Barrage Against Olt Fortress
Raina’s Perspective
We “Artemis” joined up with Count Legol’s army and were assigned to a place called the Anti-Olt Fortress.
Olt is apparently a Sunglaire mountain fortress on the other side of the Twice Plains. Since Sunglaire has fortresses in various locations over there, we Harpelian need to build forts to counter the troops coming from each fortress and defend them…… or so Sheena-senpai explained.
The Twice Plains are barren lands where monsters appear and crops don’t grow well.
With forts built on either side glaring at each other across this plain, when war breaks out, we come out onto the plain to kill each other.
……It’s a bloodthirsty land, for real.
“I’m sorry. If I could ride a horse, everyone could have fought on the front lines……”
“Don’t worry about it, Raina. Archery on horseback has quite a different feel from usual, so it’s not something you can master overnight. We should leave such tactics to the regular army.”
I ended up being a bit of a hindrance here.
Because I can’t ride horses, Artemis couldn’t engage the enemy on the front lines.
The Twice Plains are vast. To attack the Sunglaire army on the other side, we need to close the distance and shoot.
Against Sunglaire, which has few horses, hit-and-run tactics while mounted are supposedly the strongest…… apparently.
So it would have been good if I could do that too, but…… I’ve never done horseback riding…….
“I can ride horses but I’ve never shot while mounted, so it’s pretty much the same for me.”
“Indeed. I read in an old book that in defensive battles, archers are most effective when they focus on shooting from fortresses. We should stay in our assigned fort and aim at Sunglaire soldiers from a distance.”
“……But on the plains…… it looks like combat is about to start.”
We’re currently at the Anti-Olt Fortress. At its summit.
From the sturdy stone battlements, I could clearly see the shadows of soldiers moving in the distance.
And even further beyond, the shadows of crowds waiting…….
“Fortress defense favors the defenders. But if we try to meet the enemy here, we’d be surrounded by their army and beaten up instead. So we use the fort as a base to send out troops and gradually wear down the opponent.”
“Isn’t it dangerous to deliberately go out onto the plains to fight the Sunglaire army……?”
“Of course there are dangers. But it disrupts their offensive and slows their march. The longer it drags on, the more tired they become and the more provisions they consume. Between food-rich Harpelia and scarce Sunglaire, you can tell which side will be at a disadvantage as time passes, right?”
……Drag it into a long-term battle. To do that, we go out front and fight.
“That’s why we fight from the top of the fort too. Just keep holding on, holding on, making time our ally to win. When enemies come within range, think of it as practice and shoot them. ……Raina’s skill is trajectory-based, so it shouldn’t be impossible.”
“S-seriously……”
“Well, Piercing Shot does fly far. My Power Shot is short-range, so it’s completely useless on the battlefield.”
“This fort has height too! Raina-chan, don’t worry about enemy counterattacks and just shoot! Aim for the guy in the most sparkly armor in the Sunglaire army, okay? Ha ha ha!”
“Fufu…… If Raina shoots down an enemy officer, she might be recognized for her military service and get promoted.”
“I-I’m getting nervous!”
In the end, I decided against ultra-long-range sniping since it would use skills but hitting the target was uncertain anyway, and it would be wasteful of magical power.
I feel like I could hit somewhere decent with about three shots though…… but if I’m going to use skills, it’s better to save them for effective situations, so I’ll hold back for now.
The inside of the Anti-Olt Fortress serves as both a rest area for soldiers and a supply depot.
Particularly important is the water stored in this fort, which is stored by water magic users. In addition to Natasha-san, several others joined in, regularly pouring water into a large reservoir-like area every day. It’s an important job for magic users.
Anyway, there are no notable rivers nearby, but there are tons of people and horses, so they constantly consume a surprising amount of water. I’m always amazed because just when I think we’ve filled the reservoir, it’s surprisingly low just a few hours later.
“It’s like maintaining a magic tower. For magic users, this is nothing special.”
According to Natasha-san, this kind of work is common for water magic users.
After using magic, the other magic users are exhausted, but Natasha-san has a cool expression. She’s really cool.
“The front lines have clashed.”
“Eh?”
The battle began while I was distracted by such peaceful water-drawing work.
“Harpelian cavalry is… cutting down an enemy unit that pushed too far forward from the side. Well done.”
……It’s true. Looking carefully into the distance, dozens of cavalry are running past the edge of the enemy army at incredible speed.
What those people are holding are Great Halberds…… like the one Mongrel-senpai bought at the market before.
It’s far away and hard to tell, but the enemy looks confused……?
“The vanguard leading the cavalry seems to be someone from ‘Moonlit Grim Reaper.’ Their horse is black.”
“Seriously?”
“Is that person strong? It’s too far to tell…… What do you think, Sheena-san?”
“……Yes, strong. I’d heard stories, but…… they’re mowing down Sunglaire morning stars one after another. It’s not even a contest……”
Wow. ……Cavalry unit. I’d heard they were amazing, but to have the chance to see them on a battlefield. I wonder if that’s good luck or bad luck…….
“Both their formation and our formation are collapsing. The enemy might approach us, so at least be prepared.”
“Yes!”
“If something comes flying, I-I’ll block it with my shield…… so don’t be scared and focus on your skill……?”
“Hai!”
When Gorilliana-san said that, I felt courage welling up!
“Count Legol’s army is retreating. It seems they’ve successfully lured out the enemy.”
The cavalry unit confused the enemy army, and other units also attacked to deal a major blow…… apparently. According to Sheena-san.
And Count Legol’s army skillfully guided the opponent, drawing them to our fort…… but I can’t really tell. It looks more like they’re running away than retreating…….
