Let's stop the carriage because it's dangerous to continue like this.

"Guell! Please stop the horse!"

"Why? Did something happen?"

"I'm not sure if they're monsters, but there are enemies ahead!"

"Stop the carriage and be on guard!"

Upon hearing that, Guell looked at me, widened his eyes, and gave instructions to his subordinates. They stopped and everyone took out their weapons, except for one person whose reaction was different.

"Don't lie! Captain, we don't need to stop. Let's keep going!"

Huh!? I think that was Aid. What is he saying?

"Aid, what are you talking about? She doesn't seem like she's lying!"

"I agree with Amy. Besides, I was hesitating whether to stop or not because I faintly smell the presence of people in the direction she mentioned. It's better to stop as she said. It's safer than to proceed."

Upon hearing that, Aid furrowed his brow, glared at me for some reason, and then turned to Guell.

"It could just be adventurers hunting monsters."

"Well... it's possible, but adventurers can be troublesome."

It seemed like it would turn into a long conversation, so I decided to get off the horse and took out binoculars. I turned my body in the direction indicated by the radar and peered through the binoculars to confirm the exact position and number of enemies.

"Hmm? It's strange. There are five of them over there, but they're all hiding behind trees and in the grass, looking at us. It's as if they're targeting us... right?"

They're facing each other and moving their mouths. That means they're discussing something. So these five people must be allies... huh? One of them turned around. Could it be that there are allies behind them too?

While confirming the situation of the enemies about 200 meters ahead, someone approached me from behind.

"Elaina, is that true?!"

Oh, it's Keith, the unfortunate handsome guy who came to me.

"Yes, I think the people we see now are probably scouts. Keith, if I remember correctly, there's a gentle right curve ahead, right?"

I had already checked the route on the map, so I knew which way to go.

"Yeah, that's right. What about it?"

I continued to explain to Guell and the others.

"On the left side, there's a forest along the road, and on the right side, there's an open grassland with no hiding places. It looks like the perfect ambush point."

"Yeah, you're right."

"They're probably planning a strategy where they block our path after we reach the midpoint of the curve and then engage this unit in combat, dividing us into those who defend the carriage and those who fight against the enemy blocking the path."

They wouldn't leave the carriage, which the Duke of Bardeck is riding, in a state without anyone to protect it.

"And what happens after that?"

"Once the division is made, they would shower arrows from the sides to create chaos in the defense, while other allies sneak up from behind the carriage to attack. Well, it's just my speculation though."

The most efficient method would be the one I just mentioned. Well, if the enemy is a bunch of ignorant people, they might just rush at us from the side. If we have the numbers, we'll definitely win!! That's the kind of feeling.

""""""......""""""

Hmm? Everyone's frozen. And somehow, the Duke has gotten off the carriage. Shouldn't it be safer to get back in the carriage?

"Um, is everyone okay?"

""""""Huh!?""""""

Guell realized and started giving instructions to his comrades.

"Keith, use your magic eyes to confirm whether the ones we see now are enemies or not. Lizlina, summon your familiars and conduct reconnaissance. If what she says is true, there might be other enemies as well."

"Yes, understood!"

Keith and Lizlina started moving according to Guell's instructions.

 〜〜〜 Guell's Perspective 〜〜〜

"Hey, Guell... Can I ask you something?"

Amy asked Guell with a perplexed expression.

"What is it, Amy? I'm the captain now."

"I'm sorry, Captain... What do you think of that girl?"

"What do you mean..."

The two of them stared at Elaina, who was doing something in the grassland on the right side of the road.

"To be honest, I don't know what to say. Who is she?"

"An assassin from another continent?"

"If that were the case, she wouldn't approach us, would she? Besides, there wouldn't be assassins who don't try to kill someone when there's a big shot this close."

Amy closed her eyes and seemed to be thinking for a while, but she had a face that didn't seem convinced.

"That's true. And she was also concerned about it, but Aid has been acting strange today."

"Yeah, I felt the same. I'm planning to talk to Aid later."

"I'll ask her as well."

As the two were talking, Lizlina and Keith approached them, seemingly done with their reconnaissance.

"Captain! My summoned familiar, Ritt, has returned!"

"I'm finished as well. I found out something amazing."

"Good. Call Elaina over. Once she arrives, we'll start the strategy meeting."

"Understood. Elaina-chan, come over here! We're going to have a strategy meeting!"

Amy shouted loudly in the direction where Elaina was, but the guys in hiding over there can't hear her, can they?

"Yes! Understood!"

After responding, Elaina, who had been doing something in the grass, ran back to the unit. Hey, you guys are being too loud! The enemy might hear you!

 〜〜〜 Elaina's Perspective 〜〜〜

"First of all, judging from their equipment, it's highly likely that those people watching us from the shadows are adventurers. I used my appraisal skill, and all five of them have a criminal record."

Appraisal skills are quite handy if they can reveal that much.

"Including the five people Keith saw, there are thirty people divided into groups of ten. Some are lying down on the spot or hiding behind objects with their weapons ready. And for some reason, they don't seem to have horses."

