Early the following morning after the banquet.

 

Within a chamber of the fortress city of Nasisto, a palpable tension hung heavy in the air.

 

Karen, her displeasure emanating unmistakably, crossed her arms in silence, furrowing her brow.

 

Karen seems rather discontented. Perhaps fatigued?

 

Kazuya, perplexed by Karen's mood, furrows his own brow, unable to discern its cause.

 

To raise a hand against Kazuya after last night's events... how dare she? Chitose glared at Karen with eyes filled with loathing, fingers hovering near the holster where her Beretta M92 rested, seemingly poised to end Karen's life.

 

What is this atmosphere about?

 

Meanwhile, Maria, bewildered by the unfolding situation, struggles to comprehend what is happening.

 

Silently, many others in the room share a fervent desire to depart from this scene.

 

The room, intended for discussions on future strategies and Imperial Army countermeasures, was far from conducive to its original purpose.

 

Um... well then—

 

As Maria attempted to steer the still-unstarted conversation, a deafening explosion interrupted.

 

BOOM!

 

Suddenly, an earsplitting blast reverberated, followed by shockwaves that shook the entire fortress city.

 

The window of the room where Kazuya and the others were trembled under the force of the shockwave, causing dust to sprinkle from the ceiling.

 

What in the world is happening!?

 

What's going on!?

 

Kazuya and his companions are thrown into disarray by the sudden turn of events.

 

Quickly regaining composure, Kazuya and the others rushed outside onto a terrace overlooking the fortress city to ascertain the situation.

 

What they witnessed there was beyond imagination.

 

Surely not... This is inconceivable... The southern gate of the third citadel, obliterated without a trace, leaving behind a massive crater...

 

As Karen stepped onto the terrace, she murmured softly, as if unable to believe her eyes, at the sight of the devastation.

 

This feels akin to the detonation of a large bomb.

 

Though initially stunned by the disappearance of the gate, Kazuya immediately rallied upon Karen's remark and established communication with the fourth squad, which was supposed to secure the southern gate of the third citadel.

 

What happened!!?

 

As Kazuya and Sergeant Funasaka communicated over the radio, Chitose shook Kazuya's shoulder, pointing towards the vanished gate on the other side.

 

What's—

 

Just as Kazuya began to speak, he followed Chitose's gesture and beheld a young girl, clad in pristine white robes, stepping forward from the enemy encampment.

 

Gurasu, Dei, Bagai, Kouru—

 

The girl, advancing alone from the Imperial Army's main camp, chanted a spell while thrusting a staff, larger than her own stature, towards the sky.

 

Daur!

 

With the completion of her incantation, the girl forcefully slammed the stone tip of her massive staff into the ground.

 

In an instant, an array of magical sigils appeared around her, from which various creatures armed with weapons emerged—goblins, kobolds, orcs, werewolves, lizardmen, and more.

 

Summoning countless monsters, the girl brandished her staff towards the fortress city, prompting the beasts to roar and charge forth with coordinated ferocity.

 

Uwaaaaah!

 

As the bloodthirsty creatures surged towards the fortress city, the girl vanished into the heart of her encampment.

 

Then, as if in response to her disappearance, a unit of Imperial troops, protected by a cherry-coloured magical barrier, emerged from the main camp and began advancing towards the fortress city.

...... They've arrived.

As Kazuya cast his gaze about for any other enemy movements, it became apparent that the Imperial forces were concentrating their strength in one location, seemingly intending to breach the castle gate, attacking solely from the south where their main camp lay.

This is bad...

"Squad 4, the enemy is approaching!! Fall back to the second city wall, all hands!! Hurry!!"

"Commander... It seems we won't make it in time to evacuate. We should... abandon our positions..."

"Are you daft!? Who's talking about giving up!? If you can't evacuate in time, then we'll come for you ourselves! So wait!! Don't you dare think about dying!!"

With a shout, Kazuya abruptly cut off communication with Sergeant Funasaka, turning on his heel to head towards Squad 4 without waiting for a response.

However, a figure stood in his path, obstructing his way.

"Where do you think you're going?"

It was Karen who blocked Kazuya's path.

"It should be obvious. I'm going to assist my subordinates."

