The fire tornado was so strong that it seemed like the punitive force’s camp would be burned to ashes.

When they first saw it, the member of the guerrilla force directly under Rei were proud of their captain’s strength.

At the same time, they began to feel uneasy about whether it was okay for someone to possess that much power.

But, when the soldiers saw the punitive force’s soldiers run out from the entrances to the camp to escape the fire tornado, they were reminded of their role.

They took arrows from their quiver, dyed black to blend into the darkness, and nocked it onto their bows. They then shot them at the soldiers who had escaped from the camp.

The arrows wouldn’t stand out because of their colour. That was what they had intended, but the fire tornado was too bright.

Moreover, the flames had started to spread beyond just the fire tornado and to the tents and carriages as well, making it almost as bright as midday……far from what would be called night.

Even in such a situation, the members of the guerrilla force, as instructed beforehand, scattered to each entrance as they fired arrows towards those who had escaped.

Normally, even with many killed by the fire tornado, an army of over 6,000 people trying to escape would make it difficult to shoot everyone without letting anyone escape.

However, the guerrilla force was made up of the best soldiers. Naturally, their archery skills were among the best, shooting arrows one after another, taking the lives of those who had fled the camp in relief.

In terms of just archery skill, there was no one here who was worse than Rei. Their combat skills were very high.

……Although, that said, Rei rarely used a bow.

He found it faster to throw a spear than to use a bow.

As they shot arrows, at the camp from a distance, they could hear the death cries of dozens, maybe hundreds of people.

Things continued like this for about 30 minutes.

The number of people coming out of the entrances were already decreasing and the night attack was coming to an end. Just as everyone was starting to think that……

Suddenly, a section of the protective fence was violently blown away.

The protective fence was blown away with a thunderous bang, the force behind it as it flew into the air made it clear that it had been destroyed in one hit.

「W-What was that!?」

A soldier from the guerrilla unit, who was in charge of the entrance near the section of the protective fence that had been blown away, shouted out.

「Calm down! We had anticipated this from the start. We knew beforehand that the protective fence could only be destroyed with just a few people! Anyhow, for now, make it your top priority to not let anyone escape, and keep an eye out for anyone coming through that opening! Fortunately, the number of enemies coming through the other entrances had decreased. Send a messenger to request reinforcements!」

At Pernyx’s command, one of the soldiers, who had been desperately firing arrows from his bow, spoke up.

「We’re already so few in numbers! If we send a messenger now, we’ll lose control of this place!」

Yes, that was a fact.

The guerrilla unit was made up of elite soldiers, but no matter how elite they were, there were still only 30 of them……even if you included Pernyx, their commander, that only made it 31.

The difference in numbers was inevitable.

「It doesn’t matter. If we keep going like this, the people who escaped will get away. I’ll handle it until reinforcements arrive. ……Right, you go.」

Pernyx looked at the soldier who had just argued against it.

There was no particular reason why he chose that person. If he had to give one, it was because the understood their current disadvantages and would therefore do everything in his power to overturn those disadvantages.

「B-But-!」

「Just go! If you hesitate like that, the more you hesitate, the more disadvantaged we’ll be!」

Even on the other side of the destroyed protective fence, they had to understand they would be targeted after making such a conspicuous action. They were probably waiting to see what would happen rather than charging out carelessly.

Even as this happened, the number of soldiers coming of the entrances was decreasing but not stopping.

「Go-!」

At Pernyx’s shout, the soldier ran off, seeming to have made up his mind.

「Now then……will reinforcements come first, or will they break through first?」

「……What about Captain Rei? Of course, considering the magic he used, he might not have strength to spare.」

At the words of another soldiers, who was shooting arrows towards the entrance, Pernyx shook his head as he shot an arrow towards the destroyed protective fence to keep them at bay.

「Captain Rei is busy with other things inside the camp. If things continue as they are, the supplies inside the camp will be completely destroyed. Only Captain Rei can retrieve everything before they are burned up.」

「……Since they destroyed the protective fence, I think that important or powerful people will probably come out……can we not get him to come over here?」

At the soldier’s anxious words, Pernyx shook his head.

「No, unfortunately, we don’t have a way to contact the Captain.」

At that moment, several soldiers were seen jumping out from the destroyed protective fence.

「They’re coming!」

Pernyx shouted sharply as he shot an arrow.

The arrow pierced the forehead of the first solder to come out, instantly taking his left.

However, the soldiers escaping out of the destroyed fence, one after another, gradually started to exceed the limits of Pernyx’s arrows.

 

 

「……I see, that’s what’s happening.」

Sobble muttered, but few people heard him amid the shouts and commotion of soldiers from all around.

The only ones who could hear him were Bratta and the commander of the knights directly under Shurus.

What Sobble had done was simple. He simply shouted that they could leave the camp from here.

Normally, some people would be suspicious of how convenient it was.

But not now. Behind them, a tornado of fire was moving around as it pleased, ensuring absolute death no matter how one fought against it.

The only reason they were still alive was because they were fortunate enough to not be caught in its movement.

And, no one knew how long this good fortune would last.

Even so, many soldiers, knights, and nobles had gathered at the various entrances and in some places allies were fighting among themselves as they each tried to leave the camp.

Amidst all this, a cry echoed through the camp saying that the protective fence had been destroyed and they could escape through there.

The one who had done that of course, was Bratta.

