When Seki-chin visited the tent where the "Spear of Zero" had taken up temporary residence, the four of them were armed and waiting as usual.
　It is common for adventurers to wear armor as if it were their normal clothes, and to keep their weapons at hand at all times. Their equipment is also designed for this purpose.

　The sudden appearance of the stone pillows does not seem to startle or frighten them.
　However, I could sense their determination that the time had come.

"We've kept you waiting long enough.
Finally, it's our turn.

　It had been about a month since the spear had appeared.
　Since the demons had hardly come out of the forest, the job of the spear was mainly to escort the transportation of goods. Of course, it was a necessary job.
　However, Ishimakura and Zeft had become somewhat close friends during that time. Ishimakura was the first special combatant in the battle, and was in a position to manage the others. The Special Forces and their equivalent employers are a small elite. He could at least keep track of everyone who was in the same unit, and the two of them had some things in common.

Yeah. But we're in a bit of a unique situation.
What do you mean?
"It seems the Lord Commander wants us to engage in a 'war of attrition. We'll probably get that order in a day or two.

　"War of Attrition. It may be an unfamiliar term to the adventurer Zeft.
　It was a term for a battle in which a small number of men of outstanding strength are forced to dispose of a large number of mooks.

"You want me to fight a war where I have to reap what I sow?
It's the only way to break the siege early. Normally, special combat soldiers are used carefully so as not to be worn out by the little guys, but only a small number of them can get behind the enemy's artillery with transference magic. ......
　If you try to send an army, it will consume more magic power than the water in the Dragon's Head River.

　The sound of gunfire rang out without pause, and a heavy burst of sound roared just above my head. My eardrums trembled.
　The defensive weapon deployed a magic barrier to prevent the bombardment, but even a novice warrior would know that if the attackers had more magic power available, it would only buy time.

In response to the reinforcements attacking from the south, the special combatants will stir up the battlefield.
　I suppose the plan is to take advantage of that and break the siege from within.
I haven't been informed yet, because it hasn't been decided yet. But I'm pretty sure that's what they'll do.

　Claire shines her glasses and analyzes.
　You can say that you are already trapped. There is no such thing as a brilliant plan to overcome the situation, and the only way to achieve a situational victory is to make a concerted counterattack at the cost of sacrifice and cause more damage to the enemy.

"...... Zeft. You are a hired hand.
　If you're not willing to fight this kind of battle, you can go to .......
Don't worry about it.

　Zeft replies, not letting the stone pillow tell him what to do.

"With a fight this big, they're not going to be able to spare much.
　Chancy will be there. Then we'll just go.
Well... ...... Thank you for your help.

　While feigning concern on the surface, Ishimakura made sure that Zeft's resolve was unwavering.
　Apparently, no problem. He'll fight to the death, I'm sure.

　Ishimakura, like Zeft, could not firmly believe in a future where he could restore Chen Shi.
　But he could at least hope to free her.

　For whom have I become strong?
　If you think about it, ...... you have to win no matter what the cost.

　We must win no matter what the cost.

　It was around dawn on the third day of the siege.

　Suddenly, a group of people with a different kind of fighting spirit appeared in the camp.
　Rene caught them with his ability to "sense emotions".
　The Blue Army had finally played its trump card.

"Here it comes, Alastor!
　South side, about 50 behind the line!
"Attention, all troops!　"All troops, reposition according to plan one!　Connect the shifting magic circle!

　The Alastor in the main camp activates the callers on his desk at once and gives the order.
　The Alastor of the main camp activates the callers on his desk at once and gives the order. He pours magic power into the transfer lines that have been prepared in various parts of the encircling formation, and is ready to call the strongest people who can oppose the enemy's "special combat soldiers" to the places where they have appeared.

　At the same time, the scouts and observers began to contact us.

"I have a report for you. The enemy reinforcements that were approaching from the south in a spearhead formation have increased their speed and begun their assault!
"We've confirmed that enemy airborne cavalry has been launched from the enemy camp!　I'm not sure what to make of this.
"The south gate of the base wall is open!　We've identified 20 enemy large battle golems, Yellow Scarlet Rikishi Type B!
"Understood. Report back if there's any change in the situation!

　From the main camp set up on a small hill along the southeast side of the river, a short distance from the city, all of the enemies were generally visible.

　Cavalry took off from inside the walls.
　Large golems charging, trampling over the pitted ground with deflected artillery fire.
　And an army approaching from the south.



So far, so good.
"Yes, sir. The number of golems is consistent with the reconnaissance report.

　I knew they wouldn't try any strange tricks, but this is a head-to-head battle as expected.
　This does not mean that the enemy's operational planning ability is low.
　It's just that they know how to maximize their power and hit it out of the park.
　The enemy's policy is to accept sacrifice and win by grinding each other to a pulp.

　In fact, if you confront them head on, you may lose.
　However, if you can predict your opponent's moves, you can take appropriate countermeasures.
　Even this offensive was within our expectations for the moment.

　◇ "Destroy the body.

"Destroy the corpse, don't make it clean!　They will rise up again!

