Volume 6, Chapter 43 – Airoll on the Brink

◆ Chris POV ◆

We eradicated the Giant Roaches from the town, poured oil outside the city walls, and then set it on fire.

The fire caught the dry grass and spread in an instant, swallowing the Giant Roaches that had been scurrying between the walls and the moat.

Most of them fled toward the moat, and those few that had managed to climb the walls were knocked back down by the knights, sinking into the sea of fire.

“Shizuku-dono, that was an excellent plan.”

“Nay, Chris-dono’s command was equally splendid.”

We praised each other’s efforts. Personally, it was frustrating that Shizuku-dono’s skill far exceeded my own, but I knew it was possible for a human to become as strong as General Lu Fei. Just as Fiene-sama said, I simply need to train desperately to grow stronger.

“Now then, let us leave the rest to them and return to Fiene-sama.”

“Indeed.”

Leaving the west wall behind, we returned to the encampment where Fiene-sama was waiting.

When we returned to the quarters set up within the camp, we found Fiene-sama and Lumia sleeping blissfully with their faces buried in the summoned Mashiro, who had become one giant fluffy bed.

The moment Mashiro saw us, it let out a huff through its nose, as if appealing to us that it had worked hard, so I gently patted its head.

◆ The Protagonist   POV ◆

Rеαd оn ΚαtRеaⅾіnɡСаfe

Last night, after using a massive Purification Magic spell, I had run out of MP and returned to my room with Lu-chan.

I intended to lie down and rest for a bit, but I ended up falling fast asleep.

I had been worried about Chris-san and the others, so I planned to go help once my MP recovered, but I ended up sleeping right through it.

Mashiro-chan’s fluffy mana is incredible. However, thanks to that, I slept soundly until morning, and I feel in excellent condition.

“Good morning, Fiene-sama. You certainly slept well.”

“Ahaha. Thanks to you. I’m sorry about yesterday. I intended to regroup with you, but…”

“No. Giant Roaches are no problem for us. As long as we have fire, it doesn’t matter how many of them come; they are no match for us.”

I see. I had wondered why everything smelled so burnt, but it seems they burned quite a lot of things while I was asleep.

“More importantly, let’s go get breakfast!”

“That sounds good.”

At Lu-chan’s prompting, we headed to the dining hall, where Captain Lazare called us over and explained just how serious last night’s situation had been.

◇ ◇ ◇

Rеαԁ оn ΚαtRеαdіngСαfе

“Are we striking out?”

“Yes. Due to the Giant Roach intrusion last night, this town no longer has enough food remaining to withstand a siege.”

“Eh?”

“Immediately after Christina-dono and Shizuku-dono departed, fifteen Giant Roaches managed to slip into the town from the east. The knights believed they had stopped them at the walls, but it seems some slipped into the town under the cover of darkness. They completely devastated the food warehouses, shops, and restaurant supplies concentrated on the east side.”

“Ueeh…”

That’s rough. There’s no telling what kind of diseases you’d get from food contaminated by giant cockroach bodily fluids.

“The food eaten by those things has been contaminated and is utterly unusable. All of those food supplies were discarded and incinerated.”

I see. So that’s where the burning smell was coming from. Hmm.

“Captain Lazare, how long will the food last?”

At Chris-san’s question, Captain Lazare deepened the frown between his brows before answering.

“We have enough food to last about five days. If we ration, perhaps a bit longer. However, almost the entire summer harvest has been ruined. And unless we deal with the monsters surrounding the town, we can neither go into the forest to gather nor import from other cities.”

I empathized with Lazare-san as he spat out those words with a bitter expression.

Reαԁ оn ΚαtRеαⅾіnɡСаfе

“I see. We can’t let everyone starve.”

“Yes, exactly, Saint-sama.”

With a deep sigh, he seemed to make up his mind and asked for my cooperation.

“Therefore, to settle this today, we will strike out as soon as preparations are complete. Please, lend us your strength.”

“Yes. Of course.”

I nodded and spoke while looking Captain Lazare in the eye.

◇ ◇ ◇

Now, we have come to the west gate again today.

The difference from yesterday is that only two platoons remain at the west and east gates; all other available forces intended for daytime combat have been assigned to the annihilation squad. In a sense, it is a desperate gamble.

Unless we repel the Monster Stampede, we cannot bring in food from the neighboring town.

At this point, the only choice left is whether we die of hunger or die fighting.

“All personnel, deploy! The lives of the people of Airoll depend on this one battle! All personnel, steel yourselves!”

Rеаⅾ оո КαtRеаⅾіnɡСаfе

“””Ooooh!!”””

At the command of Captain Lazare, who was leading the attack force, the west gate opened and the drawbridge slowly lowered.

I cast a Barrier to keep the monsters from targeting the drawbridge and to hold back their movements.

Once the drawbridge was fully lowered, the knights charged out one after another.

The knights plunged into the swarm of monsters, where there were hardly any Higher Species, and began scattering them left and right.

“Let’s go too.”

“Yes, let’s protect the town.”

“My blade is itching for action.”

“Secure the food!”

The three of them answered me in ways that were perfectly characteristic of each of them.

And so, in order to bring an end to the Monster Stampede attacking Airoll, we stepped into the forest for the third time.