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Chapter 37 part 1

I―Cordelia Allston was frustrated.

「Aaaaaaah! Geez, there’s no end to this!」

Thud.

With that heavy sound, the top of its head was removed as the lower and upper jaws of an Ogre General were severed.
With a dull sound, the Ogre General collapsed to the ground.

Leaving behind a horde of ogres, I turned on my heel and headed towards the gate of the fortress.
Then, facing the allies inside the fortress, I gestured with my right hand.

―― This situation had already lasted for 48 hours.

At the same time as my signal, a group consisting of knights and veteran adventurers rushed out from the gate. I could also see glimpses of the instructors here and there.

I hope they can at least deal with the ogres without me… My body won’t hold up otherwise.

As the strongest force currently, all the strength of this fortress must be operational to efficiently utilize me as the decisive combat weapon…

That was decided 48 hours ago.

Because if I were to fall, it would mean the annihilation of all 200 personnel inside the fortress.
Furthermore, it would also mean the annihilation of over 50,000 people in the city of Noches, which the fortress protects…

We have already suffered more than twenty casualties, but considering the scale, it’s something that can’t be helped.

Yes, it can’t be helped.

We have to accept the casualties as an unavoidable consequence.

My job is to subjugate the Ogre General.
As for the small fries, I leave them to everyone else.

―― Everything is for the preservation of my stamina.

My lips were cut, and the taste of blood spread in my mouth.
It’s an unbearably unpleasant feeling.

「Why did it turn out like this? Wasn’t this just… a joint marching exercise with the knights? Why… did it turn out like this?」

I passed through the gate of the fortress.
Well, calling it a gate is a little… The gate doors were destroyed by the demons during the first attack.

And as I entered the fortress, I vented my anger on the people waiting there.

「You guys… are the scholarship students, right!?」

My words that are fueled by anger continued.

「You can put up multiple layers of defensive magic… And you’re all geared up for battle… Can’t you hold on for a bit without me!? If all 40 scholarship students put their bodies on the line, it’s not something impossible, right!?」

No one responded to my words.

Well, I myself understand that I’m asking for something quite unreasonable.
These people are fundamentally stronger than the veteran adventurers and knights.

However, they lack actual combat experience.

Basically, they are the young masters and ladies from the nobility.
And as the result of their privileged lineage, talent, and education, their stats are decent, but…

――They don’t possess the resolve to die or even the resolve to fight.

They may be strong individuals, but they are not warriors.
Therefore, at this point, they are not only useless, they are a burden.

「If I’m not here, the Ogre Generals will rush in all at once. And currently… you guys can’t deal with the situation without me, which means the gate will be breached… and that will inevitably lead to annihilation! But… if it stays like this, I won’t be able to launch a direct assault on the enemy’s command structure! The enemy keeps appearing endlessly… What should I do!?」

As expected, no one responds to my question.
When we encountered the first group of ogres, we sent messengers for reinforcements to the Magic Academy and neighboring lords.

However, even if reinforcements arrive, it will take another 3 to 4 days.

And if that’s the case, we have no choice but to engage in a siege defense but… I sit down on a chair, holding my head.

I fan myself along with some water and mutter to myself
.
According to the reports from those with scouting skill, there are at least 50 Ogre Generals and over 1,000 ogres.

「But… this is beyond abnormal… It reminds me of the Goblin attack four years ago…」

Ogres are among the higher-ranking monsters and don’t usually appear in such large numbers like goblins.

And this number is truly abnormal. No, it’s an impossible number.

But why are the ogres… repeatedly launching sporadic attacks instead of coming all at once?
I ask myself that same question that I’ve pondered many times, and then answer it myself.

The answer is clear.

It’s harassment directed towards me as an individual.

As a result, my mental state has already deteriorated, and I don’t have the capacity to care for others or be kind.

Perhaps the enemy also realizes that I am the only strong combat force on our side.
That’s why they keep sending Ogre Generals every hour, day and night.

Yes, it’s all to prevent me from getting any sleep.

――There are at least three days left until reinforcements arrive. No… There’s also the possibility that the messengers for reinforcements were killed by the ogres halfway.

We can’t continue like this. If we remain besieged, the probability of losing this stronghold is high.

「…So, what should we do?」

It would be very easy for me to make a run for it on my own… but if I flee, annihilation is inevitable…
Alternatively… if I were to launch a solo assault, there is a possibility of annihilating the enemy’s command structure deep within their ranks.

If I do that, the demon army would likely choose to retreat.

But it’s a double-edged sword.

Before I can annihilate the enemy’s command structure, the defense at the fortress gate would be breached, resulting in a significant number of casualties.
However, if I continue to stay at the fortress, I will be the one to fall first.

「Ugh, this whole defending while fighting situation… It’s so difficult!」

If I were to infiltrate deep into the enemy’s territory, I might have to face over 100 Ogre Generals.
That number could be cleared out at the last minute if I release my full power and hit the jackpot.

But it’s evident that if I run out of energy midway, the situation will become very unbearable.
There’s a chance I would become a breeding ground for Ogre offspring, and there is also a possibility of being devoured alive.

「…My mental and physical strength. I can probably maintain my best condition for a few more hours.」

If I continue to hold out and exhaust my stamina further, it will shorten the maximum duration of my empowered state, where I go all out with my magic.

If we remain in this dire situation… there’s no choice but to make a decision.

「…There’s no other option. Go and call the head instructor and the knight commander.」

I told my nearby classmates this.
They silently nodded in response to my words, and one of the scholarship students quickly ran off.

―― The answer I reached is neither to defend the fortress nor to launch a solo assault into the enemy lines… It’s to charge together as a whole group.

If the gate is going to be breached anyway, there’s no doubt that significant damage will occur.
In that case, charging with me at the forefront, breaking through a single point, and swiftly annihilating the enemy’s central command would… will likely increase the overall survival rate somewhat.

At that moment, the head instructor hurriedly approached me.

「Cordelia-sama? Did you call for me?」

「I told you… Don’t call me ‘sama.’ Don’t make me repeat myself. You’re the head instructor, and I’m a student, right?」

Nevertheless, I’m using informal language too.
Well, there’s no room for formality on the battlefield… That’s the kind of understanding I want to convey.

「…Understood. So, what is your request?」

「I’m thinking of launching an all-out attack with the entire army.」