Chapter 100
Chapter 100
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 100
Chapter Title: Obvious Trap and Unexpected Opponent
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Celine and the members of the Sword of the Goddess unit had advanced right up to the Empire's 2nd Western Outpost Base.
Contrary to their expectation of fierce resistance starting the moment they reached the vicinity, there was no notable movement even as they arrived right in front of the outpost.
"It's quiet."
"The enemy numbers aren't that high to begin with, so some silence is expected... but for them to drop their guard this much means they've dug an obvious trap, right?"
The adjutant tilted his head at Celine's words.
"They might not have noticed our approach at all. With the holy barrier deployed by our forces right now, we're not exactly visible, so it's possible."
But Celine shook her head.
"We can hide our appearance, but we can't erase sounds or presences. Reports say the terrorists' allies include bunnyfolk and elves. Bunnyfolk have hearing and smell far superior to humans, and elves have excellent hearing too, plus they can sense presences through the earth. No way they missed us coming."
"If that's the case... why aren't they running or defending? What are they after...?"
"It's a 100% trap. But we can't just leave them holed up in those mountains because of that. Everyone, contact all the Empire's outposts in the area immediately and send them the locations detected by detection magic."
Some members quickly began communicating with the other bases via communication orbs, and each outpost sent back the approximate positions of the terrorists detected by their detection magic.
The distances were too great for pinpoint accuracy, but cross-verifying data from multiple sites could narrow it down.
Judging that, Celine demanded results from as many bases as possible, and the Empire's outposts, having no reason to refuse the Sword of the Goddess unit's request, responded promptly.
Celine marked the ranges from each base on the map, confirmed the position, and looked up at the low hill near the 2nd Western Outpost.
"They're hiding there."
"Pardon? In that hill?"
It was more of a hill than a proper mountain—small enough that surrounding it completely with their forces would be tough, but still manageable for tightening a encirclement.
The adjutant, looking like a cat that had cornered a mouse, asked,
"Captain, shall we have the troops surround the hill?"
Celine thought for a moment, then shook her head.
"No. Surrounding the hill would thin out our formation inevitably, and that's when the terrorists will try a breakthrough. They're criminals who massacred in numerous places, rampaged right in the middle of the Carrot Duchy border battlefield, and routed the 2nd Western Outpost garrison with just a handful of them. If our lines thin during encirclement, they'll punch right through."
"Then just surround it and starve them out...?"
"This hill has ample groundwater—the outpost draws its drinking water from here. It's small, but plenty of wild game for food, so even encircled, they won't wither away inside."
"What do we do, then?"
After some deliberation, Celine issued orders to the entire unit.
"Contact the Empire's 1st Southeast Outpost and 1st Northeast Outpost immediately and request reinforcements here. The whole unit forms up on the west side of the hill and drives them eastward."
The adjutant couldn't help but gasp in admiration at Celine's tactic.
If 500 elite troops advanced en masse from the west, the terrorists hiding in the hill would have no choice but to flee east.
Then the Empire forces marching from the northeast and southeast would block their path, with their own formation sealing the rear.
Hunted from three sides, even skilled terrorists had no escape.
Unlike him, who could only think of crudely encircling the hill, Celine had factored in the terrain, ecology, and coordination with surrounding bases.
"We obey the captain's command!"
The Sword of the Goddess unit took position on the west side of the hill and began a unified advance eastward.
It was a gentle rise, neither tall nor rugged, so the hundreds of troops faced no issues marching.
About 15 minutes after Celine took point at the forefront.
"Someone's coming!"
The main body, advancing under the holy barrier, detected an intruder's approach and shouted.
KABOOM!
At the same instant, a roar echoed nearby as a meteor slammed down from the sky.
"M-Meteor!"
"Don't panic! It's not real—it's magic made to look like one! Defensive formation, everyone!"
Before the troops could scatter in panic, Celine swiftly calmed them, then swung her massive greatsword from below upward with tremendous force. The massive blade aura shot out and collided with the falling meteor.
The mana-formed meteor exploded spectacularly against the aura and vanished, but the assault didn't end there.
WHOOOOSH!
This time, a massive tornado swept through the area, barreling toward the main body.
"Shield wall!"
As troops risked getting sucked in, Celine reorganized the front line.
The Sword of the Goddess members swiftly clustered, raising a wall of huge shields that held firm—no one else got pulled in.
"Aaaah! Help!"
Troops caught and spun wildly in the wind screamed, while Celine gripped her sword hilt, biding her time.
The magic was grand and flashy, but she spotted plenty of flaws to exploit.
Seizing the moment when no allies were in the path, Celine swung hard. Her blade aura raked the tornado's core, shattering the spell.
"Tend to the wounded immediately! More attacks incoming! I'll handle the attacker—hurry!"
"Y-Yes, ma'am!"
Celine rocketed toward the source of mana like a shot, soon spotting a terrorist in a cloak and deep hood obscuring their face.
"Found you!"
"......"
The terrorist unleashed a few more flashy spells, but Celine smashed each one with her greatsword.
It was underwhelming.
'Impressive raw power, but too focused on visuals and damage—basic structure is weak. Magic this sloppy is no trouble... Wait!'
As Celine mentally critiqued the attacker's spells, a memory hit her.
『Lenis, I'm no magic expert, but aren't you too obsessed with the visuals? You need to work on fundamentals too.』
『Thanks for the advice, but I have my own path. Our so-called orthodox nobles trash my dad and family as rootless, yet they obsess over big, flashy swordplay and magic themselves. Mastering the most 'elegaaant~' spells by their standards and shutting them up—that's my way!』
『Hmm... Not sure that's the best intent, but... whatever motivates you to give it your all, I guess?』
『Celine gets me right away! If only all our nobles were like you! Ohoho!』
"......"
A terrorist wielding magic identical to academy-era Lenis: all flash, no fundamentals.
How many people on this land used spells like that?
Plus, the ones she'd just shattered were straight out of Lenis's academy repertoire.
- Member 2: Human woman with blonde drill curls. Eyewitness reports of her using magic.
Recalling the report shared by the Empire forces, Celine shouted at the terrorist, praying she was wrong.
"Ebony Shadow Mercenary! Who are you? Show your face!"
"......"
"If you won't talk, I'll rip that hood off myself—"
As Celine accelerated to close the gap,
"G-Gaaah! What is this?!"
"Th-The plants are moving!"
"Stay calm! Cut them down! Don't let them touch you!"
Celine whipped her head around at the screams from behind.
Plants lunging at the troops from all sides.
"Tch...!"
With their sheer numbers and ferocity, Celine had to abandon the attacker and pivot.
Hacking through the onslaught, her eyes widened twofold at the giant pitcher plants dominating the horde.
'N-No way... No way...'
Everyone knew elves commanded plants, but each summoned different ones.
And only one elf she knew summoned giant pitcher plants—one who'd bragged about it herself.
Her composure cracking, Celine cleaved through the plants while directing her troops, who counterattacked in her wake.
From afar, watching with Linian and Luna, Alvis smirked and muttered,
"Her mental game's starting to crack about now. I'll show my face when she's perfectly ripe, so hang in there just a bit longer, Celine."