BGM: A Splash of True Colors – Throttle Up![Wuthering Waves Boss Theme]
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「… It's time.」
Looking up at the crimson sky, Barbara murmured with a tense expression.
――Barbara was at Sunburn Fortress, located in the southwestern district of the royal capital, Evaloti, one of the six fortresses that encircled the royal capital.
They had known for several days that the Demon King army would attack tonight, and even last night, though she lay down in bed, it took her longer than usual to fall asleep.
Nevertheless, now that the moment had truly arrived, a sudden wave of nervousness ran through her.
Even she, a Sword Saint, felt this way. She could only wonder what must be going through the minds of the regular soldiers and even the militia around her.
（…No, in front of a high-ranking demon, there may be little difference between a Sword Saint like herself and an ordinary foot soldier.）
She quickly dispelled such thoughts. No matter how much she honed her sword skills, Barbara, with her weak magical power, had no way to resist spell, hex, or curse. All she could do was pray that the priests and forest elf spellcasters stationed on the upper floors of the fortress would maintain their divine blessings for as long as possible.She relaxed her shoulders and looked around.
Like herself, the soldiers crouched silently atop the castle walls, waiting. If they recklessly stuck their heads out, they risked being shot by the night elf archers. Normally, in a siege, the defenders hold the advantage, but when facing the Demon King army, that advantage was far from certain. It was an incredibly difficult task to fend off the beastfolk and devil soldiers climbing the walls, while dodging demon magic and night elf arrows.
And once the defenses were breached, the demon warriors would flood in like an avalanche.
（…Well, when you think about how tough it is for the Demon King army to capture a fortress, maybe it’s still better that we’re the ones defending it.）
In the end, the Demon King army was overwhelmingly stronger. Barbara reached this blunt conclusion and let out a wry smile by herself.
The three fortresses in the western part of the royal capital, including Sunburn Fortress, were expected to become fierce battle zones once the war breaks out, so elite troops were concentrated there.
「…」
Therefore, the soldiers gritting their teeth as they stared down at the Demon King army from the high ground, though pale-faced or sweating nervously, did not show the disgraceful panic of rookies who might retch from anxiety.
They were all regular soldiers of the Defteros Kingdom’s army, battle-hardened veterans who had survived previous conflicts. Even the militia present were either retired soldiers or those with combat experience. In addition, there were heroes and priests from the Holy Religion, and though few in number, there were forest elf spellcasters as well.
This was an undeniably formidable lineup to face the demon race.
…Though whether it was truly enough to stand against the vast demon army was another question entirely.
—— Carried on the wind, the battle cries of the Demon King army echoed from their camp.
「Finally coming eh!」
Barbara, having adjusted the ancestral unicorn helmet on her head, briefly peeked out from the castle wall.
「Sword Saint?」
The soldier next to her let out a startled cry.
Ignoring the startled cry, she strained her eyes into the twilight to survey the surroundings. Normally, the nearby fields around the royal capital would be prepared for planting by now, but they lay untouched. Aside from the trampled soil, nothing could be seen, only a crude rock wall fortress about 400 steps ahead, built by demon magic, 『Crude』 was indeed quite frustrating.
Here and there, she caught sight of beastfolk soldiers and night elf rangers armed with bows.
―― Hyuuuuuuuu.
「Ooops.」
Barbara raised her helmet to block and deflect the incoming arrows, then quickly ducked her head as if startled and dizzy.
「The enemy sure is diligent in their work, huh?」
「… You've really startled me, Sword Saint.」
The soldier beside her, clearly a battle-hardened veteran, spoke with a strained expression. It was as if he was saying, "It would be a big problem if our main force, the Sword Saint, were to die before the battle even begins."
「Don't worry, I'm not stupid enough to be killed by the likes of arrows.」
Barbara replied with a fearless smile on her face instead.
「I could’ve just slashed it away with my sword, but I deliberately took it with my helmet.」
「Hohou? Why are you going out of your way to do that?」
「By now, those guys are probably laughing, saying something like, "The foolish human who showed his face got lucky when his helmet saved his life and he lost his nerve."」
Barbara's smile became more and more ferocious with each passing moment.
「Keep it up, and I’ll cut down every single one of those fools who come waddling here with my sword.」
There’s no point in flaunting her sword skills. Once they knew a sword saint was here, the opponents would definitely change how they approached.
Rather, playing the pig to eat tiger was a much better choice, it lets you deliver a much more painful counterattack.
「I see now that's hilarious for sure…!」
Seemingly satisfied, the veteran soldier chuckled deeply. The surrounding soldiers, who had been quietly listening, began to catch the laughter and joined in.
「Well, well. Our Sword Saint-dono is pretty composed despite being so young.」
「I’m not really that young anymore though.」
When Barbara spoke in a grumbling tone, gently brushing her cheek with her hand, the laughter around her grew just a little louder.
「Why are you all laughing, geez…!」
Even as she pretended to be upset, she realized that a bit of the tension in her shoulders had eased.
（It’s not like I’m actually calm or anything, though.）
Had it not been for her pride as a Sword Saint, dignity as a noble, honor as a warrior of humankind, and her feelings for those who’ve already fallen before her, she’d have run away barefoot.
