149.Getting Away With Murder
クゼム側ホーラント兵たちは、前線から徐々に崩壊するかに見えたが、兵たちが目の前にいたネルガル側へと逃げ始めたため、双方を巻き込んだ乱戦となった。
もはや敵味方の区別なく襲い始めた不死兵に、ホーラント兵たちは剣や槍、時には火球などの魔法で対応していたが、刃物はもちろんのこと、火だるまになっても動きを止めず、それどころか炎にまみれたまま兵士にしがみつく者までいる。
「やめろ! 放せ! 放してくれ!」
「ああああ......」
悲鳴と怒号が入り混じる中、乱入する一団がいる。
「網! でっかい奴のために持ってきた網で足止めするよ!」
アリッサが率いるフォカロル兵たちが、不死兵の攻撃で混乱するネルガルの部下たちの前を、台車で無理やり横断していく。
若干のホーラント兵を巻き込みつつ、不死兵を踏み潰しながら、フォカロル兵は次々と網を投げていった。
「アリッサさん!」
「槍を!」
ようやく前線にもどってきたネルガルの声に、アリッサは短く叫ぶ。
その一言で理解したネルガルは、周囲の兵に向かって指示を飛ばした。
「投槍器で敵兵に向けて一斉に攻撃! 手が空いているものは自分で投げろ!」
網に絡み取られ、もがいている不死兵たちに、槍の雨が横殴りに叩きつけられた。
「た、助けて!」
中には不死兵ともみ合っていて一緒に網にかかったホーラント兵もいたのだが、狂乱さながらに降り注ぐ槍は、彼らに対しても無慈悲に突き刺さる。
「私は、この一件だけでも、相当な罪を背負うことになりますね」
王になれば部下になるはずだった兵士たち。
彼らが阿鼻叫喚の中で不死兵と混ざり合って死んでいく様を見ながら、ネルガルは顔をゆがめてつぶやいた。
「ですが、これで......」
「全員、離れて! 後退! 後退!」
ネルガルたちの正面を左へと抜けて行ったアリッサ率いるフォカロル兵が、口々に下がるようにと叫びながら戻ってくる。
焦りを隠せないその表情に、ネルガルが正面をよくよく観察すると、槍で貫かれた中でもホーラント兵は絶命しているように見えるが、不死兵たちは武器で網を切り裂き、這うようにして抜けだし始めていた。
槍を受け、ハリネズミのような状態になりながらも、真顔のままで淡々と自分の邪魔をする網を切り裂いていく。
「なんという......後退します! 投槍器は前方に向けたまま、全員、合図をするまで後退! 隊列は崩さず、油断しないように!」
ネルガルが、網から抜け出そうとしている不死兵たちの向こう側に目を向ける。
そこでは、こちらのような対応ができず、不死兵に次々と殺されていくホーラント兵の姿があった。
「あっちの指揮官は何をしているのだ! このままでは......」
今は敵かもしれないが、説得して協力を頼むつもりだったネルガルは、蹂躙される自国の兵の姿に、歯噛みして後退せざるを得ない自分の非力さを呪った。
「もし、一二三さんのような力があれば......」
同じことを、この世界の何人が考えただろうか。
さすがに頭が無いと動かないらしく、ずるりと滑り落ちた不死兵の身体は、台車の下へと落ち、車輪に潰された。
「長官! このままだと......」
「とにかく距離を取る! あとはホーラントに任せよう!」
ここでホーラントのために余計な消耗はできない、とアリッサは考えた。見捨てるようで申し訳なく思うが、部下の命を投げ打つような場面とも思えない。
相手の正体が明確で、巨人兵のように対抗策がわかっているのであれば話は別だが、初見であり、いかにも対応が難しい相手に乱戦を選ぶほど、アリッサは蛮勇を好むタイプではない。
「でも、逃げるだけだとダメだよね......どうしよう......」
冷静に、と自分に言い聞かせてはいるものの、聞こえてくる悲鳴と再び交戦が始まった自軍側の喧騒に、焦りが増大する。
だが、アリッサが冷静になろうと頑張っているとき、彼女の上司は全く冷静では無かった。
「ふざけるな!」
「......えっ?」
台車に足をかけ、アリッサの頭上を飛び越えていったのは、他の誰でもない、一二三の姿だった。
未だ地面にある網の上を器用に駆け抜けながら、一番近くにいた不死兵の首を横薙ぎに刎ね斬った。
さらにもう一体を左右に両断し、近くで倒れて呻くホーラント兵にも刀を突きたてた。
「ひ、一二三さん?」
「アリッサ」
一二三の突然の登場に目を瞬かせていたアリッサは、後ろからオリガに声をかけられて肩を跳ね上げて驚いた。
「声をかけただけでしょう。失礼な」
「ご、ごめんなさい。あ、兎の人だ。こんにちは」
「え、こ、こんにちは」
オリガに何とか食いついてきたヴィーネは、アリッサからフレンドリーにあいさつされて、目を白黒させながら応えた。
「アリッサ。ここから一二三様が蹂躙を開始されます。私はこぼれた者どもを始末しますので、邪魔をしないように」
「私も行きます!」
なんとか息を整えたヴィーネも、腰に差していた短い杖を握りしめ、同行を宣言する。
オリガは、ヴィーネの目を見て、頷くことで了承を伝えた。
「あ、じゃあ僕も行く。あとは適当に王女様に従ってやってね。よろしく」
台車から飛び降りて一二三の後を追うオリガとヴィーネを追って、部下に適当すぎる命令を出したアリッサも、脇差を片手に台車から飛び出した。
「......どうする?」
「どうって......領主様が出て行ったんだ。もう出番無いだろ」
そうだそうだ、と確認しあったフォカロル兵たちは、とりあえずは状況を伝えよう、とイメラリアがいる場所を目指して後退していった。
