Ankoku Kishi Monogatari ~Yuusha wo Taosu Tameni Maou ni Shoukansaremashita~-Chapter 99.1: Sniping

◆Black Haired Sage; Chiyuki

When it was dawn, I felt that the warriors had already assembled.

Thanks to the illumination magic, the area around the camp was quite bright.

But, the sky was dark and cloudy, not to mention the thick mist inside the forest which made the forest even darker.

I couldn’t help but worry about whether the warriors who would enter the forest would be alright.

「Welcome back, Shirone-san.」

When the morning had come, Shirone finally returned from Algore.

「I’m home, Chiyuki-san. By the way, do you know what is that thing in the sky?」

Shirone, who had just returned to the camp, pointed to the sky.

The thing she pointed at was a flying ship, the reason why there was no commotion despite the appearance of the flying ship in the sky might be because it couldn’t be seen by people with lower magical power.

「Ah, don’t worry about that. That thing is just observing the situation.」

「？」

Shirone tilted her head upon seeing me replying while massaging my forehead.

「Shirone-san! that’s Alphos you know, he’s amazing!! He’s really a handsome god!! I came to his ship a while ago along with Nao-chan!!」

Nao explained to Shirone with an excited look on her face.

The flying ship was owned by God of song and arts, Alphos.

Alphos seems to come to oversee our battle.

I recalled his appearance.

He was an extremely handsome man.

I knew where Rino’s excitement came from. I mean, no woman could refuse the serious courting of such a handsome man.

So this was how the men felt when they saw a girl like Rena.

I mean, Alphos was literally the male version of Rena.

「Sure enough. He’s a really handsome guy. And accompanied by many beauties by his sides. It look like the spectacle in paradise.」

Nao nodded in agreement.

The flying ship wasn’t just accommodating Alphos inside, his wives were also living in there with him.

There’re more than thousands of them.

From goddesses to high-elf, female angels, even former female humans, all of them were beauties of their own.

Nonetheless, it didn’t mean that Alphos was the only man in his flying ship, the other men in Alphos ship were mainly doing chores or manning the ship, those poor men literally being pushed around by Alphos’ wives.

Since Rino said, 「Eh, there’s other men in that ship?」, it means that those men’s presence was quite thin.

But since there was an escort for the wives, their number must be quite big.

And they were observing us from above the cloud.

Honestly, I felt a bit annoyed by them.

「They should help us instead of just looking from the sky and yet…」

I unintentionally muttered so.

I thought that he was going to come out and fight since the human was in trouble and yet, he didn’t seem to have any intention to do so. [TL: Coz he’s not stupid like you.]

It seems like he only wanted to observe the situation from above like a god he does.

「Let him be. Maybe he wanted to see me, his sister’s hero fighting. Since that’s the case, I’ll let him see as much as he want.」

Reiji said so with a daring smile on his face.

Reiji seems to be all fired up too, well it might be because Rena was involved in this matter too.

But, I felt uneasy for some reason.

From the way Alphos spoke, I’m sure that something had been lying in wait for us in the forest.

We might be as well as leave this place right now.

「Hero-dono. All warriors are ready, can I ask you to give some words of encouragement for them? 」

Portos came to our camp as he made such a request.

「I Understand General Portos. We’ll be there immediately.」

Upon leaving our tent, the warriors could already be seen lining up, waiting for us in front of our encampment.

I said lining up but, it was in fact akin to clumping together rather than lining up in order.

It really couldn’t be helped since they’re in fact the freedom fighters (mercenaries) who never receive proper military training.

In addition, their equipment also varied from one to another.

Some people only wore tunic, some wore clothes and were equipped with swords and shields.

While the Priest of God of War, Thors, had their upper-half naked.

In general, they were naked due to their creed. They could only wear the pelt of a huge demon beast or monster.

For that reason, I often saw Thors’ warriors wearing animal costumes.

Orc, wild boar, bear, or wolf.

They were mostly forest animals. In fact, I’m quite reluctant to let them participate in this march.

I mean compared to them, the equipment of the soldiers and knights lining up beside general Portos was much better than the one owned by the freedom fighters.

The knights had long swords and metal armors, not to mention that they were also equipped with a kite shield that was big enough to protect their feet when they rode their horse.

