Attack Operation (1)

And so, over several days, we set the attack operation up.

We welcomed in the peerlessly beautiful futanari Master Eve at A-Class rank 128…

And took on the strongest mercenary, Melvis, as our Knight, at least for now.

In full readiness, we marched on the attack operation.

And so… April 12th. At last, we set the attack operation in motion.

In the plaza of Castle Ernest, the members participating in this attack operation gathered.

Tramp-tramp-tramp…

"O-oh…"

What a crowd… this many?

"A-Class Masters, 6, and their Knights, plus the B-Class Masters under them, 24, and their Knights…

"Roughly 150 there.

"And the requested reinforcement from the Nord Knight Order, about 500.

"In reality each commands their Garumon, so it comes to about 8 times that.

"Beyond that, 12 Crafting Artisans dispatched from the Magicians' Association.

"… That's about it."

"Pleased to make your acquaintance. I am Reida, Commander of the Nord Knight Order."

Oh… a beautiful Knight Order Commander with long flowing blonde hair… cute.

"Yes, looking forward to working with you."

She wore breastplate armor metalworked to follow the shape of her breasts. Erotic.

"Reida is a C-Class NPC, but with nearly S-Class skill. Someone thou canst rely on. She helped me in Mother's time as well."

"It's been a while, Ursula-sama. Back then I was new and caused Esta-sama a great deal of trouble… But I, too, have grown since that time."

Reida and Ursula seemed to be acquainted from before. 28, apparently. Well, looking 16 or 17 was a given.

"… Hello. We're Crafting Artisans dispatched from the Magicians' Association.

"We Crafting Artisans are in charge of constructing the city walls. We can't take part in combat. Basically, regarding our safety, we ask that everyone here take care of it, please."

"Yes, understood."

These people had their faces hidden — you couldn't tell much.

The mood was "please think of us as wall-building mob."

Reida-san spread out the deployment chart.

"Personnel deployment to each stronghold is complete."

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1: Ursula, Luna, Libera

A-Class rank 22 Gayus

B-Class Masters x3

Nord Knight Order: 80

A-Class, B-Class Knights: 20

Crafting Artisans 2

2: Yuria, Mikoto, Colette

B-Class Masters x3

Nord Knight Order: 80

B-Class Knights: 15

Crafting Artisans 2

3: Yumi, Cellas, Lizalind

B-Class Masters x2

Nord Knight Order: 30

B-Class Knights: 10

4: Haru, Patty, Irana

A-Class rank 70 Rubito

B-Class Masters x3

Nord Knight Order: 50

A-Class, B-Class Knights: 20

Crafting Artisans 2

5: Naoto, Kanan, Maika, Adelia, Himeno

Roving unit: Melvis

B-Class Masters x2

Nord Knight Order Commander Reida

Nord Knight Order: 10

B-Class Knights: 10

6: Suzanne, Saria, Klara

A-Class rank 94 Organo

B-Class Masters x3

Nord Knight Order: 50

A-Class, B-Class Knights: 20

Crafting Artisans 2

7: Seika, Setsuna, Leone

B-Class Masters x2

Nord Knight Order: 30

B-Class Knights: 10

8: Kishilia

A-Class rank 46 Guenza

B-Class Masters x3

Nord Knight Order: 80

A-Class, B-Class Knights: 20

Crafting Artisans 2

9: Lyuka, Sawako, Mira

A-Class rank 128 Eve

B-Class Masters x3

Nord Knight Order: 50

B-Class Knights: 15

Crafting Artisans 2

"The Nord Knight Order's deployment heavily staffs strongholds 1 and 8, where offense is anticipated, and 2, which lacks an A-Class Master.

"Strongholds 3, 5, 7 are lightly staffed.

"The 30 short of 500 are minimum staff at each stronghold for emitting the weak waves, plus personnel guarding the Crafting Artisans.

"These should be considered unable to participate in combat.

"Stronghold 5 is lightly staffed, but I myself will defend there."

"Having Reida-dono defend reassures us.

"Naoto will need to fly around to various places. At those times, stronghold 5 can be partly entrusted to her.

"Even for command-related matters, if there's something unclear, it'd be good to rely on her."

"I'll do that… The deployment looks fine. Looking forward to working with you, Reida-san."

"Yes."

She smiled. Cute… but I couldn't very well recruit the Knight Order Commander to my comrades…

"Naoto. Final briefing on the attack operation."

