A Maiden’s Unwanted Heroic Epic

Chapter 195: New Moon’s Crescent Moon

***Arc 8 One Who Spread Death, Chapter 195 New Moon’s Crescent Moon***

A/N:

1 shaku = approx. 30 cm → 8 shaku = approx. 2.4 m

1 jou = 10 shaku = approx. 3m

1 ken = 6 shaku = approx. 1.8 m

If it had been before she joined the Black Hundred, she likely would have been killed or seriously injured by that blow.

The same was true even when she was in the army as a mere foot soldier.

Of course, Kalua was able to avoid it because of her natural talent, but it was also because of the vast experience she accumulated gained from the Black Century, that repeatedly fought on the front lines――and because she was able to repeatedly see many warriors who could be called monsters up close.

The presence of Gururun――a Suiko that was kept as a pet by her beloved superior, was also significant.

A black shadow appeared a slight distance away.

She correctly understood that for the beast, they were already within reach.

"Mia, jump and give instructions!"

"Ah——uh, yeah."

Not only did she avoid it herself, she even had the lee-way in her heart to pull back her close friend's hand, who was stiffening.

The worst case when Suiko appeared——the death of the field commander on the scene was able to be avoided because of her ability to make instantaneous judgments.

After she caught Mia flying into the tree at the edge of her vision, she had completely switched.

"Special task squad, I'll be the decoy, you guys take the sides and behind! Rather than taking it down, aim to inflict injuries, this giant body won't sink easily."

As she listened to Mia give the order from the tree tops to bring the archers and spear throwers, she stifled the confusion and fear that threatened to burst his heart.

The green tiger turned its trajectory toward us with unbelievable agility.

Kahlua rolled to avoid it, but the eight shaku two jou monster easily broke the huge tree behind her.

Although it was a quadruped, its shoulders were at least two shaku above the top of Kalua's head.

Even Kalua might lose her will to fight if that gigantic body turns hostile to her in the dark of night.

The only thing that kept her calm was remembering the queer name of Gururun.

She had seen that Suiko rolling around showing its belly to Krische many times.

Kahlua knew that this was not a monster, but simply a beast.

It was just that its intelligence and fighting ability exceeded that of a beast.

——Could she fight it by herself?

The answer was no. A beast that even Kolkis and Bagil declared to be dangerous.

She didn’t think that she, who was inferior to them, could overwhelm it.

Kalua knew her own weakness and helplessness better than anyone else.

She got up from his tumble and swung her curved sword, which looked like an ax, and hit the Suiko’s left hind leg.

Kalua’s attack——an attack from a rare magic possessor.

However, the attack that hit Suiko's thigh was not a slash but a blow.

The green fur that covered the Suiko’s body was like a fiber made of metal.

The inner muscles were more like those of an old tree than flesh.

It was resilient enough to receive and absorb the force of Kalua's blow.

She recalled what Krische said after the viewing party.

‘If you use a bigger tool, you might be able to cut it in two, but the hair and muscles are quite strong, so it will only damage the blade. As Ojii-sama said, the easiest way would be to use something like.’

The Suiko raised its voice.

Just because it's not fatal didn’t mean it didn’t cause damage.

If it was Krische, she would have been able to sever it with the same weapon, but Kalua understood that her own strength was only that much.

Making angry and turning hostile towards herself.

That was the extent of the blade that Kalua has forged in her life so far——there was no point in lamenting it here and now.

‘Their fur is strong against slashes, but not so strong against point attacks like spears. If the arrow is close enough, it will pierce into the flesh. Similarly with throwing spears, if you use a sword in a stabbing manner, even an old man like me would be able to kill it. The important thing is whether you can deal with it correctly.’

Kalua's sword, if wielded properly, could cut the enemy in half along with their armor.

However, she was not sure if she could do that against this opponent.

If only someone created a clear opening——but in this situation, it would take a while for Dagra, Aleha, and Waltza to come.

Even if they could hold themselves by going defensive, Kalua was the only one who could take on the Suiko.

Two members of the special task force also attacked.

One person slashes, the other pierces.

One of the long swords dug into the waist, but the violent Suiko swung its whole body around, causing the sword to break, sending one of them tumbling..

"If you stab me, jump immediately! For now, prioritize slowing down!"

"——Kalua!

Pierced on the ground beside her was Mia's straight sword.

"If you break it, I won’t forgive you okay!"

"Fufu, I'm sure the sword is also happier wielded by me, ops."

She dodged the Suiko’s blow as it tried to hit her right arm, and grabbed the straight sword with her body on the verge of falling.

