I will inform Vivar and Mei about transferring to the capital city. Mei seems to have understood everything and, with just a few words, she sent me off, saying, “Please return safely.”
Upon arriving near the Western Gate, it was already in the midst of combat preparations. Kunogen’s subordinates were swiftly and accurately completing their preparations. While observing that, I climbed up onto the gate.
There, Kunogen and Luala were present.
“Enemy attack?” I asked.
“Yes. Ferris-sama went for reconnaissance. Look, over there. Can you see that dark mass? That’s the enemy,” Kunogen explained with a nonchalant tone.
“They’re still far away,” I remarked while checking the map. It showed a section of the western part of the capital turning red. It seemed safe to identify them as enemies. It appears there are about 3,000 of them.
“Master!” I noticed Ferris had returned.
“I believe there are around 3,000 to 5,000 enemies. Their equipment varies, with some wearing armor and others not. However, all of them are on horseback. I also saw some spellcasters,” Ferris reported.
“You’ve done well. Kunogen, do you know the approximate distance?”
“Probably about 30 minutes if they charge at full speed on horseback,” Kunogen replied.
“Do you think they’ll attack?”
“They will.”
“They’re quite foolish… Ah, it seems the army is starting to move.”
“They have arrived. Everyone, assume combat positions!” Kunogen gave the command, and the soldiers swiftly moved to their respective positions.
“…Looks like they’re advancing while testing the waters. They won’t charge until the last moment. Hey, all of you! The enemy will arrive in about an hour. Make sure to relieve yourselves before that!” I joked, eliciting laughter from the soldiers. They seemed to lack any sense of tension or desperation. It was reassuring.
“Are those the lords of the Juka Kingdom?” I asked.
“Most likely. They must have organized a coalition army after hearing that we completely annihilated Lamaron’s forces,” came the reply.
“So that’s why their equipment varies,” I said.
“They must have hastily gathered their troops,” they explained.
“However, it’s going to be a bit troublesome to deal with a 3,000-strong army in broad daylight,” I commented.
“Well, even though some parts are crumbling, I don’t think the walls of this capital will be easily destroyed. Plus, we have Lord Linos’ barrier,” he reassured me.
“If we can drag them into a prolonged battle, we can certainly win,” I concluded.
“That’s right. Our troops are equipped with armor taken from Lamaron’s soldiers, so they are quite resistant to magic. There doesn’t seem to be any element of defeat,” they assured.
“However, I’d rather avoid a prolonged battle,” I stated.
“Why is that?”
“I want to defeat them in a single strike. That way, they won’t dare to pick a fight with us again,” I explained.
“A strong deterrent.”
“Well, that’s the plan,” I said.
“Then shall we wait for the night?”
“Yes… Let’s give it a try as a last resort. Kunogen, I’m going to leave this place for a while. I’ll come back as soon as possible. Ferris, if anything happens, send me a ‘thought transmission’,” I instructed.
“Understood,” Ferris acknowledged.
Saying that, I cast the teleportation barrier and left the area.
The place I teleported to was the Imperial Palace in the capital city. I immediately informed the guards that I had an urgent report for His Majesty. The guards understood the situation and quickly allowed me entry. I was led to a conference room next to His Majesty’s private quarters. The attendants informed me that they had been instructed to bring me to His Majesty’s presence immediately upon my arrival.
As I entered the room, His Majesty and Layfence were already seated.
“Oh, Lord Linos, we were just discussing the situation in the Juka Kingdom with His Majesty. Truly remarkable, I must say,” Layfence greeted.
“No, it is thanks to Kunogen and the others,” I humbly replied.
“Always so modest,” His Majesty remarked.
“Now, Lord Linos, what is this urgent report you mentioned?” His Majesty inquired.
“Your Majesty, the capital city is under attack by enemies,” I began.
“Enemies?” His Majesty questioned.
“Most likely, upon hearing about the fall of the capital city, the nobles of Juka organized a coalition army. Their numbers are estimated to be around 3,000. It is a bit overwhelming for my force of 300. They have already approached very close to the capital city. If possible, I would like to request reinforcements,” I explained.
“Lord Linos, when did this happen?” Layfence calmly asked.
“Today, about 15 minutes ago,” I replied.
“Today? 15 minutes ago??” Layfence furrowed his brows and gave me a stern look.
