GILF Hunter

’Over there! They’re crawling up!’

’Knock them down!’

The battle atop the walls had begun.

Monsters crawling out from the Labyrinth filled the plains once more and surged toward the walls.

The defense forces poured attacks toward the Legion Insects that had swarmed right up to the base of the wall.

’Squad 3, rotate!’

’Don’t wait for the signal, fire immediately!’

There wasn’t a moment to rest. As soon as one climbing monster was knocked down, two more immediately scrambled up the wall.

The corpses falling from the wall piled up into mountains, and monsters endlessly climbed over them.

It was to the point where slopes were being formed by the monster carcasses.

The Legion Insects stepped over the hills made of their kin’s bodies. As time passed, even greater numbers lunged at once.

The defense forces atop the wall endlessly pushed back the monsters, firing arrows and magic.

’Ugh....’

’We’re being pushed back! Watch out!’

As monsters suddenly swarmed one section of the wall, several soldiers guarding that area were forced back.

Monsters poured through that opening in an instant.

’Clear the way!’

The moment the monsters climbed onto the wall, a spear flew in along with a shouting voice from behind.

Everyone saw the spear and threw themselves to the floor. It was a weapon familiar to the soldiers and mercenaries stationed on the North Wall.

The flying spear pierced through several monsters and embedded itself in the floor, then emitted bolts of lightning into the surroundings.

The monsters that had been climbing onto the wall were all struck by it, either burning up or becoming paralyzed and stopping in their tracks.

Rebecca leaped in through the gap.

Snatching the spear from the floor, Rebecca swung the weapon in a wide arc, sending the monsters that had stood upon the wall flying back down.

Sparks flashed along the trajectory of her swing. Several monsters caught in it were paralyzed and tumbled below.

’I need a few more people here!’

Rebecca shouted as she looked down. Perhaps due to the terrain, the monsters were particularly concentrated in that spot.

’Yes! We’re here!’

Hardly had Rebecca finished speaking when a large-framed individual leaped in with a cute voice.

It was Hamel and Kria, who had been waiting nearby.

Kria’s area-of-effect magic, which she had prepared in advance, flew toward the base of the wall.

A magnetic field spread out like a wave, paralyzing every monster in a wide area.

It wasn’t a particularly high-powered spell, but perhaps because they had no resistance to magic, many monsters burned and collapsed from this alone.

Thanks to that, the frontline where the monsters had swarmed was pushed back again in an instant.

’Phew... this is surprisingly fun.’

Kria muttered after pouring out several spells.

Since the number of monsters was so great and there were no particularly strong individuals, high-level magic with great power was actually a waste of firepower.

Sprinkling moderately strong spells with the widest possible range here and there was a much more effective way to kill many monsters.

Since becoming a mage, she had rarely experienced catching monsters while pouring out magic so freely. The number of monsters she caught today was among the highest in her entire career as a mercenary.

Simultaneously, area-of-effect attacks from mages flew from various points on the wall.

Spells that flew into the distance caused large explosions as they hit the ground.

It was an attack by the mage forces deployed according to Ian’s instructions.

Usually, high-grade mages didn’t participate in battle so actively, but this time, it was disadvantageous unless mages were utilized to the fullest. The mages were also running around frantically, firing spells everywhere.

A large hole was punched through the center of the monster swarm surging toward the wall, but the swarming mass immediately filled that gap in an instant.

’Lia! One got through over there!’

’Got it!’

Hearing Mika’s shout, Lia, who was guarding the vicinity, dashed forward. A single Legion Insect was crawling up nearby.

Lia’s sword scattered flames in a large arc.

Along with the monster that had just crawled up, the monsters nearby were caught in the flames and fell below the wall all at once.

For these insects, the fire attribute was more effective than the lightning attribute, in which her proficiency was still low.

’Ugh....’

Lia glanced slightly below the wall and shuddered with a look of revulsion.

She could see the corpses of Legion Insects littering the ground and the countless insects crawling up over them.

’Lia! If it’s too hard, do you want to switch with the rear? You’re scared of bugs.’

’Wh-who’s scared! I’m just slightly grossed out!’

Lia shouted back at Rin’s words. It made her more annoyed because Rin seemed to be speaking truly seriously.

Rin, before she knew it, had climbed back onto the wall, slashing at lunging bugs and pushing them down.

It had already been several hours since the full-scale battle began.

The monsters were swarming to a sickening degree. No matter how many were caught, the momentum didn’t seem to decrease at all.

...Looking at how hungry I am, it seems past lunchtime. Just how much longer do we have to fight?

Rin stared at the swarm of bugs still filling the area outside the wall with a weary expression.

’Arrows for Sector 2!’

