Chapter 83

Chapter 83

All along, Aider had been monitoring the five members of Aegis Special Forces Team 8, in case of any emergencies.

There was the matter of Lilly, and I couldnt help but be a little anxious.

However, nothing particularly suspicious was found. They just chattered among themselves, like kids their age.

"Regardless of what thoughts they harbor, we do need their power. Deploy them in this defense battle."

Lucas agreed, and Lilly, in the end, consented to participate in this defense battle.

Their deployment in this defense battle as a sub-party was now confirmed.

So, three days before the defense battle, in the afternoon, we were in the room where Aegis Special Forces Team 8 was staying.

"Bring them in, Lucas."

"Yes, my Lord."

Following my order, Lucas brought in five new sets of clothes and placed them in the room.

"My Lord, these are...?"

I nodded at the Special Forces members, who were looking puzzled.

"From now on, all five of you will wear these."

Godhand cautiously picked up the clothing.

A coat and a jacket, a shirt and trousers, a tie, and leather boots.

It was the typical composition of an Empire uniform, but the design was different.

While the Empire uniforms were made exclusively in black, these clothes had vivid splashes of red all over.

"Its an outfit!"

"You really prepared everything for the ceremony?!"

With the exception of Godhand, the other agents immediately donned the coats, their eyes sparkling.

Godhand was torn between reining in her subordinates or donning the uniform herself.

I explained with a chuckle.

"These are the prototype uniforms to be distributed to the soldiers at the monster front line."

How could one foster a sense of belonging among a groups members?

There are many ways, but the easiest is to have them wear the same clothes.

When we hired several mercenaries, they struggled to form a single organization... they lacked a unified sense of belonging.

The situation was the same on the monster front line here.

Since we were employing mercenaries from all over the world, they all acted independently, struggling to integrate into a single organization.

Therefore, one of the ways to increase this sense of belonging in the game was to create uniforms.

It costs a bit because they had to be distributed to the entire army, but the effects were quite satisfactory.

So, I had been creating separate uniforms for the soldiers to wear at the monster front line.

And above all, this was my personal belief.

Uniforms should be cool.

They should be fantastic fashion items. They should be so stylish that one could wear them proudly in any setting.

That way, everyone would feel proud to wear them, and some would even join the army just to wear them.

The Empires uniforms had a good design originally. But they were a bit outdated.

However, the newly created uniforms for the monster front line were quite sophisticated and cool.

From my perspective, and Aider agreed, even Evangeline who was sipping water complimented on its beauty.

By this standard, it should be good enough.

"I made this as a prototype, but it turned out a bit small. I thought it would fit you guys."

I said, pointing to the fabric attached to the coat.

"And, you guys will need to hide your identities more... so, I attached a hood and a veil."

The agents all donned their hoods and covered their eyes with the veils.

Flap-

Godhand also wore the coat, his face concealed by the hood and veil.

"From now on, youre no longer Aegis Special Forces Team 8. That team of yours is dead."

I nodded toward the five agents standing in front of me.

"From this moment on, you are the special task force directly under the Third Prince Ash Born Hater Everblack. You are the Shadow Squadron."

These agents were condemned.

Officially, they were to be executed at this monster frontline.

Regardless of their impending identity erasure, it would be problematic to continue treating them as the Aegis Special Forces.

Though it might seem to be a game of pretend, I decided to change their names at least.

"Now, members of the Shadow Squadron."

The five agents, who were now called by a new name, looked at me, their eyes shining.

I gave them a slight smile.

"Lets go hunt some monsters."

***

"I will explain the basic strategy of this defense battle."

In the mansions reception room.

Lucas, Evangeline, Damien, Lilly. The main party members were gathered.

"...Before the introduction of the strategy, firstly."

I gestured towards the door.

"Let me introduce the newly formed sub-party."

The sub-party of five, who had been waiting, orderly walked into the reception room.

Lucas and Evangeline, already knowing, were calm, and Lilly looked at them with a complicated gaze.

Only Damien seemed surprised and opened his eyes wide.

"These guys have just been assigned under me. For certain reasons, their faces are hidden. They are called the Shadow Squadron."