「やべっ。なんだあれ」
不死兵のために前線が混乱していく様を見つめながら、撤退のタイミングを計っていたタンニーン。
彼は馬上から見える光景に、焦っていた。
クゼムの執務室で見た覚えのある男が、細い剣を振り回し、不死兵とホーラント兵を分け隔てなく切り刻んでいるのだ。
今は最前線の出来事だが、ここまで到達するのは時間の問題だろう。
よく見れば、三人の女性が、彼をサポートするように周囲の兵士たちを攻撃している。
「あいつ、あんな強かったのか......」
「タンニーン様! 不死兵が倒されていきます!」
どういたしましょう、という問いかけに、タンニーンは即答しなかった。
後ろを見ると、まだ状況が伝わっていないらしく、クゼムが乗った馬車は変わらず部隊の中腹あたりにあるのがちらりと見えた。
「あと一台分の不死兵がいるだろう。前線に持って行って解き放て。俺は宰相のところへ状況を伝えに行く」
不死兵を乗せた馬車のもとへと向かう部下を見送り、タンニーンは馬の向きを変えた。
だが、その行先はクゼムの場所ではない。
「魔法が防がれ、不死兵もだめ。人数も圧倒できないなら、勝てるわけないだろ」
吐き捨てるように言うと、兵士たちの隊列から外れ、後方へ向かう振りをして逃亡していった。
不死兵の足を払い、頭を踏み潰す。
びくりと痙攣した不死兵は、二度と起き上がることは無かった。
「う、うわああ!」
混乱して一二三に斬りかかるホーラント兵もいる。
「よっ」
左手で剣を横から叩いた一二三は、剣につられて体勢を崩した兵士の肩を撫でるようにして仰向けに引き倒し、刀で喉を貫く。
「......で、木偶の坊はまだいるのか?」
じり、とすり足で迫る一二三に、ホーラント兵は怯えて竦み、不死兵だけが涎を垂らして襲いかかる。
柄頭で目の前に来た不死兵の頭を叩き潰し、勢い余って倒れかかってくる身体を前蹴りで跳ね返す。
「どうして、なぜこうなった?」
一二三は、目の前のホーラント兵たちを指差した。
「考えない戦い方なんざ、いくらやっても意味がない、とマ・カルメたちは言わなかったか? ちょいと前に潰した奴が使っていた強化兵も役に立たないのはわかっていたはずだ。なのに......」
語る一二三にも構わず襲いかかる不死兵たちだったが、蹴り飛ばされ、首を刎ねられ、次々と行動不能にされていく。
「またこんなガラクタ兵士を作りやがって。そろそろ我慢の限界だ。全部ぶち壊してやる。あの宰相は説教だな。邪魔するなら殺す。邪魔になる場所にいても殺す。選ぶ時間は俺の刀がお前らに届くまでだ」
不死兵たちは話を理解せず、一二三やオリガたちに向かっていくが、ホーラント兵たちは一人、二人と武器を捨てて逃げて行く。
中には、武器を構えているものもいたが、大半は判断がつかずに右往左往といった様子だ。
「そら! はじまりだ!」
くるりと一回転。周囲に群がる不死兵の首を残らず斬り飛ばし、一二三はクゼム側のホーラント軍に向かって猛然と駆け出した。
「まずい! あれはまずい!」
ネルガルはこの戦いが始まってから最高に焦っていた。
それはクゼム側の動きではなく、一二三の行動に対してだ。
「このままだとホーラントの兵士がごっそり減ってしまう! 急いで網を撤去! 終わり次第前進!」
ネルガルの叫びに、兵たちがフォカロル兵がばらまいた網を回収しに向かうが、何しろ広く巻かれた上に、あちこちを不死兵が切り裂き、死体が絡まっている。
「時間がない! 街道から出て大きく迂回して向かう! 街道を出られない馬車と半数の兵は残って......」
「お待ちください!」
ネルガルの元へ、サブナクが馬に乗って駆けてきた。
「騎乗のままで失礼します」
「さ、サブナクさんですか......」
「この網はぼくたちが台車で無理やり引っ張って大半を撤去します。進軍はそれからでも遅くないでしょう」
「しかし、このままではホーラントの兵が......」
「急ぎます。ですがこれは良い機会であるとお考えください」
「良い機会ですと?」
サブナクの提案に、ネルガルは鼻白んだ。
「誤解なきよう。全てはネルガル様が王座に着くための、女王陛下からのご提案です」
「イメラリア様のお考えですか。お聞かせいただきましょう」
手短にお伝えします、とサブナクは前置きして、口を開く。
「フォカロル兵からの報告で、一二三さんたちがホーラント側へ突進したことを知った陛下は、このまま崩れていくホーラント兵のところへ突入します。オーソングランデ軍もそれに続き、一二三さんが切り開いた場所から敵軍中央を突破するのです」
「と、突破? 無理やり中央を通り抜けるのですか!」
驚くネルガルに、サブナクは頷く。
「そうです。彼らとぶつからなければならないのは、彼らがぼくたちの“前”にいるからであって、“後ろ”にいるのであれば、無視して首都を目指すことができます。双方に余計な犠牲を出すこともありません」
「しかし、無理やり突破すると言っても、無理があるのではないですか」
「今だからできるのです」
ネルガルの不安をサブナクは切って捨てた。
「敵は味方を巻き込む行動に出ました。すでに一般の兵たちの士気は最低です。おまけに指揮系統も一二三さんのせいで混乱していくでしょう。誰だって、指示がなければ命がけで大軍の前に立ちたいとは思いません」
ただ、とサブナクは真剣な表情から一転して柔和な笑みを浮かべた。
「ネルガル様には、呼びかけをしていただきますけれど。“ホーラントの王が通るのだ。道を開けろ”ってね」