Mia must have immediately determined that Kalua's sword was not effective.

Her swordsmanship is poor and she's devastatingly clumsy.

But at least Mia was a commander worthy of entrusting her life to, even if you remove any bias.

She had a wide field of vision and was quick witted, grasping the surrounding situation even in a melee battle and issuing appropriate instructions.

"Leave the front to Kahlua and keep your distance! When it attacks Kalua, stab your weapon and cover her! Koza!"

Koza, who was supposed to be taking a rest in the center where Dagra and the others were, was already here.

"Yeah, spread out! Archers aim from atop the trees, javelins spread out and wait until instructed to do so. At the signal, shoot all at once!"

Before Mia could call for reinforcements, Dagra must have noticed the chaos in front of them and sent them there.

There was Koza, the archer commander, and about ten archers.

Then five javelin throwers.

Considering the situation――he probably judged that it wasn't an enemy attack, but that the opponent was a demonic beast.

The reason why a small number of troops were sent in advance was to prevent confusion and also to take into account the possibility of an enemy attack.

While maintaining stability, she immediately sent in the necessary reinforcements――in this darkness, Dagra was able to take the optimal measures based on the little information he had.

From being a foot soldier to fighting under the command of Eluga Faren, his experience in the mountains and forests was unparalleled.

The reason why Koza, the archer commander with a wide field of vision, was sent was probably in case Mia and Kahlua were injured or killed.

There was even a certain coldness to it.

"I'll create an opening!"

After confirming Koza's arrival, Kalua shouted while dodging the Suiko’s onslaught.

Confusion and tension――if they could manage that, it wasn't a completely insurmountable enemy.

“Usa-chan, you won’t use Gururun?”

“Krische is going to ride the Griffin so, and Gururun'll be hose sitting. It's dangerous if it’s in the grassland, and it will be pitiful if Gururun gets hurt."

“Hmm, it feels like a waste…”

“It's fast, but it's heavy and large, so it's turning speed isn't as fast as a magic possessor, so it's not safe unless it’s in a situation where it can make a repeated surprise attacks. Krische thinks, it’s simply a matter of angular velocity that makes it difficult to deal with in the forest’

Suiko was highly intelligent and knew how to utilize its athletic ability.

It took no risks and relentlessly targeted their back.

The attack from earlier――If it was prepared to also strike down and attack with its whole body, there was no way Kalua could dodge it.

However, the Suiko didn't do that and instead slipped past her, trying to finish off Kahlua with its arm.

It was because it understands that even if it couldn’t finish her off, if it passed right next to her, its huge body would disappear from Kalua's sight.

In doing so, it disappears from the opponent's field of vision and reliably takes down the opponent from his blind spot――Suiko was a hunter.

‘Even if you move I ken to the side at a distance, it makes only a trivial difference to your opponent. But if you move for half a ken at close range, you can completely remove yourself from the opponent's field of vision. Big meow meow like Gururun is very smart and understands this. They step in from a distance, and when they get close, they slip to the side and aim at the opponent――ehehe, well, it's pretty much the same as Krische. It's very effective.’

Krische seemed to have a grasp of her opponent's vision.

After she kills one, she lowered her posture, slipped past her opponent, and put herself in their blind spot.

To the person standing next to her, it would appear as if she had suddenly vanished from sight.

If she had unlimited endurance, she could kill even 10,000 soldiers.

Unilaterally, safely.

Without even having a single blade swung against herself.

Krische Christand's very existence was a kind of art, a form of perfection.

Suiko used the space of the forest and its low visibility to get close to its opponent.

It knew that in a close-range battle, it could use its speed to swing around and overwhelm the opponent.

However, although it was strong, if one looked at the turning speed alone, they had the advantage.

The opponent was simply using its acceleration to swing them around and move to disappear into their blind spot, and if they observed it calmly, unlike Krische, it was by no means an elusive opponent.

The limitation of mobility from its huge body and weight――that was the Suiko weak point.

Although several arrows pierced its body shallowly, they were not fatal wounds.

Frustrated, it kicked the tree the archer was on, breaking it and back to Kalua.

Kahlua uses her right hand――a curved sword that resembles an axe, and steps forward with the tip of it aimed at Midoriya.

――The Suiko wouldn’t come.

She was sure.

The Suiko didn't attack her and just jumped over her head.

The place it was heading towards was the huge tree behind Kalua.

Break and jumped from it and finished Kalua from behind.

However, Kalua didn't look back and moved forward as if losing her balance.

"K-Kalua"

Kalua put her right foot on the ground while listening to Mia's screams.

