CH 67

A long way to freedom

***---***

The rugged vibrations and the voice calling my name in my ears gradually raised my consciousness.

Immediately before I fainted, I felt a fierce chill, but now I feel a pleasant warmth.

"Kent, Kent, do your best, don't die, come back ..."

The tearful voice I hear in my ears is probably that of the chairman.

Apparently, I am being hugged in a way that I'm leaning against the chairman.

Healing magic is flowing from the chairman's palm, which is placed on my stomach.

By the way, because I was stabbed from behind, my back should be bloody.

"Yuika ... clothes get dirty with blood ..."

"Stupid, stupid Kent, clothes don't matter, Kent is more important, stupid ..."

I was hugged tightly by the chairman.

Ah, I want to stay like this for a long time, yes, it's no good.

Before I got up, I put my hand on the black bracelet in front of me to release it.

"Ah ..."

With a surprised sound, the chairman's left arm was freed, the classmates around her began to buzz.

"Wha ... Yuika, the bracelet ..."

"No way, how did you remove it, chairman?"

"Seriously? Chairman, you're not wearing a bracelet ..."

When I got up with the help of the chairman, I was still dizzy.

The wound has healed, but the lost blood will not be restored.

I mean, the blood that has flowed to my ankles is starting to clot, which makes me feel uncomfortable.

"Kent, don't overdo it, you should still lie down ..."

"Um ... where is this?"

[ We just entered the Devil's Forest ... but we don't have to worry about being chased ... ]

"Fred, what do you mean that we don't have to worry about being chased?"

[ Raised the drawbridge ... I worked so that they couldn't lower it ... It's okay for a while. ]

"Then, stop around the center of the forest and remove everyone's bracelets there ..."

[ OK ... I'll tell Zae and the others ... ]

When I noticed, my classmates in the carriage looked at me with a suspicious expression.

"Kokubu ... are you okay?"

"Are you seeing hallucinations ...?"

"That's dangerous ... you should rest ..."

Perhaps the conversation with Fred looked like a soliloquy? It's likely they saw is as me raving. I instinctively smiled a wry smile.

I was asked by my classmates to briefly talk about the process so far while leaning on the carriage bed in the space next to the chairman.

"Then the first five and the second fifty are all alive?"

"It is a different country ... can we finally enjoy being in a different world?"

"Sorry ... forgive me for being happy."

My classmates sighed as if they were disappointed when I told them that the boys that I had rescued previously had caused a turmoil and were now detained and forced into labor.

But if I didn't say anything, they wouldn't have caused a problem ... I thought, but I didn't say it.

The teacher, Sato-sensei, is also holding her head.

"So, Kokubu-kun, what are you going to do from now on?"

"I'm going to get everyone safely to Volzard and then negotiate with Camilla."

"of course, it's a negotiation to return to the original world, right?"

"Yes, if I can take it home, I'll collect precious metals in the form of conpemsation ..."

"Is it going to work?"

"I don't know. After all, the other party is that Camilla."

When I gave Camilla's name, my classmates had a bitter look on their faces.

"Kokubu, shouldn't that shitty princess be killed?"

"No, not just the princess, you should kill all the knights."

"Truly, I can't forgive them."

"Fifty-five people are alive, but Funayama is dead? Let's get rid of them."

When one person gives a radical opinion, the opinions that agree with them continue one after another.

It seems that everyone is angry about their treatment at Lastock garrison.

"What happened to the knight who stabbed you, Kokubu?"

"Well, he fainted, got tied up, and locked in ..."

"Well ... isn't that stupid, you got skewered? Why didn't you kill him?"

"Yeah, I understand what everyone wants to say ..."

At present, it has not been confirmed whether there is a person who has information on summoning and repatriation other than Camilla, and in order to facilitate negotiations, the situation of bloodshed has to be avoided as much as possible. I talked about the dangers of the people in the city when the Devil's Forest is active and the knights are gone.

"Hmm ... you say the negotiations will go smoothly, but on the contrary, won't they look down on us?"

"I wonder ... if after everything that's been done, won't they think that even though I didn't kill them, I could kill them at any time?"

"Normally you would ... but they're not normal."

"That's true ..."

Anyway, I have focused on facilitating negotiations, but in some cases it may be counterproductive.

"That being said ... Can we go home properly in the first place?"

