Chapter 106: The Army of Destruction
“Then I will go fight the Silver Dragon too!”
It was a little while after the battle with the monsters began over the walls. Ryune suddenly said such a thing.
“With the Silver Dragon?”
“Yes! Because I made a pact with the Silver Dragon and became a Dragon Knight!”
“Eh? When did that happen?”
The only point of contact between Ryune and the Silver Dragon was when we went to Dragon Peak together for training. After that, we were together until we returned to this town, and once we returned, everyone rested soundly, and when we woke up the next day, it was this situation. When on earth did she make a pact with the Silver Dragon?
“Eh? That was, of course, after I fought the Silver Dragon.”
After fighting the Silver Dragon? But yesterday, she didn’t perform any special ritual or anything, right?
“Lord Dragon Emperor… no, Master Rex rode the Golden Dragon to this town, so you must have already made a pact, right? Because a dragon won’t let someone they haven’t made a pact with ride on their back.”
Hmm? At that time, the Golden Dragon I knocked down voluntarily lay down and let us ride.
“Umm, how did Ryune make a pact with the Silver Dragon?”
“Eh? Why ask such a thing…? No, since it’s Master Rex asking, surely there is a deep intention. Umm, well, we Dragon Knights make a pact by defeating a dragon through battle without taking its life, then shaving its horn and grooming its body. For a dragon, only family is allowed to groom their horns and scales. In other words, being groomed by a human means the dragon acknowledges us as their kin. After that, if we focus our thoughts on the horn shaved from the dragon, we become able to call the dragon.”
Heh, so that was it. No, I knew dragons only let family groom their scales, but I didn’t know being groomed by a human had that meaning.
“Ah, come to think of it, when I first met the Golden Dragon the other day, its horns and scales were so messy and dazzling that I knocked it down and groomed it to suppress the light intensity. I see, so that became a Dragon Knight pact.”
“…Yes?”
Ryune tilts her head, not understanding what I’m saying.
“It seems I made a Dragon Knight pact without knowing it.”
“…Eh?”
“…Or rather, so that’s how you make a Dragon Knight pact.”
“…Umm, don’t tell me, Master Rex, you really, didn’t know, the Dragon Knight pact method? You are, the Dragon Emperor… right?”
Ryune asks me with a pale face, cutting her words into single units.
“No, I learned it for the first time today. And I’m not the Dragon Emperor. I’m really a complete stranger who just happened to learn the Dragon Emperor Style Aerial Spear Arts.”
Even so, to think the Dragon Knight pact method was such a simple thing. A question from my previous life has been resolved! Yeah, reincarnation isn’t bad!
“Ry…”
Ry? What is it?
“I blabbed the secret of the Dragon Kniiiiiights!!”
“Ah, that happens sometimes.”
It’s okay, there were quite a few people like that in my previous life and the one before that too.
“Wh-Wh-Wh-What should I dooooo! Father will scold meeee!”
And so, for that reason, it seems I became a Dragon Knight before I knew it. Hmm, since I’m at it, maybe I’ll try calling the Golden Dragon too. Umm, if I recall, I hold the horn and focus my thoughts.
“Come! Golden Dragon!!”
“Wh-What is the meaning of this!?”
I was confused. Originally, the massive horde of monsters we commanded should have overrun the human army with overwhelming numbers. But reality was not playing out that way.
“What is it!? What is that strength of the humans!?”
Yes, the humans were strong. They blocked every attack of the monsters we unleashed with clumsy shields and armor, and pierced the monsters’ bodies with the meager swords and spears in their hands.
But the monsters weren’t just any monsters; we chose and commanded only powerful monsters exceeding at least B-rank by human standards to use as our vanguard.
Despite that, the humans were withstanding our invasion with less than 100 people. No, rather than withstanding, it even looks like they are pushing back.
The monster just cut down boasted hardness such that ordinary weapons would break against its scales, you know!? And they cut it down easily as if cutting butter!?
And the multi-headed serpent monster rampaging over there, feared by humans as an immortal monster due to its high regenerative power, was defeated without showing any sign of recovering from the wounds inflicted by the humans for some reason.
Ah, you idiots, stop! That monster is a powerful one we captured as our main force!? Ah, it died…
“What is it… what exactly is happening here…!?”
Not just the humans; the Dragon Emperor and the Dragon Knights, commanding dragons, are attacking with breath aimed at places where their allies won’t be harmed to destroy the monster encirclement, steadily thinning the thickness of the encirclement.
“Bad, this is bad! At this rate, won’t our army be annihilated by the humans!?”
My brethren is right. At this rate, destroying the human town is out of the question!?
“Do not panic!”
The one who shouted and calmed the restless scene was a member of the Clan of Wisdom, who has the role of decision-making to unify our brethren.
“There is no need to panic. Look closely at the battlefield; the difference in numbers is overwhelming. So no matter how well they fight, it stands to reason that they will eventually run out of strength and fall. Human stamina is weak beyond comparison to ours.”
