Gaston’s expression grew grim. He had been told in a fortune that he would find certain death there, but he couldn’t possibly tell his vice captain that he ended up becoming healthier during his time there. The training was only moderate exercise, enjoying hot springs, massages, beer with fried fish, and plenty of sleep on comfortable tatami mats.
“Well, never mind that,” said Gaston. “Ah, so that’s the Gedovar army. They brought quite the company, huh? This is gonna be fun!”
§
Aja let out a contemplative sigh.
The staff he had set on the ground was unsupported, though it remained upright. Magical energy radiated from him in waves, and countless pale-blue lights floated around him. He was using magic to capture the sight of the impending Gedovar army, a technique he had learned from the elf girl. Yet he hadn’t perfected it, so he could not find out the enemies’ skills.
“It’s hard to believe she can simultaneously distribute the sheer amount of information to everyone. That elf is extraordinarily talented.”
Spirit Sorceresses were quite rare, but there had been a few of them throughout history. As far as he knew, a select number had succeeded in their endeavors. More often than not, they fell behind their peers due to the high amount of experience required of a hybrid job.
When Aja thought of his and Marie’s first meeting, she was like a child in appearance and ability. It was mind-boggling to think how much she had progressed in a mere six months or so. He was uncertain what was responsible for her sudden growth. However, he suspected it had to do with the boy who was always with her or the many friends she associated with.
“Say, Hakam, do you mind if I ask you a question?” Aja called out to the man putting on some accessories behind him.
“What is it? If you want me to leave a will, do it later.”
Aja chuckled as he would have usually angrily spit at him. But the wisecracks didn’t bother him on the battlefield.
“That Shirley girl... You are aware of who she is, aren’t you?” Aja asked.
“Well, yeah. She gave us quite a lot of trouble on the last floor. Wridra told me that place is full of greenery now because of the sealed floor master’s powers, but it doesn’t work like that,” responded Hakam.
If that were possible, humans would have found some way to capture and use monsters. Hakam thought the more likely explanation was that the monster floor master had willingly cooperated with transforming the second floor. The aged mage Aja and Commander Hakam had an eye for discerning the true nature of things; if they didn’t, they could end up leading their brave men to their deaths.
“As long as she doesn’t mean Arilai any harm, there’s no reason not to treat her respectfully and keep her secret. It would be a different story if she meant harm, but that group is a sensible bunch. Very pleasant too.”
“What do you mean? She’s been causing harm. You have the instincts of a wild animal, and you haven’t even noticed?” Aja asked.
Hakam thought about it momentarily, rubbing his chin with furrowed brows. After preparing his equipment, he flipped open the tent curtain and asked, “Did something happen?”
The old man followed, his face wrinkling as he grinned. “She stole Team Diamond from us. They were a national treasure.”
“Hah, you’re not wrong. Some have also gone soft, parading around in maid outfits,” agreed Hakam. “You lot better not have offered tribute to those pretty ladies!”
His voice reverberated through the spacious cave. About ten were seated, their foreheads and the backs of their necks adorned with wirelike accessories. Several of them were shaken, their expressions filled with guilt, while others managed to suppress their reactions.
One of the younger men turned around and said, “Sir Hakam, please! We’re trying to focus on the Magic Stones, but you’re putting thoughts of Eve’s ass in our minds!”
“Hah, the greatest contributor can go ask Eve for a massage. I’ll allow it. Don’t you boys want her to ease your tension after taking a hot bath?” Perhaps Hakam said this as a joke or simply to lift their spirits, but he immediately realized he had made a mistake. An insane number of reactions arose from the soldiers in Mind Link Chat, and it was too late for him to take it back without destroying their morale.
He wondered if he could make it happen by offering her money and whether she could give one of his men a massage while lightly dressed. Just as he glanced to his side, Aja held up his staff as he laughed and said, “Don’t bring me into this.”
Suddenly, a sharp voice spoke directly into their minds.
“Reporting! The Gedovar army has arrived! I repeat. The Gedovar army has arrived! They have now entered the optimal attack zone! The number of units separated from their main forces is approximately two thousand!”