“Layfence, let me tell you something. This is to be kept confidential. Lord Linos possesses the skill of Transcendence Barrier.”
“Transcendence Barrier? That’s… um…”
“That’s right. Thanks to it, Lord Linos can instantly teleport from Juka to the Empire.”
“That… well… must require a considerable amount of MP.”
Layfence blurted out something nonsensical in surprise.
“I see… another civil war in Juka, huh?”
The king crossed their arms and began to ponder.
“Hmm, I’ve already dispatched the defense forces of the capital. Now, which unit should we pull out…”
“Your Majesty, if I may humbly request to take on that task?”
“You? How about the defense of the northern region?”
“Even without me, my subordinates can handle it as they wish.”
“It’s not advisable to send you alone.”
“Then I shall bring my personal knight order.”
“…About a hundred members, huh… Linos, is that number sufficient?”
It’s absolutely no problem but I thought I’d make it sound a bit difficult, so I hesitated for a moment and replied, “We’ll manage somehow.”
“I see. There’s a restorative MP potion stored in the treasure vault. Take it with you.”
“Thank you.”
“Layfence, you are a pillar of the Empire. I will not allow you to die under any circumstances. Retreat if it becomes dangerous. And keep Linos’ Transcendence Barrier a secret. Only those capable of safeguarding it may accompany you. This is an imperial decree.”
“I understand.”
With deep respect, we bowed and took our leave from the monarch.
“Now, let’s make preparations! Lord Linos, please wait for me in front of the castle gate!”
With a joyful expression, Layfence dashed off. I temporarily left and returned to the mansion, instructing Fairy, who was taking care of it, to inform everyone about the capital once they returned. With Ilymo accompanying me, I teleported back to the castle gate.
About 30 minutes later, Layfence and his companions appeared in front of the castle gate, armed and fully prepared for battle, wearing armor, helmets, and swords.
“Apologies for the wait. Now, Lord Linos, shall we go?”
The seasoned general is full of enthusiasm, and the knight order standing behind him are wearing wry smiles. I cast the Transcendence Barrier in the plaza in front of the castle gate. Since there are about a hundred people, we needed a considerably large barrier, but somehow I managed to fit everyone inside.
“Well then, let’s go.”
As I activated the barrier, the scenery changed in an instant. It seems like everyone is slightly bewildered.
“W-Where is this? A forest?”
“Yes. We’re in the forest called the Luna Forest, located in the northern part of the Kingdom of Juka.”
“The Luna Forest…”
“The exit is over there. Once we leave the forest, we’ll see the northern gate of the Juka capital. Let’s head there first.”
As we exited the forest, the soldiers’ cheers could be heard. It seems that the battle has already begun.
“Hmm? The battle has started? Where is it?”
“The gate you see there is the northern gate of the capital. The enemy is probably attacking the western gate. If you look left at that northern gate and proceed along the city walls, you’ll likely encounter the enemy.”
“I see. Everyone, keep going!”
Layfence and the others dashed forward at a swift pace.
Ilymo and I teleported to the western gate. As we climbed up to the top of the gate, Kunnogen stood poised, while Ferris and Luala launched magical attacks.
“…Are they focusing all their forces on the western gate?”
“It appears so. Ferris-sama and Lady Luala are leading the magical attacks, but it seems the enemy also has barrier users, and some of the attacks are being blocked.”
“Some of them?”
“Yes.”
“What about the magical attacks…?”
“Some of them are getting through to an extent. Well, for now, the enemy’s spellcasters seem to be casting healing spells, but they will run out sooner or later.”
Looking closer, the enemy is launching arrows and magic attacks, but they are being blocked by my barrier. So they have adopted a strategy of charging straight towards the gate. Our soldiers on the city walls are unleashing magical attacks like a crossfire, and Ferris and Luala are launching frontal assaults.
“Surprisingly, those guys are tough, aren’t they?”
“Yes, it seems some of them have undergone significant training. By the way, what happened to the reinforcements?”
“Oh, General Layfence and his merry band came to our aid.”
“Ah, the general himself. That must be something to see.”
Kunogen seemed delighted. After a while, a small legion from the enemy’s rear approached us at an astonishing speed.
“Lord Linos! It’s the general! It’s the Layfence unit!”
