How a Realist Hero Rebuilt The Kingdom

Book 8: Chapter 8

Dawn broke.

The sun rose in the east, and the area quickly brightened. Even in this land which was in the northern half of the continent, and therefore warmer than the kingdom, it felt cold at this time of year.

In the morning air, there were seven people standing near the western gate: Halbert, Kaede, Ruby, Jirukoma, Lauren, Kuu, and Leporina. Behind them were the soldiers of the Kingdom of Lastania, waiting for the time of battle to come.

Well then, shall we get started, Ruby? Halbert asked.

Yes. Lets get started, Hal.

Ruby turned into a red dragon, and Halbert jumped on her back.

Sir Halbert. Madam Ruby. Well be counting on you, Lauren, the captain of the soldiers, said to them, bowing her head.

We know, Hal nodded. You take care of yourself too.

Youll be working outside the walls, so youll be in danger just like us, Ruby added.

Jirukoma pounded his burly chest. Leave this place to us. We will put our lives on the line to defend the work crews.

Ookyakya! Well be helping here too, so dont worry, Kuu laughed. Dont get carried away and screw this up, Hal.

Youre the one whos going to say that, Young Master...? Leporina muttered.

Yep, Kuu had the same baseless confidence as ever, and Leporina was holding her head in exasperation.

Kaede walked over to where Halbert was, placing her hand on Rubys foreleg.

Ruby, take care of Hal for me.

To borrow a line from Naden, Roger that. You can leave him to me.

Hal, you too, said Kaede. Dont go too wild, you know? Ruby is with you, so make sure you dont act recklessly.

I know, okay?

Kaede took a step back from the two of them, then turned to the soldiers and spoke. His Majesty and Sir Julius are preparing our next move, so I will take command here. Everyone, lets do our best.

Yeah!

The moment after everyone responded to Kaedes order, Halbert and Ruby took off into the sky. As they left the ground, Ruby grabbed the blocky object that had been prepared for her with her hind legs. That object which had iron walls on five sides and a metal bar door on the sixth side was a cage for the lizardman that had been fed the monster meat.

Carrying that cage with her as she flew, Ruby asked Halbert, First, we let this lizardman loose near the forest to the west of here, right?

Yeah. Well have to touch down, so be careful.

I know.

When they were flying alone, the chimera-like monsters that could fly started to gather around. They probably considered Halbert and Ruby as easy pickings because it was just the two of them. The monsters had no understanding of how powerful those two were.

Halbert Magna, coming through! Halbert swung his two favorite spears around, slicing apart the monsters that attacked from above. Then he wreathed one spear in flames and threw it. The moment it planted itself in a monster...

Boom!

There was a burst of fire, and even the other monsters close to it were caught in the blast.

Here, have another!

Halbert pulled on the chain attached to his other spear, retrieving the first spear from flames, then wreathed the other spear in fire and threw it. Repeating that cycle, he made bursts of flame blossom like flowers all around them.

Halbert smiled as he swung his spears around. Its convenient not having to throw them away after one use. Ive gotta remember to thank Taru for making these.

Kaede warned you not to get carried away, remember...? Im setting down now.

Sure.

Halbert crouched low on Rubys back, and then Ruby came down to earth at a forty-five-degree angle. As she touched down, she opened the door to the cage, then immediately took off again.

Halbert spotted the lizardman crawling out of the cage down below. It immediately ran off into the western forest where its kind were hiding.

Nice! The lizardman is successfully freed. Next, we fly over the forest.

Yeah.

Ruby spread her wings and flew slowly, heading over the forest with flying monsters in tow. They needed to pull in as many flying monsters as possible, so they couldnt go too fast, which meant the faster monsters caught up to them.

Bzzz! There was a huge, one-eyed, bee-like monster coming at them with its wings buzzing.

Do something! Ruby shouted. I dont want to be swarmed by bugs!

On it!

Halbert quadrisected the bee monster with his two spears. The bee monsters fluids splattered everywhere as it fell to the ground, with just its translucent wings dancing around and refusing to come down.

