Chapter 97.6 - The Second Year at the Academy - Ranch Defense Battle (6)
While two security guards guarded the back door, I lit a torch for the remaining guard with [Flint].
"I'm counting on you here."
Leaving those words behind, I also jumped into the livestock shed.
The shed's interior gets illuminated by the white light of Amber's [Light].
Despite the intense intimidation from the Decrama, those near the entrance got thrown into chaos as Serade attacked from behind, and four of them were already lifeless.
I switched to a bow and arrow and leaped onto a beam.
They are indeed swarming around the livestock.
The entrance to the shed is located in the center of the whole, so the livestock are isolated to the far right.
It would have been troublesome if they dispersed inside, but this way, they were gathered in one direction.
I nocked an arrow and aimed at Dekrama on the beam.
At that moment, something jumped into my field of vision.
It's still alive.
A sheep was rolling under the beam.
It had a pitiful appearance with only one leg, but it was still breathing roughly.
As soon as our eyes met, I unconsciously changed my aim and released the arrow.
Shot through the head, the sheep stopped moving.
It's just waiting for death in that state. Treatment is meaningless.
As I sighed, suddenly, an arrow was shot nearby.
Following the trajectory, it pierced another sheep.
It was Varner.
He nodded at me and returned to support his companions.
Now is not the time to indulge in sentimentality.
They were lured into this situation for our convenience.
Don't waste lives.
The area near the entrance was quickly taken over by Yabushou and Serade.
Led by the high-combat-capable Sekies, they began to sweep toward the back.
Varner and I provided cover fire from above, while the guards and Amber secured the front and back doors to block any escape routes. Velotte, along with three security guards, kept watch on the perimeter.
Even though the opponents were inferior, the battle of the Sekies was impressive.
They skillfully wielded the hand axe and buckler, parrying and cutting down enemies.
Occasionally, the attacks of Dekrama were blocked by a scaly white light wall.
It was Amber's defensive magic, [Sacred Lamellar].
A basic holy magic that can be applied to others.
While its strength doesn't match shields or [Stone Coat], it seems to handle Dekrama just fine.
Unable to withstand the pressure, some parts of Dekrama tried to cross the barrier to surround the Sekies.
However, Ted and the others wouldn't allow that.
Protecting the left and right of Sekies, they attacked Decrama.
Sekies chose Serade as the combatant precisely because of this.
They judged that he had the strength to fight Decrama and, being small, could move easily inside the livestock shed.
At first, Sekies was concerned about the rear, but once he saw their performance, he seemed to trust them.
They concentrated on the front and advanced.
"Tenco, they're coming!"
Varner's warning came from the opposite beam.
Several Dekrama climbed the beam and attacked me and Varner.
I dodged the first, kicked away the second, and slashed the last from the front.
Elliot, who was prepared, delivered the finishing blow to the falling Dekrama.
Varner skillfully wielded his short sword, slashing and knocking down enemies.
Nails handled the other side.
Even the once-aggressive Dekrama fell into a state of panic as their comrades fell one by one.
Jumping onto the beam, I ran wild toward the front and back doors.
Arrows wouldn't be fatal, and the unstable footing was their advantage.
They managed to pass through, but the guards blocked their way.
Dekrama couldn't break through the narrow entrance and got cut down.
Everything was going smoothly.
However, things changed at this point.
One Dekrama found a weak point in the reinforcements: a window.
I immediately shot an arrow, but it was too late.
"It got out!"
Velotte's warning mixed with the sound of a struggle, and I realized another Dekrama was escaping from the shed.
Even if we let them go a bit, the goal is achieved, but we have to exterminate them.
"Varner, I'll leave this to you!"
I jumped down from the beam and rushed outside.
One had already been defeated, but the other was still running away.
Velotte and the guards gave up the pursuit, and boarded up the window with a board, preventing further escape.
Moonlight leaked through the gaps in the thick clouds.
Illuminated by it, a naked – and bloodied – ape was running in the pasture.
I nocked an arrow and aimed.
It's already beyond the effective range of the bolt type.
I can't show intermediate magic like [Penetrate Gale].
It's not even the effective range of a short bow, but…
I held my breath and released the arrow.
The flying arrow fell as if aimed at the movement of the Dekrama.
A short scream.
Oh, it hit.
The arrow pierced its left leg.
Unfortunately, it didn't deliver a fatal blow, but it can't escape anymore.
I flicked the sheath, drew the shamshir, and rushed at an apparently abnormal speed, sweeping the Dekrama with a [Strong Strike].
This time, a clear scream rose.
Spreading an abundance of blood and entrails, the Dekrama went wild in the pasture.
Persistent.
I pressed on its belly with my foot and thrust a dagger into its heart.
Turning my gaze away from the convulsing Dekrama, I noticed that Sekies and the others were coming out of the livestock shed.
It seems everything is settled.
Wiping off the bloodstains, I looked up at the dark night sky.
It was quite a challenge, but in the end, it was unremarkable.
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