Volume 6, Chapter 38 – The Defense of Airoll (3)

About four hours have passed since the battle began, and we are currently in the middle of lunchtime.

Thanks to the moat, the monsters haven’t been able to scale the castle walls. The only way they can get in is through the gate with the drawbridge, letting us fight effectively despite being outnumbered.

Actually, it’d be more accurate to say we’re using the terrain to fight with the advantage.

Arrows and magic rain down from atop the walls, stones are hurled, and the knights cut down the monsters in front of the drawbridge.

The knights are rotating through three platoons every hour—one fighting outside, one attacking with bows and thrown stones from above the gate, and one resting—and so far, there hasn’t been a single casualty.

“We’re holding the line quite well so far.”

“Indeed. However, we don’t know what will happen if Ogres or Treants appear. We mustn’t let our guard down.”

“I’m hungry~”

“That is because Lumia-dono has kept Mashiro-dono summoned this entire time.”

For the most part, there hasn’t been much for us to do; Mashiro-chan has basically just been massacring them from atop the wall.

I’ve done little more than annoy them with my Defense Wall or save a knight who was about to be cut down.

At this rate, we might not even need the potions.

Lunch isn’t anything special—just ordinary stew and ordinary bread.

There’s nothing particularly noteworthy about it.

You can tell because Lu-chan is eating with a completely expressionless face.

Just as I was about to finish quickly and head back, a voice echoed from outside.

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“A flock of Blood Crows! Ready your arrows!”

Hmm? I’ve never heard of that monster before.

“Chris-san, what is a Blood Crow?”

“Yes. A Blood Crow is a giant crow monster. They are characterized by bodies as red as blood. This is bad. Since they’re birds, the castle walls are meaningless.”

“Lu-chan, let’s go!”

“Yes!”

Though she answered energetically, Lu-chan looked a bit tired.

She immediately gulped down the MP Potion I handed her, which was proof enough.

“Thank you, Onee-sama! I can keep going now!”

When we arrive at the top of the gate, I see them—sure enough, a massive flock of giant red crows flying straight toward us.

“Saint-sama! It’s dangerous here! Please retreat inside the building immediately!”

One of the knights warns us.

“It’s alright. Besides, I’ll draw them toward me.”

I produce light with Purification Magic and use the hand mirror I got from Char to flash the light intermittently toward the Blood Crows.

“Fiene-sama? What on earth are you…?”

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“I thought I’d invite those red crows over here.”

“???”

I mean, don’t they say crows like shiny things? ¹ The belief that crows love shiny things is mostly a myth. While they are highly curious and may briefly inspect or play with reflective items, studies show adult wild crows are actually more interested in food and are often nervous around bright, flashing objects.

Hopefully that’ll catch their interest and bring them over here.

The moment I think that, the flock of Blood Crows heads straight for me in a direct line.

“Ah, I knew crows liked shiny—wait, huh?”

Is it my imagination, or do they look kind of angry?

“Ah, you’ve provoked them after all. Blood Crows are very short-tempered monsters; if something happens, they immediately attack in a swarm like that.”

“Ah, but that’s actually convenient. I’ll keep drawing them in.”

I provoke them again with the hand mirror. The Blood Crows come flying straight at me.

“Leave it to us. We won’t let them touch Fiene-sama.”

“I shall cut them all down!”

“I’m here too!”

Chris-san, Shizuku-san, and Lu-chan take up positions to my left, right, and behind me.

The distance closes: 30 meters, 20 meters… they’re getting closer and closer.

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The Blood Crows are about a meter long.

“S-Saint-sama!”

“I’ll draw them in! Please attack the enemies below!”

The knights hesitate for a moment, but once I give the short command, they resume their assault on the monsters below.

10 meters, 5 meters. The massive bodies, the swarm, are right there.

“Still drawing them in.”

4 meters, 3 meters.

“Onee-sama!”

“Not yet.”

2 meters.

“Fiene-sama!”

“Not yet!”

1 meter.

“Fiene-dono!”

“Now!”

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I create a massive Defense Wall.

Gagagagagagaga!

The Blood Crows, unable to stop in time, slam into my Defense Wall one after another.

The collisions continue for a while, and the Blood Crows at the back of the flock, who avoided the crash, begin to veer away.

“Lu-chan!”

“Yes!”

Lu-chan leaps out from behind me to secure a line of sight, and together with Mashiro-chan, she uses her bow and arrows to shoot down the fleeing Blood Crows one by one.

Ah, about time, right?

I deactivate the wall and immediately create a new Defense Wall between myself and Lu-chan.

Clonk

The very next instant, an arrow flew straight at my face as if it had been perfectly aimed, only to be stopped by the Defense Wall.

“Ehehe.”

“Lu-chan, it’s okay.”

“Yes!”

While we exchanged those words, Lu-chan shot down every fleeing Blood Crow, while Chris-san and Shizuku-san cleaned up all the ones that had crashed into my Defense Wall.