*

　Now, how to inspire, Roy thought as he looked at the shushing mercenaries.
　Honestly, Roy didn't think the rebels would use magic items here.
　That would be the same for Algena and the head of the Bowties Treasury.
　Magic items for attacks were relatively expensive.
　At least it's not something you would use to kill a vagrant.
　No, maybe that's why he used it.
　By using the magic item, the mercenaries understood that the rebels were going to do everything they could to kill them.
　It made the possibility of death, which they hadn't thought about in the corner of their heads or at all, seem real.
　On the one hand, I wondered what the hell was going on now that I was in the battlefield, but on the other hand, I felt I had no choice.
　Assumption and reality are two different things.
　There are times when you think that you might die, but rarely do you imagine that you might be able to intestine yourself to the ground.
　I'm not sure how far they intended to go, but the rebels succeeded in scaring the mercenaries away.
　Surprisingly, or perhaps I should say, the one who acted the quickest was Director of Finance Bowties.

''Gentlemen, do not be daunted!''

　Treasurer Bawties stood in front of the mercenaries and raised his voice.

''Why do you think the rebels used the magic item?　That's only because the rebels are afraid of you!　Behold the rebels!　The poor thing hiding in the hole and looking at the situation!　That's the proof that I'm afraid of you all!

　Treasurer Bawties said fluidly.
　There is no evidence that the rebels are afraid of us, but there is also no evidence that they are not afraid.
　But there is no evidence that they are not afraid of us, either.

''I'll say it again!　The rebels are so afraid of you that they are forced to use magic items on you all!
Yeah. Oh, you're scared of us.
Yeah, of course. They don't usually use magic items on us, do they?
I'm surprised you can do it.
Yeah, we'll do it.
Yeah. We're going to make it.

　Baron Bawties' proclamation seemed to ease the mercenaries' fears a bit.

''But can we really do it?　Arrows do fly, too.
"Arrows are not worthy of fear!　Look at that!
....

　Baron Bawties pointed to the rebel field position, but the mercenaries were silent.
　They didn't know what he was going to say.

''We only need to watch out for the enemy in front!
'Right, then!'
'Oh, we're about to win!
You just have to watch out for the front!

　The mercenaries finally seemed to understand when Treasurer Bawties said irritably.
　We just have to be careful of the enemy in front of us.
　Certainly not a mistake.
　The rebel position is like a saw blade and is wavy, so it won't be attacked by all the soldiers.
　However, if you go deep into it, you will be attacked from both sides.
　It's like being surrounded by half a dozen soldiers.
　If they tried to break through with all their might, the casualties would be enormous.
　Either Treasurer Bawties understands what he's saying or he doesn't.
　Perhaps it's the latter - but even so, the mercenaries are quite good at listening.
　I can only assume that someone is inciting them.

''If you understand, quickly neutralize the obstacle.
All right, I'll go next!
I'm coming with you!
Me too!

　One by one, the mercenaries came forward, and about a hundred of them stepped forward.

''Charge!''

　The mercenaries walked out slowly as the head of the Finance Bureau Bawties gave the order.
　The mercenaries were vagrants - they had only the same or lesser physical strength than ordinary people.
　Far before reaching the rebel field position, they ran out of strength.
　When they reach the halfway point, they walk quickly and pick up a blanket near the overturned cart.
　Just as I was about to pass the obstacle at the very front, an enemy archer fired an arrow.
　After all, it seemed that they were only able to attack up to the intended obstacle.
　Luckily, I should say, the arrow pierced the ground.
　This was because the mercenary fired the arrow just as he was about to start running or not.
　But, after all, luck doesn't last long.

''Gah!''
Gag!
Heeeee!

　Arrows poured down like rain, and the mercenaries fell one by one.
　The mercenaries ran frantically through the rain of arrows - suddenly, an explosion rang out.
　Once again, the rebels had used their magic item.
　The mercenaries flew high into the sky or were blown away.
　It was hard to see them clearly due to the dust cloud, but probably a hundred of them were all dead.

