第６８掘：大事な場所を守る為 (Part2)
"Dammit!! How are you struggling against a female Rabbit Beastman?! She only has twenty goblins with her!! And yet, our formation has been breached, and there are casualties in the rear... What a pathetic display of incompetence!"
A bearded, pompous-looking man is bellowing from the position Ratz is holding.
"At least capture that female!! It won't be worth the trouble unless we can have our way with her!! Come to think of it, she’s actually quite beautiful, isn't she...?"
The man looks down at his own chest with a puzzled expression. A spear is buried deep within it. Then, something leaps onto the man on horseback.
"Hahaha. It’s just disgusting to be lusted after by the likes of you."
A chilling voice rings out over the radio.
"Honestly. When I was an adventurer and a merchant, I did consider selling my body, but that’s impossible now. From my hair to my very heart, this body belongs to my brother."
As Ratz finishes her sentence, the man’s head and torso part ways, and he collapses to the ground.
"Oh dear, I lost my temper for a moment there. The enemy commander has been taken down by Ratz!!"
" " "Ooooohhh!!" " "
Good, the battle on the front lines is all but decided.
"Ratz, do you copy? If they don't listen to the surrender demand, let the fleeing enemy go."
"Eh? Aren't we supposed to annihilate them?"
"Yes, the ones who are fleeing. Those who have no will to fight are not even our enemies."
"I see. So, they’re to be living witnesses?"
"Exactly. Even if our victory is overwhelming, it’s meaningless if there’s no one left to report it to Lithea."
"Understood. Am I to monitor those who have surrendered from here on?"
"Please."
With that, Ratz issued the surrender demand, and more than half of the surviving enemy vanguard threw down their weapons on the spot. The rest are retreating, trying to join the central unit. Well, there are fewer than thirty of them left anyway.
"Tori!! Kaya!!"
"Understood, we will annihilate them!!"
"Doing it."
The two of them, while joining up with Riel and Milly, literally cut down every retreating enemy before regrouping.
"Riel, Milly, what are the casualties on your end? Are you okay?"
"I had a bit of trouble; three of my goblins were taken out. Seven are combat-incapable."
"We don't have any deaths here, but about five are unable to continue fighting."
"You've lost nearly half of Riel's unit!?"
"Ah, don't worry, Eris. The two of us have been rampaging so hard that the enemy has stopped trying to touch us. That’s why we’re able to report in like this."
"I see. Then maintain your current position. Tori and Kaya will be there soon. Work together to annihilate the enemy center. I want to avoid unnecessary attrition, so declare that you won't attack if they throw down their weapons. Ratz is coming over from the rear to handle the disarmament."
Now, all that’s left is to take the center of the left flank. The rear units are primarily for support and recovery, so there shouldn't be any combat there.
The current casualties are lighter than expected. It’s fortunate that the enemy underestimated us and didn't provide support fire from their archers.
Hmm? There’s a cloud of dust rising in a different area from where Riel, the center, and the right flank are fighting. It seems to be heading toward us.
"Excuse me, Deryu-san. Do you know what that is?"
"Hmm? Oh, they’re actually going to try a pincer attack on our rear, despite us being such a small force?"
"...On this open plain with such high visibility?"
"Don't be too hard on them. Under normal circumstances, they would have already been wiped out or pinned down without even realizing it. For them, if they could capture Seraria, they could do whatever they wanted with the dungeon. I told you about this, didn't I?"
"Ah, the plan to capture Seraria-sama and enslave the dungeon?"
"That’s the one. Well, the real one isn't Seraria, though."
Deryu-san watches the enemy’s detachment with a pleased expression. Judging by their direction, they seem to be aiming for the center led by Seraria-sama...
"...I feel sorry for them. Even if they somehow managed to collapse the center, they could never actually capture Seraria-sama."
Between designated protection, return rings, and various other things, it’s impossible. Still, I can't just stand by and watch.
"Deryu-san, could you handle that?"
"Hmm, are you going to be alright here?"
"I’m going to join the push as well. Mostly with archery, though."
"That’s for the best. We shouldn't let volunteers die so easily. Very well, I’ll go deal with them."
"Yes."
Deryu-san flies off, diving into the cavalry unit, and bodies go flying. Yes, she is definitely a Demon Lord.
"Now, let’s give chase as well!!"
The moment I gave the order to advance...
"Riel here. Left flank center crushed!!"
"Crushed is a bit much. Tori has taken the enemy commander prisoner. Milly’s unit will continue to annihilate the enemies who refuse to surrender."
"...Kaya here. The enemy rear has already joined the enemy central formation."
"Well, their judgment is accurate. They must have realized they were at a disadvantage the moment the enemy broke into the center. Ah, this is Ratz. I’ve already joined up with them."
"Um, what should I do with this person?"
"You could just decapitate him."
"B-but he surrendered..."
...It seems the battle is already mostly over.
"Please be lenient with those who have surrendered. Even Seraria-sama cuts down those who flee, but she doesn't execute those who surrender. Don't get it wrong. We came here to defeat the enemy. Those who have surrendered are no longer enemies."
Now then, let’s regroup and join the remaining enemies with the center or right flank to finish them off.
Ah, but if we’re moving this fast, I wonder if Yuki-san’s side is already finished?
Seraria does kill those who flee, but she is lenient toward those who surrender. Well, even if they surrender, there are still things like having their assets seized in Lithea, among other consequences.