一二三の背中がどんどん小さくなるのを見て、ネルガルは了承の意を伝えた。
「で、結局一二三さんは何をそんなに怒ってるの?」
脇差で不死兵の首を飛ばしながら、アリッサはヴィーネに近づいて尋ねた。
「え? 私もよくわかりませんけれど、この変な兵隊を見てから急に不機嫌になられて......えいっ!」
水の塊がホーラント兵の顔に当たり、鼻や口から水をまき散らして転げまわっている。
「あ~......なんとなくわかった。それより、魔法が使えるんだ! すごいね!」
「いえ、あの、水魔法しか使えないんで......」
恐縮するヴィーネに迫る不死兵を、アリッサは乱暴に蹴とばした。
「僕は全然適正が無くて、なんにも使えなかったんだよね」
残念、残念、と言いながら、転がった不死兵の目に脇差を差し込み、脳を壊す。
「それだけ強ければ、あんまり関係ないような気がします......」
残酷ともいえることを平然とやっているアリッサに、ヴィーネは自分の腕前に早速自信を失っていた。
「強い、かな? お手本があんな感じだからね」
アリッサの視線は、踊るように身体を滑らせながら、不死兵を両断する一二三の姿を見ていた。
「あの長い刀が、いまいち使いこなせなかったんだよねー。手の長さが足りなくて」
「ご主人様もお強いですが、奥様も......」
ヴィーネが見ている先には、一二三からやや距離をとり、鉄扇をひらひらと揺らしながら立っているオリガがいた。
一二三のやり方を見て、とりあえず首を落とせば良いと判断したらしく、近い者は鉄扇で、一二三やアリッサからも離れている者は、風魔法で次々に首を刎ねていく。
そこに迷いや戸惑いは無い。
不死兵もホーラント兵も、まとめて区別なく首を落としていた。
「オリガさんは、ものすごくキツイ訓練するんだよね。お仕事もあるけど、毎日やってるみたい」
「そうなんですか......」
ヴィーネは魔法も直接攻撃もこなすオリガを見て、すごいとは思ったが、それ以上に怖いと思った。
「奥様って......」
「それ以上は言わない方がいいと思うよ」
「はい。ありがとうございます」
何かを言いかけたところで、オリガがこちらをちらりと見たような気がして、ヴィーネは口を噤んだ。
Chapter 149: Getting Away With Murder
Horant's soldiers on Kuzemu's side could be seen gradually caving in at the front, but since they started to escape towards the side of Nelgal who was right in front of their eyes, it turned into a melee that swallowed up both sides.
As the immortal soldiers began to attack without making any distinction whether enemy or ally, Horant's soldiers corresponded with swords and spears as well as spells such as fireballs at times, however the immortal soldiers wouldn't stop moving even if their bodies were covered by flames, not to say anything about them being cut by edged weapons. On the contrary there are even immortal soldier who are clinging to soldiers while being aflame.
"Stop! Release me! Please let go!"
"Aaaah..."
There is a group barging into the mix of screams and angry roars.
"Nets! Restrain them with the nets we brought for the big guys!" (Alyssa)
Fokalore's soldiers led by Alyssa have forcibly come through in front of Nelgal's subordinates, who are in chaos due to the attacks of the immortal soldiers, with a platform wagon.
While involving many of the soldiers of Horant, Fokalore's soldiers cast one net after the other while crushing the immortal soldiers.
"Alyssa-san!" (Nelgal)
"Spears!" (Alyssa)
Due to the voice of Nelgal who finally came back to the front line, Alyssa yells shortly.