Hang in there, Ruby! This is where it gets serious!

I know! she shouted back. Roarrrrrrrrr!

Blowing fire and shooting thorns, the monsters attacked from a distance. A number of those attacks grazed Ruby, but she kept flying at the same steady pace.

Halbert and Ruby finally succeeded in bringing the monsters they were pulling with them over the top of the western forest where the lizardmen were lying low.

Ruby roared, Well settle this in one try! Hold on tight!

Got it!

As Halbert clung to Rubys back, Ruby rapidly accelerated, lifting her body, climbing higher into the sky, then somersaulting into a rapid dive to behind the monsters.

In an instant, the hunters became the hunted.

Ill pay you back a hundred times over!

Bwoooooooooosh!

Ruby opened her mouth wide, unleashing a great gout of flame toward the flying monsters.

Dragon breath was the attack most emblematic of dragons, said to be able to lay waste to an entire kingdom. The monsters hit by Rubys dragon breath were fried to a crisp and dropped to the forest one after another.

Seeing that, Halbert scratched at his cheek. Wasnt that a bit much? The monsters were charred black, you know?

M-Meat tastes better well done.

I prefer it rare, myself.

The two of them continued to squabble over things that didnt matter. They could banter like this because the job was done, so they were now set free from the tension theyd been feeling before.

Halbert looked down to the forest the burned monsters had fallen into. Even from here, he could tell the lizardmen were making a fuss.

If the lizardman theyd freed started eating the fried monsters, the other starving lizardmen would no doubt follow suit. Then, with them having learned the taste of monster...the project would move on to its third stage.

Lets head back, Ruby. Kaede and the rest will get worried.

Youre right.

They turned and flew back the way they came.

While Halbert and Ruby were luring in the monsters, there had been movement on the ground too.

The gates of the city walls opened, and armed soldiers piled out. They numbered roughly 600.

Once the soldiers came outside the walls, they attacked the monsters on the ground that were eating the burned lizardmen corpses. The monsters were so absorbed in eating that the soldiers were able to catch them by surprise, cutting them down with swords, shooting them with bows, and striking them with magic until they died.

These 600 soldiers were all battle-hardened. That was to be expected.

These soldiers were a mixed unit made up of the Kingdom of Lastanias regular forces, the refugee volunteer soldiers, and the Kingdom of Friedonias Dratroopers. For this group of combat specialists, slaying monsters that didnt fly and werent particularly more powerful than lizardmen was no different from going hunting.

Inside that group, Captain Lauren shouted to encourage her troops as she knocked away a small monster with the large shield she was holding.

While Sir Halbert is keeping the flying monsters at bay, we will carve a path! There is no need to chase monsters that flee! Protecting the rear unit is our top priority!

Laurens heavy equipment was ill-suited to moving quickly, but well-suited to settling in and holding a single position. Lauren bashed the monsters that came at her with her shield, cut them down with her sword, and was defending the place where she now stood.

Once the weak monsters realized she was not an enemy who would be easily defeated, they immediately started to move away.

As Jirukoma raced over, kukris in hand, he let out a gasp of admiration despite himself.

Splendidly done, Madam Lauren. I raced over because you seemed surrounded, but it seems my concern was unwarranted.

I am a professional soldier after all. This is nothing to me. Lauren smiled proudly...and then wryly. Well, even though I feel that way as the captain of the soldiers, Im a little embarrassed as a woman that Im able to fight monsters so easily. I wish I could be a gentle, graceful woman like the princess too, but its beyond me... She laughed weakly.

Jirukoma was a little confused. What could be wrong with being a strong woman? In my tribe, strength and toughness are seen as virtues in a woman. They can give birth to stronger children that way after all.

Ch-Children?! Laurens cheeks went red. Um... Do you like strong women, Sir Jirukoma?

Hm? I suppose I do. My sister was a tomboy after all. I think I do like them.