War is incomprehensible in every way.
“Archers, and excellent archer guildsmen. We will now attack the lured-out Sunglaire soldiers with a barrage. Hide behind the battlements until the signal comes, and refrain from using skills. Glowing eyes stand out.”
Eventually, some important person in charge of the fort raised his voice and conveyed the strategy to us.
It seems we’re going to attack all at once. ……I see, so we hide until then because we’re in the middle of luring out the enemy.
Make the Sunglaire army, excited and thinking they’re chasing Count Legol’s army, believe until the very last moment that “they’re the ones on the attacking side”…… then strike. I understand this kind of movement.
“Raina’s target is an officer. Aim for the one in the most important-looking armor.”
“Yes.”
“Ulrika, due to flight distance issues, target the heavy armor in front. If the vanguard falls, the march will stop and we can cause confusion.”
“Oh, sounds good. Got it, leader, leave it to me!”
“I’ll target the magic users and long-range roles in the rear.”
Saying that, Sheena-senpai took three thin arrows in hand and smiled.
……With those three arrows, Sheena-senpai could probably hit three people.
“Draw your bows, hide.”
Count Legol’s army approaches the fort. For some reason, I can even hear what sounds like an unfamiliar song.
……Hymns? I guess. Sunglaire songs make me feel restless listening to them.
Chasing Count Legol’s army is some Sunglaire military unit overflowing with fighting spirit.
According to Natasha-san, “only this unit is pushing forward and has low training,” but I see. Normally in this kind of situation, the enemy should retreat.
My hands are sweating. Usually by now I’d already be trying to suppress hand tremors with my skill, but I’m still holding back. Draw them in, draw them in…….
“–Barrage!”
At the command, we all emerged from the battlements at once and readied our bows.
Human shouts, footsteps, the scraping of armor.
The Sunglaire soldiers making battlefield-like sounds were walking through our bow range…… surprisingly carelessly.
Even Crazy Boars would be more cautious than this.
“Power Shot!”
“Light Ray Shot!”
“Rapid Fire!”
! My allies are shooting! I need to aim too!
Fancy armor, conspicuous armor…… is that it!?
“Piercing Shot!”
I activated my skill from atop the fort…… and the arrow that flew straight forward rushed toward my targeted person surprisingly easily, heading toward their chest area…….
“Gah, haah! The arrows of the faithless cannot touch me!”
“Uweh!?”
Just when I thought it hit, they swung a short sword that curved like a snake and knocked it down!?
Is it even possible to cut down flying arrows like that!?
“Raina, continue.”
“! Yes!”
That’s right, I need to keep shooting as many times as possible. That’s my job…… once more, toward that man in armor with strange patterns…….!
“Targeting.”
Suppress hand tremor. Aim is set. The man is holding up his curvy short sword and seems to be commanding. His other weapons are just a mace hanging at his waist.
I saw him deflect arrows earlier. So this time…….
“Piercing Shot!”
“!?”
I’ll aim for his legs!
From the knee down, he can’t defend properly with a short sword there!
“Guh!?”
Hit, the shin!
……Humans are vertically long so they’re really easy to hit…… scary…….
“Ah, they’re retreating!”
“Don’t let them escape! Shoot and kill as many as possible!”
“Count Legol’s army, begin counterattack! Absolutely do not friendly fire!”
“Those with trajectory-based skills, aim toward the enemy vanguard direction! Block their path and hold them back!”
I don’t know if the person I hit was important. But the enemy unit regretted their previous advance and hurriedly retreated as if regretting it.
Pursuing them were Harpelian cavalry. And our arrows. ……Without even needing to use magic, the enemy army suffered major losses.
Hmm…… it wasn’t perfect annihilation, but I think about half of the enemy unit was削red down.
……Soldiers who couldn’t retreat are lying all over the plains.
Some still have moving bodies, but Harpelian ground forces are approaching those people…….
I should stop watching any more of this.
“Phew…… shooting people, I’m not used to it……”
“Right, Ulrika-senpai…… I often deal with bandits too…… but constantly fighting people is pretty tough.”
I don’t have any strange hesitation about shooting people anymore. That sort of thing gets resolved as you do missions.
But my first war. And shooting at enemy soldiers. That quite…… unexpectedly unsettled my heart. Ulrika-senpai also seems confused looking at his slightly trembling hands.
I thought I didn’t have any sympathy for the Sunglaire army…….
“It’s okay. We’ll surely get used to it. Me, and you all too……”
“Sheena-senpai…… you too……?”
Looking closely, Sheena-senpai’s hands are also trembling slightly. The always calm and collected Sheena-senpai, just like us.
“……It’s not my first battle. But drawing a bow on a battlefield, this is my first time too. ……Were you surprised?”
“N-no! No, when you think about it normally, of course. Sheena-senpai and Natasha-senpai are both young……”
“Yes. I’ve been on large-scale bandit subjugations many times, but…… war is different. ……Are you two okay?”
“Yes!”
“Yeah, I’m fine too. ……Just a little worked up from doing something I’m not used to, you know? Ahaha.”
“Good, I’m glad to hear that. ……Let’s learn various things together in this war. I don’t know how this experience will be useful next time, but…… surely it won’t be wasted.”
According to what I heard later, Sheena-senpai apparently took down about ten people during that barrage.
Counting the thin arrows stuck in the corpses near the fort, that seemed to be the case.
……Sheena-senpai really is an amazing person. If I realized I’d killed that many people, my hands would probably do more than just tremble.
Hmm…… I wonder if you can really get used to killing multiple people…….
Before getting used to it, it feels like my heart would become unpleasant…… I wonder what soldiers and military people usually think about this…….
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