Upon hearing the report, Guell pondered for a moment before speaking to Lizlina.

"Not having horses probably means they couldn't borrow them from the stable, which is common for adventurers compared to the Exploration Department. So, do you know their positions?"

"Yes, the enemy is currently exposed behind the five people at the beginning of the curve. Five more are hiding behind them, and ten are lurking in the middle of the curve. Furthermore, ten more are waiting on the side of the road before the midpoint. It's clear that if we continue like this, we'll fall into the tactic Elaina mentioned."

"Captain, let's go from the right side of the grassland. That way, we can avoid engaging with those guys."

"The grassland is not feasible. When I entered the grassland earlier, I noticed that the ground was soft in many places. If the carriage enters the grassland like this, there's a possibility it will sink into the ground and become immobile."

Aid proposed an idea, but I opposed it with a reason. In fact, I went into the grassland earlier to check if it was possible.

At that moment, Aid glared at me again.

Why does he keep glaring at me? I wonder if he's trying to say, "Don't meddle, brat!"?

"Let's return to the capital. Dealing with thirty people is tough."

Upon hearing Amy's words, Guell paused and crossed his arms, deep in thought.

Huh? ...What's going on? The radar's movement, huh?!

"The enemy is running towards us!!!"

"What!?"

"It's true, Captain!! The adventurers are running towards us with their weapons!!"

Keith reported to Guell in a fluster, pointing towards the forest side.

"Prepare for battle! We'll meet the adventurers head-on!"

All members of the escort unit armed themselves and prepared to confront the adventurers. I have to cooperate as well.

"Elaina, it's dangerous. Please step back."

Amy said so, but I have no intention of stepping back.

"It's dangerous for you! You only have a knife, right?"

...It might be better to demonstrate it rather than explain with words.

I switched the selector of my ACE32 from safety to semi, took a kneeling position, and aimed at one of the enemies about 170 meters away.

"Cover your ears. It'll make a loud noise."

"Huh?"

I gave a warning just in case, and then I proceeded to attack.

I fired three shots in quick succession, performing what they call a triple tap. And right after, the bullets hit the man. Just as I aimed, two shots hit his chest, and one shot hit his head. Immediately, the man lost his strength, lost his balance, and tumbled to the ground, motionless.

One of the enemies who witnessed the scene came to a halt and shouted loudly enough for us to hear. Others stopped in their tracks, turned around, and started to panic upon seeing their fallen comrade.

My first kill... But if I worry about that now, I'll be killed myself. That's why I need to eliminate the enemies without hesitation.

"They're completely vulnerable."

I aimed at one of the stationary enemies and fired three shots. Two shots hit his abdomen and chest, and then when he was on his knees I shot him twice in the chest to finish him off.

"Second one!"

The enemy with a shield noticed the attack coming from our direction, hid behind the shield, and ran towards us. I fired five consecutive shots towards the area where his body should be, and the bullets pierced through the shield, hitting the enemy hiding behind it, causing him to collapse as if crushed by the shield.

"The enemy is starting to realize what's happening."

"W-What's going on? The enemies are suddenly falling!"

"Wait, did you just take them down?"

I don't have time to explain to Guell and the others right now. The enemy is regrouping and running back towards us. Among them, those with bows stop in place and shoot arrows towards us, but the range of their bows falls short, and the arrows end up stuck in the ground before reaching us.

To prepare for any arrows that might come my way, I change my posture from kneeling to standing, switch the selector from semi to full-auto, aim at one of the enemies, and fire in bursts. The enemy is hit in the abdomen and shoulder, and when his movements halt, I fire another burst to bring him down.

"Fourth one!"

But at this rate, they'll kill us before we take them all down. There's no other choice!

After taking down the fourth enemy, I change my objective from killing them to immobilizing them.

I change my aiming method, tracing a path from the enemy on the right to the enemy on the left, targeting them one by one. When the sight aligns with an enemy, I unload in full-auto mode, and when I'm about to run out of bullets, I reload and repeat the process from where I left off, tracing the enemies again.

About 25 meters away, most of the enemies have either been injured, stopped in their tracks, or fallen and unable to move, preventing them from advancing towards us.

The enemies seem to be feeling uneasy or scared, as they start shouting and fleeing. I shoot one of them in the knee to prevent their escape.

"Now, let's retrieve that person and hear what they have to say. Their story might be different or not worth it! There's a possibility that they've been hired by someone."

"Ah, right. Your iron staff is actually a weapon, huh?"

Guell asks me, so I answer briefly.

"Yes, that's right. It's a weapon only I can use."

Everyone else is stunned, observing the scene in front of them.

"No way... Single-handedly taking on thirty adventurers... Who on earth are you?"

Amy asks me a question, and I respond with a smile.

"Well, um, I'm probably just an ordinary person... maybe?"

"Why are you asking meeeeeee!?"

Well, it's because I have a body created by a god, so whether I'm human or not is questionable... right?

Afterward, Amy's loud voice echoes through the grassland.