Hakam rubbed his chin. They were outnumbered ten to one. Although the allied army were in a favorable position, a three-to-one advantage would lead to a successful siege, and Gedovar’s numbers were far more than that. Not to mention, they barely had any defensive structures and needed to protect their tunnel at all costs. Just the other day, the allied army had taken heavy losses against enemy forces of a similar size―nearly half of their men had ended up in monsters’ bellies.
“Hm, a report from the scouts. No need to use your bombardment, Aja. Let them step into the booby-trapped passage,” Hakam said, unconcerned.
Under his leadership, the enemy army was drawn into the passageway between two rock walls. Aja, anticipating his moment of glory, let out a disappointed sigh.
§
A leglike tree trunk stomped down with a thud, sending sand flying into the air. Monsters leaped toward the path leading to the ancient labyrinth, their eyes glowing red with bloodlust.
An oasis in the middle of the mountain was shaped as if a giant knife had cut a wedge into it from above. Just as the monsters moved through the straight path, they crushed the stone altars and murals the Neko Tribe had left. The sun had already reached its highest point, intensifying the contrast between light and shadow. They marched with the intensity of countless jackhammers pounding the ground, accompanied by rocks breaking under their stamping feet. An elephant-sized beast charging forward was a sight to behold, and seemed impossible to stop.
On the giant’s backside, an eyeball glanced around. The other monsters also had eyes on their backs, all of which were restlessly observing their surroundings.
The vanguard monsters had powerful bodies that could withstand ambushes and keen abilities suited for seeking out enemies. They were clad in ten-centimeter-thick armor that covered their entire bodies without breaks, like a pill bug, and also had the eyeball on their backs. Plus, these monsters could send information on their surroundings directly to their commander, who was ready to respond to any situation.
However, something was amiss. The general of the vanguard unit, who was sitting cross-legged on a monster and carrying a sword on his shoulder, scanned his surroundings.
Two walls sandwiched the path, and he expected obstacles to stand in their way, though no obstacle would stop their advance. He felt many eyes on him, so he knew they weren’t alone.
“Did they cower from us in fear? No, that would be foolish to assume. It’s more likely that this is a trap. Humans are shrewd little creatures. I will peel them like pomegranates,” said the general, cracking his knuckles as he pondered about the war a bit longer.
Initially, the monsters had expected this base to be a larger-scale defensive position. The ancient labyrinth they were after was here, and they would seize not only powerful Magic Stones but control of the monsters lurking within it. Arilai’s defeat would come about if they successfully took control of it, so they naturally believed their enemies would concentrate their defenses there. But Arilai had stationed hardly any of their forces here.
“A shame because if they had brought Arilai’s national army here, we would have trampled them with ease.”
However, the Arilai soldiers didn’t come out from their defensive wall. Given the choice between dying earlier or dying later, they must have chosen the latter and abandoned the ancient labyrinth. They had supplemented their lack of soldiers by allying with three countries, but they would surely crumble when they realized the true nature of this war. Their fates were already decided; stepping out of their castle would see them flattened underfoot. Even if they abandoned the labyrinth, they would eventually perish.
The general covered his head with a black hood and drew in a breath, detecting a hint of a familiar scent in the bone-dry air.
“This is the land in which we were born. I’m sure of it. I can’t stand seeing this holy land under the control of those feeble humans. We’ll take it back in one fell swoop.”
He gave the order to continue their march without slowing while staying alert of their surroundings. Then, something abruptly blocked off the bright sunlight. The monsters had been sucked into the tunnel.
§
“The vanguard units have entered the tunnel!” someone reported in the darkness.
Hakam nodded with his eyes closed. His movements had become more measured as the situation grew more tense, and his mind worked incessantly to ensure their survival. The two hundred soldiers were nowhere near enough to defend their base. A single mistake in this exceptionally challenging mission would mean the end for them all.
Several pieces representing soldiers sat on a board. Hakam explored his options for using and timing the pieces at his disposal. He then spoke to one of those pieces, the aged soldier waiting at the end of the tunnel.
“Are you ready, Gaston?”
“Heh. Team Ruby’s ready and waiting. Over,” replied Hakam calmly without the usual snarky comment. Even if he were trampled to death by the enemy army, he would likely laugh and say, “Can’t win ’em all.”
Hakam rose and had a few men accompany him as he walked toward the narrow tunnel, where the enemy rushed through a path just beside it. The ground rumbled ceaselessly, and the clamor made it sound like some areas were in danger of collapsing.