Side: Yuki
To be honest, I messed up...
What did I mess up? What do I mean?
Just look at the scene in front of me.
A mountain of corpses.
Most of them are either torn apart or missing their heads.
And the worst part... some didn't even leave bodies behind.
"Oi, Yuki."
"What?"
"Stop them."
"You want me to go die?"
"No, it's just that if you don't, there won't even be remains left for anyone else to find. Besides, you're the one who caused this!!"
"No, no, if we're talking about causes, it's the enemy's fault, right?"
While Mobu and I are having this conversation...
"Waaaaahhhhhh!!!"
"""GOAAAAAAA!!!!"""
At the sound of Aslin's crying, the monsters under her command receive a massive stat boost, devouring the enemy until not even dust remains. It's honestly terrifying.
"Don't... make fun of... Onii-sama!!!"
THWACK!!
Giving in to her rage, Filia swings her massive war hammer, crushing an enemy's head along with their helmet. It's gory.
"...Don't think you can die easily."
Swish! Slice!
Labyris handles the katana I gave her with exquisite skill, intentionally carving the enemy into pieces while making sure they don't die instantly... Are you a demon?
"I'm begging you, stop them..."
"Yeah, yeah."
Well, if I don't do something soon, they're going to eat their way through to the center of the enemy's main force.
Good grief, I really fumbled the initial response.
Thinking that, I recall how this battle actually started.
* * *
"Well, the enemy's left wing is approaching. Our center and left wing seem intent on hitting them head-on. Seriously? With this numerical disadvantage, they're choosing to grind them down from the front instead of defending? Good lord, Seraria."
I was holding my head in my hands after Seraria's transmission.
Even if our combat power was overwhelming, why go out of the way to risk a head-on clash? I mean, I know she wants to leave them with no room for excuses. But this way, our side will definitely take some damage.
Seraria's unit is one thing. They're soldiers; they won't forget coordination, so they won't overextend alone. The problem is Eris and her group—I hope none of them charge in and get surrounded... I suppose everything is a learning experience, but maybe I should have given Eris and the others more command training.
"What do you want to do? Charge in like the center and left? I don't really care either way," Mobu asks.
"No, for now, I'll try calling for their surrender."
"...Are you trying to mock them? Normally, nobody would think they'd lose with those numbers."
"Well, partly to see their reaction, but also because if we drag things out, the center and left wing will finish crushing their opponents. Once they see that, they'll understand our strength. There's no need for us to clash blindly with our whole force, especially with Aslin and Filia here."
"I see. So it's fine if they mock us."
"Exactly. Let's go—Mobu, Raiya, and I will go call for surrender. Labyris, Kurse, I'm sorry, but look after Aslin and Filia."
"Understood."
"Roger that."
So, only the three of us approach the enemy's left wing.
"I wish to speak with the commander!!" I shout.
"What is it? If it's surrender, I'll accept. Otherwise, I have nothing to say to you."
A man in unnecessarily gaudy armor appears from within the enemy ranks. He really doesn't need all those decorations.
"It's regarding surrender. On our end, we can't just surrender out of the blue. I'm sorry, but if our main force and left wing are decimated, we intend to surrender to you. Until then, can we not just maintain this standoff?"
"And what if we choose to crush you right here and now?"
"If you choose that, it can't be helped. we will simply fight back. As you can see, we have Goblins, Slimes, and Orcs—but one is a Blood Minotaur. I hope you're prepared for considerable losses."
"...I see. You're saying if I wait, I won't have to fight a Blood Minotaur."
Well, he's technically correct. But Mino-chan is only about mid-tier in this group.
Because Aslin's guard is the Slime, Slakichi-san. Filia's guard is the Goblin, Steve. Both of them have been training since then and are now Level 105.
As for Aslin and Filia themselves, thanks to everyone's overprotective leveling, they're both over Level 150.
Eris and the others average around Level 110. The subordinate monsters average about 80. The volunteers are the lowest at an average of 40. In contrast, the enemy's main force is around Level 25. The high ones are only slightly over 50. Their gear is just standard soldier equipment.
Our gear consists of fairy-enchanted equipment distributed to everyone. Narjia-san was delighted to do field tests on the alloy armor she made, saying, "This is perfect timing, please verify the performance."
I mean, she's capable of finishing a blade like the one Labyris has in just one day. Outfitting 120 people was easy for her in two weeks.
So, your idea of not taking losses isn't wrong. Your evaluation of the total combat power is just completely off.
Oh, and we made our gear look shabby so it wouldn't be obvious that it's high-end fairy work. There's no reason to go around announcing our equipment is custom-made. Narjia-san was a bit dissatisfied with this: "I understand the reason, but... it's okay if I make some highly decorated ones for ceremonies, right?" She really wanted to make grand armor. I guess that's craftsman's pride for you.
