Chapter 6: The Enemy Lies at the Spirit Gate!
[space_man][space_man]Even though the large tent, which seemed to take time to set up, had a limited capacity, the summoned personnel were the Clawsolas pilots including the Knight Captain and their mages, ten in total, and the rest seemed to be the captains of the cavalry and infantry units.
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[space_man][space_man]（…Cavalry Captain Aldo and Infantry Captain Deles, wasn’t it?）
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[space_man][space_man]Both of them had been organizing company-sized troops after the battle ended, so I remembered them. According to what I heard from Revia last night in the tent, it seems that ordinary soldiers will be dealing with the enemy’s small-sized types, as the magic crystals that power the giant knights have a quantitative limit.
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[space_man][space_man]As I was recalling such things, the red-haired girl who had been snuggling up to me before I knew it reached out to the back of my head, trying to fix my unruly hair.
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[space_man][space_man]”Geez, where have you been since this morning with your bedhead?”
[space_man][space_man]”My apologies, I should have said something.”
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[space_man][space_man]”Refrain from private conversations, both of you…”
[space_man][space_man]”Yes, I’m sorry.”
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[space_man][space_man]Although I replied in a low voice, it seems that Vice-Captain Raizes heard me clearly, and as I was being warned, everyone’s attention was drawn to us. I lightly bowed my head along with Revia, who lowered her head shyly.
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[space_man][space_man]”Well then, shall we begin… Raizes?”
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[space_man][space_man]”First, regarding the enemy’s movements, according to the scout unit’s report, they are fortifying their defenses around the Spirit Gate, and their numbers are nearly double the forces we can mobilize.”
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[space_man][space_man]At those words, the faces of those gathered turned grim, but the captain, Xenos, laughed it off lightheartedly.
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[space_man][space_man]”The number of small fry doesn’t matter. The important thing is the large types. Right, Fine?”
[space_man][space_man]”Foster father, you’re being irresponsible again… Vice-Captain Raizes, what about their numbers?”
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[space_man][space_man]”Just like us, five units, but one of them is an Earth Dragon.”
[space_man][space_man]”Either way, if we can’t defeat them, we have no future. This is the turning point.”
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[space_man][space_man]Following the lead of the captain, who showed fortitude without any particular sense of despair, the other knights regained their composure, and the military council proceeded. Perhaps the combination of the somewhat simple-minded Captain Xenos and the meticulous Vice-Captain Raizes is quite good.
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[space_man][space_man]Also, the enemy is currently constructing the Spirit Gate at a rocky area about twenty kilometers ahead, which is also a water source, and there have been sightings of undead as well.
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[space_man][space_man]Having been able to participate in the military council, I updated some of the information I had on hand, and after the meeting was dismissed, Dino approached as Revia and I were having breakfast.
[space_man][space_man]”…Thanks for your help yesterday. I’ll return the favor someday.”
[space_man][space_man]”Yeah, I don’t intend to run away with a victory.”
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[space_man][space_man]For a while, I met his sharp glare head-on, and after clicking his tongue lightly, he turned on his heel and headed towards where the cavalry was gathered.
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[space_man][space_man]”…Dino.”
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[space_man][space_man]”I heard Dino-sama has been assigned to the cavalry.”
[space_man][space_man]”Well, he’ll be back when the new Clawsolas units are deployed… Oh, is it okay if I sit next to you?”
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[space_man][space_man]After saying a word to Revia, who was seeing off her childhood friend with a worried look, the siblings in question sat down next to us with their breakfast bowls.
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[space_man][space_man]”Is there something you need?”
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[space_man][space_man]”Yes, Vice-Captain Raizes has given us and you an order.”
[space_man][space_man]”We will be accompanying you for a while, both of you.”
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[space_man][space_man]As we ate, I heard the details. We were to take a detour with a small number of scout infantry, circle around to the west side of the Spirit Gate, and exploit the opening while the main Lizel Knight force launched a frontal attack. It probably meant to crush the targets early in the engagement and demoralize the numerically superior enemy.
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[space_man][space_man]”That’s quite a major role…”
[space_man][space_man]”That’s why it’s you and my brother, Claude-sama.”
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[space_man][space_man]”You overestimate me.”
[space_man][space_man]”Ugh, I’m nervous, my stomach hurts…”
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[space_man][space_man]I gently stroked Revia’s head as she rubbed her stomach with a worried look, and since we needed to depart ahead of the main force, I quickly stuffed the rest of the bread and soup into my stomach.
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[space_man][space_man]And so, guided by a small number of scout infantry, we took a detour, hiding among the trees of the Great Forest, and headed towards the rocky area with the water source, which was the base of the Aberrations of the “Hour of Ruin.”
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[space_man][space_man]Along the way, I was captivated by the vast forest, spacious enough for giant knights to walk freely, and the naturally growing giant trees, and I couldn’t help but let out a sigh of admiration.
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[space_man][space_man]（It’s a sight you wouldn’t see on Earth…）
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[space_man][space_man]As I was truly realizing that I had wandered into another world, the commander of the scout unit ahead raised his hand. In response to the signal, the Lunavadis siblings’ Clawsolas stopped and knelt down, so I followed suit and took a stationary posture.
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[space_man][space_man]『Claude-dono, can you hear me?』
[space_man][space_man]『Yeah, no problems here.』
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[space_man][space_man]The short-range telepathy device built into the Clawsolas was working fine, and Lloyd’s voice echoed in my mind.
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[space_man][space_man]By the way, while Clawsolas units frequently use highly confidential telepathy… Since I’m in the cockpit with Revia, integrated with the artificial muscles, we can also have normal conversations using the Clawsolas’ auditory and vocal systems.
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[space_man][space_man]”Lord Lloyd, from here on is the enemy’s alert area, and it will be difficult to infiltrate any further.”
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[space_man][space_man]『Understood. It’s about 3 kilometers to the target… We’ll cover the rest at the start of the battle.』
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[space_man][space_man]『Judging by the position of the sun, we have a little time until the appointed hour, brother.』
[space_man][space_man]『Claude, do you want to hydrate now?』
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[space_man][space_man]While feeling ticklish from Revia’s voice whispering in my ear, I politely declined after looking at the eastern sky and raised the Clawsolas’ arm to point.
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[space_man][space_man]『Everyone, it seems the main force’s attack will be earlier than planned. They must have encountered the enemy.』
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[space_man][space_man]『The basis for that is… birds?』
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[space_man][space_man]In the direction I pointed, I could see a flock of birds taking flight in my enhanced vision linked to the Clawsolas, suggesting that the battle had already begun.