Chapter 35
THE BATTLE AT KARKATA PLAINS
“You said they aren´t climbing the mountain!?”
Somebody raised a voice in surprise . The spiritualists weren´t climbing the mountains . On the contrary, they were waiting at the plains, preparing to catch them off guard .
Because of the surprise, Kraut, who was leading the army, became speechless . The triangle shaped formation that was splendidly set was looking at their direction . In its rear, where was the base of the triangle was, there were many big flags raised and fluttering in the wind . Probably, the enemy´s general was there . Kraut, who had his predictions being completely wrong, could only gaze at it shocked . Because of the shock, he became unable to command his army .
“Don´t lose your minds-de gozaru!”
The one that raised her voice in his place was Asty Gortoberuk . As if she was full of confidence, despite it being her first campaign, she put up a majestic att.i.tude .
“I´ve learned it from honored grandfather-de gozaru . Against an enemy that comes attacking you, you need to spread your army like wings and have the enemy fall between them . ”
While extending her arms, Asty explained the formation . …So to speak, it was the crane wings formation . The difference between their war potential was clear . It wasn´t possible to believe they would be able to win . But once you step onto the battlefield, the best thing to do is to fight; they had to struggle no matter what .
“Umu, then, it will be as Asty-dono had said . Everyone! Spread into two wings and encircle the enemy!!”
Together with his voice, the shape of the army changed .
Kraut, who was at the front, went to the rear, and Riku´s army, who was at the rear, went to the front . Giving a glance to the flags of the enemy and becoming surprised of the family behind the army with astounding numbers, she unconsciously got her eyes wide-open .
“…Those flags . There is no mistake . ”
As if it was natural, the corners of her lips raised . All of the flags fluttering above the enemy were all from the Barusak family no matter how one would look at them . That army was probably formed by spiritualists and mercenaries . It took money to raise spiritualists . Although they were a spiritualist family, there were also children, that just like Riku, didn´t have talent . That´s why no matter how big that army was, half of it weren´t spiritualists . And so, great part of the enemies coming were nothing more than mercenaries . But even so, it didn´t change the fact that they were allied to the Barusak .
“Sorry . It doesn´t seem like I can go easy today . ”
Without saying that to anybody, she muttered those words as if to say them to herself . With this overwhelming difference in numbers, there would be no meaning to it if she were killed because she went easy just for her “pleasure” . Without giving special treatment to the Barusak, right now, she needed to deal with slaughtering them just like any other spiritualist families . Looking at the soldiers she had brought along her, she raised her voice .
“Probably more than half of that army are not spiritualists . It´s only common mercenaries . Until I give the signal to retreat, kill to your heart´s content . ”
As if agreeing to Riku´s words, war cries resounded .
Now was the opportunity to start the fighting . The ones that went forward were the Barusak army . As a huge wave, the Barusak army was coming . The two armies of different shapes clashed against each other . Saying like that, it feels like the demon army was going to be engulfed in an instant, but things wouldn´t end like this that easily . *1 Riku was glaring at the soldiers, who were charging without any care .
“Since you are so eager to die, you can be glad you will . ”
While raising their voices, as if wanting to engulf the demons, the army advanced . With a smirk, Riku was mowing down left and right with her halberd .
“I will personally behead you . ”
In an instant, many bodies were split and blood showered the surroundings . As if her voice was the signal, the other demons swung their own swords or spears, or even their fangs and fists at the upcoming spiritualists . She cut off the head of the foot soldiers, she cut soldiers in two halves vertically, and sometimes she would cut their torso and take out their organs .
But even so, Riku was unsatisfied . The enemy wasn´t the Bistolru, nor the Buryuuser . Of all enemies, she needed to treat the Barusak the same as other spiritualists . This fact was scorching her insides .
“What´s the matter? Is this all of your power?”
While smiling like a lunatic, Riku rotated her halberd . Her face was having a makeup of spilled blood, her red hair was even more soaked and her armor was dyed in red .
How many several people had she cut? Losing the sense of time, she was swinging her halberd in accord to her instincts . But then, she heard Roppu´s voice next to her .
“Lieutenant commander!! Soon, it should be the time to retreat! The right wing had been broken!!”
It was a voice filled with panic .