The strength with which he had destroyed the protective fence in one hit, which normally would have taken several soldiers, was certainly worthy of someone who was considered one of the most powerful fighters among the First Prince’s faction.

「……So, what are we going to do now?」

Bratta asked Sobble in an unhappy mood.

To Bratta, since most of the people participating in the punitive force were from the First Prince’s faction, everyone was like half family to him.

Contrary to his rough personality, Bratta was a caring person, so it was painful to see his family members leaving one after another through the destroyed fence.

To be more precise, it would be more accurate to say he didn’t want to hear the screams as they left the camp.

Even so, he obediently followed Sobble’s orders because he couldn’t come up with any other option himself.

If he had more time, things might have been different, but he knew better than anyone that he wasn’t smart enough to come up with something when asked to do so in the moment, and in truth, he didn’t think he could come up with a solution even with more time.

As Bratta looked at him, Sobble turned to look towards another section of protective fencing.

「The enemy surrounding the camp is probably focused on the place you destroyed. For better or worse, there doesn’t seem to be many soldiers deployed in the vicinity, but if they find out that soldiers are trying to escape from here, they will naturally send reinforcements. That will further focus the rebel’s attention on this side.」

Bratta and the cavalry obediently listened to his words.

In fact, even now, soldiers were constantly rushing through the opening and every time someone stepped outside, they could hear screams.

But even so……the soldiers didn’t stop streaming out, choosing the path that gave them the highest chance of survival.

「In other words, this is a kind of diversion. And since we’re making this a diversion, we’ll make the most out of it.」

Having come this far, Bratta understood what Sobble was trying to say.

……He had no choice but to understand.

「You mean we’re going to use them as decoys?」

「Yes. We should escape a little further away from here……preferably towards the Imperial Capital. Then, once we’ve destroyed the fence, we’ll run through it without calling out to anyone else. if the rebel attack is delayed even for a moment, it will be a golden opportunity for us.」

Sobble said that as if it were completely obvious, but Bratta had to confirm.

「Really……is this really the only way?」

「yes. Right now, this is the most reliable way I can think of to convey the information to Prince Kabajid that Crimson has sided with the rebels.」

「……I understand. If you say so, then it must be the only way.」

The only one who was surprised by Bratta’s response was the captain of the knights who had joined the punitive force on Shurus’ orders.

As subordinates of Shurus, they naturally had access to a fair amount of information about their rivals……in fact, their biggest rivals, the subordinates of Prince Kabajid.

Among them, Bratta was known to be a caring person.

However, the captain of the knights didn’t show his surprise on his face.

These were people who would eventually become their opponents. It was only natural that he wanted to avoid giving up any information about themselves.

With these thoughts in their minds, Bratta’s group moved through the camp on spare horses borrowed from the knights, keeping an eye on the direction of the fire tornado.

Of those who were still inside the camp……most were already dead.

They were either burned to ashes by the roaming fire tornado, killed by allies trying to get out of the camp, or shot dead just as they left the camp.

Naturally, there were survivors. Some hid under corpses and pretended to be dead while others relied on luck to stay alive inside the camp.

Bratta and the others pushed through the seemingly empty camp……

「This is it, here.」

They stopped walking at the part of the camp that was closest to the Imperial Capital.

The protective fence was stained with blood, probably from the night’s terrible events, making those who saw it uneasy.

However, now wasn’t the time to hesitate. Having decided that, Bratta looked back.

Behind him, Sobble was on horseback, as were about 20 of Shurus’ knights.

They had had to escape this hell with less than 30 people

(Well, considering the fire tornado, it’s amazing that this many people survived.)

Today was truly the worst day of his life. Thinking that, Bratta spoke up.

「Listen up, we’ll be destroying the protective fence here. Once that happens, everyone run out as fast as you can. They’ll probably pursue us, but even if you die, don’t look back. Just go straight to the Imperial Capital……an inform Prince Kabajid and Prince Shurus of the destruction of the punitive force and that Crimson is cooperating with the rebels.」

Whoever survives will deliver the information.

After exchanging those words with semi-tacit understanding, Bratta swung his long sword.

It was an attack that seemed like a light wave of the hand, but it reach the protective fence, even from horseback, and succeeded in destroying it.

At that moment……

「Let’s go-!」

With Bratta’s shout, everyone present rushed through the gap in the fence.

As they left the camp, there was no sign of any attacks from the surrounding area.

We can go.

As everyone was united in their thoughts, at that moment……

Thwip-, there was a sound of something cutting through the air and the next moment a voice cried out in pain as something fell behind Bratta.

Naturally, he was prepared for what that meant.

Bratta had know the danger from the start of their escape, so he didn’t pay attention to the person who had fallen behind him as he rode straight for the Imperial Capital. ……At least that was what he would have done under normal circumstances.

Yes. Under normal circumstances.

If the position where the person had fallen from his horse had been a member of Shurus’ knights and not Sobble, he wouldn’t have paused.

But, it hadn’t been. The one who had fallen was Sobble. His partner.

It was only natural for him to turn around in an instant.

As Bratta turned to look behind him and, for a moment, his eyes met with Sobble’s as he rolled on the ground.

Sobble’s gaze was filled with a strong will that seemed to tell Bratta to do his duty without worrying about him.

「-!? Damn it!」

Receiving that gaze, he spat out a curse as he raced down the highway.

As he headed for the Imperial Capital……he knew that he would probably have to give up on Sobble’s life.

「CRIMSON-!」

He shouted out the name of the person who had likely caused this whole situation.

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