The Saintess #2
"Carti! What’s the size of the enemy force?"
"About three hundred! Those soldiers are in hot pursuit!"
"Three hundred...!"
That’s a hell of a lot!
That’s three full-strength companies! They outnumber my unit by more than double!
"But."
I can win this.
We’re going to be fighting at night anyway, and the enemy knows nothing about me. My existence will be revealed through this battle, but... it’s a price worth paying. It was something I had to do eventually. More than anything, this is a golden opportunity to gain combat experience against a human army!
Let’s put that into action right now. Don’t worry. I have trained infantry and an elite cavalry unit. This is even my own turf. Ambushing enemies who don't know a thing about this place in the middle of the night?
I can't lose.
Besides, my subordinates have excellent night vision!
"Carti! What about the Saintess?"
"She’s lost most of her forces, except for her personal guards! She’ll lose everyone soon enough! She’s practically on her own!"
"Good!"
Kidnapping the Saintess should be simple, too. I guess the number of her escorts dwindled while fighting the Baron’s soldiers. That’s a gain for me!
"All troops!"
Soon, all my soldiers finished arming themselves and gathered on the parade ground.
"A human army is swarming toward us! We are going to wipe them out! Do you understand!"
"Keruk!"
"Grrr!"
Morale is sky-high.
"Each platoon leader, command your units firmly! Move strictly in platoon units! Infantry, stay close together without falling behind! Got it!"
I quickly briefed my subordinates who had gathered in that manner.
I know which direction to go.
I just need to pack the supplies and get them moving. If they’re coming from that side and we’re heading out from here, there’s a high probability that the battle will take place within two days. Calculate that and pack accordingly.
"Julia! This time, it’s a human hunt! Can you do it well?"
"Of course, Demon King. Just leave it to me."
The role of the cavalry is most important.
"Serineu! When the unit advances, scatter the pixies and conduct reconnaissance of the surroundings! Do you hear me?"
"I'll do that!"
"Ruby! The operation is expected to last three to four days, so please calculate the supplies! And the personal guards, move together with the Dark Elves!"
Everyone is used to this kind of thing. We’ve been through many battles by now. As everyone quickly carried out my orders, we finished preparations for the march.
"We will now conduct a night march!"
Let’s go.
The situation is not good.
The Baron’s army is in hot pursuit. To think they would send an army the moment they tried to make contact. It wasn't entirely unexpected, but it was too fast.
"Ugh...!"
It was a bitter mistake. I don't know if there will be a next time. The guard unit was annihilated while fighting the Baron’s army, and all that remains is the Captain of the Guard, Lea.
"Saintess! Focus on escaping for now!"
"I know!"
Cecilia and Lea traversed the dense jungle alone.
The only fortunate thing was that cavalry could not be operated within this unexplored territory. In the end, it was a situation where we had to run on foot, and in that case, those possessing divine power had an advantage over ordinary soldiers.
But both the Saintess and the Captain of the Guard were exhausted.
Divine power would be consumed even faster. The number of torches approaching from behind amplified the anxiety. In this situation, even erasing our tracks was impossible. Even if the enemy’s speed was a bit slow, if they followed the tracks, they would surely catch up.
"We must keep running until the pursuit dies down, Saintess."
"Do you know where we should go?"
"For now... I cannot judge. We have no choice but to run as far as we can. We can worry about finding a path after we shake off the pursuit."
Lea was thinking of finding a waterway. If she used that, she could break the trail once.
"I understand. I trust Lea."
"Hehehe, yes. Just trust me."
"That smile is truly reliable."
Even if we shake off the soldiers' pursuit, monsters remain. Of course, if it’s the Captain of the Guard, Lea, she could repel them without issue even if monsters attacked. Monsters don't operate trained armies.
If we hide well somewhere in this jungle, we should be able to shake off the pursuit.
"No matter what happens, I will make sure you escape, Saintess. So, steel your heart."
"I am always doing so. Ah, look. Aren't the torches getting a little further away? It seems we’ve chosen the right direction."
"...It seems so."
Emotions boiled up at the encouraging tone, but Lea continued to run without showing it. While holding the Saintess's hand.
We cannot stop.
Over there, there is even a knight who possesses mana. He will find us with his sharp senses. Of course, he hasn't attacked yet because he is trying to avoid a head-on fight with her, the Captain of the Guard, but he will continue to command the pursuit team.
'This isn't good.'
The situation is such that even the Saintess's life cannot be guaranteed right now, and yet they talk of the annihilation of angels and the revival of the Goddess religion. Lea’s thoughts were skeptical.
Ever since the angels descended, the Goddess religion had completely collapsed.
