"Let's stop the carriage because it's dangerous to proceed like this."
"Guel, please stop the horse!"
"Why? Is something wrong?"
"I'm not sure if they're monsters, but there are enemies ahead!"
"Stop the carriage and be on guard!"
"Upon hearing this, Guel looked at me, then gave instructions to his subordinates and stopped the advance. They all took out their weapons, but one person reacted differently.
"Don't lie! Captain, we don't need to stop; let's keep going!"
Huh!? Wasn't that Aid? What's he saying?
"Aid, what are you saying? She doesn't seem to be lying."
"I agree with Amy. Besides, I was considering whether to stop or not because I faintly smell people coming from the direction she mentioned. I decided to stop based on her words. It's safer to proceed carefully."
Upon hearing this, Aid furrowed his brow and inexplicably glared at me before turning to Guel.
"It might just be adventurers hunting monsters."
"Well... it's possible, but adventurers can be troublesome."
It seemed like this conversation was going to be lengthy, so I decided to get off the horse and took out binoculars. I aimed them in the direction indicated by the radar, turned to face that direction, and used the binoculars to confirm the exact location and number of enemies.
"Hmm? ... This is strange. There are five of them over there, but they're all hiding behind trees and in the grass, watching us. It's as if they're targeting us..."
I turned to the side and moved my lips, indicating that they were having a discussion. So, these five are allies...? Wait, did one of them just turn around? Could there be more allies behind them?
As I was observing the enemies about 200 meters ahead, someone approached me from behind.
"Ellaina, is that true?"
Oh, it's Keith, the handsome one.
"Yes, I think the people we can see right now are probably scouts. Keith, wasn't there a gentle right curve ahead?"
I had already confirmed the route on the map, so I knew which way we were going.
"Oh, right. What about it?"
I continued explaining to Guel and the others.
"There's a forest along the left side of the road, and the right side is an open grassy area with no cover. It looks like the perfect ambush point. Perhaps the enemy is planning to block our path as we reach the midpoint of the curve, engage this unit, and split us into the group fighting the blocking enemy and the group protecting the carriage."
I didn't think Duke Valdek would leave his carriage unguarded.
"What happens next?"
"After splitting us, they'll probably shoot arrows from the side of the carriage to create chaos among the defenders while the others sneak up from behind and attack. Well, it's just my speculation."
The most efficient way for them to proceed would be the method I just described. If the enemy were ignorant, they might just charge us head-on, thinking that numbers would guarantee their victory.
"... ... ..."
Wait, everyone's frozen. And the Duke has gotten off the carriage. Shouldn't he stay inside the carriage for safety?
"Um, is everyone okay?"
"Huh!?"
Guel noticed and began giving orders to the group.
"Keith, use your magic eye to confirm if the people we're seeing are enemies. Lizlina, summon your familiar for reconnaissance. If what she says is true, there might be more enemies."
"Got it! Ellaina, come here! We're going to have a strategy meeting!"
Amy shouted loudly in Ellaina's direction, but I wonder if the people over there can hear it?
"Yes, I understand!"
Ellaina, who had been doing something in the grass, replied and then ran back to the unit.
"Guel Side"
"Hey, Guel... can I ask you something?"
Amy asked Guel with a puzzled expression.
"What is it, Amy? I'm the captain now."
"I'm sorry, Captain... but what do you think of that girl?"
"What do you mean..."
The two of them stared at Ellaina, who was in the grass on the right side of the road.
"To be honest, I don't know what to say. Who is she?"
"An assassin from another continent?"
"If that were the case, would she approach us like this? Besides, it's rare for an assassin to be so close to a high-profile target like us without making an attempt on their life."
Amy closed her eyes and seemed to be deep in thought, but she still appeared uneasy.
"Yeah, you're right. Also, for some reason, Aid is acting strange today."
"Yeah, I noticed that too. I'm planning to talk to Aid about it later."
"I'd like to request the same."
The two of them continued their conversation while Keith and Lizlina returned from their reconnaissance.
"Captain! My summoned creature, Ritt, has returned!"
"I'm done as well. I found something incredible."
"Good. Call Ellaina, and when she arrives, we'll start the strategy meeting."
"Understood. Ellaina, come over here! We're going to have a strategy meeting!"
Amy shouted loudly in Ellaina's direction, but can those people hear us?