Y-You do?! Lauren wore a brilliant smile for just a moment, then gripped her shield tightly as if getting her mind back on task. Then she used the sword in her right hand to point forward. Now then, Sir Jirukoma. I want to ensure safety over the widest area possible, so I would like to ask you remove the monsters from this area. Leave defending this place to me.

No, but...

Ill be fine! I am a strong woman! Lauren pounded her puffed up-chest.

With an expression that looked dumbfounded by her sudden declaration, Jirukoma nodded. R-Right... I understand. But make sure you dont do anything reckless.

Right. You be careful too, Sir Jirukoma!

Lauren him go as Jirukoma took off at a run.

While he raced around cutting down emaciated, goblin-like monsters with his two kukris, he ran into Kuu, who had an awkward look on his face.

Kuu swung around his cudgel, crushing lizard-like monsters that raced around, then stood back-to-back with Jirukoma and asked him, Buddy...you wouldnt happen to be dense, would you?

Dense? What are you talking about?

Catching the blank look on Jirukomas face, Kuu shook his head in exasperation. Im talking about you taking responsibility.

Responsibility? Um, what do you mean?

I wonder. Try thinking for yourself!

As Kuu said that, he was confronted with a monster coming in at high speed. It was larger than the other monsters, shaped like an ostrich with a goats head, and it had its head down and was charging him in as if it was trying to gore him with its two horns.

Kuu put his cudgel behind him, then rushed toward the monster.

Sir Kuu?! Jirukoma cried out despite himself, but Kuu performed a slide right in front of the monster, then used his momentum to kick out the monsters left leg, which was bearing its weight.

Down you go.

There was a snapping sound. With the combination of the creatures own momentum going forward, Kuus power coming at it, and the creatures weight acting together, the monsters left leg snapped. With only one leg left that it could still use, it rammed into the ground with all its inertia.

Kuu let out a laugh as he watched it. Ookyakya! Like I thought, your leg was wide open!

Whoosh... Thock!

An arrow flew in, planting itself into the goat-headed monsters throat as it writhed on the ground. That finished it off, and it ceased to move.

The person with a bow rushed over to Kuu. Young Masteeer, dont scare me like that! Leporina begged with a tired look on her face. Our mission is to remove monsters from the mission area. Theres no need to charge in, so show some restraint!

Ookyakya! Im fine, so theres no problem! Kuu tapped his cudgel on his shoulder, smiling unabashedly.

While Leporina frowned over Kuus lack of repentance, she saw the second group begin heading out from the city gate out of the corner of her eye. The second group, unlike the first, numbered over 2,000, and in place of weapons they were carrying large logs, pieces of firewood, basically any lumber they could lay hands on.

Leporina tugged on the Kuus outfit. Look, Young Master. The second group has come out, so we need to go and guard them.

Whoops, youre right. If I play around too much, Bro will get mad.

I would like to give you a proper scolding myself, but...perhaps it would be better if I arranged some lecture time together with Taru.

Y-You dont have to bring Taru into this, okay?! There was panic in Kuus voice.

He thought nothing of being scolded by Souma or his father Gouran, but an extended lecture from the girl he liked was something he wanted to avoid.

Kuu clapped his hands as if trying to dodge the subject, then urged Leporina to go on. Look, were supposed to be defending them, right? Lets get a move on.

Honestly...

Leporina shrugged and took off after Kuu as he ran.

The one leading the second unit, which Kuu and Leporina were headed to, was Kaede.

Hurry, she ordered. We have to finish before the monsters come back, you know.

This second unit was the soldiers conscripted by the Kingdom of Lastania. They had minimal equipment, using carts and their own arms to carry logs, firewood, and straw bales. In short, they were a supply unit. Kuu, Jirukoma, and the others had swept the monsters out of this area to secure their safety.

As the supply unit reached the point Lauren was defending, at the midpoint between the walls of Lasta and the forest where the lizardmen lurked, they unloaded the lumber they were carrying. Then the soldiers made a pyramid with the logs they brought, filled the inside with firewood, and stuffed in straw.

