From between the ramparts, rows of soldiers marched forward in two lines toward the plains stretching out before the village. The thunderous stomping of their boots echoed as the invincible army advanced in a perfect formation.
They obeyed the orders of their glowing tags and separated to the left and right and stopped in their designated spots.
In the blink of an eye, the rows of humans were turning into a giant fortress.
The longspears thrust up into the sky, creating a vast forest. And near the center, the magicians also raised their staves.
The wall of humans was longer and thicker than the defensive wall around the village.
After the infantry was in line, the cavalry followed.
The knights, clad in armor and holding their lances at the ready, appeared first. And then they lowered their visors as they fanned out to the left and right.
“What happened to them?”
“Didn’t I tell you before? They are from the unit that was nearly annihilated from the demon generals attack. Apparently, they pleaded with the Hero, and managed to have their way.”
“Ah, the outsider knights. Tough luck, eh?”
While they would not have been able to hear Meshe and Farnan’s banter, there was dissatisfaction in their faces. The old ways were no longer needed in this army. And their knightly pride was unable to accept that fact.
Next came the light cavalry, clad in simple leather armor with long curved sabers at their sides.
Instead of armoring themselves in metal and wielding lances to crush foes with speed and weight, they aimed to slash as they ran past, carving away at enemy numbers as if peeling off a thin layer of skin.
“While it is horrifying to have such little armor, as long as you run away, you will not be attacked.”
“Though, I heard that even they are a relic of the past. See, look over there.”
Lastly, the dragoons appeared, each carrying a staff that could be used for mounted spellcasting.
They were few in number, but anyone could understand how revolutionary it was to have warriors capable of hurling grand magic directly into the enemy’s front lines.
“The ‘Three-weapon tactic,’ was it? Honestly, this sounds like some child’s game of capture-the-flag.”
Using soldiers like pieces on a board. Dividing up roles and letting each unit make the most of their strengths.
And the Hero who commanded them issued the orders calmly. He knew nothing of the screams of battle, the death, or the blood-soaked fields reeking of sweat and blood.
“Still, he gets results. I suppose it shows you how great the power of the gods is.”
“That being said, I would have hoped he could use his great powers to wipe out the monsters before the world ended up like this.”
Said Ditore, and the others smiled.
Everyone who had witnessed the power of the Hero and god had this opinion.
Doubts. Criticism.
Of course, they had heard the reasons.
But they all realized that it was a deception.
“Isn’t it a bit late for that? Here we are, riding with the winning side. All I care about is that we are properly rewarded for all of our troubles.”
“…That’s true.”
The winning side. That made Poro remember something.
‘I, don’t think about, wanting power. It’s not, what I want.’
Beyond the Hero’s army, standing neatly in line.
The kobold must be there.
“Rediclious. To continue thinking about something that is gone.”
He said bitterly.
“I will gain power. In exchange for what I lost.”
The formation was complete.
Spread across the plain, the army seemed to be flaunting its might. It stood there as an unbreachable, unshakable wall. And without showing the slightest hint of wavering.
As if to give strength to Poro’s resolve.