　The south side of the encirclement, where the Special Forces had moved in, quickly became a huge confrontation.
　The rushing soldiers chopped off the heads of the lizardmen as if they were mowing the grass.
　Flames explode, lightning strikes from the blue sky, and corpses disintegrate in midair.
　With so many fierce warriors gathered in one place, the battle was like a storm.

　Within five minutes, however, the attack slowed down.

　The ghoul knights, armed with gleaming swords and armor, caught the blow of Zeft's great sword and cut through it in two or three battles.

"Holy Arrow!" "Holy Arrow!
"Pain Whip!" "Pain Whip!

　Albina fires off a spell to cover her, but Rich, who was fighting another soldier nearby, quickly uses a curse spell.
　The black and white spells bounced off each other in midair and disappeared.

"d*mn it!

　Cain intervened, striking with his great shield.
　You'll need to have a good idea of what you're doing. I'm not sure if it's a good idea or not, but it's a good idea.

"What?

　At that moment, a blow struck Cain in the back.
　The ogre's stone cudgel with its colorful warpaint slammed into the back of his armor.

I'm not sure what to say.

　A wave of invisible power cleaved the earth.
　It's a great way to make sure that you don't get caught in the middle of the action.

"Recover at .......
"d*mn, they're strong!
They're getting elite.
We need more than one of you to take them out!　Reduce their numbers first!

　First, reduce their numbers!" Stone Pillow shouted to his soldiers.

They're coming for us. They're coming for us. Move in on them!

　In the sky behind them, the airborne cavalry of their allies were poised for a gliding assault on the ground, despite the interference of flying demons.
　A heavily armored hippogriff wearing jerky armor leads the charge, followed by a skydog, a winged dog with a black head and a white body, who charges in an arrowhead formation.

　The stationary magic bow, a magical weapon that shoots arrows of light, fires high into the air.
　Magic bullets like meteors falling toward the heavens aim at the formation of the airborne cavalry, but most of them miss, and even if they do hit, they are rejected. They are using a magic item, a talisman, to prevent magic from attacking the air.

"Shoot!

　At last, when they were close enough to see the whites of Sky Dog's eyes, arrows were fired simultaneously from the ground.

　The Skeleton Archers ...... were not the only ones firing at the air.
　The arrows flew unexpectedly close, and each one was deadly accurate.

　Armor seams.
　A gap in the helmet.
　The arrows pierced places that would normally be hit only by bad luck, without the slightest deviation.

　The rider who is hit by the arrow tumbles down, or the beast who is killed instantly crashes down with its rider.
　Half of the Sky Dog cavalry had been shot down in the first shot.
　The inertia of the charge sent bodies raining down, and the surviving airborne cavalry flew through, skewering and crushing a few demons. But the shock of losing so many allies in an instant was greater than that, and the airborne horsemen flew high and away from the battlefield.

It's like this: "...... Is this what war outside the forest is like?
　It's still harder to shoot through a young early bird with this.
"Dark Elf ......!?

　I'm not sure what to make of that.

　The dark green-haired woman holding a bow muttered doubtfully. The archers, who had covered their entire bodies with robes like magicians and blended in with the rich, took off their disguises to reveal themselves.
　Brown skin, pointed ears. I don't know what it all means, but the women, without exception, wear sensational leather armor.
　Dark Elves.

　The Blue Army had observed that parts of the forest had turned black, and it was almost certain that the elves were fighting with the forces of the Rose Princess of Hell in the battle in the forest.
　However, it was only a prediction that the elves would be conquered by the demons and treated like warriors, and no one expected that so many would fall to the dark elves.

　The archery of the elves is of course a great threat in the battles outside the forest.
　However, the elves' main job is to fight guerrilla-style in the forest, hiding in the trees.
　They did not have the skill to operate archers properly outside the forest. At least not by themselves.
　But now. The elves have become dark elves and are wielding their skills as part of the army of demons.

Kill the Dark Elves!　The airborne horsemen will not be able to move!
Protect the archers, don't let them get close!

　"Protect the archers, don't let them get too close!" A stone pillow and a ghoul who looked like a front line commander shouted at each other.

　Zeft charges in.
　Even if they are in human form. Even if it used to be a man.
　They're demons now. A pawn of the demon.


　If it stands in our way, we must defeat it.
　If that's what it takes to save Chancy...

　Zeft closes in on the dark elf woman with the beast-bone sword.
　But then...

"What ......?

　Zeft felt a horrible chill run through his body, as if he had jumped naked into the snow.

　The sky seemed to have darkened without clearing.
　The air seemed to stick to him like glue, heavy and sticky.

　Zeft is almost swallowed, but he barely repels the blow of certain death that comes at him.
　A sword as red as blood, as if it had been carved from a jewel and crafted with precision.

　There was a silver girl.
　Innocent yet intelligent, graceful yet evil.
　She wore a beautiful white dress, unbecoming of the battlefield. A rose of fresh blood on her skirt.

"The Rose Princess of Hell. ......!

　The enemy general, "The Rose of Hell," had appeared on the front lines herself.