第１９２９堀：当時の動きを改めてみる (Part2)
With those words, the monitor flickered to life, displaying footage captured by a drone from high above. It clearly showed the enemy’s rear guard: a contingent of goblin riders, mounted atop wolves.
"They had cavalry in the back?"
"They likely intended them as a mobile strike force. But the elite vanguard from the Adventurer Guild slammed into them before they could act, and their numbers were too thin to make a difference. Actually, no—that’s not quite right. The main force collapsed before the cavalry could even mobilize. We have Knightman to thank for that. Let’s watch the progression of the battle."
The display shifted, showing the aerial drone footage synchronized with a timeline. Seeing it from this bird’s-eye view made the tactical flow easy to parse.
"First, the three top-tier combatants dispatched by the Adventurer Guild arrived, and the Guild Master’s daughter launched the initial charge."
"She really did, didn't she?"
She was brimming with confidence. And, to be fair, she was driven by the resolve to protect the town. She wasn't so ignorant that she couldn't gauge the power gap between her and that horde. Yet, she plunged into the fray regardless. You have to respect that kind of courage—or perhaps that reckless fervor. Though, knowing Yuki, he probably isn't fond of that type—the kind who ignores orders and rushes in headlong.
"The monster horde was caught off guard and halted their advance. Because she’d cut into them so suddenly, the goblin riders in the rear couldn't maneuver. Or rather, they were likely waiting for the fodder to be cleared out. There’s a lull in the movement here."
That’s exactly how it went. After the Guild Master’s daughter made her solo charge, those goblin riders in the back essentially held their position. It was the logical choice, really.
"Well, charging cavalry into a single enemy combatant is a waste of resources."
"Exactly. They were already surrounded by orcs, and there were ogres in the mix, too. They knew that sending cavalry in would only cause chaos among their own ranks, didn't they?"
"So, they were organized after all."
"On that point, we’re all in agreement. That monster horde was disciplined. Which means there was a commander present. However..."
The tide of the battle shifted abruptly thereafter. Just as the Guild Master’s daughter was charging and the other two adventurers were picking away at the edges, Vilia—or rather, Knightman—made her entrance.
"The situation changed instantly the moment Knightman arrived."
The drone’s overhead view highlighted Vilia’s arrival. She positioned herself near the two adventurers providing support. From there, after a brief preamble—or perhaps a warning to fall back—she unleashed her attack.
"Knightman’s bow fire rendered nearly half the enemy force combat-ineffective. That includes those killed, of course, but the goblin riders waiting in the rear were almost entirely wiped out by that volley. Their decision to hold their position became their undoing. They had mobility, but clearly lacked the defense to match. Incidentally, the orcs were also hit by the arrows, but they fared relatively better."
"Well, the durability of an orc is naturally higher than that of a goblin or a wolf."
That’s true enough. The goblin riders are lower-level than the orcs, so their lack of durability is a given. Though, the goblins we have here in Weed aren't even in the same category, so they’re a poor point of comparison.
"Setting that aside, what was that bow? It looked like she fired into the sky, only for the projectiles to spread out and rain down."
"It’s exactly what it looks like. A tool designed to annihilate enemies spread across a wide area."
"Right. It’s useful when you can't bring out firearms, or when the line of sight is obstructed."
"I mean, I suppose so, but that’s far beyond a standard bow, isn't it? It’s more like mortar fire."
"Precisely. I aimed for a hybrid of a mortar and precision weaponry. It’s even designed to distinguish between friend and foe."
"Is that... still a bow?"
"The form is definitely a bow. I made sure of that. To be honest, she could have fired much more, but under those circumstances? That would have been overkill."
Indeed. That bow had swept the field in a single strike. If she were capable of firing that repeatedly, it would undoubtedly attract the wrong kind of attention.
"I see. Well, my primary interest is the monsters and the tactical side of things. Let’s hear the rest."
Right, of course. Yuki is focused on the intelligence regarding the monsters. It seems the bow was indeed a restrained version of the weapon. Regardless, the drone footage captured the enemy’s movements with surprising clarity. They were undeniably organized.
What, I wonder, will Comet and the others deduce from watching this enemy?