Soul Eater of the Rebellion
Lesson 53: Early warning
Half the night, I woke up.
If the alarm didn't go off, the roar didn't go off. I tried to clear my ears, but I couldn't feel anything abnormal. The only thing you can hear is the sleeping breath of the scumbags sleeping in the adjoining room that was separating a piece of tent cloth.
I thought it might be because of Joel and the alcohol I drank (alcohol), but I fell asleep. The time is still late at night, too early to wake up.
But strangely, I couldn't seem to sleep with my eyes closed.
I had no choice but to get up with my bedding out of the way and leave the tent taking care not to wake the tins. As soon as there was a chill in the neck, my shoulders trembled.
As I also felt in Berca, the desert zone has a strong difference in warmth day and night. Even inside the walls I felt the cold, so the chill of Leeloasis in the middle of the desert is extrapolating. Now that the sun rises, the temperature rises all at once, so it's a strange thing to say about the desert at all.
What a frighteningly big moon looking up at the sky, looking cold down at the ground. Throwing my gaze at the moon, I asked.
- Well, what the hell is this feeling of not leaving your chest just now?
Rolling of the body (gibberish) that does not make you drowsy. Nature and the edges of my lips hang up even though I can't see anything and I can't hear anything.
Maybe this is what is commonly called bug news. Anyway, something's about to happen - no, it's already happening. That was a certainty that went beyond a hunch already.
The question is what the hell is going on, but it is a well-known fact that dragon killers (me) are in this oasis. It's just that I had a face-to-face with the head of "Desert Eagle," and if anything happens to me, I'll get news. I shrug my shoulders small thinking so.
... It wasn't long after that that I learned that the Alweto Oasis had been raided by a large group of demons.
It was late at night that the information on the raid came through. Most residents and adventurers, naturally, were asleep, but their reaction was quick when they heard a report.
In the Catalan Desert, it is not uncommon for an oasis to be attacked by demons. Depending on the size of the herd, the oasis may be abandoned, and in that sense this raid was also "usual" for the desert inhabitants.
That being said, however, not all the inhabitants of Leelo Oasis were able to act in unison. Although I am accustomed to abandoning my residence, I have never moved beyond it if I do not abandon it, so I am somewhat preoccupied with the defense of the oasis or abandonment - so it was Joel, the leader of the "Desert Eagle" who told me.
Joel, who took the trouble to get to me, explains the situation with a calm voice, even though he would be busy enough to want to borrow the cat's hand.
"I spoke to the people who have fled Alweto, but the situation is pretty bad. They say demons have pushed in from three sides, west, north and south, almost simultaneously. The east was empty, so he barely made it out, but he got hit pretty hard in the chase."
"... that's kind of a tactical move"
If we siege them completely, the enemy will come up against us ready to die. I will deliberately drill a hole in the siege net to keep my enemies away from you. Once you are on the run, there are not many who have the temper to stay and fight again. All you have to do is ravage the fleeing enemy from behind.
Such intent was felt in the demonic movement. Of course, there's the possibility that it's just a coincidence, but Joel lightly affirms my point.
"Sand and sand ambushes, and catalan ants make herds to hunt. Even a golden sleigh invites a human by making his outer shell look like gold. The demons of the desert are cunning. That's not what started it."
Joel insists on the abandonment of Leelo Oasis - as soon as he can do that too - but apparently not many oppose this.
If, as Joel claims, we were to abandon the oasis now, we would travel in large numbers through the midnight desert. Evacuation can't possibly take place, and there is a good chance that the demons will catch up to us. Then you will be feathers fighting a large swarm of demons from the front in a desert with nothing to block.
It is natural to come up with the opinion that it is better to intercept enemies with a well-guarded Leelo oasis than that, rather this one can be said to be on the right track (because of it).
By the way, not all those who escaped the Alweto Oasis reached Leelo. Even in the sense of not abandoning them, the claims of the resistance made sense.
Joel himself said he knew about it. But you still insisted on abandoning the oasis.
"I don't like it. It's like they're sticking an invisible blade in your neck."
That's how the leader of "Desert Eagle" shrugged his neck in a lie.
"When this comes for a long time, a lot of things don't happen after that. Surrounded by enemies, sandstorms, poisoned. Ever since we got the news from Alweto - no, not long before that, it's been like this. So I thought," This place sucks, too. "
I heard that. I keep a small eye out. Apparently Joel also felt the same feeling I had.
If there was a difference between me and Joel, it would be a difference between seeing the imminent danger as a "crisis" or a "good opportunity".