Understanding with that single word, Nelgal faced the soldiers in the vicinity and hurled instructions at them.
"Simultaneously attack the enemy soldiers with the spear throwers! Those who have free hands, throw the spears!" (Nelgal)
A rain of spears was released at the immortal soldiers, who are struggling while being entangled by the nets, from the side.
"H-Help!"
There were also some soldiers from Horant who were caught in the nets together with the immortal soldiers while struggling with one another, but the spears, which poured down despite the madness, mercilessly pierced them as well.
"Even if it's only this one case, I will be burdened with a considerable sin." (Nelgal)
The soldiers who should be my subordinates once I become king.
Nelgal muttered with a strained expression while watching them die with agonizing cries as they were mingled together with the immortal soldiers.
"However, with this..."
"Everyone, get away! Retreat! Retreat!"
Several of Fokalore's soldiers spearheaded by Alyssa, who came out on the front left side of Nelgal's group, return while shouting for retreat.
Due to their expressions, which can't hide their impatience, Nelgal observed the front very carefully and especially looked at the dead soldiers of Horant who were pierced by spears. However, the immortal soldiers had begun to slip out by crawling after cutting the nets with their weapons.
Even though they are in a state similar to a hedgehog after being struck by spears, they indifferently tear up the nets, which are hindering them, with serious looks.
"What to say... we will retreat. While the spear throwers are turned towards the front, everyone, retreat until I give you a sign! Don't be careless and don't let the ranks fall apart!" (Nelgal)
Nelgal shifts his attention to the opposite side of the immortal soldiers who are trying to slip out from below the nets.
At that place were the figures of soldiers from Horant who had been killed one after the other by the immortal soldiers unable to cope with them just like his side.
"What is the commander over there doing!? If it goes on as is..." (Nelgal)
Currently they might be enemies, but Nelgal, who had the intention to ask for their cooperation through persuasion, cursed his own powerlessness as he had to retreat while grinding his teeth due to the figures of this country's soldiers having been overrun.
