Chapter 53 - 053_The Beastmen's Tragedy
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053_The Beastmen's Tragedy
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The city of Usosogoudo had fallen to the beastman mercenary band. It was after the elderly who could not be workers had been killed and the young had been taken away.
Moreover, the beastman mercenary band had taken up position inside the city, lying in wait for Rodney and the Northern Noble Army.
「Can you not determine the number of beastmen?」
「Even when scouts are sent out, they do not return. Unfortunately, we cannot determine the numbers」
Geldovas answered Baron Jegusas's question. Without information, even the capable Geldovas was in a situation where he hesitated to judge.
According to information from the Kingdom Army, the beastman mercenary band numbered around 5000. Whether this information was correct was unknown. That was because, with only night raids and surprise attacks, no one had properly counted the beastman mercenary band's numbers.
Moreover, whether all of the beastman mercenary band were in Usosogoudo was also something Geldovas and the others did not know.
Thus, unable to attack rashly under these circumstances, they sent a messenger wishing to fight jointly with the Kingdom Army. However, the Kingdom Army replied that due to heavy losses, they could not send reinforcements.
The Northern nobles were appalled at this response, but they could not just sit idle. They proposed joint fighting to other noble armies, but no noble army gave a favorable reaction.
The Northern Noble Army, unable to leave Usosogoudo unattended, decided to camp before the city and consider countermeasures.
In this location, they had to be vigilant against night attacks and surprise attacks. Especially night attacks were extremely advantageous for the beastmen who could see in the dark, so Geldovas constructed a watch network that was spread out like a mesh.
「Even if the Southern nobles are joining the Kingdom Army, what are the Eastern nobles doing?」
When such a question was asked by one of the nobles, Baron Jegusas's face wrinkled.
The Eastern nobles were preparing in their respective territories for the Jabaru Kingdom Army's invasion. To put it badly, they were so afraid of the Jabaru Kingdom Army that they had buried themselves under their blankets.
「Fools. If you want to protect your territories, fight with all your might. Relying on the power of others is far too pathetic」
Baron Jegusas said as if spitting it out.
「What do they think we are fighting for?」
「We might as well abandon the east like this quickly」
Voices of dissatisfaction arose from among the nobles.
Though they had come all the way from the north, the Eastern nobles who should have been the most motivated had no will. It was only natural to feel that it was ridiculous and not worth doing. Even nobles with relatives in the east felt indignant at this treatment.
The Kingdom side was not united. Rodney felt this was the worst.
Rodney instructed them to be vigilant for night attacks in three shifts and decided to take rest.
After the sun set and night fell, he contacted Yulin. The Golem could not speak, but if it was sharing senses with Rodney, it could write characters. Of course, since it needed hands like a human to do that, the Golem attached to Yulin was humanoid.
The king was dissatisfied that the peace negotiations were not progressing, but the ministers seemed to be saying that peace could be made soon. Rodney did not know where the ministers' basis for that lay.
Also, conscription seemed to be taking place from the royal demesne around the capital. Under the pretext of rebuilding the devastated Kingdom Army, even while peace negotiations were ongoing.
Rodney asked Yulin to continue gathering information and wrapped himself in his cloak.
Rodney, who had been sleeping, felt a chill and sprang up. He had only been wrapped in his cloak while still wearing his armor, so he took up the White True Steel Sword and went outside the tent.
Rodney let his gaze wander over the surroundings dominated by darkness.
「Rodney-sama, is something wrong?」
The new squire Banis, who had been on watch, hurriedly approached.
「Wake everyone. Enemy attack」
「Y-yes, sir」
A world wrapped in a black veil, lit only by the firelight of the campfire. Hostility that was palpable even if not visible by the eyes. It was a thick killing intent that clung stickily to the skin.
Rodney wore the White True Steel Sword at his hip and drew it from the scabbard. Then Rodmel and the others arrived and readied their weapons.
「Semicircle formation!」
「Semicircle formation, hurry!」
Rodmel repeated Rodney's command, and the territory soldiers moved quickly. Forty territory soldiers and squires formed a semicircle of about 120 degrees in front of Rodney.
「Distance 50. Countless numbers. If you shoot, you'll hit. Fire!」
「「「Sir!」」」
Knights, squires, and territory soldiers fired 'High-speed Rotating Scatter Bullet' and 'Fluid Explosion Bullet.' The attacks disappearing into the darkness hit something. 'High-speed Rotating Scatter Bullet' released wind blades around it upon impact, ravaging a wide area. 'Fluid Explosion Bullet' caused an explosion at the same time the liquid metal adhered.
Screams that seemed to be from beastmen were heard. Both had wide damage ranges upon impact. Considerable damage was likely inflicted on the beastmen.
Hearing the sounds of 'High-speed Rotating Scatter Bullet' and 'Fluid Explosion Bullet,' the officers and soldiers of the Northern Noble Army roused themselves. The nobles who had camped near the Dedel Territory forces were already in a skirmish readiness after seeing Rodney and his men's actions.
Since night attacks were the beastmen's forte, it seemed every noble had thought there would definitely be a night attack, and there was no fool who slept with their armor off.
At Rodney's instruction, 'High-speed Rotating Scatter Bullet' and 'Fluid Explosion Bullet' were fired many times. Though the Dedel Territory forces' attack numbered less than fifty, its destructive power and attack range were overwhelming.
The Northern Noble officers and soldiers understood from the Source Power released by the Dedel Territory forces that something was being felled. However, they did not know what was actually happening in the darkness.