’What about mana potions?’

’They’re coming soon!’

Tanya checked the supplies continuously arriving from below the wall and sent them up to the necessary sectors.

The fairies complained due to the non-stop work, but Tanya managed to soothe them somehow. At least it was fortunate that bribes solvable with money worked on fairies.

’Oil is here!’

’Ah, leave it there!’

Tanya, who was organizing supplies, heard the news and immediately went up to the wall toward Ian.

’The oil is here!’

’Block the 2 o’clock direction immediately!’

’Yes, that way!’

After confirming the direction Ian pointed out, Tanya hurled an oil bottle toward it.

Immediately, attacks from mages who received the signal flew toward that area, and as the flames ignited, a long wall of fire was created.

No matter how recklessly the Legion Insects charged, they didn’t blindly plunge into such fierce flames. As the offensive from that direction faltered, some breathing room was created on the wall.

’Heck... phew.’

Meanwhile, Airi, who had barely finished recovering, stood up. Her mana was about half restored.

’Sh-should I shoot?’

Since it was a repeated task by now, Airi immediately picked up her bow, but Mika briefly stopped her.

Mika spoke to Ian as if she were reaching her limit.

’Leader. My mana is almost gone too. The potions aren’t working well anymore.... This will probably be the last time.’

’Yeah. There won’t be many monsters left. Let’s wait a little longer before using it.’

The time when the monster wave was almost at its end. Ian nodded while checking the remaining time.

Airi, who finally got a break, sat back down on the floor.

’Sigh....’

Airi, having finally caught her breath and recovered some strength, began to take in the surrounding situation belatedly.

Since she had only repeated firing magic arrows and collapsing from mana exhaustion, she hadn’t had any room to pay attention.

This was the North Gate, where the battle was fiercest. It was a given, but an immense battle was unfolding around Airi.

’....’

It was an environment where sitting and resting leisurely by herself felt excessively awkward.

The people around her were too busy fighting to even look at Airi, but once Airi herself realized the fact, she couldn’t help but feel self-conscious.

...Should I at least pretend to shoot my bow?

Since there are so many monsters, I’ll hit something no matter where I shoot. If I’m shooting my bow, I won’t look like I’m just slacking off alone.

Thinking so, Airi glanced around tentatively and stood up with her bow.

’Is something the matter?’

’Ah....’

A soldier beside her asked. He was one of the escort personnel surrounding her.

Airi, caught off guard by the question, hesitated and answered in a small voice.

’Ah... well, the bow... the bow....’

’The bow?’

Hearing that, the soldier nodded as if he understood. Since Airi was holding the wooden arrows she used normally, it was easy to understand what she meant.

What kind of heroism is this.

The soldiers had been guarding this area the whole time, so they knew Airi was resting due to mana exhaustion.

It was natural for a mage who had used up all their mana to be unable to fight. Resting for mana recovery was not particularly strange to the soldiers.

And yet, Airi was saying she would fight alongside them even in a state where she couldn’t even speak properly.

Airi’s zeal stirred the hearts of the soldiers.

Furthermore, the unit performing the escort were elite soldiers sent directly by Leona. Since they were all naive cadets from the military academy rather than regular soldiers, they were twice as susceptible to stories that appealed to such heroism.

’Understood! We shall fight together as well!’

’We will keep you safe by any means necessary.’

The soldiers picked up their weapons with shining eyes.

’Eh... what?’

Airi was flustered by the intense gazes of the soldiers.

She just wanted to pretend to fight by shooting a few arrows, but everyone was looking at Airi with gazes that expected some sort of grand performance.

Just why...?

’Airi. Get ready.’

’Ah... yes! Leader!’

Just as she was wondering if she should collapse again pretending to be exhausted, she heard Ian’s voice calling her.

Airi quickly ran to Ian’s side and prepared to use the next spell.

Thanks to that, the soldiers nearby only had their hearts unnecessarily set ablaze and raised their shields with solemn expressions.

Ian was looking toward the entrance of the Labyrinth in the distance.

The next spawn cycle is in 45 seconds....

As Ian quietly checked the time in his mind, he saw the procession of the insect swarm pouring from the Labyrinth break. Even though a new spawn cycle had begun, no monsters came out. It meant the wave was over.

’Now! Fire!’

’Yes!’

The last remaining magic arrow left Airi’s hand.

Once again, a blinding flash surged, and the battle that had been taking place on the wall stopped.

After that massive light of destruction swept past, nothing remained. No more new monsters swarmed out.

A silence followed for a very brief moment. The people atop the wall quietly exhaled and exchanged glances, then let out a roar without anyone needing to go first.

’Uweegh....’

Except for one person who didn’t have the luxury for that.