What they were building was a giant bonfire, with a height of maybe five meters. This same construction process was repeated in several places simultaneously.

Kaede was using her earth elemental magic (gravity manipulation) to make the logs ignore gravity, allowing the assembly to proceed more efficiently.

In the middle of all that, Lauren ran over to her. Madam Kaede. We were able to drive off most of the monsters, so let us help too.

Kaede shook her head. No, Madam Lauren, please remain on watch in the nearby area. We cant be sure the monsters that followed Hal and Ruby wont come back. Please stay extra cautious so we can keep the workers safe from monster attacks.

Y-Yes, maam! Understood! Lauren gave her a salute and then returned to her position.

The second unit under command of Kaede continued their work under the protection of the first unit led by Lauren, and in a little over an hour, there were about ten bonfires set up.

Right around that time, a massive shadow appeared in the western sky. That shadow with its big wings spread out was Halbert and Ruby, returning after their duties were complete.

Even though seeing they were well made her feel a sense of relief, Kaedes face remained stern as she gave orders. We cant overstay our welcome. If youve finished building, set the fires, and return inside the walls!

Yes, maam! Setting the fires!

The newly built bonfires were all set alight at once.

The straw burned quickly, and the smoke turned orange as the light of the fire began to rise.

With the bonfires burning behind them, the second unit hurried inside the walls, followed by the soldiers of the first unit slowly withdrawing while fending off monster attacks.

I hope the plan goes well... Lauren, who was in the rear guard, said, sounding concerned.

Kaede chuckled. Weve done all we can. Now, we just have to pray it works out.

Gwah! Grrr!

Having lost many of their kind in the battle yesterday, the lizardmen were now lurking in the dark forest. They were all looking up at the sky.

A red line raced across their vision.

For a while now, several red lights had been flying through the sky.

What are those things? they wondered as they watched.

Things fell to the ground in pieces. When they approached, it was charred monsters.

The lizardmen turned their snouts toward the sizzling remains of the monsters.

The cooked meat gave off a savory smell.

The starving lizardmen wanted that smell. However, they stopped short. Before, when they had eaten similar monsters, many of their kind had experienced stomach cramps, and more than ten of them had died.

Whether that was due to the monsters meat being poisonous, because of diseases they carried, or the result of parasites...they didnt know. The lizardmen had no way to know, and they lacked the intelligence to attempt to find out.

The information that eating the mixed-up monsters can result in death was all that had been entered into the lizardmens not particularly large brains. That was why, even though they were starving, they made no attempt to eat the mixed-up monsters.

But then...

Kshaaaa! ...Chomp!

One of the lizardmen started eating the charred monsters.

It acted as though they tasted good, eating several of them.

The pack of lizardmen watched that individual cautiously.

It was eating the mixed-up monsters, but not only was it not dying, it didnt even seem to be getting stomach pain.

Why?

Looking at it, the individual was eating well-cooked meat, and avoiding undercooked portions.

Seeing that, the data in the lizardmens brains that said, Eating the mixed-up monsters can result in death was overwritten to say, Eating the mixed-up monsters raw can result in death, but if they are well-cooked, they can be eaten.

In the next instant, the lizardmen swarmed around the roasted monster meat. Due in part to their hunger, they tore into the meat with reckless abandon.

Even the lizardmen who hadnt witnessed the original individual witnessed those who had seen it, learned the same information, and a battle over the cooked meat began.

Eventually, that information spread through the whole pack.

However, there was far too little meat for 800 lizardmen. The well-cooked meat vanished in no time flat, leaving only the undercooked meat.

While they were wondering what to do, a light appeared near the outside of the forest.

Looking at it, there was a place with fire burning brightly.

If I use those flames, I can cook this undercooked meat! The lizardmen who thought that took the undercooked meat and approached the fire, then threw it in. They ate it when it was cooked.

In the pack, there were some who could breathe fire themselves, and those individuals cooked and ate by themselves.

However, there was a limit to the undercooked meat too.

I want more.

