Chapter 76 - Northern Territory's Monster II_009_A Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity
This story is a work of fiction.
Any characters, organizations, or names that appear are fictitious and have no relation to real entities.
Merry Christmas. Everyone, are you enjoying Christmas Eve?
Hahaha. The author couldn't sleep last night worrying about the sales of 'Reincarnated as a Prince and Researching Magic, and Now Everyone Respects Me?' which went on sale yesterday ((+_+))
■■■■■■■■■■
009_It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
■■■■■■■■■■
Completely taken aback by being told he could do as he pleased, Sora was deflated. He probed the true meaning of Colonel Strebas's words, but one look at the man's eyes was enough. It was clear he was determined to die.
(He's resigned himself to dying, so he's saying do what you want. He's saying he'll let me do as I please. I won't let these people die.)
Returning to the Forstei family's encampment, he immediately gathered everyone.
"So we can really do as we please!?"
"Elbert, show some restraint. Think about Zargan's troubles too."
"Hahaha. I've never heard of such a word as restraint, Sora-sama."
This guy is hopeless. Sora and Zargan stared at the knight Elbert as if to say just that.
"First, I'll hit them with a big one. After that, the entire defense force under Colonel Strebas will target the enemy's commander-in-chief. We're the support for that. We'll maneuver to keep the enemy's reinforcements away. Got it? We're the support."
That last part was said solely for the knight Elbert.
"It's a bit unfair that only Sora-sama gets to have the fun. This one would like to mow down the Jabaru Kingdom's rabble too."
The knight Elbert's eyes were entranced as he gazed at his beloved battle axe.
"If we finish it by ourselves, it'll be troublesome in various ways."
"What does the Marquis's esteemed grandson mean by that? You should proudly display your own martial prowess."
The eyes that had been entranced moments ago now fixed Sora with a sharp glint.
"Rising in the world too quickly can be poisonous. Even if you aim for the top, it's better to involve the people around you to some extent."
(And with that, maybe the pressure on me will ease up a bit.)
"Is that so?"
"Let me be clear, the people around you include you, Elbert."
"This one? You must be joking."
(If I rise in status, it's natural that you, who assists me, will too. This guy is completely...)
"Anyway. This time, we let the Commander-dono have the glory. Got it?"
"If Sora-sama insists so strongly, then this Elbert will say nothing more."
Zargan, who had been waiting in the wings, was holding his head, thinking, "He absolutely doesn't understand." Placing a hand on Zargan's shoulder, Sora pressured him with his eyes, saying, "You're the one who has to hold Elbert's reins." Zargan's stomach began to ache sharply.
An earth-shaking rumble could be heard. The vibration traveled through the wood of the watchtower to the soles of his feet, making it very clear that the Jabaru Kingdom Army was approaching.
Beyond the parched earth, he could see dust clouds rising. Beneath them were the soldiers of the Jabaru Kingdom he was about to fight. Moreover, they outnumbered them by more than ten times. It made him shudder.
The Jabaru Kingdom Army deployed as if to encircle the defensive positions. Just as expected.
(They should have just crushed us in one go, but they bother to surround us. When they understand that that very leisure is what will cost them, it'll be too late...)
Directly ahead, in the direction of the distant forest. The advancing Jabaru Kingdom Army split apart to encircle the defensive positions. Like a colossal swarm of ants, Sora thought with a wry smile.
"Approximately 8000 to the front, and 4000 each to the left, right, and rear. A magnificent sight, indeed. Hahaha."
Beside Sora, who was gazing at the Jabaru Kingdom Army from the watchtower, the knight Elbert laughed heartily.
The faces of the command staff watching the Jabaru Kingdom Army from another watchtower were pale. Seeing that, Sora found the knight Elbert's audacity reassuring. But because he didn't read the room, the stares from those around them were harsh.
"Oh, it looks like the enemy is giving a speech."
Three riders advanced from the front. One was a figure in a rather flashy, silver-white armor, though it lacked the solidity of Sora's blue-mithril steel armor. Clearly a person of some rank.
"Hear me, you people of the Kuodo Kingdom! I am the Third Prince of the Jabaru Kingdom, Salvana!"
The figure in silvery-white armor proclaimed himself Prince Salvana of the Jabaru Kingdom. Never having imagined a prince would appear, Sora was surprised.
The princes of the Jabaru Kingdom had never before appeared on the battlefield. He had even studied such things at school.
"I'll give you one hour. Surrender. Or else, you'll all be killed."