"If I had strength like Hifumi-san..." (Nelgal)
I wonder how many people pondered about the same thing in this world?
, the bodies of the immortal soldiers, which slipped off, fell below the platform wagon and were smashed by the wheels.
"Director! At this rate..."
"At least get some distance! Let's leave the rest to Horant!" (Alyssa)
I think it's inexcusable as we are abandoning them, but I don't want this to become a scene of throwing away the lives of my subordinates either.
It would be a different story if the true identity of the opponents was clear and if they knew about countermeasures as with the giant soldiers, but as she sees those immortal soldiers for the first time, choosing a melee with an opponent, that is really hard to deal with, Alyssa isn't the type to like such recklessness.
"However, if we just escape, that's no good either, right...? What shall we do...?" (Alyssa)
Although she has been telling herself to stay calm, the audible screams and the tumult of her own army's side, which started hostilities once again, increases her panic.
However, at the moment when Alyssa was doing her best to gather herself, her boss wasn't calm at all.
"Don't fuck around with me!" (Hifumi)
"... Eh?" (Alyssa)
The one who jumped over Alyssa and planted his feet on the platform wagon was no one else but Hifumi himself.
While skilfully running through the nets which are still on the ground, he hit the head of the immortal soldier, who was the closest, with a sideways sweep.
In addition, he bisected one more immortal soldier into left and right parts and even stabbed his katana into a groaning soldier of Horant who had fallen nearby.
"Hi-Hifumi-san?" (Alyssa)
"Alyssa." (Origa)
Alyssa, who blinked her eyes due to Hifumi's sudden appearance, got surprised with her shoulders jumping up after being called by Origa from behind,
"I just greeted you. Excuse me." (Origa)
"E-Excuse me. Ah, it's the rabbit person. Hello." (Alyssa)
"Eh? H-Hello." (Viine)
Having somehow kept up with Origa, Viine replied while being bewildered by being greeted friendlily by Alyssa.
"Alyssa, from here on out Hifumi-sama will start the extermination. Given that I will deal with those being left over, take care to not be a hindrance." (Origa)
"I will head out as well!"
Even Viine, who put her breathing in order somehow, grasps the short wand, which was visible at her waist, and announces her participation.
Origa looks into Viine's eyes and gives her consent by nodding.
"Ah, then I will join, too. The rest of you obey Princess-sama suitably. Best regards." (Alyssa)
Chasing after Origa and Viine who were pursuing Hifumi who jumped off the platform wagon, Alyssa, who gave her subordinates a far too irresponsible order, also got off the platform wagon with her wakizashi in her hand.
"... What shall we do?"
"What, you ask... Lord-sama made his appearance. We likely won't get a turn anymore."
The soldiers of Fokalore, who affirmed that with a "Right, that's right," retreated to the location of Imeraria for the time being to report the news to her.
"Oh shit! What's that?" (Tannin)
While observing the chaotic state of the front line due to the immortal soldiers, Tannin measured the time for a retreat.
He was flustered due to the scene visible from atop his horse.
The man, he recalls having seen in Kuzemu's office, is brandishing a thin sword while chopping up immortal soldiers and Horant soldiers without any distinction.
Currently it's an event taking place at the front line, but it's probably a matter of time for him to reach this place.
Once he looks properly, three women are attacking the surrounding soldiers in order to support him.
"That guy, was this strong...?" (Tannin)
"Tannin-sama! The immortal soldiers will be defeated!"
Tanning couldn't immediately reply to the question "What shall we do?"
When he looked back, he could fleetingly see that Kuzemu was still around the centre of the forces without moving the carriage he boarded.
"There's one more unit of immortal soldiers, right? Transport them to the front line and release them there. I will go to the prime minister's location to inform him." (Tannin)
Seeing off his subordinate who headed to the place of the carriage with the immortal soldiers on it, Tannin changed the direction of his horse.
However, his destination isn't Kuzemu's location.
"Our magic was blocked and the immortal soldiers are useless as well. If we can't overwhelm them with numbers either, there's no possibility of us winning, I guess." (Tannin)
Once he said that as if spitting out the words, he left the ranks of the soldiers and escaped by pretending to head to the rear.
Cutting off an immortal soldier's feet, he crushes its head underfoot.
