Chapter 334
Everything was pitch black.
In the sensation of the ground beneath his feet collapsing and him sinking down into the darkness, Simon felt a wave of dizziness and a headache.
It felt like it had been at least ten minutes since he entered the card, but how long was this darkness going to last?
[1 member from the siege team has entered.]
[Defense team (15/15) all members entered.]
[Siege team (15/15) all members entered.]
'!'
At last, a new message appeared. It seemed the siege team had all entered as well.
[You are on the defense team.]
[Welcome to the 'Guardian' of the Kingdom of Aoun.]
Being chosen as a guardian was nice, but what mattered more to Simon right now was when this nauseating situation would end.
—Why were you so late?
At that moment, a hand shot out from the pitch-black darkness.
That pale and slender hand grabbed Simon's hand and pulled.
—This way, dummy.
In the darkness, he saw light-blue hair fluttering.
As if bewitched, Simon took the hand and crossed over to the other side.
Fwoooooosh!
Blinding sunlight struck his retinas, and a cold wind tousled his hair.
The first sight Simon saw after escaping the darkness was a beautiful girl whose hair was the same color as the sky surrounding them.
"Let's go, Simon!"
Maelyn winked as she spoke. Beside her, Dick, encased inside a water droplet, lay back with his arms behind his head, laughing heartily.
"You were exactly the fifteenth one! It was close, but in the end, the signal flare plan was a huge success!"
Looking around, Simon saw other students enclosed inside transparent bubbles.
Including himself, there were fifteen in total.
They were all members of the defense team.
"Move out!"
The water bubbles burst, and the fifteen boys and girls began free-falling.
Simon's eyes widened. The sight below them was of a huge fortress, towering like a massive pillar.
It was the exact same castle Dick had drawn on the blackboard, now in its complete, real form.
Simon couldn't help but let out a gasp of admiration, then laughed cheerfully.
"You're still just a kid."
Maelyn gave a small chuckle.
The falling speed soon slowed, and all fifteen members of the defense team landed safely on the castle's highest point. The smell of old bricks lingered in the air, with the occasional whiff of something like gunpowder.
Although he could feel presences all around, the surroundings were strangely quiet. It was hard to believe this would soon be the site of a war.
'Come to think of it, the residents of this world aren't human.'
They were all beastfolk, 'rat people' with mouse ears and tails. Of course, they couldn't compare to monsters like the Ratmen.
'Endolas Vaudeville really does like animals.'
Even the adults of this race were only about as tall as Simon's waist. Their weapons were short, and their homes were small. They ran around the castle's interior with tense expressions.
A soldier dropping his quiver and being scolded by a superior, a boy soldier hurriedly writing a last letter to someone, an old man whose face was caked with oil stains.
Every little scene was alive with detail.
These incredibly realistic sights made him truly feel as though he had been dropped right into the middle of a real battlefield.
"Oh, Carrot!"
"Miri! Long time no see!"
Meanwhile, the students were happily greeting acquaintances. Simon looked around, wondering if he'd spot anyone he knew.
"Ah!"
There was one familiar face, a bespectacled young man.
"Fitzgerald!"
It was Fitzgerald, his fellow member from the 'Mutant' club.
Even in this situation, he was holding a book in one hand, perfectly embodying the traits of a print addict.
"Simon."
Closing the book in his hand, titled A Small Ball Thrown by Pretension, he approached. The two shook hands lightly.
"Good to see you! Glad we're on the same team?"
"Yeah."
With no acquaintances nearby, Maelyn strolled up behind Simon with her hands clasped behind her back.
"Is he someone you know?"
"Yeah."
Simon stepped back slightly to introduce them.
"This is Maelyn Villene, from the Ivory Tower. And this is Fitzgerald… His surname is…"
"Ingels."
At Fitzgerald's blunt reply, Maelyn's eyes widened.
"Ingels? The Ingels family?"
Judging from her reaction, it must have been a prestigious family. The two clasped hands with refined grace.
"A long time since I've seen such a prominent household."
"And only one Villene from the Ivory Tower."
While the two high-born nobles shook hands, Dick suddenly cut in from the side.
"Nice to meet you! I'm Dick Hayword!"
Maelyn frowned.