''d*mn, not again!　No, that's the only explosion. Even if the obstacle was damaged--!

　When the dust cloud cleared, Director of Finance Bowties gasped.
　The obstacle was intact - or at least didn't appear to be damaged.

'Next!　Next, no, wait!

　The mercenaries were scared out of their minds again, but the Director of Finance Bowties covered his mouth with his hand thoughtfully.

'Shields!　Let him have a shield!

　The director of finance, Bowties shouted, but no one made a move.
　In the first place, the head of the finance bureau is not a person in the military chain of command.
　It would have been good if he had at least brought a military man he was familiar with--''

''Hey.....
Ha!

　The second-in-command straightened up as Roy gave him a look.

'To the mercenaries--'
Don't do anything you wouldn't do.

　Arjena, who had come before he knew it, interrupted Roy's words.

'You know the Director of Finance Bowties wants a shield.
"You can't give a bunch of mercenaries a weapon.
Your shield is your armor.
"I don't care if it's arms or armor. I'm saying we can't give these mercenaries our equipment.
...I see.

　Roy lightly cowered his shoulders.
　Arjena must be afraid that the mercenaries he gave the equipment to would turn into wild thieves.
　No, I should say that Ralph Libra, the Director of Military Affairs.

''Then how about a barrel lid?''
A barrel cap?

　Argena raised her eyebrows dubiously.

''A barrel lid isn't a piece of equipment, and that doesn't mean you're ignoring the instructions of the War Office Chief Lord, does it?
Mm-hmm. Yeah.
'Also, why don't you give Bowties a second-in-command as treasurer?　And I don't think I could take care of him on my own.
Yeah, I'll do that.

　Surprisingly, Arjena agreed.
　Perhaps she had received instructions from the Director of Military Affairs Ralph Libra.
　Finally, he was beginning to understand how to move Arjena.
　Normally he was a little more flexible, but he was a troublesome man.

'I'll put my man in support of the Director of Finance Bowties, you have no problem with that?
Yeah, I'm not complaining.

　I wanted to ask the general soldier who was entrusted with building the position, but he seems to be in a position to be a clothier.
　You can't let the head of the financial bureau of Bowties be your babysitter.

I hope this will help.

　Roy let out a small sigh.

*

　Two more times, maybe three, Roy looked up at the sun.
　The sun was leaning heavily, but there was plenty of time until sunset.
　Considering how lazy they've been so far, they'll make one or two attacks and that's it.

'Okay, get in position!'

　The mercenaries, armed with barrel lids, lined up in the front row as Treasurer Bawties gave the order from horseback.
　There were more than two hundred of them - the idea was to double the number if a hundred wasn't enough.

''Charge!''

　Following orders, the mercenaries walked slowly.
　When the distance was less than halfway, they walked fast, picked up a blanket at the overturned cart, and started running at the foremost obstacle.

''Geez!''
Hi!

　Screams rose intermittently. He was pierced by an arrow fired by an enemy archer before he had time to hide behind the lid of the barrel.

'Don't run!　Lid!　Protect yourself with the lid!
Oh, yeah?

　One of them shouted, and the mercenaries knelt on the spot, pointing the lid of the barrel at the enemy position.
　The mercenaries who pointed the barrel lid directly upwards were shot through, but this was inevitable.

''Hiiii!　God!
'If I survive, I'll work hard!　So, so, please help me!
Godd*mn it, how could this happen?
I was trying to make money by killing people, and I'm getting a bee in the bonnet!
Good luck!　Hang in there!

　While most of the mercenaries were crying out, a young man - old enough to be described as a boy - inspired his companions with a high-pitched voice.
　That's quite a gutsy kid, Roy laughed.
　In the unlikely event that he came back safely, I'd be happy to make him my man.
　It was an idea, but it didn't seem like a bad idea.

'Good luck!　Come on!　Hang in there!

　The young man raises his voice.
　Perhaps, by inspiring his friends, he is inspiring himself as well.