“B-But they have the Dragon Emperor, right? What happens if the Golden Dragon commanded by the Dragon Emperor calls other dragons? The difference in numbers might be filled at that point.”
Indeed, my brethren’s concern is valid. Dragon breath is troublesome enough as it is. Just a moment ago, a part of the monster horde was blown away entirely by the Golden Dragon‘s breath.
“There is no need for that worry either. Dragons basically only obey the opponent who defeated them. The proof is that even though the Golden Dragon is on the battlefield, only the Silver Dragon is there as a companion. Presumably, the number of Dragon Knights commanding dragons is insufficient.”
I see, thinking about it that way, it makes sense that there are no other dragons.
“As expected of a descendant of the Clan of Wisdom…”
Long ago, we Demons suffered immense damage due to the appearance of the legendary White Calamity. We were exhausted from the war with humans, but the appearance of the White Calamity made it decisive. Many warriors lost their lives in the battle with the White Calamity, and it is said that many spellcasters who tried to research and use it incurred the White Calamity‘s wrath and were destroyed.
As a result, our Demon forces were greatly reduced, and since most of those with knowledge were lost in the battle with the White Calamity, much knowledge and technology were lost. However, not all knowledge left by our predecessors was lost.
There were those who tried to revive the technology remaining in the form of literature and magic items over a long period. That is the Clan of Wisdom. And now, we have obtained the art of commanding monsters through the knowledge revived by the Clan of Wisdom, and are attacking the human town like this.
Those of the Clan of Wisdom are not merely restorers of knowledge to us Demons. Because they possess much knowledge cultivated in the history of past battles, they can also conduct operational command considering the enemy’s ecology like this. Naturally, it can be said that it was inevitable for members of the Clan of Wisdom to become like leaders to us.
“Leave the human warriors to the monsters. More importantly, our aim in this battle has been the Dragon Emperor alone from the beginning. If we dispose of the Dragon Emperor, the humans who lost their support will be nothing but a disorderly mob.”
“Th-That’s right. Even if dragons are with them or the humans fight strangely well, we have an overwhelming number of monsters. Humans are nothing to fear!”
“Yeah, yeah!”
Receiving the words of the brethren from the Clan of Wisdom, the shaken brethren regained their fighting spirit. Good grief, my brethren are simple folk.
But with anxiety gone, we became able to watch the progress of the battle with peace of mind. Yes, the number of monsters is overwhelming. Thinking normally, there’s no way they can fight through against this many monsters.
Checking from the sky, the area around the gate was a fierce battle. The vigilante corps members who rushed out and the adventurers were engaging in a fierce melee with the monsters.
While ordering the Golden Dragon to attack the middle of the monster encirclement with breath so as not to involve allies, I picked up sounds from the ground with wind magic to check the battle situation.
“Haha! This equipment is amazing! It looks a bit bad, but it doesn’t care about monster attacks!”
“And this weapon easily pierces the iron hide of that Armor Buffalo!?”
“This! Can I… buy it! When the battle… is over!?”
“Ooh! That sounds good! Oraa!!”
Good, it was equipment made as a desperate measure, but it seems to be reasonably useful.
“Haa… haa… even so, there are many monsters. How many have we defeated?”
“At least 20. Hahaha, I’m amazing. I could become an S-rank adventurer now.”
“Naive, I’ve surpassed 30. Even so, high-level enchantment magic is amazing. Being strengthened this much, I feel like a different person.”
Yeah, I temporarily strengthened the adventurers’ bodies with Area Enchantment Magic before the battle began. This should have alleviated the numerical disadvantage to some extent.
“But why are the adventurers happy with makeshift equipment made from materials of lower-ranking dragons like Green Dragons and Blue Dragons?”
Unless they are rookie adventurers, I think adventurers could prepare better equipment.
“Ah, could it be that they sent their equipment for maintenance before the battle and didn’t have usable equipment immediately, or only had low-quality spare equipment?”
In that case, I can understand why they were happy with the makeshift equipment I prepared. Or rather, overwhelming this many monsters with such equipment, adventurers really are amazing. It must mean they excel in the art of fighting even in disadvantageous situations.
“Even so, despite defeating this many, I don’t feel like the numbers have decreased at all.”
Currently, there are about 100 people fighting outside. Including those attacking with bows and magic from the ramparts and those commanding from above, maybe about 140 people? Of course, that’s not everyone.
There are people attacking from ramparts far from the gate to reduce the number of monsters there, and there are relief personnel to deal with when everyone gets tired or unexpected trouble occurs if everyone goes out at once.
“However… fatigue is accumulating quite a bit… it’s about time to switch.”
Oops, everyone’s stamina seems close to the limit.
“I’ll heal you! Area Refresh! Area Heal!”
I lowered the Golden Dragon to above everyone, then treated the adventurers and vigilante guards with Area Stamina Recovery Magic and Area Healing Magic.
“O-Ooh!? What!? The fatigue disappeared!? Did that dragon heal us!?”