Wouldn't it be better to break the Saintess's stubbornness and save her life? As the Captain of the Guard, I have spent a lot of time with the Saintess. I know the Saintess's beliefs, ambitions, and abilities. I want her to live as she wishes.
But if that is difficult... what choice should I make as the Captain of the Guard? Is saving her life the priority? Or is it the priority to silently assist her for her goal, even if it means the Saintess dies?
In the darkness, Lea pondered.
We repeated marching, resting, and scouting.
After the night march, the day dawned, and after resting, we marched again until it became night. After resting and scouting, we marched again.
Thus, the third night march began.
"War is just a series of marches."
Everyone was tired, but no one complained. The premonition of battle was slowly beginning to be felt.
"Demon King. I don't feel anything yet."
"Really? Good work, Sharan."
"Shaa."
We navigated the darkness while maintaining tension, slowing our marching speed so we could form a formation at any moment.
They are coming, and we are going. Judging by the time, a battle will definitely take place in this darkness tonight. Thinking of that made my heart feel like it would burst.
"Demon King. Don't worry. Sharan will protect you."
"Demon King. I'm here too. I'm stuck right by your side like this, aren't I?"
Encouragement from Sharan and Lumika.
"Hehehe, yeah. It's reassuring to have both of you protecting me."
And behind me are the personal guards and the Dark Elves. I can't use the Dark Elves in battle yet, but... I’ve at least put weapons in their hands. They must have the fighting spirit to fight against the humans running toward us.
"So. If the Saintess comes, we'll capture her."
"Yes. Lady Reika. Please catch her well when you see her."
"Well, it’s better than letting her fall into the hands of the angels and die. I suppose I will."
"Oh, you must really like the Saintess, then?"
"I’ve never seen her, I’ve only heard of her, you brat. It’s just that since she’s the Saintess of the religion I used to believe in, I don't want to see her die..."
For someone who says that, she worried a lot. She’s the type to have a lot of affection. She even fell into a rage when I told her the angels were going to catch and kill the Saintess.
As we were marching slowly while talking like that.
—Vwoooom!
Serineu flew in.
And she looked quite urgent.
"Hey...! I found them! I can see torches far away!"
"Aha! They’ve finally appeared! Serineu! Gather the pixies!"
"Okay!"
Serineu flew off immediately, and the pixies began to gather one by one. I ordered the gathered pixies.
"Guys. It’s Flight-culus!"
"Flight-culus!"
"He said Flight-culus!"
"Grab him!"
The pixies that swarmed in immediately clung to me and grabbed my body.
And.
—Vwooom.
They moved their wings in unison and took flight. As a result, my body floated up and slowly ascended.
Using pixies to fly!
This is Flight-culus!
"Oh...!"
As the altitude increased, the scenery over there began to come into view.
—...
The cluster of torches visible over there.
Humans must have a light source when moving at night. As it happens, today was a day with the worst moonlight. A day covered in pitch-black darkness. Compared to us, who are walking while relying on fireflies, those torches stand out too much.
Good.
The location has been roughly pinpointed.
All that’s left is to strike their flank and rear.
"Put me down."
"Ugh...!"
After landing quickly, I gathered each platoon leader and gave orders.
"I have discovered a human army ahead. Now, we will make a slight detour and strike their rear and flank. Im-sung-ah."
"Grrr! Demon King!"
"You and Buril go around and secretly move to the rear of the human army. Your goal is to strike from behind. Imps set fires, and with the Hobgoblins, kill a few humans. In other words, rear disruption. Can you do it? Im-sung-ah."
"Can do! Imps are good at arson and running away! Grrr!"
"Hehehe, you’re very reliable! Then I’ll attach the pixies to you!"
Imps and Hobgoblins as the rear disruption team.
"Lady Julia. It’s time for a human hunt."
"Hehehe, yes. I’m looking forward to it."
"It’s a fun time. You can just sweep them all away."
Julia smiled like a snake. She must be excited to see blood already. Lamias are literally born hunters, after all.
"Since it’s night this time, let’s not split into two sides, but gather all together and attack. Please move to the flank of the human army. And when I give the order, it’s a full-scale charge. And then you can just tear them all apart."
"Understood. But the order?"
"I will give it from the sky in a very loud voice."
Lamia cavalry as the strike team.
"The rest of you, advance while maintaining the phalanx like this."
"Keruk! Understood, Demon King!"
Kobolds and Lizardmen support the Goblin phalanx.
"And the personal guards, protect me. While doing so, we will search for the Saintess."
I just need to find the Saintess while giving orders from behind the phalanx. Anyway. I gave detailed orders like that.
"Then, to combat positions!"
—Papapat!
I moved the unit immediately.
Now, it’s a collision.
My heart is racing.