It was after Rodney stopped the attack that they shuddered at the might of the Source Power released by the Dedel Territory forces.
「Lord Forbas, what happened?」
「It was the enemy, but we've mostly cleared them away」
Having answered Baron Jegusas's question, Rodney took a torch and advanced into the darkness. Baron Jegusas, Geldovas, and the other Northern nobles followed, advancing into the darkness relying on the torchlight.
What they saw there were the mangled remains of beastmen that no longer retained their original form. It was obvious to anyone that they had once been beastmen, but they were speechless at the number.
When dawn broke, an investigation was conducted into how many beastmen had died. The exact number was unknown due to the severity of the damage, but there were nearly 500 beastmen corpses.
「Thanks to Lord Forbas, we suffered not a single casualty. And yet, we were able to defeat as many as 500 beastmen. A fine achievement indeed」
「It seems our compatibility was good」
Beastmen also possessed Source Power, but due to their nature, abilities that enhanced physical capabilities were more popular than emission-type ones. There were even beastmen with powerful defensive Source Powers like high-level Source Power 'Diamond,' but they could not withstand the destructive power of 'High-speed Rotating Scatter Bullet' and 'Fluid Explosion Bullet.'
「I believe we have captured most of the beastmen that came in this night attack. Only a few escaped」
「Lord Forbas, you possess a Source Power that allows you to sense presences, don't you?」
「If it's the presence of someone filled with killing intent like a beastman, I can sense it even from a considerable distance」
「That is reassuring! How about it, could you have the Dedel Territory forces conduct reconnaissance of Usosogoudo?」
If he could sense presences, Baron Jegusas thought that would be ideal for reconnaissance.
「Understood. I will conduct the reconnaissance myself」
「Much appreciated! Take about 50 of my subordinates with you」
「Thank you very much」
Rodney immediately headed for Usosogoudo. He maximized 'Keenness' with 'Strengthen' and 'Enhance' and entered the town.
But he quickly raised his arm and gave the order to stop.
Though the town was deserted, he felt the killing intent emitted by beastmen. They were hiding inside buildings, intending to surround them once Rodney and his men entered deeper into the town.
Beastmen had good ears and noses, and even if they couldn't see, they knew where humans and allies were. From inside the buildings, they moved their ears busily as if gathering sounds, searching for Rodney and his men's presence.
「Six in that house with the red roof. Five in that house with the blue door」
The squires led the territory soldiers and burst into the houses. Commotion was heard from inside the cramped houses. A beastman came flying out from the open entrance of the red house and collapsed limply on the road.
Soon the commotion stopped and the territory soldiers came out. They had managed to capture two beastmen and interrogated them, but they did not easily break.
「Take these beastmen to Baron Jegusas. Do not let your guard down during transport」
Having asked the five soldiers entrusted to him by Baron Jegusas to escort the beastmen, Rodney advanced further.
Rodney systematically eliminated the houses and blind spots where beastmen were hiding. Though it was reconnaissance, the number of beastmen he felled exceeded 100.
Rodney stopped and glared at the depths of the town.
「Fall back. Hurry」
They hurriedly retraced their steps.
The Dedel territory soldiers did not question it, but the Zabalujeen territory soldiers borrowed from Baron Jegusas wondered why they were running. This looked like they were fleeing.
「Run as if your life depends on it!」
Rodney's harsh voice was directed at the Zabalujeen territory soldiers who were starting to lag.
The Zabalujeen territory soldiers were running properly too. Even so, because their training differed from the Dedel territory soldiers, they tended to fall behind.
「H-hey! Look at that!」
One of the Zabalujeen territory soldiers shouted, seeing the large group of beastmen appearing behind them.
A number that filled the path was chasing them. That was nothing but terror.
The beastmen were faster, and the distance between the two forces gradually closed.
The Zabalujeen territory soldiers ran desperately. If caught by that many, they would not return alive.
When they reached the stone bridge at the entrance of the town, Rodney and the Dedel territory soldiers stopped.
「Zabalujeen territory soldiers, keep running and cross! Cross the bridge!」
After instructing the lagging Zabalujeen territory soldiers to cross the bridge, he had the Dedel territory soldiers line up in two horizontal rows.
「The enemy is advancing densely in a narrow path. It's a good chance to reduce their numbers. Fire!」
「「「Sir!」」」
When the front row fired, the back row fired. Repeating that many times, they slaughtered hundreds of beastmen, and the beastmen's advance stopped.
'Fluid Explosion Bullet' had a range of 100 lom, 'High-speed Rotating Scatter Bullet' 500 lom. Since these were the ranges, the beastmen thought that if they kept distance beyond that, they would not take damage. Indeed, the Dedel territory soldiers' attacks no longer hit.
「Rodney-sama. It seems they have brains about as much as a dog beast」
「That's right」
Rodney and Rodmel wore murderous smiles.
「Let's give them a dose of something with even longer range than 'High-speed Rotating Scatter Bullet'」
Rodney fired 'Explosive Annihilation Bullet.' The range of 'Explosive Annihilation Bullet' that flew straight down the path was 1000 lom, twice that of 'High-speed Rotating Scatter Bullet.' Moreover, its destructive power was incomparably higher than 'High-speed Rotating Scatter Bullet' or 'Fluid Explosion Bullet.' It was a Source Power with the strongest destructive power.
An explosion occurred, destroying the surrounding buildings along with the beastmen. The blast also reached Rodney and his men, violently shaking Rodney's emerald-colored hair.
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