A Woman in Light Armor Over Her Dress

Standing atop the gate, Alexia confirmed that enemies hadn't arrived yet, then had Azu and Elza bring lots of torches and fixed them so they wouldn't fall over.

She used magic to light them one after another.

The pitch-black scenery was now brightly illuminated by the torchlight.

"This way they won't think we're a small force until they actually storm us."

"Making it look like more people with torches, huh."

I was impressed.

When you consider the opponent's psychology, it's easy to see how effective this would be.

Commanders leading units aside, soldiers about to charge would hesitate if they thought there were many enemies.

Conversely, if they knew there were few, they'd get fired up.

We only had four who could actually fight here. All women, at that.

I believed all four were far beyond ordinary in ability, but the enemy wouldn't think so.

If they rushed us with numbers, defending the gate would be impossible.

There were fifty torches.

That many should at least make the enemy pause.

"Can you use a bow?"

"I can't."

"Ah, I can."

"Well, I know the basics."

Everyone but Azu had some bow training, it seemed.

Elza should have been a former priest, but… still a mystery, that one.

Finn and Elza took bows that had been stored at the gate and nocked arrows.

Azu was given a sling instead of a bow.

"You should be able to use this. Just put a stone in here and swing it. Azu, you won't miss."

"I'll try."

With preparations made, we waited.

The only sound was the crackling of torches burning.

It was quiet for a while, but eventually we heard roaring and fighting in the distance.

Kelves's Iselia army must have clashed with the besieging forces.

Fighting in the middle of the night like this was bound to be chaotic.

But perhaps in a situation like this, even a small force could find an opening.

That man Kelves. Gloria too, who followed him. I couldn't imagine they were acting without any plan. They must have chosen this approach because they had a chance of winning.

Enemies still hadn't come here.

I'd prefer it stayed that way.

Despite not being involved in the fighting, the tension made my throat dry.

"They're here."

Alexia's voice rang out with peculiar clarity.

Lights were flickering in the darkness beyond.

"You two stay out of sight. A stray arrow could be dangerous."

"Got it. The rest is up to you. This way, Orleans."

"Yes, sir."

I took Orleans into the guard post.

In here, we'd be safe even if arrows rained down.

There was a window, so we could see what was happening around us.

All I could do now was watch over Azu and the others with Orleans.

"Halt where you are."

I could hear Alexia's voice.

She seemed to be addressing the enemy.

The sound of something cutting through air.

An arrow must have been loosed at Alexia.

Alexia deflected the arrow concealed in the night's darkness with her gauntlet, and Finn returned fire at the soldier who'd shot it, hitting him.

"I am guarding this gate. If you try to force your way through, I will not guarantee your lives. Value your lives and give up."

"Who does a woman wearing armor over her dress think she is!"

"Oh, shut up! It's not like I'm wearing this by choice!"

A male voice that sounded like the enemy commander.

He seemed to be underestimating Alexia.

Well, she wasn't exactly dressed like a knight.

Inwardly I thought "She may look delicate and beautiful, but she's incredibly strong, you know," but I kept quiet.

This was Alexia's area of expertise.

Best for amateurs to stay silent and leave it to her.

"Strength has nothing to do with being male or female. Do you think victory is determined by brute force alone?"

"Gah! You lot, don't stop! Force that gate open!"

Undeterred by Alexia's words, the enemy commander rallied his soldiers.

Several charged forward, only to be struck down by arrows from Finn and Elza with precise accuracy.

Groans of pain could be heard.

They must have avoided vital spots.

"Tch! Mage unit! Clear those women out!"

At the commander's order, three mages stepped forward and began chanting.

Finn and Elza ducked low to prepare for the magic, but Alexia stood proudly atop the gate.

The mages completed their incantations, and spells of earth, wind, and water flew toward Alexia.

At some point, the battle-axe in Alexia's grip had heated to a glowing red.

She swung it down at the incoming magic.

The water spell evaporated on contact with the axe, the wind spell scattered as heated gusts and dissipated.

Only the earth spell collided properly with the axe, but it shattered to pieces, bits of debris barely striking Alexia's body.

She brushed off the dirt where it hit and slammed her axe into the ground.

"Our magic was… negated?"

"That was pathetic. Your training is lacking. Go kill more monsters or refine your technique."

"She wrapped magic around her weapon. That takes considerable skill."

"This is how you do magic."

Alexia began to chant.

The opposing army loosed arrows to stop her, but Elza's barrier blocked them from reaching Alexia.

"Fire Wall."

The instant Alexia finished her incantation, pillars of flame erupted from the ground.

They appeared between the gate and the army, standing as an obstacle before the enemy.

A good choice.

Alexia probably had the power to burn them all to cinders, but there was no need to force that.

Her task was to prevent the gate from being breached.

Not to kill enemy soldiers.

If we didn't have to dirty our hands, all the better. Grudges don't fade easily.

With Orleans nearby, the strengthened pillars of flame roared and blazed.

"… What incredible magic. Dispelling this will take time."

"Do it quickly! If we break through here, we can take the citizens hostage. We can attack them from behind!"

"Your thinking is shallow. You don't even have the resolve to fight head-on?"

She sighed ostentatiously.

The enemy tried to retort but gasped when he saw the pillars of flame.

We were buying time nicely.