Seeing everyone happily munching on their candy, I nodded.

"If we force their course and gather them in one place, then use a wind spell of a higher level there..."

Wed gather them in the center of the fortress, then shoot a wind spell there...

"The wind magic on their wings would be swallowed, and their wings would lose lift."

In other words-- theyd fall.

"Well make them fall before they can land on the fortress walls."

Only then did the party members who understood my plan let out small gasps of understanding.

"Theyre made of rocks or steel, heavy buddies. They wouldnt survive unscathed falling from the sky to the ground."

This was the difference between gargoyles and living armors.

Living armors were specters attached to an armor. Even if the armor was somewhat damaged, the specter remained unharmed and continued to move.

Even when we knocked them down from the fortress walls, theyd climb right back up, completely unscathed.

On the other hand, gargoyles had higher physical endurance, but if their bodies broke, they died.

There are always wings for a fall.

If there was an enemy above my head, the first step in the strategy was to bring them down to my eye level.

My player thinking started from devising ways to steal their wings.

"But we dont have anyone who can use wind magic among us, do we?"

"Thats why I ordered the repair in advance. We have wind magic artifacts."

As I looked at Lilly, Lilly nodded.

"Yes, Your Highness. All the artifacts you ordered to be repaired are ready."

"Good. We have three Whirlwind Projector artifacts to be placed on the walls this time. However, there is a problem. Lilly, what are the operational and charging times for the artifacts?"

"Each artifact can operate for 5 minutes. And they take 15 minutes to recharge."

That was the problem.

And it was the incomplete part of the operation.

"Right. Theres a gap in between."

The artifact begins charging after use.

The first artifact provides anti-aircraft cover for 5 minutes and then goes into recharge. This process takes 15 minutes.

Two other artifacts take turns providing anti-aircraft cover, and by the time the third artifact stops operating.

There are 5 minutes left until the first artifact recharges.

5 minutes.

For 5 minutes, the sky is left exposed.

"The enemies will swarm during this gap."

Eventually, those who pass through the winds kill zone during these 5 minutes... We have no choice but to confront and eliminate them physically.

"We have no choice but to face them directly. Everyone at Crossroad will be mobilized for the creation of the fire net.

It is the heroes party gathered here that must repel those who land on the wall through hand-to-hand combat.

"Lucas. Evangeline. Damien. Lilly. And me. We, the main party, will handle the front line on the wall."

I surveyed my familiar main party members.

My trusty members who fought beside me returned my gaze with smiles. Such cute ones.

Next, I looked at the Shadow Squad.

"And those who break through us will be handled by the sub-party, the Shadow Squad. You will alternate with us and fight in case of necessity."

The five elves... rolled a piece of candy in their mouths and nodded at me with serious faces.

The treatment you will receive from now on will be determined by this battle.

They must feel it, even if I dont say it.

Its their time to show their abilities. The Shadow Squad will do their best.

"Finally, those gargoyle bastards who break through the Shadow Squad and penetrate inside the wall will be handled by the third sub-party."

I had arranged a sub-party of N-grade heroes recruited over time.

I had previously assembled and explained the operation to them.

They will hold the last line of defense inside the wall.

In the worst case, they are the last reserve to block the monsters while evacuating the citizens. I even handed out candies to them in advance.

"Its going to be a fierce melee. And unexpected situations will keep arising."

I added the next words reluctantly.

"There will be more casualties than in the previous stage."

Many will be hurt. Some might even die.

Among the heroes here, we might lose someone.

"Stage 2, we avoided losing any party members due to Margraves sacrifice, and in Stage 3, through a mix of miracles and fortune, no one perished. But this time, its different."

We would do our utmost to lose no one.

But at the same time, we had to brace ourselves for the possibility of loss.

That was the nature of this monster front line, and as its commander, I had to bear it.

"I pray for your valiant fight."

The members of both parties, rising from their seats, bowed their heads towards me in unison.

Knowing how hackneyed it sounded, I still felt compelled to utter the next words.

"Survive. All of you."

***

Three days later.

The morning of the defense day had dawned.

And, as it painted the sky in black-

The monsters swooped in.

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