Chapter 436: Going to Battle

"Ah!"

said Konoka.

"Did it hit?"

When I asked,

"Hmm, I don’t know. The commotion got bigger, but I didn’t hear screams or anything. More than that, the people who came from over there seem to have noticed the enemies’ location and are trying to fight. The enemies seem to have sensed that too. Ahh— what will they do? They’re confused."

What should I do? Continuing sniping from here was one method, but that felt like it would result in casualties among Her Majesty the Queen’s people. In that case the choice was probably one.

"I will also attack the enemies!"

I declared.

"Eh, that would be impossible, right?"

Naturally, Konoka denied it. Lily seemed to think it was natural.

"I can do it! Lily, will you protect Konoka? There don’t seem to be enemies around here."

"Understood."

Of course Lily agreed. Konoka, whether surprised or not, said nothing.

"Then, I’m going!"

"Eh!? What will you do if arrows fly?"

"Arrows shot in a panic don’t have much power, so they won’t hit! There is no better timing to defeat the enemies than now when they are panicking."

"Wouldn’t it be fine to leave the enemies to the people coming from over there?"

"There is no way enemies who shoot arrows like that are weak. If those who came from over there are allies, they might be wiped out. Watching that happen cannot be permitted! I will also join the attack!"

"Eh, but what about me? What will I do if enemies attack?" ℴ

"I will protect you even at the cost of my life."

Here Lily stated firmly.

"Even at the cost of your life?"

Konoka asked Lily back.

"Yes, no matter what happens I will protect you. I will protect you staking my life!"

Lily repeated. At the strength of that tone, Konoka fell silent.

"Then I’m going. I’ll leave the rest to you, Lily!"

"Yes! Leave it to me! And please be careful."

"Going!"

Saying that, I dashed. For the time being I moved in a Z-shape, intending to avoid arrows. But there was no sign of arrows flying. While running, I came to understand where the enemies were. Probably they were in combat with the allies. The allies seemed to have come in quite a number and appeared to be trying to charge without fearing the arrows. Even in the rain, lights became visible. Lights seemed like they would become targets, but they must have thought that through properly. Even if saying they move secretly, having lights now was helpful.

The enemies seemed to think they could not finish the fight with arrows and began preparing for close combat by drawing swords. There I leaped in from behind! The one who had marked me seemed to be already gone. Or was there no room? Anyway I cut the back of the one at the very rear!

"Gyaaaaaa!!"

A scream rose. The enemies had probably intended to meet the allies, but because I leaped in from behind they began to panic. About 10 enemies?

"This!?"

"Bad!"

"Run!"

Oh, they became ready to flee. This kind of thing is hunting time. The moment someone says "run," feelings go that way, so one absolutely must not say it, but they must have said it without thinking.

At the moment the enemies became unsettled, the allies probably arrived. Because friendly fire would be bad, I had to say something.

"Where is Lady Scarlett? Takamoto-san, Konoka is secured!"

While shouting, I stabbed the back of an enemy who tried to flee.

"Ooooo——!!"

Probably from the allies, a voice rose. It seemed to have gotten through, good. Inwardly I had thought, what if they said "Who are you?" or something.

I lit a light and illuminated myself.

"O-Lord Robbie!"

There was someone who knew me. A little happy. In this situation I felt relieved. In the meantime the allies were attacking the enemies. When I tried to step forward, something caught on my foot. A crossbow, and an enormously large one. Just the width of the bow was probably 3 m. If shot with something like this, a hole would open. Good that it did not hit. Something like this was only in the way, so I would put it away. Ah, there was one over here too. Just how many did they bring? Something like this would not be cheap, and it made one think they had predicted I would come here? Could it be that near each gate there were ones waiting for me, and they were trying to hunt me using this? In rain like this, one ends up thinking it is hard work.

It seemed I would be fine not being here, so shall I return to Lily’s place?

"I will return to Takamoto-san’s place. I will bring her here, so please do not move. If you do not understand, please call."

"Eh? Then, if someone is taken?"

"If I take them, it becomes hard to move, so I’ll go quickly and return quickly."

"I-is that so? Then I leave it to you. We will be waiting."

It felt reluctant, though.

I was able to reach Konoka and Lily’s place without any trouble. Of course, in the pitch darkness, the way the rain was falling had weakened considerably, so it was not a cheat of arriving without getting lost, and I did get somewhat lost. When I arrived, the bad premonition that Konoka and Lily had disappeared crossed my mind, but they were properly there. Konoka heard my footsteps, and Lily gave a signal.

"Good. If by any chance they had disappeared, I was thinking what to do."

I truly thought so. Then, I would probably be told "Don’t leave them and go to battle!" though.

"Thank you for your concern. After that, no one seemed to approach. So, were those enemies and allies?"

Lily asked.

"Yes. I think they are surely Her Majesty the Queen’s people. There is no mistake. Having come this far, if they were enemies, there would be nothing that could be done. We have no choice but to trust them. Appearing in a place like this at a time like this, if not enemies then only allies."

"Indeed so."

"Then, shall we go?"

While Robbie and Lily were talking, Konoka said nothing. After thinking she was saved and feeling relieved, had she returned to her original mood?

We moved with rain capes over our heads. Since I was carrying Konoka on my back, Konoka was wearing the rain cape over her head. It would be good if there was enhancement magic for waterproofing or water repellency. Wouldn’t someone process slime to make a waterproof sheet? I won’t do it, though.