Looking around, they noticed that...there was plenty of raw meat feeding on their kinds corpses.

The lizardmen began to hunt.

Its incredible to see, isnt it? I asked.

Yeah... Julius murmured.

It was around ten in the morning, with the sun was fully risen, and shining brilliantly.

I was with Julius, standing on the wall, watching the scene unfold beneath us in awe.

We watched the lizardmen surround the bonfires, cooking the meat of monsters they had hunted. It was like a banquet for primitives.

The lizardmen were a threat to us, but this was like watching a scene from ancient times, and it put me into a strange, indescribable frame of mind.

Aisha, who could see well at a long distance, pointed and explained. Over in that corner, a group centered around a fire-breathing lizardman is starting to form, sire.

Because we had taught them to cook before eating, there was now a major shift in the balance of power happening within the lizardman pack.

Naden and Ruby were dropping in kindling and straw from the air to make sure the fires didnt go out, but not that many could gather around the bonfires, and the inevitable result was that the strongest individuals monopolized them. With that happening, those that could breathe fire for themselves were at an advantage.

The lizardmen who couldnt get near the bonfires were apparently hunting an extra share of monster meat for the ones that could breathe fire in order to have those cook meat for them. It was a very simple contract based on a mutually beneficial relationship. There was a clear hierarchy forming between the lizardmen.

Its like watching a microcosm of society, you know, I said, and Julius nodded.

I couldnt agree more. I never would have dreamed the day would come when Id see society reflected in the actions of monsters.

If we gave them another thousand years, dont you think they could achieve something resembling civilization? I asked.

Possibly, but...we cant afford to wait a thousand years.

True enough.

The relationship between mankind and monsters was one of kill-or-be-killed.

Because it was impossible to converse with them, if we didnt defeat them, they would bring harm to those we cared about. It might be cruel, but there were people and things we needed to protect.

Julius stood on the edge of the city walls, then gave the order to the eagerly waiting soldiers.

The number of monsters is down! Now, wipe out the lizardmen!

At Juliuss command, the north and south gates swung open.

North and south forces, begin the attack! he ordered.

To deal with the lizardman gathered in the west, Julius sent 1,000 troops out of the north and south gates, which then circled around to northwest and southwest of the pack.

We will go on foot to circle around behind the enemy! Jirukoma called.

We will attack from the south side! Men, dont be late! Lauren shouted.

The one leading the northern force was Jirukoma, and the commander of the southern force was Lauren.

Partially because the lizardmen were distracted by eating, they let these two forces approach them easily.

Kaede, who was watching from the walls, raised her right hand. Now, light the signal!

At Kaedes command, a smoke signal went up from the west gate.

When Jirukoma and Lauren saw it, their forces attacked the lizardman pack from the northwest and southwest. With a force of 2,000 attacking them in a V formation, the surprised lizardmen were pushed toward Lasta in the east.

When she saw that, Kaede poked her head out over the inside edge of the city wall, and said to the person down below, The time is ripe! Were counting on you, Sir Julius!

Understood!

Moving away from the wall, Julius, who was riding on a white horse, drew his sword and held it aloft.

The 1,000 soldiers around him were mostly elites, including Lastanian regulars and the Dratroopers. The troops were waiting for the order to set out to come at any moment, and Julius announced to them, The fate of this country hangs on this battle! Eliminate the lizardmen, for the sake of the families huddling in fear behind these walls!

Yeahhhhhhh!

While listening to his men shout, Julius gave the order to the gates.

Open the gates!

The west gate opened, and 1,000 troops led by Julius leapt out.

The soldiers kept going with that momentum to plow straight into the confused pack of lizardmen.

My life for Lastania!

Die already, you damn lizard!

As if venting their grudges over the battle on the walls, they made a bloody mess of every lizardman they came across. Julius rode around swinging his sword too, lopping the heads off one lizardman after another. There was a trail of lizardman blood left behind where he had passed.

At the end of that line, Julius pointed his sword to the west and gave the order, Keep going, and push until weve finished them!

