「So, is something the matter, Momokawa? Are we going to start immediately?」
Well, not so fast, Yamada. Let me to explain first.
「First, I think there's teleportation circle inside that tower. That's why we'll set that as our primary goal.」
Since the day was about to change to night, I sketched a rough map of the fortress and its surrounding that we glimpsed from the hill in hurry.
「But they’ve shut their gate, there's also gatekeeper, and the lumber's fence.」
Ueda spoke first, mentioning the facts that we had confirmed at glance. Though their defense set up was simple, breaking through it wasn't an easy matter.
「Basically, we're going to use 『Aqua Mist』 to hide our figures, and climb the fence with my 『Blackhair Bind』. Even if they’ve shut the gate of the tower, they’ve left its windows wide open so we can enter from there.」
And when I said the windows, I was sure that everyone had realized the fortress structure was similar to our tower, glass aside, they hadn't even installed window frames. I didn't even see them set an emergency measure such as placing a wooden board to close it.
If everything went according to plan, we should be able to slip into the tower shrouded by the mist without having to fight the mobs along the way.
「The problem is, how high is the possibility of us entering their tower unnoticed? I mean, no matter how stupid those Gomas are, they'll realize that something is amiss with our mist, right?」
Well, there's a high chance that they'll realize that.
I mean, the scenery of the village around that tower was literally unobstructed. That's why we're bound to get noticed by their sentries in the tower unless we hid our figures with mist.
In addition, the Govus stationed atop of the watchtower would realize that there's something wrong with the strange mist that moving closer to the tower. That's why they might ring the bell or hit the drum to warn the others about the incoming crisis.
「Yeah, that's why we're going to use a diversion tactic.」
「Diver…sion? by that you mean, assigning someone to divert the enemy attention, right?」
「Yes, we're going to set those Gomas' tents ablaze.」
In spite of their extremely small scale, it wasn't wrong to say that this Goma community resembled a castle and its castle town. From the fact that both were surrounded by solid wood fence it could be said the watchtower was solely to protect the tower in the middle of it. Spreading around that tower until the fence was the tent that lined up without any kind of defensive measure placed on it.
For this reason, getting closer to them cloaked in the darkness of the night and setting their tent on fire was a simple matter. I mean, that's the chance to use my spare torch oil, right?
It was a wonderful strategy but, setting a fire to those tents which was clearly like a normal citizen tent sounded like an inhuman act, even if the other party was Gomas. Everyone was reacting too poorly in this regard.
「No need to worry. The one living in there, whether they're women or children, all of them will come to attack us as soon as they see us. In short, they're just a monster.」
They might be human-shaped monsters who build a living community like the humans do. But hesitation would only cost your life. I mean, our ancestor, Neanderthal was wiped out by Homo sapiens, right?
「The problem is the person for this diversion tactic but– I'll leave this part to you, Ayase-san.」
Her reaction was as annoying as ever. My hope for this shi*ty bi*ch to accomplish my order in silence was as expected, just a fleeting wish. I mean, it wasn't just limited to Reina, no one wanted to take on this role.
「It's a dangerous role, that's why no one else but you can do this, Ayase-san. Just rampage as much as you want and burn everything around with Engard while we use that chance to sneak into the tower, you can retreat with Ramudein.」
Engard’s sea of flames could set numerous tents ablaze in just a moment, its raw strength could scatter the Gomas who tried to surround it, and lastly, it had mobility that allowed it to go back and forth until teleportation circle's tower.
No one but Reina, the spiritualist who commanded the power of the sacred beast, could pull such a feat.
「We can't capture the tower if Ayase-san can't do that.」
It was decided that we'll raid the tower with six of us. But we'll simply annihilate due to the difference in number if we were to attack them from the front.
But if we turned the Goma's settlement into a sea of flame, we could sneak into the tower during the melee. As long as Reina rampaged non-stop, more and more of their soldiers would gather in her direction. The rightful source is novelꜰire.net
The more Goma soldiers came for her, the more chance we'd to capture the tower with just the six of us.
「I-I'll go with you, Reina-chan!」
「You can't, Yamada-kun. You're going with us to capture the tower aside, I don't think that Ramudein will allow you to ride on its back.」
In short, we'd no choice but to abandon the other members who persistently chose to go with Reina. To put it bluntly, that said person would become the role model of useless sacrifice.
But of course, there's no way I could tell Yamada-kun that the diversion role was literally a sacrifice. Eh!? Why did you make a face as if you want to cry!?
「Sorry for asking you to do such a dangerous job Ayase-san, but please believe in Momokawa-kun in this regard… this is the only plan that will allow all of us to survive from this situation.」
A-as expected of Yamajun, he had the best timing to interject his persuasion mode.
「Y-yes, b-but… I… am scared.」
「It's okay, you won't lose to Gomas as long as you have Engard and Ramudein.」
Nope, it was definitely not an exaggeration. I mean, I would volunteer myself to participate in the diversion role if I'd those two by my side. That’s just how OP those sacred beasts are.
「Please Ayase-san, everyone will survive as long as you do your best.」
After that, with bated breaths we watched Yamajun's negotiation, and just when I was starting to lose my patience seeing Reina keep acting like a wimp…
「… I understand, can't be helpe~d.」
The negotiation had been safely concluded with Yamajun's overwhelming victory. The climax completely exceeded my imagination.
Rather, I'd to say that we're literally (and practically) screwed without Yamajun's negotiation skill. I mean, I wouldn't be able to persevere that long if I were in charge.
「Yosh, it's decided. Ayase-san set the tent on fire and act as bait for us. We'll sneak into their tower with 『Aqua Mist』 during that commotion. And capture the tower in one go.」
We should be able to buy more time if we shut the entrance of the tower to prevent reinforcement from the outside. We should be able to secure the teleportation circle after we kill all Gomas in the tower.
「The only problem is whether there's a boss-like existence who holds the core to activate the teleportation circle or not inside that tower. There might be a 『Gogma』, the giant Goma waiting for us inside, but we might have to fight a boss monster in the enclosed space.」
Both the core that we need to initiate the teleportation circle and the aftermath was a gamble. In the worst case scenario, if it turned out that there was no Gogma inside the tower… our compass could be persistently pointing to this tower, forcing us with no other option.
「We'll commence the operation without rehearsal, our path of retreat is blocked and we've no choice but to strive forward. Prepare yourselves, we're going to take down the fortress.」