“Why…why you… Someone like you?”
He thought of the word ‘monster’ which Berganda had once muttered.
At the time, he had dismissed it as nothing more than a pointless remake.
But…could it really be written off as that now…
“Hey! What is it, Komos?”
It was Zebine’s voice, sharp with shock and anxiety, that shattered his thoughts. He was running from the forest’s shade with several of his subordinates in tow.
“For the captain of the Second Unit to show up in person, it must be serious… Don’t tell me the general’s been…!?”
“No, that is not it…In any case…you and your men need to get the units out of here.”
He snatched the offered waterskin and drained it in one gulp. The captain of the throwing unit stared at him, silently demanding an explanation.
“The Hero has seen through our strategy. It’s the power of divine rule. There’s nothing we can do about it.”
“What the hell is Sheto doing?”
“Apparently, even his goddess can’t restrain this power. I hear they can turn back time and erase a losing battle as if it never happened.”
Speechlessness. Confusion. Then anger.
A torrent of emotions swept across Zebine’s face, one after another…
“Then what the hell are we supposed to do!? Fagou is still there, holding out against the knights without even knowing what is going on! We must them!”
“We were ordered to leave you all behind! Zebine!”
He grabbed his comrade by the shoulders, shouting and trying desperately to hold him back. Still, the hot-blooded man shuddered and tore himself free.
“Is that the general’s order!? Or just the idle whim of some god who came up with a useless plan!?”
“…It is not as though I accept it willingly!”
“Then enough with this farce! Who cares about the gods!? I will go and save the Fang Riders!”
“But my lord chose to stake everything on those words! Are we to defy him!?”
Zebine’s emotions surged once more. But after a moment, his expression went cold as ice, and he nodded stiffly.
“Take my unit with you. In return, I will go and inform Fagou of the retreat.”
“…Leave that task to me.”
“Do not be an idiot! You are the strategist, remember!?”
“Very well…”
Komos sighed and drove his fist hard into Zebine’s face.
In an instant, his comrade collapsed unconscious to the ground. Komos offered him a faint, almost gentle smile as he lay there.
“You are the only one who can command your unit effectively. I have already attached my soldiers to Udik, and Lord Berganda will surely look after the survivors. And so I should be the messenger.”
“Please have a little restraint next time, Sir Komos…”
The goblins who had been watching the exchange now quietly hoisted up Zebine.
“Please leave the rest to us. We will make sure the captain gets back to the general.”
“I will be counting on you. I am unlikely to return. After all, we must have the Fang Riders crush as many of the enemy as they can.”
“…We will assign some of our men as your escort. May fortune favor you in battle.”
Those quick on their feet had already left the battlefield behind and rejoined the main force. Aside from Komos, all that remained were a little over a dozen archers.
“My lord… I beg your forgiveness. It seems I must take my leave here.”
He was worried about what would come after. Still, with Zebine at their side, there should be no problem. The archers had a keen nose for assassination and sniping, and he had already told them what movements to expect from the enemy.
“Well then… I am counting on you.”
“Sir!”
Together with several members of the throwing unit, armed with slings and shortbows, Komos sprinted at full speed, kicking up a cloud of dust as he headed toward the struggling Fang Riders.
“Stone throwers… Fire!”
Stones smashed into the enemy, knocking them from their horses. The mounts shrieked and reared back.
The cavalry that had swarmed around the Fang Riders scattered all at once… And from behind them, the dragoons emerged. Four full units.
“Sir Komos!”
“I know! This is where we must stake our lives! Kill as many of them as you can!”
He shouted while snatching up a pike that was lying on the ground. It was far longer than he was tall, but he drew it back in a great arc…and hurled it.
It tore through the air, piercing the head of a magician who had just begun chanting a spell. He burst into a spray of blood.
“This is where you fall! You will be my solace on the road to death! The price to pay for my lord’s victory!”
Gripping the axe at his back, Komos charged straight at the mounted enemies, hungry for his next prey.