Hes doing a brilliant job commanding them, huh? I commented.

The west gate opened, and the 1,000 troops coming out of it were attacking the lizardmen who had been pushed east. Under attack from three sides, the lizardmen were in a state of terror.

Hal and I were watching the scene unfold from up in the air on Ruby and Nadens backs.

The forces led by Julius had just surrounded the lizardmen in a triangle formation. He didnt close the encirclement, however, leaving a slight escape route to the west, between Jirukomas and Laurens units. If he closed all avenues of escape, the enemy would focus on his forces, but if there was even a narrow way out, the lizardmen would be distracted by it.

As the lizardmen turned their attention to the west, Juliuss forces moved to crush the pack from the east.

Somehow, it reminded me of a pastry bag.

In my worlds military tactics, this would be an example of, In order to capture, one must let loose, but you wouldnt get that reference. Lets call it the Pastry Bag Strategy instead.

No, no, a name that makes you want to use it is no good, Naden said, poking fun at me with her telepathy.

Hmm...

Then, since it looks like a ryuus mouth, how do you like Nadens Mouth instead?

Dont go putting my name on it without permission!

Heres how itd sound on the battle field: Lets use Nadens Mouth here! This is the essence of Nadens Mouth. Is there no one here who can break out of Nadens Mouth?!

Stoooop iiiit!

You two...I know Im not one to talk, but this is a battle, so be a little tenser, would you? Hal, who was had brought Rubys body closer, said in exasperation.

Ruby nodded. You too, Naden. Take your job more seriously.

I didnt do anything wrong this time, did I?! Soumas the one acting silly!

...You have a point, Ruby admitted.

Dont worry, Im looking around like Im supposed to! I called back.

My job in this battle was to monitor the area and ensure no unexpected crises arose. We couldnt be sure there would be no sudden influx of reinforcements. That was why I was using Living Poltergeists to scatter my wooden mice and monitor a wide area around the battlefield.

As we were talking, I had a response.

Hal, theres a group of lizardmen coming in from the north. New ones thatve crossed the river. Theres fifty.

Got it! Well wipe them out real quick. Lets go, Ruby!

Okay!

Ruby flapped her big wings and flew off to the north.

Hal and Ruby were a commando unit. They used their power and mobility to support areas that looked ready to collapse, or to respond to unexpected situations like just now.

Now then... I said, looking down.

There was a one-sided fight unfolding. The lizardmen were being pushed back by the force Julius was leading and gathering at the narrow escape route to the west. With all the pushing and shoving to get there, some were even being trampled to death by their own kind.

It looked like some lizardmen were getting out of the encirclement through the escape route. They were trying to flee into the woods, but...it wasnt going to be that easy. This was a war of extermination. In order to avoid later troubles, we couldnt let them get away here.

So, Im counting on you for the finishing touches, Aisha.

My strongest fiance was waiting for the ones fleeing into the woods.

The lizardmen fleeing into the forest must have thought theyd escaped. However, there was no time for them to feel relief, as another crisis came down on them from above.

Hi-yahhh! Aisha shouted.

Thud! There was a loud sound as her greatsword swung into the ground, and a large lizardman was split in two.

The bisected lizardmans dead body crumpled.

Aisha, the strongest fighter in the kingdom, lifted her greatsword with one hand, a weapon heavy enough to split the ground after cutting through the lizardman, then effortlessly swung it to clean off the blood.

This feeling... Its been a while. Aisha held her greatsword level with her eyes. Today I am not here as His Majestys fiance, or as his bodyguard, but as a single warrior here to demonstrate her skills. Aisha of the God-Protected Forest is coming for you!

She held her greatsword sideways as she ran forward. As she passed by some lizardmen bewildered by the sudden surprise attack, a single flash of her sword divided three of them in two simultaneously.

Gishaa! the lizardmen shouted.

Coming back to their senses, the lizardmen pounced at Aisha, but she used nearby tree trunks as footholds to bounce from tree to tree.