The soldiers were equipped with a long spear, chainmail to protect their body, and a round shield around 60 cm in diameter.

They were clearly more well equipped and prepared compared to the freedom fighters.

And yet, it seems they were only ordered to stand behind and not to step into the forest.

In short, the least, poorly equipped force had to charge into the forest while the one properly equipped had to wait outside of the forest.

But, no one seems to question that decision.

Rather, Thors’ warriors seem to be rearing to charge into the forest as soon as possible.

「WARRIORS!! THE TIME HAS COME!! OUR SIDE HAVE GODDESS RENA-SAMA’S BELOVED HERO, REIJI-DONO!! VICTORY WILL BE OURS! YOUR BATTLE IS SURELY WATCHED OVER BY THE VALKYRIES!! THE BRAVE ONE WILL SURELY BE GUIDED TO ELIOS PALACE!!NOW, IT’S TIME TO FIGHT!!!」

The warriors’ war cry resounded as soon as Portos finished his fiery speech.

According to Rena’s and Thors’ creed, when someone died of heroic death against a monster, their soul would be carried up by the valkyries to the Elios palace.

In there, they’re going to be welcomed by celestial maidens.

That’s why the warriors were not afraid of death. On the other hand, they are literally rearing to charge into the battlefield.

Seeing these warriors somehow reminds me of Vikings, the power of religion was scary.

◆Goblin’s Prince; Goz

「How’s the situation outside, Goz?」

Mother was asking from behind when I was observing the situation outside of the barrier with the magic mirror.

「They’re coming, My Dear Mother.」

I turned around as I said so.

We were in the banquet hall of the confectionery castle. Many male gods were gathering in this place.

「TOOK THEM LONG ENOUGH, EH!! THE FOOLS WHO DARE TO STEAL MY WIFE-TO-BE, RENA, WILL DIE BY THIS HARSESH’S HANDS!!」

The one who said those words was a man with tanned skin, wearing various golden accessories on his body.

His figure resembles that of a human except for the wings that grow from his back.

Naturally, he was by no means a human. He just transformed into human form with his magic.

This man called Harsesh was the god of light who lived in the far western desert.

In the land governed by him, there were so many beastmen tribes such as The bugs, crocodile, frog, falcon, with the cat and dogs reigning the top as noble of the beastmen race.

「Can a youngster from desert like you even do that?」

The man wearing black lion mask who came last said so as if trying to make a fool of Harsesh.

「ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A FIGHT!!? THOUGH YOU TRIED TO HIDE YOUR IDENTITY WITH THAT LION MASK, YOU THINK I DON’T KNOW WHO YOU ARE!! ZUTO! YOU EVIL GOD OF WAR!!」

「Zuto, eh. I’m sure that’s the way you shortened my name and called it in reverse means to insult your opponent back in your land? you’re really asking for a beating eh.」

The man wearing black lion mask drew the greatsword on his back. There were seven bright gems inlaid in his greatsword.

「AS YOU WISH!! YOU OWE US A DEBT OF BLOOD FOR HUNTING DOWN OUR FATHER!! LET’S SETTLE THIS GRUDGE IN THIS LAND!!」

Right after saying that, the wings on Harsesh’s back shone brightly.

I got away from them in order to not get caught up in their fight.

「Humph!! It’s your father, Ushals’s fault for reaching out his hand to Ishtar. And I don’t recognize you as Ishtar’s son. If my memories serve me right, he is barely getting himself resurrected…」

「Humph. The one who resurrected my father is Heqat-dono and your little sister, Totona-dono. BUT, DON’T THINK THAT YOU’LL BE FORGIVEN!! YOU EVIL GOD!! YOU HAVE TO PAY THE DEBT OF THIS LEFT EYE TOO!!」

Harsesh shouted as he touched the exquisite golden eyepatch on his left eye.

「My little sister and that Frog hag did something unnecessary. But then, it seems you lost your left eye forever. Since that’s the case, I shall crush the right one this time.」

The god called Zuto was laughing as he spoke.

At this rate, a battle was unavoidable.

「STOP!! NOW ISN’T THE TIME TO FIGHT AGAINST EACH OTHER!!」

Suddenly, Heqat’s voice resounded in the hall.

Harsesh and Zuto then looked at Heqat.