In an instant, the Layfence unit closed in on the enemy’s rear and charged. Caught off guard by the sudden attack from behind, the enemy fell into chaos. One after another, Layfence’ troops mowed down the enemy. Above all, Layfence himself stood at the forefront, cutting down enemies left and right.
“That old general is incredible.”
“In his younger days, he was known as the ‘demon.'”
The well-trained and highly skilled troops under Layfence’ command swiftly maneuvered, outmaneuvering the enemy. Moreover, Layfence’ swordsmanship was extraordinarily fast. Intimidated by his prowess, the enemy retreated, only to be assaulted by Layfence and his merry band. When the enemy’s forces were completely divided, I ordered everyone to launch a full-scale attack.
“Open the castle gates! Charge out!”
Kunogen also joined the battle, and even Ferris leaped into the midst of the enemy.
“Ah, Ferris-sama, be careful!”
“Luala, you’re supporting Ferris. Use magic to attack the enemies who get close to her. Don’t hit Ferris!”
“Understood!”
Surrounded by a mere 400 soldiers, the 3,000 soldiers had no means of resistance and were mercilessly trampled upon. Some were cut down, while others desperately tried to carve out an escape route.
Approximately 30 minutes later, all the fighting was over. We let a considerable number of soldiers escape this time. Everyone returned to their respective territories to spread word of our “strength.”
The soldiers returned to the western gate one by one. As soon as Layfence’ unit, which had captured the enemy’s general alive, passed through the gate, the western gate of the capital city closed once again.
“Ah, it’s been a while since I stood on the frontlines. My skills haven’t gotten rusty yet.”
Layfence’ face, filled with a wide smile, emerged from within his helmet.
“I thought our forces were a bit lacking, but your decision to charge out from the castle at that moment was an excellent command. Thanks to that, the entire enemy was thrown into disarray.”
“General, you truly live up to your reputation.”
“Oh, Kunogen. You also seem to be in good health, which is great.”
Once again, we managed to seal off the enemy without losing a single person. Since many were injured, I cast healing magic on them.
“Ah, I love battles.”
Layfence displayed a healthy smile. Seeing his expression, I couldn’t help but think that this nice guy of a veteran general might be quite the battle enthusiast. I smiled wryly at the thought.
I will inform Vivar and Mei about transferring to the capital city. Mei seems to have understood everything and, with just a few words, she sent me off, saying, “Please return safely.”
Upon arriving near the Western Gate, it was already in the midst of combat preparations. Kunogen’s subordinates were swiftly and accurately completing their preparations. While observing that, I climbed up onto the gate.
There, Kunogen and Luala were present.
“Enemy attack?” I asked.
“Yes. Ferris-sama went for reconnaissance. Look, over there. Can you see that dark mass? That’s the enemy,” Kunogen explained with a nonchalant tone.
“They’re still far away,” I remarked while checking the map. It showed a section of the western part of the capital turning red. It seemed safe to identify them as enemies. It appears there are about 3,000 of them.
“Master!” I noticed Ferris had returned.
“I believe there are around 3,000 to 5,000 enemies. Their equipment varies, with some wearing armor and others not. However, all of them are on horseback. I also saw some spellcasters,” Ferris reported.
“You’ve done well. Kunogen, do you know the approximate distance?”
“Probably about 30 minutes if they charge at full speed on horseback,” Kunogen replied.
“Do you think they’ll attack?”
“They will.”
“They’re quite foolish… Ah, it seems the army is starting to move.”
“They have arrived. Everyone, assume combat positions!” Kunogen gave the command, and the soldiers swiftly moved to their respective positions.
“…Looks like they’re advancing while testing the waters. They won’t charge until the last moment. Hey, all of you! The enemy will arrive in about an hour. Make sure to relieve yourselves before that!” I joked, eliciting laughter from the soldiers. They seemed to lack any sense of tension or desperation. It was reassuring.
“Are those the lords of the Juka Kingdom?” I asked.
“Most likely. They must have organized a coalition army after hearing that we completely annihilated Lamaron’s forces,” came the reply.
“So that’s why their equipment varies,” I said.
“They must have hastily gathered their troops,” they explained.
“However, it’s going to be a bit troublesome to deal with a 3,000-strong army in broad daylight,” I commented.
“Well, even though some parts are crumbling, I don’t think the walls of this capital will be easily destroyed. Plus, we have Lord Linos’ barrier,” he reassured me.
