The Monster Stampede (2)
"A monster stampede? We have to wipe them out before they reach the villages...!"
With her disheveled hair whipping in the wind, Sylvia spurred her horse and galloped toward the Ariente territory at full speed. Ants that had mutated into monsters were typically the size of carriages, their shells so hard that blades couldn't even pierce them. But if it was Kwaang, they would be reduced to puddles of slime in no time. If Kwaang wasn't enough, there was always Boong, or even Boong-Kwaang.
As the Ariente territory drew closer, Sylvia drew up the mana stored within her body and prepared to activate Kwaang.
"Ah."
At last, the wave of the ant legion entered her field of vision. Monsters blanketing the entire mountain without a single gap. Sylvia immediately let her mana settle back down.
"Yeah. Let's give up."
She couldn't take them down. Even if she burned through all her mana, it wouldn't be enough. Sylvia made the decision to retreat without hesitation. Even the Imperial Knights would have to fight for three days and nights straight against that many. The sheer volume was absurd. Where on earth had so many monsters come from? Was this someone's scheme? What kind of vile bastard had released this many monsters into the mountains...!
Shuddering at their malice, Sylvia changed course. Trying to wipe them all out was impossible. The walls of Ariente Castle looked tall and sturdy, so the priority had to be evacuating everyone inside.
"You worthless bastards! Stop hiding and get out here! Time to earn your keep!"
Thud!
Sylvia dashed straight to the training grounds and stomped her foot as she shouted. Only then did the employees who had been hiding in the dormitories begin to emerge one by one, their faces pale with fear.
"You idiots. Was all that training for nothing? If you saw that, you should've come out immediately—what the hell are you doing? From now on, we're beginning civilian evacuation! Teams 1, 2, and 3 will split up and head to districts 3, 4, and 5 on the outskirts of the Ariente territory to guide all residents into the castle! Move!"
"Yes!!!"
The employees' replies rang out loud and clear. As if they had never looked scared in the first place, they began moving in perfect unison. Perhaps it was thanks to the repeated drills. Not a single one hesitated as they sprinted toward the Ariente territory, which now teetered on the brink of disaster.
"Sir! One of them has already gone out to rescue people on their own!"
"...!"
They took the initiative without even being ordered? What a remarkable brat!
"What? Who is it?"
"It's Yuria! She said she'd buy time by holding the monsters back and went out!"
"What...!"
Of all people, that brat? The lord had recommended her, so Sylvia had no choice but to include her in the training, and the girl had been diligent enough. But Sylvia had never expected her to actually do anything noteworthy. The best she could hope for was that Yuria would stay out of the way. Why had she charged out?
"Kgh!"
Mana flowed into Sylvia's legs. In an instant, she accelerated and shot forward. It was a spell she had invented herself and named Shashashak. That girl couldn't die! She was someone the lord had entrusted to her—if she came back dead...!
'Then it won't be a pay cut. It'll be my head!'
Sylvia gritted her teeth and scattered mana in all directions. The spell was called Wiiing. The dispersed mana would bounce back, allowing her to scan the surrounding objects. Before long, she detected an unusual mana signature.
'That kid's mana...!'
Over there! Sylvia's legs changed direction and accelerated once more. The source of the mana grew steadily closer. That stupid brat! If she kept pouring out that much mana without rest, she'd collapse from exhaustion in no time. If she ran dry right in the middle of a fight, right in front of the monsters...?
Argh. That was exactly why it was so dangerous for a novice who didn't even know her own mana capacity to enter combat.
'Please, just stay alive!'
The moment Sylvia frantically leaped over a wall—
Shwaaak!
With a chilling sound, a blue flash split the air right before her eyes. The long streak of light grazed past her eyeball by a hair's breadth and continued onward.
"Kieeeek!!!"
Crunch!
It struck the head of a charging ant monster and crushed it in an instant. Shiiik! The light whipped back like a lash.
"A-are you all right? I didn't expect you to suddenly appear from there."
"..."
Holding the end of that flash was none other than Yuria. In her other hand, she cradled a newborn baby. Sylvia glanced once at the mountain of ant monster corpses piled up, then at Yuria, who couldn't hide her bewildered expression.
"Don't tell me you took all of these down by yourself?"
"Huh? Yes. And I found this baby while searching an empty house. It seems like the parents are gone..."
"Haa. That's enough explanation. Just run for now! The evacuation in this district is already complete, so there's no need to keep fighting!"
