Chapter 97

I'm very sorry for the wait.

Now that the book production work has reached a stage, I will gradually update.

When Kaita saw the reinforcements of monsters—especially the extra-large ones—he had to give up on returning unscathed, something he had never anticipated.

The defense lines constructed by the National Defense Army were also the site of battles against the monsters.

"Here! Fire at will!"

"Roger!"

"ROAR!!!"

"Don't let your guard down! Second wave, fire!"

"Roger!"

"ROAR!!!"

"Good! So far, so good! Keep it up and reduce their numbers!"

"Roger!"

The Fourth Division, which had to face the swarm of monsters, lacked extremely powerful large monsters but was overwhelmed by the sheer number, which rivaled ten thousand, and the superior physical abilities of the monsters, far surpassing those of wild animals. They relied on the defensive capabilities of their base to minimize casualties while successfully repelling the monsters.

Despite the intense battle, the damage they suffered was minimal, which exceeded the expectations of the operation command. There were several reasons for this, but if one had to be singled out, it would be the new weapons brought by the reinforcements from the homeland.

"Colonel! It's dangerous! Please step back!"

"What are you talking about now! It's obvious that the battlefield is dangerous!"

"That's not what I mean..."

"You should understand! With this exoskeleton, I can fight them too!"

"But...!"

"Besides, there's nothing wrong with a commander being on the battlefield! No, if I don't get in the way of the soldiers, I should be at the front lines!"

"..."

Ignoring his adjutant's attempts to stop him, Colonel Aya Katsushige, the regiment commander, stood at the forefront, spouting sophistry while sniping at medium-sized monsters.

His actions, which could have been seen as abandoning his command, were not criticized this time.

Katsushige had entrusted the command of the tank battalion to his adjutant and was now leading the accompanying infantry, equipped with the new exoskeletons brought by the First Division. Since the accompanying infantry were also part of the regiment, no one could punish him for his actions.

Moreover, this was a defensive battle within the base. The main task of the armored battalion was to fire at the enemy. If detailed command was not necessary, the adjutant could handle it. Who could blame Katsushige for his judgment?

Additionally, Katsushige's compatibility with the magic crystals was high enough to adapt to the new exoskeleton, which further encouraged his actions.

His mind was focused on one thing.

(Finally. Finally, I can fight the monsters too!)

Of course, Katsushige had been leading the tank battalion in battles against monsters. The division commander, Izumi, highly praised Katsushige's command ability, which maintained calmness and conducted mobile warfare even in the face of the enemy.

Katsushige understood this. However, there was a stronger driving force within him.

(That's not enough! We have to show that we can fight too!)

The comrades who fought and fell in battle.

Among them, the most numerous were the knights who piloted the magic-enhanced mechs.

They advanced to defeat the medium and large monsters that normal weapons couldn't handle, and then they fell.

Truly, they carved out a path with their very bodies. No one could watch their backs without feeling a sense of frustration. No one could see their backs and not lament, "We can do it too!"

This was not a sentiment unique to Katsushige. It was a common feeling among almost all the soldiers on the battlefield.

Knowing this, his adjutant couldn't strongly object. If he could have adapted to the new exoskeleton, he would have been sniping at the medium-sized monsters alongside Katsushige.

Moreover, Katsushige had a reason to prove that he could fight.

(I can't stay back while my daughter, Mari, is at the front lines!)

Yes, he had a daughter. She was a knight who piloted a magic-enhanced mech, a weapon designed to break through the large monsters, the enemy's decisive force.

As a man and a father, Katsushige had to prove that he could fight.

And on this battlefield, many others fought with similar sentiments.

For their fathers, mothers, wives, children, daughters, sons, lovers, and friends. The targets varied, but everyone wished to protect what was dear to them.

Those who joined the military to protect what was dear to them now had the power to do so. In front of them stood the threats to what they cherished.

Then, they would fight. They would fight with their lives on the line. They would stop the threats from ever underestimating them again.

The tank soldiers, who could only use conventional weapons, repeatedly fired at the small monsters that could be defeated with conventional weapons. The accompanying infantry, equipped with the new exoskeletons, fired at the medium-sized monsters that tried to block the artillery. The knights, who piloted the magic-enhanced mechs with overwhelming firepower, waited for the signal to charge.

As everyone exerted their utmost effort to annihilate the swarm of monsters in front of them, a loud sound echoed across the battlefield.

Everyone on the battlefield knew that this was the sound of the artillery from the extremely unique magic-enhanced mechs.

"They're here already! As expected of Mari's comrades! They're quick!"

Katsushige praised them, mixing his joy at the arrival of reinforcements with his regret that he couldn't finish the battle before they arrived.

With this, they would win.

While many shared Katsushige's sentiment, there was someone who reacted differently.

"Too early. And the enemy's response hasn't disappeared. What's going on?"

"...An unexpected event has occurred. That's what it means, right?"

"That's the only explanation. Connect me to Colonel Kuga immediately!"

"Roger!"

Izumi and Yubuki, who were monitoring the situation in the command room, were more puzzled by the speed of the reinforcements than their arrival.

And their concerns were justified.

"Three demons?"

"The captain is holding them off, you say. Izumi, this is bad..."

"Yes."

Losing a hero was one thing, but the greater concern was the risk of their own annihilation.

Defeat the enemy. Protect the hero.

It was an extremely difficult task, but if not, the country would fall.

"Order a full attack. End it as quickly as possible. No holding back."

If they continued to focus on defense, the casualties would be minimal, but it would take longer to annihilate the enemy. If they went on the offensive, there would be casualties, but it would be faster. The more time they saved, the better prepared they would be for the demons.

Considering the future, the latter was the only choice.

Whether this decision would turn out well or badly would only be known when the fog of war that enveloped Izumi and the others cleared.

Thank you for reading.

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