The knight had been slashing away at the formation in every direction up until that point, but they now fled as the made bull charged. They could not follow the others that obeyed him either, and the row of riders fell far back.
“Onward! Onward! Don’t slow down!”
Berganda’s voice pierced through the battlefield, as if his body had become a whistle to give orders and raise morale. The power of it sustained the fighting spirit of the goblins, even as they were assaulted by magic and the blades of the knights.
However, a warning from above then tore through.
‘Sheto! Riders from the formation in the back! What…is this…!?’
“What? Hurry up and say!”
‘There…are only five riders! They are coming to the right as one… No, there is another unit to the left!’
Sheto turned his head and saw a unit of five riding in the shape of a cross. A moment later, they rushed past them.
“Hey, Sheto! What is that!? What is the goddess saying!”
“I-I don’t know! Messengers!? I don’t know!”
As if to laugh at the stunned enemy, the ten riders stopped up ahead and turned to face them.
“Do they mean to stop us!?”
“…Ah!”
A horrible chill suddenly ran down Sheto’s spine. An old memory had returned as he saw the rider in the center. He had let go of the reins and was moving his hands.
Magicians who used magic on horseback. Magic that was unleashed in this state was always…
“Everyone! Scatter! Magic is…”
Sheto’s warning was drowned out as flowers of fire burst in the monster ranks.
—
“SHETO!”
In front of Salia’s eyes, the mirror turned red, and dark smoke and dust swirled in the air. The first of the two magic attacks had torn the monster horde apart.
“They…can use such magic…”
Tercio, the strategy and formation that the Seer was using. She understood the basics of it. It had been included in the knowledge that the dragon god had given her, so that she could defeat the Hero’s army.
And so though it took a moment, she understood what was happening now.
“Dragoons.”
It was a general term for mobile skirmisher units who carried firearms such as muskets, rode on horseback to the front lines, and launched surprise attacks on enemy forces. It was a military tactic designed to make effective use of soldiers armed with guns.
By replacing the guns with magic, they had achieved power that was truly like a dragon.
“I should have realized it sooner…”
That being said, Salia was doubtful she could have done anything. She had no connection to warfare before. Even if she was a god, it was unlikely that she could use knowledge just recently acquired to change the tide.
“Shit! Sheto! I know you’re alive! Answer me!”
After all, there were no signs that her body was turning into stone. Sheto was alive. There was no way that he could die this easily. She prayed and looked desperately through the smoke and dust.
‘I…I’m fine…’
Near the center of the explosion, among a pile of burned monsters, a giant figure stood.
Berganda’s body was enveloped in red light. After seeing the carnage around him, and confirming his own condition, he raised his battleaxe again.
‘I didn’t expect to be saved by you.’
‘I…wasn’t trying to! If you die, I die. That is why!’
“Sheto…”
She was relieved to see that Sheto was his usual self. However, there was no shrugging away the sense of despair. According to her calculations, Berganda and the monster army should not have been inferior to the Hero’s army. The morale and training. It was different from the usual monster army. Even if they couldn’t win, surely they would not be obliterated.
However, the reality was quite different.
In the center of the burned ground, the demon general and kobold stood.
The monsters had lost their momentum. They stumbled and looked up at the general with desperation.
On the other hand, the knights were now confident in their victory. With force, they continued their advance. The dragoons stood in the front like gatekeepers. And they were ready for the next move.
“At this rate…”
There would be no way to win.