Subjugating the Barbarians (2)
It was an incident from a battle where barbarians infected by the Demon King's army had pushed all the way into the central empire.
“Aigoo!”
During the raid event where the Rock Tribe had been drawn as the enemy, we'd been locked in fierce combat right in the middle of a city's streets. Dodging their brutish axe swings by rolling across the ground, I'd accidentally tumbled into a clothing store.
―Roar!!
Whether I looked tasty or something, one persistent barbarian came chasing after me relentlessly. My leg was injured, and I couldn't run any farther. That was the moment I figured this run was headed straight for the [Barbarian Invasion] ending.
―Thud, crash!
But the thing ignored me rolling on the floor and started smashing all the mirrors around instead. The Rock Tribe couldn't even distinguish a reflection from the real thing. That was the instant I realized they were even dumber than I'd thought.
“Ras!”
Thanks to that, I'd bought enough time for the hero—who'd come to rescue me—to take down the barbarian and save my skin.
“Thanks. I always owe you one, Hero.”
“Owe me? Nah, it's the other way around. Just a little more grit, and we're good!”
The hero was full of soot on her face but still moving with boundless energy.
Well, that run had ended with me dying to Asella anyway, for failing to show her proper respect. It was still early in my loops back then—I didn't know much about Asella yet. The barbarian invasion event happened pretty soon after the start, too. My memory's fuzzy on the details.
“Ras?”
And now here was that same Asella tilting her head right in front of me. You really do see all kinds of things if you live long enough.
“We can use mirrors to fool the Rock Tribe's eyes,” I explained to Asella and the knights.
“They can't distinguish a mirror image from the real thing.”
“Mirrors, huh? You mean hide our entire army behind them? I'm not sure we could airlift that many on short notice,” the 2nd Regiment commander said, scratching his chin.
Asella was the only one here who grasped it immediately, her lips curling into a smirk.
“Indeed. Simple.”
“Roar!”
“Grrr!”
Two barbarians on watch outside the central fortress bellowed at each other. They were quarreling over the corpse of a count's knight they'd just discovered—who got to eat it.
Unable to reach a conclusion, they suddenly started smashing their foreheads together with loud thunks.
Seizing the opening, a sly one buried its head in the body.
“Heh heh heh.”
The sturdy walls, steeped in the long tradition of defending the empire's borders, had long been defiled by their filth. Eat when hungry, sleep when tired—they acted purely on instinct. The very picture of barbarism.
These were the elite of the Rock Tribe left in the central fortress, subordinates directly under the chieftain's command. And this was their level.
―Wham!
A hulking barbarian approached the noisy pair and smashed his fist into their faces. He wore an even larger monster bone on his head and thick furs. The chieftain's right-hand man.
“Quiet! Chieftain sleeps. You guard here.”
Reprimanded by the right-hand, the two finally scanned the ground—but the sly one had already devoured the corpse. Empty-handed, they grumbled and stared blankly at the bridge leading to the western fortress.
“Grrr...”
Fog shrouded the bridge's end, the western fortress out of sight.
“Grrr?”
Midway, the bridge seemed to shimmer like rising heat haze. But the sentries scratched their heads, shook it off, and just tilted theirs in confusion.
―Flash!
Suddenly, a blinding light shot from the bridge, striking the sentries' eyes.
“Grak! Grah!”
Their eyes stinging, they shrieked and hammered the walls with their mauls until they tired themselves out. Soon the shimmering drew closer to the fortress. Occasionally, glimpses of mountains or sky flickered on the bridge. With no clue what it was, the sentries just shook their heads side to side.
It wasn't long before—
―Boom!!
A massive explosion erupted, brilliant fireworks blooming.
“Grak!!”
“Garak!”
Alerted to the raid, the barbarians gnashed their huge fangs and rampaged. Smoke rose as the north and east bridges collapsed.
To assess, a sentry leaped from the wall toward the bridge.
“Grak—kak!!”
Swords and spears pierced its body in an instant.
“Entire army, advance into the fortress!!”
A thunderous shout echoed through the mountains with cheers. The barbarians could only gape in shock—the knights had literally risen from the ground, or so it seemed to them.
“Charge, charge!!”
The cacophony of iron boots pounding stone rang out, and the battle began.
“We've begun entering the central fortress,” the knight commander reported to Asella.
“Enchanting every shield-bearer's shield with a mirror effect—nice idea.”
As Asella said, we'd turned the shields into mirrors, held overhead to conceal the entire army as it advanced. Reflections of the bridge railings' brick patterns and fortress walls made the ground look seamless. It was a hasty plan, so a few knights slipped, flashing bits of sky or mountains here and there—but sure enough, the Rock Tribe didn't notice.
They swiftly reached the far side and planted bombs to collapse the bridges.
“This is where it gets critical. We've kept casualties minimal so far. But considering the barbarians still holding the central fortress, our side's losses will start mounting now.”
I shared my thoughts with Asella.
“Your Highness, our healers need to get to work in earnest. Might we have permission to step away briefly?”
Asella gazed at me steadily, took a deep breath, then replied.
“Don't go too deep.”