"You stay out of it, commoner! You're lowering the class."
"For someone talking about 'class', I've seen noble ladies drooling while eating just like everyone else."
"Wh–when did I ever!!"
As the students exchanged such banter, easing the tension, the palace gates opened and an armored, bald man appeared.
Of course, like everyone else here, he was a rat beastfolk.
"Squeak! Guardians! We have been waiting for you!"
Dick waved enthusiastically.
"Wow! Uncle Yomong! Hello!"
It was almost the tone of greeting a neighborhood uncle. Yomong's eyes widened.
"S–squeak? I haven't even introduced myself yet. How did you know my name…"
"Oh! Didn't I say? Actually, I'm psychic! I can read people's minds. Want me to recite your next line?"
Bowing politely, Dick spoke.
"Squeak! His Majesty awaits the Guardians, please follow me into the palace."
"!! H–how the…"
Maelyn grabbed Dick's ear.
"Stop embarrassing yourself!"
"Ah! Ow! My ear's gonna come off!"
Watching the two squabble, Fitzgerald blinked.
"A fight?"
Simon gave a wry smile.
"...Our group's always kind of like this."
After that brief commotion, the fifteen students followed Yomong's guidance and entered the royal castle safely.
As befitted the palace of a kingdom, it was vast. The central hall alone could easily hold several thousand beastfolk.
'Even civilians are inside the palace.'
He saw women and children running along in groups. Food distribution was taking place in various spots.
"Squeak, this way."
And there, sitting on the throne of this massive palace, was a benevolent-looking beastfolk. Like the others, he had mouse ears, and a crown sat beneath them.
"Squeak! Welcome, righteous Guardians!"
The king rose from his throne and greeted them in a booming voice. The civilians who had been receiving food looked over and began cheering.
"Your arrival is in accordance with prophecy! Every citizen of the kingdom has been waiting for you!"
The 'Guardians', mentioned repeatedly, were set up to be heroes from another world, sent by the creator deity worshiped by the beastfolk.
As Guardians, the students were given full authority as legitimate commanders to lead soldiers in the king's name. The soldiers, in turn, would follow the Guardians.
While listening to the king's words, Simon's gaze wandered toward the civilians. They were receiving food and then heading behind the wall where the throne was situated.
Maelyn, apparently curious about the same thing, raised her hand.
"Your Majesty, why are those civilians inside the royal palace?"
"Squeak! I shall show you myself!"
The king led the students behind the throne.
Rustle, rustle, rustle, rustle!
Behind the throne was an underground space made of black rock. Inside, there were elders, women, and children gathered together.
"This is the Obsidian Cave, squeak."
The king personally explained.
"It has existed since before the kingdom was founded. The reason Aoun Castle is so steep and high is because it was built on the mountain range and the obsidian mine."
It was so deep and wide that the bottom could not be seen clearly. On each level, civilians sat huddled together.
Simon walked over alone and lightly tapped the rock surface with the back of his hand.
"Is this place safe? It seems like it could collapse if a battle breaks out."
"Squeak, do not worry. The obsidian mine is extremely resistant to external impact, making it the safest place in the kingdom. Even if the entire castle were to collapse, the inside of the mine would remain unharmed."
Simon nodded.
He wasn't sure how obsidian was set up in this world, but obsidian had a reputation as a high-strength mineral.
This time, another student raised their hand.
"What if the enemy nation invades the mine and climbs up into the kingdom?"
"Squeak, there is no need to worry about that! The only entrance to the mine is right here, in the royal palace at the very top of the castle. That is precisely why I gathered the civilians here."
The king placed his hand on his chest in a solemn voice.
"I intend to die on this throne. I will never preserve my life by using my people as a shield."
"...Your Majesty."
Maelyn wore a slightly moved expression. Dick gave a sharp thumbs-up.
"You don't need to worry about them making it this far!"
"Squeak! Indeed. Within a few hours, the vile Kingdom of Karl will attack. They have been plundering and ravaging our lands, and now only this capital remains. Every citizen is prepared to fight to the death."
The king looked at the students with a stern face and continued.
"Please lead the soldiers and stop the enemy. If we can hold out for today—no, even just half a day—reinforcements will arrive! Squeak!"
