Reader-san is so strict.
I’m just state the obvious to spite thing up and that not really a SPOILER.
I said “Mile won’t do anything like solo 40 bandits”
to make you curious and ask in comment like “So, what will Mile do ? please tell us” or something like that.
=> So I can tease you with “Who know, all I can say is. Mile is Hilarious unlike any girl you see before and Pauline is Ruthless”
It’s not like you don’t know Mile is Hilarious, Pauline is Ruthless, Rena and Maevis is so-so.
Anyway, sorry for the complain.
Please enjoy the chapter. Don’t worry because what I said in the last chapter spoiler nothing. You will never expect this.
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.”
“So, what is the probability of it being that 「worst situation」?” (Brett)
“Well, about 80%” (Bart)
“…” (Everyone)
And Bart confirmed his intention to the merchants who still hadn’t said anything until now.
“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)
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.
What do you think about killing 3 or 4 people per person.” (Bart)
“That’s it.” (Bart)
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.
Mile was amazed at the nerves of Bart and merchant. And …
“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)
“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.
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.
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.
After that, we only awaited the enemy’s movement.
And about an hour later.
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)
“… 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)
The commander was surprised and began to shake as Bart shouted loudly.
“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)
To Bart’s question, Mile could only show dry laughter.
That also means that even if we surrender, they kill us all. Everyone, are you ready?“ (Bart)
“Alright, noncombatants, get on the second carriage as planned. Escorts, move to your position!” (Bart)
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.
“Make all of these bandits lose consciousness until dawn” (Mile)
“Well, please wait here!” (Mile)
“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.
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.
The flaming explosive bullet that Jeanne cast towards the enemy leader disappeared before reaching him.
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?
“The number of people means nothing” (Rena)
“… Fire Bomb!” (Rena)
“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.
“What?” (Rena)
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.
It went through the armor from the neck and flowed into the inside of his armor and clothing,
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.
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.
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.
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』.
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.
Three members of『Flame Wolf』are shocking looking at Mile who is still away from their enemies.
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.
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.
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)
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.
And three people to enter the next chant instantly.
Hi ~yun (SFX)
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～！)
What Mile use is wind magic and all the arrows shot by the enemy fell to the ground.
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.
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)
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)
“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.
Therefore, I must think a good way to lower the fighting power of the enemies.
Ah, that’s right!” (Mile’s thought)
“The soles of our enemies’ shoes will be diagonally scraped, and pebbles will be inserted inside!”
[Next]1st place belong to reader Susu. Even he use “like” not comment.