Thrusting at the neck of the spiritualist that was in front of her eyes, she cut his source of air . The few minutes of destruction she had weren´t enough, but it couldn´t be helped if she was at her time limit . Sweeping away with the halberd that was at the neck of that spiritualist, she turned her horse around .
“We are retreating to the walls of the fortress of Karkata!!”
At the same time she had said that, as easily as turning the palm of one´s own hand, Riku´s troops turned back . And then, they ran straight to the way they came from . The other troops also started retreating . There was n.o.body that liked the idea of dying . As if they were being attracted by it like a magnet, all of them started running towards the fortress .
“Do-don´t run-de gozaru!! Why won´t you fight-de gozaru!?”
Asty was infuriated . Clicking her tongue, Riku placed her halberd next to Asty´s neck . Maybe because killing intent had been directed to her by an ally, Asty´s complexion changed .
“Wh-what is it-de gozaru? Are you going mad-de gozaru?”
“I´m sane . Whether it is numbers or morale, we lose . There is no way we can waste soldiers here for no reason . ”
“Bu-but…”
“No buts . That´s an order from your superior . We are pulling back now . ”
Asty´s expression of anger changed to one of confusion . Perhaps if their positions were reversed , she would want to question Riku about the reasons she stated . But right now, it was difficult to be having a talk . Pulling Asty, Riku hurriedly retreated to Karkata fortress .
—–
Looking at how it went, it was clearly the spiritualist´s victory .
At the rear of the army, Rook was very . Of course, there was no way he didn´t take precaution for whether he would fight . Rook prepared himself as to be able to readily draw his sword so that he would be able to deal with Asty whenever she was to come at him in a suicide attack .
“The enemy has started to retreat . What should we do?”
Mary quietly asked . Shaking his head as if saying “good grief”, he stood up .
“For them to start retreating so soon, they don´t have any fighting spirit… Is there anyone; a demon that would charge at us putting their life at stake?”
“There isn´t . The whole demon army is retreating . ”
“Eh?”
Rook bended his neck .
If his memory was correct, by this timing, Asty would refuse to retreat and would come to attack by herself .
“Not even a single one?”
“Yes . Should we go after them?”
But Rook didn´t pay much attention to that . Because Selestinna had lost the war for some reason, supposedly, Gortoberuk hadn´t been killed . If so, Asty wouldn´t have as many thoughts of having revenge . After pondering about that, Rook rode his horse .
“We are following after them!”
“Yes! Follow after them!!”
Mary rode her horse together with Rook .
They were hurriedly following after the retreating demons . But perhaps because the timing Rook decided they should follow after them was too late*2, the demons were able to arrive to the walls without much exhaustion . It was possible to see the demons quickly going through the gates .
“Hm?”
And at that moment, Rook noticed… one more thing that was weird about that . Close to the gates, there were “things” lined up . They were animals numbered about five hundred that were being led outside by the demon soldiers . It was about five hundred pigs . With them having something covering them, even by looking from the distance, it was possible to see them s.h.i.+ning with the reflection of the light . Why were they taking away those pigs? It was a development that didn´t exist in the game . But rather than becoming troubled by wondering what all that was about, before that, Rook sounded the alarm to his miscellaneous knowledge .
They prepared a great number of pigs that were covered in something, and all of the demons were standing inside the fortress . And then, themselves, who followed after them… Their formation being a close formation… With all that, there was only one conclusion .
“s.h.i.+t! Ru-run away!!”
“Why is it, young master?”
By the time Mary asked him, it was already too late .
The demons lighted the pigs that were covered in oil, and at the same time, they released the pigs, hitting their b.u.t.ts with all their strength .
In that instant, the pigs that became covered in fire were pushed down the hill . In general, the image the pig had about being able to eat anything and being lazy . Putting it in other perspective, imagining them as anything but a delicious meal was difficult .
But the pigs that were closing in to them didn´t differ to wild boars . Becoming unstoppable once they broke into a run, it hid a power that was capable of easily destroying a firmly made fence . Therefore, once they started running, it was next to impossible to stop their vigor .
“Re-retreat! Retreat!!”
The pigs, which were food, were turned into dreadful weapons in an instant .
The b.a.l.l.s of fire that were raising agonizing cries were coming towards the Barusak army .