Chapter 59

Summary of the previous chapter:

Kato-san mustered her courage.

5

I was on the outer wall of the fortress, which still bore deep scars from the recent attack, together with Lily.

The area around Chiria Fortress, which is located in the northern part of the tree sea, has been developed by human hands. This is to improve visibility and detect monster attacks as early as possible.

Looking around from the top of the outer wall, I could see the boundary line between the brown ground and the green forest, which visibly marked the human survival zone.

... It seemed that the boundary line was gradually encroaching on our side.

It wasn't just my imagination. The ground that had been cleared was already sprouting trees.

The abnormally fast growth rate of the trees, which felt strange to me, was apparently not normal even in this world.

This is the tree sea, a special forest with a dense magical aura.

The trees in the tree sea grow quickly.

If that area becomes no longer part of the human domain, it will be even more so.

Land lost to the fortress is quickly eroded by the tree sea.

It's as if the forest knows of the human defeat and retreat, and the trees grow faster, filling in the cleared land.

This was something I heard from Kai the other day.

Standing in front of the forest, the tree sea itself seems like a single monster, and a chill runs down my spine.

"Are you here, Takahiro-sama?"

Lily and I turned to the source of the voice.

There stood a tall, sturdy knight—she was the commander of the Alliance Knights, a woman who led the group.

Beside her was the small figure of my friend, Kan彦.

"I will go ahead. Takahiro-sama, please take care of the rear."

"Understood."

The commander left after addressing me.

Hundreds of lives were on her back, and the weight of each step she took was evident.

"... Commander, you look a bit worn out. Are you okay?"

When I asked, Kan彦 frowned.

"The people who went to rescue in the depths of the tree sea... especially the explorer Yuna Iinoya, there were still opinions that we should wait for her to return. It took extra effort to persuade them. And with everything already so busy, it's really frustrating."

There is a possibility that survivors from the transfer remain in the mountain hut protected by the barrier stone in the depths of the tree sea. To rescue them, 'Vedaten' Yuna Iinoya led the Imperial Knights into the tree sea, and it has been ten days since then.

The mountain hut, which was relatively close to Chiria Fortress, had already been visited by the Alliance Knights led by Shiran. Therefore, Yuna went to a hut that was built much further away.

With her own suggestion, she decided to visit a considerable number of huts at once and head to the colony. As a result, the rescue team would naturally grow in size—of course, if they found survivors, but—this would make their movement as a group slower.

Initially, they planned for a round trip of about twenty days, but in the end, it was said that it might take a month, including a rest at the safe mountain hut.

Although it's bad for Yuna and the Imperial Knights, the current situation of the fortress is not so lenient that we can wait that long.

Fortunately, with 'Vedaten' present, who has one of the best combat abilities among the explorers, their safety is largely guaranteed.

The Imperial Knights have provided a considerable amount of expensive magical equipment, such as tool bags that can hold much more than their appearance suggests and are easy to preserve, so there is no need to worry about the supplies they carry.

The commander's decision to retreat can be considered reasonable.

However, even if it is reasonable, it may not necessarily be accepted.

"Besides, when considering the future..."

Kan彦 scratched his messy head.

"If a major incident occurs, someone needs to take responsibility. But the leaders of Chiria Fortress have all been killed..."

"Are you saying the commander will be held responsible?"

"... The original jurisdiction of the knights is to slay the monsters that infest the tree sea, not to defend the fortress. In fact, the commander was only leading the knights and did not have a position to interfere with the operation of the fortress. But if there is no one else, there is a possibility that the commander alone will be held responsible. I've been in Chiria Fortress longer than Takahiro and the others, so I know the weak position of the Alliance Knights."

With a sigh, Kan彦 clenched his fists.

"To prevent that, I have to work hard too. So, I'm going. See you later. Tell Rose and Kato that I'll come by later."

This morning, I consulted with Kan彦 about the use of Rose's imitation magic stone.

Although I had only heard a rough outline from Rose, Kan彦 seemed to have many ideas. We agreed that he would come by when he had time.

This is also part of Kato's rehabilitation for her male phobia.

Since she suggested it herself, she didn't faint even when she was in the same room as Rose and Kan彦 this morning. I hope she continues to improve gradually.

"Sorry for keeping you busy."

"Hehe. No need to say that. Besides, I'm enjoying it too."

"By the way, you were always good at crafts, weren't you?"

Kan彦, who was a multifaceted and active otaku, had been working part-time secretly at school since middle school, saving money to buy models and other things.

It seems that he was touched by something, and this morning, when he saw Rose's manufacturing skills, he showed great interest, looking excited.

"Well, that's true, but it's not just that. I also think that Takahiro has become quite impressive in a short time."

Kan彦 waved his hand and smiled.

"Is it about Lily? Or Gerbera?"