Dick pounded his chest and spoke on their behalf.
"You can count on us!"
* * *
The difference in forces was absolute.
Two thousand versus twenty thousand.
A gap of ten times the strength.
Of course, they had the castle on their side, but even at a glance, it was obvious that this old, worn-down fortress was far from a sturdy stronghold.
Built by the small arms and legs of beastfolk, the castle itself was small, its gates ragged, and its walls low. While the walls might be an appropriate height for rat beastfolk, for necromancers it would be easy to climb them using Darkness.
It was practically a setup where the defense would inevitably be pushed back, but time was in the defenders' favor.
Having played siege scenarios many times, Dick had experienced both the Kingdom of Aoun's victory and the Kingdom of Karl's victory, and said the endings were fixed.
If they managed to hold out until the Aoun Kingdom's reinforcements arrived, it would be a defender's victory. If the castle fell before then and the king was slain, it would be Karl Kingdom's victory.
"Then let's split up from here!"
Leaving the royal palace, the students agreed to quickly scout the castle and check key points, then meet back in two hours.
"In every game, the castle's structure, supplies, and food situation change. You've got to check them each time."
Sometimes there were large catapults, sometimes a strengthening liquid to coat the gates, moving defense towers, or even flying horses.
Simon decided to inspect the castle alone. Dick agreed and pointed out checkpoints—starting from the royal castle, inspect the walls, and stop by the supply warehouse on the way.
Simon descended the castle stairs alone, looking around as he went.
Since the castle was built on a mountain range and a mine, the ground below looked dizzyingly far, and the slope was no joke.
From a defensive standpoint, it was ideal, but at this height, there must have been many who died just from falling during daily life.
'Ah, found it! The supply warehouse.'
Simon easily located the warehouse, a key checkpoint, and stepped inside.
Dick had said that the supplies here could be used however they wished. Simon began rummaging to see if there was anything useful.
"Mister, what's this?"
Lifting up a black sphere that looked like a wooden fruit, Simon asked the warehouse keeper. The man replied after seeing it.
"It's an oil fruit, Guardian! It's filled with vegetable oil, so if you break it and light it, it burns brilliantly. You're welcome to take what's left!"
"Really?"
Simon smiled, storing them in his subspace.
'I'll go with fire attribute for the skeleton mages this time.'
It had been nearly a week since he had made his first skeleton mage and up until today, the third BMAT.
In that time, Simon's summoning magic skills had improved dramatically.
"Everyone, come out."
The subspace opened, and eight skeleton mages knelt before Simon.
Simon spread out a magic circle.
Woooong!
The first magic circle.
Woooong! Woooong! Woooong!
The second, third, and fourth magic circles.
Simon moved his fingers, skillfully controlling the magic circles floating in the air. Each circle projected different figures in front of him.
Naturally, the motif came from the Magiste system he had seen in Summonology class.
The Cloud flowing from Simon's body stretched out like connecting cables, linking the central magic circle to the skulls of the eight skeleton mages.
The currently registered skill for the skeleton mages was 'Cold Bolt' from the Darkness Frost series.
"Change it to 'Dark Blaze' from the Darkness Flame series."
When Simon manipulated the central magic circle, the magic circles engraved on the skeleton mages' skulls began to change simultaneously.
Normally, changing a skeleton mage's registered spell was an extremely difficult task, but Simon had 'Cloud'. Using it, he could easily overlay the configuration of the central magic circle onto the skeleton mages.
Wooooong!
"Application complete."
Simon turned off the magic circles and the Cloud. He decided to test it on just one.
"Dark Blaze."
Crack!
The selected skeleton mage raised its staff, and a magic circle appeared at its tip, above which flames flickered.
Simon nodded in satisfaction.
"Good, let's go."
Clack! Clack! Clack!
Simon took the lead, with the undead mages carrying staves following behind.
The sight caused murmurs among the beastfolk soldiers.
"...S-scary, squeak."
"Squeak! Still, it's a relief the Guardian is on our side."
To avoid startling them too much, Simon had the skeleton mages walk in a neat line behind him.
'Since I'm doing this anyway…'
Looking at the castle with renewed determination, he thought,
'I'll make sure the Kingdom of Aoun wins, and I'll claim the top prize.'