We ran through the rocky mountain wasteland to the vicinity of our destination, protected by our lead knight and a few soldiers.

　We paused on the high ground to check out the camp, which was about five minutes away at a run.

　The position was purposely built in an open area, and it could be seen that it was designed to block the attack from the other side to the place where the suspension bridge is located, and conversely, to serve as a base for the attack to the other side.

　The overall shape of the bridge is almost square.
　It was surrounded by a wooden defensive wall and furthermore, several layers of barricades had been laid around its perimeter.

''I guess the battle is already in the next phase .......

　Although the encirclement of the camp has been lifted, the battle is still continuing.

　The demon tribe's troops had gathered their forces at the back of the camp and seemed to be plotting a breakthrough from there.

　In contrast, the Golden Fang Knights had put reinforcements into the position to increase their defensive strength, while also placing forces in the periphery to prevent them from being re-encircled.

''Do we just wait here until the battle is over?''
Yes, sir. In a few moments, reinforcements should be arriving from Hollow Bottom Fortress.

　As the lead knight and I were confirming our future course of action with the lead knight, an exhausted Noir belatedly caught up with us.

''Ah ...... that ......?　We're not under siege anymore, but we're still fighting ......?　Which, neither ...... withdrawal, no ......?
Of course. This is just the beginning.

　To Noir, who shows confusion about the current situation, Garnett adds an explanation from the knight's perspective.

''Of course you understand that the mountainous region of the 'Demon King's Castle Realm' is divided into two parts by a deep canyon, and each side is the sphere of influence of the human and demon race, right?

　Garnett grabbed a sharp stone and began to draw a simple diagram on the hard, dry ground.

''This time, the Golden Fang has attempted to invade the other side of the valley, where they were stretched thin. Their aim was to control the mines where the demon race was mining resources. That suspension bridge and that camp is a foothold for that.
Well, that's ...... that explains it to me. ......
It's a strategy that the demon tribe can't overlook. That's why they tried to make a surprise attack by dropping the suspension bridge and surrounding the isolated position to make sure they got him.

　I'm not a military guy, but I at least know the advantages and disadvantages of surrounding a target.

　The advantage is that you can limit the damage to your own troops.
　It's effective when intense resistance is expected, and the longer it goes on, the weaker your opponent will be.

　The disadvantage is that your troops must have a large amount of food on hand.
　Since the battle must be a protracted one, if you don't have enough food, you will be trapped in a corner.

　They also have the weakness of not being able to encircle the area unless they can gather a large number of people.

　However, to the Demon King's Army, it is as good as having no disadvantages or weaknesses.

　This is the demon tribe's sphere of influence.
　Unlike the isolated position of the knights' group, the demon king's army can easily supply men and food.

　The only thing left to do is to continue stopping the reinforcements, which are the surest way to break the siege, and the demon tribe's tactical victory would be unshakable.

　--I'm not going to be the only one who has a good idea.

In the end, the siege was broken and reinforcements arrived at the position, but that doesn't mean the demon tribe is going to retreat. They will only switch to means other than siege warfare and try to attack us.
''So, then, ...... the Knights of the Order won't withdraw from ......?''
'As soon as we liberate the position, rescuing everyone and retreating is certainly an option. But hey, .......

　Garnett scrawled additional symbols on a chart he had carved into the ground with a stone.

...... If we retreat here, this invasion route can never be used again. The demon king's army will thoroughly fortify its defense. Moreover, there is a possibility that the defensive base could be used as a foothold for a reverse invasion.
'I see. ...... so both of you are desperate, or .......

　Noir nodded repeatedly with a satisfied face.

　The lead knight spoke to Garnett, who had finished explaining, with a surprised look on his face.

''That was an excellent analysis. I would even like to invite you to join our knights. What do you think, would you give it some thought?''
Ha-ha, you're f*cking hilarious.

　Although outwardly hiding his identity, Garnett is a knight belonging to the Silverwing Knights.

　However, this knight didn't know that, so he was wondering why he was instantly laughed off.

''Even so, I can't see the battle very well from here: ......

　As I stood on the edge of the high ground and stared at it, Noir pulled a doll from his bag that resembled a crow.

'...... I'll take a look at, let's see. ......

　The crow puppet flaps its wings like a real thing and flies towards the camp.

　【Black Magic】 skill to share senses with the user demon.

　I heard that live black cats and other things are often used, but Noir used a doll that he made himself with the 【Magic Tool Creation】 skill.