As if using all her strength, she twisted her body and swung the great curved sword behind her.

The Suiko broke off the huge tree and approached her without ever touching the ground――she threw it right at the Suiko’s head.

"――――!?"

The Suiko screamed and lost its balance and rolled, and Kalua jumped.

"Do it!!"

With Koza's signal, five spears were thrown at once.

A spear thrown by a magic possessor――its power was not comparable to arrows.

Three spears stuck into its giant body and it screamed again.

――and.

"It's over...!"

Kalua jumped again and hit the writhing Suiko from above.

She thrust the straight sword with her weight into its throat.

In the next moment, she immediately left the Suiko’s side and held her great curved sword in her hand, even though he was out of breath.

The Suiko was still rampaging, and she looked at it nervously.

Countless arrows, a sword, three spears on its body, and a sword straight to its throat.

A body that didn’t die even in that state――that was what was called a demon beast.

"...Throwing spear"

Koza signaled and used the spear again.

Four more speat pierced it, and its body finally stopped moving and convulsed.

When Kalua saw this, she suddenly felt relaxed and slumped, and Mia immediately rushed over and hugged her.

*creak* *creak* Kalua's leather armor makes a creak sound.

"Are you okay? Kalua, any injury――"

"Y-you... Mia's stupid strength is going to hurt me."

"Eh, ah...sorry."

Mia panicked and let go of her hand, and Kalua smiled bitterly as she calmed down her heavy breathing.

"...I just felt exhausted and tired. I seriously thought I was going to die."

"That was close, but as expected of Kalua. It's amazing...I honestly respect it."

Koza pated Kahlua on the shoulder and looked around.

"Rest for a while. ...we made a noise, I'll be on patrol here."

"Yeah, I’ll do so...I’m at my limit."

Kalua drank from her water bottle and sighed.

Mia felt relieved as she patted Kalua's head and turned her gaze to the back.

The person who appeared was Dagra.

"...As expected. Any wounded?"

"One archer...well, he just fell off a tree."

One person was thrown off the tree and his arm was injured――no casualty.

Even though the Black Flag Special Force was made up of magic possessors only, their opponent was Suiko.

Dagra, who had imagined the damage would be a considerable amount of damage, also felt a smile of relief.

"Kalua acted as a decoy, so it was kept to a minimum."

"...It seems so."

Dagra nodded at Mia's words.

"It's a blessing in disguise... from the bottom of my heart, I'm glad you're here."

"...As for me I would have liked to go to the end of the line with Adjutant Aleha. Thanks to this, I almost died."

"Hahaha, but it’s a great feat of valor. ... It's my pride to have a subordinate like you. If only you refrain from making light comments, then I would have nothing to complain about."

While saying that, Dagra moved around.

It seems likely that some of the enemies on patrol noticed this.

Should they move far away from here, or――

"This is a troubling point. It would be better to move quickly as a surprise attack."

"...That's right. It's probably quite far away, but it's too much to think that no one has noticed."

Option to conduct a surprise attack before the sentry noticed and reported it.

The Black Flag Special Force was powerful, but in the end it's a surprise attack by a small group of soldiers.

If they attack in a situation where the enemy already noticed and lined up, the damage would be great.

Normally, deciding to withdraw at this point would have been a viable option.

However, what would Krische, as the commander, think――that was the problem.

"Hmm... Since it's about Usa-chan, I think she'll come soon if we wait a little while. The enemy is the enemy's main base, and it's too risky to move without Usa-chan, getting prepared and ready to move as soon as Usa-chan comes is the best――"

While they were talking, a Suiko suddenly appeared again, rushing through the bushes to her right.

Mia was about to scream, but when saw the girl on top of it, she hurriedly covered her mouth.

"Really, do you guys realize that this is a surprise attack? You're making so much noise behind the enemy's rear."

"...Krische-sama"

Krische looked at the Suiko’s corpse, jumped off, and clapped Gururun on the shoulder, telling her not to eat too much.

Gururun growled happily and thrust her fangs into the dead Suiko’s stomach.

"I tried really hard, you know..."

"Krische think Krische already told Kalua to kill it quickly if found but"

"...Usa-chan is the only person in the world who can defeat a Suiko so easily."

Kalua looked exasperated.

"Bald Eagle, what's the situation?"

"There was only one person with extremely minor injuries, but thanks to Kalua's efforts, there was no problem with the operation."

"Hmm, it’s a passing score."

Krische nodded, and pat Gururun's back as it devoured the internal organs with the back of her gauntlet, and looked in the direction of the enemy's main camp.