When I mentioned the names of the girls who had shown clear affection for me besides Lily, Kan彦 shook his head.

"No, that's part of it, but what I'm talking about is Kato. She's so pitiful. She seems to be holding up because I'm Takahiro's friend. And her motivation for rehabilitation seems to be to not hold Takahiro back."

"… Well, it's true that she trusts me."

Hearing Kan彦's words, I recalled Kato's desperate voice and flushed face when she was in the conversation with Rose and Kan彦.

"But it's not like that for her."

Kato is different from Gerbera.

If you didn't know the circumstances, it would be easy to misunderstand.

However, she doesn't have the luxury for such misunderstandings. After all, she is in the midst of a serious battle with her male phobia.

She is already in a difficult period. Since Kan彦 doesn't know the details, it's understandable, but I don't want him to tease her like this.

"It's fine to tease me, but there's a limit. Stop it."

When I said this in a scolding tone, Kan彦 made a subtly awkward face and looked at Lily.

"Lily, this is a serious question, but how did you bring down this stubborn guy?"

"Well, it depends on the situation. ... If you approach with genuine feelings, your master will surely respond, right?"

"Huh? Ah... I see. So you mean you pushed him down?"

"What kind of interpretation is that? What kind of?"

Kan彦 snapped his fingers, and I frowned.

Indeed, it was mostly like that.

Mostly... mostly? No, how was it exactly?

Thinking back, I realized that I had never been the one to make the first move?

Rather, I had always been in the position of being approached...

Realizing this in a situation that concerns a man's pride, I was taken aback, and Kan彦 said:

"Everyone is a good kid, so take care of them. You know that, right?"

"Yeah, of course."

Kan彦 narrowed his eyes and smiled.

"Got it. Then I'll go. ... Ah, damn. I want the warmth of the commander too!"

Right after Kan彦 shouted, a voice came from afar.

"Kan彦! What are you shouting nonsense for?"

"Ah, you heard it!? Sorry, Commander. I was just joking, but it's the truth!"

Kan彦, who was scolded, muttered to himself and followed the commander. I watched his back.

"Good luck, Kan彦."

Kan彦, who had been in Chiria Fortress for a relatively long time and had a good reputation, was using his position as a hero to the fullest to support the commander.

The commander, as the leader of the Alliance's Third Knight Regiment, is, after all, a foreigner to the majority of the Imperial people in Chiria Fortress. For her, having Kan彦 by her side makes a huge difference in how easily she can move.

He is doing his best with what he can do.

I naturally don't want to lose to him, probably because he is a friend.

As we watched from the top of the outer wall, the temporary bridge in front of the main gate was being crossed by soldiers in a single file.

On a road wide enough for carriages to pass, the magic stone-powered vehicle was in the center, with a line of soldiers on each side, forming a protective formation.

Leading this group were the Alliance Knights in their dull armor.

About half of the Alliance Knights were here, including Shiran in her white armor.

Even without their scouting ability, their combat skills are among the best in the northern part of the tree sea. Shiran is positioned at the front of the group to clear the way.

On the other hand, the remaining half of the Alliance Knights were guarding the center of the group.

With 500 people moving along the road, the group naturally stretches out.

The road through the forest is flanked by forests infested with vicious monsters. The main force led by the commander is responsible for overall control and guarding the center of the column.

Among them was the figure of Kan彦, the only one in leather armor.

"… It seems we can start without any problems."

I watched the situation, and at least for now, there were no monster attacks. It doesn't seem like we'll be ambushed right after we start.

"Alright. Let's go too."

We were responsible for the rear guard.

In an emergency, we could mobilize our subordinates without drawing too much attention.

Incidentally, the non-combatants' carriages were gathered at the rear. This was a form of relying on our combat strength, and at the same time, a sign of the commander's trust in us, who were trying to save as many people as possible.

Once we entered the building, we headed to the front of the main gate again.

The carriages that had been gathered there were almost all gone. The remaining carriages, except for one, had already started moving.

Right on time. I jumped onto the driver's seat of the last carriage, which we had borrowed.

After Lily, who had jumped on, I lifted the cloth at the entrance to prevent the inside from being seen from the outside.

Inside, in addition to my subordinates, Kai was chatting about something.

"Let's get going soon."

After calling out, I sat next to Lily on the driver's seat.

The driver's seat of the carriage, which uses magic power as its power source, is similar to that of a covered wagon.

The wide seat, which can comfortably seat three men, has a sloping footrest, allowing the body to be secured.

In front of the driver's seat, a mudguard is attached, facing the seat.

It reaches about chest height for the driver and has a fist-sized gray magic stone attached at a reachable position.

A statue resembling the upper part of a horse's head is attached to the front of the carriage, giving it a somewhat similar appearance to a ship's figurehead. The magic stone is attached at the base of the neck.