Chapter 99

"......Right. I'll leave it to you."

"Understood!"

After receiving the suggestion from Shoko, Shizuka immediately agreed without hesitation. No, to be precise, she did hesitate.

However, her hesitation was not because Shoko's suggestion was wrong, but simply because she regretted her own mistake.

(I messed up! I should have targeted the enemy's rear first!)

Indeed, by attacking the center, she had reduced the number of the monster horde and caused confusion. That was a fact.

In terms of reducing pressure on the Fourth Division, it was not wrong.

However, considering the current situation, it was a poor move. Why? Because of the positional relationship between the monsters and the Fourth Division.

To begin with, although the monster horde was attacking the Fourth Division's position, the defensive fortifications built by the Fourth Division were not so spacious that over ten thousand monsters could attack simultaneously—such a space would not have been used for defensive fortifications in the first place.

Therefore, except for the monsters directly engaging the Fourth Division, the other monsters were, in a sense, waiting their turn.

Seeing this, Shizuka impulsively attacked the area with the most monsters, but as a result, she split the enemy into two groups, giving the monsters in the rear a target.

(Why didn't I think more deeply!)

To reiterate, in this battlefield, Shizuka's judgment was not necessarily a poor move.

The monsters in the center that were attacked were reduced by the hundreds and were still in chaos. This gave the defensive fortifications, which had been under constant wave attacks, some breathing room. Furthermore, if the monsters in the rear started targeting Shizuka and her team, the pressure on the defensive fortifications would inevitably decrease.

If the offensive pressure decreased, the Fourth Division's counterattack would become more effective, allowing them to systematically eliminate the monsters on the front lines.

The medium-sized monsters that had been serving as shields on the front lines would be nothing more than targets for the tanks and artillery.

If the Fourth Division, having eliminated the monsters on the front lines and in the center, proceeded with area suppression, the elimination of the remaining monsters in the rear would not be difficult.

In other words, the moment the Training Battalion successfully divided the monster horde, the victory of the Fourth Division was assured. If so, the Training Battalion only needed to buy time until the Fourth Division launched a decisive attack.

No, they had done enough to receive the order to retreat from Isako, "That's enough, fall back."

Yes, in this battlefield, the Training Battalion had performed admirably as a hammer.

Despite having accomplished their mission, why was Shizuka regretting?

It was due to their current situation.

According to the original plan, the Training Battalion was supposed to arrive at this battlefield after eliminating the large and medium-sized monster groups that were moving behind the main force, and deliver a decisive blow to the monsters fighting the Fourth Division.

However, what was the current situation?

Indeed, the large monsters that the Training Battalion was supposed to eliminate were all destroyed. The medium-sized monster groups also suffered significant damage. It was unlikely that the battle would be resolved before the Training Battalion's mission was completed.

In that sense, they could be said to have accomplished their original mission. Furthermore, they had also fulfilled their role as a hammer to strike the monsters targeting the defensive fortifications. It was understandable that the command to retreat would be issued.

Shizuka could have proudly ordered her subordinates, "That's enough. Fall back."

...If not for the irregular appearance of three demons simultaneously.

As a result, the Training Battalion, without achieving their primary mission of eliminating the enemy's main force, retreated without fighting. Moreover, they left Keita alone on the battlefield to hold off the demon pursuit.

Given that only Keita could delay the demons, it was tactically unavoidable. If they were called "immature and only a hindrance," there would be no counterargument.

However, that was precisely why she had a sense of defiance.

What would happen if they retreated from this place? How would the monsters currently heading towards them move?

Would they turn towards the approaching Fourth Division? If so, it would only be a gradual engagement, and the Fourth Division could handle it.

That would be ideal. But what if it didn't happen that way? What if the Fourth Division retreated under pressure?

It's simple. They would head towards the demons, who are their superiors.

This would mean that reinforcements would appear behind Keita, who was holding the rear alone.

That was unacceptable.

(The monsters here must not be allowed to head towards the demons, no, towards the captain!)

This was a sentiment shared by all members of the Training Battalion.

That was why Shoko had suggested becoming a decoy.

She could not dismiss this sentiment. Most importantly, Shizuka could not forgive herself for putting her students in a dangerous situation.

Then what should she do? Fight.

However, if Nana, Natsuki, and Mari died to protect Keita and Shoko, it would be counterproductive.

Therefore, as the commander, Shizuka had three tasks:

1. Not to let any of her subordinates die.

2. Not to let a single small monster pass through to the rear.

3. Accomplish both of these and lead reinforcements to Keita.

(A difficult task. But I must be able to do this much!)

For herself, as a soldier, a noble, a teacher, and an adult, to be someone she could be proud of.

Shizuka made a decision as a commander.

"Attention all personnel! From now on, Wataniguchi Warrant Officer will move conspicuously to attract the enemy!"

"!?"

"When the monsters' attention is on Wataniguchi Warrant Officer, we will attack the monsters targeting him. When the monsters' attention is on us, Wataniguchi Warrant Officer will attack them! It's an unconventional pincer movement! Show me your response!"

"Hai!"

A pincer movement, in simple terms, is a tactic where the force is divided into two to encircle the enemy.

If the monsters target Shoko, Shizuka and her team will attack. Conversely, if they target Shizuka and her team, Shoko will attack to prevent them from focusing. If the monsters can make the judgment to split into two, Shizuka and her team would be individually defeated, but fortunately, the monsters here lack such intelligence.

They only have the instinct to counterattack against something that attacks them or the enemy in front of them.

Therefore, this encirclement will be effective.

Furthermore, the Eight-House Team does not need to attack. They just need to expose themselves as much as possible to confuse the enemy!

"Hai!"

The purpose is to draw the enemy's attention, and more specifically, to stop the enemy's advance.

All the units of the Training Battalion are configured for artillery combat, so if they get too close, they can even lose to small monsters. Normally, direct support units would prevent this, but the Training Battalion has few of them, so in a situation where the enemy's numbers are overwhelmingly large, they would be overwhelmed.

Therefore, Shizuka had initially dispersed the Eight-House Type units to prevent the enemy from getting too close, but she gave them an additional purpose.

"Prioritize medium-sized monsters for artillery attacks, and direct support units should target small monsters!"

The medium-sized monsters' magic cannon attacks. By eliminating these first, they would gain the upper hand in artillery combat.

(Estimated ten minutes. If we can hold out that long, reinforcements will arrive. We must hold out until then!)

Technically, what would arrive in ten minutes would be support fire from the Fourth Division, but Shizuka considered it sufficient.

An army attacked from the rear is vulnerable. The same applies to monsters.

Monsters do not have the concept of "defending a position at the cost of their lives for their comrades." Therefore, they cannot withstand the attack of the Fourth Division, which is advancing with the momentum of a successful defense.

Once attacked from the rear, they will flee in all directions.

They just need to chase them with the Fourth Division.

The monsters will head towards Keita, but they will already be retreating, and more importantly, they will join up with Keita along with the Fourth Division.

(When reinforcements, superior in both numbers and quality, arrive, even the demons will have to retreat!)

"I will win! I will win and go to meet the captain!"

Shizuka, who had obtained a sure plan, prepared to intercept the monsters.

Her face, which usually showed the calmness of an adult to her students, was completely absent, and instead, it was filled with a fierce and resolute expression, as if a ferocious hunting dog was baring its sharp fangs to tear apart its prey.

Was 601 the boss?

Thank you for reading.