Volume 2 Chapter 37 And Then the Stampede Arrives
That day, we waited a whole day, but the vanguard of the stampede never showed up.
Suzu's calculations were right; it's highly likely they'll arrive tomorrow.
The vanguard consists of fast-moving quadrupeds.
The Alchemist's Gun seems like it could be useful right away, but whether it'll work on something like a bear is a different story.
That's when it'll be my turn to step up.
And so, after taking turns to catch some shut-eye, early the next morning, they finally showed up.
"They're here! They're hereee!"
A loud shout from the watchtower echoes, and a tension like never before runs through the area.
Everyone was ready for battle, but in the heat of the fight, a single mistake could mean life or death.
We must stay focused.
Bathed in the morning glow, it's not dogs──but blue werewolves, the 'Brauvolfs,' that are streaming in from the northern plains.
Pretty impressive.
"Minori, Suzu, I'm counting on you to stick to the plan."
"Leave it to us."
"Got it."
I call out to my sisters next to me and get ready with my own Alchemist's Gun.
The ammunition is loaded nice and tight.
It's essential.
The first wolf shouldn't be too much trouble, I reckon.
Because──
"Water in the air, become rain and pour down, 'Scourge'"
Suzu's magician water magic activates, wetting the ground ahead.
Of course, we're not expecting the wolves to stop because of this.
This is just to──cover our tracks.
"They're entering the range!"
No sooner had the lookout spoken than the wolves were upon them, closing in about 50 meters ahead, and then──they vanished one by one.
"YELP!"
The cries of the wolves, who should have disappeared, rose one after another.
It was like a battle cry finally heard, but in reality, those guys were done for.
"Well, well, they fell right into the trap."
The young platoon leader, squinting his eyes and gazing into the distance, nodded with satisfaction.
The defense force isn't stupid, you know.
They hadn't been doing nothing for the past month or so; they'd dug a deep pit at the point where the cries were now rising and filled it with plenty of stakes.
They were running lightly, so there's no way they could stop suddenly even if they noticed.
But, the wolves have a good nose.
That's where the water magic from earlier came in handy.
This managed to cut down the vanguard's strength of the stampede to some extent.
"Alright, we'll take on those who crossed over the corpses with the Alchemist's Gun! Aim for the sweet spot between the eyes! The bullets will take care of the rest! Don't get antsy!"
"Aye," a loud voice rose from the front lines.
The first plan went smoothly, and morale seemed to be high.
It could be said that it was a good start.
* * *
Although a few wolves managed to dodge the gunfire, they became the rust of Minori and her melee warriors' weapons.
The Alchemist's Gun, along with the rain of arrows from the rear, played a big role.
But, tough guys that couldn't be taken down so easily appeared right away.
"A large 〈Felsenbeer〉! The great shield squad, get in front and guide it to the center! The others, retreat and stand by according to plan!"
A large gray bear, cloaked in rock-like skin, appeared on its own, prompting an immediate change in the formation.
Heavily armored warriors with large shields stepped forward.
However, there's no way to withstand the charge of a 3-meter bear.
If you tried to block with your shield, you'd just be tossed aside.
"Keep the front clear! The enchanter will stop it!"
Yes, it's my job to stop this.
"In the name of Ryuuji, transform into a blade that pierces all, <Sharpness>!"
A powerful enchantment using the <Magic Stone of Elmusca> was cast on the loaded bullet.
This power had already been confirmed against the <Dogs> of the Evil God.
If you don't rush, a bear isn't a problem at all.
I steadied my breathing and aimed for the bear's forehead as it charged straight at me.
"Now, fire!"
A signal was heard from the watchtower, and I pulled the trigger.
The bullet shot out at lightning speed, piercing accurately into the bear's forehead and emerging from the other side.
I could see the bear's eyes turning completely white.
"Whoa!?"
Even though it was dead, the momentum from its charge kept coming.
I barely dodged the bear's corpse.
The bear rolled over and came to a stop far behind.
That was close....
"To take down that bear in one shot──wow, that's some serious power."
"I almost got killed by a dead body, though."
In stark contrast to the impressed squad leader, I surely must have had a bewildered expression on my face.
"......Huh?"
After the squad leader with a wry smile walked away, I noticed something odd and whispered to myself.
For some reason, the grass was withered around the area where I had just been.
Just like that, it was only that part that was dried up, forming a circle.
I looked around.
There were no other strange spots like this.
"...A coincidence, perhaps?"
I decided to put aside my worries and focus on the oncoming stampede.
* * *
Later, even creatures like the demon boar, Daemonhils, showed up, but the first wave of the vanguard was wiped out without much damage.
The Steel King was in great spirits with such a good outcome.
However, more intelligent creatures will likely arrive soon.
This won't be a walk in the park.
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