<Attention all units. Enemy monster forces have been sighted assembling in front of the main camp. All soldiers, arm yourselves immediately and take formation as instructed.>
“…As instructed, huh.”
‘Stand by within formation: Guard the Hero’s headquarters,’ flashed on Poro’s tag.
“Why the gloomy face, Captain?”
Poro flicked the transparent plate with his finger and then smiled wryly at Meshe.
“Hey, what would you say if I were to quit this unit?”
“Ah, right. Well, good bye then. If we ever meet again, you can buy me a drink.”
“…Yes, of course.”
Currently, he had no worth outside of continuing to be with the Hero’s army. Even if he was treated like a clown, it was still preferable to returning to being a powerless villager.
As he sunk into his thoughts, the well-disciplined army calmly formed ranks, just as it had the day before.
Beyond them, the enemy lines of monsters looked meager. Like something that would collapse with the poke of a finger.
“They are calling it an annihilation battle. The main thing to watch out for is a surprise attack by the demon general and the kobold.”
“It will be a perfect chance to make up for yesterday’s mistake, Captain.”
The usual members, Farnan, Leodor, and Ditore, arrived shortly after.
After Ditore’s remark, Farnan tapped Poro lightly on the shoulder.
Poro managed a faint smile at the encouragement.
“I would not be hopeful of that. When I looked earlier, the demon general was stationed right at the front of the line.”
“Are…you sure? The general himself is at the front?”
“Ah…aye. I suppose he is going to rely on his own strength to break through our ranks.”
But what did it matter now? Still, he could not bring himself to ask that.
‘He-hey. What is that?’
A soldier on lookout along the perimeter of the main camp suddenly shouted. Upon hearing him, the others began to gather, one after another, toward the defensive wall.
Something was wrong.
Poro quickly moved to the wall and looked out beyond it.
A stretch of empty plain lay between the main force of the Hero’s army and the main camp.
Beneath a sky still not fully dawn, tinged faintly red…
A single kobold stood there, accompanied by a star wolf.
“Have they come…to ambush?”
But something was strange.
After all, they were showing themselves from the front, instead of concealing themselves.
The morning mist drifted away with the end of the calm.
The fully armored enemy flipped back the cape he wore, and then he raised his left arm into the air.
“Come!”
A star-like light gathered in the beast’s hand.
It stretched out, forming a gentle arc as it took shape…
And then a bow appeared in the kobold’s grasp..
“What…is that weapon…”
“Godess, Saliashe’s ganari. Sheto.”
Though no arrow had been nocked, a glowing arrow suddenly formed within the drawn bow.
And then, with all of his might, the kobold let loose a fierce roar.
“Seer’s Hero. I shall, hunt you!”