"Yes! I understand!"
Ellaina, who had been doing something in the grass, replied and then ran back to the unit.
"Erlaina Side"
"First, let's start with my report. Based on their equipment, the people who were observing us from behind the trees are most likely adventurers. When I used my appraisal skill, I found that all five of them have criminal records."
Appraisal skills are handy for that kind of thing, huh?
"On my end, I used my magic eye to see the thirty people, including the five Keith saw. They're split into groups of ten, either lying prone or hiding in the shadows, weapons at the ready. Also, for some reason, they don't seem to have horses."
Guel listened to the report and pondered.
"They probably couldn't borrow horses from the stables. Unlike adventurers, that's common. Do you know their positions?"
"Yes, the enemies are positioned as follows: five are currently at the beginning of the curve, hidden behind the trees, another five are hiding behind them, and ten are waiting in the middle of the curve. In addition, there are ten more waiting along the roadside beyond the midpoint. If we continue like this, it seems we'll fall into the tactic Ellaina described."
"Captain, let's take the route through the grass on the right side. That way, we can avoid engaging with those adventurers."
"We can't use the grassland. When I entered it earlier to check, I found that the ground was soft in many places. If the carriage enters the grassland like this, there's a possibility it will get stuck and unable to move."
Aid suggested an alternative, but I disagreed with my reasons.
Aid, for some reason, gave me a hostile look again.
Why does he keep glaring at me? Does he not want a young girl to speak up?
"Let's return to the capital. Dealing with thirty adventurers would be tough."
Upon hearing Amy's words, Guel hesitated.
"But... they're starting to
run towards us."
"What!?"
"Captain, it's true! The adventurers are running towards us with weapons!"
Keith reported in
a panic, pointing towards the forest.
"Everyone, prepare for combat! We'll confront the adventurers!"
All members of the escort
unit readied their weapons, and I knew I had to cooperate.
"Ellaina, step back, it's dangerous!"
Amy said, but I had no intention of stepping back.
"It's dangerous for you to stay here."
"Isn't it more dangerous for you? You only have a knife, right?"
Well, it might be easier to show than explain.
I switched the ACE32's selector from safety to semi, changed my kneeling posture to standing, and aimed at one of the enemies about 170 meters away.
"Cover your ears; it's going to be loud."
"Huh?"
I had given a warning just in case, so now it's time to take action.
I aimed at the enemy and fired three shots in quick succession, a triple tap. The bullets hit the man as intended, two in the chest and one in the head. He staggered, lost his balance, and fell as if stumbling, then stopped moving.
The man who had been watching this among the enemies shouted loudly, loud enough for it to be heard here. The others stopped their advance, turned around, and looked at their fallen comrade. Chaos began to spread as they realized he was dead.
My first kill... but if I worry about that now, I might get killed myself. I need to keep taking down the enemy.
"They're completely exposed."
The enemies who had been standing still were now my targets. I aimed at the first one, fired three shots, and when he fell, I fired two more into his chest. He stopped moving.
But this way, I wouldn't finish them off before they reached me. I had no choice!
After taking down the fourth enemy, I changed my objective from killing enemies to stopping their movement.
I changed my aiming method, targeting enemies from the rightmost to the leftmost as if drawing points and fired in bursts when the crosshairs lined up. If I ran out of bullets along the way, I'd reload and continue shooting from where I left off.
At a distance of about 25 meters, most of the enemies were either injured, stopped in their tracks with bullets in various parts of their bodies, or incapacitated and unable to move. The enemy sensed that they were at a disadvantage and started shouting and running away. I shot one in the knee to prevent him from escaping.
"Now, let's retrieve that person and hear what they have to say. Their story might be different, or they might say it's not worth it! They could be working for someone."
"...Uh, yeah, that's right. Your iron rod is a weapon, isn't it?"
Guel asked me after hearing my explanation.
"Yes, that's right. It's a weapon that only I can use."
The others were staring at me in shock.
"No way... taking on thirty adventurers by yourself? Who are you?"
"Why are you asking me? I'm probably just a regular person... maybe?"
"Why are you asking me of all people!?"
Well, it's because I'm not sure if I can even be called human, considering that my body was made by a god... right?
Afterward, Amy's loud voice echoed across the grassland, and the story continued.