“Far from recovery, it feels like power is overflowing!? Does His Majesty the Dragon Emperor use such magic!?”
No, I’m not the Dragon Emperor.
“With this, you should be able to fight for a while longer; let’s do our best!”
“UNDERSTOOD, YOUR MAJESTY THE DRAGON EMPEROR!!”
Vigilante corps members, don’t salute on the battlefield, fight!?
Just then, attack magic and a massive amount of arrows were released from the ramparts.
“Ooh!? Support!? But didn’t they run out of arrows and magic power?”
The adventurers were surprised that friendly support had resumed.
“It seems the spare arrows are finished.”
Yeah, after making a certain number of spare weapons for everyone, I was asked to make arrows, which are consumables, too. So, since doing the assembly myself like with the shields would take time, I decided to prepare the pre-assembly materials.
I immediately went to the lumber yard, cut all the firewood and wood planned for construction materials in the shop to prepare thousands of arrow shafts, and quickly made fletching while I was at it. Then, taking the materials back to the smithy, I hurriedly made arrowheads.
Well, since there wasn’t enough iron, I reused dragon scale fragments to make arrows halfway through, but for some reason, the blacksmiths looked pale, saying it was a waste. But when I told them scales of Green Dragons or Blue Dragons are basically free, it was strange that they made such faces.
However, since I made them in a hurry, I’m dissatisfied with the slightly low quality. Well, there are many monsters, so if they can be used for containment, it’s enough. And as an emergency measure for this time only, I cast accuracy correction spells with enchantment magic, so there should be no problem with hit rate.
“Hey, hey, what is this arrow!? When it hit the monster, it pierced up to the base of the fletching!?”
“Woah!? Somehow since I started using this arrow, I’m hitting exactly where I aim with a bang!?”
“Amazing! I’m taking them down with one hit to the glabella in a row!?”
“Wait, this arrow is good! I want to buy them by the hundred! Which shop’s arrow is this!?”
“The humans aren’t running out of breath…”
“Ah, the encirclement was blown away by breath again.”
“Hey, hey, magic and bow cover resumed from the ramparts. Didn’t they run out of magic power and arrows?”
“…”
The Clan of Wisdom member is sweating strangely; is it really okay?
Until the battle started, the blacksmiths were dedicated to assembling shields made from dragon materials, but now they seem to be dedicated to assembling arrows so they don’t run out.
But the Mana Potions I provided were supposed to be distributed prioritizing the mages protecting the ramparts far from the gate; is it okay to distribute them to the gate side where combat power is substantial?
“Ohhooooo! What is this Mana Potion!? My magic power fully recovered with just one sip!?”
“Or rather, doesn’t this Mana Potion have effects other than magic recovery? I feel like the power of my magic has increased.”
“Hahahaha! The monsters are blowing away like trash!!”
“At this pace, won’t we have leftover Mana Potions? Let’s send some to the front lines.”
“Kuh, counterattacks resumed even where there is no gate? Didn’t they run out of magic power?”
As the humans’ counterattack strengthened, my brethren showed agitation again.
“Calm down. Even if they catch their breath, there is one thing they cannot help.”
However, the Clan of Wisdom member speaks calmly.
“What is that?”
“The rampart protecting the town. The humans are desperately protecting the gate, which is the entrance to the town, but if the monsters’ attacks continue, the rampart will eventually break. If that happens, monsters will flood into the town, and protecting the gate will become meaningless. And while they are flustered dealing with monsters entering from the broken wall, if another part of the rampart is destroyed, the defense will become even thinner. Yes, to protect this town, they overwhelmingly lack manpower!”
“I see, so the aim wasn’t the gate from the beginning!”
“Exactly.”
Humans have no choice but to protect the gate. But the true aim of the Clan of Wisdom member was the destruction of the rampart itself protecting the town.
There isn’t just one strategy; a wise man lays out double and triple strategies.
Truly, a terrifying man is on our side.
“…Or rather, isn’t that rampart too sturdy? Isn’t it too hard no matter what? There’s no sign of it breaking at all?”
Or rather, the monsters have given up attacking the wall and started wandering around… Some even injured their hands hitting the wall too much, and the monsters look like they’re hesitating.
“Hey, what are we going to do?”
“…”
Hey, answer me, wise man; even though you have a composed face, the sweat isn’t stopping.
“However, despite being attacked by this many monsters, the rampart shows no sign of breaking. It was surprisingly sturdy.”
“Yeah. Since it would be useless if flying dragons attacked anyway, I thought if they had time to spend money on such a place, they should use it elsewhere, but to think it would be useful in a place like this.”
The guard voices admiration that the rampart protecting the town is unexpectedly useful. Yeah, just in case, getting permission from the vigilante captain and casting defense magic on all the town’s ramparts just before the battle started might have been a little useful.
“Now then, I’ve checked the battlefield from the sky and confirmed the places where defense is thin, so let’s join the battle in earnest! Chain Wall!”
To divide the horde of monsters surrounding the town, I made multiple additional walls appear within the horde.