I was born and raised in the God-Protected Forest. I have a slight advantage fighting in the forest, Aisha grinned with confidence.

It wasnt like the lizardmen could understand a word of what she was saying. But Aisha turned toward the ones who were bunching together to try to attack her and swung with her greatswords flat side down. Like swatting flies, the lizardmen were smashed.

Aisha shook off the blood like before, then looked at the lizardmen as if searching for her next prey. That glint in her eye intimidated the creatures, and they stayed still.

You arent coming? Then I will go to you! she yelled.

Aisha cut down the lizardmen one after another in order of proximity. For the lizardmen further away, she sent a cutting blast of air pressure, Sonic Wind, to cut them up. Her Sonic Wind slashed up not just the lizardmen, but the surrounding trees as well, making it like a violent wind.

This is crazy. Theres no way we can take her. The lizardmen instinctively sensed that and scattered.

However...

Whoa, there. Young Miss Aishas not the only one used to fighting in the forests! a voice called.

Having circled around in front of a fleeing lizardmen, Kuu took a hard swing with his cudgel into the underside of the lizardmans jaw.

An arrow that flew in from between the trees in yet another direction planted itself in the lizardmans forehead.

Up on a branch in a large tree nearby, Leporina held her bow at the ready.

Kuu jumped up into the branches, hanging down by his tail with a cheerful laugh. Members of the snow monkey tribe are good at climbing trees, and Leporinas from a family of hunters. Itll be another thousand years before youre any match for us in the forest.

If you get too cocky, youll get hurt, Leporina warned him as she jumped from branch to branch.

Oh, come on, like that would everWhuh?!

When Leporina landed on a branch in the tree Kuu was hanging from, the branches shook, and his tail slipped, making Kuu fall headfirst to the ground.

Leporina quickly looked down below. Wait, Young Master?! Are you all right?!

Ow... I didnt quite land properly. Though he was rubbing his head in pain, he didnt seem particularly badly hurt.

Though Leporina was relieved, she puffed up her cheeks. Geez, dont worry me like that.

Sorry, sorry... Now, lets clean up the rest of them.

Kuu shouldered his cudgel and took off running. Leporina hurried after him.

Those like Kuu, Leporina, and Aisha, who excelled at fighting in the forest, had been lying in wait to exterminate the lizardmen when they fled in there. The lizardmen who had been hunting chimeras were now being hunted themselves.

Just as the battle in the forest was ending, the battle in the field wrapped up too.

As might be expected from the side that had held the advantage from beginning to end, compared to the piles of lizardman bodies littering the battlefield, the combined forces of Lastania and Elfrieden had taken only minor losses.

The battle near Lasta was about to end in victory. However, it wasnt as though it was all over, so they couldnt afford to stop.

In with the soldiers, Julius was shouting, The liberation of Lasta is a success! However, if nothing changes, we will be surrounded again! We will continue north from here, seize the fortress at the river crossing, and push the line of defense up! Only once that is possible can the families inside the walls get a good nights sleep!

Then Julius thrust his sword skyward.

Its just one last push! Lets go!

Yeahhhhh!

With that, 3,000 soldiers marched on the fortress to the north.

They advanced up to the Dabicon River, taking out a group of a little over ten lizardmen that were heading south along the way, and approached the fortress near the crossing point.

It seemed there was no shortage of lizardmen nesting in the fortress, but they didnt have the intelligence to fight a siege and were quickly eliminated to retake the fortress.

Well done, everyone! Julius called. Give me a cry of victory!

Hip, hip, hooray!

The soldiers victorious shout echoed as dusk fell on the fortress.

Souma and Julius went on to use this fortress as their base, eliminating the lizardmen that crossed in small numbers, as they waited for the main body of reinforcements to arrive from Friedonia.

Material aid from the Union of Eastern Nations was now able to enter the liberated Lasta, and supplies were carried to the front-line fortress by the wyvern cavalry who had returned.

Then, a week later, roughly 60,000 reinforcements at last arrived from the Kingdom of Friedonia.