"Yes!"
Kieeeek!
More ant monsters began climbing over the pile of corpses. Sylvia took the baby from Yuria, held it in her arms, and started running.
'She doesn't look tired at all.'
Yuria pulled ahead at high speed. Even though she didn't seem to be using any body-enhancement magic, she was keeping pace with Sylvia. How was it possible to move that fast with just her bare body...? Had she been hiding her strength during training? Sylvia couldn't believe what she was seeing.
"Sir, you've arrived! The search and rescue is complete, and we're currently guiding the evacuation!"
"Hurry it up! The monsters are right on our heels! They'll catch up any second!"
Guarding the rear of the evacuation line, Sylvia's hands trembled with urgency. Had they really searched every building, every corner? Was there anywhere they missed? Would it be all right not to double-check?
'Trust them. These are the people I trained.'
She squeezed her eyes shut. She had to trust the employees here. The training period had been less than a month, but she had taught them plenty. The courage to throw themselves into harsh environments. And the fact that the only thing that could overcome such conditions was the unbreakable bond between comrades. That alone was enough.
The employees moved in perfect coordination, as if they had been working together for years. The results of the training were already clear. They were ready to be deployed in real combat.
Sylvia felt a small surge of pride.
"Aaaah! Knights of Vermont! Thank you so much! To think you'd safely lead my taxpayers—no, my precious citizens—here! I truly owe you once again..."
Thud. The castle gates opened, and Count Ariente appeared with tears of emotion in his eyes.
"Shut up and get out of the way! Evacuation comes before greetings!"
"Kugh!"
He was immediately sent flying backward by Sylvia's body slam.
The refugees began pouring through the wide-open gates. Sylvia tapped her foot anxiously and looked back.
'They're coming.'
A black wave approached. The swarm of ant monsters filled her vision as they surged forward. Could the gates be closed before they arrived? Impossible. Sylvia finished her calculations in an instant, drew her sword, and began running in the opposite direction of the evacuation line.
'I can't take them all down. I'll use a spell that can buy as much time as possible...!'
The answer was Kkongkkong. Sylvia ground her teeth and began preparing the spell she had sealed away long ago after its last use.
She was now far ahead of the refugees. This distance should be fine. Sylvia took a deep breath and exhaled. The air instantly froze cold, and white mist poured from her mouth.
"Kkongkkong!!!"
With the incantation, she slammed her palm to the ground. From her hand, the chill of winter spread outward, turning the earth white.
"Keeeek!!!"
The ant monsters charging toward Sylvia had frost form on their feet, and their movements gradually slowed.
"Krrrrk!"
"Please stop! Stop!!!"
The monsters were almost upon her, but Sylvia didn't lift her hand from the ground. More and more mana was sucked from her body as the area around her transformed into a frozen wasteland. The monsters slowed, then began to freeze solid. Just as an ant monster's mandibles approached Sylvia's head, the creatures completely froze and stopped moving.
She had done it! She had frozen them all!
"Haa...!"
When Sylvia staggered and looked back, the refugees had already passed through the gates. Now she just had to go back... she had to go back, but...
"Ah?"
"I'm an idiot..."
She had forgotten to think about how she would get back. And now she had no mana left...
Crack, crackle.
The joints of the frozen monsters began to move, and the frost started to break apart. Her legs trembled violently and refused to obey. So this was how she died. Sylvia let out a hollow laugh.
"What's with that face, like you've accepted death? It's annoying, so wipe it off."
"...!?"
Thud.
A rough hand caught Sylvia just as she was about to collapse. At the sound of that voice—always so menacing no matter how many times she heard it—Sylvia's eyes widened. It was a voice that shouldn't be here.
"L-Lord!? Why are you here...!"
"You still have a lot of work to do. I won't allow you to escape your duties and pay cuts like this. So put any thoughts of dying on hold for now."
"No, it's dangerous here! Leave me and run, please! Quickly! If those things thaw, we'll both die!"
"Don't worry. I'm not as reckless as you."
"...?"
At Aslan's crooked smile, Sylvia's struggles ceased. For some reason, that smile filled her with a sense of security.
"Kieeeek!!!"
The ant monsters had already broken free of the ice and were charging again. But the moment Aslan quietly muttered something and extended his hand forward—
"Ke? Kiek!?"
"Kek?"
Rumble.
The ant monsters let out death screams and collapsed one after another.
What on earth was this...?