"And you think I'll allow that? What will you do if enemies breach inside while the gate is open? If the second city wall is breached, there will be no escape for us! Don't you understand that much!? Moreover, your reckless actions put civilians and subordinates in danger! I understand your feelings, but... please, give up..."

With a face as if she had bitten into a bitter worm, Karen turned away from Kazuya as she spoke.

"Squad 3, immediately abandon the north gate. Fall back to the interior of the second city wall and provide escort for Colt Zara, as well as support for Squads 1 and 2."

"Squad 3, understood."

Having issued orders to Squad 3, Kazuya turned to Karen, who was looking at him with a puzzled expression, and smirked.

"Who said anything about leaving the gate?"

"...? What are you planning to do?"

"—Ah, right. It seems the enemies are only coming from the south where the main camp is located, so let Squad 3 on the opposite side enter."

"Answer my question!! What are you up to!?"

"Up to? How disrespectful. ...It's merely a matter of not abandoning our subordinates just because the gate is unusable. If the gate won't work, we'll lower ropes from the wall and get out that way. Chitose, let's go."

"Yes!!"

"Wait!! The commander of this place is me!! Do you intend to defy me!?"

Realizing that persuasion wouldn't work on Kazuya, Karen tried to stop him using her authority, but it was futile.

"Sorry, but we're adventurers with a mission to fulfill. So, if we judge it necessary to accomplish that mission, we'll act according to our own thoughts. Besides, we won't inconvenience you. So... we don't need to obey your orders. ...Sorry, Karen."

In a voice almost whispered, Kazuya apologized to Karen, looking embarrassed.

"...!! Do as you please..."

Unable to say anything more in the face of Kazuya's indescribable expression, Karen turned away, muttering.

Smiling wryly at Karen's reaction, Kazuya left the terrace with Chitose in tow.

In Karen and Maria's empty office, save for the two of them.

"...Was it alright, Karen-sama? Letting them go like that..."

Maria asked, looking worriedly at Karen, who was seated with her head bowed.

"There's nothing else we can do..."

In a voice revealing her vulnerability, Karen muttered softly, a face she only showed to Maria and those she trusted.

If I make that face, there's no way he'll stop... Not with just this much. Please don't die, Kazuya. The man who took my first kiss... for him to end up like this... Please, just come back safely!!

Pressing her hands together as if in prayer, Karen wished for Kazuya's safety.

At the same time Karen prayed for Kazuya's safety...

"Master. It seems that Master is here—"

"Don't stay here."

As Kazuya hurriedly prepared for rappelling down from the second city wall alongside Squads 1 and 2, Chitose attempted to persuade Kazuya to stay behind, but Kazuya cut her off.

"However!! Unlike us, who can be replaced anytime, Master is irreplaceable!! What should we do if something were to happen to Master!! Please, please reconsider!!"

"Chitose!!"

Interrupting Chitose with a firm tone, Kazuya spoke quietly.

"Chitose, don't ever say we can be replaced again. And I can't just stay safe while sending my subordinates into danger. ...Please understand."

"Master..."

Having heard Kazuya's words, Chitose stared at him for a moment, then as if having made up her mind, she moved and lowered the rope beside Kazuya.

"I spoke out of turn. I apologize. I am—we are loyal soldiers who follow Master's orders and fulfill Master's wishes. If Master goes, even if it's to hell, we will follow. And it is our duty to protect Master."

"Sensai..."

"Let us proceed. Whether the enemy be gods, your master, I—no, we shall protect you!! Isn't that right, all of you?"

"Yes!!!"

As Chitose intentionally distorted her tone, shouting in coarse language towards the soldiers surrounding her, the troops, who had quietly prepared for rappelling descent, simultaneously raised their guns toward the sky, giving their unanimous agreement.

Observing this, Kazuya relaxed his cheek, wearing a pleased smile, and issued a command.

"We shall now head to rescue the members of the 4th squad. Everyone, descend!"

"Understood!!!"

Kazuya and his team smoothly descended the 15-meter-high castle wall using ropes.

Upon reaching the ground, they immediately sprinted towards the location of the 4th squad amid the grim scene of rubble from recently destroyed buildings and the corpses of slain magical creatures strewn about.

