Episode 146: Another Battlefield

　Around the same time, the battle on Gasnia Avenue was raging fiercely. The Eastern Front Army—Beatrice and Fen’s forces—were clashing head-on with the Royal Guard Knights led by Karlheinz.

　The tide of battle favored the Eastern Front Army.

　The beastfolk climbed to the rooftops of buildings lining the avenue, firing shots from above.

　In response, the knights under Beatrice launched relentless charges.

　It was a coordinated tactic making full use of the urban terrain. However, Fen’s expression as she overlooked the battlefield from atop a building was far from bright.

(…We’re supposed to be on the attack, but we can’t break through at all.)

　The enemy’s defense was astonishingly solid. Both the arrow support and the knights’ charges were being blocked entirely.

　The Royal Guard Knights were clad head to toe in armor, as one would expect, and even their horses were covered in barding.

　Moreover, each knight uniformly equipped a shield in their left hand.

　Their appearance as the shields of the royal family was the very symbol of the Royal Guard Knights’ heavy armament.

(Our arrows are barely even a distraction…)

　That said, it wasn’t yet time to use the power gained from those “human experiments.”

　Fen gritted her teeth.

　It was at that moment.

　Beatrice, at the front lines on the avenue, glanced her way for an instant—and silently pointed the tip of her sword toward the enemy’s left flank.

(…So, we’re hitting there, huh.)

　Beatrice had been probing for weaknesses in the enemy lines amid the repeated charges. And she’d discovered that the left flank was relatively vulnerable.

(Got it. Then I’ll move too.)

　Fen immediately led a few subordinates and began a swift relocation. And then…

“Now!”

　With that command, a volley of arrows rained down on the enemy army’s left flank—right from the side.

　They’d circled around using the buildings, launching a surprise attack from an alley in the enemy’s blind spot.

　Caught off guard, the enemy forces showed a slight waver.

　Seizing that brief opening, the knights led by Beatrice charged in.

　The onslaught tore through the enemy ranks like a raging torrent. At last, they breached the Royal Guard Knights’ formation and managed to circle around to their rear.

(Yes… We broke through!)

　Having pierced the enemy lines, Beatrice immediately shifted to her next move.

　If she turned around from behind and struck their rear, they could pincer the front-line allies.

　But in the very next instant, as she was about to issue that order.

　A piercing killing intent, like an electric current, raced across Beatrice’s skin.

　From deep within the enemy forces—beyond even that—a single knight was charging toward her with tremendous speed.

　The aura enveloping him was a battle cry that shook the very battlefield.

(He’s fast…!)

　Beatrice instinctively raised her sword and assumed a defensive stance.

　The incoming strike, riding the momentum of the charge, sliced through the air as it bore down on her.

“Kuh…!”

　She somehow managed to block it, but the weight of that blow exceeded her imagination.

　She was hurled backward, horse and all.

　In that moment, cheers erupted from within the Royal Guard Knights.

“Knight Commander Grand Master!”

“His Excellency Knight Commander Grand Master Zefard has arrived!”

　Emerging from the far end of the avenue was—the kingdom’s strongest knight, Knight Commander Grand Master Zefard.

　Following a short delay, his subordinate knights began arriving one after another.

　Zefard and his men, who had been commanding the western walls, had finally rushed to this location.

“—This ends here, Beatrice Nightray.”

　Zefard declared in a grave tone.

“Now that we’ve arrived… you have no chance of victory.”

　With those words, tremendous magical power surged from Zefard’s entire body.

　Magical energy like roaring red flames coiled around his sword, flickering.

(Here it comes—!)

　Beatrice braced herself and once again took a defensive posture.

　A ferocious slash, akin to a volcanic eruption, was unleashed from Zefard.

　She barely managed to catch it with her sword—but.

“Gu—!”

　The destructive force imbued in that strike was beyond reason.

　An explosive impact hurled Beatrice’s body from horseback.

　Her form was flung into the air, blown far into the alley—and then mercilessly slammed into the ground.

“Haa…!?”

　At the unbelievable power, Fen couldn’t help but cry out.

“Damn it, I have to go help her!”

　The moment she tried to rush to Beatrice’s side—.

　A knight clad in gleaming armor came charging toward her.

“Miss, look out!”

　A burly beastman stepped in front to shield Fen.

　But—the magical-energy-infused charge from that knight sent the burly beastman flying.

“…!”

　Even as her eyes widened in shock, Fen narrowly evaded the knight’s charge.

　She then glared sharply at the knight on horseback.

“You…!”

“Hah hah hah! Don’t make such a scary face… now!”

　The man clad in luxurious armor adorned with gold decorations… Karlheinz wore a leisurely smile.

“I, Royal Aegis, commander of the Royal Guard Knights, have come all this way just for the likes of a beastfolk. You should be grateful, really… hmm!”

“Royal whatever, I don’t care—but did you come all this way just to get beaten by me?”

“Hmm… As expected, lower races can’t be reasoned with. There’s no future where someone like you defeats me… you know!”

　Karlheinz smirked arrogantly.

　Up until now, they’d held a defensive stance to buy time until Zefard’s arrival. Everything—had gone according to plan.

“Now then—this is where the real show begins…!”