much as possible.
“Leader! Five members have died. The composition is 2 mages, 3 warriors!”
“It will take about 10 minutes to reload! This is the chance! Charge!”
“Everyone, charge! Don’t be afraid!”
The golem cavalry on the opposite side charged, holding their cavalry spears, and we also rushed, wielding swords and spears.
Perhaps.
If we collide like this, the victory will belong to the cavalry.
However.
“【Intermediate Fire Magic: Fire Arrow】, 【Intermediate Lightning Magic: Lightning Arrow】, 【Intermediate…】. Come out, all of them for now!”
Black petals soared towards the sky.
The bows of the five elements appeared in the air, drawing their aim towards the cavalry.
“We have a future Archmage here.”
“I appreciate the praise, but it’s not too late to do it after it’s over, Adrian! All mages, follow me!”
Kwaaang!
The intermediate magic of the mages dedicated to Reyna erupted in an instant, completely destroying the front line of the golem cavalry.
Taking advantage of the gap created, we swiftly approached and disarrayed the enemies.
Shouts mingled, and the sound of metal filled the ears.
And.
“My opponent is you, isn’t it.”
Amidst everyone entangled in the fight, I confronted a golem cavalry, silently gazing at me.
As he skillfully took a cavalry stance, I also held the branch of the spirit tree to greet him.
The pupil inside the golem’s helmet glowed blue.
The sound of our hooves echoed on the ground.
Whoosh!
Avoiding the skilled thrust of the cavalry from the horse, I directly swung the branch at his head.
Thud!
His face, including the helmet, was half crushed, but he was a golem. He couldn’t feel pain or anything.
Mechanically, he raised the cavalry spear again and rushed to stab me.
I, too, did not stand still.
After precisely blocking the tip of the cavalry spear that was thrusting in, I grasped the branch in reverse and forcefully struck his temple this time.
Continuing without leaving him alone for a moment, I followed up with a series of attacks.
Thud, crack! Thud! Thud!
With a magic combining “Fireball” and “Sermon Lightning,” I sent him to the netherworld from the inside, completely crushing the chest of the golem cavalry, whose head had been completely crushed into a funny shape, in the end.
“He was not a bad opponent.”
The blue light shining from the helmet had faded, and after watching a cavalryman fall from his horse, I turned away, smoke trailing behind him.
Without hesitation, I swiftly twisted the head of another golem cavalryman, who dared to show me his back, with a series of strikes from the branch of a spirit tree.
“Ah… Thank you for the support.”
“You, the hamburger guy, also assist the others.”
“Oh, yes. I will do so.”
Parting ways with him, I guided my horse elsewhere.
Only the sound of metal reverberated within the thick dust. All around was a battlefield.
The rearward wizards were focusing on countering the defense team and their magical attacks.
Before the laser cannons could reload, I had to take them all down.
Each time they appeared, I struck down the golem cavalrymen with the branch.
Since my physical strength was not particularly high, they didn’t break in one blow. So, I struck them more.
Hit after hit, I kept striking until they were completely twisted.
I aimed only for the helmet.
Thud, thud, clang, thud!
The branch of the spirit tree, being indestructible and harder than any steel, was being used by me like a club against this one.
I couldn’t stab the metal golem with a dagger. Even with Ebenezer, it might be possible to force it through with strength, but…
“That’s because it’s Ebenezer.”
For someone like me with below-average strength, such a feat was impossible.
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If I couldn’t stab, I had to strike.
Looking back, Reyna leading the wizards was successfully engaging the golem cavalry. The incoming laser fire and enemy wizard attacks were also the wizards’ responsibility.
And so.
“Four down.”
Thud!
Another cavalryman halted in his tracks and fell.
“We’ve dealt with them all!”
“Good. Then…”
I turned my head to the east.
It was time for dawn to break.
A faint light passed over the once dark wasteland.
I raised my hand to shield my eyes.
The sun revealed itself, and soon it would illuminate this wasteland.
Dawn was approaching.
And then…
The sunlight dispelled the darkness, revealing the imposing presence of the massive laser cannons atop the fortress walls.
There, one could see a human with jet-black wings on their back.
Despite the still flowing blood and eyes sharper than ever, something was being created in her blood-soaked hands.
“【Blood Magic】.”
A massive greatsword that seemed taller than herself.
She tightly grasped it, shouting out her spirit as she thrust the sword downward.
“【Greatsword】!”
Quaaang!
The laser beam split into two, revealing the setting sun behind it.
Simultaneously, wings that seemed woven with magic disappeared, and she began to descend towards the ground.
“Reina!”
“Yes!”
Then.
Her body gently enveloped in magic slowly descended.
I descended below and embraced her.
“Ugh… How could I, a knight of the North, be in such a state…”
“Hurry, get properly situated behind me.”
“…”
“It’s heavy. Your arm might break any moment.”
At my words,
The boy, his face flushed, bit his lip.
“W-what should we do now?”
“Strategically, we’ve won. Though we lost 23, we’ve destroyed all their defense structures. We retreat. Donald!”
“Everyone, retreat!”
Their forces were seen belatedly opening the castle gate, but there was nothing we could do.
We had to witness them destroying our home and fleeing.
* * *
Achieving a strategic victory and retreating.
Despite pursuit, as the distance from the castle grew, they gave up and turned back.
Back at the camp, rather than celebrating, we quickly convened a meeting to plan the next operation.
“We lost twenty-three. However, we’ve demolished all their defenses. Now, there won’t be any structures to protect them inside the castle.”
“Food supplies should arrive in the afternoon. We need to swiftly regroup and prepare for another advance. No need to wait until the third day. Everything ends today.”
“Um…”
During the strategy meeting,
Lady Vladir, who had been silent all along, spoke up, and everyone listened quietly.
“Sorry, but I don’t have a horse to ride.”
“…Then ride behind me.”
“T-that’s… It’s embarrassing to say the least!”
“I’m light. Kalen can lift me with one hand.”
At my words, Lady Vladir blushed again and bit her lip.
“Ugh, ugh…”
“Anyway, remember the plan. The infiltration team will be led by me. Any objections?”
There shouldn’t be.
My authority within the team had become quite strong by now.
Though Reina was there, I was practically the leader of this team.
From the start, it was planned and agreed upon with Reina.
After taking over the lead, the plan naturally received support from me.
Later, I should make sure to take care of something.
Perhaps, after this exam is over, those who have been with me will have a different perception of me.
If that’s the case, then in the future, I should be able to raise a force akin to Ebness.
“Reyna. Have the scouts been sent?”
“Yes, I sent them as we were retreating. Three scouts were sent out, and if they find provisions, they were instructed to return immediately.”
That was when it happened.
“They have returned!”
Three individuals entered the meeting hall, with Relevrian among them.
“Provisions have been found.”
“Before we depart, we saw the masses gathering. They were all part of the defense team.”
“Adrian, give out the orders. What should we do?”
What should we do.
“All troops.”
I stood up, the first to step out of the hall.
“Prepare for the advance.”
As I stepped out of the hall, everyone was already looking at me, fully prepared.
Alright.
Now, it really ends.
Although the words were spoken, it was still quiet.
It seemed like everyone was just waiting for me to speak up.
Well, here goes. Should I say a word that will instantly lift their spirits…?
There it was.
“All forces.”
After a brief silence, I continued.
“We are heading out to welcome the summer break.”
─Wooooo!
The earth trembled.
This.
The effect is truly remarkable.