"Flank from the right!"

"Leave it to us!"

"Leave it—Wait, Commander!? Why are you here!?"

As Kazuya and his team joined forces with the 4th squad, soldiers from the 4th squad, firing their M4A1 Carbines in semi-automatic mode at the approaching magical creatures, noticed Kazuya's presence and voiced their surprise.

Ignoring the soldiers' inquiries, Kazuya instead posed a question.

"How's the situation!?"

"Uh!? Y-Yes! Currently, the Imperial Army is launching wave attacks with a massive horde of magical creatures!! We're somehow holding our ground, but we're out of ammunition!! Also, two squad members who were on lookout duty are missing. Corporal Funasaka said he's gone to search for them just a moment ago!!"

The soldier reported to Kazuya amidst the echoing gunfire.

"Understood!! 4th squad, retreat with the wounded!"

"Roger! What about you, commanders!?"

"Wait for another 10...no, 15 minutes for Corporal Funasaka to return!"

"But! That puts the commanders in danger!"

"Just go ahead without us!"

"Understood! Best of luck!"

The soldier, after conversing with Kazuya, left after uttering these parting words.

Twelve minutes after witnessing the 4th squad's retreat,

"Master!! We can't hold the frontline any longer!"

Beside Kazuya, Chitose shouted while changing the box-shaped magazine of her MK48 Mod0.

...Damn!

As Kazuya looked around in response to Chitose's words, he could indeed see the frontline being pushed back. There was a danger of being cut off with no retreat if they continued like this.

It might be impossible...however...

Kazuya, torn between waiting for Corporal Funasaka's return or retreating, received a report from a soldier stationed on a hill.

"The enemy creatures are retreating!! But the Imperial Army is advancing in a spearhead formation!"

Prompted by the voice, Kazuya looked towards the destroyed city gate, where a mixed unit of Imperial magic users and infantry, protected by a magical barrier, was approaching.

Damn!

Frustrated, Kazuya clenched his teeth and judged that holding out any longer was impossible. He then radioed Lieutenant Ibuki.

"Ibuki!"

"This is Ibuki! What do you need!?"

"Is the trap ready!?"

"Yes, as instructed."

Despite the regret in Kazuya's heart, he ordered the unit to retreat.

"1st and 2nd squads!! Retreat immediately!"

Following this command, soldiers pulled out the safety pins of M18 smoke grenades and threw them towards the enemy. The thrown M18 smoke grenades began emitting dense white smoke, creating a wall of white smoke between Kazuya's team and the Imperial Army.

"What's that!?"

"Hold your positions!!"

The Imperial Army unit, which had been approaching the city gate, stopped in surprise at the sudden smokescreen.

"Just a smoke screen! Dispel it with wind magic!!"

"Understood!"

However, the magic users quickly dispelled the smoke screen with wind magic.

"...Huh?...They retreated?"

After the smoke cleared, the Imperial Army, suspicious of the absence of enemy soldiers, sent a few magical creatures as scouts. As they safely returned, the Imperial Army resumed their advance.

Then, just as they were about to attack the 2nd city wall gate,

"Now, kill them!"

—Click!!

Just as the Imperial Army was drawn in, Lieutenant Ibuki's 2nd squad triggered their trap—an abundance of C-4 explosives and M18 Claymore directional anti-personnel mines detonated simultaneously, obliterating the Imperial Army.

While the magical barrier protected the Imperial soldiers from small-caliber bullets, the explosions within the barrier rendered it useless. The soldiers hit by the C-4 explosions were relatively fortunate, but those caught in the full force of the Claymore explosion faced a gruesome demise.

"Yaaargh!! My eyes!! My eyes!!"

Soldiers showered with the 700 iron balls contained in the Claymore—each with the force of a powerful air gun—were torn apart, writhing in agony amidst the excruciating pain.

"Damn, damn, retreat!!"

The Imperial Army, unable to maintain the magic barrier due to the casualties among the magic users, attempted to retreat.

However, the soldiers of the fortress city, led by Kazuya, had no intention of letting them escape.

"Don't let them run! Keep shooting!"

From the top of the city wall, bullets and arrows rained down, reducing the Imperial soldiers who managed to retreat to less than half of their marching force.