"I'm sorry, I prioritized rescue, so I don't know yet."

"What will happen from now on ..."

I felt that the air in the carriage became depressed all at once due to the girl's muttering that seems to have leaked out.

"But when we get to Volzard, you can have a decent meal and take a hot bath."

After all, I feel that the power of food and bath is great, and my classmates who were looking down suddenly raised their faces.

"Oh ... Seriously, are we finally free from the horrible food?"

"Bath ... I want to take a warm bath quickly."

"Oh, it's dangerous ... I haven't contacted them to move the operation forward ..."

"Oh, oh! Isn't there any food?"

"Bath, hey, what about the bath?"

"Wait, wait ... I'll get back to you soon, wait!"

As soon as they heard that there might not be food and a bath, the power of my classmates was as strong as a rock ogre.

"Mart tell Donovan-san that the situation has changed and I moved the operation forwards, so please tell Volzard that I'll take my classmates there by this evening."

"Wafu, I understand, Goshujin-sama!"

My classmates had their eyes widened at Mart, who replied putting its head out between my legs where I sat down.

Doping with pills to restore magical power and self-healing made me feel better.

"Then, I'll remove the bracelets in order."

"Oh, you did it! This is real freedom!"

I removed the bracelets of my classmates while riding the carriage, and when we stopped near the center of the forest, I also removed the bracelets of all the rest.

"What is it, I was wondering if monsters would come out because we were warned that it's the Devil's Forest."

"Really, this is no different from a normal forest."

While waiting for their bracelets to be removed, my classmates look out over the forest and look like they're out of tune, but the reason there aren't many monsters is because Reinhardt and the others have wiped them out.

"Don't go too far, because there was a Salamander around here yesterday."

"What is a Salamander ... Is it that thing that spits fire?"

"It's several times more powerful than Takayama's magic, and it keeps spitting as if it's inexhaustible."

"Seriously ... Is there such a thing ..."

After removing all the slave bracelets, everyone seems to be relieved from the bottom of their hearts, and the air of the party seems to have calmed down.

After that, if we can arrive at Volzard safely, I will be relieved.

With the leg strength of Zae and the others, it seems that we can arrive after noon.

Now that I have removed all the slave bracelets, we will move on to the carriages again towards Volzard.

Thanks to Reinhardt and the others who fixed up the road, the carriages go smoothly without any big vibrations.

Shortly after departure, Hart, who had been left behind to keep an eye on Lastock, came to report.

"Goshujin-sama, they're starting to get up."

"OK, Fred, take a look."

[ Roger that ... ]

Camilla and the others were the first to sleep, so they probably should get up and start taking action.

"Kokubu, is it okay? A chase ..."

"hmm ... I think it's okay, because half of the forest has already passed and Volzard is closer."

"That's fine, but if we're brought back ... Hey."

"I have to make sure that doesn't happen, but we have to use repatriation magic to return to Japan, and how would we check if the repatriation magic is correct ... I think there are still many things to think about in this world."

The rescue of my classmates was almost successful, but the challenges have not disappeared.

The classmates who were confronted with that fact were all deep in thought.

It was Sato-sensei, my teacher, who opened her mouth first.

"Kokubu-kun, thank you very much for your hard work. It would have taken a lot of preparation to put the plan up to this point into practice, and I think it must have been a lot of hard work. Thank you again, thank you. Thank you."

"Sensei ..."

"Thank you, Kokubu, I really thought I couldn't do it ..."

"I was wondering if I was really dead, thank you."

"I was really saved, I'll be grateful for the rest of my life, thank you."

"Everyone ..."

Everyone thanked me face-to-face, and I felt like I was finally no longer recognized as a useless person, and my heart became hot.

"Kent has always supported me from the shadows, thank you Kent."

"Yuika ..."

The chairman gave me a kiss on my cheek as a thank-you, and the carriage that had calmed down for a moment was warpped in various screams the next moment.

"Yeah ... yes, the chairman!"

"Kyaaaa, I thought it was suspicious to call by name from a while ago ..."

"Wait, wait, wait, thank you for your help, but I haven't heard about this Kokubu!"

"Yes, I won't admit it! No, we won't admit it!"

The screams of boys' grudges, the shrill voices of the girls, the murderous gazes, the warm gazes, and even if various things come out, the chairman held my left arm and didn't seem to be willing to leave.