'When the arrow breaks--'

　The young man's voice was cut off by a popping sound.
　An arrow fired by an enemy archer broke the lid of the barrel and pierced the young man's temple.
　The young man slowly falls forward--.

''Hiiiiii!''
You can't protect yourself with this stuff!
Run!
God!

　The mercenaries threw down the lid of the barrel and ran away.

''Fool!''

　Roy let out a small spit.
　What was he going to do if he threw down the lid of the barrel and ran away when the enemy archers were firing arrows at him?

''Geez!''
Oh, my God!
Mother!

　Short screams sounded like a series of overlapping screams and the mercenaries clattered down.
　In less than a minute, the two hundred or so mercenaries were wiped out.

''Next!　Next time, go with three hundred, no, four hundred!

　Treasurer Bawties calls out hysterically, but the mercenaries do not move.
　On the contrary, they begin to inch back.
　That's bad, said Roy, carrying his spear.
　If one of them escapes, the rest will follow.
　It's not difficult to subdue them, but it's difficult to say whether you can seize them all.
　At that moment, Arjena hit the ground with a spear stone thrust.
　It wasn't that loud, but the mercenaries looked at Algena.

''........Running away before the enemy is a death sentence.
What, death?
What? I mean, he ran away.
We're not soldiers.

　The mercenaries buzzed as Arjena sternly announced.

The mercenaries murmured, "During this operation, you will be treated as Imperial soldiers. Running away from the enemy is a crime of death, and those who cover for you are equally guilty.
What's this all about?
Fool, that means I'm going to kill my family when I get home.
Why did you do that?
'Doesn't the nobility have human blood in their veins?

　Arjena raised her spear high and slammed a stone thrust into the ground.
　Then the mercenaries fell silent.

'People who try to make money by killing people, accusing others of doing so is a one-sided affront.
....

　I thought there would be a complaint or two because they were shelving themselves to the hilt, but no one would disagree with Arjena's words.
　Maybe they think they will be killed just for objecting.
　It's somehow settled, Roy inwardly patted his chest.
　However, he couldn't be relieved.
　This time I just stifled my dissatisfaction.
　Every time the frustration erupts - no, the next time it will be uncontrollable.

'Move on!　Move on!

　The mercenaries sputtered out as Treasurer Bawties raised his voice.

If the rebels are not defeated, you have no future!
f*ck you.
What is this?
I wish I hadn't thought of this as a way to make money.
I'd rather have been begging.

　Bumbling and complaining, they head for the rebel field position.
　The mercenaries didn't start running even after passing the foremost obstacle.

''What's the matter?　Run!　Run!

　Treasurer Bawties calls out from his horse.
　At this rate, we'll end up being shot through by arrows.
　Despite this, the mercenaries' steps are as slow as a turtle.
　They must be in a discarded bowl mood.
　The arrows poured down past the foremost obstacle.
　The mercenaries fell down with a thud--.

''Hiiiiiii!

　The mercenary with an arrow stuck in his shoulder screamed and the entire movement stopped.

''Ouch!　Ouch!　Ouch!

　The mercenary fell on his ass on the spot and yelled out a painful ouch.
　The way he flapped his arms and legs is that of an infant, while the arrows rained down relentlessly.
　It's not surprising.
　The enemy is the enemy, not the mother.
　There's no reason for them to relax their attack just because they've flapped their limbs.
　Unfortunately, the mercenary was pierced in the arms and legs by arrows, but he was still alive.

''Ow!　Ow!　Hey, kill him!　Just kill it!

　Shouts echoed across the battlefield as the mercenaries split into two groups.
　However, they were not trying to help their wounded comrades.
　They were divided into those who were running towards the incapacitating obstacle and those who were running away.
　Mind you, the former seems to be more common.
　The fact that one of them had suffered a miserable loss must have inspired them to do something about it.

'Don't run away!　Disable the target!