“If we can drag them into a prolonged battle, we can certainly win,” I concluded.
“That’s right. Our troops are equipped with armor taken from Lamaron’s soldiers, so they are quite resistant to magic. There doesn’t seem to be any element of defeat,” they assured.
“However, I’d rather avoid a prolonged battle,” I stated.
“Why is that?”
“I want to defeat them in a single strike. That way, they won’t dare to pick a fight with us again,” I explained.
“A strong deterrent.”
“Well, that’s the plan,” I said.
“Then shall we wait for the night?”
“Yes… Let’s give it a try as a last resort. Kunogen, I’m going to leave this place for a while. I’ll come back as soon as possible. Ferris, if anything happens, send me a ‘thought transmission’,” I instructed.
“Understood,” Ferris acknowledged.
Saying that, I cast the teleportation barrier and left the area.
The place I teleported to was the Imperial Palace in the capital city. I immediately informed the guards that I had an urgent report for His Majesty. The guards understood the situation and quickly allowed me entry. I was led to a conference room next to His Majesty’s private quarters. The attendants informed me that they had been instructed to bring me to His Majesty’s presence immediately upon my arrival.
As I entered the room, His Majesty and Layfence were already seated.
“Oh, Lord Linos, we were just discussing the situation in the Juka Kingdom with His Majesty. Truly remarkable, I must say,” Layfence greeted.
“No, it is thanks to Kunogen and the others,” I humbly replied.
“Always so modest,” His Majesty remarked.
“Now, Lord Linos, what is this urgent report you mentioned?” His Majesty inquired.
“Your Majesty, the capital city is under attack by enemies,” I began.
“Enemies?” His Majesty questioned.
“Most likely, upon hearing about the fall of the capital city, the nobles of Juka organized a coalition army. Their numbers are estimated to be around 3,000. It is a bit overwhelming for my force of 300. They have already approached very close to the capital city. If possible, I would like to request reinforcements,” I explained.
“Lord Linos, when did this happen?” Layfence calmly asked.
“Today, about 15 minutes ago,” I replied.
“Today? 15 minutes ago??” Layfence furrowed his brows and gave me a stern look.
“Layfence, let me tell you something. This is to be kept confidential. Lord Linos possesses the skill of Transcendence Barrier.”
“Transcendence Barrier? That’s… um…”
“That’s right. Thanks to it, Lord Linos can instantly teleport from Juka to the Empire.”
“That… well… must require a considerable amount of MP.”
Layfence blurted out something nonsensical in surprise.
“I see… another civil war in Juka, huh?”
The king crossed their arms and began to ponder.
“Hmm, I’ve already dispatched the defense forces of the capital. Now, which unit should we pull out…”
“Your Majesty, if I may humbly request to take on that task?”
“You? How about the defense of the northern region?”
“Even without me, my subordinates can handle it as they wish.”
“It’s not advisable to send you alone.”
“Then I shall bring my personal knight order.”
“…About a hundred members, huh… Linos, is that number sufficient?”
It’s absolutely no problem but I thought I’d make it sound a bit difficult, so I hesitated for a moment and replied, “We’ll manage somehow.”
“I see. There’s a restorative MP potion stored in the treasure vault. Take it with you.”
“Thank you.”
“Layfence, you are a pillar of the Empire. I will not allow you to die under any circumstances. Retreat if it becomes dangerous. And keep Linos’ Transcendence Barrier a secret. Only those capable of safeguarding it may accompany you. This is an imperial decree.”
“I understand.”
With deep respect, we bowed and took our leave from the monarch.
“Now, let’s make preparations! Lord Linos, please wait for me in front of the castle gate!”
With a joyful expression, Layfence dashed off. I temporarily left and returned to the mansion, instructing Fairy, who was taking care of it, to inform everyone about the capital once they returned. With Ilymo accompanying me, I teleported back to the castle gate.
About 30 minutes later, Layfence and his companions appeared in front of the castle gate, armed and fully prepared for battle, wearing armor, helmets, and swords.
“Apologies for the wait. Now, Lord Linos, shall we go?”
The seasoned general is full of enthusiasm, and the knight order standing behind him are wearing wry smiles. I cast the Transcendence Barrier in the plaza in front of the castle gate. Since there are about a hundred people, we needed a considerably large barrier, but somehow I managed to fit everyone inside.
