Magic Caster of Destroy

It was at this moment that the sound of something stretching carried over from the outside, followed by the sound of several objects piercing the air. As the sound came closer, points of brilliant red light appeared before their eyes, and arrows fell like rain onto the watchtower. The sound of the arrows piercing into the wood and lighting up in flame filled everyone’s ears.

“…No way…”

The Kingdom was going to use lethal weapons against them. That fact made Enri gasp.

Fortunately, nobody was in the watchtower at the time. They had known that before they attacked.

Or maybe―

―Maybe they wouldn’t have hesitated if there were someone inside anyway.

“An-Ane-san! Although it looks like they’re not attacking us yet, you still shouldn’t be standing in their bow range! Over here, quickly!”

Enri, still watching the burning watchtower in a stupor, was dragged away by Jugem. She didn’t resist as Jugem grabbed her by the hand and ran, but her face was still turned to the watchtower.

Just as the defense force began scattering to the rear, the watchtower blazed up in an inferno.

The thatched roof caught alight in an instant and turned into a massive pyre.

Everyone in the village could see the destruction of the tower, no matter where they were. Wails of sorrow rose from all around her. One in particular was especially loud. As Enri tried to catch her breath and get herself under control, she saw the man who had screamed the loudest, whose voice carried the most anguish.

He was a man who had moved into the village.

His face was a mix of hatred and despair. She looked around herself, and many of the immigrants had similar expressions on their faces.

Enri remembered.

Their villages had been burned down in a similar way.

“The enemy!” the man screamed. “They’re the enemy! How can they not be the enemy when they do this! I want to fight them!”

“Whose Kingdom is this?! They didn’t even help us! And now they want to burn this place down?!”

That shout came from a plump woman.

“How can they be allowed to do this! If they want to kill me, go right ahead! I’ll take as many of the bastards down with me as I can! I’ll get revenge for them!”

A young man followed up with a cry of his own.

Madness and hatred were saturating the air, thanks in no small part to the flame arrows.

“…Ane-san. It’s time to make a decision.”

Jugem’s quiet voice came from a face as hard as any warrior’s armor.

“Eh? …But these people have lost the ability to think. Shouldn’t we wait before making a decision?”

“There’s no time. And nobody can guarantee they won’t go berserk. It’s best if you decide what the village is going to do right now.”

That was a reasonable suggestion. The army had already destroyed the watchtower with flame arrows. The next time round, they would probably do something worse. They had to act now.

As Enri screwed up her determination, she took a deep breath. She glanced briefly to Nfirea, who was holding Nemu’s hand, and they nodded to her, as though in encouragement.

Her chest no longer felt as tight.

That was the final dose of courage Enri needed.

“Everyone! Right now! Everyone here is going to decide what we, as a village are going to do!

Whatever the decision, I hope you will abide by it!”

A great chorus of approval was her answer.

“Hands up everyone who wishes the village to do as the Kingdom says!”

Not a single hand was raised.

As her heart pounded mightily in her chest, Enri shouted once more.

“Then! Everyone who wants to fight the Kingdom to their last breath, hands up!”

With a thunderous roar, numberless hands rose in unison. Everyone who did so had their fists tightly clenched, the grim set on their faces showing their determination to resist.

It was frightening. Everyone here had chosen a path that could only end in their deaths. Even so, there was something which outweighed the fear of death which motivated everyone here.

It was the desire to not repay the kindness and succour they had received with treachery.

“Then ― we fight! We fight to repay the debt we owe! Jugem-san! I’ll leave the battle plan to you!”

Jugem strode forth and stood by Enri’s side.

“…I’ve seen your resolve. You’re all going to die here. Are you all alright with that?”

The veteran’s words were met with unanimous approval.

“You’re able to shout so loudly despite your pale faces. Magnificent. …However, I’m sorry to rain on your parade, after you all loudly proclaimed your decision. Shouldn’t you let the young ones run away first? After all, if anyone’s going to die, it should be us and the old uncles.”

An older man spoke up.

“He’s got a point ― but isn’t that impossible? The enemy’s sealed off both gates. Even if we climbed over the walls, they’d spot us right away.”

“Well, that’s true… if we were just running away normally, like you said.”

Jugem grinned evilly as he continued.