The immortal soldier, that spasmed with a twitch, got never up again.
"U-Uwaaah!"
There's also a soldier from Horant who slashes at Hifumi while being confused.
"Yo!" (Hifumi)
Hifumi, who hit the sword to the side with his left hand, pats the shoulder of the soldier, whose stance was thrown off balance after being pulled by the sword, pulls him down face-up and pierces his throat with the katana.
"... So, are there still any blockheads?" (Hifumi)
Due to Hifumi approaching by inching forward, the soldiers from Horant are frozen in fear and only the immortal soldiers attack while drooling.
Smashing the head of an immortal soldier, who came in front of his eyes, with the pommel, he repels its body, which has fallen over thanks to it having too much momentum, with a front-kick.
"Why? Why did it turn out like this?" (Hifumi)
Hifumi pointed at Horant's soldiers in front of him.
"Something like fighting without thinking is meaningless no matter how many times you do it. Ma Carme's group told you that, didn't they? You should have known that even the reinforced soldiers, the guy I crushed easily before used, were useless as well. And yet..." (Hifumi)
The immortal soldiers were attacking the talking Hifumi without caring about it, but being sent flying by kicks and having their heads cut off, they become unable to move one after the other.
"Once again you have created such garbage soldiers. Slowly I'm reaching the limit of my patience. I will destroy all of you. I have preached it to that prime minister. I will kill him if he becomes a nuisance. Even if he stays in a place where he is a hindrance, I will kill him. My katana will reach you guys at the chosen time." (Hifumi)
The immortal soldiers don't understand his talk. They are heading towards Hifumi and Origa's group, but one, two soldiers of Horant throw away their weapons and run away.
Among them there were also some who prepared their weapons, but the majority was in a confused state unable to make a decision.
"Look! It's the beginning!"
He makes one full rotation. Slicing and sending the heads of the immortal soldiers, which are swarming the vicinity, flying without missing a single one of them, Hifumi started to fiercely run towards Horant's army on Kuzemu's side.
"Bad! That's bad!" (Nelgal)
Nelgal was in the highest panic since this battle started.
It wasn't in regards to the movements of Kuzemu's side but towards Hifumi's conduct.
"As it is now Horant's soldiers will end up diminishing completely! Hurry and remove the nets! As soon as that's finished, advance!" (Nelgal)
Upon Nelgal's yell, the soldiers head out to collect the nets which were scattered by Fokalore's soldiers, but on top of them having been spread out widely, they are entangled by corpses of immortal soldiers, which are torn to pieces, all over the place.
"There's no time! Take a large detour by leaving the highway! Half of the soldiers and the carriages, which can't leave the highway, are to stay behind..." (Nelgal)
"Please wait!" (Sabnak)
Sabnak came galloping on a horse towards Nelgal's location.magic
"Excuse me for staying mounted on my horse." (Sabnak)
"S-Sabnak-san...?" (Nelgal)
"We will remove the majority of the nets by pulling them with our platform wagon. Even if you advance after that, it won't be too late, I think." (Sabnak)
"However, if it goes on like this, Horant's troops will..." (Nelgal)
"We will hurry. But, please consider this as being a good opportunity." (Sabnak)
"Good opportunity, you say?" (Nelgal)
Nelgal was disappointed due to Sabnak's suggestion.
"Don't misunderstand. All of it is a proposal by Her Majesty the Queen for the sake of you, Nelgal-sama, sitting on the throne." (Sabnak)
"It's Imeraria-sama's idea? Let me hear it." (Nelgal)
"I shall tell you briefly", Sabnak opens his mouth with that preface.
"Due to the report by Fokalore's soldiers, Her Majesty, who was aware of Hifumi-san's group charging at Horant's side, will rush to the location of the soldiers of Horant who will be thrown into disarray at this rate. Following her, Orsongrande's army will also penetrate the centre of the enemy army through the spot opened up by Hifumi-san." (Sabnak)
"P-Penetrate? She will forcibly pass through the middle?" (Nelgal)
Sabnak nods at the surprised Nelgal.
"That's right. It won't do unless we fight against them as they are in "front" of us. If they are in our "back," we will be able to head for the capital while ignoring them. That will also avoid producing unnecessary victims on both sides." (Sabnak)
"However, even if you say that you will forcefully break through, that's unreasonable, isn't it?" (Nelgal)
"It's possible because it's now." (Sabnak)
Sabnak cut through and dumped Nelgal's worries.