　Treasurer Bawties shouts to those who are fleeing, but no one follows, either because their voices aren't heard or because they're ignoring them.
　That's when. An arrow lodged in the chest of one of the mercenaries.
　It was not a rebel's arrow.
　Argena's men attached to the head of the Bawties Treasury Department fired arrows at him.
　The mercenaries who were heading towards us were stopped by the attack from their allies.
　Arjena's men were silent, but I know what they are trying to say.
　In other words, run away and I'll shoot you.

''d*mn, d*mn it!

　The mercenary shouted in desperation and began to return to the path he had come from.

''Well we don't have any allies, do we?

　One of the waiting mercenaries blurted out, but it was probably too late now.
　Roy shifted his gaze to the front and opened his eyes lightly.
　Those who had run towards the obstacle had been nearly wiped out.
　Only one person had survived.
　The man carried a blanket and staggered up to the obstacle.
　Each time he did so, blood spilled out.
　As the man unfolded the blanket, arrows rained down on him.
　The arrows pierced his entire body, but the man fell down with the blanket in his hand.
　The man fell straight to the side, but the blanket covered the obstacle.
　Considering the size of the obstacle, it only partially neutralized him, but an achievement is an achievement.

'Great!　That action is exactly what the Imperial subjects should be doing!

　Treasurer Bawties praised the dead mercenaries, but the mercenaries are quiet.
　The mercenaries who were driven back there now are in the middle of eating the enemy's arrows.
　No one would agree with them, no matter how little camaraderie there was, no one would agree with them.
　Perhaps noticing this, the Director of Finance Bowties cleared his throat as if to mend his ways.

''That man is a true brave man!　I'll give you a hundred gold coins as promised!

　Treasurer Bawties turned his attention to Algena's men.

'Find out who that man is and deliver the reward to his family.
Ha!

　Arjena's man - now the deputy to the Director of Finance Bowties - straightened up and replied.

'Shall I be paid for my death?'
But it won't do you any good if you're dead.
Oh, so you're going to leave your mother some money?
Feeding the kids...
I don't have any relatives.

　I thought I should offer these terms from the beginning, but some of the mercenaries seemed to be willing to do it.

''Next, five hundred!　Is there anyone who thinks I am?
I'll go.
I'm going to...

　The mercenaries step out in a sluggish manner.
　Their faces are tinted with a sense of grief.

You're going to deliver the money to my family, right?
Yeah, I promise.

　Treasurer Bawties grinned.



　Crono was standing at the rear of the field position, staring at the battlefield when his second-in-command called out to him.

''General, aren't you in the main camp?'' (Bum?)
You too, Mino.
"I'm a self-made man, you know. "I'm a hard worker, so it suits me better to be on the spot.
I'd rather be in the field too.
The mission is running smoothly, sir. (Bum?)
Yeah, but I was worried.

　His second in command nodded his head curiously, and Crono responded with a sigh.
　Except for the slow movement of the imperial army, the operation is progressing well.
　We've already killed over three hundred enemy soldiers, but they don't seem to be the main force.
　I want to drag the main force out of here as soon as possible.
　This battle will depend on how much strength the Imperial Army can conserve to enter the final phase.
　Well, it might be the same in any battle.

''What are you worried about, General? Bum?　(Bummo?)
I'm not sure I'm ready to judge a battle from a report.
"....general...

　The second in command grunted, but there was no point in looking good.

'It worked reasonably well in the exercise, but it's still better to look it in the eye.
"Well, that makes me feel like a general, but the diorama that the engineers made was wasted on me," he said.

　The deputy scratched his head raggedly and stared at the main camp - the tent where Tyria was located - with somewhat distant eyes.

''It hasn't been in vain. After all, Her Royal Highness is watching us.''
"...that may be so, but...

　The second-in-command slumped his shoulders in disappointment, and then the imperial army moved.
　The enemy infantry was slowly approaching us.

There are four hundred or maybe five hundred of them. How many arrows do you need to replenish?
"We've been done with that for a while.