Anyway, the guy is thinking it over. Maybe one more push?
"I want an answer! Will we fight now, or continue the standoff!?"
"...Very well. I shall accept your proposal. However, it wouldn't be interesting if people thought we were doing nothing. I wish to engage in a war of words here."
"You mean to say you were 'persuading' us?"
"Exactly. That way, our contribution will be recognized. It's much more preferable for me to say I persuaded you than for the battle to be decided elsewhere while we just stared at each other."
Well, I figured. They don't think they can lose at all. It's a match of a thousand against a hundred, after all. Their total force is about five thousand. Ours is about 350. Normally, it wouldn't even be a contest. Normally.
"But it is surprising. You are Yuki?"
"I am. What of it?"
"No, it's just that despite your younger brother being a warrior so fierce he's uncontrollable, you—despite being the elder—won't even fight. To wait for the outcome and then surrender is truly pathetic. Still, in a way, I'm glad you talked your brother out of it. If you had sent that warrior to this battlefield, he might have put up a decent fight. To think you sent him as a guard for Arshtelle instead."
The guy laughs at me, as if I'd done something incredibly stupid.
"Did you think protecting Arshtelle would make negotiations go well? Too bad; that brat will be dragged down the moment the dungeon is conquered. Honestly, to cave to Seraria's threats... one could simply pin the blame on a Demon King. You did a foolish thing, connecting this dungeon to the Cathedral..."
"What do you mean by that?"
"You don't get it? Your brother really is the talented one; it seems you are a fool!! It's simple: if we attack and take the dungeon, no information leaks out!! Normally we'd have to mount an expedition, but you went and connected it for us—it was a huge help!!"
"You don't think we've already contacted Roshure?"
"Impossible!! If contact had been made, why would Seraria come out herself!? Usually, you'd send an envoy to connect the two. Furthermore, this fight with such a small number—it's a rogue action, isn't it? Knowing that battle-crazy princess, she was probably blinded by the glory of a successful mission."
Whoa, damn, that actually sounds logical. I see, that's the reasoning the opposition used to march here.
Well, we didn't make contact because of how we handled Rurua.
The small numbers were because... we decided this was enough.
I mean, we could have made it bigger. Residents have increased lately, and I'm swimming in DP. Honestly, I could summon a thousand Blood Minotaurs without a problem. If I dropped the rank, I could easily handle ten thousand Goblins or Slimes.
But that would be a waste, so I didn't. If I summoned that many, I'd have to find housing for the survivors or find them jobs in small dungeons.
"But you really are a fool, an idiot. Only hiring a few adventurers for your surroundings. Behind you, nothing but Goblins, Slimes, and a few Orcs besides the Blood Minotaur. To think you'd challenge us with such a force."
He continues to check our strength and laughs. Then, his eyes stop at a certain point.
"What's more, to bring young children to a battlefield like this. Well, they are quite adorable. I bet they'll be quite 'delicious' to consume in the future."
...Ugh, is he a lolicon?
As I'm processing that disgust, I feel a strange aura from behind and turn around...
The subordinate monsters were covered in a red aura?
"...what did you..."
"...you said..."
Wait, Aslin and Filia are saying something?
"To Onii-chan...!!"
"To Nii-sama...!!"
Me? What about me?
""DON'T YOU DARE MOCK HIMMMMMMMMM!!!""
At their scream-like cries, the monsters roar in response and charge forward.
"Wait, what!?"
"Hah!! So you were trying to catch us off guard after all!! But you're naive!! I saw right through that!! Archer squad, ready!! Shield squad, the enemy is few—hold firm!!"
""YES SIR!!""
The enemy responds firmly to the commander. However, reality isn't so kind. First, the shield squad is sent flying all at once.
"""PIKIIIIIII!! (You've got some nerve making Aslin and Filia cry!!)"""
A simultaneous "cannonball tackle" from the Slime squad. It's a terrifying strike combining attack power and speed backed by their raw stats. It seems Slakichi has been teaching his personal techniques to the others.
"Wha—!? Impossible!! Archers, fire!!"
He seems to be a fairly competent commander; being able to give orders even in this bizarre situation is impressive. And as ordered, the rain of arrows was supposed to fly over my head and shower down on the main body of the right wing that had only just begun to move...
"I-It can't be."
The rain of arrows that was supposed to fall slowed down and dropped to the ground as if they had hit something in mid-air.
"""PIKIIIIIII!! (Targeting the girls with arrows? You're scum!!)"""
Yes, there is a Slime unit spreading their bodies in mid-air to counter projectiles. Since these units are distributed equally across the whole army, even if they return fire with bows, we can almost entirely eliminate any damage.