'The battle has not been ...... wall-to-wall ...... breached ...... sacra. ...... I wonder where ...... too many people have gathered ......Oh, there's a big golem too ...... Is it three or four times the size of a human ...... wearing thick armor ......?

　Noir kept his eyes closed and explained the information he could get through the messenger.

'......!　Oh, that's ......!
What's up, Noir!
''Reinforcements are ...... demon reinforcements are ...... approaching ......!

　The moment he heard that, the lead knight changed his face and crowded Noir.

''What?!''　Do you have an idea of the size and composition of the reinforcements!
''The soldiers of the ...... demon clan attacking the ...... camp have different armor than the soldiers in the ...... demon king's castle...'' ...
'You didn't mean to send in the Demon King Gandalf's Kingsguard: ......!　So much for seriousness: ...... for more information!

　Noir tried to focus his attention even more, but right after he did, he freaked out and opened his eyes!

Ahh, ......!
What's going on?
...... They shot me down. At that distance, it's not normal to notice ...... that you're not .......

　The lead knight shook his shoulders at the information brought by Noir and hurriedly sent instructions to the soldiers under his command.

''Raise the wolfsbane (signal)!　Enemy reinforcements are on the way.　Tell the local troops and reinforcements from the fortifications that they are in danger!
Yes, sir!

　The soldiers lit a small device made by an alchemist, causing three different colors of smoke to billow out.

　Meanwhile, the lead knight was unfolding a map and getting more details from Noir.

''My God!　If the enemy reinforcements are in this position, the reinforcements from Hollow Bottom Fortress won't be able to get there in time!　If that happens, there's no way to win: ...... At this point, you're already fleshed out by the siege golem!　This alone is a threat: ......!

　In less than a minute from the wolfsbane, two knights on horseback rushed from the camp at full speed.

''Is it true that you mean reinforcements!　I would like to hear the details!
'Oh, yes!　It's a big deal!

　Garnett muttered in front of the sudden turn of events.

'...... Hey, white wolf. Which do you prefer, staring blankly with your fingers in your mouth or running away with your tail in your mouth?
What?

　I snickered at the two choices - as I was supposed to - as if they were obvious - just as Garnett had expected.

''I refuse to do either. If the Golden Fang Knights lose, it means that Green Hollow's safety is at stake. Besides, there's Sakura over there, too.
Yeah. I knew you'd say that!

　Garnet smiled wryly and grabbed the reins of the horse that the knight had just dismounted and started to run.

　I immediately guessed his intentions and followed him at full gallop.

　By the time the knight realized that his horse had been taken, Garnett had already jumped into the saddle with a flutter, and I had already climbed in behind him.

'Nah!　What are you doing!
I owe you one!　If the white wolf's (this guy) is around, even if the barrier is destroyed, it won't hurt or itch!
'We just need to get the job done as fast as possible!　Request the position [restoration]!

　The two horsemen galloped along, ignoring the calls of restraint.

　I gripped Garnett's slender waist tightly and focused only on not being shaken off.

'Open the gate!　I've got Luke from the White Wolf Forest!

　The defenders of the camp were confused by the suddenness of the event, but when they saw my face, they hurriedly opened the gate.

　As I rode my horse into the camp, impatient voices from all directions jumped into my ears.

''Support the troops positioned outside the defensive wall!　Use every bow and magic you can get your hands on!
Put out the fire now!　Defend the larder!
'Don't let the siege golem get any closer!
No!　Destroy the golem, you can't get there in time!　I will inevitably take the blow!

　Garnet accelerated his horse and crossed the camp at once, coming to an abrupt stop before the back gate where the Demon King's army was attacking him.

　Even if we don't bother to exchange words, he understands what I have to do.

　I dismounted from my horse as if rolling down and quickly dived through the waves of soldiers running around frantically, grabbing the magic crystals I took out of the pouch.

''Golem attack, coming!　Watch out for debris and impact!
Activate...

　He got his hands on the protective wall and slammed his best magical power into it.

　At about the same time, a huge fist covered with thick metal armor pierced the wooden barrier.

　--The next moment.
　The countless fragments of large and small that scattered in the air came to a standstill and returned to their original position as if they were flowing backwards at high speed, bouncing the giant golem's arms in the opposite direction.

　The ground shook violently as the giant rock body toppled over behind the defensive wall.

　My [Repair] was faster than the golem's fist to penetrate it.

　By fixing it as soon as it was broken, I was able to counteract the destruction of the defensive wall itself.

'............ Oh, oh, oh, oh!

　After a few seconds of pause, the cheers of the knights and soldiers echoed through the camp.