Black Iron Magician

(Most of them are those I’ve never seen before. As for the 『Headless』, his strength is already known. Still, it’s also exciting to face unknown enemies. I can’t see their faces from afar, but the one with the huge jet-black weapon is probably the 『Great Battle Staff』, and the one with the jet-black gauntlets is probably the 『Black Hand』. Their weapons are easy to recognize. If so, the one running in the front must be the 『Sword Demon』. They haven’t pulled out the sword yet, though…. Well, let’s see what they’ve got!)

Galesse swings down his raised hand and shouts.

「Shoot!」

Explosive sounds continued to roar from the cannons installed in various places in the fortress. The bombardment, which would not leave even a single bug, gouged out the entire area where the enemy forces were located and formed a sea of fire in an instant. The power was so powerful that it would normally turn a human into mincemeat.

「Analysis team, how is it!?」

Galesse asked his subordinate magicians. Since the flames from the explosion obstruct the view, it is quicker to confirm it with detection ability.

「The targets are alive and well! From the magic reaction, it seems that they deployed a barrier!」

「I can see them now! A shining wall spreads out in front of them, and they continue to advance unscathed! The one who deployed the barrier was probably the 『Sword Demon』…!」

「An undead is using light magic, huh! Interesting! When will they reach that place!?」

「In about three seconds!」

「Alright! ―― Explode them!」

「Understood! Inject the magic!」

Even when the cannons were loaded for the next shoot, the enemies continued to approach this place. They were now halfway to the fortress from the border. However, Galesse and the others weren’t just waiting during the blank period until yesterday.

――――BAAAAAAAAAM!

The sound of the explosion was more than the first bombardment, and the explosion swallowed Carmine’s army. What Galesse and others had set up in advance was the so-called landmine-type magic item. This explosive device, developed with the best of Elderado’s technology, could be detonated at the right moment by sending magic power from a distance. If a frontal attack is not possible, then just explode them from bellow where they would be defenseless. The people of Elderado have absolute faith in this great explosion that would shatter even the scales of a dragon. However…

「N-No way!? The targets are still alive and well…! They are using a large amount of magic power, just like they did before!」

「What!? Are you sure!?」

「I-I could see them too! They are unharmed! It was supposed to be a surprise attack, but they are unharmed…!」

「Unharmed!? Those guys in the lab were boasting that it could kill any prey, but look at this mess…! I don’t think it’s going to work, but keep on firing! Use everything! Slow them down even if only a little!」

「Reporting! We confirmed a barrier beneath them that is of the same quality as the one in front of them! They seem to be spreading the barrier as a carpet and are running on it!」

「Damn, did they suspect that there was something in the ground!? The lethal traps and pitfalls we had set up are all now useless!」

「Reporting! For some reason, the two of them in the back are fighting each other with their weapons!」

「Hah? What the hell does that mean!?」

「It’s exactly what it means! From what we seen, the ones who are fighting are the 『Headless』 and the 『Great Battle Staff』, who is running in front of him! Moreover, the 『Great Battle Staff』 is running backwards in order to fight the 『Headless』 face to face! We also analyzed that the 『Sword Demon』 and 『Black Hand』 in front of them have slowed down to match their speed!」

「They aren’t running at their full speed!? No, more importanty, they are completely underestimating us. Is playing with their friends more important than fighting us…!?」

Galesse received a shock each time he heard the report. At the same time, he was also encouraged by his pride as the commander of this place.

「I was hoping we could take out one of them before the reach this fortress. Cheap tricks are useless now. If so, I will face them myself!」

「Galesse-sama, you shouldn’t take on those four by yourself…!」

「If you don’t have the resolve, you won’t be able to deal with them! Those who can use magic, prepare to put up barriers on the walls of this fortress with everything you’ve got! Even if it’s just for a second, you have to endure it with your guts so that it won’t get destroyed! The bombardment squad should shower them with the cannons just as they start destroying the barriers! They are likely to survive, so don’t let your guard down!」

「W-What about Galesse-sama…?」

「I will jump at them at the same time as the attack at that time. I will at least wound them, no, let’s bring down at least one of them. My beloved spear is eager to sip the blood of the evil undead tonight.」

It’s early in the morning, not at night, but there is no time to mind about that now. Galesse lifts his large spear and large shield, showing that his equipment is in perfect condition.

「B-But that’s too dangerous!」

「Then, tell me a plan that’s better than this. If you don’t have any, I will have to go with this. Don’t worry. I’m the 『Steel General』 Galesse. No matter what they do, I will survive and defeat――」

「――Reporting!」

「「……」」

Galesse was in the middle of his speech, but the battlefield is a place where anything can happen.

「W-What’s wrong!?」

Galesse’s cheeks were slightly reddish, but his subordinate, who was trying to report as soon as possible, didn’t seem to have time to mind about such a thing.

「The enemies, they started to build a staircase with the barrier! They are planning to pass right above us and pass through this fortress from the sky!」

「W-Whaaaat!?」

Galess hurriedly returned his gaze to the Carmine’s army and saw that the leading 『Sword Demon』 bent the light barrier into a staircase shape, creating a route right above the fortress. The staircase-like barrier could also defend the attack from the fortress, and they keep going higher until the attack couldn’t even reach the barrier. Also, the two in the back are still fighting each other, and they don’t even look at the fortress.

「A-ARE YOU NOT EVEN GOING TO FIGHT!?」

Galesse’s shout, the loudest of the day, roared out, but Carmine’s army didn’t stop. The barrier staircase, which had secured a certain height, once again returned to its original carpet-like shape, and they headed straight toward the imperial capital. It’s like a flying carpet, although its appearance and use are completely different.

In the end, the border fortress, which was expected to turn into a fierce battlefield, ended its role with no damage and no casualties. Was it good luck or bad luck that the soldiers, who were shown the overwhelming difference in power, could not enter the fight? It will depend on the outcome of this war to find out which one it was.

「FIGHT ME! FIGHT MEEEEEEEEEEEEE!」

The attack couldn’t reach the enemies, but Galesse’s shout might or might not have reached them.