Ah, apparently a Slime's body can expand or contract depending on their mana. Slakichi-san usually keeps his current body because he likes it, but based on his mana capacity, we've confirmed he can grow to about the size of the training building.
So, you don't need a huge number of defensive slimes to protect everyone. Of course, it would be difficult for the enemy to break through that slime defense, let alone projectiles.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!"
CRUNCH!!
"Huh? A—AGYAAAAAAHHH!!"
The enemy in front of me had his legs blown away along with the horse he was riding. Before I knew it, Filia, swinging her ultra-heavy war hammer, was right in front of me. Then, she dashed straight into the enemy.
"H-Hey!! Filia!!"
"Gob!! (Leave this to us, sir!!)"
"No no no, you should stop her instead!!"
"Gofu. (Ah, that's impossible. You can't win against a crying child.)"
With that, the Goblin squad led by Steve starts crushing the enemy while protecting Filia. Filia continues to swing her hammer, primarily making enemy heads disappear. The enemy can barely respond; the Slime squad that jumped in first seems to be going absolutely wild.
"M-My legs!! My legs areeeeeeegh!!"
Ah, he was still alive? I had already stopped caring.
"...Oh? Are just the legs not enough?"
Swish.
At that sound, the screaming commander's arms drop, starting from the elbows.
"GYAAAAAAHHH!! My arms!?"
"...You're dissatisfied that I left a little bit? I'll cut them all off for you."
Then his arms are severed completely from the shoulders.
"...Suffer like that until you die."
Labyris doesn't sheath her sword and continues to walk toward the enemies. One by one, the enemy's limbs are sent flying.
"...Suffer!! For you have insulted our precious person!!"
A voice loud enough to reach me, rare for Labyris, echoes out.
* * *
This was the beginning of this hell.
Current status report: the enemy left wing is literally annihilated. No survivors.
Actually, I'm the one panicking now.
"Aslin, it's okay!! I don't care about what they said!!"
"It'z not okayyy!! Anyone who mocks Onii-chan is a bad perzon!! Waaaaahhhhhh!!"
First, I have to stop Aslin, who is boosting the monsters' battle spirit to insane levels.
"No, look. Even back at school, everyone made fun of me, right? Saying I was a weirdo?"
"That'z different!! Everyone didn't mean it for real!! But thoz people meant it when they mocked Onii-chan!! I won't forgive them!! Hic... sob!!"
"""GOAAAAAA!!!!"""
Every time Aslin cries, the monsters roar.
『Wait, Onii-san!? What is happening!? The monsters aren't listening to orders!!』
A panicked message arrives from Ratz.
『In the center too, monsters led by Filia and Labyris are pouring in from your direction and trashing everything. What happened!? Don't tell me something happened to Aslin!!』
『Wait!! Onii-san, is Aslin safe!?』
"Calm down, Aslin is fine, she's not hurt. But she was shocked and started crying. Because of that, the monsters are agitated. Keep the surrendered enemies as far from the battlefield as possible!! Until I can calm Aslin down, they won't care if the enemy has surrendered or not!!"
『...I see. Since Filia and Labyris are also furious, I assume someone mocked Yuki?』
"Thizter Theraria... Onii-chan... waz mocked!! They thaid he waz incompetent!! That he doesn't think!! I won't forgive them!! Onii-chan ithn't thtupid, he thaved ut!! He'th kind!! Onii-chan workth tho hard tho our bellieth are full and everyone can thmile—he ithn't thtupid and foolithhh!!!"
Having apparently heard the radio, Aslin answers Seraria. She's sobbing so hard her face is a mess. How am I supposed to soothe her...
『...Yuki, just focus on calming Aslin down. We will annihilate the enemy too!! We won't accept surrenders anymore!! They were fools who laughed at our ideals!! We don't need mercy!! ...To have the nerve to mock my husband... they've got some guts!』
『This is Eris, understood. We will not accept any further surrenders and will annihilate the enemy!!』
『For the usually gentle Aslin to cry this much, they must have said something horrible... Ah, just imagining it makes me furious... I won't hold back.』
『Making Aslin cry!! I won't forgive them!!』
『Ah, wait!! I told you not to overextend!! Geesh, and now we don't even have monster subordinates!! I'm following Riel!!』
『...Milly, I'm going too.』
『Me too!!』
Ah, everyone's gone into total annihilation mode.
In the end, Aslin only calmed down at almost the same time the center of the enemy's main force fell.
Crap, in a large-scale battle, Aslin is actually the most dangerous one. The monsters even stopped listening to me.
Well, since they don't seem to attack allies, I guess it could be useful if used correctly.
But I'm sure everyone would be against making Aslin cry...