"The enemy started an operation involving their own forces. The morale of the common soldiers is already at the lowest level. To make matters worse, even the chain of command has been thrown into disorder thanks to Hifumi-san. I don't think that they want to stand in front of a large army while risking their lives if there isn't anyone giving instructions." (Sabnak)
"However", Sabnak completely switched from a serious expression to revealing a gentle smile.
"Nelgal-sama, you have to call out to them though. "The king of Horant is passing through. Open a path." is what you have to say." (Sabnak)
Watching Hifumi's back getting rapidly smaller, Nelgal conveyed his acceptance.
"So, why is Hifumi-san actually this angry?" (Alyssa)
While sending an immortal soldier's head flying with her wakizashi, Alyssa got close to Viine and asked.
"Eh? I don't understand it well either, but after seeing these weird soldiers, he became sullen all of a sudden... Ei!" (Viine)
Hitting the face of a soldier of Horant with a lump of water, the soldier rolls around while scattering water from his nose and mouth.
"Ah~... somehow I get it. Rather than that, you can use magic! That's amazing!" (Alyssa)
"No, umm, I can't use anything but water magic, so..." (Viine)
Alyssa violently kicked an immortal soldier who approached the ashamed Viine.
"As I have no suitability at all, I wouldn't be able to use any magic." (Alyssa)
While saying "how regrettable, how regrettable", she thrusts her wakizashi into an eye of the immortal soldier which fell over and destroys its brain.
"If you are this powerful, I feel like that's not overly relevant..." (Viine)
Due to Alyssa doing things that might be also called cruel, Viine immediately lost confidence in her own skills.
"Powerful, it is? That's because my role model gives such impression." (Alyssa)
While making her body shift as if dancing, Alyssa's gaze rested on the figure of Hifumi who is bisecting an immortal soldier.
"I'm still unable to quite master that long katana, you know. The length of my arms is insufficient." (Alyssa)
"Master is strong as well, but even his wife..." (Viine)
Ahead of where Viine is looking was Origa standing and swinging her iron-ribbed fan after having taken a bit of distance from Hifumi.
Watching Hifumi's manner of doing, she apparently judged that it's fine to sever the heads for the time being. She beheads the close-by soldiers with her iron-ribbed fan and those, who are too far even from Hifumi and Alyssa, with wind magic.
There's no hesitation or confusion ((in her actions)).
She removed the heads of immortal soldiers and soldiers of Horant altogether without any differentiation.
"Origa-san has practised very intensely. She has her work as well, but it looks like she has been at it every day." (Alyssa)
"Really...?" (Viine)
Watching Origa who is capable of attacking directly and with magic, she considered her amazing, but above that she thought of her as frightening.
"The madam..." (Viine)
"I think it's best if you don't say any more." (Alyssa)
"Yes, thank you very much." (Viine)
Feeling as if Origa sent a fleeting glance her way at the moment she was about to say something, Viine held her tongue.
Summoned Slaughterer
呼び出された殺戮者
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/summoned-slaughterer/
Action Adventure Fantasy Martial Arts Mature Psychological Romance Shounen
Adapted to Manga Aristocracy Arrogant Characters Average-looking Protagonist Beastkin Beautiful Female Lead Betrayal Calm Protagonist Clever Protagonist Cunning Protagonist Dark Demi-Humans Demons Determined Protagonist Different Social Status Dwarfs Elemental Magic Elves Enemies Become Allies Enemies Become Lovers Evil Protagonist Fantasy Creatures Fantasy World Fearless Protagonist God-human Relationship Gods Kingdom Building Kingdoms Knights Love Interest Falls in Love First Magic Beasts Magical Space Male Protagonist Marriage Monsters Nobles Obsessive Love Overpowered Protagonist Politics Power Struggle Protagonist Strong from the Start R-15 Royalty Ruthless Protagonist Samurai Schemes And Conspiracies S*aves Strong Love Interests Strong to Stronger Summoning Magic Sword And Magic Sword Wielder Transported to Another World Underestimated Protagonist Unique Weapon User Unique Weapons Wars Yandere
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n4399ci/
井戸正善／ido