（I guess I couldn't really criticize Char for this.）
Even when her peer(Hessel) advised her to retreat, she was the one who chose to stay. That’s why she couldn’t be too hard on Charlotte either. In the end, she was waiting at a defensive post just behind the front line.
（… Will we be able to meet again after this?）
Properly speaking, defending the fortress would be difficult. In a few hours, one or two of them might die. If they try to hold out any longer, they'd just end up surrounded and wiped out. So, depending on how the battle unfolds, they planned to retreat into the city and drag the Demon King army into a drawn-out urban combat.
When she was wondering which fortress would draw the short straw first… "Will it be this one—Fort Sunburn—or the westernmost Fort Niban, where Hessel was stationed?"
（No… in the end, there’s no such thing as a jackpot anyway…）
She shook her head to brush away the negative emotions that were swirling in her mind.
「Speaking of young, did you hear? A 19-year-old Sword Saint has finally emerged among the soldiers.」
「Yeah, I caught wind of that too. Is it… Really true?」
The veteran soldier asked with a face that clearly showed his disbelief.
「My peer apparently met him. They say he was the real deal. Young talent is truly terrifying…」
“Ohhh!” the soldiers around them exclaimed in surprise. Everyone had heard the story, but many found it hard to believe. Some even thought it might be a rumor spread by the higher-ups to boost morale.
『Wow, that’s just incredible. Nineteen years old—still a teenager. Can you believe it?』
She remembered yesterday when she met Hessel, he was scratching his head nervously, looking both happy and troubled at the same time.
『You know what, when I awakened as a Sword Saint, I was hailed as a young genius. There weren’t many who became Sword Saints in their late twenties. But then, not long after, this young swordswoman who mastered the sword in her early twenties broke my record and became sword saint in her early twenties…』
Hessel looked at Barbara as if he wanted to say something.
『It can't be helped, I either awakened, or die.』
『It’s not like I want to complain or anything.』
When Barbara gave him a nudge in the ribs, Hessel responded with a wry smile.
『Still, a Sword Saint in his teens, huh… Well… It’s definitely reassuring, but how should I put it…』
With a vague expression, Hessel looked up at the sky. Barbara could understand what he was trying to say.
Part 3
――As the Demon King army closes in, the ages of Sword Saints were getting younger and younger.
Not so long ago, it was normal for sword saints to be in their 50s or 60s. Hessel and Barbara awakened in their 20s. And now, even a teenage sword saint has appeared.
They were certainly dependable. But at the same time, there was something eerily unsettling about it.
Has humanity―― Really been driven to the brink that much?
Isn't it proof of humanity’s desperate plight as a species?
『…Well, isn't it a good thing that sword saints are increasing? After all, our magical powers are weak, so our kind needs at least this much strength, right?』
『…Yeah, that’s right! He was a serious and good-natured guy. His swordsmanship was straightforward and sharp. He’s a swordsman I hope continues to grow like that.』
Hessel replied with a refreshing smile on his face.
『He said he definitely wants to meet you too. Once things settle down, let’s all have a drink together.』
『That sounds great. When you meet him, please give him my regards.』
That’s what was said when we parted ways yesterday.
「…The young ones are steadily working hard. We cannot afford to be left behind too!」
When Barbara flashed a wide grin, the soldiers around her responded with wry smiles.
「When a Sword Saint young enough to be my daughter says something like that… Well, what can I say?」
「There's no way I can slack off after saying that…」
The heavy, gloomy atmosphere that had lingered until moments ago gradually began to ease up.
「That's right. From here on, it’s likely to be a fairly long night.」
Looking up at the sky, now beginning to be dyed by the twilight.
「――Even so, the morning sun will surely come. Let’s fight through it stubbornly. Let’s survive till the end!!」
Barbara's sharp rapier reflected the moonlight.
「―― DEATH TO THE DARKLING!!」
「「DEATH TO THE DARKLING!」」
The surrounding soldiers respond, shouting out in unison.
（――Win, eh?）
Watching the men who had regained their spirit, Barbara thought so in a corner of her mind.
――What, she wondered, could truly be called a "victory"?
Repelling the Demon King army? Defeating the commanders? Defending the fortress to the death? … But how many times did they have to keep doing that?
She heard that this time, the Demon King army was led by the 7th Demon Prince.
The "7th" huh? It makes me want to laugh. Even if we managed to take the prince’s head, there are still six others, and the Demon King himself on top of that.
And on top of that, those guys live much longer than humans…
Adding to that, the fact that the sword' saints are getting younger and younger cast a shadow of ominous premonition over Barbara’s heart.
（―― Woops, let's not worry about that now.）
She let out a ferocious smile.
Because she knew that she'd be killed by the demons sooner or later.
The human race outnumbers them. In that case―― Thus――
（We are going to win.）
She might lose here and die.
However, humankind―― is going to have the last laugh.
（I will fight till the bitter end.）
Barbara tightly grasped her rapier.
―― How many demons can I take down before I die?
How many demons she could take along with her.
With only that thought in mind, she glared ahead.
Battle cries and countless footsteps drew near from beyond the rampart.
――It's the battle that decides the fate of the Defteros kingdom.
The siege battle of the royal capital Evaloti had begun.
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