The forests night which usually holds a silence was strangely agitated tonight.

Elves are able to see even in the night. Many humans believe that, but in reality its only a few who can.

And thus lights were indeed necessary no matter what if it turns into a battle during the night, moreover a large-scaled one.

The wind, which is sweeping through the trees, is tinged with the stench of iron rust and rot. Sometimes sounds of trees being smashed are weaved into it as well.

Its not like their long ears are particularly elegant.

The large army of monsters was approaching to the place where the elven garrison has drawn the defence line from a place roughly several kilometres away, however the elves are able to hear the disgusting sounds of their swords and armours rattling as well as their moans and footsteps.

I will definitely die tonight in this place, was the thought which dominated the elves.

Nevertheless, by killing many per soldier in this place, they believe that with stalling the enemy even a second longer, it will result in help towards the residents who are evacuating in the rear. Theres no one who breaks down or tries to run away.

Since they have lived for more than a few decades albeit being young elves, they are far calmer than humans in regards to such aspects.

There are no plans for reinforcements to arrive.

Several of them turned their heads to the rear wondering who it was.

Its the adventurer Renya = Kurugi! I have something to discuss with the commander Skrod. Please let me through! (Renya)

The one who made an appearance from within the darkness was Renya who gave a little girl with a maid appearance a piggyback for some reason.

While the elves were noisy wondering who he was, Renya shouts a second time with a slightly irritated voice.

There isnt much time, right!? Please let me though quickly! (Renya)

Im Skrod, but who are you? (Skrod)

The one who stepped forward from within the lined up elves was a woman with a tall stature compared to the other elves, blue eyes and blond hair with a short-cut hairstyle.

She wears similar gear to what Kurowaal wore, but at her waist is a small cane, likely the type of item called a wand, hanging.

Im the adventurer Renya, who came on a vacation trip here. I have something to tell you. Please listen to me. (Renya)

Renya-san!? (Kurowaal)

It was Kurowaal who rushed over while raising a voice of surprise.

She didnt carry a weapon at the time he saw her in the city, however now there is one rapier each hanging on the left and right side of her waist.

Yo, Kurowaal. Been a while. (Renya)

Dont Yo me! Why did you come here? (Kurowaal)

Shut up and be quiet. Get yourself quietly secured by me. (Renya)

Renya grabbed the head of Kurowaal, who had approached, in the style of an iron claw with his right hand and began to constrict it with scraping sounds.

Kurowaal struggled in a panic to tear off the hand of Renya with pain travelling through the temples of her forehead, but she whines as she is unable to move at all with their difference in physical strength.

O-Ouch! Its extremely painful, Renya-san!? It seems to be cracking!? (Kurowaal)

Listen up and stay silent. Faint just like that if you like. I will carry you in no time. (Renya)

You, did you hear about that child from some soldier? (Skrod)

A bit scorn is packed into those words. Skrod addresses Renya bluntly.

Certainly, if you retrieve only that child, you will be able to sell it as favour to His Majesty, the Emperor. Is that all of your business here? (Skrod)

A greedy human who came to just recover Kurowaal due to his desire to get a reward, thats probably how Im seen, Renya smiles bitterly.

Certainly, thats the easy way, but before I was to do such thing, I would have abandoned them altogether, he isnt able to say that though.

How foolish. Listen to people properly. I came to make use of a decent army for a bit. Theres nothing else but me overrunning the enemy. The matter with this child is just an extra while Im at it. (Renya)

What an idiot. What kind of things are you saying at this place where we are facing a losing battle? There is no way for there to be a method to overturn such overwhelming superiority in numbers. (Skrod)

Skrod flatly denies Renyas words.

Renya laughs scornfully at that.

The idiot is you. Do you think I expressly came to this place if theres no way to overturn it? What will you do? Will you listen to me? (Renya)

Lets hear it then. Please tell me. (Skrod)

Renya retorted to Skrod, who said that theres no such method, that there is actually a way.

It didnt look like the words of the soldier, who said that she puts priority on utility, were a lie.

If the enemy comes attacking with the superiority of numbers, we confront that with superiority of numbers on this side as well. Thats how you deal with this. (Renya)

Renyas suggestion was reasonable if you talk of a justified measure, but Skrod immediately denied that.

Impossible. Hasnt the other side more than 30 times our numbers? Tell me, where will you find the numbers to upset that disparity? Even if its reinforcement from the human continent, will they come flying here? (Skrod)

Its foolish to ask whether they will come. Look at reality. (Renya)

He cuts off and discards Skrods objection with a brief comment.

In any case, with the enemy approaching in front of our eyes, its necessary to act quickly.

Listen! And do it well. Split those, who are strong in defence magic, and those, who excel at the elven characteristic magic, from among the elves here. Those with characteristic magic have priority. (Renya)

And then? (Skrod)

Shut your eyes to the amount of damage that will appear in the city. While pulling back the line of defence a bit into the close quarters of the city, cast magic obstructing movement in one area thats likely to become the battlefield and if you are able to fill it with traps, then do just that. There should be something, if its magic that works in the forest, right? Things like confining with grasses or changing the ground into mud. (Renya)

There are some spells like that, but thats unreasonable. Just how much mana will be required at what range? (Skrod)

If it was an unreasonable suggestion, I wouldnt make it in the first place. I will supply the required mana. (Renya)

Frau, who was riding on Renya shoulders, puts both her hands into the pockets of her apron dress and takes out their contents.