Ursula explained the points of caution. Best listen carefully.

"Think of the Knights' headcount as the stronghold's HP.

"If we fail to defend and monsters cling to the stronghold, the Knights will eliminate them.

"But the Knights' skill isn't high. They'll be incapacitated, and sometimes injured. Once that happens they can't return during this attack operation.

"While the White Wave is deployed, no new monsters can spawn, nor can extra-territorial monsters teleport in.

"Therefore, simply by hunting down the finite number of monsters within and near the borders, combat ends.

"In exchange, if we ourselves are incapacitated, we can't recover by time passing either at battle's end.

"This differs from normal combat — take care.

"Technique counts do recover with time, same as usual."

"… What about teleporting outside the combat zone, recovering, then coming back?"

"While the White Wave deploys, leaving the area means thou canst not come back.

"It's treated the same as being incapacitated.

"Well, those incapacitated, rather than left in capsules, are better sent home for treatment."

"I see… I don't want anyone injured…"

We had to do our best. We couldn't be incapacitated either. A pretty harsh fight awaited.

"Naoto, before the operation begins, address everyone."

"E-eh…?"

D-did I have to? … Well, I was the supreme commander of this corps. In that case, I had to.

I stood on the dais and looked down at them.

Masters and many Garumon stood arrayed, looking up at me.

Nervous…

"… Um, everyone. Today is…"

What should I say? "Welcome" or "Thank you" felt wrong…

"From here, we attack monster territory. But please don't push yourselves, and watch out for injuries.

"If you tire, switch out and rest — stick to that. Don't neglect hydration.

"I don't think any special fired-up spirit is needed. If everyone just performs as usual, we'll win normally.

"But, kind of… well, let's get fired up at least.

"Uh… this contest, no matter what… we win!"

I thrust up my fist.

Whoooooooaaa!

Everyone echoed in chorus, swept up.

"All right, those deployed to stronghold 1, please proceed through the gate to the stronghold.

"Those deployed to stronghold 2, get ready — you're next. The other strongholds' people, please rest a while; you're not up for a bit yet."

"… Then, I'm off. Stay calm and go in."

"Mm, take care, Ursula."

And so the stronghold 1 defense members led by Ursula transferred away.

"We're next. Off we go."

"Take care, Yuria. Stronghold 3 personnel, ready up!"

And the stronghold 2 defense members moved out.

"Off I go. This is something else…"

Yumi looked nervous too.

"The stronghold 5 members are last, so please continue to rest. Stronghold 6 personnel, prep to move."

"I'll do my best."

Haru headed off with a nervous expression too.

"Suzanne, you do your best too."

"Fufufu, I'll meet expectations."

Suzanne departed.

"Seika, you've got attack-operation experience, right?"

"Yes, just the once, since Dalido was under Aleph… That time it succeeded.

"If Aleph could do it, this time too will be fine. Leave it to me."

Seika departed.

"Kishilia, sorry for sticking you alone."

"No problem. Leave it to me."

Kishilia, with a bashful smile, waved and departed.

"You take care too, Naoto-san."

"Lyuka, I'm counting on you.

"… Eve."

"Y-yes!"

Eve looked nervous.

"An attack operation right off the bat, but stay calm. With your skill, there's no problem at all."

"… Yes! I'll do my best."

And so each unit set out.

Last, we went to stronghold 5. We passed through the gate.

"… Oh."

A stronghold built in monster territory — I'd wondered what it'd be like, but…

"… A stronghold really is a stronghold. Quite splendid…"

A solid brick-stacked stronghold that could defend with hundreds of personnel.

"Then, this way. This is the operation HQ."

At the center of stronghold 5 was the operation HQ.

It had two-way communication lines via magic open to the other 8 strongholds and gates.

Ursula, Yuria, and the leaders of each stronghold — I could talk with them at any time.

"… Amazing. Splendid stronghold."

"What didst thou think it would be?"

When I murmured, Ursula replied without missing a beat.

"No, I thought it'd be more like a simple mountain fort, or just a level with a flag stuck in it…"

"Defending something like that would be tough. The sturdy brick walls block attacks to some extent.

"It's not a defense so strict that we mustn't let a single one approach. A few getting through is fine.

"The Knights won't be incapacitated that easily either."

"… But if all the Knights fall…"

"In that case, the collapse will be instant."