Salvana, acting as if victory were already his, spoke in a commanding tone that allowed no room for negotiation.
"Hahaha. A pretty cocky brat has shown up."
Elbert's loud voice reached Salvana's ears. He wasn't intentionally shouting; this was his natural voice.
"So you have no intention of surrendering! Fine, then, I'll have you all killed!"
Having said that, he wheeled his horse and returned to his army.
"That prince has a short fuse."
"That's your fault..."
Sora held his head at the knight Elbert's words.
To begin with, this kind of response was something the commander or someone ordered by the commander was supposed to give. Since he had answered on his own, it was enough to make Sora dizzy.
"Well, it's fine. We weren't going to accept that prince's surrender ultimatum anyway."
Sora recovered quickly.
Once they confirmed the prince had returned, the Jabaru Kingdom Army began its advance.
"There really is no grace period."
"Hahaha. An impatient prince indeed."
"Don't you be the one to say that."
As planned, Sora prepared the magic with the greatest effective range.
A magic circle composed of mysterious arcane script appeared, and the refined magical power converged. The enormous magical power swelled and converged repeatedly, with the magic circle controlling the surging energy. The sight of the air resonating and vibrating, causing pebbles to be swept up by such immense magical power, was a fantastical spectacle that roused the allied soldiers nearby.
Though Sora was taught by his master, the Sage Bajis, this magic was one he had developed himself. From a young age, he had been drilled in magic to the point of excess. And that wasn't all. He had also been thoroughly instilled with the knowledge of what was called science.
Bajis had said, "Magic is science." A person who has mastered science can use magic more effectively. At the foundation of magic lies science.
He said this was a borrowed saying from his own master, the Grand Sage Daguldor, but Sora remembered how Bajis's eyes would narrow nostalgically when he spoke of it. He had found it amusing that Bajis, too, had memories with his master, Daguldor.
The time came for the magical power, controlled by the magic circle, to be released.
"Go, Sonic Wave."
The violence of sound, peeling up the ground as it advanced, spread out like a fan, blowing away the soldiers of the Jabaru Kingdom Army. The sight of hundreds, even thousands of humans flying so easily through the air was not something one saw every day.
The Sonic Wave, fueled by overwhelming magical power, swept away most of the enemy in front without waning.
"What in the world is that!?"
"Don't ask."
Explaining it until the knight Elbert understood would take more than just until sunset. Sora had no confidence in teaching science to the knight Elbert. He also thought Elbert probably wouldn't understand anyway. People have their aptitudes.
"More importantly, tell the Commander-dono to launch an assault."
"Understood!"
"Let me say this: don't you charge in either."
"...I'll do my best."
(He was definitely trying to charge in.)
"Th-that foundational force... just what kind of foundational force is that?"
Colonel Strebas, who had witnessed the Sonic Wave, was so astonished his eyes looked ready to pop out. Since he didn't know of the existence of magic, he thought it was a foundational force, but he had never seen or heard of such a thing. Even Colonel Strebas, a veteran of many battles, had never seen anything like the Sonic Wave.
"Commander-dono. There's no time to be lost in thought. Now is the perfect opportunity to strike out."
Snapped back to reality by Lieutenant Sadam's pointed remark, Colonel Strebas issued the order for a full-scale charge.
"Hurry, charge! Charge! Move it!"
Colonel Strebas shouted as he descended the watchtower. Lieutenant Sadam, following behind him, was also far from calm. Having had the chance to witness the magic that had annihilated the vanguard cavalry, their confusion was comparatively lessened.
Colonel Strebas mounted his warhorse and took the lead.
"Commander-dono!?"
For the commander to be at the head of a charge was unprecedented. Lieutenant Sadam hastily leaped onto his horse and chased after Colonel Strebas.
So formidable was Sora's magic that Colonel Strebas had lost his composure. With his spirits running high, Colonel Strebas galloped forward. And in his field of vision, he caught sight of the few surviving enemy soldiers.
"Take thiiis!"
Colonel Strebas would later speak of that moment. He would say something like that could never be done again. He had no intention of trying, but more than that, he probably couldn't do it anyway.
And yet, because of that moment, he was where he was now. He would recount that it had been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Thank you very much for your continued readership.
I hope you will continue to support this work.
Also, please consider adding 'Bookmarks' and 'Likes.'
If you enjoyed it! Want to read more! Please rate it if you think so.
You can rate it from ☆☆☆☆☆ ⇒ ★★★★★ below. Minimum is 1 star, maximum is 5 stars.
'★★★★★' would really motivate me!