This situation didn't exist even for Takayama when I was in Japan, so I was immersed in a little sense of superiority, and at the same time, my stomach hurts when I think about what will happen after we arrive at Volzard.

[ Kent-sama ... Camilla is agitated ... However there is no pursuit ... ]

[ Okay, try to find out what they plan to do in the future ... ]

[ OK ... Kent .. Harem is just around the corner ... ]

[ Guu, I hope it's not a rain of blood ... ]

According to Fred's scouting, some people advised Camilla to pursue us.

However, if the system is not in place, the scale of the pursuit cannot be decided without knowing who the opponent is and how large it is, and it seems that they eventually gave up.

Now we don't have to worry about anyone chasing us, all we have to do is get to Volzard.

In other words, the time of the direct confrontation between Manon and the chairman is approaching closer every moment ... I really have a stomachache.

"Kokubu-kun ... are you okay?"

"Yes, what is it Sensei?"

"Up until now, we've put the burden on you alone, but from now on, we'll help you too, so talk to us when you do something."

"Yes, thank you."

Until now, there were people who I could talk to like Reinhardt, Klaus-san, and Donovan-san, but since there were no adults who knew what we were doing, I feel that the load on my shoulders was lightened.

After arriving in Volzard and arranging for everyone to live, I may be able to relax a little.

Other than being stabbed by Paul, the operation proceeded more smoothly than I expected, and I thought that if I proceeded a little further, I would be able to see the walls of Volzard.

Hert who was left in Volzard appeared in the carriage.

"Goshujin-sama, it's bad! A horde of goblins is approaching Volzard."

"A horde, no way ..."

"Yes, I think there are over a thousand at a glance."

"Mirt call Fred, and Murt go guard Amanda-san's shop, Reinhardt, go back and stop it even a little!"

"I understand!"

"I'll be back!"

[ I understand! ]

I never thought that a monster that had reached its maximum would come at this timing.

"Art! Tell Zae and the others to hurry and have the rest of the kobolds surround and protect the convoy!"

"Okay, Goshujin-sama!"

As Art jumped out, the speed of the convoy increased.

[ Kent ... You called ... ]

"Fred, the goblin outbreak is approaching Volzard, help us get closer to the gate while protecting the city ahead of time."

[ OK ... leave it to me ... ]

The carriage we are riding is in the fourth position from the beginning, so I can't see the end of the road.

"Can you see a horde of goblins, Kame?"

"My King, right front."

"Eh ... that's the undergrowth of the forest ..."

"No, it's a great number ..."

If you look at it as if it extends from the back of the coach, the dark green objects are wriggling so as to fill the roots of the grove.

I don't think it's just a thousand or two thousand.

Even so, it's blocked by the forest, and you can only see part of it.

It seems that some people have noticed the goblin herd in the other carriages and screams can be heard from the front.

"Mart, tell everyone else in the carriages to hold on to something."

"Okay, Goshujin-sama."

Shortly after Mart jumped out, the convoy sped up further.

"Kent, the road is about to be blocked!"

Mirt, bring Reinhardt back and get rid of the goblins on the road!"

"Okay, Goshujin-sama."

Zae and the others sped up, but it seems that they ran across the horde of goblins heading towards Volzard.

"Goshujin-sama, I told them."

"Mart, who is leading the way?"

"The first one is Zae."

"Tell them to slow down a bit, if you run over a goblin corpse at the current speed, I'm worried that the carriage will turn over."

"OK, I'll tell them."

Immediately after Mart was sent as a messenger, the convoy slowed down.

The slowdown caused another scream from the carriage in front of me.

Along with the scream, the sound of a fast bell can be heard in the wind from a distance.

It should be a short distance to Volzard, but the chairman also has a blue face.

"Kent, is it going to be okay?"

"I'm sorry, I don't know to be honest. However, I think the situation will only get worse if we're outside the walls, so even if we have to cut through the horde, we'll reach Volzard."

"Goshujin-sama, we're going to reach the horde, Reinhardt is fighting in front of us!"

"Okay, Art, side and back, solidify so that nothing breaks through."

"OK, Goshujin-sama."

From the front, how is it! Gusha! When I thought that I could hear a terrible collsion sound, dark green waves rushed to the side of the convoy.

When Art and the others moved around like a black whirlwind, fresh blood flutters and the dark green wall collapses, but soon the goblins behind them approach.