"Krische killed two of the noisy sentries on the way, but it seems like there are others that we have noticed as well. It would be best to act quickly."

"Ha. Then continue as is?"

"That's right. Bald Eagle and the others will continue as planned...Vinthril."

Vinthril appeared from her left and looked at the Suiko’s corpse, looking at Kahlua with admiration as he approached Krische.

"Kurofuyo and Krische will head to the main camp from here. Vinthril's group will ride with Mia and the others and make a big fuss at the planned location. In this case, it would be better to split."

"Ha."

"After the drop, Krische and the others will leave the forest from here, so please provide support from the air. Please come down at the appropriate time and help hunt down the remnants."

Vinthril nodded and turned to Kalua.

"To be able to kill a Suiko in the forest without suffering any causality is something to be proud of as a warrior. I hope you can rest on Griffin's back for a while."

"Um, yes...then I’ll take you up on it..."

Great honor, repeated compliments.

Kalua wasn't particularly happy to hear that.

"...Ha, I'm tired."

"Hehe, good work."

Mia looked happy and patted her head, as if she was the one being complimented.

Kalua looked at Mia and let out a sigh.

A life-threatening battle――the period where she enjoyed it must have passed before she knew it.

Kalua's body was filled with relief and fatigue.

All she could say was that ‘I don’t want to do that again’.

――Shelna, who was in the center of the camp, didn't hear the sounds from several ri away.

The main camp was filled with the sounds of the battle with the east――Keithriton army.

"Gather the reserves in the rear. Be prepared for a surprise attack."

"Yes ma’am!"

At least she didn't catch it consciously, it was unconscious.

Intuitively, Shelna Veeze understood that something was approaching, and moved her troops.

Even dealing with the Keithriton army coming from the front was not easy.

It was an unthinkable night attack under the circumstances. She couldn’t help but feel that their response was one step behind.

However, even so, she still developed countermeasures in response to the sense of danger to their flanks.

The army was deployed in the northern and southern parts of the country.

The enemy had taken the trouble to jump into the center of the area.

The other side was not an ordinary general who did not understand the folly of jumping into encirclement.

If that were the case, they would have already won.

Felworth Keithriton was a general worthy of his reputation.

That's why he made this daring night attack――there had to be something going on.

The intuition, like a premonition of the future, the correct answer unconsciously derived from multiple situations and assumptions.

She accepted the possibility of a surprise attack from a position that should have been impossible as a fact even before she received the information.

"――――"

Countless messengers, she thought while listening to their reports.

She instantly came up with countermeasures for all of them and issued her instructions, but when she heard one of them, her eyebrows furrowed.

"――A Suiko?"

"Ha. probably――and the voices of the enemy troops who seemed to be engaged. Considering the danger, I prioritized reporting over reconnaissance."

A detour with a small force or an ambush?

Whether it's possible or not, it was quite possible.

Did he hide it somewhere, or did she let it go unnoticed?

However, it would probably be less than 500 at most.

In this situation――there were limits.

――However was that really all there was to it?

Shelna narrowed her eyes.

It was definitely an elite. A surprise attack on the headquarters, if successful, would have some effect.

Even if they couldn’t defeat Shelna, they could definitely disrupt the command.

The enemy would then succeed in making a frontal breakthrough――there was a good chance of that happening.

The opponent had enough power to aim for a head-on breakthrough against them.

This night's attack.

Without a doubt, it is safe to assume that the enemy understood the discord between the three armies.

They were taking this kind of action based on the belief that they would be able to win if they were facing this single central opponent――but there was something bothering her.

If they were to linger even a little, they would face the dreaded siege.

Felworth Keithriton was the only defense on the west side of Alberan.

The situation on the other side was not a situation in which he could make such a gamble.

Even if they were able to destroy this center and kill Shelna, they would only gain an advantage.

It was not a victory in this war.

On the other hand, if they won, they would be able to conquer Alberan.

The stakes were unbalanced.

――If he had a surefire way to win, then.

"Um... Shelna-sama?"

"Shut up for a bit."

Such a thing didn’t exist.

It was impossible considering the enemy's strength.

It would be one thing if some miraculous coincidence happened, but there was no point in making a bet with such a slim chance of winning. You can't compete in such a big gamble with something like that.

――They had hidden military power that Shelna didn’t know about.

She was convinced of it. Shelna Veeze didn't doubt her abilities.

She didn’t think that the other person would be able to do what Shelna couldn't do, or imagine.

The enemy tried to lure them.

In order to shorten the line of defense――That logic was good.

However, the real purpose was different.

What the enemy was hiding was at least the size of one corps or army.