I'd be careful. If possible, I didn't want a single injury.

"At the stronghold's center, the White Wave generator has been installed.

"If that's destroyed, this stronghold is finished.

"Even if the stronghold takes outside attack and crumbles, so long as the generator is safe, the White Wave can be maintained."

"That soccer-ball-looking thing up on the roof… the white sphere about 30cm in diameter?"

"Mm. To emit the waves, we can't fully encase it in walls.

"Guard it well… Now then, if preparations are complete, let us begin."

"Mn, understood. Then, Reida-san. Please activate the weak waves."

"Understood.

"… Ordering the Knights, activating the weak wave."

Vmmm…

A low, low-frequency-ish sound resonated.

I didn't feel any particular discomfort, but somehow I could tell something like sound was being emitted.

Eventually…

Crackle-crackle-crackle…

"Oh, the orb's starting to glow."

"With that, preparations are complete. Ours has started glowing too. It's almost time."

"Mm. Understood. Then, strong wave — activate!"

Vmmm…!

For an instant, light flared out.

… After that, it just glowed faintly, dimly.

"… Is it really going?"

"Mm. Monsters should feel intensely unpleasant from this.

"Now, at last, it begins!"

I looked outside.

Then…

Stomp-stomp-stomp-stomp…

"Whoa, a huge number of monsters surging in… At last, combat starts!

"Kanan, Maika, Adelia!"

"Yes, finally my turn."

"Let's do our best."

"Nya!"

The three were full of fight.

"Himeno, watch closely.

"If there's leeway, I'll have you fight too."

"Mumph — u-understood…"

Himeno seemed nervous too. It was her first battle, after all…

"Melvis, for now rest and watch. If you notice anything, tell me."

"… Understood."

All right, first, focus on my own fight.

"Number of monsters… oh, they're not coming in scattered intermittently — they're massing up."

"Inside the White Wave, monsters suffer unless they group up.

"Once they've gathered to a degree, eliminate them with all-target attacks.

"Repeat that, and reduce monster numbers."

So Reida-san explained.

"Got it.

"Then, we wait for a bit."

A few minutes of waiting.

Around the time about 100 monsters had massed, they began advancing.

"Right, here we go.

"Kanan, Phantom Mist Clone."

"Yes, Phantom Mist Clone."

Kanan split into 2.

"With the clone, Dragon Art Blast Storm!"

"Dragon Art — Blast Storm!"

Two tornados crashed into the monster horde.

Now, how much did we get with this…

One tornado shaved off more than half, the second whittled almost all the rest.

Just a few remained.

"All right, looks good, Kanan. For the rest, all-target attacks would be a waste.

"We're going out! Himeno, come too."

"! M-me too… u-understood."

Remaining monsters numbered 4. A lizard, a snake, an oni, a weird amorphous thing.

Four of us was just right too.

"Adelia, Cat Scratch, the lizard. Kanan, Wind Whip, the snake. Maika, Ice Missile, that amorphous one.

"Himeno, ready the priest's staff."

"U-understood."

Slash, slash, slash!

The three casually dispatched 3 of them. Himeno had a nervous face.

"Now, that oni's HP is barely a sliver. Even Himeno's attack will down it if it lands.

"… I'll protect Himeno, so calmly attack with full strength."

"… U-understood… eiii!"

The oni swung its arm faster than Himeno.

"Kanan, Element Shell."

"Yes!"

Crack! The oni's attack was deflected.

"Himeno! Go!"

"Haaaaa!"

Crack!

It shaved through the oni's last few dots of HP… down it went.

"… O-oh, oh-oh-oh! I downed it! I downed it! Yay yay! Aha!"

A delighted Himeno. Cute.

"Thank you!"

A full-faced smile, thanking me… Cute.

"… A-ah, mm. T-that was decent commanding. I shall bestow my praise."

She regathered herself.

"Fufu, you're welcome.

"All right, back to the stronghold."

The next batch of monsters might already be gathering.

We hurried back to the stronghold. Movement was via being carried on Adelia's back, which was a bit pathetic, but.

Himeno safely leveled up.

This way, power-leveling, we'd grow her to some degree.

"Oh, learned a strong technique. Level-ups will move along now."

"Oh… m-mm! I shall grow stronger and stronger.

"I'll protect the pathetic likes of thee!"

Himeno seemed happy.

The battle had only just begun.