Today, we set traps along the human army’s invasion route and prepared an ambush. It seemed the human army planned to use their numbers to attack the elven forces from multiple directions. Dispersing their forces might seem unwise, but the narrow forest paths and the threat of monsters likely forced their hand. They might also have been aiming to prevent any elves from escaping.
For us, this strategy allowed us to ambush and defeat the humans in smaller groups, which was quite advantageous. And according to the information we’d extracted from the Lady Knight, one of the main units would pass through our current location.
Anticipating a nice haul of experience, Asue and I set about creating our hunting ground. We shaped the terrain to resemble a slightly sunken animal trail that gradually sloped upward as it progressed. It was a demanding task, but with the two of us working together, it wasn’t overly exhausting.
We dug pits at the bases of the trees lining the path and trenches deep enough to conceal us a short distance away. To further ensure our safety, we discreetly integrated wooden shields into the nearby bushes. Then, we stationed our long-range attack unit, Regret, armed with the crossbows the blacksmith and her workers had crafted, in the trenches.
We prepared until absolutely everything was in place for the ambush. As an additional insurance measure, we also positioned the lightly armed unit, Hatred, in the trenches, ensuring that even if the enemy soldiers managed to jump over the pitfalls and dodge the rain of crossbow bolts, they would still be delayed—if the kobolds lurking in the pits didn’t kill them.
With everything ready, we waited. Soon, my doppelganger scouts reported back with information on the enemy’s movements. At their current pace, the enemy would arrive in roughly thirty minutes, so we all held our breaths and waited.
Finally, they arrived.
Led by a knight clad in dull iron armor atop a warhorse, the heavily armed troops advanced in well-ordered ranks. Their individual combat abilities seemed high, which fit the description of a main force. Numbering around five hundred, they were all equipped with costly full-body armor, indicating a wealthy contingent.
Among them, the number of magic users—including those in professions such as wizard, summoner, arcanist, and sorcerer—was probably around a hundred. Considering the destructive power of magic, even this force of five hundred was formidable. They could likely hold their own against the main elven forces, and maybe even repel them.
To us, though, this thoroughly prepared and well-equipped enemy was nothing more than delicious prey.
Once the last of the enemy ranks passed the designated point, I issued commands through the ear cuffs to block their retreat by felling trees. The crashing sound of the falling giants diverted their attention, and I issued the next command.
The initial attack involved rolling multiple rounded boulders down the slope toward the humans. The sunken path worked against them, and those who couldn’t escape in time were crushed or trampled by their desperate comrades. Some of our enemies tried to break the boulders with weapons or magic, but I had enchanted the boulders to resist such efforts. Anyone who tried to push back against them was crushed.
The rolling boulders caused the deaths or incapacitation of one to two hundred of the five hundred enemies. Many others were injured in the confusion, cut by their own comrades’ weapons as they tried to flee. The suddenness of the attack left them in chaos, making it difficult for them to regroup immediately.
Of course, I had no intention of giving the enemy any respite. Next, I ordered the crossbows to fire.
With their retreat blocked and the smell of their comrades’ blood and entrails filling the air, the enemy now faced a relentless rain of powerful crossbow bolts. To make matters worse, I had coated the tips of the bolts with my own poison, which ensured that even a glancing hit would be lethal. The enemy’s numbers quickly dwindled.
A few tried to charge toward the trenches to escape and retaliate, but fell into cleverly concealed pitfalls, where lurking kobolds swiftly finished them off. It was a pitiful end for those who thought they could escape.
Even so, this wasn’t enough to completely crush the enemy. The Dull Iron Knight’s command was not to be underestimated. The forces used their shields to block the poisonous bolts, slashed them out of the air with their swords, and gathered the surviving troops. Then they formed a defensive formation using the bodies of their fallen comrades to shield against the bolts. Despite our concentrated attacks, they successfully defended themselves.
Resigned to the limited effectiveness of the first wave of rolling boulders and crossbow bolts, I decided to send another round of boulders, but the enemy’s mages launched a barrage of spells that shattered the boulders despite their enchantments.
With the boulders and crossbows no longer effective, a temporary stalemate ensued. I admired the enemy’s resilience, especially that of the Dull Iron Knight, and grew increasingly interested. Hoping to add him to my ranks, I decided to hold off on the planned magical bombardment for the time being.
Instead, I ordered Ogrekichi, who led the heavily armed unit, Anger, to advance down the slope. To avoid friendly fire, I ordered the crossbow attacks to cease as I observed Ogrekichi and his troops with their tower shields.
The enemy seized the opportunity to launch a flurry of colorful magical attacks toward Ogrekichi. Red beams turned into spears of fire, and blue beams morphed into spikes of water. Various spells flew at high speed, but all were futile against the enchanted tower shields. The fire spears disintegrated into sparks, and the water spikes dissipated into mist.
Realizing the futility of targeting Ogrekichi, the enemy shifted their attacks toward the other hobgoblins and goblins. Yet Ogrekichi’s unwavering defense also blocked most of these attacks. His unit’s defense was too strong. I almost felt sympathy for the enemy.
As the gap between the two sides closed, the human soldiers, in a desperate gamble, broke from their formation. However, they couldn’t penetrate the Anger unit’s heavy armor. Instead, the soldiers were picked off one by one in coordinated attacks by unit members, each team of three attacking a single enemy.
The Dull Iron Knight, fighting Ogrekichi one-on-one, gave a valiant effort. But with his combat skills sharpened by recent battles with the Black Skeletons, Ogrekichi was a truly formidable opponent. The only reason the Dull Iron Knight was able to hold his ground at all was that I had instructed Ogrekichi to capture him alive rather than kill him.