They must be strong enough to destroy those who were confident of victory, with a single move.

A gradual retreat was to focus attention on them and secretly bring their military power over there――if she thought about it that way, it makes sense.

Arna in the north was not moving. This didn’t need to be considered.

Then, a detour from the east――this was also difficult to imagine.

If they advance through the Sea of Trees to the west of Alberan and the plains to the south, as expected Meeklea would notice.

――Then, the south.

"...Gulshan had already been defeated."

The enemy quickly defeated Gulshan in the southern part of Alberan, and then moved towards them from the southwest.

An army-sized force was moving north from the unguarded southwest, aiming for the rear of Meeklea.

And what was approaching this main camp was not an ambush from the Keithriton army, but a diversionary attack by that mysterious army.

If so, it made sense,

"Shelna-sama! It has been reported that Meeklea was attacked from the rear――"

"……Understood"

And the report confirmed that speculation.

"Probably the enemy who defeated Gulshan is coming from the south."

Gulshan's commander was Orugan, a famous general who had tormented Elderant for many years.

He must be leading the best force possible.

Did Alberan have the military power to easily defeat it? No, they were in the situation where they were being attacked by three countries.

On that battlefield, just like here, Alberan's troops would be at a disadvantage.

The opponent was a general who could easily defeat Orugan in that situation.

They were no ordinary opponent.

At least as far as she knew, she didn't know of any existence of such a general in Alberan.

――Except for the name Alberinea.

The reason for the early start of the war was the ancient dragon's visit to the royal capital.

She was the same girl who made a pact with an ancient dragon even though she was a human.

It was a dangerous situation to begin with, and she didn’t know why or for what reason they did that.

No matter what it was, at least she should believe all the rumors she heard about her now.

It was a little strange from the beginning.

Prime Minister Chlorus didn't like her and cursed Queen Alberan in a negative way, but――Alberan's national power had declined after the civil war, and even if the Queen didn't play any bad hand, it was a situation where three countries could become enemies any time.

In that case, it would be best to pretend to be a young queen in order to at least postpone any hostility, and proceed with the situation calmly.

Although she didn't really think about it, thinking it was because of her pride as the queen of a great power――if Alberan had intended to win the invasion of the three countries from the beginning.

If the Queen knew that Alberinea was a monster that could even be compared to an Ancient Dragon, her attitude would be understandable.

All about this situation.

Empty villages, gradual retreat, lure.

This situation must have been expected from the beginning.

A strategic surprise attack on this battlefield by the army that defeated Gulshan――that must have been part of the plan from the beginning.

That was why Felworth Keithriton carried out this daring night attack.

"Assuming it’s the size of one army. Meeklea would already be destroyed, so we won't send reinforcements there. The main camp will move north while maintaining the front line, and send a message to the vanguard and Arkaz."

"...Shelna, that's"

An old man with a long beard, wearing a long robe and a large wide-brimmed hat.

Holding a staff with a magic crystal in his hand, Zigret, the head priest of Veeze, furrowed his brow.

Shelna bit her lip for a moment, lowered her eyes, and told him.

"It's all a trap. ... It's our loss, Zigret-sama. If we don't join up with Arkaz immediately, withdraw the army, and regroup, it will be a tough retreat."

Both Zigret and the men around her expressed confusion at her words.

There was no way he could understand how she came to such a conclusion.

She makes inference after inference, and it could be said that it was her delusion.

In the first place, this was a battle in which they didn’t expect to lose at all.

"Sherna-sama, what’s wrong all of a sudden――"

"Shut up, Kahlan.…Shelna, are you convinced of something?"

"Yes. It's impossible for the center army to do it alone. We should join up with Arkaz and establish a relationship of full cooperation, even temporarily. I will take responsibility."

Shelna looked straight at Zigret with her indigo eyes.

Zigret looked at it and nodded.

He had known her since her childhood.

She was a rare genius and possessed intelligence incomparable to ordinary people.

Her indigo eyes were Veeze's greatest treasure.

He didn't understand why she came to that conclusion, but at least so far, she hadn't made any mistake.

Occasionally, she had a divine intuition that could be called a revelation.

"I agree as the head priest. Please follow Shelna's instructions and I will take all responsibility."

"…Yes sir!"

"Thank you, Zigret-sama――"

However, it could be said that even the conclusion that could be called madness or revelation was a little late.

Shelna saw to the west――a shadow rising from the forest behind them.

"…Griffin Cavalry?"

What she saw was thirty griffins.

――A black flag moon was floating in the night sky that was supposed to be without a moon.