　The deputy raised his hand lightly and patted the basket hand - a communication magic item there to be precise.

'That's handy, isn't it?'
"Hey, with this, there's no need to make someone else run." (Bumo)

　The second in command nodded at Crono's words.
　When the arrows start to run out, he would request to replenish them via a magic item for communication.
　Then, the soldier in charge would run to replenish the dimensions.
　Crono brought the basket hand communication magic item to his mouth.

'Leila, it's the same as before.
"Yes.

　Leila's voice echoes from the magic item for communication.

"Things are different from before, aren't they?
It won't change what we do.

　Whether they are willing or not, we will just kill them.
　The enemy infantry is slowly approaching us.
　The farthest we could get was through the side of an obstacle made of iron thorns - and we passed by the side of the obstacle made of iron thorns.

''Whoa!

　The enemy infantry shouted in unison and rushed in.
　Slightly later, the archers commanded by Leila fired their arrows in unison.
　A rain of arrows rains down and the enemy soldiers fall down in a flurry.
　But--.

''Oh!

　The enemy infantry kept on shouting and rushing at us.
　They didn't look at the wooden shields, but grabbed their blankets and ran on.
　Some fell on the way, some got caught up and fell over, some got trampled.
　Of course, some were shot through by arrows.
　Until last time, their movements would have been slowed down, but this time, they rushed in even more in line.
　Perhaps that's why so many of them survived this time.
　When was the last time I heard of a coward dying first on the battlefield?
　Was it the military school, the southern frontier, or the original world?
　The theory was that cowards were slower to charge and consequently more vulnerable to attack.
　When I heard it, I thought it was something like that, but maybe it meant that they couldn't aim while they were moving.
　However, the archers of the Imperial Army are all elite. Furthermore, I didn't order them to aim and shoot.
　They are ordered to fight to make arrows fall within the range.
　Just as the dozen or so survivors were about to drape a blanket over the central obstacle, an explosion occurred.
　A volunteer soldier shot out a magic item with his crossbow.
　Despite the blast at close range, the enemy infantry remained in place.
　No, I should say that they remained.
　Half of his body was gone in the explosion.
　Even so, the reason they were able to stay in place was because they were caught by the iron thorns.

''I've been ... killed.

　Crono scowled.
　The half-finished enemy infantry was covered by iron thorns.
　Underneath it was a blanket.
　The part covered by the blanket was part of the whole, but there was no doubt that even part of it had been neutralized.
　An ooh-ooh-ooh sounded from a distance.
　The Imperial Army is cheering.

'You're on a roll, aren't you?' (Bumo)
'Well, it's a good thing we're finally getting some kind of result.

　Crono cowered his shoulders. Thanks to his second-in-command's spiteful words, he was able to keep his composure.
　It would be better if they didn't break through the obstacle, but he didn't plan his strategy on the assumption that they wouldn't break through.

'Well, what comes next?'

　Crono moistened his lips with his tongue.

*

'Yes!　He didn't come!

　Crono returned to his tent and sat down in his chair with a thud.
　As he plopped down on the desk, Mino came in.

''General, your voice is too loud.'' (Bumo)
"But,

　Crono poked his cheekbones.

''If you think they're going to attack you like that, you'll go back to your position.
"Well, the sun's gone down, you know.

　The second-in-command leaned out of his tent and looked up at the sky, but it was still before evening when the Imperials last attacked.
　He thought there would be one more attack, but the Empire had returned to its position.

''I'm sure it will be sunny tomorrow, too.'' (Bumo)
I hope so.

　We have measures in place for when it rains, but we don't want to see rainwater pooling in the trenches and spreading disease.
　If that happens, we won't be able to fight.

"It's always the case that your opponent won't move as you wish," said Bumo.

　The second in command said with a sigh and took a seat facing him.
　At first glance, he looked unreliable, but the dwarf's specially made chair didn't even squeak.

