Simple Thoughts
The count declared the end of the banquet and slipped out of the hall with only a select few in tow. While Erica took the stage, calmly directing people to head home or to the shelters within the castle, Noel spoke up.
"This is absolutely unacceptable...."
"Right?"
It was so bewildering that even I chimed in agreement with Noel. Monsters could pop up anywhere, and raids on people or villages were par for the course. But those beasts, for all their ferocity, were still living creatures—they had some sense of risk and reward. In short, no properly fortified castle ever got attacked by monsters, unless it was some backwater village or rural fief. Yet the knight's report had come in so urgently, right in front of everyone, which meant this was no joke or fabrication.
"Reina the professor will fill us in on what happened and what to do next."
Mina spoke quietly, as if warning us not to act rashly. In a place where nobles stepping up with magic was seen as a virtue, charging in uninvited—without the count even asking for help—would embarrass him and tarnish his dignity. Reina, a former knight who was here with us acting as our chaperone, would get the official orders and relay them.
"We should change into something more practical."
"Yeah. We've shown off enough."
"I'll escort you."
It wasn't the time to wander freely, but with no telling what might happen, it was smart to be ready to move at a moment's notice while things were still safe. One side of the banquet hall had a space for fixing or changing outfits if needed, and since storage was available, both of them apparently had spare clothes there.
I escorted the two of them to their rooms, and as they went in to change, snippets of conversation from around us drifted over.
Most seemed to trust the Phoenix Count, figuring it'd be fine. But given the unusual circumstances, more people were buzzing like they were trying to crack a riddle than panicking. No real sense of crisis overall.
Maybe I should go check on the Cyclops.
Once Noel and Mina got back, and with Erica and Professor Reina's okay, I'd head over. I was curious how far along the assembly was by now....
"Lord Aizen?"
"...They're fast."
I'd figured dresses would take forever to change out of, but they were quick. Just then, Professor Reina returned.
"There you are, Aizen. You two as well. Come with me."
"Tell us the exact situation."
"I'll explain on the way."
Professor Reina responded to Noel's request. We followed her lead, and she spoke quietly.
"If the reports are accurate, monsters are swarming toward the castle right now. It's not a hopeless situation, but by this point, the attacks have probably started, and it'll be chaos."
"Monsters can't do sieges, though?"
"But they can climb walls or fly over. Or swarm the gates to smash them down."
At first, they'd thought it was just a massive monster migration passing nearby, but Galred had sensed something off, gone out to scout, confirmed they were heading straight for the castle, and rushed back to report. He wasn't someone I thought fondly of after the golem beef, but apparently, he handled his duties diligently.
"Then it should be fine."
"Not quite. We're short on manpower."
Reina said cautiously.
"We have defenders here, but Phoenix County's main forces are naturally at the border, so numbers are limited. With recent suspicious movements from the Empire, local troops have been beefed up just enough for security beyond basic policing. The count judged it serious enough to head to the front lines himself after the report, so it's no time for optimism."
"Hold on—are they coming in that kind of numbers?"
Reina nodded. It sounded less like a raid and more like a full-scale invasion.
"They avoided calling it a major incursion to prevent panic."
We'd been ready to brush it off, figuring the Phoenix family had it handled. But now I got why Reina seemed to be calling me aside specifically.
"You need the Cyclops, right?"
Reina hesitated a moment, then nodded.
"I volunteered to step up, but they said they need firepower more than another knight right now. They've called in every available mage to cover the wide perimeter, but it's still not enough."
"Main forces at the border, mages concentrated there too since this is the rear...."
Erica had joined us and chimed in. With the border count's heavy hitters away, it was basically reserve garrison troops and the count's guards. The count needing firepower over knights made sense.
"Aizen. The count said you're not obligated to join. But if you do, afterward...."
"Let's go."
I cut her off without hearing the rest, and the professor stared at me for a beat. Then, in a serious tone:
"...I'm just relaying the count's words, so this isn't my place, but this isn't your territory. You're not even Phoenix family."
"True."
Not my hometown either—no real reason to help.
"Helping doesn't always lead to good outcomes. Do it, and rumors might spread that you're basically one of theirs. They might not lift a finger when you need it later."
"Probably."
Helping could backfire and block my future paths. Goodwill doesn't always get rewarded.
"Why help Phoenix when you have no reason? It's not even tied to your golems. It could hinder what you want later?"
"That'd be a problem."
I love mechs—er, golems. But how to put it?
"To put it simply... it's a hassle, so yeah, something like that."
Not great with words, so after mulling it over:
"If the golems I made can save people too, wouldn't that be nice?"
I make them because I like them, but if they help people as a bonus, all the better. Just a simple thought like that.
Tension hung thick over the ramparts. This war-torn region meant knights and soldiers kept composed faces, but they weren't immune to nerves.
The count, fresh from the party, had donned his armor and was using a far-seeing magic tool to scout the oncoming monsters.
"Too many."
Monsters hit settlements in packs, usually driven by food or survival needs to seize human turf. An invasion like this meant a massive horde.
But what puzzled the count most was that.
"We cleared the local monsters recently. For that many to swarm... it doesn't add up."
"It's our fault for slacking, my lord."
Galred—who'd been carried by Aizen before—spoke up, but the count chuckled and shook his head.
"I don't think my people half-ass their jobs, Sir Galred. Though you do rush into things sometimes."
Hot-headed, occasionally hot-blooded enough to cause trouble, but reliable overall. The clash with Aizen had been regrettable from the count's view, but after stern warnings and punishment, Galred accepted it without excuse and stuck to external patrols thereafter, avoiding Aizen.
"Sir Galred, any thoughts?"
"Even a hunch is fine?"
A glance granted permission, and Galred spoke quietly.
"Feels like Empire trickery."
Veteran knights' instincts were imprecise yet spot-on, honed by endless battles—especially against the Empire's surprises. Phoenix knights, most exposed to it, sniffed out imperial involvement like bloodhounds. So it wasn't just Galred.
"No reason for that many monsters to swarm here en masse."
The territory was regularly purged, recently even. That horde would require every deep-forest beast untouched by purges. And the only ones who'd orchestrate a castle assault? The Empire. Motive unknown, but suspicion was warranted.
"Defensive troop deployment?"
"Five mages per wall section, knights divided up, most soldiers on the walls with minimal interior guards."
"Good work. Can't lure them inside this time."
The count had used luring tactics before—funneling foes through narrow gates—but not now. That worked with elites to crush morale instantly. Monsters lacked such concepts; letting them through was suicide.
Hence the unease.
If it's the Empire, spies are probably hidden inside already.
But no manpower for a full sweep now—they needed every hand against the monsters.
"Can't be helped, so let's ditch that worry and make good use of this chance."
"Chance?"
"See how well that golem follows our tactics—test its performance."
Galred nodded silently at the count's words. Whether lingering grudge or defeat, at least no open hostility.
Thud. Thuuud.
The ground shook from massive footsteps. The count looked up and pointed.
"Here it comes."
Galred's expression soured slightly at the count's direction. Unwelcome, but reassuring ally. The steel giant, machine gun in hand, strode forward with its single red eye aglow.