“Well then, let’s go.”
As I activated the barrier, the scenery changed in an instant. It seems like everyone is slightly bewildered.
“W-Where is this? A forest?”
“Yes. We’re in the forest called the Luna Forest, located in the northern part of the Kingdom of Juka.”
“The Luna Forest…”
“The exit is over there. Once we leave the forest, we’ll see the northern gate of the Juka capital. Let’s head there first.”
As we exited the forest, the soldiers’ cheers could be heard. It seems that the battle has already begun.
“Hmm? The battle has started? Where is it?”
“The gate you see there is the northern gate of the capital. The enemy is probably attacking the western gate. If you look left at that northern gate and proceed along the city walls, you’ll likely encounter the enemy.”
“I see. Everyone, keep going!”
Layfence and the others dashed forward at a swift pace.
Ilymo and I teleported to the western gate. As we climbed up to the top of the gate, Kunnogen stood poised, while Ferris and Luala launched magical attacks.
“…Are they focusing all their forces on the western gate?”
“It appears so. Ferris-sama and Lady Luala are leading the magical attacks, but it seems the enemy also has barrier users, and some of the attacks are being blocked.”
“Some of them?”
“Yes.”
“What about the magical attacks…?”
“Some of them are getting through to an extent. Well, for now, the enemy’s spellcasters seem to be casting healing spells, but they will run out sooner or later.”
Looking closer, the enemy is launching arrows and magic attacks, but they are being blocked by my barrier. So they have adopted a strategy of charging straight towards the gate. Our soldiers on the city walls are unleashing magical attacks like a crossfire, and Ferris and Luala are launching frontal assaults.
“Surprisingly, those guys are tough, aren’t they?”
“Yes, it seems some of them have undergone significant training. By the way, what happened to the reinforcements?”
“Oh, General Layfence and his merry band came to our aid.”
“Ah, the general himself. That must be something to see.”
Kunogen seemed delighted. After a while, a small legion from the enemy’s rear approached us at an astonishing speed.
“Lord Linos! It’s the general! It’s the Layfence unit!”
In an instant, the Layfence unit closed in on the enemy’s rear and charged. Caught off guard by the sudden attack from behind, the enemy fell into chaos. One after another, Layfence’ troops mowed down the enemy. Above all, Layfence himself stood at the forefront, cutting down enemies left and right.
“That old general is incredible.”
“In his younger days, he was known as the ‘demon.'”
The well-trained and highly skilled troops under Layfence’ command swiftly maneuvered, outmaneuvering the enemy. Moreover, Layfence’ swordsmanship was extraordinarily fast. Intimidated by his prowess, the enemy retreated, only to be assaulted by Layfence and his merry band. When the enemy’s forces were completely divided, I ordered everyone to launch a full-scale attack.
“Open the castle gates! Charge out!”
Kunogen also joined the battle, and even Ferris leaped into the midst of the enemy.
“Ah, Ferris-sama, be careful!”
“Luala, you’re supporting Ferris. Use magic to attack the enemies who get close to her. Don’t hit Ferris!”
“Understood!”
Surrounded by a mere 400 soldiers, the 3,000 soldiers had no means of resistance and were mercilessly trampled upon. Some were cut down, while others desperately tried to carve out an escape route.
Approximately 30 minutes later, all the fighting was over. We let a considerable number of soldiers escape this time. Everyone returned to their respective territories to spread word of our “strength.”
The soldiers returned to the western gate one by one. As soon as Layfence’ unit, which had captured the enemy’s general alive, passed through the gate, the western gate of the capital city closed once again.
“Ah, it’s been a while since I stood on the frontlines. My skills haven’t gotten rusty yet.”
Layfence’ face, filled with a wide smile, emerged from within his helmet.
“I thought our forces were a bit lacking, but your decision to charge out from the castle at that moment was an excellent command. Thanks to that, the entire enemy was thrown into disarray.”
“General, you truly live up to your reputation.”
“Oh, Kunogen. You also seem to be in good health, which is great.”
Once again, we managed to seal off the enemy without losing a single person. Since many were injured, I cast healing magic on them.
“Ah, I love battles.”
Layfence displayed a healthy smile. Seeing his expression, I couldn’t help but think that this nice guy of a veteran general might be quite the battle enthusiast. I smiled wryly at the thought.