“Understood. Chloe, Asella's in your hands.”
“L-leave it to me…!”
Bruno brought a few knights and stood stolidly by my side.
“Teacher, I've assembled an escort unit. No worries for the healers' safety.”
“Good. Let's move.”
I led Hugo and the other healers toward the central fortress's main gate. There, knights clashed in full melee with barbarians pouring out from inside.
“Wounded here!”
“Over here too!”
As expected, injured knights started streaming from the fortress.
“Holy knights, transport wounded here the instant they're hurt! Report area captures for immediate sharing!”
The battalion commander directed the battlefield's details with crisp efficiency. True to the imperial knight order's discipline.
Thanks to that, the severely wounded reached me without delay.
“Diagnosis: fracture. Wald, Aida—you two take it. Local anesthesia first, then set the bone. Diagnosis: laceration. Better suture this now.”
For the knight in worst shape, I rolled up my sleeves and stepped in personally.
Surgery C
With the healer assistant's help, I anesthetized and disinfected, then picked up the needle.
“Stairs ahead! Watch it!”
―Grarak!!
“2nd platoon, push in!”
The din of battle everywhere was deafening—perfect white noise for focus. My hands moved from habit, stitching the wound. Hygiene was iffy in these conditions, risking infection later, but on a battlefield, you did what you could. I sutured to emergency standards and marked him for follow-up observation.
“Ugh... th-thank you...”
“If it hurts, speak up. Fall back and rest.”
I replied to the grateful knight and asked the healers to cast healing spells on him. Onto the next patient with a diagnosis. Using my skill let me assess and plan treatment instantly—most efficient.
Midway—
―Whoosh, clang!
Bruno swiftly and precisely deflected a flying stone axe aimed at me. Ricochet from somewhere. He resumed silent vigil. Thanks to him, I could focus on the patient.
“2nd floor secured!”
“North turret captured!”
Good news kept coming as we held. The knights who'd breached were performing admirably.
“Any prisoners?!”
“Not yet!”
The count hadn't been found. By late battle, when wounded tapered off—
―Boom!!
A huge noise from inside the fortress.
“What collapsed?”
Bruno checked and reported back.
“Captain Tanya's fighting.”
“The captain?”
“Yes. She's taken a minor injury.”
“What?”
Tanya shouldn't struggle against barbarians.
...No. If it was the Rock Tribe chieftain, even Sword Expert Tanya might find it tricky. Demon-corrupted made it stronger still—and that chieftain had given even the hero trouble back in the day.
“Bruno, is the barbarian Tanya's fighting enormous?”
“Yes. At least three meters.”
“Dragon skull on its head? Wielding a massive stone sword bigger than itself?”
“Please wait. I'll confirm right away.”
Bruno dashed inside. He returned straight-faced.
“On second thought, I don't know what a dragon skull looks like.”
“Bruno.”
“The sword was huge.”
Not a common build among Rock Tribe. Had to be the chieftain.
“This is bad.”
I stood immediately.
“Healers, handle remaining patients as-is and transport. Hugo, you're with me.”
“Where to?”
“Gonna help our guard knight a bit.”
No time to waste—I plunged into the fortress with Hugo and Bruno. The heat of combat enveloped us.
―Boom!!
Chunks of stone flew through the air with the blast. The central hall inside lay in ruins.
“Hoo.”
Tanya steadied her breath, facing it down. Blood trickled from her forehead, however, soaking one eye and obscuring her vision. Not a great situation.
“Rock Tribe chieftain confirmed.”
The interior was a wreck. Tanya and the chieftain must've fought from elsewhere and gotten pushed here—massive hole in the wall, stairs and decorations shattered beyond repair.
The chieftain swung its colossal stone sword, whipping up wind pressure. Belying its bulk, it closed in instantly and thrust; Tanya countered.
―Thoom!!
A heavy impact echoed—not like clashing blades. Tanya endured the power struggle. But it didn't last; she was shoved back, soaring through the air to smash the 2nd-floor wall and fly outside.
―Whoosh!
The chieftain launched its massive frame in pursuit.
“Hugo, after it.”
“Yes.”
She couldn't win alone. I raced up the stairs with Hugo and leaped out the breach.
―Whooosh!
Fierce wind greeted us. Open air—an upper outer staircase along the fortress wall. Not too narrow, but one slip and you'd plummet over the railing.
“After the big one!”
“Surround and suppress!”
Other knights swarmed the chieftain. Urgent combat raged up and down the stairs, swords and spears flashing.
While they bought time, I rushed to Tanya and supported her.
“You look like it hurts, Captain.”
“Forgive my unsightly display.”
“Not your fault.”
I wiped her blood and injected adrenaline to ease the pain.
“Stronger than expected.”
“It is strong. You're the impressive one, facing that barehanded.”
Bad ending if it subjugated all barbarians. That dangerous a skillset.
“I'll make sure you win. Got a way.”
“What way?”
“It's not just a warrior—it's a shaman. Strengthening its body with forbidden rituals.”
“Shaman?”
“Yeah.”
I turned to Hugo.
“Ready for surgery?”
Hugo immediately stripped off his gloves at my question.