"Gigiiii, Gigyagyaa!"

"Gugyagugyaaaa, Gippiii ..."

The screams of the excited goblins echo like the rumbling of the ground, and they are mentally opressed.

"No, I don't want to die, I don't want to die!"

"Help me, I don't want to be eaten!"

"No, that number ... it's over ..."

I can hear screams from both the carriage in front and the carriage in the rear.

They shouldn't be attached at this point, but it's unlikely that I'll be able to see it even if it's attached to a carriage somewhere.

The convoy has slowed down further and is now going at a fast jog, but it hasn't stopped yet.

I'm also shooting light-type attack magic, but I feel like I'm pouring water on a burnt stone with a water gun.

"It's a wall! I can see the city!"

"Hey. Hey, help us!"

Prompted by the voices I heard from the front, when I look up, I can certainly see the walls of Volzard beyond the grove.

"Sensei! I'll go out for a while, so please keep everyone together."

"Hey, Kokubu, where are you going?"

"I'll make a path."

I dive from the carriage into the world of shadows and move to the front at once.

At the front of the convoy, Reinhardt is wielding his beloved sword Gram, but the goblins are rushing in from the side where he swept them away.

Therefore, at the timing when Reinhardt swept them away, dark shields were erected on both sides of the road to prevent the invasion of goblins.

[ Kent-sama! ]

[ Reinhardt, go ahead and charge forward! ]

[ OK, I'm sorry! ]

By securing the road, the speed of the convoy has increased.

After the convoy has passed, a dark shield is put out to close the road and prevent us from being attacked from behind.

Art and the others can freely pass through the shield, so it's okay to leave them behind.

As the speeding convoy passed through the forest, goblins overflowed between the forest and the walls.

The goblins approaching Volzard are attacked from the top of the wall and defeated, but the following goblins rush to devour the corpses of their companions.

If this number of goblins move, food will naturally be in short supply.

If they smell blood there, they don't seem to care if the meat was a companion.

It's like the screams of goblins, the sound of grabbing flesh and biting bones, and the scent of dense blood spilling around, paint a hellish picture of annoying screams.

When we left the forest, the pressure from the surroundings increased, Reinhardt shook them off, and even if I built a wall with a shield of darkness, I couldn't proceed as I expected.

Perhaps it's because of the widespread deployment of the shield of darkness, or the effect of being stabbed in the belly, it seems that my magical power is about to run out.

Volzard is right in front of me, but I feel like I'm one move short.

If I remove the shield of darkness as it is, we may be swallowed by a group of goblins if I do it poorly.

It was when I thought I had no choice but to use the booster I got from Corey-san.

A fireball exploded in the mdidle of a swarm of goblins filling the space between the convoy and the walls.

After that, a blade of wind and a spear of water poured out one after the other.

My classmates including Takayama lined up on the wall, shooting attack magic without interruption.

However, the convoy cannot move forward as it is.

While maintaining the shields of darkness, I moved to the top of the wall.

"Kondo! Shoot at the side of the highway, we can't move forward if it's left as it is!"

"It's Kokubu! Okay, everyone heard him, aim at both sides of the road, shooting group one, group two chant!"

The pressure from both sides of the road has been reduced, so Reinhardt can proceed as long as the front is swept away.

Fred is fighting hard in front of the gate to stop the goblins from approaching.

"Zae, stop on the left side of the gate for the remaining carriages to enter later!"

"I know, My King!"

They can't open the gate in this situation, so you have to go through the entrance to enter the city.

When Reinhardt arrived, I surrounded the gate in a semi-circular shape with a shield of darkness.

"Art, get rid of all the goblins left in the shield!"

"Okay, Goshujin-sama."

Following the leading carriage, the carriages run one after another.

With the help of Fred and Art, the goblins left behind inside the shield were quickly wiped out.

Perhaps he was watching the timing from the top of the wall, the entrance opened and Bart-san of the garrison appeared.

"This is it! Get into the gate quickly! Hurry, hurry, hurry!"

My classmates who jumped off the carriage rushed into the wall.

After seeing everyone enter Volzard, and seeing the doors closed tightly, I erased the shield of darkness that surrounded the gate.

We arrived at Volzard, but as soon as I turned off the shield, the goblins rushed in.

To survive, we must manage this dark green tsunami.