With Fraus small hands around 10 gems were apparently the limit of what she could hold even if she used both hands, however it should still be a reasonable aggregate amount of mana.

However, Skrod shakes her head.

It wont be enough with this at all. (Skrod)

I havent said thats all of them though. (Renya)

Frau unfastens the sleeve button of her apron dress.

Once Frau faces the largely opened armhole towards the ground, an amount of the same sized magic gems as those that Frau took out from her pockets, as if it was some kind of joke, drop out.

As expected, Skrods expression stiffened and her eyes turned into dots due to the amount of magic gems which began to create a mountain, albeit a small one, while making clinking sounds.

Are you surprised, foolish woman? Create a trap area for the enemy army by using these while pulling back little by little. If its not enough, we will provide more. Form a defence encampment with your characteristic magic and defence spells once you arent able to withdraw anymore. (Renya)

Being called an idiot, Skrod comes to her senses and starts immediately to hurl orders at her subordinates.

From the point of the monsters views, it might be seen as them drawing back due to being scared.

Trees, which have short thorns, and long vines begin to sprout in order to close the gaps.

Its a forest barrier. Anyone but elves will be tripped up by that. Be careful since you are no exemption to that either. (Skrod)

Skrod pulls Renyas arm.

Kurowaal advances next to him.

I never heard of such large-scaled spell activation. (Kurowaal)

Kurowaal said while looking over her shoulder at the vegetation growing one after the other in her back.

Even I, whos already living for more than 250 years, has never seen or heard of such a thing either. (Skrod)

Skrod, who is pulling Renyas arm, says, however Renya, who suggested the invocation of such large-scaled spell, nonchalantly declared,

If thats the case, it will be a good experience. Wont you give me some appreciation? (Renya)

If we get saved by that. Rather than that, even if we create a defence encampment by deploying a barrier, we will be overcome sooner or later if we dont decrease the enemys numbers. (Skrod)

Skrod will have 200 of the 300 infantrymen devote themselves to the maintenance of the barrier. She planned to hold the encampment with the remaining 100.

And she didnt believe that she will be able to prevent the 20.000 monsters from breaking through the barrier with 200 archers either.

Its impossible to lower the damage to zero. Please understand that. (Renya)

Once Renya, who is still giving Frau a piggyback, said so, Skrod nodded right away.

On top of having received a pointer on how its possible to them to return alive, even if its only a part of them, she isnt in a position that she could complain either.

Although there are 20.000 monsters, they wont cause any damage if they cant get into fighting distance. The point is, right now we are able to delay the enemys hands reaching us as much as possible with a barrier and an encampment. (Renya)

Thats true. (Skrod)

In addition, we will continue to defend against the enemys attacks by secluding ourselves in the encampment to the best of our abilities. (Renya)

I know that too. However, we will be defeated eventually if we only keep defending. (Skrod)

Thats only natural. Frau, how much mana have you left? (Renya)

Renya asks while looking up.

After folding her arms and thinking for a bit, Frau opened her mouth,

The previous mountain consumed half of it ~no. I think that currently the remainder is still around 60% with the share provided by master ~no. (Frau)

Since it wont be a problem even if you use it up this time, please use another 5% at the occasion of erecting the encampment. (Renya)

Frau nods at Renyas words.

The amount of magic gems, which earlier produced a mountain, held a number that they could distribute around 10 gems to every soldier.

Even so, her statement means that she can put out around the same number of magic gems once again.

Somehow Skrods shock becomes stronger than her surprise at that point.

Once you have 10% remaining, I will be in charge of the fire power with my own mana. (Renya)

Thats pure foolishness! What can you do all by yourself!? (Skrod)

I will use a series of with void magic. I think you can expect quite the fire-power if I use it together with parallel spell formulae. (Renya)

E- E-Even so, something like a single magician being able to shoot several of those (Skrod)

Im able to activate up to 200 at the same time, but is that not sufficient, I wonder? (Renya)

He didnt attempt to go past his limit, but that amount was pretty much possible. Thats what Renya completed confirming.

Kurowaal, who was accompanying them at Renyas side, was already incapable of following the conversation. She has entered a stance of giving up and ignoring it.

Even so, it will likely be impossible to exterminate 20.000. I think that it will turn into a melee of crossing swords at the end. Please be ready for that. (Renya)

With a mere rapid fire of , it probably wont be only the monsters who will die, Renya murmurs into his chest.

Im unable to comprehend, but, got it. (Skrod)

It looks like Skrod herself is fully aware that it will be endless if she started to question why and how.

And, theres currently no point in asking Renya about that either.

Renya-san, you are amazing really, thank you very much. (Kurowaal)

Kurowaal has an expression as if she had given up on various things, but even so she puts it into words and gives Renya words of gratitude.

What, thats only natural, Frau throws out her chest in pride on top of Renyas head.

Master is amazing ~no. Its fine for you to praise him even more ~no. (Frau)

Oh, do you mainly intend to survive, even if its unreasonable, for the sake of my reward? (Renya)

You have spoiled various things with that, Renya-san (Kurowaal)

Even while dropping her shoulders crestfallen, Kurowaal began to feel like they will really be able to survive for some reason.