While I think about it, I flick my mouth.
"I got the story. So, what do you want me to do?
Ask why the head of the 'Desert Eagle' has bothered to come to his feet. That doesn't mean you're giving me a description of the situation.
Then Joel tried to hang the edge of his lips and said.
"What, I want to know how you act. In short, I want to know if you intend to fight or run away. Either way, I want you to do me a favor, Leeloasis."
If you're going to fight, help the refugees in Alweto. Request reinforcements from Berca if you intend to flee.
All of them can fly, because I'm the best fit, Joel says.
The amount offered was as expensive as I peeled my eyes lightly. Besides, he seems to be going to pay instantly, and at some point Joel's hand is gripped with a cloth bag (noodles) with a chatter and a clear sound.
Show your sincerity in taking your own feet and present a firm profit as well. Just leading one of the leading organizations in Berca.
I shrugged my shoulder gently and responded.
"We're not just going to run away on our own in this situation. I also learned about the protection of the refugees. However, I will refuse the request."
"Well, why again? It's the same thing to do. It would be better if money came out."
I stopped asking questions and laughed at them.
Once (once) you receive the money, you must stand up for Joel and the great Oasis as your employers. In that case, there will also be occasions from now on where the behavior will be constrained.
It is better to take the form of "cooperation" without asking for it. That's what I thought. I hate to be accused of "dragon killing was multiplying the oasis crisis by a lot of money" later on!
"Spend that money for those fleeing the west."
"Ha ha! You're like the protagonist of a story. Looks like we're looking at the Arrow guy."
Leaving words like that, Joel left this place. After putting my strength into the math, I guess I'm going to work out future policies with the powerful again.
I need to explain the situation to my people. By this time, Renamaria and around Wisteria were awake sensing the anomaly, and others were awake so that they could follow it.
I asked two Ilia and Katia clerics to treat those who had evacuated from the west. According to Joel, the priests who can use the healing miracle will be treasured because they are talking about being beaten by the demons painfully.
Ask Renamaria and Suzume for help with the two clerics.
In the meantime, I will ride the Klau Solas with Wisteria to the west. Wisteria is accompanied by consideration of the possibility that a homologous presence (anima) may be activated in tonight's raid.
No one disagreed just because the situation was, and we started acting promptly.
◆ ◆ ◆
"............... this"
Wisteria, who looked down at the sight under her eyes aboard the Winged Beast (Wyburn), for a while, was stunned.
A cloudy stream of demons as if the desert itself was moving.
Even for Wisteria, who has dusted many demons as the lead swordsman (Gladius), the number of demons running on the surface was unknown.
Desert climates are harsh things that are hard to live for a demon full of life. Where has all this number come from? Before that, what have the seemingly innumerable demons eaten and survived to this day?
And until then, Sora, who was silent, flickered her mouth here.
"That's more than I thought. Where did all these numbers come from?"
"That's a rough scale. And this speed. If we stay like this, we'll undoubtedly catch up with the earlier group."
A small group I just saw behind Wisteria's brain comes to mind. Probably the last group of less than a hundred people to escape the Alweto Oasis.
Maybe there was a later group, but if you look at the herd of demons under your eyes, the end of it is obvious.
"... what do you do, Sola?
"Of course I fight. That's why I'm here."
An unmistakable response was preferable to Wisteria. However, given the size of the enemy, it must be determined that annihilation is difficult. Stopping using the flying speed of the Wingbeast (Wyburn) would be the best means you can take on this occasion.
With that in mind Wisteria tried to begin preparing to call upon the superior Spirit.
But Sora calls on Wingbeast (Wyburn) to take control of Wisteria's destinations like that.
"Klau Solas, put me down in front of that herd"
Hearing that, Wisteria unwittingly releases her focus.
Speaking of Winged Beasts (Wyburn), he replies in a puffy manner somewhere accustomed and swirls to obey the Lord's commands.
My body sways heavily over the saddle (kura) and Wisteria clings to Sola's body in front of me. Still in that position, I flickered my mouth.
"So, Sola?
"Mm, what?
"... I don't know, are you going to fight that one from the front?
"That's exactly what I'm gonna do."
Perhaps an obvious affirmative reply comes back to the rousing inquiry.
Wisteria was out of line again. Wisteria knows so much about Sora's strength that she doesn't like it, but still thought Sora's decision was reckless.
Numbers are a better threat than anything in battle. No matter how brave a warrior has left the demon god (Puzzle), there is no way he can fight all those demons against him.
With such wisteria fears approximated, Sora had a delightful grin somewhere.