Chapter 45: Tit for tat

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Translator: Soafp

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A few days after leaving the border city.

Lidiel and I arrived at Hange Fortress, where the Empire was said to be gathering its forces.

“…It's huge.”

“Of course it is. Before Kaime Fortress was built, this place protected the Empire from the threat of monsters. In terms of scale, it's one of the largest fortresses in the Empire.”

“Huh.”

Lidiel spoke about Hange Fortress with a hint of pride.

Hange Fortress was so vast that calling it a small city wouldn't be an exaggeration.

The entire grounds were surrounded by tall, thick walls, and the roads inside were narrow and intricately laid out.

Even if monsters managed to break through the walls, the defenders would have an overwhelming advantage.

On top of the walls were countless ballistae and catapults, all set up to intercept monsters advancing from the north.

It was extremely thorough.

Perhaps because this was an emergency, not only soldiers but also many merchants were coming and going.

“But a lot of people look gloomy.”

“…The supposedly impregnable Kaime Fortress suffered devastating damage and fell. It's only natural.”

Just then—

“There's no need to be so pessimistic, miss.”

“Ah, you're—!”

“…Lidiel, do you know this shiny golden person?”

The one who spoke was a handsome man clad in golden armor.

He was so flashy he practically blinded you.

“Could it be Captain Heinbock of the Third Hero Division, the ‘Indomitable Hero'?”

“Oh? You know who I am?”

“Of course! The story about you holding back a hundred monsters all by yourself is famous!”

“Hahaha, please don't exaggerate. That wasn't my strength alone—it was thanks to the devotion of my comrades who were there with me.”

Heinbock… High-bock… Defeat.

Is it just me, or is that an incredibly unlucky-sounding name?

Yeah, probably just me.

“You look like a hero candidate. Are you a student?”

“Y-yes! I'm a second-year at the Hero Academy, Lidiel Rhydiel, ranked second among hero candidates!”

“You've got good energy. You remind me of my fiancée.”

“Oh! I heard you're engaged to the ‘Hero of Sacred Music'! It's rare for heroes to marry each other, right? Congratulations!”

“Thank you. Well, once this battle is over, we'll hold our wedding in the countryside and retire. Neither of us will be heroes anymore.”

Wow. That was a textbook death flag.

“You're still a student, so you'll probably be assigned to rear support. Don't push yourself—just watch how we senior heroes fight and burn it into your memory.”

“Yes!”

“…By the way, who is that young man with you?”

“Oh, um, he's…”

Heinbock's gaze shifted to me.

Well, it's natural to be curious about someone who doesn't look like a hero candidate.

Lidiel hesitated.

“He's kind of a volunteer, or rather, how should I say…”

“…I won't stop you, but if he's someone important to you, you should keep him far away from the battlefield—”

“N-no, that's not it! He's just a friend! A friend who offered to help after hearing about this emergency!”

“I-is that so?”

A friend… hehe.

Being called that made me strangely happy.

After Gal and Elisto, that makes three.

“I'm Ask, a friend of Lidiel's. I'm confident in my physical strength, so I can help with carrying supplies or anything else.”

“I see. To be honest, we need all the manpower we can get right now, so that's a big help. Ah, it's almost time for the division commander to announce the Kaime Fortress recapture operation.”

“Oh, really!?”

“Yes. You two arrived at just the right time.”

“Yes!”

And so we immediately moved to the central plaza of Hange Fortress.

There were knights and soldiers, as well as groups that looked like mercenaries, and people wearing Hero Academy uniforms like Lidiel.

It really felt like the Empire was going all-in.

“I am Karma Sedog, commander of the Hero Corps.”

A middle-aged man with a nervous-looking demeanor stood on the platform and introduced himself.

Karma Sedog… Kama-se dog… Cannon fodder dog.

Following Heinbock, another name that inspired unease.

“Kaime Fortress has fallen due to a monster assault, and the Empire now faces a critical situation where we may lose much of our territory. Failure is not an option in this recapture operation.”

His voice carried well.

Lidiel stood in formation with a tense expression, listening intently to Cannon Fodder Dog's speech.

Then, he announced the plan.

“A vanguard force of one thousand, composed of fifth-class citizens, will be deployed to scout enemy strength and eliminate as many monsters as possible. Once reinforcements from the Imperial Capital and the Kingdom of Kisylica arrive, we will commit all forces and retake Kaime Fortress.”

“E-excuse me!”

At that moment, Lidiel raised her hand.

“…You are a student of the Hero Academy, I presume. That holy weapon suggests you are a hero candidate. Do you have a question?”

“A-aren't the heroes being deployed?”

“Indeed not. Kaime Fortress housed one hundred heroes and five thousand of their disciples, yet it fell. That means either an unimaginable number of monsters or an extraordinarily powerful one may be present. That is precisely why we need reconnaissance.”

“B-but then, isn't there a risk the vanguard will be wiped out…?”

“What are you talking about?”

Cannon Fodder Dog replied as if it were obvious.

“The possibility of total annihilation is already factored in. That's why the vanguard is composed of expendable fifth-class citizens. One hero will accompany them to ensure the information is brought back, so you need not worry.”

“N-no, that's not the point! Are you really planning to let a thousand people die!?”

“…Hmm.”

Cannon Fodder Dog placed a hand on his chin and tilted his head, looking troubled.

Then he gave a wry smile.

“You still don't understand what a battlefield is. Without making necessary sacrifices at necessary moments, one cannot win a war.”

“I-I know I'm still inexperienced! But even if they're fifth-class citizens, letting a thousand people die is w-wrong!”

“…I see. You are a good-hearted person. But let me be blunt—reality is not so kind that ideals alone can protect a nation.”

“…”

“If sacrificing merely a thousand can save the many citizens living in the Empire, then ordering that sacrifice is my duty. I don't ask you to agree. Just accept it.”

I understood his reasoning.

Honestly, his plan—discarding the small to protect the whole—was rational.

Lidiel couldn't accept it because, frankly, she was still an idealistic child who hadn't fully seen reality.

“…I can't accept it.”

“Then will you accompany the vanguard yourself? One hero candidate joining won't change the outcome—”

“I understand.”

“Huh?”

Oh?

“I will accompany the vanguard—no, give me command authority. I will lead the vanguard and retake Kaime Fortress.”

“““What!?”””

Cannon Fodder Dog stared in shock.

No—every hero present was stunned by Lidiel's unexpected declaration.

Things escalated quickly.

“W-w-w-w-what should I do!? Why did I say something like that back there!?”

“You looked really cool, talking back to Cannon Fodder Dog.”

“That wasn't my intention! And what do you mean ‘Cannon Fodder Dog'!?”

Lidiel screamed while foaming at the mouth, her eyes rolled back as if her soul were about to leave her body.

Hilarious.