Return of the Former Hero Chapter 37

37. Former hero・sets off for the battle to recapture gauge fort

We had left Imperial Capital for a week.

Pa.s.sing a town, we, the execution force for the battle to recapture gauge fort, are now moving in a forest.

Our destination, Gauge Fort, is in a small plain opened just before clearing this forest, a place surrounded to the left and right by the foot of mountains.

It’s the first time for Sharon and me in this place.
Although Laurier pa.s.sed through here when coming from the south previously, she doesn’t know if she stopped by inside.

This child, is her memory all right?

Just before pa.s.sing through the forest, the group stops.

From the main road to the fort, there is a place to enter the forest via a concealed pa.s.sage.
Leon and the 3 of them will go towards the fort from there.
The conceal pa.s.sage has not been discovered by the demons.
Yunikram and Caroline has verified the area beforehand.

Well then, from here on ahead, it’s our turn first of all.

Our mission is a feint operation.

Coming out of the forest, we approach the fort along the main road.
And after that, we restraint the demon.

As much as possible, I try to attract the demons coming out from the fort and defeat them.

Although the gauge fort is called a fort, that’s a thing of the past.
As a transportation hub now, the functions of a fort has been removed and it’s no longer a building cut out for defense.

According to the information from the survivor of the annihilated subjugation unit last time,  demons basically come out from the fort and the battle is conducted outside.

The more we act violently outside to attract the demons out, the easier it becomes for Leon’s group to gain control inside and fight the demon race.

“Then, we are going.
Mr.Haruto. Ms.Sharon. Ms.Laurier.
Take care.”

Leon gives us some encouragement.

“Going there, the opponent is a demon race.
Do not lose focus, show me the results of these 3 months.”

I return it too.

And, I match Leon’s fist firmly and look at each other’s face.
Nodding silently, Leon’s group entered into the forest.

Alright!
The exchange just now has a super good appearance!

My soul is trembling.

In the past,with that stupid-looking uncle with huge muscle, my head was grind against as a farewell.
Although I could feel the friends.h.i.+p in that case, the appearance for the exchange now definitely looks better.

If I am a girl, I would fall in love.

The appearance now is good!? and, charged with expectation while looking over,
Sharon and Laurier weren’t even looking here to begin with.

Look at it!
Falling in love again, it’s a place to feel your chest tightening right!?

d.a.m.n.

Well, it’s fine.
Even if that wasn’t seen, the 2 of them are head over heeds for me!

…….it’s futile.

“Sharon, Laurier.
Let’s go through it once more the last time.”

2 people who were looking at the fort turn around.

I confirm our course of action.

“I, the vanguard, will stand in front.
Laurier will do hit and run attacks. But do not get in front of me.
Sharon is at the rear, cleaning up the demons my attack left out, and as a guard for the soldiers who are waiting behind.”

2 of them nod to my words.

“If you are injured, fall back to Mr.Dewey’s place for recovery magic to be given.”

Mr.Dewey is a grandpa court magician who came along for our sake.

Even if it takes some time, as long as the its to the extent of losing parts and not dying, the injury can be recovered.

“Supporting the duty in that case will be Laurier and me respectively.
I will leave it to Laurier in Sharon’s case.”

If I fall back for recovery, Laurier will go out in front.
If it’s the opposite, I will be the vanguard alone then.

In the event that Sharon falls, it was decided that Laurier will take over.

“And then, about the usual attack due to the demon race opponent, I will sense it.
At that time, Laurier will go out to the front, and use the s.h.i.+eld of air, Air・s.h.i.+eld please.”

Finis.h.i.+ng the final verification with the 2 of them, we turn around to the fort.

If Leon’s group proceeds smoothly, they will break into the fort about 30 minutes later.

“Okay! Shall we go?
The both of you, if you feel your life is in danger, absolutely withdraw without overdoing it.”
”
Yes!”

“Leave it to me.”

Doing what I did with Leon a while ago, I raised my fist to my chest level.

However, the 2 of them did not understand and looked at me blankly.

UHA! SUPER SHAMEFUL!

“o, Ohhh…….”

Raising my fist overhead to bluff, something like [Ei, Ei, Oh-] was done. (TN: It’s like hip hip hooray)

“……O, Oh?”

“ooー?”

The 2 of them mimics me somehow too.

Their kindness touches my heart.

Ahem.
Pulling myself together, we head out running towards the fort.

Is it roughly about 500m from the forest to the fort?

Gauge fort is seen before the main road extending out in the middle of the plain.

Drawing close, the area around the main road is a wasteland full of holes.
As heard before hand, these should be the marks left behind from the attack of the demon race.

Was it probably because time has pa.s.sed since the last battle, corpse of human and demons are not seen.

Was it the demons who cleaned it up? Or was it stray dogs and such?
After eliminating the demons, it would be good if we can recover the bodies and belongings……

“Okay, it should be fine around this area.”

I stop approaching at a spot after a certain extent.
Laurier is at a place a little away.
Sharon understands the arrangement too, and stops behind.

Is there n.o.body even standing guard? It appears that the demons have not noticed.

I imagine it.
The appearance of a flames exploding and making a huge sound.

“Ball of flame, Fire・Ball!”

The magic I shot flies to the sky above the fort while leaving a trail of red flame.
And it explodes.

According to what I imagined.
Exploding loudly like a firework, a light impact with an explosion resounded after a moment’s delay.

Although I might have hope to damage by commence a preemptive strike with magic to the fort itself,
with the country’s intention to regain it intact as much as possible,
it became a preemptive threat, and just in case, to prevent the underground pa.s.sageway Leon’s group was going through from collapsing.

Demons who noticed the attack came out from the fort.

Beast such as goblin, trolls and wolves.
Currently, do I only see about 50 of them?
All of them are lower cla.s.sed, there wasn’t a demon I was afraid of alone.

With Yunikram’s investigation, there seems to be around 200.

Presently, the total count I feel using search is also that amount.
And certainly, there is a feeling of strong power too, considering the demon race.

Now, what I can see is about 1/4.
To be called the demon king’s army, although the cla.s.s and number of demons are questionable, nevertheless, 200 is still quite something.
Still, there is the matter of the demon race leading them.

However, I also have Sharon and Laurier accompanying me beside.
While it isn’t a party, there is a comrade who can use recovery magic in the rear.

If it’s just this much, the figure doesn’t even enter.