We have to cut off the source of the problem.


    "Raviara will do it, Mr. Arsrod."


    Laviala''s bow and arrow again felled an enemy soldier in the rear.


    But this time the enemy soldiers were too many. It would be difficult to weaken their movements with a temporary attack.


    "I think I can kill thirty of them if I go out there..."


    "It''s dangerous!　And you won''t be able to shoot arrows!"


    Laviala stopped me. I know. I can''t be on the front lines when we''re using props.


    Then what''s my role? To boost the morale of my comrades.


    I''ve already heard Orcus'' words from the Orcus team: "I won''t retreat even if it kills me!　If you retreat, you will be disgraced for the rest of your life!" I could hear his loud voice. I guess they knew I was coming. He''s so obvious.


    --What a reckless fellow! He''s not going to come to a dangerous battlefield like this on his own. ....... I don''t care what happens to you. No, don''t die in battle!


    The High King has a good point... but it''s not like me not to step forward once...


    Raviara''s attack had some effect. The general on the side of the frontier who was leading the enemy in the vicinity must have realized that many of his men had been killed by the slanting arrows.


    However, the enemy had enough numbers to spread out their attacks in the future.


    The enemy general said, "Let''s get at that archery unit!" The order seems to have been given by However, as a matter of fact, it was almost inaudible in the northern language. I don''t think they could even speak Wangdu, except perhaps for some high-ranking officials such as the frontier counts.


    The number of enemies was about one hundred and fifty. Indeed, the general was charging forward on horseback, followed by his infantry.


    "Ah!　Gentlemen!　Aim at the enemy general!"


    Raviara was impatient. He fired arrows at them, but the enemy general bowed his head extremely low and shrugged them off. He seems to be a very good shot.


    "This is not good. ....... He''s going to completely ram you. ......"


    I''ll put my hand on the sheath of my sword too. It''s a bit risky in hand-to-hand combat, but it''ll have to do.


    But Ortomba advances on me.


    He already has a gun in his hand. He was leaning forward to avoid getting wet from the rain.


    "We can do it if we are this close. I know which one is the enemy general. I''ll do it."


    It''s certainly a great opportunity to test its performance.


    "Okay. Go ahead. I''ll be standing right beside you.


    "Mr. Arsrod, don''t be too sure!　If you take it off, the enemy will come!"


    Laviala cautions. She has a point. Well, we''ll see. I''ll fight to the bitter end.


    "I can shoot from such an impossible position..."


    Then came an ear-piercing roar.


    It was so outrageous that I thought I had died, but that was not the case at all.


    An enemy general fell from his horse and immediately stopped moving.


    The guns had killed him with a single shot.


    The enemy army started to rant and rave. It was no wonder, since their general was dead. Apparently, they still don''t know what happened.


    "That''s right ...... everyone, fire at once!"


    The bows of the Lavialas are fired there again. The enemy soldiers in front of them fall to the ground.


    Sometimes you see a reversal of fortunes on the battlefield, and that is exactly what happened.


    A single gunshot changed the tide of the battle.


    The enemy force that had been supplying the attacking soldiers had now collapsed, and the situation was gradually improving for the Orks.


    So, for the time being, it was worth my while to come.


    Three times after that, Ortomba fired his gun, each time shooting and killing a soldier who he thought was not a mongrel. The bullets could reach much farther than with a bow and arrow.


    "As I thought, it takes longer to ignite because of the rain," said Ortumba. It is only suitable for use all at once on a sunny day.


    "Still, it''s enough to know that a skilled person could use it."


    Once the Orcus had driven off the enemy soldiers, we crossed that cold river again, leaving a message for them to hold off until the rain stopped.


    Later, at dusk, we received word that the enemy had retreated to their positions and that the Orks and their front line troops were coming back to our side at the same time. For the time being, the first day of the battle had been halted.


    There was one more major change.


    The rain stopped before nightfall. It had been raining pretty hard, so the clouds had passed quickly.


    "I think it will be clear by tomorrow morning.


    Raviara said to me proudly.


    "Okay. Tomorrow is the time to show the true value of our guns."


    When Olks and the other frontline troops returned, I congratulated them and sent them back to the rear.


    "I was actually thinking of camping over there for the night, but I decided it was impossible, considering how tired the men were. I wanted to hold out until the enemy attacked again tomorrow.


    "If we do that, the damage will be too great. If we return while the enemy has retreated, it will not be a problem. If the enemy comes wandering this side of the river tomorrow, that''s all that matters.


    "But will they come easily?　The enemy must have learned to fear us well today.


    "We''ll bait them well there. Machar will want to make it look like he won the war. As it is, the lords who are following them are probably wondering if it''s all right.


    I''ll set up a line of defense well before the river during the night. It is intentionally a very fragile line of defense.


    I have to make them think that I can get through it in one fell swoop and get my head.


    If they don''t take me up on the offer, I''ll have a squad cross the river just to lure them in and then pull them back.


    At least we''re not losing. Now that we have a rough idea of what they are capable of, we can decide next time.


    And the long night is over.


    The army of the frontier counts awaits.