''Nah, it's just different than usual.''
''We had time to prepare this time. Even if you say there's a difference in strength, it's not a hopeless number.
'Well, usually we try to get by with tactics and get crushed by the amount of stuff we have, or we seem to be able to get by and then our supplies run out, or we get kidnapped, or something unexpected happens... yeah, as far as I'm concerned, it's not a good idea.
"I hope this is the last time we get to see you.
I think so.

　'It's going to be difficult,' he adds in his mind.

'That being said, I'd like to know why the Empire is moving so slowly.

　Crono stared at Kagome's communication magic item.

*

'Just because they're wary doesn't mean they have any right to be quiet, and if they are wary, they're wary, and they're scheming like a good officer.

　Aridid muttered as he looked at the imperial army camp.
　The Imperial Army's camp is an encampment - it's for generals to rest and accumulate supplies.
　Compared to the Imperial Army's camp, it's not as difficult to attack compared to the Imperial Army's camp.
　Well, only compared to the Imperial Army's camp.
　With the hundred or so soldiers in Aridid's custody, harassment is the best we can do.
　So we'll harass them.

''Like the wind direction is OK?''
"It's OK, that it is.

　When Alideed looked next to him, he saw that Taiga was about to throw a stone the size of a pinky fingernail - a magic item for ignition - into the branches of a stack of trees.
　The sparks that flew off ignited the dead grass and flared up, causing smoke to drift towards the Imperial camp.
　At that moment, a kern, kern sound rang out from the empire's camp.
　After a while...

"What?
Fire!
The rebels are attacking by night!
"Gather the troops now!

　Enemy soldiers, sensing something unusual, started to make a commotion and gathered in one place.

'It's like a pretty quick response,'
"What shall we do?　I could kick the shit out of a hundred or so people, that I could kick the shit out of them, that I could.　(in Buddhism)
I'm gonna draw them away.

　Originally, I'm here to harass you.
　No, well, I understand that this is an operational action that puts a strain on the body and mind of the enemy soldier, but what we are doing is harassing them.
　You should not think too hard and think about how you can make the other party more dislike it.

''They're here, that they are.

　A hundred or so soldiers jump out of their positions and run towards us.

''Good!　Like a transposition!

　As Alideed turns on his heel and runs away, his men run away with him.

'Roll away!　Tipping!　Like it's not a retreat!
"A retreat is a retreat, that it is.
It's just my mood!

　Suddenly Arid had an idea.

'Barker, barker, imperial soldier barker!
Children, that is.
"f*ck you!
Rebels!
I will cut you to pieces!

　Taiga said in a dumbfounded manner, but the enemy soldiers became enraged.

''Ba, just by calling me an idiot, you're tearing me to pieces, like the alchemy that says you can turn a stone into gold is also very blue!

　A short while later, a papa-panning sound came from behind me.
　A separate force - Deneb and the others are throwing magic items into the Imperial Army's position.
　It's a substitute that only scatters light and sound - like a toy, according to Eryll, but Alideed liked the fact that it didn't take much damage even if it was handled carelessly and unleashed.

'Wha, what?'
The main camp is under attack?
'd*mn, that was a diversion!
"The sound of footsteps is fading away, that it is.
Inverted!　Flip!　It's an attack!

　As Alideed flips on the spot, his subordinate archers also flip.
　Perhaps caught off guard, the enemy soldiers have their backs to us.

''Like it's appropriate!''

　As Alideed fired arrows with his machine gun bow, his subordinates fired arrows at the right time with their own thoughts.
　Geez!　A short scream sounded intermittently, and the enemy soldier fell to the ground.

''d*mn it!　I thought you were running away!
Oh, follow me!
What about the position?
There are people out there who can help!

　The enemy soldiers start running towards us again.

''What are we going to do?'' (Gulp?)
Of course, like a transference!

　As Alideed turned on his heel and started to run, his men started to run as well.
　With a sideways glance, he checked on Deneb and saw that they were doing the same thing over there.

''I'd like to continue harassing them until morning, but it looks like they might be a little too greedy.

　Aridid muttered as he ran.